Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 488 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

4 ‘ ; — —s ag en te ee. an a a, Se, _ A en ; Kee es ~ eA im , . - 1.55 MomtipY SEN Zo ——— - : oe es oe ws Mew ss ‘ ea a Eo eee “* ee oe | os 2 ha te * % hae 0 ; ated pee a° Abe ‘be See ae yd | oY Rene ae pe a i r- 4 = LA a eS,” 5) et - ye" a W's? 4 a ee al aes % «és debe Se _ = ~~ - “t T a ™ 1é ty —— -\ a At 9 % os e The Thoroughbred Sport. **And this is Miss Olive Tempest, daughter and sole heiress of that same gentleman, sir,” sharply cut in Varley. ‘*That’s what pretty much all Silver Lode believes, but—come to my terms, or Pll show them just how the wool is over their eyes!” CHAPTER XXX, IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR. Wir a grating curse, Judd Varley made an impulsive movement, only to be checked by the quick clutch of Queen Esther’s hand on his arm ‘* Just in time to save a cartridge, my dear,” nodded the abet ay € i with a glimpse of his white teeth through his mustaches, ‘‘ And now that the ice is fairly broken—now that you seem to appreciate the bulge P’'ve got on you both— suppose we make things look just a weenty bit more cheerful?” Rising to his feet, he replaced bis revolvers in their cases. He Stepp backward to the door, slipping the catch, then resumed his seat, after turning the chair around to face the trou- bled confederates, ‘“*IT don’t want to kick up a row if I can get my whack without it, you see,” he nodded, crossing one leg over the other in careless ease, “*Pve got you foul, and if you don’t know it already, I’m willing to labor with you until your understanding is fairly enlightened to the truth in all its crooks and turns.” ‘*There is a lady present. But if you will kindly step down-stairs with me, Ill to an- swer you as your manner deserves,” coldly, hardly uttered the tall gambler. ** With pleasure—when the articles of part- nership are properly drawn up and signed!” laughed the thoroughbred; but then his manner abruptly changed, his voice growing cold and remptory: ‘‘ Business first, Judd Varley! ou’re not near so blind as you try to make out. You know that Ive dropped to your little game, and that sooner or later you’ve got to meet my terms or lose all you’re playing for. And that would break you all up—tosay nothin of the rope!” ‘ ‘*T know that you are either drunk or crazy— if not both!” ‘Just what the lady declared; but as I con- vinced her, so [ reckon I can convince you. And as 2 starter—bow is this?” " “Tt was all a put-up job on the Big Bracer. While you were here in town working up the boys to lynch the fellow, this lady was rigged out in men’s clothes, heading a gang in hiding along the stage-route, to guard against any chance of losing the Big Bracer. know, for she held me up in prime style. And right there is where she made her big mistake, I’m happy to say.” **Goon. Each word you utter only serves to convince me you are drunk or insane.” *‘ Two to one you'll change your tune before I finish,” laughed the cool sport, in no wise dis- concerted. ‘I'll not take the trouble to explain just how I contrived to shake your woman-pard and her outfit, for I’m open to lay long odds she’s given you all she knows on that point, long before this. But Til tell you something ; for a change. “T lost myself in the hills, and stumbled on the Big Bracer. Or, to be more precise, he pulled me out of the drink, jnto which I fell by accident. He saved my and when I found it out, I tried my level best to even up the score, And that is why I chipped in when you run bim down with your bloodhounds, Judd Varley! That was why I sent back the cartridge your spy slung at the old man. For it was a foul shot from cover at an unsuspecting cripple, and only the mercy of Heaven kept it from boring the skull it only grazed!” “You killed him? Do you know what. that would result in were I to repeat your confession to the crowd below?” sneeringly demanded Judd Mint th Ae ‘*T know that you'll never let even a hint to that effect drop from your lips, pardner; and Tll tell you why, when I come to it,” was the confident response. ‘* As I said, I dropped your spy in his tracks, before you could fairly tell what he was cutting loose at. And I was with the Big Bracer in that hole all through the day. I was the one that kept you in play y stealing and using Gypsy Gale’s voice while he was sleep- ing, to gain strength enough to escape, for his daughter’s sake,” ‘For which I thank you, from the bottom of my heart!” murmured the false heiress, with dimmed eyes and clasped hands, still desperately clinging to the role she had assigned herself even in the face of utter defeat. ‘‘ Never mention it, my dear. Id have done just the same if you’d never been born—for the old man’s sake. And if he hadn’t cashed in for good, I’'d_never be talking to you like this!” his facé flushing, his blue eyes glowing