Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 533 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

/ Oregon, the Svort with a Scar. 27 ‘* Not a bit, at present. He’s doing well. | where Viola and the rest are confined. A little After a little I can leave him in charge of Mr, Bower long enough ot hear what you have to y say.’ X gay it here,” whispered the colonel, with more life in bim than they expected to find. ‘*Keep Jimmy out now that he’s gone, He'll talk me blind about his house and its reputation. It’s been a headquarters confound ’em, for all the thugs and thieves of creation since he opened,” ** See here, this won’t do,” interposed Neville. ‘** The doctor said you must keep quiet.” ‘** Quiet am I, ou can do all the talking if you want to, but I must know who did the shooting, and what it was all about. I can guess the last, though.” ‘* You can guess a little better how near you came to the top of my head if you look at my hat,” answered the girl gambler, with a trifle of sternness, ‘For the rest, it’s a moderately long story, and I am not sure you will understand it, but I don’t want any interruptions. Ill reel it off to a finish, and then you can have the floor, if you want it.” ‘*Go ahead. Icouldn’t talk if I wanted, and [ll take it out in listening. Where have you been?” The question was a fair starter, but Merry May answered it by another. ‘* First and foremost, did you ever have a side-partner by the name of Cyril North, or Walter Brunner?’ ‘* Never,” ‘*So [ thought. She was trying to get us on the wrong scent. Well, my little history, cut down, reads about like this: ‘*Paul Morrison and his wife up the gulch, are helping Master Cyril play tts band, As Cyril is very much of a rascal, and always kas been, they have a strong suspicion that it would not be altogether safe for him to go back East to take charge of the little fortune that our obliging friend here and his cousin are trying to shove into his bands. Indeed, they think the pretended philanthropy is a fraud, and Cyril seems to be frantically anxious to make things level. He wanted to hang our Neville and mar- ry the charming Viola. ‘*And right there is where he got the fat in the fire. He was trying to keep the latter part to himself, and didn’t succeed worth a cent, As a consequence, the lady up the gulch is furious- ly jealous, and has about made up her mind to kill them both, and go for the fortune as the deceased North’s widow, As far as I see there’s nothing to stop her.” ‘“His widow? I thought you were talking about Paul Morrison’s wife?” Neville was growing strangely interested in the story. ‘* Paul don’t count for much in the gama, He’s not her husband at all; and if [ was giving a guess I'd say he wasn’t any closer than a brother. “They’re bound to get Neville anyhow, and all of hisbackers, As they didn’t want to buck against the colonel and Charley Coldeard, they tried to send them out of town, while Solid Sam is cooped somewhere in the mountains. ‘ As, with my usual freshness, I had taken a hand in, the madam wanted to go for me as large as a wolf. And then [seemed to be a a sort of inside friend of Oregon’s, and was fool enough to show her a diamond that I won, a ear or so ago, from Walter Brunner, as I knew im then; so, you see she bad three very good reasons: and Walter had two,” “But what has Oregon specially to do with r ‘*That’s chance, which beats luck and science every time. Oregon is the original husband,” ‘* And where is he now?” Neville bad not intended to interrupt; but the questions would come. ‘‘ That's for them to find out and nobody else to know. Tbey had him cooped, but turned him loose when they thought they had made every arrangement to have him hung along with our mutual friend, They bad some special end to serve; but that didn’t develop. Their Gang had their orders, but fortunately some of them got switched off on the chase of Oregon, through the hotel, and Killer bluffed the rest, ‘“‘To come back to myself; they managed to drug me. up at Jimmy’s, and then Chestnut roped me, as innocent as a yearling calf. I went up to Morrison’s with both bands on my derringers, and then tumbled over right into Paul’s arms. Ugh! [ thought I was dead. And so did they, | guess, for they laid me back in a. cuddy-hole, where I would be out of the road tili they bad more time to attend to me. ‘¢ We were all both three mistaken. I wasn’t dead a bit, and only ye body was sleeping. In cours of time I could hear as well as anybody, if I could not move; and I heard the two talk- ing over matters'in the main room, I haven’t told what I heard, exactly, but what I made out of it. ‘¢ T didn't hear as much about Chestnut Chink as I would have liked to, but I heard enough to know that be is an infernal rascal, aad their man. If { understood them he'll be around, presently, to offer to lead the way to the place ; ' vw this side of