Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 656 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

‘‘T wish to go on the Overland again.” ‘* Bravo for you! it is just where I want you.” ‘*As nominally Pony Express Rider, but in reality as a detective.” ‘* Better and better, for I was wishing for you to-day, yesterday and for two months past. ** There is work for you on the trail.” ‘‘T know it, sir, for the Mounted Miners are troublesome, and the Giant General has returned to the road.” ‘You are posted, I see.” ‘Yes, sir, I came through from the Rockies, and the boys told me all that had been going on —but read your letters, sir,” and Butterfly Billy turned to a window as a man entered with a bundle of letters, The manager hastily tossed one after the other mann until he came to two that he opened and real, He smiled as he did so, and then said: ** Well, Butterfly, you have been up to your old tricks again.” ** How so, sir?” “Here isa letter from our paymaster, who was on Bob Burt’s coach coming East, and he writes that but for you he would have been robbed of a large sum of the company’s money, for though he was dressed asa miner he was well known tothe Giant General, who would have recognized him, ‘“*This other letter is from Bob Burt, and it is a dandy in the way of writing and spelling, but it is to the point, for he says that you dashed up and saved the outfit f-om being robbed by the Giant General, and asks that you be put on with big pay, as he thinks you must be dead broke,” ** No, General Curtis, I am not broke; but I do wish a place as rider again, but with m own time when needed, for I have cut out wor which I wish to do.” **'You shall be a nominal rider, Butterfly, at your will, and in reality a mounted detective to doas you deem best and go as you please, and your pay shall be the largest that the 4 ate will pay, for we all know your worth and what you have done for us in the past, yes, and now, for the paymaster must have had twenty thou- sand at léast with him, and this you saved to ‘**T thank you, sir, and I will get my horses at once,” ‘* Fortunately we have a drove of fine Ken- pg animals just in and you shall have your pick. **T wish to buy and own my horses, general, and itisa whim of mine to have only black animals and the very best,” ‘Carry out any whim you wish, Butterfly. and now I think of it [ saw half a dozen fine black horses in the lot; but let me tell you right here, Master Butterfly Billy, that I shall give you the horses you select, and the company will pay the bill, and if you offer to do so I shall not only feel deeply hurt but angry. ‘** Now, come, and we will go out to the corral and select the nags.” The manager led the way, and an hour after there were three handsome, jet-black horses, sbowing the best points for endurance and speed, sent to the hotel stables, where Butterfly Billy had put up during his stay in Omaha. The n2xt day he was measured for his Rider’s suits, and as before, had them made most gor- geous, of light-blue velvet jacket, white corduroy pants, scarlet jockey cap, and silk sash of the same hue, and altogether, with his handsume cavalry boots and spurs, and belt of arms, made a very picturesque and striking make-up. ** You have grown so, Butterfly, we will have to drop the y off your name an‘ call you Butter- ' fly Bill, I guess; but how they ever gave you the name of Billy, when you have no claim to it, is one of those things which no one can find “Wild Bill, you remember, general, has not William for his Christian name, for it is James B, Hickok.” ‘*True, and border nomenclature is past find- ing out; but where will you make your quarters at this end of the line?” ** At Rudolph’s, sir.” ‘* And go west how far?” “To the mountains, if need be, sir, for I shall keep my seven black horses well scattered, and if I need others for a hard ride, I can get them at the stations,” ‘* Certainly, for 1 shall give orders to let you have all the aid you may need; but when will you start?” ‘* To-morrow, sir, and when I have gone over the run and placed my blacks, I will be ready for orders, sir.” Some ten days after leaving Omaha, Butterfly : / - vr. is Vy oy ‘.’> * ag -* ! « i th ee goa = vé - fe a * "2 >, ¢7? ‘ 2 , é ‘ Tl i a a a le 8 ee let Se e ' : Pa y. . ts ‘ . cre, aa yy . r ’ 4. . 4 4. 