Beadle's Dime Library No. 417: Tucson Tom — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

his cuchillo into my back. 20 The virulent poison, speeding through his veins, had already made him blind. He reeled, and then fell with a crash. Horrified eyes watched his writhing on the floor, and followed the serpent that, leaving his form, glided with crested head and defiant aspect over to where the snake- _ charmer stood. No one attempted to bar its way; they even drew back shudderingly, and gave the terrible reptile room. Francisco took it up, fondled its head for a few seconds, muttering some mysterious words, and then the deadly reptile coiled about his arm with its head raised above his hand. No man would dare attempt lay a hand on him, The stricken wretch upon the floor un- doubtedly had friends present, but they did not seem anxious to avenge him. They were not under orders as he had been, and besides, there was something about his fate that terrified them. As for the snake-charmer, he glared about him as though looking for the next victim at whom to hurl his living boomerang. They shrunk back before that glowering survey, each man feeling a chill as he fan- cied the slimy coils of the reptile about his neck, and its fangs piercing the flesh. ‘Is there a friend of Cortina here?’ The voice of the snake-charmer rung out sharp and clear. He waited for a reply, but none came. In the face of the doom that had fallen upon the wretch who writhed upon the floor, there was not a man present who was brave enough to dare the vengeance of the magi- cian by proclaimin, himself a friend to the bandit. The lip of the snake-charmer curled. He knew it was fear that bound them, else every man present would have been glad to have acknowledged Cortina his riend. ‘* Tf Cortina were here he would be proud to learn he had such valiant friends. Hear me, men of Tucson. General Cortina has tried to murder me, and from this hour it must be war to the knife between us, ‘* You see here the coward he sent to put His fate shall be the doom visited upon any wretch who comes to find me in Cortina’s name. Francisco, the snake-charmer and his pet Rango never sleep. If any man among you courts a death like that, let him bar my way now.” The magician was ready to leave now. Tom was himself not averse to such an arrangement, not however because he had any fear of violence on the part of the des- peradoes who were present, but on account of his young charge. His mind was not quite easy with regard to Dancing Feather. True, he had left her at the tavern, and in charge of the old ’49er, whose sympathy was aroused, and bas would risk everything for the young girl. He had ” cunnin the Border Tiger, an rascal to deal with in Cortina might find it - an easy task to overcome the innkeeper. For this reason Tom was anxious to leave the place. The men stared to see him accompany Erancisco, for he was a well-known charac- ter in Tucson, and had gained the sobriquet of the Bowie Bravo among the Greasers by his proficiency with the keen blades he car- ried, No one dared oppose their exit. Heads were put together, however, and - gignificant words exchanged. ad it not been for the respect inspired by Francisco's terrible pet, and the well-known valor of Tom, these two men weuld never have left the place alive. As it was, dark scowls followed them, and if no weapon was drawn it did not occur be- cause the wish was hot there. The Texan was glad to leave the den be- hind him, with the revolting spectacle of the writhing figure on the floor. He was all eagerness to bring Francisco face to face with the young girl. Then the secret that had so long been locked up in the bosom of the snake- charmer and the plotting woman, would be made known. _ The mystery of Dancing Feather would be a mystery no longer, Tucson Tom, ——— . i a a a This made him anxious. | It had mysteriously disappeared, for the Perhaps there was some other reason for | spy was ready to swear he had seen it in this state of feeling. : He may have had a premonition of coming evil, knowing as he did that Cortina was plotting to regain possession of the young girl, and conspiring with a view to her death. At any rate, when they left the gaming- den, he hastened in the direction of the tavern, and the snake-charmer, as though realizing that something was ahead that would need his presence, followed in his footsteps. There was indeed wisdom in this haste of the Texan ranger—more than he knew of, for Dancing Feather was in double peril. CHAPTER XXIX. THE MAN ON THE LADDER, Cortina had lost no time in getting his men to work. To this purpose he had devoted all of his energies, and had even cundescended to lead the entervrise himself. He knew who was opposed to them. The man who had defied and defeated the Apaches of the mountains, and then came out first best in an encounter with his paid tools was not an antagonist to be despised, and he would need all the power he possess- ed in order to accomplish his end. The words of the senorita regarding Tucson Tom had little weight with him. If he saw fit to remove that worthy from his path he would not hesitate because she had given him to understand that if he could manage to murder the girl and spare the life of her champion, the reward he was to re- ceive would be doubled. When Tucson Tom left the tavern his form was seen by a spy. This fact was reported to Cortina, who at