Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 312 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

’ ) ' the cheat came in, he was filled wit 14 Sa my dear wife, we meet once more,” he said. ‘* Your dear wife! You prove how true that is by keeping me under lock and key,” she said, with a boldness caused by the sight of Ben’s face at the door. ‘‘That’s because you’re a leetle knee-sprung in ther brain,” he said. " Strange that you should want to marry such n. a ‘*Oh! I think I can cure + ae The power 0’ love is quite mirac’lous. yar, Mrs, Lefferts, come set on my knee.” The ruffian had seated himself, and was leer- ing at ber with an insolence he would not have shown had he seen Brown Ben’s movements be- hind his back. ‘Thank you, but I prefer to stand.” ‘* Oh! don’t be skeery. Come an’ set on me knee.” The proposal made her shudder, and she re- fused with such an air of loathing that he sprung to his feet with a savage exclamation. “You won’t? Wal, we’llsee! I want yerter know I am boss hyar, an’ when—” He paused suddenly. He had been advancing on her with hands outstretched, but as she pro- duced the knife Ben had given her, both his feet and his tongue came to a standstill, and he stared at her blankly. : ‘* Keep your distance!” she said clearly. ‘‘ Whar did ye get that knife?” he demanded, in complete astonishment. ‘‘ Never mind; enough that I have it.” ‘“You’ve got ter drop it, durn quick!” he snarled. ‘* Down it goes, or I’ll—” What unmanly threat he would have uttered must remain a mystery, for at that moment Brown Ben, who had seen the folly of trying to get along peaceably and had crept up behind, neatly knocked his feet from under him, and droppiag him on his back, planted his knee on his breast. Then the glitter of another knife flashed so near Sam’s eyes that the blade almost touched the iris. ‘* Not a word—not a yip!” said the Vigilante, sternly. ‘* You shall not be harmed if you sub- mit quietly, but I do swear that I am going to have my way here. You are my prisoner.” ‘Are you mad, Dan?’ gasped the young bravo. | ‘No; ’m not Mad Dan or any other mad- man, but I’m in dead earnest, like Mark Twain’s mother-in-law. Remember that! Zella, can you hunt up some ropes or something with which to tie him?” It dawned upon Lefferts that his assailant was not the ‘‘ Dan” whom he had believed in so much, and though he cared not to see just where a sullen fury, which shone in his eyes and darkened his face; but it was very clear that his enemy was not a man to be fooled with safely. Such being the case, he lay very still and = to the future to again place him on his eet. . Zella had no difficulty in finding stout cords, and with these Sam was soon bound. Ben thought prudent to add a gag, and then their work was so well done that the redoubtable chief had become temporarily merely a child. “We must not delay,” said Ben, as he led Zella fromthe room. *“ If'the Vigilantes attack ‘there will be a immediate rush for Lefferts to lead the defense, and that will place all our hopes in jeopardy.” As though his words were prophetic there arose on the air at that moment the report of rifles, scattering, it is true, but sufficientl numerous to prove that the town was attacked. Ben sprung toward the further end of the room and began to remove the lizht covering which made the roof, but at that moment the head of Beldick appeared above the floor. ‘‘ Whar’s Sam?’ he demanded. ‘‘ He’s want- ed outside.” His appearance had been so unexpected that he saw not only Ben’s operations but the face of Zella, and stupid indeed must have been his ' mind had he failed to understand a part of its meaning. ‘* Hi!” hesuddenly said. ‘‘ This way, boys; the dickens is to pay. This way, all!” With a fierce exclamation, Brown Ben sprung toward him, his revolver turned about for a club, but Beldick was duly regardful of his eae head and he made such haste to escape peril that he lost his footing and fell head- long to the foot of the ladder, knocking down 57 of the roughs who had responded: to his Brown Ben saw that he was in for a fight, and he met it squarely. A minute was given . Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. ——— ee him for preparation, and it was duly im- | half an hour before seen two kegs of powder, proved. and it was clear the others had deserted the A glance from the window showed the streets | place to save their lives. . filed with fighting men where the rival fac- Zella did not fail to perceive her companion’s tions were galloping to and fro and ‘‘ making | start. the air hideous” with their yells, the sounds of ‘What is it?” shecried; ‘“‘Whatnow?” — strife and other unpleasant ways. But again Ben failed to reply; he was trying Ben took but a glance, and then, dashing into | to think of some way to save themselves from the other room, reappeared dragging Lefferts. | being blown to eternity. Coolly he placed the fellow in an upright po- sition, and then, thrusting a revolver-armed hand over each shoulder, 2 faced the ladder- way. He was none too soon, for just then the fore- most of the enemy appeared. He was coming with dire destruction in his eyes, but at the tableau before him he suddenly halted, ‘‘ Stay right where you are!” said Ben, sharp- ly. ‘if you dare advance it means death to you and your leader.” | ‘‘ Hol’ on, there!” cried the man. call that fa’r. | man-fashion.” ‘‘Don’t you shed a tear, old man. I fight ac- | The shot fired by Ellice Norton was instantly fatal, and Ned Norris, who had sold his honor aud his life for a scheming woman, fell forward in the pit and lay still and lifeless, a little stream of blood oozing from the wound made by the girl-fiend’s bullet. Hardened as she was, it was the first time she had ever taken human life, and her laugh was almost maniacal as she swung the fatal revolver over her head, ‘‘ Ha! ha! I win the game and the gold is mine, all mine!” She dropped her revolver and, falling on her knees, began to handle the treasure. Nuggets were there, as well as finer grains, but all bad cording to my fashion and you can do as you | a sparkle and glimmer which was most fascina- please; but‘l warn you thatif you poke your | ting. head any further into my