Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 434 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

: : i: Lucifer Lynx, the Wonder-Detective. **T think I would. tha. you’ve ever seen.” — ae Se ee | waved his hand toward Ozark Oll as he “The man we want, by Jove, ha, ha!” ex- | ‘* My best friend, doctor, Ozark Oll ov Idaho.” claimed Major Sphinx, grasping Lucifer Lynx’s | Roy dies, saltpeter can’t arm. “If Reckless save Gold Grit from the rope ov ther pards ov iher ** Divide”! Come with me! you're installed as surgeon in this case,” Lucifer Lynx broke from the major’s grasp and straaghtened. **] diiun’t come here to keep life in a human devii!” he said fiercely. CHAPTER V. A MEDICAL OPINION. IT was apparent a moment after the stranger’s outburst that he thought he had spoken with undue huste and empbasis. ‘What have you against Reckless Roy?’ asked Major Sphinx. ‘I did not know you had noet him before—” | ‘“*T never did, but Icould not help thinking that he forced our young friend here into the duel. Reckless Roy is no enemy of mine.” ‘Pm glad to hear you say that,” cried Flavia, stepping forward. ‘* You will not refuse to at- tend bim and give bim. the benefit of your knowledge of sur. ery, will you?” The eyes of Lucifer Lynx and the young girl met as the lutter made this plea, . How could he refuse her? ‘Maybe they wouldn’t let me interfere after what has hapyened here,” he suggested to her. **Thunder City has a doctor, I believe.” *“*Doctor Monte, Lut he won't object,” ex- claimed Flavia, quickly. ‘‘My friend, the major, here, will make ull the arrangements.” ‘*T wiil, by Jove, ha, ha!” was tke natural response. ‘“*I don’t waut Reckless to poss in his chips. I can’t afford to have him do it. Say you'll be his doctor, Mr. Lynx, an’ you shal t« nothing less.” ‘**T‘}i do what I can for him.” Flavia showed her joy in a sweet smile and offered Lucifer Lynx her hand. It was thus settled that the new-comer should be Reckless Roy’s doctor as far as Flavia and Major Sphinx could make it so, but the camp had to be consulted in the matter. the major with This was speedily done b ucifer Lynx was good effect, aud before long examini g tio | ully’s wound. He found that Reckless Roy had received a shot which seriously threatened his life, and when he repurted to the dark-faced crowd that stood outside the cabin there was a shaking of hands and some muffled curses. ‘* They don’t touch the boy till Reckless dies if die he coes!” ejaculated Major Sphinx. ‘I must tell Lynx that be must keep his patient alive for two weeks. After that he can kill him if he wants to. It was a blamed unfortunate affair all around. I know the youngster and nobody clse does. He doesn’t know anythin ‘about his st life by that singular lack o memory. Well, I do, by Jove, yes, ha, ha!” It was agreed between the major and the pards of Thunder City, that Gold Grit should consider himself under bond to await the result of Reckle.s Roy’s wounds. Hatred of the young bonanza-hunter was still intense, and a report of the bully’s death would be the signal for his own. The strange interest that Major Sphnix took in hint excited the curiosity of several of the pards, but they could not fathom it, Geld Grit accepted the terms of the parole, and said to Flavia in resolute terms that he would meet the worst bravely if it came, With this conditicn of affairs within its borders, Thunder City settled back to its old mode of life; but the black looks that Gold Grit got whenever he appeared told tbat the past was not forgotten. Lucifer Lynx gave Reckless Roy all the at- tention he needed, and for a while the buily seemed to mend, Ozark Oll came back from Helena and re- ate that he had sent the telegram to the Spider ‘* We'll wait till he comes!” exclaimed Major Sphinx over this news. “Doctor Lynx will keep Reckless up till he gets here, then, by Jove! we kin afford ter let 4m go.” “PE would like to see this Lucifer Lynx,” re- marked Ozark. ‘‘ How did it happen that he turned up just when he war needed?” The major sbook his head. ‘“] don’t know unless fortune sent him,” he ‘smiled. ; ‘* Fortune?