Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 518 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

ee = + > a Ne er te ee ee ee ee . ik or ‘pistols all ready cocked in your belts, so that you could draw and open fire on Sioux Sam and my- self the moment man who accoste *let’s take,a drink!’” **T reckon you ‘Oh, you murdering villain!” exclaimed Judge Lynch angrily, shaking his fist at the prisoner, ‘I see we will have to put you through a course of sprouts.” ‘*T think, judge, that we ought to use all possible means to get a confession out of this fellow,” Cool Colorado observed to Doyle. ‘I don’t think there is the least doubt that this man belongs to a regular band of ruffians, and of course there was a reason for this despe- rate attack on me. ‘‘T reckon I am getting hot on a certain -party’s trail, and this attack on me to-night was for the purpose of putting an end to my pur- suit. ‘Tt is important for me to learn the truth and, under the circumstances, as I and my friend ~were the men attacked, I suppose there will not ‘be any objection to sparing this scoundrel’s Jife, provided he makes a full confession and tells all he knows about the band, to which I am sure he belongs?” ‘‘ Well, I reckon, Colorado, that is a leetle too weighty a matter for me tosettle off-hand,” ‘Tomm oyle replied, after a moment's tiought. ‘‘T reckon I will have to get the sentiments of the crowd on that p’int.” ‘“* Certainly, of course.” Then Judge Lynch and the citizens withdrew -to one side and discussed the matter. At first there were some few stupid men who declared that they didn’t believe in making talk ‘with such a scoundrel as the prisoner. In their opinion he ought to be strung right up, without even taking the trouble to go through the ceremony of a trial. But the vast majority did not take any stock in this idea at all. rey attached great weight to Cool Colorado’s words. “Tf there was an organized band of outlaws in the neighborhood of Red Bluffs, as Cool Colo- ‘rado supposed, then, most certainly, it was to the decided interest of the town to know all about the gang, for a well-directed band of scoundrels could do much to injure the prospects of any pe Pe eZ in whose neighborhood they pursued their raids. “So, after ten minutes’ discussion, it was de- cided that Cool Colorado’s wish should be granted. The prisoner was to be promised his life if he “would betray his associates. ‘‘Hain’t got none!” he replied, doggedly, ‘when this determination was made known to m. ‘‘ You fellers are barking up the wrt tree, as I have been telling you all along!” he de- clared. “Thar ain’t no band, nor nothing of the kind! I came inter Red Bluffs all alone, and I don’t know nothing ’bout the other chaps who were mixed up in the fight at all.” ‘‘Oh, yes, of course,” responded Cool Colo- ado, sarcastically. ‘* And it was just by accident, too, that the four horses were tethered outside, and the pins driven down so loosely that they could be pulled up the moment the horses started! ‘‘It was just by accident that all three of you ‘ran for the horses the moment you saw there was a chance of your being caught in a trap. Oh, yes, you didn’t know anything about the others, of course!” | A groan of derision arose from the crowd. ‘* Well, stranger, I reckon we will have to try a leetle gentle persuasion upon you,” Judge ‘Lynch suggested. ‘* We ain’t got any boiling oil or wild horses handy, and it would be a heap sight of trouble to kindle a fire, so as to give you a taste of what ‘you will meet in the other world, but thar’s some stout trees right near, branches which will make the nicest kind of switches, and I reckon some of the boys will take a heap of pleasure in giving you what Paddy gave the drum.” There was a grin of delight upon the faces of all the bystanders as they listened to the words . of Judge Lynch. Not one was there in the crowd who did not think the punishment deserved. But the prisoner’s face grew dark with rage; gritted his teeth together and strained at the t, which bound his arms, as though he _ thought he could burst his bands and cope, _ single-banded, with the miners. Pe got the signal from the | c - = ~ ——_ — — ee. =~ . _ a 2 P o Re » - < | «Don't | he cried, a me, and that signal