Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 656 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

7 - 2 * 4 a * , “* Sak = Othe VY. - SF. * . ae! a +> Fees . ’ cee Go EE Ooty ‘ ; ‘ “ we Psy tig Vee . ° ~~ ° ~ 72. . , - re Poe a eee ills 1 : _— ‘ he » , ~ ae aan te Oe cnet 4 Pen th Pay eo ¥ ? :] : ‘ eV s 4 A ey e > Pie as \ ~. ; a ee Ay - -— 2 Pe ee me, Bob Burt, it is not talk that I want, ' but gold. Pa. « Whet have you aboard?’ and the Giant - General] still kept his rifle at a ready while he _ stood just before the leaders, so as to commard _ gach side of the coach and the box as well. ' **¥ou see this?? and Bob Burt pointed con- _ temptuously to his companion on the box, _ Yes, and it has got to shell out liberally for drawing a@ weapon on me; but what is there in- o. ‘* Six pilgrims; mostly miners, I guess,” _ Tell them to git out, one by one, first on the right, then on the left, of the coach.” _ Bob Burt leant over and called out: _ * Pards, you is in for it, so you had best obey - the General’s orders and pan out liberally, for he don’t take all a man’s got if he acts square. a “One o’ you git out on ther right side, and ¢. _ another on ther left, and soon until he calls a ~~ balt.’ Something very like a groan of misery came _ from within the coach, but the door on the right- hand side opened, and a man in miner’s costume * oi out. Then the other door swung open, and a man - got out on that side. ay ~ Next!” called out the lone highwayman, _ sternly, and, as the third man had his foot upon ; the step, there came the rapid clatter of hoofs coming down the trail, and the Giant General : shouted: | ** You’ve got a guard, have you, Bob Burt? _ * Well, I’ve half a mind to mark you for try- ing to catch me in a trap; but we will meet - again,” and, wheeling his splendid black, he _ dashed rapidly away into the timber as the _ eoming hoofs resounded just around the curve. _. In another instant a cheer broke from those _ in the stage, as a horseman dashed into sight, nw? i _ and the clatter of hoofs told that others were Ws coming. But the ‘‘ others ” appeared in the shape of a ie pack-horse, following his master, who had al- w arg drawn up by the side of the coach. * Butterfly Billy, or I serenely lies!” cried Bob _ Burt, the driver, and he sprung from the box a and grasped the hand of the one who had just arrived. “Yes, Bob, I am Butterfly Billy, your old- time pard, and I saw’ your trouble from the _ wind in the trail above, and so tried to scare the | agents oa.” Ws ** And did so, for he went a-glummering and _. gaid I hed put up a job to catch him, and had a . guard along. P +Y ‘*T& was the General, Billy, and he hey come back to bis old tricks ag’in.” Tt was the Giant General, Bob?” “3 “ Sure ”? a ** Alone?” oes “Vas, he goes thet way.” “Allright, I hope to meet him some day; but ean yoo take my traps on top, and may I hitch my horses upon either side of your wheelers, for I wish to ride with you?” | e ‘You bet you kin, and I’ll jist fire this tender- ft tinside ther hearse and you kin ride on ther x with me.” a , j fy ig aig wish to deprive the gentleman of his seat, Dod. Gentleman? Now, Butterfly, don’t insult ther i: ona feller, fer he means well; but he hain’t no Fw 7" ~~ -- > ct gen (Come, tenderfoot, pile inside until I finds an- other road-agent and then I'll call yer ter slay _ The young man meekly deserted the box and crawled into the coach, while Butterfly Billy _ took off his saddle and pack and handed them up _ to Bob Burt, who placed them on top, Then a horse was fastened upon either side of _ the wheelers, and Butterfly mounted to the box, _ the word was given and the coach rolled on its _ way once more, ape _. CHAPTER VIL a be ON THE OVERLAND. |. Tae Giant General was a bold robber, and | took big chances to get booty, but he was at the san wage & man who would not recklessly risk __ Since he had come again upon the trail, after had already been tried and sentenced, he would _ at_once be executed, - He