Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1115 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 nae ee Never Eid such a fog been known in twenty years on the Texan prairies, Old Bill declared it was a forecast of dooms- day. Phe sound of quick-trampling hoofs suddenly fell upon the ears of the trio. Two borsemen galloped out of the west direct- ly across their path. They were within twenty paces of our three friends before they discov- ered them. Tiger Tom started, for at a glance he saw that one of the horsemep was the outlaw, Paul Ram- ardo. And the outlaw recognizing his deadly enemy Tiger Tom, whirled his horse to the right and put spur and fled. Tom Brayton seized the lasso hanging over the horn of his saddle and spoke to bis horse. Like an arrow the noble beast shot away upon the trail of the fleeing outlaw. A few bounds carried him apast Ramardo’s friend and up to the very heels of the outlaw chief’s horse. Ramardo saw his danger and attempted to draw his revolver. Once, twice, thrice Tiger Tom swings the lasso around and above bis head, then the fatal voose shoots forward with a ‘‘ hiss,” and true to its aim falls about the form of Black Paul Ram- ardo, Quick as a flash of lightning the rope isdrawn taut and the outlaw is jerked violertly from his saddle to the earth; but at the same instant al- most a pistol in the band of the outlaw behind rings out, and Old Bill Proctor pressing close bebind the outlaw, bears acry from the lips of Tom Brayton—sees the young ranger thew up his hands, reel and totter in his saddle. ** Mv God!” cried the old frontiersman, ‘ the boy has been shot, but his death shall be avenged!” As he spoke he raised his revolver and fired. The outlaw was not over ten paces away, avd as Bill’s weapon rung out he leaped almost clea” of the saddle and fell a lifeless mass to the earth. “Tom! Tom!” shouted the old man, ‘‘ are you hurt, boy?” But Tom made no reply as his frantic horse dashed away into the gloom and fog with his drooping rider, and the doomed outlaw chief fast in the embrace of the fatal lasso dragging at his flying heels! CHAPTER VIII THE TRAILERS TRAPPED. Liege an arrow Tiger Tom’s horse sped away from those ridden by Old Bill and the ranger, Lew Clark, : ** Clark !” eried Old Bill, ‘‘ the boy’s hurt bad- ! Me Ay, Bill, and we can never overtake that ne ie has no match for speed on these prai- es, Thus Clark responded as they pressed on in — of the dim shadow that grew fainter and inter until it disappeared altogether in the the utter hopelessness of overtakin Tiger Tom, and impressed with the fear tha there were other outlaws near lying in wait for the main party they reined in their horses and came to a stand. ‘‘Tt’s no use, Bill,” said young Clark, ‘‘the jig’s up with poor Tom Brayton!” ‘Ya as,” drawled Old Bill sadly, ‘‘ I’m afraid the boy’s gone under; but thank God Pau!) Ra- mardo’!] not live to triumph over his death, for unless that lasso, which is fastened to the boy’s saddle, should break bis carcass will be smeared over milesof Texan prairie!” ‘*Let us hasten back to our friends and break the sad news to them and put them on their guard, then we can follow Tom up on foot,” suggested Clark. nd so the two rode back and met their friends, breaking the sad news to them gentl as possible, The party was vverwhelmed wit sorrow and grief, and Jacquetta fell in aswoon. For some time her life was despaired of. Doctor Frank Adams, who had joined the rangers for the sake of adventure, and who acted in the ca- pacity of physician and surgeon to the company, came to Mr. Walden’s assistance. He hurried y removed from his saddle bis capacious and well- filled saddle-bags, from which he took some re- storatives and administered to the girl, and in the course of an hour she began to recover. “Py shim’ny krout, doctor,” observed Old Luke, *‘ you carries one leetle dhrug shop mit you, hey?” “Tam prepared for anything in the way of gunshot wounds, broken bones, bruised heads, eeuetere and centipede bites,” replied the tor. , ow : = > = baal — Tiger Tom, the Texan Terror. —— (rte + rr TT TET TTT —— LL TT <s Eee eee a eae ee A consultation was held asto the future course to be pursued. As the river was