Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 471 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

ne eG OC - -— ee ee ie tl i, eI I a ae —_ et tl i i ie tt tet cies . P f P "* .* et ee ther killin’ part so well the office of Phineas ee arch-schemer glanced at the declining oe To-night!” he replion ‘‘ofter dark. The sooner, then, the bette ‘“Kerect. Give me the job and I'm your man, What’s the critter?” ‘* Bozeman Bill!” ‘** Humph!” “Oh! You weaken, eh?” ‘*Nary. Ill watch my chance and tap him in the back of the neck. I never fail there, Wouldn't like ter face him, though. He’s too entle with his dukes ter suit my complexion, Vhat’s the tariff?’ Hinton considered a moment, ‘‘ Will you swear to do the job up right and make no balks?’ he demanded, eying Sneaky keenly. s Dead sure certain. AsI told ye before, I’ve did nearly all of Jake’s dirty work, an’ never missed a job, an’ I never got much pay, nuther, Tain’t likely I'd slip up on a job fer you!” “Very well; Pll try you. Ill give you five hundred dollars to fix Bozeman Bill so’ that he never sees the light of another day. But, mind you, I never want to see your face in Big "Brace again, after this meeting!” sé Eh?” ‘* You heard what I said!” ‘* But, how’m I ter get me money, then?” “You get it, now, if you swear to skin out, and never return, after the act is done!” ‘*Correct! I swear it. It will suit me tera capertal dot. The sooner I can puckachee, the better.” ‘* Very well!” Hinton took out a well-filled wallet, counted out' the stipulated sum, and placed it in the ruf- fian’s hands, ‘Now then,” he continued, ‘‘ you understand wee ‘re to do, and that you're to let whisky alone ‘* You bet! Nary a drop more, till I’m miles from Big Brace.” , Bood-by |” ‘* Good- The two Y ains shook hands, and Horace set off toward the Hinton residence. When he was gone, Sueaky once more sat down in the shade of the bushes, and counted over the money, chuckling as he did so. ‘Five hun red dollars!” he solil oquized. ‘Great guns! That’s more’n I ever had i in m hands before, at one time, in my life; and all that just fer Killin’ a feller! a ar I don’t fancy do the mone Never killed a man in my life. S’pose I cou d do et, tho’, That was great guff I give the boss, ‘bout doin’ all o’ Jake's jobs, am’ ut Jake’s havin’ the rams! Ef Jake know’d Id stole this job from him, how he’d climb me, tho’! Wonder whar he is anyhow? Layin’ fer Bozeman Bill, Is "pose. “Hell kill him, of I don’t, so what’s the use 0’ my botherin’ my head about it? “Sneaky Smith, ake stockin’, what’s the mat- ter wi’ yer takin uiet sasha all by yerself? You’ve got the | le, an’ ef Jakey gits onter ther fact, yer goose is gander. Ther climate w’u’d be ruther too warm around here fer yer indervidooal health, Strikes me ther best thing ye kin do is ter harness un Shank’s mare an strike out fer ther risin’ sun!” He examined the fannde once more, and put it carefully aw 1g Fa in his gazed around Few people were stirring about the camp—no one who appeared to be paying any attention to me “Well, here goes,” he muttered, striking off up the gulch. ‘‘ By-by to ye, Jakey, old pard! Long life and prosperity. I’ve called the deal last!” on you 8 never pecking back, e kept straight on, ily a - followed h Stealthhy Ho had been snooz- mp of bushes, sleeping off a It was Jake J 7 himself, e ina ee and } hal overheard all, Both soon disappeared from view, An hour later, Jug returned sh blow Upon his knife there were fres lood-stains! —_—_—_—_ CHAPTER XIII. WINGING THE TERROR. sf : sunset when Bozeman Bill left It was nearly Fink, and after pont m that locality it takes but a few minu dark, so deep down vie the camp located be- tween th tain w Bill went straightway 1 to the hotel, but found that neither Harry Hinton nor Old "Avalanche bad returned, whick gave him considerable BERNE, for it told him: that they had eat yet et; then he arose, and - i - (ea MEN » ja Bozeman Bill of . Bill of Big Brace, _ Brace, found Janet. So, instead of going in to supper, the detective lit a cigar and went out on the hotel