Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 115 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

°° ee re EE eS ee Pe OPEN a ee ee ee eee ee ee ee ee ee Oe —— — —— _— | SO LOE as CNS FLT Se SS Se ee oe SS - — _—_ > 1.0 The Mad Miner. _— a long time. | ‘“] am ky narvous about that girl,” said ti.e Texan. ‘'I hate to know sich a purty one is in trouble. Swmthin’ must be done.” ‘You are right, Rock. I am with you every time. We must not delay longer than till to- night. But we must leave here now.” ‘No; but we must go there.” With a lighter heart than common Rock moved among his men, cheering them with jovial words and laughter-provoking stories. Thus the forenoon wore auspiciously away. Not far from noon as the miners were busily xt work, the te of a rifle suddenly awoke ihe valley, and with a ery of pain one of their tumber drop his pick-ax and fell to the rround—dead / Confusion followed. They were at work immediately under the frowning; hights of Silver Mountain, and the ‘hot seemed to have come from the mountain ‘ide, Seizing their firearms in haste they sought sover expecting an attack from an ambushed foe. But as no other shots followed they final- ty left the diggings, and a squad was sent out 4> find the murderer if possible. After a fruitless search they were obliged to return. This sad affair cast a gloom over the minds of the miners. ane had done the deed? and for what pur- The victim was one of the most respected men in Silverstone. Oregon Dick shook his head and nodded to- ward k Randel. Cooney Burke, who still seemed determined to stick to the mine, began to throw out dark hints against the Texan. Neither was Rock unconscious of the new storm gathering, though he kept about his business as ever. Toward night the miners were again startled by the report of a rifle, and to their dismay ean- other of their number was slain. This time the shot certainly came from the ; mountain. Every one glancing hastily up they discovered nearly hidden behind a clump of bushes the form of a man, eee his hand the smoking yifle with which he had just committed the murder. ‘‘ Wild Wind, the Mad Miner!” cried two score of voices, as the garband long hair and heard of the witless unknown was recognized. In less than a minute every miner sprung up, «nd rushed to capture the wretch. Quick as they were when they reached the lace he had vanished; and though they scoured ‘ne mountain-side far and near they could find aothing of him. Baffled again, deep were the threats uttered against the strange miner. ‘‘ And this all comes of that Rock Randel!” tried Oregon Dick. ‘‘He saved thet fool on ) to rub us out!” ‘“Where is the Texan, now?’ asked Coon Burke. Rock was nowhere to be seen. ‘*Don’t. thet show he is guilty, when he has dusted like the coward he is?” ‘‘Rock had-to return to Silverstone an hour since,” said Mark Hanson. ‘* Jess—so! but I kinder guess it would plague ye to find him thar!” “Let's find him, I say, and ropehim. It all comes of him that Matt and Pike have been killed to-day. Ill bet be hired the fool to do it, and has fled himself.” Burke was bold enough to venture the speech, and it proved like a spark of firein a pile of combustible matter. pee Dick echoed the demand; others re- pea pals and at least one-half of those present s for Silverstone with the avowed purpose of hunting down Rock Randel. - Reaching the city they were told he had gone co the Bang-up. Hither thev rushed. Wondering what was coming, The-Man-from- fexas met them at the door. ‘‘Corral him!” shouted the leader. ‘‘Rock Randel, we have come to take you, dead or alive!” ‘‘Sho!” exclaimed the imperturbable Man- from-Texas, once more drawing those ever- ready revolvers. The throng came to a standstill. ‘““What’s up, old’coon?’ asked Rock. look kind o' frustrated!” ‘‘Pike Daniels hes been shot, and we caught thet Crazy Miner a-doiw’ it!’ o1'k with better spirits than they had done for 6 Yeo | ‘““Then ye hev kaptered him? Whar is he?” ‘‘Wuries! I didn’t say we had got him, but we caught him shooting Pike !” replied Dick Lane. ‘“Wal, why didn’t ye corral him? Seems to me, mule-eared gophers—” ‘‘ Bah! the fool escaped. But ’tis you we want!” ‘‘Wal, hyar Iam! Jess sp’ilin’ fer fun, too!” ‘Then you surrender?” ‘“When I ride in my own funeral—not till then!” Oregon Dick shock with rage. Finally he said in a tone that told he was fearfully in earn- t: ‘‘Rock Randel, we are not fooling with you. This is no time for boys’-play. We have tried to run this mine long enough. We have stood allwe are a-going to. You must either levant, or we will hang you from this tree within an hour!’ It was several moments before Rock attempt- ed any reply. In the time he watched the crowd before him closely. At last he spoke: ‘* As you say, Oregon Dick, this is no time for nt A hei nd ut you are madmen to think I will grant what you ask. D’ye think I am a sneakin’ coyote? This valley is rightfully mine. 'Tis all I hev in this world, and before 1 would a it to you and your followers I would a undred times give up my life if it were possi- ble! Hark!” as the mob began to move uneasi- ly, “‘I hev’ not sought for this quarrel, but you hev’ drove me toit. I hev’ never hurt enny of ye, but from this hour I am a foe to every man who refuses me my own. D’ye hyar?”’ ‘Then you refuse to leave ld-dust Hol- low?’ exclaimed Lane, in amazement. ‘‘T do!’ he answered tersely. ‘Turning to the excited lookers-on he continued: ‘‘ You all know for what I am hunted like a coyote, and how many of ye are men enough tc help Rock Randel defend his own?” Rock was aroused. CHAPTER XIII. HUNTED DOWN. No answer came to Rock’s request, unless the awed silence, which told that no one there was bold enough to express friendship for him, could be considered such. Without doubt The-Man-from-Texas had sympathizers there, but there were only a few who dared brave the majority. ‘‘Wal, I spot ther trail,” said Randel, after the pause had become painful, *‘ I am alone!” Then reaching inside the door he grasped his rifle that had been leaning against the parti- tion. ‘*Of course ye will be too menny for me in the end, but es long es os ars can look through the hindsight o’ my rifle will I send death among ye, and rq f k when I am gone shall haunt Gold-dust allow till every coyote has gone to his funeral! If I can’t keep this mine I can fight fer it! I hev’ spotted ye all! and t’is the best ’coon who will corral the dust!” Shouldering his rifle as coolly as if going ona pleasure-bunt, Rock strode away. No one had the will to attempt to molest him then. His calm bravery had unmanned them. ‘‘ Go!” shrieked Oregon Dick; ‘“‘ but when you are foolhardy enough to remain in Gold-dust Hollow after our warning you, sign your own doom.” Never once turning back, or seeming to hear the fierce demonstration hurled after him, The- Man-from-Texas kept rapidly on. The crowd had scarcely seen him disappear around a street corner, when the report of a rifle was heard and quickly following it a shrill cry of distress. nowing what to expect, the bystanders rushed swiftly to the place, and reached it in season to see Randel dart around the adjacent oe Goed ‘Lora t Oregess ‘Dieks:bé tn f xs gasped regon Dick; e has shot Conrad Burke!’ é ‘“Yes, lam done for!” moaned that individ- ual. “I met him here, and he shot me like a dog!” The speaker tried to articulate further, but with the effort his throat filled, and a moment later he drew his last breath. ** Boys,” cried Dick Lane, ‘‘can you look on that and let that desperado escape without making a move to capture him?” ‘*Corral the Texan!” ‘* Hunt him down!” ‘*Rope him!” Such were the criestaken up by the infuriated lookers-on, With the one from Oregon at their lead the mob rushed in pursuit of the flying fugitive. ‘‘ Joems Stopple-ter-Hopper!” ejaculated Rock, | unerring rifle to as he heard the throng close upon his heels: ‘““‘kem on, ye screeching coyotes; thar’s fun ahead, and ef this ’coon don’t git his hat full, it be because he can’t huff it!” It soon became evident that the race wceuld prove a stern one. The only course for Rock was up the valley, which above Silverstone gradually ew ner- rower, until it was little more than a defile Jead- ing up the mountain side,and which gathered the water that lower down joined the creck eng the name that had also been given the ** city. _ Hemmed in by the precipitous hights hang. ing over it on either side, there was no escape, right or left. The sun was less than an hour high, but he could hardly hope to elude his foes till night Ay, he was tempted to turn and sell his life as dearly as possible. But still he kept on. He was a fleet runner, but soon found that many of his pursuers would hold bim hard. With the tenacity of life he resolved to cling to his fire-arms, On and on along therugged way sped the fleet- footed Texan, while close behind followed the wild throng. As yet not a shot had been fired, but as Roc!” came upon a slight eminence and thus exposed his person a volley of bullets whistled round his head, more than one grazing his flesim “ Fire away yer flint-locks!” he yelled. ‘‘ Who keers?” He made a discovery the next moment. how. ever, that made his hope sink. Ahead was a considerable ridge of land cross- ing the valley, and which lay directly in his course. To pass over it was to put himself in plain sight of his foes, and in dangerous rifle range. o go around was to tack on his course, anc that would give his foes an easy victory in the race, For a moment he almost hesitated te keep on. Then his quick eye saw what he fancied mig! « be a way to escape, and perhaps baffic effectu ally his enemy. he surface of the ground was growing mors broken as he advanced, though it was covereu with a heavy growth. Bounding swiftly forward he soor. neared the dreaded place. A wild shout from his pursuers told that they saw the advantage soon to be theirs. Near the foot of the ae was a huge tree with branches aay nearly to the g’ ound. Quickly dodging into the range of it, he bound- ed forward with renewed to run the peril- ous gantlet. The foes behind shouted anew, and the race became more exciting. As Rock almost gained the summit another volley of shot came tearing through the growth. The most of them flew wide of their mark, but aoe better aimed than the rest struck him in the oot. In an instant the blood began to fill his boot, and he felt the most acute pain. Still he could only keep on. The next moment he dashed over the top oi the rise and began to descend on the other side. But as he looked up at the sharp ascent ahead, and knew that sooner or later he would be stop- ped by the unsurmountable mountain, he grew sick at heart. Already the fearful strain of his exertions was begi ning to tell on his system. Right and left he looked in vain for some pro- tection, or way of escape. His ankle was growing stiff and his foot so sore that he could not step without intense suf- fering. Nearer, still nearer approached the mad horde of pursuers. agi grew his gaze and more hopeless his mind. Inch by inch he was now losing ground! Still on andon! Now, 2 ae A part of the pursuers had fallen far behind in the race, and perhaps given up altogether. But Oregon Dick and half a dozen others were laboring might and main to overtake him. Their rifles were empty now and they had no time to reload them. Rock turned to look back to see how near they were, when he caught his foot in a bush aud was thrown headlong to the earth. The chasers gave a yell of triumph as they saw him fall, and with renewed power sprung, still more swiftly forward. Rock saw the folly of of running further. He was down—at bay—but not conquered! Quickly arising on one knee he brought his his shoulder, and as its shai p feCoypnlicel evoKo) KS (EO)