Beadle's Dime Library No. 392 — page 24: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

24, in name. He was rightly named years ago in the San Juan kentry. He worships money now as he did then, when he hadn’t much ter wor- ship. I'll bet my head thet he wouldn’t hev ther girl turn up now for a cool million.” Ruby Rob heard his pard through and shook his head. ‘“Tt won’t work,” he said. ‘*‘ We will try ther trail a while longer. This nabob may be Gold Gaston, as you say, but he may be shrewd enough to ask you to prove that you can pro- duce Kate Lossing. You have no past act of his | to hold over his head.” be ‘‘T hevn’t, eh?” ejaculated Onyx Oll. ‘“ Let . me penetrate to your trustee’s private office an’ show you.” ‘“‘There is a difference between Frisco an’ the | $an Juan country,” was the reply. ‘‘Some crimes are outlawed.” ‘*Ts that one that made your brother a drivel- fi ing idiot outlawed?” ‘By the eternal, no!” cried Ruby Rob, flush- ing to the temples. ‘‘ That is one of the crimes that time cannot outlaw.” ‘*Heave you seen him since your return to Frisco?” ati a a er ee ~—- ee - -—s *~ Thave not. I dare not look at him while we have this gold-game on our hands. One glimpse ’ would send me from the city to Santa Fe, where I lost the trail of the viperess who committed - the deed, Don’t mention him any more, Onyx. - YTwant to find Colonel Tarantula and the pearl es he took from Satanscrown. After that, with a million apiece, we will separate satisfied.” a Captain Rob went to the window when he had finished, and called the two pards to his >. side. ; _ ~~ * Took yonder!” he said, pointing across the i t. ‘*In Heaven’s name, what fetched that woman to Frisco?” i ‘Tt is Nugget Nell!” exclaimed Agate Alf. She told me once thet a million wouldn’t tempt | her hyer.” _ --—s« ** She has told me the same a hundred times,” _ gaid Ruby Rob, eying the woman whom he had ' discovered. ‘‘ She awoke from the deep, almost _ deadly, sleep into which Colonel Tarantula Aa threw her when he robbed us of the bonanza _* girl. She has come to the city she hates.” —. *Mebbe she has heard of the bea bg clause ~~ in the major’s will,” responded Onyx Oll with a smile, ‘‘an’ she may think that you will marry ae Ronntain Moss, in order ter get ther hull bonan- -. Za at once.” - Ruby Rob’s lips met, and the eyes that were watching the woman were seen to emit a fiery mal oll “— = . poe sh. is She had better not think that!” he said. ‘‘ If she interferes in our game hyer she will wish Ee : she had slept on inSatanscrown. Ah! there she ed ete | » oR é oa ‘Shall I follow?’ asked Agate Alf. _ Yes; don’t let her get out o’ your sight. She has ruled in Satanscrown; she cannot rule _ hyer. Track her down, She must have a stop- _ Pping-place.__I recollect that ske was once a queen in Frisco. It was when I first met her, after she had discarded Colonel Tarantula.” - Agate Alf was ene before Ruby Rob had ceased to speak, and Onyx Oll and his chief were the only occupants of the little room. “Onyx, if thar is no other way, we will carry out the clause you have mentioned,” said Captain — Rob. “I can make the girl my wife imme- . diately after she has been found.” . “But Nugget Nell?” “She will not interfere.” © You can’t buy her off.” : ra _ “Mebbe not, but we can get rid of her,” was the significant answer. ‘‘ When Agate tracks her down sbe will be safe. I know her old haunts, but I don’t think she'll go to them. _ Why did she fear to come back to Frisco?” «You wouldn’t believe if I told you, captain,” said Oryx Oll, looking into Ruby Rob’s face. = What do you know?” and the boss of Satans- ~ erown leaned forward with eagerness filling his eyes. ‘‘Is it possible, Onyx, that you have kept some secret connected with the camp’s Cleopatra from me? I thought we were pards.” -——- * So we ar’, captain; but I hadn’t the heart "ae ter turn on the woman who nursed me when I war carried inter camp after ther big mining “But you must tell me now. I have seen the time when I would have waded through blood to - my waist for Nugget Nell. I saved her from a __ New Mexican mob in San Jose, but she must not interfere with me if I see proper to make Kate _ my wife in order to get all the bonanza at once. wc: Bat your secret, Onyx? What do you know | about the Mistress ov ther Roll?” Onyx Oll stood straight and silent before the boss of Satanscrown. A mental battle was be- ing fought, and Captain Rob sawit. + +$uddenly he sprung forward half-tigerishly my: and clutched Onyx Oll’s arm, as he exclaimed: _ ** Ts it about my brother?” The eyes of the two men met at that mo- ‘ment. ae TE is! Great God! I see it by your eyes Onyx!” cried the bonanza sport. ‘ You need not speak. The