Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 295 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

& et wee ——————s ad -o = * . tO Ore -0+-- - -0-—- we re re ee id CHAPTER IV. THE KING OF QUARTZVILLE, Tuer Gold Brick saloon stood alone, at a con- siderable distance trom any other house, on the outskirts of the town of Quartzville, It was in a queer place for a saloon, but it attracted a peculiar kind of custom, and no small amount of it, as it was one of the favorite resorts of Pete Bolger, otherwise known as mt guaaeaia Pete, and styled the King of Quartz- ville, He was well entitled to that unofficial dignity, as he bad now ruled Quartzville with an iron hand for more than a year, and as no man in that rapid and thriving “ city ” was more fear- ed and consequently more respected, He had come to Quartzville with quite a * crowd ” of his own,and bad started a gambling house and established three drinking saloons, one of which was the Gold Brick. These enterprises of themsely-s gave him a large following, and he had increased it by selecting as his associates and aids the most vici- ous and desperate characters in that by Sy all of whom looked up to him as their " ” and rendered him implicit obedience. Thus it was that the town of Quartz- ville came under the rule of the roughs. They might not have been as numerous as the orderly and law-abiding people; bat they were more self-asserting, and they knew how to make peaceable peop? afraid of them, As for the King of Quartzville, it may be said that he looked the part well. He had but little of the appearance or manner of a rough Tall and of Jarge frame, with a fine form and com- mandin re, he was always well-dressed and carfied himself with a stateliness that well became him, and was calculated to impose upon a stranger. Yet under this fine exterior there was a lurk- ing devil in his heart, concealed as his weapons usually were, but ready to spring forth at any moment and do deadly harm, It seemed to bea rather exclusive company py ted aap wee at oe Gold Brick at noon on that day—in fact, a select party. They were nine in number, rads Sta Arkan- saw Pete, and not counting Dan Gilligan, the barkeeper, and they were seated around a table at the far end of the room, consuming a sub- stantial luncheon. Their nine horses were feed- ing under a shed back of the shanty. : n Gilligan, when he was not occupied in serving the party with liquid refreshipenta, was looking out of the dirty window, taking note of the ip nt by. ee PY na his trtiaide’ could talk as they pleased, without fear of listeners, * This is a good ae Sed ox phere hye. of them; ‘“‘ but I'd a heap ruther be ’tendin’ to business and ’arnin’ a litile money. I allowed _ we'd be on the war-path afore now.” ‘* Don't be in too much of a hurry, Jack,” re+ plied the leader. ‘‘ There is a chance that the may prove a tougher one than I am calcula- ng on. I didn't expect to hear anything be- fore this time; but now [ am looking for news.” ? comes somebody.” said Dan Gilligan, 4 and he’s makin’ for the Gold Brick, licketty ' t. : Phe galloping of a horse could be heard by those inside, and a man rode up to the emanty, _ dismounted, hitched his horse, aad entered the room. “Give me a stiff horn of the toughest p’ison zmve got!” he shouted, bringing his big fist wn on the counter with a thump. He tossed down the fiery liquid at a gulp, ugh it nearly strangled hin 6 ef I don’t feel as ef I’d swallered a red-hot poker,” he said. ‘ Kin you tell me, young man, whar I'll find Pete Bolger?” _ Arkansaw Pete had already stepped forward with some of his party, and he held out his hand as he recognized the speaker, ‘““Why, Sam Spurl! | am ever so glad to see you. I was expecting a messenger from your way, but never thought you would send gr Is all rigbt, old hoss? Have you got r U ‘Got nothin’,” replied the guide, ‘‘ They’ve me. ** What do you mean by that?” ““T’ve left train—resigned my posish.” “Why did you resign?” *‘ Jest because I was kicked out o’ camp,” “Kicked out? You?” ‘‘ Wal, I was ordered to leave, with a few rifi-s and revolvers to back the order, and, as they had the drop on me, dead, I thought I had betrer slide off.” ; ‘But why was that? How did it happen?’ “Jost all along o’ your durned foolishness, ——— ee ee eee ——————————————————————————— tl TT a ; Fearless Phil. It seems that you run across some young chap somew har, give away your game to him, and hired him to help you kerry it out, So the young chap and his pardner struck the train Par arter we’d gone inter camp and blowed the bull business, and that settled the case of Sam Spurl. He told me to go to you, and to tell you that the next time you hirea rascal you ort to be keerful not to strike the wrong man.” ‘What did he look like—that young chap?” i Spurl. gave a good description of Bert Arkansaw Pete ripped out some savage oaths before he calmed down, “IT did put my foot in it then,” he said: * but I was sure that the young fellow was all right and on the make. To think that such a young: ster should fool this hard old head! But I will make him pay for this, and he will wish he bad never meddled with me.” “Tve got a hefty account to settle with that crowd, too,” said Spurl, “'specially with the chap who swindled you, and one other young- ster t are you gwine to do now, Pete?” ‘*T don’t mean to cry over spilt milk. I told the boys that this might turn out to be a tougher job than I had calculated on. There is only one thing for it now, and that is to play the Injun game. We must light t out, too, as there is no time to lose. Will you go with us, Sam, or are you out?” ‘Nothin’ tires me, as you know; but my hoss is played.” ‘Leave him here and take Dan's,” ‘‘Whar’s the Injun rig?” ‘Right here, plenty of it. We will each take a disguise, and will put them on when we need them, Take another drink, Sam, and you shall tell me the whole story as we ride.” CHAPTER V. PETE BOLGER’S BLOW. “7 RECKON we’ve done right,” said John Hackett, as his treacherous guide rode away from the traincamp, ‘In fact, I don’t feel a doubt of it.” ‘‘There is not the least doubt of it,” replied Bert Otis. ‘‘Let us sit down, and I will give you all the iculars as far as I know them.” They sat