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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 10, 1908)
The Spoilers. By REX E. BEACH. I -:- Co pyrlit tit. 1003. by Continued from Inst week "I've been culled to tins minus, and I must go nt iimv." "You bet! II limy be too Into now. The m ws cume nn hour ago, lint I couldn't flml you," said Struve. "Your horse Is saddled at the olllec. IlcttM not wait to change your clothes." "You say Voorhoos has gone with twenty deputies, oh? That's good. You Htay here and llml mil all you ran." "1 telephoned out lo the crock for the. hoys to arm themselves and throw out pickets. II' you hurry, you can got there In time. It's only midnight now." "What Is the troubles" Mh-s i Theater Inquired anxiously. "There's a plot on to attack the mines tonight," answered the lawyer. "The other side are trying to seize (Hem, and theru's apt to bu a light." "You mustn't go out there," she cried, aghast. "There will be bloodshed." "That's Just why I must go," sirid McNuiuura. "I'll come back In the morning, though, and I'd like lo see you alone. Good night!" There was n strange, ilew light In his eyes as he left her. For one unversed iu woman's ways .ho played the game surprisingly well, and as ho hurried toward. ills of fice lie smiled grimly into the darkness. "She'll answer me tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Glenlster," he said to him self. Helen questioned Struve at length, but gained nothing more than that so cret service men had boon at work for weeks and had today unearthed the fact that vigilantes had been formed. They had heard enough to make theih think the mines would be jumped again tonight and so had given the alarm. "Have you hired spies?" she asked incredulously. "Sure. We had to. The other people shadowed us, and It's come to a point where It's life or death to one side or the other. I told McNumnra we'd have bloodshed before we were through, when he first outlined the scheme I monn when the trouble began." She wrung her hands. "That's what uncle feared before we left Seattle. That's why T took the risks I did In bringing you those papers. I thought you got them In time to avoid all this." Struve laughed n bit, eying her cu riously. "Doch Uncle Arthur know about this?" she continued. "No; we don't let him know anything more than necessary. lie's not a strong mnn." "Yes, yes. He's not wpII." Again the lawyer smiled. "Who is lchind this vigilante movement?" "We think It is ;icnlster and hi New Mexican bandit partner. At least I hey got the crowd together." She was slletil for a lime. "I suppose they really think they own those mines." "Undoubtedly." "Hut they don't, do I hey?" Somehow this question had recurred to her In latently of late, for things were con stantly happening which showed there was more back of this great, Herce Mtrugglc than she knew. It was impos sible that injustice had been done the mine owners, and yet scattered lalk reached her which was puzzling. When she strove to follow II up, her nccpialulances adroitly eliauged I lie subject. She was ballled on every Fide. The thiee local newspapers up hold the eoiirl. She rend them care fully and was more at sea than ever. There was a disturbing undercurrent of alarm and unrest that caused her to feel insecure, as (hough standing on hollow ground. "Yes. (his whole disturbance Is caus ed by those two. Only for them we'd be all right." "Who Is Miss Mnlotte?" He answered promptly. "The hanrt- nomost man In the north and the nx.st daugurous." "In what way? Who is she?" "It'n hardtto say who or what she Is. She's different from olher women. She came lo Dawson in the early days - Just came we didn't know how, wlrance or why, and we never found out. Wo woke lift one morning, and there she was lly night we were all Jealous, nud In a week we were most of us driveling idiots. It might have bojju the mystery or (icrliaps the com petition. That vas Ihe day when ji dance hall girl could aftnkc a home stake in a winter or marry a million aire hi a mouth, but die never bother ed. She trdled not, neither did she spin on the waxed doors, yet Solomon in all his glory would have looked like a tramp beside her." "You say she Is dangerous?" "Well, there was a young nobleman, In tht! winter of 'OS, Dane, I think flue family and all that -big yellow haired boy. He wanted to marry her, but n faro dealer shot him. Then there was Hock of the mounted police, the 1 I Rex leach, l .miry fi'raascBxt:. ryrww "vt- raKi" finest ofllcer In the service, lie was cashiered. She knew ho was going to pot for her, but she didn't seem to care and there were others. Yet, with It all, she Is the most generous person and the most tender hearted. Why, she has fed every 'slew bipn' on the Yukon, and there Isn't a busted pros pector In the country who wouldn't swear by her. for she has grubstaked dozens of them. I was horribly In love with her myself. Yes she's dangerous all right-to everybody but Olenlster." "What do you mean." "She had been across the Yukon to nurse a man with scurvy, nud coming back she was caught In the spring breakup. I wasn't there, but It seems this Glonislcr got her ashore somehow when nobody else would tackle the job. They were carried live miles down stream in the Ice pack before be suo ceeded." "What happened then?" "She fell In lve with him, of course." "And ho worshiped her as madly as all the rint of you, I suppose;" she said scornfully. "That's the peculiar part. She hyp notized htm at llrsr, but he ran away, and I didn't hear of him again till I came to Nome. She followed him final ly and last week evened up her score. She paid him back for saving her." "I haven't heard about It." He detnlled the story of the gam bling episode at the Northern- saloon and concluded: "I'd like to have seen that turn, for they say the excitement was 'UrrIuV. fiho was keeping cases and at the t ilsh slammed her case keeper shut and declared the bet off because she bad made a mistake. Of course they couldn't dispute hftp and she stuck to it.- One of the bystanders told mo she ."lied, though." "So, iu addition to his other vices. Mr. Glenlster is a reckless gambler. is he?" said Helen with heat. "1 am proud to be Indebted l such a elinrae ler. Truly Ibis country broods wonder ful specie." "Theie's when you're wrote-'." Struve chuckled. "He's never been known t bet before." "Oh. I'm tired or those contradic tions!" she cried angrily. "Saloons, gambling halls, scandals, adventur esses! Ugh! I hate it! I hale It! Why did 1 ever come here?" "Those thlugs are a part of every new country. They were about all we had till this your. Hut it is women like you thnt we fellows need, Miss Helen. You can help us a 1ol." She did not like the way he was looking at her and remembered that her uncle was upstairs and asleep. "I musl ask you to excuse- me now, for It's late and'I am very tired." The clock showed half past 12. so. after letting him out. she extinguished the light and dragged herself wearily up to her room. She removed her outer garments and threw over her bate shoulders a negligee of many tlouuces nu bewildering, clinging looseness, braids tin turned to istor had As she look down her heavy story of Cherry Mabtlo ro ller tormontingly. So (Men saved her life also at the risk of his own. What a very gallant cavalier lie wa. to be sure! He should bear a coat of anus a dragon, an armed knight and a fainting maiden. "I succor ladle-, in distress handsome ones." sliquld bo I lie motto 011 his shield. "The handsomest wamaii iu the noilli." Striivo had said. She raised her eyes to the glass and made a mouth at the petulant, .bi)Vd reflec tion there. She pictured "Olenlster leaping from floe to floe with (he hun gry river surging and snapping at his feel, while Ihe cheers of the crowd 011 shore gave heart to the girl crouching out l here. She could see him snatch her up and light his way back to safety over the plunging Ice cakes with death dragging at Ills heels. What a strong embrace he had! At this she blushed ami realized with a shock that while she was mooning that very man might lie lighting hand to hand iu the darkness of a mountain gome with the man she was going to marry. A moment later some one mounted the front slops below and knocked sharply. Trulj this was 11 night of alarms. Would people never cease coming? She was worn out, but at the thought of thu tragedy abroad and Ihe sick old man sleeping near hv she llt.a ndle and slipped downstairs to nvoTdjyllsturhhi was some fc g him. Doubtless it usage from Mc.Nnmara, she thought, us 'she unchained the door. A.s she opened H she fell ba.Mc amaz ed while It swung wide and the cau dle Ihime fjjokercd and sputtered In the night air. Hoy Olenlster stood there, grim and determined, his soft, while Stetson pulled low, his trousers, tucked Into tan half Ismls. In his hand a Winchester rllle. Henealli his eordu- mi enn I ) s'liu- n Imisn cnrtl'tili'it holt K J ' nIi.i hells, air 'he n! 