Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 786 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

“= > > re S “a j Lone Hand s ground, however, retreating slowly toward the opening into the stronghold until Maverick Bull fell mortally wonnded. Then the others broke, and attempted to save themselves by a flight in- to the interior. One other of their number was shot down before they could escape from the corral, into which the victorious troopers were pouring like a resistless tide. ; The demoralized thieves gave no heed what- ever to the miserable girl tied up in the seclusion ef her room, nor did they attempt to defend the opening, but ran bither and thither, seeking some safe hiding-place. lt seemed almost a miracle that Philip Sidney was not slain by one of the many balls that for atime flew like bail across the inclosure, and which battered themselves against tbe rocks around him. He shouted wildly to the soldiers, knowing them to be friends; but in the uproar they did not hear bim, However, when the outlaws retreated behind the rocky barriers.of the stronghold proper, he managed to make himself heard and understood. The first to reach his side was Old Joe. ‘*Tt’s you, boy! Toank God!” With that be whipped out bis knife, and with quick strokes cut the cords that held the young ranchman, Tbke troopers were crowding into the narrow passage through which trey had seen the robbers retreat, ‘*Come!” exclaimed Sidney, after hurriedly mumbling bis thanks, ‘‘ Irene is in there. We must save her!” He hastened forward, dragging the old man at his side, The dawn was just breaking along the eastern sky, betokening the quick coming of day; and, as they ran on, they recognized, even by this ‘dim light, the prostrate body of Maverick Bill, The outlaw chief was not dead, a fact evi- denced by bis mospings. They had no time to devote to him just then. The safety of [rene was the thought uppermost in‘ the minds of both, They fund the passage almost clear, and Sid- ney was able to make his way direct to her room, The troopers had sped on in quest of the terror-stricken thieves, Irene uttered a cry of fright, as she saw two men appear at the opening to her apartment; but this was changed to an exclamation of joy, when she knew who they were. Sidney lost no time in releasing ber, and then took her in his arms and Kissed her again and again, oblivious of the fact that Old Joe was standing near, ‘“That’s all right!” the old borderman said, encouragingly. ‘‘1 kin reec’lect very well that I was young onc’t myself. May yer jy last ferever, with never a cup 0’ sorrer in it!” The pursuit of the outlaws was quiskty ended, Such of them as were not killed threw down their weapons and begged for mercy, | The sun had risen when Old Joe and Sidney bethought themselves of Maverick Bill, and made their way again to the corral, He was foun@ still alive and conscious; and, when they saw this, they sent word of the fact to Colonel Tomlinson, ) _ It was plain that Maverick could not liv long; and Tomlinson instructed that he be brought into the large apartment and made as comfortable as possible, TomJinson was a hu- mane officer, in spite of his many faults, ‘*T want to speak to you,” Maverick Bill whis- pered, beckoning to Old Joe, Sidney and Irene were present in the room at the time, the latter weeping bitterly, She had been told that her father could not recover: and, although he bad treated her so barshly and cruelly, she was not able to divest herself of the old feeling of filial affection and respect, ; Old Joe came close to the cot of the dying out- law, and bent forward to hear what he might have to say. ‘*Tt’s all up with me!” Maverick whispered, a spasm of pain contorting his features. ‘I know that I’ve got to go, an’ that I’m not prepared to go. I want to do what I can, though, to straighten out my account in this world, It’s an ugly account, and beyord untangling; but mebbe I can do 4 little,” He pause: as if for breath, or because of weak- ness, and looked earnestly at the sobbing girl. “She thinks she’s iny daughter,” nodding weakly toward her. ‘I wanted her to think so, an’ so I never told her any better, But she ain’t my daughter, Copnetly; she’s yours!” Old Joe fell back with a gasp. of astonishment, so completely dumfounded by this revelation that he could not 8 » @0d. eould scarcely think, Then be turned, toward Trene; and she, leaving Sidney’s side, C@Me bewilderedly for- ' ce . \ wie a & AL 4 r 4 ¢. aot Y ar 4 - ward and was received into the borderman’s open arms. **[ thought you wus dead long ago!” Old Joe asserted, as if not yet able to believe what he had heard, ‘“‘Shorely! shorely, it can’t betrue! It can’t be that I’ve got my little Coral back ve ‘i He ventured to touch her forehead with bis roughened lips; and at this manifestation of pleasure she clung tightly to him and returned his kiss with interest, The