knew that both soldiers, scouts and guards om the Overland had sworn to capture him; but “oa t ae same time would not be driven from the trails. | - He appeared at the most unexpected times and n the most unlooked for plaees, and his manner im effort would be made to capture him, and, as he a year's absence, he was well aware that every | Butterfly Billy’s Man-Hunt. of ‘* holding up” a coach was such as to protect himself. He always appeared quietly in the trail, some “yom aie ahead and witha repeating rifle at a evel, He halted the coach some distance away, rode toa position at the heads of the leaders, thus commanding the driver and both sides of the coach. Known to bea dead shot with revolver and rifle he was terribly feared, for more than once had some One in the coach leant out and opened fire but to fall dead across the door, and hang there limp and lifeless while the Giant General would in a sneering tone invite some one else to try the same game, He had the people step out, one at a time, and advance toward him, placing their money on one side of the road, He did not search a man, but made them give liberally, and then pass back, walking some dis- tance behind the coach. The next would do likewise, and when all had thus paid toll, he would order the coach to drive on and wait some distance down the trail for the passengers, When it was out of sight he would dismount, count his booty and then call the men to pass in single file, a long ways apart, on after the coach, and if he thought he had been deceived by any one of them he would demand more toll. _Then, when the last one had gone by he would ride away, going no one knew where, A woman he never robbed, nor a child or one he deemed really —_ ft He always looked like a general in dress- parade, his horse was sleek and in good ‘con- dition, and his weapons appeared always ready for use, | His ‘“‘ run,” as it was called, extended some two hundred miles, and this made it very hard for the scouts and soldiers to know where to look for him Such was the man who had halted Bob Burt’s coach that pleasant afternoon, and who, upon fearing a trap, had hastily decamped. ‘** Tell me something of the General, Bob,” said Ray Royal, as the coach rolled swiftly along on its way, once more, ‘‘Durn ther General, Billy, thar hain’t nothin’ more ter tell then thet be strikes ther coaches once to three times a month, and hits it rich two out of three times. ‘** Oh, he’s a darling, thet man are, and all thet hev been did ter capter him hain’t done no good, tho’ your old pard, Buffalo Bill, hev been hisself on ther trail of him.” | ‘ Well, he is a daring fellow, Bob, I admit; but it’s a long lane that has no turn in it.” ~ “‘ You is right, Butterfly, and you caught him at the end of his lane once, and well nigh got him onto the end of a rope. _ “But, Lordy, Butterfly, how you hev grown, but I’d ’a’ know’d yer among a ton o’ wild-cats, ‘Yer has got more manly in yer face and form, but yer were always able ter do a man’s work, yes, and did it, too. ‘Now, [ looks back and remembers yer nigh two years ago when yer began ter ride Pony Express on ther Overland, I kin hardly believe it are you with me now. ‘* Whar has y-r been, my boy?’ ‘* At my home in Texas,” ‘Yas, and Texas are ther precinct fer mak- i on the shoot and who kin ride a rattle- snake, ‘“f{ know’d yer ata glance, though in them days yer used ter dressso gay, with yer blue velvet jacket, red jacket-cap, white corduroys, “nag and silk sash, they named yer Butter- y Dilly, ‘*And yer did look like a butterfly on ther wing when yer would fly by on yer horse going like a deer,” Nome Iintend to ride Pony Exprews again, ‘* No, does yer fer sure?” “Yes, [am now going to Omaha to see Mr, Curtis, who I hear is now manager, to ask him to put me on the road once more,” ‘Waal I declare; but bain’t you a leetle heavy?” ‘* Ab no, for I shall-ride only the best of orses, : ‘If luck has gone ag’in’ yer, Butterfly, and yer is hard up, yer kin yet gita grip on my