Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1041 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

eR: t af: i ; cae # ee dashing madly up to them. Sure they were friends, he shouted: e — > = *\ é wy 8 Cowboy Christo the Fore. fire soon declined so much tbat they were un- able to see him when they looked back; but they knew, if he was watching, he could still see them. When they reached the ranch they were told that Orson Colfax had been carried inside and also that bis injury was by no means fatal. ** Critter jest creased bim,” explained Jack Kipper. ‘‘ Bullet plowed ’long side bis head, Et tad bin an inch ter ther left, it w’u’d ’a’ bin ood-by Colfax, It wuz one mighty lucky thing er ther boss!” ** Ts he all right?” ** Yep, he’s kem round,” ** How does he ’pear?” “Sorter dazed like, He said he’d like ter see you ’fore you went back ter Robinson's,” ‘* Did you tell him we wuz arter ther varmint thet tried ter salt him for keeps?” ‘6 -Yep.” ** Wat did he say?” ‘*Said he hoped you’d ketch him an’ fotch him back fer him ter git at.” Round-up Rube left the saddle and entered the ranch, finijing Colfax on a rude bed, a bloody bandage around bis head. Tbe Tender- foot Rancher started as soon as he saw the fore- man of the Robivson Runch, eagerly demand- ing: ‘* Have you caught that wretch?” The bow-legged cowboy shook his head. **Sorry, Mister Colfax, but ther critter wuz mounted on er better hoss then any o’ us, an’ he got clean off.” A look of genuine disapp intment clouded Orson Colfax’s face, and he sunk back with a moan of mingled pain and raze. **T will have hith life to pay for thitb,” he declared. ‘‘ He meant to kill me, thir!” * Hain’t nary doubt ’boué thet, an’ it’s jest er plum’ wonder he didn’t succeed, But I reckon you meant ther same dost fer him, eh?” ‘“‘T fired at hitb heart, thir, and I am not in the habit of mithing. I learned to thoot under one of the betht markthmen io the countwy.” ** We hev come to ther conclusion thet ther varmint wears some kind o’ er protection thet wards off the bullets, You saw us when we eppered at ther Biack Poenix as he ’peared at obinson’s, an’ you know thet it seemed not er bullet tetched him, Wal,.I’m goin’ ter sav this: Ef I didn’t plink at least three lead pills bunt erg’in’ his buzzum, [ hope lll never pull trigger erg’iv! An’ t/other boys done thersame. Yit he sot thar like he wuz madeo’iron, You hed er squar’ chance at Pablo, an’ you say you never miss, yit you didn’t Knock him outer ther saddle. We follered arter him an’ j*st nacher- ally rained lead all over ther critter, yit be rode off as unconeerned as er jinny-dad-dern, b’gosh! Now, w’at do ye make vo’ thet, Col- fax?’ **T weckon that ith plain enough,” was the Tenderfoot Rancher’s reply. ‘‘ It ith not werry often 1 am dethieved, but, thir, I am free to confeth that thith fellow did dethieve me, Mis- tah Wobinthbon thaid he thought Pablo and thith Black Phenix wath one and the thame, and, b’Jove, thir, I think tho mythelf now!” ** An’ I reckon thar hain’t nary doubt but thet is ther clean underdulvVrated truth,” nodded Rube, ‘‘W’en we put our claws onter ther Greaser, we'll hev Black Phenix in our grip. Cy Robinson will most likely send out a party of searchers in toe morning. Kin he look fer any aid from you?” *Yeth, thir! I will thend him every man I can pothibly thpare.” ** Bully fer you, Colfax!” and Rube held out one horny hand, ‘‘ You hev got better stuff in ye then I thought at ther fu’st. You will bold yer own out hyer arter all, [ reckon!” The Tenderfoot Rancher smiled faintly at this praise and allowed the bluff cowboy to give him & warm grasp. A few moments later, Rube joined his com- rades, and those who were to return to the Robinson Ranch were soon on their way, the cowboys of the Diamond having assured them they would need no aid in looking after the glowing ruins. | The return was made at a slow pace, the cow- boys discussing the events of the night and ex- pressing their various opinions. On one point they seemed unanimous: Pablo Pajario was Black Phenix the Scourge. There seemed not the least doubt about that, 3 But the surprising events of the night were not over, by ary means, The party was yet at least two miles from the Robinson Ranch when a mounted cowboy came As soon as "6 was : ahem, . . 5,” d "% ‘ . ih 4 : A | ’ es he . ? 