The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

540 “No shot of mine touched him,” muttered Q’Hara after an examina- tion. ‘He fell from the wall, and that’s the whole of it. Was he or was he not the fellow who cut loose at me with that bullet? And how, in the fend’s name, is he mixed up with Bremerton and Mariqutta Mallory? Sure, ’m staggered with what I know and don’t know.” The clothing of the mjured man was rather better than that usually worn by miners. A Mexican carved-leather band was around his hat, and at his waist was a belt with a holster and a heavy navy revolver. His hands, al- though browned from exposure, gave no evidence of hard labor. Here was a mystery, and O'Hara hated mysteries. Yet he was com- pelled to grapple with this one, for it seemed to bear directly upon what had happened to Bremerton. He tried to arouse the stranger, for z few words from him would go far toward clearing up the situation. His efforts failed and he rose to Ais feet in perplexity. While he stood there, cudgeling Bis brain, he was electrified by a shout from across the gully. Whirhng on the instant, he was amazed and over- joyed to see Bremerton coming to- ward him. -And behind Bremerton was Miss Mallory. He advanced to meet them. Bremerton’s hat was gone and his clothes were dusty and torn and in much disorder. All the indications pointed to a desperate experience of some sort on his part. “The sight o’ you does my eyes good, Bremerton!” cried O’Hara. “I was not expecting to find you with your feet under you, but down and out somewhere in the scrub. Your horse came back to the mine without you, and the saddle in such shape that I knew you had had a spill. Troth, man, but I’m glad things are no worse. Miss Mallory,” and ‘he smiled and doffed his hat, “seeing you is 2 sur- prise and a pleasure. 1 found your THE ARGOSY. horse in the swale, though, so I ought not to be surprised.” ‘* Miss Mallory saved my hfe,” gan Bremerton, “ and—” “Och, the hick you have!” similed the Irishman; “ not that your life is saved, do you mind, but that Miss Mallory saved it for you. But if there’s savmg to do, she is the kind to be depended upon. Now, can you tell me who ts the man at the foot of the wall?” ~ O’ Hara turned and pointed toward the crumpled heap of humanity. The girl stared, smothered an exclamation of horror, then ran forward. When Bremerton and O’Hara came to her side she turned a white face to them. “Stranger to me,’ commented Bremerton. “Is he to you, Miss Mal- lory?”’ “No,” she answered in a strained voice. “| have seen the man several times, Mr. Bremerton.” Her eyes wandered to the rope, fol- lowed it down, and rested agar on the sprawled-out form. “ He is Dave Carruthers,” she added. be- CHAPTER XX. A PLOTTER UNMASKED. CARRUTHERS! To O'Hara that name meant little. To Bremerton and the girl, time and place considered, it was deeply signifi- cant. Bremerton’s glance sought Mari- quita’s face, and he read there a reflec- tion of his own thoughts. ' Here was Deane’s wily and im- placable foe. Here was the man who, bulked into selling the mine for a tithe of its value, had striven to regain by lawless methods what he had lost by legal sharp practise. He had fallen from the rope while lowermg himself into the gully. There seemed no dowbt of that. A hard fate had finally unmasked him. Bremerton knelt and made a hasty examination. He got up, shaking his head ominously. COMicdoo S CO@