Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 424 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

Not a person was to be seen, and the nearest house was a quarter of a mile away. A short tance behind him, along the path he had come, stood a large cottonwood tree. He retraced his steps to that, and looked up, but he could see no one, Where the dagger had come from, was a mys- tery. Step ing out into the full moonlight, and aided by the light from his cigar, he read the note. It was written in a plain, bold feminine hand, and ran as follows: “*Src:—You are in danger. You have made an enemy of the worst manin Ante-Bar. ‘Giant’ John is as treacherous as a snakeinthe grass. He will strike when you least expectit. Be on your guard every moment, night and day. ‘**From one who would be— ‘**'Your FrRienp.”’ Cibuta John was now rised indeed. Who could his unknown friend be? That it was a female, the writing indicated, but, who was she? - ‘At any~»rate,” he thought, “‘I1 am very much obiiged for the warning, though I am not enerally to be found asleep with both eyes shut. I will look out for Mr. John Giant—or Giant John. I wonder who the writer of this can be? I must look around and find out. I seem to have a strange fatality for getting into a mess of adventure and mystery whenever [ strike a new town. Well, so be it. If Mr. Giant John chips in again, though, [ll give him a taste of prickly-pear that he won’t relish.” While his niet eae ran thus, Cibuta had re- sumed his stroll along the bank of the creek. Presently he came to a point where the hee began to grow narrow, and where huge bowl- ders lay around in wild confusion—some of them blocking his pathway. His cigar’was growing short, and he was just on the point of turning to retrace his steps, when, suddenly, two masked men sprung out from behind a large rock and confronted him with drawn revolvers, ‘““Whoap! Hold right up heur!” one of them cried. ‘‘We wants a leetle intervoo wi’ you, Mr. So-beautiful John, or whatever ye calls yerself! Hold right up, now, an’ don’t kick over ther traces!” . Cibuta John recognized the voice of the ker:—it w@s none other than ‘‘ Giant ” John ones. ‘Well, Giant,” he said, coolly, ‘‘ what is it you want to interview me about?” Giant John was not a little surprised to find that he was recognized despite his mask. He put on a bold front, however, and answered: al, we wants ter know what it is brings you ter this heur town o’ Ante-Bar?” ‘* Business, my good John; business !” ADs none 0’ our business, may be? That it? ‘* Exactly.” ‘Wal, now, look ’e right heur! I want ye ter pack up yer gripsack an’ mosey right out o’ heur! D’ye see?’ ‘‘- Yes, John; I see, and I don't see.” ‘* What is it that you don’t see?” ‘‘T don’t see what right you have to waylay a stranger like this, and order him to leave town. Who are you, anyhow?” ‘‘ Wal, afore you kem along I war th’ king- bee o’ Ante-Bar. Fer two years I have been cock o’ th’ walk heur, an’ I don’t propose ter al- low a bantam like you ter come in at this late day an’ clip my wings! Oh! no, not much! You've got ter pack right up an’ make yerself scarce heurabouts! You hear me!” ‘“‘My dear Giant,” returned Cibuta, ‘ you may keep right on being king-bee of the town. You may be the chieftain of the whole valley, the monarch of all you survey, if you want to; so ‘ong as you do not interfere with me and my in- terests. I am the most peaceable fellow you - ever met. All I want are my rights, and just 4 ; yoom enough to prance around in without erowding any one, or being crowded myself. ? ‘*Yas, I see. An’ don’t you see thet we've got ther dead-wood on ye?” ‘“*The what?” ‘‘ Ther dead-wood—ther drop.” ““Oh! yes, I see! But, bless you, boys, that a ‘es not frighten me; not a bit. I’m used to it ‘‘ Don't ye know that we mean ‘ shoot?’” ‘No; do you?” “You jest bet we do! Now, jest look ’e heur! ‘We mean business! We want you to pick right up an’ skin out o’ this heur burg, jest ez soon ez we kin! D’ye onderstand that 7” Cibu ** And, what if I don’t?” “‘That’s ther proper ques ter ask, every time! If yesay ye won’t go, then we propose ter make cold meat of ye right heur. ow, ye’ve heard my little song; what d’ye say to it?’ ‘What is your partner’s name?’ Cibuta asked, indicating the giant’s companion-in- arms. **Oh! it don’t matter ter you, who he are! He echoes my senterments, you kin bet on that! Now, open yer head an’ sing yer little ditty. Will ye go, or not?” ‘Why! you knock-kneed, double-twisted, red- handed sons of Mexican horse-thieves, you, no / What do you take me for? Do I look like a tenderfoot? See ugh | oe about me to indicate that ’m just from New Jersey? If you have picked me up as a tenderfoot, you'll have to ria 3 me as a hard-shell. Why, I’ve traveled the highways and byways of the wild West so long that my soles are as tough as cowhide! The thorny ways, rocky roads, ups and downs and vicissitudes of life dont make any impres- sion upon them. . I— Hi! look out!” And suddenly glancing beyond the two men, Cibuta John ducked his head and sprung a step backward. It was the old, old trick—old, yet ever new. Giant John and his companion looked quickly around, and the moment they did so Cibuta drew a pair of revolvers and “covered” them, exclaiming: ** Now, Sali! you cripples—dance! Be very careful not to move your hands, though, for if you do I’ll bore you, as sure as you’re born! I feel like ‘shoot’ all over. Now, let oa pop- guns drop right down upon the ground!” The two men obeyed. Too cowardly at heart were they to think of doing otherwise. ‘‘ There! that’s right,” Cibutaassured. *‘ Now, Giant, you tie your ner’s hands behind his back— No, don’t take off your masks, I want you just as you are, in all your beauty.” ‘*T ain’t got nothin’ to tie him with,” the giant protested, sullenly. ‘* Tear a strip off of the mainsail of his shirt, then. Anything will do.” But some stout cord was quickly produced, and the giant set about his task; the man’s hands were securely bound. Then in turn Cibuta secured the hands of the iant. ‘* There!” he exclaimed, when he had finished, ‘““now we are ready to go to town.” ‘* You don’t mean ter take us back to ther Bar this way, do ye?” Giant John asked, ‘‘ Certainly I do!” ‘¢ Wj’ these here masks over our faces, too?” ** Yes.” ‘Don’t, pard; don’t, fer heaven’s sake, do it!” “Why not?” ‘¢ They'll take us fer highwaymen.” ‘Ha, ha, ha! Well, what else are you? Did you not waylay me?” ‘Yes, we done that; but don’t let it out that we was masked. That is the wu'st part of “Can’t help it, boys; it is your own funeral. You have brought it upon yourselves, Come, now! forward, march! And, don’t forget that Iam right behind you!” And Cibuta, with his humiliated prisoners, starved for Ante-Bar, he having picked up their weapons from the ground where he had ordered them to be dropped. The two men begged hard to be “let down easy,” and promised eterna] friendship to Cibu- ta Lut he was not to be moved. To town they had to go, and masked, too, just as they were, When they arrived at the Dew-drop Inn, Cibuta approached a man who was standing on the porch, and said: ‘‘Sir, will you please tell me where I can find the mayor of this town—the alcalde, the burgo- master, or Whatever you call the first officer of the place?” , “Yes,” the man answered; ‘‘ very likely you can find him down at Burdock’s store, There is some sort of meetin going on there in regard to school matters, I believe.’ Cibuta John thanked the man, and then set out to find the store, When he arrived there with his two prisoners, Uncle Dan Derrick, ‘‘th’ Poet o’ Ante-Bar,’ was just closing the meeting with the remark; ‘*¢ An’ now, ter-morrer when she comes, We'll not meet her wi’ fifes : -’” drums; But let each man be neat an’ clean, An’ try ter act in nowise mean. sad “* John. tal * ta t heur, let me say ter you— Respect is to a lady due; , So, fer this once, all you galoots Jest wear yer pants outside yer boots!” * as . ; a ; aaa oy Ye oe pe fo . bn . ; . 