down and Otis gave a full account of his meeting with Pete Bolger, the plot dis- closed to him by the King of Quartzville, and the part that he was to take in carrying it out. le, and I believe ‘*That’s at eae as a shi every word you tell me,” sai John Hackett. ‘‘ But I haven't got hold of your names yet, my friends.” Bert Otis introduced himself and his com- nion. Pe Otis,” mused Hackett. ‘That is a familiar name tome. I knew an Otis right well once. His name was Ben Otis.” “ Did he live at Wellsville, Ohio?” es. “That was my father,” said Bert. ‘He married Sarah Emmons.” ‘That was my mother.” “Give me your hand, my boy! I knew there must be something that made me take ro roe and trust youso. Your father was one of the and truest men I ever knew, ani your mother was a sort of a relation of mine. Here, Mabel! Come here! This is an old friend of mine, or the son of an old friend,” Mabel was right at hand. She bad been wait- ing close by, near enough to catch a little of what was said, and she stepped briskly forward, smiling and blushing. She was made acquainted with the young men, and as Bert Otis gazed into her bright face his blushes were quite as visible as her own. ‘‘T want to thank you both for your t kindness in coming to us,” she said, “I have kept my eyes and ears open, and learned much of what was going on, and what I did net find out for myself Phil told me. But what can that man have wanted of me, and do you sup- pose there is any more danger?” Bert did not try to answer her first question, though he could easily guess what Pete Bolger might want of her, and he hesitated over her second question. ‘‘T am afraid that we are not out of the woois yet,” he replied, ‘That scoundrel may not give up the game because I have gone back on im, and there is no doubt that be is a desperate and dangerous man. I hardly know what is best to be done now.” ‘Tt is my notion,” remarked the leader, “that we ougbt to get back into the regular trail, and I suppose we can strike it by taking a southerly course.” “ But that trail leads to Quartzville, Mr. Hack- ? ; me na ee _—_——_—_—_———_——_-_ ————— OOS Oe one ad ett, and the question is whether it will be safe to go through that town or near it. Arkansaw Pete is known as the King of yaa and you can have no idea what his influence amounts to. “He does as he pleases there, and nobody dares to call him to account, It seems to me that we had better keep to the north and try to pass around his dominions.” ‘ Why doyou say we?” asked Hackett. “‘ You almost make me think that you mean to go on with us.” ‘Of course we do, sir—both of us do. Nothing short of death shall prevent me from seeing this train safe to its destination.” Bert spoke so earnestly and decidedly that John Hackett looked at him in surprise, but a closer observer would have noticed that the young man was gazing at Mabel Vintrey, who answered his gaze with a blush. ‘That would be more than we would have a right to look for, and your friend may object,” said Hackett. ‘Not I,” replied David Darke. ‘‘I back Bert Otis to any extent, and I think he is quite right when he advises you to go around Quartzville. If you should aim for the trail you would go to- ward Arkansaw Pete, and he might bave vou just where he wants you. The only ques- tion is whether you can find your way around.” Phil Henning then spoke up. He had a pretty Seed oe wehe knowledge of the country, and be- jeved that be could at least pilot the party without getting them lost. It was settled that Phil should act as guide, with the advice and assistance of Darke and Otis, and early the next morning the train again started on its slow journey toward the west, scouts riding abead and atthe south to look out for danger | | na It was plain enough sailing for the prairie schooners over the rolling plain; but nobody pretended to say what they wonld Bo when they reached the hills that loomed up in the distance, where they were not likely to any sort of a w oad. r othing unusual was noticed until late in the afternoon, when David Darke, who had been scouting at the south, rode up and reported that be had seen @ man peering over the edge of & rise in that direction. He had ridden up the rise to get a better view, but the man bad dis- ap having probably taken refuge in a belt of timber beyond. “ He looked like an Indian,” said Darke. “Tt is more likely to have been Bam Spuri,” remarked Phil. ‘You may bet your last dol- that be is not going to leave us alone. If it is Sam, there are more bebind him, and they mean business.” It was agreed that the best thing to be done would be to halt the train right there, and make the best preparations to fight off any foes that might be lur about. The cattle were driven down to the branch, and the horses were concealed in the timber at a distance from the camp, which was located on high and open ground. n anople supply of water was brought in, me nds at work to fortify the po- on. The camp was made as small as possible, the wagons, & of their covers, being drawp up on two sides, and all available articles bein used for a barricade. At each end the tur was torn up, and a trench was dug, on the outer edge of which the earth was piled. After supper the camp-fire was ee and two sentries were stationed outside, with orders to run in at once if an attack should be made, It was the opinion of all that, whether gen- uine Indians or white men in disguise were lurking about, they would adopt the Indian method and attack under cover of the night. The night was favorable for such a purpos There was no moon, and clouds were pa across the sky, at times eg oe ay entirely. Bert Otis’s dog Rip proved be the best sentry. When the night was at its darkest, and when the men outside were unable to see any sign of life or motion on the rolling plain, Rip’s deer grow! was beard, and then his heavy, warning bark. Otis, who was outside, called to the o:ber sentry to go in. “The dog knows what he is about,” said be, Biber y¢ ‘may bet thet he don’t bark for nothing.” . The others were instantly aroused, and the six men (of course counting Phil Henning a¢ a ae took the stations that had been to Anxiously they waited, but it seemed to (hein ‘Gomicbooks “€O 7 oo . 4 ' He ot a