—judge!” exclaimed Ozark. “T don’t b’lieve in no special fortunes, I don’t. By Jupiter! my dear major—” - **Hush!” interrupted jor Sphinx raising his hand. ‘* Somebody is just outside the coor, Mebbe it’s the new doctor himself. He comes “round sometimes, and—” . The door opened almost noiselessly at this "goto and, sure enough, Lucifer Lynx made appearance, ~ Ozark OIPs eves grew wide in an instant. * Jehosaphat! Satan himeelf!” ejaculated the | ‘man just from Helena, and then he fastened his ‘black orbs steadily upon the new doctor. _ WJovel just in time!’ exclaimed the major. i'll see thet | again, | ** How’s yer patient?” asked the major. | ** He is going down bill.” | “Jupiter Pluvius!” cried Major Sphinx. is That man mustn't die yet! pends on him,” A smile appeared at the corners of Lucifer | Lyux’s mouth. ‘*Can’t you keep him up for—let me say—ten days?” “The young bonanza-hunter won’t run off.” ‘*] bave just come from him,” said Lynx, ! across the table. Lucifer Lynx held out his hand which Ozark Paste rather charily, and then stepped back I’ve dressed more wounds | *‘ This is a gentleman you haven’t met,” and he ) ke. | that,” was the reply. 5 ‘There is one chance in a thousand, hardly ‘*Then the person to whom you have referred will never get his memory back?” ‘*The chances are against him,” ‘* What about Gold Grit?, You say you have heard of the strange blank in bis life.” ‘* There’s a chance for him.” Major Sphinx started. The boy’s life de- | ae What will give him back his recollection of t e past?” ‘**Oh, several things, major. A severe blow on the head might do it, or the sudden appear- ance before him of the person who—” ‘“‘The person who—whkat?” cried Major | Sphinx, leaving bis chair and leaning excitedly “You will, excuse me, doc- ** There isn’t a drop of coward blood in his veins. ; tor, but I am deeply interested in Gold Grit. He won’t run a step. He clings to the assertion If there really is a chance for the mental Llank that Reckless Roy, by insulting his best friend, | to be filled, I want to know it Leforehand. You brought on the duel,” ** 1 guess that’s so,” remarked the major. | understand since that the ‘ best friend’ is the | girl, Flavia.” **{ suspected as much,” replied Lynx. ** If Reckless dics the spell will be broken, an’ the boy will be hard to save. situation. Doctor, can’t you keep the wounded man alive ten days?” ‘* Why ten days?” asked Lucifer, looking into Major Sphinx’s eycs. ‘** Pardon me, but I cannot tell you why just now,” answered the Nabob, starting at the unex- pected question. “By Jupiter! thar’s a way ter make ther youngster go if be doesn’t want ter!” flashed the bronze tough who had not spoken before, ‘* How’s that?” he asked, ‘By force, sir!” exclaimed Ozark. doesn’t hev ter stay hyer an’ be hanged even if be wants ter! If I bad been hyer ther duello wouldn’t bev taken place,” ‘* tow would you have prevented it?” * I'd hev picked Gold Grit up an’ tossed ’im out o’ ther way!” And Ozark Oll looked big enough todo it. ** Did you tell him, doctcer, that Reckless war goin’ down ther grade?’ se Yes,” ‘* An’ he said he wouldn’t go away?” ‘*He said he preferred to face i bunder City than run off and be hunted on the ‘ Divide.’ 1 don’t like the | ' say it may be filled by the sudden appearance ‘*T | before him of a certain person?” ‘* Yes; the person who gave him the scar I find on his head,” answered Lucifer Lynx. ‘*My God! you don’t say so?” “That is my opinion,” coolly remarked Lynx. ‘“*But I must go tack to my patient. I will keep him alive for ten days, if 1 can, majer.” **Do it and send your bill to me!” was the re- sponse. ‘“There shall be no charges. I’m not prac- ticing now. Good-night,” and the cabin door opened and shut on the figure of Lucifer Lynx. ‘*‘ Jerusalem!” cried Major Sphinx, when he found himself alone. ‘‘In Satan's name, who _isthatman? If Gold Grit is likely to get his a i He knows that the men of Lightning Lay-out on | the other side have outlawed him because he is hunting a lost bonanza.” ‘‘Hang me, if he wouldn’t be between the dev- il an’ the deep sea if he left camp!” cried Ozark. ‘“He would, by Jove! ha, ha!” laughed the major, but his countenance suddenly relapsed into seriousness, ‘‘ One or two things must be done. Life must be kept in Reckless Roy’s body for ten days, or Gold Grit must go away. I pre- fer the former event.” ** Let me try my hand on him,” ejaculated Ozark Oll, starting toward the door, ‘I think I kin fix things satisfactorily. I’ma whole team as a persuader when it has ter be done.” ** No force to-night, Ozark!” cried the major after his tool, but there was noreply and Sphinx and Lucifer Lynx were alone. ‘** There is something strange about that young man,” said the doctor, dropping into a chair and looking across a small table at the major. ‘*They tell me that he knows nothing about bis past life,” ‘**T believe that is true,” was the reply. ‘** When did you first see him, major?” The deep brown—almost black—eyes of