Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 656 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

eee ee eee ee eee ——- - - ~ — ™ -- == — 5 4S BRA « <> Tras Pe ay WV 1» ; san iw . bo + i.*% os ~~ + # - ‘ “You are Yankee Kit, are you not?” 4 You've promised me protection?’ ce es, “Tam Yankee Kit.” ‘* The same man who went through here four years ago as Yankee Ross, a peddler?” ‘* The same,” “The man I saved from being hanged?” “Yes, and because you did save me I meant to mark your gate so that my—” mg man’s face flushed and he stopped sud- enly. ‘*So that your men would do me no harm when they came this way?” ‘* Well, I might as well say it.” “You are nchez, chief of the Mexican Wolves?” ‘“*T guess so.” ‘And you came here to ferret out informa- tion to aid you in your intended raid?” ** You are a Close questioner, pard, and ought to have been a lawyer.” ** Answer me.” ** A bout that.” ** You have seen this gentleman before?” **Ob, yes, he was the captain’s prisoner for about two years,” ‘* Why did the captain keep him prisoner?” “Well, for two reasons: one was to punish him as much as he could from mere feeling of revenge, and the other was to force from him the secret of where he bad hidden the gold he dug out of the California mines.” ‘** And in the end would have killed bim had he not escaped?” ‘*T guess so,” Well, now to yourself again.” ‘** Fire away.” *You left the Overland Trails about a year ago?” ‘* Yes, about the time you left.” ** How do you know I was there?” *‘Oh, I know you, Butterfly Billy, for you have ridden by me time and again, when you ' Butterfly Billy’s Man-Hunt, ‘* And is there now?” ** He is.” ‘** ‘You are sure?” ‘*T saw a California paper a few days ago and cut a slip out of it which I have in my pocket, if you wish to see it,” Butterfly Billy at once unlocked the man’s irons and he handed out of a wallet a slip of a paper which the youth read aloud,_as follows: “*<*THE GIANT GENERAL AGAIN ON THE OVERLAND TRAILS, *¢*Our readers will doubtless recall that near- ly two years ago a soldier of the ——th Cavalry, stationed at Fort M——, committed murder and- meth and then deserted. ‘** The man was a giant in size, being six feet four inches in height, weighed two hundred and sixty poundsand was a perfect form, and an athlete, possessing marvelous strength. *** He joined a band of outlaws known as the Mounted Miners, but soon after deserted them and took to the trails alone as a highwayman. ‘** He time and again, single-handed, halted the Overland coaches and robbed the passengers, always killing those who dared resist him. *** He was a superb horseman, and mounted upon a magnificent black steed, became the ter- ror of the trails, *“** But one day be was captured by a Govern- ment Pony Rider, and carried to Fort M——. ‘“** His captor was a mere boy, yet the giant, like Goliah of old, had to yield to the young hero, who took him, single-banded, and pre- sented him asa gift ‘to Buffalo Bill, the noted scout, ‘“** He was tried at Fort M——, sentenced to be hanged, and just before the day appointed for his execution, made his escape by Killing his guard, and disappeared, going no one knew where, ‘** But ten days ago an Overland coach was stopped some thirty miles from Fort M——, by were riding Pony Express, and I could have | this same man who had won the name of the killed you; but I did not, and more, I would not | Giant General, as it was his fancy to dress in the allow any of my men to do so, for I had not for- gotten that I owed you my life.” The man spoke warmly, and neither Major Mabrey, who sat quietly by, taking all in, nor the young ranchero believed that he was trying to gain a point in his favor by what he said. ‘* Well, I thank you, for I know that you were often pretty close to me.” ‘‘T was, and I was glad to see you win the name that you did, Butterfly Billy, for you deserved it, and I just laughed antil my sides ached when you roped in Sol Soule, the Giant General,” ‘**1 caught him at a disadvantage, for he was lying in wait for me, and I saw him from a distance, flanked his position and so got the drop on him. ‘* But he escaped from the fort several days before he was to be hanged,” “Yes; the Giant’ General was a terror, and they had against him the crime of having desert- ed from the army after killing and _ rob- bing some of his comrades, and be had nerve to take to the trails alone as a road-agent, “First he came and joined me an’ my men, Mounted Miners they called us, because we went borseback and got gold where we found it, but principally out of pockets of other people. “But the Giant General wanted to be chief and so we could not agree and he took to the road alone and did good work, too, until you captured him.” * And where is he now?” “ Back on the Overland Trail again, and once more alone,” ‘** What!” and Butterfly Billy started at what he heard, ‘It is a fact, Billy.” ‘** My name bere is, Rayford Royal.” ** Allright to those who know you as such; but you are Butterfly Billy to me.” ‘* You say that the Giant General is again on the Overland Trails?” ‘* True.” ** How do you know?” ‘‘ Well, he left the trails after his escape, and went East. ‘ Then he drifted into Mexico and came upon me there dead broke, for you know I left the North about the same time?” ‘* Yes, and came to Mexico and began to rob and kill again?” * I can’t deny it as I am on the trail of truth to-day.” ** And