Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 330 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

ree | oO or Hh o, lf- not tful vith nick the with | af- > ad- ITrew s for ason bout 1ugh- ning. rught know » ealls ancy %” nabob e back y he ¢s ‘‘Such is the case, I hear, I should judge, from what experience [ve had at interpretin the: peculiarities o’ human character, general, the* he’d be a purty safe character to let alone, speakin’ rampageously.” ‘* Has he bravado?” ‘*No; he ain’t no blusterin’ tough, but has every appearance of bein’a quiet gentleman, Ef ary pilgrim were to tweak his nose, how- ever, I opine thar’d be another earthquake needin’ to open up, ter swaller ther corpuses, Not going to fight tim?” ‘Oh, no! I merely want to see him on busi- ness. Pll wait.” And the general sauntered away and tooka seat on the veranda in front of the hotel. He had to wait but half an hour, when a horseman came galloping leisurely down the trail and soon drew rein before the door, where he slid lightly to the ground and gave his hand- some steed to the stable-hand, He was a man of medium stature, with a wiry, muscular form, which, in its evident strength and suppleness, spoke of active life and exercise, both on foot and horseback. His age apparently was between twenty- three and twenty-five years; his face was frank, open and handsome, with a firm but pleasant mouth, partly shaded by a brown mustache; deep brown eyes of sparkling ex- pression, and hair of like shade, as wavy as the billows of the ocean and worn long over his shoulders. Beginning at his feet, he wore a fine pair of top-boots, ght woolen pants, a belt. containing a pair of revolvers, a white flannel shirt 0 at the throat, and a finely-tanned buckskin jacket of scarlet color and most elaborate finish in the way of embroidery and golden bead-work, A jaunty white prairie hat was worn upon his head, and he looked indeed a prince of the plains, He ran lightly up the steps after dismount- ing, but paused after reaching the veranda on seeing the general arise as if to speak, ‘*Are you Mr. Quick-Shot?’ Gleason de- manded in a by-no-means pleasant tone. “That's the title I bear, sir, among those whe know me,’’ the scout answered, bowing. ‘' You are the party, then, who, ’tis said, res- cued my daughter?” ‘*T rescued a Miss Gleason, sir.” ‘“Why did you not come to me, then, and claim the offered reward, sir, lik. a man?” ‘Excuse me, but I hardly understand you. I had no desire to accept % reward for a mere act of common kindness,” ‘*Oh; no—of course not. I understand your motive. You wish to ingratiete yourself into good society. You took that way of doing it, expecting to be received with open arms, You have even planner and maneuvered so well as tc secure clandestin. meetings with my daughter. Sir-rh! you are a low mongrel of a prairie cur —a dastard and a sneak.” _ “General Gleason!” Quick-Shot cried, draw- ing himself up proudly, his face flushed at the insult—‘‘ General Gleason, of Villa Voselle—let there be no mistake as to whom [ mean—you are a liar and a coward!” CHAPTER II. THE DUEL AND THE WARNING. THERE were several bystanders upon the ve- randa at the moment of the sudden outbreak, and had a bomb pi, a in their midst it would have produ ne more consternation than did the angry words of the two men. In a town, even as ety as was Daggersville, no greater insult was believed possible than to call a man a liar and coward, and yet this very thing bad Quick-Shot done, and stood fac- ing the cattle-king witb stern face and flashing eyes, : General Gleason was truly staggered at the words hurled back by the Scarlet Scout. It was the first time he had been called a liar or coward to his face in many 4 long year. ‘What is this, sir?’ he gasped. ‘‘ You call me a liar to my face?” ‘I do, and repeat it. I never call a man any pet names behind his back. That is emphati- cally against my rules. You called me a das- and a sneak, and I say you arealiar. I am a gentleman.” ‘*Pve a mind to strike you down where you stand, sir. [ll have you atte that I’m not the man to be insulted by a common erqyenty, ee back your words, sir, or you shall rue it early. ‘*T am not the man, sir, to take back a word I utter until it is proven