Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1064 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

though, and you see that [m going to be de- feated, then you can chip in and help me out, Kill the wretch, if necessary.” ‘*That looks better, 1 allus like ter know asvbich eend of the stick has got ther taffy on, afore I bite, that’s all. You’ ve sot that straight, an’ you kin ’pend on me through thick an’ tbip, That’s ther sort of a galoot Timothy Tough are, every day iu ther week an’ twice on Sundays,” ‘it is a bargain, Mr. Tough, sono need to say more about it.” ‘* What sort 0’ place is it where this gentle sinner are to be found?’ the man presently in- quired, ‘* He has a temporary camp in a sort of small cavern, up in the hills,” was the reply. ‘‘ There I have been with him, bis willing aud loving slave, tll to-day. There I will kill him this night!” * An’ nobody is goin’ ter blame ye. Are hea outlaw, that he’s hidin’ ’round like that?” ‘‘ Yes; he is an outlaw. Rewards are of- fered for him, and he has to be careful not to be seen, ‘An’ have he any men with him? Mebby thar’s a hull band of ’em, an’ we'll git a wuss dose ’n we is figgerin’ on. Mebby it would pay a hundred cents oa ther dollar ter go slow,” Tbe woman stopped short and faced around. ‘Tf you are afraid,” sbe cried, ‘‘ draw out,” ‘*T only wants ter know what [’m buckin’ er- gainst,” was the quiet return, ‘Well, Pll tell you. There’s two of them, some of the time, and there have been others there,” ‘* How many does yer expect ter find thar now, ter-night? Yer see | am askin’ cuuse I wants ter know, that’s all.” ‘*Perbaps two, Morgan and his man, and maybe only Morgan himself. And there may be nv one there, if the monster thinks he has killed meé, 5 ‘ben it seems ter be a leetle onsartain, after all, ‘Not for me. tI will wait until he comes, if it is a week, But be will more than likely be there. He is trying to get another baud to- gether, and that cavern is his headquarters.” The hard-looking man found many questions to ask, all of which were answered with seeming frankness. Vinally darkness settled around them, but the woman continued on, as though every foot of the rugged way was well known to her. Ac last she stopped, and whispered: ‘* We are nearing the cavern, Use every pre- caution against a noise,” ‘‘ Bet yer life on’t,” was the whispered re- arcoe ‘*Go on, an’ trust to me ter do my part. “But, danger lurks in every step now, and you cannot be too careful. Let me caution you again. Your life may depend on it, and you may cheat me of my revenge, I musf not—” The man was about to interrupt, impatiently, when, suddenly, strong arms seized him from behind, and, despite bis struggles, he was forced to the ground and bound hand and foot, while the woman, with a mocking Jaugh, ran ahead and disappeared. Three men had sprung upon the unknown, and bis struggles had been useless, though he had made it no easy task for them to accomplish their purpose, No word was spoken hy any, and their pris- oner bound, the three lifted him up and carried him away, - What did it all mean? Who was this man— why had he been thus entrapped? Several rods he was carried, around a bend in the narrow trail, and then into a lighted cavern. Here he was placed upon his feet with hig back to the val. for support, and the three men, masked, taved him, The pri-oner looked from one to another in a dazed sort of way, as though at loss what to make of the situation, and then ejaculated: ** Waal, I ber durn!” ‘You will be worse than thatsDick Darrel!” eriéd one of the masked men, removing bis mask, Tbe face revealed was that of Craig Morgan— the ** Devil Duval” of Southwest Colorado, The eyes of the rough-looking prisoner gave the lie to the character he had assumed. They were scintillating with intelligence, “ You may kuow what yer is talkin’ erbout,” he parleyed; ‘“‘ but if yer does, it is more’n I be- lieve, kons yer is—” ** Dick Darrel, it is of no use,” Craig Morgan interrupted, sternly. ‘* Your disguise is a good one, but it was known to me even before you get out for Satan’s Delight this afternoon, and Dandy Dick Decoyed. —-— a scheme was