'lu.ort flash of n revolver. Without Invita tion ho strode across the threshold, closing the door liehind him. "MIsb Chester, you and the Judge must dress quickly and eonio with me." "I don't understand." "The vigilantes are on their way here to han-r hltn. Come with mo to my house, where I can protect you." She laid u trembling baud on her bosom, and the color died out of her fnee, then at a slight noise above they both looked up to see Judge Stlllman leaning far over the banister. He hud wrapped himself In a dressing gown nud now lrrltmod the rail convulsively. I - x-i u m - -- - - - whllo his features were blanched to the color of putty and his eyes wee wide with terror, though puffed and swollen from sleep. Ills llpa moved In a vain endeavor lo speak. OHAPTHK XV. 0' N the morning after the episode lu the Northern, Glenlster awoke under a weight of dis couragement and desolation. The past twenty-four hours with their manifold experiences seemed distant and unreal. At breakfast he was ashamed to toll Dextry of the gam bling debauch, for he had dealt treach erously with the old man In rlskli half of the mine, even though they had checked the senseless, unreasoning lust for play that possessed him later. This lapse was the last stand of his old. untamed instincts. The embers of revolt In him were dead. lie felt that he would never again lose nuislejy of himself, that bis paswions wduld never best him hereafter. Dexl ry spoke. "We had a mooting of the 'Strunglors' last night." He al ways spoke of the vigilantes Iu that way, Ih'cuuso of his early western training. "What was done?" "They decided to act quick and do any odd Jobs of lynchin', claim Jump In' or such as needs Join'. There's a lot of law sharps and storekeepers In the bunch who figure McNnmurn's gang will wipe them off the map next." "It was bound to come lo this.'r "They talked of eject In' the receiv er's men and puttln' all us fellers back on our mines." "Good! I low many cane cunl o to help us?" 'About sixty. We've kept the nun her down ami only taken men with so much properly that they'll have lo keep their mouths shut." "I wish we might engineer some kind of an encounter with the court, crowd and create such an uproar that It would reach Washington. Kverythlng else has failed, and our last chance seems to be for the government to step In that is, unless Hill "Wheaton can do somcthlug with the California courts." "I don't count on him. McNumara don't care for California courts no moie'n lie would for a boy with a pea shooter he's got too much pull at headquarters. If the 'Stranglers' don't do no good we'd belter go in an' clean out the bunch like we was 1111 in' snakes. If that fails I'm goiti' out to the States an' be a doctor." "A doctor! What for?" "I read .somewhere thai In the United States every year there is -Ui,00f000 gallons of whisky used for medical purposes." Gloiiistor laughed. "Speaking of whKky. Dex, I notice that you've been drinking pretty hard of late that K hard for ,ou." The old man shook his head. "You're mistaken. II ain't hard for me." "Well, hard or easy, you'd belter cut It out." II was some lime later that one of the detect i es omplo.xod by tlio Swedes met (.Jlenlstor on l-'ront street and by an almost imperceptible sign sign Mod his desire lo speak Willi him. When they were alone lie said: "You're been shadowed." "I've kuown that for a long time." "The district attorney has put 011 some new men. I've llxed Ihe woman who rooms next to him, and through her I'vo got a line on some of Ilium. bill I haven't spoiled Ihoui all. They're bad ones, "up river' men mostly, rem nants of Soapy Smith's Skagway gang. They won't stop at anything." "Thank you. I'll keep my eyes open." A few nights after Gloulstor had rea son to recall the words of the sleuth and lo realize that the game was grow ing close and desperate. To reach his cabin, which sat on the outskirts of the town, he ordinarily followed one of Ihe plank walks which wound through Ihe confusion of tents, warehouses and 1 cottages lying back of tlio two princi pal streets along the water front. This pari of the city was uol laid out in , rectangular blocks, for In the early rush the tlrst comers had seized what ever pieces of ground they found va cant and erected thereon some 'fc hid of buildings to make good their lilies. There resulted a formless Jumble of litUs, cabins ami sheds, penetrated by no cross streets and quite unlighted. At night one laming the Illuminated portion of the town found this dark ness intensified. ' Oieulsler know ids course so well tli at he could have walked It blindfold ed. Nearlng a corner of the warehouse this evening he remembered thai the planking al Ibis point was torn up, so to avoid the mud he leaped lightly across.. SlnuiltaneojislywHh Jils Jump ' t "t In the shad o n that banked the wall at his elbow and saw the flaming spurt of n revolver phot. The man had crouched behind the bulldlmj and was so close that it Boomed lirnossible to miss. (Jlenlstor fell heavll" upon his side, and the thought Hashed over him. "McNama ra's thugs hti'-p shot me." Ills assailant leaped out from his hiding place' and ran down 'the walk, the sound of his quick. s--oft footfalls thudding faintly out Into the silence. The youi'g man felt no pain, however, so scrambled to his feel, felt himself over with care and then swore round ly. Ho was untouched. The other had missed him cleanly. The report, coming while he was In the act of leaping, had startled him so that he had lost his balance, sllptMul upon the f wet boards and fallen. His assailant! was lost in could rise, question, so considerably the darkness before he Pursuit was out of the he continued homeward, shaken, and related the incident to Dextry "You think It was some of McNa mara's work, eh?" Dextry iMpiircd when lie had finished. "Of course. Didn't the warn me today?" Dextry shook his head, seem like the game Is that detective "It don't far along yet. The time Is coming when we'll go to ihe mat with I hem people, but they've got the alge on us now, so what could they gain by putting you away? I don't bollovt- It's them, but 1 whoever It Is you'd better be careful or you'll be got." "Suppose wo come home together after this," Roy suggested , and they arranged to do so, realizing that dan ger lurked In the dark corners and that it was iu some such lonely spot that the deed would be tried again. They experienced no trouble for a time, though on Hearing their cabin one night the younger man fancied that he saw a shadow glide away from its vi cinity and out Into the blackness of Ihe lundra its though some one had stood at his very door waiting for him, then became frightened at the two fig ures approaching. Dextry had not ob served It. however, and Olenlster was not positive himself, but it served to give him the uncanny feeling that some determined, unscrupulous force was bent on his destruction. He de termined lo go nowhere unarmed. A few evenings later he went home early and was busied In writing when Dextry came in about 10 o'clock. The old miner hung up his coat before speaking, lit a cigarette, inhaled deep ly, then, amid mouthfuls of smoke, bo gan: "I had my own toes over Ihe edge tonight. 1 was mistook for you, which compliment I don't aim to have re peated." Olenlster questioned him eagerly. "We're about the same height, an' these hats of ours are alike. Just as 1 came by ihat lumber pile down yonder a man hopped out an' t browed a 'gat' under my nose. He was quicker than light and near blowed my skelp Into the next block before ho saw who 1 wjis. Then he dropped his weepon and said: , " 'M. mistake. Go ou.' I accepted his apologjr." "Could yoti see who ho was?" "Sure! Guess." "I can't." "II was iironco Kid." "Lord!" Maculated Olenlster. "Do you think he's after me?" "He ain't after nobody else, an' lake my word for It. it's got nothln' lo do with MoNamara nor that gamblln' row. He's loo game for that. There's some other reason." This was the tlrst mention Dextry had made of the night at the Northern. "I don't know why he should have J I. lu for me. I never did him any fa vors." OlenlKter remarked cynically. "Well, you watch out anyhow. I'd sooner face MoNamara an' all Ihe crooks ho can hire than that gambler." During Ihe next few days Hoy un dertook to meet the proprietor of tht Northern face to face, but the Kid had vanished completely from his haunts. He was nut lu Ills gambling hall at nlghi nor on the street by day. The young man was still looking for him ou the evening of the dance at the ho tel when he chanced to moot one of the. vigilantes, who Inquired of him: "Aren't you late for the meeting?" "What meeting?" After seeing that I hey werp alone the other stated: 'There's an assembly tonight at 11 o'clock. Something Important. I think. I supposed,, of course, you knew about It." "It's strange I wasn't notified," said Hoy. "It's probably an overnight. I'll go along wltli you." Together I hey crossed ihe river to the less frequented part of the town and knocked al the door of a large un lighted warehouse, flanked by a high boaid fence. The building