Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 702 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

- < alin al — a ad ———— ee. aw’ | ¢ oo a ‘Do T look like a dead man, Mexican Joe?” ‘Not much to speak of; but I heard you was hanged.” “Tt was a mistake.” ‘© Pm sorry.” “What?” “JT says, I’m sorry, pard, that you wasn’t hanged.” “You are complimentary.” ‘Don’t mention it; but has you any biz with me, ormy pilgrims this morning, Blue Jacket Bill?” ‘¢Yes, [want their money, which you have so carefully hidden away,” was the cool reply of the chief. —_—_ CHAPTER AIL. BETTER AND WISER ONES, Tx four miners had slept the sleep of the un- just, from their leaving the New Mexico at Devil's Ranch, Their carcasses were full of rum, and their brains befuddled so that the ride and the scenery had no charm for them. One of them awoke in a bewildered way when they were halted, and he glared outof the coach window. Did he really see Blue Jacket, or was he dreaming? ) The last words of Blue Jacket Bill quite re- called his scattered senses, and the vigorous blows and kicks he gave his comrades aroused them. A fight would bavé followed had he not whis- pered the magic words: “We are halted by Blue Jackets!” They too awoke to the Situation as they heard: ‘“T hain’t cfrrying no treasure this run, pard.” ‘*T know better!” ‘‘Then yer ought ter do better!” ‘‘ Come! no nonsense with me, for I want that gold.” : ‘*] hain’t got but a dozen dollars in my clothes!” “Tt is not your money that I wish, but the dust that belongs to Dollar Dan, Ben Cape, Silas Moore and Benedict.” ‘*Oh, Lord!” came in chorus from the four men in the coach as they heard themselves named. ‘Tf they has got any dust, they was fools to bring it along,” said Joe. ‘‘They brought it all the same, and I want it.” ‘‘Pard, we has a leetle change in our pockets, that’s all,” said one of the miners from the coach window. ‘* Get out of there, all of you, and down flat upon your faces,” came the order. It was not obeyed, and Blue Jacket Bill senta bullet through the coach, unmindful whether it hit any one or not. The effect was electrical, for the coach doors flew open and out sprung the quartette, They were very unsteady upon their pins and down they fell, but that was what the Blue Jackets meant they should do. Then the chief rode forward, while his men kept the miners covered, and said with a sly smile: ‘‘ Been fitting up your old hearse, eb, Joe?’ ‘Well, I kinder pruned it up a leetle.” ‘Yes, and I admire your taste innmensely, ‘‘ Got these trimmings on your last run Kast, I guess. “ Well, blue was always a favorite color of mine, you know.” as ‘* Here, Number Seven, tear this top lining from this coach!” “My God!” groaned the miners, while Mexi- can Joe said: ‘* Waal, he are posted for a fact,” Blue Jacket Number Seven quickly cut away the trimming of the inside top of the coach, re- vealing & new ceiling. ‘‘ Ah! now get Joe’s axe and knock that ceil- ing out!” his was done, and bag alter bag of dust dropped down in the coacb. ‘“Clever, were you not, Joe? ” But since I was hanged I bave a better sight and know what is going on. ‘‘ See, here are some seven or eight thousand dollars in dust that you tried to run through without my finding.” : As the chief spoke, he was placing the buck- skin bags handed to him in a pair of saddle-bags across bis horse, while Mexican Joe regarded the operation with simple wonder. ; ‘‘How you goton to that racket, just beats me,” growled Joe, a -_ a ee iit eee Blue Jacket Bill. "You know a man that has been hanged can see anything, Pard Joe, ‘*T’m a spook now, so don’t try and hide things from me,” ‘‘ Waal, when Redfern the Revolver Sharp hears of this, Pll go big odds that he makes a spook of yer, Blue Jacket Bill.” ‘‘ Pll take your bet, Joe, soname the amount,” was the quick reply. ‘‘-You believe my word is good to pay?” sé Yas,” ** Well, if the Sharp Revolver don’t kill you, either by bullet or hanging within six months from this day, Pll fetch you a hundred dollars myself,” ‘Good! and if he does I'll say right here be- fore my men that they are to pay you tbe same sum,” ‘ That’s mighty poor chance of getting if.” ‘They'll be hanged with you.” ‘* Ah! that may be, so V’ll make you sure,” ‘* How can you?” “This bag is worth about five hundred,” and he held up a bag of gold-dust. ‘* Yes, maybe a trifle more.” “Well, take it to Du Val of the New Mexico and leave it with him until the time is up, when you can claim it from him. “If I win, bring it back to me with your own five hundred,” “Tlldo it, pard,” and Mexican Joe caught the bag of gold tossed up to him, Having put the balance’ into his saddle-bags the chief said: ** Now, pards, you can goon your way, and I am well aware that you have money where you are going, besides more in your belts, so you have not been robbed of your all. ‘* Get into the coach.” They obeyed, a sad, inflamed-eyed, bloated- face, nervous lot, and Mexican Joe drove on his way with a wave of his hand, and a cheerf. 