Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 560 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee et ke ee ee - kt Soe: ese GR We ~s * arent ~ ae ; — mn, ate » #e ee other two were hastily saddling and bridling their horses as though for flight. In the leader of those coming toward the tim- ber Gordon Lillie recognized Red Jenks, the landlord of the Bonanza Hotel at Prospect City. CHAPTER X. RED JENKS TO THE RESCUE, A ory of joy burst from the lips of Gordon Lillie as he recognized the landlord of the Bonanza, He knew that he was saved, and though he did not think that Red Jenks had come pur- posely to his aid, yet he knew that it was a most fortunate circumstance that he was there. He forgot his sore feet and fatigue, and in- stantly dartea out of the cabin rifle in band. He was just in time to send a parting shot after his enemies, who had started in rapid flicht. His shot missed its man, but it brought down a horse and the rider was rolled over and over upon the ground, When he sprung to his feet his three com- rades were some distance off, and though he called loudly for them to give him a mount they dashed away more rapidly, feeling no desire to risk their lives by stopping for him, Red Jenks and his comrades in the mean time dashed on in pursuit and soon came up with the man whose horse had been killed. He held his hands above his bead, and Gordon heard his crys ‘ ‘¢ Don’t kill me, pards! ‘My hands is up!” Red Jenks and several others stopped by the man, while the others pressed on in chase of the three fugitives, Walking toward them Gordon Lillie saw that their horses were tired, and that the animals of his besiegers being. fresh, were rapidly gaining upon their pursuers. ‘*Tt’s no use, for our ponies is dead beat, and can’t catch ’em; but we’ve got you, Alf Cham- bers,” said Red Jenks, as Gordon waiked up to the group. ‘‘ And what has I done that you should shoot me down, Red Jenks?” sullenly asked the man, whom Gordon recognized as the leader of his enemies, Before Red Jenks could reply Gordon Lillie approached and the landlord of the Bonanza called out: ‘Young pard, I is glad to see you, and that you has come out o’ this scrape skin whole.” ' “ Yes, Landlord Jenks, thanks to your com- ing as you did, Iam allright, and [ thank you and your friends for saving my life,” ‘¢'You are welcome, lad, 1 can tell you; but has you laid out any of the gang, for here is Alf Chambers, as we calls Black Beard, and there goes three men of his gang; buf there was five of ’em?” ‘“Qne lies dead over yonder by the eabin,” quietly answered Gordon Lillie. ‘* You are a trump, lad, and don’t let us for- " got it, for you’ve stood the gang off for a long. time and sent one to the unbappy bunting- grounds o’ Hades,” | _ * But how is it you are here, landlord?” “To save you, lad, for it was overheerd by @ friend 0’ maine, that Black Beard, whose brother you kilt in saving my life, bad got together four or’nary pilgrims to follow you and make wolf ‘ub of ye. ‘‘T concluded I'd follow, too, and we started this morning and here we is, and I are glad we is on time.’ ‘¢- You are indeed, sir.” “ Well, tell us all about it, soon as the boys comes back, for we rid hard and our animals is used up so can never catch them other feilers, ‘But they had better keep out o’ Prospect City, and (‘nm sart’in sure that Black Beard here hain’t going to kick up no more rows in my hotel,” and he gave & Significant glance at the. captured desperado which all understood. The men soon came back frum their chase, having keen unsuccessful, and fires were built about the cabin, the horses were staked out, Black Ben neighing with delight when he onee more got into the open alr. Supper was cooked, and as all sat about the fire Gordon Lillie told the story of his adventure. and the men were loud in bis praise, while omi- nous glances were cast at Black Beard. After supp?r, Landlord Jenks remarked: ** Now, pards, it’s business, for we must bang Black Beard, or we won’t'sleep well.” The man received the words in stolid silence, while Gordon said: *‘T hope you won’t bang him, Landlord Jenks, for he has done me no harm.” Pawne OL eB the Prairie ‘hado ‘Waal, we will hang him all the same, for he meant to do you harm, ‘* He is a bad one, and Prospect. City will be the better for his having left it for good. ‘You has got to die, Chambers.” “JT do not doubt that, Red Jenks, for I know what you are; but I have been a bad man, and I ask you to wait until morning when you break camp.” ‘*-You hopes to escape in some way?” ‘‘T would certainly do so if I could, but I see no way, and I only ask time to make my peace with Heaven.” ** All right, you can pray all night, and you'll need to; but you hangs before we start in the morning.” ‘*T ask no more, Red Jenks,” was the calm re- ply of the man, who certainly showed no fear in the face of the death that confronted him. Then the prisoner was more securely bound and placed under guard, while the landlord and his men sought the rest they needed, especially Gordon Lillie, who was soon fast asleep, with no dreams to bother him of what the morrow might bring forth. Red Jenks had told him how Black Beard had been heard plotting with those who had accom- pee him, to follow on bis, Gordon’s trail, and cill him to avenge his, the desperado’s brother.” Having taken a great fancy to the youth Red Jenks had at once started in chase of Black Beard and his party, and arrived in the nick of time to save Gordon Lillie’s life, as has been seen. About midnight when all in the camp were in deep repose, excepting the man on sentinel duty, who was watching the prisoner, and the horses as well, a wild cry caused every one to spring to their feet. What had happened they did not know, until in their midst dashed the guard, who had thrown away his gun, and, as seen by the fire- light, was white as death. ‘* it’s the ghost! he came right up to me. ‘*The ghost! the ghost!” he cried and sunk down upon the ground in abject terror. Not a man laughed at his fears, for he was known to be a fearless fellow, and his terror was too plainly depicted upon his face and in his actions, not