Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 285 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

—_—»> The red-skin was tall and straight as an ar- row, and was rather handsome, his face and eyes giving expression of more than ordinary Indian intelligence, Of his companions, one was an elderly man and the other a young lady. The former was apparently fifty years of age, and was a chubby little smooth-faced, gray- haired man of decidedly clerical aspect, The young woman looked to be about four- and-twenty years of age, and was exceedingly pretty, both in face and form. Hers was a brunette complexion, with deep, liquid black eyes, hair to match, and teeth of the pearliest type, which gleamed from between a tempting pair of lips. Both she and the gentleman were plainly but vichly attired, and evidently occupied a higher station in life than those they had come so visit. At Burk Murdock’s request they became seated, The outlaw then turned to Red Eagle. ‘Well, Injun, who are these people?” he de- manded. ‘The White Chief received the message?” ** Yes.” “This is the pale-face,” and the red-skin indi- cated the clerical party. To him Murdock then turned. “‘ Well, sir, what can I do for you?” he asked. “* My friend made known to me your desire to see me, but did not state your errand.” ‘‘ Likely, because I gave him no authority to do so,” the clerical bart declared. ‘I am the Reverend Jubal Andre, of Boise—not a regular practitioner of ministry, but an exhorter and revivalist,” ' “Yes, you look it!” the captain said, with a smirk. ‘‘Reckon ye won’t make much of a headway convertin’ this gang.” ‘‘Tcame not for such a purpose. ’Tis truly said that every person must sin occasionally, as a case of necessity, and I believe it. There are times in the life of every man when itis a vir- tue to protect himself, and that is why I am here. You are what are known as the Murdock Brothers?” “Exactly.” ‘‘T have frequently heard it srid that you were none too scrupulous how you made your money as long as you made it?” ‘““The repert does us proud,” Burk Murdock assured, ‘* When we see the swag ready, we ain’t afeard to work nor ain’t choosers 0’ the sort o’ job.” ‘Very well; [have a case which T am dis- posed to place in your charge. And there is good money to back it. Let me relate it, and you will then see that Iam not sinning, even though a divine, in protecting myself. Eleven years ago, when but a child of fifteen, my daughter Agnes, here, was enticed into mar- riage with a worthless, roving vagabond, named Joseph Wilton. I was aed at the time, but the marriage was rendered legal, from the fact that my wife, since deceased, gave her sanction, ‘* As soon as | learned of the matter IL caused a@ separation, by having Wilton arrested and sentenced to eight years for manslaughter, in an eastern prison, although it cost me much to pro- cure his conviction. His time expired three ears ago, and I have learned that he is back in the West again. Being 4 desperate character, my life is in, jeopardy, and itis but a humane Doe you know, that I should look out for myself, ~* ‘Then, again, there are other reasons why I should have him disposed of. Shorvly after the separation my ehild fell heir to an immense landed estate in Texas, which has since so great- ly improved in value that it is advisable to sell it. This she cannot do until Wilton joins in giving a deed. Nor is this all. ‘‘ A distant titled relative of mine, Sir Royal Rignold, desires my daughter’s hand in mar- riage, and a match has been arranged. Of course this marriage cannot be consummated until Wilton is put out of the way.” ‘Well, d’ye want his throat cut?’ Captain Burk demanded. | ; ‘We are not particular what happens to him, as long as he never turns up, nor any evidences ofa former marriage. There you have it ina nutshell.” “Dunno!” the outlaw muttered. ‘‘ Hev to think "bout this’ere matter. Might not pay. Your gal got a certificate?” ‘*No! but Wilton has. Hoe used to carry it in a left inside pocket of bis vest. That destroyed, but one evidence of the marriage remains.” “What is it?” ‘A child, some ten years of age now, which resulted from the union, This was taken away, and, as we supposed, died in a foundling bos- ° r= Denver Doll’s Decoy. | pital; but recently we received a letter from a woman to whom we had intrusted it, that the child was alive and well, and traveling witha detective through the West.” ‘*Humph! d’ye suppose ['m going to search all over the West for one kid!” Murdock de- manded. “® You’re mistakenif youdo. Whbar’s the other feller?’ ‘* He is somewhere’s in this part of Idaho. He does not go under his own name now, but is known as Big Buckskin!” Murdock uttered an exclamation! ‘*Pve heard of the fellow!” he said. “‘ He’s a hard customer to undertake to corral. What's your best figures for the job?” The clerical rascal scratched his head a mo- ment, and then answered: * Well, since there is a prospect that you can do the work within a reasonably short length of ‘time, Pll give you and your men each «ne dol- lar a day until the job is finished, within one month!’ Not only did the captain burst out into a roar of laughter, but his men also joined in chorus. ‘* Your liberality is something terrible to con- template!’ Murdock declared. ‘ But, notwitb- standing its magnitude, it does not appeal to our greed for gold. We gentlemen of leisure never enter into a speculation unless we foresee a rea- sonable profit.” ‘But, surely, that is a reasonable sum. Look at the men that have no employment what- ever.” ‘*Can’t help that. Pious pilgrims kin afford to be poor. e rascals bev got to save up cash with which to purchase fire protectors for the hereafter. Savy? The least that we can tackle your job for is a thousand dollars, spot cash!” Jubal Andre put up his hands in horror. ‘Impossible! I have not so much in the world!” he gasped. ‘You lie!” Murdock replied.