Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 169 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

_. | ~- -- - os te , oe ~ , SE eee os . i ee pc + -——--—- - + - - + ‘ : : ’ r . ; a a | , . ; > , , dt a ee = - - a ee ee | owe -_-_--—— ‘¢ Wal,” be said, ‘‘I never like to keep any- | ‘“Disobey and die! Remember the oath and | his way into Omaha, and got a dose froth Moc. body waitin’. So you ar’ the Brethrun ov the the brand of the bowie over your heart!” | casin ike what laid’im out. The old chap Gold League?” | warned the chief to the white-faced boy before | didn’t seem to hev many friends, so I took an “We are.” him. ‘ Executioner, look at the prisoner.” interest in ’im, an’ I thought Id try to fetch ’im ‘‘Pyve met seven ov you afore, an’ you pulled, “And kill tim—old Tornado? [ll die through. Fura while he got the upper band ov the wool most beautifully over my eyes. But first!” death, an’ promised to come out ready fur an- then the light war unsartin. jingo! you make up well as Injuns.” Tom saw more than one eye glisten with sup- | volver at the chief’s feet, and stepped proudly pressed merriment. * You did not suspect us?” “ Not until I war down under the mountain whar I left one ov yer band.” The eyes of the masks flashed now. ‘* Aro you ready, Tornado?” ‘Ready fur what?” “For the sentence of the Brethren of the Gold League.” ‘* You are goin’ to wipe me out without givin’ me a show fur my white alley?” ‘* Mercy for mercy!” was the stern rejoinder. * You feigned death in the underground dun- By the jumpin’ | geon; you waited for our brother, and when he | came down you killed him. Mercy for mercy! That is one of the cardinal principles of our brotherhood.” ‘* Then go on.” The revolver aung from Tornado’s hand at his side. To lift it would be to fall riddled by bul- lets; so the tawny man Cesisted. ‘* Brethren of the Gold League, what shall be the geome of the captive?’ said the chief of the circle. The answer was not long delayed. ‘* Death!” Every tongue had spoken. * Death without any alternative?’ Without any.” A moment's silence followed. ‘Brethren of the League, what shall be death’s agent?” ‘* The revolver.” ‘‘In whose hands?” ‘* Our last member’s.” ‘* Bring in the executioner!” An imperious w:.ve of the hand accompanied the command, and two men silently withdrew from the circle, ‘* Tom Taggart, your endis at hand,” said the chief addressing our old hero, ‘‘ We grant you the easiest death in our code. You gave our brother one that never pained him, at have y 4s iy say before the executioner stands before ‘** Nothin’, only—it’s something thet I’d rather the rest wouldn’t hear.” ‘‘ Individuai members of the League are not permitted to become confessors. “Your last words must greet all ears alike.” ~' in? ’ BB what I war goin’ tosay I’ll keep to my- The chief of the band looked disappointed out of his eyes; but Tornado had sealed is lips and drawn his gaunt figure to its full stature All at once a voice came from toward the en- trance. ‘* The executioner is here.” ‘Let him advance.” A moment later two masks stepping apart chief! | The words rung with sharp vehemence through | other set-to with Moccasin; but death tri the cave, and with them the boy threw the re- rip ‘im, an’ he went dewn ag’in. One night Bid | Shady called me to ’im an’ said that he had his last check in his hand, an’ war about to pass it in. It war one ov the wildest nights you ever saw, boy. My shanty war near the river, which roared like a thousand fiends howlin’ fur Old Shady’s soul. For ten minutes he sot up in bed starin’ at me, an’ listenin’ to the‘river at the same time; but at last he said: ‘Tornado, I'll never git back thar!’ “* Back whar, Shady? said I, fur I thought his mind war wanderin’ somewhar. ‘** Back to the old mine—back to the boss bo- He had seized his opportunity, and, having | nanza ov the West.’ sprung back clear of the hooded ranks, he st ‘*Then he reached under the pillow and pull- erect, the torch in the hand over his head, and | ed out one ov his boots and handed it to me. the revolver in the one stretched toward the | ‘‘‘ Pry up the sole,’ he said. ‘*T Jooked at ‘im, but his eye war cl’ar; thar He had | warn’t the least sign of insanity in it. So I took and defiantly back! ‘* Now carry out your threat!” he cried, **The | oath has been broken!” Instantly the revolvers of the League turned upon the daring boy, but the next ment a loud voice startled every one, ‘* Lower the weepins, every one ov ye, fur old Tornado holds death in his hands fur more’n two or three! Down with the revolvers, er die!” A glance at the speaker showed his posi- tion. ere The Brethren looked at their leader. | started back, but his life was still in the hands | my knife an’ loosened the sole of his boot. Jehu! made a gap in the circle at Tornado’s right, and | a figure was pushed into the light. om uttered a cry of horror, Tornado Jr. stood before him, a revolver in his right hand, and a bandage over bis eyes. ‘* Whose voice was that?” cried the boy start- ng toward the ring. Tear your accursed blind- | and a moment later the cave was wrapped in fold from my eyes, and let me see whom you | gloom. want to make me kill! You made me one of you when I was powerless; you branded me and made me take your pitiless oath to obey your commands. Now you would make me take a human life, and bind me to your League with | heads, and a dash was made for the entrance the cords of murder. No! no! I will never do that. Off with this blindfold. Let me see.” As the boy uttered the last words a figure step- ped from the circle, and a rapid movement tore the bandage away. Tornado Jr. uttered a shriek as he saw. ‘‘] thought I knew your victim’s voice,” he cried, starting from old Tornado, and whirling upon the leader of the League. ‘“ And you have ehosen me to kill thas man in cold biood. Never!” ‘* Remember!” was the response. ‘1 cannot forget.” ** He deserted you.” The boy started. ‘* But I had another way of punishing him.” ‘* No, I did not desart you, boy,” cried Torna- do. “T fell into the clutches ov these devils—” ‘* Silence or death!” thundered the League. sentence, but shot looks of eternal hatred at tie B: ethren. . | : | | } | | of the tr : | | old chicken what Strange to say the prisoner did not finish the | kentry west o | of old Tornado. CHAPTER XIII. | WHAT TWO REVOLVERS DID. ‘* LOWER the weepins! Uncover the boy!” demanded Tornado Tom, savagely. The lifted revolvers fell slow y to their own- ers’ sides, but the fingers of the Brethren twitch- ed nervously at the triggers. The tables had been turned; the prey had turned hunter. The flash of victory lit up Tornado’s deep-set how be watched me, an’ all at once he made a dart fur it an’ held a piece ov dirty paper in his hand. Then I held the light close to ’im, an’ he tried to explain the meanin’ ov the rough lines on the paper. Thar war a lost gold mine some- whar in these parts; but Old Shady, accordin’ to his tell, bad found it, an’ that ar’ paper war a map ov the diggin's. didn’t lose a word ov his talk; but I heard every sylJable, an’ got all them lines fixed right in my noggin. He gave _ the mine to me, fur it belonged to him by right of rediscovery. Then he went right off into eyes. some crazy lingo, an’ when mornin’ come, thar ‘You will oblige me by removin’ yer mask,” he lay ready fur the coolin’ board. I didn’t say he said quietly to the chief of the League. “I! any thing to the boys about his death, but buried want ter see whether I am right er bis 5 = | him myself—” There was no reply except a start by the per- | “What! ed se bs do not mean to say son addressed. that you once buried the man that you shot Tornado Jr. had glided to his protector’s side | back there in the cave?’ exclaimed the young and the revolver that he had taken from the old | listener, as he grasped Tornado’s arm, man's belt was cocked in his right hand. ‘*Thet’s jest what I did!” was the answer, ‘* Ar’n’t you goin’ to take off the cloth?” cried and the gray eyes glittered. “I knowed thes Tom a minute later. ‘‘If you won't then I'll | voice ez soon ez | heard