4 - - s th PTS, , P ih ee Le id hit “he ~ . « ge ft ae, 7 ** More deviltry, pards! Satan is holding a jubilee to-night for sure!” ‘* Wat is it now?’ snarled Round-up Rube, who was in anything but an agreeable mood. ‘* W’at in ther name o’ sin has happened, now?” ‘* 'T’other gal’s clean gone!” was the amazing declaration, ‘* Wat?’ fairly howled the foreman, ‘* Not ther boss’s gal?” ‘‘ Ther very same,” ‘* But whar’s she gone?—how? I don’t under- stan’ it.” ‘*No more duz anybody else, She’s gone, an’ thet’s all we know ’bout it. Ther boss sent me hot-foot fer you fellers,” The two miles which intervened between them and the ranch were quickly covered, and as they rode along, the cowboy who had brought them word of this secona disappearance was plied with questions, However, they could ob- tain very little satisfaction from bim. He bad told allhe knew, Miss Nina had disappeared and could not be found, but no man seemed to know how it had happened, Everything was in confusion when they reach- ed the ranch, “he second calamity seemed to have driven Cy Robinson crazy, and it was with the utmost difficulty he could be restrained from doing bimself or some one else injury. ‘*Gone clean daft fer ther time,” muttered Rube. ‘* He'll cool off by an’ by, an’ then thar’ll be er hot hunt, you bet!” Assisted by Fred Anthrop and C@bris Com- st: ck, the foreman began bis investigations, but+ they wade very unsatisfactory progress. About all that could be discovered was that Nina had been seen moving about witbin the ranch and no one bad noticed she left it. Happening to want ber for something, her father was unable to find her, Quick to take the alarm, he bad | set «thers to searching, but the only result had ‘heen a confirmation cf his first fears that there had been more foul work, ‘* Derned ef | understan’ it!” muttered Rube, who was plainly puzzled. ‘* Allow me to offer a hint,” said Chris Com- stock, at the bow-legged cowboy’s elbow. ‘* Sart’in, lad, sarvin.” ‘* See if all the men are to be found.” ‘Then you think—wi’at?” ‘* Nothing at/present. If any one is missing— Well, 1 wil! tell you what I think then,” Without delay, the foreman made the investi- gation suggested, and the Ciscovery was made that there was one man missing, Ruck Pike could not be found, ‘* Look for his hoss, pards,” ordered Rube. Tke horse was also gone. *t Thet settles it!’ nodded the bow-legged cow- boy. **T am ready to tell what I think,” said Chris, ‘*°?Tain’t necessary, lad. Ther hull black work is plain as day. Ruck Pike wuz er new man, an’ he bes turned out ter be a cursed tifai- tor! W’en we lay ban’s on him, we'll bang ther skunk ter ther nearest tree, hey, pards?” And the cry that came from the lips of the cowboys boded no good for Ruck Pike. CHAPTER IX, IN THE RETREAT. * HiT it, pard!” exclaimed Whisky Jim, with apparent relief—‘‘ hit it plumb on ther head! Ther boss is kerryin’ er bigh han’ ter-night. He is makin’ ther fur fly in these yer’ parts. Holy Moses! but won’t thar be some howlin’:” ‘You kin gamble on it,” was Nevada Mike’s retort. ‘‘ But ther chief kuows his biz, an’ he hain’t workin’ all this row fer nuthin’.” ‘* Nary time. He don’t work thet wav, He skoops ther bood’, ev’ry pop. W’en he gits through with this leetle burl he is hevin’ roun’ byer, he’ll prob’ly slide fer Mexico,” ** An’ we'll slide with him,” ‘*To be course we will! I don’t ’low it’ll be healthy fer us in these parts then,” ‘* Wal, I reckon not!’ ** Wat d’yer reckon ther boss ’ll be able ter squeeze outer ole Robinson fer ther gal?” ‘**T bain’t good at figgers, but itll be er clean heap. Cy will bev ter kem down lib’ral.” ‘* An’ then d’yer s’pose ther boss will guv up ther gal?” ‘Hard tellin. He may takea fancy ter her an’ kerry her with ’im inter Mexico.” Nell shuddered as she heard these words, but she was puzzled to unlerstand why the ruffians should think Cy Robinson would offer a big re- ward for her restoration, He was nothing to her more than her host and the father of the girl whom she had learned to consider as her dearest female friend. | But one thing was certain: Fred would not 7 8 remain idle while se was in peril. Still, what could he do alone? Alone} He would not be alone. There was her father, the strange man whom she was still unable to understand—he would make every effort for ber recovery. And Chris—surely she was not friendless. Once more the kidnappers rode onward, How long that ride Jasted the