I am in the wrong. hen I find I am in the wrong, sir, I am alway. willing to make proper retraction.” Little Quick-Shot. ‘*See here, what’s the trouble?” Major Greer demanded, waddling from within doors, ‘‘I, maybe, can make peace between you two gents. What's up?” “This aristocrat, who imagines, because he is reputed to be rich, that be can insult people at will, called me a mongrel cur, a dastard, and a sneak, and I called bim a liar and a coward. Now be demands that I shall submit to bis insolence and take back my assertion!” Quick- Shot cried, hotly. “Tf you don’t it will be a sorry job for you!” Gleason gritted, ‘*Pll take my chances on that!” was the firm reply. ‘You provoked this quarrel, and if you want to push it you’ll find I’ll not run from Ke because you are, perbaps, financially, a ig er man than I,” ‘What caused this unfortunate affair me eralf” the major asked, anxiously; for, while it was profitable for him to in a measure court the cattle-king’s favor, he also bad an ey to keeping on good terms with the patrons of bi establishment, Quick-Shot being a a ge ‘The cause is this!’”? Gleason replied, with an effort to check his rage. ‘‘This highly-pictur- esque individual, whoever he may be, has taken unwarrantable liberty in pushing an acquaint- ance with my daughter, on the strength of the fact that he rescued her, a few dayssince. It has even gone 60 far that he has induced her to meet him clandestinely, The dastard took the sneak’s way of making his advances, kaowing full well that I would order him from my house did he come there!” A considerable crowd bad gathered, and looked on wonderingly. Quick-Shot listened with stony calmness, his face now grown white with deep passion, and his eyes burning with u wild light. When the general had finished Greer turned inquirin ly to the scout. Well, Quick-Shot, what have you to say?” the major asked. ‘Tt is useless to say anything fcr the ears of that ill-bred hotspur!” was the amswer, con- temptuously, ‘“‘The breach was opened by him, and ths current of words has mada the channel too wide to easily bridge. I have no more to say than that if the assumed gentleman wants to settle the matter it can be done witb- out any further tongue-lashing!” ‘*Do you give that as a challenge?” the gen- eral demanded savagely. “ T do—decidedly,’ ‘Then [ accept it. We will settle our differ- ences with swords, as Southern gentlemen do; not with pistols, as Western desperadoes do, Major, oblige me by sending your man to Villa Voselle for mv two best swords. Direct bim to Pedro, my valet!” ‘Unless you need two for your personal use, you need send for but one!” Quick-Shot suid, with perceptible sarcasm. ‘‘I believe I bave a blade in my room,” and be walked away witha smile so aggravating as to cause th) general to neh the floor in his rage and mortified pride, The crowd had by this time swelled to the dimensions of about a hundred persons, and ex- citement was increasing momentarily, A real out-and-out duel bad never occurred in the camp, although free fights were of frequent oc- currence, and the major had donated a plot of ground for free cemetery purposes which did not lack for ‘‘ planting seed.” The last words of the general, regarding gen- tlemen using swords and desperadoes pistols, did not seem to create a very favorable impres- sion, for there was many an exchange of dar’ and inquiring glances among the bystanders, The general and py 8 went one side and bad a long talk while the hostler was gone for the weapons: but none of the villagers knew what passed between them, By th- time the bostler bad got back Quick- Shot made his appearance, bearing a long, thin blade, with mountings of gold ana settings of pure diamonds. The general’s was but a very ordinary affair as compared with it. Without parley, the two men took to the middle of the street, prepared for business. ‘Who is to act as referee?’ the general asked, grimly. ‘‘ Nong is necessary for my part!” Quick-Shot replied. ‘It’s you kill me, or I'll kill you; so stand on your guard!” The crowd waited and watched, breathlessly. The antagonists advanced, eye meeting eye, Vy; each face stern, each exp n un- yielding. The co rison between the two men was striking. e old general was much taller aad 3 ewe ee broader, and heavier by a hundred pounds, than Quick-Shot, and as he seized his biade, with soldierly grates fy an audience would have made their bets in his favor, as he looked emi- penny able to cut down his adversary, with a low. But, though the cattle-king towered above him—the fact did not seem to diminish Quick- Shot’s courage in the least. He handled his blade with the skill and science of a professional swordsman, and every thrust made by the gen- eral, was neatly met and parried. By choosing his favorite among weapons, it was evident the general bad calculated to make quick and easy work of bis opponest, baving apparent pbysical as well as scientific advan- tage, on his side, Hence, it was little wonder he grew more enraged, as the advance of the duel proved that be bad met fully his match, in the wiry and active Scarlet Scout, Thrust, feint, parry, lunge! The steel blades clash together, swiftly, making strange musie, upon the evening air, Neither man spoke, but from the impressions upon their faces, it was easy to tell that it was no child's play they were indulging in. For full ten minutes the pacy blades flashed through the air, and the ring of steel re- sounded, and though the general at last began to show signs of fatigue, Quick Shot was evident- ly as fresh as at the start. Full well noting tbat he was losing ground, the general uttered a vindictive oath, and made a master effort torun hisadversary through; but Quick-Shot had been expecting that very thing, and with remarkable quickness made a power- ful parry which burled the sword from the cat- tle-king’s grasp, and sent it spinning a dozen feet away. With almost. the same breath, the f£ carlet Scout raised his sword again, and sm: te the general beavily upon the cheek with tke flat of the blade, knocking bim to the ground, “Mercy!” be cried, raising bimselt upon bis elbow, ‘Mercy, I beg of you, Sir Searlet Scout!” ‘You need not to ask for it!” Quiek-Shot answered. ‘‘I have your life in my bands, but would not bave the stain of the blood of such a man as you upon my sword, Arise, sir, and take a stranger’s advice—be & little more con- siderate in the future.” Thorougbly chagrined, the general arose to his feet, and received bis blade, from Major Greer. ‘* You bave won, sir, and against odds,” he said, bis voice trembling with bitter passion, which he tried to hold in check; ‘‘bence, I ac- cept my life, from ‘you, as a gift, This need not make any difference in our antagonistic re- lations, however. We are total strangers to each otber, and I would warn you to keep your distance, both from me and mine, You are no fit person to court the acquaintances of my daughter, and if you have any common-sense or judgment, you will be only too giad to get out of this section of the country, at once!” **T cannot comply, sir; [1eve,, was known to back out ofa fleld, for any ore. For you I bave only what respect you deterve, For your daughter I bave a respectful admiration, and as long as I have th. least reason to believe that she reciprocates the papa I shall nox hesitate to pay her any gentlemanly attevtions that are honorable and acceptable to her, regardless of what your feelings may be onthe matter, It may be improper to make such a statement in public, but as I have the pleasure of knowin that I dii not begin the quarrel, I trust I wi be excused for making your daughter's affairs the gossip of the camp, ‘Phen. do I understand, sir, that you openly defy me?” hte ‘So far as yeu would intrude on my liberties as a citizen, yes!” Quick-Shot replied, with empbasis, and turning, be strode into the hotel. neral Gleason and the mejor directly fol- lowed his example. and repaired to the bar- room, where they becam. seated, and drinks were ordered. ‘*General, this is a most unfortunate affair!” the porns a2 said. ‘“*The duel of a few minutes ago, will do neither of you any particular credit —especially you!” ‘Why not me?’ the Cattle King demanded, fiercely, his Southern blood boiling in an in- stant. ** Because, from the first, ycu made a con- summate ass of yourself,” the major declared, with a good-natured, bantering laugh. ‘‘ Sir?’ Gleason cried. ‘'Have a care how I have regarded you as a friend, Comicbooks