Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1005 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

rer "Ss ae . ‘ “That fool of a section boss has got another rail up, on our time, I suppose, as he did once before,” growled the en- gineer, having shut off steam and ap- plied the air brakes. Toot! Another ‘short, sharp blast of the whistle, and the engineer reversed his engine, while the fireman leaped down and prepared to jump. Both had beheld something well cal- culated ‘to chill ‘their blood, the moment the engine had rounded the bend fai enough to give them a view of the straight stretch ahead! About half way down to a point where | the track again curved, a number ol boulders had been placed between the rails, and on both sides of the track stood masked men with rifles in their hands. That they meant business was not to be questioned. “ Held up, by thunder! ”’ Such was the exclamation uttered by the engineer, as he reached for the whistle and sounded the second alarm, and, having reversed, as mentioned, he, too, prepared to jump. But that was not necessary.. As if the train robbers had calculated to the foot the distance from the curve at which to place the obstruction, they saw the train slow up, under the force of the power- ful brakes, and when the engine stopped the nose of the pilot was but a score ol inches from the boulders. “Hands up, or take lead straight! ”’ So cried the leader, and a man on each side of ‘the engine covered the engineer and fireman. Needless to say, they promptly obeyed the order. At the same moment other ‘members of the band made a dash for ‘the express-car, which was next to the engine. Still others had sprung up alongside ‘the track the moment the train came to a standstill, and boarded the Cars to take care of the pasengers while the leader and those with him made their raid upon the car which contained the treasure they were after. But, were they after any special treas- ure, or was it only a coincidence that they had chosen that particular train for their prey? It looked the former. “Looks like we're in for it,”’ observed the fireman, as he held his hands on high. “ That’s what it does,’”’ agreed the en- gineer, in easy manner of speech, taking care ta keep his hands well up. “ Thera Ais no use kicking when they have got us lined with Winchesters.” “That’s hoss sense,” averred one of the raiders, who stood guard over them. “You fellers keep yer hands straight up, and you won’t come to no tharm. We don’t want to harm nobody, ef we kin help it, so you mind what ye’ve been tol@ and ye won't git hurt.” “Who is your captain?” inquired the engineer. “Captain Joaquin.” “The deuce you say! That settles it. Tom,” to the fireman. ‘“ We had better keep right on reachin’ skyward.” “Bt won’t be healthy fur ye ef yo don’t,” they were again warned. “ Cap- tain Joaquin is after the funds of the Castleville Bank, and he is bound to have "em at any cost.” “The Castleville National Bank?” * Jist so.”’ “What have we got to do with the funds of the bank? Does he think they are in the express safe to-day?” He don’t think it; he knows it.” — i eS nn nn nn nn — nk — eee Ce Ct" —es—‘—S—SSsSC—SO Deadwood Dick, Jr., Branded. a “ But, he is dreaming. What would -he bank’s funds be on our train for? ”’ “ The bank has closed up its business, to take effect at noon to-day, and the capital is on its way to San Francisco. But, it will never get thar.’’ Perhaps the engineer and fireman did not notice it, but the Western twang and mannerism of this man’s speech were forced; it was evident that his natural speech was correct—that he was no bor- der tough, “ Well, I guess nobody knew it,” engineer commented. “ Oh, yes; Captain Joaquin knew of it,”’ assured the man, with a light laugh. No more was then said, the engineer and fireman giving their attention to what was going on at the express ear. The messenger had refused to open the door when ordered to do so. and had already killed one man and wounded an- other, firing through the barred venti- lator close up under the roof. The robbers were preparing to use dynamite. ; . Back in the cars the others were hold- ing up the passengers, but without any attempt at robbing them. This, of itself, was proof that the ex- press car was the objective point; they meant to risk nothing by attempting to make the robbery general. By some accident, or by some passen- ger daring all to take the initiative, the robbers might lose control in one of the cars, and if that happened and they kept the people in the ears together, they might be successful in beating the robbers off. On the other hand, one man standing just within each door, with a cocked and leveled Winchester in hand, and his