Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 512 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

Pat sy — 6 she takes up with rant too readily. especially with men like Mark Moline,” There were a number of cabins between Nor- gan’s and Nevada's, and one of those was in- habited by the girl whom he called Opal. As he was near it when he gave utterance to the words just recorded, he turned aside and in a second was standing in front of a door which had a small window for a neighbor on the left. Beyond the window Norgan caught a glow softly diffused throughout a little cabm bya plain camp lamp, and he was in the act of look- ing into the building when he was toucbed on the sleeve, The chemist of Satan City whirled with an exclamation which he could not keep back, and saw a face and heard a voice at one and the same time, ‘Were you stealing a march on me, Norgan?” laughed the person whom he confronted. ‘Of course you did not intend to distutb me if I were busy, but you did not think I was on the outside —like yourself.” ‘*That’s a fact, Opal,” answered Norgan, re- covering his self-possession in a measure, ** Well, here I[am, and I might as well tell you where I have been.” The man said nothing. “ve been following the man up.” Which man?” It was evident that Norgan was thinking of some person not then prominently in the girl]’s thoughts. ‘Which man, indeed, Norgan!” was the re- sponse, ‘‘Why, the one laid to rest in the cemetery of No Man’s Ground,” The chemist caugut bis breath. ‘* Pshaw! I should have known that!” he ex- claimed, but bis doubts expressed before he thought had rendered the girl suspicious, ‘‘The other man you may know more about than I do,” responded Opal. ‘‘If he has no more friends here than the first one had, God help bim!” Morgan bit his lip, and gave the speaker a glowering look, ‘* | needn’t refer you to the code, Opal. i—” ** Indeed you need not,” was the interruption. ** The deed is done, and the unfortunate man is dead. He can’t be called back to life. If I had that miraculous power, I’d have exercised it be- fore this. Mark Moline was a victim of adverse circumstances—a poor, unlucky miner, gold- mad, and perhaps a little crackbrained,” ** But he stole.” * Yes,” continued Opal, not liking the harsh- ness of Norgan’s words. ‘‘He took that which he needed above everything else from aman who could lose a thousand times the amount and never miss it,” ‘** Yow’re talking about the Colonel now.” ** About the Croesus who sits in his wheeled chair hundreds of miles from here, and whose slaves we are,” said the young girl, bitterly. ‘**But you go too fast, Opal. Those fifty ounces belonged to Boss Nevada individually.” ‘** Tf they did, the loss of them would not have reduced the Czar of No Man’s Ground to pov- erty. Maybe not.” ‘* What is a little gold compared with human life, Norgan? And the life of a man who had a family somewhere.” ** Did he say so?” The girl drew back a little and looked at the chemist, ** You heard his last speech.” ** Who told you?” Opal smiled. ** Burrell, the Rolling Stone,” was her answer. “Oh!” cried Norgan, ‘‘the man who wanted his beard?” ** Yes, the man who shaves the dead for a lit- tle dust. But you don’t like this subject, I see.” “ There’s nothing in it now, Opal.’ The girl said nothing for a moment, ‘‘Very well. The time may come when the occupants of the unknown home wilJ hear of his fate,” said she, at length, ‘‘ The code of No Man’s Ground is unalterable. It could not have been stretched a point for the mad miner, I pre- sume, You Call it justice, Norgan. Nevermind what I think it was. Good-night.” Opal of Satan City laid her hand on the latch of her door and opened it. As she went in she looked over her shoulder at the man whose gaze was fastened on her, but as be did not speak, she closed the portal and disappeared, ‘**Sbe’s a strange one!” said Norgan to him- self, as he walked away. ‘‘It was her tender heart that made her sympathize with Mark Moline. I wonder if she would extend the same sympathy to the fellow we’ve got in hand from Sacramento?” Norgan went straight to Boss Nevada’s shanty. Opal had detained him some time at the door of hers, but despite this he saw the figure of a man in the cabin when he took a survey through the window. Thrilled by the sight, Norgan approached nearer on tiptoe, and a moment later be was feasting his eyes on the man before him. Dun Duff had apparently not stirred since Boss Nevada’s departure. He occupied a stool at