Beadle's Dime Library No. 392 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

2 I ge a — = > a a Ue CS ee me ll - my aE >» ~ io, 7 > el , : ae « 1 _ ae * x The Lost Bonanza. 5 ‘‘ You would never have found their secret,” laughed Ruby Rob. ‘*T knew whar to look andI found it. It con- sisted of a picture and written paper. They fell into the hands of Colorado Carlos just afore you came,” Onyx Oll threw a fierce look beyond the door and down the street. ‘*The heiress of the Golden Gate is nigher than you think, Onyx. The man who died in Satanscrown last night was the Silent Hound of California; he was hunting the Bonanza Queen.” ‘* Tell that to the hills!” laughed the listening sport. res I tell it to you and swear that every word is true!” and Ruby Rob solemnly threw up his hand. ‘* The Silent Hound expected to find her in one of three camps—Satanscrown, Trigger Bar and Tar- tarus Gulch. Colorado Carlos will master the paper and take up the hunt. He must be beaten at this game he has begun.” ‘“* By heavens! he shall be, hyer of course.” ‘* No; then she must be at Trigger Bar or Tar- tarus Gulch.” ‘* He can’t reach both camps at once.” ‘* Thar’s whar we have ’im!” exclaimed Rub Rob. ‘‘ I intended to goalone until he played this unexpected and dazzling hand. Letmemap out the programme. I will take Agate Alf and ‘Topaz Tom and break for Trigger Bar; you and Jasper John will go straight to Tartarus Gulch we will leave Diamond Dave behind to play any necessary hand here. There is two million in this game, Onyx. Wemust beswift and certain,” es at if we run across Colorado Carlos?” or The mountain Ishmaelite must be killed on sight!’ ‘By Jove! itis a big game!” cried Onyx Oll. ‘We'll git thar!” CHAPTER V. THE SECOND STRANGER. TRIGGER BAR and Tartarus Gulch, the two Fer a were fifty miles apart and a long distance from Satanscrown, As it was late in the day when Ruby Rob and his pards set out for them, it was impossible for the best horse in the mountains to reach them before the next day. These two camps were to be searched for the missing heiress of the Golden Gate. Colorado Carlos was to be forestalled, if possible, and the gi was to be found before he could put his ands upon her, The mountain Ishmaclite had the portrait taken from its hiding-place under the Silent Hound’s boot-sole, and with it he could identify the lost heiress although the picture represented her in her childhood, In this respéct he command- ol an advantage over the Jewels of Satanscrown, but as Ruby Rob had issued orders that Carlos should be killed on sight it was likely that he would not hold the picture long. Diamond Dave was left behind, to “‘ keep the camp straight,” as Ruby Rob said, witha smile, on leaving, but, in reality, to play any hand that circumstances might demand. ’ When the shadows of night closed again about Satanscrown, several men, headed by Diamond Dave, took the corpse of the stranger and buried it on the mountain-side, where halfa dozen little mounds told the story of as many violent deaths. There was nothing impressive about the fur.eral; a grave was made in a hurry and the body lowered into it with a show of ceremony. A few shovelfuls of earth completed the work, and the tough sextons in gray shirts went back to drink over their labors at Cuban Con’s bar. The little whisky-seller, with Spanish blood in his veins, was anxious to know why Ruby Rob and four men had so suddenly deserted Satans- crown. He drew Diamond Dave to one side and put the question. **Bizness ©’ some kind, I reckon,” was the mon ‘Why didn’t you go?’ pressed the yellow- faced man, ‘ a oe ae said Dave, ‘You won’t tell me anything, eh ‘¢ Got nothin’ ter tell.” ean At" Cuban Con bit his lips. He knew better than that; he believed that Diamond Dave knew the secret of the pards’ departure; he knew but would not tell; that was it. At nine o’clock that night Cuban Con turned his bar over to a man who sometimes clerked for him, and went out. He was stiJl in the dark about Ruby Rob’s schemes, and the mystery al- most crazed bim. Satanscrown was still, and the moon was shining here and there. _The boughs of the few trees visible seemed asleep, for their leaves had no motion, and Cuban Con could almost have heard the tread of a coyote. He went to his own shanty, which was near the saloon, and entered, closing the door behind bim. Without striking a light he found @wo re- volvers in a leathern belt, which he buckled about his waist, then he went to the door and stepped out, The next moment Cuban Con