Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 436 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

— — ay ee ee a eee Oe — << e— _ pee ae, oe ee fer arr - — << - ee a: < <> ™ ‘4 ‘sew = see . om ee ee eee +s ee Z => * ww ” ~ -~ ad Wf : < - / “ee \ , 10 ** Phe tables are turned, I fancy,” he said, They were indeed, When the two men had looked around and up, they beheld Kentucky Jean standing out upon the rock above them, a revolver in each hand; and when the next moment they turned back to their victim, they found also his weapon turned against them. They were trapped. ‘* Gentlemen,” said the sport, ‘* I was about to remark that I was sorry to interrupt you, but it seemed tome that two to one was hardly fair, and I thought I would make it an equal thing— two totwo, Now things are a little more even. How do you like it?” **Cuss ye! we'll show—” ** Hold on{ if you raise your hand one inch you will hear something fall! Now let your weapons drop, or we'll plug you; eh, stranger?” “We will, and no mistake,” Denson confirmed. “Tet’em drop, you rogues! or pay the forfeit with your miserable lives,” The rascals let their weapons fall from their nerveless hands. They saw that resistance was worse than useless, and gave up. ‘‘That’s where you show your sense, my fine fellows,” Kentucky Jean declared. And he added: ** Now, stranger, you keep them where they are, and I'll hustle down from here and take care of them.” * All right, Pll bold them.” ' Kentucky Jean replaced his revolvers in his belt, and was not long in getting down, when he proceeded to make prisoners of the two would-be robbers by tying their hands securely behind them with strong string. ‘*Now,” he said, when he had secured them, ‘“let’s see your faces;” and as he pulled away the cloth masks they wore, the two shame-faced rascals stood forth confessed, “Do you know them?” he asked, turning to Denson. ‘“ Yes,” Denson answered, ‘‘[ do. One is a discharged employee of the Break o’ Day mine at Bended Bow, and the other is a disreputable charecter of that town.” ‘* And I suppose you want to take them to town as prisoners?” “ Certainly, now that we have them—thanks to you, I will see that they are given a taste of the law. May I inquire your name, stran- er?” en My name is Jean Grantley, sir. Yours, I believe, is Charles Denson?” with an interroga- tive inflection.: “Yes. How came you to know it? if I may k.” ““T got the information from these worthy gentlemen—no thanks to them, however.” ** Indeed |” “Yes, But, do not let_me detain you, sir, for Iam going to Bended Bow, and will bring, men with me.” ‘‘Thanks for the offer, but 1 am in no haste, and we can accompany each other. Come, you two rogues, walk on ahead, and remember the first move you make will bring a bullet after you, if it is a move to es- ca iy M And remember, too,” supplemented the at “that I seldom miss the target [shoot at.” Sullenly the rascals started off as ordered, and Charles Denson and Kentucky Jean fol- lowed them a few paces behind. Denson offered to let the sport ride if he would, but of course the offer was declined. “Tt was lucky for me, Mr. Grantley, that you happened to be on hand,” Denson presently remarked. ‘“‘] did not ‘happen’ to be there,” the sport returned, ‘‘I came from Bended Bow on pur- to defeat the plans of those rascals,” “You did ‘- “ “Why, how came you to know anything about the matter?’ ‘*T overheard their plan.” “Oh! I see. And you set out to lend me a hand.” “ Exactly.” ‘‘ Well, allow me to thank you, sir, I was in a bad fix, for they had the ‘drop’ on me in fine style. . - “Yes, I heard them laying their plans, and Ived to block their game if I could do so, heard them saying Charlie Denson had gone to Denver to square an account at the Branch Mint, and would return in the afternoon, Then they debated and decidea upon ways and means to waylay and rob you. I drank in every word, and after dinner I came out here and waited to play my part.” “You played it well, and I must thank you.” “Don’t mention it. You would have done the same under the circumstances, I am sure,” JT hope so, at any rate.” **T know you would.” Charles Denson could not desist from looking at the young man walking at his side, The at- n lay in his face, ‘‘My friend,” he remarked, after a pause, ‘‘do you know that you remind me of some > ies cne? ** No; do I?” * Yes, you remind me of a young lady of Bended Bow.” : ————— SESE “ ‘ : ~ : ~ thy . { ‘aad Ys ; ‘ ’ . P. ‘. : 4 y, . -* a | ee . * , . fi : M _ = . ; . . = . a tacit . wr —_" - * Kentucky Jean. ** Of Rube Rittens’s daughter?” ‘Yes, her, But, how came you to guess? Are you acquainted there?” ‘*No, Lam not. I spent Jast night there, how- ever, and heard it remarked several times that DAY gage the person I named. Do you know er? ‘Yes, I know her. warm friends,” ** And you insist that I look like her, eh?” ** You do, indeed, You are much darker than she is, though,” ‘**T am naturall After a pause, In fact, she and I are curious to see the lady.” enson inquired: ‘* By the way, are you the man I heard spoken of this morning as Kentucky Jean?” ‘* That is what I am called, sir.” **Then you must be the person who had the trouble with our superintendent, Jared Ken- neth, at the hotel last night. I heard it spoken about at the mine. The men say you knocked him silly. He has a beautifully dis- colored eye.” ‘Yes, | am the man—or boy—and he de- served it. I donot remember my dead mother, Mr. Denson, but any man who takes it upon himself to sully her name in my hearing shall feel the weight of my fist.” ‘** You did perfectly right. Let me warn you, though, to have an eye upon that man hereafter. He will strike back if he can.” ‘*Let him do so. Iam wide awake at most times, and will do my best to entertain him when he calls.” ‘*T can well believe that.” And so the two talked as they proceeded, first about one tbing and then another, and by the time they arrived at Bended Bow they were like old friends; and when ag parted, after dis- posing of their prisoners, Denson invited the sport to call and see him at home. CHAPTER XI. THE MYSTERY DEEPENS. LATER in the afternoon Colonel Damon Dallas might have been seen pacing to and fro across the floor of the library in his residence, in a very agitated state of mind. ° In his right hand he held two newspapers tightly clutched, a copy each of The Bow and The Arrow, which had n delivered by a news- er 5 a few minutes previously, Several turns up and down he took, and then stopped ard looked at the papers once more, reading half-aloud. *** Wanted, he perused; ‘to find one Delwin Mour- ton, who left Denver, Col., about the year 1864, An person giving information concerning him or his present whereabouts will be liberally rewarded.’ ‘Fiends of perdition!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ what can this mean? And the information is wanted by Dobson & Blake, of Denver, who, some time ago, advertised for the heirs of James Gernett. Can there be any connection between this and that? Can it be that there is property at stake? Or is it— But, Delwin Mourton isdead. All the property in the case can do him no good now, nor can—” He finished the sentence with an angry ges- ture, and continued pacing the floor. “Vas,” he presently mused, ‘‘I must learn what is at stake. It may be something con- cerning that old mine usurped by the Imperial Mining Company some years ago. No doubt they want to find Delwin Mourton in order to learn something of Gernett’s heirs, having found that he married Sibyl Gernett; but Delwin Mourton is dead, . ‘* Oh, if that girl only had some proof of her identity! Poor child! poor child! And I am powerless to undo the Wines though gladly would I do so for her sake if I could. Oh, that I could open the way for her to prove herself the child of Sibyl Gernett and the grandchild of James Gernett, so that she might wrest _ own from that mining company ere it is too ate! ‘‘ But it cannot be done. I have tried time and again to devise some means of doing so, but in vain. No, it isimpossible. As Belle Rittens she is known, and so she must remain.” ; Presently there came a light knock at the oor. ‘‘ Come in,” the colonel invited, every trace of his recent agitation gone in an instant. The door opened and Minme Denson entered, followed by Blue-eyed Belle. “a thought we should find you here at this hour, papa,” Minnie remarked, Both he and her brother called Colonel Dallas 7 pa a,” or ‘‘ father.” ‘ Yes,” the colonel responded, ‘‘ lam haa a to be found here about this hour of the day.” And then turning to Belle and extending his hand, he added: ‘‘ Miss Rittens, 1 am glad to see you. Howdo you do?” none took - abana dy hand, The more properly, perhaps—gave hers, replying’ _“Tam well, I thank you, Colonel Dallas, and hope you are.” ** Quite well, I thank you.” ‘And, papa,” Minnie announced, * Belle has come this time on purpose to see you. ‘*To see me?” and the colonel looked at both the girls in a questioning manner. ‘* Yes, sir,” Blue-eyed Belle affirmed, ‘‘ I ha~e come to see you; but I do not want to trouble you unless you have time to spare.” ‘‘My time is yours,” the colonel declared, ‘and if I can be of service to you in any way, you have but to command me,” ‘* There!” cried Minnie, ‘‘ what did I tell you, Belle?” ‘What can I do for you?’ Colonel Dallas ask ed. ‘*' What is it you want?” “T want to know who i am mother, where— Oh! are you ily Colonel Dallas had suddenly turned as pale as a ghost, and grasped the table for support. ‘*Oh! what is it, papa?’ cried Minnie, as she, too, sprung to his side. ‘* Tt is nothing—nothing,” the colonel protest- ed, as he sunk down upon achair. ‘‘ Itwasonly a sudden stitch in my side. I am subject to them. I shall be all right in a moment.” ‘‘Can we get you anything, or do anything for you?” asked Belle. ‘No, my girl, nothing. It has passed away now. I shall be all right soon.” ‘* Perhaps I had better not trouble you with my story to-day. I can call again.” ‘* No, no, tell me now, all—everything I will give you all the advice I can, But, I hardly know what you mean, Do you not know who you are, and who your mother was?” ‘*No, Ido not. [ama child without a name.” ‘Good heavens! do you mean to tell me Rube Rittens is not your father?” ‘‘Mr. Rittens is not my father.” ‘¢ And can Ae not tell you who is? He is sure- ly a relative.” ‘‘He knows no more than I do, sir. But I will tell you my story, and then you will under- stand why I come to you for advice.” ‘* Yes, do so.” In a low, clear tone, then, Blue-eyed Belle be- gan and told the story as we have told it in the preceding chapters, Colonel Dallas listened attentively, his eyes fixed upon the floor, his lips compressed, and his face pale, Nor did he move or speak until some moments after the girl had ceased speaking. Then of a sudden ke looked up, and gazed at the face of the beautiful girl, his eyes dimmed with tears. ‘‘- Your story touches my heart,” he said, as he passed his hand before his eyes to clear them, ‘‘and 1 will do everything in my power to help you, Where is that certificate you speak of?” Belle drew it from her pocket and handed it to im. Opening it, the colonel read it aloud, and then paused suddenly and said: ‘¢ Mourton—Mourton— surely I have heard or seen that name before, but where? Let me see, I— Ah! now I remember. Minnie, please to hand me those newspapers from the table there,” Minnie Denson picked up the two papers from the table where Colonel Dallas bad thrown them on hearing the knock at the door, and the colo- nel, making a little pretense of not being able to find what he wanted readily, presently turned to the advertisement concerning Delwin Mourton, and read it out. ‘“You see,” he remarked, ‘‘the name is the same, and no doubt refers to the same person. The certificate is dated Eighteen and Sixty- three, and this advertisement states that Delwin Mourton left Denver about a year later. There is no room for doubt on this point.” ‘‘And you think this man was my father?” Belle questioned, in tremulous tones, ‘‘T do,” was the firm response. ‘ In my mind there is not the shadow of a doubt about it. The fact that this certificate was found on your per- son when you were an infant removes all uncer- tainty. lt was no doubt placed there by your mother.” ’ ** And she?” ‘* Ajas! who can tell?” ‘‘ But, Colonel Dallas, the fact that this certi- ficate was found on meis no proofs that 1 am the child of the persons it mentions, is it?” ‘¢ True, it is not;” and the colonel let his chin fall upon his breast despondently. ‘¢ Then I am no better off with it thanI would be without it, am I?” “Oh! yes you are,” raising his head instantly to reply, ‘‘ for at the very least 1t is a clew, and with it an able lawyer may be able to win a for- tune for you,” ‘‘Win a fortune for me? What do you mean?” ‘‘ Just this: It iscertain that Dobson & Blake would never advertise for Delwin Mourton un- less they were paid for doing so, or expected to uently there who was my ’ make something out of it; cons may be some property at stake, and the heirs of this Delwin Mourton are wanted, Or, it may be— Ah! I believe I see through it now. What was the name of the woman whom Delwin Mourton married?” ‘‘Her name was Sibyl Gernett,” Blue-eyed Belle answered, ae = Pay certificate, it having been handed bac er, ~ That explains it!” the colonel exclaimed, “ } understand it all?” ‘You understand it all?” ‘© T believe I do.” ‘Pray tell me, then, for you eannot appre- ciate how anxious I am,” micbooks - . aie ale * on 7 / q <s;com - : ‘ ed