Beadle's Dime Library No. 392 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

~~ a ——_ Ce or -_—. = - ys emcee: a ~~ ~— > ri rs " . <> : dollar for dollar with compound interest. I’m | to sepulcher among the few dead who occupied a millionaire in prospect, an’ don’t you for- get it! From that time Cuban Con invested in those drafts. He bought them wherever they were to be found, and always for a mere song, and be- fore long the little whisky-dealer of Satans- crown was said to have orders enough to burst Git-Thar or any other bank. Such was Colorado Carlos, the man whom Topaz Tom found at Cuban Con’s. he iron-gray stood with slack rein in front of the establishment quietly waiting for the man who was never long from the saddle. Topaz Tom singled Colorado out the mo- ment he crossed the threshold; the mountain Ishmaelite had not yet discovered the dead man on the floor, ‘** Hello, my saint of the chalice,” exclaimed Colorado Carlos as he espied Cuban Con behind his counter. ‘‘ What has happened since I left you last.” : The men present looked at the barkeeper and then glanced at the dead. “We had a mysterious murder in camp last night,” answered Cuban Con. ‘Over thar lies the victim, found at daylight in the street.” Colorado Carlos turned as the little man’s fin- ger pointed over the counter, and the next mo- ment his eyes caugbt sight of the dead man, ‘* Found dead in the street, eh?” he said. ‘* Shot plump through the heart, sir.” ‘Dead when found, of course?” ‘*He war shot shortly after midnight, but war not discovered till daylight,” returned Con. ‘““We don’t know who did it, and if it didn’t look like a cold-blooded murder, we wouldn’t keer a powerful sight. That man, sir, war an object ov pity’ he has no tongue.” olorado Carlos was startled by this announce- ment, but only one man of all the crowd saw it. That man was Topaz Tom, who was watching the strange sport with the eyes of a hawk. ‘* Go and look for yourself,” Cuban Con went on. ‘*'Medicime Monte, who examined his mouth, says that it’s all healed up, an’ that, in all probability, he hasn’t had a tongue for years. I never heerd ov a similar case afore, tharfore, IT say that, in his unfortunate condition, that man war an 6 of pity.” Colorado Carlos stepped toward the corpse and eae one of the loose garments from the rigid ace. ‘*Tf he knows ’im he'll show it now or never,” ejaculated To Tom as he leaned forward breathless and with every sense on the alert. **Tll bet a hundred that ther captain thinks Colorado will know ther dead man.” The Git-Thar sport held the garment back and stooped over the dead. The crowd looked on, hoping that he would furnish them with a clew to the mute’s identity, but he did not ak, at Look what he’s got over his heart, Colora- do,” suggested Cuban Con over his counter. The mountaineer bared the breast of the corpse and saw the tattoo of the deuce of dia- monds, and the bullet-hole between the spots. He started at the sight and almost drew a cry from the one absor spectator. ‘‘ They hev met afore!” murmured Topaz Tom. *“€ Captain Rob war no fool when he sent me ter watch this man.” In a little while Colorado Carlos re-covered the corpse, and came toward the crowd congre- gated at the counter. ‘‘Had he nothing on ea ee by which he could be identified?’ he asked, looking across the counter at Cuban Con. ‘* Not a paper—not a mark.” ** Who found him?’ ** Three ov ther Jewels, I b’lieve—Topaz Tom, Onyx Oll and Cap’n Rob.” Bigs serhent ‘* A little after; but thar’s Topaz himself.” Topaz Tom was not ious to be confronted by Colorado Carlos, but the last words had scarcely left Cuban Con’s lips ere he found the sae i cee foe him. ‘You foun man?” inquired ‘‘T war with ther boys.” 2 we oy “Do you think you were the first to find him?” , “‘T don’t know; ther body looked as if it had not been disturbed since ther shot.” ‘* You heard that?” 46 Yes.” ‘**'When was it?” “A little past twelve last night, as nigh as I kin get at ther time. That’s all I know.” Topaz Tom did not like this inquisition, which threatened to be both lengthy and searching. He had never had any good feeling for this well- vagabond sport, and he resolved to show him that he could not compel him to submit to an examination. ‘* You would know a good deal more if I - -wanted to press you,” retorted Colorado Carlos, a sudden flashing of his eyes betraying his spirit. “What are you going to do with the dead man?” ig question was addressed to the crowd at ze. Cuban Con replied that it was intended to 1 ibe the