tortured girl could never tell, but some time before they reached the end of the journey, the ruffians were considerate enough to remove the gag from be- tween her aching jaws, ‘Thar ye are, lady-bird!” laughed Mike, “I don’t reckon thar’s ary need of keepin’ yer thrap- ple from yoopin’ ef ye feels Jike it, We hev passed clean beyend ther p’int of danger, an’ you kin squeal as muchas ye derned please ’thout bringin’ ther dogs down onter us,” But she raised vo outery, well knowing the brutal wretch spoke the truth and she would be simply wasting ber breath, Indeed, she could not have uttered a cry immediately after the gag was removed had she tried ever so hard to do so. For the time, her tongue seemed paralyzed. ‘*¢ She don’t seem ter keer bout makin’ er noise,” langbed Whisky Jim, coarsely. ‘‘Sheseems jest contented ter lay in your arms clost ter your palpertatin’ heart, Mickael. Thet ’pears ter be joy ernough fer ther gentle critter.” *‘Oh, I’low she’s clean mashed on me. They all git thet way. You might be one ef you’d only stop guzzlin’ so much whisk’, Thet stuff sp’iles ther scent o’ yer bréath.” ‘ ‘*{ don’t reckon you'll be anywhar w’en ther boss gits roun’, pard, He'll be clean gone on ther leetle dear, an’ your chances fer buggin’ her will be over. Better prove ther oppertunity wile ye kin.” ‘* You dastardly wretches!” came slowly from the captive maiden’s lips, swer dearly for this outrage!” ‘“ By gol!” cried Jim. ‘She's got grit! W’y, some gals’d be whimperin’ an’ cryin’.” ‘‘Reckon she hain’t built of thet kind of stuff.” \ Toe robbers’ retreat was finally reached, and the girl felt certain she was carried into a cav- ern, Although the gag had been removed, the bandage was still kept over her eyes. Through the cloth she caught a gleam of firelight, and then she was placed upon her feet, ‘‘Stan’ stiday, honey,” advised Whisky Jim. “ Keep cool erbout two jiffs. an’ lil hev ye free an’ git thet rag off yer face,” With a knife he eut the bonds which confined her feet and bands, and then she snatched the blindfold from ber face, As she had suspected, she was in a cavern, and near at band a cheerful fire was burning in a sort of natural fireplace. The light of this fire was all the illumination provided. the bare, rugged walls of stone on three sides, and the black darkness of the cave on the other. As the girl removed the blindfold, a cry of amazement burst from the lips of the whisky tougb, for he then saw ber face plainly for the first time that night! Inthe room at the ranch he bad leaped upon her from behind, and from that moment till be was clear of the building he had kept his eyes about him to make sure he was not running intoa trap. In the darkness of the little grove he came near looking at the captive’s face by the aid of alighted match, but the sud- den alarm at the ranch had caused him to give up his purpose, Now be was filled with con- sternation and amazement, ‘“Great Scott!” he gasped, Nevada Mike came burrying up, inquiring: ‘© Wat is it, pard?” ‘+ Locker thar!” and Jim pointed at their ca tive. of ourselves. tall!” Mike took one look at Nell’s face, then he burst into a torrent of profanity that made the r girl shudder with fear and disgust. Whisky yim seemed too astounded to even swear, Suddenly Mike turned furiously on his part- ner, “ You thunderin’ idiot!” be howled. ‘‘ W’ata blamed jackass you hev made of yerself! Oh, w’at er fool you bel” » ‘* You’re ia it, too,” mumbled Jim. ‘‘ How’s thet? Not by er blamed sight, I hain’t! You wuz ther one who went inter ther room an’ scooped ther gal. I didn’t even git one leetle peep at her face tell jest now,” ‘“No more did I. I wuz lookin’ out fer my own skin.” grap- Thet hain’t ole Robinson’s gal a . But you must hev see’d her w’en you pled her in her room, you blunderin’ fool!” *¢ Never looked at ber phiz.” ‘‘ You wuz drunk!” stormed Mike, ‘1 tole ‘9 o 7~ 1 Ay 7 ’ * Hf : A , - ' * a 2 ike Le al i ‘oe oie as" Vm er leddy-killer, James. - ‘* W’at double-derned fools we hev made ‘* You shall both an- It showed ; iy 4 a aad a 1426 | . 4 \ ‘ ; » aro . =~ oud . : ‘ - 4 " ° . } - . ne. rc = : * > -t 7% 4 , in te pten |} he Ge ee | ~ Ve . wee ~ - “Ee ; : <—i¥ a >| o * rf v- * “ * ara 3 sw A * fs id a” gay - ~~ & ‘ . . vagel i x, - “ — nS ot Se A. finer : . : 4 P et oe a i a ~ < - ~ 4 ; ane O —— re . > wa ee Moras, onda = i ye - ’ * 3 mM $ ye a 4 | Co ef “ee ;