vividly. ‘‘Instead—I’d have come to you with a noosed rope in my hand! “But that don’t count,” suddenly resuming his equable tones and easy manner once more, “Gypsy run up against Dick Mann, in the dark, and both of them tumbled off into the drink to- gether to meet—” ou He was interrupted by a mocking laugh from the tall gambler. ** You baven’t learned your lesson well enough, stranger! Dick Mann lived long enough to tell us how the Big Bracer came by his death!” **Did you see the worthy Richard after the accident? Didn’t you simply'take the voice that answered you back as proof sufficient? Have ou forgotten that, just before you got your rches burning, there came a yell and a mighty splash in the drink? Well, J owned that voice, made that splash, by tossing a big rock into the river. And then, when you told Ginger Gore to send down one of his men to investigate, I lay in a hole in the wall, not ten feet above bis head. I saw how you searched the canyon. I heard you tell the fellow on the trail to push u river to make sure the Big Bracer had real y left his den. I saw you come back—but what’s the use? If I haven’t convinced you that I know all about that night, you'll never own up! : ‘*Say you did, what then? Let Silver Lode learn as much, and they'll break their necks in trying to stretch yours,” ** They'll never be any the wiser through either of you,” was the cool retort, ‘* But let me goon a bit further, and you can judge for ourselves, I’m not half-way through with my ittle yarn! ‘ y told me all he bad to fear from you, as the head of the plots against him and his, Varley. He told me how you had forged a let- ter tu bring his daughter to Silver Lode, though he never dreamed of the fate which you had aareny planned for her. **T always had a sneaking praterande for the under dog in a fight, and that may be why I agreed to do all 1 knew how to fool you, Varley. It was because I promised this that Gale gave me a bill of sale to the Cap-sheaf _ you see, ’m facing each one of my cards! ‘‘When I gave that pledge, I meant to back it up for all 1 was worth, and if, after giving the river the shake, by daylight, I hadn’t got lost in those infernal hills, [ reckon I would have been in to balk your plans, sure! As it was— ‘* 1 found Satan’s Ladder just in time to see the stage come down the upper stretch, full split! I was qe in time to see a young woman with head and arms out of the window on the inner side of the trail, trying to open the door! And—I saw the whole thing pitch over Satan’s. Elbow!” Despite himself Hart Oakes choked at that, though he never took his eyes from the ghastly pale visage of the tall gambler as he spoke. In that face was plainly written his guilt, But still plainer was his suffocating rage at having that guilt discovered when he counted everything so secure! ‘“‘And I saw all that followed, lying closs among the rocks above the Ladder,” Oakes hastened toadd. “I saw you, ma’am, strip off your cloak and mask—and I photographed your face on my brain then and there, so clearly that it will not fade out while life lasts! saw you lowered over the wall by your men, who drew up the rope and gave the signal for which you, pardner, was watching at the foot of the Ladder! And then—shall I continue?” ‘* Tt’s all a lie!” panted hearty te brushing the cold drops from his brow. ‘‘ And—even if it gran of truth, you’d never dare ‘Silver Lode, when I can swear you As for the rest— contained a whisper it in killed a lot of the citizens! we deny it, in toto!” ‘*[ don’t mean to whisper it in Silver Lode, unless you compel me to do so, Butif you do— Ican back my words with proofs sufficient to uta rope about even your dainty throat, my ady! Where is the body of the real Olive Tempest?” ~ Slowly, significantly he uttered the words, and he laughed softly as he noted the effect they produced. Terror—consternation—a complete breaking dowa of their audacious defiance! ‘**If I could bring the poor child back to life— if Gypsy Gale was not dead and gone—Id cut off my tongue rather than permit it to form the words I’m about to utter,” added the sport, re- suming his cold. even manner of speech. ‘‘ But they’re past using gold, and I’m flat broken— thanks to you, my dear,” with a short nod to- sin Queen Esther. ‘‘And—here it comes, rds! me Recognize my rights to the Cap-sheaf Mine. Do what you can to secure me full ion, backed by this bit of paper. And in return I'll chip in on your side, helping you to carry the neat little game to a successful termination. If not—then it’s a no-mercy fight!” . ‘**Give us time—to think—” . ‘* Time goes,” rising from his seat and reach- ing the door. “Tl call on you again, when I reckon you’ve made up your minds,” : CHAPTER XXXII. THE PRICE OF A LIFE, Wirtn a short, business-like nod, the Thor- through, closing the barrkr silently. And then, as the two schemers listened intently, they oughbreu Sport opened the door