Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 488 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

oe Pd > 4: — . oe a A Po ° / sss SSS ee “Tf your claim is a righteous one, sir, be sure | sentimental region, and that—of course you acing as he leaned forward, his arms supported on the back of the chair, one forefinger slowly quivering before her face as he spoke: *‘ Business is business, and I’m its prophet! You held the deck night before last, and I had to pay the footing. It’s my turn uow, and if you try to jump the game before I get square, ll break you all up!” ‘“* He’s mad—I must humor him until help can come!” murmured the woman, barely above | | | her breath, then adding in clearer tones: ‘I’m | sure I’m’ more than ready to make what repara- tion lies inmy power if you have suffered loss on my—my account, good sir. [If my poor father—” ‘‘ Did you ever have one?” in mock surprise. “*T reckoned you came down from Heaven in a hand-basket!” ‘He certainly is a lunatic!” murmured the woman, affecting to hide a fresh tremor of fear, catching her breath with a little gasp. Hart Oakes laughed softly, something like ad- miration coming into his big blue eyes. Evil as he knew this woman was, he could give her fuil credit for the remarkable nerve she showed, as well asher powers of acting a part. hespoke still more bluntly: “It’s good, but not good enough, my dear. Try to remember that I’ve been squarely behind j But then | the scenes, and that I know every inch of the | crooked trail your dainty little feet are treading. Try to fix in your mind the fact that had quite achat with you a couple of nights ago, when you saw fit to mask your charms in a cloak and | don’t-talk-about-~ems!” “Tt surely must summon aid!” still in that faint aside. “Tf you must, of course I'll not kick. But—I it will never be disputed by me,” was the cold, firm response. ‘‘ Present it to the gentlemen elected to administer Stuart Tempest’s estate, and take your chances with the rest. I can makes you no other offer than this.” ‘‘ Not even if I blow the whole truth of how that accident to the stage occurred? Not even if I swear that I saw two women go over Satan’s Elbow, but only one come up? And she by the same means as she went over the brink? Not | even then?’ sneered the sport, mockingly, yet | with his blue eyes glowing like heated steel as they keenly watched the pale fave of the desper- | ate woman opposite. i } | will, ma’am,” ‘Give in, Varley,” she faltered, vainly striv- ing to keep her tones steady. “He's the devil himself!” ‘* And therefore a jolly good friend to all two both o’ ye, if you only have ore to own up as much,” laughed Oakes, as Judd Varley came sullenly past bis elbow, to turn with a black frown as he gained the side of his confederate. ‘** Good pen Varley! Hope Isee you enjoy- ing yourself. Sit down, I beg of you! And— until we've gotour little title all clear for read- ing please fold your hands in your lap.” t wasa bitter pill for the gambler to swal- “Now 1 know you are either drunk or crazy! | low, but there was an ugly menace lurking un- Now I know that you have no just claim on the | der this careless ease, and he was man of the mine, and I'll fight you to the bitter—” ‘* Don’t de quite so sure, little one. bring proof? Judd Varley !”-he cried sternly, a revolver fill- ing his hand and covering the bosom of Queen Esther, just as the door behind him anane open at a gentle touch. ‘““‘Tve got her lined! If you kick up a row, we'll go to Heaven together!” CHAPTER XXIX. AN ARMED TRUCE, Vhat if I can produce—Sfeady, | SOMETHING like a moan of despair fluttered | the sa and agitated the bosom of tbe woman who had entered upon such a bold and perilous game. She visibly shrunk from this grim mnz- zie which almost brushed her dress over her heart as it came so swiftly into position, but she saw no possible chance to disarm this thorough- bred or to escape his immediate revenge in case | the worst was attempted. Was it pure instinct that warned the sport of | peared to enjoy the sensation far more than wouldn’t call for Judd Varley to lead the res- | cuing party, if I thought as much of him as you | appear to do, Because—well, he might find it a harder job than even bringing back to life a | murdered heiress!” Despite her remarkable nerve, Queen Esther started at those last words, turning fairly ghast- ly as sho gasped: ‘¢ What do you—what do you mean by that?” ‘* Simply enough to let you know I saw. the whole trick turned, my darling,” smiled Oakes, showing his teeth sligatly. ‘* Sball I speak even plainer before you face your hand, little wo- - man? With a desperate effort of will, Queen Esther ‘ ___ eonquerad the dizzy illmess which nearly over- came her at this terrible hint. She even forced a smile to her livid lips before replying: ‘‘T am only a poor, weak, defenseless ae I cannot throw you out of my room, as I would like. Andif [ were to call for help—” “You would be terribly compromised, of