Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 242 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

> 2 The Two ‘Bloods’; Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. A MOUNTAIN ROMANCE. BY CHARLES MORRIS, AUTHOR OF ‘‘SAM OCHARCOAL,” “TOM TAN- NER,” “‘ DASHING DAVE,” ‘‘ DARK PAUL,” ‘‘ SHADOW SAM,” ETC, CHAPTER I. A VIRGINIA RIFLE MATCH, Our story opens in a wild region of West Virginia. Rugged mountains were visible to right and left; here, near at hand, the long- reaching Shenandoah range; yonder, in the far distance, the blue summits of the lofty Alle- ghanics, It was far more of a hunting than of an agricultural district. The towns were few and far between, the farms narrow and poorly tilled, while the wild woodland of the mountain slopes invaded the valley in green outreaching promontories. In a clearing of this region, just outside the small village of Sumter, on a fresh October morning, was gathered a group of men, who had come together rather for sport than for busi- ness. vw te were mostly stalwart, hardy, weather- beatén fellows, dressed in rough but strong at- tire, and far better suited for the perils of moun- tain and forest than for the civilities of city life. But on the edge of this group of mountaineers stood a small party of men very different from them in dress and appearance. The most no- ticeable of these was a young man of middle hight and graceful, well-rounded form. His handsome face was destitute of beard, with the exception of a small, brown mustache, but under its quiet good-humor there lurked an en- ergy which seemed to say that it might not be quite safe to trifle with this well-dressed and pong, P sighe one e. By him s a tall, stout man of unusual breadth of shoulders. His muscular limbs were clad in fashionably-cut broadcloth,, and he leaned his shoulder against a tree with the lazy ease of one given to indolent enjoyment of life, A third person in the group was a thin-faced Southerner, whose jaws were in constant mo- tion as he chewed industriously away at “ pig- tail ” tobacco. Most of the mountaineers were provided with rifles, and a broad target set up at several hun- dred yards’ distance showed the purpose for which they had come together. But this was no ordinary trial of skill. It was, in fact, a specia] match for a series of prizes which had been set up by a rich inhabitant of the district and which varied from a: of two hundre dollars to a silver-mounted powder-flask.. Several shots had. already been made at the target, with varying success, and another had just taken the stand. This was fl faced, heavily-whiskered fellow, the rolled-back sleeves of his red shirt showing em- browned muscular arms. He grasped his heavy rifle as though it were but a toy. ; ‘““VYVamose thar, now!” cried this fellow, in stentorian tones. ‘The black buzzard of the Shanandoah is goin’ tomake Rome howl ’bout that target! I’m arter that powder-horn, flat- footed, you bet! But, blow me if I like to level old Betsy at a barn-door, like that bit of timber! I’d sooner shoot at a peeled stick or a swaller’s eye, or somethin’ as every blasted greenhorn can’t hit.” ' ae He patted his rifle affectionately as he roared on siatas. as good fellow,” replied the to bacco-chewing gentleman, cally. ‘“‘We will give youa chance to show your mettle yet. Center the target, and you can havea shot at something not so easy centered.” ‘-?m yer eatamount!” roared the moun- taineer. ‘‘l’m yer rhinooeros! Hit that slab ot timber? Why I'd drown myself in a pot hole if I ouldn’t bore it times runnin’. Don’t nobody hide behind that target, ’eause Betsy’s a to say somethin’, and it moughtn’t be healthy.’ © samest a Spoke cnrongl aie hts, aati d¢ y ug ) and withou : ‘heiaat's hesitation walled the, There was a sharp report. The ys who ‘were attending on the target rushed f and examined ted rings om the broad | the pain board. One of them waved a handkerchief, The Two ‘Bloods.’ while he placed his finger on a spot just inside the central ring, ‘“* Hoopee!” roared the marksman, e+ up and cracking his heels. ‘‘ An inch to the left, and it’d been a dead bull’s-eye! Didn’t want to <i that purty bit of blue paint or I’d made a um center. There ain’t no use buzzin’, but hat thar rifle is goin’ to wipe out the hull caboose to-day; now you hear me!” ‘‘ Hear you? Why you don’t imagine that we are all stone deaf?” asked the oung gentleman whom we have described. “It isn’t any hard matter to hear the roaring of a buffalo bull. Brag’s a good dog, my friend, but he isn’t the best. ‘*Who the blazes is you that’s a-pitchin’ in here?’ roared the mountaineer og da peli ig 1 —— that purty face if you say brag to me again. You derned city snipe, mebbe you’ve a notion you kin discount Betsy !” “TIT am not here to shoot to-day,” was the quiet reply. ‘I thought you weren’t,” growled the other. ‘* Comin’ here meddlin’ with riflemen and don’t know the trigger from the sight-piece, blast yer imperdence!” **Hold your horses, crony,” answered the young man with a meaning smile. ‘* Don’t crow too loud before you find what fence you are on. If you want a friendly shot after the match is over, ’m your man.” “You!” and the fellow broke into a horse- laugh. ‘‘ Blame my eyes if the banty ain’t a- goin’ to crow! Say, lads, this drygoods pattern is a-goin’ to shoot ag’in’ the Shanandoah buz- zard, sure pop! Can’t some of you go borrer Jake Blunt’s big barn? We’ll want a hefty target.” A loud laugh broke from the crowd. Evi- dently they thought the challenge a very amus- ing and a very absurd one. ‘Go on with your match, gentlemen,” re- sponded the young man, with his easy smile. ‘‘T mean business; you may take that in. If this loud-smelling buzzard hits my target, I'll engage to hit his, and for any wager he wants.” “It’s a bargain,” cried the mountaineer. ‘* Blast me if I don’t take the starch out of you.- We'll show you an Old Varginny rifle gallery.” He was interrupted by a rifle-shot, as another of the contestants sent his bullet into the target, ‘*Come, come, Mr. Frazer,” said the Virginia gentleman, ‘‘there is no use in your giving such AL challenge as that; this fellow is a prime shot. ‘Very well,” answered the young man, “‘ then it will be no disgrace if he beats me. don’t mind being talked down in a gentlemanly way, but I don’t calculate to be crowed down. And, between you and me, Mr, Smike, I know some of the points of a rifle.” ‘* ‘You can hit a cow in a pasture, I suppose,” ry his lazy friend from his perch against the tree, “You dry up, Bart,” replied the young man, smilingly, “Iam going to give that blustering whiskerando a set-down, and if you’re on the bet, I'll lay you a double-eagle that I will squelch bim.” i ‘You're too confoundedly incky; answered Bart, doubtfully. ‘‘ But I den’t d risking a bit of gold. Here’s for you.” ‘While this bet was being made, and the mon deposited in Mr. Smike’s hatide, the rifle-matec went on with varying fortune. One after an- other the riflemen stepped up, leveled their weapons, and sent their bullets w ng through the air. They ievie as a rien gy ine many of them spent their lives ) and Enounbals, and been familiar with the rifle from boyhood. The target was perforated with a score of bullet-holes, many of them within the inner ring, though none had yet beaten the shot of the red-shirted mountaineer. ** When it comes to a three-hundred yarder, and no rest,” cried this fellow, “Til set old Betsy > the field. Thar’s my signateor, in that bit of board. Jist you spruee up, fo or Pll rake down that ee flat-footed. There remained on v one marksman to take his turn at the target. This was a slenderly- built young fellow, with an open, handsome countenance, though it bore a gloomy, serrew- ful expression. He steod erect at the — poco rifle much Lighter tuna these cate y his competitors. The boasting bully laughed on seeing “You ain’t ’speeting that pop- 8 og i ms et inside of old Betsy's mar , hey, @ one “It is going to try,” answered the young man, quietly. a — “Oh! you get home to yermammy! Don’t be pokin’ yer boy’s face here’mong men, Folks say as yer likely to be wanted to home,” The youth turned quickly with