Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 755 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

i-& Gold-Dust Dan’s Oath. 11 straight into the strangely-twitching face of the banker. : ‘‘The scars of war are not always so quickly healed or easily hidden, even when dealt bya woman’s band!” he observed, then strode out of the room and quitted the building. — Jake Rose’s tace was convulsed with rage, ‘““You’ve signed your own death-warrant, Gold-Dust Dan!” he gritted, ‘* You know too much !” Meanwhile, on reaching the street, Dan had used a moment, aud stared moodily around, is brow knitted in thought, ‘‘ Might as well havea look at the records and go back tothe Gulch. As we've got to fight, we can’t get ready too soon. ‘‘ Jake Rose is thoroughly aroused, and will now stop at nothing.” Having thus decided, the detective set about his task. Straight to the recorder’s office be roceeded, and there found that the Gold Gulch Mine had been duly transferred from Jubal Ben- net to Sidney Graft, ‘* It is as 1 feared!” he exclaimed, as he noted the entry. ‘* The slippery scoundrels have every- thing fixed. Strongly fortified, with a show of law on their side, it will indeed take sharp and desperate work to dislodge them. ‘‘Itis fortunate Big Davy was a member of Bradlaw’s ill-fated force, else we might readily have believed Bennet. had indeed escaped and signed these papers,” is errand finished, Dan procured bis supper, mounted Prince, and just at sunset rode out of Rapid City, hen a mile beyond the town, a horseman a hundred yards ahead suddenly emerged from the shadows bordering the trail, and calmly awaited the detective’s approach, The waiting rider was Old Calamity, ‘“*Mud-cats an’ houn’ pups!” ejaculated the ranger, as Dan drew up beside him, ‘ I’m glad e’re out ov thet pestiferous nest alive, Daniel. t’s a wicked, calamitous place, Rapid City is, an’ four ov et’s benighted sinners air in ambush fer ye jest a balf mile furder on.” ‘* An ambush, eh?” exclaimed Dan, betraying but little surprise, _ “ Edzactly, Dan, an’ they’re headed by a cuss in buckskin, who rode inter camp a hafe-hour ahead ov ye this afternoon. F’m words they let drop, I kalkilate they jest naterly intend ter wipe ye off f’m ther face ov ther ’arth, b’gosh !” CHAPTER X, DURANGO DAVE’S LAY-OUT—MEDIA MISSING, LET us now return to the banker’s office, As Gold-Dust Dan quitted the room, the closet door was swung open and Durango Dave reap ed, “You heard it all, Frank?’ inquired Jake Rose, turning to bis ally. “‘T heard it all,” was the grim reply. ‘‘ Bat for heaven’s sake drop using my name. You ere that Flush Frank is a being of the past, and that Durango Dave now has the floor, I’ve too many enemies in this camp to take many chances, ‘“* ll not forget again, Dave : bloodhound bas got me rattled, much.” ‘He does indeed,” assented Durango Dave, helping hiinself to a chair, ‘ Sit down, Jake. We must arrange to get rid of him.” ‘That is it, exactly!” the banker cried, witha uick breath of relief. ‘‘ If welet him, live the radlaw girl will ousbus, root and branch. Not only will our chance at the buried treasure van- ish, but we will be compelled to give up Gold Gulch Mines. No, no! we cannot afford to let him get back to the Gulch with his report!” ‘* We shall have to move quickly to cut him off, for he may start within an hour or so, It will not take him long to examine the records, “Tl go shadow him. Ile hasn’t seen me, and so can suspect nothing if we meet. You get three or four of the boys—fellows you can trust, and have them get out of town ono by one, Tell them to await my coming a mile down the Gulch trail. As soonas tho detective gets ready to start, I'll slip out ahead of him, join the boys and arrange an ambush.” Jacob Rose sprung up exultingly. ; Dave, you've hit the right plan!” he cried, the dark look vanishing from his face. ‘‘ Go at once, and Pll send out theboys, If you want to oat Peat you'll find me at the Blazing Stump ‘Pll not venture in there,” Durango Dave de- cla with a wr ‘¢ “pokes ebes ‘me too bad as pene. Judge Lyn But that young He knows too ‘out into the