Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 469 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

et net, . ace Tor “~ ak a ee ce ee ee oe -——_- was, to Ugly Mike and his two allies, a surprise decidedly disagreeable. From the loquacious, but hardly veracious Wheezy Ben, the chief of the Cripples had re- ceived an artisticaliy amplified account of the parts played by Trotter and the Teuton in the ‘Aifficulty with the hunchback desperado at the Fair Play a short while before, and he had at once jumped to the conclusion that the two mountain tramps would be pretty tough cus- tomers to encounter, even with the odds largely against them. Then, too, the ready recognition of the decoy- ed girl by Hunki Hans was not reassuring to the cunning ruffian. And both the actions and the words of the corpulent Teuton, as he has- tened toward the girl, pointed Seog to the fact that he was determined to make a desperate fight, if need be, to effect her rescue, Such a conflict as that promised was not ex- actly to the taste of Ugly Mike, desperate and lawless as he was, and he instantly decided upon a pan of action likely to lessen the risk to him- In accordance with this plan he sent his signal echoing eee the canyon, then, with the ex- clamation: *‘ We shall see!” drew back a pace and quickly folded his arms, an ugly grin part- ing his bearded lips. either he nor his companions in crime made any attempt to draw or use a weapon, but con- fined themselves for the nonce to watching nar- rowly each movement on the part of Hunki Hans and the girl. ‘* Krautvine, yer hev tackled a hefty ole job this time, sure’s ye’re a foot high!” jeeringly observed Wheezy Ben, after a moment of sl- lence. ‘‘ Yaw; dot vos all right, mine tear frient!” responded the Teuton, from his position at the side of the girl; ‘‘but vat you do apoud id, hey?” X Dot—do nothin’!” retorted Ugly Mike, in well-feigned disgust. ‘‘ Ef thet sweet pink ov a al are fool enuff ter desart her present pertec- rs an’ trust herself in ther hands ov sech a overgrow’d hunk ov p’izen wickedness an’ deceit es yer ugly mug shows yer ter be, we hain’t got nothin’ ter say. Hes we, pards?” ‘* Nothin’ a’ tall!” chorused the two ruffians, grinning broadly at the supposed facetiousness of their leader. ‘‘ Protectors! Abductors, you mean!” cried the girl, her black ves flashing angrily. ‘Oh! Lawd! Jest listen at thet!” groaned Wheezy Ben, raising his hands and slowly roll- ing his eyes in mock horror. ‘* Did yer ever heur tell ov sech depravity?” ‘‘ Neyer!” sighed Pious Pete. ‘‘So young, so luv’ly, an’ yit so worldly! Werily, she hev ‘strayed from ther flock!” Amazed at this bit of audacious impudence von the part of the three roughs, the girl stared at them a moment, then turned abruptly to -Hunki Hans. ‘“*They are a trio of cowardly ruffians!” she exclaimed, indignantly. ‘The fleshy rascal— the fellow in the middle there—decoyed me from camp with a cooked-up story to the effect that my brother, the so-called alcalde had been shot cand was dying out here in the Lills. “Tn return for the treacherous trick, with your assistance I will march them back to camp, where they shall receive a portion at least of the punishment they so richly merit.” ‘* Yaw; tey vas a lotuf gowardly poogers,eny- ‘vay, and pack to der gamp t’ey must go,” coincid- ed Hunki Hans, a vicious sparkle showing in his mild blue eyes. ‘‘ Py chimminetti! der foot uf King Gabe vas pound to make t’em vellers sore somedimes, hey?” ‘‘Heur w’at ther base villyuns perposes!” roared Ugly Mike, tragically, giving his arms a frantic fling. “ eur! oh, heur! my feller suf- ferers, an’ tell me ef it are ter be cr not ter be?” ‘‘ Down with ther foreign inwader!” shrieked Wheezy Ben, his eyes ‘in fine frenzy rolling,’ a broad grin hovering over his oily countenance, ‘* Guv me liberty or guv me whisky.” ‘“ Wy stand we here idle?’ exclaimed Pious Pete, oracularly. ‘‘Ter avoid punishment un- becomin’ galoots ov our cloth, we must fly—flee in flight, fer he who runs away may live ter ‘fight a gin cocktail sum other day!” ‘‘ This idiotic nonsense is to gain time,” de- clared the girl to her corpulent rescuer in a low tone, keeping her eyes on the ruffians disdain- fully. ‘*The whistle sounded by the one with the red beard was a signal for help from som quarter. Whatever is to be done must be don ‘quickly. If the feat can in any way be accom- plished, we