Beadle's Dime Library No. 392 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

—EE Se ee . oa eee ee ~ — ee ee 5 ~ - ae ee me oe oe eG) 7 a a —_—_—o —— .< Y ™ 5 VS, a — in % J 2 < ey = 7 as.’ ‘has at ee . we Led aaa md Ss he _. . fam i ae 4 4» . : . via. the girl to the city, that he had kept her at a safe distance in one of the near camps and that he yay . * od . * a “a7 ra | bt he 4 al as 4h Py ” «S| le Fa a < ‘ Pm * Ve, fish Camp; he was sleeker now than when he - -was a penniless ruffian in the shadow of Mount _ Shasta. but he had not forgotten how to meet steel with steel. “si un a ’ y laughed the Coloradan. _ Ther pea ar’ allin my hands, an’ ther deck 1 ' rer Pe © : PS oi’ . er ee a . - . Pi sary! 28 Such a charge was irresistible; the door quiv- ered, gave way, and fell in. ‘Heavens! you ?” greeted the mountain sport as he landed in the middle of the room, and saw a beautiful girl recoil with a white face. “I was not thinking about you, Ruby Rob. Bet- ter— ‘* Better Tarantula, my daisy?” ‘* Not thet, I hope. Colonel is cut fer ther last play. Ther man down-stairs will never introduce you ter yer millions. Come!” His hand was at her wrist, but Mountain Moss drew back. ** Nothing checks this Colorado cyclone!” said Captain Rob, and the next moment he was de- scending the stair with the Golden Gate heiress _ between him and the door that held Colonel ‘Tarantula in the trap. Once more in the big game, Captain Rob of Satanscrown was on top. CHAPTER XXXII. A DEVIL IN BROADCLOTH, - TRUE it was, that Leroy La Croix the banker had employed the best detective talent of San Francisco. The revelations made by Colonel ‘Tarantula when that cool individual called at the private office, were enough to shock him. The ring produced on that occasion told the main trustee of the three and a quarter millions that Kate Lossing was still alive, and he had reasons for believing that she was where the Texan could lay his hands on her whenever she was wanted. Some of the detectives employed by the banker were to ransack the city for Tarantula, while others watched the office on Montgomery street and the elegant residence on Nob Hill, for La Croix expected a second visit. This is why Onyx Oll, when he called, fell into _ the hands of twomen who conducted him to the station-house as has been witnessed. The Satanscrown sport had startled the banker by calling him Gold Gaston of Catfish Camp, a title which indicated that at a certain period in his career, the California nabob had been a mountain rough like many of his now wealthy acquaintances. He thought best to secure this bold fellow and have him held by a charge of attempted blackmail, especially since he knew something about the Golden Gate heiress, and might possibly be connected with the cool blade from Texas, Onyx Oll, therefore, was hustled into the - station, where the name and position of Leroy La Croix were enough to hold him indefinitely. The mountain tough knew this, and when there came no answer to the letter he sent to Captain . — by a boy, he growled like a tiger behind the rs. The banker’s detectives were spurred to work by the promise of a big fee, and they bunted high and low for the man so badly wanted by the gold nabob. The main man of the gang assured La Croix that Jordan Geffroy (Colonel Tarantula) would be unearthed within a few hours, but when a night and a day had passed without any report- ed success the banker began to worry. Could it be that the Texan had not brought _ had gone back to her? a LaCroix was not inclined to give up those _ three and a quarter millions. He had had use _of the original estate for eight years, and it had increased wonderfully. Now, to give it up—to - see it slip eg i his fingers and, mayhap, fall a into the hands of a desperado who was playing a _ cool game for it—this was too much! The truth is that a shbrewder and more des- pemate man than this very nabob of Nob Hill not inhabit San Francisco. Onyx Oll sized him up when he called him Gold Gaston of Cat- **T must get this man before he plays the hand he holds,” he said. ‘‘I must get the girl, too. By the eternal heavens, I am not going to let this bonanza slip through the hand that has held _ itsolong! Nothing shall stand long between me and the millions of the major. No living band ghall be stretched forth now to snatch them from my grasp. I will kill if if becomes neces- I will show these gold byenas that Gold Gaston has not forgot his old training!” Leroy La Croix gave utterance to these words in the sanctity of his private office in the bank building. It was two o’clock inthe afternoon, and the busiest hour for the bank. Outside a warm sun was shining and the broad streets of the gold-coast metropolis were thronged with ’ - * ‘» a Cr > , Aer’ d * % e An « % 5 ryt ‘ ~~. a ee “a @ #. - a ple. Pr kt that hour a man who was faultlessly dress- edina