Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 520 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 Buckskin Bill, the Coman she Shadow. Then Mr. Middleton, who was riding by his | cabin one day with his daughter, saw signs that the cabin had lately been occupied. doubtless occupied it the past night, for there were fresh tracks about and a place where a pony had been staked near and cropped the grass short, But above the door was a surer proof of Dan’s return, for beneath the word Comanch’ were two more scalps. He had evidently not been idle, and the death roll was increasing, But Dan was not to be found, so had simply returned for ammunition, it was supposed. The news of his return soon spread through the settlement, and after that the settlers were wont often to ride out of their way to see if there had been any more additions to the scalps over the cabin door. One morning, the second day after his mys- terious visit to bis home, Dan turned out of his blanket bed in a timber motte and took a view of the prairie. It was the same motte in which be had camp- ed with the Apaches when they had him pris- oner. He started as his eyes fell upon some objects out upon the prairie, a long way off. ** Injuns!” So he said, and a grim smile crossed his face ‘as he prepared to add to his scalp list. After a short observation, he added: ‘A Injun brave and a pappoose, they looks like, and a hoss ter let.” Nearer came the party, and then there rung out over the prairie a yell that would have drowned a trumpet in sound. ‘* Buckskin Bill!” The one he addressed stopped short, had his rifle ready for use, and gazed into the timber. He had had an experience right in that motte which he had reason to remember. But out dashed Dan Ellis, and he was at once recognized. Buckskin Bill urged his horses forward, and soon after the hands of the scout and the border- boy were clasped in greeting. ** Billy, God bless yer! I[ were just);makin’ my way up to ther Comanche country ter see ef I c’u’d find yer. ‘* But whar on’arth did yer git thet pretty leetle gal? - She are as fine as silk, and God bless her, ‘too! In a few words Buckskin Bill told his story, and then Dan said: ‘‘ Lord love ye, leetle gal, but yer folks is in the upper part o’ ther settlement now, and they has set you down as dead, ‘* Lordy! but won’t they be pleased ter see er! ‘* And, Billy, maybe the old folks down at ther Middleton cabin won’t weer fer joy! ‘*Why, bless yer mother’s heart, | promised Os Id find yer, and I lighted out on ther trail. “IT picked up a few scalps, but had ter put home for food and ammunition, and went by night, fer I didn’t want ter see her and say as how I hadn’t found yer yit. ‘¢ But it’s jist like yer not ter leave ther lectle gal thar, and to git away without no help from nobody. ‘* Now jist come inter ther timber, and we'll hev a breakfast as will make ther wolves weep ter look at us, and ef I can’t say I got yer away from ther Comanches, I kin hey ther pleasure o’ goin’ home with yer.” And Dan was almost beside himself with de- ight, while both Buckskin Bill and Frankie were equally glad. But for the hard life she had been forced to lead among the red-skins, Frankie would have broken down under the severe strain of flight, but she bore up wonderfully, and laughingly told Dan how Buckskin Bill play sick and just what he would do to have her escape with him. er a good breakfast and a long rest, the party mounted their horses and pressed on to- ward the settlement, Buckskin Bill showing Frankie, as they rode through the timber the limb which he had laid at full length upon while hiding from the red-skins. CHAPTER XXIII _ (9 THE RETURN, Ir was just before breakfast the following tg after the meeting at the motte, when Dan s was seen riding up to the very com- fortable home of the Middletons, wearing his hat in a wild manner, as though to tell of =, Me glad mews. ; . . c ts ~ ow i © a, . eh aM ny | seiele , hug! a p \ t ae - a é f af ee § ’, 4 7 eS” rir Pr . a . ; veg" cnt ° a ~& ai Bi’: " re ee TS sss — ne GLC LLL ; | all that he passed through, and has made me ten years older, yes, and sadder had told her to | | give a greeting to the escaped captives. Frankie came in for a warm welcome also, and the praise she bestowed upon Buckskin Bill After a short rest, Buckskin Bill and Dan, Middleton, the others immensely. accompanied by Mr. hearts at the loss of their little daughter. Mr. Willard had lost his all, at the hands of | the Comanches, but the kind settlers had come to his aid, built him a cabin and Hal Rice had given him credit for what things he needed from his store, so that they were getting along passably well. Frankie had two other sisters, older than herself by some years, and two brothers still older, and when Mr. Middleton rode on ahead | and gently broke the news of her return, a scene of the wildest joy ensued, and the fond mother wept and laughed by turns at the restoration of her darling to her arms. It was a touching scene, and Mr. Middleton motioned to Buckskin Bill to go, as soon as he could do so, and they departed, leaving the family happy in their reunion, and loud in their praise of the brave young borderman who had returned to them the child they had mourned as dead. ‘‘Pard Bill, just what now?” asked Dan Ellis, as he stopped at the trail which led to his cabin. ‘‘ Well, Dan, I am going to remain home for awhile, and then I think I shall see what is to be done for the future,” was the reply. ‘‘T fear I shall never make a farmer of Dill, Dan, as he does not take kindly to that style of work as his brother does; but I have the means, and would like him to study a profession, if it suits him.” ‘*Preachin’ teachin’, doctorin’ or lawyerin’?” asked Dan. ‘Doctoring, I guess would suit me best, after my experience with that old medicine chief, Death-Killer,” laughed Bill. ‘‘T would be glad to have you a doctor, my son, if you so liked,” said Mr. Middleton. ‘“Time enough for that, Squire Middleton, arter he has chipped in a leetle with me,” Dan responded. ‘* In what business, Dan?” ‘‘TIn ther killin’ biz, squire,” and Dan’s face grew black as he spoke. “You are revengeful, Dan,” mildly said Squire Middleton. ‘‘ Squire, I were not so a year ago, and I were marciful to ther red-skins, drawin’ trigger only when I hed ter kill ter save life. ‘‘ But, when I see what I did in thet Comanch’ camp, and what Buckskin Bill see too, it made me very cruel in my thoughts ag’in’ ther red devils, ‘* Poor Reuben hev gone, and I vowed ter make a dozen red-skins go under, ter kinder let him lie more easy in his grave up yonder in ther mountains—oh, Lordy! he hev got no grave, fer Bill told me they let ther dogs pull him ter pieces, ‘Squire, I takes ther trail ag’in in a few days, and ef Bill wants ter go with me I am willin’,” and without another word Dan Ellis turned away toward his cabin. ‘How changed Dan is, my son,” said Squire Middleton, as he rode on homeward with Bill. ‘‘T noticed it at once, father, in spite of his joy at seeing me home again. ‘‘He was once so light-hearted and happy; but I do not wonder at a change in him, after T assure you it and wiser, too. ‘“T can never efface the past five months of | my life up to my dying day,” and Buckskin Bil | passed his hand several times across his face. as \though he could wipe away from before his | sight the bitter scenes which ran up before him | in all their grim cruelty and horror. CHAPTER XXIV. THE ROAD RAIDERS. IN addition to their sufferings at the hands of the Apaches and Comanches, the Settlers along the valley where Squire Middleton had his home had to contend against another evil, that of late had been giving considerable trouble and bring- ing heavy losses upon them. This new evil came in the shape of what were known as Road Raiders. They were said by some to be Mexicans, come f ry . ~% 4 ry t , > ee ‘s . - . .y r ? e ‘ ’ s* . - 5 « . > q * ¢ . Behind him were then seen two others, and as Buckskin Bill’was recognized, the glad shout of Dan Ellis foundan echo from Mr. Middleton An examination showed that its owner had | and his eldest son, while the mother and sister | of the young borderman also rushed forward to made him blush, while it pleased his mother and escorted Frankie upon her way to her new home, where her parents had settled, but with saddened Ee — ————— eles ssn up from the lower country for what gold they could get on the trails, and others asserted that they were Texan desperadoes. Then it was reported that the band consisted of horse-thieves driven down from Kansas into that country. Whatever they were, certain it is that they had stopped several trains and sacked them, while the emigrants had been deprived of their gold and what valuables they could not hide, A stage line had been established over the trail from the nearest town in Texas to the set- tlemeut, making a trip each way weekly, and twice had this been brought to a halt and the passengers robbed. This had occurred just before the return of Buckskin Bill. and as the matter was talked over around ‘the home fireside, he had asked: ‘* But did not the passengers resist?” ‘‘No, my son. for they were caught at a dis- advantage, and the robbers were well armed, mounted, and a desperate lot.” ‘* How many of them, father?” ‘There “he nine of them.” | Billy saidno more, but a few days after signi- fied his intgntion of going to the town and buying fer Himself an outfit, for the Indians, it will be remembered, had captured his arms, saddle and bridle. His father supplied him pretty liberally with money, and he mounted the box with the driver, and the coach rolled away’upon its perilous trip. PWhere do the Road Raiders generally jump you, Buck?” asked Billy of the driver, who was a weatherbeaten old plainsman. ‘“ Anywhar and everywhar, pard, fer they aint partick’ler. “Tf they was, I know what to do ter give ‘em a slip sometime, but they lies round loose like and, we is jist as likely ter hear hands u in an hour, as we is a bundred miles from here,” The trips between the change stations on the trail, were long ones, for it was mcstly prairie country to go over, but here and there was a bit of woodland, with hill and valley, and Buck- skin Bill naturally supposed that the Road Raiders would halt the coach there, if any- where. . But right in the midst of a vast expanse of prairie he espied a horseman ahead. ‘¢ Guess he’s a Raider!” said Buck. ‘* What, alone?” ‘¢Ther’s more ‘round, pard!” ‘‘Where are they?” As if in answer to the question, two horsemen suddenly arose from the prairie grass; and on either side of the first one discovered. ‘Can’t you turn back and run for it, driver?” called out one of the passengers from within the coach and who had also been watching for Road Raiders. ““T guesses not, if yer looks ahind yer,” Buck replied, There appeared two other horsemen, who had evidently been, horse and rider, lying flat in sore buffalo wallow. Then on either side appeared two men, also rising from the greund. ‘‘ Nine of them,” said Buckskin Bill. “Yes, that’s them—the Nine Pins we calls ‘em, and now them as has dust has ter jist hand it out; said the driver. Buckskin Bill knew that there were three men in the coach, and one woman, and he said: _ “JT believe if we fought them, Buck, we could stand them off,” “1 is paid ter drive this huss, pard, and not ter fight. ‘‘What ther passengers does is not my say, but I’m thinkin’ you would jist git lead while ther Road Raiders would git ther gold all the same,” The nine horsemen now began to close in around the coach, and Buck came to a halt. As they approached, tt was seen that they were all pe with rifles, and held them ready for use. They were also well mounted, and their heads were covered with @small bag, in which holes were cut for the eyes, and these were so small that it could not be seen whether the men were white, black or red, for their hands were loved. 6 They were 4 Startling looking lot, and it was no wonder that resistance bad seldom been offered to their demands for money, Buckskin Bill eyed them Closely, taking a close survey of first one and then the other, as they drew near, and their horses also came in | for a share of scrutiny. J - 4 ‘, ‘Tee! ve “Well, driver, how many pilgrims aboard?” asked the leader, a man somewhat taller than the others, and this seemed about the only differ- Ric . > : 7 ve i *) ; | | > A } r To te 2 yy _ As of n r? / | O | / . } “BD ie ee es tw 74) , “i aff) 4% Ln v the Pee Re tm