Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 285 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 hotel] and took a turn at bar-tending, well pleased at | his success in bluffing down a man of Gulliver’s huge proportions. ** Bet the gal wull knock her heels tergether when she finds how she’s bin soaked,” he muttered, **Serves ber right, durn her!”’ After his flight from the presence of Big Buck- skin, Jubal Andre made his way back to town in a humor that was bad, to say the least, 4 ‘Beaten again,’ he whined to himself. “Tt ’ seems as if ill luck is continually dogging me since I ‘have come to this accursed town, Big Buckskin has the luck of a cat, as regards his life, and it is ap- arent that | have no business to attempt taking it. Yhat is to be done I do not know.” As he entered the town, he saw Sal Slap leave the ; =—* Glory, and walk over toward the Bonanza otel. His suspicions became at once aroused. ‘“What the blazes is the ugly she-tiger going there for?” he muttered. The substance of thelr previous interview then flashed across his mind. *“Oan it be possible that the boy is there, and she is going to betray his identity to Big Buckskin?” Then came another thought. He had twice seen Little Bill tending bar, and had also seen him sev- #ral times on the hotel veranda, “By heaven! I believe I have made adiscoyer7!” he gaspel. “That oun is the son of Buck- skin and Agnes, and Sal Slap is going to give away the secret, curses be on her!”’ The thought made him fairly desperate, and he quickened his pace with a view of ee her, But wag had disappeared within the hotel ere he ed it. “Oh! but I'm not baffled yet!” he snarled, crouch- ing down behind a rock. ‘Ill waylay her when she comes back, and if she has given up the secret, I will murder her! To capture the boy then, will be but little trouble. Once he is in my power,I can bring Big Buckskin into a trap to suit mel” And a maliciously satisfactory chuckle escaped him, in anticipation of the impending victory. An hour passed. People went to and fro through the gulch, but ms of them came very near his place of conceal- ment, He saw Sir Royal several times, and -eckoned that he was searching for him, but he was determined Roe to leave his post at all hazards, until he saw Sal Slap. 5 Still the minutes continued to drag by, and Andre settled into a fit of quiet cursing over the ill-luck that vas attending his vigil. ntly, &@ mau near to where he was «rouching, and he saw that it was Big Buckskin, whose footsteps were directed toward the Bonanza. “Ah! but I have you, now!” the villain hissed, and drawing his revolver he fired! Not on ut six times, each shot being leveled at the back of the sport. Bang! bang! bang! Bang! bang! bang! oeeP and clear the echoes rung out through the grulc And what was the result? There came back a veunisNe sarcastic laugh, while Biz Buckskin walked leisurely on toward the hotel, . not oven deigning to look around to see who had at- tacked him, Jubal Andre gazed after him like one dum- founded, What spell of witchery was this? He was positive that every shot he had fired had hit the sport in the back, as the space between them was not sufficient to warrant a “ miss,” even by the poorest marksman, which the old villain was not, by any means, Yet the bullets had not,taken effect, for surely no buman being with six bullets in his back could walk away with as much sang _/roid as Big Buckskin did. “ Curses on him!” Andre hissed, ** He is certainly Jeagued with infernal power; or else he wears some prevecsare device that renders him bullet-proof. Never mind! I may getachance at him again. I'll try him above the shoulders, then, and see if he will vefuse lead there!” “Ye wull, hey?’ a voice exclaimed, close to his ear, Which caused him to start violently. ‘* Ye wull hey? Neow, my Christian friend, mebbe it would .be more appropriate and conderscendingly perlite not ter count yer chickens afore they're hatched, I’ve allus obsarved thet sech wisdom brought forth better results. My name is Gulliver, an’ I’m jest fresh arrived frum Liliput!”’ It was the nt, in truth, and he held a revolver aan size leveled at the mock parson’s CHAPTER XT. BAL SLAP’S DISCLOSURE—AND THE MIDNIGHT WEDDING, Sau Siap did not gain an immediate interview with Denver Doll on her arrival at the hotel, but was told to wait in the office until Doll came down from her room. While she was waiting Little Bill came into the office, attired for the street. ‘No lo a uncouth-looking urchin was William, but a tony, well-iressed lad. A quizzical expression came over his intelligent q face as he saw Sai Slap. _ “ Hello, Willie!” she said, softly. ‘“ You are look- in’ right nice to- ity " wl you den’t say so, Sally. For heaven's don’t get mashed on me! What are you doing here?” = aoe to get an interview with Denver Doll, my lad.’ Denver Doll’s Decoy. —— — ne ee “Humph! what do you want of her?” “It will make your eyes bung out, boy, when you learn.” “Phew! must be somethin’ exqueordin then?”’ “You bet itis! But don’t ax me no questions,” “*Durn it, don’t be so tight-lipped. Spill out, ef it’s anything worth knowin’. Goi’ ter “dopt me, an’ make me your heir?” ““ No!” “Some one want tomarry me?” “Not for years yet, you ten-year-old general!” “Bah! Come now, you're a sweet, purty duckling of a gal—ain’t ve goin’ ter pan out the secret?”’ * No, no! You run away for awhile, and when you come back you'll know all about it.’ “All right. But mind, don’t fool me, or Pll run over and clean out yer ranch!” . * You'll know!” Sal oh ose grimly. Satisfied that he would gain nothing by teasing | her, Willlam arranged his tie and sauntered out for an evening stroll. After he was gone, Sal took out a Testament and is to read, seeming deeply Interested. fter a long wait Denyer Doll came down-stalrs, She was greatly surprised to seo the hag, who had never bothered her since the Guzzler’s Glory was started, **Good-evening, Dolly!” Mrs. Slap greeted, closing her Testament. “Ihave called to see you on im- portant business. Can I see you privately?” “Tf necessary, yes. Come with me,” and she led the way to the room in the rear of the office, where a light was burning. “Now please be brief!’ Doll said, ‘‘for I have much business to attend to.”’ aa ree silent a moment, then she abruptly turned Jou: 5 “Dye think the Lord would forgive me, gal, ef I war to lead a better life?” she asked. Doll was surprised. Well, I don’t know as I can answer that ques- tion,’ she responded. ‘We all know that His is a merciful and forgiving spirit. Did He not give up His own life for us?”’ “So I’ve hearn tell. Well, anyhow, ’'ve made up my mind to bu’st up the ranch and lead a better life. Mebbe it won't be too late for me yet.” **T am glad of your resolution, and will pray that you stick to it.) “Thank ye! An’ now, as a starter toward doin’ good, I’ve a disclosure to make, Did Big Buckskin ever tell ye the story o’ his bein’ married?” a“ ” es, yes! “To Andre’s gal?” « Yes,”’ “Well, a child was born!” oh Yes.”’ “Does he know what became of it, gal?” tah He suspects that the Andres had it smug- gled off.” “So they did. I did the job, and was to kill it, but my heart kicked, and I put it in kindly hands. I even know where it is now!” Big Buckskin’s voice was heard in the office just en, Doll sprung to the door and called him In, When he was seated Doll said: **Mr. Wilton, I have something to surprise you. This lady, Mrs. Slap, knows where your lost son is!” ** \\ hat?” Buckskin cried, excitedly. “It’s so,”’ Sal averred. ‘* Your son is alive and well, and I saw him not balf an hour ago. ry be pr sed! Tell me, woman, where is he?” ‘He has been as under a mother’s care for some months," Sal returned, with a significant glance at Doll. “What! Is it possible you mean Little Bill?” thy Detective Queen cried. “The werry same. I’ve kept track o’ the kid ever since | war hired by Jubal Andre to kill him, wneu he war a baby.” Big Buckskin bowed his head in hiq hands and was silent for some minutes. When he looked up there vere tears i. his eyes. “This is the happiest hom I hare known for years,” he said. “I never dreamed Lihtle Bill was my son, but Iam none the less proud of him. And I have much to thank you both for, besides what pecuniary reward you can name.” ** No reward is necessary,’ Sai at once answered. “T'm oply glad to get rid 0’ the weight on my con- science. But let me give ~e'no little advice, free gratis, Don’t never let on to the ney who his mo- ther is, fer she is a reproach to the both of you.” “You aréright. It will be better for the boy to remain in ignorance of ths sort of a mother he has. I will now go and find him.*’ No! no!” Denver Do? demurred. “I have some- thing important to say to you both. Bill will be all right, and you had beat not explain anything to him until to-morrow morning.” She then spoke to her two auditors in low, rapid tones for several minutes, after which Sal Slap took her departure, Let us return to our friend Gulliver and his catch, J ubal Andre. The latter swore furiously when he saw that he was tra » - Whine the devil do you mean?” he savagely ques- tioned. “T mean that I’ve eotched ye ina purty leetle scrape, an’ ef ye Gon’t disgorge Pm goin’ to peg ye in the noddle.’ “Man, I have no Me “Git eout! #elers like you don’t go broke, an’ don't ye fergit it! Jest tumble out yer pockets, an yer jewelzy, ~0’ I'll let ye go free, ’ca’se I see’d Buckskiu d’un’* count ye wuth noticin’, Ef ye re- ee oe ee — A -——— ——— fuse I'll blow yer head off, sure’s I'm the feller what ten thousand putians couldn’t conquer.” Seeing nothing more sensible to do, the entrapped assassin grumblingly obeyed, and Gulliver prefited to the extent of some two hundred dollars, ** Now ye kin go,”’ he said, ‘* while I amble off and line my b’iler wi’ rust preventive.” Andre at once set out for his shanty, and en his way he saw Little Bill crossing the gulch. Crouching in a shadow, he waited (Ul the boy was within arm’s reach of him, when he leaped forward and dealt him a blow that knocked him senseless te the ground, With some cords he then bound his hands and feet, and carried him to the mouth of an abandoned Bilt, in the dark recesses of which he cast him caown. “Tll go and see what Rignold wants now,” he muttered. It was his determination to say nothing to Agnes about the boy, but return in the morning, before Caxneears and put an end to him, n his arrival at the menty Be found both Sir Royal and Agnes waiting for . The former ap- peared to be in a highly excited state, and was’ acing the floor rapidly. ee Where in the cy ER you been?” he demand- ed as Andre entered. “I have been waiting for you over an hour, and searching for you everywhere.” ‘Indeed! Why,I’ve been about town. What do you want?’ “Knough! This marriage must take place at once, if at all, and I must immediately afterward leave for England, where lam wanted within a lim- ited time as claimant to a fortune. A messenger named Backus has been sent after me, and he says if Ido not start at once all islost. He has proposed we have the ceremon rformed outside of town at nine o'clock, and that we then Immediately start upon our journey.” go idea. But it is nine o'clock nearly al- ready.”’ “Then get a priest and let’s get at once to work. We will take no baggage whatever to incumber us until we get to New York. Is there a minister or priest in the camp, do you know?” ¥, v2 One arrived yesterday and hung out his shingle.’ “Then go fetch him at once, and we will start for the picture rocks, where the ceremony is to take place. It will be moonlight, and romantic.” A sharp rap came upon the door. Sir Roys sprung forward and opened it and admitted vhe bum-looking Englishman. ie Weil, what's the matter?’’ Sir Royal inquired, sharply. “Figs up in ‘hat direction, so far as the weddly is concerned. See’d that feller Stark meanderin’ ty ward the picter rocks. Guess he smells a rat arranged a different lay-out.” “Why, I boughs off Sal Slap. She's sho. rp thy place fer the night. "Bout midnight -. re w com, one by one an’ rap at the cor, an’ Til admit yov, We'll hev the weddin’ then cn’ hosses cluss by, se we kin git a start at once.” “The she devil, Se! Slap, can’t be trusted at all," — Jubal Andre ave. red, ‘Yes, she can She said as how she had suthia’ private to tjl ye when ye come.” ** Hum sh.” was all the answer. * Tben it Is understood that ve will all meet at Sal Slap’¢ at midnight, prepared for the journey,” Sir Poyal said. ‘‘ Friend Andre, will you attend to the aatter of securing the services of a ministery” **T suppose so,” was the reply.. The n was not over pleased at the idea of hav- ing the wedding at the Guzzler’s Glory, for he could but believe that Sal Slap’s visit to the Bonanza Ho- tel had been to give up the secret of the where- abouts of Big Buckskin’s son. - When the Englishman had departed Andre left the shanty and engaged the newly-arrived elergyman, after which he directed his footsteps toward the mining-drift. “T’'ll do for the boy, at any rate, before I leave!” he gritted, drawing a knife and feell ne its keen edge. “‘T hardly think Buckskin would follow us to Eng- land; but even if he should, there are surer facilities there for putting a man out of the way than in this treacherous country.” He approached the mouth of the drift and peered in. As he did s0 a huge grizzly bear came lurabering toward him. That was enough! He turned and fled for dear life. He was sitisfied, beyond a doubt, that Little Bill was torn to pieces by the monster, long ere this, So he made his way to a saloon, and after pro- curing a drink of liquor, returned to his shanty te await the coming of the midnight hour, Midnight! et prevailedin Little Bill’s Bonanza. very place of business was closed u night, and only here and there throughout were lights seen burning. Few peopie were abroad, and the most of thess were making for their respective places of lodging. The bright radiance of the moon fel) down upos the town and reveeled objects with startling dis tinctness, e ‘the aerial figure of Burk Mur dock on the pole. About -past twelve the last of several muf fled figures, rapped at the door of the Guzzler\ Glory. and was admitted. Inside, the saloon was but dimly lighted, and 4 monotonous silence prevailed, for tht e camy GOmic JOO “S (E(@) =: