Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 279 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

nd power- “ tsked a phLuow be vas heard rence, ’ was the nd, eager ir of the tside, but . for Old is rifle at ‘mind by ed barre} r with a man on ” rengers’s uu don’t ay last. ot?” . You g time, »tten it, ——_ marry him—the man who had made her a widow! She warr’t the kind ov woman what shoots. Her spirit war ez gentle ez a rabbit’s. She hed a right to kill the cap’n an’ nobody would hey touched her fur it, but thet warn’t her nature, She used to say thet heaven would avenge her busband’s death. ‘*Wal, Modoc, to trim a long story down, the Diamond ov Sonoma left her father’s ez sud- denly ez she left Golddust after the killin’. We didn’t know whar she went fur a long time. Everybody lost sight ov her—no, she war watched an’ follered by one man. She couldn’t hide from the devil who had sworn to make ber his wife er else hound her to the grave. He didn’t do the first thing, Modoc, but he suc- ceeded in keepin’ the last part ov his vow. Me an’ Gold Georgie, ez I call her, hunted the Dia- mond ov Sonoma fur a year an’ more.’ We found ’er at last, dead in a ravine, with a few poor berries in her hand, sboeless, an’ with rags fur her clothes. Driven from civilization by her persecutor, she had taken to the moun- tains, an’ thar, alone in one ov the darkest ulches ov the Sierras, she laid down an’ died. he seemed to know, poor thing, thet the gal avd me war close on ber track, fur in her dead hand she held a piece ov paper addressed to Georgie. She told her child on it to follow to his death the devil who had killed her ez surely ez if his bullet hed split her heart. Thet’s what became oy ther beautiful Diamond ov Sonoma, after you lost cight ov her, Modoc. Gold Georgie war hardly big enough then to know what vengeance means; but I taught ber ez she grew older, fur I swore over the poor body lyin’ in the gulch, thet she should carry out the last request ovthe dead. While I war teachin’ her we lost sight ov Ranch Rob an’ all you fel- lers, fur like birds ov a feather you’ve stuck together. Thar’s flve ov yein Eldorado now, Ranch lives nigh, on the bigvest ranch in Gold Valley. Thet’s what brought Gold Georgie an’ me bhyar, Modoc. After I shot at the man tied to the huss, the gal turned an’ thanked me, decatsse I didn’t kill’im. She more’n half be- lieved thet it war your cap’n. But, you say, he hed a yaller face like a Greaser, Modoc?” *‘Thet’s the kind o’ face I saw when I raised the cloth,” declared the rough. ‘ Bat arn’t you mistaken when you say thet five ov ther gang thet. lashed to the tree an’ left ye to the a in Starvation Camp ar’ livin’ byar now “No. I saw all ov ye yesterday.” A curious light beamed in Modoc’s eyes as he stepped aside, and waved his hand toward the eabin door. ‘Look at the fellar in thar, an’ ye’ll not be so positive about thar being five,” he said. Keeping his eyes riveted upon Modoc, Old Winch strode forward. “A truce for a minute, Winch,” said Modoc. 2 'G kin look without fear.” e old man threw a hasty glance into the miner’s cabin; be saw the corp-e lying on the rough planks that formed the floor. ide it lay the broken bowie and the deadly arrow- a * “It’s the little Mexican,” he said, straighten- ing and looking at Modoc again, ‘The boy hadn’t much to do with vhe tying scraps at Starvation. He wanted to help me away down in bis heart; but you forced him to tie one ov the kndta, Who wi the little fellar out?” ‘*Thet’s what I don’t know.” “It warn’t done hyar?” “*No, be came hyar dyin’; be couldn’t speak any more. I bad sent—” odoc paused. He was about to tell Old Winch about the errand that had taken Mex from E!dorado, “Ah! you sent the young ’un tu the cap’n’s raneh with the broken bowie which w.uld Jet bim know that I war byar! I kin see all this, Modoc. I don’t think the boy got thar; if he did he didn’t find Ranch Rob, er the knife wouldn’t be lying thar. lll take the news to the cap’n myself, an’ Georgie won't be fur off when I tell him thet the old man he left in Starvation Camp hez come back.” Modoc’s fingers tightened round the butt of his revolver. ‘You'll bave to fight me first?” he gritted looking