Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 287 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 Billy Blue-Eyes. oo . ——— narnia eR Fe ‘* Oh, you could go from sen of Mexico to the other and no outlaw woul you, good father. ‘* But [am a trader, and with me it is differ- ent,” said Terror Tom. The priest then said: ‘* Dismount, my son, and kneel by my ani- mal, that I may wupon you my blessing, and it may shield you from barm upon your way.” Py Durn yer blessin’!”’ muttered Terror Tom to himself; but he did as directed, and kneeling by the side of the jackass, bended his head rev- erently, for be felt that he dared not anger the good Jag ‘‘ Now, my son, take my blessing and—if you move an inch you are a d man, Senor Ter- ror Tom!” The last words were spoken sternly, and the Texan felt the muzzle of a revolver suddenly thrust against his forehead. In spite of the threatening mandate, he did move his head enough to allow his eyes to dis- cover that the supposed priest was a wolf in sheep’s wool, for he saw beneath his long robe the dress of a Mexican caballero, Terror Tom fult that be was caught, but said calmly, while he itched to get his band upon his revolver: ‘* Well, you is a lamb with claws, bain’t yer?’ He spoke now in English, and the man re- turned in the same language, and which he spoke with slight accent: ‘‘T am one that can use my claws, too; so up with your hands above your head, Terror Tom, if you value your life,” ‘Who is yer?” ‘*One of El Bravo’s men.” ‘*So I thoughted; but how did yer recog me?” ‘‘] was on the road when you went to Pinto’s Ranch this morning, and knew you at a glance, for I have seen you often, Senor Tom, and yqn gave me a shot once that kept me laid up for months, ‘‘ But I forgive you, now that I have you a ‘prisoner, and when I take you to the chief he’ll promote me, I know.” , ‘* You oughter be permoted with a rope, yer durned Diego cut-throat!” growled Tom. ‘*Oh, I don’t mind your cursing me, Senor Terror Tom, for I hold the trumps now. ‘* But cofhe, My horse and two comrades are waiting a mile up the road for us, and [am anxious to get you there, for you are a tricky devil, Senor Terror Tom.” ‘* Yas, I were born thet way, an’ it’s likely 1’ die tricky,” was the apparently-humble remark, and still Terror Tom dared not move, for the revolver-muzzle was shoved hard against his wens “Come, no nonsense; so up with your hands above your head!” sternly said his Mexican captor, ‘* What fer?” - Oh, I have a pair of irons to slip upon “Waal, you hes got me sure, hain’t yer?” ‘‘T have, and there is no escape for you; and the boys will have a time when you are “a ’ ; as, I guesses they'll enjoy it.” “They will, indeed. But obey me, and up witb your hands!” n, pard Greaser, ef yer says so.” And up went the hands, the right one clutch- ing the revolver-muzzle and knocking it from its deadly position, while the left suddenly a weapon that, like a flasb, was turned upon the pretended priest. ~ ** Demonio Gringo !’* cried the Mexican, so cleverly caught, his face livid with rage. Yas, you kin swear now, in spite o’ yer pious clothin’, yer cussed Greaser. ‘* But it are my time ter give yer my blessin’, an’ yer’ll git it sharp an’ piercin’ right out o’ this weapin ef yer don’t dance ter ther tune I is goin’ ter play.” ‘* Ah, senor, it was but a joke, for I am not one of El Bravo’s men but an honest ranchero, who—” _“You is a rantin’ liar, an’ I says it, s0 now jist let go yer holt on yer weepin’, or my shoot- ’ iron goes off an’ yer is dead meat.” The hold of the Mexican was quickly loosen- ed, and then Terror Tom very coolly began to **go through him,” by first taking off his belt of arms, so securely hidden beneath his priestly robe, and searching him most thoroughly, transferring all he found to his own pockets. ‘* J isn’t done with ver yet, Pard Greaser, fer Ill perceed ter put these irons on you whick * Aterm of hatred applied by Mexicans to Amer- Pp ay dome - yer hed intended fer me, an’ then [ll borry yer clothes fer a spell. ‘‘Come, we'll jist step inter them mesquites thar an’ make a change o’ raiment.” ‘With a celerfty that was remarkable Terror Tom then put the handcuffs upon his prisoner, tied his feet securely, and gagging him, bound him to a tree, having already stripped from him his sacred garb. : ‘“ Now, Greaser, I is goin’ ter do a leetle biz on my own hook, an’ you is ter help me,” said Terror Tom in a manner that showed he had some desperate plot on hand. CHAPTER XVII. A WOLF IN LAMB’S WOOL. ‘“‘Parp Greaser, yer will perceed ter be rigged out as Terror Tom now,” remarked the Texan when he had stripped the Mexican of his priestly garb, The prisoner was powerless to resist, and being gagged, could utter no word of remon- strance, while Terror Tom coolly took off his well worn attire and put it on the Mexican. The dress of the other he then rigged himself ony in, putting on over all the priestly robe and at. ‘It are now putty near dark, so we mout as well start, Pard Greaser,” said Terror Tom, and forcing the Mexican to mount his horse, he bound him securely to him, and then placed the reins in his manacled hands, ‘‘ Now, Padre Tom will ride ther jack,” said the Texan, as he threw himself astride the homely beast, while he continued: ‘* Doesn’t I look ther padre now, Greaser? ‘Oh, yer can’t talk with halfa lariat jammed inter yer lyin’ mouth; but yer kin hear, an’ I wants yer ter listen. ‘‘[ are a padre, does yer hear? ‘Waal, you is Terror Tom whol, ther padre, hes jist tuk in, an’ we rides right up ther road ter whar yer left yer pards, fer I wishes ter make the’r ’quaintance. “Te’ll be too dark fer ’em ter see which is t’other, as we rides up; but they’ll be lookin’ fer yer, an’ when yer is near ’em, I jist wants yer ter shout what I tells yer. ¥, Ef yer doesn’t, yer’ll git a knife atween yer r ** Now come on, Greaser, an’ fearin’ mout git alarmed an’ skip off, I'll jist eend o ther lariat.” So saying, Terror Tom urged his awkward brute into a walk, and with the horse and pris- oner alongside, he started up the trail. ‘‘Now don’t deceive me, Greaser, fer yer know I hain’t one ter stand triflin’. ** Whar is yer pards?” As Tom asked the question he leaned for- ward and took the horse-hair lasso acting as a gag from the mouth of the Mexican. t first the man could not speak; but after a moment he said: ‘“‘In yonder mesquite grove,” and he pointed ahead to a clump of trees not far away. ‘*Oho! waal, now I'll ride closer, an’ ef yer valys thet carkiss o’ yours, jist do as I tell yer.” ey rode on together for a couple of hun- dred yards, and Terror Tom held ready for use a knife in his hand of which the Mexican seemed to stand in holy terror. ‘* What is ther handle o’ yer pards?” ‘Pedro and Fuente,” was the low reply. “Is you sure?” ss I am.” : ‘Waal, be sartin, fer a mistake in a name might cost your friends oneasiness about you.” Nearer they drew to the trees, and as it was still light enough to see at some little distance, Terror Tom kept his head bent down, and his hoe drawn over his eyes, to hide his bearded ace er horse old ther ‘*‘ Now, Greaser, sing out asI tells yer. Does yer hear me talk?’ said Terror Tom, in a low, stern tone, ‘* Si, senor,” was the bumble response. ** Then shout: ***Pedro! Fuente! I has him safe!’” The Mexican hesitated, but he saw an 6min- ous movement of Terror Tom’s right hand, and out he cried, though his voice trembled: ‘* Ho, Pedro! Fuente! I have got him!” A joyous shout came back from the timber in response, and the next instant out stepped two forms, coming. to meet their comrade, as they believed, the captor of their fearful foe Terror Tom. . ‘You worked it weil, Benevide,” cried one. ‘Yes, you’ve got him sure, camarada,” said the other, as the two drew near, and the jackass and horse came to a halt. ‘*Yer is both shriekin’ liars, to the tune 0’ Yankee Noodle!” . The strange voice and words fell like a