2. = a . n 7 a an # ~~ } 4 * ne ‘. \ ’ - +4 _ : aay ae + yy <i. Vas 7 ee *) wit: “ae ts - y Ne o% 4 * ry : "= yA “ wag _ -_— a ad Trey es ~ “tes c as ey, . - eg OT ‘ * 6 oe, CHAPTER IV. THE FATAL BRAND. Bos BuRDOCK’s store was, in a way, the town-hall of Ante-Bar. There the leading citizens generally congre- gated of an evening, and there the public busi- ness of the town was usually transacted. “e this night in particular the store was well All eyes were turned upon Cibuta John and his prisoners, the moment they entered. hen the postmaster ceased speaking, Cibuta John asked: ‘Will I be interrupting the meeting if I toot my bazoo now?” ‘** No,” was the reply from a dozen or more ati once, ‘‘ go right ahead.” All were anxious to hear his story, and to know all about his prisoners. ‘* Th’ public business now is o’er, An’ you, my dear sir, have the floor,” declared Uncle Dan, as he sat down. ‘“‘Such being the case,” responded Cibuta ‘*T’ll come to the point. First of all, though, i want to see the mayor of the town; the mayor —marshal — buccaneer —bailiff—bumbailiff— or whatever you call your chief citizen. I was told that I-would be likely to find him here.” ** Judge Hucklebee, he must mean you; you're sheriff o’ ther town,” said Uncle Dan, as he rose to his feet again and glanced over to where sat: a large, fat, bald-headed man, with a face as round and merry-looking as a stove-polish pic- ture-sign on a board fence. ** If you'll stand up a moment, sir, "ll quickly ‘knock you down.’” Mr. Huckle master continued: ‘‘ This man, sir, is Judge Hucklebee, Whom we ez sheriff owns; Judge Hucklebee, Cibuta John: W hose maiden name is Jones.” With a flourish of his hand then, Uncle Dam again took his seat. : “I'm happy to know you, sir,” said Cibuta John. ‘‘ Allow me to ask whether you recog- nize these two gentlemen?” indicating his two prisoners. ’ ‘*T think I do, sir, although they wear masks, Their figures are quite familiar to me. They are ‘Giant’ John Jones and Billy Bobsled—twa of the worst characters of the town.” So Judge Hucklebee replied. an wilinaw remove their masks,” announced Cibuta John, ‘‘and then you can all identify them positively.” And as he spoke he pulled the masks from the two villains’ faces, _ Yes, they’s the very men!” cried everybody in one voice. ‘* How’s this, Giant?” asked, Bill Twicker. ‘‘You been a-tryin’ ter pluck prickly-p’ars ag’in?” ‘“‘Hain’t ye both old enough ter know that rickly-p’ars is s things to fool with?” Jem atterson added. ‘ Th’ man what rubsa prick- ly-p’ar th’ wrong way, is bound ter git stuck, more or less, every time.” _ Both Giant John and Billy Bobsled glared arose at once, and the post- around them in sullen defiance. Neither had a word to say. ‘¢ Now, sheriff,” said Cibuta, ‘‘TIl lay the facts of the case before you. ‘After eating my supper at the Dew-drop I lighted a cigar and started out for a stroll up the creek. When I reached a rocky place a short. distance above the town, these two peach-blos- soms sprung out upon me, each with a pop-gun in hand, and ordered me to stop. ‘* Naturally, I paused. ‘‘Then I was informed that I must at once pack my gripsack and leave town. Yes, sir; niacin told that I must ‘ git’ right up an git. : ‘“* Now, what I naturally want to find out is this; Are these two blooming primroses au- thorized to dictate to a pereD in this way “No, sir!” answered the sheriff, “ they*are not; nor any one else, so long as your said pil- grim does not run counter to our rules and regu- lations.” “ Just what J thought, and somehow or other I changed places with these two lilies-of-the-val- ley. That is to say, I got the drop on them and hore they are.” | ‘© And you desire to turn them over to me?” Judge Hucklebee asked. * Well, that is what I did think of doing, sir; but if it will put you to any inconvenience, I will punish them myself. On second thoughts perhaps that would be the better way., It wi teach them a lesson they won’t forget.” _ “ How will you punish them?” “Why, I'll take them right out in the street here, and whale the daylights out of them! The