Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 438 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

} ; } } ae, Ps 18 now this suspicion returned with doubled force. And yet—-what was he, if not Boomer Balt? That he was not disguised, in the common ac- ceptation of that term, Hornkohl well knew, for one evening when his suspicions were strongest, and the guide was soundly sleeping, he had as- sured himself that that white hair and beard were natural growth, not artificial. Boomer Balt swiftly lifted hiseyes and flashed a mocking, malicious glance into the puzzled face before him, chuckling: ** Mebbe they ain’t no sech slouch on this side ©’ the fence, nuther, pardner! Mebbe the ole man kin shout louder then a whisper ef he was to ’zert himself "way up! Mebbe he mought flash out a dockymint or two, when the right time comes! Mebbe, mind ye! An’ mebbe he’s jest tryin’ to stuff ye with wind, though they do say it takes a devil to fool a lawyer-man!” ‘You know more about the Wright family than you care to admit; I see that much!” “Why shouldn’t [I know ’em, when—but don’t let me interrupt ye, pard,” with a light wave of his hand. “ You was doin’ the talk- in’.” ‘“Story for story, or my mouth closes like a clam, old man!” ** Age afore beauty, ye know, pard! Mebbe I'd say too much ef I was to talk fu’st. Some men don’t want the hull truth let out, I ain’t sayin’ you’re one 0’ them men, though. Don’t take it that way.” With an effort Henry Hornkohl drove the frown from his face, resuming his careless attitude, his voice smooth and cool as before. ** Pll unriddle your sphinx when I[ have more time to waste; one thing at a time is good enough for me. As for secrets, all men who fol- low my profession have secrets, more or less im- portant. Iam not an exception to the general rule, though I doubt very much whether you could lay a tiner tip ona single one. But let that go for now. ‘**T told you I was a lawyer: lie number one!” **T knowed that from pritty nigh the fu’st,” was the dry retort. ** Indeed!” with a half sneer. ‘* Perhaps I'd save breath were I to let you tell my little story!” ¢ Mebbe you would, an’ mebbe I wouldn’t make so awful many mistakes in the doin’ of it, nuther,” with a smile. ‘*‘Mebbe I could tell why you wanted to ketch up with ’Vander Wright in sech a burry. Or—what’s the name 0’ the little gal that’s with Vander?” **Otelia, I believe. Curious name, rather. Seems torun in the family to deal ir curious or odd names. Evander, Permelia, Otelia, Per- icles '” ** An Onesiphorus—don’t fergit Uncle Oney, pard,” drawled Boomer Balt, smiling placidly as he half closed his eyes. Henry Hornkohl started, with something that sounded suspiciously like an outh crossing his lips as he sat erect with eyes Abies. ‘*What do you know about Onesiphorus Wright?” * Know that it was ’Jong o’ him that all them funny names was giv’ "Vander Wright an’ the rest. Know that Uncle Oney is too mighty rich to see straight. Know that he is—” ‘** Was you mean,” laughed the lawyer, falling back to his former position like one who again feels himself above water. Boomer Balt smiled still more placidly as he crossed both bands behind his head, dewky rock- ing back and forward. his nearly closed eyes sparkling through their heavy lashes. “Never take back nothin’, pard. Js I said, an’ is I stick to!” ** Was 1 said, and was I can prove,” laughed the lawyer, just as positively. ‘‘ Onesiphorus Wright is dead and buried, long ago!” “]T want to know,” drawled mer Balt, arching his brows. ‘ Bet a dollar it’s a false re- rt. Beta dollar Uncle Oney ain’t no deader’n be. Bet two dollars I don’t keer adurn! So go on, pard.” A startled look came into the face of the other, and he stared intently, almost breathless- eg the face of his guide. But then, witha short laugh of contempt at his own folly, he cast aside that preposterous suspicion and re- sumed: ‘** Dead or not dead, Onesiphorus Wright has made his will and left an enormous fortune to Evander Wright and his heirs, 1 carry a copy of that will in my breast-pocket, with other 1m- portant papers.” ** Make interestin’ readin’, no doubt, but hard- ly wu’th gittin’ so turribly ’cited over, seein’ a will ain’t much count long’s the man who makes it is still in the land o’ the livin’, stout an’ hea ” Old Wright is not living, I tell you. I’ve seen his grave. I’ve talked with those who helped to bury him. Iam hired by his lawyers, or those who were his lawyers when he was alive, to find those whom he left his fortune to: Hvander Wright and his family.” Boomer Balt pursed up his lips, but if was a silent whistle. And the words he uttered seem- ‘ed intended solely for his own ears: SS eoOoOCO—— ——— ___- -—nvwO OO OO OES OS ee Ol Cr eS estes i LL Rg ——— Oklahoma Nick. ee eee te ee ee —_—- -— airth— Eh?” ‘* Who on earth you are?” echoed