Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 510 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

a i a hurry fer, seeing it was early, and it wouldn't take him but a leetle over an hour to get home,” ‘*T see; and if he left your place at ten, he couldn’t possibly have got to Mulligan’s cabin by half-past ten if he walked,” the Scotchman re- marked. ‘* But if he had a hoss and rode hard he could have made the riffle!” Big-nosed Smith exclaim- ed; being a narrow-minded, bull-headed man, he was reluctant to admit that he had made a ‘bad break,” and showed himself to be a stupid blunderer when he aecused Cool Colorado of be- ing the man who had robbed Mulligan and mur- dered Williams. ‘*'Yes, if he had had a hoss he might have cov- ered the distance in the time,” the judge remark- ‘¢ And, by the way, did you discover any evi- dence to lead you to suppose that the man who put up these jobs had a hoss?” Big-nosed Smith was reluctantly obliged to admit that he hadn’t discovered anything of the . kind. ‘* Any evidence to show that Colorado had a hoss, or had had one?” Again the miner was compelled to answer in the negative. **T havn’t been on the back of a horse since I have been in the camp!” the half-breed ex- claimed. ‘*In fact I reckon there isn’t many hosses *round these diggings,” the judge observed. And this was the truth, for the miners had no use for horses. ‘¢ Now, Colorado, the case seems to be pretty clear to me,” the Scotchman continued, ‘‘ but before I give it to the jury I will try to make it still clearer, so Il want to put a few questions to ou.” ** All right, judge, go ahead!” Cool Colorado replied, ‘‘I don’t fear the strictest kind of a cross-examination.” ‘‘About what time did you get home last night® ‘Well, I don’t exactly know,” the half-breed replied ‘‘for when I discovered the awful tra- gedy which had happened in my absence, [ was so overcome by it that I never thought of notic- ing what time it was, but I should judge it was a little after half-past eleven.” ‘‘ How’s that? How long does it usually take you to go home—an hour and twenty minutes?” ‘Oh, no; I generally cover the distance in an hour,” the half-breed eyeng ieee answered, “Pretty quick time for five miles.” ‘But it isn’t five miles, judge, although it is usually called so; it is really under four, and it seldom takes me more than an hour to cover it.” ‘‘ Hold on! there’s a leetle discrepancy here,” the judge remarked. “ Last night it took you considerably over an hour to get home. But we will get at that ina moment, ** How long was 1t after you arrived at your cabin before Smith and his = came in?” ‘Ten or fifteen minutes, I should judge—not over fifteen at the outside. In fact, although I didn’t take any particular notice of how the time went, I feel pretty certain that it was nearer ten minutes than fifteen.” ‘‘Lemme see! you got hcme about half-past eleven, ten minutes more would make it about a quarter to twelve,” observed the canny Scotch- man, counting the time on his fingers. ‘‘How does that agree with your ideas, Smith?’ he asked, turning to the miner. ‘¢ That is about right, I reckon,” that worthy replied. ‘Right to a minute, judge!” exclaimed one of the men who had helped Smith arrest Cool Colorado. ey ‘*T jooked at my watch jest as we halted out- side of the cabin and it was eleven forty-five exactly !” ~ And the man lugged out his ancient silver time-piece, as if the production of the watch - would prove the truth of his statement. ““ Well, that point is settled. Now, Colorado, Me you explain why you were so long on the road? ‘* Now, judge, that isn’t pre necessary, is it?” asked the half-breed, ‘‘ not that there is any par- ticular reason why I shouldn’t explain the matter, only that it is my own private business, and of no concern to the public at large.” ot would be better for you to explain,” the Scotchman urged. Then a female form advanced through the throng. It was Bad Man Jackson’s daughter, the blooming beauty ‘‘ Polly,” and never had the young girl seemed more pretty than at this moment, as she pushed her way through the crowd, blushing like a red, red rose, ~ 4 : ‘ ; : , » be . * » we 7 . 4 ory = ‘ & 7 7 2 J ; _—- * : =. - , a pti ' ¢ 1* ‘ fj “ae . o ¥ rT " ra ‘ ‘ ben, ra . “ . a . P { 7. 7 , ,, - J he e + “ . ‘ 7 . : - « -_ ei . " ree a 4 *.. ae ee ss .. « 3 ‘ - Cool Colorado, the Half-Breed D . — —_ ew oo »" +s , bl ame - ae . “> 4 od ake ’ Pe fon CA te Fann ee es” a ‘+ meat oh ¥ s Pw ~ a e's .