Beadle's Dime Library No. 429 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

=< = a ‘‘Pretty near the end now, if I must go all *round the track. At the tail end came your father and Shaw, who sent the boys about their business, gathered up the wounded man, and spent the rest of the night playing poker with him in the old gentleman’s room. But don’t say that I told you, It may be only a guess, you know.” Leona uttered a little cry of distressed dis- may. ‘‘No, it is no guess, it is the scandalous, wicked, disgraceful truth. I should have known it. Yet how can [ prevent it? Thanks for tell- ing me, though [ had to draw it out of you word by word. I don’t wonder you hesitated to tell me ali, but 1 had good reason to press you to the eud. No wonder he does not care for breakfast. After such bouts he is generally deathly sick the next morning. I will go to him now, and seeif he needs my attention.” The conversation thus came to a very sudden close, the young lady taking her departure with- out further ceremony. As she left the room, Hawkins, turning to the young man from Red Bend, said: ‘*Thanks, Tommy, for putting me on the trail tou be agreeable; though, all the same, it appears to me I’ve given my little budget clean away. I don’t wish to epeek strongly, but I advise— simply advise—that the few words that have been said in your hearing should remain locked in the inner recesses of your heart. Should they ever be repeated by you I will be under the dis- agreeable necessity of taking your ears off close to your head, and cutting your tongue out just below the knees. You hear me warble?” ‘*Gosh, yes. I ain’t sayin’ a word. Wasn't I thar, a-peekin’ in ther winder? Eg. Shaw ain’t doin’ much thet Tommy Tough ain’t keepin’ an eyeon. When aman talks ter me’s though I war a dog I gen’rally go ter git even ef it takes a leg. He sed he'd watch me, an’ so I’m a- watchin’ him fur all thet’s init. It’s wu’th it, too, ez you'll see when ther end ov ther circus hev arrove,” ‘*'You wouldn’t like to tell me your little game?” Hart cautiously asked. ‘*T ain’t no game ’cept ter show Eg. Shaw up jest ez he are. When I’ve did that Pye a idea who'll leave ther camp, but I ain’t a-sayin’, not jist yet. Gosh, no.” ‘All right. Keep it to yourself, then, and when [ need any information Ill bore you, and see what sort of a well I strike. Ta, ta. So long. I'll see you later.” Hawkins went out, and Tommy finished his meal, which had been sadly interrupted by the conversation detailed. Probably Leona had found that her father’s nerves had not been dangerously discomposed, as it was not over an hour later that, dressed in a neat walking-suit, she stepped out to view the town. The newness of miners and mining-camps had worn off some time since, and as the Bar differ- ed but little from other towns that she had seen, she felt reasonably at home. The fresh morning air was a grand relief to the close, stuffy atmosphere of the Happy Home, and she had begun to enjoy it as she strode along with a light, springy step, when, almost at the outskirts of the town she came face to face with Egbert Shaw. CHAPTER XVI. THE GOVERNOR GETS ANOTHER POINTER. THouGH Shaw eyed the young lady sharply, he detected no traces of the excitement in which she had left the breakfast table; while, from her manner, he could not have guessed within a mile of the truth in regard to the amount of her knowledge. She met him very much as though he was an old acquaintance. ‘‘(ood-morning, Mr. Shaw. I am out in search of the picturesque. If I can’t find that Tll be content with the true, beautiful and ood.” ‘‘t would say, ‘in other words, in self-contem- platio»,’ did I not know that you would take it at a great deal less than the truth. Can I be of any service?” ‘‘ Yes—if you have any spare time. I must have my promenade, anyhow; but I am willing to take it under the guidance of an escort.” ‘‘ Bor which duty 1 am but too airy fs to place myself at your service. There is but little of in- t:rest here to -ee, except, perhaps, the shafts; and (had hoped to show you them in company with your father, This morning it is rather late for the expedition, and the distance to travel a little too mueh for a comfortable stroll.” =~ ‘* Thenk you. You need not make any excus- es. [em hardly in costume for exploration, and os [ have seen such places before my curiosity is | on which they had started. So far he progress- not so overwhelming that 1 cannot wait. ButI | ed in his study. After that he was thinking did think of scrambling up yonder, and taking | rather of her wealth and beauty than trying to in the town in its entirety,” She cast her eyes be. lag and over her shoul- der, townrd the heavily rising ground. It was sible to obtain a very view of the Bar, if any one was sufficiently interested in the place to take the trouble, ‘‘ Notbing would give me greater pleasure than to take the scramble with you. in Hair Trigger T'om of Red Bend. Nee eee eee ' sss pitt LL LL LLL LLL