Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 121 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

EE ss — . & sneer, taste, to call that strolling vagabond a gentile- —— oe mee dee wee : —_—— = friends on! Flying Star! Show pon heels i ee o-—— —- ‘‘ Gentleman !”” Miss Howard exclaimed, with ‘*Indeed, you must have very poor man.” Rosebud Rob heard the thrust, but did not re- ply, although his face flushed and an: angry glitter crept into his brown eyes. _ He was well aware that the general’s daughter would try to crush him, and he resolved to hold his own. : Many a woman had he known, but none had ever falccas up arms against him, as Miss Howard now had done. There seemed to be a divided opinion in the crowd of spectators, whether it would be Ti ht to allow the Sport to compete, or not. Many were in favor of honoring the will of the proud Miss Evelyn, while others were ad- mirers of the Sport, and decided for him. ‘‘There seems but one way to satisfactorily settle this matter, ladies and gentlemen,” cried Captain Mayburn, the blonde stranger, as he stepped forward, followed by his Celestial com- on, Pigtail Pete. ‘‘The house appears to be divided; and the only way to decide the matter is to take a vote. Those in favor of submitting to Miss Howard’s will, will make their decision st by saying ‘Nay!’ ? “Nay!” came the response of a limited: num- ber, feminine voices pad eh predonstiass a. ‘“ Contrary—‘ Ay!” cried Mayburn. ‘Ay! Ay!” roared a chorus of many voices, heartily, in tenfold greater numerical count. ‘Av! Hip! hip! hooray! That’s ther talk. Ther owner of the spotted nag has his hts, an’ I can lick any galoot as durst oppose ; be it a king or a queen, a jack or an ace. Oh! I’m your customer, I am, when you get = § Irish up, and don’t ye doubt it. Mebbe I don look quite so savage as a bar’! o’ cattymounts or a lucivee, but ef ye think I’m a calendar saint, wi’ no bed-rock, or no sand, jest cum up and say you're itchin’ to slide ag’inst a fust-class ’arth- q ake, and you'll find me thar! Mebbe I ain't a gineral’s darter, ner a band-box bologna, but ye can’t play no gum games whar I’m around, onless ye want ter heer a report frum a new county. _ yh youre a blow, you are!” Dandy Dell growled, savagely, ‘‘an’ ef it wasn’t that ye’re a woman, I’d slap your mouth to a peak!” “Whoop! hurra! Slap my mouth, would you—slap my mouth, ef it warn’t fer my bein’a gal? Ha! ha! ha! Gal or no gal, you couldn’t slap one side of my fodder-trap, you lantern- jawed son of a greaser!” Chip cried, fearlessly. judges’ stand. "Tho ‘Sport with the sp ja ieitis e Sport wi ro) he ag shall race with the rest. Get aie sth the start!” At the word there was a general spurring of the animals to the third quarter-post, from which to get a start. Dandy led the advance, upon Miss Eve- "ee handsome mare, with Rosebud Rob, upon e spotted animal, bringing up the rear. On reaching the quarter-post all horses were wheeled around, andcame galloping down to- stand, abreast however had the inside track, and had managed to crowd the Sport outside.’ Fiosebud Rob, however, with his ble coolness, only smiled, and held his animal with a slack rein. As he approached the stands, he saw a gleam of hatred in Miss How- ard’s eyes, and acting on the impuise of the moment, he touched his hat and bowed, mock- ingly. hike next instant the stentorian voice of Joe Nedney sung out And the twelve animals shot out from oppo- site the grand stand, nearly abreast, The race had begun! CHAPTER III. ROSEBUD ROB’S CHALLENGE. Away dashed the twelve racers down the © reteh, at the top of their , the riders } lying the whip and spur except in the «ase of Rosebud Rob. He sat in his saddle, as if rooted there, and cave his spel beauty the rein without word, spur or whip. : On the first ates the spotted horse egy oe behind, several lengths, while Dandy Dell spurted ahead about the same distance, he hav- ing the inside track, and the bay mare doing mely. Frurrah! the little bay is going home, trium t!” Evelyn Howard cried, excitedly, w eered vociferously. “On— them!” ke as if the Sport’s a ‘T+ do look uncommon’ Cinnamon Chip. —<—- —— — ory C- eee --- —— thousan’ out,” Cinnamon Chip said, turning to Captain’ Mayburn, who stood near by. ‘*T took more stock