Beadle's Dime Library No. 407 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

—- - he # ie ' ty we Pee ; - q apt ¥ pe are ay aes a te | ea . 7 % ain Coldgrip’s Nerve. 5 i *Prove to my satisfaction that he does not!” ried the detective leaning forward. ‘‘ What? are you one of the dupes, too?” was the quick retort. ‘The country must be full of them.” ‘Full or not, I know that the Spanish tonanza is no myth, and that the little padre knows more about it than he will ever tell without coercion.” The girl’s eyes instantly flashed, and she took ~.sudden step forward. “And you would coerce the Mummy, would you, Gilded George?” she exclaimed. ‘* You would hunt the little padre down and torture him for what he may not know? Don’t tell this to San Tonquin; don’t go to the veranda of the Red Lizard and proclaim your intentions in a loud voice.” ‘“ Why not?” ventured the detective. ‘“9Selmo is the heart of San Tonqtin,” was the answer. ‘‘When you touch him you cock every revolver and loosen every bowie in the town. There is a story, or a prophecy, to the effect that with the Mummy’s life departs the luck of San Tonquin, I[ don’t believe such things: but there are two hundred desperate men here who do,” ‘Has anybody ever touched ’Selmo?” “Yes. A man tried to rob him, three months naan ** Well?” “They hung him before the Red Lizard be- fore morning!” ‘* Who was he?” ‘‘ A big man with Indian blood in his veins.” ‘‘Of what did he want to rob Father ’Selmo?” “Of the secret of the Spanish bonanza!” smiled the young girl. ‘Ah! they all think he guards it!” ‘* What do you think?’ ‘*T never think,” was the strange answer. ‘Then by Jove! you know!” cried the detec- tive. The Flower of Sau Tonquin recoiled as if she expected a spring from the man before her; but Coldgrip kept his station in the middle of the little room and looked sharply at her. All at once the door behind him opened and he saw by the sudden change of the girl’s color that the visitor was not welcome, just then. Captain Coldgri wheeled and the first sight of the person in the doorway caused him to start. ‘‘Oh! I see I’m in the wrong box,” said the visitor, who was a stalwart man with steely gray eyes, a big mustache and dressed in gar- ments plentifully adorned with silver lace and gold buttons. ‘I didn’t intend to intrude, Miss erta. [am just back from Sante Fe, and, as I promised to call atonce, I hayecome. Pardon the intrusion. Iam off!” the door shut and the man was gone. Gone! but with a farewell look at Captain Coldgrip which told that he would, in the future, solicit a further acquaintance, ‘* That is Gold Chick,” explained the girl. “Your friend?” *‘My friend whether I will it or not,” she answered, with a smile. ‘‘He is one of those men whose best years have been given to a hunt for the Padre’s Palace. Gold Chick has not left a stone unturned. If he should suspect your mission, Gilded George—” ete would happen?” asked the detective eagerly. efore the girl could reply a loud whoop came in from the street; it was followed by another and another. ‘‘ Indians!” exclaimed the Flower of San Ton- quin. ‘They burst in upon us every now and then. Don’t you want to see them? Come! they must be near us now.” oldgrip followed the girl to the front door and she held it open for him to pass out, As he reached the step a dozen steeds ridden by Indians dashed by in a cloud of moonlit dust, and with genuine Apache yells. The next moment he felt his wrist grasped by fingers that closed about it like the claws of an eagle and he was drawn aside. “ve been waiting for you, pard,” said a voice at Coldgrip’s ear. ‘‘If I haven’t lost m aight our old enemy, Injun Nick, is in town!” he speaker was San Diego Dolph. CHAPTER V. A ‘akin to a thrill took ; FEELING akin to a thrill too ion o ‘the New York detective. He looked down into Dol h’s face with an amazed stare. hen did ae see the man you call Injun Nick” he ask Not twenty minutes I ought to know me to the horse and the scoundrel who lash oe the vultures. I had a chance to cash sent em _ a his chips at death’s counter ong first.” , but I want you to Coldgrip looked back toward the door, but it was shut and the Flower of San Tonquin was gone. 8 ‘* Come along, then,” he said, impetuously. HP failed to find the padre, but, never mind—he ‘will not always be lost. We will have to content ourselves for the present with Injun Nick,” The two men walked rapidly toward the Red Lizard: Hotel, which, standing on one side of a OO aaa Ta 4 “? be small square or plaza, was the most