Beadle's Dime Library No. 407 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

value, and is dear to nobody but the Mummy himself. I tell you, Gerta, Father ’Selmo has vamosed the ranch. He has run away from San Tonquin, and why?’ The girl was silent. “Tl tell you why,” Gold Chick continued. **Some body is hot upon the bonanza trail. I don’t know exactly who has frightened *Selmo away, but he had one visitor at least to-night.” ** Gilded George?” ‘* No, a man called San Diego Dolph, who was taken from the priest’s hut on a charge of mur- der, which was fetched into town by a dead man hangin’ across a horse. Strange, isn’t it? Most infernal strange, I say! Well, since that man left the hut, nobody has seen the padre, He is gone, and the secret has gone off with him, and here I am stranded.” and rage of a caged tiger, Gerta watched him from under her long silk lashes of ebon, and wondered when and what would be his next outbreak. ‘* Did he ever tell you anything, girl?” sudden- ly cried Gold Chick, halting in front of the Flower of San Tonquin. ‘‘ 1 mean, didn’t the Mummy ever give you a clew to thesecret? He was to be richer than the queens of old, one of these days. He never put you onto the Spanish Mine, eh?” “Father ’Selmo knew how to keep a secret when he had one,” was the calm reply. never told me anything about the Padre’s Pal- ace.’ ** Not a word?” persisted Gold Chick, as if he thought the ~irl was deceiving him. ‘**Not a syllable. I never asked him if he was the guardian of the secret.” ‘*Then you don’t know what he meant when ‘he told me that some day you would be richer ' than the queens across the sea?” obits ‘**T do not know,” Zi Gold Chick drew back and resumed his rest- less strides, watched for a time by the girl. “Bring me ink and paper,” he said over his shoulder in tones of command. Gerta left the room but soon returned with the desired articles which she placed on a little | table up,to which the sport drew a chair, oy, Dipping the pen into the ink he poised it ——~——s above the little sheet before him and glanced at “ the Flower of San Tonquin. ‘* Por the last time, Gerta, you don’t know what has become of the cowled Mummy?” he said. The eyes of the girl flashed with indignation, **My word used to be good, Gold Chick,” she exclaimed. ‘‘When didit Ise the impress of truth? I have answered your question before. - Trefuse to reply to the insinuation conveyed in its repetition.’ ** All right!” laughed the sport, as be turned m to the paper. “I must be certain of some - things, girl, and this is one of them.” _ _He said no more but began to write, and when he paused the sheet contained these words: ry i ~ c.4 + 4n”, - ~ <> he: ~ 44 “ae j » . f. oF ° sll “ a “ : - - Lee i OE es wa = ed red : “To CapraIn Dasn:—Fathor ’Selmo the Mummy of San Tonquin ran away .. night. He has left no : + and the girl swears that she knows nothing. _ Sleep with one eye open, I shall not leave her until _ 1 have struck the Mummy’s trail. Don't give up, the Spanish bonanza is no myth! ; +. ** GoLtp CuicK,”’ He folded this brief note and inclosed if in one of the envelopes Gerta had brought with the writing materials, after which he thrust it into an inner pocket and got up. _ TJ never write long letters, you see,” he said _ with a smile and a look at the girl. ‘‘I can tell all I know in very few words. Now, having > Y, _ transacted the most important business, let me tell you what I discovered in Santa Fe.” ag ‘Ah! you arecoming at last to something _, that interests me,” exclaimed Gerta, «-* T thought so,” and Gold Chick came forward e oe with a smile lurking under the ends of his mustache. ‘‘I made a thorough search of the — oes I told you were there. I pumped Colo- nel Smilax, the unknown quantity, pretty dry. es T tency I got the best of the old fellow for -- one man.” ete “Well, what did he say?’ inquired Gerta mas impatiently. | -. “Not a great deal. I believe him to be the re once called Jack Brown of Brown's Valley California.” ** And my father?” cried the girl. “Your fiddlesticks!” ejaculated Gold Chick. “Don’t you know there were two Jack Browns of Brown’s Valley? Your father is dead, and this is the other Jack, of course.” The girl's countenance fell. ‘But what did he tell you?” she asked, faint- ly. | vi Almighty little!” and then Gold Chick shut his shell like an oyster and became mute, He looked like a man who, unguardedly, had one too far, and he evidently censured himself or it. But the girl was not to be beaten thus. She seemed to see that Gold Chick was keeping back something of interest to her welfare. But you will tell ma what he said,” she ex- ss @laimed, laying her band on his arm. ‘‘ You co, eat : ‘ p* o> 4 a ~~. ys . ; ~* ~ fg i - 4 2 . t * _“~ ’ bf he ree - r -UPs 4 é oe fd e* we ‘ ‘ ey . } pif 24) ¥ is