Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 41 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

BO te Ae ce ee 12 Beadle’s Dime Library. all the witnesses, both Mormon and Gentile, had sworn that his revolver was in his hand at the time Googer got his death-wound. lt was a horse to a hen now in regard to the verdict, CHAPTER XIV. THE VERDICT. THE jury retired to deliberate upon their verdict. There was little doubt in the minds of most of the crowd in re- gard to the decision, and even the Mormons could not help admit- tiug that they had not made out a very clear case against the prisoner. And as for the Danite chief, stern, black-browed Long John Clark, he was perplexed. At the beginning there hadn't been a doubt in regard to Gold Dan’s guilt, in his opinion, but the testi- mony of the medical expert had suddenly opened his eyes. It was plain that some unknown foe had taken advantage of the occasion to wreak his vengeance upon the Mormon elder, rightly judging that in the confusion of the moment the deed would be charged upon the plainsman. But, whose daring and cunning hand was it that had laid the Mormon low? Within the recesses of a neighboring saloon the jury had re- tired, everybody, except the barkeeper, being turned out, and that individual admonished to keep himself busy behind the bar, and not to watch the proceedings of the grave men within whose hands the sword of justice had been placed, ‘‘ All right, gents; I'll be as dumb as an oyster and as quiet as aclarn,” the gentle compounder of mixed drinks had replied, pro- ceeding to ensconce himself under the bar, thushiding from sight, Six Mormons and six Gentiles, Six men strong in the belief that Gold Dan ought to be strung up at once without mercy, and six equally as confident that the plainsman was an innocent man. It did not take many minutes to develop these facts. One of the jurymen had proposed a ballot, and three times they had voted, the result the same each time. and then the wrath of the-man-from-Red-Dog burst forth: ** Nice set of jurymen you air, you Mormon skunks! all on you to wote one way all the time, you no-souled, chicken-gizzarded galoots! Say, some one on you come over here and dig me In the ribs, so I kin kill him to once, and then we'll stand six to five, and as the majority rules in this hyer land of liberty, the five will have to gi’n in!” A chorus of indignant ‘‘Ohs!” came from the Mormons, and one tall, broad-shouldered chap took it upon himself, despite the weight and muscular build of the Red-Dogite, to dare him to in- stant conflict. “Oh, hear this Gentile rooster!” he cried, in bold defiance; ‘¢don’t you crow so loud or maybe you'll get your comb cut.” Dandy Jim’s voice was at once for war. With an agility wonderful for a man of his size, he danced up to the defiant Mormon, and in the most dextrous manner smacked him in the chops with the flat of his monstrous hand. The force of the slap brought tears to the eyes of the stricken man, and then, with a howl, the Mormon closed in with the-man-from-Red-Dog, and the two combatants swayed to and fro, closely locked in each other’s arms. The Salt-Lakers made a movement as if they intended to rush to the assistance of their brother, but the Gentiles, whipping out their revolvers, yelled for hem to keep back. ‘Let ’em alone! keep back! a fair fight and no favor!” cried one of the borderers, and the rest took up the cry. “ A fair shake and no favor!” Then up from behind the bar rose the person of the urbane barkeeper, the genial Johnny Lynch, a self-cocking revolver in each hand. | ‘““Gentlemen, I rise to remark, and my meaning is plain, that, while I despise interfering with any jury in the world, I would observe that the tumblers and glasses hyer cost a heap, and if you’re going to commence to smash things ginerally, T shall have to interfere with your deliberations!” But, there was no danger of a general row as the barkeeper apprehended, for the Gentiles had the advantage of the situation, their weapons being out, and the Mormons hesitated to draw, | knowing that their slightest movement in such a direction would instantly produce a conflict. No match was Dandy Jim’s opponent for the Red-Dog giant. By a dextrous twist the Gentile champion upset the Mormon and bore him over to the floor, and then, pressing his brawny knees upon the broad chest of the other, he held him helpless at his mercy. , And the moment that the Gentile fairly got the advantage, with a dextrous hand he drew the weapons of the other from his belt and cast them away. ‘Lemme up!” growled the conquered man. “Oh, no, not by a jug-full!” responded the-man-from-Red-Dog; ‘“‘this hyer circus is jest a-goin’ to begin. I’ve got to argue with you. I hate to doit; but my duty to my country compels me, I reckon that I wasn’t put on this hyer jury for nothing! [ve got to convince you that yuu’ve made a tarnal mistake when