Beadle's Dime Library No. 429 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

bursts of passion that drove Parker from Hair Tr igger ‘Tom of R eee =~ ———— — Ee _—< ew ee - —— —— - safer if I were to carry out to the end a | Boston interfering with Tom Carey's pro- scheme that has suggested itself tome. It | gress on the war-path seemed too ridiculous. were better that the imprudent amount of | Yet people are not always what they seem, wealth that he carries with him were trans- | as she very well knew. ferred from him to you. Could I not help * Yes. I have already cautioned your to that end? If so, command me.” father against him. If he is in disguise it is ‘‘T believe you—I believe in you. Yet, | well assumed. If he is himself he has either dare I trust you?” hada great streak of luck, or he is a very When Leona looked at a man as shelooked | strange compound. At least, let me advise at Egbert Shaw, he felt the gaze burn through ' you to beware of him.” and through. He forgot to be the cold, dis- “The caution is not new; but it is the passionate man of the Bar, and returned it | first time I have taken it seriously. But who with interest, until a deep blush suffused her | is he?” -cheeks, and her eyes fell. They walked on ‘That is what I would give a thousand to in silence together, though Miss Darelle could | know. He may be your danger yet.” feel that the arm she lightly touched was ‘‘T hardly think so; though who knows?” trembling. She spoke thoughtfully and paced along At lust she broke the hush. with her eyes fixed, for some time, on the ‘“‘ Perhaps I have less feeling than I should. | ground, the governor not caring to break the Perhaps I seem to you cold-blooded in thus | silence. “discussing the affairs of Sidney Darelle, but Yet, finally, as he was about to speak, she when I lift the vail a little from the past, you may see some reason why I should be par- doned,” ‘You need no pardon. For one so young the situation—the responsibility—is terrible. I remain here only till | can arrange or close -out my ventures, A man can live here when he is finding a fortune in it; but fora ‘woman, it must have the bitterness of death itself. Tostay and helplessly watch a maniac make shipwreck of her life and fortune—l can imagine nothing more terrible. Count on me to aid you to the extent of life itself.” ‘You have said some cruel words; but they are true. Yet you do not know the whole truth. Ihave told you that my brother was driven from home; I did not then care to go further, though there was more to say. Such as you see him now, he is an improve- ment on what he once was. After his way, he is kind and thoughtful. Once, at times, he was araging tiger. It was those fearful — the eyes, with a searching look. “And, my friend, if the worst comes to the worst, can I depend on you to the end?” “To the bitter end, so help me heaven!” pleading little beauty. ‘“‘] swear it!” but so let it be.” Tt STi thas thems Darelle. ‘Well, I have almost concluded the bar- viewing the property. We start to-morrow. Of course, my dear, | would not think of leaving you here, so you must be ready. be with us as an expert. gest spectacles and be prepared to show me why I am a fool for my venture.” CHAPTER XXIV. A THRILLING CORRESPONDENCE. Piue@y BecKER lounging disconsolately in front of the Lay-out scarcely looked up as Egbert Shaw approached. It was not part of his game to more than nod unless the governor indicated that he desired a confer- ence. But the governor did want bim this time, as a little movement of the finger testified, so he got up and carelessly nodded to Shaw. ‘*What sort of a time are you having on the heels of that dude?” asked the governor. ‘‘Tt seems to me you were to keep your eyes open and now and then make a report.”’ “That’s w’ot ve bin a-doin’,”’ answered Pluggy, in a tone that was not just altogether as smooth as oil. ‘*T’ve hed my eye on ther gerloot; an’ I’ve made my report fur good onless thar’s a new deal. The ole coon antied up like a leetle man, too. I’ve cashed in fur good an’ his two hundred an’ fifty are in my buckskin ter say so. Ef Id hed a leetle more ter say guess he’d ’a’ made it five.” ‘Well, why didn’t you wait till you had more, then?” ‘* Because, pardy, ther cards be run out, ther lamps turned down, an’ ther game closed. Thar’s nothin’ more ter say.” ‘The blazes! And why not?” ‘**Cause he’s skipped ther ranch an’ mo- seyed fur ther other side ov ther divide.” ‘*You don’t mean to say that you have been getting even, and laid him out?” “Thunder, no! I mean jest what I say. He hedn’t ther spunk ov a brindle mule with a bob tail, an when he seen what he'd done he jest packed his kit an’ run away. I'd foller ef it wa’n’t thet it’d be too durned hard explainin’ away frum home what I wanted with sich cattle.” ‘* About what time did he clear out?” per- sisted Shaw. ‘‘ You're good on the average, but you’ve got a slippery man to deal with, and there may be some mistake. He has more nerve than good looks, and don’t you forget it.” ‘Ez nigh ez I kin make out he started at ther time he skooted ’round ther corner ov ther house, an’ ef he hain’t hed any pull- backs he’s a-runnin’ yit. Frum what Slim home, and within a year my mother also, who took me with her.” ‘‘ Had she no friends to stand between?”’ ‘‘ Yes; but what could they do? A sepa- ration was quietly arranged, she was given her daughter, and they lived apart until she died. Money was not wanting, for he is no miser; but he broke her heart. In spite of all his kindness to me I cannot forget that.” ** You are an angel though you cannot!” The exclamation seemed to slip out in ‘spite of himself, and Leona’s eyes drooped -as she heard it. ‘‘Not altogether,” she answered, with a feeble attempt at playfulness. ‘‘If I were, I would not be looking to man for aid. But Providence seems so far off; and this Colonel Boutelle so very near. If he invests in that wild mining scheme he will never leave here until the last cent is gone. The cards were bad enough; but add that and what chance have 1? Before long his brain will give way -altogether.”’ ‘‘Perhaps it can be prevented. Do not lose hope. Your father seems to be sharp enough in matters that pertain to business, and he will hardly go so deeply into a min- ing speculation without at least visiting the property. Can you not induce him to take that precaution? That will put off the evil hour a little, and meantime something may be done.” ‘‘ Again you give me courage. After the dreadful affair last night we were both al- most prostrated. The disappointment was so great. Father will not confide; and I can not imagine how he could have gone so far wrong. No trace, even, of resemblance.” ‘*But may not there be a mistake? This braggart might have assumed the name of a better man—though the villain was handy enough with his tools.” “Oh, no. Mr. Hawkins knows the man quite well, and he assures us that this is the ‘real Hair Trigger Tom himself. He came out with us, to see us safely started on our way, and then went back. As I noticed him about the hotel this morning I suppose the matter had a peaceful ending.” ‘Much more so—if you mean without fatality—than it would have had if your friend, Mr. Woburn, had not, in his usual blundering way, taken a hand. Who is he? Do you know anything more about him than | Jimmy said, an’ he met him on ther road, your father?” he’s all broke up.” “What! Mr. Woburn?” She paused and looked suspiciously at the | governor. governor. The idea of the young man from ¢ _ s * - S Pn + * - ie =") d Bend. halted, and putting her hands lightly on his | shoulders looked him once more straight in | ' a hairpin he is! cried Shaw, carried willingly away by the | | ; gain with the colonel, but he insists on my | ence, | ; LE SL ——- SS stl | Pp | ee ee ee ee eee em ‘round at the Quartz last night, and laid out the worst man | ever saw without ever pull- ing a gun. You are ‘way off, unless you’re afraid to tackle him, and are talking to get out.” ‘‘How’s that about last night? Say that again, pard, and say it slow. I snorted my head off, gave the oid man his pointer, an’ then went home ter bed.” ‘‘And you haven't heard about the circus at the Quartz last night?” ‘*Nary a hear. That ain’t on my stamping- ground. Fan says a near view sp’iles my good looks, I’m better lookin’ at a distance. I wants ter show off to ther best advantage afore ther fair sects: an’ so Il keeps my dis- tance.” The governor boiled it down thick, and gave him the substance of the story about what had happened, leaving out all mention of the littlke game that had preceded the riot. ‘‘Dash my eyes! \And that ¢s the kind of Vll sw’ar ther more I bin a- lookin’ at him ther more I can't b’lieve it. An’ you say ther Hair Trigger Tom ez turned up thar war a snide, an’ clean ther wrong fel- ler.” ‘‘ He may go by that name in these regions; but he is not the man that either Darelle or I ‘The test may be sterner than you think; | mean, nor is he the man that Major Bang met in Tucson. I'd sooner believe that Wo- Then they paced back toward the Happy | burn was the man, though he looks nothing Home, and were met on the porch by Sidney | like him.” ‘When a feller changes his ccat an’ combs his ha’r it makes a thunderin’ sight of differ- W’ot you want me todo, anyhow?” “Kill him if you meet him—and then, if I was sure of one thing, I'd set you at bigger game, But what I want now is for you to And, governor, I proposed that you should | be on hand in the morning, with a mighty Put on your big- | _ mile trip to look at a mine. We're all going on a thirty- There is no tell- ing what is going to happen; though one thing is sure, I don’t intend to let Boutelle i me out of fifty thousand that I ought to ave,” ‘All right, my lord. Tl be thar ef yer thinks you kin wring me in with ther arly.” ‘*No trouble in that. I am along as ex- pert; and you go with me. It is hard to tell what may happen before we get back. If that young man from Boston is of the party, 1 am afraid he will be left behind.” ‘*T tell yer he’s skipped!” broke in Becker, coming back with the old song. “Thunder! Who's that?” He pointed at a man who came swinging down the street with an air as independent as though he owned Arizona from the Cala- basca Mountains to Yuma City. ‘‘That is the man who opened the proceed- ings — Hair Trigger Tom, of Red Bend. What infernal racket is he on now?” ‘‘J tell yer,” whispered Becker, bending over, and catching Shaw by the wrist in his excitement. **T tell yer, that’s him, now,” “Who? Are you crazy?” ‘* Woburn, ther spindle-shanked dude. Ef it ain’t him it’s his brother. He kin put on fresh duds an’ paint his hair all ther way up to ther mines, but he can’t fool Pluggy. I kin see his ears a-stickin’ out. He’s bound fur ther Quartz ag‘in, an’ I’]l foller ef it takes a wheel off.” ‘* Sing low, then, till you find out you’re a fool,” angrily retorted Shaw. “I have no use for him, and have too much on hand to risk letting him work up a row with me. When he pets ripe | may throw him in his tracks if I find it suits my hand, but I’m not taking any stock in the nonsense you’ve been trying to get through me. You can go to the Quartz, but Diamond Charley’s will do for me. Look out for your brains, if you have any; and if you're living be on hand in the morning.” ~ Bither we're all going crazy, or there’s the queerest developments going on now that ever went anywhere,” he continued to him- self as he entered the Lay-out, ‘‘I’m in for the stake of a lifetime if the cards come my way. If they don’t—it’s a voyage up the flume, I reckon. I wonder if i am losing my grip; or if it’s only my head gone, mourning over that girl. Confound it, I don’t know what to make of her. Is she good mount. “Slim Jimmy be hanged!” snorted the | shrewder than she seems, and is she playing ‘*He never met him; or, if he | me for a flat? id, he was running this way. He was she has never committed herself, yet, if £ Co But for what object? So far com Ebooks canna