Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 28 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

sss “Td be a miserable savage!’’ and Ben laughed. cuss, indeed, to attack a friend, and that friend a woman.” _ be I ain’t your friend, now, so don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched !"’ was the calm advice. ‘‘Whatis your handle, stranger?” “Buffalo Benjamin Jerome!” the scout replied, dryly. ‘** And yours—”’ ‘ ‘ a Leone Harris. I am the wife of Deadwood ick|”’ ‘““Phew!” This was astonishing ‘* Deadwood Dick's wife, eh?” nie Yes, sir. Iam led to understand that you know im ?”’ ‘““Oh! yes, slightly,” Ben couldn’t say if he was proud of the acquaintance, ornot,. “He has done me several good turns.”’ “So? I heard him mention your name. Is he in that fight, down there, now?’’ “*He was, when I sloped; for, you see, the Regula- tors were going to string me up, when he and his fellers came along. I was unarmed, so I concluded it was best to make myself seldom around there. But, 1 want you to tell me one thing: How did Dick escape from the cabin, last night?’ “Thelped him. With part of the band I captured the Regulators, and bound them. One of the men went down the chimney, into the cabin, then, and cut your bonds. Dick and he came out, then; Dick said let the rest of you remain in there, for he had a plan for your rescue. But as it happened, you escaped ere he could put his plan into execution.”’ The firing had now oonseds it was at this period that the Regulators had made a rush and escaped. “T'll cut your arms free,”’ said Leone, ‘‘ and then go and join my husband, He does not know that I followed him.’ ’ She suited action to the word, and then Ben was once more entirely free. ‘**T ain’t got etin my power ter thank you, enough!”’ he said, humbly. ‘“No thanks are required, sir,” the young wife of Deadwood Dick replied. “* To a friend it is always friendship, with us; to an enemy, always hatred!” “*I believe ye. Love and hate ar’ two passions thet rule strongest among the population of the Black Hills.” Leone bowed, and was about to guide her horse on down the gulch, when she seemed to recollect something. ‘* Will you see my husband?” she asked. ‘* Dunno; mebbe, an’ mebbe not,’ Ben replied, re- membering that he should have to keep shady. “ Why?” ‘*Because. Your act at the Metropolitan has made wa an outlaw, You will not dare to show yourself, Vould you not like to become a road-agent?”’ ‘‘ No, siree!’”? was the emphatic answer. ‘That ain't my cast o’ jib, at all;ma’am. Ef I'm an out- law, it’s on my own hook, an’ T’ll look out fer num- ber one.” “Very well, I'll not u you, though I think you would be benefited. If, however, you should want to see Deadwood Dick, at any time, or need any as- sistance, apply to the party whose directions you will find on this.” She handed him a card; then put spurs to her horse and dashed down the gulch toward the old cabin, Buffalo Ben following her with his eyes until she was lost in the dense gloom of the night. ‘‘ A strange couple—this Deadwood Dick and his wife,’ he muttered. ‘What pleasure there can be in this hunted life, is beyond my comprehension.” He glanced at the card, but it was too dark for him to decipher what was written thereon, So he thrust it iuto an inside pocket of his hunting-shirt and continued on his course down the gulch. He met several miners coming in from some neighbor- ing claim, but took care not to let them see him; for in the Black Hills after nightfall each man sus- pects the other of being a cutthroat. He had not gone far before he became aware that ople were in the guich ahead of him, He could hear their footste Two at least, he decided, as he was able to distinguish the footfalls. ‘“T wonder who can be out here so late? ‘Pears to me it don’t look just square. Hallo! they’ve turned off into this ravine. Durned spookerish sort 0” a place, an’ thet’s what's queer about et. S’posen I war ter foller—what then’ "Twouldn’t bether furst time Ben Jerome's trod a trail.”’ He quickened his footsteps so that he might get nearer to the midnight pedestrians, but he at the same time doubled his caution. As the horror of her situation fully dawned upon the mind of Stella Wadsworth, she gave vent to a piercing shriek, that startled the mountain echoes, and then she turned to flee. But in au instant she was in the iron grasp of her merciless betrayer. “No ye don’t, my pretty bird!’’ he chuckled, hold- ing her as easily as he would have held a child. x6 ain't a-goin’ ter escape, nor nothin’ like et,” . Let me go, you horrible man!” Stella cried, trem- bling with affricht. ‘Let me return to Deadwood,” and she burst into tears and sobs. Oh! what have I ever done to you that you should news for Ben. want to injure me?’ she moaned. ‘Only let me “ Ye never did ennything ter me, my daisy,’ the ruffian Said, “ never oven ao much as looked cross- ej ed at me, Ter thet I'll make affydavit.”’ . Then why do you threaten me? Why did you bring me here?” Bill Burk leaned ; mo- Why could he not ~ and reflected a ment, eerless 1 for himself, and tell Aaron W orth that he was dead? He would never know. “Till tell ye,” he said, glaneing sharply around Buftalo Ben. him. “I’ve made up mind not to murder you, as I war hired ter do, but, instead, keep you fer myself. T'll take ye ter an old hut I know on back hyer in the Hills, an’ ye shall become Mrs. B a, jes ‘es soon as I canrun down a gospel-sling- er. tsay you?” Stella put up her hands in horror. ‘“*Oh! kill me, then, a thousand times, rather than force me to submit to such a fate!” BBE ; don’t go fer ter rile me, fer I'm a double-j‘Inted cuss when I’m riled. I ain't a-goin’ ter killye, nor nothin’ of ther sort. I’m jest in need o° a purty wife, and you'll fit like a charm. cum ‘long wi’ ye, afore I hurt ye.”’ And, seizing her roughly by the wrist, the ruffian continued on up the ravine, dragging her after him. But not a great way did he go ere he was compelled to halt, for, scream after scream from the terrified girl’s lips awoke the mountain echoes, and he was alarmed lest they might attract attention. “Curses on ye!"" he hissed, in a rage. “T'll stop thet yowlin’;” and his knotted hand struck her a vi- olent blow upon the forehead. As he had intended, it produced insensibility; then catching her up in his arms he hastened on up the gulch, his fears now all aroused, Miners were coe in the hills, and already more than one might be on his trail. But Buffalo Ben was the only pursuer. He had heard the screams and rightly judging that there was foul play, he rushed on to investigate, not even using precaution to silence. He saw the giant speeding on with wonderful strides, and yet held him persistent- ly in view. ‘“Hold up, thar, you devil!” cried the ruffian, at last coming to a halt on the very brink of a yawning abyss—‘‘ hold up! or by the Lord Harry, e wolf-food outen ye!” And a revolver’s click! click! sounded plainly, showing that Bill Burk was going to die game. Of course Buffalo Ben halted; he was weapon! and what could he do against an armed “tough?” CHAPTER XIII CALAMITY JANE—DEFENSE. ‘*Now, hold yer hosses steddy!"’ cried the ruffian, as he became aware that Ben had sto . “Ef ye cum a step closer, I'll throw this over into the abyss in front o’ me; for as I fetched her out hyer ter murder her, this ar’ the boss place!” Ben aned in an agony of spirit, powerless to rescue the captive woman; he must turn back and leave her to the ruffian’s mercy. But, hark!—a pistol-shot rung out on the air. There was a yell of mortal agony, fierce and terrible; then the t ruffian went down to the und, an ugly bullet-hole in his temple. He carried poor, in- sensible Stella with him, but she received no injury aside from a slight shock, of which she was uncon- scious. Ben rushed forward to the ~ The ruffian lay where death had reached for A moment he gazed at the lifeless corse; then he gathered a few dry twigs and ignited them into a blaze, that he might better view his surroundings. n either side the rugged walls rose to a stu- pendous hight, their summits crowned with spectral ines; ahead yawned a dark, awful ab whose ttom was hundreds of feet below; behind ran the gulch-ravine, in a serpentine course, the route over which Ben had come. The night’s darkness was, it seemed, doubly intense here in this isolated spot, and the scout shuddered as he pore a glance down into the fathomless depths of the abyss, on whose very brink Bill Burke had fallen in death. mn phi that is a horrible place!” he muttered; and, drawing back, he turned his attention to the ruffian and his captive. A ery of astonishment and horror esca s lips as he beheld the girl “By heaven! it is Stella!’ and the next instant the golden-haired scout was kneeling beside her, an ex- ression of alarm upon his face. “Oh! can it be hat she is dead? 0! thank God, her heart still beats, and she lives! A blow here upon her forehead has rendered her senseless.” Close at hand water drip from a crevice in the ledge of rocks. Filling hishat Ben dashed it liber- ally into the girl’s face, then he bathed her forehead and wet her lips with liquor from the girdle-flask o the dead ruffian. The effect was ual, yet cer- tain, and in a few moments Stella gave a convulsive shiver, and opened her eyes. For &amoment she seemed dazed and bewildered: then she rose to her feet, and Ben supported her in his strong, young arms. ‘Thank heaven, I have escaped!” Stella murmur- ed, with a terrified Seg at the prostrate ruffian. ‘Who killed him? -What—you here, Mr. Jerome?” “T was corning out into the hills to escape Dead- wood justice, when I overheard your screams, and gave chase,” explained Ben. “ As to who killed that tough, I am in entire ignorance. The shot, however, cum along just in time, for I believe the cuss intend- ed to throw ye over into that hole.” “But, how came you here? I thought you were imprisoned in the old cabin. I was there, and tried to coax Roxly to release you, but it was no use.” - ‘*Deadwood Dick liberated me. The Regulators took me out, and were going to hang me, after you left, when along came Dick, with his road-agents, and shot me down, an’ then bounced the Regulators. Of course I sloped, for I ain’t safe to be seen in Deadwood, now. I met Dick’s wife on ther way, an’ she cut my bonds and gag. How did you come to be in this tough’s power?” “ He stopped me when T was returning from the cabin-prison,” exelaimed Stella, shuddering as she gazed at the stiffening corpse. ‘“ He told me you had sent him for me—that you were free, and he would conduct me to you. Of course I came, under the cir- 11 — cumstances. Back yonder, when I first screamed, he told me he had brought me out here to murder me!” Ben stared at the ground, thoughtfully, for a few moments, ‘There is some underhand game hyer!” he said, his brows knitting lexedly. ‘‘Who could have such a Spite agai roe as to seek your life?’ ““Ah! T cannot tell. I know of not an enemy on CR es was the reply. ‘* Come, let us return to Dead- wood, ‘* No!” Ben shook his head quickly. ‘“‘I am brand- ed as an outlaw, and it means death to go back now. I shall have to wait a few weeks, till things cool off.” ‘*No need of that!’ Stella declared, confidently, and she drew from the pocket of her dress a package done upin brown paper. “ Here I have a disguise that I procured for you, which will effectually hide Buffalo Ben from the world.” And undoing it, she held up to view a mustache, beard, and wig, all of a dark-brown color. ‘““Just the thing!’ was Ben's appreciative com- ment, and he proceeded to don them, thereb rE, disguising himself. ‘‘ Now, I reckon, ain't afeard ter go back ter Deadwood, an’ face ther music.”’ But after a short consultation it was decided by Ben that they should remain where they were until the following afternoon. This would give a chance for the excitement to partially blow over, and there would be less danger of detection. Accord e ys preparations were made for the short sojourn. After securing the arms of the lifeless Bill Burk, Ben pitched the body over into the abyss, and it went down! down! down! forever out of the sight of man; then he went to work, and built a rousing fire, that lit up the camp with a cheery glow, and a genial warmth soon pervaded the chill air. “I'd ruther camp out, any time, when thar’s lots of wood, water, deer-meat, and hostile Ingers on the tow,” observed Ben, seating himself near the blaze, “A bunk o’ deer’s hind leg wouldn't come amiss, just about now, considerin’ as I hain’t pai took o’ any stummick nourishment, lately.” ‘Well, pilgrim, supposin* we sharpen our teeth on a little, then!” proposed a cheery voice, and loo around, our friends beheld, to their astonishment, a young individual standing close by, he evidently aving descended a rope which ran up the face of the ravine yale a ledge above and was there fast- ened to a rocky spur. A dashing-looking person, with smooth face, black, flashing eyes, and lo hair; and attired in a faultless suit of buck-skin, wi dainty moccasins, and a slouch sombrero, cocked upon one side of the head. ‘Hello!’ exclaimed Buffalo Ben, and also ejacu- lated Stella, for both had seen and heard of the per- weg who had so unceremoniously descended into their little camp. _‘* Calamity Jane, as I live!’ **Reckon ‘tis, !* and this wonderful girl in man’s garb came forward, extending a hand to each of the two campers, “ Didn't ‘spect to see me, did you?” and she gave vent to a strange laugh, really enlivening to hear. ‘** Waal, no. Last I heerd o’ you, they bad you at ‘Shian fer pickin’ pockets!” was Ben's matter-of-fact response. “That report was a big lie!’ Jane asserted. “TI hevn't bin outside the hills, ‘cept over ter Bozeman, in a year. "Twas another cuss o’ a gal that the Cheyenne constables nabbed.” “Did you shoot the man who was carrying me off, awhile ago?’’ Stella asked. “Yes; ruther Jedge I knocked sev’ral years out o” his callendar,” replied the girl, nodding. “ War u above, an’ see’d as he meant ter annihilate ye; so put a fly in his ear.” **And done me a service,” said Ben, “Iwas un- armed, and like’s not, the devil would ‘a’ slung her over, but for your timely bullet.” After an hour more of desultory conversation, Jane produced a piece of uncooked venison from an oil- cloth blanket, which was slung to her back, and it was broiled over the glowing coals, furnishing when ae a palatable repast, to which the trio did full stice, Then Calamity volunteered to stand guard while Ben and Stella sought slumber and rest, which ar- rangement being ange a the two lay down on sep- arate couches of leaves, and dropped off into sweet repose. Ben relieved Calamity a short time before day- break, but she was not sleepy, she said, so did not lie down. They remained in a through the day, and started, about sunset, for Deadwood, at which place they arrived soon after dusk. Stella was left at her hotel; then Ben and Calamity sauntered around to the “ Tabernacle,” and then to the “ Met,” to see what was going on. But, all was quiet, save such little occurrences as fights or quarrels, the larger class of which rarely attract attention among the crowd, Calamity sat down at one of the tables, but Ben continued to saunter around. A commotion at one end of the saloon attracted him, and going thither, he beheld a crowd of roughs gathered threateningly around a single man, It took but a glance to recognize that eccentric individual from Potato Guich—‘*the me-e-owing_ Thomas_ K. Cat"’—the tonguey and ludicrously homely Rattlesnake. But, for a wonder, the old fellow was not so Longer now. He stood with his baek against the table; his face was an enigma to study, with its bushy red beard and variety of expression; its firm- ly set lips and flashing black orbs; then, too, the leaming cocked revolver in either hand, ready for instant use, showed that he was at bay—a danger- ous man to deal with. The roughs around him also held weapons drawn; their faces, mirrors of their AAVICE (EO) 0\(6\(6) S) (E() i.