the table, and while Norgan took him in ————— TTT ttre from head to foot, he took a long cigar from his pocket and began to smoke. ** No child, no weakling,” commented the man outside, “If we’re going to crush that man— and such are the orders—we’ve got to doitallat once, He must not have a moment’s warning. There’s a slumbering devil in that man’s make- up. Give him a suspicion, and tbere’ll be red trouble on No Man’s Ground, Norgan had his look out, and by and by he turned away and left Dun Duff to his reflec- tions, CHAPTER VIL. INVADED AGAIN, Boss NEVADA came back to his cabin at last with a countenance that told Duncan Duff nothing. The head man of Satan City could keep a secret as well as his neighbor, and look as close- ly as he could with the keen, observing eyes he had brought to No Man’s Ground, Duff could not discover anything suspicious, By this time the long cigar had been smoked ss a and the night had passed its first alf, For an hour more the men exchanged narra- tives of adventures, and in the end Nevada allowed his guest to come back to the rumors concerning the great find on No Man’s Ground. ** As I have aise lt br shall see for yourself to- morrow,” answered Captain Nevada, ‘‘ We would like to have you stop with us, for, while we are not bonanza kings here, we are in no danger of starving, and, judging from the letter you brought from Sacramento, [ might make it pleasant for you to remain.” Dun Duff replied that he had no particular object in view. He could not say, from what be had seen, how he would like Satan City, but ke seemed to create the impression that he would not mind stopping there. As to becoming a citizen—that was quite another matter. Nevada offered Dun a bed in one corner of his cabin, which was accepted, and before long the two men, each with his secret, were sound asleep with a limited space between them. Early the next morning the master of the camp stole a glance at his guest and found him fast asleep. The ruddy light which came in at the window, fell across the placid face, and en- abled Boss Nevada to study it some time, At length he slipped his cot without noise, drew on his boots and left the cabin, Passing down the main street of Satan City he entered a double cabin, and found a group of men there, ** How is he?” asked three men at once. **T left ’im sleeping like a child,” was the reply. te With the shadder over him?” cs Yes,” ‘* Well, he’s a cool oneand no mistake. searched the horse.” Boss Nevada’s singular eagerness increased. ‘* Well, what did you find?” he asked, “Nothing. We looked through the saddle, nearly took it apart, and left things as we found them, with no results at all. But,” continued the speaker, ‘‘that does’nt prove, cap’n, that he’s an innocent ‘cherub, 6 all gota look at him last night, and our conclusions don’t differ much. Thar’s only one thing against us,” We've keep it back,” exclaimed Nevada. ‘*T’m afraid we have made him suspicious.” ‘‘ How? He never suspected me last night. He did not quit the shanty last night.” ** Ar’ you sure o’ that, captain?” , The Boss gave the speaker a look of surprise. ** Who says he did?” he exclaimed. ** Ask Modoc, yonder.” Modoc had the eyes of the house instanter, ‘* What did you see, Modoc?" ‘*f think I saw the man called Dun Duff out- side the shanty,” responded the miner, ‘* You think you did, eh?” Modoc nodded. “* Might it not have been somebody else?” ** Who else?” The Boss was compelled tosay that he ‘ didn’t know,” but be was quite certain his guest had not departed from his cabin, “Gentlemen,” said he to the group against the counter of what was the bar of Satan City, ‘‘my word for if that Modoc’s eyes saw some one else last night. It is true that I was absent from the shanty some time, but Dun Duff of Sacramento was seen off and on by the boys, so frequently that be could not have left the place without nelke noticed by more than one, Nor- gan watched him some time, and he was followed by others, No, my man—our man, I should say—kept close last night. If he could have read the command which the chemical] brought out, he would have hustled on before this. I would like to know something about the hands he intends playing.” The silence that fell over the crowd was broken by the abrupt entrance of Norgan the chemist and assayer of No Man’s Ground, His keen black eyes singled out Boss Nevada at once. ** Another visitor,” announced he, “The deuce!” ejaculated the mountain Boss, and his brow clouded at once, ‘Is there a . io cs a oe a ron ‘* What’s that? If you know anything, don’t Captain Velvet’s Big Stake. And | league against the secrets of No Man’s Ground? Where is he?” ‘**T caught a glimpse of a man on horseback up the trail, There may be more than one for anything Iknow. But onelI saw, and he'll be here presently.” ‘* Two men coming to Satan City so near to- gether means something,” averred Nevada, turning to bis companions. ‘‘ It may be the be- ginning of the influx from the South, but the Colonel wrote that he had allayed the excite- ment there. This is our ground despite its name—ours to keep and defend from outsiders. The code must be respected to the letter, no matter what the odds and what the conse- quences, The code, gentlemen. Remember the code!” and with this injunction the Boss walked out. ‘* What think you ‘now, captain?’ asked a voice at his ear, for Norgan was there. ‘ Yon- der comes visitor number two, and in your cabin door stands Dun Duff, your special guest.” Boss Nevada had already seen the well shaped figure of his guest, but he was now looking at the person just entering Satan City from the southwest. It was a man afoot, but he was leading an iron-gray horse that limped a little as if from an injury. The man walked with a firm step and as he approached, the Boss saw that he wore common clothes, and was, undoubtedly, astranger to the region, y this time the previous occupants of the saloon bad seen the man, and all were watching him with curiosity. Down the street man and horse continued. ‘“*T wonder if he’s got a paper for Norgan to work on,” asked some one in a whisper. ‘* Hush!” admonished the captain of the camp. ‘Tf he’s got anything of the kind we'll know it before we’re through with bim.” A minute afterward the stranger stood face to face with the representatives of ** law and or- der” of No Man’s Ground, He had steered as straight for the group as possible, and Nevada and his friend saw a plea- sant smile sweep across his face as he lifted his wide-brimmed hat and bowed. There was dust on his boots, mountain dust mingled with mountain dew, and though his horse limped be appeared as fresh as the morn- ing that surrounded him. ‘* You hit us early, pard,” said the Boss, with that suavity of tone and manner which he could carry so well, sleek serpent as he was. ‘‘ Frora the looks o’ things your horse is a little used up.” ‘* A loose stone in the trail, a slip and a tum- ble,” was the answer, ‘ ** No bones cracked, I hope.” ‘Thank you, none.” ‘*-You know where you are, I presume?” ‘‘ fn Satan City and on No Man’s Ground. Am [ not right?” and the new-comer threw the lines over the pointed ears of his horse and look- ed at the double cabin, ‘¢ Your moist grocery, I suppose?” he queried, turning to Nevada, ‘* Shasta Sam’s place.” ‘‘Wor myself, gentlemen, I am dry,” was the continuance, ‘* Will you join Gideon Goldbar in something that refreshes the inner man?” An invitation hard to resist; such chances seldom came to the pards of No Man’s Ground from the outside world; hence, Gideon Goldbar was soon standing alongside the counter of the double cabin, but not alone. ‘¢ Whar from, Captain Goldbar?” asked Neva- da, as he put his glass down. ‘* From the South.” ‘¢The South, eh?’ and the Boss of No Man’s Ground thought again of the man also from **the South” at that moment in his shanty. ‘* What's the news down there?” ‘“You’ll get it in its entirety in a few hours,” was the response. 6é How?” Gideon Goldbar smiled on the eager crowd. | ‘*T’'m a little ahead of the hounds,” he replied. ‘¢ They’re coming up from the South’ we’ve men- tioned, and Satan City will find her population foncemees rone ty before night.” Nevada darted a lowering look toward the pards of the camp. ; “Ts this the influx?” he asked, growlingly, with a return to Gideon Goldbar, ‘I mean, you understand, is this the result of the rumors of a new bonanza that some liar took to Sacra- mente?” ‘‘They’re not all from there,” remarked the stranger. ‘‘The expedition gathered force as it rolled north, It’s a quiet lot o’ men, though— of the kind that make good campers and lively pards.” ‘“* How many?” **T should say fifty.” ‘* With a leader?” “No. It is every man for himself.” ‘“‘ And Satan for ’em all!” almost hissed Neva- da, for the words appeared to come through his teeth. ‘‘ Do they know thet thar’s nothing here for a crowd like theirs? By Jove! to convince them, we’ll show ’em all over No Man’s Ground, and then start ’em on again.” com ebook * a =} |