Wildcat Bob, the Boss Bruiser — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

=o i The New York Library. i bar-room, talking excitedly, though in an under- | | all healthy glow of a face peculiarly handsome in | its various lineaments. In stature he stood “Cum up, feller-citizens!” yelled Big Hank, | five-feet-eight in his top-boots—a man whose executing a clumsy handspring, and capering about; ‘‘roll up, an’ liquidate at the expense of Big Hank La Verge . ‘Range yersel’s "long ther bar, heer, ye bberin’ egg Sab an’ shed eye-water tew Tr debt o’ me, the high-cockolorum o’ yowlin’ x Don’t be bashful, my feller-brethern, or timid. Hayr’s w’at’s equal ter all emar- ‘gencies, an’ he’s ten thousan’ dollars salted down im the St. Louie bank. Tumble up, I tell ye, afore I git r’iled, an’ h'ist bug-juice an’ alzyhawl, an’ I’m a darned ring-tailed rhinosserosser ef I *hain’t got ther chips tew liquidate wi’. Wah- hoo! ther, cuss it, ain't ye goin’ ter whisky wi’ me, wy, pizen imps?’ “We ain’t thirsty, now,” said one of the miners, for the crowd, ‘ let ye kno’, providin’ we ain’t got no dudads to b’y beverage with.” ** All rig) t, my saintly cherubims; ef ye ain’t dry, why I ar’, an’ heer's ter yer health an’ yer sackness;” and seizing a bottle that had just been placed on the bar, he clapped the nozzle to his mouth, and emptied the fiery contents, in a couple of ravenous gulps, into his stomacli. “Thar!” he roared, smacking his lips with . the Hard-knocker o’ To- | #3, + | sertion that he was the hardest striker an en we are, we'll | during the exciting days which made Denver | ‘reat gusto, as he hurled the empty bottle at the | ead of one of the waiter-girls; ‘‘ that’s w’at I | call inwigoratin’, an’ benn hel ter one’s con- sv imptive s m. Now, [’m a man—a i ta'r sort of an interlectual man. What! my | Geer girly, did that darned bottle hit ye? Ex- cuse me, exense me, my beloved critter! I didn’t no more intend to bu’st ye over ther probossey, nor did G’orge Wash-ingten inten’ tew cut down his father’s sap-bush wi’ his leetle hatchit. B’leeve me, fairest o’ petticoats, it war quite an axydent—simply a freek of my exceedingly on feer nature, Iam subject tew sech streeks, e, when I’m jes’ ’s innocent an’ harmless as a two-year-old goslin’, Onecan fondle an’ pet me ’ 5 ye do wi the frisky little lamb, an’ [make not the faintest wee bito’ resistence. Sumtimes my dispersition ar’ meek an’ fawn-like; then, in, et ar’ like that uv a young yearling bull in high clover gress. I feel like’s if Id jist like ' } ' t | } | } | to bu’st sumthin’—scatter, punch, an’ demolish | a hull regiment o’ sumbody. y, sirs, my knuckles fairly itch fer solid bizmess. My mus- ¢les an’ jints ache wi’ suspended anymashun. In sich moments as these, I must have physical exercise. When I can’t git nothin’ unch, I’ve been known to actually attack the ull side uv a barn, so eager war I fer bodily exercise. Gentlemen, an’ feller juice-h’isters, I’m feelin’ in one o’ them playful spells jist about now. I’m allon nettles to box_the ears off 0’ some one. Sech bein’ the case, I hev’ got est ten gold nuggets layin’ hayr on ther counter, w say I kin break the neck o’ any cuss as will off ag’in’ me!” Noné of the miners seemed anxious to measure strength with a man so vastly their superior | both in body and muscular size and develop- ‘ment, $. ** What!” chuckled the bully, as he saw that ™o one offered to molest him, ‘‘ain’t none o’ ye | in’ ter win ten golden shiners, an’ ten ad- ishenal golden opinyuns, jes’ ’s’ ’s skimmin’ cock- es out o’ Lousyanner ’ ? For shame, ye lazy, cowardly sneaks—afraid to tackle such = ful little fawnas me! Im ac- tually ‘sham: ye!” Sail none of the miners offered to accept the challenge. 4 ae | tes when I want ter tackle a hull moun- t'in, ll go to Pike’s Peak,” grunted one old vet- e who was the largest man in his crowd. ‘*T ain’t purtickler fond o’ foolishin’ around sich elephants as ye, myself!” po tect a general titter through the bar- room, and the giant, in co uence of his co- pious draught of “' pizen,” laughed with the rest. “ Haw! haw!” he roared; ‘‘ poultice me wi’ onions an’ skunks’ grease, ef I ever sot peepers on sich a Sota get. o’ slinkies. Why, feller- jav-waggers, wot in thunder ar’ ye d of? ‘her’s nothin’ about the high-cockolorum 0’ }ca sasa to be skeered at—nothin’ at all [I'm 4st ons o’ the docilest, meekest, and playfulest litte <calin’s as ye ever heered tell on. I would else to | not Lurs vou fer a swaller o’ eye-water; oh, no! | Trat’d be avin’ my gentlemanly principles. All I want and Seti s simply a little playful elbow exercise. ) bet ten dollars I can knock stars out 0’ any sin- ner within gunshot!” “ As I’m open for engagements, old man, bet ten dollars you can’t!” Every man and cheery. n door of the “Spread Eagle,” from the back | the left