7: a9 ‘Le Cae ey inet 7 tes <4 le ‘ A Man-Hunt. NE LL SSS ooo re ‘hel . ; > i . P g ine 2 : s'*s> tee —_ - P af i c ole Mt) “4 + bd * ; far $ Butterfly Billy’s ge. “ae : - Ee a ry PH ‘ e/a 5 oe —— a. oh fo cae . eat a . ivi. z . : ' vr, *, fhe; ee v4 3 ao 4‘ *. % ie = ‘ Bill returned. to Rudolph’s Station, having placed his horses and been over the line, and the men there all greeted him with cheer after cheer, so glad were they to have him on the Overland Trails once more. But little did they dream what was behind his coming, and that under the guise of a Pony Rider he was doing the work of a mounted de- tective. The next day dispatches came by courier ad- dressed to ** Col, Carter, Fort M——,” and they were marked to go through by “ Butterfly Bill, the Black Horse Rider.” Ten minutes after receiving them, Btterfly Bill was on the road for Fort M——., CHAPTER IX. TO THE RESCUE. Every foot of the Overland Trail over which he was to ride was known to Butterfly Bill, for he had studied it well when Government courier something over a year before. He had started upon his duties with a de- termination to hunt down the Giant General. He did not wish to kill him, for he felt that the man could give him information he longed to know. Once he could make him his prisoner, he would see to it that he madea clear confession of all that he knew under penalty of death, and be would keep him in durance vile until the truth of what he said could be proven, From Rndolph’s Station the youth had writ- ten to Major Mabrey, telling him that he had found what Yankee Kit had told him about the woman in the grave not being his mother to be true; and that the Giant General was again a robber on the Overland. But he told the major to still hold Yankee Kit a prisoner until he could find out if there was not a chance to make bim more useful, In ending his letter, he had said: _ ‘“T believe that the Giant General's silent partner is Captain Coyote, and once l have either of those menin my power, I will force from them the secret of where my mother is, if alive. ‘*{Lam on the trail now as a mounted detective, and my time is to be devoted wholly to tracking the Giant General and the Mounted Miners. * Thus far I have not been to Fort M——, but hope to get there before very long.”’ Hardly bad the letter been written béfore or- ders came for him to go to Fort M——as dis- patch-bearer, and it certainly was a pleasing command to the youth, who was anxious to azain see the lovely face of Mattie Carter, and also [vy Allen, who also held a very warm place in his heart, Then, too, he wanted to see Buffalo Bill, whose protege he considered himself. The Overland Trail did not go by Fort M—, rt spina station on it being thirty miles dis- ant. To reach the fort, the Black Horse Rider turned off the main trail at a point some sixty miles from the garrison, and, as he was flying along on bis black steed, which he found to bea magnificent animal, he suddenly drew rein, for a sound had reached his ears strangely like fir- ing. He listened attentively, and found that it was firing, and more, it was almost ahead of him, but yet miles away. On he sped until he knew that those he heard firing were not half a mile distant. Turning off from his course, he ascended a hill, leaving his horse to rest, and discovered a ae away a small clump of timber out upon the plain. It was not over half an acre in size, and situ- ated upon a hill was fortunately a good point to defend. And so the score or more in the motte dis- covered, for they were standing off a force of over a hundred Indians, who completely sur- rounded them, One glance was necessary for the young rider, for he took in the situation immediately aud then marked the nature of the surrounding ground, He saw that a force could come from two separate directions ani attacking the Indians could drive them back upon the ridge where an- other force could head them off, With this view in his mind the Black Horse Rider fairly flew down the hill, bounded upon bis horse and went off at full speed. It wasaride of thirty miles to the fort, and over a rough country; but away he went springing from his saddle when reachin rugged ground and steep bills and running along by the side of his horse, 2 rp sot. ou €- , a — oP; » se i oles Ly LLL LL LLL LL LL (Se ste e os i‘~ : ' ' » ‘ s] “ Fey Pa ie Oh ince gees, x g Sent Lt All a es a . sale i‘ 7 4 eas eats &, Say “ “Z s* reatly This helped the hard driven animal and