Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 639 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 tion. He looked at the woman curiously, im- ressed with a sudden idea. She was small, right and pretty, and her manners were refined and pleasant, According to all reports this had been exactly the case with the woman known as ‘‘ Rosebud,” who had deceived Sammy Dean, lured him on to his ruin, and taken part in the murder, Buck Jockway had expected to find Rosebud at the Salem street house, and be was not surprised to find some one who looked like her. Was it the same woman? The miner’s blood began to grow hot. Was this woman she who had ruined Sammy? ‘* Friend o’ Hardy’s?”’ he asked. The little woman smiled sweetly upon him, ‘*] am,” she admitted. ‘6 You ain’t a Boston woman, [ take it?” ** 1’m from the West!” Jockway’s eyes glittered. He felt sure of his rey, at last, Wherever Hardy might be, Rose- ud, he was willing to bet high, was before him. _Something seemed to affect his organs of respiration, and Sunrise Saul actually could hear him breathe. It was not hard to perceive what a great effort he was making to control his feelings. ‘* We're all from the West!” A light, careless voice broke in with the re- mark, and Buck wheeled partly around, For- ward to the center of the room came another man. He had taken heed of the weather and was lightly clothed in a blue-and-white striped suit. .He was smoking a cigar, and, on the whole, seemed to kave no higher concern in life than to keep comfortable, but his appear- ance made Buck glare all the more, ‘¢ Arad Boyne!” he exclaimed. “Jockway, old chappie, bow are you?” in- quired Boyne, languidly, as he blew out a wreath of smoke, ‘We meet ag’in!” observed Buck, in arumb- ling voice. ‘* No doubt of it. from Lame Horse.” ‘Dye know why I’m hyar?” sé No.” ‘Dm arter you !” iT | Me?’ és Yes.” “ Why?’ ** Ter kill ye!” Buck Jockway forgot all except his deep hatred, and the words were hissed with the venom of an angry serpent. Outwardly, Boyne remained unmoved. ** Go away, cully!” be directed, playfully. ** Do ye doubt it?” ‘‘'Yes, Why should you kill ree?” ‘* D’ye remember I was Sammy Dean’s pard?” ‘¢ T remember,” ‘* An’ that Pay stole almost my last cent, an’ killed my pard ?”’ ‘© Oh! come, now, Bucky, don’t go on so!” directed Boyne, in mild reproof, ‘* Why shouid ou harp on a trifle like that? Let bygones be ygones!” ‘*'You scoundrel!” cried Jockway, in a loud voice *‘ d’ye know what I’ve sworn ter do?” sé No.” ** Kill you!” Hardy smiled blandly as these words were vehemently flung at bim, “‘Isthatall? Yousurprise me. surprise!” e whistled softly, and a double click at the further side of the room caused Jockway to spring to his feet. There stood two ill-looking roughs, with extended revolvers in their hands, the hammers being raised. ‘** Look this way, old man!” Buck looked—Hardy and the woman had each drawn a revolver, so that four ready weapons were bearing upon the man from Lame Horse. ‘*Trapped! Ketch on?’ Hardy laughed. The miner was silent, but Sunrise Saul re- alized that his interest in the case had led him into a most perilous situation. It was war to the death between the gang and Buck, and, as Buck's partner he would not be allowed to go away ree on any damaging story if there was any ee, Jockway continued silent, Hardy laughed oud. ‘Got the drop on you, you see!” 6é I see,” “Planned it so; this was a trap.” 6s Hum !? ‘*T saw you on the train, but you couldn't find me after the first blush, Reason: 1 hada disguise at band. Suspecting your object, I mer- See?’ Your nibsy is a long way Now formy laid this trap, You were sent here from ville because [ could better trap you here. Sunrise Saul. Sunrise Saul, for one, had no trouble in “ see- ing.” Everything went toshow that Hardy told the truth, and it was clear that they had been lured into the man’s power. What was to be the next act Saul did not know, but, as the enemy knew that Jockway was hunting them with a settled purpose, if was certain that they would retaliate in kind, And the odds were in their favor, Moreover, Saul expected to share whatever fate was marked out for the miner, He glanced at Buck’s face; it gave no evidence of fear. ** [’'d like ter ask,” calmly remarked Jockway, ‘‘ef this woman is the same who helped ye do fur Sammy Dean,” ‘*T am she,” the woman replied, with a light laugh, There was melody in the laugh, and, ally of thieves and ruffians that she was, that strange air of refinement and mild innocence clung to her even as she held her revolver ready for use, ‘* W hat’s yer name?” ** Liz Lorimer.” ‘* Sometimes called ‘ Rosebud?” ** ¥ e8," **'You’re the one!” Buck Jockway drew a deep breath, and then looked his enemies over carefully. He had come a long distance on his mission of vengeance and, by their own confession, the guilty parties were found, but, in Western parlance, they ‘had the drop on him,” ns he sought them only to be beaten in the enc His critical glance was duly observed by Hardy. ‘*It goes without saying, Jockway, that you have a gun in your pocket, and, of course, you are considering how you can use it on us with- out getting tunneled. Think twice before you try the experiment! Bear in mind that Ff like you, am a Western man. I defy any man to beat me with a six. Now, I have the drop dead on you, and if you shove your fin to yank outa gun, I shall pull the trigger!” Buck gave due heed to this address, but pre- served his impenetrable calmness, ‘* You’ve got a scheme, I s’pose,” ** We have.” **'W hat is it?” ‘* We demand your surrender!” ‘*B’ Judas! you kin take it out in demandin’!” *" Do you refuse?” ‘** Bet yer life!” ‘*T am about to order my men to advance and bind you. While they do this I shall keep my gun bearing on you, and if you raise a finger to ‘draw,’ or to touch them hostilely, I shall shoot you dead! How is it?