Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 286 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 # Crack?” fer revolver sounded and he heard the bullet whistle past bis ear, but, luckily, it was no worse. Another moment and he had seized her wrist, fercing her hand, revolver and all, high above her head. ** Drop that revolver or yeou’!] fare bard, and be mighty quick about it,” almost hissed the tenderfoot. ‘It’s death for sure ef them men ketch me—drop the revolver, I say!” It was a critical moment, for the rioters, guided by the shot, were close at hand, their torches revealing their persons with startling distinctmess; but a vigorous wrench disarmed the girl and the revolver dropped from her band, Jesbua caught it, pushed her aside and resumed his flight at full speed. He had ne doubt of his ability to escape, but he knew not what to think about Nora Barr and the megro. Had Amana spoken truly when she said that misfortune had overtaken them? He felt an uncomfortable conviction that it was «e, and, wheeling, he left the open land and lunged into the bushes. Three or four shots ollowed his retreat, and proved that the miners were fully in earnest. The fugitive did not pause, but ran on as fast ree pat e, his face toward the higher moun- balns, He was still going when he beard his name pronounced in tones so clear as to leave no doubt about it, and he hesitated and fixed his gaze upon the point from which came the sound. “Don’t shoot!” said a rough voice; ‘I'ma friend ter your crowd from the word go, an’ kyer Tam.” With the las’) words the speaker emerged from a ickes, and Joshua at once recognized Roaring Ben Bundy. He remembered that the man had spoken for Noraat Magoffin’s, but he was still cautious. “[ reckin ther blood-drinkers are off ther trail fur awhile,” continued Bundy, “an’ ef you will hold up a bit I hev a word fur yer vate ear.” “What is it?’ Joshua tersely asked. “Ther gal is in ther hands o’ ther Philistines an’ ther darky is shooted.” ** How do you know?” ‘*T see’d it, but I couldn’t do no Ther ether it was that did ther mischief. Durn ker milk-an’-water cast o’ phiz, she is a scratch- in’ cat jest like old Thayer.” “Yeou seem tew know them wal.” “Oh, yer can’t tell me much about old hoss- fiy an’ bis colt. I’ve see’d ’em afore ter-night, Wal, asI was a-sayin’, t’other gal—what’s her name?" **Nora Barr.” “Yas, Wal, old Thayer has got her in pus- son, an’ he first shooted ther darky an’ then rolled him inter ther kenyon over yonder. So T heerd "Mandy say.” “Then the feller is gone up, sure.” ** Yas, but ther galain’t. She still lives, but thar is no knewin’ bow long she will chew air ef tat has his way. y, is she Lightnin’ " “* Ne; not a bit on’t.” “T thocght so. Wal, seehyar. I’ve see’d you an’ yer way o’ fightin’, an’ I must say I like it. I'm a tough old rooster myself, with nary chick nor chile, an’I do lovearow, Tell ye what— ef you want a pard fur ther fight, byar I be, an’ I’m fit ter tie to. What do you say?” The bluff manner of the man impressed Joshua faverably, and he fell into line. The two clasped hands and the bargain was made. ‘“* New, see yer,” said Bundy, “ we ain’t got a minute ter lose. Let’s around these skunks, git back ter town an’ see what we kin do fur ther gal.” ‘** Where will they take her?” “Tord, I dunno; but what I’m afeerd on is that they will hang ber. They ain’t delicate- minded at all, an’ down at Ruby, Gothic an’ Irwin they are jest pantin’ ter eend ter career o’ Lightnin’ Kate. Now, it is ther leetle game o’ ther oppersition ter make et out that this gal is Kate, an’ it only needs a_leetle fuel on ther fire 5 give her over ter Jedge Lynch. You sarvyv ‘“* Yes, bat, by gosh! 111 kill the hull on ’em afore they shall harm her. Come on, Ben, an’ we'll fight like burly ef need be.” The new partners left the spot, made a detour by which they avoided the men who were searching for them, and in this way re-entered the town. Only balf of the people had the fugitives, so there was sti imation in the village. ne in pursuit of considerable an- Torches had appeared a Seen nsssenssssstse - i ——— es — a ee | J osh, the Boy Tenderfoot. eee in large numbers from somewhere, and the center of the illumination was near the house of Jared Thayer. They went that way, and, hovering around the outskirts of the crowd be- fore the door, saw Thayer himself on the steps delivering a speech. His first words, uttered after their arrival, were very suggestive, ‘*My own advice, fellow-citizens, is that we at once put an end toher villainy, Why should we hesitate? As one of you has said, the people of Gothic want her for their own vengeance, but so de the people of Ruby and Irwin, of Pittsburg and Spider Bar. They can’t all bave her, and I’m afraid that if we hesitate, she will in some way slip through our fingers.” “ Buzzard Bar don’t want ter hang a woman,” stoutly said a veteran miner. “Nor we ain’t sure this is Lightnin’ Kate,” added another. ‘““Our young, friend, David French, will swear te the last part,” said Thayer, in his oily way. At this point Josbua touched Bundy on the arm. ‘* While they quarrel, we must act,” the Boy Tenderfoot decidedly said. ‘‘ Foller me!” They went around the crowd, taking advan- tage of the darkness, and approached the rear of the house. They were not certain Nora was there, but the chances were in favor of the theory. *T’'m goin’ in at the winder,” said Joshua, quietly. ‘* Yeou give me a boost an’ then wait fur the result,” Bundy raised him carefully and he shoved u the window easily. Within was an untenant- ed room, though it was partially lighted by the gleam from the open door which led to the next apartment, Joshua was aware that he was venturing into the lion’s den with a vengeance, Jared Thayer knew all about his treachery by that time, and if he once fell into his bands he would fare badly; but the blood of the youth was fully aroused, aad in that crisis he forgot that he was a ‘‘ tenderfoot.” Through the window he went, and then, with cautious steps, he crept to the open door be- yond. What he saw did not astonish him. The