Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 340 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

& - sp” r or - a -*% ¢ os * or, : sO Er aT ee x Me eo ‘et 2 e~-, « ‘ “Seat beers . > « ra — ot A ¥ = > ’ ~ ‘ —_—— ee, om : * P eo We ~ « Ly . _ - 4 , 3 3 sa a » Ee — we, , a because the Vigilantes are getting to be too strong and too sharp for us to fight. ‘*T have been looking into that business,” re- marked the man from below. “Just before I met you I saw one of those Vigilantes, and had ‘a talk with bim.” ‘‘ Who was that?” “Judge Waller. He is one of their head men, if not the boss of the gang.” ‘* How do you know that?” “I knew it by the way he talked, and he knew all about me.” “Yes, they seem to know everything, curse them! and that’s why we have to be so quiet and careful. I hope you didn’t give any thing eae ss But you were sober, and Il suppose it is right.” - Lt think I managed to pull the wool over his eyes.” After riding a couple of hours or so, Symmes halted ina ravine, where he dismounted and hitched his horse, bidding his companion do the same. ‘‘What’s this for?’ demanded Cheyenne Charley. ‘*We don’t seem to have got any- where.” ‘IT must st0p here and wait for a man.” ““ Who is he?” “One of our men, Sam Bunker by name, He will soon be along.” After awhile Sam Bunker came riding into the ravine ane joined the two men who had pre- ceded He umes wae made acquainted with the new i sabe who was w y eulogized by Spence ym ‘* ve heard tell of Cheyenne Charley,” he re- plied, “and am proud to meet him. Thar’s good openin’s hyer fur a man o’ his style, an’ | reckon, "Cap. he'll slide into’em eas enough, My ‘‘What’s the news at the Fork?” inquired Symmes. Xe Jest novhin’ at all. They’s mighty quiet thar, sence Bill Seddons was lifted to glory, an’ they do talk o’ gittin’a gospel sharp to settle among ‘em. The bo boys air all as quiet an’ peace- able as turtle doves.’ ‘Glad to hear it. We are on the quiet lay now. When we do strike we will make a noise, and the time willsoon come. Is your ranch near hore, Sam?” “Well, ‘Cap, if you call a few rods of rock and e shanty a ranch, my ranch ain’t fur from er.’ ‘s Let us go up there, Perhaps you will give our friend bere a shelter until we get ready to o to work.’ ‘* All right, Cap; but we’ll have to leave the hosses down byer. Till show you whar.” Sam Bunker led the way to the head of the ravine, and through a narrow gap into a deep basin which was well carpeted with rich grass, a little brook RARDIAS through it from an un- failing spring He put up a pole at the gap, and the horses were turned loose to graze, “This is w’ot I a the Well Hole,” said he. ** It’s jest a natural corral, and the grass is sweet an’ tender, bet yer life. Foller me, gen’- iemen.” He led the way up a precipitous ascent to a rocky summit, where a small cabin was stuck against the side of a bigh rock, The cabin was rudely built of logs and poles, and was roofed with shingles of split oak. Heavy stones were piled against the logs, prob- ably to prevent the tenement from being blown away by a high wind. “This is the ranch, gen’lemen,” said Sam Bunker; but immediately his countenance fell, his face grew red, and he began to pour forth a stream of oaths that might well have made the air turn blue. There was a good cause for his profanity, which was indalged i in mainly to cover a feeling of intense terror. -Tacked to the rude door of the cabin was a iece of white cardboard, on which was figured in black the likeness of a skull and a pair of crossbones, underneath which were the figures This was the usual symbol of the Vigilantes, by which notice was given to the occupant of _ the cabin that he must clear out and be seen 0 more in that region. Between rage and fear the man was almost out of his wits, and bis comrades waited pa- tiently until lack of breath, rather than lack of lan age, caused him to subside, *T reckon this won’t be a safe place for you any longer, Sam,” remarked Symmes, ‘ Do you expect to clear out?” “ T will leave this ranch, as you call it; but I - won't leave these bills, sure as my name is Sam — Clip, the Contortionist. Bunker. 1 ain’t afeard o’ the Vigilantys, but I do despise tha’r sneakin’ ways. The cussed skunks must ha’ stuck that thing up last nigbt when I was away. Why couldn’ they come in the daytime, an’ when the man 0’ the house was to hum?” ‘* They will be likely to do that soon enough, Sam—that is, if you sbould stay around here. You had better come over to my den.” ph do it, Cap; but I must fust see w’ot’s esi Q’ Ginger, and look arter my traps yer ‘‘Take care of pounseits then. Charley and I will go on, and I will expect to see you con- siderably inside of twenty-four hours.” CHAPTER VL SAM BUNKER SLIDES OUT. SPENCE SYMMES and Che eysane Charley walk- ed away toward the Well Hole to get their horses, and Sam Bunker stood in front’ of his cabin, gazing mournfully at the ominous notifi- cation that bad been left by the Vigilantes. He did not seem to think of pulling it down as it stared him blankly in the face. Probably the terror with which it hed in- spired him restrained him from touchin “T wonder if Ginger was here when t i. ut that thing Up, he said. ‘‘If she was, I reckon she was too drunk to know anythin’ about it, I must look the old gal up.” He was a picture of dejection as he pushed the shaky docr open and entered the cabin. The iuterior was nearly bare of furniture, and there was nothing in it that was suggestive of comfort, Yet Sam Bunker cast his mournful glance about that dingy apartment as if he felt that it was his home, such as if was, and a home that he was loth to leave. On the floor, if it could be called a floor, some- thing i in the shape of a woman lay on a blanket, motiouless, but not dead, as was evident from her hard breathing. This was an Indian woman, whom Sam Bun- ker had ‘taken up with” several years previ- ously, and whose name of many