CHAPTER XXVII.
THE LAST OF YELLOW ELK.
When Nellie Winthrop recovered sufficiently to realize what was going onaround her, she found herself upon Yellow Elk's back, with her handstied together at the wrists behind her.
Away went the redskin until the vicinity where the encounter with Dickhad occurred was left far behind.
The brook crossed, the Indian chief set off for the river. Not once didhe stop or speak until a pond was gained.
Beyond the pond was a shelter of trees, growing in a circle which wasabout fifteen feet in diameter. Against the trees the brush had beenpiled, forming a rude hut.
Taking Nellie inside of this shelter, Yellow Elk deposited her on theground. Of the cord which bound her hands there were several feet left,and this end he wound around a tree and tied fast.
"Now white girl no run away," he grinned. "Stay here now until YellowElk ready to let her go."
To this she made no answer, for what would be the use of talking tosuch a fierce creature? She looked at his hideously painted face andshivered.
Yellow Elk now went off, to be gone a long while. When he came back hefound her so tired she could scarcely stand beside the tree. She hadtried to free herself from her bonds but failed, and a tiny stream ofblood was running from one of her tender wrists.
"Yellow Elk got horse now," said the redskin. "We ride now--go manymiles."
"Where to?" she faltered.
"Never mind where--white girl come on."
Yellow Elk's manner was so fierce she was frightened more than ever. TheIndian had stolen a horse and he had also stolen a lot of "fire-water,"and this drink was beginning to make him ugly. He drew out his huntingknife.
"White girl got to become Yellow Elk's squaw!" he cried, brandishing theknife before her face. "No marry Yellow Elk me cut out her heart widdis!"
At this Nellie gave a shriek and it was this which was borne to the earsof Pawnee Brown.
"Crying do white girl no good," growled the redskin. "Come with me."
"I will not go another foot," and Nellie began to struggle. The Indianchief upbraided her roundly in his own language and ended by raising hisknife over her once more.
"Help!" cried Nellie, and a moment later Pawnee Brown burst into view. Aglance showed him the true situation, and without hesitation he fired atYellow Elk.
His bullet clipped across the redskin's chest. By this time Yellow Elkhad his own pistol out, and standing erect he aimed straight for theboomer's heart.
Nellie screamed, and knowing nothing else to do, gave the Indian avigorous shove in the side, which destroyed the aim and made the bulletfly wide of the mark.
In a second more the two men were at it in a hand-to-hand encounter eachtrying his best to get at the other with his hunting knife, being tooclose together to use a pistol. As Pawnee Brown afterward said:
"It was Yellow Elk's life or mine, and I made up my mind that it shouldnot be mine--I considered myself worth a good deal more than thatworthless redskin."
A cut and a slash upon each side, and the two broke. Yellow Elk had hadenough of the fight, and now ran for it in sudden fear. He did not taketo the river shore, but skirted the pond and began to ascend a slighthill, beyond which was another fork of the ravine which has figured solargely in our story.
"Let him go! he may kill you!" called out Nellie, when she saw PawneeBrown start in pursuit. But the scout paid no attention to her. Hisblood was up and he was determined to either exterminate Yellow Elk orbring him to terms.
"In a second more the two men were in a hand-to-handencounter"]
The top of the hill was reached. Yellow Elk paused, not knowing exactlyhow to proceed. Looking back, he saw Pawnee Brown preparing to fire uponhim. A pause, and he attempted to leap down to a ledge below him. Hisfoot caught in the roots of a bush and over he went into a deep hollowheadlong. There was a sickening thud, a grunt, and all became quiet.
Yellow Elk had paid the death penalty at last.
When Pawnee Brown managed to climb down to the Indian's side, to makecertain the wily redskin was not shamming, he found Yellow Elk stonedead, his neck having been completely broken by his fall. He lay on hisback, his right hand still clutching his bloody hunting knife.
"Gone now," murmured the great scout. His face softened for an instant."Hang it all, why must even a redskin be so all-fired bad? If he hadwanted to, Yellow Elk might have made a man of himself. I can't stop tobury him, and yet----Hullo, what are those papers sticking out of hispocket?"
The boomer had caught sight of a large packet which had been concealedin Yellow Elk's bosom. He took up the packet and looked it over. Itconsisted of half a dozen legal-looking documents and twice that numberof letters, some addressed to Mortimer Arbuckle and some addressed toLouis Vorlange.
He read over the letters and documents with interest. Those of Dick'sfather related to the mine in Colorado and were evidently those stolenby Louis Vorlange upon the night of the opening of this tale. Theletters belonging to the government spy were epistles addressed toVorlange from a former friend and partner in various shady transactions.Of these we will hear more later.
"Yellow Elk must have robbed Vorlange of these," mused the great scout,as he rammed the packet in his pocket. In this he was right. Vorlangehad dropped the packet by accident and the Indian had failed to restoreit, there having been, as the reader knows, no love lost between the tworascals.