it, an’ I can’t tell you proceed to put a hole through it.” what kind ov feelin’s went over me. An oath came from beneath the mask as a warn’t dead when I planted ’im; he might hev hand soe dogzedly up to it; but at the throat _ been in some kind ov trance, but he’s dead now. it paused;.and the eyes of tle League chief for | No foolin’ this time, boy. a moment flashed defiance at Tornado, '” “But thar’s another thing thet puzzles me,” said the old fellow, after a lengthy ‘‘ Jest as you like. The mask kin rot off!” pause, As his thin lips closed behind the last word, | “ we did Injun Jack hear about the bonan- ZA the report of his revolver filled the cavern with | a deatening noise and the chief staggered back, ‘He might have met Old Shady after his resurrection. a dark «bag in the gray ¢loth that covered his ‘‘He must hev done it. Now we ar’ on our forehead. ‘* Me an’ Injun Jack hev pooled our issues!” | pins ag’in. You know whar the bonanza is. How did you discover it?” rang through the smoke of the deadly weapon. ‘* An’ ez we've got to fight to the death fur the | TornadoZJr. started back with a light cry and stared into his protector’s face. boss bonanza, we mizht ez’ well begin hyar ez anywhar else. Now, Gray Hoods, ef you want | ey Who told you that I bad found it?’ he ask- | — ——— to try the boy an’ me, jest sail in!” ed. But, statue-like, the Brethren of the Gold | ‘You yourself. Hev you forgottin so soon? League stood before the twain under the flam- | Why it hasn’t been three hours since you sur- ing torch, _ prised me in the cave, an’ said that war ‘Don’t want to try us, eh?’ Wal, we’ll sepa- | goin’ to be the money king, an’ thet Tornado rate fur the present. But afore long we'll meet , Tom could go back to Omaha r ez he left it. ag’in, an’ then fur some sport with the re- No, you hav’n’t forgottin’. Whar is the mine?” ”? ter | The band of Tornado had suddenly closed All at once the torch fell at Tornado’s feet, about the boy’s arm. “Whar is it?’ he re ted fiercely, and them his look softened. ‘ e needn’t be foes. We come out hyar, pards; an’ we ought to go back the same. I don’t want a dollar outen the boss | | Almost at the same moment the boy felt a : | bonanza, It shall allbe yours. Isaid so to my- | | hand force him to the a just as the revol- vers of the League Spo e. ! But the bullets fortunately whistled over their | self when I started over the Bitter Root range, with you follerin’, an’ wonderin’ at my side. Don’t act the blamed fool now, Tornado. You Now whar which was gained. | Old Tornado held the hand of the boy as they ran through the starlight, nor was a halt made until they found themselves far from the scene abe m9 the gold; it is all yours, si ‘‘] will play fair with you,” was the answer. “You have just saved my life. I will show you that wonderful gold mine which, knowing noth’ ing about the existence of that map, I discover- ed accidentally.” How old Tornado’s eyes glittered! ‘“ At last!” he cried. ‘We will outwit all them devils what Old Shady hes led into this kentry; yes, an Injun Jack, too.” n a goon Injun Jack!” repeated the boy madly. ‘‘Is it far from hyar—the mine? Kin we reach it to-night,” asked Tom eagerly. ‘* Before morning we can be in it!” was the answer. ‘ But, since you have mentioned In- jun ; ack, do you know who came out here with im Tornado Tom started at the question and a cloud overspread his face. aoty When the gold-hunter stopped he turned ab- ruptly upon his protege. ‘Boy, do you know whol wiped out back yan- der?’ he asked, his eyes still full of excitement. ‘Why, the leader of the Gold e.” ““More’n that. Ef you war to go back thar al lift his mask you’d gaze into old Shady’s ace,” ‘*Old Shady?” asked the boy. ‘ Who is he?” ‘By jingo! I never did tell you about ’im,” exclaimed Tom. ‘* Never.” ‘Wal, Old Shady war a ramblin’, curious knew more about the the Missouri than the Injuns themselves. I knew ‘im long afore me vo bo ge --- oo oe _— —— pooled our fortins. Three years ago he nu ~ ae | > *. COMIcboo -—- eee * vr’ , 7 . aN S) co