Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 285 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

ee a Ce ee ‘* He bad the royal arms pricked in his arm in two colored inks, when a boy. It may not have worn away, if he still be living.” ‘Likely not. Throngh the agency of certain facts that have come into my possession, I be- lieve I can not only soon find the lost beir, but prove the usurper a rogue andarascal. Give me sole charge of the case, and 1 will cipher it out, ‘‘ Well, if you think you can do it, go ahead— Um willing, Sir Clifford back again in his rightful position, | can afford to pay you well for your work.” ‘*T am not so particular about the pay. — It is more for the purpose of righting a great wrong that I crave the job, than for any other reason, [assure you, You spoke once about Jubal An- dre. Has he any connection with the case?” ‘* Not directly. He was once the bailiff of old Sir Hugh—years ago. He, however, stole ten thousand pounds in gold from Sir Hy 2h, and fled to this country, where he is living still, accord- ing to all accounts.” ‘Yes; he is even here in the gulch, I have learned, in company with his daughter and Sir Royal Rignold,” ‘How know you this?” ‘‘ No matter; I have learned so.” ‘Then you may be sure there is some deviltry brewing,” ‘‘ I believe it is the intention of Sir Royal to wed Andre’s daughter.” ‘That must never be! No Andre shall ever queen it at Castle Chelton while I can prevent ; : ! see too much of old Sir Hugh to allow vot |” ‘Sir Royal cannot legally wed again,” Den- ver Doll said quietly. ‘* He has one wife living already, as I can prove. But leave it to me; Pll make a grand denouement, ere long, that will surprise several persons at least,” She then turned away, and Old Prowler watched her curiously until she had disappeared within the office, ‘““A queer girl, but mighty sbrewd!” he said to himself; ‘‘ and | shall not be surprised if she works the case better than I could do it myself. \Yould to Heaven Sir Clifford could meet and win this queenly American girl, to take back as his bride to Castle Chelton!” Jubal Andre, although he had, while in Boise City, endeavored to cloak bis sins under the mantle of pretension of being a minister of the (sospel, was at heart an arrant rascal of the first water, with a power for scheming rarely if ever surpassed, After the termination of his interview with his daughter, he set out into the gulch once more, his brain in a whirl over the many thoughts that were flitting across his mind. In truth, he was not a little worried over the fact that matters were getting rather unpleasantly personal, Big Buckskin was in the’camp! So was Sir Royal Rignold, who was quick to form suspicions when foul play was laid in prep- aration for him. Should the sport and the Englishman meet, Jubal Audre felt positive that some word would tall from the lips of the former that would knock in the head all of bis (Andre’s) plans for ‘making his daughter the Lady of Chelton Cas- tle. {t therefore was most important that there should be no delay in the removal of the sport, before he could do any further harm. “If I can only find some of the Murdock zang Pll soon learn what is the cause of all this trouble, and why they don’t eara the money.” As luck would have it, he soon after found Ked Eagle skulking about the outskirts of the town as if be was afraid of being seen, ‘“What are you doing bere? You act as if you were half scared out of your wits!” Andre said, confronting him. “ Eagle great brave—no git scared!” was the red-skin’s haughty reply. ‘‘ Red Eagle wait for enemy—kill him!” A sudden thought entered the plotter’s mind. ‘** Who is this enemy, chief?’ he asked. ‘* Bad pale-fac’. Kill many of Red Eagle’s people. Call um Big Buckskin.” ‘‘Humph! | wonder what strange fatalit put that into my mind?’ Jubal Andre mutt “Something seemed to tell me that he was waiting for Joe Wilton.” Then, aloud, be said: “ _ consider Big Buckskin your enemy, then _**Ugh! yes. Red Eagle hate Big Buckskin. Kill him when git chance.” ** Look out he don’t kill you. Murdocks?”” Where are the Denver Doll’ s Decoy. ee eee ** Dunno!” | ‘Take care! none of your lying, you rascal! | 1 want to see the captain, at once»on important _ business.” | ‘Give Red Eagle dollar, den he show!” was the wily answer, ‘*You red devil! you’re playing for money, too, are you? Well, here is the dollar. Now tell me where I can find Burk Murdock.” Red Eagle waited until be bad the dollar first | before ood tua desired information. ‘* Captain live over there,” he then announced, pointing to a newly-finished log cabin, a dozen rods away. Jubal Andre directed his footsteps toward the cabin, leaving Red Eayle to keep bis vigil, in hopes of getting a chance for revenge upon Big Buckskin. When he arrived at the cabin, Andre recalled the signal the red-skin had employed at the time of their visit to the retreat in the moun- tains, and used it in his rap upon the door. ‘* Who's thar? Come in!” the captain’s rough voice called out, and Andre obeyed. Inside, the cabin was rough and unplastered, and furnished only with some stools and an un- planed board table. Jack Murdock was lying upon the floor near the fire-place, rolled up in a sleeping off the effects of a drunk. Burk was seated by the table, with a bottle of liquor and glasses conveniently at hand. $4 Hello!” he growled, as his employer entered. ‘““ What vhe devil brings you bere?” ‘* Business!” Andre responded, decisively, as he took a seat. ‘** Nothing but business could tempt me to seek your society.” *““Humph! you're cussed complimentary, ain’t you? What d’ye want?” *“T want to know what I am to understand by your silence and inactivity?’ ‘‘ You mean about Big Buckskin?” ‘*Certainly. He is here, and all you have to do is work.” “Yas, Lreckonso. But, you see, we’ve about concluded that the job’s too risky to tackle.” ** What?” ‘We can’t tech it. some one else.” “Then, sir, hand me back my thousand dol- lars!” ‘*Ha! ha! ain't you green? When smell of that again, you'll have cause right merrily.’ “ You ruffian, if you do not fulfill your prom- ise, or restore my money, I'll hand you over to the law.” “Bah! you would hardly do that, wheu such an action would do you fully as much injury ds myself. The only thing that will prompt us to go on with the jobis an additional two thousand in hand now. Give me this, and I swear that Big Buckskin shall not live to see another sun- set! ‘Tl see you to the furthest corner of the earth first!” ‘Well, just as ye like. We're a thousand dollars in, at the least, and if you squeal on us you'll only get yourself into hot water.” ‘* We shall see! we shall see!” Andre snarled, as he arose and took his departure. ‘‘If I mis- take not, you’!l wish you had done differently.” You'll have to bunt up ou get a whistle Big Buckskin was waited upon by a number of the leading men of Bill’s Bonanza, and impor- tuned to accept the captaincy of the ‘new Vigi- lance Committee which it was determined should be organized at once. ‘ After some hesitation, he consented to act in that capacity, and was given the privilege of choosing his own men. This was no easy thing, as he full well real- ized that he must study each man well, if he would make his party strong and trustworthy. During the day, while sauntering across the gulch, he suddenly encountered the giant, old Gulliver, who was sitting upon a rock, evidently in deep meditation. ‘* Hello!” Buckskin cried. ruminating about, Guiliver?” ‘*T war jest thinkin’ about the ups an’ downs o’ this hyar flickerin’ candle o’ life. Fer in- stance, last night I got up on my ear, and turned about an’ went down on my back, quicker’n a cat can spit. Queer world! The gian fa atte babies,now-a-days, an’ the babies aire ants! rien. there is some truth in that. It ain’t always the biggest horse that pulls the most. By the way, Gulliver, 1 am quietly organizing a Vigilance Committee, for the purpose of ca - ing the road-agents. I want men whom I can implicitly rely on, anid who are not afraid to / “What are you i ns 2 ee ee ~ lanket, evidently | er — aaa 2 ee eee fight, if necessary. I have already secured sev- eral, and I judge you're another recruit I need?” The bullwbacker looked astonished, ‘*See hyar!” he grumbled, *‘ 1 kin stand a good deal of chaffin’, but I can’t stand everything.” ‘‘ But I mean what Isay. You ain’t so bada pilgrim as you look, an’ t know thar is lote o’ ood in you if you st let it be coaxed out. What do you say’ Will you join us, and swear fidelity to our cause?’ Gulliver took off his hat and scratched bis matted head. ‘Waal, durned ef I know what tew do, You give me a swipe across my mouth, and then blacked my eye—an’ now ye want me ter jine ye in aracket, when Iorter jump onter ye an’ tread on ye! Dunno but ye give me what I de- served, however. Hadn't no bizness to go rub- bin’ around an ’artbquake, Reckon Ill jine y , providin’ ef 1 git licked by ary other galoot, you'll take my part.” ‘* It’s a bargain,” said Buckskin. ‘‘ Now, an- derstand that you are to pretend to be my ene- my all the time, and if you are besought to join a gang of outlaws, sail in and join, and report to me where they are located. We’ll thin in and capture ’en).” ‘An’ I’m to appear like | war mad at ye, hey?” * Ves.” “ But thar’s to be none ©’ yer shoulder-bit- tin’!” ‘Of course not. Well leave that entirely out of the matter. I’m yours to command.” ‘*Wull, then, ye can count me in, [Pm as squar’ +s a king, an’ ye kin depend on me.” ‘I knew it, pard, and I trust you.” Big Buckskin then gave him a few instructions and returned to the heart of the camp, feeling that he had achieved a victory in securing the giant on his side. On his arrival at the Bonanza, Little Bill was behind the bar, and engaged in arranging the bottles and dusting thivgs off in general. _ ‘* Well, young man, how are you this morn- ing?” Buckskin asked, as he approached. ‘ First-rate,” Billy replied, stiffly, not e048 ting his foresworn vengeance on the man w would not give him a chance to ** blow off,” and as he spoke he pointed to a placard upon the wall which bore the significant reminder, *‘ No Trust.” gave vent to a prolonged Big Buckskin whistle. ( ‘“‘ Well, dash your impudence,” he said. ‘‘ Who asked you for trust?’ **Humph! you did! Fellers as wanta tick allus tries to play upsofton me, But, ‘twon’t work, Can’t no more shet my eye up than ye kin Varn a hen the mulierplication o’ compo! fractions. “Scuse me, ef ye’ve got any cash.” ‘Presumably I have enough to see me through,” Buckskin replied. “‘I wished to in- quire if there are any letters here for me?” * Dunno. Who aire you!’ 7 “Big Buckskin.” ‘No letters here for you, then.” 7 ‘*T also have another name—Joseph Wilton.” ‘Then, here’s a letter fer ye. Gal jest left it awhile ‘ago,” ey And he handed the sport a delicate letter, iltton” directed na dotigate style ot chironraih elicate style of c graphy. . Big Buckskin did not have to aska ae tion of the person who left it, for be readily r.- cognized the handwriting. re : * From P bined Rast Grop, sugar-an’-molasses gal, eh?” Little Bill remark **Know what it is to be in luy wi’ one o’ th aire. Used to have my eye sot ona prety. - jun squaw, but I couldn’t raise enough hosses ter buy her?’ hr Buc made no answer, but sat down on a settee, lit a cigar, and peer ice Mate open the epistle and glanced at its conten “ it read. as follows: é “Mr. Josepa Witton, Srm:—Our sudden meetin last evening was as much of 4 rise was to you, and I ean assure you I am sorry for it, for your presumption in addres: me I cousider an unpardonable offense. I aim lcth to believe that you are oe inagur oe di CL an g to you. , in eo will’ soon, be dissolved by divorce, and then I shall be at liberty to marry n, j “T trust you will be gentleman enough to remain: silent, as Tcan never care for you, and ehould be ained were:[ ever compelled to to one so far Beneath me in social standing. wy’ ‘*] write this in order that no interview may ever be necessary, and hoping we will remain strangers, as ever. AGNES ANDRE!” A faint smile curved the lips of the backs * it sport as he tore the letter into shreds. bit +> spoke not. , tantalizingly. to me as it” I -ever be |. dish indiscretion in marry-_ : - | AME eveye) <S com . “ " “9 rs i"