Having placed the dead body among the bushes in a little hollow, PawneeBrown climbed out of the ravine again and rejoined Nellie, who wasgrowing impatient regarding his welfare. The story of what had happenedto Yellow Elk was soon told, the scout softening out the ghastlydetails. Then, to change the subject, he asked her if she knew her unclewas a prisoner of the soldiers.
"Yes," she replied. "Oh, sir, what will they do with him?"
"I don't believe they can do much, Nellie," he answered. "According tothe news from Washington, everything is to be smoothed out, and ofcourse the government will have no case against any of us."
"Can I get to my uncle from here? Where is he?"
"About five miles from here. Yes, we can get to him if we want to."Pawnee Brown mused for a moment. "I'll risk it," he said, half aloud."They can't arrest me for coming to expose a criminal, and I have thefacts right here in my pocket."
A moment later he was riding the horse Yellow Elk had stolen, whileNellie was seated upon Bonnie Bird. In this manner they struck out forthe agency, called by the soldiers a fort.
About three miles had been covered, when suddenly there came a shoutfrom a thicket to one side of them.
"The cavalry!" gasped Nellie. "What shall we do?"
"Take it coolly, Nellie. I have a winning card this trip," smiled thegreat scout.
A few seconds later half a dozen fine looking men rode forward, awell-known official of the Indian Territory at their head.
"Pawnee Brown!" ejaculated the official, on recognizing the scout. "Itwould seem we had made quite a capture. What are you doing with SergeantMorris' horse?"
"Is this the animal?"
"It is.
"I found him in the possession of a runaway Indian, Yellow Elk. If heis your property you are welcome to him," and Pawnee Brown leaped to theground.
"Humph! That is all right, but what are you doing here? Don't you knowyou are on forbidden ground?"
The scout's coolness was a great surprise to the official.
"I would be--under ordinary circumstances, sir. But just now I am on amission to the agency: a mission I am convinced you will not attempt tohinder."
"What is it?"
"I wish to expose a great criminal, a man who is now in the activeservice of the United States, although he ought to be in prison or onthe gallows."
The official was much surprised.
"I would like to know some of the particulars, Pawnee."
"Are you bound for the agency?"
"Yes."
"Then we will go together, and you can see what takes place.
It willprobably be well worth your while."
"This is no trick--I know you are itching to get into Oklahoma."
"I will give you my word of honor, sir. I have received word fromWashington, and I feel certain that ere long this whole matter will besettled to our mutual satisfaction. In the meantime, booming can wait,"and Pawnee Brown smiled in a quiet way.
A few words more followed, and Nellie was introduced. Then the wholeparty set off on a gallop for the agency, where was to be enacted thelast scene in this little drama of the southwest.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CLEARING UP A MYSTERY--CONCLUSION.
As Vorlange uttered his dire threat into Dick's ear, the boy turned paleand staggered against the wall of his prison.
"Wot's that yer sayin'?" demanded Jack Rasco, who plainly saw thechanged look upon his companion's features.
"It is none of your business, Rasco," muttered the spy. "I told the boy;that's enough."
Dick breathed hard. Part of that mystery of the past was out at last.His father was accused of murder--Vorlange held the evidence againsthim. Like a flash came back to him several things he had almostforgotten. He remembered how on more than one occasion his father hadsent money to the West after a letter had come which had upset himgreatly. That must have been hush money, to keep this rascal quiet.
"I--I--do not believe you!" he cried in a faint tone. "My father is asupright as any gentleman in the land."
"Is he?" sneered Vorlange. "All right, if you think so, just drive me tothe wall and see."
"Where was this crime committed?"
"In Creede, Colorado--at the time the camp was started."
"Who was killed?"
"A miner named Rickwell. He was once a partner of a man named Burch, ofwhom you have no doubt heard ere this."
"Yes, Burch left us the property you know all about, since you stole thedeeds to it. Louis Vorlange, you are playing a deep part but you cannotmake me swallow your statements about my father."
"Do you want me to expose him?"
"We'll see about that later. Rasco and I will certainly try to show youup for what you really are."
"Very well," blustered Vorlange. "Your father is a murderer, and heshall swing for it--unless you keep your mouth shut. I----"
Footsteps outside of the prison interrupted Louis Vorlange. An instantlater Pawnee Brown and half a dozen others stepped inside of theapartment.
"Pawnee Brown!" cried Dick and Rasco together.
"Are you a prisoner, too?" continued the boy.
"Hardly," smiled the great scout. Then he noticed Vorlange. "Just themen we are after."
"Me?" ejaculated the spy.
"Yes, you."
"What do you want of me, Pawnee Brown? I want nothing to do with such asyou--a thieving, low-down boomer--who--oh!"
Vorlange ended with a yell, for Pawnee Brown had caught him by the earand almost jerked him off his feet.
"Let up! Let up! Oh!"
"Now keep quiet Vorlange," said the scout sternly. "You can thank yourstars that I didn't put a bullet through you for letting your tongue runso loosely."
"Thet's so, b'gosh," was Rasco's comment. "But say, Pawnee, he's areg'lar snake in the grass."
"I know it." Pawnee Brown looked at Dick. "Has he been threatening you,lad?"
"Yes; threatened me and my father, too."