but a short distance away it was decided that they go into camp until they could ascertain the true fate of Tiger Tom. So they moved over to the river and encamped in a little chaparral. The horses were secured inside the thicket, and a strong guard posted to avert surprise. Upon Old Bill Proctor was now conferred the ae of the party by the unanimous voice of all. Luke Shoofstahl, Lew Clark, and Jake Scarr were detuiled to go in search of Tom Brayton, ie ney at once took their departure, going afoot. They had no difficulty in finding the trail made by the body of Black Ramardo being dragged along in the grass, for the grass was still lying flat. Near where the fatal noose encircled the out- law they found the villain’s hat. Further on they found his revolver. They also found Tom’s sumbrero and revolver. The latter was covered with blood. All along the plain was thickly covered with grass and also various species of cacti that bris- tled with sharp thorns; but through and over these the doomed outlaw had been dragged, and that, too, at lightning speed, as the long reaches and ay deep hoof-marks of the horse indi- cated, ‘*‘ A terrible, yet fitting death for Ramardo,” said one of the trio, as they passed a bunch of pan we through which the body had been ragged. Finally the trailers found a piece of flayed cloth—a part of the outlaw’s coat, and presently they began to find splotches of blood along on the grass and cactus. For two hours they followed the ghastly trail, but found no trace of Tiger Tom’s body. How- ever, they took courage and hope in this, for they felt that there was some prospect of find- ing him alive, for up to this time it seemed that he had been able to keep the saddle, even though oe were unable to control the movements of his orse. Along toward noon the fog began to disperse, anda in an hour or so the sky was clear and the sun shining out warm and bright. The great plain Jay unfolded to the gaze of the trailers, and in the distance they saw a horse standing alone, ite head erect. There was a saddle upon it, and altbough they were too far away to. tell whether it was Tom’s horse or not, they felt reasonably sure that it was, and leaving the trail they took a straight line across the plain toward the animal. ‘*'Tom must be lyin’ thar in the grass holdin’ the critter,” said Gld Luke. The three approached the horse. It was Tiger Tom’s. As they drew néarer the horse showed uneasiness, but they saw it was being held by some one lying in the knee-deep grass. “Py shim’ny krout! tis boy ish dar!” cried Old Luke. The three started intoa run. They frightened the horse, and breaking away from the hand that held it, it dashed away over the plain, with a erly piece of rope dragging boind from the e. At. the same instant five men, w‘th cocked revolvers, rose up from the grass with'n ten feet of the disappointed, astounded t-ailers, whom they covered with their weapons, at the same time shouting out in a menacing voice: ‘Surrender, or we’ll blow your brains all ov-r rh he tuyvil ?” kl lied 3 o the i ou?” quic repli Old Luke. ate ‘* Followers of Paul Ramardo, and have laid in wait for you with our trap baited with the steed of the late Tiger Tom. Drop those wea- pons or down you go.” The three trailers dropped their rifles. There was no other alternative. ‘* Now,” said the spokesman of the quintette, ‘** vou are our prisoners and we shall hold you in hostage for the safe return of our captain whom we have reason to believe is a captive in the hands of the Texan Terrors.” ae vg you mean Paul Ramardo?’ asked young ark. ‘‘] mean Paul Ramardo,” replied the outlaw with fierce emphasis. ‘*Then py shimminy krout! your mistooken as to him pein’ a captive mit der ranshers,” said Old Luke; ‘*‘for dot pig shentleman, Polly Ramardo, ish sthrung out in grease sphots clear pack over dish prairy for ten miles,” ** See here,” thundered the outlaw leader, a little, hatchet-faced Mexican half breed, whose repulsive face and diminutive figure hardly warranted his being called a man, ‘* we want = eo a aaa ee —— none of your Dutch-Yankee slang and cackle; it sr better for you the sooner you tell the truth. ‘‘Py tam I tells der trooth,” affirméd Luke; ‘‘T tells you