Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 533 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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18 with a rush, | wouldn’t want him in a worse box, nohow,.” “It might come to that if he was here alone,” said May, thoughtfully. ~ But perhaps Oregon will give them enough to dv at home. As you have been backing the outsiders, 1 would advise you to look out for yourself. Perhaps they can’t raise the town on you, but they might play some ugly trick to get you out of the way for a while.” For answer Ryan smiled and stretched bis brawny shoulders significantly. Merry May continued. — - -- ont oot ee ems = ee ‘Yes, I know; but I’ve seen good men in a | box before now. Don’t be too brash, You ean stand the work, so I suppuse you wills rest of the night looking after the lost confess I am about played. now. If anything turns up, or if in with anything specially interesting, call me up. Otherwise—well, ll shoot the first indi- vidual that comes racketing around for the fun of the thing. I’m too dead tired to see.” lt was no great wonder. The ride of the day, and the unusual exercise, with its attendant ex- citements, of the night, were enough to weary a stronger man, She did not believe that Neville was in any immediate danger, and she was cer- tain that she could not do Viola any-good that would not be accomplished by the @thers that were op the search. Besides, the Norths were only casual acquaintances, after all. She was interested in them, and the mystery that sur- rounded them, but her interest did uot speak loud- er than her fatigue. She went to her room; was asleep in five minutes; and did not open her eyes again, so far as she remembered, until the next day about noon. he little that Sam Ryan had seen of her bad given him considerable respect for Merry May— not as a woman, but as a gritty little pard to tie to. Nevertheless, he felt rathera relief when she retired from the scene. He had said a good deal less than he might have done ia regard to the outlook. Quick of apprehension, and wise as to the temper of the men of Brace Box, he had taken in the situation ata glance. He knew that Jimmy never would have dared to act as he had done without some ostensible evidence; and ifacrowd got fairly interested in Viola’s fate it would not require much testimony from the landlord to send itraving after Cyril. In that case, tosave him would be neither child’s play, nor work for a woman, erry May had put him in possession of the bare facts as she knew them, and now he quietly went to work, gathering up the additional par- ticulars as they had developed, There was not much more to be learned, except in regard to the mysterious interview in the dining-room. He understood that, in the light of what the young lady gambler had told him; but as he had no evidence at hand to point out the truth he said nothing. It did not seem to be time yet to mention this other cousin, who bud been playing sucha reckless game. Better to wait for developments, He could advise nothing that was not already being done. A search was being made all around the hotel, and every man that joined in, or was met, received a thorough questioning. So far no one bad been found who had seen or heard anything suspicious. If Viola .was dead, where was the corpse? If she had”been cap- tured or carried away, where had she beentaken to? How was it that no one had met her ab- ductors, or could offer a reasonable suggestion as to the way she had gone? ‘** It’s no use,” said Jimmy, with an air of dis- gust, asa man came in and reported no pro- gress. ‘* Ef we can’t, we can’t. When ther nose on yer face don’t throw a shadder, how kin yer ex- pect ter find her afore daylight comes? Id advise yer all ter make up yer minds ter not seein’ anything ter-night, though it won’t burt nothin’ ter be lookin’ fur her, But to-morrer we'll find out suthin’ about it, er bu’st a wheel. You can’t kerry a wagon-load ov calico outen town ’thout some one seein’ ov her; an’ ef we once get onto this end ov ther string, we won’t stop until we git to ther other. An’ it mouw’t be thet she’s sneaked off ov ber own notion, cr gone with another man. A feller don’t know whether she’d thank him fur too much racket, or ef she’s too dead ter keer.” It was this shade of doubt that prevented closer inquiry in regard to Neville, and kept the excitement from rising to fever heat. The night peers morning came, and as yet there had n no new developments, The first man that brought in any intelligence that amounted to anything was Happy Saul, who came wandering along in search of his morning bitters, and was, up to that time, per- fectly oblivious of what had happened, or was su to have bappened the night before. hen he beard about the disappearance, he had a little story to tell directly. Saul lived in a shanty in the outskirts, and er the little riot in front