Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 523 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

ie ' ‘‘ Nobody knows, He came in last night, and we failed to size him up to our satisfaction.” ‘¢ He fired the shot.” Faverell’s look was riveted on the man now separated from the crowd of toughs and stand- ing six feet above bis boots with his fine figure splendidly poised in sight of all. ‘*Come! we will see what has taken place,” the camp Hercules said witha glance at his friend. minutes, The two men moved forward and rapidly less- ened the distance between taem and the man with the six-shooter, ‘‘ Come up, Captain Faverell, and take charge hyer,” came from the front rank of the crowd, Me The man yonder has killed Tough Talbot and— “T don’t think he is dead yet,” broke in the man standing apart with a smile for Faverell as he came up. ‘* Yes, he is—dead as a herring!” said the same voice in the crowd. In another second Captain Faverell reached the stranger’s side, and as their eyes met the Red Jack Hercules gave a slight start. ‘“They say you have killed a citizen,” remark- ed Faverell. The man on the Square raised one arm and showed a long slit in his coat, ‘Tf he is dead, he got the bullet for this cut,” he replied. ‘‘I felt the knife along my body, and his failure isn’t his fault. He miscalcu- lated the distance, and then I heard his step, As he struck I pushed him away and he fled. That scene was not enacted here. Awhile ago we met again at the door of the El Dorado. Perhaps he thought from my look that I in- tended to pay him back, and his hand went like lightning to his hip. Then it was that I fired, and he tumbled against the ranch. I think you will find bim yonder.” These words were quietly and coolly spoken. Big Faverell gave the speaker a final look and went forward again. The crowd separating, made a lane for him to the door of the ranch, where in the sun lay the body of a man on its back. The Giant of Red Jack mechanically clinched his hands as he stooped over the body, and looked into the face. ‘* Tt’s no use, cap’n,” said a voice behind him. ** Tough Talbot is dead!” Faverell had already seen this, ‘* Did you see it, Gordon?” he asked, rising. ‘““T saw it all. The plea o’ self-defense can’t save the man out thar, Besides, he’s in bor- rowed plumes, for since the shot we’ve all recog- nized him as Reynard.” * ‘* That seals his doom!” sent Faverell through his teeth, ” CHAPTER XXV. DRAWING THE NOOSE, MEANTIME, the man whose revolver-shot had finished the career of the soldier-hater had not stepped from his tracks, but was awaiting the aes of the inquest, Big Faverell seerned to be holding over the body lying in front of the ranch, It was regarded a crime for one to come to Red Jacket in disguise, notwithstanding the fact that on many occasions her citizens had worn masks, and when Reynard, the late mine boss stood revealed, the indignation till then partially suppressed began to bubble up. Faverell came toward the masked man, with his eyes fastened upon him, . ‘Greek an’ Greek,” whispered a tall fellow, catching bl pee i of the Titan’s countenance as he passed, ‘*Do you claim that you Lilled Talbot in self- defense?” he asked, halting just outside the crowd and addressing Reynard, 66 ‘‘ You say he threw his hand to his hip, eh?” ‘¢ Tt was there when I got the drop on him, and in falling he half-drew a revolver,” ‘‘There is no weapon on the body now. The men say none was found on it when Talbot was reached.” The man in the Square saw through the workings of the scheme which Faverell was adroitly shaping for bis destruction, ‘“*T can’t help what the men say now,” replied Reynard. ‘I know what I saw before I shot, and afterward,” ‘“You are in disguise,” resumed Faverell, suppressing with a glance some of the murmurs breaking out afresh around him. ‘*Do you think so?’ queried Reynard. ‘‘ You are the last boss of the Chained Tiger Mine, In other words, you are Revnard of Red Jack.” The smile seemed to broaden at the accused man’s mouth, He put up bis left hand and in a moment had deprived bis face of a beard, which action com- pletely altered his appearance, After this he did not have to acknowledge Faverell’s charge, for he stood revealed to allas Reynard. | *¢' You rode off with the soldiers,” continued the Hercules. “7 came back without them,” was the retort. That wasapparent to every one, | ‘¢T shall put you under arrest to be tried for \ killing Tough Talbot. ‘*You can postpone your start a few | ee NR eS Reynard of Red Jack. Prove that the deadly shot was fired in self-defense and