soon the rider sped sig ht. he noble black was staggering and yet held ‘¥ i on, for the youth would not be\ merciful toa beast when human life was at stake, Across the prairie the sentinel saw the red cap and blue jacket flashing in the sunlight and made the report. Many came to look and see the flying Pony Rider. On, on he came until a large number of — athered about the stock- — soldiers off duty hud ade gate through which he must enter, At first it was believed that red-skins were in chase, for he was seen to be urging his horse to greater speed. On he came until at length the horse dashed up tothe gate, which was thrown open and as — he passed into the fort a soldier criedin a voice ~ heard by all: ‘‘[t is Butterfly Billy!” The name was repeated in a chorus of a hundred voices and then followed three rousing cheers for Butterfly Billy. As he threw himself from his horse the poor, anting animal could hardly stand, and touch- ing his cap the Rider said quickly; ‘* Dispatches, sir, for Colonel Carter and news of importance also, **Can I see him at once?” ‘* You can, my brave fellow—follow me,” said the officer of the day who was a new Officer at the fort and did not know the youth, but had heard of Butterfly Billy and his deeds of daring, so gazed with admiration upon his handsome face, flushed with pride at the reception the soldiers had given him, & oy sparing neither bis steed or himself, until at last the fort camein Nee § 2 ‘ ‘ 4 ’ « . > ~ ‘ At the door of his quarters stood Colonel Car- | ter,a handsome man of forty-eight, who had come out to see the cause of the cheering, and ere the officer could speak he recognized the | young Rider. * Butterfly Billy, is it really yon?’ and he seized the hand of the youth, who quickly band- ed over bis bunch of dispatches and said: ‘Yes, Colonel Carter, iam back on the old trails again, sir; but I wish to report that thirty — miles from here in Willow Motte there is a party of soldiers, with wagons, corraled by a large — band of Indians who have them surrounded and must number fully a hundred. ‘‘The weakness of the fire, sir, caused meto — think the party was a small one and I rode hard to report, and I took in the surroundings 80 that if you let me guide a force to the relief I can completely cut the red-skins off.” supply train under, guidance of your old pard, Buffalo Bill, for we have been expecting them boy, you are the same hero as of old, and the force corraled is none other than a oy d %, + “h! =" ey & od % — f %. “> ‘, i } ier et 4 .., e or, for a couple of days past and wondered at the é delav. “Orderly, request Captein Allen to come to © i my quarters at once, and say to him to order bis men and Cuptain Rosafy’s troop ready tomarch = at once with three days rations.” The orderly departed upon his errand, and Colovel Carter bade Butterfly Billy follow — bim into the office, while he examined his dis- patches, and said: ‘‘Tam glad to see you on the trail again, my — young hero, for there is work for you to do; but do you feel able to return with this relief party?” . ‘Oh, yes, sir, though my horse is used up, dead beat in fact; but I can guide them the — nearest way, sir, and my idea is to divide the — force in three squads, coming upon the red-skins — from two quarters that will drive them into a . " > « A . -, pf of 7 _* ¢ Ls ‘ 4 valley, their only means of retreat, where the third force will have made their way to head — them off, thus hemming them in; but pardon — my suggestion, sir.” ‘‘T will tell Captain Allen to adopt your plan, Butterfly; but bow many red-skins do you think | are there?” ‘‘Over a hundred, sir.” the colonel sent another order to that effect, Captain Allen just then came in, and he, too, ee ‘warmly greeted the Pony Rider, and receiving — his orders to start at once with his command — and that Butterfly Billy would tell him what to do, he said that he was ready to ton his own stable for the young guide, Half an hour after Butterfly Billy’s arrival the fort, he was riding by the side of Capte Allen at the head of four-score going to the relief of the supply ; ram s Fd on the in- stant, and Colonel Carter ordered a eles from ‘yt AG in i aed allant troc pers , —" v | ‘‘ Then I shall send three troops, in allabouta hundred men and make aclean sweep of it,"and | 4 . tf ( Fo A 4 4 ~ ' S - ‘ + iF ¥ a >! 4 “ A ’ » -& Pes gl sf a! > ‘lied "' we 5 : - — 7