Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 609 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

, — a e <4. 2 ieee € © * > a | 4 Bolly Darrit, ‘© Wait!” exclaimed Jordan, a grin of delight ‘Yas, more than Orndare hes bin able ter sweeping over his sallow face. “Ef Lain’t—” | scare up, ’thout sacrificin’ ther Silver Streak, An oath from Williams, the sound of cloth | an’ thet be won’t do, fer et w’u'd be playin’ inter hastily ripped asunder, and the jailer held up a | ther enemy’s band. small package, neatly wrapped in a silk ’ker- ** Ye see, this camp OV Yaller Dust is divided chief. inter two factions or parties—Saints an’ Gentiles, Marshal Pepper repressed a start of surprise. | an’ so ov ther latter rndare is ther chief, With ‘© A ticker, by thunder 1” ejaculated Sandy | him out ov ther way, ther Mormons w’u’d soon Jordan, triumphantly. be in full swing. With eager bands, the marshal removed the ‘+ As a move in thet direction, they hev stolen *kerchief, disclosing @ splendid hunting-case his gal, takin’ keer, es a matter ov course, ter watch—gold. kiver their steps well. But et didn’t take Orndare ‘‘ Singe me fer a cat! ef ‘tain’t Buster Mack’s!” | Jong ter decide thet ther blow kem from ther cried one of the squad, as the marshal held up | Saints, an’ I was brought inter ther case. the piece. ‘“‘Gid Grim, ther mayor, is secretly ther head “Thar kin be no mistake *bout thet,” the offi- | ov ther Mormon gang, an’ back ov him aire sech cial coincided. ‘‘ I’ve see’d thet identical ticker | critters as Marshal ak Bp Major Menace, an’ twenty times ef once. Mighty proud ov ef, | 80 on, an’ ter thet crowd l lay ther disappearance Buster war, an’ no money c’u’d ‘a’ bought et ov | of ther gal. tim, *Tain’t bin a week sence he refused three “er three weeks, Buster Mack, sport-at- hundred in cold cash, an’ he war broke at ther | large, I tried ter work my way inter their confi- time. He started yistiddy ter hoof et ‘cross ter | dence. No go; they w’u’dn’t hev et. Rocky Bar, an’, pards, I reckon ther watch tells ‘Every trick, every artifice, known ter me, ther rest ov ther story! This ‘kerchief, too, be- | hev I tried, but all ter no purpose. I am satisfied longed ter peer Jae cuss, an’— Gents, et’s | that Grim and a aire back ov the hull stained with bl measly bizness, but I cain’t prove et, nor I cain’t The announcement drew an anxious murmur | putt my hand on ther gal. from the jailer and the three deputies. “T was in hope this hyar last rig w’u’d give The face of Bill Williams was a picture of | me a chaince; ’stead ov thet, Pve got myself an’ wrath, disgust and consternation. you, too, in a devil ov a box; fer unless I kin Of the group, Little Lightning alone remained | escape, 1 hev got ter make a clean show ov my cool and unperturbed. hand.” “ Jordan, putt ther cuss under lock an’ key,” A moment of silence followed the detective’s ordered the marshal; ‘an’ guard him well. An’| burried recital. Then Little Lightning spoke, you fellers,” he continued, turning to his depu- | sa ties, ‘‘ aire not ter breathe 4 word ov this, or yell answer ter me. Before this thing aire made known, I must consult with ther mayor.” Sandy Jordan at once obeyed the command, then turned to Little Lightning. The search in this case, however, was barren of result, The only things taken from the youth were his weapons and a well-filled purse. He, too, was thrust into the strong-room. Then, after a brief exchange of opinions, in no wise complimentary to the prisoners, the mar- shal and his men withdrew. After bolting and barring the outer doors, Sandy Jordan took up a lamp and peered through the wicket into the cell. ‘‘ Hallo, thar!” he exclaimed. “ Hallo, yerself, ye durned night-hoss!” re- turned Bill Williams, irascibly, as he started up from the couch in a back corner, upon which he and Little Lightning bad thrown them- selves. ‘‘ Better keep a civil tongue in yer head,”’ warned the keeper of the lock-up, his discolored teeth showing in an ugly smile, ‘* I’m oin’ ter bed, Iam, an’ I don’t want no monkey bizness in thar. Understand?” ‘* Thet’s all ri ere Sp. 1% and the mountain tramp sunk back with a grunt of disgust. Sandy Jordan was as good as his word, He at once turned in, and within ten minutes bis rich, resonant snore was filling the cabin. To the ta it was a welcome sound. © Old Bill Williams raised himself upon his elbow and listened intently. “ Tt}s ginooine an’ reg’lar,” he averred, with a breath of relief as he rose to a sitting posture. “Ugh! I’ve bin corked so long thar’s mold in my throat! But, putt et thar, pard! Et warms ther cockles ov my heart ter putt eyes on ye in!’ “ Ditto, Bolly,” returned Little Lightning, as cautiously, as he took the proffered hand. “ What doin’ up hyar, masquerading as Old Bill Williams?” “Make sure things aire close an’ tight,” grit- “Same ole racket—arter a man. An’ you?” | ted Pepper, with a swift glance at the snugly- ** Slip into Yellow Dust, just after dark, | drawn curtains, as the door closed bebind him. for supplies. Ye know ther rest.” “We aire watched!” ‘Ye looked through my disguise. What was “ Watched!” echoed Grim. weak in et?” ‘‘ He was in the hall, with his ear ter ther “Your make-up was perfect; buf, we've | key-bole.” continued the marshal, placing Or- bin pards too long, Bolly, not to know ye like a | thodox Pete on the floor. ‘‘ He fought ike a book.” devil, too, but a crack over ther cabeza with ‘* An’ whar aire yer pards, ther Invincibles?” ther butt-end ov a pistol settled ther matter. demanded the mountain tramp, after a moment’s ‘I tell ye, pards, thet Orndare job hes brought silence. a hull hornets’ nest about our ears, an’ matters “ Back in ther hills, a few miles, at our mine, | aire so thet we must push, or be pushed, Et’s We've struck it rich, an’ are quietl workin’ our | either, a squar’, stand-up fight, or back down lead for all it’s worth,” Little ightning re- | an’ vamose,” plied. “We'll not run away,” asseverated Major “ Now, thet aire good!” exclaimed Ayer in a | Menace, with his ugly smile. ‘ We'll fix the tone of great satisfaction. ‘I c’u’dn’t ask eny- Jehu, then talk the matter over. thing better, ef I cud jest git word ter them! “Bind and gag him, Pepper, you and Keene. But. we're in a bad box, pardner. Jest listen | You are adepts at thet sortof work. Here’s the till I explain a bit: stuff.” ‘* A month ago, the darter ov Jim Orndare ov The gambler opened his trunk as he spoke, ther Silver Streak, war pigs! ae an’ is held | and tossed out a quantity of cordage and an fer ransom in ther sum ov $15,000.” ugiy-look ns gag. ‘A pretty snug sum,” ttle Lightning re- arshal re did not delay. Ina very few marked, minutes Orthodox Pete was pronounced secure. ying: “So far asI kin see, we're snowed-up, hard an’ tight, Bolly! We can’t get out of this ranch, nor can we get word to my pards, an’ that watch you carried as Buster Mack is goin’ to make a rough case ag’in’ you—especially if the Saints have dropped to your game,” “‘-Ye’ve got et straightas a string,” was the ready response. ‘ But I’ve got a pard in this hyar camp—Orthodox Pete. He’s ugly as sin, but as cute as they make ’em, an’I reckon we kin look fer him ter take a hand. “PT wixt him an’ Orndare, word w’u’d go ter ther sheriff at Pioche, an’ thet w’u’d end our troubles so far as Gid Grim war concerned, Et’d take hustlin’, but—” A sharp rapping at the outer door inter- rupted the detective. n an instant, Sandy Jordan was upon his feet, with the demand: ‘Who's thar?” ‘‘ Marshal Pepper,” was the reply, frora with- out. ‘Open, Sandy, for I want ter see ye.” “Now look out for squalls, pard!” breathed the imprisoned detective, as the jailer moved toward the door, ‘‘ This visit is not without an object—a dark one, too!” CHAPTER IV. A DESPERATE COHORT. THREE more terribly astounded scoundrels than Mayor Gideon Grim, Major Menace and Old Man Keene, upon the appearance of Mar- shal Pepper with the senseless form of Orthodox Pete, could hardly have been found, ‘ It was not terror at the dark crime suggested by the limp body of the Jehu. They were be- yond that. The short, sharp struggle in the corridor told its own disgusting story. They had been watch- ed—their grim plot overheard. Suspicion had attached itself to them and they were under