piazza, to await their coming In case Janet could not be found half of his 0" would be lost. d sanguine hopes, however, that he would see the trio approaching, for, to make the denouement complete, he wanted to have them present at the hated cabin that night. He had been seated but a few minutes, and was engaged in chatting with a new ar rival in the camp, when he espied Jake Jug coming up the street. The bully was swa gering along with an im- portant sort of stride, and his very motions, and the grim expression of his countenance, told Bozeman Bill that he was in a ripe humor for mischief, lt was the detective’s notion that Jug would attempt to assault him, as soon as he reached the piazza, but in this he was mistaken, for the ruffian simply gave him an ugly glance, and brushed past him into the bar-room, where, in a loud blatant voice, he called for whisky. Bill glanced into the bar-room occasionally, but each time he did so, saw Jug standing at the bar, pouring down whisky, glassful after glassful. ‘‘ He either means to get paralyzed drunk, or else he’s getting up nerve to tackle me,” Bill thought. ‘If he tackles me, however, he'll not want to tackle another man right away. [ll give him a pointer on that!” Jug continued to pour down the liquor, until, to use a Western expression, he had got his ‘“* tank full,” then he came out on the piazza. So stealthy and cat-like was his tread that he had reached Bill’s side and laid a hand upon his ee ere the detective was aware of his presence ** So " hillo, old fel!” the bully saluted, givin Bill’s shoulder a fierce grip. ‘‘ How’s yer thin *bout things in general, anyhow?” ‘Take your duke off my shoulder, or I'll mighty quick show you how my think is!” Bill retor us Neow, lookee hyer, Mister Bose, yer mustn’t it riled at me, ’ca’se i'm one o’ ther best fellers in ther world—in yer eye, yer kaow. I jest come out hyer ter ax yer ter have a drink at my "spense. won't cost ye a cent, yer see. Lik- ker’s free as water wi’ me, That’s ’ca’se my name is Jug. Haw! haw! haw! See ther p'int 0’ ther joke? Yas, I’ve got er job ter ’tend to, an’ fore [ do et, I want yer ter— ‘“‘ Much obliged to you, Jacob, but I don’t in- dulge at all,” Bill interrupted ‘* So ye won't drink wi’ me, "hey ?” and remov- ing his hand from Bill’s shoulder, the ruffian came around infront of him, and assuming a half-squatting position, leered ‘in his face. ‘So ye won't drink with me, hey, you primped-up son of a quaw ?” not drink with you!” Bill cried, with Mekcke ‘and if you don’t go along about ge ee ll give you occasion to levant in a h gia or will, hey?” and the ee now drew him- self up to his fullest ee with an air of great importance, ‘‘Do I look ‘like er galoot as was afeard uv a leetle banty, the likes o’ you? Do I look like a feller as was brought up in the Why, to be skeart out by owls? Nary ther time! W I’ve killed better men than you, before ade fast, I hev. D’ye see that?” And he drew forth his knife, upon which there were still fresh spots of blood, ‘* D’ye see that? That’s what did the job a while ago, fer a chap what went back on me. An’ now, I was tellin’ ye T hada job to do, an’ “si might as well know what it- is, fu’st as last. ’ve taken a contract to kill you /” and without further warning the terror of Big Brace rushed upon the sport, brandishing his knife. A ery of horror arose from the little crowd assembled upon = Picea for, as Bozeman Bill had not drawn n, it seemed inevitable that he womld | hes aise ered in cold blood; but, as the bully seemed about to drive home his blood-stained blade, the right foot of the detec- tive came up like a flash, and caught Mr. Jug fair in the stomach with a force that made yell double up like a jack-knife, and uttering a of pain, the big brute collapsed, and fell to the ground, the knife dro ping at Bill’s feet. Picking it up, and g it to the bully, Bill then drew a blade of his own, and arose. ‘‘ Get up, you wretch!” he cried, sternly, ‘‘and defend yourself, for, since you say you have taken a contract to kill me, we shall have to