new suit that showed off his magnificent Sere to advantage, entered the bank and walk- ed tot i he cashier’s window. He was tall, broad-shouldered and handsome, and the razor had not been long from the face that wore only a heavy jet-black mustache that covered his mouth and was waxed at both ends. —_— tt ee AL LLL LLL CL tt at Sr SSS hess — “ The Lost Bonanza. \ one man to another when he saw this stranger Apollo. He asked at the cashier’s window for La Croix jo x was told that he was engaged in his private office. ‘*T must see him,” said the stranger, with an emphasis that attached a certain importance to his visit. ‘‘I see the door to my right. You need not announce me—I will do that.” ‘*Mr. La Croix is alone, I believe,” responded the cashier, but the man had turned away and was gone. Leroy La Croix was lighting a cigar when the door of his private oftice opened and admitted the handsome man. The banker started. He was not expecting a caller unannounced, and especially not one of this description. If one of his detectives had come he would not bave cared for the interrup- tion, but here was a man he had never faced before. The stranger shut the door carefully behind him, as if he knew that when it was shut no sound could enter or leave the private office, which was the case, He took off his hat and bowed to the banker, and then dropped into a splendid chair so near that his knees almost touched La Croix’s, ‘““My name is Phantom—Robert Phantom, but ['m flesh and blood for all that,” he said, with a smile. ‘“‘I am hereon business of the utmost importance. Shall I proceed, colonel?’ Leroy La Croix made no reply. There was a cool deviltry about this fellow which told that he would proceed whether per- mission was granted or not, and the next sec- ond he carried out the banker’s estimate of him. ‘Eight years ago Major Lossing and his daughter Kate, then a child, left San Francisco overland for St. Louis,” he went on, the first words almost driving the millionaire from his chair, ‘* The major was murdered, the girl dis- appeared. You became trustee of the property left by the unfortunate man. It aggregates three and a quarter millions by the last report. The girl has never come to claim it from your hands. There is a prevalent belief that she is dead, but she is not. Jam her husband !” An exclamation which he could not keep back escaped from the banker’s throat, This man was not Colonel Tarantula. He was a new person in the game, and the nabob saw at once that he was dangerous, What! this fellow the gold heiress’s husband? Geffroy, or Colonel Tarantula, had intimated that he might exercise that right, but here was a new man, Robert Phantom, declaring with emphasis that Kate Lossing was his wife! It is not strange that the Frisco banker should appear thunderstruck at this unprefaced revela- tion. He lost color, he seemed to gasp, and his eyes dilated. ** 'You—her—husband?” he made out to say. ‘*That’s what I am,” was the answer, accom- panied by a satisfied smile. ‘*The major’s daughter, now the prettiest creature in Cali- fornia, is my wife. According to the terms of the will, she is to be paid the whole amount due her at once. I am here to announce her mar- riage, and to say that I am her lawful agent.” “You must excuse me, but this is sudden,” said La Croix, mastering himself by a powerful effort of the will. ‘“‘I was not expecting any- thing of this kind.” ‘*T should suppose not, but it is the unexpected that happens, colonel,” Shutting his teeth hard, Leroy La Croix wheeled his chair half-way around and put out bis hand toward the drawer of a small stand near by. ‘*Pve got to kill this man—to shoot him dead in his chair!” he said between his teeth, and his hand fell on the white knob of the drawer in which lay ready for an emergency a self-cocking revolver, It would be the work of a moment to seize the weapon, whirl about and whisk out the life of the desperado in broadcloth. ** Pll show you the will; I have it here,” said tho banker to disarm suspicion. The next second Hfe opened the drawer, and his hand darting downward, clutched the six- shooter. **T’ll widow the Golden Gate Venus!” he said. The next instant the visitor sprung up, and his hand swooped down upon La Croix’s right wrist like a hungry eagle. “Thet’s your will, eh?’ he laughed, glarin at the revolver half-way out of the drawer. “It isn’t the kind I propose to have read in my teeth. Drop thatsix-shooter, sir, or I°ll strangle you within six feet of your bonanza vaults!” The thunderstruek banker had only to look up into the devilish face above him to see that the speaker was terribly in earnest. What eyes that man had! ed into a grinning Satan, and the gloved hand at the banker’s wrist seemed to be burning its | way to the bone. ‘*T am here for the three and a quarter mil- lions!” he went on. ‘* You shall pay every