Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 786 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

Lone Hand J 06. 3 to glide upward as if nothing bad been done to | interfere with their movement; and a moment later ‘isappeared among the overhanging shadows, The sight was too much for Old Lone Hand’s nerves, strong as they were. He gavea yell of fear, scrambled down the rough incline, and raced wildly for the willow clump—a demoralized detective! CHAPTER II, A WILD STAMPEDE. PRAIRIE GIBRALTAR had received its name from its strength as a natural stronghold, It was almost impregnable to assault from with- out. Safe within its sheltering walls, a few de- ‘termined and desperate men might hold a large force at bay until food and ammunition were ex- hausted, Water could be had in abundance, for Cimarron River flowed only a few feet dis- tant, and the way to and from it was well pro- tected from the shots of marksmen. Thus, in many respects the place resembled the great British fortress; and the wide-reaching prairie, stretching out to illimitable distances, assisted in conferring onit the name: Prairie Gibraltar, Because of its impregnability it had for many years been the hiding-place and headquarters of plains outcasts and raiders, Since the cattle herds had come into the country these despera- does had made themse!| ves especially mischievous by running off stock. For a time they were strong enough to set the ranchmen at defiance, but bad suffered reverses of late, and had, there- fore, grown extremely cautious, — And now, ouly a few weeks before, it had been given out that the cattle-stealers had wholly abandoned Prairie Gibraltar; and that they had done so because of certain mysterious and ghost- ly appearances. . These reports did not take very definite shape, but the current belief appeared to be that one of the thieves and his horse bail been slain in a fight with the ranchmen, and that every night he 2 Sparta himself before the stronghold, riding is ghostly steed, for the purpose of urging his old companions to avenge his death. If that was the aim of his coming, it failed: the only effect being to drive these friends from their old hiding-place, Such was the gist of the rumor given in various seapes, and which was com- ing to be generally believed by,the men of the ranches, | | . Old Joe Connetty had heard it, and his mind reverted to it more a than ever as he fled from the apparition which had been proof against his bullet. ) ‘* T can’t say that I hankers to git clost to the thing ag’in!” he mumbled, as he hurried on, slipping and sliding and occasionally falling when his feet became tangled in the long grass. **Tf "tain’t spirits, it looks enough like ’em to “suit me, If anybody else wants to 'vestigate it, they kin. [’m a-goin’ to cut out o’ hyer, Hosses that you kin rub your hands over, an’ feel the bair uv ’um one minute, then shoot clean through ’um without tetchin’ ’um the next! Excuse me! Waugh!” And he did ‘cut out,” when he gained his horse, turning willingly away from the place that a short half-hour before bad so attracted him. ‘IT think Pll see what Phil Sidney’s got to say about this,” giving the willing beast free rein. ““Sidney’s a-knowin’ chap, if he is young, an’ mebbe he’ll hev some idees on the subjec’, J hain’t |” He set his jaws firmly, as he made this latter declaration. He had thought of the matter al- ready until his brain was ina whirl, and he re- solved to think of it no longer; a thing which he quickly discovered to be Impossible, -_ Philip Sidney’s ranch lay up the Cimarron River. 1t was the nearest one to Prairie Gibral- tar, and in distance was not Over a two hours’ Tide from that place. f Sidney had suffered, in conjunction with his fellow cattlemen, and had been active in his efforts to aid them in ridding the country of the thieves. Beécause of this, his ranch had been once boldly raided by the desperadoes and one Wade via cowboys killed, Therefore, no one was _ better pleased than he at the rumor that the eattle-lifters meant to leave, or had left, the _ Ranch,” because of the h country. If they remained, he felt he must surely go, or suffer financial ruiv.. _ His place was known as the ‘‘Good Cheer itality. which it al- ways afforded; and because of this, and for the further reason that Lone Hand and young Sid- | Key were firm friends, Old Connetty set bis face ‘toward this ra _ Flin in ne In spite of Peiaswtelk: th think no more of the phantom horse the things be had that night & a ~ . ’ a! ‘ - . ‘ » >) 4 ot ol ° she . - ee witnessed were not out of his mind a minute during the ride, It was long past midnight when he drew near the ranch buildings of the Good Cheer, and he was immediately made aware that something unusual was occurring, by the loud outcries that reached him, He sat erect in the saddle, with feet thrust hard against the stirrups, as he bearkened to the confused sounds. ‘“Tt’s a stampede!