syllables he had changed to the easier appellation of Gin- ger. Ginger was neither young nor in the least de- gree good looking; but she had been a faithful slave to Sam, an "well she might be, as be had supplied her with the one solace of her life— w bisk She had doubtless been largely supplied with that solace of late, as she lay there in a stupor, an SBS fumes of ‘liquor arose from where she sle m Bunker spoke to ber and stirred ber with his foot, but got no response other than inartic- ulate grunts. ‘“R ckon it’s best so,” he muttered. ‘‘ She couldn’t ha’ knowed nothin’ about the house git- tin’ vigilantified, an’ mebbe ef she should wake up. abe qpiaht take on because I’m goin’, Poor ga So there was something besides the cabin that touched a chord in the breast of the rough and lawless man, and he was even sorry to leave that ugly and drunken squaw. He made a bundle of clothes and blankets and a smaller bundle of ammunition. The larger bundle he took in his hand, a Ml le ave the rifle an’ things fur another load,” said he. git. down.” He closed the door of the cabin when he went out, and picked his way down the steep descent to the bottom of the Well Hole, where he stop- ped to take breath. Symmes and his comrade bad taken their horses and gone, but the Well Hole was not vacant, Sam Bunker’s horse was grazing as usual, and there was also a young man there whom ‘Sam recognized at once. The cardigan jacket and the close cap with a tassel, if nothing else, would have told him that the young man was Clip Saunders. And so it was, Clip bad tracked the other two from Orodia, and was confused by the hoof-prints and other *‘sign” that he found in the basin. He had not perceived the arrival of Sam Bunker, who hastened to place himself in the gap, the only avenue by which the lad could expect to escape. lip looked up and caught sight of him just as he had taken this position of vantage. ‘* Now I’ve got you, you rotted young hound e shouted Bunker. ‘ Swing me up ef I don’t cut your or’nary bide into shoe-strings!” **That bill is powerful bard to Clip looked at his antagonist, perceived that ——— Pee me ee ee ee ee ee a there was no rifle in bis possession, and faced him boldly. That was quite the prover thing for him to do, as he bad no chance to escape. ‘*Havye you quit your castle up youges, Sam?” he tauntingly asked. ‘‘I hear that have made u your mind that it is a safe p to get away from.’ “T ain’t none o’ your look-out-what-I-get- away-from. It’s sart’in that you cain’t git away from mé, an’ that’s all I care about jest now,’ “ Big blow and small show,” retorted Clip. «You'll see what sort of ashow it is. I'm goin’ to belt the very breath outer you right now.’ + Well, you won’t have to hunt me up. I will come to you, and you had better get out of my way, or the show may be different from what you are counting on.” As the lad stepped forward he drew from its sheath his long and heavy knife. ‘“W’ot do you calkilate to do with that pork- slicer?’ demanded Bunker. “ , you cussed fool, I kin fill you full o’ lead afore you git nigh me. K Try it!” bravely ordered Clip. Sam Bunker drew bis Sad and cocked if. “You bet I will, ” he reps ‘*T swore that I'd be the death o’ you, an now I'll be as good as my word.” ‘Drop that pistol!” ordered Clip. “It will be as much as your life is worth to raise it.” Bunker did raise it; but at the instant Clip’s knife went flying through the air like a flash of Lightning, and its sharp blade sunk deep into his reast, This style of attack was not only entirely un- expected, but was fatally effective. The stricken man’s shot was fired harmlessly into the air. He waved his arms wildly, staggered, and fell backward to the ground, The blade had pierced his heart. **T couldn’t help it,” muttered Cli as he ap- pooncnes the body of his victim. t was my ife or his.” He drew out his knife, washed it in the little stream, shuddered as he returned it to its shoal and left the Well Hole without looking ac Sam Bunker lay there, cold and stark and alone, until late in the afternoon, when the In- dian woman in his cabin shook off’ her stupor and arose from her bard couch. She looked about in a blear-eyed manner, and noticed signs of the receut presence of her pro- tector and purveyor, perceiving that certain familiar articles were missing. Had he intended to leave ber, as he had often threatened to do? If so, he had not fully accomplished his pur- pose, as his rifle and his package of ammunition were still there. Her red eyes filled with maudlin tears as this possibility pressed upon her. ‘*Him gone!” she feebly muttered, If he had gone, he must of necessity have taken bis horse, and she could find out whether the horse was missing. So she left the cabin, and clambered down the steep descent into the Well Hole. It was a difficult and dangerous task for Gin- ger in ber condition, and more than once she came near falling down to her death, but finally reached the bottom of the basin in safety. There she saw the body of Sam Bunker lyin prone on the grass in a pool of his blood, an the wound in the breast showed ber how he had lost his life. She tottered to the corpse, and threw herself upon it, moaning and sobbing. Even for Sam Bunker there was one to mourn. At last she dried ber eyes with her dirty blanket gown, and sat up on the grass. ‘‘How git w’isky now?” she muttered, and that seemed to be the extent of the sentiment. Clip Saunders went from the Well Hole direct to Orodia and to Judge Waller’s office. ‘“The Vigilantes won’l have to go ater Sam Bunker, judge,” he said. “Why not? Has be cleared out iiNet ” ‘* He has left this country.” “You seem to get hold of everything, Clip. Do you know which way he went?’ The lad pointed upward, and then pointed downward. ‘*f don’t know which of those ways he went,” he answered, Is he dead?” “ What! “Yes, sir. I killed him. I nad to do it, or he would have killed me.’ pil cbooks.com a i;