of Hank’s Holein he Ground, he had gone home and gone to bed, falling asleep almost immediately. ; He had noidea whatever how long he slept, but _ he was wakened by the report of a pistol some- where in the neighborhood. Having Bull Dog nd the | iola, IL | I’m going for rest | regon comes |! The ground was soon covered by the party, | Ben on his mind, the sound wakened him, though he was gag ac a sound sleeper, After lying silent for some time, and hearing _ nothing further, he got up and looked out of the door. On looking carefully around he saw one man, at nu great distance, going in the direction of the center of the town, while three or four others, a good deal further off, were going in | the opposite way. Their course would take ' them direct to Blindman’s Shaft, and between | them they carried something that seemed to be | heavy enough to make quite a load, The fight was over, and there was little chance of its renewal, so that Saul returned to his bunk, went to sleep again, and by morning had forgotten all about the occurrence until it was recalled to his mind. ‘* And who war ther chaps, Saul, an’ what war they reelly doin’? Did yer spot ’em close ernuf ter speak uv ’em by card? Brace Box are big ernuf ter hev more ner one game goin’ on at a time, an’ it ain’t jest so likely thet them ger- ‘ loots hed ary thing ter do with this byer Miss North affair.” ‘*T wouldn’t hev thort so,” responded Saul, cautiously, ‘ef it bedn’t b’in fur one thing. Mebbe I hedn’t ort ter mention that, nuther, ontil I git a leetle furder eensight to ther game; but truth’s ther truth, an’ how kin a man be | bappy ef he’s a Jiar? You hear me, pards?” | Ov course we kin; git off ther roof! Some | ’un'll be thinkin’ you know more than yer keer } | ter tell When they.do, they'll be apt ter or- garize a court, jest foo quick.” **] don’t want ter make no mistake,” said Saul. ‘* A mistake-are wuss ner a lie, fur it'll kerry twicte ez fur, an’ scatter like blazes. ‘3ides that, when you’ve only hed a glimper | two ov aman, it ain’t allers so easy ter recog- nize him by nights, an’ you half asleep. No, sirs, I wouldn’t like ter make a oath to ther fact now; but jest then I’d ’a’ swore it war ther young man ez ther queer racket war about at ther Bower t’other night. He’s some sorter | relative to ther ae lady; an’ all ’round, it | does ’paar ter me I must hev got ’way off when | I made sich a mistake ez that.” | There was an ominous mutter, such as Saul | did not exactly understand, and then some one suggested: ‘*What’s the matter with looking at Blind- man’s Shaft, anyhow? You can't find what’sin it, but there may be something outside to show who’s been there.” Blindmau’s Sbaft was beyond the circle of search already made, and was quite a walk from the center of the town; but every one knew where it was. The brawling waters of neaay man’s Creek ran close to it, and if was ne filled with stagnant, muddy water, in which, times past, more than one corpse had been foun floating, and the presence of a great many more suspected, If Viola had been murdered, y Bower had so strongly binted to Neville that she had been, it was a good place to leave the body of the victim. The hint took like wildfire, and without any drumming for recruits a strong posse was form- that departed post uaste, taking Happy Saul along. as Jimm and as they stumbled down the gulch at the bottom of which lay the course through which ran Blindman’s Creek the excitement grew deeper though more suppressed, so that, as the mouth of the shaft came into the view of the peas every one heard Happy Saul as he ex- claimed; ‘““By ther ‘ternal Rockies! Sbhe’s in thar! Took off her shoes an’ stockin’s—thar they be— ter drownd herself; an’ byar’s huff-prents on ther brink!” CHAPTER XXI. ALL SET. THE announcement of Happy Saul raised the wildest excitement, although he was telling nothing more than the rest were seeing for themselves, Everybody crowded around the mouth of the shaft, and looked downward at the muddy water below. Of course nothing was to be seen there, and the thougbtless action of the mass of the explor- ers rendered it difficult to make auy further progress, Still, by shouting, pushing, aad a deal of firm remonstrance, every one else was induced to leave the soft ground, while Happy Saul, and a few of the others examined it tborougbly. Again a cry escaped Saul’s lips. He had discovered the footprints of a woman. The ground around the shaft had been pretty well trampled over, and only a couple of them were plain; but right at the edge of the shaft was the clearly defined print. ‘*T tell you, gentlemen, she’s thar,” said one of the enthusiasts, “It’s going to bea job, but I guess we can et around to it. For one, ’m dead bent to | know if she was living when she went down. If not, why not? Get hooks and ropes, and finish the work. Then we can make it heavy for those that fixed up the