Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 478 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

‘< b— 9er - Py - mistaken in her motives in comin’ up here; 44 -¢€ sa ‘ > - of « aw : we ft . AW. “AY ‘ ’ ei ‘ ‘Te Stn . &, _ ate ry # owsomever, we must watch her every move- ment, Rattler, for she’s liable to famg us quicker’n a lightnin’-geared rattlesnake, and when she does strike it’l] be to kill.” CHAPTER XiIT. THE INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN RACHEL, In recognition of the young female outlaw’s flag of truce old Kit Bandy put his cap on the muzzle of his gun and waved it above his head as a counter flag. This seemed to satisfy the girl that she would be received in a conference, and she touched up her horse and approached at a canter, finally drawing rein before the old plainsmen. The horse she rode was not the same one she had in the morning, but a large and splendid animal with arched neck and clean limbs. The face of the beautiful outlaw wore a min- gled expression of disappointment and sorrow. er eyes burned with a strange, subdued light. She seemed worn in body and mind, and when she drew rein she sprung to the ground, and with a nervous, restless start looked up into Bandy’s face, and then said, in a voice that was not at all the clear, musical voice of Sybil Bell: “Kit Bandy, I want you to know who [ am; you escaped me this morning before I had time to introduce myself.” ‘‘ Thank you, Miss Sybil, but I recognized your voice the moment you spoke,” replied Kit, politely. ‘“Then, I presume, you are here to arrest me?” the woman said, in a ‘tone slightly tinged with sarcasm, ** Not at all, Miss Sybil,” replied Kit; ‘‘on the contrary, our retreat hus been arrested here by your followers.” ‘You descrve to die, Kit Bandy—you shot a peat she said, half choking with a deep sigh. ‘**T’m sorry that it was necessary todo so, Miss Sybil, but you know why I did it, ’m sure,” the detective responded. **You played a shrewd game as a detective, but you do not know ree whether you have un- raveled the secret of Judge Randall’s murder,” she declared in a self-confident tone. ‘* A little more time ’ll tell, Miss Sybil, and et there are no doubts in my mind, nor is there in yours.” **T never knew my father had been shot until Jast night,” she said, biting her lip to keep back the grief that seemed struggling upward in her breast, while tears gathered in her eyes. “T are truly sorry for you, MissSybil, I sw’ar to God I be, for I see you are feelin’ bad,” said Old Kit, his voice deep with emotion; ‘‘and I admit when I fired that shot in the Pick-and- Shovel that night, I never dreamed of you bein’ Captain Rachel, the outlaw. In fact, I had only suspected your father of bein’ the murderer of Judge Randall, and—” ** And brought that French artist there to help develop what never could have been done other- wise,” the woman broke in. ‘* You are endowed with woman’s wits, gal, I confess,” Bandy replied; ‘* but. as I remarked before, I never suspected you and your father being connected with the outlaws,” ‘* Nor did we ever dream of Rev. Paul Postle being old Kit Bandy, or he would have met the fate of Judge Randall, . But this is not what I came here for: a rig. is arrived from Last Lick this morning, bringing me the’ news that my father was still alive, but dying from the effects of your shot. He wants to see me, but I dare not return there—” ‘Yes you dare, girl; if I had my say-so "bout ' it, you should go right to him and leave unmo- lested, even though you be Captain Rachel,” ‘* That is a Spied offer, but I could not ac- cept it—I will never go back to that accursed camp of my own free will—no, never /” and she hy emphasis to her word by a stamp of her oot. ‘Well, that’s all I could do, even if I'd liberty %o do that.” ‘There is a favor you can do me, if you will,” ihe said. ** What is it?” * Carry a message to my father for me.” ** Miss Sybil, I willagree to do so, providin’ Igit out o’ this place with my life; though I must confess that things are in a mixed state— rather peculiar that you should ask metodo you afavor,and yet atthesame time your followers are right at my heels seekin’ my life.” ‘In consideration of the favor I ask,” said _ Sybil, “I will give you this horse upon which f helping you.” shee ie though really I ought to kill you dead o y “Miss Sybil, as a detective, I have no apolo- Se > bys : - ee * }. a3 f 1, \« af) «' ~~ Old Tom Rattler. oe — en ee gies to make for what I do, nor am I askin’ any mercy at your hands; I