Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 513 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

Texas Tartar. CHAPTER XXII. THE TELL-TALE BLANKET. TexAS TARTAR swept a quick glance to the right and left, but found little to reward him. ‘* Are you in earnest?” he asked, ‘*To be sure.” ‘ And is this the smugglers’ store-house?” **Sartain.” ‘‘ Show me the stores,” ** Come on!” Yank beld the lantern forward and led the way back through the crevice. Taey had not far to go, for their rock-bound path soon wid- ened slightly, and a recess the siza of a simall room was revealed, The mountameer advanced the light still further, and it aided Texas Tartar to see something more than barren rocks, Tue recess was littered with odds and ends of various kinds. Scraps of paper, crumbs of bread, a few old garments and refuse of vari- ous kinds were most prominent at the front, but in the rear appeared several parcels, wrapped, in nearly every case, in stout paper, Nevermiss, however, went forward and took from the lot one package which, at first, showed only a blanket. This he placed on the ground, and unrolled with a few quick motions. The contents were revealed, and Lexas Tartar started back in surprise. ‘*TLace!” he exclaimed, ** Jes’ so.” ‘* And you mean to say that this is the store- house of the smugglers?” ‘* That was the drift 0’ my remarks,” “ Have you seen men around here?” ** Not a man, but, land o’ Goshen! do ye want more proof? Whoelse would keep house ina hole in the rocks, an’ hev an egregious lot o’ lace kickin’ around promisc’us?” ‘‘Don’t misunderstand me, mountaineer. I see no chance to deny your version of the case, and have no disposition to do so; but I am very eager to know all that you know.” * Basiest thing in the world. Like allo’ the Yellowbird pedigreen [ hev a tongue in my head, an’I kin wobble it egregiously when nec’sary. ‘Wal, ter be brief, when you was busy, ter-day, it struck me Moses an’ I could put in some time ter good advantage hyar. I'd heerd a mortal sight o’ guesswork talk ’bout goods bein’ lauded on the south side of the lake, ‘by smugglers, an’ it sorter percolated through my cran’um that ef this was bein’ done thar must be some signs left, I mentioned it ter Moses, an’ he wagged his tail like the mischief. That settled it; Moses agreed with me, an’ we came hyar right off, ‘* We took the shore o’ the lake, an’ I finall found whar some boat was landed lately. It was skillfully done, an’ them as landed went straightway onter a ledge whar trackin’ was out o’ the question, but that only stimulated my zeal, as’twere. L[capered ’round the edges, an’ pooty soon I got at the trail, Not ter tire ye with skooperfluities, I follered it right ter this place. The atrocious insex had arranged them vines mortal cute, leaving them still attached ter the roots so they wouldn’t die; but the Yel- lowbird blood was up, an’ all the newrolgy in the world couldn’t head me off. ‘‘Moses an’ I come down in hyar, an’ [ll leave it ter you ef we didn’t get fairly paid.” ‘“You have done remarkably well, Never- miss,” the detective declared, ‘‘and there can bh» no doubt that you have found all you assert. Hive you looked the stock all through?” Yea” ** Any clew?” ‘‘Toxas, Dll trouble you ter obsarve the blanket ’round this stuff.” ‘Tt is of very fine, expensive material,” ‘‘ Oueerly marked, too.” ‘t Wxactly.” ‘“ HP we could see the mate to it, we'd know it right off, quick.” T' 10 speakers were looking earnestly at each other, and Texas Tartar felt sure Yank was working to a point of no ordinary im»vortance. ‘* Proceed, mountaineer!” he directed. ‘* The color o’ the blanket ain’t the only mark on’t.”’ sé No 2” ‘'Skeercely. Texas, jest notice, the letterin’ aw y over in this remote destrick.” The veteran passed over one corner of the blanket, aad the younger man looked as directed. On the gray surface there were darker lines, ani! though not at first readable, they soon re- solved themselves into a name. * Westerley !” Texas Tartar started in amazement, ‘*Great heavens!” he ejaculated, ‘‘ you don’t mean to say—” ‘*You kin read fur yourself,” Yank replied placidly. ‘*But why should a blanket marked ‘ Wester- ley,’ be here?” Bein’ a detective, you ought ter cipher it out.” “But I can scarcely believe the evidence of my own eyes, in this case.” ‘* Face the music, Texas; the tick-tacks o’ war must prevail.” ‘“*We must infer either that this blanket was stolen from the Westerley house, or that an in- mate of the house is in league with the smug- giers. Can we do the latter?” “You will b’ar in mind, neighbor, that Charles Tabor told only three men that he was goin’ ter lay fur the smugglers at the Point of