Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 455 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

a : " _ led by their association with the leader of the Jampire Clique that Yank did not care to trust them. The work began. As quietly as possible they went from man to man and presented the case. Langleigh, Montclair and Todd had long had their iron heel upon the neck of the town, meta- phorically speaking. A good deal of money had come to Medicine Springs, but except for a slight gain to a few merchants in a small way, all had gone to the pockets of the league of three. This would alvays be so; it was part of a deliberate plot, and only prompt measures could overturn the tyrants. They had been severe rulers, Bob Bunker, as sheriff, had been well aided by such creatures as Rooks, Tobin and Piper, and these men had ab- solutely terrorized the town. From the first, dark deeds had marked their so-called ‘legal rule,” and a revolt would have come long before only that all had feared Langleigh and his men, and a leader had been wanting, Yank Yellowbird was the man of the hour. He did not fear Langleigh, and his bold utter- ances thrilled the less confident men and made them eager for the stroke. There were a dozen rsonal wrongs, similar to the abduction of elda, to be avenged, and they were eager to break the relentless rule of the Vampire Clique. It was freely admitted by all thatthe springs from which Langleigh bad made so much mone ossessed no medical properties whatever. He ad simply conducted a gigantic swindle, and the only deluded persons were his victims. Knowing all this, the citizens listened readily to ideas tending to a revolt, and the movement, -once started, bade fair to become resistless, CHAPTER XXIX, A SERIES OF STARTLING SURPRISES. _ SHERIFF BoB BUNKER called at the Lang- leigh residence and was ushered into the pres- ence of the master of the house by Abram. One glance at his face showed Langleigh that his subordinate was in a perturbed state. ** Well, what is it?” he irritably asked. ‘The whole blamed thing has miscarried!” Bunker growled, as he sunk into a chair. ‘*Do you mean in regard to the half-breed ‘*T thought you said that they had seized her all right,” “So they did, an’ they got her away ter the hills, an’ put her in a cabin whar she was ter be kept fur awhile. That was all right; what fol- lered wa’n’t all right by a durned sight. She was rescued by Yank Yellowbird an’ his gang.” Langleigh’s face turned white with anger ** Always Yank Yellowbird!” he exclaimed. ‘“‘The critter is in all the mischief that’s afloat,” Bunker srognalty replied. - oe 80 they brought her back?’ as Langleigh brought his clinched hand angrily down upon the table, ‘* Bob Bunker, that meddling fool must die!” he cried. ‘* Wait! You haven’t heerd the worst.” ‘“* What more?” ‘* Yank an’ that infernal Blacklock Ben are mighty active this evenin’; they’ve been goin’ q among the citizens, an’ though none 0’ our crowd kin git onter the secret at all, I'll bet my head ag’in’ a hat that thar’s a riot ahead.” ‘A riot!” Langleigh echoed, blankly. ‘Yas. Thar ain’t no use 0’ mincin’ matters; ven an’ me, an’ all o’ our crowd, is unpop’lar ar, an’ I’ve often suspected that the outside ckers would rise an’ try ter overthrow us. I b’lieve that’s jest what’s on the books now.” ‘* Then,” cried apes fiercely, ‘‘ rally our men, and crush the rebellion right at the start!” “« Boss,” gravely answered Bunker, ‘‘ they are five ter our one.” ‘Then what in the fiend’s name are,we to do? Shall we yield the bonanza we have here? The springs are making us all rich—are we to give it up tamely?”’ ‘* Pve got an idee,” ‘** Name it.” ‘You know that up at Rattlesnake Valley thar is a village o’ Injuns—the outlaw tribe, they’re called. They are the survivors o’ the insurrection a few years ago, an’ the main tribe banished ’em. Sence then they’ve lived at the Valley, a sullen, fierce, exiled party—the Pan- thers, they're called. I’ve taken pains ter make friends with them, an’ hev a good bit o’ influ- ence with them. Why not bring ’em down ter help us?” Langleigh smote the table again. “The very thing, by Jupiter!” he exclaimed, ‘Ef I set out at one’t I kin get.’em here by dark ter-morrer night, an’ once they be hyar we kin rule the town, Add the Panthers ter our force, an’ we kin sweep Yank Yellow- orb a’ his gang out o’ Cutwater Gap in a ur (DO it!” directed Langleigh. ‘‘ By all means, Bob, do it. Start for Rattlesnake Valley at once, and bring down the Panthers. Promise them liquor, blankets —anything that will