Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 662 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

‘™an, some five inches over jJimbed, strong as a buffalo a mustang. His face was a noble st was bold, fearless and resolute. Taking the seat to which Mrs, Soulette had motioned him, he awaited her pleasure, and her manner showed that she was nervous and had something of importance to communicate, ‘Sampson, the courier who was here to-day _. left me some late papers, and here is one from Omaha, Nebraska, with some army news in it, “I will read you something herein that at- tracted my attention, and I wish you to tell me just what you think of it,” ‘** Yes, missy.” After an effort, which show ed a struggle for ‘self-control, she read as follow 5S: “*THE HERCULES HIGHWAYMAN,’” *“* The Overland coach on the Over! held up on Tuesday last b his bome a terror along the border trails, and who 4s variously known as the ‘Giant Road-Agent,’ * Hercules Highwayman’ and ‘Soldier Hercules.’ *** He obtained from the pemengers a fair sum in ‘money, but did not take their all, nor did he rob a lady that was along, for he apo too gallant a 8 of the fair sex. an to steal from the pocket : cer was along from Fort M—~ and from and was again the man who has made ** An offi ‘him our reporter gained some interesting informa- tion regarding this strange, bold character and man Of real mystery, ‘<The officer referred to States that the man is ‘Six feet five in height, weighs nearly three hundred Subse, and is a perfect type cf magnificent sique. | on € was living as a hermit when first heard of at Fort M—— and was supposed to be an ally of the Sioux, until one day he met a squa iron of soldiers with Buffalo Bill as guide, and they were going Straight into an ambush when warned of their dan- ger by the hermit. ‘**In fact he served them so well that he enabled them to gain a great victory over the Sioux and being severely wounded was carried by Buffalo Bill to the fort, where upon his recovery he was offered the commission of an officer, which he refused, “*He told the colonel that he had a mania for wambling, and as an officer would be led into temp- anes and when playing was reckless in the ex- treme, ** But he joined the army as a private in a cav- alry regiment. was promoted to a corporal, and all went well until he took to gambling, lost money, Srew desperate and one nizht killed the paymaster, robbed him and fled. . “Soon after he appeared upon the road as a ighwaymap, and was cleverly captured by the ‘Texas Pony Express Rider Butterfly Billy, whom our readers have often seen in Omaha. “*Taken to Fort M—~ the Hercules was tried, found guilty of many crimes and sentenced to be hanged; but a few days before the one appointed for his execution he escaped, the officer states by killing his guard he thinks, and after some years’ ab- sence again appeared upon the trails as a road- nt ent, ~ _ It has been thought that he was the chief of the We; to the Overland stage roads to find the Herculeg ! + voad-agents known as the Mounted Miners, but he Every word, missy,” Highwayman, |. ‘fas never been seen in company with orneen. So ** You heard of his living a hermit life, of his e Do you understand, Sampson?” . \ | ‘ust be his own master, following his evil and des- refusing to become a commissioned officer on| « Ob, yas, missy, but let me go, for I kin find : perate career solely alone. f hi : . ” ‘ ‘ 6% ) “Certain it is that this bold man isa terror on | #ccount of his mania for gambling, and that | massa, ’ ; i es the Overland, and he robs when and where he be Lee a yore he became like a madman?” PN gay coe go =F rom: ane She jor find | Fe) ‘ ’ ett ; a words,” and the look of stern re- Me Ayes Eis Tange is ape g hindred muitos, ond he is os o obi heard of - ies ys yrena horse, his solve 5 the face of the woman cores that ssp? | (aC p!ace twice, so that pursuit o going alone as a roa ~agen S showing & gen- | she Lad the iron will to carry out the plan she hin, Eye wah for —s ner. Ty | Crous nature in spite of his robberies, not to take | had determined upon, - iM Righan taht the Occseas on Pome Petia pies, - =f all, and not to rob a woman?” And ten days after the two were on the trail . | ‘this gave rise at