Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1032 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

~~. . * Fd T a ¥ J va OFS 8 Co no —— one of the men, who had once been an itinerant preacber, offered a brief prayer. After this, the cowboys filled the grave, ‘* Now,” fell sternly from Chris Comstock’s lips, ‘‘ we will look for the man who murdered our pard,” ‘* Right, boy!” assented Round-up Rube, ‘* An’ w’en we find him, we’li—” ‘The bow-legged cow- buy ended with a very expressive pantomime, as if he were pulling on a rope. At this a savage and ominous muttering came from the rough men of ranch and range—a mut- tering that swelled louder and louder until it be- came a hoarse cry for vengeance! Woe to Lightfinger Flip if he fell into the bands of the men whom be had made his most deadly ene- mies! The torches were cast asi’e and the cowboys turned back toward the town, As they reached the crooked main street of Hot Hole they were met by ’Andy’Arry. The Englishman was running asif pursued by ene- mies who were thirsting for bis blood, and he seemed greatly frightened. He dashed straight into the arms of a tall cowboy, ‘* Hello!” exclaimed the cattleman, sin’s ther matter with you?” ‘* Let go hot me, you bloody scoundrel!” squawked the ‘* Lunnon sport.” ‘' Hi will ’ave you barrested bif you hoffer me bany hinjury, Jove!” The cowboy held him off at arm’s length, whit ’Arry squirmed in a vain endeavor to get ree, *‘ It isthe Englishman,” explained Chris, ‘* Let him go, Davis,” *’Oid hon!” exclaimed ’Arry, excitedly, re- cognizing Chris’s voice, ‘‘ You hare the very hindividual Hi ham looking for, ye knaw.” ** What do you want of me?” .“* You hare the fellow that saved me from being skinned by that bloody scoundrel who shot your friend, Hi know where that fellow is,” With a single stride, the young cowboy reach- ed the Englishman and laid an iron clutch on bis arm, ** You know where Lightfinger Flip is?” ‘** Hi do,” ** Where is he?” **’H is hin the saloon,” “* Where he shot Jimson?”’ af Yes,” * When did he return there?” ** As soon has you hand your friends left. ‘’E his there with a Jot hof his pals,” ‘This is just what we want to know. Come on, boys.” ‘Old hon!” cried ’Arry once more, * Hi ave something more to tell you.” ‘*Thon be quick about it, to waste.” ‘‘ Hi was hin the saloon when ’e returned, but Hi managed to’ide. Hif they ’ad seen me, they would ’ave killed me, for Hi ’eard the leader say so, ’E said ’6 would ‘ave his money back some- ’ow. ’E knows you fellows hare after him, hand ’e swears ’e will give you a’ot time, With his pals, ’e is going to bopen hon you has soon has you henter the saloon,” ‘Ther durned whelps!” grated Round-up Rube, ‘‘ They mean ter clean out ther bull blamed crowd of us!” “They are a desperate gang,” declared Chris, ‘It is plain we are going to have no smal) job in bringing this Lightfinger Flip to his just de- serts.” * But we'll bring bim thar, cuss him!” gritted Rube, ‘I jas’? wish I had my han’s on ther ‘ison skunk’s woozle at this minute! Derned ef don’t b'lieve I’d finish ther job without further foolin’!” : ‘Hi managed to slip hout hof the saloon,” *Arry went on, band Hi ’urried to bring you fellows the news. There hare some mev watch- ing for you houtside the saloon, for one hof by pot hatter me, hand Hi’ad to run for my ife, ‘They bave posted guards to warn Flip and his pards when we are coming. It is plain they mean war, pards—war to the tooth,” ‘Au’ we'll guy ’em all ther war they want,” asserted the bow-legged cattleinan. ‘ There are ernough o’ us ter jes’ take ther huil onery town.” “ft might prove an easier thing to take the town than to take Lightfinger Flip,” observed Chris, ‘‘ But, for all of that, we will take him ** W’at in We have no time if it costs the last one of us bis blood! Eh, lads?” | A shout of assent came from his comrades. ‘Every man make sure his guns are in work- Ing order,” fell calmly from the lips of the youth- ful cowboy leader, ‘* Have them ready for in- stant work, and foJlaw me!” aa of _-= + ae Pe 1, oe D don't se ee ws Be , Te : — ae whboy Chris, the Man of Caliber. rr | —" -_— ~ Then he led the way straight toward tbe Whoa Emma, and the others followed close at his heels, Andy ’?Arry bringing up the rear, Before they reached the saloon, another per- son came rushing up to them, panting and ex- cited. It was Pete, the darky. ** W har am Massa Chris?” he gasped. ‘*Rigbt here, Pete,” replied the young man. ‘¢ 'W bat 1s it—what bas bappened?” ** Oh, massa, massa!” wailed the negro, catch- ing bold of the young cowboy’s band, ‘* Missy Nell an’ dat young tenderfeets—dem misserble critters in de saloon bab cotcbed ’em!” CHAPTER IX, LIGHTFINGER FLIP HOLDS THE DROP, ‘WHATS thet?’ cried Chris, grasping Pete by his shoulders ana holding him at arm’s length, ‘* What did you say?” ‘*Dey’ve cotched ’em! dey’ve cotched ’em!” moaned the darky. ‘‘I jes’ couldn’ keep dem from takin’ Missy Nell! Dey knock me on de head, an’ if my ole cokernut badn’t been power- ful hard, l’d been a dead nigger now, Oh, de good Law sabe us!” ‘* Did you say they were in the saloon?” ‘Yes, dat’s whar dey am, Massa Chris, The young cowboy wheeled toward his com- panions, ‘* Boys,” he cried, ‘' we bave not a moment to lose, There is no telling what injurv may be done to the young lady, and as for Fred An- throp, he is within the reach of Whisky Jim. If we do not save him, his chances are mighty slim. Come on!” Once more they made a rush for the saloon, and as they hurried along, Chris gave them fur- ther instructions; ‘They will be on the watch and expecting us. Wemust get them on the hip some way. It is probable they will expect us to rush into the saluon, but we will play a little trick on them, Jwiil enter the saloon, but the rest of you must remain outside at the open windows and get the drop on the gang. Then, if it is necessary, you can open ou them at exactly the right time,” The saloon was quickly reached, and with drawn and cocked revolvers, the cowboys took their places outside the windows, where they could command the entire interior, They were not a moment too soon. Fred Anthrop was sitting in a chair to which he had been securely bound, and before bim stood Whisky Jim, a devilish grin on his evil face and a long knife in his hand, ‘*Comin’, are they?” snarled the wretch, with the knife, as one of the guards inform- ed the gang the cowboys were approaching. ‘* Waal, let "em come. Whenethey git hyer, we'll guv ’em a rcastin’ thet will make ’em siz- zie, But, afore they come Vl jes’ dispose of you, my five feller, Vil cut yer onery white throax!” As he seized the helpless tenderfoot by the shoulder, the gleaming knife being upraisec, a clear voice cried: ‘* Hold on there, vou imp of Satan’s pit! Go slow, or I will open up a lead mive in your head!” It was Nugget Nell’s voice, and Nugget Nell’s shining revolver ’almost touched Whisky Jim’s left car! ‘* 1 mean biz, you bet!” nodded the brave girl, a look of desperate determination on her hand- some face, ‘‘I bave you under cover, and if you do not put on the breaks, I will send a bul- et searching after your brains, The chances are the bullet would fail to find anything of that kind, but it would make an ugly hole where they ought to be,” Whisky Jim uttered a enar! of rage. ‘‘Take ber away, romebody!” he howled. ‘* She’s er reg’ler cat! Take her away ’fore ther cowboys git hyer!” ‘‘ Tf aman offers to lay a hand on me, I will ie you, you big ruffian!” cried the undaunted girl, Lightfinger Flip looked on as if amused, but made no move to aid his satellite, ‘*Sheseems toh vethedrop, Jim,” be laughed, Nevada Mike succeeded in catching Nell’s arm and thrusting the menacing revolver aside. ‘*Go erhead with yer hcg-killin, pard,” he or- dered, holding the struggling girl so she could make no move to save the young Easterner. ** Well, now, I wouldn’t!” spoke a quiet voice, and Cowboy Chris vaulted into the room through one of the open windows, ‘It will be decidedly unhealthy for him to do so,” A how] of fury broke from Whisky Jim’s lips, “Vil hev ther satisfaction of cuttin’ ther heart out of ye both!” he roared, ‘Well, not this eve,” was the cocl retort, “You will observe [ am heeled, and I shall de- liberately