excite their cupidity and attach them to our service,” | ——— ee ry ee Yank Yellowbird. enna een ne tnt tInInIEEISEIIUIE EEE EEE SER ‘‘No, no,” answered Langleigh; ‘‘ this is the bride.” ‘* The dickens it is!” exclaimed Brainard, ‘‘ Yes. Why do you look so surprised?” ‘Do you mean thatI am to marry her to this man?” and Brainard pointed to Mont- clair. ‘* Of course.” ‘“Then I have reason to be surprised. Is this a Mormon town?” ‘Certainly not. question?” ‘‘ Because it was not a fortnight ago that I married this young lady to another man!” Langleigh started back in incredulous sur- prise, while Lmogene, finding her hand released, stepped back a pace and stood regardirg him with a calm smile, ‘* What’s that?’ cried Langleigh. The minister repeated his former statement. ‘* Impossible!” gleigh declared. ‘‘It is impossible for me to be mistaken,” Brainard insisted. for herself!” , _ All eyes were turned upon Imogene, The calm smile was still on her face, and she uncon- sciously drew ur her fine form to its full bight. “Tt seems a pity to spoil your plans for a _ wedding, gentlemen,” she said, in clear, deliber- ate tones, *‘ but it is impossible for me to take a leading part in the affair, owing to the facts 'stated by Mr. Brainard. I am already mar- ried!” __ Langleigh gazed at her in mute intensity. Surprise, dismay, and rage were expressed upon his face: he was utterly dumfounded, and if he had followed his impulse he would have gone to the cowardly extreme of striking the girl as she smiled into his face. Suddenly a ray of hope appeared thereon. ‘‘ It is false!” he cried; “‘ thisis a plot between _ you two.” ‘‘Wrong,” Brainard replied; “it istrue. Pl swear that I married her as I say, and I never suspected that I was to-night called to marry the same woman until I saw her.” | ‘‘T do not see as there can be any marriage,” _ Imogene quietiv added. _ By heaven!” cried Langleigh, ‘* I do not be- lieve it yet. If you are married, where is your husband ?—who is he?” ‘““My husband,” the girl calmly replied, *‘is named John Kirk.” ‘* John Kirk!” gasped the baffled plotter. ** Yes; your employee.” ‘* Didn’t I tell you she favored him, when her horse ran away?’ excitedly, but rather vaguely, | demanded Montclair. ‘“‘ Kirk!” again repeated Langleigh, in a sibi- '_Iant. voice, ‘The scoundrel!—the treacherous villain !” ‘““You forget, sir,” said Imogene, coldly, “that he is my busband.” ‘* Husband or not, [ll have my revenge. | | allow no employee to come into my house as a thief. He shall pay dearly for this!” ‘*T bave sent word to him that I was about to ‘That was my idee.” ‘‘Go at once. See Rooks before you start, and give him charge of our forces.” ‘‘] will, an’ you kin depend on him ter work with a will. His back is smartin’ from a thrash- in’ Yank Yellowbird gave him, an’ he’ll be a bloodhound on the tall Hustler’s track.” After a little more conversation, Bunker took his departure. He had been gone but a few minutes when Cecil Montclair called. The lat- ter was attired in his best garments, but not in his happiest smile; he looked uncertain and doubtful. ‘‘All ready for the wedding, I see,” observed Langleigh. ‘* Yes; but can you say as much for the bride?” ‘*T have more hope than I had,” Langleigh replied. ‘‘ Imogene is certainly in a more quiet mood, I think my threats had some effect on her, and she has not defied me to-day. I told her that Brainard would be here, and that she must resign herself to marriage with you. She actually smiled, and said that perhaps it would be best so,” ‘‘That’s good news, if true,” said Montclair, thoughtfully. ‘‘ Has the parson come yet?’ ‘* No, though I expect him every minute. It is a rather long ride from Red Rock, anyway.” ‘‘Suppose Imogene rekels—do you think Brainard is made of the right stuff to help us through?” ‘*]T believe a bundred dollar bill will buy that fellow, body and soul.” ‘*Good! If he proves pliable, why can’t we add one more attraction to Cutwater Gap, settle Brainard here, and help our schemes by having | a church and a parson? The worst kickers at | my hotel are the female patients you treat at | the Bathing Establishment, but if a parson tells | a woman to swallow the moon fora ripe plum, she will inevitably make a try. I say, settle Brainard here.” ‘* The idea will be worth considering if we can tide over a calamity which now threatens us.” | “What is that?” | Langleigh explained Bunker’s fears of a local rebellion, and the steps they propo ed to take to crush it. Montclair, however, made light of the matter, and refused to see anything