you win the toss for life. If you fail, you know the pen- alty.” Reynard of Red Jack put up the revolver which, till that moment, he bad held in his hand. He knew what signified an arrest and trial by the men into whose hands he had fallen, yet he submitted with a coolness which puzzled Big Faverell. ‘here was no such thing as release on bail in Red Jack. Indeed, the shortest time possible was permitted between arrest and trial. and that was always passed by the accused under guard, Reynard was marched to the cabin he owned as a citizen of the camp and the overseer of the Chained Tiger, Faverell, who selected the guards, chose men who held in their bosoms the secret of Vulture Gulch. The rude door of the mountain sbanty had barely closed on Reynard when six men rode from camp, and once beyond the last hut they gave their horses both rein and spur. These were the rapid riders who were expect- ed by a short cut to overhaul Darrell the escap- ed and prevent him from reaching Fort Meade with wkatever information he had to disclose, Away down in bis heart the Titan of Red Jack rejoiced at the swift ending of the career of the soldier-hater. Though circumstances had forced them to be companions, there had never existed between them the intimacy of pardship, and Faverell despised the man whose hatred of soldiers kept his blood hot, He went back to Reynard’s story of the duel when he found himself alone. e knew that Don Diamond had set the soldier-hater on Rey- nard’s trail, and he naturally guessed that some- where in the dark the human bloodbound had at- tempted the life of his quarry. But he did not know that Talbot had seen Zeo and Reynard together in the depths of the Yel- low Witch Mine, neither did he surmise that the strange man of Red Jack knew anything con- cerning the fate of the missing detective. Faverell went back to Don Diamond with a full report of the tragedy. ‘‘ There is but one thing to do,” cried the Na- bob of the Yellow Hills, ‘‘ There must be a cer- tain verdict rendered by the court.” Faverell bowed. ‘*In the first place get the soldiers away. Under no circumstances must the prisoner reach them.” ‘*They are saddling up now. In less than an bour there won’t be a blue-coat in Red Jack,” ‘** Let them get fairly off first,” continued the major. ‘* Then organize your court. He will set his oath against all of you, but the men who will swear that they found no weapons on Tal- bot will throw the case hopelessly against him, But in heaven’s name, how could he come back if he rode into the Gulch with Raymond?” ‘“*IT say he couldn’t have been there for we made slean work of the whole detachment,” Don Diamond was silent. ‘* At any rate he is back and the dead man in shanty Number 99 proves that he knows how to take care of himself. I shall not consider the cards trumps till there has been a trial. Be- tween now and midnight you have much to do, Captain Faverell.” he giant smiled, ‘* Zeo has lost her mine boss and this may in- terfere with your arrangements,” resumed Don Diamond. ‘Fear not. The woman in the way goes to Captain Double Fist on time,” assured Faverell. The major leaned back in his chair and looked proudly at the man without whose mind and band his grip on Red Jack would have been broken long before. He felt that he could afford to promote Big Faverell to a full partnership in the several bonanzas daily turning out their thousands, and to give him besides the child he had just seen blossom into fresh and beautiful womanhood, All would have been serene now if Reynard had not come, und if Zeo had never crossed his path to bother him with a rival mine and to de- mand certain papers once contained in a black valise owned by a man found dead long ago among the sage brush of Arizona. These things passed rapidly through Don Dia- mond’s mind while he watched Faverell and saw him help himself to the wine on the table. “* Have you ever thought that Captain Double Fist may recognize Zeo?” he asked, as his lieu- tenant set the glass down. ** Such a thing is not unlikely, major.” ‘* He may find in her an old friend.” 