Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 286 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 but fast on the heels of that theory came two new ideas—might not the hotel be burnt by that fire; or, worse still, perhaps the Tiger gang bad intentionally fired the building! The latter idea startled him. He turned io see Pistol Pete snvuffine the air. ** Pete,” he cried, **tiere is smoke in tho air. 1 believe they have set the bouse on fire.” _ A bitter exclamation fell from the man’s lips. * “They're the dogs todo anything, but it woald be simply fiendish,” he said. * “Thar is sart’nly smoke in ther air,” said “Bundy, “Ay, and this hotel is on fire!” said Pete, leaping to his feet, *“‘The cowardly hounds have taken this way of getting at us. Jed Thayer thinks all bis enemies will die in one holocaust.” “By gosh, we won't!” said Joshua, with equal vigor. “My dad always told me [ was good fur a bundred, like my ancestors, an’—” The remainder of the tenderfoot’s reminis- eence was lost tothe world as a brighter light suddenly illuminated the room, and the flames burst out at one side of the wall The last doubt was removed, and the little party knew they had to fight another foe than ‘the Tigers: Pistol Pete rushed to the window and threw it open. The mon of the Bar were collected all around, but contrary to his tations, no shot greeted him, and it looked as though the bi of a was open. n Bundy had gone half-way down the stairs, far enough to see that the lower room was all in flames, and being met by the red be ie Sao and a cloud of smoke, he came hurriedly ““Té’s ther winder or nowhar,” he said. . “* How shall we go?’ asked Pistol Pete, look. ing at Nora. ‘‘ We haven’t a rope.” ‘You an’ me will go first an’ then ketch her,” said Ben, interpreting the look. ‘By gosh! we had better be startin’ right away,” added Josbua, asthe smoke pwured up -the stairway in renewed profusion. Pistol Pete seized a chair and dashed out the window, sash and all. The way of retreat was open. ‘Go first,” said Bundy, ‘‘an’’ keep your shooters ready, Ill foller right arter.” Pete did not demur. He knew that if the crowd below was in a violent mood, the first to go would stand a chance of dying immediately after, and be was a man who never hesitated to take risks. He had bis faults, but he was a brave man. Seizing the sill of the window he swung him- self out, hung for a moment, and then dropped to the ground, . He alighted with a revolver in each hand, but no one stirred to molest him. Ben Bundy quickly followed. By that time, however, the progress of the fire was alarming. A few minutes more and Magoffin’s hotel would be lying flat. Woe be to any person who might remain inside, Suddenly a shout arose from the crowd, The Boy Tenderfoot had appeared at the window holding Nora in his arms, but close beside them the red flames were lapping the woodwork. ‘“* Drop her!” yelled Pistol Pete; and the crowd took up the cry and thundered it out with thrill- ing force, Joshua did not hesitate, In the red glare his face looked pale, but the mouth bore an expres- sion of great firmness. He released his hold, and Nora dropped to- ward the uplifted arms of Pete and Bundy. At that moment, however, a loud, shrill whis- tle arose from the crowd, a rifle cracked, and Joshua reeled back and disappeared in the smoke and flames. Almost at the same moment, too, the nearest of the crowd sprung like tigers upon Bundy and his ally, and in a moment more Nora was torn from their grasp, and both men were beaten to the ground. CHAPTER XVIII. PLAYING THE TRUMP CARDS. THE cowardly attack upon the two men ‘was the prologue for a general fizht. There were men in that crowd—Dave French and the Tiger employees—who had sworn to fight for Thayer and Foster to the last, and there were those just as ready to use their weapons in defense of Nora rr. All drew together, and then the stout men unged into a melee which may as well go un- ibed here, Revolvers and knives were freely used, wild angry cries arose from the Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot’ a es combatants, and in the midst of it all the roof of the house fell with a crash and smoke and cin- ders arose plentifully. Magofiin’s hotel was a thing of the past. There was little fighting atter that. The men drew back, each one began to look to his bruises and wounds, and it was five minutes be- fore any one thought of systematic action. W hen such a course was taken it was found that all of Thayer's adherents had slipped away from the spot. All? No; for Foster and one other man lay dead on the ground. Not far from them, Pistol Pete and Ben Bundy seemed in the same condition, but a little attention brought both back to life. The former had a severe cut on the bead, but Bumdy was merely bruised. His first eall was for Nora Barr. Where was she? No one had seen her sines the fight began, and it was pretty clear that she had been carried away by Thayer’s men. ‘But Briudle Josh an’ ther darky?’ eried Roaring Ben. Ay, what of them? The Boy Tenderfoot had reeled back from the assaasin’s shot, probably fatally wounded, inte that fiery pit where Nemo still was, and since them no one had sean tlem. ‘* My God!” said Bundy, *‘ they are burnt in ther flames!” It was a natural conclusion, but in thus think- the miner was mistaken. t us follow the fortunes of ‘‘ Brindle Josh.” When he reeled back from the cowardly shot from the crowd, he was not by any means badly injured. The shot had been poorly sped; it struck the side of the window instead of the in boy; but asplinter of wood was dashed violently in his face and he instinctively jum back, Another moment and the fight an in the crow, and Joshand Nemo besitated, but, see- ing Dave French and some of the Tigers making off with Nora, both of ber friends lea from the see building, and, as soon as they could get clear of the crowd, started in pursuit. The abductors, however, had disappeared. Greatly excited, Joshua and Nemo went on, looking eagerly to