Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 453 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

ar A ein > Captain Coldzrip’s Long Trail. 19 ing about. Heis Major Mystery, so-called; but, | tery. Come, Captain Donald. Though this is in other words, a Russian.” ‘*Ho! you know a good deal about him, then!” cried the San Pedro sport. tery here to-night?” ‘* Come!” and the cold hand of the American sleuth got a new grip and shock Donald till his yellow teeth chattered. ‘If you persist in lying about that man, when he gave the command for your assault not five minutes ago, I will pro- ceed to play a hand that might open your eyes,” ‘This is no place,” was the reply. *‘ Down the street a piece is El -Paradiso.” ‘Your den! the street on the plaza is the Valley Rose,” ‘Was Major Mys- San Pedro, and you are called its head, this little room may hold your future.” Captain Coldgrip thought he saw the man’s teeth meet over this threat. At any rate, the eyes caught fire. ‘* What.is it worth?’ suddenly asked Donald the Dark. “Ts it a question of money?” was the reply, as the detective gave the sport a searching look. ‘* It is for you to eo At this the San Pedroan leaned back till he touched the wall, and waited hke a shrewd bar- 1 understand it A Donald. Up | gain-maker for the next advance ‘** You have the secret, then?” asked the detec- “To perdition with the hotel! I never enter | tive. it,” grated the San Pedro sport. » T have a pri- vate room in El Paradiso.’ ‘Thank you, Donald. I” possess the same ac- | ‘* The secret, captain?” ‘* ‘You know where the Russian prisoner is?” There was a sudden start on the San Pedroan’s commodations at the Valley Rose,” laughed the | part. He caught himself just an instant too detective. Donald the Dark dropped his head for a mo- ment, ‘“*To the Valley Rose, then! | i Confound it! | late; the cool player in front of him had seen it, ‘‘Has Major Mystery a prisoner?” he asked, assuming astonishment again. ‘* Has Captain Donald played watch and ally you want to drag me to the feet of my enemy.” | for him blindfolded? I did not come to San Up to this moment Captain Coldgrip had held | Pedro to find a fool. the wrist of the man with the deep-set serpent eyes. Now he dropped it, but leaned toward Donald as he resumed: ‘*T have mentioned the plaza hotel because I do not want to interview you in your own ranch, Donald, You will pardon me when I say that I know the ways of the citizens of these Southern California towns.” ‘*They are good people!” grinned Donald. ** They hate nobody but their enemies, and that is natural.” ‘¢ The example I have just witnessed confirms that. Shall we go up to the Valley Rose, Cap- tain Donald?” ‘6 Yes. ” Although, to all outward appearances, Donald of San Pedro had been disarmed by the detec- tive, he was watched with the eye of a hawk by the man who turned back toward the hotel in front of the fountain. **I must show this rascal that I em here to conquer,” murmured the sleuth. ‘* Colonel Red- path will not quit San Pedro until he hears the report Donald sees fit to deliver, and, if I can have my way, [ll help to make that very same re ye ‘ ‘Not by the porch, if you please, captain,” said Donald, looking up into Captain Coldgrip’s face as they touched the plaza. ‘‘ There is a back entrance to the Valley Rose.” ‘** Lead the way to it.” In less than five minutes after the start from the scene of the human panther’s leap at the Atlantic ferret the two men grain through an arched gate into a garden and from thence into the hotel by a rear entrance. Once in the corridor beyond the door, Cap- tain Coldgrip got his bearings, and led Donald to the little room he had hired, a poorly fur- nished place, whose one window looked out upon the fountain playing in the lamplight. A change had come over Dark Donald’s face, and Coral’s estimate of him came flashing across the detective’s mind as he noted it. Instead of the sullen, tigerish gleam in the depths of the San Pedroan’s eyes, the sleuth saw a pleasant look there, as if the fellow was on the fringe of a ge “* How blind I was!” ejaculated Donald. ‘‘I see now that I rushed likea cyclone at the wrong man! Why, you are the gentleman who came from beyond the valley this morning and found me in front of my door. Nay, you don’t look like San Gabriel Louis, the cheater for whom I was watching. Your pardon again, captain.” Captain Meg OFS saw through this reat Donald of San ro was hiding his claws for the present under some handy velvet, but his eyes told where the ends of the claws were to be n. _ “In the first place, was your companion wait- ing with you for San Gabriel Louis?’ asked the detective. ‘*My—companion? Captain—” ** Let me spare you some words, Donald,” in- terrupted Coldgrip. ‘* Major Mystery and you are friends, hen he comes to San Pedro he makes El Paradiso his headquarters, When he finds he bas no use for a friend’s assistance, he lets him slip. He would not help you to-night. If I had choked you in his presence, he would not have raised a hand in your behalf, After all, Captain Donald, the Russian, is a coward.” ‘*Maybe he is. I have never seen him tried,” smiled the San Pedro boss. ‘* But did you fetch me to the pe I never visit to tell me this?” ‘“No, I merely mentioned it to let you know that I don’t like cowards like Major Mystery. Were I to open the door now, you woule tell him about my opinion, eh, Donald?” ‘* Maybe I could not find him.” ““Go down to El Paradiso--to the private room. Can’t you see him there now, waiting im- patiently for you, Donald?” A smile showed itself at the corners of the San Pedroan’s mouth. ‘* He may be there, captain,” he admitted. er in your private room?” ** Confound him, even there.” ** You know that he is more than Major Mys. ' They don’t call you that away from home, Donald.” The San Pedroan touched the brim of his hat cavalierly for the compliment, and took out a cgenette which he lighted for a smoke. he coolness of this Southwest desperado pro- voked the New York spotter. Was he trying to gain time for somebody? While he was holding him at bay with a sword of words, was the Russian ferret making off to new haunts with Medora, the beautiful pris- oner? *“*Once more,” mentally exclaimed the detec- tive. “If he attempts to baffle me I'll playa strong hand.” Then he looked into the eyes that laughed in- vitingly at him behind the curling smoke, and resumed: ‘fs it worth a thousand, Captain Donald?” ‘“‘T am very poor. I have nothing to sell,” was the reply. The next moment Captain Coldgrip left his chair, and before the San Pedroan could lift a hand, he was once more in the Atlantic sleuth’s grip. o I will find out for myself!” cried the detec- tive. ‘* You are very r to be the richest rascal in San Pedro. Oblige me by keeping quiet, Captain Donald. Your pedigree was read to me before I ever saw your face, and the read- er did not miss it by a hair.” The proprietor of El Paradiso was jerked from his stool, and a moment later he lay across _ the little cot in one corner of the room, with the triumphant eyes of Captain Coldgrip gleaming above his face! What followed is quickly told, In a minute, as it seemed, so rapidly did the man-hunter work, the king sport of San Pedro lay bound and helpless on the blankets. He could look daggers at the American sleuth, which he did, but an effective gag in his mouth kept him from spite out the venom that was almost choking him. “You say you don't like the Valley Rose,” smiled Captain On Ate “That being the case, Donald, you are likely to enjoy its hospi- tality for some time. I may come back to re- lease you, and Imay not. This is one of the ames that sometimes go against the child of ortune. Good-night!” The last look the detective got from the man on the cab was one of intense hate, and meeting it with a smile of victory, he walked out, clos- ing the door after him. n the narrow weather-boarded corridor just beyond the threshold he came suddenly in con- tact with the massive figure of Concho, ** Merciful God, captain, where is Donald the Dark?” ejaculated the big miner, in Gasps. ie saw you take him to your room. I— Great Cesar! let me get ten minutes the start of the tiger of San Pedro, and I won’t let grass grow under my feet. I’ve hired Pablo to take me abe 4 t isn’t healthy here for Concho, and you'll find it mighty sickly for you if Donald and his pards get the ge hand.” “You shall have the start you want. Get out of town if you can’t stand the hunting eyes of Captain Donald who is very safe just now. A safe trip toSan Luis Potosi, Concho,” and the detective touched the big sport’s hand and passed on, Captain Coldgrip left the hotel by the rear door, silently and unobserved. ‘*T told Donald that the colonel was waiting for him at El Paradiso,” he mentally ejaculated, as he put his hand under his coat and touched something which be had handled before. ‘I shall now see what sort of prophetI am. Ha! Colonel Redpath; when I set out on this trail I never thought it would reach to San Pedro.” He went straight to the famous ranch, and entered boldly. At one end of the room and near the bar, was a door on which was painted the word— ** Private.” Captain Coldgrip walked forward, and put his hand on the latch. ‘“‘ Now for it, my Russian wolf!” came through