Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 434 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

He had nct forgotten that his last trap had failed to hold the sport-detective, but this thought only made him determined to win this time, The head sport of Thunder prepared for the occasion. eexamined his six-shooters in the lamp-light, and even framed the sentences of ac- cusation. There was to be no failure, and Scar Chick felt the need of success for he had al- veady marked Julian fora man who was cool- aess itself, The new sport’s cabin was not far off; a few lengthy strides would take him to it; he would open the door and say: ‘* Good-night, Devil Jule!” With all his deliberate preparations finished, Scar Chick at last went toward the door. **'m gom’ ter make this a big night in Thun- der City’s calendar!” he ejaculated. He put forward his hand to open the door, wher it was opened from without and Scar Chick started back, ‘Great Cesar!” rung from his throat as his eyes seemed to start from his head in amaze- ment. ‘‘I warn’t lookin’ for you/—Ii expected Sacan first!” The person who walked boldly into the des- perado’s cabin and halted before him in the light of the lamp was indeed the last person he ex- pected to confront there. It was Gold Grit! ‘* No, I guess you weren’t expecting me!” said the young man. “I can’t play coward and please myself. Scar Chick, I have come back to face the thing out.” Scar Chick was astounded. He could not believe that the youth whose blood was wanted for the death of Reckless Roy would walk deliberately into the clutches of his enemies. There was something more than foolhardiness in it to the boss rough of the *‘ Red Divide,” Had the beauty of Flavia brought him back? And did he know that his friend, Major Sphinx, was no longer near to step between him and death? There was fearlessness in the attitude assumed by Gold Grit before the desperado in his cabin. His voice had no tremor. ** By Jericho! you kin face the thing out if you want ter!” suddenly ejaculated Scar Chick, stepping toward the myth-bunter. ‘‘I want ter tell you beforehand thet ther boys hevn’t cooled down a hit; thet they’re just as eager ter avenge Reckless Roy as they war ther night he died. Pil say, too, in advance, thet Major Sphinx is | one.’ ‘‘Tt is all one to me, Scar Chick,” was the quick and coolly uttered response, ‘I demand atrial. I am ready for the ordeal.” “Tl have to let Julian go for the moment,” muttered the sport. ‘This is a play I didn’t look for, but Pll make the most of it. The young chap wants an immediate trial. Ill accommo- date him, and before the girl can interfere I'll make myself proof against her charges! Now is my time. The young gold sharp has come back ter Thunder ter die.” Then he looked into Gold Grit’s face and said: ‘* We'll find ther court at Happy Hank’s. If : ou’ve got sand enonugh-—” ‘““To Happy Hank’s!” interrupted Gold Grit, CHAPTER XXIII, ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE, THe Cute Catamount of Bozeman was show- ing off to the assembled pards at Happy Hank’s while Scar Chick and the returned myth-hunter were walking thither. The strange man bad led his gaunt saddle- horse into the trap, and was expatiating on his 00d qualities after a manner that kept the ouse in a roar. Some of the bronze toughs put their hands against their ribs, and leaned back and laughed. Despite the fact that Long Lige had just been carried to his narrow home on the mountain- side, it was a good-natured crowd, and the Cute Catamount was the very man to keep it in a bubble. The horse, as a horse, was not worth five dol- lars; he was a lengthy, narrow, meek-looking animal, and gave no promise of the truth of bis owner’s remark that he could ‘ catch lightning and not half try.” The Catamount praised him to the skies and gave him a wonderful pedigree, then wound u by declaring that the innocent-looking Rosi- nante was a bonanza medium which made him of priceless value. | tt was at the conclusion of this assertion that two men appeared in the doorway of Happy Hank's place. mJ olber Pluvius! the boy gold sharp!” ex- claimed somebody, and the next moment the pards were staring at Scar Chick and his com- panion, Gold Grit. : The Cute Catamount and his wonderful steed were forgotten, and all traces of merriment in- | ~stantly vanished from the faces of the crowd. ¢ The man from Bozeman turned and took in the pair at a glance. He seemed to fell upon the young bonanza-hunter, start, and it was when his eyes —_—_——_— ee The pards of Thunder City moved toward Scar Chick as if all were goaded by the same | impulse, but the