course, so never give that a thought, my prett daisy dipped in dew! And, as a side issue, suc a row mizht seriously interfere with your reap- ing the harvest in your stolen character of Miss Olive Tempest, sole heiress to Gypsy Gale, the Big Bracer! And that would be too bad—espe- cially as I mean to have my modest share of the pickings.” ** Once more, sir, I declare that 1 don’t under- stand one item of all you pretend to string be- fore me!” frowned the woman, desperately fighting against defeat, though she knew her dangerous secret was surely discovered by this man, all the more hard to deal with from his . yeckless coolness. ‘If you wore the trowsers still, ’'d say you were lying. As it is, let me do some more ex- _ planifying,” easily retorted the sport, ‘‘ You are the person who led the gang that held me up on the trail, night. before last. You are the one who set Ben Hurley on me, bidding him make _ his title good by breaking my neck, Your men chased me half that night, and finally led to my running up against Gypsy Gale himself,” Hart Oakes laughed softly as the woman gave an involuntary start at those words. But with- out waiting for her to speak, he resumed: “J helped the Big Bracer stand off Judd Var- 2a ley and his gang, that night and the next day. e took a fancy to my style and—you can see here how be tried to reward me for my help,” abruptly breaking off to take a piece of paper from his bosom and holding its characters under the light of the lamp. Almost mechanically Queen Esther glanced Bg over the few lines of writing, signed by the hand of the man whom she was now claiming as a * parent, bunt she made no sign. Cold and icy - calm she gazed into those keen blue eyes as _ though still in the darkness. -_ Hart Oakes aa the bill of sale in his ~~ ‘bosom, then add __ & That bit of pa Of Pm given un ‘ r contains my terms, ma’am, isputed possession of the Cap- sheaf, to do with it as I will, Pll never lay a single straw in your way from this on. If ‘ 2%, i” not—” Tae rightful owners of the propert ae left behind him, sir? Do “ Are you trying to bribe me to defraud the my poor father you dare— “Don’t jump at a conclusion, my dear,” was the curt interposition. ‘‘ I'll never dare threaten and I reckon 2 you. I couldn't be so awfully rude to a woman. ut—try to deny my claim to the Cap-sheaf, your partners in the game will find it a mighty hard road to travel over!” « > coming danger? Was the foul fiend standing | either of his enforced his friend? Surely ber eyes had not betrayed | though fearing a rash the vicious hope which found birth in her brain as she saw the knob of ber door slowly, silently turning, and the door gently opening? ‘*‘ Excuse my back, pardner,” added Heart o’ world enough to recognize as much, His knife What if I | dropped upon the bed, and with his fingers tight locked in each otber, he sat down close beside Queen Esther. Then he muttered: ‘‘ What sort of game is this, anyway?’ “ You thought it must be ‘cut-throat,’ I reckon, pardner,” lightly laughed the thorough- bred, with a quick nod toward the bare blade, ‘‘ Well, it may turn into that before the nigbt is old, unless I can find more solid reason in you than I did in your wi—lady friend here!” ‘She is my friend, and if you have dared to injure or insult her by word or deed, you rascal, Ill have your life in pay!” ‘‘ Draw it mild, pardner,” and with marvelous deftness a second revolver came into play, cov- ering the tall gambler with the steadiness of fate. ‘‘I’ve treated her like I would my own sweetheart, and what more can any girl ask?” It was playing with fire, but the sport ap- companions. And as outburst on the part of her friend, Queen Esther hurriedly uttered: “I'm all right, Varley, but—tell him what you told me, you glib-tongued rascal,” with vix- enish sharpness, as her dark eyes flashed back Oak, never once glancing toward the partly | to the fece of the thoroughbred. opened door, never for an instant removing his keen eyes from Queen Esther, and keeping the muzzle of his revolver almost in contact with her bosom. ‘ And, if it isn’t foo much trouble, come in or stay out, please. I never could en- dure a draught playing on my poor backbone, | don’t you know?” ‘* What the devil—” ‘‘ Bring him in with you, pardner, if you like; | | but just beg of him not to joggle my elbow the | least mite, for—my finger is glued to a hair- | trigger, and these cartridges have the most sen- sitive primers you ever saw! If I was to sneeze, even, I reckon they’d explode; and— That’s a terril ble old draught you let in past you, pard- ner! The instinct of the thoroughbred had not de- ceived him. The: intruder was, indeed, none other than the tall gambler of Silver Lode, come to havea few parting words with his fair ally in the game for Gypsy Gale’s millions. He saw her light shining under her door, and knew that she was still up, probably awaiting his coming to complete the schemes they had so admirably put in motion that