the fort to the belief that the hand- T heerd it all.” | : northward, __ Some youth was really a detective on the track of “Then, too, you heard the name he enlisted ’ ‘ | e peeconien, to arrest bikes fom gome crime he had ! sare sa TMi CHAPTER VIII. Me _ commi elsewhere, while others asserted that “Sol somethin, missy. THE OVERLAND DETECTIVE, , aaa ee ee ene, page nthe fathous Ramone’ . ht ¢ Sol Soule.” THE commanding cn of the Platte De- "thang bg 5 4 at’s it.” : partment was on a round of inspection, and « Or hg ager. so the officer who is one in pursuit states ** Now, Sol is the abbreviation of Solomon.” was being entertained right royally by Colonel _) ‘tthe Pony Rider is again on the trail, better mounte ** Dat am a fact,” ie Rassell Carter, his friend and one of his favor- ‘than ever before, and his rides are on che same beat ** And Soule is an abbreviation of Soulette, for | ite Officers at Fort M—, a far advanced post | Bi Kes where + et pe ee at Butcien the double tande ere left off, you see, which had rendered much valuable service, ; | Me itis te see re mek Te aha ke tae te deet Dat’s so, missy. ‘ Colonel Carter had pleasant quarters, which aT eS ptivate debt pr tetes Sith: the dreaded lone out- ‘Now, Sampson, what do you think of all | being a widower, were occupied only by himself i eg | this?” and his daughter Mattie, a lovely young miss . at , Was A peculiarity of this Hercules is that he is Sampson shook his head solemnly, just verging u womanhood, and who wasa ways mounted upon a magnificent black horse of _ large size, and dresses in the full ‘uniform of a eneral of cavalry, top-boots, epaulettes, plumed at, sash and all, and this causes the soldiers to _ Speak of him as the Giant General, a name he seems _ €0 prefer to any other, from what the Overland _ Stage-drivers say of their meetings with him. ___“* Whatever the motive of Butterfly Billy for again Yiding the Overland Trails, we hope that success ma n, and give this daring Her- , y come his way agai | ‘ules once more into his power. _ . “*From our same informant we learn that the | Rame that the Hercules enlisted in the army under yee Sapa < “Sol Soule,’ so if any of our Teaders is wy ear from thes, s & person, we will be glad to > Such was the artic |. @loud to Black - a , 7 “* i | Py os ¥ - '§ le which the Hermitess read son, and upon her finishing udy in ebony, and it t said the bea nestly. son, you know he fired that brother Arthu down the trail when sh you, Sampson, through the hea 7 - ee 74 . Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza. a a six feet, stalwart, ud as active as a it, she laid down the paper, and waited fora comment from the negro, who had listened with the deepest attention throughout, CHAPTER VII. ON THE TRAIL, BLACK SAMPSON seemed to feel that his mis- tress awaited for him to speak, but he uttered no word, In silent meditation he sat, as though econ- ning over carefully all that he had heard. and seeing that he did not intend to speak Ellen Soulette said: ** Well, Sampson, what do you think of it?” ‘* The readin’, missy?” ** Of course,” ‘* It’s mighty strange readin’, ‘* Have you nothing to say?” ‘What you want me to say, missy ?” ‘Sampson, you do not wish to hurt me, that is just 1t, but I believe you think as I do in this matter,” Sampson made no reply. ** As you do not speak of your own accord, I will ask you some questions?” ** Yes, missy.” 3 ‘I never have referred to y y husband, for a long time now, you of him to-night,” **'Yes, missy.” ‘* Did you ever see a man of finer form?” ‘* No, missy,” ‘What was his height?” ** Six feet five inches.” ** And his weight?” ‘* About two huncred and eighty, missy.” ** He was about your size, I believe?” ** Jist about, missy.” ** He always rode a black horse?” ‘* He did for a fact.” “‘ And often said that he would like to have been a general in the army, for he would show off so well in a handsome uniform?” ‘* I has often heard him say so, missy,” ** Was your master fond of gambling?” “Lordy, Missy Ellen, dat was de ruination ob him in bis old home in Kentucky. ‘** He gambled away bis inheritance, and then he kilt a man in a duel over cards, and his best friend at that and went away with only me, ‘‘Massa Sol were a madman, Missy Ellen, when