Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1041 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

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They were men of Black Phenix’s band, and they had been attracted to the spot by the loud words of the two ruffians, One advanced and stepped between the angry men, saying sternly: ** What does this mean? Why are you quar- reling and snarling like dogs over a bone?” There was a moment of hesitation, then both of the kicnappers hastened to explain. The dis- guised outlaw listened to their jumbled state- = in grim silence for a time, but finally Said: ‘*T understand, You have made a blunder and brought the wrong girl here. Well, Iam sorry for you. This is your first job, and you have made a botch of it. It will go hard with you, unless the chief is in a milder mood than usual, You had better make the best of it, and keep close watch of the girl you have brought here, It is probable the chief will be here be- fore morning,” Which was small consolation for the kidnap- ers, The hooded outlaws disappeared, leaving Jim and Mike alone with their captive. The ruffians did not offer to renew their quar- rel, but Mike turned on the girl, snarling: Wal, you’ve got us inter a poorty scrape, I sw’ar! But I don’t reckon you'll git off any easier by it. You’re better lookin’ then t’other one, an’ ther boss may take a shine ter ye. Ef he duz, thet’ll save our bacons. You’d best sot down an’ take it easy.” There was nothing else to be done, and as Nell was an unusually brave girl, she complied without making any fuss. Jim and Mike threw themselves on the hard ground and stared silently int» the fire, their crime-hardened faces wearing anything but pleasant looks, And thus the hours wore away. _ Suddenly a shrill whistle sounded three times in succession, in a distant part of the cave, at which the two men by the fire started up and listened anxiously. There was a brief pause, then two more sharp blasts sounded clearly. ‘* It’s ther boss!” gasped the two ruffians, ih a breath, their swarthy faces becoming pale, CHAPTER X, THE PARDS AT WORK. BREATHLESSLY the two ruffians awaited the appearance of the Black Pienix. After a few moments a dark-clothed, hooded figure advanced out of the darkness, and paused within the circle of firelight. Not a word did he speak as he re- garded the girl, whose eyes flashed defiantly, and his satellites, who cringed and cowered be- fore him, There was something ominous in his silence, Whisky Jim opened his mouth to make an ex- planation, but the hooded man lifted one hand with a gesture that immediately silenced the ruffian, and caused him to shiver with appre- hension, At length the silent one turned his black eyes upon his chosen tools, and through the openings in the hood they saw his orbs flashing in a man- ner which seemed to speak il! for them. Then the strange leader of outlaws turned and walked - away into the darkness, still declining to utter a \ word, P Jim and Mike looked at each other in astonish- / Ment, + ‘4 + o , . . . * Ve “ aN ee . : - wy ‘ b. ‘ a5 py FP “ ~~ as ofyert IE. 4 t ** 'W’at’s it mean?” gasped the former, **Wal, now, you tell!” retorted Mike, ‘TI dunno whether he’s goin’ ter let us off easy, or has gone ter prepare fer ther funeral. It may be one, but derned ef it don’t look like ’twuz t’other!”’ A day spent in fruitless searching for the kid- napped girls was approaching its close. With the first peep of sg he | Cy Robinson and his men were in the saddle, and they scarcely dis- _mounted for a moment throughout the day, . Orson Colfax kept bis word by sending a de- tachment of his men to assist in the hunt, also offering an expression of his regret at being un- eee vy ' Meas oA . - ™ Cems a a | rf Ly, RS 7 ** “a! Naty ? “7 * : ’ ; egy ¢ ; wed fn ’ ae o “ree es o ; ‘ Lal} ¥ s * ’ « ° 4§ or 4 . “4 ; ; ‘ ‘Aue Ny. 7 ee =e» > [ee ag ~ ee ee ee ey See me Oat EE — See 8 Oe Se eee + Cowboy Chris to the Fore. able to take part himself. Pablo’s bullet in- capacitated him for so great an exertion, As night approached, and no clew to the fate of the missing girls was found, Cy Robinson showee signs of despair. Round-up Rube did his level best to cheer his employer, but