Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 728 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

a. o> - aot P a * ' * an» 5. Ps ¥ ~*~ £ §< _ a, ee . : ‘— é a ‘ r be wa 3 tg * « ak & ene st ~s ml - =. 3 ’ ‘we ~ * » . Ss sae nore ee ee er wears, >) - o > he: fs te, = onl * ae > > _— 4 Pd ta <p ee ._” J + “ a " | ity ht is gett b intended robbery. I suppose that is a meaning- less word to you, however.” ‘‘ Which proves that you do not know Iron Ivan,” was the response. ‘I have been called the gentleman road-agent, and I make it a point never to rob women, if they are sensible enough to buy off, amd my terms are not heavy. But, more of that later. Now we will proceed to relieve you of whatever valuables you hap- pen to have about you, gentlemen, Collector, do your duty.” he driver and passengers were out in line, with hands up, and one of the outlaws now ad- vanced to the head of the line and proceeded to ** so through” his man, putting everything into a bandy bag at his side. _ The little woman was the last in the row, hold- ing her hands up like the rest, and her eyes were still fixed upon [ron Ivan. The ‘‘collector” did his work rapidly and thoroughly, and soon came to the end of the line, except the lady. “‘Stop there,” [ron Ivan ordered. ‘‘I will attend to the lady myself. Come back to your place, now, while that fat party removes his ts. He did not pan out quite fat enough to satisfy me.” One of the passengers was a rather stout per- sonage, and this remark was aimed at him. ** Me?” he interrogated. “Yes, you!” was the answer. ‘ Off with your boots, and lively about it!” “Tt is an outrage!” the fat party stormed. “ It is-—”? . “*Can’t help what it is,” was the interruption; *‘off with them! Down with you in the dirt, and off with them!” Protest was useless, and so the man had to obey. Down he got, and off came the boots, after considerable puffing, anf there was the rest of his personal effects, snugly bid away. **T thought so,” Iron lvanlaughed. ‘‘ Gather it in, ‘collector, and let the gentleman resume gear. Now if any of the rest of yow are holding anything back, you had better disgorge. fag is your last chance, you kuow, so don’t re- use One or two others brought out articles that _,had been cleverly concealed, to the amusement of the outlaws, and when all had been taken in, the leader of th woman, a“* Now, fair lady,” said he, ‘‘ I will give you the conditions “pon which you are to go free. That is, that you will give me a kiss,” The outlaws laughed heartily at this proposal. “Never!” the lady exclaimed, with greatest indignation. ‘Take whatever of value you may find ou my person. I will not purchase ex- emption at such a price!” ‘*Nobly spoken!” exclaimed Dombey Fudge. ** Still, lady,” he added, ‘if you carry much of value about you, I would say give the kiss and solsave your bacon—er, hem! I mean your valu- ables.” ““T earry nothing so valuable as my honor, sir,” was the scorching retort, ‘‘I scorn such a proposal as this rascal has made. Take my money and simple jewelry, sir,” to Iron Ivan, “but do not attempt to take any liberty with me, If you do, it will not be well for you.” *“‘Ha! ha! ha!” the outlaw chief laughed. “* You are quite a novelty in the way of calico, my pretty lady. Now I would prize a kiss more anything else you might have offer. ands well up, gentlemen, or these rifles will speak! I say 1 would prize the kiss, lady, and I hope you will reconsider your determination. It ing off cheap—” “If it is eheap, then you don’t wantit. Come, rob me if you will, but don’t attempt anything more.” _ **No; kiss or no kiss, I will not rob you,” the outlaw declared. ‘‘I admire your spirit too much for that. And besides, the gentleman road-agent can’t afford to let his reputation suffer. But I would like to say something to you, in private, if I may.” ‘I do not want you to come any nearer to me than you are!” was the excited response. ‘‘I do not want to hear what you havetosay. Rob me, and then let us go on our way. I will not _ have you come a step nearer, if I have to give my life to keep you off,” é ere was a pause, and all waited anxiously to see what the outlaw would do about it. It might prove a critical moment for all con- cerned, : CHAPTER VI. SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT, “* Tuts is altogetber