- **T happen to be acquainted up in Boise, and you’re worth ten thousand in stock of the Clipper mine alone. So don’t add falsehood to your other reverend sins,” Andre did not answer for a moment, but ex changed glances with his daughter, as if ques- tioning her what he should say. “The fact of thé case is,” the captain went on, ‘tI ain’s very particular about undertakin’ the job, anyhow. My opinion o’ you is, that you’re a reg’lar old shyster what couldn’t be trusted out o’ sight. U’ve got kind of an achin’ in my left lung that I could make more money by actin’ square, fer onc’t, an’ sidin’ in wi’ the pa ecg tryin’ to knock under—Big Buck- skin! The parson looked decidedly nervous at this. **Oh! no! no! Se are very wrong. I am a man of honor and standard reputation. I don’t want you to think [am stingy, and so Pll give you a thousand now, and when you finish the job, and give me the certificate, together with proof that Joe Wilton is forever silenced, Ill give you another thousand. It is understood, however, that if you can find the boy, you'll go" for him also!” “All right. We'll callit a bargain, Dll lay for Big Buckskin at once. Whack over your ducats.” ' From an inner pocket, the reverend scoundrel extracted a rather lean wallet, and produced from it several bills, which he carefully counted over, and then handed to the desperacdo leader. “There is a thousand dollars. It is a big sum, but I will not begrudge it, nor as much more, if vou perform your part of the compact iN oS ag “You can depend on my fixing the matter to your satisfaction as soon as IT can run the cuss down,” Burk Murdock growled, as he ungra- ciously shoved the money down into his pocket. “‘We’ve a grudge to wipe out on him ourselves—so we may’s well combine bizness with pleasure, Any peculiar mark on the kid?” _ “Yes. Upon’ his right arm, above the elbow, is a birth mark which af the time we last saw him, almost accurately resembled an ow!!” “So it’s a boy, eh? What's the name?” * William,” ‘*PDoes Big Buckskin know of the existence of such a boy?” ‘* Possibly, though I am not certain.” “Well, yon can go now. Reckon I can get along with what information vou’ve given me. When I have anything particular to report, I will call upon you.” The dismissal was peremptory, and accord- ingly the Andres and Red Hhagle took their de- rture. When they were gone, Murdock ordered G. Washington Gum to advance from his conceal- ment bebind the curtain. , 3 eel ee oe He did not obey, and a hasty examination was made, when it was found that the worthy and imperishable book-agent had effected his escape, through a rear door, which, by some mistake, had been Jeft unlocked, CHAPTER Il. BILL'S BONANZA AND THE WHITE HATRED GUEST. OVER a range of shurpaud rigged monntains, beyond the dismal place where the brothers Murdock kept their rendezvous, was ‘another guich, fully as rough and wild os its neighbor, but not timbered to any particular degree, ex- cept with scattering shrubs and serub pines, A little stream of water cut a serpentine course through the gulch, and made the scene look a little less dreary than if would otherwise have been, as did also a stage trail, that wes probably not used constantly, ay grass grew in the road, Nevertheless, the trail ran direct south to Boise City from a cluster of mining towns a hundred miles north, dud had a bi-weckly stage each way. At the point where we wish to fasten the at- tention, the gulch was not quite half a mile wide, including the raise or mountain foot- slope, but the scenery was surpassingly grand, the hoary peaks rising to the right and left with colossal dignity, aud bearing very little foliage or forest except now and then a scatter ing patch, The bottom of the gulch was of a sandy for- mation, yet strewn’ with a plentitude of huge bowlders, Near the bank of the stream stood a service- yi shanty, built partly of slabs and partly of ogs, t had no particularly noticeable characteris- tic; it was one just like hundreds which could be found through the far West. — Over the door a creaking, rudely 1 sign was suspended, which bore the some t nove inscription: ns Owe * LITTLE BILL'S BONANZA, “ We. Beroen, Proprieron.” If meant for a hotel, it was certainly set down in rather - odd place, for Bill’s Bonanza only had a pay ation of two ns, and they were little Bethel and his fearless patron and partner, Denver Doll, the Detective Queen. Roaming through the Northwest, the pecu- liarly-matched pair had halted for a night’s rest, where the shanty now stood; and, while the dashing young detective was engaged in roasting some venison, Little Bill had picked up a pod. gh a age w Telboeing acently wa em from a ne ng wider. Before. throwing it, however, the glitter of the firelight upon it had attracted his attention and subsequent ‘examination proved that he held in his hand a nugget of gold about the size of a hen’s egg: © f a tut thy ‘Hurrah, Dollbaby! | bonanza, sure’s a turkey Jays : 2 Look hyar, woll'yeP" Ain't that'a beduty?” From that oe very Spee alec there was gold in the gulch, and Dol av@' Little a Bill a that it would be sppi name the new strike Little Bill’s nae was prowptly done, and the first habifation was erected, ; Fearful that their rich claim would attract unwelcome crowds to the place, the partners used the precaution of working the placers only when they were sanguine of not being dis- covers’ , which was generally in the earlier part of each day. ; Their shanty, however, attracted not a Tittlc attention from the stagers who , and once the stage had halted at the solicitation of a speculator, who desired to know what the two were doing in that unproduetive : Reedy always, Denver Doll turned sus- picion by ser ae a number of bear and other fur bearing s, which were tacked up against the pany to cure. “Bars aire thicker nor fleas on a dog!” she observed. ‘Catch one nigh every night.” : ‘““Humpb! didn’t know — but i d struck pe was the gruff reply, after which the stage ro on. Subsequently the stage dashed through Litt'e Bill’s Bonanza, without deigning to vel X- cept when Denver Doll occasionally boarded ir, Up to the time we reintroduce them to the reader, Doll and Little Bill had occupied their elaim two months, and had made a formal pur- chase of one hundred acres of the gulch bottom from the Government, in order to protect them- selves from invasion, Sooner or later it would —_— _- hee te / comicbooks