fin- ger on the trigger, they had all the aq- vantage in their favor, and might hold it as long as they desired. Thus matters stood in the coaches, while events in the vicinity of the ex- press car were coming to a climax. Among the travelers in the smoking- car was one whom we must notice. About thirty years of age, the had keen, darn eyes, and hair that partook of the same shade and fell in a wave upon his shoul- ders. He had a graceful mustache, and his regular features made him rather more than passably good-looking. He was simply, almost roughly, elad. At the first sound of the whistle he had started up, and had seemed to take an interest, At the next alarm a couple of guns sprang to his hands, and he called on the others in the smoker with him to prepare for a possible attempt at robbery, There were, ‘perhaps, a score of men in that ear. Some of them drew guns, but when the train stopped and the masked men with their Winchesters appeared, the sight took all the bravery out of them. The young man we have described, like the others, after a hasty look around to see what the others were doing, raised his hands, but the weapons remained close beside ‘him on the cushion. They were not allowed to leave their seats; all that was required of them wat to sit still and keep their hands in sight. This they did. But there was a grim look on the face of the man described, as if he wanted only half an opportunity to act. In all the cars the situation was the same, and presently to their ears came the sound of an explosion that could be felt as well as heard. The express cay had been blown open. the Immediately following the explosion the report of a pistol rang out im the smoker, and the robber nearest the rea door dropped in his tracks. Another, and the one in front dropped his rifle and ut- tered a howl] of ‘pain, and all the men in the car looked in astonishment. There stood the man we have men- tioned, with both of his weapons in his grasp. So lightning quick had he acted that no one had detected him in the act until the shots were fired. But he did not remain inactive. “Follow me!” he called out to the others. “ Back me up, and we will beat them off and cheat them yet. We are ten to their one, and they’ll be 'too rat- tled to shoot straight.” He ran for 'the rear door, even while speaking, and some three or four made bold to follow him, with pistol in hand, but for the most part they hung back like cowards. Straight to that door, ang out, and into the next car, where ‘two more of the robbers were stationed. Opening the door suddenly, this man clapped ‘his revolver behind the ear of one of these, and commanded him to drop his gun, which, at the touch of the cold tube, the fellow promptly did. The other, however, at the other end of the car, brought his rifle up to his shoulder and gave warning that he was going to fire. Before he could do so, however, for it required aim to avoid thitting his com- rade, the traveler had thrown one arm around the neck of the robber he had disarmed, and, in a twinkling, let fly a snap shot from behind that living bar- ricade and placed the fellow at the other end of the car hors de combat. The pas- sengers sprang ‘to their feet with a cheer, and it looked as if they were going to get the upper hand. CHAPTER IL. DICK’S FRUITLESS RISK, Deadwood Dick, Junior! He it was who had, at the risk of his life, made this break to cheat the train- robbers. “ Follow me, every man of you who has a gun!” he called out to them. “‘ We can do these fellows wp in short order, if wé go for them in the right manner. Who is with me?” There was another cheer at that. “ We're with you to a man!” some ond shouted. “ You lead the way, and see if we ain't.” “All right! Follow me, but if I go down, don’t let that check you; go right on and you will run clear over them by force oi numbers. Now, then, here we go for them!” With that, Dick dashed out of the door and leaped to the ground, his brace ot revolvers in hhand ready to do execution. He began firing the moment he touched the ground, Two other fellows had followed, but, at the return fire from the outlaws, one of ‘these fell dead-and the other lost the use Of an arm by a bullet. Dick himself had the closest kind of a call, a bullet zipping past his face so close that he felt it touch his skin, tak- ing away a strand of his long hair in its flight. But that did not stop him even for an instant, Two men had already gone down before him, and now a third, and, had he been supported, the victory would have been easy; but those who had cheered the loudest were the first to draw back, when they saw the others drop, Cc 900Ks a as — ¢ >, 4" eT” ‘a $ ' . } Ea - ia \ #a.* - Ab". - ; a wi ;