Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 723 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

gulch, ely cri vi ng ¢ - brok tof th enoug all ov aAptive rescu | him, aroun heay 1e@ cl] 1 kno trunk ken u Pppear anted hour 1A t. ”? of th mei) wor’ ig hif lade keer ‘ered frror ’ d he ard- Pred) bis Zerg eel, eep pes me e bt nd nt, le, he i]- Re Bal, Silverblade, the Shoshone, 15 ‘* You talk: Pl] act /” “Stop him, Woodbridge!” sharply said the detective, struggling to bis feet, ‘I counted seven in the gang, and there may be still more. No one boye n fight the gang, but—with us, Silverblade!” ‘“All together, Davie!” cried out the stock- man. ‘Bring the horses Over, and catch me up!” came back the answer frou: midway the roc wall. ‘‘]}] take the trail, and see whither it leads,” _A swallow or two of whisky, with brisk rub- bing along his crampec limbs, had already wrought wonders in the case of Cowboy Max; and leaving Big Horn Buck, who was in far better case, thanks to his marvelous powers of body and mind, to assist Donaldsun along the gulch toward its head, where he meant to cross with the horses, Luke Woodbridge hurriedly moved away on that mission, Wheu the point of crossing ‘was gained by both parties, Woodbridge insisted on the rescued men mounting, and rather than cause delay by disputing his wish, they complied. nce on comparatively level ground, they pressed ahead as fast as the tough stockman eould run, along the broad trail left by Jobn Godfrey and bis knavish outfit, But rapidly as they progressed, they would never have over- taken Silverblade, had he not paused for their coming, & mile or more away from the lion’s muevo, “Itis true, father,” was his grave salutation as they came up. “ The trail heads for the home of Weenamoo.’ ‘The devils! If we get there too late, Pl—” ‘*Don’t borrow trouble, man,” interrupted Hortov. ‘* They'll never dare an open dash, but will liein wait until dark comes to cover ’em. if we don’t run into an ambuscade by the way, we'll get there in good time, never you fear!” This sounded reasonable, since none of those present knew what word had set John Godfrey off in such hot baste: and though the setting of the sun was near at hand, they surely ought to cover that distance before the enemy would deem it safe or wise to begin their evil work. As they pressed on, father and son afoot, but keeping the horses at as rapid a gait as the vature of the ground would permit, Bix Horn Buck told the story more in detail, and explain- ed how they had, after bours of labor, gotten rid of their gags, tbus holding the angry lion at bay with their cries and shouts, Tnen— Too late!” almost shrieked F.uke Wood- bridge, as the distant echo of firearms came to their anxious ears. ——— ee CHAPTER XYVI-. CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRapP, THAT intervening mile was covered in a wild, breakneck dash, but Silverbladé was first to Come upon the enemy, and his was the first shot that told the outlying devils their game was up—his the voice that sent forth the blood- curdling war-cry of the lony-peaceful Shoshones —and his the lungs that gave vent to an en- couraging shont to the brave defender of that closed ranch, ag a bright flash came from one cf the loopholes, Shouting, on fire with hot rage and thirst for vengeance, Luke Woodbridge, Big Horn Buck and Cow X came dashing up at top speed; out they Were too late for more than to make that flight Complete, The enemy had not wait- ed for more than one shot, one fierce yell from the rear, already discouraged by their hot re- ce tion in front, he stockmMan and Horton pressed the chase, wasting mere than one round of cartridges at real or imaginary Shadows—too dimly sean to be called shapes—but Gowboy Max, forgettin all else in his aDx!ety for the gafety of his lov one, conld not p25$ the house py. As his voice W® STeC0gnized “Enola flung open the door, and with @ Sobbing ery of intense re- lief, Jove and joy, sunk into his ready arms. When they realized the fot of further chase, Woodbridge and Big Horn Buck came back, Pausing at the cabil built of heavy, squared ORs, set apart for the COWbOYS employed on the Fateh, drav7n thither by the heavy pounding against the solj Th y found the door Closed from without, a coe of he@VY timbers being Propped against if. e one shuttered window Was secured in & like r <A the d Manne nd whep Oor was opened, the w w th ™ rea three cOWboys told ho F ®Y had been en with Many ahashed ia but, little. j Oodbridge 8a knew the had not peet % blame, despite the warnings he had given them the day before, Still, he could not even listen to their explanations without