Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 241 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

CO moO Y Ml pee Fee EO te Ne Oo os -& te and Cherubs—now know that Posy Nell is Ada Norton. But they do not know that I am not Placer Pandy. ou do not know who I am, Revelation. I have carried a secret for more than fifteen years. Let me reveal it to you now,” The breathless listeners gathered closer around the old miner; every eye was fixed upon him, ‘‘T am Posy Nell’s father!” he said slowly. Acry of unbelief shot from the throat of Revelation Rube. ‘““No wind now, Placer! Felix Norton is dead.” ‘But be was not Ada’s father. When her mother died, I gave the child to Felix to rear as his own for he had money and I had none. You thought she was his own child when you struck for revenge, Rube Gragg. You stole my child instead. Iam Roger Norton, not Placer Pandy, the character I bave played during my ceaseless hunt for my child. A thousand times I could have ended your career, but I said ‘‘ no,” for you could lead me to Ada, and at last you did. I knew that you killed Grayscot the merchant five years ago, and it was 1 who drew the son of that man into these mountains and put him, vengeance armed, on yourtrack. Ido not talk like Placer Pandy the miner now, doJ? I need that role no longer. Posy Nell doesn’t care for your secret now! of my vow, You know what I mean.” ‘*T am ready for you, Placer,” was the retort. ‘**Now thet I know you, I feel like a new man. Revelation Rube gits a new lease ov life. Giv’ me my pistols, Sol, an’ let ther boys stan’ back. We kin fight hyar, Placer.” | “ Give the dog his revolver!” flashed the un- masked miner as Solid Sol drew back from Kube’s outstretched hand. ‘* Quick! let me hev it, Sol.” The next instant the desperately wounded man once more held bis revolver in his hand, and a wild cry—almost like the howl of a mad wolf—pealed from his throat as he whirled upon the old miner. “Take ther gal—Nelly—away first!” he commanded, ‘Get away from before that door! Iwant a hand in that duel |” These words were uttered in a loud tone by some One outside, and as the crowd turned to- ward the street its numbers mechanically divided and left a lane running straight to the captain of the Tigers. A second later the report of a revolver struck the ears of every one, and with a piercing cry of death Revelation Rube staggered back, shot through tbe brain! a wameance and Justice had overtaken him at b. CHAPTER XIV, DICTIONARY NAT STRIKES. Iy Black Feather and his warriors had been in bry a City when the Tigers re-entered it with Bill Bravo for their prisoner, it is probable that several scenes last recorded would never have claimed the service of our pen. But during the bear-tamer’s arraignment before the hanging court of Cinnamon, the Indians were on a trail which they fondly hoped would end with the death of the slayer of Karl the Killer— Bill Bravo. The exact location of the mountain home was unknown to the Sioux, baie pf they were well acquainted with the coolness of the grizzly king, but Black Feather felt sure that he could guide the band to it where they would speedily avenge the death of their adopted brother, — Therefore after leaving Cinnamon the Sioux roceeded straight down the path that led to the cave retreat; but morning overtook them among the mountains with Bill Bravo’s home still undiscovered. ) All at once one of the Indians uttered an exclamation of surprise and pointed excitedly at a huge grizzly swaggering alone down the trail with nose erect as though he snuffed an enemy. ‘‘ See!” cried Black Feather. ‘The old fellow wears a collar. He is the white killer’s bear. Ab! we shall soon see the pale liar!” But the red-skins watched in vain; the grizzly was entirely alone and more than one red finger toyed nervously in the trigger-guard as he ad- eee toward the ambush which had been astily formed. ; Dandy Dick—for the grizzly was Bill Bravo's favorite bear—halted abruptly fifty yards from the Indians and began to survey bis surround- in 5 "Him huntin’ ade Frag He ie pee ioux chief. ‘‘ Meb ey : : . Dandy Dick seemed in no haste