Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 662 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

= ee eo * eee , MENA < ae = Koy, —- hag Pm he sae eR ' ’ ~y . —, , > - ~ ail “aT . a a be 4 , me Ss SS ce) oie Bye de a ‘ ar Se Cain . 2 , “ - = any _— 2 - —- < . se & -% a =. - 4 m : : ‘ * . * * : r. . ry" wi Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza. 4 nips. Mi kinder thought so; but ter resist would be sudden death. ‘‘The Government has got ter charge, this loss ter the account o’ ther Mounted Miners,” muttered Bob Burt to bimself. But as the men advanced toward the coach a wild shriek suddenly appalled every one, as it went along the hills, It was immediately fol- lowed by startled cries from the horsemen in the rear, On they dashed, the four outlaw horsemea, at breakneck speed, urging their horses to further efforts, while in their rear were the forms of the Specter Hercules and his horse in full pursuit, dashing right on toward the halted coach and the outlaws about it. ‘‘The Giant General’s Ghost! the Specter Highwayman!” broke in startled cries from the outlaws’ lips, and in terror they fled down the trail to where their horses awaited them. Bob Burt sat in awed silence, though the de- sire was upon him to fly, too, at sight of that wild horseman. He could not, even at such a moment, control a laugh at the flight of the bandits, who were mounting their horses among the rocks and running down the trail at full speed, as no other means of escape was upen to them, ‘*Go it, yer devils, fer Satan’s ghost is a-hunt- in’ yer srcord yelled Bob, hen up dashed the leading mounted outlaw, and he called out: 2 ‘“‘Come! drive on with us. We'll not lose your prize even for the devil himself!” But Burt was not to be bullied now, and the words were the last the man ever uttered, for the plucky driver promptly sent a revolver bul- let though his brain. His comrades fired a few shots, and then from the coach windows rattled others and two more of the mounted road-raiders went down under the fire of the ‘‘Woman in Black,” and the **parson,” Bob Burt’s *‘ sky pilot.” ** Hoopla!” yelled Bob, sending a parting shot after the last of the outlaw quartette of horse- men; then he lapsed into dead silence and his eyes turned upon the spectral form coming along like the wind, There was no clatter of the hoofs of his jet- black steed, only a muffled sound. The rider sat bolt upright, his uniform glittering in the moonlight, his white face ghastly in its hue, his eyes eine straight ahead, as he dashed by the coach. it was an awful sight, this of the Specter Highwayman, and not one word was uttered as he passed, either, by Bob Burt or those in the coach, Away he sped on his way in silence until he disappeared in the distance, oo Burt gathered up his reins and called out: ‘‘ Pards, what are your opinion o’ thet?” ‘‘Tt is unaccountable to me,” answered the parson, while the woman made no reply. ‘¢ Tt do lay over any human cuttin’ up I ever see,” one of the miners responded, hen Bob Burt called upon the three men to belp him put the dead outlaws on the stage top, and drove on at a rapid pace, He reached the valley and entered the shadows, but neither heard nor saw aught to alarm him. Beyond the valley there was a stretch of sev- eral miles of open road again, and, as the coach rolled along Bob Burt called out: ‘‘ Ef them Mounted Miners hain’t ail sperits by this time, and got away from ther Hercules Specter, they'll be layin’ fer us along this piece o’ road— Thar, what did I tell yer?” and as he uttered the words the road-raiders rode into the trail not far ahead. 