Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 498 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

1 to the gambler had been sufficiently crushing, Bridger ee faced the crowd, and took up the threads of his startling narrative. “This hyar Cap’n Noname was a jim-dandy, in his tg peculiar way, sure’s ye’re all a foot high, pards. “He was a smallish man, an’ so well disguised thet I mought stan’ face-to-face ‘ith him hyar an’ not know him. “ Ther most remarkable thing bout him was his sombrero—a li»ht one, round w’ich was ther stuffed skin ov a prairie rattler, held in place by a small red dagger. ‘TI noticed thet, partic’lar. “ Wal. a’ter handin’ me ther dockyment fer Saul Temple he stepped back, kinder bowed, an’ wished us good luck inter camp, but advised thet we look out fer snags aheat |” And leaving his auditors to make the most of his impressiveness, tue narrator solemnly raised his beaded glass and allowed the villainous decoction within to trickle slowly down his throat. ‘Pears ter me es ef ye don’t keep jest ther stuff ye hed orter, Idaho,’ he grumbled, setting down the glass, with a wry face. ‘““No matter as to that, just now,” lightly returned the proprietor of tie Eldorado. ‘Go abead with your latest.”’ * Let me ask, fu’st, ef Saul Temple aire present,’’ said Bridger, roving his eyes over the crowd, “I hev hyar the message, an’ it aire important.” “The marshal hain’t hyar,’’ spoke up a voice in the crowd. “But ye kin look fer him at eny min- ute.”’ “Then, ter get back termy yarn. Cap’n Noname an’ his men slid back inter ther bush, an’ with ther unfortunate critters inside cavortin, at a rate thet threatened ter raise ther roof ov ther huss, we laid on whip fer Nabob’s Bar. ‘*Ther trail aire rough et thet p’int, an’ et took all my eyes ter pilot the machine. opened out ag’in. I turned ter ask ther tenderfoot on the box w’y he kept so still. ‘*Ther seat war empty—he war gone! ‘“‘T sized the matter up putty quick, He hed bin in on ther hold-up game. an’ hed dropped off abind ter slide back an’ j’ine his pards. ‘* But, et ther same time, I looked ter see thet ther galoots inther huss was safe, fer I c’u’dn’t take chainces on w’ai ther tenderfoot mought hev done, ‘*Puzzled my head an’ a’ mighty sight, did these - ee + - -_~-_<_— hyar two or three leetle sarcumstances, an’ I reckon | least- | | hearse left Golconda, they knew when and where to | | ment of intense silence followed the delivery of the I wasn’t es watchful es I sh’u’d ’a’ bin; ways, "bout a mile an’ a half further on, in roundin’ ther sharp curve under ther Hangin’ Rock, w’at d’d we do but run up slap-bang ag’in’ a barricade thrown up acrost the trail! * An’ over that barricade p’irted a ha’f-score Win- chesters, grupped by as pecs gents ov ther high- way—Greasers, neegers an’ low-down whiie trash, sech fellers as ’u’d make ther boss chick ov ther pit y’arn fer a roost on & barn top ov a dark night! “ *Most afore I knowed et, ther hosses war back on ther ha’nches, w’ile a dozen more ov ther cusses war a-swarmin’ over ther huss. *““An’ Lordez/ w’ot a howl went up w’en they opened ther door ov ther old vehike an’ see’d ther lay-out inside! ‘Et didn’t take ther gents long ter find ther meat in ther pot hed bin scooped by ther galoot stylin’ hisself Cap'n Noname, an’ then ther air «as blue, ‘Ther huil cargo inside war filed out an’ s’arched, a’ter which ther linin’ ov ther stage war rpped ter pieces, ther seats torn out, an’ even ther ruunin’- gear an’ ther harness looked a'ter without raisin’ a red. “‘Upshot ov the matter war thet Miss Axfell war bundled back inter th-r huss, w’ile ther toll-takers, ith a cuss-word or two et yours truly, put off in ther bush ‘ith ther other five passe’gers, leaving me ter git over ther barricade ther best I c’u’d. ‘Now comes ther queer part ov ther hull business —Cap’n Noname wore about his sombrero, as I hev told you, the stuffed skin ov a pararie rattler, fixed in place by a red dagger; now each one ov this sec- aaa band. whom their leader interduced as the Sar- peuts ov Cimarron, bore edzactly ther same sign!” Old Buck oie paused a moment, apparently to note the effect of his strange reveiation, Then, as no one vouchsafed a remark or a comment, he went on: ‘* And now ye know all thar aire ter know—unless ye putt a’ter ther cusses an’ run them down—not sech a hard matter, sence they’re ’most likely but a few miles vack. ‘*W’en et came ter gitting rid ov ther barricade, Miss Axfell cut an’ worked right alongside Old uck— “Hallo! hallo! hyar’s jther major now, an’ with him old Saul Temple!” “Right you are, my hearty!’ promptly returned one of the two men who had jus entered the door of the Eldorado. ‘** Speak of the Old Boy,’ ete. “Major Axfell informs me that you have a mes- sage for me, Bridger.” *Thev thet same, Saul Temple, though them ow- dashus hellyons, ther Sarpents ov Cimarron, actin’ on a pointer from ther cusses in ther huss, s’arched me from crown ter heel, then reckoned | hed drop- pedet. Hyar et aire.” And plucking one of his trusty ‘* Sixes” from his broad leathern belt, Bridger gingerly extracted a twisted wisp of paper from the long barrel, and passed it to Marshal Temple, who had pusbed his zay et the crowd, closely followed by Major xfell. : ‘A quick wit that prompted you to conceal it there, suck, for truly it would bea man of ivon nerve who would care to look into the muzzle of such a tvol, even for a document far more important than ee SS = a W'en ther trail | Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. this may prove to be,”’ observed the latter, as Saul | Temple smoothed the sadly-crumpled bit of paper. Then, as the redoubtable marshal ran his cold gray eyes over the cg a hush fell upon the restless crowd. To the right of Bridger stood Idaho and the hunchback side by side, the former with bis arms folded carelessly across his massive chest, his face bearing a strangely-mocking smile, the latter with a cruel, sneering expression upon his sinister visage: to the left, on the outskirts of the crowd | and just within the doorway, were Elegant Fitz Jim and his friend Hank, each quiet and expectant, fully on the alert. ‘* An odd chick in his brood, this Captain Noname seems to be,” commented Temple, as he finished his erusal of the message. ‘* From Major Axfell and is daughter I have heard the full particulars oi the capture and robbers of the stage, and I must con- fess that to the best of my knowledge the case stands without a parallel. ‘ _ “The impudence of the rascal is simply astound- ing. ‘Listen, and I will read you his remarkable mis- sive, which relates wholly to the five victims whom he handcuffed, and who were afterward kidnapped from the stage by the Serpents of Cimarron.” Amid a profound silence, the agent of the Jaw read as follows: ““* Saunt Temple, MARSHAL OF NABos’s Bar:— ee gray ha’r—ter yer right thar—dressed in black, ‘ith ther diamond in his shirt-front, an’ high silk hatt That aire ther man! -Captain Redblade, ov ther Sarpents ov Cimarron!” A shifting of the crowd; a wild commotion; a sharp rattling, as of a hundred hands dropped swift- ly upon belted weapons. Then a dark form shot out from the ranks of the crowd, as if hurled from a catapult alighting with back squarely against the wall, blue eyes glittering, and revolvers out and up, ready for action quick and deadly! “Perdido Fernandez, yu lie! Iam no more Cap- tain Redbiade, ov the Serpents ov Cimarron, than air old Saul Temple thar! “Gents ov Nabob’s Bar, permit me—Iam plain, onvarnished, unpretenti us Cactus Burr, Esq., ov pelea oe Shall I kem to ye, or will ye kem an’ e me?”’ CHAPTER XI. A VILLAIN’S PROPOSITION. WitH the utmost coolness spoke the man from - _Hard Luck, slowly, deliberately, his smooth voice | expressive neither of fear nor of anger, while bis ance into your cuséody, five red handed criminals, | namely: Carlotta Dane, alias Lisette Cremola, alias Captain Redblade, a/ias Priscilla Trueheart, the chief of the notorious New Mexican outlaw band, known as the Serpents of Cimarron; and Sweetwater Smith, Peter Peaslee, Nicholas Jolly and Doctor Skaggs, all members of the said band. ‘* * May the court of good Judge Lynch decree that they be hung high as aman, for such a fate they truly deserve. CAPTAIN NONAME,’”’ ‘*‘Now you have heard what this embodiment of | nerve—this outlaw chief—has to say,’ uttered the —-—----_--- -- i Oe n—n—a— re ee oO TT marshal, as he carefully placed the bit of paper in his wallet. ‘‘ What do you think of it?” ‘*7 think that the scoundrel’s arrest of the five assengers is an outrage that must aot be allowed o go unpunished !”’ quickly declared a harsh, sibilant voice, immediately behind Temple and Major Ax- fell. ‘‘From all that . have heard of the matter, the most plausibl+ theory that I can conceive is, that Captain Noname and bis crew and the Serpents of Cimarron are all one, and that long before the strike. ‘‘And more—I believe that the capture of the stage was a pootless affair, and that they knew from the start that such would be the case, but acted in ursuance to plans cunningly concocted by men of igh standing in Nabob’s Bar!” face betrayed no sign of any unusual degree of excitement. On tne contrary, his round red lips wore just a suspicion of a smile, as if he looked upon the entire : , ' matter as being of the nature of 2 ‘** Herewith, per Buck Bridger, | send, for deliver- | j “ ‘6 a stupendous oke. But by far the greater number of the ** Barbarians —as the citizens of the older and rival camp of Golconda were wont to term the denizens of Nabob’s. Bar—were by no means deceived by the careless attitude of this free-and-easy individual thus sudden- ly and dramatically brought into prominence. These words, accentuated with venomous bitter- | ness, and plainly intended for Major Axfell and Saul Temple, created a pronounced sensation, almost drowning the powerful voice of the giant gambler as | : ; . _ dido, aire [ drunk or crazy, or hes ye swapped togs he cried: ‘““My sentiments exactly, Rufus Darnley, though we two are not the best of friends. And I will goa step further—the entire plot was hatched to create a sort of public sympathy for a certain unfortunate individual whose name, for the sake of politeness, I will omit, and as an opening wedge to a stay in the foreclosure proceedings impending against the Great Mozul Mine!”’ Then came a sudden surging of the crowd, accom- panied by all sorts of sounds from scornful hisses to deep-breathed curses- a sudden pairing-off, a division into two factions—the recognized elements of the Er, His pale-blue eyes filled with an ominotis glitter, a hectic flush in each white, shrunken cheek, his thin nostrils dilated and quivering, his slight, attenuated form erect and rigi with savage strength, his hands resting upon the solid butts of his half-drawn revolvers. Major Ax- fell wheeled, with a fierce imprecation, from Idaho to Rufus Darnley. '*Seoundrel! you—” “Steady, now, Axfell!” broke in sturdy Saul Temple in a tone of expostulation, as his strong hand fell lightly but firmly upon the shoulder of bis friend. ‘* Remember, fo” your own sake, that this is neither the time nor the place for a settlement of certain vexed questions between yourself and that— gentleman—there,”’ And as the old marshal spoke his cold, clear gray eyes were fixed in a steady, wondering, piercing sort of stare upon the heavy and sensual yet unde- niably handsome face of Rufus Darnley, noting at once the gleam of triumph in his large, slightly- protuberant black orbs, and the cruel, malicious smile upon his full red lips, ‘Remember, Axfell,”’ Temple continued, ‘that and for the moment imbued | no matter what may be said, the facts remain the | same; remember, that while we parley here we are losing time that should be devoted to organizing a marty to go at break of day in pursuit of Captain oname, to wrest from him his ill-gotten spoils.” Then, ere another word could be spoken on either side, a tall, athletic-looking fellow, whose clothing, though of fine texture, was torn and covered with dust and dirt, roughly jostled his way through the outer ranks of the crowd and with a bound planted hand. ‘‘Ho! thar! marshal!’ he cried sharply, bis keen black eyes quickly singling out the tall form of Saul the out- Temple. ‘‘ Ye speak ov Captain Noname, law! Do yer duty, an’ by the Lord ov Israel! re shall hev him, an’ not acent ter pay, fer thar he stands—ther cuss ’ith ther bright blue eyes an’ long ‘ ‘oa! . at et ss a ad . nyth* Intuitively, they felt that in this slight, smiling fellow, Cactus Burr, Esq., they bad run upon a cus- tomer dangerous to “fool” with—a peculiar yet yronounced, type of the “bad man from ’way ack,”’ The fearless flash of the bright blue eyes, that strangely soft and gentle smile, the easy poise of the slender, well-knit form. the rock-like steadiness of the hands gripping the brace of fine self-cocking re- volvers—all these things were possessed of a Signifi- cance which they had cause to know, and learned to respect. Then, too, the inactivity of Major Axfell, Saul Temple, Rufus Darnley, |daho and Elegant Fitz Jim —the leading lights of the camp—went far to hold the body of the motley crowd in check. Therefore, it is not to be wondered at thata mo- peed couched challenge of the man from Hard uck. A slight movement upon the part of Old Buck Bridger—a writhing and twisting of his lank form, until he was seated upon the bar—then: ‘‘Galumphbin’ stars! et’s me outside } asse’ger, or I'm a Rocky Mountain goat!” he gasped, staring hard at the man in the doorway, a look of blankest incredulity upon his honest face. ‘Now, Pard Per- 4th some bummer ov tber Bar?” “Thev follered ¢i-t cussed sharp over rocks an’ through bresh,” hotly retorted the sport, kis eyes flaming with rage, as he indicated Burr with a swift inclination of his head. ‘‘ Marshal, do yer duthy, fer thar stands ver man—Captain Redblade, otherwise Captain Noname! I kin sw’ar et, ferl dropped off ther stage, follered his trail till [came upon his camp, en eeed his steps right inter Nabob’s Bar} A mellow laugh rippled sony from the lips of the man from Hard Luck, breaking in upon Perdido’s _impassioned utterances and causing him to stop with teeth hard shut : ‘*My dear Perdido, ter put et mildly ye aire a won- derful romancer—or, es ther French say, mebbe et’s only rats in yer garret Who knows? t eny rate, et’s absurd ter talk ov my bein’ Captain Redblade, ov ther Sarpents ov Cimarron! Can't ye see thar hain’t a man hyar wh believes et? Ther galoots ov Nabob’s Bar aire level-headed sinners! hy! thar hain’t a man ov ’em lifted a finger sence / intro- duced myself!” And again the mocking laugh of Cactus Burr, Esq., rung out, together with his sneering words stinging many to the quick. But there was something—per- haps the lack of a leader to lead the rush, or, again, the mute but effective persuasion in the frowning muzzles playing first here, then there, upon the crowd—which held the restless “Bar. arians”’ in check. ‘*Permit me to say, Mr, Burr, that we are by far too fair-minded to adjudge you, or even to attempt to arrest or detain you, upon so serious & charge, when the accusation has been made by a perfect stranger—one, too, who seems inimical to you,”’ said Rufus Darnley. in an unctuous tone &S he lifted his soft white bands from the gold butts of his weapons and strode forward, a peculiar smile upon his face, * At all events, the arrest cannot be made within the walls of the Eldorado.” chimed in the giant gam- bler, with a defiant glance at Saul Temple and his friend, Major Axfell, , “T should say nay /” added Elegant Fitz Jim, cast- ing a swift searching look at the face of his employ- er, then fixing his eyes in an intent stare upon the | livid countenance of Perdido Fernandez. ‘If there is himself before the open doorway, a weapon ineach | @ grudge between the galoots. let them wait until the moon rises and then gO Out and have it out in regulation style. If they W!pe out each other, then with the carrion of the Honorable Diamond Dick the professional mourners Of the camp should have ma- terial enough to enable them to squeeze out a flood of tears of volume sufficient to allay the present drouth, Verily good may come of all evil!” Cc i - ry * Bee dy Co ee