ALLL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL LL CE — 15 rr not find the way as rough as it appears from | quaintance of Sead father, that Ican help you here,” | a great deal. How long do you expect to remaim They turned aside, at that, and went slowly | here?” onward and upward, following a footpath, until | “T cannot say. Until assured that we are or finally they came to where a narrow path led off | are not on a false scent.” arcund the side of the hill. *¢ And how will you know?” Into this they wandered, and before going any | ‘‘ If we are not, by the appearance of the man great distance reached the spot for which they | we believe to be my brother. started, haps, certainly not later than two, he will be ‘‘ Not a very brilliant prospect,” laughed the | here, and then we shall know. Meantive if governor, pointing downward at the straggling | father can be prevented from becoming involv- rows of board shanties, canvas-covered dug-outs | ed in the meshes of any insane gambling nets be and occasional buildings of more pretentious ap- | will have time to decide on what is to be done if pearance. this last hope isa faiiure. I hope that we will ‘““Not exactly a brilliant sight, but I assure | start eastward. Once back among his old friends you a brisk little town; and L don’t know of a | and companions the danger will be practically place in all this mining region where money in- | over. Will you help me?” vested pays better. If your father has any no- ‘‘ My time and best efforts are at your dis- tion of putting money into mining it will be worth | posal,” responded Shaw, with his hand on his his while to examine around the Bar.” | heart. ‘* Since I know what it is you fear I She faced him fairly. know what to guard against; and I will aid you ‘My father has not come here for the purpose | to the best of my power, which, at the Bar, I of investment. If that was his intention, and | think you will findis not small. There is one he was simply a business man, nothing could | thing, though, which you have scarcely touched have induced me to follow him here. I have al- | upon. The attack by the road-agents may have ready told you something of his errand, and I} been on speculation merely, though I am in- know that he hastold youmore. He is in search | clined to believe that your father was spotted of my brother, of whom, or from whom we have | by some of their scouts. But the attack last not heard for years. There isa fortune back | night—it was so bold, so daring, and so terribly there waiting for the young manif he comes! persistent that 1 feel anxious for your safety, soon,” o you know that if the gang have learned the ‘* And if not?” inside facts in the case they are probably plan- ‘Then, well, perhaps it will come to me, if it | ning how to make at least a hundred thousand is proved that he is dead, otherwise the life in- | dollars out of it? It is possible, even that the terest, until he appears, goes to another branch | moving spirits in the matter bave followed of the family. There issomething strangeabout | you from the Atlantic. Those criminal]s have all the Darelles, and this will as I have heard of | connecting links that complete a chain clear it--for I have never seen it—is just in keeping | across the continent.” with what I have heard of old Noel Dareile.” “Do you think so?’ answered Leona, witha The governor bowed his head and remained | shiver, silent. He neither invited nor repelled confi- ‘‘T know so, since I have already been largely donce, instrumental in running one band down, So ‘No, it is not to aid in his search that Iam | you see the difficulties of your task are doubled. here; but to protect him. You have had theo You must not only protect your father, but ortunity twice, at least, to see his failing. e | look out for yourself. Did you have afair view isa born gambler. He knows nothing of the | ofseither of the two men who attacked you last tricks and traps of the trade, yet he imagines | night? or do you think, even, that you would that he can fleece men who have made them the | recognize their voices if you heard them again?” study of alifetime. It is only in the direction ‘‘Tt was too dark in my room to distinguish of onegame. It isnot wickedness; itisinsanity. | anything but dim outlines; and they both spoke He played cards asan amusement for years at | in whispers, their voices even then seeming to his club, and as long as he wasamong gentlemen | be disguised. There is nothing by which I it made but little difference. He sometimes lost | could know them again. But remember: from and sometimes won, and he could afford to lose | what I heard they were there by mistake, If afew thousands ayear. It diverted bis thoughts | they can be believed, the theory which I see from his boy—perhaps made his feelings less | you have, falls to the ground.” hard ‘* Unless they saw that they would be disturb- ed before they could carry out their plans, and spoke so in order to throw you off your guard for the future, These