once organized his force for the assault. Like wolves half a dozen men crept up to the tavern through the darkness. All was quiet about the place. A light was in the tap-room, and the could see Captain Sams behind his bar wit a huge revolver within reach. This told the story. The old war veteran was on guard. Cortina sent several of his men in to get a drink of liquor. At a given signal one of them was to seize the old veteran’s revolver while the others leaped upon him. This was successfully carried out. Captain Sams made a bold and gallant effort to regain possession of his weapon, but the rascals were too quick for him, and he found himself in the clutches of three stal- wart fellows. It was now only a question of time as to when the veteran must succumb, They had already gagged him so as to pre- ‘vent any outcry on his part. Inside of three minutes the old man lay be- hind his own bar, bound and utterly belp- less. Cortina with the rest of his men now entered. His first act was to put out ail the lights in the room with the exception of one, which he took in his hand. Then selecting two of his men he bade them follow him. The stairway was his objective point. Already he knew the room in which the object of his pursuit was to be fouad, for his spies had been busy. At the head of the stairs however, an obstacle confronted them. This was a heavy door, barred or locked in some way so that it resisted all their efforts to force it. Cortina muttered savage oaths. He was not to be frustrated in his design by such an obstacle as this, however. A whispered consultation ensued with one of his men, who appeared to be the spy made mention of before. - Then the men retreated once more down the stairs and through the tap-room. Others followed them outside. The spy professed to know where a ladder lay that would lead up to the window of the room they desired to reach. When, however, they came to look for it this ladder was gone. ~ place not an hour before. While some of the men hunted high and | low for the missing ladder, Cortina stood alone biting the ends of his mustache and plunged in the deepest of thought. He was in anything but a pleasant hu- i mor. Everything seemed to be going wrong, and he knew not which way to turn in order to take advantage of the opportunity that had even then presented itself. True, he might accomplish the desired re- sult by placing a keg of powder in the tap- room with a fuse attached, and blowing the place up. That might be an effectual method of get- ting rid of the party he sought to destroy, but Cortina was hardly ready to proceed to such an extreme measure as yet. If things went on in this strain much lon- ger he would feel as though something des- perate must be done to accomplish his ends, While he stood thus, waiting to hear news of the search, and cudgeling bis brains to de- vise a plan that might be made to work in case the ladder was not found, be heard some one approaching. ‘** General, are you here?” Hola! Pedro, is it you,my man? What news?” ‘* Good, general.” ** Caramba! you have found the ladder?” **Tt has been my good fortune.” ‘Where was it?” ‘‘In the last place one would think of looking for it, general. Leaning up against the house wall, and directly under the little window of the senorita’s room.” ‘‘'The devil! We must look out.” ‘‘For what, general? It seems to me they did not want to give us too much trouble and arranged matters to suit us.” ‘*Don’t be a fool, Pedro. I tell you what I suspect—a trap.” ‘“Carajo! how can it be?” “That we will find out. Come and gather the meu silently at that point.” Cortina was not the man to be caught nap- ing. He knew his business too well for that. The very fact of the missing ladder being found all ready in position for their use, was a feature full of suspicion to him. It had an evil look. What trap could there be in connection with the ladder that would threaten them? While he strode along a thought flashed into his mind that brought him to a sudden stand. ‘*Malediction!” he muttered. ‘‘What now, general?” asked Pedro, who had accompanied him. ‘*T believe I understand it. been before us.” ‘*And carried the girl off?” ‘‘ Yes. Curses on them if this is so,” His words could have but one explanation and this was in connection with those to whom Dancing Feather was a god—the Apaches, Cortina now crept along the base of the wall like a serpent. Presently his outstretched band touched the almost perpendicular ladder which it was very nearly too dark to see, Once beneath it, the ladder was outlined against the heavens. Thus far the search of his men had been conducted with the utmost silence, so that if any one was near by they would not in all probability have been alarmed. Not a sound was to be heard about the house, Cortina sent Pedro up to investigate, He could see the fellow ascending slowly until he reached the top, when he disappear- ed as though he had pulled himself into the room or had been assisted in so doing bya grip on his throat. The man below knew not what to think. He crouched there, watching and waiting, and when fully two minutes had gone by he felt like giving the alarm. Surely something must have befallen his man else he should have heard from him ere this. Perhaps there were enemies concealed in- side the room and the ladder had been placed in position as a standing invitation for them to ascend. : com Some one has 100 (S S) <=. CO