Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1148 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

es etn Sas oo + * 37,7 > 2 Ae, > 4 Y ye 2 * ~ . , « “ e: Te <2" 7 Ya 7 < =i j a ‘ha ~ af 4 ee —< . : 2 o 3 = te - mee ” . — T atin - 4. fe TSS :. = A yu «> 2! re a t ty _s a Me <4 Ua ~ 7 | > “— & A an vg Pa ’ 5 a res. Wy . ** But you Tet h Buck’s 8 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. a ee ee ee The next night, soon after dark, that horse- man with the led animal rode into the Rangers’ Ranch, He was apo Armstrong, the Dandy Duelist; and going straight up to the quarters of a tee McNally, he dismounted and entered. is face was pale and he looked haggard. ‘‘Ho, Armstrong, back again, I see?” said the Ranger Captain. ‘* Yes, sir; and I have bad news.” ‘“ Ha! Buck Taylor went with you?” cried the captain, ‘* Yes, sir; and poor Buck has gone on his last trail,” was the sad response. CHAPTER XIII. THE GAMBLER’S STORY. CapTaIn McNALLY sprung to his feet at the words of the Gambler Ranger, and two others present were also much excited. ‘Do you mean Buck Taylor is dead, Arm- strong?’ cried the captain. sé sir.” ‘How is this?” he asked in a sad tone. Wel, sa’,.z gine’ 4 escaped with my life, I assure you, and I will give you the story as it occurred,” +h Do so. ”? _ Tt was poor Buck’s idea that we should cross the river and—” ‘You mean the Rio Grande?” ‘Yes, sir.” * All right.” ‘He thought if we got into Mexico we could find the exact whereabouts of Don Rafael’s camp, ‘* Poor brave fellow.” ‘‘ He said if we could find the camp, locate it well, and get the approaches down fine, and not be discovered ourselves, that we could dash ucros ithe river some night with all the Rangers, ee the Don and break up his band, besides destroying his camp and getting back before day with lots of booty,” ‘* Yes, he pro this to me, but I told him we had po right to go upon Mexican territory, and des it was a most hazardous undertaking which might result in the loss of my entire com- any. s “Well, Captain McNally, urged by Buck, I consented to cross the river, and,we did so the night following our leaving camp here. * Wefound a good hiding-place in the hills and the next day reconnoitered as best we could and discovered thé Raiders’ retreat, ‘* We camped near it that night, and the next day made no discoveries of importance, | ‘But at night we started out to get a closer look at the approaches, and see what force the Don had there. ‘“We made the discovery that the retreat could be easily reached, surprised and taken, by the Rangers, if they could secretly cross the riv- er, and returning to our camp we went to bed, for we were very tired. , * Bey long + eae nies ps § < do not eee but I was awaken y shots, and springing ay feet I called to Buck, as I seized my weapons or use. ‘‘ But Buck did not move and I sprung to his side and found that he wasdead. ‘‘The shots were still ringing, and bullets fly- ing, so ] dashed through the timber, reached my 8 horse, sprung upon his back, and then saw that Bf could also carry the Roan King with me. ‘*T drew up the stake rope, grabbed my sad- dle and bridle and fled.” _ “ Are yeu sure that Buck was dead?” ‘* Yes, sir.” : ‘‘There was no mistake?” ** None, sir.” ‘*'You tried to rouse him?” _ ‘‘A whisper would rouse Buex Taylor, sir, from bis soundest oR * “ But he was dead, lam as sure as lam that I am alive.” Bei de ‘* But who fired upon you?’ _ “Don Rafael’s Raiders,” * Not © shes?” ‘No, sir, for by the flashing of the firearms I SAW that they were Mexicans and plenty of them. _ Well, you were lucky to escape, Armstrong.” ‘* We had been seen reconnoitering the Serbs doubtless, and were tracked to where we the night.” — ‘¢'That is doubtless the hed of it. orse?”’ Yes, sir, I him here all the way, and, 2 - having left my provision haversack I had noth- ing toeat.” : “RY¥cu only saved your weapons then?” — . *T tell you, Captain McNally, that was the a. . Tend ek aire : a ov iN me dng 5 fp ers a Ie - < * - ond ~é ¢ ; suddenly hottest place I was ever in, and I am surprised I got away. ** Why those fellows fired upon us as we slept, and my idea is that they supposed we were both sleeping on the same blanket and so poor Buck got all the bullets. ‘But I lay ten feet away and was not seen, I suppose, until I started to my feet.” ‘Well, Armstrong, you are a brave man, as [ know, and a cool one under fire, so I do not think you are one to run off and leave a com- rade in trouble.” ‘‘No man dare accuse me of it, Captain Mc- Nally,” was the hot reply. ‘“T said that you were not one to do so, and I therefore feel convinced that Buck Taylor is ead. ‘* But I shall avenge him.” ‘* Ay, sir, and gladly will I doall inmy power to aid you, for 1 was deeply attached to the youn cowboy.” ‘‘ You discovered where Don Rafael’s camp was situated?” * Yos, git.” ‘‘Tt is easy of access, you say?” ‘* ‘Yes, very.” ‘* You can lead us there?” ‘Certainly, sir.” , ‘Then, as soon as the two scouting parties now out came in, I shall start on a raid across hea Grande, to return Don Rafael’s many visits. ‘tT wish to take my entire force, we will ride our best horses, and I shall carry the war into Mexico with a vengeance, for Buck Taylor, that King of Cowboys, shall ee avenged.” And all who knew Captain McNally were well aware that he meant every word he uttered. CHAPTER XIV. AN APPARITION. TxeE loss of Buck Taylor fell like a pall upon the Ranger band. The death of their captain would hardly have created a greater degree of sorrow, and the stories of his short but adventurous career was eee over again and again around the camp- re. ‘There was not a man in camp that did not wish to fall heir to Roan King, his magnificent horse, the gray mare, Snakeroot and Vermi- fuge. it he latter looked most sorrowful, seeming to realize that he had lost his best friend. Sol Bradford suggested that the Rargers should club together and buy Roan King for their captain. ‘‘ Who would you buy him from?” asked Roddy Armstrong. his | apc was a poser, for if Buck was dead, who owned his outfit? He was known to have an uncle, but the uncle was said to be well off, owning a lerge ranch, and no one had ever heard Buck speak of other relatives. He had menaged to lay up some money, the sales of his captures, and it was in the captain’s are; Then he had half a dozen horses and his dog. Such was the cowboy’s fortune. What to dowith Roan King was the main question, for all wanted that animal of light- ning speed, Roddy Armstrong had suggested that he should have the animal, as he had saved kim from falling into the hands of the Mexican Raiders, 7 Rut he saw that the Rangers did not take kindly to this proposition, and Sol Bradford sug- gested that they should raffle him off, all taking a chance at ten dollars, or enough chances to make him bring a thousand dollars, Thus it was settled, and the Rangers quickly took their chances, and the list was made up. The money was paid over to the captain, to be held by him until he communicated with Buck’s uncle, and their chances were taken on Miss Mollie, Snakeroot, whose worth had come to be fully recognized in the band, and the other horses and the dog Vermifuge, who looked si- lently and sadly on. numbers were then written on pieces of paper and put ina bag, and each man had as many draws as he had chances, the lucky num- ber a Shahin in blue ink instead of black, so that t could be only fairness in the draw- ing. | Captain McNally was to hold the bag. and he having taken several chances, was to tirst draw, ‘* All ready.” , As the a ga uttered the words, a tall form vanced into the circle. aes It was a form that towered several inches 2 d / “ . oo <4 . ‘ i eee a : . YS es ate r. t ets” =_—~ a” - : eS wF - P45 EPS o > = > <— ae res : Piss, ac. ree? - oH de > “~~ 4 a a ~ _ = . + te ae adie - - aa - © — * . ‘ wn ~~ te . > - ages * * * a a Sy oe ee = “ , —— — * f ave the over six feet, but it was bent now, and the face was eeare and white. ‘* Buck Taylor !” The name burst in a yell from the crowd of Rangers. | They