dot your cabtain git cotch in der lasso—der hoss runs away mit him—dot horse yonder—we foller up and find bloot all ‘long on der grass where he drag. Dot’s all we knows pout him,” The outlaws were thunderstruck by this in- telligence. They had seen the broken lariat or lasso dragging behind the horse, but had never dreamed of the horrible purpose for which it had been used. ‘¢ You critters’ll march straight to that grove yonder,” said the little half-breed, ‘‘and if we find ye’ve lied to us we’ll draw and quarter ye; and if the captain is dead we’ll make it bad for a few Texan Tigers.” There was a little motte of timber a quarter of a mile to the left of the party and another about the same distance on the right, But to- ward the latter the three captives were marched covered by the outlaws’ revolvers. Old Luke: seemed downcast and disheartened. The ran- ers were surprised at this, having so often eard of the man’s wonderful courage and bravery. Even the outlaws noticed his dejec- tion and took no little delight in taunting bim. They finally reached the motte wherein five horses were hitched. The little Mexican half- breed having ordered a halt, said to one of his men: “Pedro, bring two lariats.” The man obeyed when one of the ropes was cut in two. The half-breed took the long one, saying: ‘‘Bind them two fellers tight, and Vl rope this big Dutch buffalo.” He advanced toward Old Luke and ordered him to cross his hands behind his back, but in- stead of obeying, the big hunter drove his huge fist into the outlaw’s hatchet face with such terrific force as to knock the villain cold asa wedge fully a rod away, and then with a yell that sounded more like the roar ofa lion, he leaped toward the othcr dealing one a blow om the face that sent him sprawling—-giving an- other a kick in the stomach with his big boot. that doubled him up like a jack-knife on the earth, and, seizing the fourth, who had drawn a pisto] and was trying to get in a shot, by the wrist he swung him clear of the earth as though he had been an infant and hurled him against a tree with such force as to kill bim instantly. The fifth villain had been well cared for by the two rangers. In the excitement of the moment he had turned bis back on the young prisoners to assist his friends, when the rangers sprung upon him, dealt him a blow in the face, and as he went down half stunned wrenched the re- volver from his hand ard sent a bullet through his brain. And no sooner was this done than they turned upon the other outlaws, two of whom had not been seriously injured and were endeavoring to escape. A shot from the re- volver in the hand of young Clark brought the third one down, and Old Luke was in time to arrest the flight of the fourth by a well-directed blow on the head, The fifth one—the little Mexican—lay, or half reclined where he had fallen, with his face mashed into a pulp and blind as a bat. He was begging for mercy like a hero, although the blood in his mouth almost strangled bim. ‘“Whoo-raw! for vict’ry!” roared Old Luke when he found they were once more free, and masters of the situation; ‘‘ whoo-raw! fur der Yankee rangers and der Pig Dutch baffalo. ‘Freeatm did shriek when Kusiusko fell,’ and ‘who ish der to mourn for dot little hatchet- face?’—not one. I say, batchet-face, what you dinks of 2 lop-ea» Dutchman, hey ?” ‘‘Mercy, senor, merey!” begged the blinded Mexican. ‘ey: any krovt! hear aot feller neg; while ago he calls me * Dutch buffalo,’—now it ish ‘Mercy, senator, mercy! lv pe mercy te plow his prains out, hey?” The trio gathered up all the ovtlaws’ orms and such as they had no use for were concealed. Then, as the Mexican was totally blixd, end they had no desire to take human life wantenly, although they would have been justified is doing so, the rangers placed the blind outlaw ov’ his horse and. permitted his only surviving friend to take charge of him. Then the trailers mouuted the other three outlaw horses and rode away to continue their search for Tiger Tom. They rode in the d rec- tion of the second motte spoken of heretofore. As they approached it they heard a faint c vy come from out the grove. They drew rei a‘\~ listened. . They heard the cry again. _ * rr oo ) ) !