Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 237 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

~~ | all ee a oe so Ww = 4 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 3 Bitters had him covered with the quickness of a flash of light. Neither man had moved from his seat in the circle around the camp-~fire, and as Bitters covered the heart of the cowboy, matters be- gan to look as though there would be trouble, when Ranger Ralph called out: ‘Hold on, pards, we don’t want any row among ourselves just now, so let us find a cap- tain and drop quarreling.” “Yes, yes, let us select a captain,” cried an- other, while the others, seemingly anxious to avoid trouble with the scout, chimed in, and Bitters said: ‘‘T agrees, for I hates to draw on a feller- critter, ef it hain’t a Injun. But ef I are axed fer my opinion, I gives it squar’. ‘Now, who is goin’ ter be cap’n?” ‘‘ Let me settle that troublesome question by offering myself as your captain.” The words fell distinctly and sharply upon the ears of all, and in a strange voice, that caused every one present to spring to his feet, draw a weapon and turn in the direction of the speaker. CHAPTER III. SHOWING HIS CLAWS, THE surprise was general upon all, even to Bitters, when they saw who was the speaker, Beholding that he was alone, they dropped their hands from their weapons and simply gazed upon him in mute amazement, The bold intruder upon the cowboy council was a mere youth, ip fact he could not have passed sixteen years of age, His form was wiry, symmetrical and de- noted endurance and strength beyond his years, He was clad in a Mexican jacket of black velvet, open in front and displaying a white flannel shirt, the collar of which was turned down over a black silk cravat, knotted sailor style, His pants were gray corduroy, stuck in top boots, upon the heels of which were gold spurs, His sombrero was black, the brim turned up in front over his forehead, and pinned thereon was a large star of solid gold, in the center of which was set a ruby of considerable value, and in each of the five points was imbedded a diamond, making it a costly and elegant orna- ment. A red silk sash encircled his waist, but half hiding a belt of silver links, with buckle of old. r In this belt were a pair of revolvers upon either hip, a long-bladed bowie on the right side in front, a cartridge-pouch upon the left, and at his back hung a repeating rifle, all of the weapons being mounted with silver, and having on them a lone star of gold, set with gems as was the one m his bat, The cowboys took in all these peculiarities, for so they seemed on a mere youth alone in that wild country, and then saw that bebind him half a dozen paces stood a jet-black horse patiently waiting, and rigged out in bridle and Mexican saddle fully as fanciful as was his master in dress. “Gentlemen, does the sight of me. prevent. any of you seconding my motion that I be- come your captain?’ asked the youth in a pleasant voice, and the smile that lighted up his face at his words a woman might have envied, as she might alsohis pure complexion, perfect features, large dark eyes, and long curling golden hair that fell in luxuriant waves upon his broad shoulders, “Waal, ef you can’t give a Government mule odds on cheek an’ take ther trick, com- mend me fer a liar an’a fool, my fancy band- box canary-bird.” The speaker was Lucky Luke, and the words broke the spell which the coming of the youth seemed to have cast upon all, for some laughed at the remark. ‘‘T happened to be near enough, my festive card-sharp, to learn awhile since that as a cheat you might be a suceess, but as a want- to-be captain you were a faikire, so you had better hold your tongue.” The. words broke crisply from the lips of the young stranger, and caused a general laugh, Bitters breaking forth in a way that made his mule, Balaam, bray in response with a vigor that was not to be outdone. ‘‘Cuss thet long-eared mule o’ mine. He knows better then ter howl like thet in ther prairies,” cried Bitters, ‘“‘ He heard you laugh and thought it was the bray of a comrade, doubtless; don’t blame him,” remarked the youth. The laughter was checked, and all eyes turned upon Bitters, for thay expected to see him leap out at the youth; but instead he said frankly; ‘‘Leetle pard, yer bas a tongue thet are keen as a razer, an’ I loves ter bear yer use it, so sail in, fer thet are my mule, Balaam, an’—’”? “ And you are Balaam’s ass?” was the quick query, and once morethe laugh went round, Bitters again bursting forth in his boy-like hilarity, which was promptly responded to as before by the mule, But in this merriment Lucky Luke did not join, nor did Ranger Ralph, and both looked cross, though why the latter no one knew, ‘*You bas a tongue as I will clip, ef yer chins ter me ag’in, youngster,” snarled Lucky Luke, wisbing to renew the quarrel appa- rently. ‘*That’s right, Luke! Cut his claws fer coming into our camp and putting on airs, which, if he was not a boy, I’d spank him far.” The last speaker was Ranger Ralph, and thus encouraged, Lucky Luke responded: *‘Tve half a mind to lay a leetle stick upon him.” The young stranger had not moved, since his first words had so surprised the cowboys; but now he stepped quickly forward, and con- fronting both Lucky Luke and Ranger Ralph, said