Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 296 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

‘ e eee 2 ne ee ee eee —- - eee --t— << oe —_—-_- — _—-- _ — a passing glance, for his eyes became riveted wpon an se lying but a few teet from him, which filled his soul with utter horror. it was the scalp of a flaxen-haired child! CHAPTER II. THE TRAIL TORNADO. PEOPLE, as a rule, who are averse to reading the so-called sensational novel of far-western life, are naturally ignorant of many of the phases of that life which history does not hand down, or newspaper writers do not develop, in detail. ; ot ‘ Consequently, when curiosity prompts one o these eo pidk up a novel and boat about the do- ings of some particular road-agent, ruffian or rascal, he agente nes oY pronounces it a fabri- cation, unfit for perusal by the rising genera- tion, when perhaps the same day’s issue of his local newspaper contains editorials upon the immoral effects of novel-reading, On one page, and en the opposite, shocking reports of mur- ders, outlawry and domestic scandals, unfit alike for young or old to read, Road-agents and ruffilans have existed for sev- eral generations, in the wild Western country, and are likely to do so for many generations to come, much to the disgust and terror of the peaceably-disposed citizen. Asa rule, this class is only a few degrees less rough and to be feared, than the typical border pl cl but, circumstances have been chronicled of'a brave and gallant man, with a spice of nobility in his heart, who had taken to the pro- fession of ee mere on account of some secret life trouble, than taste for the busi- ness itself. But in truth, these are rare instances; the average road bandit is a veritable human griz- zly, waiting to embrace yeu g some lonely mountain trail, and his work is as detestable as his character is vile. The stage from Gilder’s Bend te McGuffin’s, ‘was what the miners of these two flourishin mining towns called weekly; it aimed to re one place or the other, once a week, and tried to get back the next: at any rate, its dates for arrival and departure were a thing omitted from the schedule of eertainties, The distance between the two towns was only thirty miles, but the trail was a wild ene, steep, sidelong. and Hip y man . But we find the cumbersome vehicle en route for McGaffin’s, one moonlit evening in May, nearly two years after the events narrated in the preceding chapter. . For a wonder it was not loaded down with ‘:passen nie ben was usually the case. Old Cor leg, alias Jem Stubbs, sat serenely upon the driver’s box, holding back with might and main, his fractious six-in-hand, of hand- some bays, and uttering discordant screeches of song, once in awhile, with a view to livening up his passengers, The only outside passenger was seated be- side the driver,—an ordinary looking man, who might or might not have n a miner, and who was bewhiskered, and well armed. Witbin the coach rode three persons—two males, and a young lady. The first of the two men was evidently an Englishman, and was a person of rather portly proportions, and full, florid countenance, or- namented with a pair of gray muttdn-ch whiskers. His eyes were black, his mout large and firm in its expression, and his hair mixed with gray. His attire wes rich and stylish, and that he was a man of culture, at least, if ndt a man of wealth and affluence, was avident. The second person was a “‘ heathen Chirtee,” but not the o run of Chinamen, who was very richly dressed, a la Americaine. His feet were ineased not in sandals but in patent- jeather boots, then came a faultlessly sper, suit of clothes of a rich gray color, set off wit collar cuffs and tie; then a jaunty Derby hat which any sport well might have envied. The thir posers, ag the young lady, was probably well-dressed, but a gray duster con- cealed her under attire. She wore a jaunty hat, and was quite tty of face and figure, having dark brown hair, a tolerably; fair com- lexion, dancing black eyes,. and a mouth abitually pleasant in expression. But the rolling and jolting of the ponderous stage, brought little frowns of displeasure to her face, at which the me let ine vere “Judging by your expression, I su ou will abe. ete tender memories of ods of our e journeys in Western America, my Lady Theresa!” he said, good-naturedly. 