The Dragoon Detective; Or, A Man of Destiny — page 6: what you’re looking at

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6 The Dragoon Detective. Tho Dragoon laughed, and the landlord con- tinued: ‘* Why, the boys were so interested they did | not hear the stage come in.” ‘“Ah, Ribbon Rob was on course?” ‘Yes; and he saw all through the window. the box, of He has gone to the stable to get his coat in | which he has a letter fer me.” ‘* | would like to see him, so will] wait.” Just then in came Ribbon Rob, and seeing the Dragoon he sprung forward and grasped his hand, while he said: ‘*| geen it all, pard,and I’m blest if I don’t fee] chills down my back yet, when I thinks how sure I was they'd down yer. ‘‘T was a lestle too far off to risk a shot: but | I said my leetle prayer thet ef they did tarn up yer toes, I'd find funeral meat, too, for 1 meant ter chip in ag’in’ them fellers, sarti’n as shoot- in’ vy that he would have avenged the Dragoon, or lost his own life. : ' ‘* Well, Rob, it’s all over,and I was going home, for I am keeping house now; but | waited to see you, as [ wanted to have you come to see me your very next day off in Gilt Hdge City.” pn be thar; but, hold on, Pard Dragoon, for I has a letter here for ther landlord, and | knows something as to what it is, for old Red Hearse Harry o’ the other end o’ ther line told me.” ; Ribbon Rob handed out the letter to the land lord, who hastily opened and read it, His face lighted up, and he called Rob and the Dragoon into his private office. ‘‘See here,” be said with more excitement than was his wont, ‘‘l’ve got a letter here from Hal Burt, my old clerk East, and who now runs a hotel in Bedrock City, and he says there is « mining gent there who wants to in- vest in the gold diggings where there isa hope of getting dust, and he has recommended him to come here. ‘‘ He is coming here in a couple of weeks and wants me to get him a cabin, the best in the town, and make all snug, and he don’t mind expense, and will have his family with him.” ‘‘ This hain’t no wimmen’s paradise, pard and I s'pose family means female folks,” said Ribbon Reb, ‘* Yes, but we mustmake Gilt Edge Citya place where ladies can live, and be welcome, and the oragiou here has begun the good work of mak- ing tt so, pretty well; but Hl sayr also that the gent has got loads 0’ money, is a tine fellow,and must have the best, aud I’m to get the house at once and he'll get Red Hearse Harry to notify you what trip they will come through on.” ‘Allright, Champ; l’tl be on hand any time; but, whar is your cabin#” ‘“' How would the quarters do over on the hill beyond, which they say was the first fort in the valley before The Barracks were built4”’ ‘It’s a pretty spot, and the cabins is large: but, they needs fttin’ up considerable.” **Yes, but I could put twenty men at work there, and they’d soon fix it up prime,” ‘‘ Tt is a pretty spot, as Rob says, and the buildings are in very fair order and can soon be miade most comfortable, ‘*T thought of going there myself, until I bought the Bad Luck Mine,” said the Dragoon, ‘Oh, there’s room enough there for two dozen folks, and to spare; but does yer think they would mind ther close neighbors?” ‘' There ere none within a half-mile to dis- turb ther, Rob.” ‘*No, them as is near won’t disturb ’em, for they is most peaceable-like, though folks do say they stirs round o’ nights considerable.” The Dragoon laughed heartily and said: ‘Landlord, Ribbons means the graveyard.” ‘* Ah! the Rock of Ages?” ‘*' Yas, landlord, ther Rock 0’ Ages is a short quarter of a mile from the old fort.” ‘That I do not think will be any objection,” said the Drayoou, who remembered that the burying-ground of Gilt Ed e City bore the name of ‘Rock of Ages Bone Garden,” So it was decided that the landlord should fit up the fort for the strange family, and the Dragoon was rising to depart, when Ribbon Rob said: ‘© Pard, [had forgot that I besa letter for you.” “For me?” and the Dragoon see-aed really surprised. i “Yas, pard, I got it on the way over ther ridge, and it was give to ine by one 0’ them tar- nal Road Raiders. ‘‘ Here it are, and he galloped and handed it to me, sayin’: ‘* Jist give thet to ther Dragoon.’”’ The soldier took the crumpled note and saw that it was addressed: vr ‘Toe DARLING of Destiny,” Opening it, ho read, while a smile rested upon his fine face: ‘Rocay Rancu. ‘*Srr DrRAGcon:—You gave me a mark for life, as you said, tv remember me by. “T warn yout atl will bring mysel? to your re- membran¢e b+fore the snow falls for lam not one to lorgive or forget, BRASS “ COALS of Bovky Mountain Road Ruiders.” And all who knew Ribbon Rob were certain | i Handing the letter to the landlord and Rob to read aloud, the Dragoon said good-night and was soon on his way to his cabin home, CHAPTER X. THE THREAT, Tar day following the incidents related in the foregoing chapter, came dark and stormy. A beating rain was driving through the val- ley, and heavy clouds overhung the mountain- tops, causing all to seem drear and gloomy. Mans of the miners did not take their daily tramp to their mines, and consequently found relief indoors in the saloous, stores, or their cabins. ‘The Barracks was crowded, as also were other public places. The general topic of conversation was the scene at The Barracks the night before in which the Darling of Destiny bad met two of Gilt Hdge City’s worst desperadoes, e had i fi oe ended the career of Tiger Tom, and Brindle had seen toit that the body was ready for burial at an early hour. Flush Fred came and claimed the weapons and effects of the dead man, and followed him to his grave in the Rock of Ages Cemetery along with a dozen more, Then Flush Fred bad gone alone to his cabin and allowed Brindle to pay his pard's funeral | expenses with the money handed to him for the purpose by the Dragoon, Such was Flush Fred’s friendship, however, for the defuuct Tiger Tom. The citizens had by no meaus forgotten that the camps were expected to lose the companion- ship of Flush Fred, They had heard theorder given him to march, by the Dragoon, and they were on the “‘ anxious seat? to know whether he would march or stay to face the alternative. They all knewthat Flush Fred was a very dangerous individual, more so than had been Tiger Tom. e had asked some if they thought he looked like a man to go at another's bidding, and those questioned frankly confessed that he did not. ‘“‘T am not that kind, pards, and when it comes to a question as to who shall stay here, him or me, you'll find Flush Fred remains.” So he had said. Would he back-up his words? And he had said so at the funera. of his friend, in the chill of the early morning, and in a driv- ing rain, So Gilt Edge City was curious, from end to end, to know how it would al) pan out. Seeing that he had ample time before noon to look over the fort ag a prospective home for the strange family, Landlord Champ donned his storm clothes, mounted his horse and started, mutt-ring to himself: “1 must be back by noon, for that fcol Flush Fred js boasting and means mischief.” The fort consisted of one large six-room cabin ‘ built of stout logs. There wore three rooms on either side of what was 1 wide passagoway in summer, but in win- ter the ends were closed up, and with doors and windows inade a hall. The rooms were large, well ventilated and comfortable. Upon three sides had been built a shed piazza. Then there were half a dozen single-room cabins back in the rear a hundred teet, and around all, inclosing a space of a couple of acres, was a stockade wall some seven feet in hight. Tt was on a foothill, at one side of the valley, with a high range of mountains overhanging it, and withala delightful spot with an extensive and picturesque view. The whole of Gilt Edge City was seen from there, and rumor had it thata young officer had been sent there in the valley to establish a fort, and had just completed it, when his commander came with his force. and showed him that In- diaus could hide in the mountains towering above, and, with long-range rifles kill every man in the stockade, So Fort Folly was given up and The Barracks were built and stocked, the stockade being re- moved, however, when Gilt Edge City became a mining-camp. The landlord found Fort Sully in such good condition, that he knew a dozen men could put it in first-rate order ina few days, and he re- turned to send the men at once to work upon it. But not a man would leave the town that day, as all knew now that Flush Fred had decided to remain, and they wished to see the result of the Dragoon’s hunt for him in the afternoon. Having come to this determination, Flush Fred went into training for the ordeal, He cleaned up his revolvers and Tiger Tom/’s and ouckled his belt on with the four ready for use. A bowie-knife also was in the belt, and thus conve ted into a walking arsenal, the desperado determined to fill himself with a little artificial ar ae To do this he began to parade through the camps, stopping at places where beverages were OF sale, and always generally treated the crowd, Ashe had not killed Dan Sullv, and Tiger Tiiu who bad, had gone to his last sleep, tha crowd did not make it their quarrel with | cim, but waited to see how cleverly the Dragoon vould carry out his threat, or fail todo so. If Flush Fred killed the Dragoon, then he knew his fortune was made, and it was worth the risk, for ig he fuiled he had to go forth a wanderer upon the earth. In the mean time the Darling of Destiny was devoting the rainy morning to looking over his mine. Hoe found, by examining with the eye of one who seemed to understand such things, that Bad Luck had struck three ‘‘ leads,” and all of them had proven false ones, or rather hardly panned outa living, but while Bad Luck had missed the real gold-vein, he, the Dragoon had discovered it. ‘Tt is nota bonanza, Bad Luck, but it will pay pretty well, and you can work it for me on shares, so you can lay up a support for your old age,” had said the Dragoon, and leaving the de- lighted miner at work, he had gone into the cabin to eat his dinner, which Hannibal had ready for him exactly at noon, ‘‘T have an engagement at one, Hannibal, so have my horse ready, please,” he had said. When noon came Flush Fred was at fever heat. The wetter he got without, the dryer he seemed to be within, and he had ‘‘ steamed up” on bad rum to a condition that fitted him for any deed. Still he had a cool head and steady nerve, when itcame to a life or death shooting tourna- ment, and he kept a weather eye open to the fact that he was expecting some one. He had made his way through th camps, a crowd of hangers-on at his heels, wh drank at his expense and praised him for a terror. At last he reached The Barracks, A. large crowd was there, and some reckless. spirits greeted him with a cheer, when they saw that the Dragoon’s threat had not caused him to leave Gilt Edge City. ‘*Come in, pards, all of you, and have a drink. It is my treat all round, and [ tell you that I am in Gilt Edge City to stay.” The crowd yelled and all pushed into Brindle’s domain. Suddenly some one called out: ‘‘The Dragoon’s coming!” There was a general stampede, and Flush Fred rushed out upon the piazza, a revolver in each band, It was pouring in torrents, but there came at; a gallop, right up to the door, the splendid black horse, and upon his back the cloaked form of his rider, his head bent to keep the driving rain from his face, ‘‘Ha, Pard Dragoon, I am here, and I’m here to stay! ‘* Now it’s war to the death |” Flush Fred fairly yelled the words, and as he uttered them he opened fire, The head was raised, tne black horse was suddenly reined back on bis haunches, and heavily from his saddle fell the cloaked form. A cry of horror broke from many, while: Flush Fred uttered a shriek of joy. But a heavy hand fell upon his shoulder, a revolver-muzzle looked into his face, and a stern. voice said: ‘*Wlush Fred, you are my prisoner!” CHAPTER XI, MISTAKEN IDHNTITY. Hap not Flush Fred been so jubilantly gaz- jng upon the man be had shot, lying ina heap. upon the muddy ground, aud with the rain beating down upon him, he would have discov— ered, by the movement of the crowd behind him, and the exclamation, that something was wrong. But he took all as Joud-mouthed praise of his brave act, and he was just turning to tell one and all tocome in and drink his health at his expense, when a deep voice broke on his startled car, uttering the words: ‘Flush Fred, you are my prisoner!”’ One look upon the speaker, and a wild cry came from his lips, his eyes started in their sockets, his face became ot ashen hue and he trembled violently. And uo wonder, for before him stood the Darling of Destiny, the man he had just killed, as he supposed, — ; There was no mistaking that handsome, dar- ing face, that tall, military bearing, The Deageoe wore an india-rubber cloak and hat, and the water was dripping from them, showing that he had just come in out of the rain. His face was very stern, tho pleasant smile had gone, and his grip was Jike iron on the shoulder of the ruffian, while bis revolver wag looking full in the bully’s face. The crowd were a tounded, as was Fred. All had seen the mounted soldier coming, and when he felland lay where he bad fallen, all believed the Dragoon dead by Flush Fred’s hand. But, there stood the Darling of Destiny him- If! self! Who then was the man lying out in the raing (E(o) Comiclaoolkxs Boor |