Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 523 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

- farce” somewhere in your court-room., 20 Reynard of Red Jack. word ot honor—that he would shed no blood here in any other manner.” **Then you know the man?’ ‘* He is Reynard,” ‘‘He came back to Red Jack under false colors.” 3 Yes,” ** He is suspicioned of having communicated certain things to the soldiers, ‘To the young captain who led his men away a few minutes ago?” ‘* No, to Captain Raymond.” ** Ob,” ejaculated Zeo falling back, ‘*‘ to the sol- diers who were killed by the Indians in Vulture Gulch.” There was a singular gleam in the woman’s eyes as she emphasized a part of her speech, “T believe Reynard went off with the unfor- tunate troop,” continued she, _ “S80 they say.” | “Major, you have ordered the court to con- vict,” _ Don Diamond started a little. ‘*Tam here to be plain, You have ordered the court to convict,” repeated Zeo. ‘‘ Even now the jury is being made up and the form of the verdict is being discussed, I have come hither for two things—to sell my mine and to i fair play for the man on trial for his life. air play in Red Jack with the machinery in the hands of Big Faverell Jooks almost impossible, but there must be nothing else,” The Creesus of Dakota was inclined to laugh in the face of the woman who could talk thus in his presence when she could not command an ally in the world, but her face deterred him from indulging in any merriment just then, ‘‘ Fair play for Reynard,” she resumed, ‘If he shot Talbot in cold blood no hand shall fall between hint and the noose, If he dropped the soldier-hater in self-defense he shall not be hanged. The testimony must be fairly taken, There are witnesses,” ‘* For Reynard?” asked Don Diamond in sur- prise. ‘““Why not? Is it to be presumed that no- body saw the collision? Are the men who are to come forward and swear that when they found the body no weapon was on it to have things their own way to the exclusion of the de- fense?” ‘‘T thought you considered Talbot in “your employ?” ‘* He was in it,” answered Zeo quickly, ‘‘ He served me nominally while he obeyed you with zeal,” was the quick retort, ‘* This is a charge direct, woman!” exclaimed Don Diamond, **T am fond of straight thrusts,’ laughed Zeo, ‘* Talbot is dead, and your court is about to convict a man in cold blood, I place myself between Reynard and the consummation of this outrage.” He looked at the woman in blank amaze- ment. Never before had he seen so cool a siren. ‘*It seems tome that you fear what you call my court,” said he, after a pause, ** No, I fear nothing in Red Jack, major. ‘You do not use the proper word. I apprehend injustice, premeditated and without warrant.” of oe think Reynard will not be fairly tri ** Not by the court as it stands organized.” ** He can’t get a change of venue here.” It seemed to give Don Diamond great delight to pronounce such words. * He will ask for none,” replied Zeo, shall he be fairly tried?” ** He shall.” the court as organized 4 ** There is no other.’ *“You will not let the jury be drawn after some regular form. You will not give Reynard. the usual challenges.” “That is beyond my power, The judge has that to do.” ‘*Who acts as judge?” ** Powers.” ‘*Agman who owes his very life to Major Diamond!” cried Zeo. ‘This is the man who is to act as judge on Reynard’s trial. In God’s name, man, why don’t you inscribe the te om Powers, of Sonoma, fur judge! The man who was taken out of a camp one night in a coat of tar and feathers for insulting a crippled girl. ** Now,, This is the dispenser of Red Jack justice, is it? Let’s have a little change in the pro- gramme.” Don Diamond seemed to wince, He did not like the cutting sarcasm of the woman he dared not dismiss, but when he thought that that night she was to be taken away, he recovered some of bis spirits. ‘**Issue an order for a jury to be struck from certain names which the prisoner and Big Faverell may select,” continued Zeo. **Tcannot. It is against the code.” Zeo’s eyes instantly sparkled, if they did not flash. Very well,” said she taking a long breath. ** Tf you utterly refuse, we will this part of the business transacted. Now you must buy my, mine.” I do not want it now,” answered the major. ————$—— ** But you have not heard my new price.” “‘It is unnecessary to mention it,” remarked Don Diamond with a wave