notorious resort in town. . Every prominent event happened in or before the Red Lizard, which was kept by a New Mex- ican called Major Miguel. . This man was not without a history which embraced half a dozen duels and wilder es- capades; he had roughed it from Shasta to the land of the Montezumas, and more than one rson had wondered why he had settled down in San Tonquin. It is true that rumor had placed the mouth of the lost Spanish Mine in the vicinity of the town, but a dozen other places enjoyed the same report, and there seemed to be nothing striking in San Tonquin’s favor. Legend and story had combined to make this old mine one of fabulous riches. There was no limit to the wealth that lay hidden in its dark recesses. Men had hunted for it with a perse- verance that deserved success, and for fifty years the main trails of New Mexico and the great Southwest had been made for the Padre’s Palace, Gerta, the Flower of San Tonquin, uttered a truth when she toid Captain Coldgrip that more than one citizen ‘of the town had the great secret for the goal of his life. Desperadoes, miners and cowboys discussed the lost mine on the Red Lizard’s veranda or in the saddle on the plains. A thousand calcula- tions of its riches had been made, and the rich- est dividends imaginable had been struck—al- ways on paper! Lizard, was one of the mine-hunters, he had many a companion near at hand, The detective and San Diego Dolph were not long in reaching the plaza. The Indians who had ridden, in a cloud of dust, past Gerta’s house, had reached it before them, and the two men saw a number of horses in the plaza. “The Apache hounds have stopped,” said Dolph with a glance at the detective. “I hate Indians as I hate water. Thar’s only one good one and he ar’ the red what took me from the vultures,” ‘* What was his name?” ‘Wizard Dick. That is his whitename: half of these Indians have two names, you know. I haven't seen him since he hel me when I needed it.” Coldgrip and Dolph kept in the shadow of the houses and trees of the plaza and edged their way toward the Red Lizard. A boisterous crowd swarmed in front of the hotel, and the two pards heard the coarse lan- guage of white men and the jargon of the Apaches. fajor Miguel had hung a lamp with a reflec- tor on the porch, and by this means the crowd and the a onde horses were seen. The New York detective noticed the arrowy figures of the half-naked pests of the Southwest. He saw them glide hither and thither, perfectly free and fearless, among the men who would have cut their throats at the drop of a sombrero. More than one cowboy had lost his cattle by an Apache raid, and doubtless the present visit to San Tonquin was but a diversion to cover some fresh deviltry. “*Thar’s our man!” suddenly said Dolph to Coldgrip, and his finger pointed toward the Red Lizard. More than a hundred men red and white were in sight at that moment, but the detective, looking over Dolph’s finger, saw the one he had singled out. large man with an Indian face, and partly civilized garments, stood squarely in the light of ag il Miguel’s lamp. He leaned coolly against one of the wooden illars of the veranda which was raised three eet above the plaza level and was gazing at the animated scene before him, Captain Coldgrip leaned forward with eager- ness; his gaze became fastened on the man on the porch, _ “Isn't it Injun Nick?” asked San Diego Dolph impatiently. ; ‘“Injun Nick or his twin!” the detective as- sen . “It is the arch devil himself,” exclaimed Dolph. ‘He bas no twin; there isn’t another like him in existence! What do F Sey think fetcbed him to San Sareea, to-night?” ‘*Can’t you guess “If he wrote the accusation the corpse brought he has come to see what effect it, had,” was the answer. ‘‘The dead body has been taken away, and anybody can tell him-that I was nee, oe ps I don’t care what brought him here. Iam goihg to pay him forever. for m ride across the Texan plain,” and Capiain Cold- grip saw the heavy six shooter in Dolphb’s band. ‘*Great Ceesar! did you ever see such a tar- get, captain?” jae went on, his eyes blazing as e watched the Indian. ‘* He may have come with some of his band?” ‘* What do I care if he fetched every devil of them along? I feel the vultures at me this very moment, and the fire that burned my, throat that infernal day istbar again!” .. | Up went the revolver before the detective | ; , : “ d — / ' - ae ' — OOO ee ee a ——s ; near the door—the right mun this time, O33 If Major Miguel, the proprietor of the Red | ‘‘ This is