eye. 1 Once more, an’ fer ther last time, [ll | p | and longer, which balanced the odds of the bul- i | i Seaistaent as these words rung through the | received on the left arm of the bruiser, and the partment, uttered by a voice both cool | A man had just dismounted at the | out from his shoulder, hitting the giant fair in | wing. His every proportion was splendidly developed, as only a life of constant and vigorous exercise could develop. His limbs were small, clean and | hard as iron, the muscles standing out in strik- | ing prominence ai the least move. His face, as before said, was peculiarly hand- some, the features being perfectly regular, and classic, with a pleasant mouth, expressive in its | curving of a jovial good-nature, eyes black and | penetrating, and hair of the hue of the raven’s i face was smoothly shaven, and in | the absence of beard he looked a trifle boyish. This, however, need not make him so, and those | who have ever taken a friendly bout or tussle | with Wildcat Bob, can bear witness to m - the | quickest wrestler of his day. ‘* Every dog has | his day,” is the old saying, and Robert had his | and its surrounding famous in the annals of gold-mining. He was clad in a loosely-fitting suit of gray clothing, and a jaunty straw hat was pushed back on hishead. No belt encircled | his waist, nor was he, to all outward appearan- ces, armed. There he stood, in the doorway of the ‘‘ Spread. Eagle” saloon, his arms folded across a broad | chest, the very impersonation of a glorious man- hood, after ving delivered himself of the words: ‘* As I'm open for engagements, old man, I bet ten dollars you can’t!” A murmur of applause ran through the as- sembly, and the roughs parted to either side to allow him a path into the saloon. Without the | least hesitation he stepped forward into the bar- | room, and confronted the ‘‘ gentleman from ** Hal” growled the bully, eying the muscu- lar bulges in our hero’s arms, a little suspicious- ly, ‘‘so ye’re my meat, ar’ ye, younker! Ye’re ther huckleberry that wants ter play cuffee wi this playful kitten, ar’ ye? W’at mought yer name be?’ ‘*My name, old gent, is one I think you have heard before—Wildcat Bob, at your service— the boss bruiser from Denver. What is your handle?” An exclamation of surprise and wonder came | from either hand, and Big Hank, even, stepped | back a pace and eyed his man closer. “Ye Wildcat Bob? Ye the rooster what | knocked the eye out o’ Rowdy Ralph up in Den- ver?” he growled, savagely. **T’'m that presumptuous rooster, yes!” “Then by ther split-tail coat of my great | grandsire, I'm glad tew see you. You're the | ercise individual I’ve been lookin’ for these welve months. So ye wanter bet me ten dol- | lars I ken’t knock your skull off, do you?’ ‘Yes, I'm the man, and I’m ready to bet you twenty of ’em, or thirty, or forty, that you can’t!” was the cool reply, as the boss bruiser | from Denver stared the giant squarely in the face. ‘‘Wah-hoo! wah-hoo!” roared the bully, ca- cage Bae delightedly, ‘‘jes’ heer thet, will ye? ere goin’ tew have a playful game 0’ pussy’s got a corner—a real lively bit of exer- cise. Form aring, feller juice-h’isters—form a | ting, an’ watch Kove ther high cockolorum 0’ Kansass manyfacters tumblef-jelly out o’ ther | ck ge bruiser from Denver. Whoop! whoop! I feel like er bran-newly hatched goslin’, I do, an’ hayr’s one hundred gold shiners that sez Pm ther winner o’ ther race in ten round heats. [ say, ye young purp, how menny rounis sheil et be, afore we quit?’ ‘Tl leave that for you to say, old man!” re- | pugilist, a faint smile hovering about ; 1 ne ee Hyehin, that about two | eats wi cient for my pu r uit ‘Haw! haw!” roared Bi “dye hear thet, now? cock is skeered already !” sneeringly ; ® young struttin’ “You lie!” retorted Wildcat Bob, fiercely, | and yi pe an eagie-piece down on the bar, he | 0 jerked his hat and shi The with alacrity. a stepped inside, and confronted each | other. Both were naked to the waist, and though Big Hank was vastly the Wildcat’s superior in breadth, depth, and hight, the latter’s muscles | and arms were if anything tively harder, | i size. After glaring steadily at each other | or a few seconds, the two men stepped forward, | and Big Hank began the contest by making a | and gazed around in as- | furious lunge at his opponent. The blow was | hold would have ever suspected that next moment he returned a terrible blow right ' j of a richly caparisoned an plese tcoking | Down he went to the floor allin a promiscuous | horse. and had overheard the bully’s challenge. | heap, while he howled with pain and rage. And such a man! | “Once!” yelled Chauncey Tupper from behind | ’ Adrniration was in the eye of every spectator | the bar. “‘ Hey ye gotyer stomach full, ye over- | ax they gazed at him. | grown weed from Kansass?” He waz