Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 513 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

pe eR Ra a et eet a Texas Tartar. 11 lawlessness. The Point of Pines murder had changed everything; it was seen that the free- traders were desperadoes, and the sympatby of | good citizens had been lost at one stroke. An uneasy feeling began to prevail. If they had allies in the village, who were they? Were they, too, murderously inclined? Who could be trusted? Who were the honest men? smugglers would wantonly commit murder to carry on their trade, were the citizens of Pow- derhorn Mile safe from them? These were important questions, and all honest residents began to wish devoutly for the capture of the smugglers, but Texas Tartar and Yank, who listened closely, failed to hear any one express the opinion that Robert Kendall was guilty. Public sentiment was in his favor, It was generally believed Tabor was sincere, but he was credited with having made a serious error of quoements when he accused Kendall. _This was the drift of what Texas Tartar and ‘Yank heard by careful listening, and they were obliged to confess that it was of no value. The conversation of the two men had al- ready given a clew to their errand at Powder- | Albia. horn Mile. The man who preferred to figure for the time as an idle, careless ‘‘ sport,” and If the | ‘“They brought it in, and put it where Susie found it,” ‘* Beyond doubt,” | The girls looked gravely at each other. Either would have stoutly denied the possibility that David and Edgar had come by the lace by un- lawful means, yet Tabor asserted that just such a cargo had been brought over Rifle Lake, and the girls had themselves seen the strange boat move aloug the shore, Albia’s troubled expression aroused all of Nor- ma’s loyalty. ‘* They found it some where on the lake-sbhore.” ‘* Of course,” cried Albia, eagerly. ‘* Some one dropped it there.” ** Certainly.” ‘‘Tt may have been the smugglers, but, of course, David and Edgar know nothing about it.” ‘*Of course not; and they are probably keep- ing the matter secret in order to catch the smug- ers. ‘ Miss Westerley smiled upon her friend in her | kindest, brightest way. ‘* You have the correct understanding of it, Now, of course girls are not smuggler- catchers, and when Susie is done with her work, we will return this package to its proper place. move under the eccentric name of Texas Tar- | We have more important things to think about tar, had, really, a more orthodox name, and was well known in some localities as an expert detective. been in the West, and his present character re- quired no effort on his part. He bad journeyed to Powderhorn Mile on urpose to catch the smugglers. e had known that he had Charles Tabor to meet as a rival, but the latter did not imagine that another investigator was on the scene, Yank Yellowbird had accompanied The Man with Nine Lives simply because they were friends, and scenes cf adventure had long been almost a daily part of his stirring life, There promised to be plenty of excitement at Powderhorn Mile before the smugglers were captured. While nearly every one else sought the crowds that gathered in the streets, the inmates of the Westerley house were inclined to court secla- sion. felt. Every one declared a belief in his inno- cence, but the arrest brought the usual shadow of disgrace; and the marriage, twice set, was likely to be twice postponed. Despite the temporary encouragement gained by her visit to Texas Tartar and Yank, Norma experienced a feeling akin to despair when she had returned home and bad time to think clear- ly. If Grizzly George persisted in his accusa- tion, nobody could foresee the end of Kendall’s troubles. Albia did all that she could to cheer her friend, and they discussed the matter with more logic than women generally use. They were thus occupied when the female servant made her appearance. ‘*Miss Norma,” she said, ‘‘I have been at work in the store-room, and I found something there.” ‘* What was it, Susie?” was the careless reply. “Something you must have put away and forgotten.” he girl had held her hands behind her, but she now brought them forward and revealed a package. Deftly removing the wrapping-paper she revealed the contents, and a long line of lace fluttered to the floor. Norma and Albia gazed at it as though it had been a serpent. Both were prompt to recognize the package they had seen David and Edgar examine by the cliff the previous night, and there was only one way to account for its present whereabouts. The