The Dragoon Detective; Or, A Man of Destiny — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

20 The Dragoon Detective. death, that the Dragoon mounted his horse and rode over to see Bad Luck at the cabin of the old miner, who had so mysteriously disap- peared. During the week the Dragoon had been busy in looking after his mines, and also in aiding Mr, Conrad to get settled in his business affairs, Of course they knew at Fort Folly all about the driving out of the two Bills from tho cabin of the absent miner, and Sylvester Vernon was inclined to slur upon the Dragoon and say that he was as great a desperado as any in town, Kate defended him warmly, however, and thus a casus belli was originated between these two. That the secretary did not like him, the Dra- goon seemed to at once detect; but he still was most courteous to Vernon, and appeared not to motice the change. When Mrs. Conrad had ‘‘gushed” over the coming of the parson, and the good work he was going to do, the Dragoon had said simply: ‘*1 do not like him.” This seemed to annoy Mrs. Conrad, and she asked the reasons of the Dragoon for his dis- like. ‘*T do not think he is sincere, and he will be of little use here unless he is really good. ‘* Let these people suspect that he is as bad as ‘they are, and he will not have an atom of influ- ence with them.” ‘* But you do not think he is a bad man, Cap- tain Gaston?” a ag not think he isa good man, Mrs. Con- rad. ‘*Tt is prejudice, for I think he is a most ex- cellent man, and I am sure he will soon put an end to this reckless killing and outlawry tat is ‘carried on here from seemingly a love of excite- ment,” remarked Sylvester Vernon, The Dragoon knew that this was a hit at him from the secretary, but he answered quietly; *“No clergyman, no law, Mr. Vernon, will ‘ever prevent a man from defending his life, his and risking all in the cause of jus- “Do you maintain that the killing in this place is just?” ‘*There is no law here, but that of might and right, and the weak must defend themselves against the strong. ‘There are many cases of deaths that occur when a difficulty is recklessly sought, or brought on: butin most cases they are in self- defense, and that is the first law Gh entooe. “Still, I do not believe that Parson Prim is the man to regulate such things, and without wishing to turn prophet | am sure you will find it so.” . But Mrs. Conrad was a firm believer in the parson, Vernon upheld him because the Dra- goon opposed him, Mr. Conrad said he would not judge him until he saw how he ‘‘ panned out,” and Kate expressed her opinion decidedly: ‘*T believe he is a fraud.” In the latter opinion Pink coincided, for she was a perfect reflector of her mistress’s man- mers and views. Seeing that Vernon did not like him, and with tthe idea in his mind that the secretary was the accepted lover of Kate Conrad, the Darling of ‘Destiny determined to keep away from Fort ‘Folly as much as he could, though he certainly foynd great pleasure in his visits there. Allin Gilt Edge City were glad to learn from ‘Ribbon Rob that no more haltings of the coach had occurred, and it was believed that the hanging of the quartet of Road Raiders had frightened them off of the Overland trail. : So security was felt again, and Ribbon Rob began to carry out large sums in gold dust once an: ore. Travel also ‘‘picked up,” and seldom it was that the stage went either way without three or more passengers, while sometimes it was crowded. Ribbon Rob was too honest to keep back a -zood story, even on himself, and he told about is bringing over a supposed ‘‘ tenderfoot,” to find him the Road Raider lieutenant, and he ore the laugh at his expense with his usual good humor. ‘Why, pard,” he said, ‘‘I had been so clever ‘tuk in by thet Road Raider thet all ther wa /over ter Cult Edge, I hed my revolver oocked, and on ther seat, ready fer thet parson ef he .gh’u’d blink his eyes. : “ Now, he were all right, as it turned out, but ef he hed not been, I w’u'd hey dropped on him mighty quick. ‘“Asit are, [ am durned glad I fetched him over, for you benighted rascalsall need convart- in’,and he’ll pumpGospil inter yer ontil yer run over with goodness.” Jt was expected that the parson would hold service on the piazza of The Barracks the first ‘Sunday he was there, for it had been so given out; but ashe was suffering from a severe cold, -and hardly able to speak, he was forced to dis- -appoint the vast assemblage that had come to hear