Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 533 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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- 20 — ——s a proof of my earnest intention to protect your interests, as well as the strict discipline that is maintained in Gadley’s Gang. I see that is un- necessary. I will justlay down the facts in your case and leave you here to your reflections, If we come to terms, on the basis proposed, within the next hour, you will bein time to save Ne- ville. If not there is little to be gained by haste, and I will allow you twenty-four hours for con- sideration. If, at the expiration of that time, you have not decided to give a favorable answer shall commence employing a gentle pressure,” “Twenty-four hours may make quite a differ- ence in the aspect of affairs, I think I shall do nothiny rasbly; and trust in Providence to pro- tect both Neville and myself.” ** Very well. Tosave your neck, which would most certainly be broken in any effort you might make to escape by going higher, I would say that the only exit from this spot is by a dangerous path down the ledge on which this eabin is built, You will be in plain view of the Gang, who are all at home, and will have to step over a guard whose beat is entirely on the ledge. An old lady, of more muscle than loving kind- ness, and who has a peculiar fancy for using a knife when irritated, will see that you don’t starve, She will probably bring you a meal soon. Remember, you have one hour in which oucan call me, After that it will be too late, cannot see you until to-morrow—when, no doubt, [ will be able to give you the latest tidings from Cousin Neville. Au revoir.” With his usual laugh, and a wave of his shapely hand, he went out, leaving Viola alone with her sorrows, Ane CHAPTER XXIII, THE TIGRESS TURNS, THERE was nothing particular the matter with Oregon, except that he was senseless, The fugitive turned out to be a Tartar, as the Sport with a Scar had all along suspected; and got in his work a little neater than Oregon would have thought possible, Indeed, if that worthy could have thought at all he would not have been will- ing to believe that the shot was simply fired to “crease” him, When he recovered his mental faculties, after a time, remembering the point- blank range, he seriously asked himself if he was really alive. That was not altogether strange, since, for a short season, his bodily powers remained paral- ized; and as a man has never been dead before, he can scarcely be expected to know exactly how it feels, Being trussed up made quite a difference in his feelings, also. He was not used to such kind of treatment, If Oregon could have seen where he was going there might have been some slight shade of satis- faction. Unfortunately the cloth that had been bound around his head had: also slipped down over his eyes, and literally and figuratively he was in the dark. By and by he was dumped down, without the least regard to his health, and though he heard the footsteps of the men dié away he had no idea of where he was, or why hehad been brought there, He only knew that he was a prisoner, and that if he got away without suffering some evil he would be particularly lucky. After a time bis brain cleared, and strength came back to his limbs, By a little effort he succeeded in pushing the cloth from over his eyes, That was some satisfaction; then he found he was still in the dark, and knew as little where he had been taken as he had done before, ‘““This Gang must own all Brace Box,” he thought, ‘‘ or else they’ve got nerve enough ter buck ther town. About how many jails hey they scattered ’round, er do they use the same one every time? Ef they do, there’s some chance fur North ter come stumblin’ in,” As Neville and Merry May had succeeded in making their escape, there was some hope for the future, and what surprised him most was that after two failures, the villains, whoever they were, should still be using the same tac- tics. That looked as though the enemy had little fear of outside interference, or else had so covered their tracks that if forced to move from one stronghold to another, it could be done without much danger of identification, Of course there was no immediate danger threatening his life, or so much trouble would not have been taken to bring him there, What might happen to him if he refused to tell what he knew about the Norths, was a different matter, for he suspected that it was information his captors were after. And to break a man’s nerve, and oil his tongue, there would be no better recipe, than to thus leave him trussed upin the darkness, un- certaiv of his fate, and sure only of bis own helplessness. Unless they had planted him there for good, simply to get him out of the road, it was pretty certain that some one would turn up for an in- terview before very long. Of course, Oregon was not the man to be much shaken by any