lLiothers had brought it in, Miss Westerley was agitated, for, when it was remembered that the smugglers were ac- cused of bringing over jewels and laces, there was a mystery about the affair which was an- noying, to say the least; but she made an effort to answer calmly. ‘‘ Yes,” she returned; ‘‘ I remember it.” ‘“‘ Did you intend to leave it there, miss?” “Where?” ‘*In the store-room.” ' ** Just where did you find it?” ‘It was crowded into a niche where the roof comes down to a line.” ‘“*T thought so, Well, there is no longer any reason why I should leave it there. You can lay it down, Susie;” and Norma motioned toward the table with a languid air. The girl obeyed and went out unsuspiciously, but the moment that the door closed, Miss West- erley’s languor vanished. She reached quickly forward and picked up the lace, “Ts it yours?” asked Albia, catching at a faint ae ** Did you ever—” “* See it before?” finished Norma, as her com- ore came to a full stop. ‘*Did you ever see it, Albia?” “Tt looks some like the parcel we saw David and Edgar have last night.” ‘*T would deny it to any one but you, Albia, but it is the same parcel.’ wh, “ C3 ae His field of operations had always | The arrest of Robert Kendall was keenly | than this,” ‘** Certainly, Norma.” Both speakers endeavored to assume a Careless air, and, really, there seemed no good reason why they should be troubled on this point, but | events were shaping for a painful mystery and Fromm the first | are P ro, much sorrow inthe future. Tabor bad been | right when he said that valuable articles had that night been taken across Rifle Lake. CHAPTER XIV. A MARKED HANDKERCHIEF, THE Point of Pines had never been quieter or more peaceful than when Texas Tartar and Yank Yellowbird approached it. *The despera- does, supposing that Tabor had been drowned, had endeavored to efface aJl trace of their crime by throwing the bodies of Craver and Wells into the lake, but the surviving Government officer had recovered and removed them to the village, during the forenoon. There was no other human bein selves visible as Texas Tartar and down the point of land, At their heels moved the dog, Moses, men- tioned by the mountaineer. This animal was large strong and shaggy, but he was not a hand- some beast, His head was not only large and coarsely formed, but was marked witb several scars. Moses was not an amiable-looking dog, and his looks did not belie him. He was natur- ally of a reserved, misanthropical nature, and he allowed no familiarities froma strangers. He stood on his dignity, and expected other crea- tures, whether they walked on four feet or two, to respect his reserve and let him severely alone, Yet, he was an honest dog, and for several years had followed Yank’s fortunes with true fidelity. A word from Nevermiss was grateful to Moses’s ears, but there his affection ended. The rest of mankind he considered his enemies, though he would graciously endure the company of those his master saw fit to make his friends. Reaching the extreme point of land, Yank easily located the place of the shooting. Bid- ding his companion stand back he made a short examination, and then announced the result. ‘‘Hyar you kin see whar Tabor an’ bis men croucded down an’ waited fur the smugglers ter come down the lake, an’ it won’t trouble you ter observe certain dark stains on the pine needles an’ leaves. The shootin’ took place right hyar.” ‘* And where did the marksmen stand?’ ** Do you see the bole in that tree?” ‘¢ Yes; a bullet is buried there,” “To be sure. Wal, you'll notice it struck plum’-center in the tree, an’ never wavered a hair. That shows that it must ’a’ come from about thar.” Nevermiss pointed as he spoke, and then walked to the indicated place. As he had feared, the pine needles became an obstacle. In nearly every place they formed a soft, springy carpet to the ground, and nothing could interfere more with trailing. Tbe pres- sure of a human foot had only to be removed and the needles would spring back into place, and no track would be left. sepa Yank did not expect to find any definite sign there. But he could see where the assassin’s boots had disturbed the needles, and he pro- ceeded to trace this indistinct clew backward to a more favorable point. ‘“*T consait we'll git the thread d’reckly,” he observed, cheerfully. ‘It ain’t ter be com- red ter the egregious fix my ancestor, Moses ellowbird, got inter when the children o’ Israel was lost. Israel was a neighbor 0’ bis’n, an’ the children strayed inter the wilderness an’ was lost forty days. My