Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 520 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

ne a eaae 0 aoe pee Re Ne ; rt . - ence between him and his men, as far as out- _ ward observation went. “Five, four men and one woman,” replied Buck. “That young gentleman on the box is one.” | ““Yes, I am a passenger,” quietly said Buck- =: ** Well, out with your money, all of you, for I don’t wish to be detained,” said the leader of the Road Raiders. a Billy threw his pocket-book to the leader, and a ciel ft was skillfully caught by him, while two of his men advanced to the stage doors, one on either side, “This is not all you have, sir,” sternly said f the leader to Billy, as he drew out of the pocket : bdok only about twenty dollars, ¢ ‘ Tt’s all the money 1 have.” pe Dae ** You lie, for I know that you havemore.” **'W hat makes you think so?” “*T know it.” ** How do you know it?” “You are Billy Middleton.” “Sure,” ‘You are going to the town to buy a rifle, re- volvers, and complete outfit, and your father gave you several hundred dollars.” Billy laughed, and it seemed to anger the Road Raider chief, who said oR ‘‘ Tl] stand no nonsense, Buckskin Bill, but will have your money or your life.” ‘‘ Pard, I have given you every dollar I have: but I hold an order from Hal Rice to his agent in town to let me have what money I need. ** Now that is all I can do for you.” The Road Raider chief uttered an oath and as the woman had handed over a snug little sum and the three male passengers a few hund more, he seemed satisfied and waying to his men to follow him, he dashed away across the prairie, | CHAPTER XXV. | , SUSPICIONS. THERE was one thing that seemed strange to Stage-Driver Buck Robbins, and that was that, whenever he carried any By peg Oh who were sup to he “* well fixed,” as he expressed it, the Road Raiders were sure to halt him. In his stage-driving on that trail he had been halted seven times out of some sixty trips, and each time he had had passengers who had con- siderable money with them. A strange thing about it, too, was that the Road Raiders never halted the coach on its home run, but upon the trip to the town, when the passengers were supposed. to have money with them. ’ This fact Buckskin Bill had noticed, in con- versing with Buck upon the subject, and when he returned home from his trip to town, armed with his new weapons and outfit, he had placed his handsome saddle and bridle upon his mus- _ tang and ridden over to see Dan Ellis. He found Dan just about to start upon a _ scalp-hunting expedition, and said: ) “Pm glad I caught you, Dan, for I wish to mn! Be have a talk with you.” ‘Well, Bill, what’s up?” ** lve been to the town.” “So I heerd yer hed gone; but let me look at fa: yer rifle and weepins.” a: ““Them’s daisies to kill, and no mistake,” he ay. said admiringly, and from the rifle to the bridle Ga .he'was charmed with Buckskin Bill’s purchases, | _ * Now, Pard Bill, hev yer leetle say,” said -.- Dan, after he had admired the outfit. +. ** We were stopped by the Road Raiders on | the trail over, Dan.” “Didn't get yer money though?” /) | ¥es, they got some, but I had an order for the rest, so they could not use it.” You was in luck, but what is they hke?” All well armed and mounted, but their faces | are hidden under bags they wear over their Yhey is a cunning lot, I’ve heerd,” | Tee ee “TI took them all in, horses too, as well as I | _ “And Dan, they seem to know just when |} there are folks aboard with dust. } oe That’s queer,” _ ** And he knew > hat I was supposed ___ * What do you think of it, Billy?” tn aoe et somebody in the settlement is a ei 7 ™’, ” vore x: - a Don't it look so?” » Ba" Mee ; An are t oO. ; ‘Sear Well, I am sure it is _ {{Does'yer consider’ = —— Bucks kin Bill, the Comanche Shadow. x -_ tne BR Fy as i rs . that he asked Hal Rice, as I requested him to do, to give me an order on the bank instead of the cash.” ‘* He did not speak to any one else about it, except my mother.” | ‘Then how did it git out?” ‘*] went to see Hal Rice, before I came here, and asked him about it, and he said that the new school-teacher was in the store, when father asked him for the order, and he was seated at the desk making up his books, which he pays him to do.” ‘Tt couldn’t be thet teacher let it out, Billy.” ‘*T don’t wish you to start on the trail yet, but to do something for me?” ‘*T'll do it, Bill.” | ** Keep your eyes on that school-teacher for a few days, and let me know just what he dues,” ** ll stick close to him, Bill.” ‘** Don’t let him suspect your scheme?” ‘* Trust me for that.” After some further conversation Buckskin Bill left the cabin of the scout and half an hour 82 dismounted at the settlement store of Hal ice. Hal Rice was a man of considerable means, He had been a miner in New Mexico, and saving his money, had decided to increase it by srepne a store in a border settlement. The spot he had chosen was a good one, for there were several hundred families within a radius of thirty miles, and the prices he got for his goods gave him a very large profit, so that he could afford to meet with losses from the In- dians now and then. He had built a large log-cabin, surrounding it with a high stockade wall, so that his store was called ‘‘ The Fort” by the settlers, He kept two-score of weapons—rifles and re- volvers—ready loaded in a sack, so as to be got at easily in case of an Indian raid, and there were two men to look after his mule teams and wagons, so that he was able to call upon them for help in