Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 416 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

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Dare you even hint that I Facts speak for themselves.” oe he if you hint that I dealt foul, you’re a dirty “4 ? Swift as thought, the thick-bottomed glass left the hand of Alva Pennington, striking the bully fair in the face, and splintering into a hundred fragments with the force of contact. He reeled back and almost fell to the floor, as his antagonist leaped to his feet, but before an- other movement could be made by Pennington, Curly Kaine fired a shot without drawing his hand from his pocket, and with a wild, gasping , the unfortunate young man staggered back, falling heavily to the floor, blood gushing in a torrent from bis left breast. “1 call you to witness, gentlemen, that I shot him only in self-defense!” cried Curly Kaine, dashiug the blood from his face, a pistol in each hand, as he glared around him. ** You lie, Curly Kaine! It was an unpro- voked murder!” cried a clear voice, and the startled crowd fell burriedly to either side, as they saw the tall figure of Monte Jim leaping toward the ge ote, tage A savage snarl broke from the murderer’s ps as he recognized that voice, and wheeling swiftly he flung up both hands, two reports sounding almost as one, Monte Jim crouched low, then leaped upon his rival, b'ood staining one cheek where the skin bad been broken by one of the bullets. Before Corry Kaine could fire another shot, ose steel-like fingers closed upon him, lifting his heavy form clear of the floor to a level with the card-sharp’s head, then hurling him with terrible force to the floor, head-first, One gasping moan from the lips of the gam- bler, then Monte Jim planted one foot upon his as he confronted the crowd, a revolver each hand, his i gp: ablaze, his white face se with blood, his voice ringing out 5 : " ae you growling curs! This bully has committed foul murder on an unarmed man, | after picking a quarrel with him, and as sure as eaven above us! he shall die the death of a dog! I—Monte Jim—swear it!” There were several of Curly Kaine’s particu- lar pets in the saloon, and as they beheld their chief handled so roughly, they drew their wea- pons as though resolved to avenge his fall on he bold card-sharp—but that was as far as they nt. hey saw that Monte Jim also had backers who knew well how to use the tools they bore, om were only awaiting a signal from their eader to open the ball; while the card-sharp himself was a host. Sullenly they replaced weapons and began to edge away from the 7x iy : r ms oe that already seemed to scorch their fingers. _ A single glance showed Monte Jim this much, and removing his foot from the neck of the in- fe... "e iS adel. és A ' ‘ “9 ' ge" Fs .* ~~ 4 4 + ep sensible gambler, he knelt beside Alva Penning- - ton, lifting his head to his knee. A gurgling moan—the barely articulate name f Medea—then a gush of red blood from his lips—a convulsive quiver that ran along his limbs—then all was over, Monte Jim gently lowered the head to the floor, tuen leaped to his feet, eyes aglow and distorted with a savage rage that madehim resemble some bloodthirsty demon rather thana * Ve a : A: 4 + f . } ‘aa.. * , ad fate « ¢ a i The Curly man ~TD r lad is dead—foully murdered by | aine without being given a chance to defend him:elf!” he cried, his voice hoarse and strained. ‘‘Shall we stand this, men? Shall we suffer this dirty dog tol veand boast of his bloody deed? I for one, say no !” “String the hound BP to the fu’st tree!” “Haul him out and getarope! We'll serve the same savce to all who tries to hinder the cause of justice!” Blinky Scott uttered the first cry: Major ‘ Dave Poole the second; both members of Monte _ Jim’s pet gang, but this fact was not noticed amid that intense excitement. The cry for blood once raised, it was easy enough to find men who would second the motion, and in less than -aminute it seemed as though every man in the - building was howling for the life of the assas- sin, crowding around, eager to aid in bearing him to the gallows, But even then, when all was confusion and et tO ——<— tetera — ———————E—— The senseless gambler was caught up and borne out into the night, surrounded by a mob of howling, screaming, half-crazy roughs, their numbers being constantly augmented as the wild alarm spread over the town. But among tbem all, not one voice was raised for mercy. To speak in his behalf now, would be almost certain suicide, and his warmest friends could only steal away before the same fate overtook them, or silently watch the tragedy. rope was procured, noosed and thrown | over a stout sign in front of a grocery store, The loop was fitted around the neck of Curly