Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1126 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

k Al ee a ee The sun was going down beyond the Jersey hills, and its light fell full into the faces of the two, as they stood there, hand in hand, by that lowly mound in Greenwood Cemetery. The woman’s face was a sad one, and her eyes were red with weeping, while the boy who was clad in un:form, was a handsome lad of four- teen, with courage and determination stamped upon every feature, ‘** Ah, my boy, with your poor uncle in his fear your father will never return, and some- low, trembling tone. ‘Mother, father will yet come home, I am sure, for, once before you thought him dead, and after a year he came back, having been don’t believe ‘he is dead.” ‘You are So hopeful, so brave, Joe; but we have nothing now to live on, and I am not very strone so you will have togive up going to your military school.” “Way, mother, I have been two years at the school, and know how to drill a regiment, I verily believe, while you know I got the first more than willing, if you will only let me do what I wish.” ‘““ And, what is that, my son?” ‘‘ Well, mother, you have got money enofigh to keep you half a year at least, you saic, and can board in the same place, where you and uncle live, while I can go to Texas.” ‘To Texas?’ The good woman started as though Joe had said he would go and kill a man, ‘* Yes, mother; for you know my chum at school was Walter Duke, and his father is a big cattle man, and when he was on to see Walter he told me I ought to come to Texas to make a fortune.” ‘* Bat, what to do, my son?” *T could start as a cow-puncher, mother,” was the hopeful response. ‘* A eow-puncher?” echoed the lady, in horror. ** Yes, mother.” ‘And what is a cow-puncher?” * Walter called them that, but they are also known as cowboys.” “Oh! become a wicked cowboy, Joe?” “No, mother, only a few cowboys are really ee men, who get full of tanglefoot and raise in.’ ‘* Get fall of tanglefoot and raise Cain?” , *¢ Yes, mother; that is—they drink bad whisky and shoot people.” “Ob, Joe!” “They are apt to go after a tenderfoot to ten him.” “a tenderfoot, Joe?” ‘Yes, mother; a pilgrim who isa greenhorn here; is called a tenderfoot. Oh, I know all about them, for Walter told me, and Mr. Duke ac ei 9 give me some money, because I saved Walter from drowning that day in the Hudson that I wrote you about; but of course I refused it,” “ That was right, my son.” | - “But, he told me if I ever'wanted a friend, to come to Texas, and he would give me a small herd of cattle co look after and pay me thirty | dollarsa mouth asa cowboy, and I could save 7) -. my money. buy stock with it, and soon get rich, o*)— @nd T just/ wish to go, for I can then soon be * able to tee care of you, mother.” “ Ah, my son, I fear I could never give you up to go so far away.” ‘‘Pve been away to boarding-school for two ests, mother, and I guess. you could stand it, e got forty dollars saved up, and I would have plenty to get out to Mr, Duke’s ranch with, where I'd soon make money for you, I know, so please let me zo, mother.” The poor mother sighed heavfly, and the tears flowed afresh again; but she uttered no word, and with a glance at the grave at her feet, . ‘turned away, still grasping ber son’s hand, for ~ already were the shadows of night coming on, and it was a long way back to their humble = - home in the upper part of the great city of New - aie @ . (OUR hy } , Paty. ¢ f : ea ork. , | But, once little Joe Bruce had set his heart fae ‘hey upon going to Texas, to seek a fortnne for his "mother, he did not relinquish the idea, and ten ¥ ver bY | be jee Ne ~' + : ns, © tn ARS Ss Abeta with the consent of his mother, he Sa sg |e for the Lone Star State. ; st ‘HERO JOE. i eee os ee FF : rh. te ,% ti ’ > _ Joe Bruce a outh whom all liked,"and \ His fathe: (was pallor, @, mate on a ship b asl Pr gree ne FT aks ete Pad BO ae ) Sr eee erave, we have no one to care for us now, for I | thing tells me he is