face of the dying outlaw wore a pleased smile as he witnessed this, It seemed to atone in some measure for bis misdeeds, ‘* Tell meabout it!” Old Joe pleaded, understand it at all!” Thus appealed to, Maverick Bill told how Irene had come to be living with him as his owa child. Instead of being carried away by the Indians, or killed by them, as had been thought, she had been slipped away at the time of the Indian raid by a servant who sought to escape with her. This servant must have been serious- ly wounded at the time. At any rate, he was found dead by Maverick Bill, where he had probable tumbled from his horse; and little Coral, as she was then called, was discovered sitting on the grass near the body, disconsolately weeping.’ Maverick Bill took a fancy to ber, and instead of restoring her to Joe Connetty—wbom he well knew to be her father—he carried her away and reared ber as hisown daughter; and she was so young at the time, that all the instincts of her early childhood gradually faded from her memory. - **T can’t Maverick Bill and the other outlaws slain in the fight at Prairio Gibraltar were buried near the rocky pile they had so long made their home, The mystery of the phantom horse became a mystery no longer. An examination of it under all conditions-—as well as the explanations offered by the captured thieves—showed that the strange glow, which has so frequently been mentioned, was really a freak of nature. The horse belonged to that type of nondescript animals whose pecu- liarities and oddities have gone toevrich Barnum and other showmen, Its bair apparently re- sembled the hair of any other horse; yet it pos- sessed the property of emitting a phosphorescent light—a property which, wben possessed by many other animals, fishes, glow-worms, and the like, excites no surprise whatever. The horse appeared to have some control over this light, and suppressed it whenever scared. The figures seen mounting the canyon wall were nothing more than effects produced by deft manipulations of a magic Jantern; and were intended--as was also the use Of the horse—to keep enemies at a distance, The scared vision of Philip Sidney ascending this wall on the back of the horse, seen by Old Joe, was a repro iuc- tion of a photograph taken in the corral that day; Sidney being filled with fear at the time of its taking because of a cocked revolver held threateningly by Maverick Bill. _ Philip Sidney and Coral Connetty were united in marriage a few days later; and there were great festivities and merry-making at Good’ Cheer Ranch, which became their future home, The wild, untrained gir] developed into a model woman and wife, and Sidney grew to be one of the most prosperous ranchmen of the region, Old Joe made his home with them for many years. The phantom horse was retained by them; and they used it with good effect in their dealings with the lawless element that for along time troubled the country, And so, with the kindest wishes, we leave them in the full enjoyment of earth’s choicest bless- ings. me THE END. Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow , 589 Tom-Cat and Pard3 or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 601 itepp Ilana, the Dutch Vidocq. 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. 2 exas Tom-Cat’s Triad 1 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task. Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Bleck Dan’s Great Combine, one Cowbo Gid, the Cattle-Range. Detective. 3 4 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank. 676 Jolly Jeremiahy the Plains Detective: 6R9 ito Sam, the Lookout Scout. Bi 7 she Gy pay Spy. of Poy Diaper ping aS =. 4 Detect! . BC ris: ort; or e ystifie ve. see eaten Tam, ‘ Mad Pattee: rales ‘ tm, the Crosa-Cut Detective. + 761 Marmaduke, the Mustanger Detective. ~ = ‘| ar -_ BY GEORGE C. JENKS. 455 Git Thar Owney the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor. 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 5S Flute, the Singer Detective. 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Folly or, Dan’s Doubk 616 The Ocean Detective: or. The Last Cruise of the Blac 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussle. 7836 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every © BY WILLIA( R EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pard* ; BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl, 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. ¥ Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. Joe Kuck of Angels and His Boy Pard. New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham. New England Nicky or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. Taos Ted, toe Arizonu Sport. Cool Colorado, the Half-Breed Detective. 