the rancher was despondent. Chris Comstock and Fred Anthrop were with one of the smaller parties of searchers, and the young cowboy’s words did much to keep up the spirits of his friends, Chris seemed very con- fident of finally finding the girls and punishing the kidnappers, but to tell the truth, he was far from being so confident as he appeared. He knew the reputation of the Black Phenix, and he believed the outlaw as cunning as bold, a fact proven by his past operations, Toward sunset a horseman was sighted on a distant sweli. The man was sitting silently in the saddle and seemed viewing the sweep of roll- ing plain before him, By the aid of a field-glass he carried, Chris made out that the horseman was Rodney Welland, ‘‘It is Nell’s father,” he said. ‘‘ Fred, it is our duty to see if we can approach him and in- duce him to go back to the ranch with us. Of course he has not tasted a mouthful of food to- day. Deranged as be is, he-may wander about till he perishes of starvation.” So the two horsemen left the others and rode toward that silent horseman, As they drew nearer, thev decided he was watching them ap- proach. When within earshot, they bailed him, waving their bats above their heads, As if alarmed by the act, Old Rattlebrain reined his horse round and fled from them, head- ing toward a distant range of low bills, The voung men were taken by surprise at first, but Chris quickly cried: ‘“Come on, Fred! we will try to overtake him, The chances are he has ridden that horse till it will fail to prove a match even for our own overworked animals, Comeou!”’ Fred needed no urging. Giving his horse free rein and a touch of the spur, he kept close at bis comrade’s side, The horse which Welland bestrode proved fresher than they had hoped he would, and, al- though he did not draw from them, he surely held hisown, Now and then the strange man would look back to ascertain if his pursuers were gaining, ‘* He takes us for enemies,” said Fred. ‘ Let’s call to him again.” But Chris counseled against such a course, ‘We made a mistake by doing so before,” be asserted. ‘*That was what alarnied him, Had we remained silent, I fancy we should have had no trouble in approaching bim.” Slowly the great red sun sunk beyond the far distant mountains, which seemed to thrust their peaks up out of the plain. By the time they reached the low hills the day-god entirely had disappeared. **1t will be dark ina short time,” said Chris. “*If we overtake Mr. Welland at all, we shall bave to do so soon.” Within the hills they Jost sight of the deranged man several times. Finally, they came to a place where he might have chosen either of two courses, buf the nature of the ground and the gathering twilight prevented Chris from deter- mining which he had taken. The young cowboy quickly explained how by separating they could follow both courses and meet at a certain point without any dauger of missing each other, So they separated for the time, Chris turning to the right and Fred to the left, The Easterner had not proceeded far when the sound of shots and shouts came plainly to his ears, telling him there was trouble of some kind ahead, Giving his horse the spur and dropping the rein to produce his revolvers, Fred forged on- ward, seized by a desire to take a hand in the battle, if battle it was, | Be soon came upon a scene of wild work, Rodney Welland’s borse lay dead on the ground while the deranged man was battling bare- handed with eight foes! Despite the terrible odds, Old Rattlebrain seemed to be holding his own, dealing terrible blows right and left, sending the men staggering to the ground almost as fast as they could get upon their feet. And,tigh above their shouts and oaths rose the strange man’s wild laugh, for he actually seemed to delight in the terribly un- equal struggle in which he was engaged. Straight toward the writhing knot of men dashed Fred Anthrop, but he was unable to use his weapons, fearing he should hit Nellie Wel- land’s father instead of his foes. One of! the meu turned and clutched the bit of Bin’) ty / : 4, TOS WS boa ey * 4 * >» Sige) nd ee * Cn a Py * i «Ss cling ry i} bu { - a i* ' 7 Er « . : . ‘ - +> “=v ah aw -Co Es oe 9 Fred’s horse just as the