Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 478 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

_ - 7 Aad aT sy ae . es eo, ™ gc 9 ~ ; - gn 6 DES A ee eee * “ - + , . . % ‘fs. i “ . Aah? 7 4 ems ' -,, 4 » a > 7 : : * _ - - >, . - ° ‘ e of ee < ee | - eres Oe 8 : . es Cay a 8 ey me i ats “* P : Old Tom Rattler. . ahh eee Sate Mamie "a : t . * 5 . " . « : + ; * a o - . , @ ae ae ye 5 oe * ~ ae oe ani. it ate 5 te telt san amin ee oe es * ' ’ is SE SI i RR SE aR ae TES Se St Ys our affairs. Just wait till we’re alone, and like | Rattler’s—Doctor Rattler’s—to comprehend the | Flea were supplied with riding ‘horses, and a Christian martyr I'll bow down and receive | magnitood o’ the thing.” your—your blessing.” “Very well, very well,” Sabina said, and turning, she walked out of the cabin, to the ap- parent relief of Old Kit, who, turning to Lara- mice Joe, asked: ‘* How does it come, Joseph, that you’re here ahive? The last time we looked upon you to-day on the plain, you were deader’n the mother 0’ Adam,” : ‘‘T don’t know myself, friends, all about to- day’s doings,” the pale youth answered, but I suppose you can throw some light on the darker part of it. I remember our being in a red-hot fight on the plain with the Indians and outlaws, and then there seemed to have been an end to my career for a while, for the next thing of which I was cognizant was of lying upon a couch in a house with a terrible pain in my head, When I had fully recovered my senses and recognized those around me as my rancher friends, and recalled-the incident of the fight on the plain, felt the bandage on my head, I was not long in making up my mind that there*was a blank in my life—a skip of an hour, or a day or week, as the case might be. ‘‘ Upon inquiry I learned that I had been car- ried there in an unconscious state, tied to the back of my horse. The time was about two o’clock in the afternoon when I was released, so that I concluded I must have been carried around by my horse some five hours—that is, if my ride dated from the last recollection I had of the fight on the plain up to my, rescue,” ‘Do you. hear that, Kit Bandy?” asked Old Rattler with a look of contempt; ‘‘ do you hear that, great Rocky Mountain detective? Does our old grandmotherly brain begin to grasp old o’ the truth with the grizzly b’ar hugo’ a pismire?”? — ‘*Yes, great untamed tempest o’ the Red River, I begin to grasp,” replied Old Kit; ‘it war you who felt the lad’s pulse when he lay stretched on the plain, and it war your rosebud lips that pronounced him ‘dead, poor ag 8 ow do yuu, old buccaneer o’ the plateau, gin to comprehend that you know ‘bout as me "bout a boy’s pulse as a hull lunatic asy- turn ¢ ** Old friends,” said Joe in a pacific tone, ‘‘I hope you will have no hard feelings about my case, for I am satisfied that you did what you sie em was right, and for which I am most thankful,” **Oh, no, Joe, Rattler and me’ll not quarrel— we're too glad to meet youaliveagain; but after you went down in the fight, we made up our minds the demons shouldn’t chop and back you in case we fell, so we bound you on your hoss in the most approved style, and started the animal off across the plain.” , ‘Tf really did ’zamine your pulse, boy,” said Rattler, ‘‘ and never felt the faintest flutter.” ‘*T got a pretty hard rap across the head here,” said Joe; ‘the scalp was cut to the skull and bled considerable. was also struck by a ball in the stomach which would undoubtedly have killed me but for the heavy broad buckle on my belt. It’s probable that I got both blows at the same instant, for I have no recollection of receiv- ing either. But just as soon as my friends had restored me to consciousness, rubbed my almost palsied limbs until the circulation was restored, and bandaged me up till I began to feel like my- self again, I began to wo about you folks, I remembered that the last thing I did remember was of our fight on the knoll; so the boys fur- nished me that pony and eight of them came with me tolook youup. We never expected to find you here.” “Thanks to that gal Sybil Bell, who furnish- ed us a horse, we got away from the foe and would hve eluded ’em altogether if the hoss hadn’t fe'l dead and, fallin’ on my leg, held me there fast.” * Do you say that Sybil Bell, or Captain Rachel helped you to escape?” asked Laramie Joe in sur- PTHEG. in cho Yes, sir, she did,” answered Bandy. ‘ “*Think she’s all broke up—hopelessly swamp- ed in a honey