Luci- fer Lynx were riveted upon Major Sphinx as the question was put. ‘I saw him ‘first soon after I located here,” was the reply, ‘*‘ He was then, as he is now on the hunt of that mythical mine which will turn his head if he keeps it up.” The i dinag Sale smiled, ‘**T once heard of a case of loss of memory,” resu med Lynx, ‘*‘ but it did not happen in these parts. ‘** How was it?” “It occurred in New York City, some years ago. A wealthy man there was murdered in bis house one night by some robbers who had been attracted by his money. He kad an only child, a son, who was approaching manhood at the time. This son came home while the thieves were in the house, and received a severe blow at their hands. It was at first thought he was killed, as his father had been, but he afterward revived and got well physically. Strange to say, the blow on the head resulted in a complete loss of memory, and the young man was placed in an asylum by friends where he now is, a hope- less mental wreck, I remember this strange story so well because I followed it in the news- papers at the time, and also because I was then making a specialty of mental diseases.” ‘**T never heard of the case at all,” declared Major Sphinx. his memory?’ manner, although he tried to conceal it. “It is a singular one, sure enough. I don’t want any blows of that sort, by Jove, no! ha, ba! But what do you think of such cases, doctor? Is the young man you re- ferred to, or a person like him, hable to recover There was intense curiosity in Major Sphinx’s | memory back by the appearance of a certain Lucifer Lynx turned his eyes upon Ozark | man, somebody must not cCme to Thunder City, ] Ah! here’s the man I want!” Major Sphinx sprung forward with a cry. ** He | Ozark Oll bad come back. ‘“*Great Caesar! Ozark. You've got to go to Helena and countermand the telegram, The Spider must not come here yet!” “Too late, major. He’s on bis way hyer now.” CHAPTER VL. THE SPIDER ON DECK, For the nextfew days nothing occurred to break the usual life of Thunder City. Reckless Roy was fighting death with all his — power, but the man who watched the combat with singular interest feared it was a hopeless one. Gradually the pardsof the mountain camp became of the same opinion. and they began to notice Gold Grit with looks that boded the young bonanza-hunter ro geod. Meanwhile Major Sphinx was waiting impae tiently for the Spider. He did not want this person to enter Thunder City unannounced, and for several days Ozark had watched the road Jeading to Helena. Lucifer Lynx still attended Reckless Roy. He had numerous callers, all dark-faced me who came in for a moment, and wko went ou with teeth set and hands clinched. The stranger doctor knew what it al] meant. On the ninth night after his interview with Major Sphinx, a storm came down upon Thun- der City with the fury of ten thousand demons, The night became one of intense glocm, and the rain came down in sheets, while the wind threatened to blow the cabins from the ground. All that day Reckless Roy had enjoyed a change for the better, at which his doctor looked surprised and delighted, and had said to himself more than once that some fortune was interfer- ing for the young prospector. ‘If it comes to the worst, we will fight it m+ ge murmured; and then, in a moment, a : end of your shrewd play for a solid million!” At this time a man on horseback was nearing Thunder City. He had a youth for a guide, and both were rain-drenched. . The man was hendsome; this could be seen by his garments and his drooping sombrero. The couple had crossed the mountains, and were on the Idaho side of the ‘‘ Divide.” After a while they came upon Thunder City, with here and there a light visible amid the ees Biniicte “sel h ) appy nkK’s saloon was the first fr reached by the horseman and his guide. nee si, That’s a mountain drink den,” he said tothe y. assistance. You don’t know where his shanty is, you say ” ** No,” answered the boy. ‘ Then get down and inquire of scme one in- side. Need we inform the reader now that the man was the Spider from New York? He had come in response to the major’s tele- gram, end somebow or other had not been stop- ped by Ozark, Perhaps the storm had driven Ozark Oll to shelter. Tn obedience to the Spider's command, the boy slipped from the saddle and pushed open the door mE ey Hank’s saloon. ppy Hank was aione, and was in the act of co Eomicboo (E S) ** Ah, major! you don’t know what lies at the — the lightning-fieshes, despite the condition of « - “We can’t find Major Sphinx without |