cent tome, Iam the girl’s lawful husband. have the marriage certificate in my pocket. Whar I came from I am Captain Rob; here for the present hour I am Robert Phantom, I have ‘* Mephistopheles in broadcloth,” whispered ; played games of all kinds. I know that you Se : die oe In a moment he was transform-. -- % are Gold Gaston, the once muleteer of Catfish Camp. Now you live like a nabob on Nob Hill, and on Kate Lossing'’s money, too! There! that is sensible. You have dropped the revolver with which you were going to scatter my brains over your magnificent carpet. It wouldn’t have done you any good, colonel. I have a man outside who would take my place and play this gold game out. Turn back and listen to me.” Ruby Rob turned the baffled banker's chair and shut the drawer. Leroy La Croix was the picture of foiled rage. The cool Satan from the gold-camps had the up- per hand. . What would he do next? ‘* The girl’s wealth is in Goverment bonds,” he said, looking into La Croix’s face. ** They are in your vault. I want them.” ‘* The will says that the girl must be produc- ed first.” ‘* Hang the will! Ihave the girl. She is the wife of Ruby Rob of Satanscrown. ‘You would grow paler than you are if you knew what a big game has been played for her. Men have been shot on sight. IL have fought my way to this stage of proceedings. Donald Dashwood the tongueless man was killed first; I took the trail where he left it. Colorado Carlos is still at the morgue, Colonel Tarantula has cashed his chi s at death’s counter. I am the holder of the last big hand. Now, sir,” the speaker went on be- fore the banker could find his tongue, ‘‘ you will go into the bank proper and ask your cash- ier to hand you the Lossing papers. I will stand at the door and see you all the time. If you attempt to betray me—if you exhibit a sign of treachery—I will kill you in your boots! You have played a gold hand for eight years. Iam playing a diamond one now.” Captain Rob walked to the door that led from the private office into the banking-room. He laid his left hand on the knob and looked at the once muleteer of Catfish Camp. In his right hand hanging along his leg he clutched a silver-mounted revolver. ‘‘Turn over the bonanza!” he continued as his eyes glistened. ‘‘ Walkin, colonel, and fill my order.” Choking down his rage, the nabob-rough step- ped forward. Captain Rob opened the door and saw him walk into the bank. The eyes of the Satanscrown sport watched him like the eyes of a hawk. La Croix walked to his cashier and asked for the precious documents. The bank official started and threw a glance toward the cool fiend standing in the door, but the next moment he walked to the open vault and took out a large packet marked: * Lossing: Private and valuable, 334.” The Frisco banker took the package with re- luctance. He knew that a merciless man was waiting for it only a few feet away. He would have given half his wealth for a revolver at that moment. | With the package in his hand, he passed back into the private office, and Ruby Rob shut the door. ‘¢ Hand it over,” he said to La Croix. ‘‘ Mebbe we'll pay you a per cent. in the sweet by and by but I won’t promise. Ah! it is heavy. All here, eh?” ‘« All!” said the Californian. The Satanscrown tough clutched the packet and turned toward the door thav led into the outer room of the bank. = hla will hunt me, I guess?” he said, with a smile, ‘ Youcan bet your heart on that!” grated La Croix. “ All right! I know what to do then. Thanks for the information. I never ee upa stake when once won! If you set a bl ound on my trail, by the thunders of Jove! you won’t live twenty-four hours!” The door opened and closed, and Leroy La Croix sunk with a groan into his chair, The Lossing millions had vanished. CHAPTER XXXIII. FIGHTING FOR THE TREASURE. WE go back a few hours, and to the House of the Crimson bi eo The reader need not be told that Ruby Rob escaped from the infamous building with the beautiful stake of the big gold-game—Golden Gate Kate. His appearance before Leroy La Croix inthe private office of the bank is proof enough of this, We go back to the house to ascertain the fate of a not unimportant character of our romance. Colonel Tarantula believed that the faro-table ended the career of Idaho Ivan when its jaws closed noiselessly upon him. In this the Texas cool-blade was mistaken. There might have been a time when the table was acertain death-trap, but it had not been used as such for many months, and the moths bas made sad havoc with its soft yet deadly ining. | The closing of the jaws and the first sense of suffocation rendered the boy unconscious, and he remained so until after the encounter between Tarantula and Ruby Rob. When he awakened, he found himself in the dark and imprisoned in a place that to him felt comicbooks - ; ms é ‘ af ' . / a oa a « 7 iy - , “a — F. 4 - # ="