woman I have loved at last ys out to be Viper Bess—the person who, here in this city as my brother’s wife, adminis- _ tereda subtle poison an’ deprived him of his ae —_——-—— SS eee eee eS SS % The Lost Bonanza. reason. You look all I say, Onyx Ol. Your eyes confirm my terrible discovery. You have known this a long time, perhaps for years; you have seen me make love to this viperess in Satanscrown, and yet you would not speak. I am said to be the hardest wretch left unhung by the Vigilantes of Southern Colorado, but one thing I have not lost—love for my worse than murdered brother. I have not forgotten the oath taken to avenge him. Remember that I had never seen Nugget Nell till I saved her life at San Jose. She was Nugget Nell then. If I had known that she was Viper Bess, I, and not that howlin’ mob of Greasers, would have torn her to pieces! Wharis she now? Ah! I know why she feared ter come back ter Frisco, Her victim is here. Colonel Tarantula knew her, for he threatened ter drag her back. Agate Alf is on her track, but he might miss her. If she should discover him, she will give him the slip. I would have given you a thousand if you had told me this before.” ‘**T couldn’t, after ther way she nursed me.” *‘She did it ter keep me in her fatal snare!” cried Captain Rob. ‘‘ Iam tempted to let the gold-trail go for the present. I now know where Viper Bess is. Show me this woman again, an’ Tll make her Queen of Tartarus!” Half an hour later the little room was entirely deserted, and ‘the two men had disappeared among the throngs of people on the street. Not long afterward a man walked up to the door of a magnificent house on Nob Hill and jerked the bell. In a moment the door was opened, and he was met by a servant who asked him for his card. ‘*T don’t carry any such flub-dubs. I’m from down-town just at present, an’ have bizness with Leroy La Croix who lives hyer.” The San Francisco banker, who stood in the middle of a splendid room, heard these words. ‘‘ Admit the gentleman, George,” he said to the hesitating servant, and the next moment Se Be Oll, who was the caller, tramped into the arlor. ‘Pll try my scheme just for luck,” he said to himself. ‘*‘ Tl] see whether Gold Gaston, alias La Croix remembers one o’ his old pards o’ Cat- fish Camp.” As Onyx Oll advanced toward the banker, he was scrutinized from head to foot. If he had looked over La Croix’s shoulders he would have seen a door slightly ajar. The Californian started visibly as if Onyx Oll was not the person looked for, and he drew eee when the Satanscrown sport extended his and. ‘*T don’t know you, sir,” said La Croix, haughtily. ‘* Oh, yer don’t, eh? When did yer memory git poor?” laughed Onyx Oll.. “Thar war a time when you warn’t ashamed ter call me yer ‘You? That time has never been!” “You never saw Catfish Camp, hey? Look hyer, Gold Gaston, what’lt you give if I don’t produce Kate Lossing, yer lost ward? Thar’s millions in this game ye’r’ playin’ just now, an’ nobody knows it better than Bedrock Burt, yer old pard o’ Catfish Camp.” The face of the Frisco millionaire, which grew red and white by turns while Onyx Oll spoke, was colorless when he stopped. La Croix stepped back a pace and stamped on the floor. The next moment the door behind him flew ‘open and two men stepped into the room. Onyx Oll stepped back and his right hand flew toward his weapon, but he was eben! AS ong by four large revolvers, and the eyes behind the shining barrels seemed to be waiting for a signal by the gold nabob. ‘‘We weren’t looking for you,” said La Croix, addressing the astonished sport. ‘I expected a visit from a person who is playing a game sim- ilar to yours. These gentlemen are detectives in my employ. You call yourself Bedrock Burt and claim that you have known me at a place called Catfish Camp. I wish to say that that is all false. You cannot prove a word you have said. This is the plainest attempt to blackmail I have ever seen. Gentlemen,” to the detectives, ‘vou will take charge of that rascal. I will confront him when needed.” ‘“Mebbe you'd better not,” hissed Onyx Oll. ‘Take him away!” thundered La Croix, ‘‘ This is the coolest piece of impudence I ever saw. Catfish Camp? I never heard of the infamous place!” The sport was given no time for reply; two hands clutched him, and he was hustled away. ‘** Great God!” ejaculated the banker, ‘‘ Who will come next?” CHAPTER XXVIII. FORTUNE AND FATE. AT eleven o’clock that same night, Agate Alf came back to the hotel at which he, with Cap- tain Rob and Onyx Oll had put up on their arri- val in San Francisco. The Satanscrown sport, as we know, had been ordered to follow Nugget Nell by his chief and the fellow was ready with ich