518 Cool Colorado in New York. BY a 0 PIERCE, B97 Bob o’ the Bowery ¢ or, The Prince of Mulberry Streets 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, 452 Hotapur Bob, the Street-Buy Detective, 460 The Lawyer’s Shadowy or Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jnunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective, 5 Five Polinta Phil. Jack J aeLErs, the Butcher Boy Detective. Tartar Tiny or, five Points Phil’s Menagerie. North River Nat, the Pfer Detective. W reatling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward, Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. Niek Nettle, the Boy Shadow. Warlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective, Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter, Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector, Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer, W histling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. 628 Buck Bumblebee, the Harlew Huonmer, 689 Sunrise Saul, the Exprese-Train Ferret. df 649 Gamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping’a Slippery Set, 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Lile-Saver. 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator, 694 Spicy Sim, the Only One of Hia Kind 706 Tom Thiatle, the Rond-House Detective, T17 Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. 726 Dennis« Duff the Brown Sport's Kid. 744 Dick of the Docks, the Night Watch, RY OLL COOMES. & Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew, 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, thy Boy Guide, 81 Keen-Kultfe, the Vrince of the Prairies. 41 Laaso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 5S The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. Tl Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawkeye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger. 88 Rollo, the Roy Ranger. 1834 Sure Shot Seth, th. Koy Rifleman, 148 Sear-Fave Sant, the Silent Hunter » 146 Silver Star, the Nov Knight. 4 158 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon, ia 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Hoy aptain, 202 Prospect Pete: or, The Young Outlaw Munters. 208 The Boy Hercules: or, Vhe Prairie Tramps. | 18 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dicks or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildlire, the Young mgt Nomad. SS The Parson Detectives or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Dingulsed Guides or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 2T2 Minkakin Mike, the Koy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. B00 The Sky Demon; or, Kainbolt, the Ranger, 884 Whip-King Joe, the Bov Ranchero. 409 Thereules: wr, Dick, the Boy Ranyer. AIT Webfoot Moxe, the Tramp Detective. A22 Baby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone, 4141 Little Buckaktin, the Young Prairie Centaur. 457 Wingedfoot Fred 3 or. Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 482 Stonewal Ob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Baall, the Hermit Boy Trapper. 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, . +48 Old Kit mapas a og Yeats joer orway Nels, the Bie Boy Mountaineer. 680 Dauntless Dan the Freelance, or Old Kit Bandy in Arcadia, ‘ BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Yellowstone Juck 3; or, The Trapper. , 48 Black John, the Roal-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Murricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustang Sam $3 or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-tfawk 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 Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy, 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire, 184 The Roy Tratlers?s or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path. 208 The Boy Pardas or, Dainty Lance Unmasks. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Rarranca Wolf: or, The Beautiful Decoy. B19 The Black Rider} or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, B85 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide 855 The Kine of the Woods: or DanieleBoone’s Last Trall, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Tratler. 677 Chineapin Dan's Second Trall, 688 Chincapin Dan's Home Strete 698 Old Crazy, the Man Withont a Head. 7O8 Light-Weart Lute’s Lecwacy: 718 Light-Heart Lute’s Last Trail. 728 Silverblade, the Shoshone. 729 Silverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay. 789 Silverblade, the Hostile. ) 748 Silwerblade, the Friendly; or, The Border Beagle’s Boy Pard, BY BRACERRIDGE NEMYNG. ' $9 Ialand Jim, or, The Pet of the Family. 91 The copiein of the Olub3; or. The Rival Athletes. 101 Jack Harkaway tn New York. Re A New isaue Every Tuesday. {7 gem) The Half-Dime Library |» for sale by ant newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six centseach, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, | _ 98 William Street, New Yorks ¥| ne Nal 4 ‘ ~. wa , sat 4" : a a | > ~~ a. oe : com