Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 434 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

1 «’ ther eng ot Ber Chic u en al ed JHAPTER XXVIII. OZARK SHOWS UP. At this time a man was coming back to “Thunder City. He was footing it down the mountain trails eager to reach a certain destination, and all the time in no good humor as his clinched hands and flashing eyes proclaimed. ‘By Jupiter? Pll ring his neck a little, major or no major!” grated this individual. ‘‘ After wadin’ inter the seraphs o’ Lightnin’ Lay-out ‘ter save his life he gives me ther slip slicker nor an eel an’ byer [| am goin’ back ter Thunder with empty hands! It’s a downright orthodox shame! An’ I’m Ozark, too!” Nearer and nearer this man came to the Idaho capital of the “‘ Red Divide.” He kept on till he found himself in the camp, sand did not pause till be opened the door of Major Sphinx’s cabin and looked in. The interior was dark. ‘‘The paradise bird o’ this abode must have flown,” ejaculated Ozark witha smile. ** Major, ar’ you byer? I’m back with a rather doleful report, but mebbe—” he silence that greeted him broke Ozark’s speech and he stopped short and listened. ‘*Thar’s one other place at which ter look for him,” he went on as he stepped back, and muttering ‘‘Happy Hank’s,” he turned and walked away. Happy Hank’s was a good place to find any- thing in Thunder City, and the major’s right bower strode into the place a few moments after leaving the empty cabin. “Hello! when did you get back?’ sung out Happy Hank himself, lodiing up from the long, necked bottle he was replenishing with some of ‘Thunder City’s favorite beverage. ‘' You’ve come in just too late to see the circus!” In an instant Ozark was at the bar. He was all excitement, and his face almost touched the bartender’s as he leaned across the counter. ‘* What circus?—what has happened hyer?”’ ‘*Hevn’t you any idea?” ts No.” ‘““Then I’ve got ter give you ther hull lay- out.” ‘*T want it all!” Happy Hank took a long breath. ‘‘Tn ther first place, ther major went off with ‘somebody who wanted ’im.” Ozark started. ‘With whom? Be a little explicit,” he cried. ‘Well, with ther magician who came ter camp with a bottle an’ a bleedin’ stick.” ‘* When did he come?” ** Since you went away.” “Well? ‘¢' That man took ther major off at ther muzzle an’ Anaconda saw “jim do it, hey never lifted a hand, for ‘thar war double death in ther magician’s eyes.” as ‘*Ther next thing o’ importance ter happen ‘war Long Lige’s death.” ** Killed?” ** Yes—found dead ag’in’ Scar Chick’s door.” “*Great Caesar! why did 1 go away?” ejacu- lated Ozark. Happy Hank shook his head. 4 hen Gold Grit came back,” he said, “T thought he would!” cried Ozark before he thought. ‘¢ He had his trial awhile ago.” ‘An’ war hung?’ and Ozark Oll caught Happy Hank’s wrist and almost pulled that worthy over the counter, “Tell me Hank— Did they hang ther boy for ther death o’ Reck- Jess Roy?” ‘Tt war a close shave, too close for comfort,” was the reply. ‘‘ Nothin’ saved ‘im but some tall talkin’ by Flavia an’ ther Bozeman Cata- mount, an’ three fingers on one o’ Scar Chick’s hhands.” ‘* Which means—” ‘*Thet they saddled the death o’ Reckless on ter Scar Chick.” Ozark Oll did not evince much surprise at this remark; indeed, he seemed to expect some- thing of the kind, for a smile came to his lips, and his eyes got a faint twinkle of delight. “Sear Chick left us all ther dust he had on his boots, an’ is no more a Thunder City meteor!” continued Happy Hank. ‘He had some o’ ther old pards at his heels when he left, for he shot Flavia as a partin’!” Ozark let slip an oath. ““T think he shot at ther boy,” resumed the whisky-seller. ‘‘ Anyhow, ther bullet sent Flavia ag’in’ ther counter hyer like a loose rocket. They’ve taken her down ter her shanty whar ye’ll find Gold Grit—” ; “That's just the fellow ’'m burnin’ ter see!” interrupted Ozark, drawing back. ‘‘ Down thar with her, is he?” “Yes, and he’s not ther only person you'll find ther.” , ; “Who else is with her? ‘Ther Catamount, who turned out ter be ther doctor who nursed Reckless Roy—-” ‘Lucifer Lynx. the man who abducted ther ma ty exclaimed Ozark. ‘‘ What fetched him “7 don’t know.” | up, the reddened band Lucifer Lynx, the Wonder-Detective. ee 8 eee “By Jupiter! Ill find out!” was the quick ejaculation. ‘* Ah! what have you in this bottle, ank?—death an’ destruction, eh?’ And before Happy Hank could expatiate on the good quali- ties of the favorite liquor, Ozark caught up the bottle, threw back his head and pitched down a deep dram. The next moment, without more ado, he turn- ed on his heel and was almost at the door when the voice of. the barkeeper assailed him. ‘* You'll flnd ther major’s friend thar also!” he cried. Ozark looked over his shoulder, ** Julian, eh?” * Julian!” “*T rather want ter meet that galoot!” laughed Ozark, and then Happy Hank was alone waiting for the next customer whose visit he hoped would be more profitable. **So they’re all hyer but ther major,” cried Ozark Oll, as he struck the ground beyond the mountain saloon. ‘‘ Mebbe he gave Lucifer Lynx ther slip somewhar in ther mountains, or p’raps ther doctor left him unable ter play his game out. If he did that—let him Jook out! Major Sphinx ar’ no saint, an’ [’'m no seraph, but, by Jehu! I’m bound ter him by an oath, an’ that is ter stan’ by him through thick an’ thin, an’ ter hate his enemies as he hates them himself. This Lacifer Lynx is ther major’s foe, an’ 1’m bound ter hate him, which [ do, already! An’ Julian! He’d jump out o’ his boots if I war ter call him Devil Jule in presence o’ Flavia. He don’t want ter try any smart Aleck dodges on this moun- tain sage-cock. I hate every bone in him for those crimes that outlawed him in the North, an’ he knows that l’m onter his true name. Let him look out!” Ozark’s lengthy strides told how eager he was to reach Flavia’s cabin, but notwithstanding his eagerness, he came to a halt when he sawa light beyond the one window of the girl’s abode. ‘* Mebbe I'd better exercise a little strategy,” ejaculated Ozark as be drew nearer, ‘1 think I'll get the lay o’ ther land first,” and he moved forward again almost on tiptoe and drawing alongside the cabin looked cautiously over the sill. ‘*T must be ahead o’ them,” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Hank said Lucifer Lynx an’ Julian war hyer, but it don’t look that way. Nobody in there but Flavia an’ ther youngster who gave me ther slip arter I rescued him from ther toughs o’ Lay-out. My hands itch ter tackle his throat jes’ a little an’ I said I'd do it, major or no major!” Ozark Oll saw the fair but pallid face of Flavia on a pillow against one of the walls of the plain little cabin which had been her home ever since she had landed in Thunder City as the waif of the storm. To him the girl looked lovelier than ever, and her eyes sparkled with delight as they were fastened on some person who was talking to her at the time. Ozark looked again, following the girl’s look and saw in a chair under the lamp on the wall and in the shadow of its tin bowl the figure of the young myth-bunter. “Thar’s ther varmint that slipped through my fingers!” grated the major’s rigbt bower, as he eyed Gold Grit ill-humoredl . ‘I owe you a good chokin’ for it, too, my bonanza sharp! Nursin’ ther girl, eh? I know, if you don’t, thet ther major doesn’t want you to freeze to Flavia. It’d spoil his game for a mill- ion, he says—I don’t know how, though; but Major Sphinx ar’ no fool by odds!” Ozurk Oll watched this scene for some mo- ments, or until he discovered that Gold Grit was narrating his adventures since leavin Thunder City including his escape from Ozar himself. ‘* I don’t want ter hear that!” suddenly cried Ozark. ‘‘I didn’t come back hyer ter hear a boy boast how he beat an old hand like me. An’ Flavia is laughin’ at it, too! By Jingo! it does her good ter hear how I got hoodwinked. I can’t stand it—I won't!” Ina moment the big bronze hand of Ozark Oll was at the latch, and all at once in the midst of Gold Grit’s narrative, the door opened and he confronted the pair. The young mine-hunter left his chair with an ejaculation of astonishment which told clearly that Ozark was the last man he expected to see there. Flavia also let slip a cry. “Tt wara ’mighty slick trick!” cried the big rough, coming forward, his large eyes dancing with evil triumph, and his big hands ly raised. ‘*Il’vea mind ter twist yer neck, jes’ ter show Flavia thet ’!'m no babe. Drop yer hands! I’m half-tiger an’ half-devil when my blood’s up, an’ it’s beyond b’ilin’ p’int now!” There was something terrible in the look and attitude of the major’s sworn pard, and the threatful look which accompanied the command to lower his hands seemed to drive Gold Grit to the wall beneath the lamp. **Don’t touch him!” cried Flavia springing e about her neck show- ing how miraculous had been her escape from death by Sear Chick’s bullet. ‘We are not enemies, Ozark, and Gold-Grit is my friend!” Ozark Oll tee pm in front of the young miner and looked over his shoulder with a light laugh, | i yt ye A oe 4 a me ; fa a ‘ , a, ix 4 aor “ f =: hs hie A 4 ” 23 ‘Your friend, eh?” he exclaimed, eying the girl sharply. ‘“My best friend!” was the answer, and the ruffian found Flavia’s hand on his arm while he