Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 497 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

4 ~ ae - — + i + = 2 ee eee, a ——— thiim by Sol Bradford, Buck had become most friendly with the Dandy Duelist. Hardly had Buck entered the cabin, when with a yelp of joy Vermifuge came bounding in and seemed m ecstasies over his master’s return. The dog had been off on a quiet and solitary hunt, as was his wont, and had caught the trail of his master when he entered the camp. ‘* Well, old dog, glad to see me back, aren’t you? Wish I'd had you with me, for you’d have caught me some game to eat, at least,” said 8 Pere PLUCK. F After caressing the dog for a minute, Buck threw himself, dressed as he was, down upon bis He had beén asleep for several hours, his faith- ful dog lying near and watching him, when in the open door stepped Roddy Armstrong. Ho. Buck, old fellow, are At the sound of his voice instantly, and replied: ** 1 was, but Iam wide awake now.” “fam sorry I disturbed you! but we were having a little game of cards in Bradford’s eabin, and as it was after midnight, [ concluded to come home, for I wished to learn how you escaped,” ‘You won your-game of cards, of course, Roddy?” ** Well, yes, for I always do, you know.” ‘Well, Armstrong, there is a game I wish you to play with me, and see if you will win.” ‘* Why you never play?” **] play some games. ** Come, go and ask Sol Bradford to go with you, and ill eail by for the captain. ‘It is late, but 1 see the moon is as bright as day, and ina quarter of an hour I will meet you over at the spring. — ‘‘But be sure and bring Sol Bradford with you.” The gambler looked at Buck in surprise, and asked: ‘‘ Why what is the matter, Buck, for you act as though your brain was turned?” ‘You heard my request, Roddy Armstrong, and, if you do not meet me, asl wish, I will come after you.” ‘Hal you are angry with me for leaving you, when I was sure you were dead, and seek to pick a quarrel with me, do you?” ** Call it so.” “Well, Buck Taylor, if you ask it I am no man to refuse. ‘* My record don’t show it, as you know.” ‘6 You will be there?” éé Yes.” ‘In a quarter of an hour?” ‘¢ Sooner if necessary.” “ And will bring Bradford with you?” sé Yes. 7? .* All right.” So saying he walked out of the cabin, Vermi- fuge trotting at his heels, and he took the path Jeading to Captain McNally’s quarters, The captain had been writing some letters, and bad not retired. In fact he was wont to keep such late hours that the boys called him ‘‘ The Owl.” But then the captain had little memories in his heart, for he could recall a few years before when the Rangers’ Ranch was his happy bome. His wife and children, a boy and girl, had dwelt there with him, fortune favored him, and the future promised only happiness and pros- perity. He had gone from home to the town, when one night the Mexican Reidersor Comanches which, he was never sure, and perhaps both, had gone to bis ranch and death and desolation had followed. Three of his cowboys lay dead about the house, having sold their lives to save others, you asleep?” Buck Taylor awoke : ' His son lay murdered upon the doorstep and within his wife was a raving maniac, while his daughter, a beautiful girl of ten years, was no- where to be seen. What had occurred Mrs, McNally could never tell, but she raved of “red-handed Comanches and Mexican fiends” In a breath, The stricken father could gain no satisfactory clew, but he vowed a bitter revenge upon the murderers, be they whom they might, With hisson dead, bis wife ina lunatic asylum, and his little daughfer’s fate unknown, Captain | McNally’s memories were 80 bitter that be never | 1 unless worn out, and he was wont always to keep late hours. So it was that Buck found him up, and he said in his quiet, kindly way: | ‘Come in, Buck, for I am glad to have com- pany. and, by the way, you have not told me of your escape.” s+ No, sir, but 1 come now to ask youif you : : ~ - - - — ? 6 Ps : . a ae i a 4 " nal ALS 7)". i ~ > cot, and at once sunk into a tired, deep sleep. a LL TT nS ~~ a ee 6 EL ee em . 7 eet * mr ~ have confidence enough in me to go with me to the spring, where I intend to fight a duel.” ‘*'You fight a duel, Buck?” asked the surprised captain. ‘Yes, sir.” ‘* But you are in nocondition to meet any foe.” ‘*Your clothes are still covered with mud, your face is haggard, and—” ‘*T am able to fight, captain, and 1 ask you to merely be a witness.” “But, Buck, 1—” ‘* Tf you cannot do so, sir, say so frankly; but I ask you to have confidence enough in me to go with me.” allow quarrels to be settled squarely among | men, man to man. ‘* But I hope this matter can be arranged.” **1t cannot be, sir.” ** Who is your foe?” ‘*Roddy Armstrong,’ sir SpoDse. ,” was the calm re- CHAPTER XVI. THE MIDNIGHT DUEL. m ¢ Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. | | | Se —— ——, 9 ‘Will my revelvers do, for I see you have none on?” the gambler asked. **Oh, yes, for they are splendid weapons,” Buck returned. Sol Bradford now held a few words with Cap- tain McNaliy, and the two silver-mounted re- volvers of Roddy Armstrong, were taken for the meeting, and being closely examined, were | found to be already loaded and in good condi- tion, ‘** They ought to be, for Buck gave them a good cleaning for me only a few days ago,” and the gambler laughed in a lighs, reckless way. Captain McNally then stepped off the fifteen | paces, and the two men were placed in posi- ‘‘T}l go, Buck, for the Texan border laws | CAPTAIN MCNALLY started, when Buck Tay- | a. + lor told him the name of the man with whom | | McNeliy called out: he bad cause for quarrel. But he put on his bat and walked out of the cabin with the young cowboy. The moon was at its full and shone with the luster so beautiful in southern Jatitudes. The dozen cabins scattered about the large ranch showed no light, excepting one. That one was the