halted before thé door of his shanty, and his eyes told that they saw something startling. A. few yards from the shanty, and across the . The heiress isn’t \ —_—_—— ee een ee SSS figure of aman which had just come upon the scene. Cuban Con stood in shadow, but the stranger was in the moonlight, and the proprietor of the whisky den had a good view of him from head to foot. He saw that the camp’s visitor was about the tolerably well dressed. hair was long and lay over his shoulders. Cuban which were shaded by thesombrero-like brim of a hat with a wide band and two tassels. ‘** That man was never here before,” murmured the whisky-seller while he stared at the motion- less person. ‘‘He comes to Satanscrown at a time that makes one suspicious. killed by some unknown person last night in this, camp; the victim was unknown, too; he had the | he had no tongue. I’d like to know who you ar’, stranger, an’ by heavens! I’m goin’ to!” Cuban Con was certain that the stranger had | not seen him, so he leaned toward his cabin | door and drew on his boots without noise. ALI | the time he kept his eyes riveted on the person | in the moontiekt When the stranger started off, the Spanish- blooded tough almost leaped up; the little man | a slightly as if from a hurt in one of his imbs, ‘*T knew a limpin’ man once, but it was years ago, an’ he died since then,” said Cuban Con to himself. ‘‘He limped just like that man out | there; he was about his size, too. We used to '| call him Colonel Tarantula, and he was as | posanons as that spider. I’m going to follow im. Something *’mighty important fetched that man to camp.” The limping stranger kept down the street, and Cuban Con followed him through the shad-— or Me the cabins which he kept at his right and, ‘* lve followed men before, an’ I’ve got the art down to a science,” he ejaculated, ‘* You can’t play any new hand here to-night. I’m almost willin’ to call you Colonel Tarantula’s ghost, but-—- Hello! play, eh?” At that moment the stranger was crossing the street toward the cabin occupied by Nugget Nell; he kept his eyes on it as he advanced. The whisky-seller me CK and hugged the front of the cabin at his back. He did not Jose a single movement made by the man he watched. Straight to the woman’s home went the stran- ger, and Cuban Con saw his hand move up- ward to the latch of the door. ‘** He knows who’s in thar!” said Con. ‘‘ That man would drop in his tracks ef Cuban Con wer’ Ruby Rob.” A moment’s silence followed the click of the iron latch and the door was opened. As the figure of the seams. pa anes goles Cuban Con | took a great bound forward, but quick as he was, he did not see the meeting inside, nor hear | the exclamation of the woman who forced her visitor. Nugget Nell had been taken by surprise. The stranger had found her on the low cot but half asleep; his entrance had strartled her like | an electric bolt, and when she saw him in the | light of her lamp she went to the wall with a gasping cry of *‘ My God!” The beautiful black eyes of the gold-camp Cleopatra seemed to start from their sockets; she showed her visitor a countenance frightened | into pallor, and while she shuddered his eyes | laughed. red “T thought I'd startle you,” he said coming | forward. ‘You didn’t think Td run you down.” | } *S a woman in the a No.” The answer was spoken without the least ef-— fort on the woman’s part. ‘“You thought I war dead, eh?” the man went on. Yes.” ; ‘The monster that digs our graves has been en more than once by Colonel Tarantula.” A man on the outside of the cabin uttered an exclamation at the pronunciation of this name. ‘** By Jupiter! it is the colonel himself,‘* he said and the next moment he drew a bowie- knife and held it along his sleeve, ‘‘ Woe to me if this man discovers that I am here. He is as deadly as the spider for whom he is named. Policy forces me to make this visit to Satans- crown his last.” Then Cuban Con elevated his eyes above the rough sill of the window near the door and saw the occupants of the cabin. ‘1 don’t want you now.” said the man as he road that ran through Satanscrown stood the | medium hight, not very compactly built, and | | till 1 know.” His face appeared smooth and thin, but his | Con could not see the expression of the eyes | | A man was | get Neil, as s h | from the cabin, and in the moonlight. — ‘* The solid truth,” was the answer. ‘‘ Where is Ruby Rob?” ** Gone away.” ‘* What is his destination?” Nugget Nell hesitated. To tell this man, that would be to open the story of the