Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 755 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

. e P| ya e = ‘ : ye a, i “s el \ : ——__ ___ sion of delight mantling his ghastly face, *‘ boy! ye did verself proud, b’gosh! C’u’d n’t’a’ done better myself, b’mighty! Mud-cats an’ houn’- pups! but ye putt ther critter in a calamitous rage! Thort he’a strangle—I jest did!” ‘** We'll hev a warm time before many min- utes,” Big Davy declared. ‘‘See! he’s sendin’ runners along ther line.” ‘Oh, no doubt be means busiress,” grimly remarked Reckless Roy, and leaving the two men on guard he hurried back into the timber, Five—ten minutes passed, then, just as the sun peeped above the eastern horizon a burst of yells announced the appproach of the attacking party. Down upon the motte they thundered, with not an opposing shot to check their beadloog speod till within fifty yards of the goal, Then the rifles of the Regulators opened in a dull, continuous roar, and tbe battle was on. CHAPTER VIL DAN IN DISGUISE—MEDIA’S CHALLENGE, A YELL, faint but triumphant, followed the fall of Gold-Dast Dan, ani the hidden assus- sin sprung kalf-erect, only to drop back in his lair—weak, helpless, his face distorted with keenest agony. An Indian youth, on his first war-trail, and that trail his last; for he was wounded unto death, the life-current streaming from a shat- tered hip and two gaping wounds in bis brawny breast. The revolver slipped from his nerveless hand, ee fell back, and in another minute he was ead. An hour—two hours slipped by, without a sound to break the silence hanging over the eek scene; then with a faint sigh Gold-Dust an slowly raised himself upon one elbow and wearily looked at his grim surroundings, Mechanically his band sought bis head, and as his fingers encountered a gaping furrow in bis oer he sprung to bis feet and caught up his rifle. Back into the shadows he glided, and again searched the grove. And again he found it deserted, Puzzled by the mystery surrounding that dastardly sbot which had so nearly cost him his life, Gold-Dust Dan at length gave over the search and retraced his steps to the point where he had left bis horse, “Vil take a peep at Red Panther’s trail, then decide first what to do,” he muttered, and mounting he rode out into the plain, where the trail lay bread and deep. Long and earnestly the youth studied the maze of footprints, then galloped back to the timber, dismounted and singled out the body of a Sioux warrior, from which he stripped the gaudy war- trappings, Then out into the moonlight at the edge of the motte the young detective strode, aud with the aid of a small pocket-mirror set himself to his strange task. The gray light of dawn was tinging the Eastern sky when he arose, ard so perfectly was he disguised as a Sioux brave that the scrutiny of the keenest red-skin in ajl the nation might have been defied to detect the imposture. Just in time, too, was that startling meta- morpbosis completed, for even as the detective gained his feet his ears were greeted by a low, sweet chant, as weird as mournful, Startled, mystified, he sprung into the saddle and urged his borse across the motte, drawing rein in the dense shadows, to sweep the Western plain with apxious eyes. lt was a strange scene that met bis gaze. Two hundred yards away and advancing ata measured pace, came Roving Rutb, astride the great white stallion and uttering that weird, plaintive chant. Bebind the mysterious woman, mounted on black borses and riding two abreast, came eight sable figures, bearing in their midst a buge white cross, eA dozen paces from the edge of the motte, the strange cavalcade halted. At a word of command from Roving Ruth, the eight black riders dismounted and with shovels they carried began work, cutting away the tough prairie sod for a long trench, ‘They came to bury the dead,” mused Gold- Dust Dan, shaking off the fascination tbat for the moment had held him. ‘* Come, Prince! we must get away from this, for it is growing light and we are in the guise of the enemy.” And wheeling his horse, the disguised detective _Tecrossed the timber island and spurred away to _ the southward, on the trail of Red Panther, cy ae 1% _ QOnvward, breasting that galling, deadly fire vee Oe Vy ORE te a ¢ >! Pe a PY, ame | “na | ae . d 1 | side, Se SS FS a — Gold-Dust Dan’s Oath. with grim courage, swept Red Panther’s horse— on, till the surging line touched the motte on | every side. Then—cool, steady, and as yet un- | secathed—forth from cover leaped the Regulators, and the sbarp cracking of revolvers took the place of the roar of rifles, Before that merciless, unerring storm of lead no foe could stand. Tbe red line wavered, then broke, and in a moment more was in full fligbt, ‘‘ Your rifles, boys, and make every bullet count!” thundered Reckless Roy, bis dark eyes aflame with fierce triumph, ‘‘ Teach the devils a lesson they’ll never forget!”’ ‘*Reckon they’ve ’most got thet lesson, Cap,” uttered Idaho, pausing at the young outlaw’s ‘‘Thar’s full twenty dead, an’ as many Lt Se | more wounded or unborsed,” | ** And our men, Idaho?” | Tots o' scratches, but only one killed, as far as I’ve seen.” ‘* Bad, yet far better than I expected.” At that moment there came a lullin the firing, and the two men separated, idabo hastening | away to reform the broken line, while Reck- less Roy returned~*to his stand at the north end of the island, | Cap, thar’s more mischief a-brewin’, b’gosh!” , asseverated Old Calamity, as the young outlaw | cameup: “ Red Panther got off with a bull hide, | an’ ef I ain’t mistook he’s goin’ ter call up more ov ther smoky-hides, Jest look out yender,” — , A glance across the plain verified the old rap- | ger’s assertion that there was trouble brewing, Red Pantber had retreated toa sale distance, and was now surrounded by a group of rene- gades and Sioux braves, all watching the move- ments of a half-dozen warriors a short distance to the eastward, ‘*T opine they’re goin’ ter send up signal smoke,” continued Old Calamity. ‘* They’re fixin’ fer three separate columns, too, an’ ’cordin’ ter thet we're goin’ ter hev high-jinks byme- by. | ‘I’m afraid so,” Reckless Roy admitted. Eagerly the trio watched the maneuvers of the distant red-skins, Presently three columns of dense smoke mounted upward through the calm morning air, one after the other, and the worst fears of the little party were confirmed, ‘* We're in for it,” declared the young outlaw, with a grim smile, ‘‘ Were our borses less jaded, I’d favor a dash for the camps; as it is, we must beat the devils off or go under.” ‘*Wal, et do look conjemmed misfortunate,” Old Calamity observed. ‘** But they ain’t got us yit. Thar’s room fer us ter feel a heap sight wuss ’n we do, b’mighty. ‘“ Ef we c’u’d on’y ’a’ wiped out Red Panther, et da’ ended ther muss, short-off,” remarked Big Davy, regretfully. ‘Ther cuss must b’ar a charmed life. J drawed a dead bead on bis car- cas3 four times, an’ he never so much as flineh- ”) “Try his head next time,” advised Reckless Roy. ‘It is said he wears a coat of mail, which doubtless explains your failure,” Big Davy nodded grimly. Then silence came over the party, and for a balf-hour no one spoke, At the expiration of that time, their continued surveillance baving discovered nothing, Reck- ‘less Roy turned back to consult Idabo and to look after affairs in the timber, and it was not until noon that he rejoined the bordermen. | ‘*‘ Anything new?” be asked, as he again crouch- ed down between them, ** Nothin’, on’y twenty-five or thirty reds hev come straggiin’ in,” replied Old Calamity. ** Reckon ther critter’s got about his full force mustered.” ‘‘ Then if luck stays with us, we'll have little to fear. . ‘*But look yonder!” and starting half-erect, Reckless Roy pointed across the plain. f ‘‘Red Panther, an’ with a flag ov truce!” ejac- ulated Big Davy. True enough; the renegade chief was again ap- proaching, bearing aloft a white flag. ‘‘ What can the fellow mean?” continued Reck- less Roy, for the moment nonplused, ‘ What's his game this time?” ‘* Bt’s ther old story—he wants us ter give up ther gal ’thout a fight,” Old Calamity declared, ‘‘T reckon be hes an idea we’re weaker’n we war this mornin’.” ‘‘ Possibly,” assented Rry. “It strikes me, though, his coming is to mask some treacherous move on tue part of the red-skins. Just keep an eye on them and I'll go meet bim.” ~~ And forth from the shelter of the island again strode the young outlaw, halting as before on the southern bank of the little stream