apparently abeut- fivce-and-twenty Not a word said the giant, but on being as- | ears of age, though he might easily have been sisted to his feet by one of his . he : Py ° of. So hiret gupposed younger from tie freshness and As before he put in cE ‘tive lan | Major Anderson Bi Vol. 2 and a ‘stinger ” it was, taking effect om +. cheek of his antagonist. Wi some furious animal than human, he reeled back a pace; then bringing up his knotty right arm quickly, he planted a second blow in on tke bul- ly’s left eye. This time-the effect was instantaneous. Big Hank dropped like a log to the floor. ‘** Time!” shouted one of his pards, and a buck- | et of water was dashed into his swelling face, In ashort time he recovered, and managed te stand upright on his feet. ‘* Knough?’ queried the colonel, in delight. **No!” howled the ruffian, and he madly, blindly forward, But again the un- erring arm of Wildcat Bob met him, and a blow in the same place as the other two stretched are oe. wre ak upon the floor. nd as he lay there apparently lifeless, the bruised left eye ed from its socket, and lay exposed and quivering on his discolored cheek ! CHAPTER IV. THE FACE AT THE WINDOW. ABOUT six miles northeast of Pompeii was a little settlement, at the time of our story, which we shall take the liberty to christen Harper’s. _It consisted of a score or more of rude shan- ties, a village store and one hotel, and the in- habitants were for a large a mingling of squatters and emigrants, t ‘ough one would occasionally meet a male or female in the streets who were of the better class, and whose @fress declared them to be persons of some refinement and wealth. Harper’s was a dull, drowsy little place, with nothing going on of much excitement—nothing doing except the little cultivation that was given the broad surrounding acres of unproduc- Most of the town’s working-people managed to eke out a miserable living, and this was the hight of their aspirations. me of the men farmed it, some hunted, fished and trapped, and others “laid for the highway,” at every suitable opportunity. The gold-fever affected Harper’s only in the most trifling degree, and thus they lived and lazied away the days as they came and went. On a slight eminence half a mile from the vil- lage were two large, modern-built, and impos- | ing residences, not two hundred yards apart, and inclosed by ornamental fences of iron. Well-kept yards, adorned by thrifty young | trees and beautiful beds of b ooming flowers, fronted each dwelling, and everything in out- ward appearance was similar, for what im- peoseane was noticeable in one place might seen counterparted in its neighbor. These residences had been built by a wealthy land-agent, Charles Seton by name, for the accommodation of himself and family, and the family of another ntleman who Bpopoeed making the West his home, But the latter changing his mind shortly after the buildings were completed, one of them had been sold to a speculator named Bloodgood. With these two families we shall have to deal, so a brief description of them will not be wholly “Of the Seto th t:) ms there were three—father mother, and a ve attractive ei ae og. tag te ‘Aniber: sii of oth of the elder Setons were past age, well-to-do as far as the world’s ctiinoame and very happy in the love of their amiabie off. | spring Amber was goose J of ae and form, with a sweet sunny disposition and impulsi ture. and was beloved by all who ieee es “she had no society except at home, but this did not deter her from enjoying herself, for on the back of her gentle pony she took many a wild, gay ride and shot the awifftimbed deer ad tad pee and shot the s dee nr ne ayy ton ye seek ee ee es m was a ve, stern-faced man of fifty, with a cold, minvitin enines that precluded an advance of friendship from’ these with whom he came in contact, and an arro- gance to his inferiors that made him more ene- ' mies than friends. giant dtd likewise, and in less time than | it takes to tell it, a ring was formed, the con- | His hair and beard were streaked with gray, and his eyes always wore a eno an pression, asif he was ever ing some accu- sing phantom to rise and confront Kae or, fear- ing a blow in a moment when he might be off Mrs. Seton was a . vi of five years her hrusbacud's Janior, sat poe % was to whom pre fair- fier sanity tex pretty faced Amber owed r. The Setons fived in a qui and no one outside of their gt voiiate bee i have. there was a skeleton in their family c] there os peg ae ae ovin individual closet —one at in its terrible rat arred in secret high-strnng nerves. ov $5 a The Bloodgoods consisted of four rsons— i id wif one son named Th oun scapegrace two-andtwerty, ant a girl of about race of Seton’s size age. Her name was Bertha, thong was a baste, Amber was a decided blonde. vam acry, more fixe? ** com Ebo: . }