in thet ar’ spotted ca than in any ther rest o’ the nags, but I reckon I got fooled, fer once.” “By no means!” Mayburn replied, with a emile. ‘That Sport is only playing off, now. When they are about far enough ahead of him, I opine you'll see gravel fly.” : ‘Ha! ha! what will you bet?” Evelyn How- ard cried, sarcastically, for the speakers were standing immediately in front of her stand. ‘‘Tf you’ve so much confidence in the vaga- bond’s animal, back it up with a little of your sek cash. ‘‘T’ll bet you a thousand dollars that Flying Star wins first money.” ‘You'll have to excuse me, miss, for I never make it a point to bet with a woman or take an unfair advantage of the weaker sex, which I would be doing by betting with you, as I am certain that Rosebud Rob’s horse will win,” Mayburn said. ‘Bah! you are a coward, that you are afraid to bet on a certainty, then!” the belle of Bummer’s Bend criéd, with a perceptible angry sneer. “A coward is, who coward calls, I have always heard, madam,” the ranger captain rm with scorn expressed in his tone. hen they all to watch the race. The main body of the horses had just passed the pole—Rosebud Rob was just passing it, the last of the whole lot. Evident it was that he was not trying hard to win, and sundry exclamations of disappvint- ment were heard among the audience. In the spotted horse many had centered their expectations, and not afew their wagers, and from all appearances they were going to lose, for the horse of Evelyn Howard was at least six i eo ahead, fying toward the half-mile pole. te Face, the Apache, came next behind Dandy Dell, and then the others were strung along about a half-length apart, with Circus the spotted horse, bringing up the rear, full five lengths behind. ‘‘Et’s good-by, Susan Jane, fer ther Sport,” Cinnamon Chip cried, disappointedly. ‘I took thet rooster ter be sum on his muscle, fer he hed concentrated lightnin’ in his eye, but I —— I made 4 oe in takin’ his rzact nventory, an’ as fer thet pesky ca e’s as deceivin’ as false teeth in a setdeckin inetven shoot me ef he ain’t.” “Don’t get discouraged, my friend,” Captain Mayburn cried, excitedly. ‘‘ Just look at the spo nag, now, will ye! Ill bet with any man, that Circus comes home, first!” But, just then, no one appeared possessed of any to bet against the Sport’s animal, for Circus had suddenly stretched his neck out neeey es a — wi ethene: and was fying over ground at a rate of speed simply in- credible. One after another of the heres he passed, like a flash, and he and Flying Star passed the half-mile pole, abreast. But the next instant he shot on ahead, amid deafening cheers from the majority of the spectators, for such beautiful work had never before been performed upon the course at Bum- mer’s Bend, within the recollection of the old- ba-'| est inhabitant. As he darted past Dandy Dell, Rosebud heard a spiteful crack as of a whiplash, and felt a g sensation in his left arm, but suppos- ing he been struck by Gu.hrie’s whip, he paid no attention to the sting, until he heard a second crack, and a bullet whizzed unpleas- antly near his cheek. Turning, he saw Dandy Dell just returning a “eats to his belt, a aR mE expression of tred upon his dark, evil face. Without pausing to glance at his wounded arm, Rosebud Rob urged on his flying animal, by an occasional word, and amid thunders of deafening A Green he passed the judges’ stand fully an eighth of a mile ahead of the field! and in tably won the race in a fair and square manner. Cheer after cheer went up, and loudest of all were the plaudits of Cinnamon Chip, and the ranger captain, Jack Mayburn. | Evelyn Howard stood ly leaning from her stand, with a face that was white with passion, and eyes that gleamed with terrible rage. Plain it was that the defeat of her horse been to her a heavy blow. Nor was her hitherto noted mare destined to win any of the laurels, for Wild Bill Marion’s horse. came in for second money, and White Face, the Apache, spurted ahead of Dandy Dell when within a rod of the , and passed the last pole in time to take purse. , **Hip! hip! hooray! Anything to beat the gineral’s darter, even if it is an Apash nigger!” cried Cinnamon Chip, as she took her hat from her curly head and waved it in the air. ‘‘I told ye