Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 523 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

16 known, The Lost Detective never reported about the probable location of the mines, When he came back to the trail his mission was no secret in army circles. He said quietly but with the firmness of a determined man that he would liye to reach the end of the skein of guilt and mystery, and that when he got there he would unmask a double crime, and be willing to retire on the laurels won,” ‘* But he was a poor prophet, eh, captain?” smiled Major Diamond. ‘**He seemed to have paid for bis boast with his life,” was the response. ‘‘ It hardly seems possible that two men, four horses and a stage could disappear and leave no trail bebind, yet such has been tbe case,” and the fifty men deal in Vulture Gulch to-night show what this piece of ferret work has cost the Government.” ‘“‘The game in the first place was not worth the candle,” remarked Don Diamond, ‘ The mines never really existed except in the imagina- tion.” ** That is true,” ‘‘ What did the detective think of them after his shadowing of Captain Pedroz?” ‘‘He held that they were not a myth.” ** He did, eh?” ** So I have been told.” ‘* Yet, with all his tact and keenness he could not despoil the Mexican of his secret?” ** He never did, at any rate,” | | Reynard of Red Jack. ———— ee we did. The manT have just seen must have deserted the party somewhere.” ‘“‘Tt is enough to know that he is_ here!” growled the major, ‘* You cannot be mistaken, Talbot?” The soldier laughed. ‘*T guess I know Reynard,” said he. ‘Of course he hasn’t come back in his old garb, but I found bim, just the same.” Don Diamond’s clinched hand dropped heavily on the table. ‘* You know what is to be done. I am going to commit this man to your care, Taibot; to you alone.” Tough Talbot made no reply. ‘*The young captain of the troop bas just been here. The wool of deception has been most adroitly pulled over his eyes. He has given the Indians all the credit for the Vulture Gulch affair, and Black Cloud and bis band of roam- ing bucks are likely to get into trouble ere long. But if Reynard is permitted to stay here, things may take a sudden and an unpleasant twist. If he is here in disguise, as you say, we cannot act too soon, The two secrets—thbe old one and the new—must be kept at all hazards, Talbot, I look to you—to a sure eye and a steady hand at this juncture.” The soldier-hater acknowledged the dark com- mission with a bow. ‘*By the way,” suddenly resumed Don Dia- The wily Nabob of Red Jack kept the young ! mond, as his countenance brightened, ‘‘ what cr a in the thrall cf his wine till late at night. e was not the man Raymond had been. The young captain had become convinced that the massacre of the troopers was the work of Indians, and it would have taken superna- tural agency to huve dissipated this belief, He was one of the few opinionated men left in the regular service to-day,and sooner than be convinced against bis will he would bave re- signed. When be left Don Diamond’s house a pair of keen eyes met him at the door, and he was drag- ged to his men bivouacked on the Square, ‘* Pshaw! we've nothing to fear from rabbits, but by Jove! the sight of them makes my blood boil!” exclaimed the spy turning hack. *‘T bate a blue umiform and everything under it. Id like to mold a whole army into one man and then place a six-shooter at bis head!” These words of course fell from the tongue of Tough Talbot the soldier-hater, and he sent the last of them through bis clinched teeth toward the soldiers he bad just left. Already it was known that the next day Cap- tain Bartholow would take the back trail with his startling report. The little command was fearful of an Indian attack, and the men had looked carefully to their firearms. , ‘* They’ve cleaned their guns and revolvers ex- pecting to meet the reds who finished Raymond and his men!” laughed Talbot when he thought of this action, ‘They won’t see an Injun twixt hyer av’ Fort Meade. I guess we’l] let this squad ©’ Uncle Sam’s rabbits go back with their scalps on their heads.” The soldier-hater was hay between the Square and Don Diamond’s when he caught sight of aman who stood in the light of the lamp above the always open door of the El Dorado, ** Ho!” gruuted Zeo’s mine boss, stopping short and lowering his brows as he surveyed the stran- ger. ‘* Did he come with the soldiers? I heard 0’ no scout as they brought along.” The man thus eyed by the hawk of Red Jack turned suddenly into the ranch and disappeared. Tough Talbot was soon at the door. His blood was hot enough to throw him at once beyond the