Beadle's Dime Library No. 415 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

SS _—— 6 ing the tracks of the dead man’s horse, and your feet have destroyed those of the assassin, made when he dragged the body here.” ‘‘Can you discover nothing?” ‘When the shot was fired, the victim fell to the ground at once. He fell here. His horse, frightened by the shot, sprung to one side. Look near the edge of the road and you can see the half-circle he made before shooting back into the middle of the road.” ‘* But the assassin’s footprints. He dragged : the body here; did he leave no sign?” =a “If he did, it is now gone. Only your own footprints are to be seen. But the assassin may have removed all trace of his own tracks.” ‘This is most unfortunate.” “What does it matter?’ exclaimed Paul Net- tleton, impatiently. ‘‘ Are you all so dull of comprehension as to call this a mystery? Let me name the murderer for you. Who should it be but this Mr, Frazer Hot Heart?” md CHAPTER VI. FOR MURDER! EvERY eye turned upon the speaker, and with the more interest because Paul had been in the Vicinity so short a time and knew so little about i any one who lived there. e regards of Red Jaguar and Philip War- burton were noticeable for their gravity, and the latter gravely made reply: | ‘What eae the Hermit as the murderer? im Why should be harm Palmer Hague?” = ‘“Of course you can’t be expected to under- stand,” Paul superciliously replied, ‘* but my father will understand. Hot Heart and Lague uarreled last night; the former issued a ducl : a which Hague declined to accept, and the Fire-Eater went away vowing vengeance. ~ He took this road, and went about ten minutes ahead of Hague, and it is clear that he kept his threat.” aa Paul certainly made a strong case; his start- Sid ling sugge tion could not but Lave due weight, but Philip Warburton hesitated only a moment before replying: jo ae ‘até *. Fy £ 5 < . ~—.°> =e B 148 ” _ ote: _ -~——s« * ‘I believe the Hermit is really innocent; he is fi no assassin!” -'——- Paul looked at him superciliously. “wae ‘My father will form his own opinion. I -_-- will merely remind bim that the quarrel was not geen by any of the out-door servants.” oes" Philip Warburton’s face flushed. He was well aware that he was only an employee of the commodore, and expected to be regarded as a “servant,” but he knew very well that the word had been flung in his face as a deliberate insult. : He remained silent, but Commodore Nick and ‘the field-hand gave their opinions that Paul was d Jaguar said nothing. He had drawn his blanket closer around his stalwart form, and stood in silence, but his gaze searched each face gnturn. Whatever ke thought, his face told as ie little as his tongue. Word had already been sent to Clifftown to summon the officers, and three of them and a x Ae PS 4. Os z. ait 4 fet ~ . ‘ — e >: rq that fee OE al Th « 4 Ca ¢ erry ne oe ~- v: ; <r Sse F doctor cama in a body. os hitd noha eS? Paul took care to artfully color their opinions at the start, and when they heard of the quarrel ‘between Hot Heart and Hague; the challenge and refusal to fight; Hague’s threat to investi- . gate Hot Heart’s past, and the Fire-Eater’s Team eclaration that he would have satisfaction, it ‘was promptly agreed to arrest the latter. me 4 ie The party broke up. ____ One of the officers and the doctor started in a bh ces So with the body for Clifftown; the com- _._ modore and Paul went home; Red Jaguar went his way in silence; ard two officers and War- -__- burton started for the old convent. Reaching it, they found the new door, which the Hermit had inserted, unlocked, and they ” mn —_ & * — a Pe pushed it open and walked in without cremony. ~~ -”-'The lower floor of the old building was given ia over to dust and ruins in stone and wood, but “ie the floor and walls were firm, and at the further end sometoing similar to the pulpit of to-day held its old form. «Tt seemed indeed a strange dwelling-place, but --s-when they ascended the winding stairway, the __—- view was not so bad. Themysterious master of the place used the second floor, which was in one room, as kitchen, parlor and sleeping apart- - ment, but its furniture was mea er and, except for one easy-chair, rude in the extreme, In the easy-chair sat the Hermit, his feet well __ glevated, his head leaned back, a long pipe in his ‘mouth, and his whole appearance that of a man who feels happy and at peace with the world. ’ = if *, - he But as his callers appeared he laid down his __- pipe and politely arose. | __ *'Phis is an unexpected honor, gentlemen,” he «gad, with a quiet smile, ‘* First visitors ve had at Convent Rest, as I call my eyrie. Sorry Tean’t set chairs for you—” “tba ‘“* Never mind!” interrupted the leading officer. ©. We have not come as visitors.” - Ah! ‘ Pleased to see you in any case; the latch- | string 5 always out.” . e want you to go with us to see Palmer e. \ tetas on business, ” Hot Heart, the Detective Spy. ter ©. 