you say that Gold Dan is guilty!” ‘So he is!” growled the Mormon, sulkily. Bang! the Red-Dogite’s heavy fist descended on the fat nose of the prostrate man, eliciting from him a most fiendish howl. ' “Let him up!” yelled the Mormons. “No, no, let ’em argue the p’int!” the Gentiles responded. And argue it the-man-from-Red-Dog did, the hammered Mor- mon yelling at every blow. ‘‘Hold on!” he cried at last, unable to stand further punish- ment. “Do you gi’n in?” ‘¢ Yes—oh, blazes, yes!” “Ts he innocent? Do you vote not guilty?” “You be—” &¢ What?” ; And the up-raised, ponderous fist of the giant checked the angry speech. **Do you say not guilty?” ‘ ‘‘J_” the beaten Mormon glared at the brawny fist, felt the smart of his bruises and yielded. ‘‘ Yes, not guilty.” The giant got off the Mormon, and allowed him to get up. ‘‘Now we stand seven to five!” Dandy Jim cried in triumph. * Ain’t the rest of you fellers a-goin’ to come over?” Anindignant ‘‘No!” came from the lips of the enraged Mor- mons. “Send out your next man, then, to argue the p’int!” cried the giant, squaring himself for the conflict. ‘I’m willing to see the thing through, and to save time I’ll take you two little fellows both at once.” Two of the Mormon jurymen were smaller than the rest, and it was these two that the giant had singled out. The Salt-Lakers looked blank at this bold offer. ‘‘ Hold on!” cried one of them; ‘‘T ain’t no fightin’ man, Iain’t, and I never heerd of a jury settling sich a thing with their fists.” ‘‘Come over then to-once and then thar won’t be any need to argue,” one of the Gentiles suggested. Then up popped the head of the barkeeper from behind the counter. ‘‘Gents, I heered of a jury once that settled sich a p’int by a game of keerds.” This suggestion jumped at once with the humor of both the contending parties. A requisition was at once made upon the barkeeper forthe necessary ‘‘papers,” two champions were chosen; one from each party, and then they proceeded to arrange the conditions; but then there came a difficulty at once. The Mormons contended that if their side won Dan must be brought in guilty, an idea which the Gentiles laughed at, for, as they justly said, they were seven to five, thanks to the one vote that the brawny fists of the Red-Dogite had gained, and they must have that fact taken into account. A wrangle ensued, which seemed more than likely to end in a free fight, when the deliberations were interrupted by a message from Judge Lynch, wanting to know if they were ever going tc come to an understanding, for the crowd were getting impatient. The Mormon jurymen eagerly seized upon the opportunity to procure a release from their unpleasant situation, ‘‘Oh, no, we'll never agree!” ‘‘Never agree!’’ echoed the chorus. “Yes, we will; gi’n us time! I’ll fotch ’em toit!” Dandy Jim ejaculated, doubling up his huge fists. But the Mormons took advantage of the opea door to escape. ‘‘No verdict, eh?’ said Judge Lynch; “‘ well then, that bu’sts the hull thing. Dan, we'll release you on your own responsi- bility you’re liable to be fotched up ag’in, you know.” And so the trial ended. CHAPTER XV. A PUZZLE, Wrrn the announcement of the judge’s decision the court broke up and the crowd slowly dispersed. : There were some angry murmurs among the Mormons, but as they looked upon John Clark as a leader, and he made no sign looking toward a conflict, they contented themselves with grumb- ling among themselves. t The Duke of Corinne was perplexed; he had felt sure that Gold Dan had killed the Mormon and yet the evidence clearly proved him innocent of the deed. Clark slowly sauntered away to where his horse was tied to a post, his head bent down in meditation. The first blow against Gold Dan had failed, and it had cost too the life of a good stout Mormon; when and where the next, and what should be the nature of the second stroke? " = ‘The fellow must be got out of the way,” Clark muttered, as he strode along; “he is a far better man than I thought he was, and if we are not careful he will make us trouble in the future.” As Clark laid his hand upon the lariat by means of which his horse was fastened, a dark figure stole up to his side. | Light as was the footfall it caught the ear of the Danite and he turned quickly, his hand upon his revolver, for the suspicion flashed upon his mind that possibly the secret foe who had laid Googer low might have marked him for a victim. But at the first glance the Danite recognized the dark form— the Texan, as he called himself—Jules Mercado, | Like a watchful tiger the Texan had hovered on the edge of the throng all through the lynch trial, eagerly waiting for a chance to execute his vengeance upon his foe, but fortune did not favor his purpose, and so his design was frustrated, ‘‘ Hello, is that you?’ the Mormon queried, | it Yes; you have missed it to-night,” “* How so?” | ia 4 ote Ying ECOMIGDOO - os _ “ —~ — —