the rigbt and left, and while thus engaged they came upon a single man. One glance showed Joshua that he wasa stran- ger, but Nemo uttered a shout of surprise and Oo v. ‘**Bress de Lord!” he said, ‘it am my ole massa—if am Massa Ps And then the new-comer gra the negro’s band, and the faithful fellow fell on his knees. ‘* Praises be to de Lord!” continued Nemo, ‘I is so glad to see you, sab. I t’ought you was dead, fo’ sure. ‘*T have been, but I am resvurrected,” was the reply. ‘* Nemo, where is Ben Bund.” ‘Dead, sah. He was shot at de house.” ** Dead!” echoed the man, in a voice of horror. Joshua was looking on in wonder. He re- alized that this old, white-haired man was the father of Nora Barr, but more he could not understand. Suddenly, Barr aroused. “Come with me, Nemo—and you, sir, if money can hire you. My daughter is in the hands of Jared Thayer and her life depends on her prompt rescue,” ‘*Money can’t hire me!” said Joshua, with emphasis, ‘‘ but I'm in the battle jest the same. Lead the way an’ [ll foller.” Barr turned toward the wood. Excited words passed between them all, and some mysteries were explained which must be told the reader a little later. In the shadow of the wood, Randolph Barr showed the ‘‘ Tigers” to his friends. ayer bad halted his force there to wait for morning, when he intended to make a bold push for his former powerful position. He believed Joshua, Nemo, Pistol Pete and Bundy dead, and with their end would cease the existence of his worst enemies. The Boy Tenderfoot, however, was alive and thoroughly on the alert. Leaving his compan- ions, he went on a scout, He found Nora tied to a tree, with the ‘‘ Tigers” all about, but they depended on her bonds and the watch was poor- ly kept. "5 te resolved to attempt toonce more wrest the girl from under Thayer’s very nose. Todo th whe must run great risk, but he was not one to hesitate. He boldly entered the camp of his enemies. The darkness and underbrush were in his favor, and without trouble he reached Nora’s side. He cut her bonds and the first step was taken, but would she succeed in getting out of the camp as well as he had got in? ; Anxions moments were those in the lives of both, but the last of the ab!uctors was at last A SI ag RR EER LT OT i * =" ra ET OTIS —— eee een and Nora was clasped in the arsis of her ather. That interview can better be imagined tham described, but the voice of Randelph Barr was unsteady as he turned to Joshua and said: ‘‘How much we owe you, young sir, 1 do net yet fully know, but enough bas been told te make me say, from the bottom of my beart, you have saved the life of one dearer to me than ail the world besides.” Before Josbua could answer, Nemo came from the edge of the woed to say that a body of men were approaching from the direction ef Buzzird Bar. They met them, and found the party led by Ben Bundy, and all wild to get at the *‘ Tigers,” and our friends pointed out the location of the camp and went asice. We need not describe what followed, There was anether fight, aud wher .6 was ended Jared Thayer and Dave French were done with live. A few words more and we are at the end. Randolph Barr and Paul Wilbur did not die by the bands of tbe as#assins at Barrel Canyon. They survived both the bullets and the fall, thanks w the pine tree-tops upon which they fell, and thongh Barr was desperately burt, the young prospector nursed him baek to life ima mountain cave, ; Before he was able to travel, Wilbur, dis- ising himself as Roaring Ben Buudy, went to e Bar. One night be entered Thayer’s house, to secure the forged deed of the aR, made ont for Thayer & Foster by the rascally lawyer; but Joshua innocently baffled his attempt. He was at first bitter against the boy, bet when he came ontso nobly for Nora, became one of his best friends. No one except Baer knew that he was other than Ben Bundy until after the whole affair was settled. Mr, Barr himself, worried by Wilbur's long absence, bad come to the town while still weak from bis injuries, and bad fallen in with Joshna and Nemo. as we have just related. A brighter day dawned on Buzzard Bar, The ‘‘Tigers” were gone, and Thayer and Daye , Freneh would do no more miscbief. Only Jack Magoftin bewailed, and be fix brighter when Mr. Barr promised to build him another hoteL ~ Sile Barker was found among the mountains, lying where Joshua had pushed bim over the ledge, and before ke died he confessed that it was Dave French and himself, hired by Thayer, who so narrowly missed killing Barr and Wa- bur at Barrel Chasm. Peace fell upon the Bar. The true owner of the “ Tiger” started the mine afresh, with Paul Wilbur for superintend- ent and Joshua as an important feature. Al our friends knew that their happiness was chiefly owing to the “ Boy Tenderfoot,” and Mr. rr declared that all his power should be used to pay the debt. Pistol Pete abandoned some bad habits he had and went into the mine also. Amanda Thayer fled from the Bur, and re- turned no mere. There is a ramor that Nora is te become the wite of Paul Wilbur; but whether er not that is so, we have traced toa bappy peint the fortunes of the ‘‘ Boy Tenderfoot.” THE END. ee a ee DIME DIALOGUES AND SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS AND HOME ENTERTAINMENTS. Dialogues, Nos. 1 to 30 inclusive, 15 te % popu: lar dialogues and dramas in each beek. th vol- ume 100 es 12mo. Speakers, Nos. 1 to %4 inclusive, Each speakee 100 pages 12mo, containing from 50 te % pieces. YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERIES Dime Book of Winter Sports, Dime Book of Summer Athletic Speits Dime Gents’ Letter Writer. Dime Book of Etiquette. Dime Book of Verses. Dime Book of Dreams. Dime Fortune Teller Dime Ladies’ Letter Writer. Dime Lovers’ Casket. Dime Ball-Room Com ion. Dime Book of 100 Games. Dime Chess Instructor. | Dime Book of Beauty, {@ The above books are sold by newsdealers everywhere, or will be sent, post-paid, to any ad- BEapus ee ree Of Pace ae ae 6a SS) Gomicboo (e(0) _—_ - @ 1 — ee .