threshold and among the men who partly filled the room, but he contented himself with watching the man already singled out, ** Jehosaphat!” leaped suddenly from Talbot's throat, and with the exc’amation he cleared the step and sprung six feet away into the starlight. ** If I haven’t hit the bull’s-eye to-night, swing me for a Mormon!” cried he. ‘‘ Now see me open the major’s eyes.” He went straight to Don Diamond’s house and burst into it without tae sign of a knock. The Croesus of the Yellow Hills opened his eyes and greeted Talbot with a cry of surprise. “You know something. You have news, Captain Talbot,” said he. ‘*News? Sol! have!” was the response, and Talbot’s eyes sparkled as he leaned over the table. ‘* Reynard of Red Jack, who was with the soldiers when we slaughtered ’em, has turned up alive. He’s in camp now!” sh CHAPTER XXI, TALBOT’S MAN-HUNT, A cURSE loud and bitter leaped from Don Diamond’s lips. **T thought you men told me—even swore—” ‘*T made oath to nothing!” interrupted Talbot, with the air of a man irritated and speaking through his teeth, ‘I said that I believed not one of the gang escaped, I didnot see Reynard with the soldiers when we fell upon them; the moonlight was deceiving. You told us that Reynard went off with ond. I thought we killed all who rode into the gulch, I believe have you to report concerning your new mis- tress? You have been three days boss of the Yellow Witch Mine, During this time you bave kept eye and ear open for me. What about Onez, the Woman with the Knife?” ‘‘ She keeps her secrets well, major.” ** fs she too much for you, Talbot?” ‘*T can’t tell you yet.” ‘* But youdo not say that you have discovered nothing?” cried the Nabcb of Red Jack. ‘It didn’t use to take you three days to get fairly on the trail of a secret.” Don Diamond was looking Talbot squarely in the eye. ‘‘Mebbe you don’t like my work,” snapped the soldier-hater. ‘* No, not that, Captain Talbot,” quickly an- swered the mountain millionaire, ‘* Don’t show your teeth when silence or a smile would do just as well. I am a little anxious to know something about Zeo’s past, and I want to find out why she is so eager to get ber bands on the papers of the late Don Lopez,of Arizona. Now, go to the new task to which 1 bave assigned you, for, though you are her mine boss, you bave not withdrawn from the League of Three,” Talbot’s eyes appeared to catch fire under Don Diamond’s last sentence, The money king saw the expression and smiled, Out in the semi-darkened corridor the soldier- hater halted and threw a look full of fierceness toward the door he had just closed. ‘* Why don’t you set your big bloodhound on the trail, major?’ he growled. ‘‘ Why must I risk my life with a man who is my superior in strength and who must be on the alert, because he is here in disguise? Faverell 1s Reynard’s master in strength and cunning. Why don’t you set him after the prey? Are you afraid of robbing Coral of a husband and yourself of a partner? It looks that way. Maybe, by Ju- piter! you’ll lose him yet.” Talbot hissed the last words and they seemed to echo behind him as he walked out without seeing the girlish figure, statue-like and silent, in the darkest corner of the hall. Tough Talbot went back to his shanty and armed himself with a stiletto-like knife which he hid under his g-ay blouse. Then, with teeth firm set and eyeson the alert, he went out to ne for the man he had been commissioned to ill, The soldier-hater was a man with few scru- ples, and those he did possess had been stretched to their utmost tension a thousand times during his lawless career. One thing, however, irritated him now, and that was the thought that Don Diamond had commissioned him to deal with Reynard, when Faverell was to be kept out of harm’s way by no commands at all. If the two men had met while Talbot was on the hunt there would have been a few fiery words, but the time had not arrived for the rival pards to cross strength and cunning. Talbot visited the spot where he had seen the os recognized as Reynard, but he was not there. \ The tenants of the Eldorado were losing and winning over the rough tables that filled the room, and Talbot, from a secluded corner, scrutinized every face in view. He had the cunning of the Italian assassin, turning everything to the purpose before him, and when he found that Reynard was not under the lamps, he went out to look for him else- where, Talbot gave Red Jack a pretty clean over- hauling. He went from ranch to ranch, played ferret in the grounds of Don Diamond’s mansion, and inspected Reynard’s old cabin, ** Meobe,” thought he, and the idea stopped him suddenly; ‘‘mebbe Zeo’s mine