Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 296 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

: <ae? “ = Ts 14 > o.oo me — a em @rank be:\i'y, so that by noon he was fairly stupefied with liquor, and staggered away to- ward his usual napping place under the shade of the tree, by the creek, where he lay down and was soon oblivious of everything. Little Bill did not remain quiet long, but was soon out on the Street again, his mind fully made up to huve revenge. It did tut take him long to learn the where- Fabouts of his enemy, and “he crept over to the ‘1,e0, only to perceive that the gambler was ly- 1 g there, in the shade, sleeping off the effects of the liquor he had drank, ing back to the camp, the youthful aven- ger procured a lasso and some cords, after which he returned to the tree. Setting to work with the caution of a fox, he succeeded in binding the gambler’s hands and feet, withoat arousing him. He next got the noose of the lasso about his neck, under the chin, and threw the other end up over a limb of the bandy tree, Seizing hold of it, he braced himself against io tree, and pulling with all his might, succeed- ed in raising La Force to an upright posture, The strain of the rope about his gullet pretty effectually sobered that person, and he glared at his tormentor, ferociously. **Curse you!” he gasped. ‘* Same to you!” Bill retorted, with a diaboli- eal grin, which was a mixture of pain and satisfaction. ‘‘How d’ye like yer change o’ base, Jeany? Cut off my ears will ye, you mis- erable skunk, thief and murderer? et you won't never cut off another one’s ears. [Tm jest goin’ to make you hump. I’m goin’ to pull ye up on yer tip-toes, an’ let ye see ef ye can stan’ on yer toes like a ballet gal,” and hoe suited action to the word, by pulling the gam- bler up, so that only just the tips of bis toes touched the ground. A more painful position could hardly have been chosen, for it was a direct muscular strain, and unless he maintained bis balance, the noose about his throat would tighten, and strangle m. As soon as he had got the lariat fastened, Littlo Bili stood off and squinted at his victim,’ spec- ulatively. ‘Thar! I reckon you'll do, fer the present, Ef ye git tired, ye might try standin’ first on one foot, and then on tother. I’m goin’ over to the howtel, now, to lay down. Ef ye want me, afore I come back, jest whistle. Da! da! cuc- koo! tra! Ja! le!” And with a provoking laugh, the young avenger strut away, apparently forgetting his own injuries in bis triumph over his enemy. As La Force could not make himself heard, Bill went to the hotel, and lay down for awhile, with the intention of returning later; but that was made unuecessary. La Force had nof been long in bis torturing dilemma, when a woman came dewn the bank of the stream, and released him, by cutting his bonds, and the lasso. - She was none otber than Christine Blob, the Jew’s daughter, but she was a sorry-looking ob- ject, Her face was haggard and scratched and her clothing torn and soiled. She looked as if she had had a week’s tramp through the mountains. “Thank thunder you came ” La Force growled. ‘I should ’a’ given out, soon. So you're back, eh?” “se Yes.” ‘To betray the gang?” “ When I seethecash, [ve been lost for over twenty-four hours. But Pm ready, when the money is.” They conversed for a while—then went into the camp. La Foree told her of her father’s fate, but she # emed very little concerned about the matter. A keen judge of human character, it did not take long for La Force to arrive at the conclu- sion that she was losing her reason. The gang who were off to-day were men whem the gambler most counted on as his faith- ful followers, and he therefore hurriedly armed and equipped them for the raid upon Denver Doil’s s ‘ronghold, knowing that hecould depend upon them to fight for bis interests. He paid over to Christio the sum of two ' thousand dollars, which she accepted in good * yh y faith, little suspecting that it was counterfeit. Then, well mounted, the party rode out of the camp, doubting not that they would come back ( victorious. On they rode until, right ahead of them, a stern voice cried: . a a at acini ewer ( ” orce ye setting his spurs into his dea and Sackine forward. ; One rifle cracked, and the gambler bent for / » ¥ beh a * 29% —_—--——---- +o - —— w+ ena OR I a ON RO COO eee ——— ; ge a me Denver Doll’s Drift. ward in his saddle, with the wailing cry of ** Charge!” The one shot was all that was fired, no fur- ther opposition being raised, é' The invaders reached the pocket only to make an unexpected discovery. Jean La Force lay forward upon his horse’s neck—dead. He had been shot through the temple by the unseen guard. Nor was this all the discovery. A charge down into the camp developed the fact that there was no one to charge upon. The lodges were empty, and the road-agents were gone! Taking their dead leader with them, the un- successful party turned back for Freshet Flats, bitterly cursing Christine for leading them on a wild-goose chase. But the now half-demented girl scarcely no- ticed it; her gaze wandered constantly about her, as if in search of some one, lt was Arizona Alf she was looking for! CHAPTER XVI. THE DRIFT OWNS ITS QUEEN AGAIN, THAT morning tbe day-gang had gone to their work in the mine as usual, As soon as they reached the chamber a torch was ignited, and then each miner’s lamp was lighted thereby. Chey were all thus busied in procuring their lights when they heard an ominous click! click! as of the cocking of weapons, and gazing around them in surpriso, it needed but one glance to satisfy them that they were prisoners. A score and a half of armed men surrounded them, and held them covered at the muzzles of as many repeating rifles. They were all masked except one, that one being the dauntless Denver Doll, who stood with a triumphant smile, watching the astonishment of the miners. ‘‘Gentlemen,” she said, ‘‘ you are my _ pris- oners. Make an attempt to esca and my men will riddle you with bullets. me for- ward, one by one, and lay your weapons at my feet.” She spoke pleasantly, yet sternly. The men exchanged glances; then Doll’s for- mer superintendent said: ‘‘ We mightas well come to Limerick at first as last, fellers, There’s no