alarming in the situation. Even if there was an uprising, a volley from Bunker’s men, leveled at Yank and histwo associates, would banish the last atom of vitality in the movement. ‘*You are over-sanguine,” replied Langleigh. “Tf you have studied the record of the man Yellowbird you must know that he isa bad per- son to haveagainst one. ‘Tis said he got his sobriquet of the Hard crabble Hustler by in some way saving a town against odds, and the Indians call him Nevermiss. Plenty of mencan be found who believe that lank mountaineer bears a charmed life, too.” ¥ He is a meddling fool, and must be disposed A knock at the door interrupted them, and then the Reverend Mr. Brainard was ushered in. He was cordially received by Langleigh; achair | tell the secret, and I think he can care for bim- was obsequiously placed for him; and when it | self. If not, Mr. Brainard is witness that you was learned that be occasionally did indulge in | have made threats against him.” “something to drink,” a really excellent wine | ‘‘ My goud friends,” said the minister, hastily, was placed before him. | “Jet us avoid all contention. This matter is Then the master of the house continued to redemption ; it is best 10 accept the inevita- make himself agreeable—and sound the reverend | ble, and bury all feuds.” gentleman. He soon came to the conclusion Langleigh struggled to recover his calmness, that Mr. Brainard would not let any mere | and then answered: scruple stand in the way of earning a hundred ‘‘There will be no work for you here, Brain- dollars, which was the sum, Laugleigh mention- | ard. I will pay you for your time—pay you ed casually, he proposed to pay. erously. As for you, Mrs. John Kirk,” and Both the schemers began to think that Imo- | here his voice broke into a bitter sneer, ‘* you gene would surely become Mrs. Cecil Montclair , can go to your room as soon as you choose.” Why do you ask such a —E of — that night. Imogene bowed with calm grace and with- Langleigh finally excused himself and went to | drew without a word. The glances shot after the girl. her by Langleigh and Montclair were full of Imogene had not been out of the house, as far as :er father knew, since he declared her a risoner, but ste had borne her captivity quiet- y. She was calm now. ‘*The minister has come, Imogene,” Langleigh announced, in a friendly voice. ‘* Has he?” was the indifferent reply. ‘“Yes, Are you ready?” ** T suppose so.” Her manner was listless, and he looked at her sharply, wondering if her mind was wholly | venom, but she did not seem to heed them. Whatever the future might have in store for her, she had scored one emphatic triumph. CHAPTER XXX. THE STORM BREAKS FORTH. First came the news that Langleigh had had John Kirk arrested and lodged in a temporary jail, charged with having stolen five thousand right. dollars from him. The facts were soon made ‘You and Cecil will be very happy as man known. Kirk had left bis place of employ- and wife.” | ment. and Imogene had left her father’s roof, ‘** No doubt.” | but Langleigh had been alert, and the arrest ‘‘ Her mind is surely affected,” thought Lang- | had followed, Rooks acting as sheriff in the leigh, ‘‘ but that is all the better. I cam keep temporary absence of Bunker. my promise to Montclair, and I don’t care what | Every one knew thespirit which had prom becomes of her when it’s over.” | the arch-villain’s last step, and the mutterin Then he said, aloud: of rebellion grew apace. The people could su ‘‘ Well, let us go to the parlor; the minister is _ mit to no more. and thev rose in a body. waiting.” | First they liberated Kirk, and then the hot- She readily arose, and took the arm he Brimly headed members of the party forgot the mod- offered ber. In this way they went to join the | erate counsel of Yank and Buckingham, Be- fore the two latter suspected any danger, Lang- leigh’s house, his Bathing Establishment, the Hygeia Hotel and Doctor Todd’s office were all in flames. men in the otherroom. Langleigh led her in with dignity. ‘*Mr. Brainard, this is my daughter, Miss Langleigh,” he announced, ; The minister started a little, and then re-| Yank and Ben were troubled that such a plied : thing should mar the uprising, and they gath- ‘‘ Pleased to meet you, Miss Langleigh. You ered such men as they conld to act as firemen. are, I suppose, to be the bride’s-maid?”’ Seeing that all the other buildings were doomed, | ee COMIECDOOKS . o_§ > le! es 25 ‘* Let your daughter speak ° THE next day was one of startling: events. — * i) | * 7 iz 7» . - — '*? dj - z a “d es