murder and the secret of the boot. ‘You don’t want to tell me, I see,” smiled Colonel Tarantula. ‘‘I am going to stay here He stepped back and seated himself coolly at the little table. ‘** There was a man killed in Satanscrown last night,” he went on. ‘Yes, and you killed him!” cried Nugget Nell springing forward so suddenly that the man gave a slight start. ‘‘ Your presence here tells me this as plainly as though I had seen the death- shot fired. I know you! Great God! J ought to, I should say!” Instead of a frown, a smile broadened on ‘*’You’d make a good detective,” he said. ‘I haven’t been in camp an hour before I am ac- cused of killing aman. This is doing geo u ae Isay. But let us go back tomy su ey ‘ ‘here did Ruby Rob go? I believe you did not answer the question as I put it before.” - ; And I may not answer it now,” said Nugget ell. ‘You may answer others before a Frisco court if you do not.” ** Do 9 threaten me?” ‘Tf that was a threat, yes!” A moment’s silence reigned in the little cabin. The blaze of the lamp quavered between the ir. ‘Am I to be answered?” asked Colonel Tar- antula. ‘‘ Remember! I want the truth. They call you Nugget Nell here; it’s an improvement on your other name which I always thought—” ‘**Do not speak it here!” interrupted the wo- man, darting forward as if she would place her hand over the man’s lips. ‘‘ Spare me the hear- ing of a name I have not spoken for months.” “Then,” said the man sternly, ‘‘ then, I must have the truth. Where is Ruby Rob?” ‘* He went to Trigger Bar.” ‘** On business?” **On business.” Colonel Tarantula who had drawn back, now leaned forward again. deuce of diamonds tattooed over his heart, and | Colonel Tarantula’s face. ‘* What did he find on tne dead man’s person?” | he asked. ‘* Nothing.” ‘But if the Silent Hound of California had not died last night, Captain Rob would not have — gone to Trigger Bar. You know that, woman. oO on. ‘* What do you want me to say?” asked Nug- e began to think that her secret was safe. ** All you know, or—” **Or what?” ‘*Or you go to Frisco and face the men who want you there!” “ This time the woman's lips met firmly. ‘*'You will have to take me to Frisco,” she said in a voice that seemed to deceive her per- sistent visitor. ‘‘ Ruby Rob doesn’t tell me his | secrets. I had no right to ask him wh ) him to Trigger Bar. Herel am! If you think I have lied you can take me to Frisco. I am at your mercy.” Colonel Tarantula looked disappointed; he left the stool and stepped back. “You don’t know what took Ruby Rob to Trigger Bar, eh?” he said. Emboldened by her success Nugget Nell threw up her hand. ‘**Do you want me to swear it?” ‘**Oh no,” laughed the colonel. ‘‘A woman who would play the game you once played in Frisco will do anything. I won't press you fur- ther, but I want you to know that from this time on you are liable to hear often from Colonel Tarantula, the man with the death sting. Tell Rob I war here when he comes back. I don't care. You say lI killed the Silent Hound last. night, Maybe you couldn’t prove it beforea court of justice woman, ha, ha, ba!” “‘ The dead come back sometimes,” he og hat His eyes were fixed on the Colorado Cleopatra t-| w hile he laughed, and the next moment he was gone! ~ ‘“ Won't somebody kill that man for me?” leaped from her lips as she started toward the oor. ‘111 kill him for myself,” grated a man who eged the cabin wall outside. Colonel Tarantula was already several yards The person who spoke last leaped forward noiseless in his stockings. A wild bound carried him across the spac and something glittered in the hand he tnek toward the heavens, ** ‘You came hyer to die, Colonel Tarantula!” faced the woman whose features his flashing eyes | he hissed. seemed to burn. much beauty since—but I won’t open the past. It wouldn’t be agreeable to you just now, and besides, I haven’t time to talk about it.” The woman looked relieved; if there was a | subject she wanted the man to keep silent on it | was that of the past. ** What do you want, then?” she said. . ““T believe you haven’t lost | | man In the cabin door, but he did see the face The next instant the little man whirled; he had the quickness of the young tiger-cat. Cuban Con did not see the spellbound wo- that confronted him, and he felt the re gat that held the wrist of the hand that clutched his bowie! | vi ha! you didn’t have to speak before Eomicbooks ¢ A " P ; CO RP te i are oe ont . ra ¢ “= Y a 3% nO ha } v b, | ae . \ et «= ey oe An a 4 . 4 Ase S. ee . se ee hh : ¢ o, 4 @ ewe