head sport of the ‘‘ Divide” checked them by lifting his hand. ‘‘This man has come back for trial,” he said, pointing at Gold Grit, who had halted before the pards with his handsome figure erect and fear- lessness in his eye. ‘In his own words, as nigh as I kin repeat ’em, he’s hyer ter face the thing through! I’ve fetched him hyer, men o’ Thun- der. safely say that if it hadn’t been for the prisoner he’d not Ke on ther mountain to-night!” ‘‘ Por a thousand he wouldn’t!” growled sev- eral men in the crowd. ‘Right you ar’, Scar Chick!” cried as many others. ‘* We've condemned him already! know that when he came back?” All eyes were fixed upon the young gold-hun- ter. He heard somebody behind him shut the door which had been left ajar, but he did not see the hand that performed this action drop an iron bar into 1‘s place, Happy lank, always Gold Grit’s secret friend, leaned over the whisky-soaked counter with genuine sorrow in his look, He would have civen his little mountain den with pleasure if the youth had not come back, and the solicitous fellow could not imagine what had prompted his return. ‘*T’'d sooner wade inter a million catamounts,” | muttered Happy Hank. “I might have a chance thar with a few six-shooters, but hyer he has none. Has he forgotten Flavia? Mebbe, by Jove! the girl’s give ‘im the shake, an’ he wants to die! Must be so as he’s come hyer of his own accord,” ‘*Gents, the prisoner wants accommodation,” suddenly continued Scar Chick. ‘ In ther States they give a manatrial by jury. Wekin dothat | hyer,”’ “Trial by jury in that dark-skinned crowd vould only delay the tragedy already resolved upon, Me Let *im pick ther jury himself,” suggested a tall fellow who leaned against the counter. ‘**T’'m for lettin’ him hev full swing. an’ we don’t want court ter drag itself over ter mornin’.” This proposition was received with so much favor that Scar Chick turned to the young bo- nanza.trailer with a smile. ‘* Do you want it thet way?” he asked. ‘* Suit yourselves,” was the reply. The tall man at the counter stepped forward. “Jt suits us, Cap’n Scar Chick!” he ex- claimed. ‘Stand back, gents, an’ line yerselves across the shanty. This is man an’ man, Catamount from Bozeman will lead his lightnin’ chaser inter ther corner yonder an’ j’ine the crowd, I’m willin’ ter trust him on ther jury; by Jupiter! Ul strain a p’int ter give Gold Grit a fair show!” In less than five minutes the occupants of Happy Hank’s den had arranged themselves shou ‘a to shoulder aeross the room from the counter to the opposite wall. They were, for the most Pica stalwart, broad- shouldered fellows with dark eyes and heavy beards or mustaches; but bere and there was a dwarf whose revolvers conspicuously displayed in his belt made up for his short-comings in a be ue. old Grit had seen these men on various oc- casions; he knew them all, their nature and their names. All were the friends of Reckless Roy, and but a few days before he had con- | fronted them on the dueling ground with a short thread of life between. If he had come back to throw himself into the hands of these men, he had performed an act of foolhardiness which they condemned themselves. ‘The jury is thar,” said Scar Chick, pointing at the line as his eye ran over it with a twinkle of grim satisfaction. ‘* You will select six men from ther crowd, an’ as you name each one he will step forward.” Gold Grit’s gaze wandered up and down the line as he listened to Scar Chick’s words. All at once his lips parted. ‘* Diamond Doll!” he said. One of the little men stepped forward. ‘¢Yankton Van.” A giant advanced, and towered like a moun- tain above Diemond Doll. ‘¢ Washoe Will!” Another giant! “Napa Nick!” One of the homeliest men in the line answer- ed to this name. ‘San Rafael Rob.” A little fellow with a Mexicanish cast of countenance, stepped nimbly forward as if greatly honored by the selection. A moment’s pause followed the last choice. Gold Grit’s eve went over the line twice be- fore he broke the silence. | The sixth juror was to he chosen. “The Bozeman Catamount!” suddenly said the bonanza-hunter. One-balf of the crowd started, and a general laugh ensued. The Catamount, however, came forward and | Lucifer Lynx, the Wonder-Detective. Reckless Roy is dead an’ I b’lieve I kin | Didn’t he | The | 19) edged up against San Rafael Rob in a manner~ that increased the merriment. ‘*That’s the darned fool that bored me to-- night,” muttered Scar Chick. ‘‘ He'll give in a: verdict with the rest of the jury, or Bozeman» will lose one of its fixtures!” ‘‘] have performed my duty,” remarked Gold Grit, turning upon the boss of the camp