into the old man’s eyes, ‘*Last night— you know what happened then! Ineed not re- peat it. Drop the rifle an’ give me a chance.” “The chance you gave me Once, eh?” was the answer. ‘‘T'll do it, Modoc. Do you want any witnesses?” “The body in thar is witness enough. Mex ds vane i Arig t ov aloes “ on “rm no to » Yesponded Winch with a smile. ; Old Winch, the Rifle King Modoc turned and led the way into his cabin, the door of which was left wide open, so that the warm sunlight could enter. The corpse of the httle Mexican still lay where it had fallen from Modoc’s bands. ' Witha hasty yet an eager tread the rough stepped across the body, then turned abruptly, se faced Old Winch. The old fellow had discarded his rifle and drawn a revolver as large as the one griped by his adversary. Face to face the two men stood, with a corpse between them! ‘‘What’s to become ov the gal if I win?” asked Modoc, ‘* Plumas will take care ov her.” ‘*That’s jes’ what I thought,” was Modoc’s re- yolsidns ** Tbe boy’ll hev a good time watchin’ er, Winch. It would be strange if Ranch Rob should Jove the dauglterez be once loved the mother.” ‘Then he will love to his sorrow.” Old Winch said no more, His look told that he was ready for the duel. ‘* Let us get at this affair,” said Modoc, ‘I want it settled one way or, the other. Iam ready, Winch,” and up went his revolver, but a bronze band closed instantly on his wrist, and forced the weapon above bis bead before he could touch the trigger, aud the next second he was looking into the muzzle of Old Winech’s weapon! ‘* Thet’s a trick I’ve l’arned since I got out ov Starvation Camp,” remarked the old man with a grin. ‘‘ Loosen yer grip on yer weapon, Modee, er by the gods ov. vengeance! Ill do it fur ye with half an ounce ov cold lead.” As it was speedy death to refuse, Modoc let his revolver fall, and as it fell upon the young Mexican’s breast it did not explode. ‘*T don’t want you now, Modoc,” continued Old Winch. ‘‘I hev sworn to corral all those who left me helpless to the grizzlies, but I’ve other bizness first. Live a few hours longer. Gather yer pards together an’ foller me if ye want a little diversion. Bury the Mexican He wouldn’t be byar ef it hedn’t been fur you, Modoc.” With a strength which did not seem possible in his aras, the Rifle King whirled the Lurly desperado half-way round and hurled bim away with a suddenness that astounded him, ‘“‘Foller me now an’ sleep to night in Eldora- do’s veyard!” were the threatening words that fell — his eare as Old Winch stepped from the cabin. ‘* His last words war a lyin’ boast!” muttered Modoc, emerge up the revolver upon which his hand bad accidentally fallen.. A mad bound carried bim into the sunshine, to see his enemy a few feet away. “* This odoc’s answer!” he yelled, The revolver already covered the old man’s head, but there was no report when be touched the trigger—nothing but a metallic click. ‘The bewitehed revolver!” he exclaimed, ‘‘Curse the dead man’s spell! I'm at Old Winch’s mercy.” At an avenger’s mercy he truly was. Old Winch bad whirled at. the pistol’s failure. His riflo was already at bis shoulder. ‘‘T Il make it a duuble funeral!” and with the echoing crack of his weapon Modoc reeled back with a cry. CHAPTER V. THE DEADLY PICNIC. Wirnovr retracing bis steps to note the re- sult of his shot, O!d Winch resumed his walk toward another part of the camp. © person apparently had witnessed the shooting. The rest of the citizens of. Eldorado were discussing a matter which was destined to bear gory fruit before stimset. Tbe old man did not pause until be found himself in a little cabin in what might be called the outskirts of the camp. He was greeted by two young persons who were the only occupants of the apartment. ‘What bas ha- pened?” exclaimed the young girl who sprune forward and laid her hand.on is sleeve. ‘*We heard a shot a moment ago. Ah! it was your rifle.” | ad “It war no one else’s,” was the reply. “‘T left a corpse in Modoc’s cabin if I'm not mistaken,” Soren ble “In Modoe’s? cried the girl’s companion, Plumas Roy. | ither of , ‘*Thar war a carkiss in the shanty when I ot thar,” said Old Winch. ‘‘The one I tum- es two thet ar’ lyin by side