it Gadley’s Gang falls upon us, we are routed, horse, foot and dragoons, a select few being taken prisoners, and put out of the world after the most convenient style possible. ‘*When they got this far I decided that I wasn’t so sick nor so sleepy as I had been. I made a desperate effort; got one of the madam’s whisky flasks, which I emptied; and then made my escape, arriving here just in time to save your life, young man. Now then, what are you going to do about it?” ‘*Going to the mountains to rescue Viola,” sternly answered Neville. ‘‘I am only too oa9 that the colonel will not be able to go along. ‘* Better wait for Chestnut; so that you'll know where you are going.” ‘** That’s so,” interrupted a voice behind them, ‘‘an’ Vil post yer whar ter look fur squalls while I run inter port by another tack.” They looked hastily m the direction of the voice, ahd saw Oregon, who had entered un- perceived. CHAPTER XXXITLI. THE TIGER TURNS. CHESTNUT CHINK'S story was a marvelous creation not to be true; and Neville seemed to swallow it like spring water. Chink too had overheard a conversation, and had come right anny to retail if where it would do the most ood, Cyril North, assisted by two men had abduct- ed Viola and had her hidden in a cave in the Chico Rico Mountain. Viola was nearly dead from fright and mountain fever, and Cyril had come for Paul Morrison and his wife to nurse her. Chestnut had suspected these two, and ad been keeping an eye outhem, They had all set out for the mountains, but,if it was true about their destination being the cave, they might be followed. Long Ebe and several other moun- tain men were in camp, and could find the spot. Half a dozen men and Neville could do the rest. **T am inclined to trust you, Mr. Chink,” was Neville’s answer, ‘* because Oregon, in whom I put every confidence, seemed to think ou were a vast deal better than your looks or your repu- tation. If this turns out to be correct informa- tion I will give you a thousand dollars, If you attempt to deceive me, I will kill you. Those terms are acceptable, I suppose.” ‘* Ef yer dead sure you can’t do better. It’sa heap big thing, this I’ve lit on, an’ orter be ther biggest strike of my life.” nder the circumstances, Chink was willing to ask the earth. - , ‘* Why, confound you! Oregon is certainly on the trail by this time; and Merry May would surely have turned up before this if she had not hit on some trace of my missing cousin. . I can save a thousand. and you get nothing.” ** Mebbe. But you’re ther doctor; take it ez you want it, Ef ther young lady gits through all right she'll do ther squar’ thing, an’ make it up tome, Ef ye’r’ goin’ you kin git up a crowd ef you stand out thar an’ shout; but you won't know who’s who, Ef I war you l’d speak ter Jimmy, an’ be’ll tell yer who ter pick.” he suggestion was adopted; and Bower, in all honesty, recommended tbe men, and indorsed Chestnut’s statement about Long Ebe., Then, without letting Chink know anything about it, Cyml went back to Colonel Rollins, who was not too weak nor too feverish to give advice, ** All correct except Ebe,” said Rollins, as he heard the last name on the list. ‘* don’t know much about him, or anything against him; but as he showed himself to the front on the other side, in running down the blind trail, I simply wouldn’t trust, If they ex- pect to lead you into an ambush, he could help most wonderfully if you weren’t posted. Don’t let bim get too far in front, or too far be- hind.” ‘* In the future [ don’t think my confidence in human nature will kill me, Of course we ex- pect to meet somebody long enough before we get to that cave which Chestnut pretends to have heard of; but if we do it won’t be the worse for us; and meantime Oregon may bave a chance to get in the rear.” ‘** Good boy! take care of yourself!” was the Killer’s parting advice: and Neville went away to bunt for his recruits, He had less trouble in finding them than he had feared. The excitement had pretty gen- erally calmed down, and the most of the men he wanted were in bed, or just getting their break- fasts. Very quietly he gathered them up, and those that wouldn't go for love went for money. The day had not advanced very far when the party quietly stole out of town; having Long Ebe along for guide, and Chestnut Chink for general utility. The latter seemed to be rising above his general average, on tbe strength of the important information he had furnished, for the time forgetting his fables, and even omit- ting bis favorite giggle, When they were fairly on the road Long Ebe called a halt. He addressed Neville; though he was just as evidently talking for the benefit of the rest, “ Li] * ee an | + * aa 4 te phe ~~, ait epee 13 ail «\ - «¢ gee 2 x: EE LL ee EEE ———— ——— + See CO “* Jest a word, boss, You’re a new hand hyer- abouts, an’ mebbe you don’t jest know bow things run about Brace Box, Ef things