disputin’ powder an’ lead, when they’ve got thedrop. Here goes my barkers.” And he threw down bis weapons, The other miners followed his example. ‘‘You area sensible set,” Doll decided, look- ing them over, ‘“‘and I see you are nearly all my old employees. Iam glad of that because henceforth, Iam going to boss this mine, and Jean La Force’s power in Freshet Flats is at an end. D’ye see these men?” ‘‘Yas!” Banker answered, acting as spokes- man for the others. ‘‘ Well, they are all honest, hard-workin miners from the upper country, who are goin to stand by me and help me get back my rights, We've got the mine, and are going to keep it; Tallow you won’t hinder us. Then there will be no opposition from any one but La Force, and what few roughs he can collect. And if they get the mine away from us, they’re wel- come to it.” ‘‘ What do you propose to do with us?” Bank- er asked. ‘“‘That rests with yourselves to decide, If you swear allegiance to me, you will still con- tinue to work here, under pay from me, If vou refuse to back me, something else will have to be done.” , “ Well, for my part, ’'d rather work for you than for Jean La Force!” Banker declared. ‘‘The others can do as they please.” The miners held a low cousultation among themselves which lasted for several minutes— then, one of them said: ‘‘T allow, miss, that we’re all the same way 0’ thinkin’ as Banker, an’ we'll stick by ye as long as ye try to hold the mine, Some 0’ the boys—the new ’uns—lost money through you, though.” ‘‘ Bverything shall be made right—every dol- lar returned as I promised in my proclamation; and, too, your wages increased. ou can go to work, now, while I go up into camp, and see how the land lays.” After carefully disguising herself, so that she closely resembled one of the miners, she as- cended the incline, passed the guards, who had previously been brought over to her side, and entered the town. Here she lounged about during the better part bad the satisfaction of seeing 4 Aalst a . j " : ai , A : . ~~ “aust ws 4 tH, a , >-e ooo rn eee e+ fe + ——._ oe Saf La Force and his pals start off for her deserted mountain stronghold. ‘Now then, is my chance!” she said; “when La Force returns, he’ll be surprised.” She burried back to the mine, and half au hour later had marsbaled her fifty armed men out upon the Flats at the mouth of the mine, where they began cheering lustily. rs ond hurrah for Denver Doll! Long may she live!” was the cry that went up, and it had the effect to startle what citizens remained in the camp. They collected in a huddle near the Satanello, but did not offer to approach the mouth of the Drift, probably fearing that they would be fircd upon, Accordingly, Doll gave Joe Banker instruc- tions, and he went forward, carrying a flag of truce, Several of the business-men advanced a few steps to meet him. “Well, what’s to pay now?” one of them asked. ‘The price of order brought out of chaos,” Banker replied. ‘‘ Denver Doll and ber men surprised us in the mine, and has recaptured it. She declares her intention of holding her rigbts, no matter what objections any ope may have, and we, her former employees, believe it right that she shall have back tbe mine, and therefore have volunteered to support her cause. She de- sires to know in what light she is to consider the citizens—as enemies or as friends. If they ac- cept of heras a citizen, as before, all well and good. If not, she will defend her mine to the bitter end,” _ “On the part of what citizens are in cam just now, I am of the opinion that Ican bespea for her a welcome, if she has ceased her unlaw- ful raids, What she can expect from La Force and his gang, she must be the judge. If you will wait, I will secure the sentiment of the crowd,” said Jim Fisk, the grocery-man. He came back a few moments laterand announced: “The majority is in favor of receiving her back, but there’s some balky ones and possibly will be more. Ben Blye, La Force’s partner, is offering a hundred dollars per man who will stand up for the gambler, and _ it’s likely to have some effect. When La Force returns there will be an attack, and then, if you are ready, the matter can soon be settled as to who will hold the mine, and who won’t.” Banker returned to the mine and informed the girl chief of the result of his parley. ‘“‘ Tt’s all right!” she said. ‘‘ You see that the boys are ready to fight at an instant’s notice,” uring the remainder of the afternoon, several reinforcements came in from the camp, among whom were Reuben Morse, Sunflower Sam, and Little Bill. The matter of the mystery concerning Walter Walraven’s murder was then cleared up to Doll’s entire satisfaction, and she welcomed ber aged father with a great warmth of affection. ‘‘ Lookee, hyer, Dollbaby!” Little Bill inter- posed. ‘Don’t be too kerfectionate ou the oid gent, or ye won’t hey any left fer my daddy duke, over the briny puddle.” ‘“You keep still, or Vl cut your other ear off!” Doll warned, laughingly. By early moonlight, the party whom La Force had led so valiantly from the camp, re- turned, bearing their dead leader. ‘(Now look out fer it!” Doll cried. ‘‘Some one’s a gone case, an’.f reckon it’s La Force,” Half an bour later a messenger was sent out from camp, with the news that noattack would be made, Blye could not prevail upon his pals to run the risk of their lives. Little more remains to be told, The death of La Forceand restoration of Denver Doll, literally put an end to rofflanism at Freshet Flats and it became a peaceable town as long as Doll remained there. Accord- ing to ber proclamation every man who had been en was repaid to his entire satisfac- tion and there was no stigma attaching to the Red Stars who bad helped Denver Doll regain her property and her good name. Arizona Alf, and Christie, were found, in the mountains, lying side by side—dead! The latter bad evidently killed the Avenger, and then killed herself. Reuben Morse died, soon after being restored to his child; and now, rich in purse and str ng in purpose, she arranged to leave ber mine under the management of Sanflower Sam and Banker, while she set out in pursuit of her too long deserted calling of detective, and in fresh scenes of adventure we may renew her acquain- tance, anon. THE END. \ 7 COMICDOO ra =r ‘CO