Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 512 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

‘he. Captain The messsenger had left the door of the front room ajar, and in a second he was in the na- bob’s chamber, ‘* Where’s your borse?” asked Colonel Bluff. ‘** Below in front of the house,” ** Well, exchange him for one of mine, You are going to No Man’s Ground with me,” ‘* With you?” cried Norgan, glancing at the belpless limbs in tue ebair. ‘* With we! You will find that I can ride like a Comanche!” CHAPTER XXIV. ) GOING BACK, Tue Colonel’s eyes appeared to snap with pleasure while he pronounced the words that astonished the messenger from No Man’s Ground. ‘*T will be ready by the time you have ex- changed horses,” he went on, still addressing Norgan. ‘‘My man bas gone down to saddle Diabolus for me,” and he turned to the table with a gesture which told the assayer that he wanted to be left alone. Norgan withdrew, yg at sort of man is he?’ he muttered, *¢ Man, did I say? Colonel Bluff must be part devil. His legs are said to be drawn up, and stiff. He can’t sit in a saddle, and yet he says he can ride like a Comanche. In Heaven's name what was in that parcel?” Norgan went down to his horse standing where he had left him among the trees in front of the house, and led him to the stables, which were not hard to find. As he reached the door, he was confronted by a man who led a horse into the starlight. ‘‘Ts this horse for your master?” asked Nor- an. ° The man nodded. ‘¢ How can he ride, crippled as he is?” The servant put a finger to his lips and shook his head. ‘**Oh, I’ve heard of you,” smiled the assayer. ‘*-You. can’t speak, like the woman who let me into the house. Very well, Iam going with our master, and my servant here is to change orses. Which one shall I take?” The mute held up four fingers and touched the last one, at the same time throwing a look at the open door, ‘* The horse in the last stall, ch? All right.” Norgan and his horse disappeared in the stable and the mute went toward the house, Meantime, Colonel Bluff had summoned Nor- ma to his room, and bad been talking rapidly to her, ‘You must keep house till I come back,” said ‘‘ That is, of course, if I don’t take a notion to stay up there. Let no strangers across the threshold of this house, No living being knows the outcome of this journey. When lL say to you ‘the time has come,” you will know that T am needed among the mines. I will lock this room when I go out, aad it is not to be opened till I come back.” A singular light lit up the woman’s eyes, and she talked rapidly with her fingers fora moment. ‘*T thought you would think of that,” laughed Colonel Bluff. ‘* At the end of three months, if no message comes direct from me, you will touch the secret button and go away.” Nina nodded. **You will find a home in another clime, and I trust it will be a happier one than you've had here. You will never want for anything, for the money I bave put aside for you will make you a bonanza queen as they call rich women among the mines. Ah! is that Diabolus at the door?’ ‘‘Nina crossed the room to the window, looked out a moment and turned to Colonel Bluff with an affirmative smile. ‘*T will be off in a little while. The man you let in awhile agois going back with me, He brought the message that puts me ence more in the saddle, Did you know him, Nina?” The woman shook her head, “Tt is Norgan the chemist, and avsayer of No Man’s Ground. He is the youngest one of my people and wholly trustworthy. Now, there comes my man upthesteps. Reach me the cords from your drawer.” j Nina the dumb stepped aside and took a lot of flat bands from a drawer in a bureau and put them in the nabob’s bands, At the same time the door was opened and the man who had been sent after Diabolus made his apearance. A look passed beteveen the two men, and allfat once the servant stooped over Colonel Bluff and lifted him from his chair, The Californian passed one of his arms round his servant’s neck and was carried from the room, Nina following with the cords. Down stairs the three proceeded, and to the horse that stood bevond the door. Without any ceremony the servant lifted the Cripp'ed Croesus into the saddle. “Don’t mind