he got cards in his brain and heart, and he comed here ter Texas, ’way out on dis ranch ter give ’em up. ‘Den, missy, he find you and I hope he never hab no more sorrow no more; but oh, Lordy, how hard, bow hard it am.” Poor Sampson was talking now in deep earn- estness, ancl his voice was choked with tears that swelled up from his noble heart, ‘‘ Sampson, yon heard all that I read you about this highwayman?” missy.” our master, m ut I wish to as He would not com So Ellen Soulette ** Shall I tell you ** Yes, missy.” “T beliey be Overla mit himself, asked: : what 1 think, Sampson?” e that this Hercules Hi nd is none other than utiful bermit of Ra Oh! Lordy, missy!” ‘ ‘‘T feel it, I know it: and as well as I, Samp- that your master left here because fatal shot which killed my poor thur and mi we took my life, _ ‘* Rita said that she heard the sound of hoofs © came to me, and I'll tell that the bullet which passed rt of my brother and lodged in ghwayman of my husband,” nch Eden, ear- ’ yee hy 7) a. ; if ye ath ¥ a. i "<r Pa! By Peat! ti ent FE re hs Ae e belle among t one in the command an a reckless little thing th ning her small feet into all kinds paths. of its peculiar position, there formed a social family. heiress, and a of Captain Allen, received, Ivy A] whole and fancy free,” one away from the fort, 4 4 ee ~ ms - oem ~ . . =— ani x Pe LOT lin at a s+ ’ 5 and it my body was given me by the sur eon, Jits in the shells of my husband's rifle i” “He didn’t kuow twas your brother, massa didu’t, missy.” ‘‘ No; he saw me welcome poor Arthur, and believing I had not a kinsman upon earth, fired that shot in his mad jealousy, just as in hig gambling, be would become temporarily crazed,” ‘* Poor massa, missy.” ‘* Sampson !”” he negro fairly jumped at the manner ig which the woman spoke his name,‘ ‘* I am determined upon one thing.” ‘* Yas, missy.” “TI shall send Carlos to- the guide, Buckskin Bill.” ‘You wish to see him, missy?” ; “Yes, I wish him to come here and take charge of the ranch. : ‘‘ It is in fine condition and is a valuable piece of property, with its belongings, as you know, for it has trebled in value under my manage- ment with your great aid,” ‘Thank you, Missy Ellen.” * Now, Buckskin Bill told me if { needed him to call upon him, and I do need him now.” ‘* Can’t I do it, misey?” “No, for I need you for a more important work, Sampson, and Buckskin Bill to take charge of the ranch,” ‘* I see, missy,” “When he comes I shall place all in his hands, and he is to manage everything until my return,” ** You going away, missy?” “Yes, and you are going with me,” ‘* IT am ready, missy,” ‘TI know that, my good Sampson, and I wish you to begin preparations, “You will need two horses, and I will need two, and tue four must be the best animals we have on the ranch,” ** That’s so, missy.” ‘You have your repeating-rifle, I have mine and all other weapons needed, and our led horses can carry packs, for we are going a lon way and must be prepared to camp in bad weather and good. ** You look after the h I will see to the stores morrow in search of 2+ 4 ~ aM . + ev * y © 7 F 7 c >> . a ad 4 > Sn ee vo orses and weapons, and and outfit of blankets and other things, and I will ride ‘my brother’g saddle,” “Why, missy, it won’t—” “IT shall go in male attire, young man, do you understand, would dare venture as such on th and I are to follow, “Do not speak of this am & - = ~~ i Sampson, as a - for no woman é trail that you , but you must be ready to go with me, so now send Carlos to me, for I shall have him start at dawn to find the trap- per, Buckskin Bill, and the day after he ar rives, you, Black Sampson, and I take the trail n afavorite with a beroine, at was con beaux €éver d for she oa Stantly run- of dangerous -~ 4 Fort M—— was a most charming post, in spite and the ladies dwelling and happy military There was on © of the young ladies who was an beauty, and this was the daugbter the commander of the cavalry lon from the —th regiment, In spite of all the good offers which she had len remained either ‘heart or was in love with some which she kept as her } N f\ | ~ : } ihe re AI a! fa ° P . a my - i 5 xt ya 3 a Ps > _ a> = / | 4 ¥ _ ’ ae ai eh Sek soins Td _g Sue ~~ ¢ ? — ez hh Se ee ee — = —" 3 “