am willin’—yea, ready to take my chances with my old pard here in lickin’ thunder out o’ your folks, and yetif I git through all right Pll deliver your message to your dyin’ father, Il hold no grudge ag’inst you, understand, gal, nor your father. As Cap- tain Rachel, [ presume you can command—” ‘That name, sir,” she broke in, *‘is simply honorary—lI never ied the men in a single raid on a stage or settler. This is true, I care not what you have heard to thecontrary. Itis true, the men, wild, rough and wicked though they be, have shown me every kindness and respect that any woman could ask; but I have not even the power to prevent them killing you if they can, and they are sure to attack you soon, They know that Laramie Joe is dead, end they are now simply waiting the coming of a party of twenty more Indians over in the hills when the fight on you will be renewed. Even if I could persuade the road-agents to let you go. unmolested, the Indians would not. So I say to you in all candor, there is but one chance for you, and that is the one I offer.” ‘* And but for the favor you seek through our escape you'd fang us—help kill us,” said Kit. ‘* Very likely,” was ber frank response, given with a sardonic smile, ‘* But will the red-skins not punish you if you help us away?” questioned Rattler. ‘IT have no fears of them—none at all.” “ But if your father dies, what’]] you do, gal? sagt not stay with the outlaws?” ‘*T'll take care of myself, nor will I stay with the outlaws. Here is the note to my father. I wrote it just before I came up here. Those mountaineers and red-skins do not know what I am here for, and they will doubtless pursue you, but that horse is strong and fleet, e will carry i both out of danger. He was the favorite orse of my father; but do you hesitate to ac- cept these terms because I am & woman?” ‘Not at all, Miss Sybil; there’s as much or more in your act for you than for us, else you’d never be so generous,” ‘*You speak very truthfully, Kit Bandy; I would rather kill you than permit you to go free, and would did I not believe you would keep your promise with me,” ‘‘ Yes, Pll keep my word with a woman—” ‘*Then mount and flee—let us say no more,” she exclaimed; then turning she walked away in the direction of her friends, ‘* Wal, by the ram’s horn o’ Joshua!” ex- claimed Old Kit, as he glanced first at the re- treating girl, then at Old Rattler, “if this don’t git away with anything I ever encountered!” ‘‘It are a leetle numerous,” averred Rattler, ‘* like the ingredients in Ingin hash; but, by the great goblins! if that woman ain’t a wheezer, a hly-lipped hummer, Satan’s a swine. Man alive! but her fingers did burn—lI see’d the ends smoke —to shoot the everlastin’ enjoyments outen you, Kit. Oh! buco she’s a honey-puddle, a nest 0’ yaller-jackets,” ‘** Well, what d’ye say, Rat? Shall we mount that steed and skip?’ “Guess we'd better, Kit, for, by the great Rosycrusians! yander comes that band o’ red- rinds, and if we stay here they'll make it epi- demick’ly *ill-firish for us.” ‘‘Then hand up the guns to me when I git on,” said Old Kit, and he swung himself up into the saddle; ‘* there now, give me your hand, old boy, and step onto my foot and make a spring— that’s it, now here we go!” | ‘* Yes, and thar comes our deestroyers, too,” said Rattler. ‘* Let ’em come,” said Kit, as they went flying down the little knoll like the wind, ‘‘ and if they catch us, we can fight one place as well as an- other.” The sight presented by the two old fugitives was as ludicrous and comical as it was exciting, and they fully realized the fact from the start, themselves. With a readiness, so charac- teristic of the borderman, and that, too, in the face of most deadly danger, they took the humorous side of the situation and appeared to enjoy ib. ‘‘T say, Bandy,” Rattler observed, as they sped along. ‘‘l know thar’s a splendid sight goin’ to waste just now, and that’s we too old twin babboons on this ‘ere hoss,” ‘Yes I reckon we present a splendid pair 0’ fizeers on hossback, and I’]) bet that gal’s laugh- in’ till she fangs herself.” ‘*Tt would be a loud joke on you, Bandy, if this war jist a slippery little trick o’ her to git we old Mathusilanians from that knob. Isn't it a good, robust, rosv-cheeked joke, anyhow, to go abroad, that Old Karistopher Kolumbuss Bandy, the great mountain deetective, and Old beg as & Ye Cah at > fo oS Sue Mead oF ae h ah Ls 1 ha RnR, GALE EEK Stee 5 fs aS : Jeu yal Gone —e - ai ocet We ee i “-* : ay 2 | - 1L ! Tom Rattler, the wild, untamed