saw before them the man that they be- lieved dead. They beheld the one whose little property they were then raffling off. But was it Buck Tayor in flesh and blood, or his apparition? It seemed almost the latter, so white was his face, so haggard, and so bent his tall form. “Great Heavens! buck, is it you?’ cried Captain McNally, grasping bis band and drop- ping the chance-bag. ‘“What’s left of me, captain,” was the reply, with a sad smile, ‘‘ Thank God you are not dead.” ‘* ’m second cousin to it.” The Rangers now gathered around, and grasp- ed the hand of the cowboy, and among the first was Roddy Armstrong, who said: ‘* Buck, old fellow, I believed you dead, or I never would have left you, ‘‘ Forgive ne, Buck, for I'd have died right there rather than desert you, unless 1 thought you were surely dead.” _ ‘*T guess ron thought so, Roddy, ‘‘Tn fact [ know you did. ‘Only I wasn’t dead,” was the reply. Then the captain saw that the young Ranger was really suffering, and he said: ‘* Come, Buck, you look half-starved and used up. ‘“Come to my quarters and Ill bring you round all right.” — He led Buck away, and Sol Bradford and Mack Hastings, the old Ranger, followed. The crowd broke up, going to their respect- ive quarters to talk, over the strange affair, and wonder how the cowboy bad esca ‘‘He’s been through the mill, from his looks; but I guess he'll tell us soon, for Buck is willing to talk over his adventures, though he never brags,” said one, Going up to the quarters of the captein, Buck was placed in an easy-chair, and the negro ser- vant of the Ranger chief hastened to place food before. him. He lay back in his chair for awhile, silent and motionless, Then he aroused himself and ate heartily of the food brought bim by Black Sam, Having dispatched supper enough -éor two men, and braced up with several tin-cups ful of strong coffee, he became brighter, and said: ‘‘] was almost starved, for I haven’t hada. taste of food for three days, and I bave walked nearly two hundred miles besides. ‘‘T tell you, pards, Iwas pretty well played out, strong as I am, and I hada prety. severe hurt here, too,” and he placed his hand over his heart, while he fixed bis eyes separately upon the faces of Captain McNally, Sol Bradford and old Mack Hastings. ae oar you wounded, Buck?” hastily asked the captain. | ‘No sir, only hurt, that’s all; but it will be all right soon. weet ‘T think Ill go to my roost now,” and with- out saying one word about his remarkable escape Buck Taylor arose and went to his own little cabin, where be and Roddy Armstrong had lived together, for the Rangers had erected for themselves log houses on the ranch of their captain, and lived in them by twos, fours, or ag their humor suited them. ox CHAPTER XV. A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. | WHEN Buck entered his little cabin all was darkness within. Pcs he quickly struck a match and lighted a mp. It was a small but cosey little hut, built of ‘ small logs, with stucco between, and had a gen- — erous fire-place. Upon the hearth were a number of culinary utensils, and in cither rear corner was a rustic cot A table was in the center, a shelf onone side of the hearth and upon it were dishes and pro- visions, while on the other side were sbelves of books of various sizes, but mostly novels of a light character. . Over the mantle were firearm the walls were the | fenthers of birds, Roddy Armstrong had been the only one of the Rangers who had no cabin comrade, and he had asked Buck to be his chum. | The young cowboy had consented, and as the reader has seen, in spite of the warning given and at cuton . skins of wild animals and — ' ; ~~ § ee Se ' : (“ee Se eS eer) Se a : i] * ° = 1k 5 S, » ' _s j 7 . i iat > w< a * » > all ee ~bige 6 ~*~ ~<- .a \ Mie Me Er, J : , ’ . “Pie ._ Gre OP . : > Me . ; é ww . ’ ~2, “ =f s a 3 , 1 « . “ - ‘5 “A ’ i * 7% Ar AS ™“ eet A: .s : «* * Dyes ’ Ma - \ nd * ae he. |! ra. +. . Ry ie Lf iY , t 4 ies, i. ¢t 1a, ' 7 al - a | y et ‘abe ‘y we mat Ly 453 y “oh ’ o vi ty