course of treatment; and though he had been handled quite roughly, it would have been possible to make him feel a great deal more uncomfortable. After a few unavailing efforts to loosen himseW, which only served to show how securely he was fastened, the sport closed his eyes, and soon actually went to sleep—something, however, he could not have done later on, Once in the land of dreams, and unless inter- Oregon, the Sport with a Scar. Oregon’s former wife restrained herself by an effort, and managed to talk almost as calmly as he; listening for bis answer in a way that showed she had an especial interest in it. ‘* Don’t blame me fur that. Ef Ud ’a’ knowed, rupted, he was likely to stay there for some: [’d'gonea thousand miles ter keep from seein’ time. He was tired, the hour was late, and around him was perfect silence. A light shining upon his eyes caused him to move uneasily, but did not awaken him, though there was soine one standing by his side, regard- ing him attentively. Tbe intruder was muffled in a loose, heavy cloak, and a broad-brimmed hat slanted down over the face so far as to be almost a disguise, Still, it was not hard to see that the figure was that of a woman, even before she threw back the cloak, and pushed up the brim of her hat. Having, so to speak, unmasked herself, she held the lantern so that the rays fell fairly on her face, and then touched Oregon lightly with her foot. The touch was sufficient. Instantly he was awake, bis eyes wide open and staring at his visitor, who looked down on him with a mock- ing smile, A very handsome face it was, and one that he certainly recognized. If he had been able to do it, he would have uttered an exclamation of surprise, ‘‘Pardon me,” said the woman, ‘SI did not notice that the work had been 30 thoroughly well done, I suppose you have too much sense to waste your breath in the higher keys. If you attempt it 1 shall certainly stop you, and the stoppage will be permanent.” She drew a knife as she spoke, and, having first held it so that he could see the weapon and understand the threat, she severed the cords that held the gag in its place. As he relieved his mouth of the unpleasant intruder, she con- tinued: ‘* You have changed some, but I would have known you, if it was only by seeing you asleep with such odds against it. Of course you ex- pected to wake up if you ever did, on the other side. It’s my turn now, and you ought to know what that means,” ‘¢ By ther rollin’ wheels, it’s Helen!” The woman evidently expected more of an outburst. Perfectly safe though she was, she shrunk away a little from his side, watching him with ber glittering eyes, and holding the knife in readiness to repel an attack. ‘* Tt’s Helen,” he continued, Jooking her over with an eve that was full of interest; ‘‘ Helen, a little older, but just as handsome.” ‘‘- You think, then, even at this late stage in the game, that you will try flattery.” ‘*Flattery nothin’! I’m tellin’ plain truth. Handsome’s no name fur it. You are a beau- tiful devil, that a man’s a fool ter git within a mile ov. Mebbe thar’s some wuss in ther world, but I never seen’em, What are you going ter do with me?” ‘Can you ask that question? Tell the truth for once in your miserable six-penny life. What ought Ito do with you? Don’t you eac- knowledge that hanging is too good for you, and that Dll have to invent some means for vour exit that will do justice to the subject?” ‘* Ef I hadn’t thought you war dead I mou’t hev bin thinkin’ it up; but Dll leave it to you, I s’pose you’re bound ter be a widder somehow ; an’ ez I allers war accommodatin’, I won’t break ther record. Hev yer own way.” ‘Widow! You do well to remind me of those miserable years of my life when you made me your slave. When I think of them I do not wonder you fancied me dead. I did die —to you. Now and then there is justice in the court, and I found it when they set me free from you forever. But they could not give me what I yearned for still more—revenge!” ‘Kf I hed ever harmed yer,” and there was an honest’ impressiveness in Oregon’s voice that would have carried conviction if he had hap- pened to have had any other listener, ‘‘ you’ve had revenge enough fur ther wu’st [ could have done. I won’t say nothin ov ther gold yer robbed me ov, Since then coin hez come easy, an’ I’ve hed plenty ter throw away. But you sent me jest ez far towa’ds ther bad ez a man ov my style would go; did yer level best ter hev me killed; an’ wu’st ov all, stole away ther kid, ter make ber ez bad ez yerself, an’ took ther in- nercent leetle thing right down to her death. Ef you’d been honest an’ true, we’d hed a happy home yet. ‘Stead ov that, she’s dead. ’m a wreck, an’ you’re—what you are. An’ you come talkin’ round about revenge! I wonder ther heavens don’t drop,” **Bah! You wronged me enough when you linked the fortunes of a woman like me to an animal like you.” She drew: her splendid form up to its