Old Shadow Shot — page 30: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

28 “What have you got to say?” he said, turning his burning gaze upon the bey. “You ran off with my horse not long ago, I believe.” “i “And if it hadn’t been for certain things that night you would not be here to take the life of an innocent girl.” “Ts that ail?” sneered Captain Dave. The boy stubbornly shut his lips. “JT have a mind to make you sing!” the outlaw said. “Try at!” was the banter. “Oh, you wouldn’t, eh? I guess you'd make the woods ring if I held a pistol at your head, and commanded you to treat us toasong. But I'll not bother you.” He fingered the hammer of the pistol as _ he spoke. “The game man who wants the girl wants you, but not for the same purpose !” he con- tinued, addressing the Nightingale. “I am - going to see that he gets neither!” He turned upon Violet as he uttered the last word. “T lived a lie for five years, eh?’ he flashed. ‘‘ Well, I lived it completely, didn’t I? Your bullet is going to be the death of me. Before many days Captain Dave will -not live in these woods ; but in the minds of some people he will live for « That shadow-man has left me—the o.... one of the twenty-three who fell upon your father’s train. He must have escaped that night.” “He did!” said Violet. “T always thought so. Captain Rough sees fifty thousand dollars in you, but he'll never touch a dollar of it. Ha! ha! It hurts me to the death almost when I laugh. My hands are getting tired of this pistol.” He said no more, but raised the weapon. There was murder in the eyes of the dying Pandit. “Hold on, thar!” cried a rough voice. “T’ye got a bead drawn on your head, Cap'n Dave. By the saints! you've got more lives than a cat!” The outlaws turned towards the sound of the startling voice. As for Captain Dave, he lowered the pistol and raised his eyes. “Tt is Captain Rough!” he said, and he “ Jowered his voice as he glanced at his lieu- tenant. “Darcey, you must kill that man out there !” “T want no fooling came the same strong voice. “ Vultures, if one of you move (ll shoot your captain dead! Cap'n Rough has meant business all his life!” With one accord, the outlaws looked at their leader. What would he do? 1)? OLD SHADOW-SHOT. CHAPTER XVI. IN A TIGHT PLACE. “7\\HE man who uttered the threatening words which startled Captain Dave and his band sat on a horse among the shadows that lay beyond the light afforded by the fire. His cheek rested on a rifle, and the polished barrel of the deadly weapon was raised to a level with the Apollo’s head. The man was Captain Rough. His movements, since his struggle with Sharp Knife, the Crow, do not possess suili- cient interest to lay them before the reader. Suffice it to say, concerning them, that he had not crossed the path of the Vultures, and that he had been able to elude the eager hands of Shadow-Shot and Jack Gustin. Darcy, the lieutenant, when commanded by his chief to get behind Rough and de- spatch him, was prevented from moving by the last threat. If an outlaw stirred, the life of Captain Dave, even then hanging by a slim tenure, might be snapped by the vil- lain’s rifle. “What do you want?” asked Captam Dave, at last, looking towards the west and vainly trying to make out the exact position of the man. “Why, the gal, of course!” was the reply. “And the boy, too?” “No; you may empty your pistol into his carcase.” The Apollo looked at Nat. “What do you think of that?” “He never liked me!” the singer said, with a smile. “We couldn't get along on the train. I wish I was out there for a few moments.” 7 Captain Dave saw the flashing of the boy’s eyes and wished as much himself. “What if I don’t give the girl up?” the White Vulture said, trying his man. “ Refuse and you're a dead man!” The Apollo bit his lips. ‘Will you go with that man?” he said, turning to Violet. She glanced at Nightingale Nat, but did not reply. “And leave my friend here?” 74 Yes.” “T will not go!” “Hurry up!” cried Rough, patient. “I can’t sit here all night. are_you going to do?” “The girl will not go of her own accord,” Captain Dave said. “One of my men will conduct her to you.” ; “Well, be quick about it. My fingers are getiing uncommon nervous on the erowing 1m- What Gomicbdooksnco