should take the trio into camp, for tthere is some motive for this bold act.” Hunki Hans nodded assent, and in a voice - The Rival Giants of Nowhar. ee = ————_— 0000 —0 sd de that ——7——_—_—— rrr SS —_—_—— scarcely above a whisper spoke hurriedly for a full minute. **Stop all dat foolishin’, you vellers,” he ex- claimed, sternly, addressing Ugly Mike and his allies. ‘‘I am gomin’ to dake you brisoners. Chust geep your hants oop und pe shtill mit you all, et vill shoot und der young lady likewise. Oof you dry to run avay, or make a fight, you will fint yoursellufs tead mit no goffins py, py donder!” At these words, a dark scowl flitted over the face of Ugly Mike. That Hunki Hans might at- tempt anything more than the rescue of the girl was an idea which had not even remotely oc- curred to the cunning ruffian. Darting a swift glance up the canyon, he ground out a savage oath between his hard-set teeth, and in a scarcely audible voice muttered: ** Pards, we hev played ther fool in lettin’ ’em git ther drop on us. They hev us lined ter kill, an’ they mean ter shoot ef we lifts a finger. Ef ther cussed dogs don’t kem, the game are up with us.” ‘*It makes one feel amazin’ sick,” remarked Wheezy Ben, as the strange pair moved slowly forward. ‘‘So far as I kin see, we hev put our foot in it, an’ ther next thing we knows we’ll be gettin’ our necks in a noose. Oh! we hev no show at all; even ther leetle gal are a puffect whirly-gnat ov sand.” An odd smile played around the mouth of the girl as the cautiously uttered words reached her ears, ‘* Put out your hands—emptiy !” she exclaimed, soaEPAYs halting within a yard of the obese rough. lor a moment Wheezy Ben hesitated, then sullenly complied. In the girl’s flashing eyes, in the muzzles of the dainty revolvers she held so steadily, there was a persuasive force not to be lightly resisted. o sooner were the hands of the ruffian ex- tended than Hunki Hans, with a single deft movement, drew from the pocket of his tattered coat and snapped around the waiting wrists a pair of glistening steel handcuffs! At sight of the manacles the consternation of the three desperadoes knew no bounds. ‘** An ossifer, by ther Lawd!” woefully groan- ed Wheezy Ben. ‘* Exactly—not a Dutch tramp, but a member of the Rocky Mountain Detectives’ Association,” responded Hunki Hans, coolly, his voice and ac- cent changing as if by magic. ‘*Han’cuffs! A detective! Now we’s in fer it, sure, pards,” muttered Pious Pete, his cada- verous visage a picture of dismay. ‘*You have predicted aright, my prophetic friend,” and with the declaration the speaker brought into view a second pair of handcuffs, with which Pious Pete was at once secured. During the moment consumed in ironing his two allies, Ugly Mike remained silent, rage and chagrin plainly showing in his distorted face. ‘** Dern my cats! ef this hyar hain’t a meer mean deal—a cold-blooded outrage!” he growled, as the detective confronted him. ‘* Have your own way about that. The only thing I require of you is a complete surrender. A galoot of about your size and build is pretty badly wanted just now over in Southwestern Colorado, ‘* Do you twig, Canyon Kit?” The detective’s words brought a sudden blaze of desperation into the eyes of the chief of the Cripples. Glaring acai at the man whom he now recognized as an implacable foe, he seemed at the point of risking life and limb in a bold dash for liberty. But the revolvers in the hands of the undaunt ed girl still bore full upon his breast, and with a bitter snarl] he cowered back, wholly unrerved. **Tt’s no use kickin’ ag’in’ you, Bolly Dorrit— I cave,” he muttered, sullenly. “But I’d jest like ter know how on airth yer kem ter stum- ble on ter ther hidden trail ov ther Canyon Scourges.” ‘‘An accident, Kit—merely an_ accident,” laughed the detective, ‘1 freely admit that it was only by chance that I penetrated your dis- guise, although I was on the lookout for you. There is a vast difference between Ugly Mike and his Cripples and Canyon Kit and his band of daring road-agents, ‘‘ But since a hitherto adverse fate has so kindly placed you in my power, I am fully inclined to profit by my accidental discovery. It was only ‘an hour ago, while you and your two allies here f were apart the abduction of this young lady, overheard enough to open my eyes to your true character. Circumstances prevented blocking your bold scheme, but