2 5% We. Se eee oe $ ae = ‘ . — : . - ee ’ = Pa hed CHAPTER VII. THE BUSH WOLF. PHILIP WARRURTON was a young man who had lived at the East until a year before the date of our story. During the ten years follow- ing his fourteenth birthday he bad been the only support of his widowed, invalid nother, and though he managed after long struggling to earn a fair income for a humble man, her sick- ness had eaten up all. Hot Heart struck his fist on the table with great force. ‘* Excuse me!” he retorted. ‘‘The man is a coward, and the only way I will see him is at the muzzle of a revolver. My challenge still | holds good.” **’You must hate him.” “Nothing of the kind, Hatred is a trivial affair compared to this. Hague called me a |. scoundrel and liar, and he’s got to fight.” ‘** Would you turn a revolver upon him?” **T will, and shall! He must fight!” When he was twenty-four the mother died. Philip was trying to catch Hot Heart's atten- | He had the satisfaction of having devoted long tion and warn him by a look or gesture, but all | years to her, but when the time came that no in vain. | one had aclaim upon him, he turned his face ‘“When did you see Hague last?” the officer | toward the West. continued. Going to California he secured his present ‘* Last night, at Nettleton’s.” | position with Commodore Nettleton, and was “Did you come straight home after leaving | filling it with his natural conscientious devotion there?” | to duty. ‘* Yes; straight as the road runs.” As bas been said, the commodore had his land r tt d you ok ee nat or pant you?” cultivated because it was the proper thing tc do, ot much. hen I start Jack Jet, my | not because he cared whether it brought in horse, on the road, nothing ever passes us.” | money; but observing people said bis intelligent ‘*Mr. Hot Heart, [ hear that you carry good | faithful overseer would make the property pay diy en Ee ee oe gee % sarees ina uc otk ig, Ge ‘ s course C e Fire-Eater a such was ip Warburton, who will now rie arin es! es ‘a 7 are opr rifle, cont more bs goer ghey Oe the reader, were fully loaded, and had been cleaned e went back to Coast Castle after seeing the since fired last. Hermit taken away, and the first person he met ‘‘Tlave you any other fire-arms?” there was Loyola, the Indian woman. ‘No; these are all and enouzch is a pee. She was a strange servant for the house, but The officcr thought he had carried the pre- | Commodore Nick did more eccentric things than roel r oy ay oP he now od aia wae to ithe her. He nee found her, report said, ermit that Palmer Hague was dead. Hot | on the Mexican coast, some years before, and Heart started back. she had actually made a voyage with him on ‘“That’s. confounded bad!” he exclaimed. | his vessel. There was a general idea that he e Rat duel will sae) be fought!” 4 owed her some it of ar aoe but the other ‘Haven’t you had revenge enoug employees did not know what. ‘* ve had none at all.” he wasa woman of middle age, and unusually ‘““Mr. Hot Heart, it is believed that you mur- | comely for an Indian, Her black bair a re- pe ae my a Hague, that you shot him down | markably bright, ain eg? and, ed that ast night! it was coarse, might have been valued by a The lire-Kater stared insilence at the speaker, | society belle; her features were regular and not If his face correctly expressed what was in his | as dark as the average Indian’s; and though mind he was both surprised and startled, | generally silent and unimpressionable, she was Philip Warburton felt sure that he was looking | intelligent and could, if so inclined, speak good at an honest man, but the faces of the officers | English. ‘ ayy that they believed all this a cunning | As a rule, however, she indulged in short, piece of acting. broken sentences. Suddenly the Fire-Kater drew his muscular Warburton approached her and said: wii ene and his eyes sparkled angrily. ‘‘Where are the members of the familv, , o accuses me?’ he cried, Loyola?” ‘“* The law!” The woman nodded toward the house. ‘*Bah! are you afraid to speak the truth?” ‘*Tn there.” ‘** Well, there are plenty of people who will | ‘*To you know what they are doing? Are they swear that you quarreled with and threatened | busy?” Hague, though I believe it was Paul Nettle- ‘* Master Paul and the Silent Man have shut ti who just tumbled to your connection with it. What meant that quick, strange expression which flashed over the Fire-Eater’s face? Philip Warburton was as much at a loss tounderstand it as man could well be. There seemed to be something of doubt, surprise, anger and sorrow in it—an expression so peculiar that the over- af BEncery over it often in the days that fol- owed, One moment thus, and then Frazer Hot Heart was his old, careless self. ‘* Very kind in you to come here and notify me, sir. Hope it didn’t make you any trouble?” ‘We are here to arrest you.” **Oh! that’s a cat of a different color. So you are going to drag me off to the Bastile? All right; if there’s any one thing I’m noted for it’s a disposition to oblige. It’s a family virtue. My great-grandfather volunteered to be hung in place of a friend condemned as a spy in 1776, and would bave suffered thusly only no rope could be found.” All this was said with the lightest, most self- sessed manner possible, but the officers gave ittle heed to it. They made a thorough search of the whole place, but made only one discovery of import- ance. On ashelf they found another revolver, of which one chamber was empty, and the bore black with powder. ) ‘Thought you said you had no other wea- n.’ ‘* That’s not mine,” the Hermit replied. ‘* Whose is it?” | “Give itup. Ifound it yesterday morning, in the ruins of the main convent building.” The officers were inclined to doubt his state- ment, but, as Palmer Hague hed undoubtedly been shot with a rifle, the revolver was barely of sufficient known importance to warrant its ‘But you must remember Hague had threat- seizure. ened to investigate Hot Heart, and had refused Preparations were made for the start to Cliff- | to fight a duel, It is only reasonable to suppose town, and Hot Heart turned to Philip Warbur- | thet the ruffian was alarmed, and tcok the ton. | quickest way of stopping the investigation ” ‘*My borse, Jack Jet, is in the lean-to back of Philip did not see fit to reply to this stubborn this building. May I ask you to see that he does | presentation of the case, and the commodore not. suffer while [am away?” slowly added: Philip readily gave the promise, and then the | ‘ Besides, Villegas has brought news bearing entire party left the strange abode. The door | on the case. He does not, believe what Hot was locked behind them, and then all except Heart charged against Hague, but attributes it Warburton entered the wagon and started for , to personal spite. He claims that Hot Heart, Clifftown. | who must be of low origin, has been paying at- The overseer looked after them thoughtfully. | tention to one of the Don’s servants, and when “T can’t bring myself to believe that man | she rebuffed him, he was so violent that Villegas: guilty, but circumstantial evidence is certainly | had to drive the fellow away. Here is further themselves up in the east room.” The Silent Man, Philp knew, was Professor Hazlitt. ‘* And the commodore?” ‘¢ With the visitor Don Esteban Villegas.” ‘So he is here? What does he want?” ‘* Don’t know,” ; Warburton was not pleased. He did not like. Villegas, and it flashed upon him that a visit at this particular time had unusual significance. He had for some time suspected that Don Este- ban would be pleased to see Palmer Hegue out of the way, so that he could Jay siege to Barbara Nettleton’s heart, and the overseer wondered if the Mexican was not taking time by the fcre- oct BPe trying to make capital out of Hague’s: eath. Loyola went into the house, while Philip sat down on the piazza and waited to see the com- modore. In half an hour the latter came out, attending Don Esteban, who then mounted his horse an rode away toward the south. He did not even glance at the humble over-- seer, but it was not this which made Philip look after him with a dissatisfied expression. He did not like Don Esteban, and hoped that Miss. Nettleton would not think seriously of him. This was a pore friendly wish; Philip felt only respect for the young mistress of Coast Castle. The overseer made his report of the Fire- caret arrest, whereupon Commodore Nick re- plied. **T reckon they’ve got the right man.” **Do you really think so?” ** Don’t you?” “Trenkly, sir, I do not. Whatever Frazer | Hot Heart is, he’s not cowardly enough to shoot ' a man in the back in cold blood.” strong against him, and I’m afraid it will go | reason for Hot Heart’s batred.” hard with him!” | Warburton was astonished. Cc ecoim 200! ale