Pines. Arter the tragedy be vowed that one o’ the three was an ally of the smugglers, an’ he fixed on ter Kendall because he was the bum- blest o’ the lot, The other men were Grandford an’ Dave Westerley.” ‘There are times when we must doubt what seems probable.” ‘* To be sure; an’ there is times when sech a thing is foolish ter do, Texas,” ‘“Hiven if one of the males of the Westerley family was an ally of the free-traders, do you suppose he would be mad enough to bringa marked blanket bere?” ‘'That argyment ain’t so solid as it appears. I consait the markin’ o' the article was done by a female, an’ the male who took the blanket away hadn’t no idee it had been marked.” The detective was silent for a moment, ** Your logic overturns mine,” he finally ’ad- mitted. ‘* You have given a simple, reasonable explanation, and I sball take the negative no longer. Itis not worthy my profession that I should doubt good evidence, but I have had great confidence in all the Westerleys.” ‘*Land o’ Goshen! it ain’t proved yet that they are guilty, an’ we should be the last ter de- cide so, fully, but we don’t want ter blind our own eyes, We must tackle all the evidence, but we ain’t obleeged ter think the Westerley family has an atrocious insex in it ontil ivs proved, sure,” ‘*You are correct, as usual, Nevermiss, Are there any more tell-tale signs?’ ** Not one, as fur 4s [ know.” ‘* Have you formed a plan?” ‘** My idee is ter leave this store-house jest as we found it. Ef we was Tabor we should want ter scoop in all these things—’specially the blanket—right off, immejit; but we ain’t Tabor, fur which I duly offer\ up mutual congraterla- tions.” ‘* It will be of interest to us to learn if there are really blankets like this at Westerley’s. The name might have been put on here with some spiteful motive, though that is not likely,” ** How'd it work fur us ter watch here ter- night?” ‘** A very good idea,” ‘¢We can smuggle inter some nook whar no- body kin see us, an’ ef the smugglers come, we kin see them without trouble.” ‘* Let us do it, by all means,” The detective looked at his watch and added: ‘‘ Night is drawing near. Wouldn’t it be well for us to leave here at once?” ‘*T consait so, an’ we'll go.” The mountaineer refolded the blanket around ‘ its contents with such care that the parcel did not show signs of having been tampered with and then they left the den. When Yank ha replaced the vines, Texas Tartar abandoned his temporary idea that the smugglers had been foolish to have a store-house there, The vines made a perfect shield, and a common person could have found the fissure only by stepping on the vines, by chance, and tumbling down, The free-traders, however, had not calculated on Yank Yellowbird’s remarkable skill as a trailer. The sun was already setting, and Nevermiss lost no time in finding a covert, This he did with his usual good judgment, for it was not only a place where they would be well con- cealed by bushes an’ rocks, but a very little effort on their part would enable them to watch both the smugglers’ ‘‘store-house” and the lake, The latter would be more distant, but a boat could not approach the shore unseen. The adventurers settled down, and Moses took position near his master and lay with his big eyes turned upon Yank’s face, The dog’s devo- tion was striking. His usual grimness indicated a very poor opinion of the rest of mankind, but his master’s slightest wish seemed to become evident to Moses as though by supernatural means, and he certainly knew no law but obe- dience. Patiently they waited. Neither was very sanguine of success, for it seemed that the re- cent disturbances would show the smugglers the necessity of keeping away from so dangerous a vicinity, but the watchers were men who bad as soon pass the night there as in the house, Time fled. Daylight passed; night fell; the stars appeared in a clear sky; and several hours rolled back into the ranks of the past. Texas Tartar had left the watch mostly to Yank, for he knew who was the most fitted for it, and the detective had fallen into a light slumber when he was aroused by a touch on his arm. . _ ‘Wake up!” whispered Nevermiss, “ Thar is fun ahead!” CHAPTER XXIII. TEXAS TARTAR’S RECKLESS STEP. THE detective quickly aroused, but Yank kept him from making any rash movement. ‘* Quiet an’ easy, lad!” the veteran cautioned. ‘IT consait nobody is nigh us, but it ain’t sartain.” ; ‘*T hear oars!” Texas Tartar announced. ‘*Tobe sure. A boat is comin’ toward shore i EC iv “ —you kin see itef you look sharp. That ain’t all, neither; thar is somethin’ up. Before I heerd a sign from the navigators, a man come cipberin’ around hyar. He moved slow an’ looked sharp, am’ was as stealthy asa fox. He went as fur as the smugglers’ store-house, an’ then seemed ter think all was clear. He poked back ter the shore, an’ though he went out 0’ sight behind the rocks, I pooty soon seen a ray 0 light shootin’ out sev’ral times. The varmint was signalin’, an’ it wasn’t long before I heerd the oars,” ‘*T think you said well when you stated that there was fun ahead.” ‘‘Mebbe fightin’, too. Now,” added the vet- eran, shaking his index finger at Texas Tartar, ‘‘ef you see any sign o° my left foot gettin’ skeerd an’ runnin’ away, jest let me know if. It’s a weak sister, my left foot is; an’ it may trv ter slide away when I ain’t lookin’,” Texas Tartar did not reply. The boat had approached so near the shore that it furnished an all-absorbing object of interest, and he watched it closely. The unknown voyagers were moving boldly, but their stroke was skill- ful and almost noiselessly. It was impossible to distinguish their number at that distance, but four oars were used, Yank again touched his companion’s arm, ‘* They don’t seem to be afeerd o’ the egre- gious orned Fish,” the veteran observed, grimly, The boat touched the shore and came toa halt. Several men were seen to disembark. They moved toward the rocks and disappeared for a time, but the watchers were rewarded for the patience with which they waited. The strangers came in sight again, and moved almost directly toward their ambush, That there was something more than chance in this seemed certain, and Yank and Texas Tartar were not surprised when the men walk- ed directly to the vine-covered entrance to the fissure, The vines were carefully lifted, and all the men went dowu. ‘* Tt’s a mortal pity we ain’t got a rig’ment 0’ artillery, calvary an’ infancy hyar,” muttered the mountaineer. ‘What can we do as it is?” ‘Sneak back nigh the boat, an’ see ef we can diskiver a face we know,” ‘‘T have a better idea.” ** What is it?” **Do you see the single man over yonder?” ‘** He's their lookout,” “True, Now, what is to hinder me from go- ing away with them as his substitute?” ‘* That's a bold idee, Texas.” ** But nothing new to either you or me, Never- miss. The fellow does not suspect danger, All we have to do is to creep up to him, overpower him, and, if we find it possible, I will go with the smugglers as bis substitute. You can stay behind and take care of him.” ‘*Of course, lad, a man o’ your sense knows that ah is reskin’ life ter go ’mongst them men?” es, “They killed two men at the Point of Pines; they won’t hesitate ter kill you, ef they detect ** Remember I am'The Man with Nine Lives; I don’t kill easily. Seriously, Yank, I am deter- mined to make the venture.” He arose as he spoke, and the mountaineer followed his example, ‘*T won’t oppose ye, Texas, but it’s a big ven- ture, an’ I hope you'll be wise an’ prudent, Itd be a most egregious blow ter your fam/’ly pedi- green ef you got carved up like a Chris’mas tur- key. Don't let ’em stop your gobble. We will have him directly.” The last words referred to the smuggler look- out, and they proceeded to attack him unawares, Yank took charge of the advance, and it was begun with the skill usual to him, Having gained a point near the unsuspecting free-trader, it was arranged that Yank should creep for- ward alone. He was capable of moving almost as noiselessly as a snake, and the detective did not profess proficiency in that line, The mountaineer dropped upon his hands and knees, and the experiment was began, The smuggler stood gazing about idly, keeping his watch in a certain way, but not well enough to see the figure which was creeping nearer him every second, Texas Tarter was deeply interested, and Moses watched proceedings like a hungry tiger. He was crouched close to the ground, and was evidently prepared to spring forward at a word from his master, as he had often done when hos- tile Indians were the objects of their enmity. Yank, however, needed no help, His snake- like progress continued; he took advantage of every bush and rock; he moved his strong limbs as though they were feathers; not a sound be- trayed his movements, and he crept close to the sentinel. : The detective almost held his breath as he saw the veteran’s tall figure rise from the ground, but the other watcher saw nothing. One moment he looked carelessly toward the lake; the next he was lying on the ground with Yank’s knee upon his breast. Texas Tartar hurried forward, fearful that an alarm would be given, but when he reached the y » oa ta il —_ NiIGDOOKS 4 2 a Ee ae a wn eM uy a et Oy eel ] | (Elo) a) es 2. = Pte t ie 7 it fs oe Ps a AF f Tae % ap ty ve a ail Te f 4. ea alg? . a eles ‘a é \ > UE a Boe ae