laid to decoy you here. You fell into the trap, and here you are. Ha, ba, ha!” At that moment the woman came forward, her hands and face having been hastily wasbed, and ing her arm through that of the outlaw fondly, ‘‘ And this is my decoy duck,” the outlaw added, putting his arm around the woman’s shoulders. ‘*She played well her part. Ob, it has been a well-conducted plot, and you see the result of it, You bave been overreacbed, and you can’t deny it, this time. I have bad a spy upon you, and your plans were known to me, When you set out for Satan’s Delight there was only one trail you could follow in the direction you bad decided to go, My little aily bere un- dertook to play a difficult role. We stained her with blood, and otherwise marred the beauty of her appearance to deceive you, and when you came along you found her in the trail in a pre- tended faint. Her story was the bait with which the trap was set. Ha, ba, ba, ha!” So the heartless villain laughed, while the eyes of the prisover barned and flashed, and bis teeth were hard set, ‘‘You cau see how well I planned,” Morgan concluded. ‘‘ You were hunting for me, and here was a chance thrown right in your way by which you could learn the secret of my bid- ing-place. No doubt you intended to follow the woman here, and then make her a prisoner while you made an effort to avenge yourself up- on me, I have been too smart for you this time, my shrewd Darrel, and this will mark your last effort against me, I bave grown tired of your attentions, and tc-morrow morning at sunrise you will be belped to shuffle off the mortal coil. Men, take care of him, and see to it tbat he does not escape. Come, Adele dear,” to the woman, ‘‘let us withdraw. You have earned a kiss of reward for this, and you skalJl bave it.” » CHAPTER IV. ANOTHER PRISONER, ‘** Bryan O’Linn was an Irishman born, His teeth they were long and his beard was unsh rn, His temples far out, and his eyes were far in, ‘Oi’m a beautiful creature,’ says Bryan O’Linn, ‘Wid me rantin’, roarin—”’ So sung a lone horseman—if by any stretch of the imagination a man mounted upon a mule can be called a horseman, as be rode leisurely along through a wild, rugged and narrow can- yon, He was a young man, apparently about twenty years of sge, with a homely but honest face, and with a pair of deep blue eyes that were full of strength and integrity of character. He was plainly clad, wore a hat that had the appear- ance of having seen better days in the old coun- try, and carried a gun remarkable for size and re, He seemed in the happiest mood imaginable. Riding with careless ease, apparently paying no attention to anything, he was entertaining himself with that rollicking old song. It was Barney O’Linn, a jolly, happy-go- lucky young Irishman, who was aiming for the wild camp of Satan’s Delight, and was now nearing his destination. A couple of miles fur- ther would see bim at the end of the canyon, and there the camp lay. The afternoon sun was getting low, and al- ready the canyon was gathering to itself the ad- vance guard of the shadows of approaching night. This the young Irishman noticed, and his heel gave a dig at the mule’s flank as he ex- claimed: ‘*Move a little fasther wid wan av yer feet, will ye? Sure noight is comin’ on, so it is, an’ it is divil a wan av us knows the road, no more we do, Gita gait on ye now, or it is Papin’ down from here Oji’ll be doin’ an’ kickin’ av some holes in * gM he animal moved a degree faster, and Barney went on with his song: ‘** Bryan O’Linn had no coat to put on; He borrowed a goat skin to make him one; He planted the hornes roight under his chin * They’!] answer for pistols, says Bryan O’ Linn. “Wid me rantin’, roarin’—’’ And off into the wild, meaningless chorus he went, making the canyon rivg with his strong and not by any means unmusical voice. He seemingly had no thought of danger, and certainly was taking no care not to let his pres- ence be known. In that mountain solitude, bis voice could probably be heard amileaway. | After wandering through the chorus of his song and ending it with bis wild Jrish shout, and then after again addressing his mule