Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 870 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

for after his long ride he in he laid down and gave éctions, and while he was Fisher came in with Syl- , to whom he introduced :dental remarks, Gascoyne een conducted here, Mr. see the chief, Gray Falcon. AS ‘+k and cannot call on you, I will call ne course of an hour and con- duct you to his lodge.” With this the two men departed, leaving Bondurant again with his own thoughts, which were anything but pleasant. What Gray Falcon could possibly want tu see him for, was beyond his comprehension, How- ever, he patiently awaited the explanation: of matters, that his friend Fisher had prom- ised would come in due course of time. Finally, the man Gascoyne came in and announced that the chief was ready to re- ceive him, and the two at once proceeded toward Gray Falcon Lodge. On the way Bondurant met with another surprise 1n dis- covering Dan Temple in the camp, wounded and a captive. He would have spoken to the young ranchero, but, having arrived at the door of Gray Falcon’s lodge, Gascoyne drew him into the tent, introduced him to the chief, then turned and left the lodge, closing the flap-door behind him. ; A blazing pine-knot lighted up the chief's lodge, whose walls and central pole were hung with clothing and emblems of savage royalty. On a couch at one side lay the chief. Iie was a white man of perhaps sixty years, with a thin, emaciated face, but eyes that shone with the luster of youth. When Bondurant reached down to shake hands with the chief, the latter extended his left hand, saying: *‘) give you that hand; heart, Mr. Bondurant.” “IT am sorry I| find you on your back, Gray Falcon,” Bondurant responded. ‘lve not been well for some time,” the _ chief explained, ‘‘and yesterday I was taken . with paralysis of the right arm and leg.” Well, that’s not a very pleasant shape to - be in, I assure you.” | — ** Not for an Indian chief,” affirmed Gray _ Falcon, ‘‘ but, under the circumstances, it is _agreat relief for me to see you, for there is - notelling what hour I may be called hence.” ~ ‘*T am surprised to hear this, Gray Fal- con,” Bondurant said, ‘‘ but then this has _ been a day of surprises to me.” “1 presume so, but I think I can explain _ everything,’’ the chief responded; ‘‘ though, . if it had not been for this sudden attack of sickness, things might have worked differ- ently. As you see, I am a white man and an Indian chief. I have lived among the _red-skins for nearly thirty years, and yet | have not been wholly ignorant of what has been going on in the land of civilization, and even in the Stateand townin which I was _ born and grew to manhood, and fairly edu- _ cated for a more useful calling than a savage chieftain. And now you may be surprised again when I tell you that I know who Ira - Bondurant is, and why he isin Wyoming. But it is true, and let me tell you, sir, that » you came within cne of being gloriously vic- timized,” ri ‘* By whom?” exclaimed Bondurant, “By that smooth-tongued and polished old raseal, Doctor Dave, who succeeded in making you believe that he was Powell ; Mitchell, the son of the late venerable Israel _ Mitchell of Zanesville, Ohio,” | : ~ it’s nearest the mot Powell Mitchell?” Bondurant asked. ~ T mean to tell you he is an impostor!” declared the chief, his eyes flashing an em- phasis that he could throw into his feeble voice, a $y P fy “Gan you produce evidence of that fact, Gray Falcon?) ani Ky tery ~ > \ a + Norway Nels, t “Do you mean to tell me Doctor Dave is | he Big Boy Moun ‘I certainly can, Mr. Bondurant, in my- taineer, ‘*And now, as to Jack Noble’s conspiracy: self, for L am Powell Mitchell, the son and | six months ago a Denver newspaper drifted heir of Israel Mitchell [” CHAPTER XII. GRAY FALCON’S REVELATION. IRA BoNDURANT was thunderstriick by Gray Falcon’s declaration, and it instantly dawned upon his mind that there was, in- deed, a conspiracy somewhere of which he was the innocent tool—that his labors as exe- cutor of the estate of Israel Mitchell which, but a few hours before, he had considered practically settled, were suddenly rendered questionable. ‘Gray Falcon, you astound me!” he ex- claimed, ‘*‘ for Doctor Dave—David Bond— as good proved himself the son and heir of Israel Mitchell!” ‘‘ Of course he did!” calmly responded the chief; ‘‘ that was what the old rascal planned to do, aided by an able confederate.” * But, sir,” persisted the astonished exe- cutor, ‘‘ David Bond's resemblance to Israel Mitchell is very marked. ‘That may be, but it’s simply a coinci- dence,” Gray Falcon said, ‘‘and you’)! ad- mit it when I have told my story—presented my proofs. I can explain how Old David entrapped you, and tell you exactly who Old David Bond is. ‘* Of course it is generally known in Zanes- ville, or a’ least was, that Powell Mitchell was jilted in a love affair, and, like another fool, pulled up and left the country. I came West and made my home with the Indians, adopted their mode of life, fought and hunt- ed with them, married a squaw, and finally, became chief of one of the Big Horn tribes of Sioux, But, what I have been doing here these thirty years is nothing in particu- lar to you. Do you remember, or did you ever hear that, a few nights after Powell Mitchell disappeared from Zanesville, there wus an attempted bank robbery in town in which the night watch was killed?” ‘Oh, yes!’ replied Bondurant, ‘‘I was quite a boy at the time, but [ remember it well. Suspicion rested on one Jack Noble, who was a bright, yet tough, young man. He was in town the day before the bank murder, but disappeared and has never been heard of since. And, by the way, there were some who intimated that young Mitchell had a hand inthe attempted robbery simply because the father of the girl who jilted him was president of the bank; but no one who knew Powel! ever believed he’d any hand in it.” ‘No, he had not,” Gray Falcon resumed; ‘but, the fact is, Jack Noble fled to the Western wilds to escape arrest, and took up his abode with the Indians, also; and, in the course of time, he became a power in his tribe—the Great Medicine—in short, Doctor Dave.” ‘““Good heavens!’’ exclaimed the astonished Bondurant, ‘‘ can this be possible?” ‘It’s true—every word of it,” declared the old chief; ‘I’ve known for twenty years Doctor Dave was Jack Noble. So you can see yourself that he should knowa great deal about Zanesville of thirty years ago, and about my father. He and I had been young men together. He knew my personal history up tothe day I left the town, and presum- ing upon my bein’ dead, has undertaken to impose himself upon you for the sought for heir, knowing that neither you nor any one into my camp tbrough a fur-trader. In readin’ it over I came upon an advertisement sayin’, in substance, that if Powell Mitchell, who left Zanesville thirty years ago was livin’, and should see that advertisement, and communicate with Ira Bondurant, executor of the estate of Israel Mitchell, he’d hear of somethin’ to his interest. ‘*] knew at once what it meant, but I was down with a broken leg, so I concluded to dispatch a friend, or one whom I considered a friend, Seth Craver, to Ohio to learn just what, was wanted of me without makin’ hisself known to you or any one. In this he succeeded, for Seth is as sharp as he is ras- cally; and when he reported to me that a quarter of a million awaited the comin’ of Powell Mitchell, I lay flat on my back, speechless and helpless with this condemned paralysis. Of course, I could do nothin’ nor say nothin’, and it looked as though my days were numbered. Seth Craver, it seems, thought so, too, and when, two months later, I recovered my health sufficiently to be able to speak, 1 found Seth was gone. As he did not show up I began to mistrust foul play, and so I called in another friend—the man who brought you into. this lodge—Syl Gascoyne, as good a detective as ever run a villain down. ‘Well, Syl wasn’t out a month till he struck Seth’s trail; and, sure enough, as I'd mistrusted, found he was playin’ me false, And the scamp had a good chance for it, too, for, come to find out, Jack Noble had once been a friend of his, and knew that Jack had lived in Zanesville and all the circumstances of his leavin’ there. As I'd given the rascal my family history, he’d sought out Doctor Dave and the two entered into a conspiracy to get my legacy, believin’ that 1 was on my death-bed, or at least, a speechless para- lytic. | ' "ee Dyiatot Dave entered into the scheme with a will. How Gascoyne shadowed Craver and got out all his schemes ’d take till mornin’ to tell. Gascoyne can tell you that at another time. But, it was through the cunnin’ work of Craver that you were finally led to the cabin of Doctor Dave yes- terday. I could have nipped the game in the bud a month ago, but, as we had the ras- cals under close watch, we concluded to let them go ahead and pounce upon them in the hour of their supposed victory, catch them all together and make them own up in your presence to their dirty work. ‘‘lt was with this intention that I came with a few of my warriors down into these hills; but, day before yesterday, I bad an- other stroke of paralysis that laid me up and we went into camp here, But, faithful Gascoyne was on hand yesterday when you landed with the ranchmen at Doctor Dave’s cabin, and when he reported to me, that re, port was that Doctor Dave's claim was all- sufficient.” : ‘‘But, my friend,” said Bondurant, ‘‘I have never, in all my search for Powell Mitchell, known such a man as this Seth Craver, you speak of giving me pormters.” ‘*Of course not,” the chief replied, ‘* he’s too shrewd to let his hand be seen Gurin’ the game. However, as I could not go on, I dispatched Kicking Horse and a party of warriors to bring Doctor Dave and his daughter and yourself to my camp, while Kamas Kit and his men were to bring in Seth Craver who, for the past week or two, living in Zanesville would be likely to detect | bas been working as a cowboy on the Cross- — the deception. ** Within the past twenty years I have met Noble—Doctor Dave—a score of times, but he never recognized me for | was always in disguise.‘ I did not want him to knew me, for fear my whereabouts would become known at home. Since l’d made a fool of myself, and was married to an Ingin woman, _| LT resolved to continue a fool. ‘ ine? os BEA, Wil i or y.h ms ¢ ss no So Ne ‘fa _ * Bar Ranch, Kit brought in hig man who is” now a prisoner near, but with the exception of yourself, Kicking Horse's trip was a ta ure. On arriving at Doctor Dave’s cabin, his daughter had gone’\ away, you were out ee ee 4 “~ ’ - * - = ridin’, and Doctor Dave alone was at home.” “And him ant said, ‘‘The old fool, on your warriors killed,” Bondur- | h, " r iT | being told he must go — f “ he 2 i is cor bt ob i fe 7 “% ras . Ay a) - ny ys ; é ns ty Vat ley bes ‘fers a ey . ee mean ey ie ae em es Phy - oa A a . " in. : : oe , ni ‘ os ] seb han? yy a9 5 } Pol yra ; ‘ 2. =. ee ¥ Page, o) af La * \ ‘ nr tae | Jae + 7 . * _ ey * 6