evening. And— then he caught the cool, easy accents of a mas- culine voice, and the demon of jealousy leaped into his crue] heart. His right hand gripped an ugly-looking blade | C as he silently tried the door, and already he felt the hot blood of his rival flowing under his avenging strokes, when—” Jealousy died, and fear for the woman whom he so passionately loved took its place. He no longer doubted her. There was no acting in her oeger ry from that grim muzzle, no sham in her wild look of frightened pion to him as his white face showed dimly throygh the partly opened door. ‘‘ Devil!” panted Varley, boarsely, ‘*‘ Harma hair of ber head, and lil cut your black beart | out and ram it smoking down your throat!” ‘““Wouldn’t it suit just as well to let it stay there in the first place, pardner?” lightly laughed the thoroughbred, evi ently feeling himself mas- ter of the situation as long as he held Queen Es- ther under his thumb. ‘* You might lose out some o’ the works, and I’m almost sure you’d soil your white fingers trying it. So—pardner, if you love me and have the ap ogg regard for the feelings or pocket of mine host, do come in and shut that door! First you know, off!l go this roof on asneeze, sailing to never-come-back- again! And—ma’am, can’t you stoop so low as to condescend to coax him just a weenty bit?” “ He’s got me feul, Varley, but—” ‘¢ Time’s up, pardner,” and that cool mockery instantly gave place to grim sternness. “I’m old business on ten wheels, Come around where I can see your sweet mug, and come mighty peaceable, unless you’re really anxious to wear crape on your tile!” ‘ There was no mistaking his earnestness, and with a new, shivering dread of death, the wo- man silently implored the tall gambler to submit. ‘* Put it into plain talk, ma’am, and I reckon itll fetch him in a bigger hurry,” said Hart Oakes, reading aright that despairing light in her dark eyes. ‘Tell him that you can see the plumbago spitting on its hands and getting ready for an investigating tour through your ‘Yours to command, ma’am,” with a slight. bow. ‘I never could resist fair women, espe- cially when they tote such a winning way about with them as—excuse me!” nodding again, as Queen Esther made an impatient gesture, ** You are averse to compliments—when your hu—gen- one friend is near enough to take ’em in, is it?” “Don’t rub it in too deep, unless you’re the fool your chatter leads me to think,” coldly muttered Varley, his eyes glowing viciously. * Allright. We'll get down to solid business, if you've fairly learned the little lesson I resolv~ ed to teach the moment I heard yon come spy- ing and eavesdropping on a private party.” ‘Of your selection, why don’t you add?” flashed Queen Esther. ‘My selection goes, then,” with a brisk nod. “‘ And now—business elean through! I reckon I’ve shown you both that I’m fully competent to hold up my end of the whirly-gig. But I don’t care to rub it in, unless I have to. And so-— shall we call it an armed truce, Varley?” “Who are you? What is your business here?” - Call me anything but Dennis; make it Eli, if you will! As for what I’m hunting—just a weenty mouthful out of the rich pie you two are about to pull out of the oven. No more, no less, | Is it a whack?” Judd Varley turned a shade whiter at these brisk sentences, and his gray eves sougbt the face of his confederate as though in search of a hint which would show him how to answer. But before he could read that hard, anxious look, Oakes interposed: ‘“Eyes front, if you please, pardner! It's your play, not hers.” ‘Tell me who and what you are, or I'll call the house to—” “Get thrown out of the window!” laughed Oakes, then sharply adding: ‘Ill tell you, but first—let me warn you that even if you should get away with me, which I hardly believe you can do, I’ve elected another hungry candidate for that bit of pie. In stil plainer words, I’ve not run my head into the noose without mak- _ ing sure of getting square in the end.” ** Clear as mud!” frowned Varley. ‘‘T knew you two, and I knew that you were laying a game that you wouldn’t lose for sim y one life like mine. And so I made my will before coming here. I put it into the hands of my executor, and he'll lose no time in adminis- tering on my effects if the occasion arises.” ‘** All of which means?’ sneered Varley. “That you’d a heap sight better have me for a friend and partner—in a modest way, of course, since you set the game rolling: but still a partner. ou can tell him of the paperT showed you, my Gear,” with a cool nod toward Queen Esther. ‘* It’s too much trouble to flash it om again, and both my hands are full, just now ‘‘ He showed me what claimed to be a bill of sale, conveying to him a mine called the Cap- sheaf, I believe it purported to be signed by my poor, dead father.” *‘ Not exactly, my dear,” coolly corrected the rt. ‘It wassigned by Stuart Tempest, bet- ter known as Gypsy Gale, the Big Bracer.” A SS Se Sai eS nal rd @ i<, > ; 3 ~ * ’ f . y J . \ a V7 — ¥