sternly: ‘‘Tll bet that neither of you dare lay hands upon me.” This bold attitude at once gained favor in the eyes of Bitters and the right-minded of the cowboys, and all crowded nearer, while Lucky Luke said in a surly tone: ‘‘ Waal, you'll see; hold on, Ranger Ralph, it are my deal now, an’ what I leav® o’ him you kin hev,” He stretched forth his hand as he spoke, to seize the youth, when he suddenly went tum- bling heels over head backward among the mesquite trees, amid a general cheer. Rising in fury he again rushed upon the youth, to again go down under a well-directed blow squarely in the face. Without waiting to see what his adversary would do, the youth turned quickly to Ranger Ralph, and said: ‘“‘ Now, sir, you can have what’s left of me.” This challenge Ranger Ralph dared not refuse; but having seen how splendidly the stranger used his fists, and. not wishing his handsome face bruised, he dropped de hand upon his revolver, and said: : ‘This is my weapon to fight with.” |. ‘‘ What do I care for your revolver?” was the contemptuous reply, and the youth dropped both hands upon his own weapons, sprung swiftly backward, and with his back to a tree, confronted Ranger Ralph and Lucky Luke, ’ for the Jatter had now drawn a weapon and was going to use it too, to judge from the ex- pression in his face, which was livid with rage, and stained with blood where the blow of the youth had eut his brow. “ Hold on, pards, fer I hes a word to git in, edgeways jist..at this p’int o’ ther fun,” and Bitters stepped between the youth and the two angry cowboys, and held up his hands upon either side, as though to warn them that he would have his say just there. CHAPTER IV. ae _... A TRIANGULAR DUEL, | “ WaAL, what has yer ter say, old man, fer I doesn’t want none o’ yer foolin’ with me any. a | for I was in earnest in offer longer?” said Lucky Luke in savage tones, turning upon Old Bitters. ‘‘ Yes, you have no right to interfere here,” put in Ranger Ralph. ‘‘Waal, I jist takes ther right, when I sees two durned cowardly bullies wantin’ ter fight a buy.” ‘You know ’em, I see, old man,” said the youth in a tone that brought another round of laughter. ‘*T know that you has got ther grit needed ter make ’em take water, an’ ef they fights yer it’s got ter be on ther squar’, leetle pard,” was the honest.reply of Old Bitters. ‘* Yes, they can’t both jump on the boy,” cried one of the cowboys, and a chorus of voices called out for fair play. ‘‘ Let us fight him then as you decide,” said Lucky Luke, turning to Bitters, as soon as he saw that his comrades were going to have fair play. ‘“‘Give me a chance at him first, and I’ll avenge those two blows he gave you, Luke,” said Ranger Ralph. ‘‘ Waal, I guess we'll ask him how he wants ter fight,” remarked Bitters, turning to the youth. ‘‘ Ah, suit yourselves, don’t mind me,” was the indifferent reply, and it was evident that the youth was growing in favor with all ex- cepting his two foes, ‘‘He’s scienced, as I knows, with his fists, so I suppose he wants ter try knocking,” put in Lucky Luke. ‘* You are scienced too with your fingers, I have heard,” and at this lick at his propensity for cheating at cards Lucky Luke looked dag- gers, for he saw that his comrades enjoyed it. ‘‘Tt’s a shame that we have to put up with the cuts of that strange boy, and can’t bit back,” said Ranger Ralph, ‘“No one hinders you, I’m sure, and I'd ra- ther like itif you did hit back, but I believe you are afraid.” . ‘Say, Bitters, if you are going to arrange a fight with that fellow and Luke or myself, for Pll wing him, if he keeps on as he does, and which he only does because you all seem to back him up,” and it was evident that Ran- ger Ralph was now in as savage a humor as was Lucky Luke. ‘‘ Jest say how you wants to fight him, an’ I'll see fair play all round,” said Bitters, ‘“Let me decide, if they are so anxious,” and the youth turned to Old Bitters. jel o7 ‘‘ Waal, what are it to be?” ton wl ‘‘T happened to overhear the talk you bad round your camp-fire, and seeing as you didn’t want either of that precious pair for a captain, I offered myself, and they got mad about it. ‘‘ Now, I’m a stranger to you all here, and must act more and talk less, and I’m perfectly willing to fight those two fellows. with any weapons they wish to choose,” There was something in the fearless mariner of the youth that won admiration, and Bitters cried; » ~raftogs ou “That are squar’ talk an’no Injun business, an’. you, two gerloots hes only ter name .ye weepius, an’ from what I hes seen 1’d. ’vise yer not ter take yer grippers, fer Luke. hev got two marks on his face now from ther right one o’ th t game child.” ‘My «eapon is.here, and if he is not afraid to face me, he can step out,’’ and Ranger Ralph taped his revolver and spoke in a most pompous manner, evidently intended to awe the youth. » | “ And thet are my weepin too; but I guesses IL won’t hev.ter draw, ef Ralph hes ther fust pull,’ and bucky Luke seemed not in the least. to regret that,.Ranger, Ralph was to first meet the daring boy stranger, who, with a light “T wouldn’t be so.cruel as to disappoint you, card-sharp, so [ll tell,you what Ill do, as I am anxious to s affair off my hands, ing myself for the captain of the cowboys, and there’s no time tn dow, if you want to follow El Cobra and his EOmiIcbooks co