Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 560 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

>» so why should there be more trouble between us on the old score?” ‘¢ Desmond is a revengeful devil, senor, and I warn you against him,” ‘‘Thank you, senor; but may I ask who owns the cabin yonder on that rocky point?” and the Mexican motioned toward a jutting ridge that came out into the valley a quarter of a mile away. ‘<7 own it, sir, but no one will live there. ‘‘T bought it of a man who was in hard luck, and sent the money for him to his mother, as he was hanged.” ** Indeed ?” ‘‘ Yes, and the four owners before him were hanged, strange to say,so that it is known as Doomed Man’s Den.” ‘‘ That is odd; but is it for sale?” ‘* Yes, but no one will buy it.” ‘‘] will, sir, so name your price,” responded the Mexican. ‘* My dear sir, let me tell you that though I am not superstitious, I really think that place a house of ill-omen. ‘The first owner was the man who discovered oe in this range, and named these camps Last hance, ‘‘ He was too lazy to work, so watched where others hid their gold, laid his plans, robbed them and fled. ‘‘He was pursued and captured, and the miners hanged him to a piece of timber which projected over the point there where you see his cabin stands. The Man from Mexico. tain extent, but he had nobly gone to work in the mines, when he found himself left a poor man by the fraud of others, Aman who had traveled over the greater part of the world, and had been noted for his refinement, took his pick and shovel and went to work in a mine without a murmur. Then he had gotten hold of the hotel, through the failure of a brother miner, and had bought out the Live and Let Live Saloon, in which he saw a speedy way to earn a fortune. He had adapted himself to a and his surroundings, dropping into the odd dialect and forcible slang of the mining-camps at times, and showing a pluck and energy that made bis in- fluence felt at all times. He had never sought a quarrel, and always was on the side of peace, but when forced to act he did so with a promptness that won the day, and his courage was undaunted, his aim deadly. Noman sought his aid in vain, and yet he had had an experience in the past which had taught him a good lesson and he was not to be cheated or trifled with. Had he suspected the coming of Stella, he would have left the camps at a tremendous sacrifice to prevent it; but she had surprised him, and she had at once adapted herself to circumstances and he was glad that she had come before she had been two weeks in Last Chance. She had a refining influence that soon showed itself in the camps. Oaths were not as frequent, and there was a “Then a stranger came along and took the | hush upon the gatherings in the Live and Let cabin, and he was hanged for horse-stealing. “The third man was a fellow whom we all liked, but he proved to be aspy for the Devil’s Dozen, as you have heard the mounted robbers of the gold trails called doubtless.” ‘“T have heard of the Devil’s Dozen, Mr. Sampson, but I am from Mexico, you know, so have little knowledge of your country up here and its people,” “‘ Judging from what has already happened, ou will not be long in getting acquainted,” was he laconic response, and then the Mexican asked: ‘* And the next owner of the cabin?” ‘‘ Ah yes, he was a gambler and was caught cheating with marked cards, so the boys took him out one nigt t and hanged him, ‘‘They did not mean to kill him, but to frighten him into giving back all the money he had won by cheating.” ** And he would not?” ‘‘Bither he would not, or the boys did not let him down soon enough, for he died.” ‘* And Number Five, for you said that was the number of men who had owned the cabin I believe?” ‘‘ Yes, there were five of them andall hanged. ‘*And more they are all buried right by the cabin, for the men of Last Chance are super- stitious about burying a hanged man in the Hal elujah Roost as we call our graveyard on the hill. ‘‘ A fitting name for the cemetery surely,” said the Mexican with a smile, and he added: ‘* But why was Number Five hanged?” ‘‘ He had been a road-agent, taking to a life of outlawry to get money to send home, he said, and one day struck it rich here in the camps, so gave up his lawless life and turned honest. ‘But he was recognized by Dick Deadly Hand, who had been robbed one day on the Overland coach by this man, so nothing would suit but hanging him, and though I did all in my gb to save the poor fellow up he went. ‘He gave me his money and he had laid by ’ some thousands, and I wrote to his mother and sent it to her, telling her he had met with an accident that caused his death.” ‘* Yes, such accidents are frequent,” was the dry response, and then the Man from Mexico added: ‘‘ Well, Senor Sampson, name your price for cabin, graves and all, for I go there to ve. ** Against all I can say, sir?” ‘** Yes, I have no superstitious dread.” * Will you not accept it from me, sir, for you saved me heavy losses by the warning you brought us?’ ‘*No, thank you, Mr. Sampson, I never ac- cept a favor from any man, though I owe your daughter the debt of my life. ‘*] will buy the cabin, sir.” ‘* Then call it a couple of hundred, sir.” ‘“‘Here is the money,” and the sum was counted out and the papers drawn up which made the Man from Mexico the owner of the cabin known as Doomed Man’s Den. CHAPTER XI. COME TO STAY, To one who had known Ross Sampson in his palmy days of wealth, when his elegant man- sion and free-and-easy nature won the admira- tion of all his friends, they would have been taken aback to see what a change border-life bad made in him, His loss of fortune, through those whom he had had trusted, had imbittered him to a cer- — Live loon that had never been known before, The cabins were ‘‘spruced up” too, and young miners put on a more dressy air and were even anxious to appear weil in the eyes of the Idol of Last Chance. Such was the situation at the camps into which the Man from Mexico had come. Dick Desmond was the acknowledged cham- pion, and he was proud of his reputation asa yi ees is vanity prevented his seeing that a refined, lovely girl such as was Stella Sampson had nothing in common with an ignorant bully such as he was. He had always won favor from his good looks, with maidens who were unable to detect his ignorance and vanity, and he supposed, from 0 ge kind treatment of him, that she loved im, In fact he could not well see how she could help it, when he looked at himself in the glass and thought of what a