Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 237 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 9 ‘ Such .were the queries and remarks that greeted Old Bitters as_he strode into the midst of his comrades, his hand upon the rein of the horse, to which Ralph Ranger was securely bound. ‘“‘Shet up yer chin music, will yer, an’ ontie this sinner, an’ then you'll hear me talk,” said Bitters. ‘‘ ‘Where is the captain?” asked Elegant Ed, coming forward. But Bitters made no reply until Ranger Ralph was placed in the full glare of the fire, and the cowboys had all gathered around. ‘IT give it up,” he said shortly. ‘Give what up, old man?” ** Whar ther cap’n is.” “T ‘saw him go off with you,” said Elegant Ed. ‘That are so, but he didn’t come back with me, as yer sees.” ‘“‘Where is he then?” and Ed seemed most anxious about the young captain. ‘“Tell your story, old man, and then I will tell mine,” said Ranger Ralph, with an air of assumed bravado. ““Thet are just what I intends doin’, my sinner pard, an’ ef you don’t git strung up fer the ear-ring o’ a tree, I are a shriekin’ pervaricater o’ the truth,” said Bitters, in a tone that showed he had something of a most important nature to make known to those who pressed eagerly around to hear what he had to say. CHAPTER XIV. TWO SIDES OF A STORY. **Parps, I tell yer that ther cap’n give me the word to go with him, an’ I went. ‘“He led me around by the hills thet lies yonder to ther mesquite thicket near the Grande crossin’, an’ thar we stops, an’ he fastens his lariat to a tree an’ says ter me ter git ready to tackle somebody. ‘Presently somebody, that somebody com along, an’ thet thar sinner are he. ‘Ther cap’n slings ther rope an’ catches ther hoss, an’ I grabs ther rider, an’ we tuk em back in among ther mesquites, an’ then ther cap’n tuk from this heur sinner & paper as was writ on with writin’ an’ lin’ an’ sich like leterin’, an’ read out thet Ranger were thanked fer good advice and sich like, an’ he were to write on ther paper which trail ther cowboys were ter take. ‘* Waal, on t’other side he read, meanin’ ther cap’n; what looked all ther same ter me, words to ther effect thet we were to press on arter ther gal, an’ not divide up. ‘‘Ther first were signed E. C., so the cap’n said, an’ ther last Ranger. “Yer know, so ther cap’n says, thet E. C.’figgerin’ stan’s fer El Cobra, an’ it don’t take a school teacher to say thet Ranger stan’s for thet sinner. “Ther paper were give to thet feller by Ranchero Dean, fer ther cap’n seen him, an’ ther answer were to be stuck onto a tree thet hed been knocked end- ways by lightnin’ down at ther crossin’. ‘‘ Ranger wrote accordin’ to ther dicti- fication, as they call it, of Lone Star, tho’ he didn’t want ter; but I hed orders ter stick him im ther ribs ef he didn’t, an’ therefore he did. ‘‘Then there cap’n went ter stick what was writ on ther tree, an’ tho’ I looked fer him I hasn’t seen him since, ‘Now, thet feller rid out o’ camp, an’ yer has my story.” | “Tt looks very much as though you a traitor, Ranger Ralph, and if chero Dean gave you that paper, as “4 he might be too,” sternly said Elegant ‘‘That’s ther music!” ‘You hes ther right pig by ther ear, fer Lone Star tikek ed him.’ But the remarks that were about to fol- low in a perfect volley from the cowboys, the lieutenant cut short, by saying: ‘‘'What have you to say for yourself, Ranger?” ‘That you have heard that gray-hdired har’s story and not mine,” “You shall have your chance; but hurry up, for we must look at once for the captain.” ‘*T left camp, I admit—but it was for a purpose.” ‘* Your purpose?” ‘* Well, I have of late suspected treach- ery, and I found out who were the trai- tors to-night.” ‘Waal, if he hain’t an exalted liar thar hain’t no snakes in Texas,” said the old scout. ‘‘Come, Ranger, tell your story, for we have no time to lose,” cried Hlegant ‘‘T intend to. Well, those whom I suspected were that old man and the captain, who calls himself Lone Star!” ‘Oh, Holy! let me hev a piece o’ thet sweet liar’s tongue!” and Old Bitters drew his knife. ‘‘Hold on, Bitters; we heard your story, and we will hear his. ‘* He is tied and cannot get away, so let him say what he wishes to, and then it is for us to decide,” and Elegant Ed showed