Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 756 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

The captain then scanned over the other notes, rolled them all up, put them back in the gun and carried it back to the man’s camp, replacing it as he had found it. He then told Loyd to go his way and keep quiet, for the trap would not be sprung for some time yet. After Loyd’s departure Captain Emmett and Doc Chalmers talked over the affair and both came to the same conclusion, and that was that Gold Dust Dick had run bis neck into the noose end of a rope. The next day captain Emmett asked among the men for some one who could do copying for him, and he wished one who wrote a good hand, aud would pay well for the work, . Several offered and among them Go!d Dust Dick, and the handwriting of the latter was penned the most satisfactory. . W hat he copied was of no moment, for it had been gotten up, like a histcry of the expedition, as though for print, and in it had occurred the very words, nearly all of them, which Gold Dust Dick had used in the tell-tale diary he had been keeping. , He was paid for his work, and told that it was perfectly satisfactory. Watching him, without appearing to do ‘so, Captain Emmett discovered that Gold Dust Dick spent most of his spare time over among the solders, and Loyd, who was also playing the close spy upon bim, told the captain that the man was‘ pumping” those whom he was in- timate with regarding the stations, number of troops and expected trains. He played the banjo well, bad a fine voice, told a good story and made himself very popular with the soldiers, who little dreamed that they were entertaining a road-agent and spy un- awares, , At last the wagons had been packed with furs, until no more could be taken, aud they were the primest of pelts, Arrangements were being made for the return march of the train, when tue commandant of the fort asked Captain Emmett to let bim send along with him as far as Omaha some forty soldiers whose time of enlistinent had expired and who were mustered out of the service, The captain was glad of the opportunity of taking them away, as a greater protection, and also fuund that others at the post and fort in- tended taking advantage of his return of going also, until his force was swelled to a hundred men. ‘‘ We need have no fear of an attack on this trip, Doc,” said the captain. ‘Ob, no, not with the force we have along, and as that fellow Lone Rifle is doubtless arrang- ing some surprise for us, we can simply turn the tables upon him.” ‘6 Yes; but we must see that he does not have communication with Gold Dust Dick.” ‘You will not let him leave camp?” ‘J expect to leave him behind on the trail, be- fore we reach Bend Creek, and if our courier friend visits our camp at the canyon spring, I shall take occasion to speak of the health of the ple of the train and mention that my wagon boas died on the way home,” ** Ab! I see that you have made up your mind to act.” ‘*] have made up my mind to let the men sit jn judgment upon Gold Dust Dick, and their verdict goes. ‘¢ He is the most popular man in the train to- day, and sv there will be no doubt but that he will get full justice,” was the decided answer of Captain Emmett. OD ane CHAPTER XXX, BETRAYED BY HIS OWN HAND. Tre train of the fur-traders pulled out of the post amid the cheers of the soldiers and others, and the good wishes of all. Gold Dust Dick in particular bad been favored, for his soldier friends bad presented him with a number of little souvenirs of the post, and he seemed quite elated. The train was weighted down with pelts, and the march was to be a slow one, the best of trails being taken. , Pawnee Pete was scouting the flanks as usual, and Girard the guide was well out ahead mark- ing the trail. here were forty-five soldiers along, with a lioutenant in lead, and a couple of sergeants Thos out with the men, ee ere were some dozen ore men from the post, on their way to Omaha, and well mounted and ar med, The train, therefore, presented the appearance of a miniature army on the march, Captain Emmett did not tell the officer, who a Dashing Charlie’s Destiny. messed with him, of his intention regarding Gold Dust Dick, as he did not wish to implicate him in the affair. On the trail with his train he was chief, and his word was as thoroughly law as that of the commandant of an army. It was one Sunday afternoon, when the train was in camp, for Captain Emmett always laid by on the Sabbath, and the men were all enjoy- ing the rest. Suddenly Captain Emmett stepped to the front of bis quarters, bugle in hand, and blew the assembly. The men sprung to their feet, wondering at the call, but one and all obeyed, excepting the men on guard, ‘** There is no danger of an attack, for Pawnee Pete and Guide Girard bave just returned from scouting around the camp, so I wish the guards here too,” said the captain. The guards were called in, and the men won- dered if the captain was going to take advan- | | | | | | | | | tage of the Sabbath day to preach them a ser- mon, —— all were assembled Captain Emmett said: ‘*] wish the following men to come to the front as their names are called,” Then followed the names: ‘* Girard the guide.” ‘* Loyd, stock -tender.” ‘*Gold Dust Dick, wagon boss,” ‘** Pawnee Pete, scout,” Soon after Doc Chalmers appeared, and with © somerhing in his bands wrapped up jn a blan- et. This he placed in the tent behind Captain Em- mett, who then said: ‘** Men, and I address only my own trainmen, though 1 am glad to bave all others present, I have a painful duty to perform, for I am com- | pelled to ask one of your number to surrender to me his belt of arms, ‘* Hand me your weapons, Gold Dust Dick.” The man turned deadly pale, glanced quickly about him, but obeyed, while he said: ™ What have I done, captain, that’s wronsz?” ‘Your comrades sball know, and be sé hy, captain, I—” ‘“‘ Guide Girard, slip the irons upon that man,” A murmur went up at this and the tmen moved about uneasily. But