Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
72;. ,, . . V...,.‘,‘,.-
22 BRAVI7. AND BOLD.
with the slip of paper between its leaves, and extracted
it with all the skill of a necroinancer. Crushing it in his
hand, he dropped it slyly into the top of one of his boots.
This was done so deftly that Dwight, who had his eyes
on him all the time. did not see it. He observed the book
in I’into's hands, however. and turned pale.
Notwithstanding the semigloom in which Pinto was
working, Marmaduke saw and knew something of the
rascals maneuver; and he shouted. with the intention of
calling the attention of the mustzmgers:
"Here you! What are you taking out of there
"This!" said Pinto, dropping back the notebook and
drawing out a flat wad of bills. “The very thing I've
been a-lookin‘ fer, lfginger! l'lyer‘s yer money, Blessing-
ton. It was stuck down right hyer!"
He came forward with the coat and the wad of bills.
that Blessington an(l the mustangers might inspect them.
Marmadukes fears increased. lllessington and Pinto
were proceeding in so ltigli-handed a manner because they
felt confident of success. He was sure the telltale letter,
which they had so long held as a club over lllessiitgtoirs
head. had passed into l’into's possession. Yet so skillfully
had Pinto managed the transfer that it seemed useless to
say anything about it. That the whole thing would be
denied most l)itterly was certain. and affairs had been >0
prearranged that Marmaduke could not make good the
charge if he preferred it.
“And I whipped the Shoshone for stealing that other
money from me. when I'll wager that if we had looked
here we should have found it, too !"
Blessington spoke in a manner that was convincing to
the honest mustangers. They had never before suspected
Madmaduke and Dwight of taking things that did not
belong to them; but here was the evidence of it. They
Could not disbelieve their own eyes. Had they not seen
the bank check come out of )larmaduke's pocket and the
money out of Dwight's?
"Gentlemen, in spite of appearances, I must positively
assert our innocence !" and Marmaduke drew himself up
sternly and defiantly. “W'e neither took that money nor
that check-as I now perceive it to be. We knew nothing
about it. Those things were put there by Pinto Bill at the
moment he found them !"
“Ye'r’ a liar!" shouted Pinto, facing angrily about. “I
didn’t take out nuthin’ but what I found in there, an‘ you
know it!”
“VVhy pay any notice to so foolish a charge .5" Blessing-
ton questioned. “If a man will steal, of course he’ll lie to
get out of it. The idea is absurd-ridiculous !"
The mustangers held the same opinion. And indeed the
tiushed face of Marmaduke seemed to bear evidence of
guilt.
“Talk won't do you any good-not that kind of talk !”
Blessington sternly asserted. “There ain't anything more
to look for, so far as I know-though you may have been
robbing otheripeople. Now you may slip into your clothes
as quick as you like."
“You will at least tell us what we are charged with!”
said Dwight, as he began to don his garments.
“Stealin’ 1” Pinto howled, placing his lips near the boy's
head. “Stealin‘! Yer head must be turnin’ to a cotton
ball that you can't get that through it. You didn‘t think
we wus a-chargin' you with runnin’ a Sunday school, now,
I reckon?"
John Blessington was more acconamodating than his
fellow conspirator.
“I shouldn't think you'd need to ask any questions
about it!" with a show of surprise. "lhe stolen money
speaks for itself. And as for that check, it was given to '
you by Pope Dresden-or rather give-nrto Marmaduke -
for the ponies that disappeared when Broncho Bob was
killed."
This was said for the benefit of the mustangers more
than for the purpose of enlightening the accused men.
“1>im0 ga-V5 you are charged with stealing. I may add
that vou are also charged with murder."
The character of the plot being thus revealed, Marma-
duke saw how really desperate and dangerous a one it
was. It proved that john l’;lessin,-.;ton, l<no'-.ving he could
not hold the ranch against Dwight. and fearful that the
murder of llnuiclio limb would be l>roti;..;l:'t home to him.
had cunningly planned to rid himself of these. his most
menacing enemies. And at that moment the chances for
the success of his plan seemed remarkably good.
The detective saw it was useless to handy words with
the rzmclnnan and his crew. a11(l that is was equally vain
to hope to convince the mustangers that he and Dwight
were not guilty. If they escaped lllessingtoirs vengeance
it must be by some other way. g
"I suppose you want to know what we are going to do
with you?" lllessingtnn sneeringly queried. when all were
ready‘ to leave the bunk room. “We are going to take you
--both of you-to the gorge where llroncho llob was shot,
and there string you up to one of the trees!“
The vindictiveness displayed in the words was some-
thing terrible.
He drew the door slightly ajar, and hallooed loudly, to
bring assistance.
"Wake up, ye sleepers! We have scotched the rattle-
snakes! Lively! Lively! This way !"
liew of the men of the ranch were sleeping so soundly
that the calls failed to arottse them. They tumbled from
their bunks in all directions; and, half dressed, came run-
ning to the scene of disturbance.
Pinto llill and the two mustangers covered the prison-
ers with their revolvers and held them in the room until
john Blessington could make an explanation of the cause
of his outcry.
This he did in his oily, plausible manner: and to all who
heard him his words bore conviction. He exhibited the
bank check and the crumpled wad of money, and told how
and where these had been found ; explaining likewise what
had led him to suspect the accused. This was, so he stated,
a communication received by him from Pope Dresden,
making mention of the sale of mustangs by one of his
-I3lessington’s-men. .
Those who were friendly to Blessington’s interests re-
ceived the story as if it were something they had long
anticipated would come to light; and immediately they
sent up the cry.
“Hang the murderers!
up l"
String ’em up! String "em
CHAPTER XVII.
AN ASTONISHING REVELATION.
Mat IlIZ1I'ITlZ“.(l‘t‘ili6 distinctly heard these cries and knew
full well what they portendcd. The men of Crescent
Ranch, good and evil alike. would soon be transformed
into a senseless. llUWllI1F.‘f, bloodthirsty mob, into whose
hands it xmultl be certain death to fall.
lilarniadr.l;e had been for some time carefully weiglting