dead,” said the woman, ina , wrecked on the South American coast, and I | medal for my studies; and, as for work, 1 am | Arizona Joe, i , | | bass & ; which sailed to foreign lands, and was fre- | quently away from: home for half a year ata | time. During his absence, his wife and son Hie | with an old gentieman, the brother of eee | | | ! Bruce, and who was supposed to be well off, He sent Joo to amilitary school upon the Hud- / son, and gave him ample spending money, and the boy repaid him by being all for his years that his uncle could wish. , Joe had not been long at school before he made | a name for himself by taking the part of a lad | wo had been knocked down by a bully—a vouth | of sixteen, whom all feared. ‘ | oon bully turned upon Joe; who had remark- | ed: | ‘You are a coward to hit a small boy.” | ‘*T will thrash you for that, my fresh lad,” | and the bully ran upon Joe; but Joe had attend- ed public school in New York, and had learned | A 9 from hard experience how to defend him- | ae Joe’s uncle, too, was fond of a boxing-match, and he had taught the boy how to put up his aig for defense, and also how to deliver a slow. So when the bully rushed upon Joe, he was dazed and amazed to find himself suddenly on the ground upon bis back, But, only angered the more, he bad rushed upon Joe again, and once more he measured his length upon the ground, The boys now took courage and began to shout, for the bully had at last met his match, Maddened at these taunts, he again rushed upon Joe, and managed to get hold of him, at which the boys held their breath, for they felt Joe would suffer now. But the bully did not hold on long, but stag- ered back, with Joe’s left hand clutching his oo and his right raining blows upon bis ace. Down he went, with Joe Bruce on top, calling out: se ‘enough,’ and I'll let you up!” And the bully did ask for mercy, and from that day was cowed, for his brute strength had been no match for the skill and activity of Joe Bruce, | As for Joe, he became a hero, and added to his right to the title soon after by Me Bee alone to sleep in a ‘house that was said to be. a coeagoe homestead, standin hill t Was an 0 nding on a Di outof the town and by itself, and the ghosts were said to play strange pranks there; but Joe had boldly faced the weird dangers, and though he saw no ghosts, he won the name of being the pluckiest boy in school. In his lessons, too, he went to the front, and was soon made a sergeant from his expertness in drilling. The boys were wont to go tothe Hudson in the latter part of June to go in swimming, and one day Walter Duke, who had ventured far out, was seized with cramps. Joe went to him with all Kg and brought him ashore, thus savin his life, though the effort to do so prowtinited him for days. This affair added still more to the fame of the brave lad, and Mr. Duke, who was a wealthy cattle man, coming on North, tried to force upon the rescuer of his son a handsomesum of money. But Joe refused it, and the Texan then had a handsome and valuable gold medal made, upon which was inscribed: ; ‘*PRESENTED TO JOE BRUCE, A Boy Hero, For saving the life, at the risk of his own, : of WALTER DUKE.” Walter Duke made Joe a present of a gold watch and chain, and the youth became known at the school as ‘* Hero Joe,” : Many other acts of courage did Joe do, to keep up his name as ‘a hero,” until he was called home to see his kind uncle, who was dy- ing, Before he died, the oid man told how specula- tion had ruired bim, and he could leave his sister and her son barely enough money to sup- | away Texas, and upon his arrival there, began to look about : | him for the best way to get to his destination, | -as he stands for five d chances —y ee at of his uncle’s grave, Joe started heart full of hope for the future, CHAPTER HI, ON THE WAY TO TEXAS. JOE Bruce felt his importancein a wonderful degree, when be was on his way alone to far- He bad started for Little Rock, — for Texas, his for he had been told he could find Wagon trains | running