the Giant General?” ‘Well, he remained with me until he made a stake and then set out for the old trails once more to work the road alone,” » 667, ¥ full uniform of a general. ‘*** Since then other coaches have been held up by the Giant General, and twice has he taken life, so that he will find himself a hunted man, as Buffalo Bill and his scouts are to take his trail and run him to earth, it is said,’” ““* Well, Yankee Kit, this is proof that the Giant General is again on the trail to rob and kill! But now to question you still more.” ‘‘ Have your say, Butterfly Billy.” ‘Where is Captain Coyote, your former chief?” The words came slowly from the lips of Ray Royal, the Ranger Kanchero, showing how deep was his feeling, and how anxiously he awaited the answer. ** You mean my old pard, chief of the Wolves of Mexico?” ** You know well that I do.” ** Well, be has gone to try his luck again on the road.” ‘He was said to be your partner on the Over- land Trails, and spied out work for you to do.” ‘** That’s about so.” ‘* Did he come there when you did?” ‘** Yes, and went to Mexico.” ** And now?” ‘** He has gone back to the Overland Trails.” ** What?” *lt’s a fact, for he is the spy to cut out the work for the Giant General, and they go shares,” Butterfly Billy took a turn across the piazza and back, evidently deeply moved. Major Mabrey watched! him closely, and the prisoner cast furtive glances at him as though not liking the manner of the young man. At length he returned and asked in a voice that had become hoarse from suppressed feeling: “Did you know the lady whom Captain Coy- ote kidnapped from here?” ‘Your mother?” es,” “ I know her.” ou mean id know her died.” you d before she oung pard, I said I was going to buy m i bik truth, and I’m going to ata t ut n, ** Well?” ‘* Your mother is not dead.” CHAPTER IV. ONCE MORE ON THE TRAII.. WHEN Yankee Kit made the startling dis closure that he did, that the Widow Royal was uot dead, he was fairly startled by the cry that : se 3 broke from the lips of fhe young ranchero, and the effect of what he said upon Major Mabrey. The latter y sews to his feet as though in dire alarm, while Butterfly Billy seized the prisoner by the throat and hissed forti: ‘* Lie to me, man, and by Heaven I will kill you with my own hand; but tell me the truth and I[ will save you, even if my own life be the sacrifice,” ““Unhand me, for your grip chokes me,” gasped Yankee Kit. Instantly Royal removed his hand, while in a deep, earnest voice came the words from Major abrey: ‘*Man, do not dare to build up hopes that must be followed by despair. ‘*Speak! is Mrs. Royal, the mother of this youth, yet alive?” ce She is,” **'You mean she whom Captain Coyote kid- napped from her home here nearly four years ago! Be I do.” . ‘**Did she not die at the Castle Rock Camp in the Rockies?” as No.” ‘“*How know you this?’ and Major Mabre had assumed the role of questioner now, while the youth hung upon every word that was uttered. ““T was there.” ‘You know that Coyote kidnapped Mrs. Royal?” 1.66." “Ww hy?” ‘*She had been an old sweetheart of his, I be- lieve, and he forced her to go with him.” ‘*‘And she did not die when we were camped in the Rockies?” sé No.” ‘“* There was a lady died there and was buried,” continued Major Mabrey. a Sy ‘* Who was she?” ‘* A young girl whom Captain Coyote had de- ceived, for he was a devil to make women love him. ‘*She was a Mexican and followed him from + aeaggg and came into the camp at Castle ock, ‘*Captain Coyote told her to go back home and leave bim alone, as he did not love her, and the girl drove a dagger into ber heart before his eyes.’ And she it was whois buried there in the mountains?” te Yes.” “*'You are certain?” ‘*T helped bury her, and afraid of his Mexicans, did they know it, Captain Coyote gave out the idea that it was the lady prisoner, your mother, Butterfly Billy, and [ had to take the men on while be took Mrs. Royal toa retreat he knew of, and where he afterward joined her when he became a spy for us on the trails.” ** And Mrs. Royal?” ‘*Is with him now, I guess, for he clings to her above all things.” ‘*Can all this be true?” “You escaped, major, soon after we left Castle Rock?” “c Yes.” ‘* Will you know how to find the place?” ce Yes.” “*Did you open the grave, you would find that the body buried there had short, black hair, while Mrs. Royal’s hair was golden, and very long.” ‘True, this would be a proof, Ray.” “* Without doubt, sir, and [ intend to put it to the test.” ** You, Ray?” asked the major. in some alarm, “* Yes, sir; and I will tell you just what 1 am going to do; but first, my man, let me lock your irons again, for I have not the utmost con- fidence in vou.” Yankee Kit held forth bis hands and the irons were snapped on the wrists once more. Then the Ranger Ranchero said: ‘‘Now, major, I bave pledged this man his liberty, but I did not say when. “The promise was tf he told the truth. “‘ Now, there is but one way to find out if he has told the truth, and that is for me to go and see, “ This man must await until I am assured, and within a couple of days I will leave for the up-country and see if I can discover the truth or falsity of what Yankee Kit has said. ‘“*You know, major, that it was a whim of my mother’s to have a room in this cabin built as strong as a prison-cell, and it has never been “Now I wish you would come and make your / comic books. a