Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 285 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

—_-~ ee - quarter of a mile distant, where two outcropping jedges were visible. “The den is betwixt them two ledges,” he an- nounced, * an’ by takin’ the bear path that starts in bere, you can reach the upper ledge. Light out, uOW. Understanding the balance of the plan, the Vigi- | lantes began to creep cautiously toward their desti- nation, while Little Bill skulked along the base of the guich until be gained a good hiding-place in a clump of bushes, directly beneath and opposite the mouth of the cave. were ready. Bill then sent up a series of piercing screams, which were like those of a woman in dire distress. (n instant later, from his concealment, he saw three white men and one Indian rush from the cave and gaze down into the gulch. At the same instant, four lassoes dropped with precision from above, and in a moment more Denver Doll's oH Decoy. to-night, at the Indian picture rocks, half a mile up the gulch.”’ “All right. I'll undertake to have some horses there at that hour.”’ “Very well. But, thereis another thing. you to put that Irish idiot out of the way"’ *“Humph! I reckon not,” { want leetle above committin’ murder.” **Pshaw! your scruples will have a fallsome day,” | Rignold gritted, ‘** Wouldn't a hundred dollars stir | you up?” He then waited until he heard the apparent scream | of a hawk, which warned him that the Vigilantes | four outlaws were dangling between the upper and | lower ledges, Nor did the Vigilantes take the trouble to draw | the victims to the upper ledge, but, instead, fastened the lariats so as to leave them suspended in mid-air. And thus they hung until life became extinct, and | the Murdock band of desperadoes was no more. Little Bill was the first to reach and enter the cave, where he found Big Buckskin lying on his back, securely bound, but otherwise unharmed, Buckskin embraced the boy warmly after his re- leuse, and also heartily thanked the men he had chosen for Vigilantes, not supposing, at the time, that they would be called upon to rescue him as their first service. After a search of the cavern the party set out on their return, On their arrival, the news of how Big Buckskin tad been captured and rescued became generally known, and also the capture of the outlaws and their fate, Big Buckskin was much surprised, too, when he found that Burk Murdock had been killed, and was mounted upon the pole, and at once ordered that the le cut down; but the people were too deci averse to this, and it was evident that the aerial spectacle must remain for the public's edifica- tion, During the evening, feeling in low spirits, evi- dently, Sir Royal Rignold sought out one of the gam- bling dens, with the view of idling away a few hours. He was soon successful in securing a man to play with, and being an expert, it was not long ere he had quite astack of golden coin before him. The other fellow finally backed out and sought an- other table, He had hardly departed, when a rough-looking bumoyer approached the nobleman and helped bim- self Lo a Beat, “ “Elio! Mr. Rignold. *’Ow’'s yer ’ealth?” he saluted, faniliarly. * None of your business. What d’ye want?” Sir Royal demanded, savagely. “ Nothin’ much. I jest reckernized ye, and thor’t I'd make yer acquaintance, since I was sent here for that purpose, * You sent here!" Sir Royal gasped, his face grow- ing a shade whiter, and a hunted glare coming into his eres. Biz Yas," the chap went on, “I was sent by Jim Sir Royal ppereren both excited and relieved. __ “ Indeed!" he said. * What news did Brady send?" " Bad,” the other declared, grimly. “Stark, the London sleuth, is here after you.” “ How do you know this'" “ Easy evough. I have seen him here in the camp. As soon as he gets a requisition, he means to nab you without ike neg Sem “ Furies seized the fellow! Is he in disguise?” “Yes; he’s playin’ up book-agent as a blind.” “Then I have seen him,” “Probably. Now, there’s no time to lose let me tell you. You want to skin out of this town as live- ty as you know how.” *“T cannot get away at once. | am to marry Jubal Andre's Tanoniee to-morrow night!" ** You are & fol!” “T repeat it—you are afool, Your Irish lassie is here!" ** Bah! you lie!” : “No, [do not. She is here, and waiting for the marriage-time, so that she can step forward and denounce you.” ‘Great Heaven! what am I to do?” “Well, jest you follow my advice an’ T'l) help you eut. Bud Backus never went back on Jim Brady’s pals yet.” “ Well, what have you to propose?” Rignold ask- ed eagerly. ’ It was evident that he was anxious for some avenue of escape from the menacing peril.’ “You are going to marry?” mm all means, yes!" «Then it must be very quietly and secretly done. The best plan would be tohave the ceremony per- formed in the gulch, outside of the town, where there would be no interruption, and from where you vould amy your flight. noticed a suitable spot, half a mile upthe gulch. You'd better ar » to have the thing done up to-night, and get out of this vicinity.’ a You are right, I guess. I will do so. Say nine, ——— -_ | | | ee re ee “No nor ten times that amount. bought to woman murder.” I'll do the job myself!” “Even that I cannot do, I was sent heer to warn ye an’ help ye escape the officers. That's as fur as i have anything todo with ye.”’ “Humph! I suppose you'll rocks to-night?” * Of course.”’ * You can go then.” And the rough-looking individual arose and shuf- i off while Sir Royal lit a cigar and left the sa- oon. “T would that I were a thousand miles away!” he muttered. be at the picture ——- CHARTER XII. GULLIVER’S BIG RAISE. TRE death of the outlaws had been a serious dis- appointment to Jubal Andre, who had clung to the belief that Burk Murdock would yet come to terms, and put Big Buckskin out of the way. That hope was now dissipated, however, and the scheming villain knew that what was done he must do himself, Fearful was he that something would happen to prevent his daughter's marriage with Sir mel boot is heart was set upon that, for it would make Agnes the mistress of Castle Chelton, and that would of course give him back his old position as bailiff. If a marriage were atiempted by Sir Royal and Agnes, there could be little doabf but what Big Buckskin would interfere and stop it, which would be disastrous, Nothing, therefore, remained more imperative than that Bi Buckskin should be put out of the way, and that at once. And it was equally attend to the job himse So he set to work and studied over a number of plans, and finally decided upon one which he cal- culated might work. | In former days he had been an expert swordsman and fencing-master, And .even though out of prac- tice, he was sanguine that he could hold his own with such a man as Big Buckskin, who, he allowed, would not be likely to understand the mauual at arms, Accordingly he brought out two fine blades from his trunk, and gave them a furbishing, after which he sat down ata table and wrote the following mes- sage: pain to him that he must “Bie Booksars:—You must know that, as ene- mies, we cannot conveniently dwell in the same camp. In order to settle who shall be master, I Challenge you to meet me at the northern outskirts of the town, immediately on receipt of this, and we will decide the matter with swords, * Toran ANDRE.” Just at dusk he hired a man to convey the mes- boos agree oe armed De me the swords, he set out for the appoin place of meeting. Here he waited. It was not long ere a re of tis Bucks near at hand, and the manly figure of Buckskin stood before him. “Well, I am here, Jubal Andre!” the sport said, “though I'll admit that 1 was surprised to receive a challenge from you. Idid not think you had so rauch pluck.” “Oh! you didn't? Well, you evidently see your mistake. Lam just plucky enough to face a dozen loafers like you.” ‘Probably because you think you have an easy thing on me with the sword, which is very likely the case. Still, you have ec nged, and Iam not the man to refuse pA man the chance to get satisfac- tion out of me, if itis in him. Give me one of your slaughterin’ blades.” Keeping the best one for himself, the ex-bailiff are the other upon the ground, at Big Buckskin’s eet. “There! take it, and stand on your guard,” be cried, fiercely. “I came here to kill you, and free —— I cannot be | - a — —_— find that Big Buckskin struck a tremendous blow, but that he was also up to all the important little arts of fencing. It had a depressing effect upon Jubal Andre tu know this, for with the knowledge came the addi- _ tional rea'ization that one little opening left by him Backus grunted. “I : ain’t no regular parson, [ ain't: but I reckon I'm a |: life Buckskin was as cool and com das a mun well could be. He did not betray any anxiety for his own safety; on the contrary, he appeared to be rather confident that he would be the victor. The duel soon came to an abrupt end. By a tr:- mendous blow, Buckskin broke his adversary = would be likely to lose him his | blade in twain, and— ‘Then tell me where the cursed woman is, and | my child, and the harder you make mé work the | greater will be my triumph when I run you through!" be right! When