faced the Mrcet, Wut was Inclosed on Ihe other three shies by this leu foot vull, Inside of which were stored lurge quantities or coal ami iiuniier. .mot some uoiuy , they were admitted and passing down through the dim lit, high hanked lanes of merchandise came to the rear room, where they were admitted again. Tills compartment had been fitted up for the warm storage of perishable gooda dur ing Ihe cold weather and, being with out windows, made nu Ideal plnce for clandestine gathering. ' Olenlster was astonished to find Just Received, a Car ol FLOUR. -a r- PIDMB'S FLOUR and FEED STORE You can save money by j taking 500 pounds of him 1 llltintnitloii Showing Mixed rartiUot: Srniui in m mm Rome of Ike choicest lnnds tor irraln grnw'ni' stock rnlslmr and inbtcJ furtuimr in Uic r.cv .11 trlcts of Saskatchewan and Alberta have r cuntly bien OihjuhI -for. Sell Itimant nmJ iVc Qimicpsl Hnmpctoarl Dacnt!ai!Mrte """" "'" itvvtitibiwnv Kntry mny now bo made by liroxy (on t ert:iw condltlonu), by the father, mother, son, duiiKt,H.r, brother or Bister of an Intending hotucsk'r.iUr. Thousands of liomcFlemls of ICO acre cacb arc thus now easily obtainable) in these crent ffruln crowlni;. btock-raisinrr and mixed fnrmlnir ncu tlons. There yon will find healthful climate, good neighbors, churches for family worship, schools for your children, cood lows, bplondld crops, and railroads convenient to market. Kntry fee-in eaeh case Is S10.0Q. For pamphlet, "Last Hcst West," particulars ns to rates, routes, best time to go and where to locate, apply to V. V. UBKNKTT 801 New York blfc Hldjr., Omaha. Neb. Cauadina Uovurainent Accn every man of Ihe organization present Including Dextry, whom he supo.sod to have gone home an hour since. lOvi dently a discussion had been In prog rcss, for a chairman was presiding, and Hie boxes, kegs and bales of good had been shoved back against the wall for seats. On these were ranged the threescore men of the "Strangles, their serious faces lighted Itnporfecth by scattered lanterns. A certain con strain! seized them upon ClertiHter'w entrance. The chairman was cmbar rassod. It was but inomeulary, how ever. Glenlster himself felt that truR ody wan In the air, for It showed In tb men's attitude and spoke eloquently from llielr strained faces. Ha wan about to question the man next to birr, when the presiding ofllcer continued; "We will assemble here quietly wltK our arms at I o'clock. And let m cautlou you aguiu not to talk or oV anything to scare the birds away " Glenlster arose. "I came late, M' Chairman, so 1 missed hearing ynw plan. I gather that you're out for buKiuoRs. however, and I Wifjpt in b Ik It. May I ask what Is on fool?" "Certainly. Things have reached Mich a pass that moderate meaiiN hm useless. Wo have decided to act am' act quickly. We have exhausted ever legal resource, and now we're going t stamp out this gang of robbers. In our own way. We will get together In a., hour, divide into three groups of twcn ly men, each with a leader, then go t the houses of McNaniara, Stlllman ami Yoorhees, take ihem prisoner?, and" He waved his hand lu a large gcHhrn- Olenister made no answer for a rnr. incut, while the crowd watched b;m If lently. "You have discussed tills fully?" hr asked. "We have. It has been voted on, nicl we're unanimous." My friends, when I slopped into till room Just now 1 felt that 1 wasn't wanted. Why, I don't know, hocmitfrr I have had more lo do with organizing this movement than any of you and because 1 have suffered Jusl as muci? aa Ihe rest. I want to know If 1 wa omitted from this meeting Intention ally." "This Is an embarrassing position t" put me In," said Ihe chairman gravel "but I shall answer as spokesman fr these men If they wish." "Yes; go ahead," said those around the room. "We don't question your loyalty, M Glenistcr, but we didn't ask you I j this meeting because we know your aT lltnde perhaps I'd bettor say sent uiont-regarding Judge StillmatM nlece-er-family. It lias come to 1. from various sources thai you hat been affected to the prcjudlco of you: own and your partner's Interest. Nor. there Isn't going (o be ttny scntlmeuc in Ihe aalrs of the vigilantes. We ar going to do JiiKt've, and we though! tli simplest way wbb to ignore you lu tin matter and Hparo all disunion nivi hanl feeling lu every quar riF Si TO UK COKTI.NUKD, Drs. Wuirlclc Uiddile, Kye. Kar, Nose aad Throat Specialists. ' Ola. tltted. Over German National Hank, Haht'ngs, Neb. 1 rr'ii)Arx?ssL''( ' 1 yfwMSm ! tLo ft &i 0 f 'x" ',