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ It must be that! But, ’tain’t a night fer a stampede, I reckon them p’izen cattle-lifters air ag’in at their work, When I seen that creepy thing at Prairie Gibraltar, I knowed they hadn’t left the country.” ? This Jast was a conclusion just reached at that moment, though it seemed to him he had settled the point long before, He set spurs to his horse and galloped for- ward, guiding the animal in the direction from which the hubbub proceeded. He soon found himself on the edge of a mov- ing mass of borns and hair, which he knew to be the stampeding herds of young Sidney, Joe uttered a bitter imprecation as the maddened animals poured by him, bellowing wildly and throwing up a dust-cloud that made the night even darker than before, ‘It’s the work o’ them cussid cattle-thieves!” he gritted, pulling in bis borse and vainly at- tempting to turn the frightened herd, From far away he heard the voices of men, but whether they were those of Sidney’s cow- boys or of the cattle-rustlers he could not tell, Alone he could do nothing with the cattle, and he wheeled his horse again and rode in the direc- tion of the voices, As he came closer to them, Connetty knew the horsemen (whom he could pow dimly see), were the cowboys of the Good Cheer Ranch, and he boldly approached them. Philip Sidney was in the midst of his men who were riding hither and thither, doing all they could to check the mad rush of the herds, There were other voices now to be heard far away, and Old Joe was sure these were the voices of the cattle-thieves, He singled Philip Sidney out evenjn the dark- ness, rode to bis side, and shouted: ‘The rustlers air over yander, pard. Better make a charge on ’um, IVI be the quickest way to stop the steers,” In accordance with this advice, Sidney grouped a few of his men about himself and the old nomad, and raced with them toward the thieves, leaving. the. remnant of his little force to con- tinue their efforts to make the cattle ** mill,” It. was ticklish and risky work, this racing over the prairie in the darkness, The many holes made by badgers and prairie dogs ren- dered it peculiarly perilous, Neither horse nor rider could see what was in front, anda step into one of these holes might mean a broken leg to the horse, and a broken neck or severe in- juries to the man who bestrode bim, But the cowboys did not besitate because of this, and dashed away at the word of command, as if such risks were every-day occurrences, They did not come up with the raiders, how- ever, though at one time they pressed the rascals hard, The front of the flying berds had for some reason become split into fragments, and the marauders separated in the same manner. It. seemed likely they would succeed in so scatter- ing the herds that they could not fail to secure and drive away a number of the cattle: and this the cowboys could: do little to prevent, because of the gloom, Near daybreak Old Lone Hand and Sidney, who had kept well together throughout it all, turned back toward the ranch buildings on the banks of the Cimarron, The cattle had been brought fairly well under control, and, except those that bad entirely escaped, were being held by the cowboys, ‘‘T wanted ye to ride back with me,” Connetty remarked, in explanation of his request to that effect, ‘‘so that I might talk over a mighty cur’ous circumstance with ye, It’s the rummest thing I’ve run ag’in lately; an’ ve thought it might hey somethin’ to do with this stampede,” The two were riding slowly along, resting their tired horses, ? ** What is it about?” Thus invited, Old Lone Hand plunged into a recital of the renee things he bad seen at Prairie Gibraltar. They were singular enough to arouse Sidney’s keenest interest, ‘“*Come into the house,” the young man re- ested, when tbe. bu were ed. “That thi 2 will