tempest, and Red River Epidemic, had to accept terms from: an outlaw gal—also a hoss, and shin out like # pair o’ wild-eyed gamboliers! Speak out, Bandy, and let the winds carry your sad words along the mountains and over the plains till it—” ‘Say, ole man, ar’n’t ye afeard the sun’lh blister yer lungs, talkin’ so much?” asked Bandy, with a smile illuminating bis face; spose ye blockade that gap in yer bead ” ‘*T never git tired o’ tellin’ the Book-o’-Reve- lations truth, Kit; but say, old chum, glance back over your brawny shoulders and tell me if ye don’t think them red-rinds and their friends ar’n’t gainin’ upon us.” Old Kit glanced back, and as he did so, sud- ics exclaimed: ‘‘By the horn o’ Joshua! they are gainin’ om us, ‘less the distance are longer’n it seems,” Think they’re gainin’ a bit, Kit; but then it will be a long time yit before they overhaul us, ‘less this steed breaks down. Blame that: ral, an old fool man can be led around by her ike a bull with a ring intoits nose. I'll bet if you git anne safe this time that in less’n a week you'll be lungin’ across the plain like & wild antelope, or plungin’ throu; h the hills like: a mad Texan steer, a-buntin’ for that gal to fling love stuff at her. You can’t foolish me om an old rat like you, Bandy.” ‘*T s‘pose you’ve Varnt something by a cen- tury o’ experience, Rattler, even if a tongue is all youve got in your head,” retorted Kit: ‘but say, pard, I’ve a notion to swing off Se paar | to the left and plunge in amcng them ills and brakes yander.” ‘*You’re the captain o’ this bark, Kitsie, and I go whither you sail. Make for any port you wish, for I’m only out on a pleasure excursior for my bealth,” Kit bore slightly to the left, and in the course of some two hours they entered the head of @. canyon trending away toward the southeast. Lile we have been but a short time writing of the events that transpired after the first meeting of Kit Bandy and Captain Rachel in the early morn, it is nevertheless true that their enactment ran through the entire day, so that when the two old fugitives entered the canyom it was just sunset, At this time there was no doubt of the fact that the foe were gaining upon the fugitives, and that rapidly, too. Scarcely eighty reds separated them. The old bordermen’s horse was. fast failing under his double burden and long, unbroken race across the hot, dry plain, ‘He had done nobly under the circumstances, but he had not the endurance of the mustangs riddem by the pursuers, However, the fugitives felt certain that he would hold out a few minutes longer, when they could safeiy take to the shadows of night among: the hills and bluffs that grew deeper and darker as they advanced. But in this they were doom. ed to a bitter disappointment, Their horse sud- denly stumbled, staggered, and with a convul- sive lunge fell dead, Old Rattler was pitched headlong to the earth, but in an instant be was upon bis feet, to find his. companion held fast upon the ground by ther bedy of the horse lying upon bis leg. ‘Great goblins! Kit, are you hurt?” the old man exclaimed, ‘‘No, Rat, but I’m in a vise, sure’n death,” replied Bandy. Waka Rattler endeavored to release his friend, but, his strength was not adequate to the task. ‘Oh, I’m elected, Rattler,” Bandy said, wity an air of calm resignation; “you'd better line out, old pard, and save yerself while ye ken,” “Bandy, I’m not that kind o’ man,” replied Rattler, with a resolute determination written upon his bearded face; “if you are to die, Pl die with you, but T'll paint the sky red before I o under—here the red-rind demons come, and ral o to swatin’ ’em!” e took up his rifle and sent a bullet crashmg through the body of a savage, but they were closer than he had supposed, and before he could repeat the shot the foe was upon them like so many maddened devils, With his clubbed gun the old man fought like a fury until he was overcome by sheer force and made prisoner. With Bandy they had little trouble, and re- moving the dead horse from his leg, his hands were bound, and then he and Rattler both were: - subjected to many cruel indignities by the pack of red and white demons, whose yells, shouts and curses of vengeance made the canyon) ring: with an infernal din. The victorious pursuers now held a short eon- sultation as to their course for theevening, As darkness was upon them then, and their ponies; comicbooks ed . Pan Ae ae a we > _~<_. “ ~—— - : c mt = - Ps eg pein t Jé ne , -~<°> ue ~"6 cee” eo FE ve = - =e _ r “_ > Se. ee ' * Qe — ‘ ar: a ee | « - - é ‘=