Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1041 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

ate 4 v3 — silence, then he leaned forward and once more tried to peer into the captive’s face, ‘She is layin’ mighty still,” he confessed. *¢ She’d oughter be stirriu’ by this time, I can’t see her face wu’th er hoot, it is so blamed dark. Reckon [ will strike er match.” He did so, shielding it with the palms of his half-closed bands. Bending forward, he wés on the point of throwing the light into the captive’s face and making a startling discovery, when Nevada Mike suddenly hissed; ‘‘ Douse it, pard—out, out! brack loose at ther ranch!” Across the dark sweep of rolling plain came the sounds of excited cries, followed in a moment by the braying of dogs, causing both of tbe kid- nappers to leap to their feet, Whisky Jim ex- tinguishing the match between his callous hands, Outside the ranch-buildings lights were mov- ing hither and thither. Men were calling to each otber and the dogs continued to bark, ‘‘ Wat ef they putt them dogs onter our track?” hoarsely whispered the whisky tough, his voice shaking with a new-born fear, ‘“‘T dunno how they’re goin’ ter do it,” said Mike. ‘‘They can’t pick out our trail ef they try, thar are so menny others ter foul it.” ‘¢ But ef they c’u’d—” ‘*Our goose w’w’d be cooked fer sure, But wait; whar’s ther boss? Ef ho keeps his word, we're all right.” ‘6 Ef he duz!” “ Fe will; don’t git shaky, pard.” Half crouching, as if they feared detection despite the dense darkness and the distance which intervened between them and the ranch, they watched and waited, consumed by a fear that some of the cowboys would take it into their heads to visit the little patch of timber, Slowly the minutes dragged by. “ Will ther boss never play his hand?” ‘* Yen—thar he goes !” The rattle of pistol-shots came from the direc- tion of the ranch, mingled with still wilder shouts of amazement and dismay, ‘Ter work!” hissed Nevada Mike, ‘‘ Git ther hosses ready; I'l) look arter ther gal.” As he bent over the captive she struggled violently to burst her bonds, having a wild de- sire to free her hands, snatch the gag from her mouth and utter a shriek that would reach the ears of the brave cowboys, and bring them charging to her rescue, “¢ Ah!” exclaimed Mike, as she moved beneath his touch. ‘So you are kickin’, eh? Well, kick erway, my dear; we hev ye tightan’ fast. As you hev kem roun’, I reckon [ll hev ter muffle up yer eyes ter keep ye frum seein’ too much. Sorry ter do it, honey, but business is business ev’ry time, an’ we’d be blamed fools ter let ye hev ther use of yer peepers. Boss said ter keep ’em kivered, an’ I’m ’beyin’ orders w’en he guvs *em,” In a few moments her eyes were securely blindfolded, Then she was lifted in Mike’s strong arms and carried a short distance, ‘¢ Critters all ready, pard?” “ All ready,” relied Jim. “Swing up, you, an’ take ther gal.” So Nell was passed up to the whisky tough, and, a moment later, they were moving out of the grove, taking care to keep the timber be- tween thern and the ranch, despite the dark- ness. \ The two ruffians moved ata gallop, well know- ing the excitement at the ranch would destroy the last possibility of the tread of their animals being detected, even though Round-up Rube himself should listen with bis ear to the ground, “Slick work, ole man!” chuckled Mike. “ Ey’rythin’ went as if twuz greased.” *“‘ All ther same, thar wuzn’t ary need of our waitin’ in ther timber,” retorted Jim, ‘* We hed heap plenty time ter git clean off,” ‘* But we wuz only ’beyin’ orders,” Then they rode on in silence. Several times the captive maiden was exchanged, the kid- nappers taking turns in carrying her, To the r girl it seemed as if they had ridden many ours, when an exclamation came from Mike’s lips, and both men drew rein. “Wat is it?’ asked Jim, in an awe-stricken whisper, ‘*Derned ef I kin tell! It hain’t ther moon, an’ ther sun hain’t risin’, ‘less it has made a mis- take an’ lost its reckonin’.” * Hain’t ther grass afire, pard?” * Mebbe, Anyhow, [ guess it’s er fire. See how it’s risin’!; No, thet hain’t no grass-fire! Thet means buildin’s!” ** Some ranch?” **You've struck it! An’ by ther direction— Ther dogs hev - Derned ef it hain’t ther Di’mon’ Ranch!” ee “—L * We ty \ . a - - . : ia y , ? ry = s “ef 4 a is 4) a ys a a f - .