I was close behind your tool and his unsuspecting victim all | the way here, \ \ tag > 5 i fl , ———- ’ ” m a m " ut _ os - ee oe ee ** And I came provided for just such an emer- gency as the present. Here is my third and last pair of bracelets. Extend your wrists until I satiate your desire for jewelry.” Ugly Mike, as we shall continue to know him, slowly raised his hands, then drew back sharply as a peculiar sound reached his ears, The next instant, he uttered a mocking laugh, in which he was joined by his manacled allies, The detective and his fair companion retreated a trifle, their faces showing surprise if not alarm. ‘Sorry, Bolly, but I really can’t obleege yer to-day,” gleefully exclaimed the chief. as a full pack of gaunt, heavy-jawed, ugly-looking dogs, sweeping down the canyon, crouched whining at his feet, their tails restlessly whipping the earth, their fierce, bloodshot eyes fixed intently | upon the detective. ‘**Tt’s not beca’se I don’t want ter holp yer along, Bolly Dorrit, but beca’se my friends hyar won't allow it,” cautioned the ruffian. ‘* An’ Bolly, they’re ther best friends a pore hunted devil ever had, I reckon—four-footed friends, w’ot can't be bought ter play me false, ‘© Up, good dogs, an’ at him !” With a series of deep-toned growls, the well- trained pack, ignoring the girl, sprung straight at the throat of the detective. wee Startled i pape measure, for a brief moment, by the terrible peril with which he was men- aced, Hunki Hans swiftly drew back, barely es- caping the fangs of the leaders of the pack, Only for the briefest space possible was he irres- olute. | retreating, working his revolvers with wondrous celerity and certainty, he executed each move with the promptness and decision of a thorough- ly brave man fighting for life, » And in this extreme emergency the alcalde’s sister likewise showed remal le courage, her revolvers exploding rapidly with an effect decidedly deadly to the pack of bloodthirsty brutes, Ry ‘*Ohko! oho!” roared Ugly Mike, in ferocious glee. “Tear him, ye dogs—tear him, ter rib- bons!” ‘* Shoot ther cussed spotter an’ putt an eend ter ther racket,” suggested Pious Pete, uneasily. ‘** Shcot nothin’!” savagely returned the chief. ‘Long ago l swore that ef ever Icaught Bolly Dorrit, ther scourge ov ther Scourges, he should be torn ter pieces by ther wild dogs ov ther band.” ‘* Then stop ther gal, or thar won’t be a purp left,” muttered Wheezy Ben, sulkily. ‘So far es I kin see, she are slayin’ more ov ther critters than ther man-hunter.” The truth of the obese ruffian’s words was manifest to Ugly Mike. With a single swift bound he reached the unwary girl, and struck the weapons from her bands. The next instant she was s ruggling in his short, powerful arms. A piercing scream apprised the detective of her peril; but, torn and bleeding, hemmed in by the snapping, snarling, leaping brutes, he was powerless to aid her, even in the least. ‘‘Keep the critters at work—I’m goin ter putt ther leetle angel away,” cried Ugly Mike, sharply, as he rapidly moved off up the canyon.” . Fascinated by the the terrible struggle in pro- gress before them, the manacled outlaws made no response beyond a surly growl, His revolvers empty and useless-at last, the closely pressed detective, with the pack—dimin- ished in size but still ravenously fierce—in full cry at bis heels, fled down the canyon, staggering blindly as he ran. « {a ‘Ther bloke are-fightin’ a Se fate,” observed Wheezy Ben, his voice teeming with grim satis- faction. ‘He might ’a’ know’d better’n ter tackle three sech rustlers es us, enyway.” ‘Right yer are, yer fat fraud,” cried Pious Pete, jocularly. ‘‘Ef we c’u’d on’y git rid ov these bracelets now, w’ot a time— Oho! he are down at last !” 4 At these words the desperado eagerly started forward, his usually saturnine visage aglow with malevolent satisfaction; for, Shipping in the coze which in places covered the bottom of the canyon, the luckless detective had fallen heavily upon his face, to be instantly set ee by the gaunt, powerful dogs, eager to rend bim into fragments. CHAPTER XI. A MADMAN’S WORK. tar WHEN the giant of the golden locks abruptly wheeled and confronted the dark Hercules, it was quite plain to the men on the horseshoe plateau that the most eventful day in the history \ » ; . ~ comicbooks _— Comic : > = ° ees ea ad Circling agilely about, now advancing, again | ed ——