3 Almost at the same moment was heard that wild shriek in the rear, and once more the Spec- ter Hercules was seen coming on at a rush. —— once more shy the oon ge pe at a run, isappearing quickly from sight, Past the coach again flew the Hercules, silent, me a i as before, and when some distance ahead his horse was brought down to a slow pace, as he beckoned on the coach, | Burt ere in silent awe, while he muttered: “When dead folks calls I obeys.” Bui, the Specter held his distance ahead until _ the coach reached the station nearest Fort M—— ot out : and entered an ambulance evidently sent there where the parson and woman in black - to meet them, for there was an escort of a dozen _ cavalrymen with it. | _“ My man, our specter ernment a large sum, for ss ber of the army in this disguise; but, how the é ie _ Mounted Miners ever knew it I do not under- : * ‘ “A 7 ie 3; f Lule’) ‘a? ‘ 7, iS wht , *) ede rage?" - ¥/ ; i 4 Ca 2a" ‘ a* at eaqjtt- a, oor és 7 “4 ra aA *e this time, and you'll see me get blood out of tur- 7? ard saved the Gov- | h am Paymaster Bar- . ’ La , t he i, ’ lo 7 Pia i ; ot se \ . "y . # ia J f, a. > ‘i x F a ae « th * * P iid < , ial stand,” and the pretended woman in black pressed Bob Burt’s hand, and with the parson sprung into the ambulance, ‘* As he says, thet Hercules did kinder act as a guard arter scarin’ them outlaws nigh onto death. ‘‘'Yas, and I’m a leetle narvous over it my- self,” confessed Bob, as he seized the reins over a fresh team and went rolling alopg on his run through the mountains. CHAPTER XVI. THE OUTLAW_ CHIEF, Soms two weeks prior to the attack of the Masked Miners upon Bob Burt’s coach, and their being driven off by the Specter Hercules, a horseman rode slowly along the Overland Trail, stopping for meals and shelter at the various stations along the route, when hungry, and when night came on. He looked like a man who was going West to seck a home, and had with him a pack-horse which trotted behind the animal he rode. A man of fifty he appeared, with unshaven face of some weeks growth, gray hair worn long, and the dress of a miner. e gave his name as Wolf, when asked, and lookea like one who was by no means tidy or articular, while he spoke with a drawl and in order dialect. After leaving Jake Reeves’s station he turned off into a canyon and rode on as a man would who knew his way. He held on until he came toa large spring, which was evidently the se ei of buf- 7 deer and wild animals from the moun- ins. Halting for his horses to drink, he then passed on over the rocks beyond the sprirg and up into a canyon where a small cabin soon came in sight, A man seated before the door sprung up at his cominz, and seizing a rifle he leveled it. But the stranger called out: ‘“Don’t be a fool, Dermot, for I am your chief.” ‘* Ah, chief, I am more than glad to see you. ‘** Get down and let me put your horses out to feed with mine,” This the horseman did, while Dermot led the animals away, after taking off the saddle and pack, aud then returned and took a seat by the man whom he addressed as cbief. Dermot was a young man, in miner costume, and had a fearless face, yet with all a reckless look about it that was not prepossessing. ** Well, Captain Coyote, this is a surprise to see you,” he said, ‘Yes, and I came on important business to settle up, and also because I will be called away for an indefinite time. ‘* Any news yet of Yankee Kit?” ** Not a word, sir.” ‘Then he has either been killed, or he got oe treasure I sent him after and run off with it. “ Kit would hardly go back on you, captain.” “Oh, yes, he would; but I sent him to Mexico to see what the bands there were doing, and told him, if he saw a good chance fora raid to make one with my Wolves into Texas, and then return with all the treasure they had saved and he could bring me. 5a then I have not heard a word from im. ‘‘He may turn up yet, captain.” ‘* Well, | am that better off if he does; but now what have you done?” ‘* Bueiness has been light of late, captain; but the men have had some pickings and I have a few cing saved «yet oA * ‘Over expenses an of the men ** Yes, sir.” ve ¢ ‘Well, I want it; but bave you lost any men of late?” ‘* None, sir, only the devil is to pay along the trails.” ‘© What is it?” ‘‘ Why that Black Horse Rider killed the Her- cules, and since then his ghost has haunted the Overland.” ‘¢ Don’t be a fool, Dermot.” ‘It is true, captain, for I have seen the spec- ter myself.” ‘*T have heard of this specter all along the trail as I came; but it is sheer