are ez Chink thar tells ’em,I kin put this through, under orders, an’ we'll all be back an’ smilin’ to-morrer, But thar’s jest a chance we'll stir up a ho’nets’ nest. Thar’s a man out thar ez calls hisself Captain Gadley, which hez a gang. About its bigness I ain’t so sure; but they're all bad men. ef we meet ’em, an’ thar’s a few ov ’em, we can take ’em into camp. But s’posin’ this hyer man we're after is in witb ‘em, an’ thar’s quite a heap few ov ’em, this outfit ain’t heavy enough to see you through. Er they may hev gobbled ’em up afore we git thar, an’ stand us off ter make their own terms, Ef we meet ’em we kin feel ’em strong ter see how beavy they be; but ef he hez bis bull army, then ther less shootin’ an’ ther more runnin’ we do ther more ov us’ll set down ter breakfast in ther mornin’. I ain’t flunkin’, mind yer: but I wants ter know, aforehand, ef we ron ag’in’ sich a snag how yer all expects ter take it?” ““Tf we meet the road-agents I am willing to deal with them on a money basis,” answered Neville briefly. ‘‘ With Cyril nothing of the kind can be done, In whatever way Viola is rescued it will be a little fortune for you men, and if Gadley would not listen to reason—though it’s dollars and dimes he is after—1 should not expect you to fight, against an overwhelming force, When I fall back the rest will follow,” Some of the men looked serious, but Long Ebe’s words did not seem to produce the effect’ that Neville feared. What one cf them, Dave Dunn, said answered for them all. ‘Cap, yer put down good wages fur a big reesk as a send-off; and there’s a woman in the case, Besides, Gadley ain’t got as big a crowd as some thinks. Why, he couldn’t feed him! So, if it comes to a fight, you can count on us staying with you, and that’s all that a man can ask, Weknow each other purty well; and L think I kin speak fur ther whole lot.” ‘* That’s what I war wantin’ ter know,” said Ebe. ‘‘ We fight while thar’s a chance, an’ all stick tergether. Good enough! Hyer goes!” Without waiting for further discussion he moved off, and Neville and bis men silently fol- lowed. North was glad of this explanation. He would have brought it about himself if it kad not been for Chestnut Chink, whom, as yet, he did not fully understand. If it was part of the scheme for the young fellow to slip out on the route be could probably be prevented; tut to provide for contingencies it was letter that he should not know that his treachery was under- stood from the start. The youth showed no signs of wanting to get away. The only suspicious thing in bis actions was the earnestness with which he questioned Neville in regard to Merry May—tboughb he ex- plained that she nad been mentioned in the con- versation at Morrison’s, and he understcod that she was dead, *“Scarcely dead,” answered Neville. ‘ At least, | am very certain that she is with Oregon, and on the trail. It is possible that we may meet them both.” It was taking some risk, responding thus, for more than one bad seen him staggering into the hotel with her in hisarms, Fora wonder Chink had heard nothing about it, Dave Dunn seemed to be one of the most trust- ai i of the men Neville bad gathered together, and the latter took occasion to speak to him quietly. Without mentioning his suspicions of either Chink or Long Ebe he hinted that he would look to him, Dunn, for aid and assistance. He said nothing about Oregon, but stated that be was not inclined to scout Long Ebe’s warning, and that they should be on their guard egainst a surprise, From what be kad teen able to pick up about the country there were severs] places where an ambush might be expected. He didn’t want to seem to give advice tomenthat knew all about such things, but he boped they would go carefully, and ready for the worst: al ove all, not to fall into a panic if they met with an ene- my more in force than they bed teen led to ex- ‘t. It was possible that there might ke a fire in the rear that would help them cut when least expected, There were scme good men on the trail, who bad taken it to stay. “That's all right, Pard Nerth,” wes Durn’s deliberate answer. ‘« Ebe’s heading straight for the Chico Ricc— I’ve bin thar myself, It’s atcovgh country to sodjer over, and I guess ther road-egents are *bout ther enly men prospectin’ thar now’days, Mebbe we'll strike them, and mebbe ycur man; but whatever we meet end when, you'll find us ready. In broad daylight they can’t get very far ahead of us. Rest easy. Old Ebe knows whar he’s going.” Dunn spoke up very positively, and yet there was just where he was mistaken, Oregon had overlooked one portion of the trai), It wes fur- ther from the haunt of Captain Gadley and the cave on the Chico Rico, and in appearance not so favorable for an ambuscade as other spcets further on. Chestnut Chink and Long Ebe, side by side, 2 were at the head of the party, and under ¢asy ee? m Ebooks = — a