Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 144 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

and Decoy Duck came rushing down the street, and Zeph saw a man opposite following their motions with a carbine, evidently determined not to waste his lead by firing before he made sure of his aim. : That carefulness proved fatal to-his hopes, for Zeph, recking little what he did so long as it was in defense of his beloved friend, leveled his revolver and sent a bullet through and through the cautious marksman. At this moment, rendered desperate, not for his own sake, but lest. the young girl should be killed, Dainty Lance cried aloud as he rode be- side her: ‘¢You must go with me—you shall not throw your life away! AjJl is lost! Your father is slain or captured—we are surrounded—I know it, for I sent them the warning!” Decoy Duck was too terribly excited to fully understand this rash confession, even if she heard the words, which is doubtful when what was to follow is considered, but there was one who did overhear the speech. Daniel Rowe was ridin ree! a few paces be- hind the young couple, also shielding the girl as much as lay in his power, by plying his pis- tols rapidly at each head that showed itself at the open windows, and the words that Dainty Lance uttered penetrated his ears like a dagger- thrust, fully confirming his suspicions. With a fierce, hoarse cry of terrible rage, he plunged his spurs deep into his horse’s sides, and met the couple as they wheeled and came dash- inz back once more. He no longer thought of the enemy above. He only saw the one who had ruined their well-laid plans and led them to their death. At that moment he felt that che could willingly die, if he might only send this traitor along the death-trail before him. But terrible as was his hatred, Daniel Rowe was not so carried away as to neglect a chance of making his blow for vengeance certain, and he wheeled his horse as the couple met him, riding a few feet to the rear of Dainty Lance. The latter was wholly absorbed in his desire to save Decoy Duck from death or capture, and did not notice Daniel Rowe even by a glance as he joined them. If he had done so, he must have read the truth there in those rage-dis- torted features, and that would have put him on guard. As it was, Rowe rode close behind him, and thrust a cocked revolver almost against his head. But if Dainty Lance saw nothing of this, Hardy Zeph did, and divining the murderous intention of the bank-robber, just as the three riders drew opposite his covert, the boy tra r, with a swift, unerring aim, sent a pistol- Bullet straight to the heart of Daniel we, as the cup of vengeance from his very ips! "All this time—but a few minutes in reality, though so full of action—nothing had been seen or heard of Hammer Fair and his companions since entering the bank after giving the signal to open the play. The quick glance which he cast inside the small room before making that signal, had shown him no cause for uneasiness. Pierce Bal- lou and his son alone were visible behind the glass-topped counter, not even glancing at the men who stood in the ea mein The signal given, Hammer Fair sprung to the counter, revolver in hand, covering the banker and Harry, orying: ‘‘Up with your hands! Utter a sound or at- ey to touch a weapon, and you are dead men His two companions fully understood the part they were to play, and hastily crawling through the window which indicated. the paying-teller’s ition, they grasped the two men holding is- fols against their temples while air crossed the counter. By this time the uproar was continuous with- out, for just then the ambushed men opened fire upon the robbers, but the chief had no suspicion tamer _of the real facts and attributed it all to his men. “You hear that firing?’ he cried, with a short laugh. ‘‘My men are keeping the streets clear while we clean you out here. There is no fear of our being interrupted, 7 the less trouble ou give us the easier you Wl escape. me ou don’t mean “ rob me?” gasped Pierce Ballou, the very picture of utter terror and de- ‘*No nonsense! Show us where the money is —your own funds and deposits, as well as the county money. Be quick, or by the horns of the devil! ‘scatter your brains all over the room! Quick—the money !” ‘¢ Don’t shoot—spare our lives—you shall have all there is here!” gasped and gurgled the bank- Dainty Lance, the Boy Sport. er, trembling in every limb as though under the influence of an e-fit. *‘The money is there in the vault—T ll show you.” So admirably did both he and Harry act, that the robbers never once suspected them of play- ing a part, and as Hammer Fair darted toward the nearly closed door of the vault —_ follow- ed, still grasping their prisoners. Bot their eyes were eager to behold the rich reward of their daring exploit, and so they failed to intercept the meaning glance which between father and son, or noticed how suddenly the muscles stiffened beneath their grasp as Hammer Fair reached the door of the vault. The chief flung the heavy door open, only to be knocked senseless by a heavy blow as haif-a- dozen armed men leaped out from their con- tracted ambush! And at the same moment the two prisoners grappled with the astounded robbers, easily overthrowing them in the instant of surprise, and before either of the ruffians could attempt any resistance, other stout enemies were upon them, and almost ere they could realize the truth, they were both firmly handcuffed. CHAPTER XII. A TRAITOR IN THE CAMP. DANIEL Rowe discharged the pistol he held, but its contents never touched the life he had sworn to take. Death-stricken himself, the sharp g as the bullet sped by Zeph Hardy ie his heart, caused his arms to raise and is head to be jerked backward with a convul- sive motion. Thus, though the lead whistled close his ear, Dainty Lance was unhurt as he quickly turned his head just in time to read the startling truth in the hatred-glowing eyes that even death could not instantly quench. Decoy Duck made the same discovery almost simultaneously, and a sickening shudder agi- tated her frame—a concession of weakness that her own personal danger was unable to extort. Just at this moment the door of the bank was flung open, and the stout men who had so easily overpowered Hammer Fair and his two assist- ants, — flushed with victory and eager to complete the good work so well begun. ainty Lance saw his chance, and made the most of it. ‘ **'You see—all is lost!” he cried, pointing to- ward the men who had lost no time in opening fire upon the