Hornkohl. ‘*So would I!” ‘*Balthus Carr, better knowed as Boomer Balt, beca’se— Hello!” with a gentle grin that slowly stole all over his face. ‘* Anythin’ bit you, pard?” ** Just a lump of dirt sticking in between two ribs,” was the careless reply, as Hornkohl shift- ed his position for one that seemed to suit him better. ‘* But as | was saying: I came out here to hunt up the legal heirs of Onesiphorus Wright, deceased. That was nearly nine months ago, and—” ‘Only so long?” murmured Boomer Balt, in languid surprise. ‘*That was my first trip, which had a rather Nehiage ag ending. As we have time enough, per- aps it may interest you to learn just what I mean by that.” ‘* Ef I go to sleep, jest ram me with your toe, pard; I’m turribly interested—turribly!” ‘* Though the will and its contents were per- fectly plain and easy to understand, there was a hitch when it came to looking up the heirs. Be- i a general statement that Evander Wright 1ad gone out to one of the Western States, we had no clew. rao hle pag 4 failed, and finaily the firm of lawyers who had charge of the es- tate, applied to the chief for a good man who would take the job of finding Evander Wright. The chief detailed me, and receiving my instruc- tions, I set to work. ‘The clew was not very definite, you see, but I was young and enthusiastic in my profession. I knew that it would take time and money, but I was paid for the one, and plentifully supplied with the other, so | borrowed scant trouble on that score. that I followed up one or two wild clews, that ended in nothing to serve us. Until I bit Kansas City. You’ve been there?” Boomer Balt nodded assent. ‘Then you know how it is yourself, perhaps. other cities; but with more fun and racket and pure devil than would serve all the rest put to- gether! ‘* Well, while feeling my way the best I knew how, loafing about the stock-yards and other points where the grangers most do congregate, not sparing my tongue in my eagerness to catch some trace of a long-lost relative named Wright, I run across a likely young fellow whom I heard hailed as Oklahoma Nick.” ‘Nick Van Bibber: the critter that’s leadin’ Vander Wright to the happy land—jes’ so,” muttered Boomer Balt. ‘*The very same man,” nodded the detective, with a faint show of white, strong teeth and a smile that was fully as much tiger as man. ‘** He said he knew several persons by the name of Wright, and though none of them happened to be the man [ wanted most, according to his tell, we grew uncommon thick before night descend- ed.over the peaceful earth. And when it did fall—when it came down good all around, far enough to be tucked up on all sides—Oklahoma Nick and your servant were taking in the town, with all that term implies.” ‘* Kinder sloppin’ over the paint-bucket. I’ve bin thar—when 1 was a leetle mite younger, ye understand !” ‘*Tt wasn’t altogether a longing for wild oats that led me so far astray, mind you,” resumed the detective, growing more grave. ‘* Somehow, as though instinctively, | felt that this rove gn | cowboy was playing me for roots. Somehow doubted his truth when he said that be could tell me nothing of Evander Wright. Yet he .eemed honest enough, too!” its roost—don’t I know the p’izen critter?” snap- ped Boomer Balt, his eyes all aglow. ‘** Something like that,” nodded the detective, his eyes half-ciosed but keenly observing every change in the face if ona him. ‘‘I could ive no reason for im I did, and when I accepted his invitation to ‘do the town,’ it was purely for the purpose of setting that suspicion at rest, one way or an- other. ‘*T didn’t think it would bother me much. I’ve got a head on me tou h asa pine-knot; if I hadn’t, I wouldn't be here now! And I knew [ could carry double the sail that would send Okla- homa Nick to bottom, head-foremost.” ** But you slipped up on it, of course! Most ede) that way!” ‘*[ kept an eye in that direction, but some- how I got a dose that sent me wild. I was drugged, and ‘then slugged—bad! The police picked me up, and turned me over to the hos- pital. They searrhed me for some clew to my identity first, of course, but found nothing. Though [ had all my papers and wealth with me when I set out on that racket, never a scrap of writing nor a red cent was there on me when | I was picked up. ‘** For good six months J lay there in hospital, just alive, and that was all. I never spoke an _intellicitle word during all that time. I was ' helpless as a child, and my mind an utter blank. oubting him, but doubt <> So PT cea RR Dae ay SS a eee playing @ part for some especial purpose, and | an’ buried, eh? Then I’d like to know who on | ' ; 'up Evander Wright. a ee meant life or death—and I came back to life once more. ‘* Even then, it was weeks before I could leave hospital, IL had time enough to think it all over while lying there