Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 478 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ws —, mt > . > as get in, Scalps o’ red-rinds, howsumeyer, are ripe at all seasons of the year.” hus the two old *plainsmen conversed for hours, and ere they were scarcely aware of the fact the red. cake of dawn shot athwart the eastern sky and soon burst into the flame of day. i cn nS oS | { “Bandy,” said Rattler, when they began to | think of moving away, ‘* I’m hungry as a b’ar, and purpose to have some fresh meat for break- fast if it’s nothin’ but sizzled coyote. light a fire Pll get the game.” ‘‘ All right, Rattler, bring on yer ki-ote.” Rattler shouldered his rifle and started off into the hills in search of game. Old Kit laid aside his weapons and set about gathering dry limbs and twigs for fuel. thus engaged he was startled by the sound of hoofed feet. Turning quickly, with arms full of limbs, he was startled beyond expression to see before him, seated upon a horse, the slender figure of a masked woman, who held a cocked revolver leveled full upon him. And he was astounded—thunderstruck—when there came to his ears from the lips of that woman the com- mand: ‘* Paul Postle—murderer—assassin, throw up your hands, for you are my prisoner!” In an instant the truth of thesituation flashed through the old man’s brain. He dropped his wood and threw up his hands, and for the first time in his eventful life Kit Bandy was brought to bay by a woman, ———— CHAPTER VII. CAPTAIN RACHEL, THE FEMALE OUTLAW, With uplifted hands, Kit Bandy stood with his eyes fixed upon the masked female who held him at bay with a drawn and cocked revolver. That he was surprised and astounded was evi- dent from hismomentary confusion. The name by which he had been addressed, the dual charge that accompanied it were evidence of the fact that the woman had heard of his exploits at Last Lick; and the steadiness of her hand and the ringing firmness of her voice, told him that she had the nerve, the will and the deter- mination to shoot did he fail to comply with her command, As the old detective stood with his hands up- lifted, he realized very readily that he was in no enviable position to be seen by one who had heard so much of the skill and undaunted courage of Kit Bandy. However, the old man’s mind acted swiftly. He bad heard—yet he did not credit the story--that there was a band of outlaws somewhere in the Rattlesnake Mountains whose leader was a woman by the name of Captain Rachel; and if there was any- thing of truth in the story, then that woman before him was Captain Rachel, and if so, she had followers near—perhaps at that very mo- ment enjoying, from some hiding+place, the spectacle of his humiliating position. -But he had been in tight places before, and having the utmost faith in his ability to outgeneral the woman through his prolific fund of expedients, he appeared to accept the situation in the spirit of a joke, and when he threw up his hands he said: “Allright, my lady, ’m your ownest to com- mand. ou’ve got me, and I’m old enough to know it, but by the way you address me, [ fear, my lady, that you’re mistaken as to the man you are after.” ‘*T am not, sir,” the woman replied in a voice that was not at all musical; ‘‘ youare Rev. Paul Postle, alias Kit Bandy, the mountain detective, and you are at the end of your deceptive, atro- cious career.” “Well, it’s jist as you say ’bout my career, but you are away off on your man Postle- Bandy. If you’d arriv’ awhile sooner, you’d found Bandy here. He left ’bout twenty min- utes ago. Iam Old Tom Rattler, woman, from If you'll | but I don’t believe youare, Rachel. | | - a) - eis ’ rt ‘7 »& m 424 wil »,{ , 4 ° “as AE ae 4 ' *-™ Old Tom Rattler. ‘You are the man that shot Major Robert Bell | of Last Lick.” ‘‘And even if that war so, are you Major Bell’s avengeress?” ‘| am,” she replied with measured accents. ** Then you must be Captain Rachel, the she- outlaw.” ‘*lam Captain Rachel, andif you know aught | of her, you know your doom is sealed.” ‘*Tve heard the capt?in war a dancin’ devil, But what’s War you Major Bell’s trouble to you, anyhow? — Hullo! who’s that comin’ there?” A low sardonic laugh escaped the vailed wo- man’s lips. ‘‘ Those are some of the followers of Captain While | Rachel.” Six mounted outlaws came in sight