trail. “No, lll not want to see you till the job is | and he fell at full length on the stony trail, done, if you do your part well. Then, I shall come straight here.” ‘* Agreed!” cried the desperate schemer, ‘‘I shall await you here,” | Durango Dave then took his departure, Rose waiting a few minutes that they might not be seen leaving the builaing together. Shortly before sunset, Durango Dave rode out ofcamp. Halfa mile up the trail, he came up- on a man waiting by the roadside, ‘*Good-evenin’, cap’n,” the fellow saluted, as bis glance met that of the desperado in buck- skin, ‘* Lookin’ fer a pard?” ‘* Three ov ’em,” Durango Dave replied. ** You wear good weapons, pard,” ‘* An’ kin use’em,” the fellow returned, riding ‘“?’m Number 1. Number 2 an’ Number 8 aire on ahead,” The two then rode forward, side byside. In a few minutes a second ruffian appeared, and then a tbird. s Thus far, Jake Rose had fulfilled his part of his villainous compact to the letter, When the gang was complete, they drew rein and the three Rapid City roughs looked to Dur- ango Dave for instructions, ** Now, cap’n, w’at is et?” the first of the trio asked. Durango Dave looked from one to another. **'You were sent here by whom?” he asked, ** Jake Rose,” the spokesman replied, “To do what ?” ‘*' Ter meet you, an’ then down a man.” ** Very well, He will be along shortly. We'll ride ahead, dismount and lie in ambush. ** Remember, there must te no failure. Letit be sure work, or none,” and there was a menac- ing ring in Durango Dave’s voice. ** Oh, we'll get bim!” ** We never misses!” ** Ask Banker Rose ef we ever failed. Reckon he knew us, or he wouldn’t ’a’ sent us,” Nodding grimly in response to that chorus of protestations, Durango Dave moved on, with eyes alert fora suitable spot. Half a mile thus, then just as the twilight be- gan to deepen the way grew rough and broken ani the word to halt was given. A mass of rocks lay on one side of the trail, a growth of busheson the other, and Durango Dave at once stationed the men and led the horses away, tethering them a safe distance back from the trail. Returning, the desperado posted himself at an advantageous point and patiently awaited the approach of bis victim, The gray twilight gave place to the darkness of night. An hour went by, and Gold-Dust Dan had not appeared. ** Boss, aire ye dead sure ther critter’s comin’?” grumbled one of the men, at last, ‘** Ob, yes, be’ll be along directly, I expected him a fuil half-hour ago. Sometbing has delay- ed him, but you can count on his coming,” Du- rango Dave replied. ‘*Reckon this byar leetle picnic won’t be a s’prise party fer him!” chuckled another of the miscreants: * He'll never know w’at hurted ’im!” boasted anotber. ‘‘ When four sech men es us go fera feller’s scalp, why he’s jest as good as boxed an’ planted !” ** Don’t be teo sure of that,” cautioned Duran- go Dave, ‘‘ This fellow is no tenderfoot, and if you give him the ghost of a show he'll make the biggest kind of a fight,” ‘** Ho’s got no show ag’in’ four sich men es us,” persisted the boaster. ‘‘ He’d hev ter be—” Just then an iron band grasped the fellow’s throat, choking off tbe words, and the next in- stant be was hurled bodily through the air, to land on bis back in the middle of the trail. As he scrambled to his feet, a faint yell of ter- ror burst from bis lips and he broke away at the ton of his speed. r Durango Dave sprung up, a revolver in each aad, P ** What the—” ** Stan! and defend yourselves, you in! uman wretches!” interrupted a stern voice, and Gold- Dust Dan leaped from cover, closely followed by Old Calamity. With cries of consternation, the two remaip- ing Rapid City roughs rose to their feet and fled, leaving Durango Dave alone to bear the brunt of battle, _Uttering a savage oath, the desperado braced his back against the bowlder and raised his re- volvers to fire at the advancing figures, Too late! Even as he pressed the triggers, strong hands gras his arms, destroying his aim and dragging bim down, A revolver butt descended with crusbing force upon his head, senseless, Durango Dave's lay-out had been met and con- quered ! ** Quick! Calamity! Let us bind the gentle- man!” exclaimed Gold-Dust Dan. ‘‘ When he comes around, we may be able to squeeze some- thing out of him.” ‘* We kin try, but I doubt ef we git a whimper b’gosh! Ther cuss hes grit, an’ he’s ther only one in ther bull kapoodle thet showed et, fer t’others broke jest as soon as they see’d thar war a calamitous misfortune a-brewin’.” And the old ranger gave his head a dubious shake, Leaving Calamity to secure the desperado, Dan hurried away to fetch up the borses, and shortly returned with the animals. “This critter hes an annymile ’round some- whar in ther bresh, an’ we'd better git et,” the ranger then suggested. ‘‘l’ve gotan idea we'd best tote him straight ter ther Regulator camp, an’ we'll be able to jog along faster with another hoss.” Accordingly, Dan glided into the thicket, and in a few minutes succeeded in locating the out- laws’ animals, The four horses were tethered ina bunch, and after a moment’s listening to assure himself that none of the trail assassins were prowling about, Dan cautiously approached and singled out one of the animals, Cutting the hitching-strap, the detective thrust his foot into the stirrup, and swung bimeelf into the saddle just as the animal sbied sharply. At the same instant a revolver cracked, and so close to Gold-Dust Dan’s face was the muzzle of the weapon, that for a moment the flash blinded him, With a sharp cry he slipped ovt of the saddle, missed his footing, and fell heavily to the ground, ** Aha! I’ve bagged ther game!” exclaimed an exultant voice, and then from behind the horse appeared the dark outlines of a man, ‘It’s an old sayin’, but mighty true, thet ‘he who runs away may live ter fight anotber day,’ an’ Rocky Randall, ye skedaddled back thar jist about right. aod the fellow dropped upon bis knees beside the supposed corpse. It was a fatal move. The butt of a heavy re- volver landed upon his head with terrific force, and the trail assassin keeled over, while Gold- Dust Dan, untouched and unharmed, leaped to his feet. The words uttered by the miscreant convinced Dan that he had been alone, and that nothin was to be feared from the others of the evi crew. Assuring himself that the fellow was senseless, not dead, the detective disarmed him, inioned his hands and strapped him across the orse, Cutting out another of the animals, Dan then returned to the trail, where he found Old Calam- ity awaiting his reappearance with no little anx- iety. A glance at the young detective’s captive af- forded the old ranger an all-sufficient explana- tion of the brief racket be had heard, and he silently assisted in getting the prisoners ready for the trip. When both had been restored to consciousness, they were gagged and lashed upright in the sad- dle. Then, just as the moon rose, Dan and Old Calamity mounted and set forward on their long ride, Mile after mile fell behind them, The moon rove bigher and higher, then reached and crossed the zenith. Gold Gulch was yet five miles dis- tant, the camp of the Regulators twice that far. “Dan’l,” observed the old ranger, as the party drew rein in a sma)] stream to water the horses, ‘* Dan’l, I see’d su’thin’ derned strange, b’gosh! w’en I went inter camp Isst night. Itarned u stream right hyar, an’ about two bundred yards furder on rid inter ther purtiest leetie glade I ever putt ther two eyes ov meon, An’ right in ther middle ov ther glade, Dan’l, war a lone grave, marked by a big white cross. Thar war letters on ther cross, but it war dark in thar then, an’ they war too much fer 7 | ole eyes, b’gosb! Can’t see very well now, Dan’l, Ole age isa calamitous misfortune, b’mighty! But about thet cros:, Dan’!}—I fergot ter look this mornin’, es I left in some’at ov a burry, an’ I jest wish ye’d ride up thar, tarn ter yer left, sbet one eye an’ take a squint at them ’ar alpha- betical signs, What say?” The detective gave a ready assent, and turned his horse up-stream. It took but a moment to > reach the glade, and as Dan glanced over it he felt compelled to admit that Old Calamity’s | a praise of the spot was not misplaced, com , , tas) — oy