see who will put in the best blow. Meet me like a man, or, by the eternal, I'll fill yer carcass so. full o’ holes it will answer for a “nie e!” “Hooray!” cried several of the bystanders. is’: —————— Bo. fiiataad Ghacmaren to aineuee eS a ring, an’ let ’em fight et out. Ther best man wins, all the time!” A ring was quickly formed in the street, im front of the hotel, and Bozeman Bill stepped. promey into it, looking cool and confident—- andsome and fearless. As for Jug, he regained his feet with an effort, and glanced around him, as if seeking for an avenue of escape; but the crowd hedged him in on all sides, ‘Oh! you’ve got ter fight et out, Jakie!” some one shouted, ‘‘ Yer can’t crawfish now, sO ye might as well prick up Rie courage, You came: to murder the sport, an’ he’s got a right to make: ye fi ht.” hat’s what’s ther matter!” came another indus: ‘* Ye war tryin’ ter fix up a funeral, an’ now we're goin’ ter hev a funeral, hit or miss!” Jug saw that he was in for it, so he picked up his blood-stained blade, and stepped into the ring, facing the man whose life he would have taken with the assassin’s blow. | He was very nervous, and his limbs trembled beneath him. . ‘*Get ready!” Bozeman Bill ordered, ‘ Col- a ney will you us the favor to count ree ‘* With all the pleasure imaginable!” the col- onel assured, rubbing his hands, as if enjoying — the sport. “Get ready, gentlemen, an’ ef either of you get killed, and you happen to meet any o’ my chums tYother side the river, jest give em — my respects, an’ tell em I'll be slong by and byt ready! One! two! THREE At the Prarcired three, both men ot ped prompt- ly Lorene there came the clash! clash! clash. of stee - When Boremari Bill stepped from the ring, he was congratulated on all sides for having so ‘‘ winged ” the terror of Big Brace that the bully would be a terror no more, and when he entered. the bar-room, he found, to bis surprise and joy, that Old Avalanche and Harry had just return- ed, accompanied by Janet, whom they had found and rescued, after a long and tedious search. Janet was sent at once to her room, and di- rected to remain there, until] she was wanted, as Bozeman Bill was not desirous that Horace Hin- ton should learn of her escape, just yet. Bill then informed Harry and Avalanche of the result of his interview with Phineas Fink, cs pr moet was likely to yet take place, that. nig CHAPTER XIV, FINK AS GOOD AS HIS WORD. NIGHT came on, dark and gloomy. The sky was densely overcast and a heavy rain storm was impending. Bosenan Bil Bill, Harry and Avalanche remained at the hotel, until late in the evenin At nine lock, Bill hired a miner to deliver Fink’s hes to the widow, ordering him, in case any questions were asked, to say that it came from the lawyer. Within ten minutes after the mnbeeage was: sent, Horace Hinton entered the saloon. He first went to the bar and procured a. drink ; i ufter Tools! g over the assemblage, and partic ularly at the sitting at a card- table, he abruptly took his departure. “Did you notice it?” Bill asked with a smile, ‘‘ Notice what?” ‘‘Horace came to see if we were here. He: suspected by that message that it was we who. were trying to pat up a job on them, Now he is satisfied to the contrary. I will fix it, ae Ill go and see if Fink has returned if so, we'll all start for the cabin, at once.” He left the saloon, and was gone about half hour, when he re turned. mm Tt's all right!” he said. “I saw Fink, and. ve got the original will. He has gone ahead “to see that the road is clear, We will, start at once! Tae is ours, to-night!” No time was lost, the quartette started forth, Hinton acting as Janet’s escort playing the gallant cleverly, and evidently to the young ladirhes the haunted cabi en the haun ca was reached, found Fink standing in the doorway, swrkitting toe all right!” ‘*Tt’s all rig e said. ‘ They've not oa in an appearance yet. Come in. _ Ive somethin thin to show you.” They meen the cabin which contained two» apar pighting a candle which he had brought along. ucted them: to the rear apartment. ,