nonsense.” ‘* No, chief, for you know that the Hercules kept to himself, though in the same business that we are; but since his death he has haunted us time and again until the boys stand in terror of im, . **They are fools; * Yes, air.” but I bave a plot for you.” “Back at the town I got in with a party who is clerk to a Government paymaster, and the two. were plotting to come to Fort M and bring a large sum of money. ‘The paymaster is a little fellow, so I sug- gested that he dress up as &@ woman, and his clerk as a parson, and that they would go through. ‘*This they will do, and they will go through on Bob Burt’s coach four days from now, and you must hold them up and get their money, for they will carry some fifty thousand dollars with them, * Do you understand?” ** Yes, chief, and it’s a big sum.” “Yes, and I will share well with you Der- mot, for I will frankly tell you that I intend to give up the road and live on what I have laid by.” ‘“‘T am sorry of this chief.” ‘‘ Well, you and the men risk the danger, and I have simply been serving in the towns as @ SPY. ve ‘“So you will be captain, if Yankee Kit does not return, and should be do so you will drop back to lieutenant of course. ‘ But this haul of the paymaster’s will fix me oe right, so I will give up outlawry and enjoy ife, ‘* Now I have some other work for you to do.” “Certainly, chief.” ‘But first tell me if the Hercules is really dead?” “Yes, chief.” ‘* There is no mistake?” “* None, sir.” “Then what is all this talk about his still being seen on the trails?” _ “Ts kis specter, they say.” ‘*‘ Bosh! it is the man himself, and I would like to see him.” ‘‘No sir, for Butterfly Billy killed him and Buffalo Bill buried him, so he is dead.” “Itsa pie of Buffalo Bill’s, or of that youth they call Butterfly Billy, mark my words.’ ‘‘Chief, lam nota man to run from a shadow, and I have seen this specter several times, and so — have many others. ‘‘He does not rob or kill, simply rides by you; but he is awful looking and his horse at full s makes no sound witb his hoofs.” ‘‘ Curse it! can there be something in supersti- tion after all?” ‘Tn this case, yes, chief,” ‘‘ Well, I don’t wish to see bis ghost, and if he is dead you must do some work I meant to have him do. * All right, chief.” “ It is just this: ‘‘On a certain date there will be a woman come through on the coach.” ‘* You will give me the date?” ‘‘ Yes, exactly, and you will know the woman — from my description, ‘“She is about thirty-six, and is very beauti- ful, with bronze red hair, perfect teeth, a very lovely face though an intensely sad one. “Her eyes are large and dark, with long lashes, and her form is perfect, in fact she isa very beautiful woman, in spite of her appear- ing as though she had some deep sorrow in her heart, | ‘She will be dressed in black, not mournin though, and you are to make a clean sweep 0 the coach that day and I will tell you how. “Yes, chief,” | “Should you simply kidnap me, the soldiers would soon patrol the entire trail and drive you off; but at Breakneck Cliff you can do the work properly. | “You can halt them at the turn this side, and mind you, the woman is to go on with: the rest “Yes, chief; but what is to be done with the | others?’ ; ‘ All are to be killed, not with bullets, but b taking the stage on to Breakneck Cliff and send- ‘ ing horses and all over it together. bie ling order of Captain Coyote, the secret chief of *) ony. It must look like an accident,” was the start- the outlaw band known as the Mounted Miners | of the Overland. ka CHAPTER XVII. A MAN OF DISGUISES. Tk outlaw lieutenant, bad as he was, seemed startled at the command of Captain Coyote. ‘You mean that the woman is to go?” OR hn ‘‘T never killed a woman, captain.” “You do not in this case; but rob them all, | Ky and then have men at the Breakneck to startle the leaders, and hurl the whole business over } st ei - : sa ae) a ' “ into the canyon below, ‘¢ Do you understand?” | x to VC Wik } 4 =F ae re J, he as oi . r r 3 a “a os —~J = CS . ts _.™ . : ia so Ge ~ * al” ij 7b < Ape ’ @ 4 e .< ve ay? ; =e books.com.