Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 28 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Buffalo Ben. 9 rens, excitedly discussing the news that had ing’ the ee: like wildfire through the place, concerning the es- cape of Deadwood Dick and his men. ig he proceeded the young scout saw a Regulator approaching, wearing Ais suit of buffalo-skin, in w which he had always taken so much pride. But he said nothing, for he did not care to have the Regula- tors remember that it was he whom they had cap- tured as a road-agent SPY. In passing the hotel where Fawdon stopped, he saw Stella motioning to him from an upper window, and waited till she joined him on the steps. ‘*You nearly killed George,’’ was her reproachful salutation. **Oh! no; a dozen such wounds would not kill him,”’ Ben assured, with asmile. ‘‘ Pretty mad, isn’t he?’’ ““Mad? that’s no name forit. You have crippled him, and he’ll spend every cent he is worth but what he'll see you put underthe turf. Beware of assas- sins, hereafter.” ‘Yes, I'll keep an eye open in the back of my head. Reckon t ey’ll hev to git up in the mornin’ to circumvent me, tho’!’’ “You are too confident. Sometime you will get struck, when off your guard.” ** Which I never am,” was the reply. ‘Here; do you want this?’’ He held up the long golden curl which Fawdon’s bullet had clipped from his head—a soft silken ring- let that any man might be proud to wear, and sorry to lose. Stella seized it with a delighted little cry, and kiss- ed it fondly—then blushed in confusion at her bold- ness. ‘* Where did you—how—when—”’ she began— ‘*Tt was shot from the side of my head,”’ he said, smiling, ‘‘by your amiable brother.”’ ‘** My brother!” she exclaimed, evidently astonish- ed. ‘What do you mean?” ‘*T mean that your brother, Major Fawdon, shot the lock away during our duel.” ‘“*Ha! ha! agood joke. Major Fawdon my brother? I supposed you knew better than that, Mr. Jerome.’ * Then Ae deny that he is your brother?”’ ‘Certainly. Heis my gu - *“ And your name is—”’ “Stella Wadsworth!” ‘* Wadsworth / Buffalo Ben stared at her, curious- ly. “Humph! I'll bet a coon-skin you’re tryin’ ter chet my eye up. Either you ain’t Wadsworth, or else the major ain’t Fawdon; fer it’s plain enough that you two are brother and sister.”’ ‘‘Some persons always make mistakes!” the girl retorted, with a toss of her head. Just then the report of a pistol-shot rung out, and a bullet whizzed by, Unpleasantly near to Jerome's head. Involunta he raised eyes toward the upper windows of the hotel, and beheld the sullen face of Major Fawdon withdraw from view. ‘* Who fired that shot?’ Stella demanded, glancing about in alarm. . ‘*Major Fawdon was amusing himself at a little target practice,” Ben coolly replied, nodding u ward. “Judge I'd best get out of range before he succeeds in hitting me. See you again, sometime, eh?” , ‘*Yes, of course. I will keep this lock of your hair next to my heart,’’ with an earnest look. ‘“ Good- day.” ® Good-day}" and then Ben went on up the street. Toward t he came upon the shanty of “* Mask- ed Maude,”’ the fortune-teller. The door was open, and the mysterious proprie- tress was standing upon the threshold breathing the perfume-laden breeze that swept down from the mountains. She started as she saw the young revolver shot, then came forward and extended one faultless white hand, saying ina ee ee sweetness, which Ben thought he had h somewhere once before: ‘*Good-evening, sir. Nice, outside.”’ “Yes, delightful,’ Ben replied, wondering ,what was to come next. 4 ‘* Been into the Metropolitan? ‘‘No; what's going on there?” ~~ “Gouldn’tsay. Do you play cards?” ‘* Sometimes, for amusement.”’ ; ‘And money, too, I dare say?”’ ‘*Rarely. Never had much luck.” \ ‘* Come inside, and have a game.”’ ‘No, [thank you. Don’t hev no appetite fer cards just at present.” “Bah!” with a merry laugh; “ you’re suspicious— afraid of me, a woman!” “That's a lie!” Ben replied, bluntly. ‘Han if 1 ever saw that female | war ’fraid of yet. care for cards, though.” ‘** Well, let them go, then: but comein and have a social chat.”’ ‘* Ain’t in no mood fer social chats!’ was the re- joinder. Ben didn’t half like this fortune-teller’s soft, persuasive tones. ‘Can't help it; you must come in!"' was what came me on’t next. ‘‘Must I? Like ter see the critter that can make me do it,’’ and out came a revolver, full cocking with an ominous click. ‘‘ Now goin, lemons.” Masked Maude uttered a low laugh and retreated into the shanty, closing the door after her. Then Buffalo Ben went on up the gulch, wondering more than ever over the mysteries of Deadwood. As the shadows of night fell over the golden me- tropolis, the crowds in the streets became denser, we 5 consequently, business livelier. Work was over for the day, and play had just begun. Grim, dirty miners came trudging in from the claims; pick- pockets and dark-browed desperadoes stood on the watch for victims to insnare. Inside the Metropolitan Saloon was the usual crowd of adventurers and representatives of Dead- wood’s population—a mass of humanity, the faces of | he es would have been a study for Nast or any other artist. Among the audience was Buffalo Ben, sauntering idly around, endeavo to pass away an evening by watching the sports of others. soon he was destined to take a hand himself. One of the crowd, and no less a man than ex-Lieu- tenant Fred Audley, of Deadwood Dick’s band walked straight up to the young scout, and slapped mT fore, Roxly lh ed, to the Regulator chief ‘** Here, Roxly!” he cri e tor chief, who stood afew yards off, “this young galoot can tell ye where Deadwood Dick is. Nab him, and make him tell what he knows.” “Leave go your hold,” said Ben, coolly, ‘I reckon ou don’t mean me, stranger; I know nuthin’ o’ eadwood Dick!’ ‘*“Ho! ho!” the traitor road-agent laughed, mock- ingly, “ye can’t lie to me, my boy. I saw you talkin’ wi’ the prince, up in ther guich this afternoon.” “In that case I shall hold ye!” said the captain of Regulators, mooi ny “Hallo!” cried the Regulator who had taken pos- session of Ben's buffalo#costume; ‘ thet’s the spy we caught who got off wi’ the road-agents. See! he's got on my togs, and I’m one buffler-skin suit better oO be | “Right! Roxly assented. ‘‘ We’ve caught our bird this time. Give 2" your weapons, young feller !”’ **In this fashion!’ Ben cried, drawing and cocking a revolver in each hand, ‘“ Now, come along, you galoots, as want ter take me!” oe if s | af ah to = oe a ag ties Den in rough the room, an Audle in his tracks—dead / Ai.» CHAPTER X., DEFENSE ONE OF NATURE'S OWN LAWS. **DeapDwoop Dick!’’ came from the crowd in one involuntary gasp, and then they glared around, as if in fear of beholding his dread standing before them. Butif Richard was in the room, he was so cleverly disguised as to defy recognition. Buffalo Ben had been almost in the act of laying for the ex-lieutenant, but this friendly bullet spared him the work; he therefore turned to Roxly, who with his ns Sop = was standing near, dum founded, for the time he “Thar, pilgrims!”’ said Ben, coolly, “ye see what that feller got fer his supper. He war atraitor to Deadwood Dick’s gang, and got well paid for his treachery.” “I b’leve my soul you shot him, yerself; an’ I shouldn’t much wonder ef you be of Deadwood Dick’s gang!" Roxly cried. “Get out!’’ Ben laughed heartily at the idea. ‘I’m no road-agent cuss; you can bet yer ducats on that!”’ “TI say you are, an’ I’m goin’ ter arrest an’ lynch you, wi’out delay, Boys, seize the little cuss!” “ Hold!’ Buffalo Ben cried, his voice ringing out clearly through the room—"“ hold! you dastardl hounds, and hear me out. Iam not a road-agent; swear it. Last night I was captured oe eee ee Dick’s men, just before you gave them c . Iwas forced to accompany them into the ravine; I volun- teered to reconnoiter, and you captured me. When the road nts made a rush from the cabin, I did not go with them.” * An’ we're going to aor you higher than Haman!” cried Old Roxly. “ Road-agent or no road-agent, ye war workin’ fer the interests o’ Deadwood Dick, sO ye're bound to wear a hemp collar. Boys—’ “Hold!” Buffalo Ben again cried, his eyes gleam- ing. “I have explained Keep off, if you value life, for rather than submit to Judge Lynch, I'll wade through blood so sure as my name is Ben Jerome. Now, then, gentlemen, do as you think best!” There was a momen pause; an intense silence reigned; the great crowd that swarmed around stood on their guard waiting the issue. “Seize him!’’ cried Roxly; then in a body a dozen of his Regulators rushed upon the young scout. Crack! bang! went his revolvers, the ring of one shot being succeeded by another—the bullets reach- ing their mark with deadly accuracy. Down went one after another of the tors, and still the young Prince of the Pistol stood his ground, his lips set firm, his eyes flashing. But this could not last. The crowd sided with the Regulators, and at an appeal from Roxly, they swarmed around the boy and took him a prisoner. He was bound hand and foot and gagged. Then they bore him back to that lonel on ae where he had once before spent the . Into this cabin he was ier tumbled, and the key turned upon him, while Old Roxly and several of his men kept watch on the outside, bound to avert an escape this time. Let us return to the cave, where we left Wrestling Walt and his companions, Lightning Luke and Belle Jerome, The shadows of eve were just beginning to grow thick down in the gulch, when an explosion osnerred —a terrible shock that made the very mountain tremble. It was all over in a moment, and then our friends beheld, to their horror, what damage had been done. Huge rocks choked up the entrance to the cavern, shu and shutting in the three. “B Wrestling Walt cried, as he gazed at his two companions—“ we're done for now, sure. What! do you think—” ‘*Thet it war the work o’ them from. They war powerful mad, when we jounced ‘em off down the hill, an’ swore bloody vengeance. So I giv’ ’em the credit 0’ this job. And I’m afeard,”’ he added, *‘ we can never remove these rocks, in ther Lord's world, except by powder, and thet *d hardly ry Bete light y heaven!” as we tuk the gal SSS SSS sss SSS | fetch ’em—at least, thar ain't enough in our crowd to budge *em an inch.”’ **I don’t know about that. I’ve got a hundred and fifty cartridges, or over; and besides, here's half a pound of giant powder I found on the street, to-day. Al ether, we might squeeze out a pound o’ the ‘Well, we can try; but thar’s no use o’ bein’ in a hurry. No doubt our enemies ‘ll keep an eye hyer- bouts, fer a day or so; an’ ef our plan should suc- ceed, they'd stand ready to salivate us when we cum out.”’ A couple of torches were ignited and thrust into niches in the wall, and their blaze lighted the cavern in every part. The fire, too, was replenished, and preparations anne for a long sojourn in the rocky mountain prison, Luckily, Ransom baa just that morning killed a deer, which promised to furnish food for some days to come, After a venison supper, all felt in more cheerful opiate en especially, brightening up wonderful- ly. She was vivacious, intelligent, good-hearted, and fairly educated, and made a very pleasant com- panion. After awhile all dropped asleep, and so remained until day-dawn, the morning light finding its way in ge ete few — i : the heen . ight at day passed slowly enough, and when nig once again settled down over the mountain, the two men proceeded to work, resolved to effect an escape from their drear prison, at all h ; Each carried a revolver. These were fully loaded then the remainder of their cartridges were open —two hundred, in all—and their contents mixed with the half a pound of giant powder that Walt had found, thereby making quite a ae. A hole in the main rock that blocked the passage afforded a place for the charge, and it was rammed home with a will, for, should this fail, Walt knew that they were doomed. A fuse connected with the powder, and after all was in readiness, and Belle had been stationed at the rear of the cavern out of reach of harm, Ransom lucked a burning brand from the fire, and lit the se! A few seconds would tell whether they were to be nore <2 forever, until death came, live in this prison of rocks. No doubt Buffalo Ben would have been lynched im- mediately, had the matter been left to the Regulators, for he had slain or wounded several of them in that ht in the bar-room, ut the Government had lately planted a firm foot upon Deadwood soil, and enforced certain laws, mak ing it necessaryfor even the Regulators to give a pris- oner a hearing before the summary justice of hang- me She the nearest tree. oward midnight the vicinity of the prison was de- serted, and, despite their bravest efforts, a feeling of apprehension attacked the guards; even Old Roxly was not proof against it. ‘** What the de’il is ther matter wi’ me?” he abn a 3 y. ‘‘Sumhow I feel as skeery as an old colt in y-time.”’ . ae comes a ae a ——— <a sung out a Regulator. ‘‘ Ef amule even ‘dcum ‘long, best ang: a eae ‘ va e ootsteps, truly, were heard approachin : though in the blackness of the night no iees could be obtained of thecomer. It was evidently a woman, for the steps were light, quick, elastic. The Regulators of one accord cocked their revol- ** Who comes thar?’ hailed Roxly, gruffly. ‘‘ Who be ye, an’ what d’ye want?” “I’m a woman, so fear not!"’ replied a clear, sweet ight figure enveloped in a man’s among the road-agent hun- rs. ‘Hello! a gal, by thunder!” the chief ejaculated, in apparent astonishment, ‘‘ Whatever fetched ye *way out here all alone by yerself, sweety?” **None of your insolence sir,”’ the girl replied, drawing herself up, haughtil . “Use no end epithets tome. Iam Major Fawdon’s ward, sir, an I come to beg of you to release Buffalo Ben, who of all men is ocent of association with the road- ae Ronn but ‘t obleege rful pi ™ , miss, but we can’t o ye—orful pity too, fer 'm a widower, myself, an’ nary purtier gal did ever I see in thes ‘ere country.” ‘There you are again!’ Stella cried, angrily. * Please answer my questions, and avoid your ex- ressions of admiration, Why won't you release uffalo Ben?” ~ enuff ans’ered, ma’am. He's a cuss as war caught in aidin’ Deadwood Dick, an’ thet made him a road-agent in our eyes, no matter ef he be ther big- So preacher in the world. So we're goin’ ter hang m up ter dry in the mornin’! “Oh! no! no! you must not!” cried the young wo- man, beginning to 5" 4 “You must not!” “But we shall!” xly declared, grimly, “an’ all the snivelin’ an cat-waulin’ ye can crowd inter twenty- four hours o’ time won't change our mind on’t. Why, al, he salivated half o’ my crew up ter the Metropol- tan, right straight along, an’ laid some on ’em out fer a jerny along Salt river,” 7 [heard so,"’ was the faint reply, “and more’s the pity he didn’t finish you up at the same time!”’ This with intense bitterness of tone. Then she turned back toward Deadwood, and the Regulators were left to themselves, “Iwas thinkin’!"’ observed the chief, after they were once more alone—‘‘why not take the youn cuss out an’ hev ther satisfaction 0° swingin’ him a to ourselves? After he’s dead no one ‘ll trouble us about how he went off.”’ voice, and then a army cloak stepped JOO com S77 GO