stand a good deal of talking amet ou say you bad your hands on the , ~~ **'Yes; an’ shot at it, too! An’ the bullet went plum through it without hurtin’ it a mite, "Twus fer all the world jist like shootin’ through a cloud!” Philip Sidney’s face, clearly revealed now b the lamp, expressed earnestness as well as curi- osity. It was strongly marked and fairly hand- some; the face of a young man who is accus- tomed to rely on himself, and who feels that he is conquering for himself a place in the world, The young man was dressed in cowboy garb, which well became bis strongly knit and up- right form, There was, of course, the inevit- able big white bat, and the high-heeled riding- boots with their jingling spurs, ** It’s ridicuious to talk of a spirit horse!” he declared, as Le turned Connetty’s statement over in his mind, ‘I don’t believe that the spirits of men ever return to earth; and as for horses, I’m not sure that they bave any spirits. They may have, but we’re not usually taught to think so. The ghost idea is sheerest nonsense!” Joe looked as if be would like to accept this theory if he could. ‘*T hope you're right,” was bis quiet observa- tion. ‘Spirits ain’t pleasant things to tackle,” ‘*Tt’s plain the thieves baven’t Jeft Prairie Gibraltar; and 1’m of the opinion that the men who rustled the cattle to-night were from there, This horse mystery is probably a game of theirs to keep people from visiting the place. And if that is so, it shows they are as strong and defiant as they once were. I tbink we'd better,look into the matter,” “Pm with ye,” Old Joe averred, ‘though I ain’t a-pinin’ to see that thing ag’in. But if you're in earnest, I'll stand by ye. All I ¢an say is, if they’re playin’ a game with a boss, they’ve got the creeter fer the business, That thing ’u’d do to ’luminate a circus with. The only trouble ’u’d he that it might go outof a suddent an’ shet off the pe: formance!” CHAPTER III. AN UNLUCKY INTERFERENCE, wil DON’T reckou the shinin’ kin be seen in day-~ ight! | [This remark was made many hours after the interview in the ranch-house, near the close of the following day, and Old Joe and Sidney were in hiding among the willows a short distance above tbe prairie stronghold. From their position they could get a fair view of the rocky fortress, and of the corral in which Old Lone Hand had beheld the phantom horse. Some horses were in the inclosure, but none ~ which seemed to fit the description which Joe had given, Hence the remark. \ ‘*] think Ill try to get a closer look,” decided Sidney, after they had surveyed the place fora long time. ‘*The fact that there are horses there shows there must be men there.” | Joe was about to object, but pice) wriggled away through the willows, keeping bimself well concealed from enemies by the interposition of a projecting granite point, x “Pi try ter cover yer retreat if ye git into a muss,” Old Joe whispered after him, when he saw that dissuasion was useless, | Sidney answered by a backward smile, and kept on, — his advance was destined to bring conse- quences little dreamed of at the moment. The only thing Sidney feared was that he might be sigbted and shot at from the walls. The corral was not visible during bis pro- gress—at least not until he bad rounded the rocky point, Then he bebeld a sight which caused him to crouch closer against the ledge, A woman was standing within the corral, near the horses, and she was followed shortly by a man who came from some point not to be seen by the spy. Philip Sidney had thought there might be men behind the walls, but he had never dreamed of a woman being there. Sbe was young, too; and, what took bis eye far more, was decidedly handsome, She was of the brunette type, graceful carriage, and she held her queen, with erect, head like a The time was — “t. They were so close to the young man that he could hear their words, ‘‘T told you not to follow me here!” the wo, man exclaimed, somewhat enappishly, as she faced about and gave the man a look of scorn, ‘Why do you annoy me so, Ben Stetson? If ou had a thimbleful of modesty or sense, you’d let me alone!” : phy of ate The fellow addressed as Ben Stetson wasa man of bulky frame, and with a face that had in ita brutal look. But for this evident brytalivy, he might bave been called handsome, for | features were regular in contour. Just now be od comic = | - ae ‘al Cc ; 7 - er J A #