Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 702 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

_—-—--— « et Parson horse. ‘‘ We traveled for hours through the night, and the last part of the journey I was blind- folded. “Then we halted at a small camp in a canyon and | was given a blanket to sleep upon and told if I attempted to escape I would be shot. *“ I determined not to attempt to get away. ** The next morning the cause of my capture came out. “The men were masked but I have reason to believe they are from Devil’s Ranch, “They said that they knew that 1 had thou- | sands of dollars, given me by miners, and if I would send one of their number to get it, I should go free, *T told them that I had sent the generous contributions away, which the miners bad given to me—zgiven it into the church treasury. ** Bat they would not believe me and so held me a prisoner until at last they were convinced that I told the truth, “They threatened me with death, and day and nightone of them was constantly guarding me. ‘¢ At last they determined to let me go, and blindfolded and bound | was brought back right to the outer camps and released. *‘T have suffered much, my friend, in body and mind.” Du Val gave the parson his deepest sympathy and a fifty-dollar bank note, which latter he ap- preciated most. Then he told him of the murder of Miner St. John and of the recent robbery of the coach by the Blue Jackets, ‘“*T thought they were dead,” said the parson. **So we all hoped, or at least frightened off: but this proves that Blue Jacket Bill was not the man whom the Colorado Regulators hanged. “* But I hope he will be taken soon,” ‘*Is there any chance of it?” o Well, parson, don’t give it away, but there 1S, ‘“*T am delighted to hear this, Brother Du Val, for that bold bad man sbould be taken and hanged,” ‘*The next time he is taken there will be no doubt about his being hanged, for I shall attend the affair myself, if possible,” ‘*But what are the chances of his capture, may I ask, brother?” said the parson, helping himself to a third piece of venison. “Well, as I said, don’t give it away; but I have written to Redfern to»come on.” “I have heard the men speak of him, even as of a David of old,” “Yes, he is a wonderful boy, yet a man in strength, experience and deeds, ** How he could bave made the mistake he did about hanging the wrong man for Blue Jacket Bill I do not know; but it was done, that is certain, ‘* Now Redfern was very much attached to Miner St. John and he will track bis murderer down, and [ am sure, as Blue Jacket is again in the mines, that he is the one who committed the murder.” ‘* But might not some of the band of Blue Jackets been playing the part of their chief?” ‘‘ No, for he is a man who could not disguise himself,” ‘© Who saw him?” ‘‘ Mexican Joe who knew him well, and I would not be at all surprised if he was not the one who kidnapped you.” ** Now I guess you are right, Brother Du Val, and though it’s my duty to pray for my enemies, no prayer shall I utter for that vile man Blue Jacket Bill,” and the parson spoke as though in this case he would neglect his duty and teach- ings. Soon he asked: ** Do you expect this young giant soon?" ‘*You mean Redfern?” ‘Yes, brother,” ‘*T hope so, for I am not the only one who was sent for him and he will obey the cal], Now go out and let the boys see that you are back, aud if half of them don’t get dressed iy honor of the occasion, I will be greatly surpris- ed,” said Du Val with a laugh. CHAPTER XXI. THE PARSON RECEIVES A FEE. DEVIL’s RANCH was delighted at the return of Freeze, and an orgie was held in honor of the occasion, which ended in half a dozen fights and a shooting scrape. e had his hands full of work, and a generous contribution was taken up as a salve for what he had suffered while in the hands of the ‘‘ Phil- istines,” as he called his kidnappers, —— Blue Jacket Bill. men, sizeed, gagged and bound to the back of a | Sunday came and the parson was in his element. He held service in the afternoon on the piazza of the hotel, and his voice waa rolling out hymns in a@ manner that made his hearers feel, when a horseman rode up and dismounted, In spite of the parson’s singing a cheer went up from the congregation for: ‘The Gold Revolver Sharp!” It was Redfern. Raising his scarlet sombrero in response to the welcome of the crowd, he dismounted and went with Senor Du Val into the hotel. That night another horseman arrived at the ——— New Mexico and he wrote his name in the register: ‘** Lariat Dick, Colorado,” The following day and night other strangers dropped in and put up at the New Mexico, until ' several miners remarked that there was some- | thing up sure as shootin’, Redfern had kept bimself very quiet since his coming, and be had gone off somewhere with Du Val: but the miners seemed to feel that the reuppearance of Blue Jacket Bill upon the trails had something to do with his coming again to Devil’s Ranch, He had reported himself that he had seen Blue Jacket Bill hanged in Colorado, and now here turned up the outlaw chief once more upon the trails; and that Redfern must keep up bis repu- tation by hunting him down, and having no mistake about it this time, was the universal de- cision of the miners, Parson Freeze bad taken the first opportunity he could to meet Redfern, and Senor Du Val bad introduced them after the youth bad been in Devil’s Ranch a couple of days, It was in the Gambling Hall, where a dozen | games were going on, the parson had to fight em ee Se noon, spot, and the body was taken from its former the Devil with fire, he said, so frequented all the places where there was any wickedness going on. ‘*T am glad to meet you, parson, and I am going to ask you to do mea favor,” said Red- fern. ‘* Yes, certainly, my young friend,” was the reply. ‘‘T had a friend murdered up in Yellow Can- yon, and he is one I thought a great deal of, while I made a pledge to him that I would