Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 47 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 Beadle’s Half-Dim — Ee i a —E tient. ‘‘I,ean’t sit here all night. What are you going to do?” ‘‘The girl will not go of her own accord,” Captain Dave said. ‘‘ One of my men will con- duct her to you.” ‘* Well, be quick about it. My fingers are get- tin’ uncommon nervous on the trigger, an’ they might touch the shootin’-iron off.” The forest Apollo made a sign to Darcy, who Icaned hoguiaae and clutched Violet’s arm. ‘* A change of masters, my gal,” he said; and he added, in a whisper: *‘ You may thank your stars that Cap’n Rough opened his mouth when he did.” But the girl shrunk from the outlaw, tearing oa ga from his gripe and forcing her horse yack, ‘*No! no! I will not go to that man out there and leave my young friend with Captain Dave.” ‘* Well, how are you goin’ to help yourself, my little catamount?’ cried Darcy, roughly, as the rest of the band laughed audibly at his mo- mentary discomfiture. ‘If I say go, go you shall! All the powers that are cannot prevent it. Go! I say, and bythe stars, my bird, ‘go’ it is!” The lieutenant pressed forward with out- stretched hand. His eyes were fastened on Violet. ‘* No resistin’! I’ve wrung necks as purty as yourn. Come! come! my dove!” The words were lost on the forest girl, for, with the quickness of thought, she drove her horse toward the lieutenant, and tore a pistol from his belt! The suddenness of this startling action ap- palled every spectator. The Indians looked on with gutturals of surprise, and oaths shot from the throats of the white outlaws. She reached Nightingale Nat’s side in the twinkling of an eye and — his bridle-rein. ‘*Stand back!” she cried, leveling the pistol at the maddened men, who looked t rough the eyes of wolves upon her. ‘‘ Do not lift a hand. I'll drop the first one who does.” She turned quickly and spoke sharply to the horse that bore the boy. The next moment they were off. ** Great Caesar!” ejaculated the man who sat in the shadows. ‘I never thought the girl had such grit an’ judgment as that. They will not follow! Captain Dave has fainted in the swingin’- bed. I will catch the fugitives. I’m in luck, fur I can shoot the boy when I come up, an’ have the gal all to myself.” Captain Rough lowered his rifle and gathered up the reins. Fle saw the outlaws flock around the hammock back into whose depths Captain Dave had fallen with a groan. e knew that their solicitude for his welfare would occupy them for some time. He resolved to follow the young fugitives. Wheeling abruptly about he was sunprieeg to find his own bridle-rein in the gripe of a dark figure that darted from the dense shadow of a tree. The steed, frightened by the apparition, shied to the left. ‘* Who are you?” Rough demanded, as his quick hand darted > a pistol. ‘‘Shadow-Shot, at your sarvice!” was the re- ply. ‘‘ We’ve been huntin’ you, cap’n. You war goin’ after the leetle ones, eh? That gal played a sharp trick on Cap’n Dave, didn’t she? No cussin’, my bird, fur I git narvous like when I heard such words, an’ my finger’s on the trigger now. Rough’s hand crept reluctantly from his belt. He saw himself a captive in the hands of the death-shot of the Wisconsin woods, ‘Come, Jack! fetch up the horses.” From the right a man approached. He sat astride of one horse and led another. ‘* Tt’s Jack Gustin—one of your men,” Shadow- Shot said, glancing at the captain, into whose leam of hope suddenly ee: ‘“‘ Jack!” he cried, putting forth his hand. ‘Why, I thought they killed you when they fell like wolves upon the train, Shake, old boy: we've always been friends,” With a curious smile on his face the ranger grasped his captain’s hand; but the shake had not that cordiality which characterizes the meeting of bosom friends, ‘You must submit to a bit o’ tyin’, cap’n,” the gaunt hunter said, producing a piece of rope. ‘It is jest for security’s sake. After awhile we may turn you loose an’ dismiss you with our blessin’!”’ Rough did not resist while Shadow-Shot sec him to the horse, and bound his arms to his side. ‘** Now we're off,” he said, springing upon the horse which Gustin had brought up. ‘The leetle ones will not go far afore they stop to little in the he said. “I rocks. noiter.” without much trouble. make our fortunes before we go back to the in assumed. surprise. be, cap’n?” Even I could cut a swell in the cit half of it. ley’s any more; the high bobolinks at the nest tain, are enough. Ill share equally, might return and spoil our plans.”’ bonds, Jack, an’ let me Then we'll make a dash for the fortune.” sarted a few days ago? ) as you. knew they would, and butchered every one! D’ye think Jack Gustin is a fool? Cap’n, all the friendship I ever had for you I kin put in my eye, and see as well as ever. sand dollars! The camp of the outlaws was left to the right, and its fires disappeared. jail bond when we git you back to Chicago!” i © lo the gal is worth, cap’n? I heerd you talkin’ to yourself awhile bac How much/—fifty | thousand, eh?” - | Rough did not reply. : ‘* Mute as an oyster,” and the heavy hand of | he aker fell upon the captain’s shoulder. **Look a here! 1 mean business. There isn’t any law in these parts; but thar’s a certain amount of justice that strikes oncommon hard. Do you want it tostrike you, Cap’n Rough? I want my questions answered. Business is busi- ness. When the time comes I’jl let daylight into your brain-shop if you don’t answer the questions which I will ask.” : The awful determination revealed in the rough voice of the speaker senta pallor of fright across the villain’s face. ‘‘ When the time comes!” repeated Shadow- Shot. ‘‘It may come afore mornin’. Prepare to open your mouth.” No other word was spoken, for the three were pushing through the forest as fast as the night would permit. Jack Gustin’s iron hand held the bridle of Captain Rough’s horse. Shadow-Shot rode a vance. After several hours’ riding the long ranger drew rein and turned to his associate. “The young ’uns may hev gone to the cave!” ear somethin’ down among the Stay hyar, an’ I’ll go ahead an’ recon- Rough’s eyes brightened as he saw Shadow- Shot move off, and leave him alone with Gustin, one of the late members of his train, There was a minute’s silence between the two men. ‘*Jack,” said the captain, suddenly, ‘‘ we’ve always been friends.” The ranger smiled as he turned to listen. ‘There are fifty thousand dollars in these woods for us to-night. We can make it ours Let us be friends and y: ”? “Fifty thousand dollars!” ejaculated Gustin, ‘‘ Whar might that mine ’ “Tell me first if you will go with me!” cried Rough, anxiously, but catching eagerly at hope. ‘Fifty thousand isn’t to be made every day, with the It wouldn’t be ‘ Old Jack’ at Bur- would have to ‘ Mr.’ me.” ‘Certainly they would!” exclaimed the cap- ‘You must decide quickly, Jack. Two Shadow-Shot ‘“Whar’s the mine, cap’n’ Lm not the feller to embark in enterprises afore I know somethin’ about ’em.” Rough was chagrinned; he was losing time. ‘‘Tt is where the girl is,” he said, ‘She is worth that to us!” “How?” “Tl tell you as we ride away. Cut my et a gripe on the lines, The next moment Captain Rough saw a knife flash in the starlight; his eyes replied to the glit- ter. ‘* Cut your bonds?” cried Gustin. ‘‘I’d sooner cut your throat. Whar ’re the boys what youde- The Vultures followed Fifty thou- That’ll be the amount on your The expression that covered the ruffian’s face was frightening in the extreme, From the pinnacle of hope he had been dashed into the — of despair! He could not look at the honest Gustin, and turning his face away, sought to hide his coun- tenance. ‘‘They’re comin’! said the ranger, suddenly, and Captain Rough heard the voice of Shadow- Shot in the forest. The tall ranger soon made his appearance, ac- companied by Nightingale Nat and Violet, whom he had overtaken near the cave-home, the scene of several thrilling events in our story. ‘Wal, hyar we are!” cried the hunter, look- ing up into Rough’s face. ‘Cap'n, ain’t it kind