Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 702 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 ee UT ae | Blue Jacket Bill. gained the name across the Rio Grande of being the most daring horseman, deadliest shot and best lariat-thrower on the plains, He was also noted as a bold gambler who played to win and for any stakes, while if was said that he had wrongs to avenge against the Indians and had a string of scalps that would bave driven a big chief mad with envy. He had won the name of the Scarlet Sombrero and the Gold Revolver Sharp, and he,-was re- spected by all with whom he came in contact and feared by evil-doers. Some said that he was a Mexican, others called him a Texan, and he spoke both Mexican and English perfectly, and never referred to his antecedents, A mystery seemed to always hang about him, and though he had been a special scout at Fort Blanco he had never drawn a dollar of pay, tell- ing the paymaster when he left to giveittoa charitable purpose. Why he had gone to Mexico no one knew, and though living there in luxury, the acknowledged heir of the richest woman in the country, he had obeyed a call to return to Fort Blanco for a special duty. And before he left he had received another call from one who was hisefriend, telling him of the murder of Miner Gray St. Jobn of Yellow Canyon. That call came from Landlord Du Val, and either one he would have been prompt to obey, Such was Redfern the Ranger, When she had heard his decision, the Senora Dolores said. ‘Not a word would I say, Roy, to prevent your going; but I do insist that you shall not go unattended.” ‘‘ Who must accompany me, mother?” “Pick your own men from among your Red Hat Rangers, for you must have an escort, if they go secretly as such,” ‘*f will do as you wish, mother,” was the response, and two hours after Redfern was rid- ing toward the Rio Grande splendidly mounted, and with a score of daring horsemen following him, When Redfern had crossed the Rio Grande, when daylight dawned upon him, he was alone, Not a solitary Red Hat Ranger was in sight, and he rode along at a brisk pace, as though anxious to make the best of time, and reach the fort as soon as possible. He was looking about for a camping-place for the night, while the sun was yet half an hour high, for be had pressed his splendid horse hard all day, when he beheld a horseman com- ing toward him. He did not halt, but simply loosened a revol- ver in its holster, and rode on, viewing the stranger with a searching eye. Ths stranger was in a good locality for any one to look out for a foe, red-skin or pale-face, He had ridden out of a timber motte, and seemed to be following a trail. ; But he saw the Red Hat Ranger as soon as he was discovered, and he too prepared to meet 4 foe, if foe it proved. As ‘Redfern drew nearer he saw that the stranger was a well-formed dellow, armed with rifle and revolvers, and was riding a horse that showed fine points, He was a young man, dressed in corduroy, top-boots and slouch hat, and there was that in his handsome face to cause a feeling of con- fidence rather than mistrust. The two drew rein when about thirty paces from eath other, and Redfern called out: “Well, pard, is it war or peace, for I am ready for either?” It was a bold challenge, and the stranger smiled at the plucky way in which it had been uttered. But he responded: ‘*You are Redfern, the Revolver Sharp?” ‘“*T am Redfern, and they talk other names to me, among which is the one you named,” ‘* Then [am on your trail,” “‘ For peace or war, I asked, senor?” ‘¢That.depends upon you, for I am a peaceful fellow. ‘* But I was going to Mexico to find you.” ‘**T am glad to have saved you a long ride, senor. “But, may L ask your name?” ** Lariat Dick.” ** Ah! I recall your face now, for I saw you at hanging of Blue Jacket Bill up in Colo- rado.” ‘*Pard Redfern, I have got something to say to you about that very hanging. “ Do you ride all night, or shall we camp?” ‘*T was looking for a camping-place when I saw you, for my horse bas come a long jaunt.” © Well, back in the timber yonder is good water, wood and a snug camping-place. ‘Shall I surrender you my weapons to show you good faith on my part?” ‘Oh, no, we are on equal terms with or with- out weapons. re ‘“We will camp, now, Lariat Dick, and get better acquainted with each other,” and Redfern led the way toward the timber island. CHAPTER XIX, STARTLING “TIDINGS, THE place spoken of by Lariat Dick, as a good camping-ground was as he had represented it. There was a cool spring, an abundance of grass, and the situation was a good one for defense. In among the timber there was little danger of being seen there, for a vista of miles around did not sbow a human being in sight. The miner and the ranger opened their respec- tive haversacks of provisions, built a fire and had a very enjoyable supper together. Redfern showing not the slightest curiosity to know why Lariat Dick was on his way to Mexico to see him, Lariat Dick lighted his pipe after supper, spread his blankets and sat down quietly upon them, Redfern did not smoke, but spread his gor- geous serapes, and throwing himself upon them ssemed ready to go to sleep, when the miner said: ‘You remember I was one of the Regulators that helped hang Trent Baxter?” ‘‘ Yes, [ remember your face well now,” ‘to you recall that I urged against the hanging, saying there might be a mistake, and to give the man the benefit of the doubt?” ‘“ Yes, you did, and several others agreed with you, I believe.” ‘True, but all yielded to your judgment in the case.” ‘¢ Yes, I knew him too well to be mistaken.” “And yet you were mistaken, my young friend.” ‘sé Senor!” ‘‘T say that you made a sad mistake, for that man was not Blue Jacket Bill.” ‘‘Senor, you are