cutting through Red Panther was only a moment later in reacbing the rendezvous, ‘* Well, young man, I’ve come to offer you yet another chance,” the renegade announced, ‘*A chance at what? The total annihilation of your gang?” ‘* 7] came to talk sense, Reckless Roy!” was the fiercely uttered rejoinder. ‘I have no time for foolish badinage. ‘*You and your men are completely hemmed in by a force even stronger and more determined than that which assailed you this morning, If we attack, sheer weight of numbers will give us the victory, and not a man of you shall be spared. ‘* But while certain of final success, I know that it would be purchased at dear cost—the lives of many of my men, and to avoid further blood- shed | have come here to make you a prcposi- tion, ‘* [t is this: ‘“The girl in your camp, one Media Bradlaw, bas in her possession a small steel casket—a trinket now utterly valueless to her, but most valuable to me, Give over that casket, and | pledge you my word I'll withdraw my men and leave you free to go when and where you will with the girl. ‘“Now, Reckless Roy, think over the matter, and think well, for 1n one hour I shall] return for an answer, and that answer must be final.” And Red Panther wheeled his horse to ride away. “Hold, chief!” cried Reckless Roy, sternly. ‘‘T have decided, and you sball have an answer now! ‘“ First, though, let us see if I fully understand the matter. : ‘* According to report, among the first white men to enter the Biack Hills in search of gold was John Bradlaw, the brother of Media Brad- law, With him were twosworn friends, The three found gold—found it in abundance, and for nearly two years worked a secret mine, at the end of each month storing away in some hidden place their golden earnings, ‘‘Then came the great influx of fortune-hun- ters. Deadwood sprung up, the Hills were over- rup with gold-mad miners, and Bradlaw and bis friends were discovered, ‘‘ The three were alone, their claim was in an isolated recess of the bills, and an evil gang led by one Flush Frank, a gambler, conceived the idea of routing the pards and jumping the claim, The attempt was successful, one of tho three miners being killed, while Bradlaw and his surviving pard, Jubal Bennet, were forced to flee for their lives. ‘‘ The two succeeded in reaching Rapid City, and there organized a force to retake their claim. Knowing that a desperate struggle was before them, Bradlaw and Bennet drew up a paper, ac- curately describing the exact location of the buried treasure. This paper was torn in two from corner to corner, Bradlaw inclosed his half, with a letter fully explaining the situation save as to the location of the treasure, in a small steel casket, and expressed it East to his father, Bennet disposed of his fragment ina similar manuer, except that he deposited his casket with Jake Rose, a bavkerin Rapid City, to be held uptil called for by himself, by John Bradlaw, or Jobn Bradlaw’s duly accredited beirs, “This precaution taken, the two men went forth todo battle for their property; but their rty was defeated, Bennet receiving a wound rom which he died ere reaching Rapid City, while John Bradlaw fell at the mine, shot down by Flush Frank, ' That was nearly a yearago, Red Panther, and now you have secured the casket left in the keeping of Jake Rose, but to secure the golden preneute must also have that beld by Media Brad- aw, ; ‘Ts it not so?” The renegade uttered an oath. ‘‘ Yes, it is so, Reckless Roy,” he admitted, after a moment’s deliberation. ‘* You have de- scribed the situation exactly. ‘* And now, your answer?” hee “That in due time, Red Panther,” was the stern reply. ‘‘1 do not know that Media Brad- law possesses the casket; but that there may be no mistake between you and me, let me finish, ‘The great question with me is, who are you? Are you Jake Roses Or Flush Frank? Or are you simply a murderous tool in the hands of one r both of these men?” : ee Curse your tongue!” gritted the renegade. “ T}l never—” , ¢ Wait!” interrupted Reckless Roy, ‘I'll not ask you to disclose your identity. Suffice it that [ know your color, I overheard you plot- that was enough! | ‘* Having orphaned Media Bradlaw, you would Ta tice Ke > ‘ ' ' , yn os a £, i 2s) ting with Hackamore Hank two nights ago, and - *