Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 533 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

¢ ‘* Don’t be alarmed over that, — | for Oregon or Solid Sam, —_— -—_— will vanish like a flash of summer lightning, and will be seen no more,” If there’s any truth in this half-million or so that I’ve been talking about, he’ll get around in its neighbor- hood, sooner or later. Cyril North has just as much respect for that amount of coinas you or any other man has, [f there’s a chance to cor- ra. it be will be there. But if I am to do any- thing in the matter I can’t wait for that time. He’s not likely to move for a little while, and he may wait considerably longer. Make up your mind quick, Hither brace up and be a man, or jump the game and I'll look for a better partner, don’t often make mistakes, and I’m open to high odds I know Miss Viola a heap sight better than you. It would simplify matters if you would tell me what all this racket is about, but I don’t want to intrude, If she’s in Cyril North’s hands I know enough to be certain she could not well be in worse; and [’m going to work accord- ingly.” ‘What need to tell you more of the story than you already seem to know?” The young man still spoke moodily, but the bitter tones, as much as the words of Merry May, seemed to have had some effect. ‘** There is no great mystery about it, Heaven knows. The three of us were children together, though Cyril was the oldest. He grew away from me, fast enough; the three years between him and me was ever so much, more difference than the seven between him and Viola. ‘* He had So to the bad long before it was suspected, hen he disappeared, and a day or two later, every one was saying that he had robbed the bank in which he held a clerkship of twenty thousand dollars, no one was more sur- prised than we—that he killed the watchman we never believed. ‘‘ We were three orphans, you understand, who had been received into the family of our aunt as fast as we were left parentless, -She was more than a mother to us, when we needed a friend. Without her we might have starved, or gone to the poor-house, She was rich, while we were poorer than poverty, ‘* Cyril was the first taken, and the favorite. She took care of us, but ske loved him. If no- thing had happened he would have been her heir. It was a fortune worth working for, too, ‘* Sbe gave him thousands, first and last, and would have given him thousands more if he had stayed to take them, It seems he and Viola had some sort of a quarrel, and he left without no- tice to any one. ‘* Then came the explosion about the bank, and for years Viola blamed herself for having | driven him to desperation. Aunt Truema altered her will, leaving all her wealth to u wo, ‘‘ She died suddenly, and at her last gasp tried to tell something, no one knew what, ‘* It was only a few months ago we discover- ed what she meant—her last will, In it enough was left Viola and me to make us comfortable, but the balance was in trust. If Cyril’s inno- cence of the crime at the bank was proved, and ke returned in five years, the bulk of her for- tune went to him. ‘* Well, his innocence has been proved, sure enough, The men that did it have been hung for the crime, and now Viola wants him tocome back and take his half million. And I was fool enough to belp her search for him. I suspected it would end in some such way; and now I know it,” ‘Very interesting reading that would all make if written out in full, ou forgot to add that you young gentlemen were in love with our cousin, and that she didn’t care three cents or either of you. I fancy there is something more that you might have told me, but that makes no difference, Are you sure that Cyril North wrote this letter?” ; The abruvt question startled Neville. He lookel agam at tae paper that he held in his hand. ‘It isnot his writing as I remember it; but he was a master of the pen. He could counter- feit any band he chose. No other could have written it.” ‘*And I saw him leave here, alone, but a few moments before I wakened you. I don’t under- stand his game,” said May, musingly. ‘* Well, you can moon around, and lose all the valuable time you want; Pll go out and look ; I'm going to nose this thing out, and I want some one in it that I ean tie to. Goced-morning, Mr. Buckley, Dll see you iater. ‘**Of all fools a jealous fool is the worst,” she said to herself, as she left him to eat his heart out if he would. ‘* Perhaps he’s told me the truth, and perhaps he’s told me the whole truth; but I somehow suspect an Ethiopian in the edifice, Anyhow, I know the story they’ve got to tell when they want to talk, A little judicious pum ing will show what Oregon thinks of things—and it’s time to be hunting up his trail. He’s a good oung man. but something may happen to him, f Master Neville don’t know enough to sound Jimmy