Kaine, the touch seeming to recall his senses, for as he was rudely dragged to his feet, a cry of mingled fear and anger broke from his lips. ‘*Curse you all! let me loose! For love of heaven, gentlemen, have mercy!” was his | mixed appeal, as he glared around him with | his bloodshot eves, | ‘*Too late, Curly Kaine!” sternly replied | Monte Jim, standing before him. ‘‘ You fave | run to the end of your tether, and in this last foul murder—the assassination of an unarmed man—you have signed your own death-war- rant! You have just five minutes in which to say your prayers, if you know any, and try to make your peace with Heaven.” ‘*Spare me, boys—I apreal to you!” gasped the wretco, thoroughly cowed by the near presence of death. ‘‘ I ain’t fit todie! Giveme time to repent—-” ‘*We'’d grow gray-headed if we waited for that!” came a coarse, mocking voice from the crowd, Monte Jim turned angrily in that direction, but the words which were whined § to sternly re- buke the unmanly taunt changed on his lips to a starled cry as he recognized the figure of a wo- man darting toward them. ‘*String him up, boys! waste!” With a wild cheer his order was obeyed, and the writhing figure of the gambler was drawn from the earth, men laughing fiercely as he caught at the choking rope with his unbound hands, striving to relieve that frightivl strain, A piercing shriek in a woman’s voice came to their ears, and there was astartled surge of the mob that almost threw Monte Jim to the ground, completely illustrating his intention of intercepting the woman. And before he could recover or extricate himself Helen Brinston darted through the crowd and leaping into the air with marvelous activity, drew a s.uarp blade across the tightly-stretched rope, sever- ing it and letting Curly Kaine drop to his feet again. . ‘*Run, darling!” she panted, turning and fac- ing the mob, which was thrown into still greater confusion as the men who were straining at the rope fell in a confused heap as it gave way. ** Run—D ll cover your retreat!” Monte Jim was darting forward, but she met him half-way, striking viciously at his heart. He interposed one arm, for the crowd was too — for him to fully elude the blow, and the lade pierced his forearm until its guard dented the flesh, so deadly was the woman’s stroke. With a sweep of his wounded arm, Monte Jim hurled her to one side, then leaped toward Curly Kaine, who had started in swift flight, the moment he touched ground. He was now clear of the crowd, running like a deer, heading for the shadows. Monte Jim paused, raised his revolver and fired one shot. Ten paces further would have carried the fugitive into the dense shadows where his figure would have been lost to view of his enemies, when escape would not have been impossible to one as active as he—but it was not so written. With a single wild scream, he leaped high into the air, tlen fell to the ground in a quivering heap, stricken down by the bullet of his rival. Helen Brinston recovered her footing just in time to see the shot, hear that frightful cry of agony, and witness the fall of the man for whose sake she had dared so much. A wailing cry escaped her lips, as she darted to the spot where he lay, kneeling beside him, calling him by name, begging him to look up, to answer her, if only to say that she was recog- nized once before be died. But not a word came in reply; only a gasp- ing, rattling moan that was scarcely more than a Vretth that strove to find exit from those blood-clogged lungs. Monte Jim had not wasted his lead, and snap- shot though it was, it had laid Curly Kaine, King of Bismarck, forever low. Monte Jim saw as much, and motioned the agitated crowd to fall back and give the be- reaved woman room, As silently they obeyed, and when they witnessed her terrible grief, when | they saw her scalding tears and heard her | broken appeals to the fallen man, more than one of that crowd, so lately howling for the life- blood of this man, stole silently away, ashamed of themselves, ashamed of the work they had aided in. Suddenly the mood of the woman changed, There’s no time to wildest excitem nt, Monte Jim proved himself a | She lowered the head of the gambler upon ber | could implicitly trust to carry out his wishes, no matter how deadly those might be. _ chief, and forced back all save men whom he | handkerchief, which she first spread in the dust, | before her at the same time and then arose and confronted Monte Jim. in whose | arm ber knife was stil sticking. Monte Jim, the Black She p of Bismarck. —_—<$—$— —E———E <x eA C L LLL LLL LLL LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLELL LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL L—L£L LLL LL ?DLLALBL_—L—LLLL LLL . ‘le ¥ y y , a aouagpasueesncenyesonee **'You killed him, Monte Jim! Are you satis- fied?” she demanded, her voice strangely even and clear. ‘*T did kill him; but it was to reward him for murdering my brother,” was the calm, even response, as the card-sharp drew her weapon from his arm, and tightly wrapped a handker- chief around the wound. ** You killed him—the only man I ever loved in all my life~and yet I am about toask a favor of you!” she added. ‘‘Heis dying. Yet I can- not see him perish like a cur in the kennel! Help me carry him into the hotel yonder.” CHAPTER XXVIII. LLOYD PENNINGTON PASSES IN HIS CHECKS, Monte JM followed the direction of her lance, and turned a shade paler as he saw that Telen Brinston meant the same place where Medea Pennington lodged. He could hardly have explained the feeling, but he was strongly loth to have the bleeding body of Curly Kaine carried there, ‘Why there?” he asked, burried] ** Any other place will do as well, an the word—” ‘* Yonder, or leave him to die like a dog in the kennel!” A rumbling growl came from the ever-fickle crowd, and knowing how little it would require to turn the same mad torrent against him, Monte Jim yielded to the woman’s wish. After all, what could it matter? Sooner or later Medea Penningtor must know that he had again bathed his hands in buman blood, and the fact that his victim lay beneath the same roof with her, would not make the affair any more abhorrent. She would be too full of her own grief and horror, to give him and his affairs more than a passing thought, when the corpse of her cousin was brought home. **'You shall have your wish, Helen Brinston,” he said, with a grave earnestness. ‘* These men will bear Curly wherever you may direct, and I would aid them, if I thought you desired.” ‘You murdered him, and your touch would be profanation!” she cried, her eyes glowing luridly, her hands clinched as though she longed to bury her fingers in his throat. Some day you'll see that I had to do it, my good woman,” calmly replied Monte Jim, mo- tioning some of his men to pick up the senseless figure and bear it away. ‘Just now you are too greatly excited to listen to reason.” Making a sign which his particular body- guard readily understood, Monte Jim turned away and retraced bis steps to the saloon where Alva Pennington had met his death after such a terribly sudden and unexpected manner. Directed by Helen Brinston, a door was has- tily torn from its binges, and upon this the body of Curly Kaine was placed. en half a dozen strong men carefully picked up the ghastly bur- den and bore it steadily toward the hotel, from the porch before which honest Giles Dickson was watching them, Without asking permission or uttering a word of apology, Helen Brinston brushed past the host,-leading the way to the parlor, until then wholly deserted. At a motion from her the bearers deposited their burden on the floor, then drew back, She sunk to her knees beside the wounded man, gently removing sufficient of his clothing to lay bare the little hole which marked the spot where Monte Jim’s lead had entered. She care- fully examined the wound, and traced the adding: Ill give course of the bullet as well as she could under the circumstances, her face as pale as that of a corpse, but her hands as cool and steady as though this dying creature had been naught to her, instead of the one being in the whole wide world whom she loved, She knew that there was no earthly hope for Curly Kaine, and for a moment her proud frame bowed until her burning lips touched his death- dewed brow. But then she drew herself erect with a cold, haughty air, speaking distinctly to the landlord: ‘*Go tell Miss Medea Pennington to come down to this room without a moment’s unneces- m_y delay—you hear?” onest Giles was not a little taken aback by this sharp address. He knew who Helen Brins- ton was; knew what sort of character she bore, and the nature of the tie which bad bound her and Cur'y Kaino together. Notwithstanding all this, he felt a rude sort of pity for the wo- man in her proud grief, and hesitated to do what he felt he must—deny her wishes in this respect, for surely there could be no reason why Miss Pennington should obey the peremptory summons of such an abandoned creature! Helen Brinston read something of this in his troubled countenance, and sternly added: ** Do as I bid you, old man, unless you wish to have her bitter curses on your head as well as mine. Go tell her that a near relative—that her cousin, Lloyd Pennington—is lying here at the point of death and wishes to see er before he dies. Go I tell you—go !” She spoke swiftly, imperiously, pushing him Honest Giles no longer refused. He knew that his fair guest was deeply interested in a person called Lloyd COMUNE JOO S | — te sepa... EL . a A