full hight, and looked down upon him with flashing eyes, ‘*That’s ther full size ov it, then, I didn’t suit, an’ you wanted ter git all yer could outen me, an’ then go away with another man. I b’lieve I killed him; an’ ther wu’st war, I found out too late thet you war tired ov him afore I done ther job. After that I hed hopes never ter see er hear ov yer ag’in.” ‘* And yet you are here,” er.” ‘‘Indeed! And yet you manage to place yourself where you can do me the most dam- age. As things stand, your friends are my foes; and you had the chance of your lifetime to harm me. I understand now why they have you with them,” ‘‘ Blamed if I do, then, unless it’s because I’ve been ’round some, bave nerve, an’ can find ther man they want.” ‘“Why keep up the farce? Cyril North.” ** An’ ef so what’s that to you?” ** In one way, very little. In another, a great deal, Cyml North is or was the man you have just said that you killed. When ycu find him you find me, I have not decided yet whether to make my appearance as Cyril or as his relict. In either case you can understand that you are a decided incumbrance in the game, and that, baving told you this much, I hardly intend to allow you a chance to let it go further,” ‘*Thanks fur ther tellin’, though I’ve hed more interestin’ news, that war a heap sight nigher the truth, Talkin’ plain, an’ right from ther heart, I ain’t b’elievin’ a word yer say. Ef I did I’d ax yer what ye’r’ doin’ hyer; but Vl git more informashun ef I put that question to some one else, Mebbe you wouldn’t mind goin’ away an’ lettin me get my sleep out?” ‘*When I leave you for good you will be sleeping soundly enough; and there will be all eternity to flaish the nap.” ‘‘’Pears to me, ef you’ve bin talkin’ straight, thet 1 shpped up once on a sure thing—mebbe you'll do ther same, You'll find Oregon mighty hard ter kill; an’ a heap sight harder to git p’ints out ov.” ‘Yet, to save your life, you might be willing to tell the truth.” ‘You turn quicker ner a whirly-gig. Reckon we're gittin’ round at last to what ye’r’ after; an’ it’s gittin’ time fur me ter go slow. What is it thet yer want? I kin tell yer yes er no,” ‘t What then is the real motive for this pur- suit of Cyril North? An angel would not be so anxious to put a fortune in his bands, ir there was nothing beyond. You should know—speak and save your miserable life.” HE I knowed [ reckon you might remember enough of me ter recollect I would’nt give it away. Butso fur ez I know thar’s nothin’ be- hind it. She wanted ter find Cyril an’ set things straight, Ez Cyril hez found her that seems ter put me out ov ther game, unless I hey ter turn round an’ bunt fur her.” He watched her keenly while he spoke. Had she either failed to understand him, or started at his mention of Cyril, he would have noted it, He began to believe that she had told some truth in regard to the Norths, and was prepared for what came next, ‘Tn the guileless iunocence of your heart that last is just what you would do; and until mat- ters are arranged, one way or the other, that is just what we don’t want you to do—Cyril and I, Positively, it was a great stroke when we got you out of the way, And you have no wore in- formation that could be of use?” . ‘‘ No more? By ther rollin’ wheels! I didn’t know I’d bin givin’ yer any.” “Then, aftr all, the bargain is cff. Your life is still in my bands; to dispose of as I choose; and of course you may know what to expect, However, I must consult with my dear Cyril be- fore deciding finally on your fate.” ‘Ef I know anything about you there'll be a split between you an’ yer dear Cyril afwre ver long. Mebhe you hevn’t seen Miss North wit yer owneyes. I’d advise yer to do it afore yer trust Master Cyril too fur. A good suggestion, that; an’ I don’t charge a cent.” ‘Don’t try to excite my jealousy. You ought to know that I don’t deal much in that article, After all, the principal thing is to get you out of the way; and [I think I have provided for that very neatly, If you never come out of this Lole alive no one will ever be the wiser.” ‘¢ xcept ther four er five bullies thet did ther rough work, They won’t work ther secret fur all it’s wu’th, ov course,” ‘“You sec the blot,do you? Rest easy. In whatever way it is done they must finish the job; and yet, they know less than you suppose. ou have a few hours’ grace. In that time you may be able to figure out a reason why you will be of more benefit alive than dead, If not—good-by, and over the range ycugo.” It was anything but a cheering outlook for Oregon as he lay for hours, alone in the daik- ness. Though it was not intended, his bonds were killing him. Under their pressure, bis flesh was swellirg, until he was ready to admit that he was dying a thousand deaths, and yet he never groaned. CHAPTER XXIV. A VISIT UP THE GULCH, MERRY May was inclined to be cautious. She understood that there was some one in Brace You are after ey ee comicbooks | |