the nain it gives me!” laughed the Sacrumentan. ‘My legs baven’t been in this fix for many years. Don’t bandle them with gloves on my account, I want to be tied in the saddle beyond «ny possibility of falling out. The boys will loosen me when I get up there ” Re, Colonel Blu <lued his lips firmly together ee Velvet’s Big Stake. and watched the tying process, every move of | a I found it.” which seemed to give him intense pain, ‘‘A better man could not have been first,” Before it was half through with, Norgan came | complimented Colonel Bluff, looking with secret up leading a horse he bad taken from thestables, and looked on with unexpressed wonder. ‘““l’ve got to he tied a little on account of } these crazy legs of mine!” exclaimed the Cali- fornian. but, then, I want to take all precautions against it ” ‘The cords which were being manipulated by both Nina and the man, fixed Coleng] Bluff as | quickly, 3s fixed | been tied the | fornian. firmly to the animal as ever Mazeppa to his, and when the last knot ha two stepped back, ‘*Get up, Captain Norgan. We are off now,” said the Colonel. ‘‘ Nina, remember my last commands, They are to be obeyed to the letter.” The woman made a gesture of obedience with her talking hands, the man stepped back and raised his hat, and the Croesus of California took up the lines. All this seemed a dream to Norgan, the as- sayer of No Man’s Ground, e had not been two hours in Sacramento, and here he was going back to the mountains, As a matter of course be was anxious to know what had occurred since he came away, but still he did not like the double ride without rest, He wanted to tarry longer in Sacramento. There was a bit of business which he wanted to transact in a certain "gs of the city somewhat remote from Colonel Bluff’s mansion, but the sealed message be had brought down from No Man’s Ground had prevented. He looked at his companion as they rode away from the house, and saw an immobile face, furnished with a pair of strangely eager eyes, ‘** You know the route,” suddenly said Colonel Bluff leaning toward the assayer. ‘*‘ There are two trails to the mines, Colonel.” ‘* We'll take the sbortest,” Nobody noticed that one of the two men who rode toward the suburbs of Sacramento at that certain hour was tied to his steed, therefore the quiverings of Colonel Bluff’s limbs were not seen. ** You think this return quick business,” re- marked the Californian looking at Norgan when they had left the city behind and were fairly on the trail, ‘** I confess that I do,” was the frank answer, ‘*T pay all damages,” laughed the nabob, ‘“You shall lose nothing by this but a little sleep. Now let me ask you a few questions.” Norgan looked abead, saying: ‘* Proceed, Colonel.” The man at his side studied him a few seconds before be spoke again. ** What is your full name?” he asked. ‘*Norgan,” ‘Is that all?” ** Yes; one does not have to be rich in names in this country.” ‘* Nor rich in gold to get along?” ss No.” ‘*Norgan, is it—simply Norgan?’ Colonel Bluff seemed to roll the name over and over on his tongue, ‘‘ You’ve been in my servico some time,” ** Six years.” ‘* Almost to the day.” “ Yes, to-morrow will complete the sixth ear. me Do you want to quit the service?” At this question, Norgan, with a start, looked straight into the face of Bluff the Californian. **You forget that our oath makes that ser- vice endless,” said he with a bow, ‘*] forget nothing, Captain Norgan. I asked you if you would like to quit my service,” ‘Right away?” “ When we get to No Man’s Ground.” **Do you want me to leave you?” ‘No, I merely asked to get at your feel- ings.” x smile came to Norgan’s lips which the sharp me of the Californian caught before it vanished, *'You are right, Norgan, All of you are in my wr ce for life. I don't say this to make the bondage seem irksome, nor to cause you to think that you are any one’s slave. If I have heard aright, to-night the service of one man has ended.” ‘* ‘You mean Boss Nevada?” Colonel Bluff inciiuea uis Lead. ‘* Did you see him before you came away?” “T did.” ‘* Where was he?” ** In the office.” ‘* Alone?” “ec Yi y ** But still alive?” ** No; be was dead then.” “* Dead! and yet told you to fetch me the mes- sage?” exclaimed