body decent burial; the man was un- known and friendless, and as such, was entitled The Lost Bonanza. the little cemetery belonging to Satanscrown. ‘“* After the burial what?” asked Colorado Carlos. ‘‘ Are you going to try to discover who killed him?” The question seemed to surprise the group. Cuban Con, speaking again for all, said that had not been thought of. It was a rule that Satanscrown should take care of her own, and as the dead man was not a citizen, he had no claim on the camp. Colorado Carlos did not continue the subject but called the crowd up and treated all. As payment, he threw upon the counter not one of the famous drafts on ‘‘ Git-Thar Bank,” but a golden eagle, which drew audible ejaculations of wonder from the spectators. ‘‘Gentlemen,” said Carlos, with a smile, “I hev the pleasure of announcing that the bank has commenced business.” There was a general laugh at this, and the next moment the hand of the Git-Thar sport threw a dozen eagles toward the ceiling. ‘* The boss bank and the biggest out of doors,” he went on. ‘I amcashier, president and board of trustees—all in one.” ‘* Whar is it?” asked Topaz Tom. ‘““Whar you will never cash a check!” cried Colorado Carlos, whirling at the question. ry ew Tom drew back with lowering brow. ‘*“Thet’s ter be tried,” he grated, under his breath, ‘‘ Thar ar’men hyer who’d cash chips on Satan’s counter ef he owed ’em.” Colorado Carlos did not wait to quarrel with the growling sport, but turned and leaned over the counter toward Cuban Con. ‘** Whar are the dead man’s boots?” he asked. “On his feet or by them, 1 guess,” was the reply. ‘ They are not.” Cuban Con was going to appeal to the crowd, when the sport’s look stop him. ‘*Say nothing,” he said. ‘*1 will find those boots. I must have them; they are worth their weight in gold to me, and to somebody else.” Topaz Tom did not hear these words. CHAPTER III. THE SECRET OF THE BOOT. SATANSCROWN, as has been said, was a re 8 gling camp. It was nearly a mile in lengt with Cuban Con’s saloon in the center and the cabins of the gold roughs on either side. It had had an existence of some y rior to the events that open our story, and its inhabit- ants had supported themselves by mining here and there, for the mountains had many rich kets, and in some places gold was to be had or the picking = Not far from Cuban Con’s, on the right, stood a cabin that did not differ from the others in outward appearance, but mside it was not the same, An appearance of neatness indicated that it was the dwelling-place of a member of the gen- tler sex; and such it was. Satanscrown had one “‘angel” at least, but those who knew her best called her Nugget Nell, as if she had no other name. Not a young girl, although still beautiful, this woman had a history which had never been re- tailed over the glasses at Cuban Con’s bar. It was known that Ruby Rob was her best friend—that when she came alone on horseback to Satanscrown one night, she inquired for the good-looking sport, and that, when he saw her, es eyes kindled, and he seemed delighted to see er. To the men of the camp he said that she was “the sister of a friend long since dead,” and that he was now her protector,and woe to the man who offered her the insult of look or word. Nugget Nell forthwith took up her residence in the camp. She could shoot, sing, play, and throw a bowie between a man's fingers at twenty paces. Now and then she let drop sentences which caused some of the miners to doubt that she was the woman whom Ruby Rob had called her. She knew the camps of Colorado and the gold- placers of California, She could speak Spanish fluently, and Cuban Con was wont to say that she knew more about Santa Fe than he, and that place had been his home. As the months rolled on, Nugget Nell became. somewhat of a mystery to crown. She seemed to like the camp, and some of the men took kindly to her She was rather tall, with bright black e es, and an exquisite figure. It was apparent that her youthful beauty had been dazzling, but a wild life and wilder associations had taken it and given her in its stead a darker beauty with an abandon that was fatally attractive. Before she was in camp six months, Ruby Rob, who seemed to be master there, had promoted her to the position of ‘t Mistress of the Roll.” Every evening at six o’clock six men would march in a body to the little re in front of Cuban Con’s, where they would halt and stand shoulder to shoulder with heads erect, and amused and expectant. In a little while Nugget Nell would leave her cabin and advance toward the six. On these occasions she was always richly dressed, and over her shoulders, mingling with her black hair, . 