his teeth, and then opened the door. F CHAPTER XXIV. THE HUNTRESS IN YELLOW JACKET. WE go back to Yellow Jacket, not for long, reader, but long enough to keep track of a char- acter without whom our Western drama would lack some important scenes. When Captain Coldgrip left Coral at the mouth of the long canyon, she rode toward Yel- low Jacket to claim her winnings on the jump- ing match, and to encounter for the last time, she idl the man who had been her hus- and. The meeting with the detective had altered Coral’s looks, A new and fierce desire now seemed to illumine her eyes, and her movements were restless even in the saddle, ‘*So the ferret of the czar blooded his hands after he touched these shores!” she exclaimed, recalling Captain Claude’s story of the Ameri- ean crime. ‘‘I don’t know but that I ought to let the New York sleuth have his way. e will avenge me when he reaches his victory. No! he can’t do that!” and her eyes would flash again. ‘* Nobody can avenge me! I must do it myself! I told him to watch for me at the moment of triumph. When I think of Paul Demidoff, my blood burns, and a scorpion seems to sting me on the shoulder. A few minutes is all the time I want in Yellow Jacket; then back to the spot where something tells me I will meet the Mus- covite once more.” With words of this sort chasing one another over her lips, Coral rode into the Nevada town, and slipped to the ground in front of the ranch where she expected to find her stakeholder, and probably Cyclone. Her appearance in the place was greeted with several expressions of surprise, and a little man came toward her with a smile. Coral recognized him at once as the stake- holder. ‘“*T’ve got it safe for you, though Broncho Buck will never jump again!” exclaimed the di- minutive sport. ‘‘ You won five hundred on the match two weeks ago, and I put the whole pile up tery ‘* But Bronebo Buck’s death made the match a draw,” remarked Coral. ‘‘Tt did for some o’ the boys,” grinned the stakeholder. ‘‘I bet the pile with an almond- eyed son cf Confucius who war backin’ the Co- manche leaper, and wher I privately oe: 8 my dropper to the stakeholder’s head an’ looked daggers at China John, I got every dollar o’ the stakes.” The little man thrust his hand beneath his jacket and produced a heavy buckskin purse which made the eyes of some of the unfortunate betters snap. ‘““Thar’s a clean two thousand for you,” he went on extending the purse toward ral whose countenance showed her astonishment. ‘My commission isn’t a copper. It was worth a big percentage ter see the Celestial lose color when he saw my ‘ hand.’” All this time a man was watching Coral from across the room. He thes gy shielded by the stalwart fi that s between him and the woman; but he could see her plainly if she could not enjoy the same privilege. Coral took the purse but opened it immediately and threw two eagles upon the counter. “For the gentlemen of Yellow Jacket,” she said with a smile to the dispenser of the liquors, and then a big fellow tossed his hat toward the oa and “clothed his approbation in a wild yell, ‘* What a lift a part o’ that would be for me!” ejaculated Cyclone, his gaze flitting from the buckskin purse to Coral and back again. ‘‘ She hasn’t showed any ill will toward me since we dissolved partnership. She might divide now for what does she want with two thousand here There can be no more bets on Natty Nick, and the injun will never come back here to p.” The woman drew back from the counter and watched the vards of Yellow Jacket push for- ward to accept the invitation implied in her remarks to the bartender. In a little while Cyclone was left alone, a conspicuous figure at one of the card-strewn tables. All at once the gaze of Coral fell upon him, and then their eyes met. A moment later the exile of Silver Deck cumee? the room and stood before the burly sport. ‘““You still linger here,” she exclaimed. 1 a you see the two sleuths who have just eft? “No! I saw nobody suspicious!” was the reply, for Cyclone did not see fit to tell Coral about his meeting with Colonel Redpath. | “Where were your eyes?” laughed the wo- man. ‘* They were here, at the fatal match. Captain Coldgrip isn’t many miles away yet, and the other, the Russian Scorpion—he may be nearer still!” _ ng SS - clone could not suppress a start at thein- telligence that the New York y ig-sivody whose life he had once attempted, had been within nice Bee Why had he not seen Cap- tain ude? And, as Coral had asked, where had his eyes been? The hand concealed among the folds of the com €books PY A a eg en ; " ¥ (ree ° s é con rs — 2] " : — Ace cee A ES Ry A A I A me me