thun- derelap upon the two men, who started back, as they were sudd: nly confronted with revolvers, for Terror Tom, held a weapon in each hand, and the muzzles covered the hearts of the two bandits. They then saw, even in that uncertain light, the bearded face of Terror Tom, beneath the rts hat, and recognized that their comrade ad beep beaten at his own game, while he cried 46t in startled tones: . Camaradas, the Gringo demon has defeated ’ Hardly were his words uttered, when one of the ‘bandits thrust forward a weapon to fire; but ere he could take aim, a flash and sharp re- port came, and he fell dead in his tracks, The other bandit however managed to fire his pistol; but the startled jack just then trrew up his ungainly head, and caught the bullet in his brain. With a groan almost buman the jack fell to the ground, while his rider drew bead upon his foe, and he too went to earth. “T hev half a mind tu shoot you, too, en’ complete ther work—an’ I will—no I won’t, fer V’d spile my own clothin’,” and Terror Tom lowered the weapon be had half-aimed at his prisoner, while he continued: ** And you is ironed too, an’I don’t shoot a man as can’t scratch fer hisself, ; ‘‘But come, I wants yer out o’ my duds, so ondress durned lively.” He pulled the Mexican from the saddle as he spoke, and quickly bad him disrobed of his suit, while he gave him back his own. ‘*T guesses I might need there gerloots’ attire, so I’N) jist borry it.” It took him but a moment to secure tbe cloth- ing of the two men he had slain, and still keep- ing on the priestly garb, he led out from the thicket the three horses of the bandits and mounting his prisoner upon one, sprung upon the back of his own animal, and started up the trail. j ‘‘These heur animiles will lead all right, Pard Greaser, an’ [ still looks ther padre, so ef we meets any one, jist keep yer mouth shet an’ don’t hinder my music, ef I goes ter play a léetle game, or yer’ll die ’ithout bein’ able ter toot a pra’ar. ** Does yer hear, Mex?” , The Mexican grumbled forth a surly reply, and then Terror Tom set forth upon his return to the Devil’s Ranch, leaving the twg foes he had killed unburied where they had fallen. CHAPTER XVIII. THE PRISONERS FATE. It was midnight before Terror Tom and his prisoner arrived at the Devil’s neb, Ever cautious, and thou h he believed all was as he had left it, Terror Tom yet approached warily. Coming up out of the water-wash, he sudden! drew rein, for, though the wing of the old bacienda where he had left Billy Blue-Eyes, was in full view, he yet saw no glimmer of light. hat could it mean? Had the boy gone to sleep and let the fire go out? : Such were the questions that he asked bimself. To be on the safe side, he rode to a tree that stood near the bank of the river and securely fastened the borse of the prisoner to it, at the same time making the legs of the Mexican fast beneath the animal. ‘‘T doesn’t onderstan’ jist how matters is, Greaser, so 1 leaves you beur ter ponder a bit, while I takes a squint by myself,” he said as he brought his rifle round ready for use and moved noiselessly toward the bacienda. ‘‘T thinks no man w’u’d come heur, fer they is more feerd o’ ghosts an’ speerits in these heur rts, than they is o’ livin’ folkses. ‘But then thar must be some gerloot thet didn’t get skeert ’ithout he seen suthin’ ter skeer at, an’ I’ll jist see fer myse’f.” , So saying, he reached the side of the ruin and crept along step by step, bis rifle ready to greet any foe. At last he came to the door opening into the wing where he had left Blue-Eyed Billy. The door was ajar, and all was silent. ““T doesn’t balf cw ee I = thet feelin’ thet no human are about,” he said. For a moment he stood there, and then called out in a low tone: sé Beely ? No answer come, and again he called. ‘““T say, Beely, is yer thar?” -_ Still no answer. ‘‘He mout hev hed visiters, an’ I hain’t ther man ter intrude upen ’em ‘ithout a inwite, so OOO) Gomlke ‘Ss > com f