cabin of the two men who were going to the spring to meet in deadly com- | | though one was a second sooner than the other. bat. The door of their cabin. was wide open, and | the lamp on the table within was distinctly vis- ' | whose shot flew wild, for his aim had been de- _stroyed by death. the numerous horses, tired of eating, were lying | ible. The camp seemed buried in deep repose, and down upon the prairie, where they were staked out. Afar off on the prairie was a dark object vis- ible, stili as death. It was a Ranger vedette, for a watch of two men was kept during the long hours of the night, even when in camp. The Rangers cared not to be surprised by their wily foes, be they Comanches or Mexicans. In the background of the camp was a ridge, heavily timbered. Therein was the spring where Buck Taylor had bidden the pon to meet him. ber they beheld two forms standing in an open space near the spring, They were Roddy Armstrong and Sol Brad- ford, and they were standing near each otner, and there was silence between them. ‘Well, Armstrong, 1 am here at the request of Buck Taylor, who has told me that he de- mands a meeting with you,” said the captain, ‘*So he told me, and as he is determined in his demand, 1 shall gratify him,” the gambler re- plied. ‘‘ But what motive can there be between you two, for a deadly feud?” “Has he not told you, sir?” quickly asked Roddy Armstrong. ‘** Not a word, so I appeal to you.” ‘tI have nothing to say, sir.” “If Buck is grieved that you should have de- serted him, I am more than willing to testify that you did not do so from cowardice, but to save yourself, believing he was dead.” ** No, Captain McNally, the leaving of Roddy Armstrong is not the ‘grievance [ have to settle with him, * He knows just why we meet, and the matter remains & mystery between us, and pec yple can judge as they please as to which of us is wrong,” | said Buck. ‘‘Buck is determined for this meeting, cap- tain, so let us Have it over; but I have a propo- sition to make.” ‘“ Well, Armstrong? the captain said. ‘7 am a natural gambler, I believe, and I'm willing to make or lose on this meeting. ‘J want Buck Taylor’s Roan King and his out- | fit, and I will place my outfit, horses, money and all, against his, ‘*The one who lives inherits the dead man’s little fortune.” “ All right,” said Buck, coolly. “This is a strange proposition, Armstrong.” ‘It’s gambling on a life, captain, and that adds greater zest to the meeting between us, ‘T am ready now, whenever Sol arranges with you how we are to fight,” . ‘Revolvers at fifteen paces suits me,” coolly said Buck. blon, lt was decided that they should stand with their backs toward éach other, and wheeling at the word—fire., Sol Bradford left it for the captain to give the word, and then all was in readiness, The two men were as cool as an icicle. Neither showed the slightest dread of the-or- deal they were passing through, though Buck | was strangely quiet for him, while the gambler | wasin a most reckless mood, but it seemed a trifle forced. Asthe men were ready in position, Captain ‘** Are you ready.” ** Yes, sir,” said Buck, promptly. ‘**] am ready to await the result,” responded Armstrong. ** Fire!” The men wheeled together as though on pivots, and their revolvers were quickly at a level. Then the pistols flashed, almost together, Buck Taylor had been the quicker of the two, and his bullet pierced the brain of the gambler, In his tracks sunk Roddy Armstrong, and Sol Bradford sprung to his side. ‘* He is dead, Buck.” ** Yes, I shot to kill,” was the cool rejoinder, ** Well, Buck, you had better seek rest now, for you are really used up, and we will carry the body to the hospital, there to remain until morn- ing,” said Captain McNally. **T will help you do so, sir, and then, go with you to your ranch, for I desire to solve this mystery to you and to Sol, though to others it must remain a secret,” and bending over, Buck raised the form in his &trong arms, and carried | it to the little log hospital. When Buck and the captain reached the tim- | There it was placed on a cot, the door was locked, and the three went to the captain’s quar- ters, the Ranger leader and Sol Bradford most curious to know the mystery of that midnight =e between two who had appeared the best of riends, CHAPTER XVI. THE MYSTERY. For some time after entering the cabin of the — the three men sat in silence. tach one of them seemed occupied with his own thoughts, and they were certaimly of a sad nature. The captain’s home was a comfortable one, and the lamp burned brightly, showing the faces of the three men as they sat there together. Buck Taylor’s face was still baggerd. He had recuperated rapidly, from his having eaten a good meal and had a few hours’ sleep, et he still looked as though he was very ales ed. At last he said, and he spoke slowly: ‘‘ Captain McNally, 1 am sorry that I had to fight a duel with a fellow member: but I will tell you and Sol why I did so, and you can judge whether I was rigbt or wrong. ‘To others, for the sake of all concerned, it had better remain a mystery.” “T feel, Buck, that you did not act hastily in, the matter,” said the captain. ‘* When Roddy came to me and ‘told me that he was to fight a duel, and with\you, Buck, I was sure that you had the right of it, ‘“‘He asked me to go with him, and more he would not say, so I was wholly in ignorance of the cause of the quarrel between you,” Sol Bradford remarked. ‘‘T went from here, yeu both remember, ona secret scout with Armstrong?’ ** Yes.” ; “Tt was my desire, as you are aware, rae tain, to find the camp ef the Raiders, and see they could not be surprised there at scme time.” “You so told me, but I feared to invade Mex- ico, for I dreaded complications arising there- from with the Government,” ** Well, sir, Armstrong and myself crossed the ; a % ‘ - a a © - — ro peepin Os ote ine £2 Ge, » r pone aT oo > + ‘