men are wiser than ser- pents; and more ravenous than wolves.” ‘‘ And then there was a double attack, too. But they sha’n’t drive me away from him! I will do my duty if the heavens fall, and if evil comes to me it may at least save him. Do not breathe to him what I have said unless the worst comes to me. Then tell him, and say that it is my warning from the grave.” She seemed so very much in earnest that even the governor was touched; and then was the ring of true feeling in his voice as he answered: ‘“Do not despair. The worst shall not come to the worst. Every man in Bad Man’s Bar will prove your friend, and we will protect you if we have to rise en masse, and bunt them from their holes. If the Par gets started it is m the race to stay, and you'll see strange fruit on every tree.” ‘““Why don’t the Bar start, then?’ she ex- claimed, passionately. ‘“‘Why wait until the last outrage has been committed? It is a burning disgrace on your camp that you not only cannot protect your roads for even a stone’s throw Cevcniil your limits, but that in the town itself there is noth- a eee ‘* Then he fell among sharpers, though they had their social ition too. There is no need to tell the whole story, which of course I under- stand mse in outline. Enough that, between stocks and cards—and mostly with cards—they Repeared him, ‘For a time it was thought he would never recover from the blow. en he did it was to find that he wasa part heir to Noel Darelle’s estate; and that his boy, driven from home and outlawed had another and as large an interest, It was found, too, that though in other res almost himself he was filled with the idea that he was possessed of a system by which he could win back the wealth he had lost. ‘* Like others partially insane he was cunning enough both to almost conceal his fancy, and to try the working of it cautiously. It 1s betting certain amounts at certain times—I hardly know how to explain it better. It is based on the theory of chance as he understands it. When he started from Frisco in search of my brother he would have come alone but I dared not let him. I discovered that he intended to test his theory, to practice it, on the way. ‘* He might as well set off for a lair of wild beasts, with nothing but a switch in bis hands, He has over twenty thousand dollars about him now, and would lose that at a sitting. After that the fever—that burns but faintly at times— would be on him in full strength, and he would ou forget that I have offered you mine never leave until he wasruined. Say then, have | and I control a score besides. If you judge i I not a pleasant task to watch a lunatic such as | necessary I will have an armed guard under he? And do I not need help? Isit any wonder | your window. And you forget, too, that one of that I looked to you as one who might bring aid | the brigands doubtless paid the penalty of the and counsel? What heart have I for the search | attempt with his life.” * when I have this nearer labor, that is enough to | “* What! Did they capture bim¢ I had not break down stronger nerves than mine?’ heard, Where is the y! It might be recog- She fold her story without hesitation, but | nized, and so furnish a clew.” from the hard bitterness of ber tones it was evi ‘* Unfortunately the corpse was cast aside dent that she was deeply moved. while searching for the traces of the others, and Egbert Shaw was watching her keenly while | by some means was spirited away, though there she spoke, There were few better judges of | is little doubt but that it will be recovered. I human nature than he wasand he thought he saw that shame and anger at the danger and dis- | grace of her father weighed much more with her than the thought of her own personal dan- ger, or any concern as to the result of the quest cept * tag own revolvers.” +s the dead, but I was in tco great haste to search for the living.” ‘*T believe that I can trust you: and, unless my brother—of whom [ really recollect so little that he almost seems a myth should come, you are my only dependence. Strange that I should . feel so when, a week ago, I had never seen you.” ‘*So much the better, perhaps. Our friend- | Sbips are apt to be most active when they start; and certainly we need all our strenet ow. But, pardon me, is it pot time to return? Your . father mav become uneasy Over your absence, | Thad no intention of inviting your confidence settle beyond a doubt ber exact reasons for tell- ing him all this. He did not know exactly how to answer, since he was just begirming to be un- certain exactly what his object was to be. ‘** You can’t think how honored 1 feel by the trust which, of course, you know will not be abused. You ¢an trust in me, to the fullest; Gbooks In a week pes ing to depend on against lawless brigandage ex- _ should have given more explicit directions about | | when I led you hither, so that I feel all the more d you will andIam sure, since I have made the closer ac- proud at having it su freely bestowed.” | | Te com hae hi