Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1126 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

Lee eee - . - - — —_—_____~- ——— + -—— — ay “Yes, Lena, f will frankly tell you now that we rescued you from the red-skirs. “The truth is, yonder man, whose name I will not mention, is a Silver King; but heis my friend, and he dil all to help me rescue you. ‘** He gave me this mask, and he went with me to the camp of old Bad Spirit, as you saw. ‘* But Captain Angelos and his men have gone down on the lower trails to rob and murder, and he will be enraged to learn of your escape. ** Buti he shall know that L[ did it, and he must believe that the one with me was a miner from the camps, who speaks the Apache tongue, for if it was found out that it was one of the band, he would be put to death at once.” “He is». good man, if he is an outlaw. — —- — ~— —— Arizona Joe, but we must push on rapidly, for lam anxious to get you home,” said Joe, and the.tired horses were urged on. ‘*See, day is breaking,” said Joe, as they as- cended a steep bill, and the sun &ppeared over the mountain-tops, when they were within a 9? | few miles of the camps. ‘* Let me shake hands with him, and tell him | how much | thank him,” Mustang Mose winced under the kind words of the girl, and she said: Suddenly, as they were about to descend into the Jowlands, near the Nest of Rocks, Joe saw. a horseman ride out into the road ahead of them, ‘‘ It is your brother Dick,” and the youth came onata gallop toward them. h ** Ah, Joe, you have brought sis back,” cried the boy, as he affectionately greeted his sister. ‘* How was it, Joe?” he asked, eagerly. ‘‘Joe played Silver King and went to the | Apache camp after me, saying that Captain ** You have not a bad heart to do whaft you | have, and | am going to pray that you will not long remein an outlaw, but become a good man.” * Thank yer, miss, but I’m a-fearin’ Ill never | be much pood,” replied Mustang Mose, and he added sorrowfully: “*Tonly wish I c’u’d be.” “Oh, Joe, how brave you have been to rescue me, and won’t they all be glad to see me? ! “Do you know the Indians were wild with As they were discovered a shout arose, and oe rage at she defeat they met with, and they ripe | ch of delight were heard from many a cabin. Me more, he had determined to go as a Silver | not understand huw the miners were warned o Springing from her horse at the door of her | Oi | their coming?” ope | cabin, Lena was clasped in her motivers arms, Mh are, he would ask vo help from Mustang Joe laughed, but made no reply, anc na | andin the excitement no one noticed Joe slip gr Ea continued: Pacis i | hastily away to his calbin. I de a ei cid noe Sey where to find that ‘ ** Joe, did you notice the Apache Queen?” | ut Lena told theestory of her rescue, as she See: ° : Tan “* Yes, feahe not pretty?” | had told it to Dick, and then the crowd rushed B a a oe meted to va 7 ane ig Spebit meee of ‘She is indeed.” | to the cabin and Joe was congratulated -over | ¢ of Basel ip fre Sil ” Kin mat dar th rom wie ‘She is a white girl.” | and over again upon his splendid pluck that sang * pate af ‘Oth : "hiot: f 4° Wila ¥ penis “Yes, a captive, and she has been five years | had taken the captive from her toes. “Tt ‘ . - other c ile ., oe) i Son AS e . among the Indians.” That day the funeral of the slain was held, | , Hts Ilo ka game net 3 He cat aS bee . “Poor girl.” | and Mr. Morse read the service of the dead over “te te % “i ya tha" fte P ede He tag tha “I pity her, for she is very unhappy, and | them, for there was no parson in the camps. lel ra ssiiPys ti Hi h oy ‘ ”q te a } pe “ity wishes she could get away.” | Joe became more than ever a hero, and ata | 7° ahi f ad bm, = yi hy 1 r nitin i ’ “T wish 80, too.” | meeting of the miuaers that night, he was thank- i bat hy qd €. Sea is ; 4 q Sat a Acbahate ; ‘They call her Wild Violet, and they are | ed over and over again for his services. T ne Tacks ‘d he nit eat Sik Y 5 + dehy afraid of her.” | Jn-an embarrassed way Joe then said: ra th bes ra? e ibs eg ™ a eee “So am I, with those horrid snakes about | ‘There is one thing I wish to speak to you oar ad arene ipa: 73 Doe Spirit. . dui! a _ about, gentlemen.” "A "a ' 4 - nh ‘ ihe A rT pa pirit, aba “ Joe, that is the way she holds her power! ‘Hear! hear! Out with it, Joe!” arose the | V9) (0/6 Je wae Se mae rep ; over the red-skins, for they think her what we | would call a witch. “Til tell you about her if you wish.” ** Indeed I would like to know of her.” ‘She told me all about herself, and said her father was a circus man, and he taught her to be a snake charmer. “He also taught her how to make snakes a pear dead, by giving them some kind of medi- cine, and while they were so to extract their fangs so that they would not be dangerous. “She was with the circus ina when the Apaches raided it, and she was cap- tured and brought as a captive by the red- skins. ‘* Stie was a girl then of twelve, and she made the Indians afraid of her, as she had half a dozen snakes about her when she was captured. “She at once seemed to like their wild life, and even learned their language, and they made her a kind of queen. “But she has often tried to escape, yet dared not when she knew not the way to go, and she is very wretched and asked me when | went back to beg the miners to rescue her.” exas town, | Angelos bad sent him,” explained Lena. Dick Morse then halted, saving that he was on picket duty at his post, and had seen them approaching for a mile or more. ‘*T was put here at sunrise, to relieve Dan Cooley, eed they have all got the blues in the camp, for the funeral is to-day, of those that were killed. ‘* But I guess yowll brighten them up,” said Dick, Then he remained at his post, while Joe and Lena went on into the camps, cries on all sides. ‘** You are all aware that I have not done what I have, alone.” ‘* Yes, yes,” “Tn fact, it is all due to another, that this camp was not surprised by the Apaches. Y