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About The Bend bulletin. (Bend, Deschutes County, Or.) 1917-1963 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 1919)
face a THB UENO BULLETIN, DAILY EDITION, DKND, OREGON. SATURDAY, BEPT. 13, 1019 The CHAPTER IV. Klrby Shows Hi Hand. That scene, with nil Its surround ings, remains indelibly Impressed upon my memory. It will never futle while I live. The longr, narrow, dingy cubln of the little Warrior, Its forward end unllghted nnd In a shadow, the single swinging lamp, suspended to a black ened beam above where the table had stood, barely revealing through Its smoky chimney the after portion show ing row of stateroom doors on either side, some standing ajar, and that crowd of excited men surging about the fallen body of Judge Beaucalre, unable as yet to fully reallte the exact nature of what had occurred, but con scious of Impending tragedy. The overturned table and chairs, the mo tionless body of the judge, with Klrby standing erect Just beyond, his face as clear-cut under the glare of light as a cameo, the revolver yet glistening in The Revolver Yet Glistening in His Extended Hand. ms extended hand, all composed a picture not easily forgotten. Still this Impression was only that of a brief instant. With the next I was upon my knees, lifting the fallen head, and seeking eagerly to discern some lingering evidence of life In the Inert body. There was none, not so much as the faint flutter of a pulse, or suggestion of a heait throb. The man was already dead before he fell, dead before be struck the overturned table. "Judge Beaucalre Is dead," I an nounced gravely. "Nothing more can be done for him now." The pressing circle of men hemming us In fell back silently, reverently, the sound of their voices sinking Into a subdued murmur. As I stood there, almost unconscious of their presence, still staring down at that upturned face, now appearing manly and patri cian In the strange dignity of Its death mask, a mad burst of anger swept me, a fierce yearning for revenge a feel- InV that- ttila .i-n n n rt Iab n M,.u,,n V, .. ... uaut ...... uo 11 U icm a UJUIUCi UC cause nature had struck the blow. With hot words of reproach upon my lips I gazed across toward where Klr by had been standing a moment be fore. The gambler was no longer there his place was vacant "Where Is KIrbyr I asked, Incredu lous of his sudden disappearance. For a moment no one answered; then a voice In the crowd croaked hoarsely: - "He just slipped out through that after door to the deck him and BUI Carver." "And the stakes?" Another answered In a thin, piping treble. "I reckon them two cusses took along the most ov It Enyhow 'tnln't yere, 'cept maybe a few coins that roiled under the table. It wasn't Joe Klrby who picked up the swag, for I wns a wntcliln" him, an' he never onct let go ov his gun. Thet damn sneak Carver must a did It, an' then the two ov 'em Just sorter nat'rnlly faded nwny through that door thar." McAfee swore through his black beard, the full truth swiftly dawning upon him. "Hell I" he exploded. "So that's the way of It Then them two wus in ca hoots frum the beginnln'. That's what I told the Jedge last night but he said he didn't give a whoop ; thet he knew more poker than both ov 'em put ter gether. I tell yer them fellers stole that money, an' they killed Beau calre " "Hold on a minute," I broke In, my mind clcired of its first passion, and realizing the necessity of control. "Let's keep cool, and go slow. While I believe McAfee Is right, we are not going to bring the judge back to life by turning Into a mob. There Is no proof of cheating, and Klrby has the law behind him. When the judge died he didn't own enough to pay his funeral expenses. Now, see here; I happen to know that he left two young daughters. Just stop, and think of them. We saw this game plnyed, and there Isn't a man here who believes It was plnyed on the square Hint two such hands were ever dealt, or drawn, in poker. We can't prove Hint Klrby ninnlpulnted things to that end; not one of us saw how he worked the trick. There Is no cliunce to get him Dint ... n Uevi W1U ABomoacoof Ac Block Hawk War Pdffia-iu of Gr.tdad" Sh of k&8f Aj way. Theft wlurtlalt we bugliT'to tlol Why, I say, make the thief disgorge and hanging won't do the business. "Leave this settlement with me. Then I'll go at It. Two or three of you