Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 518 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

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Just then a half a dozen of the miners rushed up, brandishing their weapons and crying: “Tynch bhim—lynch him!” CHAPTER XV, THE PRISONER. ‘““Hotp on, hold on, fellow-citizens!” Cool Colorado interposed, ‘‘ We will not have any lynching just now, if you please,” he continued.. ‘In the first ears: I reckog the man is dead, and if he isn’t 1 claim him as my prisone; and there will not be any lynching until the man has a trial, so we can find out something about him. As we have said, some of the citizens had be- come extremely courageous now that the fight was over, and a couple took it upon them- selves to give the scout ‘“‘a piece of their minds,” ‘See hyer! that ain't no kind of way to talk to us!” the fellow exclaimed, Miystesingly and he laid his hand 7 ig sages upon the butt of his revolver, which he bad just shoved back into its holster. ‘‘No, I want you to understand we hyer miners don’t allow no cowboys to run this town!” chimed in another. Cool Colorado’s blood was a little heated by the contest in which he had played so promi- nent a part and he was not in the humor to stand any nonsense. Like the old and experienced plainsman the first thing he bad done the moment the fight end- ed, was to put fresh cartridges in his revolver, so he was fully prepared for war. He was prompt to act. Out came his revolvers as quick asa flash, and in the twinkling of an eye he had both of the men ‘ covered.” =: ‘Get out of this or I'll shoot you down with as little mercy as though you were a pair of mad soy ae he exclaimed, sternly. e men fairly turned pale, for they saw that the young man was fully in earnest, and there was not the least doubt in their minds he would be as good as his word if they attempted to dis- obey the command, and 80, muttering that they didn’t mean to “run upag’in’ him,” the pair slunk away. The rest of the miners set eg shout of derision 34 the crowd always like to be on the winning e. While this little incident was tramspiring Sioux Sam had knelt by the side of the dismounted road-agent, and proceeded to ascertain the man’s condition. The fellow was not dead, merely stunned by the shock of the fall, and by the time that Cool Colorado had succeeded in getting rid of the two miners, he began to show signs of consciousness. ‘+ He’s all NN Sioux San. announced. ‘‘ Got an ugly fall, that is all.” “Well, I am glad to hear it!” his pard ex- claimed. ’ ‘‘ For I have a curiosity to know all the par- ticulars in regard to this little surprise party. The attack was evidently a put-up job to wipe us out, and I would like to know who was run- ning the game.” _ Inside of five minutes the man recovered suffi- ciently tositup. Meanwhile the citizens had been talking over the matter, and it was the general opinion that Judge Lynch ought to be called upon to take charge of the case. Warned by the resolute way though in which the young scout had resisted the attempt of the two miners to interfere with the pemoner, the crowd selected Tommy Doyle for their_spokes- man, and delegated him to talk to Covl Colorado in to the matter. ‘* The boys have been discussing this fellow’s case,” remarked the landlord, ‘and it is the gen- eral opinion that we ought to form a Lynch court and try this galoot off-hand.” Well, I think the idea is a good one, and I, for one, am y in favor of it,” the plains- man replied, diately. |, So am I!” exclaimed Sioux Sam. ‘* And as I reckon you are as good 4 man as {~~ LA,” A an A-% 4 , ’ “we sj a » he 1 po? ’ ¢ ° b 1 . - ~ in a ‘ moh, Pe ‘ = on 7 7 ms fs ‘2; 4 4 ag = . ‘ “1 a . ms Keak 4 wa _ rete eee Ea ee - — a” to ont we? . there is in the town for the office, 1 nominate you for Judge Lynch,” Cool Colorado continued, in a tone loud enough to reach the ears of the citizens, who were collected in groups a few yards off, eet This suggestion was received with immediate favor. ‘‘-Yes, yes, Tommy Doyle for Judge Lynch!” cried one of the representative men, and the rest took up the shout. The landlord ‘‘ reckoned ” that they might find a better man in the camp than himself for the important office, but the crowd didn’t think sv, and he consented to serve. ‘‘] will try and run the game right up to the handle,” he remarked. ‘¢] will do my best to show to the world that we are ceable and law-abiding citizens here in Red Bluffs, and that our respect for law and order is only equaled by the durned speed with which we mete out justice to ary galoot who thinks he is big enough to come into this hyer camp and paint the town red.” This speech met with general approval, and then, one old, gray-headed miner, sugg that as Cool Colarado’s bullet had been the one to slay the stranger’s horse, and so give the man into their hands, the half-breed ought to have some say in running the thing. ‘Well, I will be the district attorney to put the fellow through,” the scout suggested. The throng approved of this idea, and as the man had not recovered sufficiently to know what he was about, it was resolved to proceed with the tria] immediately. . The man was searched, all bis weapons re- moved, his arms pinioned with a lariat, and then ‘Judge Lynch” announced that he was ready for trial. The prisoner was a muscular fellow, with a hang-dog look, and when he was ordered to stand up and face Judge Lynch it was the gen- eral opinion that he was the ugliest-looking scoundrel the town of Red Bluffs had seen for many a day. The fellow was game though, and despite the peril of his position he faced the crowd with a prt ee ‘ ‘‘ Well, my man, you are in a pretty tight place,” Tommy Doyle observed, in his official capacity of Judge Lynch. ‘*Mebbe