espionage. the Veteran Detective. ~ ‘‘ He won’t move, nor he won't lisp, Pll war- rant ye, till we give ‘im leave,” observed the = doughty official, as he complacently surveyed a the work of himself and Keene. ‘‘ But ther main p’int is, w’ot aire we goin’ ter do with ther galoot? W’ot did he hear? ‘‘ Before we discuss that, we bad better make sure that we cannot be overheard,” Gideon Grim suggested, uneasily. “‘ Let Keene out into the hall. He can hear all that passes.” ‘A good suggestion,” smiled Major Menace, again unlocking the door. “Out with you, eene,” Their sentry posted, the three plotters seated themselves at the table, and the major disclosed the plot against Little Lightning. “Pooh! Ther cub amounts ter very little!” exclaimed Pepper, in contempt. ‘*He’s got ther sand, but when that’s said, all’s said. He knows nothin’.” ‘‘ Don’t be too sure of that,” Menace protest- ed. ‘I know this Little Lightning of old. He is the chief of a band of young dare-devils known as the Prairie Invincibles. If he is here, they are vot far away.” ‘““Wa-al?” ‘¢ What more likely than that they are in the employ of Orndare? Pepper stroked his long red beard reflective- ly. Mi Mebbe ye’re right,” he muttered; ‘‘ but ther tramp, Bill Williams, worries me mere than & dozen sech kids. “Do ye know, pards, thet thet fat cuss aire none other than Bolly Darrit, ther Sleuth-hound ov ther Mountains?” Both Major Menace and Gideon Grim sprung to their feet. “You are right!” cried the ambler, ex- plosively. ‘‘ The appearance of Little Light- | ning proves it! They are pards!” | a llth it A OO ‘Ther deuce they aire!” Pepper exclaimed. ‘‘ Can it be?” echoed the mayor. “Tt is a fact,” assured Major Menace, his white face growing livid. “ They work hand- in-glove, and a keener pair of sleuth-hounds is not to be found in all the West!” For fully a minute the three plotters stared blankly at each other, mute with consternation and disgust. “And that fellow?” sputtered Grim, at length, nodding toward the senseless Jebu. ‘Another of the same ilk,” Major Menace gritted. “ But sit down, boys, and steady your nerves with a swig of rye. e’ve a hefty job ahead of “Or flight,” muttered Pepper. ‘Dern me! ef thet haydoogin ov young wildcats ye jest. mentioned aire on ther same ay we may as i well toss up ther sponge an’ leave Bishop Hearne | ] ~ —— ter fill his harem as best he kin. We can’t cope with ’em all!” “We can, and we will!” asseverated the gam- bler, fiercely. ‘* The three leading spirits of the crusade against us are in our power, By day- i break I'll bave a force of trusty fellows on the . alert for the Invincibles. « Twice within a month the stage from era Bar bas been held up, and I reckon the Invinei- | bles will come to the conclusion that this isa : decidedly unhealthy locality before the Vigi- i lantes of Yellow Dust are through with them. . ‘‘T tell you, pards, the stake is worth a des- perate struggle. Hearne’s $10,000 isn’t a mite in the pile! f “The Silver Streak is worth a king’s ransom ten times over, and I know it! The last ton : yesterday yielded one hundred and fifty ounces ta “ Tmpossible!” gasped Gideon Grim. t ‘No; it is solid fact. It is bound to become the best-paying mine in this district It has never yielded less than forty ounces; and, were’ Orndare not so heavily bandicapped, the $15,- 000 ransom money wouldn’t be a flea-bite, ‘‘ Now, what say you?” «“ PIl stick ter ther last,” announced Marshal Pepper, moistening his lips greedily. ‘« Here, too,” the mayor declared. “Then sit down, and we'll talk business. ‘¢ The first thing is to get rid of Orthodox.” ‘Leave him here for a couple of hours,” mut- tered Grim, after a moment’s silence. “T think I have a plan that will answer, when we have gotten rid of Little Lightning.” ‘Then, as Old Man Keene 18 to attend to the boy, we may as well pass on to Bolly Darrit,” said the major. “Ef I may make a suggestion,” Pepper put in, half-fearfully, as he thrust his hand into an inner pocket of his coat, ‘ef ye galoots will listen ter me, I opine thet I kin open up es purty a trap es war ever sprung.” “Thet’s what we want,” averred Gideon ; t ; micbooks.com ~