pick up the body, and carry It to Beau caire's stateroom forward there. The rest of you better straighten up the cabin, while I go up and talk with Throckmorton a moment. After that 1 may want a few of you to go along when I hunt up Klrby. If he proves ugly we'll know how to handle him. McAfee 1" Tm over here." "I was Just going to say that you better stay here, and keep the fellows all quiet In the cabin. We don't want our plan to leak out, and It will be best to let Klrby and Carver think that everything Is all right; that nothing I; going to be done." I waited while several of them gently picked up the body, nnd bore It forward Into the shadows. I slipped away, silently gnined the door, and. unobserved, emerged onto the deserted deck without. The sudden change In environment sobered me, and caused me to pause and seriously consider the importance of my mission. Nothing less potent than either fear, or force, would ever make Klrby disgorge Quite evidently the gambler had delib erately set out to ruin the planter, to rob him of every dollar. Even at the last moment he had coldly Insisted on receiving a bill of sale so worded as to leave no possible loophole. He de manded all. The death of the Judge, of course, had not been contemplated, but this in no way changed the result. Thet was an accident yet I imagined, might not be altogether unwelcome, nnd I could not rid my memory of that shining weapon in Kirby's hand, or the thought that he would have used It had the need arose. Would he not then fight Just as fiercely to keep, a he had to gain? Indeed, I bad but one fact spun which I might hope to base action every watcher believed those cards had been stacked, and that Beaucalre was robbed by means of a trick. Yet, could this be proven 5 Would any one of those men actually swear that he had seen a suspicious move? If not then what was there left me except a mere bluff? Abso lutely notning. Unarmed, never once dreaming of attack, I advanced alone along the dark, narrow strip of deck, leading toward the ladder which mounted to the wheel house. There were no lights, and I was practically compelled to feel my way by keeping one hand upon the rail. I bad reached the foot of the ladder, my fingers blindly seeking the iron rungs In the gloom, when a figure, vague, suddenly emerged from some denser shadow and confronted me. In deed the earliest realization I had of any other presence was a sharp pres sure against my breast, and a low voice breathing a menacing threat In my ear. "I advise you not to move, you young fool. This is a cocked pistol tickling your ribs. Where were you going?" The biack night veiled his face, but language and voice, In spite of its low gnumble, told me the speaker was Klrby. The very coldness of his tone served to send a chill through me. "To have a word with Throckmor ton," I answered, angered at my own fear, nnd rendered reckless by that burst of passion. "What do you mean by your threat? Haven't, you robbed enough men already with cards with out resorting to a gun?" "Tills Is not robbery," and I knew by the sharpness of his reply my words had stung, "and It might be well for you to keep a civil tongue In your head. I overheard what you said to those men" in the cabin. So you are going to take care of me, are yon?' There was a touch of steel In the low voice. "Now listen, you brainless med dler. , Joe Klrby knows exactly what he Is doing when he plays any game. I had nothing to do with Beaucalre's death, but those stokes ere mine. I hold them, and I will kill any man who dares to Interfere with me." "You mean you refuse to return any of this property?" livery cenC every nigger, every acre that's my business. Beaucalre was no child : he knew what he was betting, and he lost" 'Thnt may be true, Klrby. I am not defending his action, but surely this is no renson, now that he is dead, why you should not show some degree of mercy to others totally Innocent of any wrong. The mun left two daugh ters, both young girls, who will now be homeless and penniless." He laughed, nnd the sound of that luugh was more cruel than the accom panying words. Two daughters!" he sneered. "Ac cording to my Information that strains the relationship a trllle, friend Knox at least the late Judge never took the trouble to acknowledge the fact. Pcr- tilt me to correct your statement. I Happen to know more about Beau ;alie' private