you do run me through you can well brag of it,’’ Big Buckskin answ , com- posedly. The two foes then stepped forward within eiriking distance, their weapons held in a firm grasp, an | their eyes gleaming sternly. Clash! clash! Parry! feint! lunge! Clash! clash! Swiftly and with great foree did the deadly blades through the ay blow meeti bai’ be and nei- er Man apparen aining an vantage. Tn fact, the ardor of subal kinins seemed a good deal dampened, so to speak. for not only did he soon ee ee ee Ce. ee Fa ge Andre turned like a flash, and ran for his ife! In order to add to his terrors, the sport fora few moments, and then purposely a cowardly wretch to escape. gave chase lowed the Sir Royal Rignold did not find his betrothed at the shanty, on his arrival there from the gambling den. Miss Andre had gone out, some minutes before. for a breath of fresh air. The camp, at eventide, was not the least danggr- ous place for a lady to wander about, but the young woman prided herself that she was not afraid, and set out boldly. : ’ During her stroll, as luck would have it, she met the redoubtable Gulliver from Liliput, who block- apo her path, with an indescribable grin upon his ace. ae pits 08 to yer, mum!” he saluted... “ D'ye want a beau ter see ye hum? Ef ye does, I'm in the market. Gulliver is my bhandle— Gulliver from Lili- put, you bet!" ‘“*Sir!’* Miss Andre cried, coldly. “ Please be kind enough to ste ana oe oa me to poet tj * Not by a ju (™ ver responded. “I jist kuow what I’m about. I'm bizness, I am? I've hearn it said ye’d pay a right peart sum to hey that oy Big Buckskin, put out o' the way! Ain't that 60 ’ Agnes Andre’s face underwent a change of ex- pression, and her eyes gleamed dangerously... “So I would!" she replied, in a hissing to “He is the es tern lyge of my life. He stands between me and happiness, wealth and position!" *Perzactly. Know jest how it is. Now what’)! you give to have that galoot put so fur under groun:) that he can’t never yer out agin?"’ Agnes Andre was silent. She was considering how to act. Everything was at stake, and something mnat i done at once. She knew that her father was not at the shanty. and that his money was. Why not take the matter into her own hands, writ hire this man to do the work the Murdocks had let’. undone? r What’ will you charge? Remember, the jo!» “Gav must be done at once!” uckskin’s death * Five thousand dollars!’ Gulliver declared. me that, an’ yell hear o” Big B within the next hour. “Then come with me. . She went swift y back to her shanty residence, soe os = Som sum ded by the giant, and gave _ “All right!’ Gulliver announced, after counting it. ‘* Jest ye linger about the camp a bit, and when ye a, several pistol-shots, yer case is non compre Men us." : . He then trotted serenely off, leaving Miss Andre Slightly in doubt as to what she had dome aight in giving him the mo ow far the giant woe have gone is hard to say, had not an unforeseen emergency arose in oe y of a revolver, which was thrust against his Beene ren ae tan “Wiety?t tev deeehh » hold u ar, e nile ae tones ot command. “Jest move another step, without my permission, put a bullet In yer Oe “What's the matter with you?’ Gulliver thun- seen ip Put up yer weepon, afore I chew your 1 re id “Cant do that, honeysuckle. Afore ye could bite thru my sculp I kin hev six tunnels drilled thru your system!” the youngster retorted, iri- satire ie And Gulliver knew he spoke the truth, * What d’ye want?" he demanded. ; * You'll find out!” Little Bill suggested. “Whar was # a jest slopin’ for?” bifler full of forty-rod, which themdogay fe good ter Yiler full o’ forty-rod, w ey do 8a& ter keep b’ilers from rustin’ on the inaide.” > - k out! None of your lyin’, or ll salivaiy you this minnit. Ye war goin’ fer to drap Big Buck. skin, warn’t ye?” : ‘He! he! he! Heerd thet job I put up on the gal, didn't ye? Soak me if I didn’t capter ber shekels like a charm. Five thousan’ ata ! Jest py af it! Enuff to keep my b'iler fi ter a month!” * ‘ can you didn’t intend to barm Big Buckskin, ey 1 “Sartin not! Et jest occurred to me as how my exchequer war gettin’ low, an’ I'd better bleed sonse fat pocket-book. Lor’ bless ye, I wouldn't hurt a hair on Big Buck’s pate fer all ther gold thar is in these mountings; not ef I knows myself “Waal, I should advise ve not ter try it, fer if ye do, thar’s a powerful sartainty thar’ll a bumble-bee _ buzz right thru your peri um. So now, waliz!” Gulliver was not slow in fms ry, for he was evi- dently afraid of that remarkable iad. When he was gone, Bi ack to the ° os “v Bill seannte Comicbooks (Co) _ }-