i ~ es. 7 a | f/f ' & 4 a ; ‘ ioe , Lae Poe. came here often, and he told me once that you | self.” ** THe | | | | Gold Chick chewed his big mustache and be- | gan to walk the little room with the impatience | have promised to tell me everything. I hold sage, and the girl’s trip will be ras Oe “a EF ORR ot a _ # . pix Tits 7 * Captain Coldgrip’s Nerve. we re ee MA OTe) sede a a ae a7 ' dike 1 a aot tng Pim iy e \ ae | . r * % YY 2 «ce » ; you to your word, Gold Chick. For the love of Major Miguel killed, eh? That only removes heaven, don’t deceive me in a case like this!” He looked down at her, and frowned but that did not beat her off, ‘‘If you remain silent you will send me to Sante t'e. I will see this man for myself, and I will know all that this Jack Brown knows about his namesake, Play fair with me, that is all I ask. Now go on.” ‘**Not to-night,” he said, much to the girl’s bitter disappointment. ‘‘I wish I hadn’t told you that Coloiiel Smilex said anything—he said so little.” ‘** Very well,” said Gerta, through tight lips. ‘* T shall see for myself!” ‘* Allright; but I want to tell you that you will get nothing for your trouble. You go to Sante Fe, eh? Why, it’s one hundred miles, and half of it is over Apache trails.” The resolute look in the girl’s eyes was answer enough, but she said, calmly: ‘*] shall go, if the whole distance is through the Apache’s playground! You know, Gold Chick, that my great desire is to know some- thing about my birth and parentage. I had in- trusted the solution of the secret to you. As pleasant as my life is here, I don’t want to re- main the Flower of San Tonquin. I shall see this Colonel Smilax, or Jack Brown, for my- Cold Chick gave the girl another deep look, and then walked toward the door. As he passed the table he picked up another envelope and thrust it into his pocket. ‘The hunt for the lost padre begins right away,” he said to the girl. ‘* When we find him we will be on the trail that leads to the biggest bonanza underground. There is going to be some hot fighting for it, Gerta; hotter work than we had here to-night, and that cost ten lives!” ‘** Ten?” echoed the girl. ‘*Six Indians and four whites. One of the bucks got a gun and killed four ranchers in half a second,” ‘**] did not know that.” ‘*T saw it.” In another minute the girl was alone, and | Gold Chick was burrying away. ‘*She will go to Santa Fe,” he said. ‘ This trip must gain her no information; she must not | meet Colonel Smilax. My tongue let slip too much before I could bridle it.” He walked to a certain little house which he entered and proceeded to light a lamp. ‘Tl add a postscript to my letter,” he said aloud. ‘*My pard in Santa Fe will attend to it imme- diately. Now that Father ‘Selmohasrunaway, nothing can keep Gerta in San Tonquin.” He tore open the message he had written and sealed at Gerta’s house, drew a chair up to a | table and wrote underneath his signature the following: ' “The girl is coming to Santa Fe to consult Col- | onel Smilax. You know what to do. She must never see him!”’ He sealed the message in the envelope he had icked up on Gerta’s table, and darted from the ouse, As he stepped out into the street he heard a tumult on the plaza, and distinguished the oaths of a score of enraged men. ‘‘ Something new has happened,” he said has- tening forward, ‘‘ By Jupiter! this is a night of surprises for San Tonquin!” and inamoment | as it seemed he had reached the square. ‘* Hello! cap’n!” exclaimed avoice. ‘* Doesn't this beat Satan’s last order?’ ‘‘ What has ha ** Major Migue Red Lizard!” Gold Chick started and let go an ejaculation of surprise. | ‘*'They found him in a little room dead on a | bed with finger marks at his throat, and the | man who war with him last can’t be found.” ‘* Who was he?” ‘The Injun who helped us with the Apaches, Some call him Injun Nick.” Gold Chick started again, and then drew the informer aside, ‘‘ Tunis, I’ve got to send you to Sante Fe,” he said at the same time thrusting the message in- to his hand, ‘It is a case as vital as life itself, You will take my message to Dolores Dash whom you know.” “Tf I should be held up and robbed, what?” asked the messenger. ‘* But you will not be; you must not! This letter must get to Dolores. Itis asimportant to us as the finding of the Spanish E] Dorado.” ‘* Then, by the nine gods! it gets thar!” crated | Tunis, as his hand thrust the letter into his | bosom, | ‘*Tf misfortune should overtake you, Tunis,” | said Gold Chick, compromisingly, ‘‘ you must | get to Santa Fe and say to Dolores these words: | “Selmo has run away and Gerta is coming to | see Colonel Smilax!’ I mean by this, that. if | ou are robbed of the letter, you must deliver | he substance verbally.” ; The two men parted and Tunis almost in- , stantly eee ‘‘T feel safe now,” said Gold Chick, with a- smile. ‘‘ Dolores will act when he gets the mes- | or nothing. ppened, Tunis?” was murdered to-night at the <¢ ‘8 ) af er ~ ‘ = - oy eT > a wf Lt ‘ . ~- e i 2 a, d ¢ _-. 2 a Ts . . . eee ¥ , J ee ' * 3 ye y , 4 *% 3 . t aH: ~~ Leg St pees we ieee vw’ Bo Be bo *. ~ —— to address the crowd. We will hear what the one hunter from the trail. No tears from Gold Chick, major!” And the desperado laughed. CHAPTER. 1X. COLDGRIP IN A TRAP, WE left Captain Coldgrip waiting in the shadow of the little church for Injun Nick to © emerge from the padre’s hut, and with the read- — er’s permission we will go back to the spot. The detective was eager to encounter the des- perate red-skin, and he waited for him with an eagerness which was hard to control. ‘ive—ten—twenty minutes passed awa the Indian did not show himself, 7 What was the matter? Had the wily red-/ left the hut without being seen, by the detec This was not fo { Captain Coldgrip waited awhile longer; * he moved cautiously upon the hut and reac - the door. ae a sound of any kind came from the in- side. “If the red has hoodwinked me I will ac- | knowledge it,” laughed the detective, ‘‘ but I will not do so till I have proof of it,” Proof was at hand as he was to find out. met aa awhile his impatience got the best « m, The little window at the side of the door tc him that the interior of the hut was dark, an, drawing a bowie, he raised the weoden latch and went in. | Captain Coldgrip was not certain that his en- — y, and J trance would not be disputed. He would not have been surprised if Injun Nick had fallen upon him the moment he crossed the threshold, Silence and ‘darkness greeted him. Her doubted not now that the Scarlet Hercules v. | gone, ; The detective coolly struck a match and sj veyed the interior of the but, and found it as’ had left it a few minutes before. ” Injun Nick's escape was now a mystery anc \ the match did not promise to solve it, h Captain Coldgrip searched every part of the © padre’s hut; nothing escaped bis keen eyes. ‘1 give it up,” he said reluctantly. ‘‘ I must admit that my old enemy has outwitted me.” He went outand wrlked toward the plaza. He wanted to see San Diego Dolpb, to tell him about Injun Nick’s shrewdness. As for the In- Sey himself, he did not expect to encounter i ee eal An excited crowd was swearing and surging before the Red Lizard. As he drew near he heard the name of Major Miguel frequently mentioned. | In a little while the New York spotter knew all. The proprietor of the hotel had been found strangled on his own premises, and the whole town was swearing vengeance against a person | called Injun Nick. :4 ‘* At his old tricks,” remarked the detective tc | himself, ‘* Major Miguel undoubtedly stocd ti» tween the red-skin and some end, or he wou.» — not have died thus,” 7 At this juncture there suddenly appeared on the porch of the Red Lizard a handsome man of stalwart proportions, ‘*That is the fellow the girl Gerta calls Gold Chick,” exclaimed the detective. ‘* He is going new sport bas to say.” ‘*Men of San Tonquin!” cried Gold Chick in a loud voice, and his right hand went up to en- force silence. ; The crowd grew still and pressed up to the porch, and those bebind the speaker moved for- ward until Gold Chick’s figure op a box towered above a dense mass of dark-faced men. ‘* Murder bas been committed, men of San Tonquin,” continued the sport. ‘ Major Miguel has been strangled in his own house by a sneak-— ing Indian who does not belong to the six swing- ing on the plaza. This vile assassin takes the major to his room with the coolness of a hired thug and does his work in cold blood. When he bas finished it he steals away like a thief of blood, and leaves his victim to be found by his friends when they have missed him,” The crowd broke out fresh at the end of Gold Chick’s remarks; threats, oaths, and cries for vengeance made the air tremble. Gold Chick had no love for Major Miguel, but — he had a scheme which he might carry out by are the lawless toughs against the landlord’s — slayer. The shrewd desperado possessed no eloquence, but he knew how to handle the men “e whom he was surrounded, He painted the killing of Major Miguel with the deepest colors, he told the crowd that the person known as Injun Nick was an assassin who killed solely for the sake of killing, and rated him below the Apaches ‘eh had just had a taste of San Tonquin jus- ce. ‘*This red scorpion has pards,” suddenly ex- claimed Gold Chick, ‘*They v.-e in San Ton- quin to-night, and they may k ,1ere now. Let_ every stranger be arrested a « held till he proves his innocence, if he can. Vengeance for he blood of Major Miguel!” The crowd took up the cry till it seemed te shake the stars that shone above thetown. Itis) — “comicboo be | i {