nearest robbers down the cross- street. ‘‘ Your father has been entrapped, and either killed or taken prisoner. We can do him no ono by sacrificing ourselves—” " flee while you can—leave me here to share his fate!” cried Decoy Duck, wildly. “We sink or swim — you and I,” quietly responded Lance, plainly meaning what he said. ‘*They must kill me first, before they make you their prisoner.” As soon as he fired the shot that overthrew Daniel Rowe, Zeph Hardy left his covert and hastened to secure the well-trained horse asa means of beating a rapid retreat. Despite its excitement and high spirits, the noble snimal no sooner felt its rider reel and fall, than it balted, standing like a statue of stone, awaiting the remounting of its owner. Thus Zeph was easily enabled to secure the creature, tearing the dead man’s foot from the stirrup where it had become entangled, and springing into the saddle, he dashed up to his bosom friend just in time to catch the spirited words recorded above. ‘** See ’t she don’t throw herself off,” he cried hurriedly, at the same time bendin forward and grasping the reins of Decoy Duck’s bridle, near the bit. ‘‘We got to skin out o’ yere monstrous quick or else go under.” But the words of Dainty Lance had an- swered the purpose for which they were intend- ed. However desperate she might be, where only her own life or liberty was concerned, the love with which the dashing young adventurer had inspired Decoy Duck, was toc intense for ree to sacrifice his life, and she yielded to his Of all the outlaw band that rode so confident- ly into town but a few brief minutes before, there were now only two left in the saddle in addition to the trio whose movements we have pace peatioularty interested in, and these two g_ that all was lost, as soon as the arm force rushed out of the bank, put fresh spurs to the sides of their animals and galloped to join Decoy Duck and her companions eir flight. For a few moments t ri forced to run the gantlet of many a w g bullet, but though more than once blood was drawn, and Decoy Pe aeeey flinched as a ball plowed its way t gh her right shoulder, not one of the was empti 1 —---=- ee ee Ce eee e But every precaution had been taken by Pierce Ballou to make a clean sw of the bank robbers, and to cut off any stragglers that might chance to break away from the main snare, each one of the streets leading out of town was guarded by armed and mounted men = es as the firiug announced the springing of e trap. Just as they began to feel that there was at least a chance for their escaping, the fugitives saw this unexpected obstacle; nearly a _half- score men barring their way to freedom. ‘*Charge home!” cried Dainty Lance, his voice ringing out as clear and defiant as the ast of atrumpet. ‘It’s either them or us! Better die fighting than be captured to end on the gallows! Charge, and make every shot tell!” There was no trace of fear or faltering in any one of the little band. All knew that Dainty Lance had spoken but the truth. To yield meant death. Thus, like a human whirlwind they charged along the narrow street, opening fire upon the enemy who, not anticipating such a desperate assault, were thrown into confusion as the winged lead hissed around them. True, they returned the fire, but without any apparent effect, while two of their own saddles were emp- tied, but when the shock came, they were scat- tered like a flock of sheep when a hungry wolf pounces into their midst. A wild, defiant laugh burst from Dainty Lance’s lips as he rode on, the path now free and unobstructed, but this excited burst was abruptly checked as one of the two robbers reeled in his saddle like a drunken man, then pitched sideways to the ground, a dead man. And then, for the first time he noticed that Decoy Duck was wounded, from the red blood that was deeply dyeing her garments. ‘‘It is only a scratch, skin deep,” she said, with a short, bard laugh, shaking his tremblin hand from her shoulder. ‘I hardly felt itun you spoke. Ride on—we will be chased by an aimy—a minute lost may be fatal!” She spoke so clearly and ree that Dainty Lance was thoroughly deceived, though he could not hejp seeing that the flow of blood was suspiciously profuse for a mere scratch. Had his love been like hers, it would not have been so easy to quiet his fears. By virtue of his more thorough knowledge of the surrounding country, Hardy Zeph was tacit- ly elected leader, and knowing that hot and persistent pursuit wovld be made, he led the way at a rapid pace, boping to secure such a start by the time that night fell, as to enuble him to throw the enemy wholly off the scent. mes Lance, thinking more of the wound Decoy Duck had received, when he saw that the course Hardy Zeph was following would take them far north of the cavern from whence they a started, reminded the boy trapper of this act. ‘*T know it,” was the cool response. ‘‘ That'll be the fust —_ they’ll lock fer us, when we throw ’em off o’ the track. You know they’ve tuck Bald Bisbee pris’ner. All they need do is to pinch him a little, an’ he’ll squeal out all he knows, to make ’em lighter on him.” There was no answer made to this reasoning, but it let light into at least one befogged brain. The sole surviving outlaw was ie Tinker, the right hand man of Daniel Rowe, and to whom the jealous lover had freely communicated his suspicions concerning the new recruits. Thus far, though he could not help seeing that there had been treachery at work, the intense excitement had prevented his reasoning the matter out, but that speech of Hardy Zeph A ges him the clew. If they had not set the ball in motion, how could they be so sure that Bald Bisbee had been captured? He saw it all, now, and though he dared not omealy ch them with treachery, or attack them as he longed to co, Abe Tinker made a mental vow toavenge his slaughtered comrades, even though it should cost his own life. The party pressed on at a rapid , their enemies all behind them, since in those day Missouri was not covered with a network o olegrapn lines, and in his desire to fully entrap the robbers, Pierce Ballou had been care- ss not to let a hint of the truth pass out of the wn. Their horses had been selected for their speed and endurance, and — considerable had been taken out of them d g that mad - to and fro in the streets of Clayton, Zeph felt confident that they could keep in advance of all it until the friendly shades of night should descend to cover their movements. Nor was he deceived in this estimate. Thanks to his thorovgh knowledge of the JOO ie cS <€om (Eo)