Girard, who was prepared irous quickly upon the wrists of boss, ‘* Men, if I do not prove my case against this man, I shall hold myself personally responsible to him for that I say and do,” “That's squar’!” cried a voice, and an ap- plause followed. ‘You will remember that upon our march to the trading-posta courier came to our camp. “This man recognized him and met him be- yond the lines when he left, and what passed be- tween them was overheard, ‘* It was in effect that as the out of it. ‘It’s a lie! I never saw bim. I did not know him, and you have no proof,” shouted the ac- cused man. ‘* This man turned spy, kept a diary, and here it is,” and Captain Emmett unrolled the blanket which Doc Chalmers had brought, took out the un, drew the plug and with it the papers bid- ** This man was to be a spy—” } en in the barrel. ‘‘Tasked for a man to copy for me, after I ‘*Gold Dust Dick was the copyist, and I leave it to all of you, who shall examine his diary and this work done, if it is not the same; hand that wrote botb. ‘*T shall now read the diary, and then pass it around with the copy.” This the captain did, and the effect upon the men was ominous, while Gold Dust Dick had turned pallid and stood quivering and cowering fore his accuser. hen the pa crowd, Captain Emmett continued; a) train [ have given you m I hold against Gold Dust Dick, a man respected and trusted by all of us heretofore, ‘*L accuse him of being a spy, and of having been @ road-agent, while it was his inteution to meet his ally when he came to our camp upon Bend Creek, and betray us to him and the red- skins who will be at his back. ‘Men, you have heard all, and when be has saw this, and here is the work done, people, implicating no otbers in this affair, your judges, and upon their decision hangs your fate.” slipped the the wagon , bad been pards in lawlessness in the past, the courier had a scheme on hand to get this train and make gcld pers had gone the rounds of the Men, and remember I speak only to my own testimony and the proofs | ! | : 13 given any excuse he may wish to offer in his de~- fense, it is for you to pronounce bis doom.” Then in one savage roar came the chorus: ** Death!” ‘* Hang him!” ‘* is there any dissenting voice?” No response came, and then Captain Emmett said impressively : ‘** At sunset to-day, Gold Dust Dick, you are to die at the rope end.” ‘** Amen!” came im solemn chorus from al). And at the hour named the doomed man met his death in fear and trembling, and all said that his punishment was just. The next morning the train pulled out on its way to the rendezvous at Bend Creek, where a trap was to be set which Lade fair te catch the setters of it instead of the intended victims of the renegade plotters. CHAPTER XXXII. THE YOUNG CAPTIVE, WHEN Uharlie Emniett uizcos ered that his two captors felt no dread whatever of the Indians he had tirst discovered and pointed out to them, he felt no longer any doubt that they were rene- gades, Why they had captured him he could not com- prehend, and yet he began to feel how utterly belpless be was now in their power and sur rounded ty a band of red-skins, He had beard tbe stories of ‘the men in camp, how they were renegade white men, fugitives from justice, dwelling simong the red-skins for shelter, and at war with their own race because they were bunted men, doing allin their power to urge the red-skins on to greater deeds of devil- Ly. The band of Incian hcrsemen discovered the whites about as soon as Churlie bad seen them, and after a short reconnoissance lad cone at a gallop toward them, The boy was momentarily in dread, but the coolness of his captors reassured Liui thut they would not be ridden down. On came the red-skins, balf a hundred in number, whooping and waving their weapons as they did so, and looking terrible, indeed, But Buck Baldwin made a sign which was understood, and what Charlie coosidered a shout ot triumph followed. A moment more and the Sioux circled around the party of three, and Buck Baldwin and Bricktop both spoke to them in their own lan- guage, Then they looked at the boy captive, which showed that the two renegades. were discussing him and telling them something about him, for they gazed at bim with wonder in their eyes, Of course poor Charlie could not even guess at what was said, and yet he did not flinch under the gaze of a half hundred pairs of savage eyes, One by one the warriors rode closer to bim, and looked him in the face. Some said, in a friendly way: ‘How! How!” But Charlie maintained his dignity, and was glad when the ordeal was over. Then Baldwin rode to the front, with Charlie by his side, Bricktop followed with the young chief of the band and the braves brought up the rear. Charlie saw enough in this to feel that Bald- win was highly regarded among the Sioux, per- haps one of their chiefs, ride of a couple of miles brought them over a ridge into a valley, through which ram a small river. At once Charlie became interested in spite of the peril he was in, for he beheld for the first time in his life an Indian village, There were hundreds of tepees scattered along both sides of the river, which was not very deep, and beyond were herds of cattle grezing. About in the Indian village were a thousand or more women and children visible, and « large band of horsemen were just coming in from the upper end of the valley, their horses loaded with game, for they bad been on a buffalc-hunt for several days. Entering the village, a rush was made to- ward Baldwin and bis party, and the young cap- tive created a g deal of excitement, as he could plainly see. At first, to his delight, Charlie beheld a num- ber of white women and children in the midst of the red-skius; but a moment after he regarded them with deepest pity, for he knew that they, too, were captives. ‘* Poor boy,” he heard one white-faced gyoman remark as Le saw the tears streaming down her eyes. He was bound, so he could not wave bis bar.ato her in response, and so rode on to the cump of ‘ | —_