He tracked the camp Cleopatra to a cer- rm SS tain place where he believed she had established herself for the present, but he had made another discovery which he thought far more startling than this. Ruby Rob was not waiting for him and Agate Alf waited in the room till he grew impatient. He was about to leave when a boy came to the door which was ajar and looked in. ‘* Are you Captain Coldgrip?” the little fellow asked when he caught sight of Agate Alf. Captain Coldgrip was the name by which Ruby Rob was known to the hotel officials. that moment he cavght sight of a paper in the boy’s hand. ‘* Here’s su’thin’ for yer, then. I got it froma man who’s been chucked inter ther station,” ** Jehu!” exclaimed Agate Alf, snatching the note from the urchin’s hands, and while the young messenger was moving away he read it as follows: ‘‘Caprain Ron:—At ther station charged with at- tempted blackmail! Arrested at Leroy La Croix’s house, Come! Boy will show you, Onyx.” ‘* The fool tried to carry out his pet scheme an’ got taken in!” exclaimed Agate Alf looking up. ‘ Ef it warn’t fer ther fact thet we might need him, I’d let ’im stay thar. ‘ Boy will show you.’ Hello! whar is ther boy?” A moment later Agate Alf was on the fioor below looking for the boy who had delivered the note. The little fellow was gone. ‘* Mebbe he couldn’t read, or didn’t understand Onyx’s instructions,” he said to hintself. ‘‘ Have I got ter make a tour ov ther police stations ov Frisco ter find Onyx Oll? I won’t do it!” At that moment a man was watching Agate Alf from the darkest corner of the little ** cfice.” He had seen him from the moment of his en- trance, and it was evident that he was taking considerable interest in him. The task of searching the various stations for Onyx Oll who had gotten into trouble by an in- discreet play of his own, was too much for the Satanscrown sport. He resolved to wait till Ruby Rob showed up, an event which was liable to take place at any time. ‘If Captain Rob knew of my unexpected dis- covery he would be hyer ter listen,” continued the sport to himself, ‘‘ One of our worst foes is forever out of our way. The man lyin’ at ther morgue with a bloody dagger hangin’ above him is Colorado Carlos, an’ thar’s no doubt thet Col- onel Tarantula gave him his passports ter eter- ni: I couldn’t exactly swear ter this, if I war called on, but Pve got it settled in my own mind ter thet effect. Gcod-by, Colorado. You gave us a good deal of bother in Satanscrown, but ther colonel war too much for yerin Frisco. Why don’t ther cap’n come back? I b’lieve PU drink over my ghostly find.” He walked into the little bar-room attached to the hotel and ordered a drink forall when a voice at his elbow said: ‘*T don’t keer if I do, Agate.” The Colorado sport turned as if a pistol had clicked at his ear and the next moment he burst into a laugh. ‘You hyer, Cuban Con? By Jericho! why didn’t you stay in camp an’ reclaim yer ranc when ther colonel left it?’ The man who had spoken was the Spanish blooded whisky-seller of Satanscrown, and the yerson who had been forced to sell out to Colonel arantula an event fully chronicled in the course of our story. ‘T drifted ter Frisco,” replied Cuban (Con, ‘but ve'r’ the last galoot I expected ter see hyer. Ruby Rob’s byer too, en?” ‘Yes, all thet’s left ov us ar’ hyer,” said Agate Alf, ‘So is the bonanza girl!” Agate Alf gave a start that was noticed by Cuban Con. The eyes of the big sport assumed an eager look, ‘* N—no, I guess not,” he said caneenny Now, Agate Alf would have given his last dol- lar to have found Golden Gate Kate at that: moment. The bait seemed to take. ‘* What would you give for the girl?’ asked’ Cuban Con. ‘What girl yer talkin’ about?” “The Golden Gate heiress. Come, Agate, you’re no fool; you know all about the lost child of the army major who was killed on the Over- land trail some years ago. I know nothin about how ter proceed ter get ther cards stocke ye ys a game ov this kind. I have found the r The glass encircled by Agate Alf’s hand al- most dropped to the floor. Cuban Con spoke with an emphasis that car- ried conviction to the heart of his listener. ‘What do you know?” he asked. ‘Tell me that first, an’ 1 will then tell you what ther in- formation is worth.” ‘*T was in a certain faro-bank last night bet-. ting my last eagles,” said the ranch-keeper. ‘* All at once there was a loud cry outside an” somebody came in an’ said thata young girl had fallen from the third story window of the very building I wasin. AsI had lost my last dollar at that very moment, 1 got up an’ went out. ‘‘Yes, ’'m ther cap’n,” said the sport, for at — The report was true, but ins of a dead girl, <€om (E| 00/0) an