some- what as before, he struck out into the third 3 verse; but had not proceeded far when he was brought to a sudden halt in a surprising man- ner. ‘ Hands up, there!” and just ahead of bim, in the gathering gloom, stood a man with a brace of revolvers. ‘‘ Whoap!” cried Barney, drawing rein in- stantly. ‘‘ Hould on will yez, ye b’aste av a mule! or sure it is carryin’ av me to me funeral ve will be doin’, Phwat’s the matther wid ye, Mister Man?” ‘‘Up with them ’ar hands!” was the stern de- mand, ‘‘or you’ll never live ter find out what's ther matter, You is wanted, that’s all ther matter now, an’ right hyaris what calls yer. Now keep ’em up or lll plug yer one fer luck.” Taken by surprise, Barney bad obeyed, and now evinced further willingness by standing up in the stirrups and extending bis hands upward as bigh as he could possibly reach. ‘‘ Regorra, but Oi can’t bould dhem no higher,” be cried, ‘‘ not av yez kill me fur it. Surea surprise it is to me, to be stopped loike this. Av it is a robber ye are, Oi feel sorry fur ye, for divil a poorer stroke av luck could ye bave found in a day’s walk,” ‘* Hold yer blatberin’ tongue, will ye, an’ give somebody else a chance ter chip in a wordt” cried the man. ‘* You is my prisoner, an’ ther best thing you kin do is ter slide down off o’ that mule,” ‘‘Me a prisoner!” Barney cried, in_greatest surprise. ‘‘Pbhwy am Oi a prisoner, O1 would loike to know?” ‘“ You'll find that out allin good time, up yer hands, cr I’ll bore ye through.” ‘“Begob but ye naden’t get excited about it,” Barney declared. ‘‘Oi have no intintion av doin’ anyt’ing else at prisint. But Oi do want to be knowin’ phwy Oi am a prisoner an’ phwat ye intind doin’ wid me.” ‘You'll find all that out in about a minute, when ther boss comes, He has been on ther look fer ye at ther other branch, I'll jest call his "tention this way, an’ then you'll find out what’s ther matter an’ what aiu’t. Don’t yer move, or—” ‘‘OVll not breathe, av ye say so,” Barney as- sured. The man raised one of his weapons a little higher, and fired a single shot. ‘« Whoop!” cried Barney, with pretended fear. ‘‘ Don’t be doin’ av that same again, mister, Sure ye bave no idea how gratin’ on me nerves it is.” ‘‘1vll be a-gratin’ on somethin’ wuss’n yer narves, if yer tries on any funny biz till ther boss comes,” the man warned, ‘‘ Keep them hands up, an’ up high, too, or I'll try one straight at yer.” . ‘Is it layin’ hould upon dhe moon ye would have me be doin’?” Barney demanded, innocent- ly. ‘*Sure Oi am reachin’ as far as ever Oi can widout dislocatin’ the neck av me,” ‘‘ An’ I don’t want yer to do that, you bet! We wants ter do that same ourselves, when ther proper time comes. Ther boss will settle with er,’ a: Begorra, but Oi don’t belave ye know phwat ye are doin’, Who do ye take me to be, onyhow ?” “Take yer ter be jest who ye is, an that’s Barney O’Linn, lackey to Dandy Dick Darrel.” At this Barney gave a start be could not help. It was noticed by the man on foot, and he laughed roughly, exclaiming: - ‘Yer see [ hit ther mark ther fu’st shot, me gallus galoot. What has yer got ter say to it? ; : ‘‘Oj don’t deny that is me name,” responded Barney, ‘‘ but it is puzzled Oi am to be guessin’ who you can be. Who are ye, onyhow?’ “Whoa 1? Well, I don’t mind tellin’ ye, seein’ that I have got.ther sr0p.98 ye.so fine, an’ ther boss are a-comin’. I’m Handy Henry, one of Devil Duval’s best game chickens,” ; Barney O’Linn gave another start, and his face paled a little, 2 a . “ An’ it is that same Devil Duval that is com- in’ vow?” be asked. 1 vy ‘‘No; but it is bis Right Bower, a personal friend o’ yourn, I believe. . He’s ther. Devil’s lieutenant.” Sept bs There was every reason for Barney O’Linn to feel alarm now, tor be was in a bad situation, — and he knew it. C ‘‘ Well, begorra,” Barney observed, * Oi seem to be in fur it, but it isno longer wid thst same Dick Darrel] Oi am; so av ye hope to be gettin’ at him, ye are a long ways off the track.” Keep “That is a lie, straight,” the man contradict-_ . h 7 ed. ‘‘ You needn’t try to lie out of*it,mefine ~~ feller. We has got yer dead ter rights. At Dick x hes win r bg