deceived, for I saw, as I be- lieved ata glance, that he was the man I bad trailed for a long while. ‘it was I who gave the alarm to the Vigil- antes that Blue Jacket Bill was in the mines,” ‘* | know that, sir; but that was not the man, as I can prove to you.” ‘‘No, for [ had an unfailing proof, and I put itts the test when I,a second time looked in the man’s face, for something about him, and his manner of speaking caused me to doubt for a moment,” ‘* May I ask what your proof was?” Redfern did not speak for moment and then said: ‘Tt was a proof that twomen who resembled each other could not possess.” ‘¢ You will not tell me what it was?” ** Well, yes. “Do you see this pin?” and Redfern took his red sombrero from his head and pointed to the buman eye. ‘Yes, I observed it, and it is a remarkable pin indeed,” “It works on a swivel, as you see, and turns when I press this spring. “You see any change ia it?” ‘* None, sir.” ** Now watch close, ‘Do you note a change now\” sé Yes.” ** What is it?” ‘‘T could not tell you to save my life, yet there is a change,” ‘See, this pin is a human eye composed of pearls, onyx and a diamond, witb a gold back- ground, : ‘*The onyx here, you see, 1s black,” ** Yes, I see,” ‘‘Now make the change, for this eye is the same with the exception that in place of the dark stone these are uorquoise,” ‘* Yes, the eyes, J see now are made to repre sent a dark eye and a blue one,” sé Yes.” ‘* Well, what does that mean?” ‘“Tt means that Blue Jacket Bill is the onl man I ever saw who bad the remarkable peculi- arity of one blue and one black eye, Senor Lariat Dick,” said Redfern, earnestly. ‘Ha! now I understand you, and you saw that peculiarity in the man you said was the outlaw chief?” ‘‘T did, senor, and that convinced me that I was not wrong.” hatha i EEE | | ? - A ee ee) Se ee ‘* Yet you were wrong, as the man we hanged had one blue and one black eye.” ‘* And was Blue Jacket Bill.” ‘‘No, he was Trent Baxter, a settler.” “That is the name Blue Jacket Bill was knowh by in the mines,” ‘*T know, but he assumed the nanie of a man who had been his friend, forged his name and nearly ruined him financially, after which he fled to the mines and became an outlaw, ‘*The man whom he closely resembled, even to the blue and the black eye, took what he could save out of his fortune, and with bis only child, a daughter, anda few faithful negroes, estab- lished a new home for himself on the frontier as a settler, ‘*‘ He went up into Colorado to find one whom he had helped, was captured, and from his strik- ing resemblance to Blue Jacket Bill was strung up by the Vigilantes,” ‘‘My God, Senor Lariat Dick, if your words are true I have made an error that is criminal, and remorse will haunt me through life. ‘‘ But no, no, ycu are mistaken,” “Scout Redfern, let me tell you now that though the Vigilantes hanged Trent Baxter the settler, he is not dead, for [, doubting as I did, went back, cut him down and brought him back to life.” ‘‘Thank God for that! but Ionly hope you have made ao mistake,” ‘No, senor, I took the man to my cabin, for I ama miner, or was rather, and when he was able to travel went home with him, ‘‘There I found to my joy that he had told the truth, and you will be glad to hear all that I have to tell of him and his daughter,” Then Lariat Dick went on to tell the story of the settler’s home, and of his rescue of Ruth and what followed, When he made known that the foe of the set- tler claimed to be Trent Baxter, and bad been the one who had ambushed him, Redfern said quickly: ‘‘That man is Blue Jacket Bill!” ‘That was my belief.” ‘“‘ And I have my work to do over, to run him down,” ‘“That is why I have come to seek you.” “Then you shall go with me if you will, and next time, Lariat Dick, there shall be no mis- take about the man whom we hang.” ‘‘ None, I am sure,” was the reply of Lariat Dick, and the two talked on fora long time in regard to what was to be done to run the daring Chief of the Blue Jackets to death. When they started on their way the next morning, the two, now firm pards, took the direct trail for Devil’s Ranch. CHAPTER XX. THE PARSON’S STORY, A PERFECT how! of delight went up one morn- ing early, from the early frequenters of the bar of the New Mexico, when @ servant gave the in- formation that Parson Freeze bad returned to Devil’s Ranch. He had not given any reason for his sudden going and mysterious absence, but bad gone to his room asking not to be disturbed until a late hour, The “parson” bad become popular in the camps, and the boys were glad to see him back again, , They enjoyed his singing and sermons, and were always ready to chip in their contribu- tions to help their own salvation. Indeed many of them considered that “ chip- ping in” liberally would help them in the long run at Judgment Day. When Landlord Du Val, who was never ap early riser, arose and heard the news, he too was ratified to know that Parson Freeze was again in Devil’s Ranch, He sent up word for him to come down and breakfast with him, and soon after the parson put in ao appearance. _. He was neatly dressed in black, had on a spot- less white choker, but there was a woe-begone expression in his face which almost made the landlord laugh. ‘“* Delighted to see you back again, parson, for we have all been Most anxious about you. ‘* We feared that you had been killed,” ‘ Ah no, Brother Du Val, no ove would kill a poor innocent like me, though I have been in the den of lions.” ‘Well, it must have been a relief to get out of thisden of wolves, as Devil’s Ranch'certainly is: but where have you been?” © 7 tell you, : «| went over, or rather started one afternoon to minister to a poor miner who was ill, when, over near Rocky Glen I was set upon by three GOmMmiic boo — ‘s.com