Bower Ill leave him alone. know anything, anyhow.” He won’t Oregon, th _master of his business, She was out of the hotel and in the darkness, Ryan was the man she wanted to find first of all, and she started for the Bower at a brisk ace, ; For all her preoccupation she gave a sudden spring, that barely carried her out of reach of a heavy blow. Then a hoarse voice shouted: ‘“Han’s up, youngster, We'll try an’ look fur that diamond ag’in, Ef we'd on’y knowed it war thar, 1 reckon it’d saved ther second trip, CHAPTER XIV. SOLID SAM SHOWS HIS SCIENCE, THE actions of the two men showed Merry May what they were, and their words told something more. In fact, it was a whole revela- tion. The other ‘‘ trip” had been made by tools of Cyril North—here they were again. Cyril had told her that he had placed himself where he could overhear her conversation with Mrs. Morrison; but was that the truth? If not, then this mention of the diamond showed that Cyril and the handsome woman, who lived up the gulch, were in each other’s confidence. Some such suspicion had already crossed her mind, though it had, at the -time, made little impression, Now it came back to her like a flush, as she heard the rough address of the foot- ad, r It was not hard to guess the reason why the ruffian spoke, He would have knocked her senseless if he could, and perhaps used a knife afterward, without a grain of compunction; but he did not want to run the risk of bringing any spectators on the carpet, as he might do if he used his pis- tol at once, so he tried what virtue there was in a threat, If he had known it he never tried a more dangerous game in his life. Merry May gener- ally walked with her hands in her pockets when she was alone and it was after dark. Her fin- gers were on her derringers now, and there was just one thing that saved the men. ‘* They come from the other North, and, if I give them the chance, sooner or later they'll go ack to him, It’s the key to the situation, if Oregon does not already hold it,” This to herself; then, aloud: *‘ You infernal fools! Do you think you can trap me twice in one night—or, if you could, ’'d run the same risks over again? The only thing of value I carry now is cold lead, and you'll get that by the bucketful if you don’t put down your hands and climb along the road to cooler quarters. You hear me?” How it was done the assailants did not see; her derringers sprung out, looked them in face, took away their breath, and made wish that when they drew their own wea- s they had pulled the hammers back. 64 Drop that idea of joo ig she added, ‘* Don’t try iton. Really, I am old business, spelled with an awful big B. I mean every word I say, and can do the whole of it in style just too sweet for any use. If you don’t travel down the road, you go up the divide; I don’t much care which,”’ ‘* Tt makes a heap sight diff’rence ter us,” was the quick retort of the spokesman, ** We cave, seein’ both bowers an’ the ace be ag’in’ us, Jest consider ez though noth’ hed happened, You go your way, leavin’ us to go ourn. Don’t be brash now. Ef you lets go an’ misses, good-by, John! Start a racket hyar, an’ thar won’t be no sense tryin’ ter keep dark, We'll hev yer coin, an’ you with yer toes up, afore the fu’st man gits hyar.” ‘* T understand the position exactly, and am not giving away any chances, You go first, and go at once. [’m not bloodthirsty, but I’m not giving youa show at my back. Step out, ga Heelys or I begin to shoot. Last warning. oO! There was a dangerous glitter in her eye, and her fingers trembled on the triggers. It did not do to wait too long, and, much as she hated to shoot, the last minute had arrived. Off stepped the two, with hands gratuitously raised above their heads, They did not run, but the long strides showed that they did not in- tend to Jose time about their going. Already their forms were beginning to merge with the darkness, ‘* Light as cats they step. I must say they understand their trade, It won’t do to let them get too far out of sight. They might double and come back on me.” Merry May was watching keenly, while she thought. It might have been just as well if she had paid a little attention to the other points of the compass, Without a word of warning, a third man rose at her back and sprung at her shoulders, There was no sound, or warning of any kind, until an arm was around her neck. By that time, it was too late for successful resist- ance, The party who made this new attack was His right forearm was under Merry May’s chin, and with his left hand he pressed it heavily against her throat. A minute or two of that would choke the life out. Meantime, what chance was there for escape? e Sport with a Scar. ve he F » . - ote ots’ dah 3h Mie a le ‘testation of the life that remained within, a a tne Regen eo te) 13 i She had not yet seen this new aggressor, but . : ; she heard a Jow whistle, just at her ear that must be his, At the sound the fugitives began hurriedly to retrace their steps. They had played their . part very well—saved their own bacon, and { given the partner in the background his | chance. Had Merry even suspected his pres- ence she would have shot when they were under her derringers, ‘*Go slow, pard,” continued the returning leader, in a low grow], ** Don’t hold on to that soft little throata trifle too long or ther’ may be a pius pic-nic ; with ther boss, Ther’ warn’t no objection ter a | little rough play; but, be drawed ther line hard afore murder, Killin’ in self-defense, 4 only.” i ‘*Who’s thinkin’ of murder, cuss ye! At my time ov life @yer think I don’t know bow hard ['m grippin’? Jest turn them pockets inside out, an’ see that this time yer git all ov ’em. Hyar! Let’s take a squint at them fingers afore yer begins, It's too dark hvar to see straight, but it’s better ter take a look afore we begins ther totin’; suthin’ else might happen on ther road.” . ‘‘?’m willin’; but ye’r’ sure ther little cuss can’t shoot? Sure he ain’t bin splatterin’ "round ?” ‘*Ha, ha! Jest cast yer optics this way, an’ you'll see how ther thing orter be done. W har’s ther chance? See? What’s my elbows fur if it ain’t ter hold them wrists? Oh, I bin thar afore, an’ I never slight a job.” ‘*Glad ter bear it,old man, I sha’n’t feel half so sad ef I break yer neck.” The voice belonged to Solid Sam, and if his words were a warning he had a reason for them, He knew it was the quickest and safest way to have the gambler drop his victim. It worked to a charm. With an oath the ruffian cast Merry May from him—and then went down before a crushing bit on the side of the head, Then Ryan wheeled to meet the Sy of the startled, but by no means terrified wo. They had courage enough of a certain kind, and as long as they were not under the drop, were willing to take the chances at two to one, There was a glitter of steel as they came, but though Sam caught it, the sight did not put him any more on his guard. He sprung to one side, striking as he went; but that move- ment was only afeint. The rough on that side gave back a step or two, separating himself that much the more from bis partner. The blow could not have reached him, but he had seen how hard such strokes fell when they con- nected, and it made him wary. Without a pause Ryan dodged back, in a pearance offering a fair mark for the man with a knife, who at once delivered a wicked thrust, te It was what Sam wanted and expected. The descending wrist dropped into his hand, which ‘ closed around it like a vise, fierce wrench sent the blade spinning. Ryan’s otber band clutched the opposite shoul- der, and a furious swing sent him flying against his partner, who was just rushing in again, All abroad were the two at the collision, and Sam had everything bis own way. Left and right he struck at the two heads. Dark though it was, the strokes were of the kind that needed no repeating, He knew that so well that he did not trouble himself to look after the result. Stooping, he caught up Merry May as though she was a child, and hastened toward Jimmy’s, Hardly had they got out of the shadow when he became aware of the fact that his burden was returning to life, or making a strong mani- ee ee en ae eee aaa ee ee C— in — — ———— > — % — - = m SS, I SE Vm all right now,” she whispered, ‘Let me down, The villains must not get away until my eres are on them again. Quick! Don’t you see? I will lose my chance,” ~ ‘*Sorry fur ther ee ez picks it up, then. That’s all I got ter say. Ish’d hev thought yer hed got about enough gruel ter take ther edge off yer appetite. But hev it ez yer chooses,” Down she came to the ground, though Sam steadied her a little, with his hands on her shoul- ders as he placed her on her feet. Hesaw that she was excited, and did not understand the reason. He could hardly believe that a woman would be so wild for vengeance as to attack three ruffians, from whom she bad just escaped, . by something less than a miracle. eye “TI baven’t time to fully explain,” she hur- riedly whispered. me ‘*Those men are but the paid tools of the ‘ master I am searching for. They bave come - = — tt me, we” » = -~ a a, = ae. “ + . aS a - at . from him within the last hour. As tiey have = failed in their work it is most likely on gt go right back tohim. If I follow them I find WM him, He is the man who took Neville North out of the Bower the other night in thefaceof | you all. Now he has captured Neville’s cousin af every bit as mysteriously. It may be the last | chance to find him. Iamallright now,letme ~~ 0. ‘* Don’t be excited, little one. You're gettin there fast enough, and as fer Solid Sam, he . go ‘long. They might drop ter yer game, an’ make it jest too interestin’ fur any use. Better H comicbooks.con i j