from around a wooded point and rode toward them. The face of one of them was masked—the others being rough, bearded and desperate-looking men, each of whom carried a revolver in his hand. A loud, coarse laugh, that rung through the woods in demoniac glee, burst from the men’s lips at sight of the old detective and the woman. ‘‘Hurrah for Captain Rachel!” yelled one of them, and again the six made the hulls ring with Satanic voices. ‘*Captain Rachel,” said the masked outlaw ‘that’s our man, the Apostle Paul, the gay and festive Kit Bandy.” ‘*He denies that he is Bandy,” the woman said, ‘* No difference, we can run him in as a sus- picious character,” said the masked outlaw, whose voice Bandy felt assured he had heard ‘| before. Kit found that he was in a worse difficulty than be had at first supposed. His weapons were fully two rods away, and his fertile brain after all could conceive no possible chance of escape. He finally began to grow uneasy lest Rattler should return and unknowingly place aid now centered his only hope of escape. **Old man,” Sapa Rachel said, ‘t you wiil have to submit to have your hands bound and accompany us to headquarters where your case will receive further attention,” ‘Shoot him down there! why bother with him?’ exclaimed an outlaw: ‘‘if he’s Bandy, he’s. a slippery old cuss, and may getaway. A bird in the hand’s wu’th two in the bush.” ‘* No, no, we have use for him,” said Captain Rachel; “T desire to have a talk‘ with him be- fore he dies if he is whom we think, Kit Bandy.” By this remark Kit knew the woman was not sure of his identity, altnough the masked man had declared he was, and so the old fellow began to speculate as to how he could take advantage of their doubt, While his thoughts were thus busied, an outlaw dismounted, and taking a lariat from his saddle-bow, advanced to bind the old detective’s hands, Bandy saw his move- ments and divined his intentions, and the spirit of his combativeness asserted itself beyond con- trol, and the instant the fellow came within reach, his right arm fell and his bony fist was driven into the villain’s face with such sudden and terrific force as to knock him down. So quickly and unexpectedly was this lick given, that the outlaws were for a moment con- fused by the audacity of the act, and before they could resent the blow, a rifle off in the bushes rung out, and an outlaw, uttering a cry of agony, tumbled from his horse, And this shot was followed by a second one, but from a different direction, and the bullet, grazing the hip of Captain Rachel’s horse, caused the ani- mal to lunge forward with pain and affright, and, despite the efforts of the woman, who dropped her revolver and gave her attention to her horse, it;dashed away-down the canyon at a furious speed. In the midst of the confusion that reigned, Laramie Joe, the Boy Knight of the Plains, suddenly glided from around a bluff over on the Chugwater, that’s who [ are, but | —his horse’s hoofs muffled—with a revolver in then if you aré wantin’ a husband, take me in preference to Bandy, for I’m a han’somer man and besides, Bandy’s sich an onmitigated old liar. Take me off to your wild mountain each hand ringing out in deadly tones. Confusion and terror seemed to seize the minds of the ontlaws, whose horses were already plunging with affright so that they could not grotto, oh, fair lady, and make me your prince, | use their revolvers, and, panic-stricken, the your mate. I know you’re a sweet, lovely gal | fled down the canyon after Captain Rachel, | —your graceful form and noble mien tells me | leaving two of their number dead on the field. so, though I see not your face. Take me away Laramie Joe did not attempt to follow them | to your palatial nest, for I’m yours to love, | but was satisfied with sending a few shots after cherish and protect—lm your hero, knight, your crusader, your dashin’ ox-eyed dandy.” “Your silly twaddle will avail you nothing, old seoundrel.” the keen-witted woman replied, ‘nor can you deceive me as to who you are. | your | them, “Hurrah for Laramie Joe!” yelled Old Kit, when he realized that he was a free man once | more; ‘‘ hurrah for the velvei-footed kid 0’ the | that Sybil Bell, the charming, queenl | 0’ Major Bob Bell, is that festive outlaw wo- Laramie Plains!” ‘* And hurrah for Kit Bandy!” suddenly burst y Le as WET 1 . t *) Kee 4 OE ee A M i i » — , 2 “ve ee os bY. i b a. ’ my, " are! ay De te Xb NT ¢ 4 ‘ e ,. a Ages ; i ry a ae rr.) . c ee A Pee /f : mn = tt . conversation with that vailed woman and himself 1n the same trap, for in the old hunter’s fe Q&y . , vey :" ia . 4, = v from the lips of Old Rattler, who emerged from the bushes whence the first shot had come, ‘hurrah for the gigantic fraud o’ the Plateau! the lily-hpped hummer o’ the foot-hills! the royal, evild-eyad liar o’ the West! ,Oh, by the great Rosycrusians! Bandy, I overheard your four trying to palm your ugly self off for Old Rat- tler, the Chugwater gambolier; and I am pre- pared to vote you a hceary-headed, sacrilegious deception.” “Say, you old ox-eyed daisy,” interrupted Bandy, his face aglow with joy, “‘close that Mammoth Cave and let me introduct you to Laramie Joe, the young hurricane o’ the Lara- mie Plains.” ‘*Rosycrusians! that Laramie Jce? well, by snakes, Joe, ’m glad to press your palm,” said * Rattler, grasping the boy’s hand in a grip that almost jerked him outof bis saddle; ‘‘ my name’s Rattler—Old Tom Rattler.” ‘* Indeed?” exclaimed Joe; ‘ well, sir, Pm re- joined to meet you of whom Pve often heard; but doesn’t it strike you that our friend Bandy was in close quarters?” “T should gargle that it did,” responded Rat- tler, with a hearty laugh; ‘‘and if you could ’a’ hearn the great old mountain, detective’s talk when he stood under kiver o’ that gal’s revolver you'd ’a’ had a fit. Fu’st he lied like a pirate and tried to pass his ugly self off for me, and then the soft, creamy love-stuff he lipped off to that gal made her gag.” ‘* By the horn o’ Joshua! if you'd ’a’ seen that woman’s eyes through her vail, you’d ’a’ been broke up, too. Tl. sw’ar they fairly fanged me —gored me to the heart like the horns 0’ a Texan steer, I’m no chicken-beart, Rattler. I’ve been—am—am not married, and my wife Sabina, was no chicken-heart—no bouse-plant —no doll for her husband to dendle, tut she shot straight from the shoulder and candled her bushand; and that’s why I’m here, Rat.” “But didn’t this woman call you Paul, the Apostle?” asked Rattler. ‘Yes, I s’pose she see’d I resembled that “cae old man o’ the Bible—kind o’ martyrish ike.” ‘Yes, but ske called you an assassin—a mur- Ccerer, and tkat didn’t sound much like Holy Writ. Old feller, I are dre’dful afeerd there’s something smudgy al cut you.” ‘*You can’t alers tell by a feller’s lock, Rat, what be is. If sich war the case that mug o’ yours ’d not indicate a spotless, snow-ball char- acter, But layin’ iotepheatce aside, Rattler, I must confess you fanged that cutlaw’ in good shape and that squares up for that Injun I drepped for you last night,’ | Are the Indians on tke rampage, Kit?” asked Laramie Joe. ‘“Haydoogins of ’em are ki-otin’ round over the plateau.” ‘*T am sorry to hear it,” said the boy, thought- fully, ‘Lad, ye hav’n't heard what happened to Last Lick, have you?” sa Yes,” ‘* From who?’ ** Zulima Randall.” ** Horn o’ Josbua! where'd you see the gal?” ‘*T rescued her trom an outlaw last night.” ** And where’s she now?” ‘| left her in a grove far down the plain and came on in search of Sybil Bell whom Zulima informed me had also been carried away.” ‘‘Hurrah for you, boy! you're a wall-eyed screamer; but that war a rather tragic night in Last Lick.” ‘Why, did anything else happen besides the abduction of the two girls?” ‘‘T should proclamate there did. Major Bell was shot in the head, and I guess he’ll kick over the traces—die.” ‘Who shot bim?” ‘¢ Paul Postle, that old preacher,” , A grim smile passed over the boy’s face as he fixed a searching look upon the old detective’s eyes. After a moment’s silence, Bandy went on: ‘¢ And you haven't rescued Sybil, yit?” ** No,” replied Joe: ‘‘I followed her trail, as T supposed, to the hills and to this point. but it seems I’ve been f ollowing the wrong trail.” ‘Why the wrong trail, lad?” ** Because I failed to find the abducted girl,” ‘‘ Ah! there’s where you're mistaken, Joseph,” **T don’t understand you, Kit,” “Wal, I have discovered that all Last Lick has been most shamefully and robustly deceived; for I have discovered within the las regatta arter man, Captain Rachel !” com Ccboo cs be * : Puc! i= wa Wey ‘wens he Sa tind : ; y ‘ - ey w+ - 7 + 4 " + ona Y ‘) + oh m: ** * ¥ 4