chips, for all yer need, for I has a snug pile laid by fer a rainy day, and my friends.” ‘‘ Bless yer big soul, Bob Burt, you are the same dear old fellow; but I do not need money, for I have plenty, I assure you, yet I thank you all the same, old man, - vine ‘*And Bob, I want you to tell me where I can get some good black horses,” : | 5 ** Black horses you say?” ‘Yes, I shall only ride black horses, and I want the best, no matter what the price.” ‘* How many?” ** Welly half-a-dozen, for I have one there and a fine animal he is, but he needs a few weeks’ rest,” | ‘I knows of a couple, or three, but they is dandies, and bigh priced.” ‘‘Buy them for me, and I will pick up the other three between here and Omaha: but tell me, Bob, have you ever heard of the Mounted Miners?” ‘*Yas, they circulates around, Butterfly, stealin’ horses, robbin’ stations and sich low work, for they degenerated since you was here,” ‘* And their chief?” ‘* Yankee Kit?” ts Yes.” ‘‘ Waal, he must be dead, for I hasn’t seen or heard o* him since you left.” ‘* And did he not have a silent partner, as it were,” ‘* T guess so, for they was posted onrich hauls pretty well.” ‘‘ You never heard him mentioned?” ‘No, but they has a chief lying low some- where, I is sart’in,” ‘* You do not know where they bave their retreat?” ‘* Anywhere and everywhere, Butterfly.” ‘“You never heard of there being a lady among them?” ** Now, Billy, for the Lord’s sake what would a lady be doing among that nest o’ cut-throats?” ‘* True, but might she not bea captive, you know?” ‘** Yas, that might be, and they a-holdin’ her for ransom money,” ““c“ Yes,” id Guess yer knows more than yer talks, illy.’ ‘*] will tell you a secret some day, Bob, for I know you are my friend; but asl am going back on the Pony Riders’ trails once more, you can just let it be thought that I am dead broke, and had to do it—you see?’ ‘* You bet I hain’t no inmate o’a bliad asy- lum, Butterfly. | ‘‘ Jest trust me fer your friend, pard, and you’!! find me around when I’m wanted; but that are a fine black o’ yourn, for see how he travels?” ‘* Yes, and the six others must be just as fine animals as he is, Bob, But yonder is the end of your run,” ‘‘ Yes, andI hates ter part with yer, but I guesses [’ll- soon see yer flying along the trail like a butterfly again.’ “You eertainly will, Bob,” was the answer, and ieaving his borses and traps at the stage- station, Butterfly Billy, as he was known along the Overland Trails, went on to Omaha in the coach that left after Bob Burt’s arrival. CHAPTER VIII. THE BLACK HORSE RIDER, GENERAL MANAGER CARTER CuRTISS of the Overland Stage Company, and who was called by courtesy ‘‘General,” was seated in bis pleas- ant offices at Omaha, resting after bis day’s labor. He had, so to speak, grown up with the road, ~~ knew its workings from one end to the other. Raised a Quaker, he did not like harsh mea- sures, and shunned bloodshed; but he was a man to do his duty, and he did it so thoroughly that he bad begun as a courier and risen step by step to his position as general manager. ‘** Good-evening, . Curtis, and let me ex- press the hope that you have not forgotten me,” The words startled the manager, for the voice had a familiar ring, and he supposed that all had left the cflices. Glancing up, be saw a form of elegant physique, clad in a suit of corduroy, top-boots, and slouch bat, and a face that was beard] darkly bronzed and fearless, frank and iutelli- gent, while chestnut-hued bair hung upon his broad shoulders almost in curls, | ‘‘ Butterfly Billy! Ob, how glad I am to see thee!” and the manager grasped botb hands of his visitor and led him to a seat, ‘“‘ Sit down, my boy, and tell me what luc breeze has blown you in this direction, fer of men, I am glad to see you!” “‘ Well, general—” “Ab, none of that, for the boys have dubbed me general to curry favor with me.” ‘‘Then I must be also in the swim, for I also wish to ask a favor, general.” said “Granted, my boy, before another werd is id.” 7; |