—will you let us take you alive?” CHAPTER XIII, A HOT FIGHT FOR THE PARDS. ‘‘T’LL shoot the man that tries ter lay hands on me!” Buck Jockway threw back the retort savage- ly, and his rough, broad face grew ominous to behold, His calmness during the last few min- utes had not been natural; he was, within, like a surging torrent, and it cut him to the quick that he should have been lured into such a trap. : ‘*Do you think you can fire before I can?” re- torted Hardy, angrily. **T kin try.” ‘Try it, and I’ll drop you! I swear it] Men, advance and seize the prisoner!” ‘* Wait!” Jockway requested. “Well?” ‘*1’m a rough old rooster, without chick, child or relation, an’ ef I go under thar won’t be no tears shed; it don’t matter no great, anyhow, But I ax one favor—afore the shootin’ begins, jest let this boy go away.” He pointed to Sunrise Saul. ‘Why should we?” ‘‘ He ain’t in the swim; he only come hyar ter act as my guide.” “But you want him to go and tell the police!” The miner’s eyes flashed, __, ‘‘I’m able ter hoe my own row. mister!” he declared. ‘*‘I don’t ask no help from the per- leece, nor want it. No; ef the boy is allowed ter go, he shall goin good faith, say nothin’ ter nobody, an’ come hyar no more,” ‘*Gammon!” ‘*T mean it; I’ll order him terdoit. Fur my- self I ask no odds, but the boy is young, an’ he’s gota mother. Don’t be hard on him, when his only offense was ter show a stranger the way hyar!” These words deeply affected Saul. Some of the men on the Express train bad give the opinion that the man from Lame Horse was un impostor, a thief and a ruffian. How very different he was proving himself! For himself he had no word of excuse or en- treaty, but he bent his proud neck, as it were, and humbled himself to his enemies to ask mercy for his boy pard, ‘* No, you don’t!” exclaimed Hardy. ‘‘ The boy is here with you, and he must take the con- sequences,” ‘* But I swear—” ‘* Not a word more; it won’t work, The boy must stand the riffle. Men, advance and take your game!” The two toughs put away their revolvers and advanced, Jockway did not even rise, but he looked like a lion at bay as he sat and boldly faced his foes, W ould he offer resistance? Sunrise Saul tried to think of something he could do. Clearly, he could expect no mercy, and, in any case, he was anxious to help Buck. Liz Lorimer glided forward with a willowy motion, and pointed her revolver toward Saul ‘‘ Keep still, little boy!” she ordered, in her strangely musical voice, ‘‘or I will shoot you!” ‘* Woman, are you human?’ the youth im- pulsively demanded. ‘‘ Very mucb so; human enough to look out for Number One, and, if you disobey, to shoot you down!” Through the gentle modulation of her voice ran a harder vein, which told that she meant all that she said, Bit Saul bad no further chance to intercede for Jockway. The toughs were near the miner’s side, and Saul watched breathlessly. They put out their hands to.lay hold of his muscular arms, and it looked as if he was going to yield tamely. Appearances were never more deceptive. Suddenly the miner moved, and he moved like a cyclone. His hands shot out; he seized one of the toughs and swept, his person between him- self and Hardy’s revolver. ‘Then Buck came up like a big dog, shaking off bis smaller foes. But Buck did not shake off his enemies, He had to deal with two of the worst and most des- perate of North End criminals, and they were not only hard fighters, but men of muscle, Both’ threw their weight upon the miner, grasping him as only experienced wrestlers can, Hardy sprung to their aid. Chance was given him to shoot, but, from some motive, be did not wish to do so, Jockway was fighting like a tiger, whirling his two opponents around, but being as unsuccessful in bis efforts to break their hold as he was to get out his revolver. Hardy swung up his arm, and then brought the butt of the revolver down upon Buck’s bead, Saul could bear it no longer. He started forward, Liz Lorimer thrust her revolver almost into his face. ** Stop, or you die!” she bissed. Determination showed in that utterance, but Saul was not to be daunted. He saw Buck, un- able to defend himself, being beaten by Hardy, and he would have thought himself a coward to stand idle then, His own eyes flashed with a spirit, and he flung up his hand sharply. He had aimed for Liz’s wrist, and he did not fail. The blow took effect; the revolver went flying across the room; and then he sprung to Buck Jockway’s aid, There was sore need of aid from some source, Hardy was striking with the revolver, while bis aids managed to govern the miner’s bands and prevent retaliation. Desperately though he struggled, Buck was succumbing to the attack, for the blows partially stunned him, and he had been beaten down to bis knees, Filled with zeal and heroism Saul wrenched the revolver away, and then dealt Hardy a blow which knocked him over like aten-pin. Flushed with success the victor sailed into the other men, but he soon found that he had undertaken ! a large contract. Buck did not rise to help bim as he had expected; tbe heavy blows of the re- volver had had due effect, and the miner remained upon his knees without making any movement. He was partially stunned, Deprived of the help of his big friend, Saul; ~~ no chance against the superior force opposed; to him. oh! He struggled manfully, but was soon over: powered. ‘* By the fiends! that was a bard rub!” Hardy; then ceclared, with a sigh of relief. ve ‘t You should have taken my advice,> ‘ar 3