ancestor was busy harvestip’, but he took his old flint-lock musket an’ sot out ter find’em. He did it, too, though he was mortally pestered by Injuns, muskeeters an’ tenderfeet,” While speaking Yank had been following the trail, and he finally reached clearer ground, than them- apnk walked er ee where the surface was free from the needles, He paused abruptly. ** Look!” he briefly directed. Texas Tartar obeyed, and he needed no ex- planation to discover what the mountaineer meant. Human footprints showed plainly in the soft soil, ‘*That’s whar the critters trod!” Nevermiss announced, ‘* Beyond doubt.” ‘*T bave knowed just such an item as that ter hang men. Mind, 1 dont say ’twill now, but we can’t tell,” He knelt down and began to look attentively, for each track bad a voice plain to his experi- enced eyes. Suddenly, however, his gaze wan- dered, and the detective was surprised to see him thrust the further end of his rifle under a bush. A moment later it was withdrawn, and over the barrel hung a new object. Yank held the trophy toward Texas Tartar. ‘* Look!” he directed. ‘‘Hyar’s a clew ter the crime, or I’m badly mistaken. Thingum- jigs like this don’t grow nat'rally in the woods— they don’t, by hurley!” ‘* 4 handkerchief!” exclaimed the Texas de- tective. ‘‘By Jove! we may have a clew here!” ‘* It’s a monstrous little concern,” Yank com- mented. Tartar contracted his brows. ‘**Tt belonged to a lady,” be answered. ‘¢- You don’t say! What lady has been here?” ‘* Give me the handkerchief.” Yank obeyed, and the younger man began to examine it with a good deal of interest. It was, indeed, very small, and of the best of linen. It was a peculiar thing to find at the Point of Pines, where, perbaps, no woman had ever been. He turned it over hoping to find some work upon it, nor was he disappointed. A faint line of indelible ink was soon discovered, and a name met his gaze plainly. ‘* Norma Westerley !" Yank saw the sudden start which followed the discovery. ‘** Made a diskivery?” he questioned. ‘*T bave, by my hfe!” ‘* Name on’t, eb?’ ‘** Look there!” The speaker thrust the handkerchief into Yank’s band, ‘*T ain’t over-much used ter wrastlin’ with sech crooks an’ twists as writin’ is,” said the veteran, ‘‘ but I may be able to onravel it— Hullo! Land o’ Goshen!” He had found the name, and the quickness with which he read it spoke better for his ed- ucation than he, himself, had done. ‘“‘Norma Westerley!” he added, in genuine surprise. ‘‘ That beats my time—it does, by hurley!” ‘* How came her handkerchief here?” ‘“*T ree’ly can’t say.” ‘* Do you suppose she was ever here?” ** No, I don’t.” “Nor: Ll.” **°Tain't a place a gal would take ter, consid- erin’ the labor ter git hyar. But she might ’a’ come by way o’ the lake; I forgot that.” ‘* How long bas this handkerchief been here?” ‘* Not over a week, I consait.” ‘*Depend upon it, she has not been here withiu that time.” ‘*T b’heve ye.” ‘Then how came the handkerchief here?” ** Don’t rush me too hard. I’m a man beset with egregious newrolgy, an’ it’s a p’nt o’ the Yellowbird pedigreen ter be sure o’ their footin’. Ef the young woman ain’t been hyar, somebody else dropped her handkerchief instead.” ‘* Who could it have been?” ‘* Who'd naturally have it?” ‘* Some near friend.” ‘‘ Robert Kendall is a near frien’,” ‘* This looks bad, Yank,” The two men looked gravely at each other, but Yank would not be swayed by a single point. ‘*Tt looks bad, I allow, but we won’t be dis- couraged easy. Some hard hills are climbed by stickin’ in our toerails an’ scratchin’ like hur- ley. Now we've cffered our sarvices ter ther gal, we don’t want ter find Kendall guilty— though I’m afeerd, Texas, that our offer wa’n’t more nor six-fifths sincere,” ‘* We have our duty te perform first, but that does not hinder us from helping Miss Westerley all we can. But to business!” ‘* Jes’ so! Wal, this tells ag’in Kendall, at fu’st glance, 0’ course. Somebody dropped the al’s handkerchief hyar. How’d be come by it? ican we say she gave it to him?” ‘* A sensible deduction. Proceed!” ‘““She wonld only give it toa near friend, an’ that friend must value it. Would her brothers do that? Not much, they wouldn’t! Brothers can’t see no romance in their own sister. *Twa’n’t them. Only one person, I consait, would value sech a trophy, and that is Robert Kendall!” ‘* And Tabor insinuates that Kendall helped the smugglers—was here, perhaps, wi.h them.” ** An’ the smugglers halted byar fur a bit, as they stole up ter shoot the officers. You'll ob- GComicbooks.¢ (0) Pa eS — —_