* ee . 5 ae « £2 a aie i » } “‘ Judge, I have some testimony to offer,” she | said in a clear tone, so that her words were dis- oe heard by all, although her voice trembled slightly. Cool Colorado smiled, the judge looked a little puzzled, like the majority of the bystanders, some few in the crowd ‘‘snickered,” and old man Jackson glared in rage at his daughter, his face as black as a thunder-cloud. ‘Certainly, Miss Jackson, we shall be glad to hear what you have to say.” ‘Tt was exactly half-past ten last night when this gentleman left the camp,” she said, blushing to her temples, but otherwise showing no signs of confusion. ‘‘T happened to step to the door of my house just as he came up the road from the center and stopped him to ask if he had seen anything of my father, because he said he would be home early, and as he hadn’t come, I didn’t know but what something had happened to him,” ‘*'Yes, yes, I see, quite natural,” observed the judge, cravely nodding his head, but in his mind the thought came that if Cool Colorado had not been a deucedly good-looking young fellow the girl would not’ have been apt to trouble him with any questions about her father. ‘‘Tt was just ten minutes past ten when Mr. Colorado came along, and we got into conversa- tion, so that it was exactly half-past ten when he bid me good-night and went on his way.” Quite a number in the throng exchanged knowing glances with each other. In their minds there wasn’t the least doubt that the belle of ihe camp had taken a fancy to the dashing young miner. Jackson, the father, was furious. Although at the close of his contest with the young man, he had expressed himself as being satisfied, and expressly said that he did not bear any malice, it was not the truth. here was no such generous trait in his na- ture. He had been fairly conquered in a fair fight, but instead of accepting his defeat in the right spirit, his heart was filled with rage and he had sworn that at the first possible chanve he would be revenged upon his victorious antagonist. And now to discover that his daughter was on friendly terms with the young man, was as gall and wormwood to him. ‘‘T am certain about the time, for I looked at the clock on both occasions,” the girl said in conclusion. : ‘*T am very much obliged to you indeed,” Cool Colorado hastened to observe, with a low bow to the an “T didn’t think I was really called upon to mention your name in the matter, for ladies are generally rather ‘ backward in coming forward’ in all such cases as this one, and I wouldn’t take the liberty of dragging you into the matter without taking occasion ask your permiss- ion, ‘* Well, Tam not anxious to appear in public, but when a fellow-creature’s liberty or life is threatened, I think it is my duty to do all I can to aid the accused.” ‘*Miss Jackson, you have acted perfectly right'” the judge exclaimed, ‘‘ and deserve great credit for the spirit you have displayed.” This caused the girl to blush more furiously still, but she managed to retain her composure, and after thanking the judge for his compliment withdrew to her former position. ‘Well, gentlemen of the jury, I reckon we have got hold of all the aot beat # we kin scare up about this case,” the Scotchman remarked. ‘“And as the matter seems pretty clear to my mind, I don’t doubt it isto yours, so I won’t trouble you with any chin-music. Go it, ye ri ay 8 t did not take the jurorslong to make up their minds, and their verdict was quickly ren- dered: ** Not guilty!” And as this was the opinion of nearly every one in the crowd the verdict was received with a yell of gic _“* Well, gentlemen, I think you hit the nail right on the head that time,” the judge observed ‘‘for in my opmion there isn’t the least doub that Colorado didn’t have any hand in the mat- r. ‘¢Of course I don’t blame our friend Smith here for his action in the case, as it was only natural, under the circumstances, that he should suspect Colorado had something to do with the matter, ** And now, gentlemen, seeing as how we have the machine in running order, f s’pose we ought to go out to the Pine Creek Mine, examine the body and come to an opinion in regard to Wil- liams’s death,” > - ©. y erie mete ee ee ee ee ee, eee eee OO QO OO eee - > Lg “we - et gh ia he Fe is * “te 4] : ; 7 ' - e . ¥, Suits “as a 4 > , oi. . * ; cn i > ay * “ » > 4 . 5 x, es . } > "* 4 nd ’ . 7 y. Kas as ae 4 . 