Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 115 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 _— -— os ee ‘* Curse that man!’ Maddened by the Texan’s silence, heshrieked, hoarsely : ‘“ Take that!” and fired his rifle with reckless With its s report rung out the victim’s ery, and Diek tance companion was thrown across his horse’s withers, shot by his own hand! With a shriek of horror, the murderer nearly fell from his saddle. A moment Rock watched the spellbound men, and then, with a laugh of derision, disappeared. A volley of bullets was sent after him, though with what effect none could tell. ‘*Is Dan dead?” one at last recovered enough to ask, **Stone dead!” came the git afore we are rubbed out. Trembling with dire forebodings the cavalcade resume their course. To their t relief nothing more was seen of the dread Texan. soon as they reached Silverstone the hastened to the Bang-up, where they told their strange story to wondering listeners. In the midst of Oregon Dick’s strange recital another came rushing in, crying: ‘*T have seen him! I have seen him!” ‘* Who?” cried the amazed bystanders. ** The-Man-from-Texas or his ghost!” ‘“Where did you see him?’ asked Lane, in Oe Down by'the:d He looked awful ** Down e diggings! He loo awful! Eyes like baills of fire! fe had his long rifle and was going to shoot me when I fell ina dead faint! hen I came to he was gone, but I found the body of Jim Kelley near the creek the last spark of life gone! I think he shot him!” The news spread like wildfire and Silverstone was all excitement. Rock Randel had come back from his grave to renew his fight for the Valley of Gold. ‘1 don’t wonder he doesn’t rest easy,” said an old gray-headed miner, and more than one began to express the same opinion. ld-dust Buck hastened to his confederate to learn the full particulars. When he had listened to the other’s story he exclaimed: ‘‘Oh, bosh! you were frightened, Dick, and only imagined yousaw him. I knowthat Texan is dead, and the dead never trouble the living. But you have made a pretty muss by your re- ort. “Ef Rock Randel is dead, then I saw his ghost!” protested the other. ‘‘ You said your- self the Texan swore he’d haunt the valley, and I tell you, boss, I believe he means to ¢o it!” ‘* Bah! I should like to see him. Let him be who he will, ’d warrant to lay him out!” The two were standing on a street corner in the shadows of the deepening twilight. Warner had scarcely given expression to his speech as a low laugh rung on their ears. you, madman!” he yelled, ‘‘ release reply. “But let’s Starting up in surprise, they saw the very object ‘a their words watching them but a few O ‘The n is always near when you are speaking of him!” muttered Gold-dust Buck; but in = pie of his attempted coolness he trem- bled violently, as he identified beyond a doubt The-Man-from-Texas. Oregon Dick shrunk back in abject terror. Clutching hislong rifle menacingly,the Texan, whether man or spirit, glared upon them in silence, his face gleaming deathly white in the semi-darkness, and the golden adornments upon his person glowing like burning embers! CHAPTER XIX. ROCK GIVES NEW TERROR. ‘“Wrat do you want, Rock Randel?’ Gold- dust Buck at last cried. The-Man-from-Texas replied with a hollow, sardonic laugh. ‘* He won't ! Oregon Dick said. ‘‘ But mercy! he’s going to shoot!” — “Hold, Texan!” cried Warner, as the other seemed on the —_ of raising his rifle, ‘* can’t you speak and tell us whether you are man or demon?” The only answer was another laugh, that seemed to mock him. With an oath Buck drew a revolver, but in the moment his eyes left the mysterious miner he vanished. ‘“‘He’s gone,” declared Lane, with a long- drawn breath of relief. Warner stared at the empty space ahead in silence, ““You believe me now, don’t you, Gold-dust Buck?” ; oe ee ee ee CO “T’d give a hundred dollars to know if that was Rock Randel or not!” “Of course it was. Whoor what else could he be?” It was plain that the reckless desperado leader was greatly agitated by the Texan’s mysterious appearance. Ay, vividly came back to his mind the wild declaration made by the dying owner of Gold-dust Hollow. Was it possible he was going to keep his word? | ‘* Let’s go to the Bang-up,” he said finally, and the twain reached the saloon to find it filled with excited men. peer in every mind, and the sole theme of their talk, was the reappearance of Rock Randel. Some declared it was his ghost, while a few were bold enough to assert that if was him in flesh and blood. ‘ “‘T reckon it makes nary difference!” one ex- claimed.” ‘‘He’s going to make times lively enny way. It’s sartin justice too, for this valley was his Jess es much es I own rag Bpoantng and I don’t blame him fer fightin’ fer his own.” It was a bold, reckless speech to utter in such a crowd, and the words had barely fallen from his lips, when a broad-shouldered listener stepped quickly forward and exclaimed angrily: ‘* Dare ye say es much fer that long-hair do o’ Texas, Gus Verne? J never did like him, an he had no bizness hyar!” ** This is a free land, Dave. friend.” “You will eh? Jess take that then, and know eset up yer clap fer the speaker made a ye ain’t my friend when y thet sneakin’ Texan!” an furious lunge at the other, who dextrously threw him to the tioor. : Staggering to his feet with a bitter oath, the wretch drew a pistol, and before any one could interpose would have killed the brave speaker, but a bullet sped past the excited throng of be- holders and entered his assailant’s temple, when he dropped dead. For a moment all were spellbound. Then the amazed crowd saw Rock Randel | standing in the doorway, rifle in hand! Before they recovered was gone. All had