the play of your last Mazeppa!” hiss- ed Dolph. ‘Lost in Texas—found in San Ton- quin!” ‘* Not just yet!” exclaimed Captain Coldgrip, and Dolph saw a hand clutch the revolver. ‘*Injun Nick’s trail may lead us to the doors of the Padre’s Palace. Let us watch the red rat- tler for a while.” ‘* And take the chances?” said Dolph wheeling upon the detective. ‘* And take the chances!” was the echo, ‘** { don’t believe in that. to-night ani he may show up with a cold deck when he isn’t looked for. e— By Jove! the game is gone already!” Coldgrip looked toward the hotel and saw that Injun Nick had suddenly and rather mysterious- ly disappeared. ‘* Whar’s your man now?” asked Dolph, with a scowl. ‘* Don’t you see he has the slippery ualities of the eel? You must not give that ellow an inch of string. He will take a lasso’s length if you do.” a For the present I am willing be shall have it. The two watched the crowd for a few min- utes, but the Indian did not come back to his oillar. All at once the whole assembly began to move toward the Red Lizard. ‘* What does that mean?’ asked Dolph. ‘* Somebody’s treat,”’ suggested the other. ‘““That’s more than I kin stand. I’m as dry as a fish, captain.” Coldgrip smiled. just now for a drink?” he asked. ‘*Wouldn’t I? Wait for me here, captain.” And before the detective could detain him he ~ was off and was crossing the plaza with the bravado of a lion. ‘Some men are born fools,” murmured Cold- grip, as he watched the vanishing figure. “If that one meets Injun Nick, as he is likely to. somebody will get killed in a flash. He sha’n’t invade the lion’s cage alone. I have made that man my pard, and, fool or sage, I intend to stand by him.” Reaching his hand into an inside pocket, the detective produced a full beard, which he clap-_ upon his face, and thus entirely changed is appearance, Dolpb had already vanished, and the bar-room : of the Red Lizard was full and overflowing. The porch also was pretty well crowded, and the detective saw that only a deep pocket could _ stand treat for the whole thirst He saw nothing of Sau Diego reached the veranda, set. Let that Indian go | ‘‘ But you wouldn’t go to the Red Lizard’s bar — olph when he > In all probability, that individual had edged — his way into the bar-room, and at that moment — might be standing face to face with Injun\' Nick. a 4 The detective caught one of the pillars and swung himself lightly upon the porch. Nobody — had seen bim. . An eager crowd was before the door, and a fae dozen men were cursing and laughing at own efforts to get into the Red Lizard’s bar- LL room. ‘*The Indians are all inside,” muttered the captain. ‘If there is a scheme in this it to be working well. San Tonquin and the r chers may be going to get even, ’ : he next moment the ligbt of lamp suddenly ¥ . 2 * it. ‘“There is something in the wind,” he said te himself. ‘‘I believe going - *}s a? - Le ‘ - sthe veranda hs er dim, and the detective We who looked quickly saw a band drop away from _ R * om c Ps . that San Tonquin is re: lly measure devilment with the Apaches.” _ Tbe last word was still unexpressed when a man swung himself upon the captain bad done, a moment before, Coldgri rch just as the looked at the agile fellow and saw the figure as tog a giant in the dim light. Not more than thre feet separated them. | “Great heavens! it is Injun Nick!” and the — pebeckivey hand moved toward the revolver on his hip. ore Yes, the famous red fox was before him a atithin touching distance! tain now—San Diego Dolph would not encoun- ter bim in the ltar-room. The light on the “ee porch was not sufficient to show a rath y in > distinctness; the Indian horses, lef square in charge of a buck or two, a solid mass. «* One thing wascer- — 4, * * * re. ae oe -* iz 8 ee a? 4 ~. i Suddenly Injun Nick took a step toward the detective. ‘*San Tonquin is going to spring a trap,” he - -* policy a said in Captain Coldgrip’s face. Or the plaza, and when you hear a yell in the bar- room shoot the s of the horses. We mus help San Tonquin a little to-night; it is Injun Nick sto abruptly. fu ‘“Excuse me—the wrong man!” he exclaimed, _ for not until then did the Indian discover that — ne was not addressing a person whom he did not ow. i - © He turned away with no further apology,and without seeing that he had talked to his greatest foe. A smile came to the detective’s lips, and his dark eyes gleamed mischievously. He saw Injun Nick touch a#man who stood Fv ’.. 4 ~ Bk ia ~ comicbooks . _ tied anal ’ cL 7 Lr * s" | ‘2 ‘ com 4 ie ete