affairs than you do. He eaves one daughter only. I hnve never met the yotmg lady, hut I under stand from excellent authority that !ie possesses Independent means You Not to Move. You young Fool." throutfa Tlie (Tenth some yen is ago' of her mother, I shall therefore not worry about her loss and, Indeed, she need meet with none, for If she only prove equal to nil I hnve heard I may yet bo Induced to make her a proposi tion." "A proposition?" "To remain on the plantation ns Its mistress plainly, an offer of marriage, If you please. Not such a bad Idea, '.s It?" I stood speechless, held motionless only by the pressing muzzle of his pis tol, the cold-blooded villainy of the man striking me dumb. Tills then had probably been his real purpose from the start. He had followed Beaucalre deliberately with this final end In view of ruining him, and thus compelling his daughter to yield horse! fi "Anu you actually mean thnt you propose now to force Judgo Beau calre's daughter to marry you?" "Well, hardly that, although I shall use whatever means I possess. I In tend to win her If I can, fair means, oi foul." I drew a deep brenth. comprehend ing now the full Iniquity of his plot, and bracing myself to fight It. "And. what about the other girl. Klrby? for there Is another girl." "ies," rather Indifferently, "there If another." "Of course you know who she Is?" "Certainly a nigger, a white nig ger; the supposed Illegitimate daugh ter of Adelhert Beaucalre, nnd a slave woniau. There Is 'no reason why should fret about her. Is there? Sb Is my property already by law." lit laughed again, the same ugly sneerlnii luugh of triumph. "That was why was so particular about the wording ol that bill of sale I would rather have her than the whole bunch of field hands." "You believe then the girl has nevei been freed either she, or hei mother?" "Believe? I know. I tell yon I never ploy any game with my eyes shut." And you i actually Intend to to bold her as a slave?" "Well, I'll look her over first before I decide she would be worth a pot full of money down the river. The contemptuous, utterly Indiffer ent manner In which he voiced bis vil lainous purpose, would have crazed any man. To. me this utterance was the last straw, breaking down every restraint, and leaving me hot, and furious with anger. I forgot the muz zle ot the pistol pressed agalqst my side, and the menacing threut In Kirby's low voice. The face of the man was Indistinct, a mere outline. bnt the swift Impulse to strike at It was irresistible, and I let him have the blow a straight-arm Jab to the Jaw. My clinched knuckles crunched against the flesh, and he reeled back, kept from falling only by the support ot the deckhouse. There was no report of a weapon, no outcry, yet, before I could strike again, I was suddenly gripped from behind by a pair of arms. which' closed about my throat like vise, throttling me Instantly Into silent helplessness. I struggled madly to break free, straining with all he art of a wrestler, exerting every ounce of strength, but the grasp which held me was unyielding, robbing me of breath, and defeating every effort to call for help. Klrby, dazed yet by my sadden blow, grew eager to take a hand In the affray, struck me a cowardly blow In the face, and swung his undischarged pistol to a level with my eyes. ': "D you I" he ejaculated, and for the first time his voice really ex hibited temper. "I'd kill you with this, but for the noise. No, by God I there Is a safer way than that to settle with you. Have you got the skunk, Carver?" "You enn bet I have, Joe. I kin choke tho life out o' him shall I?" "No; let up a bit Just enough so ho can answer me first I wnnt to find out what all this means. Now look here, Knox, what Is nil this to yon? Why are you hutting In on my game? Was Benucnlre a friend of yours?" "I enn hardly claim that," I admit ted. "We never met 'til I cntno aboard this steamer. All I am Inter ested In Is Justice to others." "To others? Oh, I suppose you menn those girls you know thorn then?" "I hnve never even seen them," I said. "I see; a sclf-nppolnted squire of dames; actuated merely by a romantic desire to serve henuty in distress. Ex tremely Interesting, my dear hoy. But, see hern, Knox," nnd his tone changed to seriousness. "Let the romance go, and tnlk sense n minute, You are not golnff to get very far fighting mo alone. You haven't even gut