2 ‘More likely an old enemy,” was the quick retort. ‘*Captain Double Fist’s love-making when he was making a stir in the world was not of tbe kind which brought him fame and credit. When he askeu about Zeo, inquiring particularly whether she was ever prominent in the South- west, I suspected that he had some love episode inmind, If he finds in Zeo an old enemy, ma- jor, we may rest assured of her safe-keeping. ecause the captain has but one hand and but three fingers on that, we must not think he has no - Faverell ended his speech with a chuckle which ness,” she began, with a smile, — ee = 19 — brought a vanished 7 ec y back to Major Dia- mond’s eyes, and the big lieutenant of the Dakota bonanza king soon went off to play out the hand he held. A tragedy like the one which had changed the tenor of lifein Red Jack, was apt to seach every part of the camp in a short time. It went quickly from the scene of its occur- rence to the house on the bill, and Zeo, the En- chantress, listened to the story as one of her miners told it in ber parlor. ‘* Tt is the unexpected,” said the woman, with- out betraying any excitement, and to the nar- rator’s 3urprise he was dismissed without any orders. “‘T did not get much out of Talbot,” smiled Zeo when alone again, ‘‘I know, however, that Don Lopez’s papers fell into Don Diamond’s: hands, If Reynard had held his fire I might have discovered the exact location of the papers;. but he gave the soldier-hater shot for cut, and now he stands in the shadow of a Red Jack noose, Is it time for me toplay the hand I have held back so long? Can I save the doom- ed manif Ido play it? Why hasn’t he closed in on his prey before this? What evidence has he waited for?” Zeo seemed to hesitate between two propo- sitions. Her breath went in gasps, and her bosom rose and fell under the influence of some great excitement. ‘‘T am forced to play my cards,” said she, at length. ‘*The peril which menaces Reynard of Red Jack, puts me forward when I would hold back. Don Diamond refused to buy m mine with the papers once the property of Luis Lopez. Inamed my terms then and had them refused. Let us see if he will refuse to buy now,” The beautiful owner of the Yellow Witch Mine went into another room, the door of which she locked behind her. When she came forth she was clad in a dress which fitted her symmetrical figure to a dot, and over her shoulders hung a rich mantilla such as often decorates the shoulders of the wealthy women of Mexico. More than one bronzed miner stared at her when she emerged into the strong afternoon ar and hurried toward Don Diamond’s. ouse, ‘* Jehu! what takes Zeo to the major?” cried Faverell, stopping the instant he saw her and almost staring her out of countenance, ‘* Has she taken another notion to sell her mine since losing her overseer? She’ll find Don Diamond in nomood to buy. Ha, ha! Zeo. You may encounter an old acquaintance to-night, and Captain Double Fist may open his eyes when he: sees you,” Zeo was watched till she passed beyond Dow Diamond’s door, Those on the outside did not see her walk straight to the well-known private room. She found it ce With a quick look around, she went to the table and jerked the green cord hanging above: it, and then, as the face of the new man im Sejio’s shoes appeared at the door, she said: ** Tell your master I am here,” And then she settled herself qunenly. in the mn to wait for the gold-bug of the Yellow ills, CHAPTER XXVI. ZERO DROPS A THUNDERBOLT, ZnO did not have to wait long. She barely had time to collect her thoughts when she found herself in the presence of the man she had come to see, but who, from his looks and man- ner, would rather not have had her there at that moment, Don Diamond came forward, a little flushed and with his eyes fixed on his visitor, while the owner of the Yellow Witch eyed him intently. ‘*T don’t cali often, and then only on busi- ‘You did not take kindly to the proposition I put forward when I was here last, and I have come to renew it, The Yellow Witch is still in the marke® but I have changed my price.” Finding nothing better to do, Don Diamond had taken a seat opposite his caller and met her speech with a nod. **As you may know, I have lost my mine boss,” continued Zeo, ** Captain Talbot” “Yes. I am quite unfortunate.” ‘*The courts of Red Jack will take vengeance as soon as they can be put to work.” ‘* They will be burried up a little in this in- stance, eh, Major Diamond?” ‘Tf you wish it,” bowed the mine king, but he saw at once that he had made a mistake, Zeo leaned toward him and rested one hand on the edge of the table. ‘*T am not vengeful,” said she, with a smile, **Tn fact, Talbot was not as devoted to my in- terests as he might have been, It is extremely hard for one to serve two masters nowadays,” ‘“T do not comprehend.” ‘‘Ha!l When did you lose your penetration?” laughed Zeo. ‘Come, Major Diamond; let us fight fair. The man who killed Tough Talbot, your companion for many years, did so in self- defense, for he told me—promised me on his: Gomicbooks (ECO)! | / tines ‘gts “i |