pale face and compressed lips. There was adangerous gleam in his eyes. But another of the party took up the quar- rel. This was a big-fisted, broad-shouldered, oldish man, who pushed rudely between the antagonists, and shoved the bully back with little reverence. ! ‘*See yere, Bill Bounce,” cried the peace- maker. ‘‘ Ye’ve got blow enough to e the leaves off ’n oak tree. I s’pose you think you own all creation and aslice of the United States to boot; but blast my eyebrows if | don’t curry ye down myself, if ye keep puffin’ yer sealin’- wax round yere, Jist put that in yer pipe and smoke it.” The bully retreated before this resolute tone. There was a dignity in the bearing of the old man, and the look of one accustomed to con- trol his rough associates, while his stout frame showed that he could hold his own, if his decrees had to be supported with brute force, The bully retired grumbling, and without venturing a reply. Meanwhile the young man had taken a quick but careful aim, and pulled the trigger. He rested the butt of his rifle on the ground, and leaned upon its smoking muzzle, while he await- ed the report of the target attendants. There was a strange gloom upon his face, as of ) with some secret source of trouble. ‘* Half an inch too far to the left,” exclaimed one of the spectators. ‘* You’re out in the cold, Hardy. Bill Bounce has won the horn. You didn’t make the right allowance for the wind.” ‘* He’s welcome to the prize,” returned Hardy, walking away. ‘“‘Are you in for the next match? The two hundred-dollar prize?” Hardy looked at him somewhat strangely. ‘‘Don’t you know,” he said in a low tone, “that the sheriff is on my mother’s house? We'll be sold out root and branch if I fail to take this prize. Hang it all, Joe, ’m afeared my nerves are too unsteady. The confounded trouble has got all through me.” He passed his hand absently over his brow, as if he would wipe away the memories which unmanned him. | ‘“‘Keep a stiff upper lip, my boy,” answered his friend assuringly. ‘“ ehh” a knows you’re the best shot on the ground. Don’t dis- grace old Sumter now.” Hardy smiled sadly, and walked with slow steps away. The group of gentlemen had over- heard this conversation, There was ceep interest in the faces of the fwo young men as they asked their Virginian friend for the par- ticulars of young Hardy’s trouble. Meanwhile eo were making for the concluding match of the o- the shot for the two-hundred-dollar purse. But the participants in the former match occupied themselves in another fashion. Their exertions bad made them dry, and they were partaking of spiritnal refreshment from the mouth ofa huge jug which they tilted up and applied successively to their thirsty mouths, Bill Bounce lifted the heavy jug with one hand, and bent it over till the fiery liquor ran in a stream down case-hardened throat. Some of the others looked on with alarm at this immense swig. ‘‘Thar! I feel better now,” he said at length, reversing the jug. ‘“‘I ain’t much given to imbibin’ lately. The doctor says it’s onwhole- a hog of m , 0 . There waa ieuad dubious laughs at this modest diselaimer, but no one ventured to hint that Bill’s ideas of moderation were set at a rather h level. eanwhile the target for the final mateh was being set up. It proved a very different affair from the broad, painted board at which they had se far fired. It was, in fact, a piece of timber cut into the rude outline of an eagle, and of about the size of this patron bird of n’t b’lieve in America. This slender target was nailed nst the trunk of a sapling, at some three wendred yards from the shooting-stand. In its center. was a round spot of red paint, only visible at that distanee te very keen eyes. The whele target, in fact, seemed little larger than ai, § a silver dollar ed fort yards. age *There’s your tar 2 ’ the director” of the roa bh. “Nearest to the bull’s-eye wins. Who enters for the purse? Some of you t as well save powder and ball, but if you want to come in there’s ne limit, Step right up to the eaptain’s office and | EGOmic ,00KS.CO ~~ ee Sm Hh