of the hand, ‘* When was here before I offered the Yellow Witch for some papers once carried in a black valise.” The boss of Red Jack said nothing. ‘*T want those papers still, but | want some- thing more,” she continued. ‘To-day, Don Diamond, I will give you a clear deed for every foot of the Yellow Witch in exchange for the head of the man who killed Don Lopez!” Major Diamond changed color, ‘*A head is most valuable to the man who owns it,” smiled Zeo, ‘* You will reniember that when Don Lopez was found in the sage brush he had no head.” ‘* You have come back to the Mexican again,” laughed Major Diamond. ‘‘ He was your hobby when you were here before. You seem to be- lieve I know something about the headless man of Arizona.” ‘“*So Ido!’ and Zeo left her chair and stood erect before Don Diamond, her fine figure re- lieved of the mantilla and her deep-black eyes glowing in the lamplight. ‘‘Give me tbe miss- ing head and I will throw into your handsa clear title-deed for the Yellow Witch. I am willing to let the papers go. I want the miss- ing head,” For a few seconds the two occupants of the room in Don Diamonad’s mansion eyed one another like gladiators about to begin the tilt. It was diamond cut diamond with the best point in Zeo’s hands, ‘You are master here!” she suddenly cried. ‘*The men who are in your eben are your object slaves, I know them all. can read the past history of every slave under your in- visible lash. You bave come up from scenes of duplicity and crime, and you make money hand over fist from a starting-point which is stained with human blood. Youend your vultures kill without mercy to keep a secret which you have concealed for more than six months, You do not have toask what became of Nicholas Norway the Lost Detective. No! Don Diamond. You sit here, drink your wines and issue orders like a ezar. You never Jook at your hands, or if you do, you fail to see on them the blood which once dripped from the missing head of Don Lopez in the sage brush of the South. You look backward now and then no doubt, but never see four blind-folded horses plunging over a precipice dragging after them a battered stage. Do you want me to draw a few scenes for you? if I am to play artist here I ask that you call in the young girl up-stairs, Let Coral enter and remain while I paint a few pictures from Don Diamond’s life. What! don’t you want her? 1 will summon her myself.” Zeo put out ber hand and it bad nearly touch- ed the bell rope when Major Diamond sprung forward and caught her arm. ‘You would rather not, eh?’ laughed Zeo, looking him in the eye. ‘‘ Perhaps you prefer to purchase the Yellow Witch with Don Lopez's head.” He said nothing. ‘¢ Let us compromise, major,” she resumed, ‘“T will do nothing of the sort.” The determination of a thoroughbly-aroused desperado had taken full possession of Don Dia- mond. In his eyes he was still sole master in Red Jack. A: woman should neither cow nor defeat him, and what was Zeo but a straw in bis way which the hand of Faverell would remove that night?” ‘You will not compromise?” said Zeo, coolly. “You will try Reynard by your packed court, and you will not purchase my mine with the bloody head of Don Luis Lopez. Major, I close all negotiations. You have had your day like the dog that bites in secret and licks his fangs in public, From this moment there is open war between us.. [am Captain Reynard’s pro- nounced friend, If you will not give me back my husband’s head I will take yours if I can. Remember!” Zeo went toward the door with her eyes riveted on the thanderstruck man at the table, ** Your husband’s head?” he echoed. ‘‘ Yes—my husband’s! I am the widow of Don Lopez alias Pedroz, the man whose secret the United States wanted and after which it sept Nicholas Norway its lost ferret.” Major Diamond stared at her speechless, An- other thunderbolt bad fallen. CHAPTER XXVII. FROM THE OUTSIDE, Tuus revealed by her own words, Zeo the Encbantress stood before Major Diamond in an entirely new light. She had ceased to be for the present both the owner *of the Yellow Witch and the Woman with the Knife, and was now only the avenging widow of Don Lopez. ** Nohody here will believe the woman’s story,” thought Don Diamond coming to his own rescue. “She might control her miners but we out- number them, I will meet this woman with a bold front.” (a LLL LL LL DDDRDAAL LL ALO: . He took a step toward