blow the whole top ot your bead off if you do not drop that knife. Drop it!” Whisky Jim cast a look of appeal toward his comrades, ** It will not be bealthy for them to chip in un- less they desire the fun of attending your fun- eral,” asserted the defiant young cowboy, ‘1 shali perforate you without so much as a pang of remorse, if I feel it is my duty to doso,” The crowd of toughs were amuzed by the ap- parent audacity of the cattleman. In vain they locked around for his comrades, and they could not understand Chris's evident foolbardiness in venturing alone into their midst. ‘* Jump him, pards, jump him!” hissed Whisky Jim, ‘*The man who tries it gets a straight pass to the happy hunting-grounds,” essured Cbris, ‘¢Do not take me for a focl, gentlemen, if I do look like one, I know my gait, and I am not letting my head run away with my heels,” This bad the effect of causing the desperadoes to hesitate somewhat, while tbey looked to their leader for instructions, Lightfinger Flip seemed puzzled, | “Throw down that knife!” commanded Chris, sternly, “I am not going to fool with you a momeut, If you do nut drop it instantly, 1 will send you to tend the fires of your master down below. Drop it!” The blade feil from the whisky tough’s band and struck point first in the floor, where it stood quivering. ‘“Thatisrigbt. It is plain you are not sucha fool as I was half-inclined to believe.” ‘‘And you,” broke in the icy voice of Light- finger Flip—‘tyou are a bigger fool than 1 thought possible. I have you lined,” The young cowboy did not even turn his ! ead, ‘‘Did you ever get left?” he calmly inquired, ‘‘There is such a thing as being too sharp for one’s own health, a fact which you should fully realize,” oy ‘‘But J hold the drop just now, and Iam not the man to get left with such an advantage, If you will cast a glance over your shoulder, you can lock into the muzzle of my bulldog.” ‘¢ And for tbat reason you think you have me on the bip. You never made a bigger error in al] your life.” This seemed to confound the gambkr some- what, but be retorted; “Talk is cheap, Show your cards.” ‘““ The man who shows his hand prematurely is pretty certain to get left. Excuse me if I hold cff till the pot is fatted, But I will inform you now that I bave a royal flush. You can believe it or not as you choose,” ‘“You have royal gall!” was the card-sharp’s nalf-admiring assertion. ‘‘ But it is plain you are playing a game of bluff,” ‘You must not think so because you are in the habit of playing that geme, This is a game of life and death, as you will find. The first victim bas fallen through your treachery, but it will not be Jong before ycu go to keep him com- pany in the tittle graveyard over by the pines, Your hours—your minutes are numbered,’ At this the gambler turned a shade paler, but forced a scornful laugh, ‘It is plain you like to hear yourself talk,” he sneered, ‘‘ You will go under the sod first, my boy, for [ shall finish you off directly.” — “* Now don’t be ina hurry witb your finishing,” advised the young cattleman. ‘' You may make a mistake, I do not suppose you are aware that about a dcezen guns are trained directly on your black heart and an equal number of bullets will find their way through that important organ of your body if you pull trigger on me?” ‘* Another try at bluff,” fell from the gambler’s lips. z Do you think so? Well, what do you sup- pose my pards are doing all this time?” Lightfinger Flip did not reply. Chris laughed. , ‘“‘ Tf you will take the trouble to glance toward the windows,” he smiled, ‘* you will tumble to the situation.” ‘¢ Holy thunder!” cried Nevada Mike. ‘ Ther cow-puncbers hev ther drop from ther outside,” This created a decided sensation among the toughs, | ‘Well, now,” remarked Chris, ‘‘ with the aid of my pointer, you have managed to grasp the situation at last.” Lightfinger Flip swore roundly. ‘Foul play!” he snarled, : At that moment the commanding figure of Old Rattlebrain appeared. As he heard the gambler’s cry, the strange man dashed forwaré, shouting: *“? . "y ‘- , 4 ¥ is a4, CX on a Je ban i + CpDOOKS ' oh iy: ; : . ‘ or