Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 296 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

ae . Fe < od es. a LS I — ; io . > * = oF - _ al ~~ hed - ‘ : “ oa “ « -f ‘ ‘ * ~~ 4 , 4 -~ ! ~ he - ee ee ive °° . -~ ~ - ~ -* % s ~ ~~ —— ~> / wee ee , ae <= SS 5 se Fo 2 - -_.. i * . 2 * ‘ ea uae s ' Te eT teett “aan be Cees ’ A 7 be , pe and game in the outer gulch was plen- | i ~ - st a eee ——_— The mouth of the ravine, where it opene? into the ak: was kept constantly guarded by two of band, so that a surprise was out of the question. The largest of the lodges was built on a raised Jatform of logs, with awnings around it, mak- ing it a pleasant place to sit on a’sunny day, The evening being damp, however, Denver Doll was inside ber commodious lodge, seated by a rude table, when her lieutenant, George, made his appearance. ‘‘Excuse me, captain, but there are two par- ties halted in the ravine, who seek entrance to the pocket, I await your orders.” “Who are they, lieutenant?” *““One of them is the dashing sport, Arizona Alf. The other is a woman.” ‘*Well and good. Bring them bere.” Fifteen minutes later Arizona and Miss Chris- tie entered the road-agent queen’s lodge. “Excuse me, lady,” the sport said; ‘this is Miss Christie, a friend of mine. I found her laboring under the persecutions inflicted by a tyrannical father, and ventured, on the strength of our acquaintance, to bring her here for a few days’ protection.” “You were quite right, Arizona. Whenever m need, you Send you are welcome to my camp. ss Christie, | am glad to have you come. It won’t seem quite so lonely to have another woman in camp. Mr. Arizona, here, is one of my best friends and any of his ac- quaintances are welcome to my hospitality, I’m sure. ; “Any of my friends, you mean,” Arizona laughed. ‘Some of my acquaintances might not be worthy of a welcome here, I will leave Miss Christie in your care now, and drop around again to-morrow night perhaps. A word in private, if you please, fair captain,” and he led the way to the log veranda, where Denver Doll followed hiin. Christie’s eyes were afire in an instant, and her cheeks burning with jealousy, she stole to the door, pone aside the curtain slightly, and watched them, as they stood conversing in sub- dued tones. What they said she could not hear, but when Arizona Alf turned to depart, he raised his hat gracefully to the fair road-queen—which Chris- tie remembered, with a jealous pang, he had not done fo her. Perhaps he had forgotten it, buat he had not forgotten to be extra polite to the girl outlaw. | ‘“‘T don’t believe I love him, after all,” she mused angrily, ‘‘and [ don’t believe I shall sta: here at all. I don’t like this Denver Doll— don’t like her. She is too bewitching. Two thousand dollars? That’s more money than papa ever gave me at once, and more than that mean, snob Snap would give me. No, indeed! I won’t forget Mr. La Force’s offer.” Denver Doll soon re-entered the lodge, and endeavored to entertain ber guest, but found it a difficult job, as Miss Christie was both cynical and contrary, and inclined to hold herself aloof; so, after several vain attempts, Doll showed her to another compartment of the lodge, and bade her good-night, “Tf she is Arizona's choice,” she mused, ‘ I'll bet there’ll be hair-pulling after the honey- moon. She is a snake-in-the-grass, or ’m mis- taken. But, however that may be, it’s none of my business!” And with this conclusion, she lay down for the night. CHAPTER XI. ARIZONA’S ENTRANCE AND EXIT. ARIZONA ALF went back to Freshet Flats, and to his room, at the hotel, where he passed ~ the remainder of the night in slumber. Early in the morning, however, he heard loud cries outside, and looking out of the window saw a large crowd collected in front of the tavern, all of whom appeared much excited. ‘*T wonder what’s the wrinkle?’ he muttered, hastily dressing himself. ‘*‘Can Denver Doll have been paying another visit?” As soon as dressed, he looked to his revolvers, and left the room; but as he stepped into the hall, be was suddenly pounced oe by a couple of powerful men, and tripped to the floor, where he was bound, hand and foot, in spite of his struggles, He was then drag down the stairs, and out upon the veranda, in front of the hotel, where be was planted upon his feet. Then, for the first, he saw the lifeless form of Apollo Snap, which had beev tourd and laid _ wpon the veranda.” | | | 7 ? : . ; S : aN x Phe a se i ake aces es Fe oe Ay gers Ss AS ask eee bi: i RA Ce. ‘abs wr * 4 ' * Denver Doll’ SOOe 2 Oe eee The paper was still pinned upon his breast, end as his eyes fell upon it, Arizona Alf under- stood why he was arrested, and his face flushed with indignation. “D’ye see that?’ Jean La Force cried, ap- proaching him, and leering evilly into his face. ‘Ye see that, don’t ye? Yer cussed neck’s goin’ to pay fer that job, or I hain’t got no say about the matter.” ‘Tl understand the paper intimates that I committed that murder!” Arizona cried, ‘*‘ but I swear I did not do the job, nor do I know who did. Some enemy has evidently taken this method of getting revenged upon me.” : ‘‘Perhaps J did’ it!” the gambler sneered, savagely. ‘‘T shouldn’t wonder!” was the fearless re- tort. ‘You are none too good to commit any crime,” ‘Well, you'll find out.’ Weren’t in camp, last night, I suppose. Nevertheless, you got back time enough to committ his crime, I know where you went, also, Did you find the fair Denver Doll well?” Arizona’s lips compressed, and a steely glitter entered his eyes, but he did not answer. ‘‘Gents!? La Force went on, ‘‘ there is no need of having any trial in this case, as it is as plain as the nose on your face that this feller is guilty of the murder, aside from the damning note o’ braggadocio he left upon the corpse. If believe ye all. know, full well, that Arizona an’ Snap were declared enemies! I have instituted careful inquiries, an’ can’t find as Snap had an enemy in the world, aside from this chap. What evidence d’ye want more conclusive, that he murdered the harmless young Englisher? Then, thar’s another p’int; Last night, he eloped wi’ Blob’s gal, an’ tuk her to the stronghold of Denver Doll. I overheard the plot, myself. Likely Snap interfered, an’ thus got stuck!” A murmur of approval ran through the crowd. It was evident that they fully be- lieved in the gale of Joaquin’s Avenger. Arizona Alf spoke not; indeed, be did not see any use of speaking. His face was a trifle pale, and bis features were set hard, and stern. He Was aware that a terrible trap bad sprung on him, and there was very little hope for his es- cape trom it. ‘You see, feller-citizens!” La Force went on ‘7 don’t say all this out o’ personal fe for I really feel sorry for the poor cuss; but I am your mayor, an’ et’s my bizness to speak fer you, the people. It’s a clear case, an’ I opine we can't do no better than put the border code inter effect. His neck ain’t better’n hundreds o’ others as has received the noose, an’ ] motion we put the matter through, in becomin’ shape!” No! no! sdop! I brodest apoud dot! Don’t you vas hang him, ondil he dells me where I finds my daughter!” exclaimed Nathan Blob. Arizona smiled mockingly, for the first time. ‘“You want her back, eh?’ he questioned, “Dunder, yesh! Off I lose mine Christie, I go crazy mit der lunatic asylum, _ I—I—I—” And the ponderous Jew paused, for want of power of utterance, ‘Well, let me tell you!” Arizona answered. “When tbe noose shirs around my gullet, your daughter will be a corpse. That’s all!” ‘Stop! stop! don’d hang him!” Blob yelled, frantically, as he danced up and down, fright- ened out of his wits, ‘I pay you monish not tu hang him, until I vas get mine Christie back.” “T propose,” suggested a newly arrived, well- dressed, and fine-looking gentleman, ‘that we don’t hang this man, simply on cirewmstantial evidence: but, on the other hand, that we gave him a chance for his life by turning state’s-evi- dence, and delivering up this pack of road- agents. How does it strike you, gents?” A loud murmur of approval went up from the crowd. ‘That's more like it!” a number cried. ‘‘-You bet!” chimed in others. ‘Give every dog a show” La Force looked disappointed. ‘+ Wal, we'll bev to see about it,” he growled. “T ain’t in favor o’ givin’ a murderer no show at all. Allin favor o the motion suggested sing out!’ A shout pealed forth that was almost unani- mous. ‘“S*pose we'll have to give him a chance, then.” the gambler announced, with an oath. ‘* Avizona Alf, you've got till sunset to make u yer mind whether you'll aecept the noose or lea an armed party to Denver Doll’s retreat!” The Avenger answered not. A faint smile hovered upon his lips; otherwise bis features were immovable, and their expression was hard to Interpret. | ‘ ; : . ‘ SS. ed ‘ ; ’ * = a cs ' ah M me oF ae . . » 4 ~ e- — se 5 vs « 3 — — s Drift. ———— ——_—= ‘The next thing is a good, strong room to store the cuss in!” La Force said. “T haff got shust der ding!” Blob eried. ‘I fixed it up last night on burpose to shut up mine Christie in, so she don’d vould esca Yust fetch der brisoner, und I dakes care off him, you tY ‘*Reckon you'll have to give bail for his safe- keeping, old gent,” one miner interposed, and the sentiment was generally echoed. ‘Vel, den, I gif der mayor a t’ousand dollar for security,” Blob said. ‘‘ Pring along der brisoner.” Arizora’s feet were unloosened, and with a re- volver pressed to either temple, he was forced to walk to the Blob residence, and into a room up-stairs, the windows of which had been barred like a prison. Here his hands and feet were doubly bound, and the door was locked upon him. Old Nathan, in his office, paid the thousand dollars to La Force, and the crowd departed. Not long after, the Jew entered his house, locked the doors, and ascended to the room where Arizona was half reclining upon the ou veel?” he chuckled. floor. ‘Vel, how “‘Don’d like id, somedimes, eh?’ ‘¢ Oh, it does very well,” Arizona retorted. ‘¢ But you vas foolin’ apoud mine shild, Chris- tie.” . ‘‘Nary atime. If I swing she swings.” ‘‘S’posin’ she get free?” ‘*¢ Impossible.” ‘*Vel, den, you gif up the road-agents to der shustice.” ‘‘T hope to vever breathe again if I do!” ‘““Vot! You hang first?” ‘* You bet.” Blob put up his hands in horror. ‘‘ You vas crazy!” he declared. ‘* You don’d know vot you says.” ‘* Queer, if I don’t!” Arizona returned. ‘‘ One thing is patent—it will be a cold day that I be- tray Denver Doll. The girl is doing right. She should have her own; and I don’t Lt raising thunder till she getsit. As for myself, Lam innocent of the murder, and I'l) die game before I’ll make another the tool by which I pur- chase my liberty.” The speech seemed to have some little im- pression upon the Jew, for he was silent for sev- eral minutes. ‘“Den you vas like mine schildf” he finally asked. } sc Yes.” ‘‘Und she likes you?” ‘*T flatter myself she does,” ‘Vel, she alvaye vas a headstrong girl. I don’d know vot vil pecome mit her. JNNOwW, sup- posin’ I vas to gif you your liberty—vould you gif me pack my schild and neffer bodder us no more?” ‘No, I would not. More, I would not accept my liberty at vour hands.” : ‘Den you vil die like von dog, und I vil run der risks of recoverin’ my Christie.” ‘* So be it!” was the c response, Ina rage the Jew turned to leave the room, when, to his horror, he found himself confront- ed by no less a personage than Denver Doll, who held a pair of six-shooters leveled full upon him. ‘‘ Halt, Mister Israel!” she commanded. “If you stir, except when directed, or utter a peep, Pil put a bullet right through your big corpo- rosity ! ‘‘T beg! don’d shoot! I do yust vat you dells me—only don’d shoot!” ‘‘Very well. Unbind that man!” “Py sbimminy! vot you mean? He escape den!” ‘Exactly! Unbind him?!” ‘But, oy dear young vimmens, off he escape T lose so mooch as a t’ovsand dollars!” ‘Do you hear me? Unbind him, I say!” the road-agent queen cried—so sharply that Blob jumped to do her bidding. In a few seconds Arizona Alf was free of his bonds and stood erect. ‘‘ Now, then, Blobsy, dish over what cash you have about your person and we will leave you!” Doli ordered. “No hesitation, or—pop, and over you go!” In despair, the Jew handed over his well- filled pocketbook, which Doll accepted ina very matter-of-fact way. ‘“‘ Now the key to this room, please,” she said. “Vot? You ain’t goin’ to lock me oop!” “ Just that. Shell out!” The ugly chambers of the revolvers glared so menacingly at the Jew that he obeyed. In a twoment more he was locked in bis own prism room, while Doll and Arizona were en com € £ ’ : ye ame her for | cS. € \ \ 7 .“ BL 2a