3 wouid fall the gold-fringed end of a scarf that fairly glittered in the sun. She would halt before the six stalwart men, one of whom was Ruby Rob, and the next mo- ment her voice was calling the roll. Aseach name was mentioned, its owner would advance a step, halt and salute the woman, and at the close of the brief roll-call, the six stood nearer to her than before. Then, at a signal from Ruby Rob, all would take off their broad-brimmed hats, and send up a rousing cheer for Nugget Nell, who would smile and go back to her cabin. A scene like this was Satanscrown’s six o’clock entertainment. It had goneon with monctonous regularity for three years! Winter and sum- mer alike, in rain and storm, in sleet and sun- shine, the Mistress of the Roll would speak the names of the six jewels of Satanscrown. We name them here: Ruby Rob, Topaz Tom, Onyx Oll, Agate Alf, Diamond Dave and Jasper John. If this daily routine grew irksome to the other inhabitants of the camp, they did not complain. What Ruby Rob did was law there, and with five such men at his back, fault-finding was not to be thought of. Now let us go back. Just an hour after Ruby Rob had discovered the little object in oiled silk under the sole of one of the dead stranger’s boots, he was seen to enter Nugget Nell’s cabin. he woman at the time was reclining ona couch which had traveled many miles to afford her the pleasure of rest, but when the door open- ed and admitted the boss of Satanscrown, she sprung up and reached him at a bound. ‘‘Who died last night?—iell me!” she ex- claimed. ‘‘How do you know anybody did?’ asked Ruby Rob. “T saw a dead man carried into Cuban Con’s.” ** You see everything, Nell.” ‘No; if 1 did 1 would see the lost girl of Golden Gate.” The sport laughed, and thrust his band into an ag 8 erg = t will you give for what I hold in my hand?” he exclaim holding his right hand tightly closed before the woman. ‘I don’t know. What have you got?” ““The bonanza clew!” was the reply. ‘*You cannot fool me. Ruby Rob, I would not give you a smile for the contents of your hand. We don’t find gold-clews in Satans- crown; you know that.” ‘‘But I have found one, all the same,” and Ruby Rob opened his hand and disclosed the ‘* find,” seemingly in the same state as when he took it from its singular hiding-place. ‘* What is that?’ asked Nugget Nell, curiosity in her eyes as she leaned forward. ‘“ I don’t see any bonanza in that little thing.” Let me show you. Why, it is a regular god-_ send, woman! Fortune is playing a matchless hand for us. The man who died in his boots last — has opened the doors of the Lost Bonanza.” hile Ruby Rob talked he was unwra the little pocket, and at the end of the oil he found some paper covered with writing. He glanced up through his long black lashes to see that Nugget Ne breathlessly; then he opened the paper. ‘* Heavens! a picture!” cried the woman, and her hand darted upon the little tin-type that lay in Ruby Rob’s palm, and a moment later her eyes were devouring it at the window. The picture was about an inch square, and showed the face of a child about ten years of age. t was the portrait of a little girl with la eyes full of almost womanly expression, yet the eyes of a child withal. | Nugget Nell looked a moment and her lips met firmly. upon Ruby Rob. ‘‘ Found it,” replied the sport, with a smile. ‘‘That is no answer. Idon’t suppose anybody sent it to you.” ‘* Pardon me, but they did.” “Whom?” ** Death!” ‘Come! I am burning with impatience. Where did you get this picture” ‘‘T pried it out of the dead man’s boot.” Nugget Nell let slip an exclamation of sur- rise. arr How did you know it was there?” ‘‘That makes a little story,” answered the boss of Satanscrown. ‘‘ One year ago, when I wasin Frisco, J went to the best kotel in the city. It was then the Palace Occidental. In the evening I was approached by a boy who touched my sleeve and asked if I was Colorado Carlos. I ha a beard like him then, you know. On the of the moment I told the boy that I was Color- ado, and I expected an adventure of some kind. Instead o’ that, the kid slipped a bit of paper in- to my hand, and disappeared. Ten minutegJater I found that the hotel.” ‘* But the paper—what did it say?’ exclaimed Nugget Nell impatiently. | Pie \ was watching him almost ‘‘ Where did you get this?” she cried, wheeling 2 aelite was in the same igcomicbooks.com \ be ] a Sow