Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-05-15
The Staru Telter.
THE FRONTIER DETECTIVE.
BY VICTOR REDCLIFFE.

BY VICTOR REDCLIFFE.
Night was falling over snow-cover
ed landscape, dreary and bleak, as
horseman dismounted before the Al
buquerque hotel, at Mazitlin, a Colora
do frontier town, and entering the bar
room of the place, flung himself int
chair near the stove, with tina
abandon to its pleasing warmth lont
journey inspires.
Amid the bable of noise caused BY
the discussions of quarrelsome game
sters and maudlin inebriates, his com
ing in was unnoticed. There was lit
tie out of the common in his plair
mountain garb and bearded face to at
tract the attention of any one.
He glanced quickly, searchingly
about the room. The smoke-cloudec
atmosphere tailed to conceal quivel
of satisfaction and interest as his eye:
rested on four men seated at table
near by-so near that his shoulder al
most brushed the back of one who ga,
on stool watching the others play
game of cards.
"The clew was a true one," he muir
INJURED, softly. "Mark Steiner, you are
my man."
The conversation of the men beside
him indicated that the subject of his
soliloquy was the man on the stool.
Tobacco, Steiner! You're usually
well supplied"
The man addressed drew from his
pocket the tan-colored brick of tobacco
common to the frontier, and opened 6
huge jack.knife to divide the same.
A keen interest sprang to the watch
er's eyes. His glance was eager as il
fell on the horn-handled knife; he
drew nearer to the man, and as the
latter returned the knife carelessly tc
his coat-pocket, the stranger reached
toward it with the def rapidity of an
expert pickpocket, secured the knife
secreted it in his hand, and then, aris
ing, passed into the next room, where
the restaurant portion of the tavern
was located.
AS he sat awaiting the meal which
he had ordered, his eyes scanned the
stolen knife with an eager glance.
81 knew i'll have proven it J" ne
uttered, excitedly. "Steiner was al
Mingo Junction; Steiner was in the
game, and Steiner must be taken back
to the place where Eric Lander
lies under the penalty of death, or ar
innocent man will suffer-"
He scarcely touched the meal served
to him a moment later. With impa.
tient restlessness he paced the cold
veranda in front of the hotel for some
time after leaving the room.
Then, with a glance inside to see
that Steiner was still there, he started
down the street, and entered the town
hall and police station of the place.
When he emerged, half an hour
later, close vehicle, resembling an
ambulance, kept in his wake, and as he
with gesture to the driver, reached
the veranda, the carriage was driven
close to the side of the hotel.
The stranger took from his pocket q
folded piece of paper, and stood near
the door, his slouch hat drawn well
down over his face.
A hostler from the stables was com
ing toward the house.
The stranger stopped him, placed q
gold-piece in his hand, and, drawing
him to the window, pointed through it.
and whispered a few words in his ear
With an intelligent nod, the hostlel
took the paper and entered the room
From the window the stranger saw
him execute his mission.
The hostler approached Steiner and
slipped the note into his hand. The
man looked startled, and then, unfold
ing the paper, held it from the view o.
his companions and read it.
"He will come," murmured the
watcher at the window. "The note
reading: From Mingo Junction
trouble brewing-Dave, will bring him
to time"
He glided to the side of the door.
Steiner came out, closed the door
and peered at the form close to his
own.
"Dave Brinley?" he whispered.
ayes. YOU can see him. This way
The stranger caught Steiner's arm
as if to hurry him to where the sender
of the note awaited him. Steiner was
thus led to the end of the veranda, and
almost thrust through the open door Of
the vehicle in waiting.
There was the first utterance Of
alarm from Steiner's lips as the door
was closed from the outside with
sharp click.
Through small window near the
front the rays of a dimly burning
lamp illuminated the interior of the
vehicle.
"What does this mean ?" demanded
Steiner. "I thought Brinley-"
"Was waiting for you. He is
But we will have to drive some dis
tance."
"But this wagon. What is it?'' in
quired Steiner, alarmed, suspicious.
"Can you not surmise ?"
The impressive voice startled the de-