may hold him, He told me once that he would like to get into the Yellow Witch, and he knew that as boss o’ the Chained Tiger, he’d never get thar.” It seemed Talbut’s last resort when he went toward the mine which had helped to make the major’s fair rival famous. At the mouth of the shaft he stopped and list- ened a moment, then went forward, In three days as mine boss, he bad made bim- self somewhat familiar with the intricacies of the Yellow Witch. He knew where the leads were, and «ould find in the dark the little cham- ber which Zeo hai converted into a private office, and which she bad furnished as lux- uriously as she had her own parlor in the house on the hill. Tough Talbot went down into the depths of the mine with the only misgiving he had felt since setting ovt on bis man-bunt. The knife till then carried under his blouse he held along his sleeve, his fingers wound reso- (utely about the bandle. The point, as keen as a needle’s, pricked his coat now and then, and the double edge where it touched cut like a razor, The soldier-bater went from chamber to chamber. He knew where the men bad worked last, and from where they were taking the wealth which was all the time adding to Zeo’s vile, All at once Talbot halted, and dropped be- hind a heap of rocks in one corner of the mine, There was barely room enough for his body be- tween rocks and wall, but be forced it down into the scant place and waited. Presently a hght like a star came toward him, As it approached be saw it reveal two figures, anda cry almost leaped from Talbot’s throat when he saw Zeo and Reynard. ‘In Satan’s name, what means thi-?” flashed across the mountain thug’s brain. ‘* When did these two people become friends?” He held bis breath as they passed, Zeo carry- ing asmall mine lamp which revealed her to bim, and showed Reynard also in the same garb in which be bad returned to Red Jack. When the couple thus unexpectedly discover- ed moved on, Talbot got second breath and fol- lowed, They went to the office, the coor of which ar- tistically set in a frame of solid stone Zeo open- ed and waved Reynard inside. Tt was with a thrill of joy that Talbot saw that the portal was not tightly closed. ‘*Now for secrets,” he murmured, placing himself spy-like at the door, and then he saw Zeo turn onalight which flooded the under- ground room with a brilliant light which re- vealed everything it contained, ‘* He would not trade,” said the Enchantress showing her pretty teeth as she spoke. wT offered to take the papers for all the wealth I have just exhibited to you. He pretended that he knew nothing of Don Lopez and tke black valise, but ere I left I think I assured him that I did not believe him. The hand I am playing now does not progress very fast. The new mine boss is wary and deep. Tough Talbot knows all that Don Diamond knows, He re- fuses to reply to my hints, but I have not play- ed openly yet.” ‘‘ The time for that is not quite bere,” replied Reynard, ‘“ They are playing the pet and coolest game ever born in Don Diamond’s brain. The massacre of the soldiers thrills me when I think of it, Captain Raymond refused to be warned, and yet he wes a man of acknowledged judgment, hy, be even arrested me when I warned him the last time, and carried me help- less into the jaws of death. One of the first bullets struck my herse, and another cut m bonds, pitching me headforemost to the ground, They are ell back here now, adroitly placing the massacre on the Indians, You know why they annihilated Raymond and his com- mand?” : ‘“ You have told me,” said Zeo, ‘‘They are bound to keep the old secret,” re- sponded Reynard, smiling. ‘‘ They don’t want ncle Sam to find out what became of the de- tective who for years followed Captain Pedroz to discover on the hunt another tras] and a dark secret. Aside from his stubbornness Ray- mond was calculated to become a good detec- tive. He might have discovered that the stage which started out from Cut-throat Canyon a little more than six months ago, was stopped at a certain place by the minions of a man | need not narae here. He might have found. too, that Uncle Sam’s detective and Whistling Dave, the driver, were left for dead in the stage, that the horses were blindfolded and then rushed over a precipice, dragging after them the stage and its contents.” Zeo darted toward the speaker, with her band out-thrown. . ‘*‘ Where did you get this?” she cried. “ Have you found the Lost Detective’s trail?” 4 ea mind,” responded Reynard of Red ack, And asa light laugh passed his lips, Tough Talbot’s band drop another inch, and a ray us Rght oaaey the blade which ran to a point mnicbdook (E(0) (E s.C (0) se