and slipped With the swift tact of a woman who knows “me could trace his footsteps passing along to the head of the stairs, and even the first few steps down it. But Queen Esther was not content with this. She sprung to the door and bent ber ear in lis- tening, holding up a finger in warning as her dark eyes flashed their light toward the tall gambler. And as the sounds came floating back from the stairs, she slipped from the room and glided swiftly, silently to the head of the flight, just in time to see Hart Oakes pause on the threshold to strike a match and light a cigar before passing across the platform to the street. Thus satisfied that the dangerous factor in their bold game had left in good faith, the i woman retraced her steps, meeting Judd Varley at her chamber door. vanced, She entered, shut the door, leaning against it as she gazed steadily, keenly into ee bandsome face for a brief space in utter silence. ** Well, little woman?” 4] ‘* 7s it well, Judd Varley? Has that cool devil left you any of your old grit? Dare you say with me—he’s got to croak ?” a | ly above her breath came the last words, but if she had screamed them forth at the top of > her lungs, they could not have been more ex- pressive. And as though her forced composure went with them, Queen Esther caught the gam- bler by the shoulders, ber white fingers seeming to close with the vicious power of claws, her eyes fairly flashing into his as her breath came _ hotly to his face. ** Kill him—kill him, Judd Varley! Or—he’ll swing us both !” Vie The tall gambler showed his teeth with an evil smile, his nerve apparently strengthening as hers * seemed to decline. ** He’s good as dead, little woman, He signed ‘ke his own death-warrant when he faced his cards so boldly, without making us actually expose ours—without securing a safeguard in the shape cae of a written confession. **There must be no ‘hut’ about it, man! There must be nothing left to chance! He’s got to croak, if my own hand— Hark!” ‘There came the faint echo of footsteps on the stairs, and their first thought was that Hart Oakes had turned back to make sure his bold stroke could not be successfull it was this belief that led Judd mutter: “Tf it is, ll down him, for keeps! We'll swear he tried to assault you,and I came to | your aid!” * With cat-like steps he reached the foot of the bed, crouching in such a position that the open- __ ing door would momentarily hide him from the sight of any one crossing the threshold, and with ready knife he waited for the ending. | Quick, yet light, those footstepscame direct to the door of the chamber occupied by thetwo plotters, and then a ol Ses sounded on the panel; first a light knoc “ing, followed by a pe- | culiar sound which can hardly be reproduced in print. Judd Varley drew his breath sharply as he recognized the same signal which he had used in arley to hastily order to gain admission to the chamber,anda =| swift smile flashed across the lips of Queen Esther as she murmured barely above her breath: ** He’s our tool! Back me up, and [’ll sharpen his teeth!” Judd Varley nodded assent, and the woman ~ answered the signal, opening the door to grant admittance to the tall form of Bark Matson. ihe) ‘* Just the man I was going tosend out for!” cried Queen Esther, closing the door and turn- ing the key, then catching the hands of the new- comer in hers an eager, yet frightened hght in | her dark eyes as they met his steady gaze. ‘If you had only come—but no! W hat’s to be done must be done without giving rise to talk suchas that might breed, and—Matson, we can count _ on you in this great pagal gist 3 he tall road-agent gaXe a slight start at thet pronoun, and a scowl flashed across bis face as, — for the first time, he noticed the presence of the — handsome gambler. But the betrayal was brief as it was passionate, and then he stood once more the cold, hard, resolute man of the world. **T’m ready for any sort of work, at any and all hours, Queenie, as none should knowmore surely than yourself,” was his prompt response. ‘*T know, and yet—this may be worse than you O rapes Bark!’ Br ‘“* Yet you say it must be done?” (oe ‘“‘Or we’re worse than ruined, man!” flashed the woman, with undisguised fierceness. m Bark Matson , glancing swiftly yet keenly from face to face as though he hoped to get some clew there, In one fierce hatred, min- gled with fear; in the other naught but cold, in- 7 scrutable gravity. a it. ee “Give it a name, Queen Esther,” he slowly _ muttered, ‘* What’s turned op since you left — the crowd down yonder? You haven’t been try 2 ing to put_on the screws, Judd Varley?” and he flashed a fiery glance into the coldly handsome __ face of Silver e’s pet gambler. f ite * - * . ‘ < %, | what hot jealousy may so readily commit, — Queen Esther slipped between the two men. “ean comicbooks:com 5 a ae SO) He fell back asshead- © 3 But—” ae parried, And ad Ng . ‘ »