him preach, or ‘‘ sling Scriptur’,” as some -of the miners expressed it. In their disappointment at not receiving consolation, they imbibed ardent spirits until two-thirds of them got wildly drunk, the result ©: wowvh was that Parson Prim had three fune- <3 Tals on his hands the following morning, and the camps took a holiday to see how he would acquit himself in burying the dead. e seemed to ‘‘ pass muster,” for nothing was said against him, and from that day scores of men in Gilt Edge held themselves ready for con- version, for Parson Prim had ‘‘ caught on,” it was said. CHAPTER XXXVIII. WHAT BAD LUCK FOUND. It was on account of Parson Prim’s bad cold, and consequently his not being able to preach, as expected, that the Darling of Destiny rode over that Sunday morning to visit Bad Luck in the old miner’s cabin. Had the person held forth at The Barracks, the Dragoon would have gone there to hear him preach, for he wished tu get over his prejudice against the man if he could. But as there was to be no preaching, the Dra- goon rode over to the cabin to see Bad Luck. That worthy was seated in front of the cabin engaged in making for himself a new wooden leg. Tie was just putting the finishing touches on it as the Darling of Destiny rode up. ‘* Well, Bad Luck, how are you this morn- ing?” The Dragoon dismounted and took a seat on a rustic chair near, a seat made between two trees by the old miner when he built his cabin, “Tm all right, sir, thanks ter you, fer I were but a poor wretch when you comed to Gilt Edge.” ‘Do not demean yourself, my friend, for life has not had many pleasures for you, and luck was against you, ‘* But you are doing well now, and will soon have enough laid up to go East and live your latter days in comfort.” ‘“Yas, Pard Dragoon, thar is them Hast as has ther same blood in their veins thet I hev, and I wants ter settle near ’em and live out my days, ‘* Maybe I'll hev enough ter help ’em along a leetle, and then we kin all be happy like; but I owe it to you, sir, fer ef you hed not come ter Gilt Edge City I’d been kilt, or died a pauper and been put inter Rock o’ Ages and forgot. ‘*T owes it to you, sir.” ‘“No, you owe it to yourself, for had you not been a square fellow I would not have taken a fancy to you; and besides, your mine was a pay- ing one, only you had not struck the ahs lead.” ‘* That’s so; but nobody would hev give me what you did fer it, when it didn’t pay and then when it*did, tuk me in on shares, ‘Why, I hes dug more gold out o’ it ther past three weeks than | did all ther time afore since I come here.” ‘Well, how did you find the cabin?” “Tt was dirty, sir, and in bad shape; but I put it to rights, and it’s neat asa New England kitchen now, as you kin see, sir.” ‘*Do you think those men disturbed the things in it?” ‘They looked over everything, that issart’in, as ef they were a-s’archin’ fer sutkin’; but then they kinder tuk all as their own, and let ’em 77 “Was there much in the cabin?” ‘*Tt were as snug a leetle home as is in the valley when ther Judge lived here, and he kept thin BS up prime. ‘* l've tried to git things ter lookin’ as he had ‘em, and I thinks they does.” ‘* Did you make any discoveries to lead you to believe that the Judge left willingly, or was taken away?” ‘*Oh, he took his clothing and his weapons, and went willing, or he’d never hev writ thet he did on ther paper he stuck on ther door. ‘* Thar is what I carved, sir.” The Dragoon saw, neatly carved out, the words which the old miner had written upon the paper. Stepping into the cabin he looked about him, and, as Bad Luck had said, all was as neat as possible. There were some sketches hanging upon the walls, executed with a skill that showed no amateur hand, and these were in rustic frames, of leaves, pine burrs and bark, One of these, larger than the rest, was set in a frame cut into the logs over the fireplace. This work Bad Luck said he had done, and the frame was most artistically cut in the logs, representing vines,and flowers. ‘I did thet fer him on Sundays, when I comed over ter see hirn. ‘* Yer see it are a pictur’ o’ his cabin here, and a pretty one, too,and hwy hed ter make a frame fer it, when I said I would cut him out one, ‘*Them two logs is big and smooth, as yer see, so I jist got upon ther sbelf and carved out thet frame, and thet pictur’ fits in perfect, as you sees, sir. “ But then it were very dusty, when I comed here t’other day, and this mornin’ I tuk it out ter clean it, and