ther pe would come to his oats, all hunki- on fer | see’d it in his optic, an’ don’t ye fergit i ‘It is an outrage and an indignity!” Miss Howard cried, angrily. ‘‘Mr. Guthrie, send Flying Star home, at once, and have him well cared for, Itisthe last time that he shall ever | race +e twill take him, and see to him myself, Miss Evelyn,” Dandy Dell replied, bowing, “It was | not the fault of the horse that he did not win, and he shall be well cared for. I will oversee it, myself,” ‘Hold on, my friend. if ie: please,” Rosebud Bob exclaimed, riding his horse suddenly across the other’s path, as he was about to depart. ‘‘ ve got a bone to pick with a chap of about your size, if I know myself, and I opine there is no time like the present.” Guthrie’s face suddenly glowed with anger, but he made no attempt to draw a weapon, for he saw that the Sport’s right hand already per upon f: ig haa vag a ell, w 6 wan e growled, gruffly. ‘Spit it out, for I’m in ah . oN **Oh! “fio are, eh?” and a cynical smile lurked around Ro; bud’s mouth.“ erhaps if you had been in a little more of a hurry, you might have won the race. But that is neither here nor there. You deliberately shot at me after I had you out yonder, and one bullet took effect in my left arm. Now, I don’t allow that it hurts a man to be playful occasionally, but I do know that I don’t allow a man to make me his target, and therefore I presume you know that you’ve got to give me satisfaction!” ‘“* Satisfaction be hanged! I did not fire to hit you, but to scare your horse so that he would hrow you off,” the mayor retorted. ‘The excuse is no better than the intention, and if you are willing we can settle the matter in short order. Either rifle, knife, pistol or fist will suit me, and so I give you your choice.” “Thet’s ther talk fer ye—thet’s ther cud for ye to chaw on, you son of a greaser!” Cinnamon Chap enonted, in delight. ‘*Thet Sport ain’t no slouch, an’ I know’d it frum ther minit I popped my eyes onter him. Jest look at him, will ye, an’ ef ye don’t allow he’s a paragon o’ perfection, I'll b’y ther bug- juice. I could hug him myself, ef et warn’t un- maidenly and unbecoming of a gal 0’ my good looks an’ character. An’ as fer thet black, swarthy cuss w’at rid ther bay mare—as fer him, ef et warn’t fer ther trouble o’ gittin’ off from my hoss, I’d annihilate him in two jerks of a donkey’s narrative. Oh, ye needn’t grin, you doubting pilgrims, fer I c’u’d do the leetle trans- action, wi’ ther greatest o’ ease, an’ not half try. Oh! I'm a North American tearer, I am, and don’t ye doubt it. Mebbe I don’t look as ef I could teetotally den:olish several aimies, but ef ye don’t believe I can fight, just call me a son of a sea-cook, an’ see how quick ll] bump my back up, and go fer ye, tcoth, tongue and toe-nail!”’ “I have no desire to fight,” Dandy Dell ted,” for although he was an acknow- edged dead shot, he was now chary about en- countering this cool dandified sport in mortal combat. Rather would he bave waited until he could get him at an unfair advantage—then show his hand. ‘More, I won’t fight. It’s against the orders of General Howard, to fight a duel in the town, andI must heed his orders.” ‘You are a coward, and beneath the notice ofa oar 13 Bonebud i said, contemptuously,. et you off, as I always pity any person who is afrayd!” rere ng “Tam not afraid, but it is against the gener- al’s orders,” the Dandy protested, looking very sheepish, ‘‘ Wait unti f catch you outside the town limits, and you shall have all the satisfac- tion you want!” “IT pray that may be very soon,” was Rose bud’s rejoinder. _ “Races over!” shouted Joe Redney, from the udges’ stand. ‘‘Circus won first money, ild Bill’s nag second money, and White Face third. The stakes will ke divided at the Girard, to-night, Clear out. now, one and all.” The crowd accordingly began to disperse mainly in the direction of the town, the genera and his suite and an escort of soldiers being the oy ones who went toward the fort. osebud Rob rode leisurely toward the town whistling, and appearing perfectly undistur although there were many who were excited and enthusiastic over the victory of his spotted racer, No horse had these Bendites and wild, rude ever seen that could equal the | -Eomicbooks:co ~~