the law with you. Even If I cheated Beaucnlro, which I do not for n moment admit, there Is no proof. ' The money Is mine, nnd so Is tho hind nnd the niggerM, You- can "I Advl bo Ugly, of course. TTCT you eauiTot overturn the fnets. Now, you acknowl edge that what has occurred Is per sonally nothing to you ; Itciiuculro wns no special frloml, niu you don't even know tho two girls all right then, drop tho whole matter. I hold no grudge on account of your striking mo, and nni even willing to sharo up with you to avoid trouble." "And If 1 refuse?" "Then, of eourse, wo shall ho com pelled to shut your mouth for you. Solf-preservntlon Is tho first law." I looked about nt them both, scarce ly nbln to distinguish clenrly even their outlines In the dense gloom. The seriousness of tho situation, coupled with my helplessness, ami Inability to achieve tho object proposed, was very evident. It might, under tho circum stances, hnvo been tho part of wisdom for mo to hnvo sought some iiieans of compromise, hut I was young, nnd hot, fiery blood swept . through my veins. The 'word of Klrby stung me with their breath of Insult his sneering. In solent offer to puy mo to remain still. "Yon must rank me as one of your own kind," I burst forth. "Now you listen to a plain word from me. If thnt wns Intended as an offer, I refuse It You, and your confederate, hnve coolly robbed Beaucalre, and propose to get away with tho spoils. IVrhapa you will, but thnt end will not ho ac complished through any nsslstanco of mine. At first I only felt a slight In terest In (ho affair, hut from now on I am going to tight you fellows with every wenpon I possess." Klrby chuckled, apparently greatly amused. "Quite glnd, I am sure, for the dec laration of war. Fighting has always ugreed with me. Might I nsk tho na ture of those weapons?" "That remains for you to discover." I ejaculated sharply, exasperated by his evident contempt. "Carver, take your dirty hands off of me." In splto of the fact of their threat, the ready pistol pressing against my ribs, the grip of Carver's lingers at my throat, I did not untlelpnte nny actual assault." That either would really dure Injure me seemed preposterous In deed my Impression was, that Klrby felt such Indifference toward my at tempt to block his plan, that he would Irinlt mo to pass without opposition certainly without the slightest resort to violence. The action of the two was o swift, so concerted, as though nt some secret signal, that, almost before I realized their purpose, they held mo helplessly struggling, and hud forced me buck agiiliist the low rail. Here I endenvored to break away, to shout an nlarin, hut was already too late. Curver's hands closed remorselessly on my throat, nnd, when I managed to strike out mndly with olio free fist, tho butt of Kirby's pistol descended on my bead, so luctratliig my scalp the drip ping blood blinded my eyes. The blow partially stunned me, and I half fell, clutching at the rail, yet dimly con scious that the two straining men were uplifting my useless body. Carver swearing viciously as ho helped to thrust me outward over the wooden bar. The next Instnnt I fell, the sneer ing cockle of Kirby's Inugli of triumph echoing In my ears until drowned In the splash as I struck the black water below. I came hack to the surface dazed and weakened, yet sufficiently con scious to make an Intelligent struggle for life. The over-bang of the rapidly passing boat still concealed me from the observation of those above on the deck, and the advantage of permitting them to believe that the blow on my head had resulted In drowning, to gether with the knowledge thut I must swiftly get beyond tho stroke of thnt deadly wheel, flashed Instantly through my brain. It was like a tonic, reviving every energy. Waiting only to Inhale one deep breath of air, I plunged back once more into the depthq, and swam strongly under water. Tho effort proved successful, for .when I nguln ventured to emerge, gnsping and ex hausted, the little Wnrrior had swept past, and become merely n shapeless outline, barely visible above the sur face of the river. Slowly treading water, my Hps held barely above the surface, I drew In deep draughts of cool night nlr, my mind becoming more active us hope re turned. Tho Mow I hnd received was a savage one, and pained dully, but the cold water In which I had been Im mersed had caused the