looked down into her lustrous eyes. ‘‘ He has never crossed tf me path. The court of Thunder City has found him innocent of Reckless Roy’s death.” ‘‘[T know all that, but he gave me the slip arter I had rescued him from ther wolves o’ ther ‘ Divide,’ ” ‘‘It was to come back here and meet the charge against me!” exclaimed Gold Grit. ‘* But you euchered me—me /” persisted Ozark, ‘*T choke people who do that when I don’t want ter s’'arve ‘em worse. Keep yer lily hands off, Flavia. I won’t kill ther young mountain weasel,” ‘You will not touch him!” exclaimed the girl, and the next moment her figure landed between Gold Grit and the sport, and seemed to increase in stature as she faced him. ‘*Now go on!” she continued. ‘‘ This is the person your bands are anxious to throttle. Lift them above your belt for that purpose, Ozark Oll, and we will open a new chapter in the his- tory of Thunder City.” Major Sphinx’s right bower recoiled with eyes riveted upon the wit He saw more than her flashing orbs; he saw what she held in her hand. ‘*T guess [ll let ’im go,” ejaculated Ozark with a grin. ‘* He ain’t worth chokin’ nohow.” Flavia siniled. CHAPTER XXIX. OZARK GETS SOME INFORMATION, OZARK was not very willing to forego the choking he had promised himself to visit upon the young miner, but he saw that it would not rs good policy to carry out the scheme just then, Flavia, fair-faced and'triumphant, had planted herself firmly between him and Gold Grit, and the look in her eyes Ozark did not like. ‘‘Has this man Lucifer Lynx been here to~ | night?” he suddenly asked. +s No,” ‘* Nor Julian?” ‘* Nor Julian.” Ozark had remembered that Happy Hank told him that the Wonder-Detective and Julian had left his saloon bound for the girl’s abode, and he was puzzled to hear that they had not reached it. ‘Well, let ’em go!” ejaculated the major’s friend as he stepped back and glanced at the door. ‘‘This man of many disguises played a slick trick while | war away. He came hyer an’ took ther major off.” ‘* Yes,” said Flavia. “Do you know I’llmake him give an accoun 0’ that?” exclaimed Ozark leaning suddenly to- ward the girl, ‘‘He may not accommodate you, Ozark,” re- — marked Flavia with a smile. Va ‘* We'll see! I allow no Eastern sharp to git away with me,” was the answer. ‘This man came all ther way from New York ter opena game, but he’s likely ter go back, if he goes k at all, without his pigeons. I never did take kindly ter *im; now I don’t like’1m at all. Let ther future see what will be done! You don’t want ter play any smart tricks hyer, oung man!” and Ozark threw a mad oo at ld Grit. ‘‘Thet mine you’ve been huntin’ is aJl gammon! You don’t want ter ferget that you're outlawed by Lightnin’ Lay-out, nor that ther blood 0’ some o’ its pards ison yer hands!” — |, ‘It was in self-defense. They chargedmein _ the mountains.” ‘“Make Lay-out swa'ler that if yer kin!” laughed Ozark. ‘Ther gang across ther Di- vide ar’ bad medicine. If you want ter k thet mountain jewel, Flavia, you don’t want ter let him fall inter Lay-out’s hands. Good-night!” and the next moment the door of the cabin closed behind the figure of Major Sphinx’s pard ‘* Whav’s become o’ Julian an’ Lucifer Lynx ejaculated Ozark, finding himself in the star- lightagain. ‘‘ Flavia thinks I won’t faze Luci- fer the Second about takin’ ther major off! I’m linked ter ther major by an oath—linked through thick an’ thin. He can’t play his little game out if Lynx keeps him somewhar. I want ter find Major Sphinx. Let me see. ter get at him through ther man what took off! I know no other way.” Ozark walked toward the portion of the camp occupied by Lucifer Lynx w e he was Reckless Roy’s physician; he did not to find the detective there, hut he knew not where to look for him with any hopes of success. Suddenly Ozark came to a halt. The shan window told that it was occupied. ‘“Mebbe I’m in boss Juck!” exclaimed the was before him, and a light in the | ti wae Sk a \* wae best . Vi tre es >_> “at & . oe - (ay — — oy * OO = ¢ ae ;t; 2 + J a F af , * " ad Qn ~ Pred am * a 5 a P27 7 . hp % . 4 ary “+ * ¥ 7 ‘ -_ ’ : ,* ‘ Pal ‘" Ww * ws ed =. . j * Ti bd ‘ai : r. ‘ co * et A | 4 ’ . 7 ‘ a 7 * y is ¢ on ea, ie” Thunder City sport. ‘‘If Lucifer Lynx is thar, — (agy suthin’ occurred ter turn him off between Happy | Hank’s an’ Flavia. Tl see what didit,"anda ~~ minute later Ozark drew up to the window and — a was looking into the cabin. It contained but one occupant at that moment — wn ; A —the magician-detective himself, Lucifer Lynx was seated at a small tebld which was partly covered with papers, some of ~~ comicbooks.c oe = ’ Ft r i a | 4 ‘ ow M i = ie #u | rs. Ay Y * .