1: ‘“*Ta-ta, Billie.” A sadder but wiser set of men the miners were after their adventure, and they swore ‘‘ never to drink any more.” [It.is to be hoped that they kept their pledge after the bitter experience they had known. Blue Jacket Bill witchbed the coach until it was out of sight, and then handed to each one of his men a bag of dust, while he said: ‘‘'You are dismissed for just three months from to-day, men, when you are to meet at the recular rendezvous. ‘* Tf you are needed sooner you will be notified by the secret signs upon your cabin door, ‘‘Now you can go, and I congratulate you upon your work to-day. ‘*Remember, in three months, if not sooner notified.” The six Blue Jackets ealuted and rode away, as before, going singly. Soon after their departure the chief resumed aloul: “Tf my plot goes well, tais is the last of the Blue Jackets, “Tf it fails, then I shall need gold, and these trails are the places for me to get it. ‘* Now to get well away before Mexican Joe reports this day’s work at Fort Planco,” and Blue Jacket Bill rode off at a gal.op. CHAPTER XIII. THE ALARM, THE garrison at Fort Blanco had had a season of rest and peace for some time. The allegded hanging of Blue Jacket Bill, and the real execution of several of the band had caused them to feel no longer dread that the trails would be infested with those merciless road agents. Then, too, the Comanches bad been whipped into submission for a while, and the Apaches were too closely watched to make a disturbance. The disturbing elements in the mines had been held in check, it was said, by the good services of Parson Freeze, and fewer fracases had been bad in Devil’s Ranch than ever before known. Colonel Rockwood, the dashing commandant of Fort Blanco began to feel that he would have little field service for his men, and almost regret- ed the stagnation of affairs. His favorite scout, Redfern the Revolver Sharp, a youth who was a mystery to every oue, had gone to Mexico upon affairs of his own, hav- ing resigned bis position in the scouting corps under Buckskin Sam. Before leaving, Redfern, who had been doing Secret Service scouting work for the command- ant, had recommended Landlord Du Val of the New Mexico at Devil’s Ranch, as a secret agent, while Manuel Moline, a special scout, had taken his, Redfern’s, place at the fort. 7 a - - — $e a —_—_— While there was nothing of an exciting nature going on in the field, the officers and their fami lies at Fort Blanco made up for it in enjoyments of various kinds, There were hunts, fishing parties, rides, and dances at the fort, and thus time was not hang ing heavily upon tke hands of the garrison. Then came a rumor that a murder had been committed in the mines, and Manuel Moline wag sent to ferret it out. He returned in afew days accompanied by Landlord Du Val who reported that a miner by the name of Gray St. John, who had one of the best paying leads in the mines, had been shot in his cabin, and after being robbed by the assassin had been buried, He told what he knew of Miner St. John’s his tory and said that he was a friend of Redfern, and had been the partner of Trent Baxter, whom he had taken in with him. To find the murderer was impossible it seemed, and soon after Senor Du Val sent in the startling information that Parson Freeze, the preacher who had done so much good at Devil’s Ranch, had mysteriously disappeared. He had not left his room in the hotel with in- tention to stay away, for there were all bis things, a Bible and some tracts, with a bag con- taining nearly fifty dollars in gold. He had said he would return one evening when he had walked out, stating that he wasgo ing to visit asick miner, und since that no one had seen bim, There were several sick miners in the camps, and as many more laid up with wounds and bruises received in rows, but none of them bad received the consolation ef a call from the par son Mpon the day of his mysterious disappear- ance, It was hinted that he had made some enemies by his bold preaching, and a few who professed to know, stated that the contributions of the miners bad been most generous, and the parson changed all gold into paper money, and was wont to carry it in a belt around his waist, This led to the belief that he had been murder- ed by some one for bis money, for there were men in Devil’s Rancb, so said Landlord Du Val, who would kill av angel for bis wings. This disappearance of the parson, following so | closely upon the murdered Miner St, Jobn, Sst $time | created considerable excitement miners of the fort. Hardly had this news cooled, when Mexican Joe drove bis coach into the fort, and dismount- ing from bis box, usked to see Colonel Rock- wood, He bad four passengers, not one of whom looked bappy, and from their conversation the soldiers judged that their looks did not belie them. Colonel Rockwood’s orderly at once led the driver to the presence of the commandant, and’ Mexican Joe said in bis quaint way: **Colonel, I has to report a resurrection, sir.” ‘| do not catch your meaning, Joe,” the colonel said, with a smile. ‘* Well, sir, Blue Jacket Bil] hanged ag’in.” ‘* Ab! you have news,” ‘Yes, sir, at Blue Jacket Toll-Gate at noon to-day, my hearse was held up by three mounted and four dismounted Blue Jackets, and the leader was ola Bill himself.” ‘Impossible, driver, for Redfern the Scout saw that man hanged in Colorado.” “Then he didn’t wait to see him buried. sir for that was Blue Jacket Bill that held me up.” ‘You are sure?” ‘He bas halted me, sir, something liké sixty times in my runs, and | have been too near bim for my ownm good, so I knows him for keeps, *‘T hain’t never seen his face, but his form and bearing I know mighty well, as also hig voice; his horse, saddle, bridle and all, and it was Blue Jacket Bill, sir, or his ghost.” ‘‘ This is remarkable, driver,” said the colonel, and then he asked Mexican Joe to tell him the whole story. Joe did so, even to the bet, made with the outlaw chief, showing the bag of gold. ‘* Tf you lose I'll pay the bet, Joe, and I'll ses that that bold boy Redfern gets news of thig affair at the earliest possible moment,” and Colonel Rockwood sent his orderly after the four miners who also told the doleful story, but brightened up when the commandant said that Redfern, the young Gold Revolver Sharp would soon be upon the trail of the Blue Jackets, They also stated that they had a few bun- dreds each in their belts, and admitted that had they been sober the four of them would have among the wants to be