to desert the ' Bilt Srave'an ee ee ee ee I must break a part. eee oe + ee me ee ee = ee ee spot; but as the moments wore ey without rewarding the anxious braves ejacu ations of impatience fell on Black Feather’s ears, until the oar shot the grizzly a fierce look and raised his rifle. ‘‘ Bear kill Injun, too, if him git a chance!” grated the Sioux. ‘‘Him no better than his master, the white killer. Him must die!” The weapon touched the chief’s shoulder, and a minute later Dandy Dick uttered a howl of pain and staggered back. ‘* Bear move just as Black Feather shoot!” ex- claimed several Indians, but this consolation afforded the young chief no pleasure for he bit his lip while he stared at the grizzly, who was dancing for pain while he looked at a foreleg which was bleeding profusely. ‘Him can’t git away anyhow,” said Black Feather at last. ‘Black Feather meant to cripple him so he could lead us to his master. Let us go down an’ make the bear tell the truth.” The Sioux’s words were received with delight, and all at once the entire band sprung from the ambush and descended like an avalanche upon the wounded bear. Dandy Dick’s eyes seemed to flash fire as he rose on his hind feet and greeted the Indians with a fierce growl. His left foreleg was plore | broken, for it hung useless at bis side, while blood streamed in torrents from it. ‘‘ Where master, bear?” asked Black Feather halting in front of the wounded monster, but well out of the way of bis claws. ‘*‘ Bear must tell or we hang him to limb just as the pale- faces hang their bad brethren,’ Dandy Dick’s answer was, of course, a mad growl which meant defiance and contempt. **Bear fool for talkin’ that way!” cried the young Sioux. “Him will sing another song when the twisted ropes of the Sioux encircle his neck, Black Feather ask now for the last time: where white killer, bear?” Another growl followed by a futile plunge forward wastheanimal’sreply. Black Feather drew back with a cry of terror although the claws would have fallen far short of his precious person. ‘Git ropes ready!” he cried to his followers. * We will hang the bear till he offers to guide us to his master.” A number of stout lariats were at once pro- duced. These were twisted together until a rope strong enough to hang an ox was formed. A slip poose was left at one end, and Black we ordered one of the Indians to lasso the ar. This was no easy task for Dandy Dick seemed to understand his enemies’ tactics, and maneu- vered to escape the noose. Several throws proved futile, and it was not until the grizzly was induced to rise on his hind feet, that a successful cast was made, Loud yells of triumph that echoed far down the trail greeted this success, but Black Feather and his followers soon learned that if they had lassoed one of Bill Bravo’s dangerous pets, they had by no means deprived him of his strength. It took the united strength of more than half, of the Indians to keep him from rushing upon them despite his wounded leg, and he was not brought to terms until the rope had been thrown over a limb directly overhead and a severe choking administered by a united effort. Dandy Dick struggled more furiously than over, but the stout cord encircled his throat, and twenty red Samsons were tugging at the rope. ‘Pull ’im up!” cried Black Feather. ‘‘ Bear tell where white killer is when we hang him awhile.” A half smothered growl, a pull altogether, and Dandy Dick, unable to disengage the noose, ao to leave the ground! he Sioux were delighted with the work on hand. Black Fea her’s eyes danced with glee, and he shouted loud at the antics of their victim. The limb was not far above ground, but when the bear’s head touched it, his feet failed to touch earth. He was literally hanged! ‘Him tell now. Let ’im down, braves,” Dandy Dick was lowered, choked almost into unconsciousness, and he would have fallen in a heap at the foot of the tree if his tormentors had permited it. Black Feather stepped forward and began to taunt the grizzly; at the end of his insults he demanded to be guided to Bill Bravo, Dandy Dick eyed him fiercely as he gasped for breath, and the Sioux at last bit his lip and drew back. ‘Bear no tell yet,” he grated turning to his warriors. ‘‘ Him must hang this time till him willin’ to tell.” d His Bear Pards. 