7" Ko, my lord. The American highways are i ¢ EL ————EO0oEEEEeeeEEE—EEeeeeeE es ss ss See Ee ———————————————————— > ——eEEE———EE———E———EEeE———E————— CH Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado. | 3 oe me ee =e o* perfectly horrible—enough to drive one dis- tracted, I might say,” was the languid reply. ‘* Have Ae any idea we shall reach our jour- ney’s end, to-night?” ‘*Oh! yes, I presume we shall. I was ere ee Fo 3 stop was but ten miles from Gilder’s nd.” “Tt seems as if we have come fifty already. What is the name of the next place?” ‘* It is called McGuffin’s,” ‘Oh! dear. Worse and worse, odious mining town, of course!” ‘It is, I expect to meet Lawyer Pringle there with news.” ‘Vain hope, my lord, I fear. 1 have no longer any hope that your mission will be suc- cessful.” Another **T have every reason to believe I shall find my little lost one. Perhaps our friend, here, can give us some information ev gehioge 3 our destination? How is it, sir?, Do you know aught of the place called McGuffin’s’’ **Chinee man muchee know. McGuffin’s min- ing town—belly bad place, Melican man belly bad, allee samee like Injin. Shootee like deb- bil,” was the Celestial’s reply, as he retied the ribbon to his quene. comforting, inderd,” Lady Theresa of disgust. “Oh, never fear. No harm will come to us. What is your name, young man?’ the English- man asked. ‘“Chin-Chin. Nicee yeung Chinee man, Ne wash shirtee likee common folks; allee sameoe like Melican man!” was the sumewhat self- assuring reply. “So I should judge,” Lord Clifford remarked dryly. “Idare say, seeing that you yet retain our cue, you some day intend’ returning te ‘*Don’tee know. Melica nice place—makee lets money, here—mebbe marry Melican girl an’ settle down here,” Lady Theresa laughed; it seemed absurd te her that qny sensible white girl could think of a Mongolian as a husband. The stage bounded on, now, with greater din as they began to descend the dugway, tewa McGuffin’s. “Hold ter yer grip,” Old Corkleg yelled, ‘We're doin’ ther narrows, now, an’ aire liable ter whop over ther precipice inter ther next world in the ae of a lamb’s tail; an’ ef hain’t fixed things up, an’ boptest yer books for ther futur’, now’s ther healthiest opperchunity ye’re gy to get.” Lad eresa turued pale; Lord Clifford looked decidedly nervous and alarmed; but Chin-Chin smiled his entire indifference, ‘* By heavens! we shall all be killed, for com- ing in this rough vehicle,” Lord Clifford ex- claimed. But Chin-Chin shook his head, knowingly. “No be muchee ’fraidee. Chin-Chin know drivee belly muchee.. No gettee hurt. Cork- legee muchee joke; allee samee like Yankee,” ‘Then, do you mean to say that there is ne danger—that it’s all to frighten us?’ ‘That de sizee of it, allee samee likee Melican man. Melican man belly cutee, but no foolee Chinee man.” ‘‘Thank Heaven,” Lord Clifford breathed. ‘‘T admire you for those comforting words,” Lady Theresa sighed, regaining somewhat of her former composure, ‘‘Chin-Chin belly muchee happy for compli- ment!” the Celestial said, dropping on his knees in the aisle between the seats. ‘‘ Makee muchee love to Melican girl, allee samee like Melican men! Fire off big heapee joss!” But at this instant the ponderous stage came to a most abrupt and unceremonious halt, and unlucky Chin-Chin was sent with terrific force’ against the coach door, which flew open, and the Caste Romeo was spilled out upon the wa, Lady Theresa and Lord Clifford were both considerably” shaken up, and seeing the way open. bounced out upon the ground in some aste. ' The moon was pouring down a flood of light upon a scene of rugged and picturesque beauty. On one hand great jagged cliffs rose to a tre- mendous hight, while on the opposite side of the narrow wagon-trail was a sheer, black abyss, of seeming unfathomable depth. A few paces in front of the halted coach stood a dozen men, attired in suits of red flannel, with top-boots upon their feet, jaunty sombreros upon their heads and crape masks over their faces from forebead to chin, with only a slight aperture for the eyes and mouth. Each of these pic- boremq uc areas we fellows had bis 5p, ar band outstretched toward the coach, and in th: le ae ° - . — —~e— hands, each, was a cocked revolver, while in the rear stood a similar number of figures, while two more burly knights of the trail stood at the heads of the leader horses, Lord Clifford and Lady Theresa both saw and comprehended. They had heard stories of these gents of the road, but until now had never had a glimpse of them. “Ha! what does this mean?’ Lord Clifford demanded, “Waal, I opine et means a genuine surprise- Party, ive cream an’ frosted jelly cake thrown n?’ Old Corkleg answered, from his perch on the box. These hyar pilgrims aire missionaries, I reckon, gatherin’ in Sunday shekels ter send .tew the bheethyun down in New Jarsey an’ Injy, an’ sech like sinful sections.” ‘Ha! ba! you are not a bud guesser!” a rather jovial voice cried, and one of the road-agents in he rear of the coach, who wore a plume in his hat, advanced a few paces toward Lord Clif- ford and lady. *‘‘ We are missionaries, but our mission is to toll this trail for our own benefit rather than for that of the heathen. This is rather a light load you have brought us, my noble jebu! ‘*I guess they ain’t up ter average in num- bers,” Corkleg replied, ‘‘but ye orter take small favors as they cum. P'raps ef a *a’ sent me a postal keend, that ye’d be hyar [ might ‘a’ breught along a better crowd.” ‘“No doubt. But.I den’t like that kind of re- ceptions. How’s the state ef yeur treasure- bex, driver?” “Mebbe ye kin find eut!” was the gruff re- spense. ‘Undoubtedly. Apelle Bill’s men never back down for one little safe. Beys, open the treasure-box, and hand me the contents.’ “Oh! my diamonds! my diamends’’ Lady Theresa cried, cl her hands. “Fear net, lady! I'll take care ef them,” Apello Bill assured, with mocking peliteness, ‘‘and yeu can redeem them at any time within ene year, by hunting me up and.paying for . them, If yeu passengers have any money or trinkets yeu think I might like, you will greatly expedite matters and save yeurselves treuble, by handing them ever!” What use to resist? The passengers were ‘‘tolled”’; the treasure- box was blown open and its contents extracted; then the stage was ordered to move on. So the passengers got abeard, and Corkleg let his animals eut at a faster rate of speed than they had ever ne before; and as they tore on teward MeGuffin’s, Lord Clifford turned Lady Theresa, and said: ‘ “Do you know that I believe I am at last on the right track?” CHAPTER III. DICK DREW, ES@. Instpge ef five hours after the events last related, the name of Apollo Bill had received an introduction in the hearing of every citizen ef McGuffin’s, and his fame was made. Lord Clifford and his niece, Lady Theresa, arrived at the little miner’s camp without further delay or accident, and put up at the only hotel the place afforded, which was rather a monstrous edifice of logs and boards, and a combination of hotel, oon and gambling- house, under the management of ene Jerry orbes, My lord and lady were shown to a dingy, ill- furnished. pair of rooms, which they were assured were the only first-class apartments the establishment Bonatod. and were further informed by the eye-to-business Jerry, that as trade and demand for accommodations was large, the ones who spent the most at the bar were usually shown the most favors, and pro- tected in case ofarow. _. Lord Clifford and the lady did not add any testimony to Old Corkleg’s story of the stage- robbery—there was no need of that, for the aged Jehu pictured the incident in glowing colors, a8 may well imagined, considering his ability as a narrator. Corkleg did not believe in doing things by halves, and made Apollo Bill out in the guise of a ferocious typical Italian brigand, i had blood in his eyes, and a complement of butcher- knives in his belt. Road -egents had heretofore been , the least of the troubles of the McGuffinites, and they were now naturally excited, if not alarmed, at. the close proximity of the light-fingered and by ao means bashful gents of the ye McGuffin’s was a town of some six. to seven hundred inhabitants, not ineluding. the floating pppalation, and unlike some mining towns, the ruffian element did not hold the predominance. orm pooks.com