that he was determined have justice, and his bold manner and resolution sur- pred his comrades, as he had always n most retiring and modest in his mien. “Waal, let us hear his talk, fer it are but squar’,” said Bitters. ‘‘ Proceed, Ran- ger Ralph.” ‘“What I have to say I can soon tell, comrades, and you can. play between that old sinner and myself. ‘Seeing Lone Star and Bitters leave camp, I watched the direction they took, and feeling assured they were going, by a flank movement, to the Rio Grande crossing, I rode directly there. ‘‘In a mesquite thicket I heard voices, and dismounting, saw three forms bend- ing over a fire, the hight of which they hid with their serapes.’ ‘* Three, pard?” ‘Yes, old man, as you know. ‘“Two of them, comrades, were Bitters and the captain, and the other was a Mexican.” ‘*Oh, Texas snakes!” ‘* Hold on, Bitters.” “Tis, Pard Ed; ef I didn’t I’d bu’st.” ‘The Mexican had given to Lone Star a paper, which he was reading, and Bit- ters was listening. ‘‘ When he had finished reading it, he said, addressin F the Mexican: ‘* *Senor, tell El Cobra that all will be as he wishes, and that we will lead them into the ambuscade. ' ‘“*T thank him for this gold, and we | th will divide it.’ ‘‘The Mexican then left, and the cap- tain took up a buckskin belt full of gold pesos, and n to count out some of it to Bitters, who suddenl i rung upon him, struck him a f low in the head and killed him.” ‘Thar hain’t no liars livin’ in this land as kin ekal that sinner,” groaned er than said Old Bitters. “ Yhen she discovered that the | set came to the ruins of an cold monasteng, ‘Continue your story, Ranger,” stern- ly remarked Elegant Ed. ) ‘‘T was so horrified at the act that d cried out aloud, and he heard it and sprung toward me. re Unfortunately I fell backward over a vine, and he was upon me,and hisstrength was so much greater than mine that he bound me. ‘“Then he left me, raised the pum ie} the captain in his arms, and walked adn “Soon I heard the plunge, as he threw it into the river, and returning, he cam to camp with me, and told the lie he di to save hi Ri, As he ceased speaking Old Bitters, with a yell of rage, sprung toward him; buta dozen pistols covered his heart, and Eie- gant said, sternly : ‘Hold on, old man, or your life wil be the forfeit. ‘‘ Bind him, boys!” CHAPTER XV. A GILDED CAGE. ° UTTERLY worn out, and prostrated hy her grief, Bessie Bainbridge sunk into a dreamless sleep, from which she did not awaken until a sudden jolt of the vehiele startled her. . To her intense surprise she found that it was daylight, and that the ambulance was in motion, though no driver was on the seat. , A glance out, however, showed her a Mexican walking on either side of the mules and leading them. oe Grand was just ahead, and behind came a score of horsemen, the same who had captured her, owhere visible, however, was the hooded chief, El Cobra, but far on ahead, across the river, she saw heads of cattle meng are n southward, Taking the seat forward she addressed ene of the Mexicans in Spanish, and asked : ‘Where are you taking me?” ee I do not know, senorita,” was the re- ply. ‘Where is your chief?” ‘‘T do not know, senorita.” ‘* What is to be done with me?” ‘IT do not know, senorita.” Bessie saw that it was useless to,talk to the polite, yet non-communicative Mexi- can, and wisely desisted. Once across the river, and the u- lance halted, and her own horse was led up ready for her to mount. A couple of pack-mules were also brought up, and a young officer said: ‘Senorita, will you kindly continue your way on horseback, as the ambulance cen- tinues on after the cattle?” Knowing that resistance was useless she calmly consented, and sprung un- aided into her saddle. ; The things were thus taken from the ambulance and mane on the pack-mules, and foeraing: nemselves around their captive, the Mexican escort moved off te e north-west, while the vehicle con- tinued on the trail of the cattle. A ride of several hours and a halt was made for a rest, and Bessie was test kindly treated; but she knew that # was from fear of their terrible chief, rather than from any innate politeness or respect for her. _ Again mounting the party pressed on into the mountains, and just before sun- EOMMIE NOC KS (E (efo)