Zeo as he reached this conclusion. ‘*T have no head to give you for your mine,” answered he. ‘‘ Besides, I don’t purchase bonanzas with such currency. We cannot trade, woman.” His suddenly assumed coolness seemed to startle her, ‘* IT shall make no further demand,” was the quick 1esponse. ‘* Yow will let me say gocd: day, major?” ‘** Is there to be war between us?” ** As you say.” ‘‘T will not pay the price you demand for the Yellow Witch, I cannot,” ‘* Anh! you would hold the head that rolled off in the sage brush! you intend to tighten your grip on the contents of the black valise, These resolutions constitute your title-deed to the mines you operate, do they? Major Diamond, you know that you stand on a stippery ledge and even now your court as organized out yon- der is getting ready to make more secure your footing.” Zeo was allowed to depart with no further exchange of words, Don Diamond was glad to get rid of the woman who could play such a band in bis own house, and when her figure had vanished he downed a glass of liquor to brace his nerves and laughed in derision and trium pb. ‘*She'll sing another song when she goes off to-night with Big Faverell!” laughed he, ‘Our tigress doesn’t know that Captain Double Fist the hunted brigand and perhaps an old acquaint- ance is waiting for ber. Will she attempt to interfere with the execution of Reynard? A woman of her nerve is capable of attempting anything.” Zeo had gone back to ber house on the bill. There was acrowd in frontof the El Dorado and groups of dark-faced and rough-shirted men elsewhere but nowhere could she see the towering figure of Ford Faverell, She found in one of the rooms of her mansion the same man who bad brought the report of the shooting of Tough Talbot. He had been waiting for her return, ‘‘ What bas beppened since? Make it brief, but tell me all,” said Zeo, ‘‘The court is ready. Powers is to preside and the jury stands prepared to convict. I'a- verell’s hand is visible throughout the whole thing. Six men stand ready to swear that no weapons were found on Talbot’s body—” ‘¢ That is enough,” interrupted Zeo, lifting a finger. ‘‘ When does the court sit?” ‘* Within an bour.” ‘On the Square?” * se Yes,” ‘* How well is the prisoner guarded?” ‘* Four men are at the shanty now.” ** None of ours?” ** Not one.” Zeo was silent for a moment, ‘* Where is Faverell?” “T left bim with Powers in the back room of the E] Dorado.” At this time there stood erect near the closed door of a certain cabin in Red Jack and on the inside the man who bad placed bis life in the hands of the most merciless set of men that ever ran a Wild West court. Reyrard, in the smal! shanty which had be- come his prison, was as completely helpless as if he were immured ina cage of iron. His hands had been tied at his back, and the thongs cut like knives, making their way to the bone. He knew that bis story of the death of Tough Talbot would not be accepted by the men who would try him for his life, yet there was not the sign of fear visible as he leaned against the rough wall of his cramped prison. If he meditated any coup, or if he expected help from the outside, he was apt to find failure at the end of each hope, for, with all Red Jack against him—we say ‘‘all,” counting Zeo and her influence as nothing against the power of Major Diamond—he was as surely a doomed man as ever one had been in the Wild West, Once Reynard looked out of the window at his rigbt and saw the Atlantean shoulders of one of his guards, In a moment the owner of the shoulders turned his face toward the cabin and the prisoner smiled. ‘*The man who gave the command when we started,” murmured Reynard, studying the face before him. What did he mean? When had the mountain guard issued a com- mand, and he but one of Don Diamond’s subor- dinates? The man in the cabin seemed to take delight in studying the face through the glass. It was rough, dark and bearded, a fair sample of the faces to be seen anywhere among the bonanza hills of Dakota, All at once it came close to the window and the eyes of the two men suddenly met with only a glass between. The guard had evidently suddenly bethought bimself of the prisoner and wanted to satisfy himself that he was still in the jaws of death. He had not expected such a confrontation and when he saw the eyes of Reynard fixed upon him he quailed despite bis coolness, ’ Gomicboo cS: com ¢ j , Se