animal was upon them, setting the creature back on its haunches by a strong surge. ‘‘EKasy thar!” snarled the man, ‘“* W’at in blazes are you doin’, you foo]!” ‘* Coming to take a hand in this little game!” was the reply, as the speaker left the saddle for the ground, ‘** Yer’re er derned—” The fellow finished with an cath of delight, as he obtained a fair view of Fred’s face and re- cognized him, despite the murky twilight. ‘‘ Ha!” cried the Easterner, also recognizing the man who had checked his dash. ‘‘So itis you, Whisky Jim!” ‘You bet! An’ now I'll hev er chance ter settle ther leetle score erg’in’ you. Come termy arms, honey!” In another moment the two men were locked in each other’s grasp, struggling for the su- premacy., The whisky tough soon found he had made an error in thinking he could easily handle the tenderfoot, and Fred Anthrop proved him- self something like a match for the desperado, But Jim was soon aided by one of his compan- ions, and, though he fought desperately to the last, Fred was made a prisoner, being lashed se- curely to the trunk of a tree, Old Rattlebrain had been knocked senseless by a blow on the head, and the ruffianly gang was triumphant. CHAPTER XL. WHISKY JIM TRIUMPHANT. THE desperadoes vented their satisfaction in loud shouts, Darkness had séttled swiftly over the bit of low hill-land, and the order was given to build a small fire, that they might be able to see what they were about, a thing which was quickly done. As the dry grass and brushwood caught to blaze up merrily, Fred Anthrop’s face was re- vealed, but his foes saw nothing but defiance and scorn written on it, Nota sign of fear was there. Old Rattlebrain began to stir slightly, bis breathing being hoarse and painful, like that of a man who is strangling. His eyes slowly opened, but there was a vacant stare in their depths and he did not seem to realize his situ- ation, Mechanically be watched the moving figures of the desperadces, all of whom, with the exception of Whisky Jim, had disguised them- selves with the black hoods of the cattle-lifters, which was enough to reveal the fact that they were of Black Phenix’s band, The whisky tough did not seem to think it necessary to assume a disguise, as be bad al- ready been recognized by Fred. With his arms akimbo and his hands on bis bips, he watched the men building the fire, now and then casting a triumphant glance at the young man bound in a sitting posture with his back against the trunk of a tree, As the fire blazed up brightly, Whisky Jim approached the young captive, a horrible grin on his liquor-branded face. ‘‘Got ye,” he chuckled —“‘ got ye fast an’ tighf, kid! An’ now hes kim my time ter settle scores with ye.” “You are triumphant just now,” spoke Fred, calmly, ‘‘ but your day is not far away. Iam sure your race is pretty near an end,” ‘““Wal, ef thet is so—which I doubt most mightily—you will never live ter see the wind- up, younker. That is some satisfaction ter me,” Jim squatted like,a huge dog settling on its haunches, griuning fiendishly into the face of the helpless man, ‘You made er dashed fool of yerself, boy,” he asserted, taking a huge bite from a plug of black tobacco, ‘‘ Yourun yer nose right inter ther trap. Comin’ ter holp Ole Rattlebraiv, eh? Wal, thet ole cuss tuck it tnter his head that he wuz goin’, ter capter ther hull of us single- banded, but he teckled er mighty big job, an’ now we’ve got bim trussed up so he’ll keep as long’s we want bim,” To this Fred made no reply. ‘‘Know w’at I’m goin’ to do with ye, boy?” the tough continued, working his jaws be ously and talking as be chewed, ‘Wal, I s’pose ye members ther time thet ye smacked . me one with yer juke? I tuck er sollum oath then thet I'd git even with ye ur bu’st, an’ pow — my time hes kem, I hed ye oncet before whar I c’u’d wiped ye out, but ye slipped through my fingers. I don’t reckon thar’s any danger of thet now, ** But afore I wipes things as I wants ter tell ye, ‘cause I know they- 11 make ye feel good, Oh, I’m so tender-heart- . ) Ms c h - : : a7 < PN . boi ds aay er (aaa> y °F ‘Ss ¥ “ ) * © Erte - aS eS ee ee e out, thar are er few at + 7 7% 12 . - ay ee ” 7 = ap) 1" yy. n ; 4 ae “ . sy } Digew! 1 neg at 5 r ~ ih id