unreasonable,” Iron Ivan presently spoke. ‘* We have it in our power to carry you off, if we would, lady—” A 7 « band addressed himself to the | ens | thats al: 4 , 4 ~~ ‘ . ** No you haven’t, either!” ‘“ What’s that?” ‘*T say you haven’t it in your power to carry me off,” the lady repeated, ** What’s the reason we baven’t? How would you hinder us, if we set about doing it?” “T would kill myself sooner than be taken into captivity by you, and you could not hinder me, unless you killed me, instead.” ‘* Well, you are nervy, and no mistake! But, listen to reason, Here I am disposed to treat you with the utmost consideration, I won't rob you, [ will even give up my demand for the kiss, but speak to you I must.” PE speak to me openly, in the hearing of ‘* No; it must be in private.” ‘‘Then you will not speak to meatall. I will kill you if you attempt it, so be warned, I will kill either myself or you.”. ‘‘ And you mean what you say?” ‘**T certainly do,” That little woman was admired by all. Such a showing of cool nerve from so small a body had uever before been witmessed by any of them, perhaps. ‘* But, whatI would say concerns you great- ly,” Iron Ivan persisted. ‘‘ Half a minute’s talk will be sufficient to tellit. Grant me this, and I promise that not a finger will 1 lay on you. Nor will I utter one word that need cause you a blush, Iam sineere in what I say.” He spoke now in all earnestness, and his voice was slightly changed from what it had been. The’ woman’s face was changing color, and she was staring at him with eyes at their widest, Surely she recognized that voice, ** And what if I refuse?” she inquired. ‘‘Tn that case not only will I kiss you, but I'll allow every man of my band to do the same.” This again caused the rascals to laugh. ‘‘Yer kin refuse an’ welome, lady,” spoke Thomas the Terrible. ‘Et ar’ a long while sence we has had a taste o’ horey, et ar’, an’ I fer ore wouldn’t object to et.” In a measure the tables had been turned, **On your word of honor, then, you will not attempt to touch me, but will only speak to me?” the woman aske‘, ‘‘| promise you that,” was the response. ‘Give me half a minute’s talk with you, and Lack, av® alll will demand. After that you and your friends may go on.” ‘Then fer ther luv o’ goodness let him chin to yer fer ther half minunit,” put in Squint-eye, the driver. “Ef yer don’t, we won't git through ter-night. What he’ll say to yer can’t kill, that’s sure. an’ yer has got et on yer own tarms, almost,” “Very well, then, I ah oP leave to speak to me,” the woman conceded, You advance half way to me, ** All right. and I will move forward and meet you, and your friends can see all that takes place.” The woman promptly advanced, still holding her bands up, shoulder high, and Iron Ivan rode forward and met her, And when they met, he leaned far over in the saddle and whispered to her. Immediately she gave a great Start, and springing back, looked at bim with a face as pale as death. Only a moment this, and she advanced again and willingly listened to what the outlaw bad to say. As he had said, he detained ber only half a minute, when he straightened up, and with a wave of the hand dismissed ber. She turned away immediately, her face still le, and resumed her place in the line. What had been said to her, no one could guess, Immediately the outlaw backed away, saying: “You see Iron Ivan isa man of his word, I am the gentleman road-agent, and my word is as good as my bond, and a good deal better, for my bond wouldn’t be taken. No matter about that, however, Now yon may bundle in, pil- grims, and be on your way. And when you get to Pond Lily, just give my best respects to the worthy citizens there, and say that Iron Ivan fro. Arizona is going to cake a hand against them. If they want to make anything out of it, let them come on,” ae With that, the passengers were allowed to get aboard the stage again, and were soon ready to start, : -“ You shall pay for this, you rascals!” declared Dombey Fudge, who had never ceased to com- plain. ‘‘ You shal] smart for this outrage, if there is any Jaw in this wild land.” , “Plenty of law,” assured the outlaw, ‘ but it’s hefty to handle, as maybe you will find. But, you have nocause to cnemplain. You have got plenty of the filthy stuff in the Lily Mine, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. a