bleeding: to cense, and likewise revived all my fac ulties. The very fact that no effort wns mndo to stop wns sufficient proof thnt Throckmorton In tho whcclhouse r- malned unconscious of what had oc curred on the dock below. My fate might never bo discovered, or sumect- ed. I was alone, submerged In tbn grcnt river, the stars overhead alone piercing tho night shadows. A log swept by me, white hursts of spray Il luminating its sides, and I grappled II gratefully, my fingers finding grip on the sodden bark, Using this for par tial support, nnd censing to battle so desperately ngalnst tho down-sweep of Hie current, I managed finally to work my way into on eddy, struggling on ward until my feet at Inst touched bottom at the end of a low, out-crop ping point of sand. This proved to b n mere spit, but I waded ashore, watei strenmlng from my clothing, conscious now of such complete exhaustion that I sank instantly outstretched upon the sand, gnsping painfully for breath, every muscle nnd nerve throbbing. The night wns intensely still, blnck, Impenetrable. It seemed as though no human being could Inhabit that deso late region, I lifted my head to' listen for the slightest sound of life, and strained my eyes to detect tho dlstnnt glimmer of a light In nny direction. Nothing rewarded tho effort Yet sure ly hero on, this long-settled west bunk nf thu "tlHsitolpiu " eouij but lui Tut removed from those of my rnee, for I knew that nil along this river shore were cultivated plantations nnd little frontier Iowiih Irregularly nerved by passing steamboats. The night nlr Increased In chilliness as the hours approached dawn, and I shivered In my wot clothes, although this only served to u rouse tno into Im mediate action, ItcallKlng tuoru limn over as I agulu attempted to move my weakness and exhaustion from the Ntrugglc, 1 succeeded In gaining my feet, and stumbled forward along the nar row spit of sand, until I attained a bank of firm earth, up which I crept painfully, emerging at last upon n fair ly level spot, softly carpeted with grass, mid surrounded by u grove of forest trees, The shadows hero wuru dense, but my foot encountered a de pression In tho soil, which I soon Iden tified us a rather well-detlned path lending Inlund. Assured thut this must point tho wuy to some door, ns It was evidently no wild unltnul trull, I felt my wuy forward cautiously, eager to nttulu aliolfar, aud tho comfort of fire. I cume suddenly to a patch of culti vated land, bisected by a small stream, the path I was following lending along Its bunk. Holding to this for guidance, within less than o hundred yards I came to the house I wus seeking, a small, log structure, overshadowed by a gigantic oak, nnd standing Isolated and alone. Believing tho pines to be occupied by a slave, or possibly somo white squatter, I advanced directly to the door, nnd culled loudly to whoever might he within. There wns no response, nnd, believ ing thu occupant asleep, I nipped sharply. Still no voice answered, al though I felt convinced of somu move ment Inside, lending mo to bellevo thnt the sleeper hud slipped from his bed nnd wus approaching the door. Again I rapped, this time with greater Impa tience over tho delay, but not the slightest sound rewarded the effort Shivering there In my wet clothes, the stubborn obduracy of tho fellow awukened my nnger. "Open up. there," I called Commanding!-, "or else I'll break down your door." In the darkness I hnd been unoh servant of a narrow slide In tho upper panel, but had scarcely uttered these word of threut when the flare .of a discharge almost In my very fnoe fair ly blinded me, nnd 1 fell backward, aware of a burning sensation In one shoulder. Tho next Instant I lay out stretched on the ground, and It seemed to mo that life was fast ebbing from my body. Twice I endeavored vainly to rise, but ut tho second uttempt my brain reeled dizzily and I sank buck unconscious. (To Bu Continued.) Frosty Mornings and Cool Evenings- without a fire make room uncqmf ortable Look over your old used stove nnd see if poor grates were not responsible for.u great deal of the excessive fuel bills last winter, Perhaps a New Stove Vill Solve the Situation. Universal Heaters Built of heavy steel with cast iron linings. Variety of Attractive Patterns. Make Your Selections While Stocks Are Complete. 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