Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1106 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

The question was heard by the landlord of the | here, a stranger in these parts, but one I have tavern and he said: ‘* Tt should go, stranger, early in the morning, but there is no one to drive it back, unless the Gold King here will do so. ‘* What do you say, Ned?” “Tf will drive it through if you wish it, for there are drivers at the other end of the run who can take it.” ‘Then out she goes; but do you book for the trip, stranger?” ‘*T do, landlord, and I wish the seat on the box with our young driver here.” ‘*So be it, and 1ess few will go through this run, as the Knights of the Road have given them a scare; but here come the boys that went up into the mountains to find the agents who jumped you,” and as the landlord spoke, a party of horsemen and others on foot, came up to the door of the tavern. CHAPTER XXIII. RETRIBUTION, THE horsemen who had gone up into the mountains returned with one dead man, he who had been crushed by the wheels, as he fell in front of the horses, one dying from a wound, and two slightly wounded. The dying man was the chief, and with one glance at him, the stranger said: “That is the man [ shot, as he dashed up to the window!” ‘‘ And that man is Jack Hollis,” Nevada Ned rejoined, quickly. The stranger stepped quickly to the side of the dying man, gazed intently into his wicked, boarded face, and said, slow iy: ‘‘So itis! You are Jack Hollis, though sadly changed from the man I knew thirteen years azo. The outlaw made no reply, and the stranger eontinued : ‘‘ Where is my child, Jack Hollis?” ‘*f do not. know?” “You mean you will not tell mef” 44 Yes.” ‘“*T know.” *“'You do not.” ‘* Ask this brave young man.” The eyes of the road-agent captain turned slowly upon Nevada Ned. The film of death was coming over his eyes, but he recognized the youth and hissed forth: ‘* Curses on you, boy!” ‘“Your curses, Jack Hollis, have come home to roost,” said Nevada Ned, as he turned away. ‘Yes, I know where my child is, Jack Hollis. I know that Ed Thorn is dead, and retribution has come at last upon you; but still [ say, may Heaven have mercy upon you!” The dying man shuddered, but uttered no word, and from that moment did not again speak, dying an hour after. His death seemed to awaken the excited min- ers to the fact that they had a duty to perform, and loud rung the cries: ‘* Up with the other two of ’em!” ‘*They are wounded,” said Nevada Ned. ‘‘ That don’t make no difference, for they hain’t hurt bad. ‘“Up with ’em!’’ was the response. And out they were dragged, a convenient tree served as a gallows, and up to it were dragged the shrieking wretches and left hanging there, a ghastly sight in the moonlight. At dawn the stage rolled away from the log tavern, and Nevada Ned held the reins, while by his side sat the father of Goldbeam. There was no passenger inside, no treasure-box under the boot, but along on top, wrapped in a blanket, was the dead form of poor Dick Dar- ling, going back to his home, Golden Gulch City, to be buried, Swiftly Nevada Ned sent the horses along, the cross-roads were reached on time, fresh animals were attached, and then on to Golden Gulch City went the stage, arriving in the afternoon to the minute when due, It caused a stir among the few miners about, to see Nevada Ned on the box, alone with a stranger, and Dick Darling not visible. But the shot-marks on the coach .told the story,and in a few words Nevada Ned made known all, and the body of the driver was low- ered from its perch. ‘** Doc, where’s Goldbeam?” asked Nevada Ned addressing Doctor Wood. ‘*She is hunting up in the hills, Ned.” ‘* Doc, I’ve got to drive the hearse through to the end of the run, so I can’t stop; but I'll come back on the down trip with a new driver.” ‘‘ All right, Ned, you can do it if any one ” can. “Doe, I wish to introduce to you my friend c at ; found square, and he has got a story to tell you that will surprise you. ‘* Pard, this is Doc Wood, and when he has heard all you have to say, he’]] know what to do,” and Ned turned to the stranger, who grasp- ed his hand warmly and said: ‘*T will see you upon your return! Good- by.” Ned sprung upon the box, a cheer greeted him, and away rolled the stage, carrying no passenger, the Boy Gold King going alone on the long run of thirty miles through the mountains, so full of dangers; but he made the run in safe- ty, and two days after, the stage rolled into Golden Gulch City, another driver in Dick Dar- ling’s place, and Nevada Ned seated by his side, As they drew rein at the tavern, Ned saw Golébeam dash out, and she cried in a joyous voice: ‘*Oh, Ned! I have found my papa, and you did it all, you dear, good fellow!” CHAPTER XXIV. THE MINER’S ‘‘ HEIRESS.” THE stage having to pass right on, Nevada Ned stopped over in Golden Gulch City, deter- mined to go later on to his mine. He did this as Goldbeam hinted that she was going East soon with her papa, and he might not see her again. Ned knew in his own heart that he would, if they both should live, but he did not so express himself. Going to his cabin, the doctor followed him and said: ‘* Gold King, Rath done great work in the st few days; but it is just like you, and I eee kept poor Dick unburied that you might be at the burial, and we'll go to the grave with him toward sunset, and give him the best send- off that Golden Gulch City can afford; but, Ned, you were in luck to strike the trail of Goldbeam’s father, and he was in greater luck, for he is a splendid fellow. ‘*Tt comes hard on us, though.” ‘*She goes back with him, then?’ ‘Yes, soon as her father can get that wound a little healed, and I’m doing my best, though I do hate to part with the girl, as do the wore ‘Why, i believe the whole camp will get drunk with sorrow when she is gone.” ‘* ‘We will miss her.” ‘* You may take oath on that, Ned, and sadly miss her: but the boys are getting together the bags and dust they set aside for her, and she’ll have a snug ten thousand, to be given to her father for her, and I guess it will come in well, for he told me he was half-tempted to stay in the mines and try and find gold, as he had given up his business to hunt for his daughter, and was nearly run out of cash, though he had plen- ty to get back home with.” **T say, Doc.” ‘* Yes, Ned.” ‘Put a bag of dust worth a thousand in Gold- beam’s treasure-box for me. “Tl get it for you to-night.” **Tll do it, Ned, and [ll match it with one of mine; but you must get Goldbeam’s address before she goes, and keep up a correspondence with her, and then, if anything goes wrong in money matters, we shall be able to help her.” ‘Pll do it, Doc, for I won’t lose her trail, you may be certain; but the boys are assembling for the funeral.” ** So they are, and I must go. “But get ready and come, too, and put on your best, out of honor to poor Dick.” Nevada Ned did as the doctor suggested, and he and Goldbeam walked together to the grave- yard, following close behind the pall-bearers, while the Wizard Medicine-Man took the stran- ger with him, leading the way. All Golden Gulch City turned out to do honor to Dick Darling, and the deep voice of Boctor Wood made the scene very impressive, as he re- cited from memory the touching burial-service of the Church of England. After the grave was filled, and all was over the miners wended their way slowly back, and that night in the bar-room of the tavern, Doctor W ood called all together and presented to Gold- beam her fortune, composed of the gold which each miner kad ‘“‘ chipped in for ther Heiress, ther Gold Queen,” as one of those present shout- out. Goldbeam burst into tears but quickly con- trolling her emotion, she said, as she glanced over the rough-looking crowd: ** Pards, one and all, I thank you, and never willI forget you al) in Golden Gulch City.” Rising, and also deeply moved, as soon as t Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. | tha oo te eS oe _cheering was over, Goldbeam’s father made a ' short speech that won the hearts of ail who heard him, and the meeting broke up with a ‘* glass all round” for the boys, it being Nevada Ned’s treat, though he contented himself with drinking water only. A few days after Goldbeam and her father rolled away from Golden Gulch City, in the Overland stage, followed by the good wishes of the miners, and then Nevada Ned started upon his trip to his old claim, being most anxious to dig a fortune out of the mountains, CHAPTER XXV. CONCLUSION, THE after career of Nevada Ned wag full of 'adventure, but more the adventure of man- ' | | | a” ‘ | King hood than youth, and his exploits as the Gold after he got beyond his teens, [ leave for another novel. Though Nevada Ned had trouble in securing his mine he found his treasure still hidden | away where he had left it, and, with his young pard, Texas Harry,* he began prospecting for old. Their exploits would fill a volume, and, as the ears went by they managed to save up a snu ittle fortune, which Nevada Ned saietl to g account by coming East and making Goldbeam his wife, for they had corresponded regularly from the day she had left Golden Gulch City. As for Doctor Wood, he ruled the mining- camp for some years longer, and then came East to practice bis profession, his experience on the border having proven of great service to him, Towns now stand where the mining-camps of my story then were, but though civilization has effaced the traces of wild border life, there are many still living there who remember well Ne- vada Ned, the Boy Gold King, and pretty little Goldbeam, the Waif of the Mines. THE END. *Harry Austin of Texas, and athorough Border Boy.—TxHeE AvTHOR.”’ on + STANDARD DIME PUBLICATIONS Speakers. Each volume contains 100 large pages, printed from clear, open type, comprising the best collec- tion of Dialogues, Dramas and Recitations, The Dime Speakers embrace twenty-four volumes, viz.: 1, American Speaker. 15, Komikal Speaker, 2. National Speaker. 16. Youth’s SRORREE. 3. Patriotic Speaker. 17, Eloquent * ker. 4. Comic Speaker. 18. Hail Columbia Speak- 5. Elocutionist. er. 6. Humorous Speaker. 19, Serio-Comic Speaker, 7. Standard Speaker. 20. Select Speaker. 8, Stump Speaker. 21. Funny Speaker. 9. Juvenile Speaker. 22. Jolly Speaker. 10. Spread-Eagle Speaker | 23, Dialect Speaker. 11. Dime Debater. 24. Recitations and Read 12, Exhibition Speaker. | ings. 13, School Speaker. | *- Burlesque Speaker. 14. Tudicrous Speaker. These books are replete with choice pieces for the School-room, the Exhibition, for Homes, ete. 75 to 100 Declamations and Recitations in each book. Dialogues. The Dime Dialogues: each volume 100 pages, em brace thirty-two books, viz.: Dialogues No. One. Dialogues No, Eighteen. Dialogues No, Two. Dialogues No. Nineteer. Dialogues No. Three. |Dialogues No, Twenty. Dialogues No. Four. Dialogues No. Twenty-one. Dialogues No, Five, Dialogues No. Twenty-two. Dialogues No, Six. Dialogues No. Twenty-three, Dialogues No. Seven. /|Dialogues No. Twenty-four. Dialogues No, Eight. Dialogues No. Twenty-five. Dialogues No. Nine, Dialogues No. Twenty-six. Dialogues No, Ten. 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