My boy pards know that we captured a horseman whom I recognized. * Who, or what he is, [ will not say, and more, I do not wish a word said about him outside, for if it reached certain ears that there was a traitor m their camp his life would not be worth any- thing. ** Now he told me of the intended raid of the Apaches; he told me who it was that kidnapped sans Morse, and through him alone did I rescue er. ‘I ws to pay him one hundred dollars; but | the moueyl took with me he told me to give old Joe was deeply interested in the story of the | Wild V.olet, and when Lena finished he re- mained silent for some time. ** Don’t you feel sorry for her, Joe?” ‘Yes, Lena.” Do you think she can be rescued?” “Tf will see if I cannot rescue her, Lena, and Tl believe 1 can,” was the response of the youth, for the thought of doing so just chimed in with his adventurous nature. ane CHAPTER XXXII. JOE'S PLOTTING. THE party of these held steadily on their way, Joe ureine the horses, as he did not know what might turn up, and be saw that Mustang Mose was also a trifle anxious, At last they reached the spot where Mustang Mose had teft his horse, anid the animal was found just as he had staked him out. i Then the outlaw bade farewell to Joe and '* Lena, and reminding the former of their ap- mtment for that day week, mounted his own and rode away toward the retreat of the — ee — Bad Spirit asa present, and [ did, buying the horse also that Lena rode, and giving him one cf my revolvers ‘* But I told the mau that we would make up a purse for him.” ‘Yes, yes!” shouted the miners! ‘The horse ] bought, [ will give Lena, and the revolver | gave old Bad Spirit is all right; but (Cll put in fifty dollars toward a purse.” Sut this the miners would not hear of, for they said Joe bud taken all the risks, and they quick- ly subseribed different sums, Mr. Morse giving liberally,and thas for Mustang Mose was. rais- ed what wus called a-‘* purse” of a thousand dol- lars, though in reality it was a bag of silver. This was turned over to Joe to take to.him when he deemed best. But Joe was not going to remain idle, and be set about certain plots, with,his rangers, in which Mr, Morse was called in as general ad- One of these plots was to lay a trap for the Silver Kings, and to do so, it was decided to let it be known, so that the outlaws could hear it, that a night stage was to be run over the trail, earrying a large amount of silver. This would bring the Silver Kings to lie in wait for it, and then there would be a ‘‘ surprise party,” according to Joe’s idea. The other plot was the rescue of Wild Violet, the Apache Queen, and the better way to carry this out successfully, Joe decided, was to go ~ ee Se ------ -—-— ~ _ ED 7 ———E — carry out first, and he was anxious to lose no time about it. To the surprise of many Joe went to the camp store and made a large number of valuable pur- chases, from red blankets, rifles and revolvers to fancy articles of various kinds that woul catch a savage’s eye. These were ali carefully packed in a pack-sad- dle, and the morning following his arrival with Lena Morse, the brave boy set out alone from the camps, riding a splendid mustang, and with another equally as good, carrying the pack-sad- dle. To all questions as to his destination, Joe re- plied that he was ff on a racket for a couple of days. But there was one who knew his intention, and that was Lena Morse. That she was aware of Joe’s secret adventure, her anxious manner soon revealed to her pa- | rents, But she would not reveal the secret. CHAPTER XXXII. JOR’S STRATEGY. THE plot of Joe Bruce was a good one, But it certainly was a most bold one, He had thought that if the Silver Kings were stil! upon the lower trail, it would be the best time to rescue the Wild Violet. still sorrow in the villege of the Joe rode on to the quarters of There wa Apaches, tt the old chiet. He met him at bis tepee and explained as well as he could that the Silver King chief had sent him with presents. Old Bad Spirit understood this, where he might not have anything else, and Joe opened . his pack. He gave Bad Spirit a number of presents that fairly tickled the old fellow into laughing with delight, and he laid out presents for otver big chiefs, who were at once sent for, Tnen he had somethirg for Wild, Violet, a red blanket, beads and other trinkets, and she was sent for. Tne squaws of Bad Spirit were not forgotten, and the tickled old savage ordered a feast for Joe. When not able to fully understend Joe in everything, Bad Spirit asked Wild Violet to interpret, which sbe did. and while talking to her quickly the youthsaid: ‘* Inside of the locket I gave you is a note, ‘* Read it when you go to your te pee anddo as I sav.” The Wild Violet started, but Jaughed, as with pleasure, and,soon after wert to Ler tepee leaving Joe with Bad Spirit; whe hed told his squaws to bring forth a feast fcr the welcome pale-face. Joe was not hungry enorgh to en‘oy Indian cooking and catering, but he pre‘en ed to eat, and the rec-skins were so t uev, hetwu een eating and gazing at their presents, they failed to notice what he did. The chief :eemed really sad when Jce told him he must go back that night, and soon, after dark hade him good-by, accepting a pony which Bad Spirit gave bim. In the mean time the Wild Violet bad gone to her tepee, and with trembling hands opened her locket. A small piece of paper, closely folded, fell out, and shettook it up and read: “The Silver King’s captive, Lena Morse, told me all about you, and I have come to save you. *“T found aspot where Ican meet you 'o nfpht, “It is just under the cliff behind your te pee, so lower yourself over wi b Jariats, and I will be there. ‘*Do not do. so until the village is quiet, ‘lam not one of the Silver Kings, but a miner, and will take you to Lena’s home.” : t is I almost feel that we are safe; SHE tie the latter plot thst he determinedto! The girl read this by the firelight, over and BOY Sl. ii comicbooks.com