I am, and, mebbe, I ain’t,” replied the fellow, insolently. ‘Don’t you try to cheek this hyer court!” cried Judge Lynch, sternly. ‘‘Don’t you go for to give me any guff or, blame me! if I don’t hang you first and try you afterwards!” ‘* Wa-eal, I reckon you can’t do more than hang a man, anyway!” the fellow retorted. ““F don't know *bout that! I reckon we kin dish up justice mighty fine in this hyer camp if we get a good ready on. ‘Hanging ain’t the only thing we kin do!” “Oh, ain’t it?’ cried the , still full of bravado, yet evidently a little disturbed by the words of the judge. ‘No, sir-ee, it ain’t by a jugful!” Tommy Doyle declared. “I want you to understand that when it comes to dealing out justice this hyer camp of Red Bluffs don’t take a back seat for any two in Colorado,” ‘Oh, you are only ing, soas to make your mouth go!” exclaimed the fellow. ‘You wait till a while ago and, mebbe, you will find out!” Judge Lynch declared. ‘‘ In the first place you kin just bet your bot- tom dollar that we kin puta man through in this camp as well as in any camp you ever struck. ; , ‘‘There is more than one way to kill a cat and more ways to make a man wish he had never been born than to make him stretch hemp. ‘* For instance, there is such a thing as roast- ing a man over a slow fire.” he ruffian looked both amazed and disgusted. ‘+ Then ag'in & man kin be torn asunder by wild hosses.” The eyes of the captive began to bulge. sitet and is disposed fo be ugly, kin be boiled ac an i in oil over a slow fire.” vente ech The man was visibly disturbed. ‘Oh, bosh!” he cried, trying to put a bold face on the matter. “ You are only trying to skeer me now!” ‘Oh, no, we don’t do business in that ar’ way in this » po camp. . ts ahead on You, 0 You will havea chance to on ) ac to flee from the wrath to come, ~ ‘“‘T don’t want you, arter you land in the other world, to be able to make any complaints Cool Colorado in New York. ee A CL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL ae ee ee a ae LS that you were h’isted there so sudden that yow. one have no time to get your baggage check- ‘‘We are not going to ring in a cold deal on: you, but give you a squar’ show for your money, every time!” » ‘* Wa-al, that is all I ax, anyway,” growled. the prisoner, sulkily. ‘You are going to get it in Red Bluffs, every time!” the landlord declared, in the most im- pressive manner. ‘* Now, then, to come right down to business, what is your handle?” ! ‘* Arkansaw Bill.” ‘‘ Well, you’re no credit to the State,” com- mented Judge Lynch, ‘You are a stranger byer, I reckon?” ‘1 reckon [ am.” ‘* Where are you from last?’ ** Gunnison.” ‘‘ Did they run you out of the town?” : ‘No, they didn’t!” snarled the prisoner,. angrily. “Didn't stay there long enough, eh, for the- folks to get properly introduced to you?” “TJ reckon Gunnison will hunk on me as big” as ary man she’s got inter the town!” the fellow” declared. ‘‘ Well, if the town did, I reckon the chances. are big that Gunnison would lose her wealth, every time! ‘‘ What is your business?” ‘¢ Miner and general speculator.” “‘Toll-gatherer, too, I reckon, if the road is a lonely one and you can get your drop on your” man,” observed Judge Lynch, shrewdly. “T reckon you can’t prove that!” cried the man, defiantly. “You jest wait until we get through with you, aud, mebbe, your weak nerves wi be as- tonished by the things we can prove!” A scowl of defiance was the only answer the. fellow deigned to make to this remark. ‘Now, in regard to this hyer matter, how was it that you came to be mixed up in this: fuss?” Judge Lynch asked. “Tt wasa free fight, wasn’t it!” the prisoner cried. “] reckon that when a man sees that a free fight is going to begin, he is justified in pulling his we’pon and going for the furst man he kin gita whack at, hey?” ‘‘ Ah, yes, but there wasn’t any fight until | you and the gang you was with begun it.” “T wasn’t with no gang!” the man declared. ‘‘T had just come into the town—a total stran- place!” “T say, judge, let me have a hack at him for a moment,” 1 Colorado interposed at this point, CHAPTER XVI. ; STRONG MEASURES, “ Ariright! Sailin your elephants!” Tommy Doyle exclaimed. bit of use for you to attempt to pull the wool over our eyes,” Cool Colorado exclaimed stern-. doggedly. “Oh, yes you are, and the game will not work! It is all nonsense for you to try to make us be- lieve that you don’t know the other men who were mixed up with you sailed in merely was cing to be a free fight.” a § lI id.” ‘‘Nary time! Thatstory won’t go down, and matter. “T am too old a hand at this business not to be able to see the game you played. “There were four of was the tall fellow who called the landlord over and spoke to him at the bar—” ‘« Asked me if I knew where he could get a job!” Tommy Doyle interposed at this point. ‘‘ Said he was a stranger byer, and anxious to git something to do.” neighborhood where Sioux Sam and I were scout declared. well as though I'd been in the game. ‘There was four of you all told, as I said be- the other man on the right, who was shot an plugged for keeps, was three, and th pretended to be drunk me was the fourth. « 4. a : /* 4 FY "ev. | “ eo * a _— _ oe « 2) " ger, and, I sw’ar, I didn’t know a soul in the. Now see here, stranger, it isn’t of the least: y: ‘* Ain’t trying to!” responded the prisoner,. i in this affair, and that. cause you thought there. it isn’t of any use for you to try to lie out of the- you in this row, One. ‘That was a dodge to get you away from the standing, so t’at the gang could get at us,” the~ ‘‘T can see the whole thing now, just about as. fore. The tall fellow was one, you were two,. e man who. | and had the words with. “You and the man who was killed, had your / o s : oad r + > * i mL [ ‘~ -