18 Dandy Dick was jerked up for the second time, and the Indians were holding him in mid- air when the sharp report of a rifle cleft the air, and the grizzly fell to the ground like bag of ead! The Indians who held the rope thus relieved of the bear’s weight—for the cord had been severed by a bullet—fell backward in a heap, while Black Feather and the other red-skins. turned toward the marksman, Not far away—so near, indeed, that bis features were quite visible—stood a youth who held in each hand a large revolver. recently jor ead rifle res against the side of a prizzly arger than the one on whom the Sioux ad just been wreaking their vengeance, ‘Touch that bear again and I'll send some of you to the death-lodge before your time!” came across the space between the youth, and the Indians. ‘‘ When you touch Dandy Dick you touch me, and Rocky Dan, for that matter. You have already shot the grizzly,I believe. Villains! I ought to open my six-chambered atheros on your scarlet skins, Advance, ¥ ” The big bear gave the speaker a look and ad- vanced with a growl toward the Indians. He was accompanied by the youth who walked with a limp, but his hands held the cocked re- volvers on a level with the Indians’ breasts. ‘‘{ heard your devilish yells, but I did not think Dandy Dick was in your power, until Rocky Dan had coaxed me from the cave, and to a spot from which I could witness your bru- tality,” be continued, as not an Indian stirred. ‘*Stand where you are, Uh red fiends, or Vl send death into your ranks in two forms!” | Black Feather and his braves did not obey Dictionary Nat’s command; they instinctively recoiled. ‘*Is the bear dead?” * aan no much hurt,” ventured the Sioux chief, ‘You lie! You have killed the animal that saved my life last night.” At that moment Dandy Dick moved and tried’ to single out the youth whose voice he had evidently recognized, Rocky Dan uttered a growl and plun for- ward to halt over his companion whose blood he snuffed for a moment, and then glared fiercely at the frightened Indians whom he seemed about to charge. Nat hurried forward, and in a tone of com- mand checked the enraged grizzly. He stood directly beneath the limb to which Dandy Dick had been twice drawn, and his re- volvers looked sternly into the faces of the echless Sioux, ‘“‘T ought to teach you mountain vagabonds a lesson!” he hissed. ‘‘If I had witnessed the shooting of Dandy Dick there would be more than one dead Sioux where you stand now. Why did you hang the grizzly. Speak!” ‘Him no tell where white killer is,” ventured ae eg dno Nog fingers of Dictionary at seem press the triggers of the weapons. that looked into his face, e ‘Hanging would not give you theinformatiom you want.” ‘“‘Bear like him smart enough to talk if him: want to.” A smile flitted across Nat’s face. ‘* You should have sought me out,” he said; “but I should not have enlightened you. My opinion is that you will see Bill Bravo soon. Mar a ‘“‘ Him shoot Revelation last night.” “*T know that.” ‘* But bim no kill ’em!” Nat started, ‘‘ What! Revelation Rube not dead?” he cried.. ‘‘ Fate is preserving the devil for me!” ‘‘ Bullet find Revelation’s breast, but no slay ’im,” Black Feather continued. ‘‘Him had hurt, though; mebbe die before sun down.” “1 should be where he is!” flashed Nat, “The wretch may die before I can satisfy my ven- geance,” , “That true, white boy. Black Feather no hunt you now; him want the pale-face who shoot Karl the Killer. Revelation’smen huntin’ im now; but they no find ’im because the Sioux want ’im too badly.” ‘‘The men of Cinnamon may have found Bill,” passed through Nat’s mind. ‘He has been absent some hours from the cave. He went SWAY to discover where Rocky Dan buried the cubs, but the bear came back alone, and he is still absent. If they have found the bear-- aime mee make igh work aith him be- ore the court they will organize in Cinnamon. I should be there now. These Indians shall not. keep me back!” Eomichbooks.co