Colone) Bluff. ‘‘ A paper clutched in one of his hands put me on the trail. I think he wrote it after he was struck.” ‘“*Struck? By what?” ** Death!” “‘Aba! Then be had time for the first one to find him,” aia 4 » ote oD, Ba eo ae ‘““As Captain Nevada is dead, some one will have to step into bis shoes,” Norgan looked ahead and said nothing. ‘*T shall make you master,” continued the pride at Norgan. **T don’t think you'd let me fall out, | Sacramentan. The messenger shook his head and then turned suddenly upon the nabob, ‘*T’m sorry, but I can’t serve,” said he, ‘What's to prevent you?” broke out the Cali- ‘The oath the master of No Man’s Ground must take,” was the answer. ‘*Can’t you take it, Norgan?” **T cannot.” ‘That mystifies me,” exclaimed Colonel Bluff, *“‘Tt binds the master to have nothing on his: mind but my interests. He must see that the secret is kept, that no man reaches the heart of the golden ophir we have discovered, and that he must love no woman while in my service. That is the oath, Captain Norgan. What is there in it to prevent you from taking Boss Ne- vada’s place?” Morgan flushed to the temples. “‘P Il be frank with you, Colonel,” he replied. ‘‘ The last clause prevents.” ‘‘Ha! the woman restriction?” Colonel Bluff. ee Yes.” In a moment Norgan had the eyes of his com- pextion fastened upon him in a strange, wonder- ng stare. ‘Where is the siren?” he cried, darting to- ward Norgan as if he was going to clutch his throat. ** She is in Satan City.” ‘* On—my—grounds?” he went on. ‘*On No Man’s Ground,” A slight pause, ‘Who is she?” Opal,” ‘* Toes she love **T don’t know, Colonel Bluff fell back and shut his teeth. CHAPTER XXV. THE MAN OF IRON AND STEEL. THE remainder of that ride over the trail leading from Sacramento to Satan City was passed in almost absolute silence. Where the road was rougher than usual Colonel Bluff’s lps would give out some invol- untary twitches of pain, but though he often looked at bis bonds, and at times seemed tostudy them he made no pi dona & It was along ride, but the horses being of good bottom and the men eager to reach their destination it ended at last near the close of an afternoon when a few fleecy clouds and some dark vultures hung over the capital of No Man’s Ground, Norgan nearly held his breath from anxiet as he rode through the last pass beyond whic clustered the shanties of Satan City, He was eager to know what had taken place since his departure. He had left the Gothsincamp thirsting for Dun Duff's blood, and impatiently waiting for the signal for vengeance, Had that revenge been taken? Had Dun Duff, undoubtedly the evil genius of the colony, been put out of the way, or bad he escaped from. the shadow of death, his angel of good Juck be- friending him at the critical moment? Colonel Bluff bad no thougbts of this kind to: bother him. He knew nothing ahout the Gold Goths, and nothing of Dun Duff’s coming, and his arrest. If he had questicned Nergan concerning the late events on No Mun’s Ground, he would have received information of a startling nature: bot as he had grown so glum after the assayer’s re- fusal to take the oath which would bave made him master in Boss Nevada’s place, Norgan re- fused to volunteer any news, ejaculated you i The two men rode into camp almost un- noticed, ‘Where do you want to be taken, Colonel?” asked Norgan, breaking in on his conipanion’s: survey of the camp. ‘*To Captain Nevada’s. No! the captain is. dead. What am 1 thinking about? Take me to. Lolas’s shanty.” ‘Lowi ‘ . They rode on till Norgan reined in his horse: in front of a cabin. . ‘‘ This is Lolas’s,” said he, looking at Colonel Bluff. ‘‘Pard Lolas is probably at Shasta Sam’s, Shall [help you inside while I hunt him up?” “Tf you will. I confess that I want these cords loose. Do me the favor, Norgan.” The assayer sprung to the ground and made short work of Colonel Bluff’s bonds by cutting them. Then, being strong, though he did not look it, he helped his comrade from the saddle and car- ree him into the cabin as though he were a child, . ‘¢ Put me on the cot, I see Lolas has one,” ob- us to leave a message | served the Colonel, and a moment later he was th ‘* There! I already feel like a new placed. Gomic Ss 2001 7 ! 19 v | ms