room had two occupants. In a chair sat Nora Barr, ber face paler than ever he had seen it before, but her manner brave and calm; and at the outside door, leaning against its side. the junior partner of the house of Thayer & Foster was listening to the speech of his senior. The outer door being open guve Joshua a view of Thayer and the mob, and it also showed him that he would have hard work to get Nora away unseen. Her hands and feet were bound, and, in order to reach her, he must surely be seen by Foster. “T must silence him!” thought the young man. Foster, as ho leaned against the doorway, seemed to have no fear of trouble, but he held in his hand a revolver which hung. socal’ at his side, Hoe and that weapon must be silenced. Nora saw the tenderfoot and a smile actually crossed her face, but he had his fingers across his lips and began creeping toward the burly Foster. Few boys of seventeen would have cared to attack such a man, but Joshua had already foone that victory is not always to the physical n Nearer and nearer the young tenderfoot crept, while F ster still looked and listened, uncon- scious of the peril bebind him. It was fortunate for Nora Barr that he did not then glance to- ward her. The discussion outside was still unfinished, and Foster was deeply interested in the success of his villainous partner—a most fortunate cir- cumstance for Nora and her champion, The tenderfoot reached Foster’s side, and, stooping a little, wrenched the revolver from his grasp, at the same time knocking his feet from under him and bringing him to the floor. Fate sometimes plays queer tricks, and, just then, when Joshua had done what seemed sure to result in an alarm, fate willed it that Foster, in falling, should strike his head against the eine the doorway and dash out his senses for e time, His assailant had his hand quickly on his throat, but one glance was enough to show him that be was not then dangerous, Springing away from him, Joshua quickly cut Nora’s Fung: and then pointed to the door through which he had entered. **'Not 1 word now!” he cautiously said. Nora nodded and hastened into the rear room. One glance was enough to show Joshua that — —————— . —— ee eee - ee ~ ——— ame a e Ben Bundy was still at bis post, and it was the work of only a brief space of time to lower Nora to bis arms. Joshua quickly followed. ** Let’s pile out o’ hyar on ther jump,” Bundy somewhat excitedly said. ‘‘Our enly safety is in ther mountains, We kin all hide thar. Come on! They started, but only a few rods had been covered when a series of angry yells arose from near the house. CHAPTER XIII. FLIGHT AND PURSUIT. To all appearances Jared Thayer and _ his tools had their scheme for lynching Nora Barr well in hand. They bad made the miners believe that she was “ Lightning Kate,” the road agent, swindler and murderer, and all knew that person deserved rough treatment, but there were men in the town who were as bonest anc worthy as any living man, and they seon came to the surface. When once Nora was caught anil caged, the “i ede was begun, and where Thayer believed he could carry all before him he found a tremendous opposition. There were men there who did not regard Nora’s identity as Lightning Kate proven, and men who did not believe in lynching anyway, and there were a good many who would not see their young town disgra by any such act as the hanging of a woman, guilty or innocent. If this girl was the female road-agent, let her be carried to Denver and delivered te the proper authorities. All these law-abiding citizens came te the surface when Thayer tried to run the town, and while Foster guarded (f) the prisoner, the senior ore poured out his eloquence te effect his object. Anon he chanced to look around, and then he was amazed to see Foster lying motionless in the doorway. He sprung back a pace and looked for Nora, for he could not ascribe Foster’s condition to any ordinary cause, The girl was gone! Then the discomfited plotter wheeled upon the crowd, announced the fact and threw out all the injurious bints be could think of, where- upon arose a cry started by his friends, Dave French and Sile Barker were stil! there, and they it was who shouted so vigorously for Thayer. In the midst of it all Foster suddenly arose to his feet, ‘‘Where is he?—where is that imp of Satan?’ he somewhat wildly demanded. ‘* Whom do you mean?” Thayer asked. ‘* Ther infernal tenderfoot.” ‘* Josh Pepper?” ‘Yes, yes, It wos he that did it. He knocked me over and ran away with the girl, Where is French? Gods! we must be up and doing or the game is lost,” A terrible bow! arose from Dave when. be learned that ‘‘ Brindle Josh” was the cause of the new mishap. He had hated him most cor- cealy before, but this added fresh fuel to the re. It was not bard to surmise the direction in which the fugitives would go, and in a short time Dave and Sile had a dozen men at their back and were off on the trail like a pack of bloodhounds, Away to the northwest of Buzzard Bar was the country any fugitive would naturally seek, and it was about as rough one as conld be foun:! in the Gunnison. A series of ridges ran up and down the side of the mountain, and there was found about every feature of nature common to mountain lands, The timber was principally pine, some of the ridges being heavily wooded: but there were other vo where rocks held high carnival. and. cliffs were numerous and caves no great novelty. It was toward this country that Josh Pepper had headed when he succeeded in getting Nora Barr started on their flight. The yells of Thayer's tools aroused them to every possible exertion, and Ben Bundy caught Nora’s arm, and they swept on across the open field before mentioned as fast as possible. Bundy Jooked back frequently. ‘‘ Ther durned critters are a-comin’,” he finally announced, ; ‘‘Let ’em come,” said Joshua, defiantly, for his blood was fully up. ‘‘ We are well armed, a if we don’t make them sick you can call me a liar. ““T am afraid, kind friends, that yon will get into trouble in trying to help me,” said Nora. "49 gravely. Eomicbooks anh (C O) re