3 “|; 7 “ ~ : etective. Ag en ae This idea met with the approval of the miners: and it was decided to go at once. : First though the judge went through the form of discharging the prisoner, and the moment: this was done Cool Colorade was surrounded by his friends and acquaintances, eager to shake his hand and extend their congratulations. About all the male inhabitants of the camp accompanied the judge and jury to the scene of the tragedy. The investigation was as ee as possible under the circumstances, but nothing in addition to what was already known was developed. Therefore there wasn’t anything for the jury to do but to render a verdict that the unfortu- nate Alexander Williams had met his death at the hands of “ parties unknown.” And then the remains ‘of the murdered man were decently buried in a grassy spot on the hillside, a short distance from his cabin and a rudely constructed cross erected to mark the grave. After the funeral services the crowd dispersed, taking their way back to the town, leaving Cook Colorado in possession of the cabin. CHAPTER VII. THREE PARDS. Bap Man Jackson had been decidedly offended. when the half-breed informed him that he had succeeded, just by accident, in making his daughter’s acquaintance, and this, more even than the banter of the hotel-keeper, induced hin» to force Cool Colorado into a fight. But when his daughter stepped forward be- fore all the crowd nt, admitted that she had held a second conversation with the young man, and the two, although strangers to each other, had found enough to talk about to fill up the space of twenty minutes, then his rage was in- tense, He hated the half-breed anyway, although bout, he had said he was satisfied and willing to admit that the other was the best man, yet this was because his defeat had for the moment. cowed him, and he had not pluck enough to pur- sue the quarrel further at the time. But when he came to reflect upon the matter he was angry with himself for allowing the other to obtain so easy a victory. Fifty times at least he had muttered to him- elf: ‘* Tf [ hadn’t tried for toclinch with the feller,. so as to gi’n him a b’ar-hug, but had jest gone in. and smashed him with my fists, 1 would have knocked daylight outen him!” | And Jackson had repeated this so often over to himself, that at last he felt perfectly sure that: there wasn’t the least doubt about it. During the trial he had stood on the outskirts: of the crowd. — savage exultation had taken possession of him when he heard that his half-breed conqueror was accused of murder, and if it had been within his power, he would have done much to 48 ia rope around the neck of the man he ated. The appearance of his daughter as a witness: to prove the innocence of Cool Colorado, made him so hot with anger that he could hardly re- frain from giving open vent to his displeasure, but he had sense enough to understand that if he did, it would most certainly bring upon him the ieers of the miners, for the average man would be apt to regard the matter as a deuced gocd joke, so he fumed and chafed in silence. As the judge and jury, the prisoner and the witnesses were the center of interest to which all eyes were turned, the angry father had no idea that any one was paying any attention to But just a little in his rear, and about a yard distant, were three townsmen who were keeping tbe closest kind of a watch upon him. Three as well-known men, too, were these fel- lows as the camp of Bitteropolis could boast. They were three pards, and did not bear the best of reputations. 7 The care which the three bestowed upon their personal appearance, in direct contradiction to the usual careless habits of the miners, plainly revealed to the experienced eye that they be- longed to the great army of sports, who, like the vultures and the wolves that follow an arm marching to battle, keep in close contact wit the great. march of civilization as it advances: into the wilderness. One of the sports was a man of forty or there- abouts, a tall, rather thin fellow, with a hatchet- like face. ; 1 He did not appear to be as tall as he really was on account of a peculiar stoop which he had, 7ae¢ b 4 4° ui» ; Se bile 6y Mend tele i \ 5 < G. - » te > . soa we ®S “ vy rae Male ye) 9 Aw i Ai ' AMES ~— Ccomicb after the success of the other in the wresting’ — 7 Ra 4 aS ae »* * # 9 - . * d Le we 4 ac on x . | ~ * ~~ “ a ee = ee ens _ > < : * a . : a ee = - Z * ~ =~ — ee em! com ~