awaiting the reply from m employers, to whom I sent word the first day y was permitted to touch pen and ink. I felt al- most certain that Oklahoma Nick slugged me, either to get hold of my papers or my wealth. And yet, [ could not remember telling him any- thing about toe will, or just why [| was hunting If I mentioned either, it must have been done while the drug was taking effect. ‘** Still, who else would have taken my papers? And why did not this friendly cowbcy come for- ward when my case was published in the papers | to give what information lay in his power?” ; i ** Beca’se he didn’t hev to,” murmured Boomer Balt, with a faint smile. ‘* Beca’se he’d got all | he wanted out 0’ you, an’ was off ’to cook other fish!” ‘* Never mind all I did or tried to do. Enough | uttered the guide, li | of the case, as I still believe. | rst | hu | ] ‘*That’s easy enough to believe, knowing what I have since found out,” added the detective. ‘* But just then it bothered me not a little to cipber it all out. If he had sent word to my employers, offering to put them on the right track of the missing heirs, for a consideration, I could have understood his animus easily enough. Instead—as you hint, he was playing a much bolder game. ‘* My employers sent me money and fresh cop- ies, bidding me stick to the case and carry it toa successful ending. You see, they had taken quite a fancy to me, and knew that if I did succeed, it would go a long way toward giving me a lift in my profession.” ‘** An’ so you tuck to huntin’ up the record of Oklahoma Nick, which ended in fetchin’ you out thar whar we run up ag’inst each other.” tersely * one who is wearying of a story too long drawn out for an outsider. ‘* Precisely,” nodded Hornkohl, nothing put out. ** And right there I got at the bottom facts Oklahoma Nick knew the Wright family. He was already in Not very ancient; not quite so big as some | love with the daughter, and knowing from my papers that she was bound to come in fora right snug little fortune when—” ‘When the ole man kicks the bucket!” ‘* Still harping on that string?” with a swift frown. ‘““Dummed ef I don’t keep on fergittin’ that Uncle Oney’s dead—dead an’ buried ter keeps! Mighty queer—most mighty queer!” with a sky sound that might easily be n.istaken for a stifled chuckle. et ‘* An’ that vou couldn't stan’, nohow—which IL don’t blame ye fer one bit, Mau—pardner,” with a hasty correction that did not escape the watch- ful detective, whose brows contracted still more, ‘* Boot an’ saddle, lads!” called ont the scout in charge of the party at that juncture, and Boom- er Balt sprung eagerly to his feet. ‘* Keep your easy, pardner,” he said bastily, as the detective rose to his feet. ‘* I'll saddle up fer you, an’ you kin finish your pipe.” ‘* You re too willing, Uncle Balt,” said the de- tective with a peculiar smile. ‘* Our pags stand close together, like good friends, and you can finish what you set out to say while saddling up. ‘* Did [—dummed ef I hain’t got the best for- gettery in seventeen States!” drawled the guide with a faint, uneasy smile. * You started to call me Ww have never claimed, though altogether strange to me.” “ Mebbe you hev, pardner,” that faint smile deepening. ‘*T heard of Maurice North, up yonder in Ne- braska, while investigating the record cf Okla- a name which I imagine it is not ‘One o’ the sort that kin whistle a crow off | hom+ Nick. He was tried and found guilty of murdering one George Humphrey, I believe?” ‘* Mebbe he was. Mebbe that was the name I started to call ye. But never git mad fer a slip o’ the tongue like that, pard! I'm older then used to was, an’ ain’t nigh so sure o’ my tongue. Mebbe the fastenin’s is wore loose, like, ye know!” Henry Hornkobl gazed steadily into the face of his guide, his own countenance a curious study. Heseemed so thoroughly puzzled. He seemed half-annoyed, half-angry with the old fellow. ‘*Onee before you called me by that name and stared into my face as though you thought to catch me tripping. Why? Do you mean to sav that vou really believe Jam this murderer, Maurice North?’ “T don’t b’lieve he was a murderer!” slowly replied Boomer Balt, steadily meeting that keen gaze, *'T don’t b’lieve he done what they all said he done—all but ’Tetie Wright! She stuck to the lad, through thick an’ thin! She never tuck no stock into it—an’ [m most mighty glad to know that, now Nick Van Bibber is grown so mighty thick with the party.” ‘One would almost be tempted to think Ps had a personal interest in this young lady,” slowly uttered Henry Hornkohl, his eyes glow- ng. ‘* Aw’ why not?” sturdily retorted the guide, though with just the ghost of a smile about bis “Go ’way from home tol'urnthenews! Dead Then an operation of some sort was risked—it lips, that as quickly faded away. “I know Ebhoo -_— com S (E(0) —_ .