from there into the Lone Star State. _ He was fortunate in finding a train, to start | ina day or two, and he sought out the one in | charge and asked him about his going. | ‘* Where’s your outfit, my boy?” asked. the ; train boss. “ve got a rifle, sir, and some clothingy” was the reply. ‘Well, you will need some blankets, pro- visions, a horse, saddle and bridle, and a pair of revolvers, if you know how to use them, and are not too young.” ‘* Thank you, sir,” said Joe, in a dismal tone, for where to get such an ‘ outfit ” he knew not, He had sold such things of bis at home as he had no, need, and these, with the forty dollars he | had saved up, gave him about sixty dollars. Then, his mother had insisted upon giving him thircy-five more, and purchasing his ticket to Little Rock. ‘‘T’ve got seventy-tLree dollars, clothing and my rifle, but 1 need a horse. saddle and bridle, ' blankets and provisions. What am I to do?” As Joe asked himself the question a man stop- ped near him and asked him to hold a horse, . while he went into a stere. The borse was a, cla ored mustang, with white tail and mane, | and a very handsome animal. He had a new ! and elegant Texas saddje and bridle on him, ’ with a lariat hanging to the born, all new, it ° seemed. *“ Thats a nice horse, sir,” said Jce,as the man came out of the store and thanked bim. “Yes, and if you are a crack shot you can win him, for he’s to be shot for this afiernoon, ; out at the wagon camps,” was the answer, ** Shot for, sir?” “Ves, I want to sell him, as I bare two others, and epee, any ge cntomngns and all ‘ Atty a chance, ani there * “Then I put up my belt of arms, which pair of Colt’s best revolvers and a bowie dollar a chance with the pistol, iffy chances, . fellow, to | “‘Now’s your opportunity, young win all ee atx dollars,” and the man laughed, a3 he sprung into his saddle, “ Where is it to be, sir?” ‘‘ At the wagon camps.” “When, sir?” “* At three o'clock.” ‘¢ 7}] risk the six dollars,” decided Joe, for he knew that he had been called a marvel with both rifle and revolver. His uncle had been wont to take him around to the shooting galleries, and it was seldom the bad met his equal as a shot, both w'th: tol and rifle, for ke seemed to possess 4 for sending a bullet to dead center. So up to the hotel went Joe and got out his rifle, which he put in perfect order; thon he set out for the wagon’ camps. The man who owned the horse was thore, and Joe addressed him: ‘*T’ve come to shoot, sir. lars.” ‘“ What! are yon going to risk your tooney, against the good shots In these parts?” ‘“ Yos, sir; I think I will.” “ They are crack shots whose names are down on the list.” ‘*T want a horse, sir, for lam on my way to Texas, an’ T am willing to risk the money.’ ‘* Youve got pluck, but your money is thrown avwity, [ warn you, so don’t enter the contest.” “ill try it. sir.” “Bravo for you, lad. I like your pluck!” * But what pistols will they shoot with, sir?” “ Their own weapons.” “J havn't got any revolvers, si.” are to be are a | for a ent Here is thesix dol- here.” “Thien you can shoot with mine ®. “ibs could try thens, first.’ * You 1. Come with me.” The man led the way to a secluded spot, and setting up a card on a tree, drewaring with a ort them for a year. | ct rtupor it. | eePhus he died, vce feeling that he must B° to . blaekened and said: — * work to support his mother, when her pittance | “*“he distance wi thirty feet, and | was gone, Joe, with the heart of a true bero, |‘man to empty a revolver at a card like this, \‘and a love of adventure, had decided'togo to | ‘The one oe oe nearest to putting the ‘| Texas and lay'the:foundation of his fortunes. _|.six shotsin the ’s-eye gets the revolvers and | 7A week after theday ¥ is presented to | knife” a a eet nie mother, at the sie}: ‘Ea Me ema Me ‘ai ty ui “1 % gil " eRe oh rag r AX Hog rar Cs r ch i _F va" | atl oe a a a, Y "Ak wT CM Ne) PR Yo, ath dene Pd PON Ne a TN Op Se ae ae: t Ar Gall > SS a = le > os he i te Bet oe Yee ~—, : aif = + rw ~ _- <.