in me to bring you the fifty-thousand-dollar gal? An’ hyar’s the little one, too.” The discomfited man did not reply; a dark e Library. take their bearings.; How much did. you say | ee eee ee | scowl settled on his face, and he tried to look away. “The time is hyar!” continued Shadow-Shot. ‘‘ Now, Cap’n Rough, look at that boy an’ tell him who he is!” But the stubborn man sealed his lips, There was the sharp click of a pistol-lock, ‘* No foolin’, cap’n! I mean business!” CHAPTER XVII. RETRIBUTION ! SHADOW-SHOT moved nearer the captain as he uttered the last word. Nightingale Nat, with lis eyes full of wonder- ment, imitated his protector’s example. “Now! tell us all!” the ranger said. ‘‘ Who His is the boy?’ ‘His right name is Winfred Maxton. father is dead—has been these thirteen years. His cousin, Geoffry Nixon, is spending the money that belongs to the boy. a his es hood, the a # was stolen an’ taken from Chica- go. By an’ by the man who was raisin’ him moved into the city, an’ began to manufacture fireworks. Do you recollect that, boy ?”’ ‘‘'Yes!” cried Nat, eagerly. ‘‘ He is telling truth!” he said to Shadow-Shot. ‘“ Which is jest what we want. Goon!” ‘*Geoffry Nixon found out that the boy came back like a piece of queer. He hunted me up, but he saw British John, the fireworks-maker, first. I agreed to bring the boy into these woods and lose him. Our er to the copper mines was a sham, for some fellows appeared to be watchin’ me. I1-did bring the boy here, an’ he lost himself!” Captain Rough smiled faintly at the attempt at humor on his part, and ceased. ‘‘ That’s all?’ said Shadow-Shot, laconically. Rough nodded. ‘* You didn’t fracture your own character much, cap’n. Are you sure that you war only to lose the boy in these parts? Now wasn’t thar somethin’ said as to how you war to lose him?’ The caged man turned pale again. ‘*Of course Geoffry Nixon might think that a boy lost hyar might git back to Chicago, an’ upset his arrangements, Now wasn’t thar to be some Foung blood spilled?” ‘ , ves!” issed Rough. ‘‘But I wasn’t to do it. ‘*Oh, no! You wouldn’t harm a fly. Look byar. Im huntin’ fur evidence what will stand inlaw, You war to do it yerself.”’ oa guilty look of ee Ree Rough betrayed im “ We'll see if you will tell the, same thin’s when we get Mr. Nixon into the clutches of jus- tice. We'll face you with the fireworks-man.” ‘What! are you going to take me back to the city?’ cried Rough. “Of course! Don’t you want to go, cap’n? Old cronies back thar; most of ’em in jail, I “That is not fair, after what I have said. Leave me here to die somewhere in these wilds.” ‘“'You’re not needed hyar: they’ve got a Cap- tain Dave—that is enough. You’re wanted in Chicago—wanted badly, cap’n, at two of the courts.” The last speaker was Jack Gustin. ‘‘ Let me say a word!” ‘*Sartainly, gal,” said Shadow-Shot, lookin at the fair speaker, whose face was aglow with anxious excitement. ‘““Captain Rough, you say I would be worth fifty thousand ollars to you,” Violet said, fastening her eyes upon the ruffian. ‘Not that much, perhaps,” he answered. “Those two men will get y can for you, depend upon that.” shadow -Shot’s eyes sparkled, ‘‘ That’s a lie, cap’n!” he said. ‘If the gal’s mother is livin’ back she goes, an’ Jack an’ me won't charge a cent. . Now, is she livin’?’ ‘‘My mother living!” cried Violet. ‘ Oh, what joy I will bring to her heart before long.’ The party who composed the interesting Pup sat on their horses at the edge of a latent Si in the light of a full moon just rising over the horizon’s rim. The expressions of their faces were clearly vis- ible and quite various. The eyes of Ruffian Rough moved restlessly in their sockets. He abominated the thought of going back to the scenes of his crimes as a prisoner. In the courts his ment with Geoffry Nixon would be made known, the story of his desertion of the train would be told by Jack Gustin, and the doors of the State prison would be swung open to welcome him, Not only all this, but he was losing the oppor- <eom cS Ghoo