Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 721 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

Maverick Mose, the Arizona Detective. 3 ruffian rushed at Frank, buat before he could cover the space soparating them, Frank leaped like a flash and struck the bully a blow in the jeft tomple, knocking him over achair and land- ing him sprawling upon the floor. So quickly had it all happened that the sur- Res spectators had hardly time to realize what ad taken place before the discomfited Cham- pion of Desert City lay at their feet. But scarcely had Mockton touched the floor, when he was up egain, and with a furious cry drew a pistol from his belt, But, as he turned on the young man, his eyes met the gleam of blue steel! Frank Hammond had him “ cov- ered.” ‘Don’t try any of that on me!” warned Frank, in a calm voice. ‘** You have forced this Vip prion upon me, and I have simply acted in self-defense. Don’t tempt me to go further.” A cry of baffled rage escaped Mockton. The crowd surged about the two men, Suddenly Frank felt some one p his arm and turn bis istol downward. Then, quick as a flash, and fore he could disengage his arm from the grasp of the stranger, Mockton raised his pistol and losalad it at the young man’s breast. The next instant there was a loud report, then the sound of a heavy body falling to the floor. CHAPTER II. A SURPRISE. INSTANTLY there came the crack of another revolver—six times in rapid succession, followed by the crashing of glass, and the room was in total darkness, Some one had shot out the re. xclamations of surprise came froin the surg- ing crowd; knives and pistols were drawn, and a scene of the greatest excitement ensued, ‘“*Gentlemen,” called out the saloon-keeper, in a loud voice, ‘* just keep perfectly quiet till I strike a light, There’s no cause to get ex- cited,” in a few moments a light was made, and the crowd of excited citizens gathered around the form of the man lying on the floor, ‘*T reckon be won’t tackle me ‘again, soon,” observed Mockton, grimly, But a cry of astonishment came from the men bending over the prostrate figure on the floor. ** Bill Mockton,” said one of them, turning about, ‘“‘ what does this mean? You have shot wa hid iggins instead of the omanger ” 7 at! what is that you say!” ejaculated the bully, a pallor overspreading his face. “You have shot Sandy Wiggins!” roneomzen Bushy ae.’ the city marshal. ‘‘ How did this n happe the trigger,” menered “Shecktoa, approtohing 3) ,” answ approac and bending over the wounded man, A groan came from the man on the floor; he opened his eyes and raised himself to a sitting posture, the blood trickling from a wound across his forehead, Water was brought, and when the blood was washed from his face, it was found that the bul- let had only glanced across his forehead, cutting au ugly furrow as it went, ‘**Tain’t hurt you much,” said one of the men assisting the wounded man to his feet, ‘‘ but it war a perty close call,” “Curse your awkward hide!” cried Wiggins, turning to Mockton; ‘‘is this the way you treat _& faliss that’s helpin’ you out of a scrape?” “Tt wasn’t ut fault, Sandy,” declared Mock- ton, apologetically. ‘* Some one struck my arm just in the nick of time. Curse him, I'll get even with him for bis smartness.” ‘* Who was it?” asked the marshal. “ He’s astranger to me,” nded Mockton, *s tall man with short gray whiskers,” ‘‘ {t's the fellow I’ve seen saunterin’ around town for the past few days,” cried the marshal. “‘ Where is the rascal?” asked another, In the excitement of the moment all had for- gotten Frank Hammond and the stranger who had shot out the lights, Hurriedly the crowd glanced about the room. The two strangers had disappeared! ‘** Curse them both!” hissed Mockton, “‘ Pll pay ng ag this night’s work, if it takes a life- me ‘* Gentlemen,” observed the saloon-keeper, se reckon it’s my treat. Come up, ever y, an’ take a sip o’ nectar, Then we'll talk matter over. Then came the sound of the crowd gathering up to the bar, followed by the clinking of many glasses, moon A half hour later two men entered a little cabin.that nestled among the hills, a mile from Desert City. They were Frank Hammond and Nat Barker. ** Jist meck yourself at home,” observed Nat, lighting a lamp and placing it on a pine box that served as a table. ‘‘I reckon we'll jist spend the night here, and start for the ranch in the mornin’,” ‘*T ought to have stayed in town,” declared Frank, ‘* That cowardly bully will think he has driven me away.” ‘*Let bim think,” remarked Nat, ‘I guess we can afford it, jist now. Ding my cats, if them rascals wouldn’t ’a’ fixed you if I hadn’t’a’ happened in jist when I did, ockton would ’a’ plugged you sure, while that other cuss held your arms,” ‘** You are right, Nat; I was in a deuced close place,” ** Yes, and that Mockton has a gang of cut- throats about him, and not one of ’em would hesitate to commit murder. Weare both stran- gers here, and it’s best to keep out of trouble if we can.” ** Yes, that is best, I suppose,” admitted Frank, *“and I thank you for the service you have ren- dered me,” ** You needn’t mention it, It ain’t my nature to see a feller imposed upon, and when I saw they weren’t goin’ to ; ghia you a fair show, I jist slid in. But you did knock Mockton out in a way that did me good to see, Where’d you Paro to hit sich sledge-hammer blows?” ‘* We used to practice that sort of business at school,” laughed Frank, ‘‘ It seems that a man’s education stands him in good stead even in Ari- zona,” * T'd say it did,” chuckled Nat, ‘* What was this Mockton’s object in picking a quarrel with me?” ‘*T can’t tell exactly, but it’s his way, though he might ’a’ had some special object in this case ‘* Well, whatever his object was, he didn’t seem to accomplish it.” ** No; notin the way he expected, I reckon,” laughed Nat, ‘** Nat,” said Frank, ‘‘ I didn’t tell you that a Mexican desperado attacked me with a knife to- night, He intended to rob me, I suppose.” ‘*Great Christopher Columbo! but you’re havin’ a lively time,” ‘* Yes, but he failed to catch me napping.” **T see he did, or you wouldn’t be here. ** And I recognized him before he escaped,” Tt wae th Mexi de I had engaged t was the Mexican guide to take me across the seorenated “i ** The blazes!” ‘Yes; and now I am under the necessity of getting some one else to take us to the ranch.” ** It is no more than I e . These Greasers are treacherous as ole Satin,” ** Can you get us some animals?” “Yes, I think I can. There is a ranch a few miles from here where they have a lot of burros and horses,” ** Then we must go there early in the morning and see what can be done,” lt was Jate when the two men retired. The sun was shinin brightly when they awoke, They ate a burried breakfast and began to make preparations for their journey. ‘*How long have you been in this place?” asked Frank. ‘** Only about a week or two,” was the reply. ‘“*T was jist knockin’ about the country, and dis- covered this ole cabin here and no one in it, so [ jist settled down for a spell. I reckon I could a’ found a better place as far as society is con- cerned, but I may want to transact a little busi- ness before I leave here for good.” ‘‘T believe you could have found a place where the society is better,” laughed Frank ** that is—judging by the experience I have had since my arrival, . _ Ina short time they were ready to begin their journey. ‘‘ Do you think weshall encounter any Apaches on our way across the mountains?” questioned Frank as the two set out over the low sandy bills in the direction of the ranch Nat had spoken of the night before, ‘‘I hear they are on the war-path again.” * ell, we may run across some of the smokies, admitted Nat, ‘‘ but the Government troops have been ordered out from Fort Grant, to go and put down, the outbreak, and this may cause the red imps to keep a little shy for a few weeks,” “I’m not anxious to encounter old Geronimo,” admitted Frank, “I’ve read of him in’ the papers. which is as close an acquaintance as I care about making with him.” It was full six miles from Nat’s cabin to the ranch to which they were traveling, and as the sun rose higher and higher above the dreary waste of sandy hills, Frank became almost pros- trated with the intense heat, ‘* Whew! this is simply roasting weather!” he exclaimed, looking about for some sort of shade in which to escape the fiery rays of the sun, ‘** Let us stop and cool off a little, Nat—that is, if we can find a bush large enough to furnish us a shade,” ‘** All right,” assented Nat, ‘‘'I guess you're not used to sich weather as this, and we'll have to take it a leetle slow at first. Come this way.” And the old fellow led the way to the top of a little hill where a solitary jack-oak stood like a sentinel amid the sun-scorched sands, On reaching the spot they threw themselves in the shade, grateful to escape the burning sun for even a brief period, Nearly five miles away, in the plain below, lay Desert City, its clusters of irregular adobe buildings plainly visible through the clear air. Far to the east lay a spur of the Sierra Madre Mountains, stretching far to the south across the border into old Mexico, As the two travelers lay gazing down the gentle slope toward the little town, Nat uttered a cry of surprise, ‘‘ ‘What is it?” asked Frank. **Look!” and Nat pointed to a number of horsemen which were moving up the old trail from Desert City. ‘Who can it be?’ questioned Frank, “ and where do you suppose they are going?” For some time Nat was silent, then, turning to bis companion, he said: ‘* Now that’s jist what [ don’t know. It puz- zles me to understand it,” ‘*They are coming this way and riding ata allop.” ** 1'll be hanged if they ain’t,” ‘** ‘Well, we shall soon know what is up,” ng Frank, ‘ for they will be here in a short time, A silence fell between the two men which was only broken by the sound of a faint breeze in the branches overhead, As the advancing party drew near, it was dis- covered that every man carried a rifle slung across his saddle, ‘“*There must be Apaches around,” observed nbaie v0 casting a questioning glance at his com- panion, But, Nat shook his head, a grave look settling over bis face, Presently the tramp of horses’ feet could be heard, then a dozen armed horsemen galloped up the slope, and spurred their panting horses up to where the two men ‘% 4 The y was headed by the city marshal and Bill Mockton, ‘* There the rascals are!” cried Mockton, point- ing to Frank and Nat, and instantly a dozen guns were leveled at the two men. Frank and Nat had risen to their feet, and stood confronting the party, a look of astonish- ment on their faces, ‘* What does this mean?” demanded Frank, in a calm tone, ‘It means this,” blurted Mockton, “ that you are both our prisoners. We arrest you for the robbing of the Tombstone Stage last night and for the murder of two passengers !” CHAPTER IIL THE PLOT THICKENS. Nat BARKER and Frank Hammond stood as if glued to the spot, a look of utter astonishment sweeping over their faces. Nat was the first to speak. “* Say fellers, ain’t you a little off your ker- base?” he questioned, eying the men critically. ** That is for the judge to decide,” replied the marshal, Then, turning to Mockton, he said: “Take one of the men and disarm the prisoners while we keep ’em covered.” Mockton threw himself from his saddle, and approaching Frank, laid bis hand upon his shoulder. **Hand over your pistols,” he demanded, sharply, giving the young man a rude shake, ‘“* If you make any bad breaks we’ll bore a dozen holes in your onery carcass,” As he spoke he attempted to take the eager from Frank’s belt, but the next moment he re- ceived a stinging blow from the young man’s fist which sent him staggering backward, while, quick as a flash Frank drew his pistol, but the next moment he roceived a beavy blow from behind, and fell senseless upon the ground, When he recovered consciousness he found that he had been disarmed and his hands bound. Near him stood Old Nat, his bands bound be- hind him. (Ee) ECOmMIc 900