"Have no fear of him, Dick. Louis Vorlange, you have about reached theend of your rope."
"What do you mean?" and the spy's lips quivered as he spoke.
"I mean that I am here to expose you." Pawnee Brown turned to the otherswho had come in. "Gentlemen, let me introduce to you Louis Vorlange,alias Captain Mull, once of Creede, Colorado."
"Captain Mull!" exclaimed several. "Do you mean the Captain Mull thatwas wanted for several shady doings, Pawnee?"
"The same Captain Mull, gentlemen."
"It is a--a lie!" screamed Louis Vorlange, but his looks belied him.
"It is the truth, gentlemen, he is the man who once sported under thename of Captain Mull. But that is not all."
"What else, Pawnee?"
"Some years ago a man by the name of Andrew Rickwell was murdered in theLast Chance hotel at Creede. At that time Creede was but a small placeand Captain Mull ran the hotel. Who murdered Rickwell was notdiscovered. But he had occupied a room with another man, a mining agentfrom New York named Mortimer Arbuckle, the father of this lad here, andsome thought Arbuckle had done the foul deed, and he had to run away toescape the fury of a mob. The horror of this occurrence unbalanced theman's mind and to this day he sometimes thinks he may be guilty. But heis innocent."
"He is guilty!" shrieked Louis Vorlange. "I saw him do the deed!"
"I see you acknowledge you were in Creede at that time," answered PawneeBill, and Vorlange staggered back over the bad break he had made. "As Isaid, Mortimer Arbuckle is innocent. There is the murderer, and here arethe documents to prove it--and to prove more--that Vorlange is a thief,that he assaulted Mortimer Arbuckle in the dark and left him for dead,and that he is now acting against the best interests of the UnitedStates government."
As Pawnee Brown ended he pointed at Vorlange, and held aloft the packethe had taken from Yellow Elk.
"My father's documents!" cried Dick.
"The letters!" shrieked Louis Vorlange. Then he made a sudden leap tosecure them, but Pawnee Brown was too quick for him. The scout turned tothe captain of cavalry standing near.
"You had better arrest him before he tries to escape."
"They shall not arrest me!" came from Louis Vorlange's set lips. "Clearthe way!"
Like a flash his pistol came up and he fired into the crowd, whichparted in surprise and let him pass. But not more than ten steps werecovered when Pawnee Brown caught him by the arm and threw him headlongto the ground. At the same time the prison sentry fired, and Vorlangewas mortally wounded in the side.
"I'll not forget you!" he cried to Pawnee Brown. "But for you I wouldhave lived in clover the balance of my life!" Then he fell into a faintfrom which he recovered presently, to linger for several days interrible anguish, dying at last in convulsions.
With the death of Vorlange we bring our story to a close. By what wassaid during the man's last hours on earth, Mortimer Arbuckle wasentirely cleared of the cloud which had hung over his honorable name.Soon after this his right mind came back to him and to-day he is as welland happy as it is possible to imagine.
Whatever became of Stillwater and Juan Donomez is not known.
With the truce declared by the actions of the authorities at Washingtonand the word given by Pawnee Brown that no attempt should be made toenter Oklahoma for the present, it was not deemed advisable to holdeither Dick or Rasco longer, and the two were given their freedom, tojourney at once to Honnewell, in company with the great scout and NellieWinthrop.
From Honnewell, Dick rode post haste to carry the glad news to hisfather. A scene followed which no pen can describe, a scene so sacred tothe two it must be left entirely to the imagination of the reader. Neverwas a man more proud of his son than was Mortimer Arbuckle of Dick, ormore grateful than was the mine-owner to Pawnee Brown for his courageousand marvelous work in clearing up the mystery.
"He is a man among men," he said. "God bless him!"
Nellie Winthrop was overjoyed to be with her uncle once again, and tookgood care that nothing should separate them. As for Jack, he guarded herwith a care which could not be exceeded.
"Ef they carry her off again it will be over my dead body, b'gosh," hemurmured more than once.
And yet Nellie was carried off four years later. But this time thecarrying off was done by Dick Arbuckle, and both Nellie and Jack wereperfectly willing. The wedding was a grand one, for the Colorado claimshad panned out big for the Arbuckles, and the best man at the affair wasPawnee Brown.
In due course of time the bill concerning Oklahoma was passed by theUnited States Senate and signed by the President. This was followed by agrand rush of the boomers to get the best of
the land granted to them.The advance was led by Pawnee Brown, who, riding his ever faithfulBonnie Bird, covered twenty miles in the short space of sixty-fiveminutes and located his town site at the mouth of Big Turkey Creek. Thistown site, along with his other Oklahoma possessions, made the greatscout a rich man. He never grows weary of telling about this great rushinto Oklahoma. "It was grand, awe-inspiring," he says. "I would go athousand miles to see it again--those hundreds of wagons, thousands ofhorsemen and heads of cattle, all going southward, over hills, throughforests, crossing brooks and rivers--all bound for the land which hassince made them so prosperous and happy."
And here let us take leave of Dick Arbuckle, Pawnee Brown, and all theirfriends, wishing them well.
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