¢... - ‘ ids : : be \. a r wa St ta ae eae Fr. ete RS eee eee - | Va _-_ '} + soit af 3 = ‘> DS. © wee Cowboy Chris to the Fore. “ Sure pop, ur I dunno my head frum er hoel in ther groun’!” ‘‘Ther Tenderfut Rancher ’s bein’ burned out,” ** W’at’s it mean?’ ‘‘Mean? W’y, man! can’t you see? It means y more of ther chief’s work! P’r’aps his owa han’ never sot thet fire, but I'll eat my head ef some of ther gang didn’t do it under his direc- shuns!” tt, CHAPTER VI. A WILD RIDE THROUGH THE NIGHT, F It was with difficulty Cy Robinson kept many of the cowboys from joining in the pursuit of the black-hooded rider of the dark horse. Their blood was fairly boiling, and they were eager to avenge the fall of their mates who had been shot down by the daring Scourge. “There are enough going after him,” pro- tested the rancher. ‘* They will be able to over- take him if such a thing is possible, and their number will do the work as well as more, This may be a trick to draw us from the ranch while the dastards who own that wretch as chief com- plete the work they have begun.” Not that there was a single drop of cowardly blood in the old rancher’s veivs! Far from it! But be was wise enough to perceive the evident hopelessness of the pursuit, and he thought of his own child and those women who would be left without protection. His cooler judgment prevailed, aud more than one-half of the men turned to look after those who had been stricken down by the bullets of the black horseman. The unfortunates were lifted gently and car- ried into the ranch, where the frightened women were huddled together, speaking in whispers. Nina Robinson at once proved her value, She produced cloths for bandages, and under ler directions, the weunds of the unlucky ones were swiftly attended to, By rare good fortune, not a man had been fatally injured. There was a general feeling of thankfulness when this became known, The guests discussed the outrage, and all were unanimous in the decision that an organized at- tempt must be immediately made to bring Black Phenix to justice, or again drive him from that part of the country, ‘‘Tf that wascal ith going to carry on in thith way, I will thell my pwoperty for half-pwithe,” asserted Orson Colfax, who seemed the most alarmed of anybody, ‘* Thith ith thomething I did not bargain for when | bougbt that wanch, by gwathuth!” ‘*T told you you might find ranching far from heing as alluring as it seemed at first,” said Cy Rubinson. ‘“ There are not a few drawbacks about it.” ‘Well, I thould thay tho!” ‘Dey hab kerried off my pore lit’l’ missy!” wailed Pete, the darky, appearivog at this mo- | ment. ‘Oh, I’se nebber gwine ter be happy no mo’, nebber! Dis yar jes’ completely combus- tereates me fo’ suah! Pore lit’l’ missy! pore lit’??? missy!” ‘‘She shall be rescued, Pete,” assured Cy Robinson, gravely. ‘* We will know no rest fiil she issaved. The whole country will rise in ber behalf,” ‘* Praise de Lawd fo’ dat! up de banjer tell I jes’ gits her back in dese yar arms—I is, boss! I’s allus protected dat chile an’ stood by her lek a fadder, an’ now it jes’ bre’ks me all up to bab her incinderated in dis yar way. My ole heart am gone clear outen my boddy.” He skambled away, looking at least twenty years older than when he sung the song a brief time before, ‘* A faithful old servant,” commented Cy Robinson, looking after bim. ‘ He has a heart that is true blue, if his skin is black,” ‘‘ But, he ith a niggah, y’know!” protested Colfax, with a look of repugnance on his smooth face. ‘I cawn’t bear niggabs!” Cy Robinson turned on the Tenderfoot Rancher, uttering scmething that sounded strangely like an oath of disgust, For a moment the old rancher forgot his usual courtesy, as he snapped: ‘You can’t stand a nagaans f Well, I swear! Yet you can stand a Greaser, beside whom that old black man isa prince! You can have for a foreman one of the contemptible yaller- skins—the meanest, sneakingest, double-faced whelps that breathe God’s pure air! Colfax, you make me tired!” The face of the tenderfoot flushed hotly, and he seemed on the point of making a repl “bat he restrained himself, more than one of the wit: nesses believing he dared not make a retort to I’s gwine ter bang the indignant ranchman., be fy », ¥ " Vw * a * ¥, a” “a t hy ’ ty ie . ; a ae of $1, : ee oe Mi y f ] But, as the owner of the Diamond Ranch turn- ed away, a change came over Bobinson’s face, | and hecaught Colfax by the arm. ‘‘ Say, partner!” his voice having changed as well as his expression of countenance; “I ask your pardon, I fired up too quick, but [do so at times. I did not mean anything, and l hope you will overlook what I said.” He offered his hand, and, with a show of dignity, Orson Colfax accepted it, saying: “Thath al) wight. I athure you I do not ex- pect your people out heah to have the culti- wation of uth of the Easth. We are naturally more wefined, y’know,” A smile passed over the honest rancher’s face. ‘‘T suppose that is true,” he confessed. ‘* That being the case, you cannot take offense if I give you a bit of advice free of charge. It is simply this: get rid of your present foreman at once. ~Or, better still, snap him up _ and inch him till he confesses that he is the Black henix or one of the Scourge’s trusted tools.” ‘* Pinch him?” ‘‘ Yee: make him confess.” ‘‘Do you weally think he ith that dweadfut wascal?” “Tt looks that way. does Pablo ride?” ‘* A black one.” ‘‘ With a white star in its forehead?” ‘*) think tho,” ‘‘Did you notice the horse of the outlaw?” ‘Land tbhaketh, no! I wath tho flustherd that I did not notice anything.” ‘‘Tt was black with a white star.” ‘‘Tth that tho? Good gwatbutb!” Orson Colfax seemed too astounded to give What kind of a horse ‘further vent to bis feelings. The merrymaking of the night was over, and many of the guests took an immediate departure, having property of their own to look after and feeling somewhat nervous for its safety since the appearance of the Black Phenix. Orson Colfax finally celled tegether his men and bade them prepare for the return to the Diamond Ranch. In a short time they were ready, one of them bringing the Tenderfcot Reancher’s saddle horse to him, Colfax held out bis hand to Cy Robinson be- fore they parted. “Tf ]can do anything in the way of athisth- ing in the thirch forthe young lady, Ltrutht you wil] let me know,” he said. ‘* I atbure you, my~ thelf and my men ere at your dithposal,” Before the party bad ridden a mile they detect- ed the glow which was beginning to light up the horizon far ahead, . At first they were puzzled to understand what it meant, but oneof the cow- boys suddenly exclaimed: “ Tts fire, boss—fire, sure asskootin’! An’ ther ranch is in edzactly thet direction! It looks like ther buildin’s are a}! ablaze!” For a moment Orson Colfex seemed dazed, then a cry broke from his lips; “Tt ith the work of thothe ccnfwounded wob~ bers! What thall we do?” ‘¢ Ride—ride like ther devil!” shouted the cow~ boy addressed, ‘ Ben Ford an’ Jack Kipper are thar. They need vs an’ need us bad! Kem on!” Orson Colfax neeced nourging, He drove the spurs into the sides of his horse till they dripped blood and the fiery animal), snorting with pain, earried its rider to the very front of the little party, a position maintained during all that wild: ride through the night. | CHAPTER VII. TWO SHOTS, ALTHOUGH he claimed to have learned horse- manship at a riding-schoo] where the pupil was first mounted on a wooden dummy, Orson Col- fax proved bimself as gocd as the best of bis. cowboys that night. Never before bad bis men seen the Tenderfoot Rancher ride like that. He sat in the saddle as though a part of his horse, scarcely betraying a sign of the mechanical manner in which he often rode and at which the cowboys bad secretly laughed, For the time he was a man among them, As they swept onward with their eyes fixed on that red glow ahead, it became plainly evident the fire was rising rapidly, For all of this ap- parent fact, not a word came from the tightly- compressed lips of the one who owned the build- ings being consumed by the fire fiend. But he was merciless with his spurs, and if he had not. been mounted on an unusually fine animal, the’ horse would have been ruined or have fallen to the rear to allow the more considerate cowboys — first place. ‘¢ Ther hull of the men. ‘‘Ther devil is loose in ther San Juan Valley now thet Black Phenix is back!” “Right, pard,” agreed another. ‘' We hed : : - J | | if derned place is blazin’!” ried one © vt ' . - f yi * 9 | s*) “h “a! ’ ¥ “ 4 Ss" - Ss =e