was, | know a durned sight more | ‘‘ Curse you for a set of cowards! *pout it than I do,” the manexclaimed, doggedly. | am one man against the town, | ; eee 2 eee —_————_ — - ——— —_ - on -— ~ 2 . — t So 1 te ow, | pao : 4 » sa 1 ES Se 4 Ta eee !” ye dare to try any sich game on me most frantic with rage at the idea. ‘‘Tam a bad man—jest as bad as they make ’em, and I will have the heart’s blood of every galoot that dares to lay a hand upon me! *he cried. “I or else you wouldn’t dare to think of sicha thing. ‘‘ You are all skeered to give me a chance for my life, ‘‘ I'm a rustler from Rustlervilleif Ionly have half a chance. ‘‘You don’t dare, you miserable set of cow- ards, to pick out a man to meet mein a fair fight, nish I don’t ax no odds either, bout the weapons; anything will suit me from revolvers down to fists, for | can lay out any man in this hyer camp in a fair fight!’ It was a bold defense, and as the fellow was a well-built, muscular man, it seemed as if he would prove a troublesome customer for any ordinary man to encounter. But in the camp of Red Bluffs, there were now two men who, by their deeds, had proved their right to rank as fighters of renown, the two scout-pards, Cool Colorado and Sioux Sam. During the delivery of the bold defiance, Cool Colorado had noted the expression upon the face of his brother scout, and long experience had enabled bim to guess at the thoughts excited in the mind of the other by the bold challenge. Laying his hand upon Sioux Sam’s arm the moment the ruffian finished the speech, he said: ‘‘ Let me attend to this fellow, and I will do as much for you some time,” ‘‘ All right!” Sioux Sam replied, immediately. ‘‘Go in, and climb the fellow and see if you can’t knock some sense into his thick head!” ‘¢ Fellow-citizens, this man has thrown out a pretty big dare!” Cool Colorado exclaimed, ad- dressing the crowd, ‘and, if you haven’t any objections, { would like to take him up.” There was a general hum of astonishment at this announcement, for the ruffian was a bigger man, apparently, in every way than the young scout. There was little difference, though, in their sizes, the scout being really a few pounds the heavier man. But, being so well proportioned, he did not ap- pear to be as big as he actually was, while the ruad-agent, a large-boned, loosely put together fellow, presented an appearance quite deceptive. ‘‘ As this fellow is so anxious for a fair shake, I feel like giving it to him, if it is agreeable to you, fellow-citizens,” Cool Colorado continued. ‘I will meet him without weapons in a fair fist fight, and if I whip him t» a stand-still, then he is to reveal the secrets of the gang to which he belongs.” ' ‘‘That’s a bargain!” cried the man, eager to embrace the opportunity. “And if I lay you out, I am to be allowed to git up and git!’ “Yes, that is satisfactory to me if itis to the rest,” the scout declared. ~ . Judge Lynch shook his head, and his example was followed by a good many of the crowd. ‘‘ Tr pears to me, Colorado, that you are giv- ing this cuss the hull butt-end of the bargain!” Oa Perera g 2 "bout gitting a fairshow! Durn me if he don’t want everyt ing his own way!” ‘‘ No, I don’t!” growled the ruffian. “ Why, ain’t it as fair for him as it is for me? Hain’t we "bout the same size? Mebbe, I am a leetle the biggest, and then ag’in I am the oldest, and, I reckon, I have been through a heap more than he has, so it’s a pretty even thing.” “Oh, give the man a show, judge!” cried Sioux Sam. ‘““Tf Colorado can’t get all the satisfaction out of his hide that Red Bluffs wants, then the camp must be a pretty hard one to ye ‘‘'Yes: I don’t want to boast, but I reckon that after the skirmish is over he will regret that he didn’t allow himself to be tied up to a tree and take his thrashing like 4 man.” This confident declaration enraged the ruffian. ‘‘Oh, don’t you talk!” he cried. ‘*‘ You are a tgs good-looking young rooster now, wat after get through with you I reckon you will know more, but you won’t be half so handsome.” By this time ‘the appetite of the miners had been whetted for the fray, and a universal cry went up: ‘Tet ’em go at it!” “ All right, gentlemen. if that is the say-so. I am perfectly agreeable,” Judge Lynch