apartment, it will| ‘Ha! ha! I am rich at last—rich, rich, rich!” lose its elegant shape.” | Wildly the words rung out, but in the pit he had dug, and which proved to be his own grave, the late partner of ber guilt heard it not; he had gone to a land where gold is without al- loy, but—would he share it? How long Ellice would have fondled the stuff is uncertain, for a heavy hand was laid on_ her shoulder. She looked up quickly, wildly. Red- top Rube stood beside her, and close at hand were his Vigilantes, **T don’t Jest come out o’ ambush an’ fight CHAPTER XVII. A WARM OCCASION, Brown BEN wound up bis oration with a flourish of bis revolver which made the man un- ceremoniously disappear,and a more hopeful look appeared on Zella’s face. ‘¢- We can hold them back until the Vigilantes come,” she said, firmly bolding the revolver The young man’s face was stern, yet sad. He taken from Lefferts. . had seen all, but not for a moment did he sus- ‘‘T hope we can,” said Ben, who did not think | pect the fate in store for Ned Norris until the well to add that he doubted if the Vigilantes | fatal deed was done. would come. He stood looking silently at the murderess, Relying on a dash as they did, they ought to | but witha serpent-like hiss she struck vainly at have appeared before then, if it was working | his face, and then tried to flee. well, They caught and held her, even though she The lieutenant lost no time but, leaving Lef- | fought like a tigress, and then it was seen that ferts on the floor, bade Zella watch the ladder | she was really insane, Truly, retribution had and himself renewed bis efforts to gain an exit | speedily come to the two who betrayed Zella alpine into the hands of her enemies. When the truth was discovered, Redtop Rube was no longer disposed to make war upon her. movement might result in making them a target | She was taken away and one man left to guard for the factions. her, and then the band prepared for the pro- | by way of the roof. Once there it was probable He had removed the slabs nearly enough for | posed dash into the town, first taking care of the he could find some way of reaching the ground, though all was confused and vague, and the the purpose when a cry from Zella was followed | gold. by a racket on the lower floor and, looking Rube dared not delay a great while. The risk around, he saw the girl pointing toward the | taken by his faithful lieutenant might result fa- ladder. tally if he was not promptly seconded, and Ben ‘‘ What is it?” was too valuable a man to lose. ‘‘ Lefferts!—he has rolled through the opening. One of the Vigilantes, named Freeman, had It was my fault, for I did not watch closely, but proved himself a brave and sagacious fellow, I was looking at— I believe we have another and to kim was given the care of the band while danger. Don’t you smell smoke?” Rube went on a tour of observation—a work Ben certainly did, and he spoke quickly: he would trust to no one except himself, ‘‘The building is on fire!” The night bad grown darker since Ellice and ‘‘They have done it to drive us.out.” Ned Norris began their treasure-bunt, and one ‘No: they would not do that while Lefferts | must be near an object to distinguish it in any was here. Some accident caused it, but unless | degree, so Rube felt justified in trying to ap- ‘tis extinguished matters will be warm for us.” | proach the town. At the last word the young man ran to the He worked around by the base of the hills as opening be had made in the roof, but the view was | close as was possible and then, with a compara- most discouraging, The fighting seemed to have Lively short distance to go, dropped on his hands ceased, and all around the building were to be Indian-like ad- seen the Regulators. | rece a Redtop Rube’s men had suffered a check. Such being the case, and with Lefferts at lib- erty and the house on fire, Brown Ben felt that he was in a close corner, The scent of smoke became stronger and a red tongue of fire crept up through the floor. ‘Tt is gaining rapidly,” he said, setting his teeth, ‘‘and as this old shell is as dry as tinder, it will spread all over it in a short time.” ‘‘ Must we surrender?” Zella asked, as though pleading for one ray of hope. Ben did not answer, but with considerable recklessness walked to the top of the ladder and looked down. The saloon wasentirely deserted, though not yet untenable, and it looked as ag though they had been left to their fate; as played soimportant a part in bis career, he took though the Regulators were willing the house | a view of the interior. Neither his lieutenant should go if the two occupants could be de- | nor Lefferts was present. . stroyed. | He looked toward the second-story window, Zella was looking at her champion with anx- aie he saw alight, and there, nodoubt, was ella. ious eyes, but for once Ben had no encourage- meas give; he did not see any way of escape. Unluckily for him he remembered how he bad Suddenly, however, it flashed over him that he | once before carried the girl off secretly and re- solved to try the same experiment again. If had mistaken the motive of the Regulators in de- serting the palocen 58 the a Wes 4 mE their “vi aS Se de atts ad a A hy Bsa gal her, rtain . i even a united effo ight wor nders. sea eo ge digit lites - He found the very plank by which he had be- rave man. | ae, ¢ . Behind the counter, and near the fire, Ben had | fore ascended, and leaning it against the build- | a (Eo) Vallicelexexe) and knees and begana sort o vance. All this was done because he suspected the fact that guards might have been posted. As he neared the shanties he saw a man pac- ing to and fro, but he was aware that the major- ity of amateur guards are easily outwitted. He tried it then, and in five minutes had passed the beat and was safely within the town. Once there he stood erect and walked steadily toward the Beldick saloon, moving like one of the Regulators, except that he took the precau- tion to keep in the shadow of the buildings. Beldick’s had never seemed quieter and he wondered what had become of Brown Ben, The way to learn was to investigate, and this he proceeded to do. By means of the window which once before aa (E(0)