puddle o’ love with Bandy,” said Rattler, with a wink. ‘She don’t know he’s a lawfully wedded man.” “ But what about Zulima, Joe?” asked Kit. ‘‘ She’s safe at the Deer Creek Ranch.” | “Good! glory!” exclaimed the old detective. “Thanks to fhe, kindness of a renegade chief, she escaped from the grove where I left her in the presence of a dozen Indians.” “Horn o Joshua!” exclaimed Bandy, ‘‘is the mellinnium a-coming?,. Think o’ two. acts of gen- _ erosity from outlaws the same day in the same ‘* Bandy, s’pose you give that classic tongue o’ yours a rest afore you fang yourself,” retorted Rattler. In the mean time the rancheros that had gone in pursuit of the fleeing foe had returned, and with them they brought a stranger, at sight of whom Old Kit Bandy uttered an exclamation of joy, and advancing, took the man by the hand, saying: ‘* Ichabod, old pard, never did we meet under happier sarcumstances. How’ve you been, old chum? Gentlemen,” and the old detective turn- ed to the crowd about him, ‘‘ this man is Icha- bod Flea, my old pard of years—one o’ the shrewdest, spunkiest old detectives that ever wore hair, This critter here, Ichabod, is Old Tom Rattler, and this lad is the inimical Lar- amie Joe. Mix up, Ichabod, shake hands all around and make yerself to home and beware o’ Old Rattler.” The little old detective, a man of fifty, with a smooth face, a keen sharp eye, and a mouth wreathed in a quaint expression, shook hands around with the party, speaking in a rather sharp, falsetto voice, After he had spoken to Rattler the latter went over to Old Kit Bandy and looking him square in the eyes, said: Old pirate, 'm ima study which to do, knock the stuffin’ out o’ you or go away out in the can- yonand kick myself stupid, blind, or over into daho.” ‘The latter’d be no great job,” replied Kit, ‘but what’s got the matter with you now? Taken another spell?” . ‘IT see into a little game o’ yours, old cappy. That man, Ichabod Flea, is your old Sabina and your old Sabina is Ichabod. Don’t deny it, you ep nped hummer!” Old Kit and Ichabod Flea burst into a peal of laughter. ‘*Ts that true, Kit?’ asked Laramie Joe, in surprise and astonishment. ‘*T can’t lie to you, boy, it’s so. That old buc- caneer is hard to foolish, I can tell you. Icha- bod and me’s worked together that way for ears and years. It’s a clever dodge, you can t. ‘‘ And the lies you've told ’bout each other would swamp a hull missionary society in the brimstone lake,” declared Old Rattler. ** Oh, Kitsie, you are a hull outfit, you are.” ‘Kit, what you been doin’ to your hair and beard?” asked Dick Howard, one of the cow- boys. a An outlaw fanned me and my old chum there with a firebrand. You can see by the stubble-patch on his Adonis mug .that it has been shaved by the same barber-ous hand. Oh, we war havin’ a royal entertainment jist afore you folks come in; and, boys o’ Laramie Plains, want to say to you_now, without jokin’, that, that man, Old Tom Rattler, is as brave an old buccaneer as ever sailed this ocean of verdure over-—a hull mad-house let loose after the keeper.” , The rancheros applauded . this declaration, and Rattler acknowledged the compliment in a few well-chosen words, DOOR the dead outlaws Bandy found the body of Hyena Jim and recovered. the letter that Sybil Bell had intrusted to him for her father. ' The excitement of the night having finally subsided, the party made arrangements to re- main there until morning. Guards were posted in the canyon above and below the hut, al- though no one had any idea the enemy would return unless largely reinforced, and this was hardly probable since they were so far from the haunts of their friends, Old Kit and Rattler entertained -their res- cuers until late in the night with one story after another, told in their inimitable and extrava- gant language, that kept their auditors in a roar of laughter, and not until the last one of the cowboys had stretched himself on the floor and laughed himself asleep, did the old detec- tive and hunter'cease talking and lie down themselves to rest. CHAPTER XV. A TRAGIC DEATH. Kir BANDY was the first to awake in the morning, and, arousing his friends, prepara- tions ‘were soon made for departure down the canyon. From among the outlaws’ horses. most of which had been left in the hands of the victors aah a territory! It’sastoundin’. It takesa brain like ' by those who escaped, Kit, Rattler and Ichabod mounting, all started off, them initial point now’ being