remark- ed. ‘Far be it from me to spoil the fun. Untie the man! And, stranger, let me caution you not to try anv gum game. You are going to have the fairest kind of a show, and you must come up squarely to the mark! — weer Le —-= oft 4 y-¥ Cool Colorado in New York. ‘Tf you try to cut and run we will riddle you with bullets!” ‘Oh, don’t you be afeard,” the prisoner re- joined, some of the miners busy in removing the sta which bound his arms. ‘You are going to treat me squar’, and Pll give you the best show for your money that you ever saw. ‘You wasn’t wise to chip into this hyar game!” he called out to Cool Colorado, ** for I am the best fist-fighter that thar isin this dees- trict! ‘‘T have laid out more men than I have fin- rs and toes, and 1 never was whipped in a fair ght yet.” , a hat is a boast which you will not be able to make after the little skirmish is over,” the young plainsman rejoined. ‘* Time!” yelled an impatient miner. CHAPTER XVII. A CLEW. Tue lariat was removed, and the ruffian step- ped forward. ‘ Heavore no cout, and being bare-headed, hav- ing lost his hat when pitched so unceremoniously from the back of his horse, was in good trim for the contest. All the preparation that Cool Colorado made was to cast aside his broad-brimmed slouch hat. ri Thanks to the bright moon, there was enty of light for the contest, for all objects were al- most as visible as by day. “ Are you ready?” asked Arkansaw Bill, strik- ing an attitude, with his brawny fists raised to the level of his breast, evidently preparing for a desperate rush. ‘*T am ready! The scout had thrown Let her go, Gallagher!” imself into an easy, graceful position, his left foot slightly advanc- ed, and his hands just above the line of his waist. The spectators bent forward in eager expec- tancy, anxious not to missa single incident o the contest. The moment the words left Cool Colorado’s lips Arkansaw Bill made a rush at him. All of the road-agent’s experience had been gained in what is known as rough-and-tumble fighting; the tactics of the regular ring-fighter he knew nothing whatever about. His idea was to close in with his adversary as soon as possible, and then bring him to the ground. Now, although there hadn’t been anything said in regard to the nature of the fight, except that it was to be with fists, yet Cool Colorado had made up his mind not to have any rougbh- and-tumble business in ‘‘ his’n,” to use the old expression. So, when Arkansaw Bill rushed at bim with all the mad fury of the buffalo-bull, the scout, with a pimbleness that no one gave him credit for ing, slipped under the arm of the other, and as Arkansaw Bill, baffled by this dodge, clumsily attempted to turn, Cool Colo- rado, measuring the distance with all the skill of a practiced boxer, hit his eproneat a terrific blow on the neck, just under the ear, which sent Arkansaw Bill to ‘‘ grass” in short order. A ery of astonishment rose on the air. Few men in the assemblage had ever seen such a tremendous blow struck before. It was fully two minutes before Arkansaw Bill came to * time,” and then he approached Cool Colorado in an uncertain way, as if he didn’t exactly know what to make of him. The man was bewildered by the stroke, but was game enough to continue the fight. Having no experience to warn him to the con- trary, he was of the opinion that the blow was an accidental one, and had not the slightest sus- picion that teaching and practice made such a stroke possible. , ‘You've got your man rattled—go in and set- tle him!” advised Sioux Sam in Cool Colorado’s ear, as the experienced eyes Of the plainsman noticed the expression upon the face of the ruf- flan when he rose slowly to his feet. As Arkansaw Bill faced his opponent again, he hadn’t a clear idea of what be should do. His first attempt in rushing his foe down had resulted so disastrously that he did not feel like trying it on again. But scant time was afforded him to deliberate for as soon as he came fairly up to the ‘scratch,’ Cool Colorado attacked him with the fury of a tiger. a Bill could no more ward off the deftly-aimed strokes than he could fly. Crack! crack! the ponderous blows alighted on his body, and then, almost before he knew ‘how it happened, he found himself flat on his =