I jistset it back tbar, as you sees, thet you might see t’other side,” ‘* And what is on that, Bad Luck?” ‘* Jist take it down and see, sir.” The Dragoon took out of its socket, or case, the heavy piece of cardboard, which was twenty-four by fifteen inches, and glanced at the other side. The picture in front was, as I have said,a skillfully-executed sketch of the miner’s cabin, and its surroundings, and a very pretty scene it was. That on the rear seemed to rivet the gaze of the Dragoon, for he stood a long time looking at it. The work was done with a masterly hand, and each detail had been executed with great care. It was a view of the head of a wild canyon, anda cliff rising above, and seemingly water- worn on the top. At the base of the cliff was a cavernous-like opening, and onthe rocky sides of the canyon were trees here and there, Beneath the drawing was written: “““Thank God Mine’ in Summer. Scene in Winter changed by waterfall pouring over chik.” Fora long time did the Dragoon study this sketch, his face wearing a strange expressiot. At length he said: ‘*Bad Luck.” ‘“‘ Sir to you.” ‘“'You have made a great discovery.” ‘* Well, pard?” ‘¢ This isa sketch of the mine the Judge found, without a doubt.” ‘* Yes, sir,” ‘* You must let this be a secret between us,” ““T will, sir.” _ ‘And, from this sketch, with it as a guide, we must find the Thank God Mine, and if it is still rich in gold-dust, then we will know that the old Judge did not go East, but was killed. “Tf we find others working it, then they are his murderers.” ‘‘True, sir, true.” **T will begin the work to-morrow, so I will take this drawing with me,” and the Dragoon rode slowly homeward, his head bowed in deep meditation, his lips set in firm determination. CHAPTER XXXIX. THE DRAGOON BEGINS WORK. HAvinG formed tie determination to find the ‘‘ Thank God Mine,” which belonged to the mysterious old miner, the Darling of Destiny set forth upon the duty. He knew that there were hundreds of mines about through the canyons and mountains, and it was known that some miners were growing rich on hidden leads which they kept secret, not caring to tell others. To go properly to work, the Dragoon began with the mines nearest home, and made a cir- cuib. He would ride up to where a group of miners were at work, have a pleasant chat with them, take observations of the scenery about them, and then go on his way. Solitary miners were also visited, as well as those who worked in twos and threes. Mines that had been deserted were not slight- ed,and in this way the Dragoon felt that he would visit every point within ten miles of Gilt Edge City. He had only his remembrance of the sketch to go by, and this ha studied each night, until it was indelibly impressed upon his brain, He had been five days on his hunt, and not once had he come to a scene anything like the one in the sketch. To let it be thought that he had no secret rea- son for his visiting the mines, he allowed the miners to think he wanted to purchase certain ood leads, and several purchases he did make or himself, and others for Mr, Conrad. Having had carte blanche from Mr. Conrad to purchase any paying mines that could be bought at a low figure, he made what he con- sidered a good bargain in one, and rode up to Fort Folly to let the ‘‘Governor” know, for that was the title that had been bestowed upon Mr. Conrad, and it by no means displeased the old gentleman, either, to be so called. There were other members of the ‘‘Gov- ernor’s” family that had not escaped the bor- der nomenclature, for Kate had received the name of ‘‘ Lady Gold Dust,” on occount of her sweet ways and the golden hue of her hair, while the secretary, who was not liked by the miners particularly, went under the appellation of ‘Lord Tenderfoot.” Though Kate and her father were pleased with their names, the same cannot be said for Sylvester Vernon, 8 he knew that tenderfoot was synonymous with greenborn. : The parson also had not escaped, for he had been.dubbed Bible Banger, though no disrespect was meant thereby, those whonamed him doubt- less having in mind certain parsonsthey had lis- tened to in their younger days, who had pound- ed the Scriptures by way of making their dis- course more emphatic. After this digression regarding the nomencla- ture of Gilt Edge City, I will proceed to relate how the Dragoon went to Fort Folly tomuke known his purchase to the Governor. It was nearly sunset, and a rain-storn: wes ae, CORNICE IOOKS