Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 197 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

-** night to tell you all of the outrages the bandits were committing along the live: where is she?” eagerly said the sorrowing father. “Yes, they captured Miss Hewlett, the daughter of the officer who has come to build the new fort, and Little Grit had a brush with them, and then started to ride Jockey Jack’s run, as they had killed that poor fellow,” said Judge Hunter coming forward. ‘** Alas! that is not all they have cone, I tell you; Little Grit came to my cabin to find me strung up to a beam, and my daughter about to be served the same way, because we would not tell where we hid our gold; but that brave lad boldly attacked the half-dozen bandits, res- cued Bessie, and sent her here to give warning, and frightening off the outlaws, he cut me down ere I died, and I owe him my life. “I waited, my friends, a long time, and then as none of you came, I grew anxious about my child, and have come on foot all the way here to seek her, for alas! what bas be- fallen her?’ and the stock-tender gazed anx- iously around the crowd. ‘Your pretty daughter bas not come here, Benton, so harm must have befallen her, and I will lead to her rescue, if the boys will follow. Ho! pards, to the rescue of pretty Bessie Benton,” and the Kid Glove Sport waved his hat around his head, and a hundred voices shouted a glad response to follow bim. CHAPTER XIV. AN IMPORTANT ARRIVAL. THE excitement of the Rocky Glen settlers at the story of the stock-tender was _ in- tense for a few moments, for Bessie Benton was well known there, and her bright eyes had pierced many a brave heart with love arrows, and one and all were most anxions to aid in ber capture, for, if she had not fallen into the hands of the bandits, what had befallen her? Forgetting his angry words with Trumps, the Kid Glove Sport asked that big-hearted miner to aid him in forming a search party, and witbin half an hour’s time fifty men had assembled before the Riders’ Rest, all of them mounted and well armed, and at their head was Gambler Grey, Trumps, and Daniel Ben- ton, who, in spite of his long run on foot, and his sufferings, insisted upon going, and had been furnished with one of the Pony Express horses by Judge Hunter. Just as they were about to start, a young and handsome Lieutenant of Cavalry rode up, and said politely: “Gentlemen, Colonel Hewlett has learned of your proposed expedition, and has ordered me to take thirty men and accompany you, and I would advise that half of my cavalrymen go with your leader, and half of your party with me,” The Kid Glove Sport frowned a little at this proposition; but seemingly thinking it best not to act against the military, he replied: ‘“‘T command this party, sir, and will accede to the colonel’s wishes, thoagh I do not think such a large force necessary, as the bandits cannot possibly number over thirty men.” “You know best, sir, as I am a stranger here; but I have heard that the outlaw organi- zation is a large one, and is commanded by a boy who is a remarkable leader; here come my men, and the sergeant and fifteen men can accompany you, and you can assign me those you think best,” said the lieutenant politely, though it was evident that he did not like the gambler, for his manner and look said as much. Little Grit, the Wild Rider. **Howly Moses! is it a wake yez is afther going to?” he cried, gazing around him. “Yes, Barney, if you will find us the corpse and the whisky,” answered the Kid Glove Sport. ‘Faith and I will find yez the corpus, but divil a bit 0 poteen do yez get out o’ me, for me throat is falin’ now as though l’'dswallowed a cat an’ drug him out by ther tail, an’ it’s a wee drop I nade before I can say a worrud.” ‘‘And what have you to say, Barney?” asked Judge Hunter, coming forward with a bottle and tin cup in bis hand. ‘*T'll be afther sp’akin’ in a minute, joodge; ab! blissid drap o’ the critter, thet refrishes me in’ards, now I kin find the tongue o’ me.” ** Well, speak quick, for there are stirring rumors abroad, and the men are anxious to sart on the trail of the ‘bandits; said the judge. ‘Stirring rumors! well, I’d be afther sayin’ that same mesilf, fer ther bandits is preparin’ corpses fer a dozen wakes; yer see, gintlemin, 'Im a stock-tinder three stations beyant here, i ' mm ee e— Se | | | _an’ I was a-wonderin’ last night regardin’ ther delay o’ Jockey Jack, whin up dashed thet Wild Rider o’ Satin, Little Grit, an’ he shouts out thet id better skip to ther mountains, as ther bandits was afther coming, an’I till yez, gintlemin, I did thet same with my stock, while thet yoong divil a-hossback, jumped on thet Satin o’ ther crib, Litherligs, an’ charged ther bandits. “Will, I says, from ther narrer path av ther hill, thet he wint right over thim—an’ some wint down, an’ thin he turned Litherligs fer ther hill, an’ says Ito mesilf, says I, ‘ thet boy is afther bein’ gone now, Wild Rider thet he is.’ ‘* Will, gintlemin, I was a liar, fer he wint along ther cliff pathway, as I seen from ther mountain above, an’ when Litherligs wanted ter stop, knowin’ what was afore him, he jist lit upon ther baste with spur an’ yill, an’ over thet cliff he wint!” “Great God! Little Grit dead?’ cried Judge Hunter, while exclamations of horror and re- gret arose on all sides. ‘**Di’d! who said the boy was di’d?”’ asked Barney. “He rode over the Jacob’s Ladder cliff, you said,” remarked the Kii Glove Sport. * And so did he, but he’s not did, nor even bhurted.” “‘Hoorah! Hoorah! for Little Grit,” yelled Trumps, and the cheers were given with a will. “No, gintlemin, the Litberligs struck the wather same as ef he bu’st open, an’ they wint under thergither, an’ says I to mesilf, says JI, ‘They hes gone to ther divil, now.’ “But it was afther bein’ a lie J will have to ask fergiveness for, as they comeda up beautiful, ther Wild Rider gived a yill, an’ thin laughed as ef he'd enj’yed the bath, an’ away wint Litherligs along ther truil, having cut off many a mile by the juomp. ‘* Will, gintlemin, I hid ther stock in ther mountains till nixt day, an’ thin comed back ter find my home burnt, an’ I corrals ther horses an’ coomes on here, ter find Mustang Pate di’d at his burnt cabin, an’ ther home o’ Dan Binton there desarted o’ human an’ crit- ter, ’ceptin’ a few dead corpuses.”’ ‘And you have seen no bandits on the way?” asked Gambler Grey. ** Not the divil o’ one, ’ceptin’ ther di’d ones.” “ And no nothin’ of the Wild Rider?” * Divil a bit o’ that ridin’ imp, savin’ what I was afther tellin’ yez; bedad! listen to tnim The parties were then divided, Trumps and | buffs!” twenty. five miners being assigned to the com- | mand of the young and dashing lieutenant, and the two squadrons were about to start on their separate trails of search, when the clatter of hoofs resounded in the timber that covered a distant hill and the next instant there swept into view a horseman coming at full speed. “Old Barney the stock-tender!” cried Daniel Benton, and all eyes were upon him as he came flying along the trail, and the next instant drew reiv before the tavern door. | All listened, and again came the clatter of hoofs coming along the rocky path through the | timber, and the next instant a wild yell burst from every throat, hats were waved, and pis- tols discharged, for into full view came Little Grit, the Wild Rider ! CHAPTER XV. i THE DEPARTURES. HAVING given vent to their wild enthusiasm at the return of Little Grit, a silence fell upon 9 all as he came toward them, Prairie Gull reek- ing with foam, the flanks red, and the pant- ing nostrils showing how bard had been the race. ** How in thunder was he afther gittin’ thet hoss vo’ his?’ cried Barney; but before reply could be made, Little Grit drew rein in their midst and sprung to the ground at the tavern door, while another ringing cheer greeted him. *“'Welcome back, my boy; Barney has told us of the leap from the cliff, and you are in- deed the Wild Rider of the Border,” cried Judge Hunter, grasping the youth by the hand, Though haggard-looking, dust-covered and evidently greatly fatigued, Little Grit had not lost his nerve, and said, pleasantly: ‘‘T thank you, my friends, for the greeting you vive me, andlam glad to see that you are ready for the trail, for the tenders and stock have been diiven from three of the stations, and the bandits are abroad in force, as I sent you word by Bessie Benton last’ night.” ‘* But my child never came, Little Grit; she has been captured or killed,” said Dan Benton, riding forward and addressing the youth, who exclaimed: ‘She did not reach Rocky Glen, you say?” ce No.” “Then she has been taken, and it is the duty of all men here to go to her rescue.” ‘‘We were about setting fortb on that duty when your arrival detained us, boy,” said the Kid Glove Sport, and Trumps spoke up quickly: ‘Don’t call Little Grit boy, Kid Gloves, for be are a man clean through.” ““He’s a boy who has too much to say for one of his years,” retorted the Gambler. ; “ And one day Ill have something to say to" you, Grey,” said Little Grit, with a flash in his eyes, and turning to the young lieutenant be continued, unnoticing the hum that went around at his words to the Gambler. *‘T have ridden Jockey Jack’s circuit, sir, and shall at once start on my own and report what harm, if any, has been done to the north; now three Pony Stations are without stock, but I went to the hills, where Barney’s horses are and got Prairie Gul], or I could not have made the run as I did.” “Do you mean, Little Grit, that you have made Jcckey Jack’s full run there and back?’ asked the judge. ‘Yes, sir, and am on time, though I met with considerable detention,” answered the youth with a quiet smile of triumph. “‘T should think so,” and turning to the officer, the judge continued: ‘Lieutenant, this young man left here thirty - six hours ago-on bis run, ninety miles and back, and when he arrived last night, and Jockey Jack was killed, he made his trip, and is back on time, and you have heard what he has gone through witb.” ‘He deserves the greatest credit, and I should advise that he seeks rest now,” respond- ed Lieutenant Harold Trask, ““T must start out at once, sir, on my run,” replied Little Grit modestly. ‘* But you cannot stand it.” ‘“‘Ab, sir, we pony riders are hardy fellows and can stand a great deal, and I must stand this one, for there is no one to take my place; but, boys, let me hear on my return that Bes- sie Benton has been rescued and her captors punished.” “We'll Trumps. “Then good-by; come, Firefly, we must be off,” and the stable boy having led his splendid black around, and changed the saddle from Prairie Gull to his back, the youth mounted, and waving his hand, sped away on his long run, while, the cheer that went after him hav- ing died away, Judge Hunter said in enthusi- astic tones; “If Wild Rider comes back on time to- morrow he will have ridden nearly five hun- cS string ’em up, Rider,” shouted (ECO AMINE OOO)