risking a fiery explosion. And it was too late for that, now! Woodbridge hastened over to the now open ranch, but Big Horn Buck, in company with the cowboys, made a search of the grounds, which resulted in finding one dying wretch: stricken down by the shot first fired by Silver- blade, the Shoshone! Dirty Dick had played his last card in the game of crime, and he had barely life enough left him to make full confession: to denounce John Godfrey as bead and front of tbe evil plot: to give the names of each of his comrades: and then his life went out, No other bodies than his were found in that search, and it was withadark and gloomy brow that Big Horn Buck entered the house, where father, mother and daughter, were gathered to- gether in the sick-room, ‘The head devil of all has escaped, Wood- bridge,” he said, bluntly, though his vice low- ered as he recognized the presence of sickness, ‘* If Silverblade don’t—” **Silverblade! My young chief! Weenamoo is waiting!” gasped the sick woman, rising up in bed, ber trembling arms reaching out as though to clasp her boy-brave to her bosom, ‘Come,’ whispered Little Sure Shot, gliding to the detective’s side, a hand closing upon bis arm and gently forcing him toward the door of the room. ‘* We will look for my brother’s com- ing. sir!” ut instead of going to the front door, where Cowboy Max stood on guard, Enola led Horton back to the kitchen, pausing just inside the door in such a manner as to check his entrance, while she quickly said: ‘*] am right—you are a detective, sir?” ‘‘ Yes. Why do’you ask, in such a tone?” ‘And you are looking for John Godfrey, to arrest him?” ‘*Tf be’s the man I think, yes, again. You surely don’t—” ‘*lt I give him into your hands, you swear to prac his life, even against father, and against avie?” persisted Enola, eagerly watching each change in his face, ‘* Pll protect his life with my own, if it comes to that!” was bis eager reply. ‘“ Where is he, girl? How did you—” Enola stepped aside, and motioned bim to en- ter. She struck a light, and by its glow pointed out a bound form lying half-hidden in one cor- ner of the room, Big Horn Buck caught up the candle, and held it close to the gagged face of the prostrate man, giving vent toa low, joyous growl as he recognized John Godfrey! Little Sure Shot tersely told how she had caught the villain, who bad secured an entrance shortly after dark, by reaching the second story by way of the kitchen roof, where he had prepared for just such an emergency by making sure his chamber window could be opened. ‘‘T heard a sound, and caught a glimpse of a dark shape crossing over to the front door,” Enola explained. ‘‘I struck him down with a club,” with a motion of her bead toward the kitchen table, where lay an Indian war-club, ‘I bound him, as you see. Then—I fired at the first skulking figure I saw creeping toward the house, out yonder!” She said no more just then, for Big Horn Buck caught her in his powerful arms, lifting her clear of the floor in a bear-like embrace. And Cowboy Max saw him fairly smothering the little maiden with kisses, as he came to the door. ‘It’s all right, pardner,” chuckled Big Horn Buck, as he caught that ejaculation. ‘I’m just paying a debt of gratitude, and if you'll help me keep the wind off this rascal here, you can take ’em every one back from where I planted ’em! Can’t he, Little Sure Shot?” “You will help, Max? murmured Enola, blushing rosy red, but bravely doing her duty, as she saw it, ‘‘Don’t let father or Davie— They'll kill him, if you don’t prevent!” ‘*Grab hold, Max! Let us out the back way, Sweetness, and I reckon we'll fix it so justice Shall have its full dues!” And Big Horn Buck was right. The secret of that important capture was kept until the next morning, and by that time passions had cooled sufficiently for calm reasoning. And, to dispose of the matter right here, John Godfrey, as he has figured in this episode, was taken to meet his fate for deeds wrought under another name, Long before the secret was disclosed, however, Silverblade came home, and the yearning arms Os. SORE were filled with her darling boy If other lives had paid the penalty of that night’s work, the lips of David Woodbridge never disclosed the facts, Before another sun set, David Woodbridge was goue! ‘“The New Messiah called him,” calmly said Weenamoo, to her deeply grieved husband, ‘** Weenamoo bade him go, to his duty. That is enough. It should be so, and so it is, The grandson of He-That-Fights-Long, must not be the last to greet the Indian Messiah!” The days that followed were full of stirring events, But it is enough for the present to say that Silverblade, the Shoshone, sought for the Indian Messiah, with heart full of trust, of porfect faith, in no wise lessened by the ex- posure of one lying ‘‘ mouth-piece.” For it is true that the false prophet took to fight, and was seen no more in that section. Enough that Luke Woodbridge was so crushed in spirit by the loss of his son, that be could summon up noanger when Cowboy Max bravely told bis love, and begged for the hand of Little Sure Shot io marriage, ‘* Wait, Max,” the stockman said, gloomily. ‘* This is no time to talk of marriage, or giving in marriage. Wait—until my poor boy comes home, living—ov dead!” THE END. Beadle's Half-Dime Library. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Vellowatone Jack: or, The ae CTs 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Wurricane Bills: or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 11 Mustang Sam ; or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-Wawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Glant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy, 168 Deadly Dashy; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Pardays or, Dainty Lance Unmaske. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca Wolf: or, The Beautiful Decoy. $19 The Black Riders or, The Horse-Thiever’ League, BB5 Old Double Fiat; or, the Strange Guide $55 The King of the Woods: or. Daniel Boone’s Last Trail, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chinecapin Dan, the Boy Trailer. 677 Chineapin Dan’s Second Trail. 688 Chincapin Dan’s Home Stretch. 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without a Head, TOS Light-Heart Lute’s Legacy. BY GEORGE C. JENKS, 485 Git Thar Owney the Unkrown.,. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Docter. 581 Deouble-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 59S Flute, the Singer Detective, 608 The Pitcher Deteetive’s Fotl; or, Dan’s Double Play. 616 The Ocean Detectivet or. The Last Cruise of the Black Bear, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussel. MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters. By Capt. Mayne Reia and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s Travels, By Dean Swift. 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe. (27 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Satlor. His Seven Voyages, 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe. By Juan wis. 88 The Ocean Bloodheundy or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees, By 8S, W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clown; or, The Arena Queen. By F 8, Finn. 8S Ned Wylde, the Boy Scont. By Texas Jack. 51 The Boy Eifles; or, The Nd ie Camp. By A. C. Irons. 95 The Rival Revers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine. 98 Robin Mood, the Uutiawed Ear); or, The Merry Men of Green- wood, By Prof. Gildersieeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Munters or, ) be Cave of Death. By Burton Saze. 124 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George eeBon. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Strongheld, By Harry Cavendish, 148 Sharp Sams} or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy. By J. Alexander Patten. 227 Pusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowatone, we, Pees mt oe slp SAGES 261 Fergus F earnau e New ¥Y ir r \. e 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; or, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail, By Ensign C. D. Warren. ; 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Clif, By Captain Comstock, 81T Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lieu- tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 The Sky Detectives or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Hono, » By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Rover; or, The Brother’s Re- venge. By Ned Buntline, 265 Raltimore Ren the Boothlack Detective. By A. P. Morris, B74 Gold-Dust Tom} or, Ben’s Double Match, By @ H. Moree, 876 Goatees First Trail. By Colonel Thomas over Monastery. 418 Biily Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F.S, Winthrop. 47% The Black Ship. By John 8S Warner. — Comanche Dick and His Three Inivinetbles, By . gah they Brooke ¥ 58 e Cowboy Duke. Edwin e Forrest. 552 Artel the Athlete. By Devid Drold. 585 Will Waters, the Boy Ferret. By H. Enton. 682 The Dead Deteetive’s Double. By Gerald Carlton A New issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library 1s for sale by ail newsdenlom, five cents per copy, or sent by mall on receipt of six conta each. BEADLE AND ADAMA, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, ¥ CO “S comicboo