job.” Oregon, the Sport with a Scar. SS Se see ee A The man spoke viciously, but what he said caught the popular fancy. Within half an hour a dozen men were sound- ing the shaft, Though everybody worked long and faithfully it is searcely necessary to say that they did nut find the body of Viola Nortb. If it had been there to find, it is doubtful if they could have raised it pg, the twenty feet of black, muddy water, in which they were grubbing, unless they procured much better up- pliances than those they had. The shaft was not so deep; but at the Lottom of it there was a tunnel, that had been run some hundred feet before the water came in and drowned®%the miners out so effectually that no one ever attempted to prosecute the work further. This was remembered by and by, and every- i i Happy Saul was ready to give up the search, ** Jest one minnit, one holy minnit!” he said, holding up his band as he peered downward. ‘You fellers bev bin fishin’, an’ fishin’, an’ you ain’t kept yer eyes open. Thar, now, what yer callin’ that, eh?” In triumph he drew up a dripping bundle, that, when he bad taken it in his hand, examin- ed and straightened, he held up so all could see, Beyond question it was the remains of what once was a stylish-looking bat. Another thrill went arcund the crowd, as though all hands were joined and some one was working an electric macbine in connection with the circle. No one there could positively recog- nize it as being the property of Viola North; tut if not hers to whom else could it belong? * ‘*Boys, I ain’t yearnin’ ter see a necktie party,” said Saul, as he heard the universal groan that greeted the sight. ‘*T hed thought thet Brace Box wouldn’t bother with such foolishness; but, I war bound ter show ez I war tellin’ ther truth. Thar’s ther proof. Fer ther balance, you kin do ez you please.” ‘* That’s good enough; four aces wouldn’t be better. Take the deck, Saul; the trick’s yours,” ‘*Tt’s hardly wu’th while ter look furder?” Saul knew pretty well the temper of his auditors; but he asked the question with a view to starting things in the way they should go. ‘* Not ter look fur her—that’s dead sure. But 1 guess we’re lcokin’ out fur ther men ez put her thar. An’ when we find ’em you bet they’ll wish they could git in thar an’ be done with it. Brace Box don’t often say much, but when it’s time ter git thar she does a heap.” ‘¢ An’ ef Jimmy ain’t got one of em kerreled now, I don’t know a sinner by his looks,” Two men, without any intent to lead the crowd, had said sufficient to start the ball roll- ing—and there were enough hands collected at Blindman’s Shaft to keep it going to a very lively tune. The arrest of Neville North had been quietly managed, and was little known or understood; but in the light of what Happy Saul saw, or declared he saw, and what had been found, everything seemed plain. ‘¢ Bf they hev ther boss, bet you a dollar we kin git ther gang!” suggested anotker. ‘*T ain’t much on regulatin’ myself; but lay on ther gad, an’ I'll bet yer he gives away his pards in ther racket.” ‘* Well, whoop ber up ter town, an’ ef we know beans, there’ll be a necktie party ter-night, Thar’s no use spendin’ more time hyer!” As yet, nothing very definite had been pro- posed. The time for action was not at hand; and the friends of Judge Lynch are none too anxious to discuss beforehand what may be the sentences of his court. But belief is contagious, and there was scarcely a man in the party that did not feel satisfied that Viola had been mur- dered; and the majority of tham held that Neville North had something to do with the crime. If they could bave laid bands on him just then, they would hardly have taken time to organizeacourt. . The walk to town calmed the excitement some- what; but the march of so many men through the streets could not help but attract a still greater crowd, though the majority of the workers were at their toil, and would be until ark. ' ‘‘ What in the name of all creation is going on now?” thought Merry May, who bad just arisen from her prolonged sleep, and who looked out of the window about the time the procession arrived, For the moment she did not think about Viola North, The answer to ber question came along, with- out any effort on her part. A few burried words satisfied the latest arri- vals that their intelligence and theory were about the newest on the ground. One of the foremost in the crowd mounted a chair that stood on the porch, and held up bis hand, ‘‘ Gentlemen!” he said. ‘‘ Big bugs and little bugs, bugs of all sorts! There’s a “Sas many of you, but there’s not enough. hen we get down to ousiness we want the whole of Brace Box to have a chance to be here. Something happened last night not exactly according to rule, and, if it’s as bad as we think, it ought to wind up in a necktie party. The reports are nob all in yer, Prey janie ovetoy < co. eee —_ - —_—_—_———— = : — oe BD) a me -