case of need. Once the Comanches had paid his store a visit, but the resistance they had met with had been such that they retreated empty-banded. In his store Hal Rice kept a large steck con- stantly on hand, and, es the reader has seen, when he wished to replenish he was wont to hire teamsters and a guard to send along with bis wagons to the town. Since the stage-coach had begun to run, all small articles came by it for the store, and the wagon-train had to make less frequent trips. The burning of his wagons and running off of his mules had not distressed the good-hearted storekeeper as much as had the loss of Pilot Pete and the others who had been killed. ** Money will buy more mules and wagons and goods, but dust won’t buy life,” he had said to Squire Middleton, Buckskin Bill he greatly admired, and was wont to say that he wished he had married and was the father of just such a youth. When Buckskin Bill rode up to his door, he called out: ‘‘ What! back again, Billy?” ‘Yes, Mr. Rice, I want to get a few things for home which I forgot.” ‘* Come in, my boy.” And the storekeeper arose from his rustic chair, in which he had been seated out upon the little piazza,and went into the commodious cabin. Bill made a few purchases, and then said: ‘Mr. Rice, I think I shall have to make an- other trip to town.” When, Billy?” 4 Next week, when Buck goes.” a Don’t your new weapons suit you?” Oh, yes; but then there are several of the settlers who wish to send considerable money to town to bank, and wish me to take it for them.” 6 I see; but you had better take your horse for it, Billy, as the Road Raiders might strike the coacb, you know.” ‘They won’t know about my having money, and I can hide it away under the seat ina leather bag that will look like a coach cushion.” “* You're cunning, Billy; but don’t speak of it to any one. aN, I'll keep dark about it, you may be sure, for I guess there’l) be over two thousand dollars in the lot, all gold, and much; but I must be off,” and taking his pur- Buckskin Bill mounted his e. chases started homeward. rhaps twice as the stage that left on its. regular weekly trip for the town, carried but one passenger, That one was Buckskin Bill, and he rode in- side, instead of upon the box with Buck, the driver. Why he did so, Buck did not understand, and. also regretted, for he was fond of talking and had found the youth a remarkably es listener. The coach had not been halted y the Road~- Raiders since the time upon which Buckskin Bill had gone, and Buck had said: a \ ** I hopes you'll git through all right this time, ard Billy, When on the prairie, not far from a stream heavily fringed with timber, a sudden call from Buck caused Buckskin Bill to glance quickly out of the window. ‘* It’s the Raiders, Billy.” ‘**T see them, Buck,” was the cool reply. Out from the timber had dashed the “‘ Nine Pins’ as the driver had called them, stretched out in a long line, and riding so as to encircle the: stage. “ree had at once come to a halt, while he: said: “If yer hasn’t any dust, Billy, theyll be mad. as a Comanctle.” ’ Bill made no reply, but calmly watched the: approach of the robbers. hey were mounted, he saw, upon the same: horses as before, with perhaps the exception of’ the chief, and they came on ut a swinging gallop,. their rifles ready for use. - Inafew moments they had surrounded the. coach, and the leader called out: “Ho, Driver Buck, how many pilgrims?” “Only one, and yer'll git poor pickin’ this: time, or I are a liar.” ‘* I beg leave to differ with you, Pard Buck,” and the chief rode up to the door of the coach. himself, holding a revolver in his hand. ‘* Ah! it is you, my fine fellow?” he said. ‘Yes, we meet again, and some day we will ae once too often for your good,” quietly said ill. ‘“*'You think so, eh?” cs Yes.” ‘* No threats, or you may find me as cruel a. foe as the Comanches.” ‘**T do not doubt it.” ‘* Come, out with your money, Bill Middleton,, for I am in a hurry.” ** How is it that you know me?” ‘* Never mind, but you see that I do, so out: with your money.” ‘*T have but precious little with me.” ‘*T know better.” ‘‘Here are four dollars, all the money © have.” “It is not so.” **T tell you the truth,” ‘* You lie, and you know it.” **T do not.” ‘** You have gold with you.”’ “Then search me.” ‘*T prefer to search that cushion, ‘Hand it out!” Buckskin Bill laughed and said: ‘* The cushion?” ‘ce : Be handed out one of the cushions of the coach. : ‘Tt is too light; give me the one you are sit- ting on.” | ** Ain’t they all alike?” ts No !” Buckskin Bill’s face now wore a worried look, and seeing it the Road Raider said: | **Come, hand over that cushion if you value your life.” | ‘Say, don’t take this, for I admit there is. something in it, but it was intrusted to me,” Give it to me, I say!” Buckskin Bill still hesitated, and the Road Raider thrust his revolver into his face. | ‘Take it then!” he said fiercely, as he moved. The man grasped the cushion, which in a arance was like the others in the coach, or fis found it very heavy, He however drew it up before him on the sad-. dle, and with a bow of mock politeness said: He wheeled his horse quickly and rode away’ ot Tonde. pardt Taidn't kn little game.. * Lor n’t know yer little e.. “I rAd this are awful, fer thet cushion were well loaded,” Buck said, in a sympathetic: ni, Yes it was @ heavy prize, Buck,” replied (wg ’ ae “This time it is not paper money, Buckskin. — or = cCOMICDOOKS * - * - * ee ee PS > —w > » ¥ . ee i ; ) al : . ’ | ol as : 2 , i >= = 2 lm LS ot ae ee)