outlaw had to say And it will be time: for him to take.on, too, If this band isn’t wiped out in one i The was rushed in with a g90d show 4 front of tne hotel, the first man to the front ‘ Howland Kentway, who threw the door. } _-* “Dae 5-3 : a ‘ = | er rm, : a . oe and you can spare the little we have taken from t bb oJ ‘‘ Well, we're off,” cried the driver, when all =| | was porphl ‘““Give the word, and I'll show ye © | « how mighty soon I kin dust out o’ byar.” 4 mission. re” ae | ‘An’ be glad that you're alive,” calied ouf |) Terrible, Thomas. ‘‘ An’, by ther way,” he ade sy ded, ‘‘ef yer hears anything of a galoot at ther =| city by name o’ Deadw Dick, tell him we =| | nage death ter him, jest as soon as we kin grab. } m, ‘Yes, my especial regards to him, if he is there,” quickly putin Iron Ivan, “Tell him — that lron Ivan is still on deck, and that he sends defiance. If he wants me very bad, let hin ' come and take me. He will get the warmest re- cone he ever got. And to you, fairlady,my_ .- we | The driver’s whip had cracked, and the stage now whirled on its way. For a few moments the outlaws stood gaz- ing after it idly, and then with wild laugbter : they pressed around Iron Ivan, eager to g his hand, ~ N Let us, for the preseut, follow the stage. y ‘‘ What does yer think of that?’ asked the driver, when they had got beyond hearing of the | ‘‘] think it a confounded outrage!” cried the mine president. ‘“‘The nest of viper& shall he. wiped out, if I bave to resort to the regular army to have it done. I won’t brook this with- | cut making a fuss,” | oe ‘‘ Hope yer won't, but fer. ther prow they has got ’cidedly ther best of it. hey has got — all yer collateral. But, say,” in a lower tone, ‘*T wonder whet he had ter say ter ther gal? Did yer notice how et {seemed ter giye her a ~ jump, ez et war?” vic ce ‘“‘ ‘Yes, I noticed that, and it puzzled me. It : struck me that he must have recognized her, anc ai? that he is some one she has known, I’m going to ask her.” _ Leaning over toward the window, he called: ‘* Hey, Stokes!” ae ‘* Hello!” came a response from within, — “What do you think of the West?” with a ‘‘ Well, then, go,” the chief pro tem, gave pers | laugh. ‘* Dast the West!” was the sna Lys “Well, say, ask the lady wy nt Jt was tell. We are rather curious ‘to here.” te a er Silence for a few moments, and then the same | voice called out: | SSeS ‘She declines to say, but hints that it was _ something she would not mention under any ~~ circumstances. Rather think the rascal mistook — her for some one he had known. She is boil~ ing over with indignation,” ig ‘Tell her we'll settle with the rascal, before we are done with him, This has got to be brought to an not and the sooner the better.” me é + a loots of Pond Lily?” ie nt. the aan We have been. sent out to meet you, tnd See what’s the matter,” was the reply. “* The . is tur’bly anxious about: Oe. eae rt, Se ‘CA pity you didn’t come a little earlier, then,” snapped the mine president, = ‘* Why, hev yer been in trouble?” — _ Have we? We have been skinned to tons!” a iy “Ther dickens! Then ther boss. en eat. fer nothin’. Ob, but won't he take 00 who. . he hears 0’ this!” | Balf-way from that point to the “ city,” they came suddenly face to face with a body of |. mounted. men, | ah Wretaa It was the party that bad been sent out by . Kentway, tO meet them and render assistance if/*; they were in need of it. fli. i 5 As the party completely blocked the Way, tie | driver had to call another halt, PgR PERAUs Fess Oe ‘‘ Hello!” be sung out. “‘ What’s broke loose, vs : an” pa ee a 0 the bb “ Dy : ¥e a , = shall have no further use for bi, Pm Mink The horsemen turned, after a. few the tent talk, and the stage followed their 1¢ HF eo Vben they eppeared in the valley, it Was n or very nea 80, and the A, ablaze yeas hights.. A great od was in front ae, e es ae eta | § - ~< = ~ My ‘2s = he s* ; «Ms . ’ 4 : ' : : rs ‘Here at last, are you?” he gr a A a ‘Yes, here at last, with barely OUr ves,” sponded Fudge, from the box, thi, / oe 7 7 ty = _- * — P. . "es a tay ® L SP ae ‘ alee * f » , . F ” 7 “ire t& : o a " : q «1 - 7 ee =>" ryt _ Oo meen Oe 22 Sa ls } aa PS z m. iy a (aeow st on ' ae t--. ‘ ‘ , wed Pg a a a 7 oe - s* */ . ” * ‘ a : 7 - | i : | H om = * \ ( a a fe -~” ee ae nlite! tae