hero he was, Her coming to the rescue of the Mexican was a terrible blow to him, and he had shown the cloven foot of bis nature at once, But he had passed through the ordeal he had to face without flinching, and only hoped that some man might attempt to guy him on his having had to back down before a woman, for he would quickly gain any prestige he had lost by at once making the unfortunate joker a victim of his anger. Having left the saloon he went to his room to brood over the fact that he hada rival in the — in the Man from Mexico. ben he came into the saloon the next evening all eyes were upon him, and a hush fell upon the scene, The Man from Mexico was not present, and this Dick Deadly Hand discovered at a glance. How would he act? Would he renew the uarrel upon the appearance of the Mexican in the saloon? No one knew, for all day Dick Desmond had ‘ead in his mine and enly a few had seen im. When he came in the saloon the Mexican was the subject of conversation. All wondered at the purchase he had made of the cabin known as the Doomed Man’s Den. The landlord had told how he had given him its history, and yet the Mexican had bought t. Then he had gone in search of a couple of car- penters in the mining-camps and put them at once to work upon the cabin to fit it up to suit his own comfort and pleasure. He had also ordered a log cabin built in the rear for a couple of horses, and had made a purchase of the best horse in Last Chance that oe paying the owner’s price without a word. So it looked as though the Mexican had come to stay, and many noted that Dick Deadly Hand’s brow clouded as he heard of what his rival had done, But when asked by a miner what he thought of the Man from Mexico having bought oon Man’s Den, the desperado said with a augh: ‘*He’s his own master, pards, and kin do as he likes; but thar hain’t nary man lived in thet cabin yit thet hain’t gone ter glory with a ro around his neck, and maybe ther nex’ won’t be no exception.” As if to carry out the old adage of one’s ap- pearing when spoken of, just then the Mexican entered the saloon and alone, His eagle eyes swept the faces before him, \ _— ——— — Ss - 1 LE 7 and he saw Dick Deadly Hand, yet appeared not to do so. The latter’s face flushed slightly as he saw the Mexican and he put bis hand down under the table, as though to have them near a weapon, if needed. The Mexican carried his sombrero in his — and walked on to a seat near Dick Deadly and, Suddenly, as though his eyes had just fallen upon him he said pleasantly: ‘* Ah, cate lbw, 6 Senor Desmond. ** Do you feelin a hu and will you and your friends make up a little game?” These words were distinctly heard, and they seemed to prove that the Mexican felt no ill will and was ready to forget what had occurred the night before. All was deep silence, awaiting the response of the desperado. Would he make some insulting response, that would bring on another scene? It would be just like him, all knew who were aware of what his nature was. ans to the surprise of all, Dick Deadly Hand re : ‘Good-evening, Pard o’ Mexico, and I don’t mind a leetle game, ef ther boys will ie us.” The Mexican took a seat at the table opposite to the miner, and as two others joined them, a game was soon made up. There was one miner who asserted that the Man from Mexico had arevolver in the'hand that held his sombrero, and that Dick Deadly Hand saw it, or suspected as much, and motes he was not to catch him off his guard, had an- swerel as he did, when otherwise he would have acted differently. His wounded ear was concealed under a lock of — and the Mexican did not even see this much. : ‘* What shall the amount be, senor?’ asked the Mexican, pleasautly. **'You name her, Dick,” said one. “Yas, for I are not particular,” another re- marked, ‘“‘Well, call it fer fifty a game, ef thet suits you, Mex?” ‘*Oh, yes, I am content,” was the reply, and the game was begun, while all looked on with interest, wondering how it would end. The Mexican was almost invariably the win- ner, and after several hours of playing, pleaded fatigue, and arose with a thousand dollars win- nings. ‘*Gentlemen, I desire to say as publicly to- night as I marked, but I do not believe Mr. Desmond can be aware of the fact; but I warn ycu all against playing with them, for one’s opponents are not always honest. See here!” and the Mexican showed the ingenious line-puzzle on the backs of the cards, which revealed just what each one was, While the crowd were examining them, the Man from Mexico turned to Landlord Sampson, who said that he had nought them from a man who had visited Last Chance, and had a quan- tity to sell at a small price, ‘“‘He was a pard of yours, you remember, Dick,” added the landlord. ‘*T hope you doesn’t mean I know’d his leetle game, landlord?” ‘* My dear sir, we are not responsible for the sins of our friends; but come, gentlemen, join me ina drink,” said the Mexican, and the sub- ject was changed, but it left an impression in the minds of many that Dick Deadly Hand did know that the cards were marked, and that the Man from Mexico also so believed, and meant to watch the desperado. CHAPTER XII. DOOMED MAN’S DEN, HAVING made his purchase of a house, the Mexican strolled up to the ridge to see it, going alone, although the landlord had offered a ac- company him. He found it a well-built cabin with two rooms of good size, each containing a doorand win- dow, and with a spacious fire-place in one. There was considerable furniture of a rude kind in the cabin, for each occupant had fallen heir to the ee therein of the one who had dwelt there before him, and the Mexican saw that he could make himself really very comfor- table there. He meant to use itonly as a dwelling-place, taking bis meals at the Hash House, and he sought men to make certain repairs and put up a cabin for his horses, The place stood ona spur of the mountain range, and was approached by a path from the valley, and no one could come along the trail by day who was not seen a long way off by the oc- cupant, should he be on the watch for him, here. was a ledge leading along up to the mountain range, but a dangerous path to travel to one who had not an iron nerve, as there were precipices around the edge of which it wound that would make one dizzy to gaze over unless he had a cool head. In front of the cabin, under a tree, were five ves of more or less recent date, and at the ead of each was a board containing the border | micboo _ Se ‘Wht’ (E(0) | as oe mor to gamble to-night, did last night, that these cards are —