to impress them, ‘Come, Larry, pard, what is it. a Are you sick?” asked Red Jenks in a kindly ne, ‘‘ No, Pard Jenks, I’m scared, for I seen thet ghost, the spirit of the murdered settler. “He came right up behind me and passed on as though he did not notice me. ‘7 could not move for a minute, then I yelled and ran here quick as I could, ‘*Oh! but it was borrible,” and the man shud- dered, ‘* Perhaps you were dreaming, Larry.” ‘*No, Pard Jenks, I hain’t a man to go to sleep on post and dream, ““T saw the settler’s ghost, and it was tall, clad oa white and with long gray hair and arc, | ‘*T saw the same form night before last,” said Gordon Lillie, and all eyes turned upon him. Then he told the story of bis midnight visitor, }and the mark he had left upon the glossy hide of Biack Ben. Ele also told how impossible to find any trace of the being, whoever, or whatever he was, and the men were deeply impressed by the story, and there was no more sleep in camp that night for any one except Gordon Lillie, who quickly dismissed all thoughts of the ‘“‘Ghost of the Cabin,” and returned to his blankets to finish out his sleep so rudely broken in upon. CHAPTER XI. BORDER LAW. Tam alarm of the guard, and the desire, as they said, to catch sight of the ‘ ghost,” kept the party of Red Jenks awake for the re- niainder of the night. They sat about the camp-fire, which they had thrown wood upon to make a bright blaze, and added to their nervousness by telling ‘ ghost stories ” until dawn, Severe! had made a reconnoissance together, but could find no trace of the settler’s spirit, and in truth they had not seemed very anxious to find it, When cawn came they began to cook break- fast, and Gordon Lillie was aroused, after hav- ing enjoyed his sleep immensely. , Upon going to lead his horse to water, Gor- don saw that the skull and cross-bones had again been placed upon his horse, and beneath them the word: ‘‘ Beware!” Nor was this all, for upon each animal belong- wer. —- ing to the party the same hideous symbol had been drawn, a couple of white bones among the lot having it drawn in black. The superstitious herdsmen were considerably taken aback at this, and if any one had doubted the guard’s having seen a ghost during the night, they were certain that he had beheld some mys- terious being, Their subdued manner showed that they were deeply impressed, and they were anxious to get away from the dreary spot. A substantial breakfast was given to the pris- oner, and he ate it with a relish that was little like a man who stood on the brink of the grave. ‘‘T hopes you has made your peace with Heaven, Black Beard, for you bas got to be swung up in a few minutes,” said Red Jenks, ‘‘T was sleepin’ most of the night, Jenks; but if I must die I’m ready any time.” “ You has grit, great grit, Black Beard, and I wishes we didn’t have ter bang you. ‘But you is so infernal bad, if I was ter let yer off, you’d kill me, or somebody of us afore another day. ‘‘No, you has got to hang, Black Beard,” said Red J ies firmly. ‘“T told you that I was ready, so fire away,” was the indifferent reply. The nerve of the man won Gordon Lillie’s ad- miration, and he again begged for his life, But the landlord was inflexible, and his men all demanded the death of Black Beard, ‘¢ He’s a bad man, young pard, and would drop you or me, soon as I’d Jet him go. “You've got a soft heart, but you must barden it if you intends to live out here, for it will git you into trouble. ‘Come, pards, let’s have this hanging picnic over with, and get away from here.” In response the men gathered around him, in- different to the fate of the man whom they were to launch into eternity. They had their horses saddled and bridled and were all in readiness to start as soon as Black Beard was swung up in mid-air. Gordon Lillie felt that he could do nothing to avert the death of his enemy. He was sorry for him, and, having never be- fore witnessed a scene of border justice, as the men called it, he turned away to gather up his me to depart. be men said nothing to him. They, too, in their early life on the plains had shunned, as he did, a tragic scene brought about by Frontier Law, with “Judge lynch” the head and front of the situation. Black Beard still remained firm, wholly in- different he appeared, and when told to mount a horse, which was to serve as a scaffold, he did SO A lariat was then thrown over a limb above his head, one end made fast to a tree, and the other placed about bis neck. ‘‘ Has you got anything to say, pard, for you is a dying man?” said Red Jenks. ‘*T only wish to say that I hope you'll catch and hang the four men who were with me, and who deserted me in such a cowardly manner,” ‘Who are they, Pard Black Beard, for we wants law against all such fellows as you, who try to make this country a lawless community,” responded Red Jenks. . ‘‘They are Barney Burt, Slick Sam, and Kan- sas Charlie, and it would be a satisfaction to me here in my last minute of life, to feel that the cowards would quickly follow me,” and a flash of intensest revenge came into the eyes of the man. ‘We'll mark ‘em for trial, pard, and that means as much as to say they’ll hang,” was the reply. n Atl ready, then,” came the cool rejoinder of the doomed man, and one of the Vigilantes fired a charge of powder from his pistol into the flank of the horse to make him spring from under the rider. With a frightened and angry snort the. ani- mal beunded forward, and the next instant Black Beard was dangling in the air. Instantly the men mounted their horses and set off on their returu to Prospect City, Red Jenks persuading Gordon Lillie to return with them a few miles, and then take another trail to the mines, which was safer,as the youth re- fused to go back to Prospect City with him, though strongly urged to do so. Arriving at the trail which Red Jenks thought it best for him to take, the landlord again urged Gordon Lillie to go back to Prospect City and make it his home. | “Tve got no wife or kin, lad, and T’ll make you my son, for I like you a deal. ‘‘ Come, return with me and be my clerk, and you can get what I have when I pass in my comicbooks con