carry out certain wishes be had for his wife and daughter, in case barm befell him here in the mines. ‘* Now I have ordered a coffin made for him, and I wish you to ride over with me to his camp and give him a decent burial, so I can tell his wife and daughter that be receivea Christian burial when I see them. Are you ill, parson?” The parson had suddenly turned deathly pale, and reeling had nearly fallen. But he recovered himself quickly, and said, faintly: Rum!” The landlord got it for him, and dashing it off, he said, as the color came back to his face: ‘* A sudden faintness only, and Lam subject to then, ‘‘ Sometimes they are most severe; but I am all right now—yes, all right now,” and the par- son still wore a weary look, “You will go with me on this sacred duty, parson, for I assure you I will be glad to recom- pense you most liberally,” said Redfern, ‘‘ I will go with you, my son; certainly, cer- tainly,” ‘’When will you go? To-morrow, parson?” *“* Yes, ves, I’ll be ready; but now excuse me, please, for I will lie down for awhile,” He arose and went to his room, but not to lie down, for he began to pace to and fro, his brows clouded, his lips firmly set. ““My God! must I do this?’ he muttered over and over again, ' At last a strange expression came into his eyes, a look that would have been becomipg to Lucifer, and he hissed forth: ** Yes, I will; I can do anything.” The next morning early a party of five horse- men left the New Mexico. Two of them were peon servants, one of them bearing & new-made coffin, the other a large bundle before them upon their saddles. The other three were Senor Du Val, Redfern, and Parson Freeze, The latter seemed not wholly to have recov- ered from his attack of the day before, for he was very p%le and wore a kaggard look. It was a long ride to the Yellow Canyon, where was the cabin of Gray St. John, but the party rode briskly and reached there before The peons then duga grave in a quiet, pretty sss Se . il resting-place, wrapped in serapes and placed in the coffin which had been brought for ir, The parson did nothing to assist, but stood apart while the others did the work. W ben the coffin was lowered into the grave Redfern called him and he came forward, He seemed like a man deathly ill, but said that it was from bis attack of the day before and bis long ride, but revived after a pull at Senor Du Val’s pocket-flask, Then in a voice that quivered at times he read the service of the dead over the body of poor Miner St. Jobn. It was an impressive scene, and the voice of the parson, deep and sonorous, rolled through the rocky canyon in many an echo; but how much more impressive the scene, had all those present known the truth, the real cause of the emotion of the man who stood at the bead of the grave, his voice reading the sacred words that con- signed the form of the dead miner to the earth forever. Perhaps the large fee the parson received from Redfern compensated in a measure for his suffering. CHAPTER XXII. THE ACCUSATION, THE party returned from the burial of the miner, and yet, tired as was the parson, he was that night in the gambling hall of the New Mexico, A much larger crowd than usual had gathered there for the coming of Redfern again to Devil’s tanch, after the attack of the Blue Jackets upon Mexican Joe’s coach, proved that something of interest might be expected to bappen, They did not wish to miss that bappening. Then the presence of a dozen strangers im Devil’s Ranch indicated to the curious that something out of the run might be sprung upon the camp at any time, So a large crowd bad gathered at the ball of chance, and the parson was circulating among them, with an admonition here, a warning there, and a kind word every wiere. He looked better, and told Redfern, who asked about his health, that be thought that the attack had passed off wholly. Among the strangers there in the hall was Lariat Dick. He seemed to know no one, and not caring to play, watched the players with marked interest. Others of the stranger: were there, too, and most of them were gambling. Several of them were Mexicans, but they spoke English well, and appeared to be as much at home in Devii’s Ranch as in their native land, Redfern strolled about in an indifferent sort of way, declining several invitafions to play. At last he went to a table where a large game was in progress. The players were two of the men of Devil’s tanch and two stravgers, and the latter seemed to be getting the worst of it, At last Redfern said in his quiet way, ad- dressing one of the strangers: “Senor, why do you not play pards with your friend, for these two men play into each other’s hands all the time?” ‘* How do you mean, senor?” asked one of the strangers, while the two men of Devil’s Ranch uttered a malediction upon the interference of the scout, But vot noticing it, he said: “If you play partners, then you are on equal terms with these sharps.” “I did not know they were acquainted, senor,” ‘Oh, yes, they are known here as cut-throat poker-players, and you see one is your partner, the other the partner of your friend. W ben they get a chance they exchange cards, and thus you are beaten.” ‘*See here, Redfern, do you accuse us of cheat- ing?” one of the men angrily demanded, “Certainly 1 do; and that is not the only charge I make against one of you.” Several of the miners saw Redfern give a quick signal of some sort, for the two strangers covered one of the sharps at once, while the youth, quick as a flash, bad a derringer muzzle. iu the face of the otber. He had not been seen to draw the dread wea- pon, but there it wasin his hand, and be said in a voice thatshowed he meant work: ‘Hands up, sharp, or Pll turn your body over for the parson to bury!” The man, with a fierce imprecation, obeyed, while several of the hardest toughs in the mines: gathered around, and one of them cried out menacingly: ‘*See here, boy, you are carrying too high & (Gi e) << 00