when the jury had been selected. “ This is the fixate instance on record of the prisoner picking the: jury, but Iam here for trial. Ill risk it with | the men yonder.” | “Gwar ther jury!” cried some one, and. six - ' hands went up in the lamplight. | “No!” cried the outth ‘There is nobody - 9! bere authorized to do that. Tl take the men | without being sworn. Drop your hands, gcn- tlemen,” and all the bronzed hands went down. | One of the benches that stood alongside of a 4) | pine card-table was placed against the wall, and _ ; ' the mountain jury took possession of it. | The rest of the crowd drew off a few steps, . Jeaving Gold Grit alone, though Scar Chick was ' not far away. ‘‘ This court is now open!” exclaimed the boss: sport, bringing his closed hand down upon the counter. ‘** Ther trial o’? Gold Grit for ther death of Reckless Roy, one 0’ our most respected: citizens, will now open. Ther jury will hear a fain statement of ther case by ther public prosecutor, = which is me!” : | | As he finished, Scar Chick removed his hat, , ‘ ‘and ran his fingers through his long black hair, , pusbing it back from bis evil fave with its fa-- mous sear, ‘Gentlemen of ther jury,” he went on, step>- ping toward the six men on the bench, ** ther pris*ner at ther bar came ter Thunder City a few ~ days ago and meta man called Reckless Roy. Ther two met in this house near whar I stand. Hyer they had some words which got raytber a hot an’ a duel foliered. It wac back-ter-back an™ or then pistols at five paces. Thar ar’ men lnyer- who saw it all, men who will tell ther jury t. Gold Grit wheeled before the signal bad all been - pronounced, that Reckless Roy dropped without. , deliverin’ his fire. a me ‘‘We shall prove that for ten days Reckless re Roy hung between life an’ death, sufferin’ from. a that shot which war fired too soon; that ome: — night when his doctor ignorantly thought’ her ' war gainin’, he cashed his chips at ther counter” Se oy -whar death pres des, We ask a fair trial; if” As | ther pris’ner is guilty, we want justice; if inno- hk | cent—an’ how can he be, in ther face o’ all this? Br —let im go!” sie Scer Chick stepped toward the counteramd| looked at Happy Hank. Theglancewasrightly: interpreted by the bartender and a bottle came: pm forth. ae ‘T now ask ther pris’ner ther usual question,” * , continued Scar Chick, turning upon the young: | _ gold hunter. 4 oa ** Guilty or not guilty?” Te 5) Everybody in the house craned their necks» forward. : | The jury became deeply interested, and Gold. \Grit was the only person seen at that supreme-> | moment. Suddenly his figure was seen to increase in) _ _ stature as he drew it up with a flash of pride in: | his eyes. | ‘¢ As God is my judge, not guilty of murder !”’ | he exclaimed. a _ His manner of speaking, with the emphasis: = | thrown upon his last words, startled the crowd, __ and it had not recovered when he continued: ‘‘T came here as charged; I met Reckless Roy in this place and resented an insult tomy best. —_ friend. We went to the spot where, at the i iy nal, I fired at the man who stood before me. He dropped on his face, was afterward ree oy airs oe 7 . and carried to his shanty. For ten days he there under the care of a man who was known. as Doctor Lynx | T deny that. | the crowd, but as a dark scow] came down over: ‘*One night Reckless Roy died. By, -he went out of the world at my hands. Before» — the living God, I plead not guilty to the charge: for y'. _ that 1 killed him!” | “pa | The silence that followed seemed toembarrass: % Scar Chick’s brow, he again struck the counter | and shoufed: oa ‘We te with the trial, gentlemen, I calls) Anaconda Alf.” is Our ‘old acquaintance came forward relucte | antly. He looked at Gold Grit es if to tell bim Sm ; as well as a look could, that he would harm him. | as little as possible, and he did. : is Anaconca Alf retold the story of the duel: he- — did not know for certain whether the prisoner > anticipated the signal or not. bad heardmen say that he did, and wound up bv saying reluctant- ly that he believed Reckless Roy had died from. the wound, ~ ae During the next ten minutes several other witnesses had the floor. These men had now ~ scruples: thev were positive that Reckless Roy | owed his death to the prisoner, thathe hadno: | other enemy in camp. rye y It was all against the young myth-hunter. Coy ‘‘ We rest our side!” cried Scar Chick at last; with a wave of his hand. * Let ther pris’ner> © + | = . call his witnesses if he has van 8 Ania Asndden brightness lit up Gold Grit’s eyes, an “* Flavia!” he cried. CP arts + Eomicbooks.com pe “ F é —, rvs oe A