in the ‘hut. I told ‘im to keep off ez I war dangerous 5 when I war riled, but he wouldn’t, an’ so I showed ’im thet I meant bizness. It war Mo- doc himself.” Plumas did not reply, but went to a stout wooden chest in one corner of th room. Throwing back the heavy iron-bound lid, he displayed several apparently new revolvers, a brace of bowies, and a quantity of poretghst i “Tf you bave killed Modoc we are in fora a desperate ime, and so had better prepare for it at once,” he announced, looking up isto Old Winch’s face. ‘*In less than twenty minufes, unless we can leave Eldorado, we will bhuve the entire crowd down upon us. Mo oc Was a eke: among these desperadoer, They will’ urn to avenge his death. This is my little armory, Arm yourselves if you stand in ‘need of weapons,” “T ve got weapons enough.” said Old Winch, patting his gunstock. ‘‘Gold Georgie may, want suthin’ in yer line, Plumas.” The girl was about to say that ber one re- volver Was enough, when the youth took an lene weapon from.the chest and extended it to her, “Tt is light, but effective—take jit,” he said. “Yes, take if, gal, fer thar’s vo tellin’ ‘what might happen,” urged the old avenger. | * he white hands bad hardly touched the re- volver, When a hervy blow hke one delivered with the butt of a pistol struck the door and caused the trio to start from the chest. “You war right, Plumas,” whispered Old Winch. ‘“ The crisis hez come!” Piumas Roy, bolding a revolver in bis right hand, stepped across the room, and opened the door to confront three gray shirted men whose vineges were dark and determined. ‘*Whar’s the old man?’ asked one of the - three. At the question the Old King of the Rifle stepper boldly forward, “Hyar Iam,” be announced, ‘* What’s the rumpus now?’ , ‘We ar’ a committee of three from a meetin’ ov the Law an’ Order Men ov Eldorado,” was the response. ‘* Thet meetin’ hez jes’ disbanded, Its last resolution war one thet requests you an’ ther daisy ter leave the camp within twenty minutes. ** Tf we don’t, what?” demanded the old hunt+r with a twinkle in his eyes. “Tf ye stay, suthin may bappen!” was the reply. ‘ You see, Old Winch, we’re a quiet, orderly set oy men in Eldorado, Ore of the rules of camp is thet no white woman shall stay © hyar more’n twenty-four hours. Some oy fre boys ar’ quarrelin’ over yer daisy now, an’ if she stays we'll hev to enlace EHR gravey ze ite on the mountain. So we did the next, best thing —voted to ask you an’ the gal to yamos io racch, Californy kivers a heap ov it’s big shodah fur all ov us, cap’n: byt BE av- rado can’t hold all the boys an’ the prrson yiu call Gold Georgie, What's your arswer?”? | * * “Tell yer men thet they might bey sav’ their breath, fur we war goin’ anyhow,” rep'ied Old Winch. ‘‘ Twenty minnits,eh?’? ‘* Thet’s the time.” : ce “All right.” one The trio.turned away with significant glances at one another, “He took it easy,” observed one. ‘IL war almost afraid to sarve on the committee, fur w II | fear the old eagle eye would recognize me, but he didn’t.. 1’ll never furget bow he glared at us with them eyes when we lasbed him to the tree in Starvation Camp.” bes ws The speaker left his companions and burried toward the middle of the camp, while his com: pavions proceeded toward the corral, ., _ _, The deatp of Modoe evidently was still undis- covered. If his corpse should be found be the camp could be left, bloody work wo ensue. Or pmetpe ‘‘Onee beyond Eldorado. and I. shall , feel content,” remarked Gold Georgie, “I feel that our trailshall soon end, for my mother’s perse- cutor and father’s slayer seems within .my power. -Then I go back to civilization again to wae if I’ can this horrible but rehiecue ork,’ eS e + ° . as J. ‘You will let me accompany you, will not?” asked.Plumas Roy, pausing on the threah- ald of the little.cabin which she was about, to eave. h eamery _. “Certainly, these ‘our desire,” responded the girl, b ushing 8] hily. ‘I do vot see. how you have remained in this wicked camp as long as you have.” : q d ley I scarcely know myself,” and Roy smiled as he spoke.. ‘'1 drifted here wit oon aim. Once or twice I wanted to leave, but something —what it really was 1 cannot tell—bhekd me Sj Gom (E