Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1126 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

1 f t¢ > ae sg | 2 “ ~<a . > L4 RNS * i on the prairie by Dick Cranston, without a re- volver even to keep the wolves off or to get food, you came after us with a rifle, a revolver, knife and , and told us you didn’t want to see us rish. “We've been bad men, Boy Pard, and are still had, but before those pards of ours should have robbed you, we would have fought the three of ’em.” “You are good fellows, after all—shake!” said Joe. ‘“* No, we are bad fellows; but we have not for- gotten how we meant to kill you, and you got the best of us, and then, when Dick Cranston hunted us down and went to hang us, you saved “It was a deed that we didn’t forget, Joe Pard, and so we'll prove by letting you go free this night.” “ But, dare you do it?” asked Joe. “Oh, yes, for we'll get out of it some way, as you can reckon.” “You bet you goes your way unharmed this night, Joe, and that’s why we fed you and your horses, for you’ve got to be gittin’ pretty soon,” announced Mustang Mose, earnestly. CHAPTER XIX. THE SILVER STAR. Jom was surprised and pleased to find friends where he had expected foes. He had a tender heart, and although the two men had greatly wronged him, he could not bear to see them go out on the prairies without a blanket, food or weapon on that evening when they were driven out of the camp; so he had quietly gone to the wagon, where be kept his traps, and securing a rifle and revolver and knife, bought from a train hand, and getting a blanket and a few provisions also, he left the camp, and covered by the shades of evening, started off after the outcasts. He called to them when out of hearing of the camp, and they awaited his coming. ‘* Here, pards, | don’t wish to see you go this way, so take these. Good-by.” It was all he said, and handing over the things he hastily ran back to camp. This was the act which bad not been forgotten by the two outlaws, and so they determined to save hiin., “Pard Joe,” said Mustang Mose, ‘‘ we may git a bugle call at any minnit, and if not, some o’ ther boys might ride inter camp, so we wishes ter git you off at once.” Wat will you say to your pards?” “Ob, we'll smooth ’em over some way.” * And you will let me go free?” “Yes, and tell you jist how ter go ’round ther mountain, arter you gets through the pass half a mile from here, and then you kin take the up- trail for ther mines.” ‘Suppose he meets some of the men, and may- be the captain’s party?” suggested Pete. ** Thet’s so.” “How far does this trail we came here on, come out from where your comrades are station- ed?’ asked Joe. * About two hundred yards.” “Why can’t I go that way?” “It’s risky, if the boys were to hear you.” “7}] take the risk, and one of you might ride on with me to the trail, and then down to your comrades, saying one was enough to guard me in camp.” “That’s so, and I'll stay, and after you are well out of the way, Joe, I'll go to join you, Mose, and say the dogs jumped on me and held me so I could do nothing, and ther boy took m weapons, tied as was his hands, and then stuc my knife under his foot and cut his bonds with it. Then he tied me. while the dogs held me, don’t yer see? and you must tie me up prime, but I'll pretend to have got my legs free and then put after you to tell that the boy had es- ca bp) “Parson Pete, you is a born, gilt-edge liar, | and you will do. ““Thet are ther very game,” said Mustang ose. “ But if I meet any of your people, L will be taken ae said Joe. _ “ Pard, I intends ter help yer out on that. ** Yer see each one o’ us has a silver star we and T has knyw’d ther cap’n to give sev- eral of em away to Texas pards he hev recog- “nized, so thet those as has ’em will be safe.” ‘* Now I stole one of ’em one day from ther cap’n, and ef yer meets even ther cap’n, jist say was halted by Lieutenant Nick, and he give you this, and said he would explain to ther cap’n > ry Pl mr? - es ™ : 4 = iZ +a « es ‘2 » “he ‘ : ‘ee . va ~ 4 ” > y ry “i 3. ea WP ¥ : a -— & » a4 ‘s ies 4 i > YS he : -« oe 5, A 7 4 1S eek. . * ‘ ‘¢ | 5) eee By) . . a A a | . toe, “~* = ae is ‘ . an ol? mn > ava a Af 4 pe ake ; > 4 1G y ag . ys : ; . en Sle < . ~ Fae % Yer go through and no mistake, and here ee ‘eS chat ee | * [; = » eer? a ~ » Arizona Joe. **7"}] pin it jist here.” As Mustang Mose spoke he pinned a large sil- ver star upon Joe’s hunting-shirt. It had some lettering upon it, which the youth made out. In the center was the word: SILVER, and on each of the five points was a letter: Kaike IN. Cro. “Thank you,” said Joe, and then Mustang Mose went to work tying up Parson Pete, mak- ing the foot-rope loose so that he could readily untie it. Joe’s horses were then brought up, and, as he was ready to mount, he said: ‘‘T do thank you so much for letting me go; but I must tell you that your good deed was its own reward, as, when you were botb sitting with me at the fire, before you said you would free me, I was about to give my dogs the word, and they would have had their teeth in your throats at once, and then it would have been asy work for me to escape.” ‘* Lordy, Pete, let’s tarn good, for I tell yer we jist escaped it,” said Mose, and it was very clearly seen that both of the men were fright- ened at the escape they had made. ‘* Now, pards, good-by, and let me beg you to give up your wicked lives, go to the mines and make an honest living, for some day it will be the rope-end.” ‘Don’t talk so, Joe; but I guess it will be as you say. ‘*Good-by, Boy Pard, and luck to you,” said Parson, Pete. Joe now mounted, and Mustang Mose having already done so, they started for the trail, by the way they had come to the camp. ** Joe Pard?” ‘Yes, Mustang.” “If we meets any one you must let ’em have it.” ‘** Shoot them?” ‘* Yes.” “*Ts it necessary?” ‘There is thet needcessity fer it, that yer’ll be tuk in if you don’t.” ‘* Are we likely to meet any one?” ‘* Jist as like as not.” ‘* Well, leb me ride in front and Pll defend myself.” But they reached the trail witbout seeing any one, and Mustang Mose showed Joe the way he was to go. ‘* Better push on lively, pard, when yer gits whar yer hoofs won’t be heerd. ‘*Don’t think I is as badas I look, me nor Parson Pete nuther, for we hain’t.” ‘*Good-by, Pard Joe, an’ ef it comes your way to do us a good turm some day, don’t forgit us. Joe grasped his hand and then rode on his way. es he felt that he was out of hearing distance of the Silver Kings, be urged his horses into a canter, while he said: ‘* Now I can doas I hoped, when I asked to come this way. ‘Warn the stage of the danger ahead of them.” -———_- CHAPTER XX. THE WARNING. AFTER his escape from the Silver Kings, Joe rode on his way rejoicing. He felt that be had had a close call. If the two desperadoes had not had the feeling of gratitude in their hearts, he would have been sacrificed, or he would have had to call upon his dogs to defend him, which, after the manner in which the Indian had fallen under their attack, he shrunk from with horror. Still he had made up his mind to let Grip and Grab secure him, rather than remain a prisoner to the Silver Kings, with the chances of their putting him to death a very certain thing. As he rode on he was looking ahead for the expected stage, He had asked to come that way that he might warn those in the stage of danger, and yet beiener Parson Peteor Mustang Mose had thought of this. The boy had looked ahead further than their cunning had permitted them to see, Joe did not feel himself bound by their having let him go, not to warn others of danger, and so he determined to tell those in the coach just what force the Silver Kings bad. In that part of the country a coach was sel- dom on time, and Joe knew that it might be still miles away, but he was soon cheered by hearing the rumble of the wheels. Presently it a in view, ts i tion . a = - se ee, oe a * * aa lS - with the horses at a swinging trot, and Joe halt- Slag: time holding a cocked revolver in ‘his — and. ver, in his coming along | ‘Well, who are you?” asked the Preheat «Shwe d bse Bane re OK vals r! be = e Soon . ay = Sy 24 . we * | “WY * . - ? ue. 2, ry : f , ¢ . Fe . a - f >a . ‘oe _-—-- — Ce SS CE ed and called out: ‘* Ho, driver, stop a minute!” The stage drew rein at once, and the driver said in a sullen tone: ‘You must be a tenderfoot at stage-robbin’, ter call out that way.” ‘‘Tam no stage-robber,” indignantly replied Joe, and the driver said: ; ‘‘ What is yer then?’ Dy ‘*] halted you to warn you that there are Sil- | ver Kings ahead waiting for you.” ‘‘T was half fearin’ that; but how did they let you pass?” ‘‘ Tt was not their intention todo so, for I was captured and sent to their temporary camp, and escaped.” ‘¢ You was in Juck.” ‘*' Yes: but how many passengers have you?” ‘Five insiders, and this gentleman on ther box with me.” ‘The Silver Kings are but four.” “What!” ‘There will be four to kalt you; but one is bound in camp, where I left him, if he has not ea managed to get free and join his comrades,” et Ss ‘*‘ If he has there will be five.” ae ‘© Yea,” ra! ‘ And does they intend to halt seven of us?” 7 ‘* Oh, yes; for they do not think \ ou can know 4) their numbers; but if. you all stand ready to fire when halted, and empty your revolvers | pretty lively, 1 don’t think you will have any ~~) 4 trouble in going through.” ee ‘*T oness not, and we'll go loaded for ’em, ‘* But who are you?” ‘*My name is Joe Bunce.” ‘* Not from these parts?’ ‘* No, ’m from Texas,” ‘¢ And which way ure yer going!” “Ts the Silver Star Mine.” ‘‘ Has you come through Arizona alone?” ‘‘ Yes, sir.” ‘* Been picked up by the Silver Kings and got away?” ** Yes, sir.’ ‘* And you still lives?” ** So it seems to me.” “Well; pard, I'll jist christen you Arizona Joe, durn yer t’other name, and I tells yer squar’ thet yer deesarves ter run this kentry, fer com- ing througb it this far alive. ‘“Tll see yer at ther Star Mine when next I pass, and I thanks you kindly fer your warnin’, Mister Arizona Joe. ‘* Yer’ll hear how we got through the Silver Kings when next I sees yer.” The stage then rolled on, the octupants Pps. paring for running the gantlet of the Silver | Joe rode slowly along, until the roll of the wheels died away in the distance, ae Then there came to his ears the sound of ~~ rapid and distant firing. and a moment after © the faint notes of a bugle were heard, as indica- tion that the coach had gone through right ~~ 7 © Feeling glad that his warning had teen suc. ©) cessful. the youth rede on once more, determined vs riot to balt to camp until he had placed guitea (3 a ’ distance between the Silver. Kings and hb ‘) % a Leaving the mountains, where thetrail wound : Mie S** a . down into the valley, he began to look aboutin ~ the darkness fora camping-place, when suddem- ly, out of a clump of timber rode a dozen horse = men and Joe felt that if they werefoes he was fairly caught, a 4 a mee! > at. 1S +f — vs - CHAPTER XXII. THE “MAGIC STAR.” ay, WuHeEn Joe saw the horsemen almost upon him ~ _ he quietly drew rein and the dozen menin front if ‘bith made a quick circuit and surrounded ~ re They were evidently surprised at meetin fy him, but they acted with promptness and ae he intended resistance, they would have had him at their merey before he could have fireda | couple of shots. ‘ae He saw by the starlight that the men were masked, and he was sure that be had fallen inte the hands of the Captain of the Silver Kings; whom Mustang Mose and Parson Pete had fel ~ > assured that he would meet on the trail, as they ~~ were expected. et. The first thought of Joe was asto his star. — a after his fortunate escape before was he's we doomed to be held as a prisoner? Reig hc S44 A large man on a black horse rede right up) to Joe and peered closely into his face, et the ~ 4 A ae ~ sit? . ei ‘ th hei ee! By 4 , ro TF ab i f. es ‘ 7 Wovld it prove of any service to > —. —y a ety ae A 7 +a by fe» r +>! — ‘eu & kee Cie, Cae ,* f a t 9% a . #2