the Deer Creek Ranch. | After journeying a few miles they came toe a. spring, where the party halted, bathed their hands and faces, and then breakfasted off the supplies that the cowboys had provided them- selves with before leaving the ranch. Thus refreshed, they continued on, and about: noon reached Redmond’s cattle-ranch. Laramie Joe’s return was hailed with pleasure by Zulima Randall, and her young heart knew no bounds of joy when she learned that the two old plainsmen were safe. Joe introduced her to them, when she and Bandy held a long and pleasant conversation. Jack Kirby, the superintendent of the ranch. ordered a fatted calf killed and a royal dinner prepared for their qistingses guests, who were to remain over until the morrow by the one request of the rancheros. And the calf was killed and a sumptuous dinner pre- pared, to which all did ample justice. Old Rattler, by Kit’s request, consented to accompany him to Last Lick with Zulima and Laramie Joe. An escort of three cowboys with pack-horses was also detailed by Jack Kirby to go with the party. As the Journey would require several days” travel, a tentfor Zulima anda stock of provision were furnished the party from the ample stores: of the ranchmen, ith these arrangements al} made, the party expected to start the next morning; but as there were several hours yet before that time arrived, the cowboys became uite anxious as to how they should entertain their guests through the evening, One sug- Reatea one thing and another something else. hey were more particular about what they should do and say on account of Zulima’s pres-- ence, Rough as they were, and rougher still as: they are reputed to be, they showed the most. gentlemanly respect to the maiden. Not a word nor act was said nor done that could have of- fended the most fastidious, Finally Fred Danton proposed they have a banquet in honor of their guests, and a banquet: it was to be, whatever that term implies in a, Western cattle-ranch, So Fred Danton was appeated master of ceremonies, and when night came on, and al) bad assembled in one of the capacious rooms of the long sod house, he announced the pro- gramme, which consisted of music, songs and speeches, There were three violins in the party, and as: many excellent players, and the entertainment was opened with music by this trioof instru- ments; and as thé sound floated out upon the air, there was something in its ravishing strains. that touched a chord in the breasts of Old Kit. and Rattler—awakening forgotten memories, and sending the blood thrilling through their veins with all the impulsive fervor of youth; and the first thing the party knew the two old men were whirling over the room in the giddy mazes of a waltz, to the infinite delight of Zu- lima Randall and Laramie Joe. After the old bordermen had satisfied them- selves with dancing, and the music had ceased, the toast, ‘‘ Our Guests,” was proposed, and re- sponded to by Jack Kirby in a very happy speech, for Jack, having once been a lawyer in Ohio, possessed one of the essential elements of the profession, and that was a “ gift of gab.” Jack’s speech was followed by a song, ‘‘ Away out in the West,” by four of the rancheros, and the song was concluded amid genuine ap- lause. 2 Then Old Ichabod Flea sprung to his feet and proposed a toast not on the programme, and that was, “‘Our Hosts.” He called on Kit Bandy to respond, And promptly the old detective came to the front with a bland smile wpon his face, and said: ‘My friends, it affords me pleasure to say that ‘Our Hosts’ are a host o' royal princes. In the thirty years that I've been rummagin the West, I have messed with the soljer. affili- ated with the outlaw—for policy’s sake—donned the paint and feathers of an Ingin, roughed it with the miners, hunted with the hunters and bunked with the cowboys from the Rio Grande to the Yellowstone, but in none of these cam and bivouacs have [ ever been received with. more hosspitality than in the dug-out or sod hut o’ the ranchero. In fact, it have always been an exceptional ‘good place to stop, for the average cowboy is a rollickin’ good feller, and always has a good supply in. his larder, But I’m free to confess that the folks o’ Redmon’s Ranch are exceptions to a'} I have ever met, That library yander on .them shelves, that bountiful Sanit o good things to eat in the comicbooks.c + ‘ ‘ _ s, oa H P . , Ary ; if vert &. . ? bl dd ‘) we ee WES Ce. “t vt Ud tee Ng gf Jah . » a >”