seen him now, and no one that night cared to mention his name. With another day the miners resumed their work in the mines, ‘ A squad of half a dozen, under Oregon Dick, went to the Golden Cave to begin work there. In a few days yard were to commence in earn- est the digging of the precious ore in thot vi- cinity. In the meanwhile those at the regular dig- gings were steadily plying their picks, or busy andling their pans. Stockton Sharp had the management of the lace, and while passing from one gang of work another he was seen to pause with a wild, haggard look. God!” he cried; ‘‘ I am a dead man!” He had hardly given utterance to the startling exclamation, when the report of a rifle was heard, and the doomed man fell forward, dead! In wild trepidation the miners seized their weapons just as a mocking laugh broke on their ears, Looking up the mountain side, they saw standing on an overhanging rock, in plain sight, _Rock Randel! In an instant half a hundred rifles belched forth their fiery contents. When the smoke had cleared away nothing was to be seen of the Texan, “There’s blood on the rock!” cried one, ‘‘Let’s hunt him down, if he ain’t already dead !” Quickly following the er’s lead, the miners toa man sprung up the hillside in pur- suit of their dreaded foe, At last, after a bootless search, they returned once more to the valley. ‘‘Where’s Sam’s body?” some one asked, as they looked for it where he had fallen. “Here, look! see! there it is!” cried another, in a frightened tone, pointing above their heads. The others saw in amazement the form of re Nh alead) suspended in the air right above em : A strong cord had been secured around the neck, and the other fastened to the branch of a tree above, so that the remains of Stockton Sharp were swaying to and fro in a most hide- ous manner! As the astonished beholders watched in silence the strange tacle, a wild yell aroused eo et and then was heard in an unearthly voice e cry: Rock always used ‘*Gold ! gold! gold! gold!” Upon the same spot where The-Man-from Texas had been seen a little while before they now beheld a tall, wild-looking figure clothed is flowing, tattered garb and wear.ng a mats 0 white hair and beard! ‘Wild Wind, the Mad Miner!” they cried i: surprise. In a moment the strange being darted dow?) the cliff’s deep side and was seen no more. It was hours later before the startled miner commenced work again, and even then many 0! them left for Silverstone to spread the news o' Stockton Sam’s death. While this was transpiring Oregon Dick an | his few chosen ones started to prospect the ca‘ + of gold, | Reaching there they found Gold-dust Buck i: waiting. Lane was surprised to see also Evil Eyes thu half-breed. “Tt’s all right!” exclaimed Warner to his confederate chief. ‘‘I could do no better than ti let the Indian have a share after what he hay‘ done for us. You know he rid us of that A/ pine Luke.” Oregon Dick was silent. This was a turn i the programme that he had not expected However, he suppressed all indignation, and ap | peared satisfied “There is gold enough here to make us al, rich!” exclaimed Gold -dust Buck, as they me well, and I shall ever stand by him as a | paused before the cave. ‘I tell you, boys, thir | is worth working for. Don’t blame the Texar for the fight he made,” ‘** He’s gone now,” said the half-breed with « fiendish smile. ‘ Brave wipe him out!” ‘* Hark!” hissed Dick. “I hear the stroke <f a pick-ax in there!” e others listened a moment, when they, too, 3 gl heard the sound. ‘Who can it be?’ ejaculated Buck Warner. “We must find out!” Then waiting a moment longer and satisfying _ himself they were not mistaken, he said: “Come, follow me; we must explore ths place and warn away whoever is here.” ‘Me stay and keep watch,” cried Evil Eyes, from their terror he | who had no desire to face the perils of the dark- ness within. faces.” ‘**Good! you have a long head, chief.” Fearlessly entering the cavern, Gold-dus? Buck and his men soon oey in its recesi aoaleh going a rod or so they found it pitcht r ‘*No one can be here in this black hole, muttered one. ‘* We must have been mistake about bearing a pick.” ‘* Hist!” or the leader, Plainer than before they again heard t) sound. ““Some one is here!” and he groped his wa! blindly forward, until turning an angle in th ge, he suddenly saw the dim light of * ickering torch. Imperfectly seen by the weird blaze was . miner vigorously plying his pick. ‘*There he is!” whi Gold-dust Buc’ ‘and as I live, itis that looney, Wind Gray!” As if catching the sound of the words, the ur. known paused in his work and glared wild! ' around. ‘Pll fix him!” muttered Warner, and in ai instant the report of his rifle filled the cave an ! fairly deafened their ears. With the shot the light was extinguished an 1} impenetrable darkness followed. e half-terrified miners felt the rush of at asa body swept past them, and then a deat »- like stillness hung like an oppressive weig) ‘ about them. With one accord they retraced their way. Reaching daylight once more they breathe | easier. Looking for the half-breed chief, they foun} his body near where they had left him, lifeless| Protruding from his person they saw the haft of a huge knife! ** Mebbe others come to trap pale CHAPTER XX. WIND’S DOOM. Mote with terror, the miners gazed in silence upon their dead companion, At last Gold-dust Buck said; ‘“°Tis the work of that Mad Miner!” “Well, at least, that Indian is out of the way. I, for one, sha’n’t shed any tears,” affirmed O1~ egon Dick. He had hardly uttered the words when one od the men nea him fell dead! Horrified, the others ap back, A crimson stream welled out of a tiny wound ' on the temple of the slain. eoim GNOOCKS