Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 786 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 seemed to be slightly under the influence of liquor, and inclined to insolence, ‘Pil not g¢ away till I want to!” glaring at her doggedly. ‘I told ye I’d foller ye out hyer, an’ ’m a man what keeps my word every time!” ‘‘And I told you that if you continued to trouble me, I’d report you to father, and you’d get a bole through you for your pains.” ‘‘ She is a regular spitfire,” Sidney muttered, liking her all the more for her determined re- sistance to the ruffian’s advances, “If that chap was any piece of a man, he’d leave her alone, But I reckon he left bis sense behind him when be loaded up with that jag of whisky. What a fool a little liquor does make of some men!’ Stetson advanced threateningly on the girl, and Sidney’s fingers worked like the claws of a bird, showing how he longed to clutch the ras- cal by the throat, ‘* Will you leave me alone, Ben Stetson?” she commanded, retreating a step and standing at bay. a I won’t, unlegs you take back what you said awhile ago! ‘“T sha’n’t take anything back!” drawing her- self up, wrathfully. As she stood thus, with her cheeks flushed, and ber eves flashing, she formed as pretty a picture as Phil Sidney had ever seen. ‘““My! But she’s a beauty!” | ‘‘Take back what you said to me awhile ago!” ‘* [ said that you were a brute and a fool, and that I wouldn’t marry you if you was the last man on earth! That’s what rd then said, aad now | say it again!” **Gvod for you! You're a brick!” This from Sidney, in whispered exultation, The young cattleman’s interest was being aroused toa feverish pitch. Already be felt like springing out and collaring Ben Stetson, al- though to bis knowledge he had never seen either of the parties before, This feeling became over- powering as he witnessed the result of her defi- ance, Angered beyond measure by her words, and rendered reckless by the liquor he had taken, the outlaw flew at her savagely, and, grasping her by the hair, jerked ber fiercely backward. The assault was made so quickly that she was not given time to avoid it. The pull hurled her to the ground; and, as she lay there, pant- ing and frightened, Stetson raised his heavy boot as if to kick her, This was too much for the witness in hiding. When he saw that, he lost his head, Casting diszretion to the winds, he leaped over the rock wall and was on the ruffian before that individ- ual knew of bis presence, Stetson would have been given no warning at all, if Sidney bad not uttered a shout meant to attract Old Connetty. ‘‘You white-livered puppy!” he cried, as he dealt the outlaw a stinging biow. ‘‘Kicka woman, would you! And a woman who is al- ready down! I'll teach you a lesson in man- ners, you ruffian!” His blood was on fire, and he was in a thor- oughly reckless mood, The woman gave a little scream as she saw bim and heard his words, but he turned bis en- tire attention to Stetson, for the time giving her no heed whatever. Stetson attempted to square about to return the blow, when another heavy right-hander caught him under the chin and laid him flat on bis back. But it.did not knock him senseless; and, as Sidney rushed at bim, he pulled out his revolver and fired, Luckily, be was so shaken and his excitement go great, that the bullet sped wildly; and before he could fire again, Sidney knocked the revolver from his grasp and leaped on bim, Joe had heard his friend’s call for help. From his position be had a partia) view of the forms within the corral, and bis instant supposition was that Sidney had been surprised and at- tacked. Hedid not stop to question about it, however. Sidney was in trouble and needed his assistance, That was sufficient to bring him forward at the top of bis epeed. In spite of his age, be cleared the rocky wall at a bound, and was at Sidney's side when the latter threw himself on the prostrate outlaw. But his coming was rather in the nature of a misfortune, The sound of Ben Stetson’s revolver- shot had penetrated to the interior of the strong- bold, and before the friends were aware of it, er were surrounded! he outlaws seemed to rise out of the ground, so suddenly did they appear. Old Joe, burry- ing to Sidney’s side, was plucked backward tion, Lone Hand Joe. and hisarms pinioned by strong hands; while Sidney was seized and drawn bodily from his fallen foe, Too late Sidney learned that he had been ex- tremely unwise in his hasty action, and that he and his old pard were likely to suffer severely for his imprudence, CHAPTER IV. WITHIN THE SECRET CHAMBERS. THE outlaws were not only greatly surprised, but somewhat frightened on finding those two men within the corral. It argued that there were more outside, They immediately gathered about the prison- ers, and with angry words urged them toward the secret openings into the interior of Prairie Gibraltar. Sidney and Lone Hand were silent—the former from chagrin, and the latter because he always believed that ‘‘least said, the soonest mended,” Sidney was inclined to blame himself without stint for what had occurred. But for his rash impetuosity, he and Old Joe might still be free men, reclining in safe concealment on the slope, He bad rusbed to the girl’s assistance without giving the least thought of consequences, and ned brought Old Joe into the snare with him- Be . Ben Stetson, as soon as released, had made a dive for his revolver, and would have shot the young rancher had be not been prevented. He was wild with rage and humiliation, and stern words were necessary to bold him in subjec- The girl had given Sidney and his friends a | keen glance, and then had,vanished, her retreat being ccncealed by the rush and excitement. Sidney felt that this was a poor recompense for his reckless bravery. They were scarcely given time to look about the place iu which they now found themselves, but what they got to see of it showed them its great advantages as a natural fortification. The corral was merely an extension of the rocky walls, completely open at that point to the sky. There was a natural gateway through it, but this was now barred by stones and strong timbers to prevent the borses from getting out. ‘The walls of the corral were easily scalable to men, but they were rather high for a horge to reap readily, f the several horses now hucdling frighten- edly at the further end of the inclosure, none seemed to Old Joe to resemble the animal which had so mystified bim on the previous night, There was certainly none there with a luminous coat; though he reasoned that it might be there, and that the coat only shone in the darkness—a very reasonable inference. The openings into the interior of Prairie Gib- raltar were comparatively small, and not to be geen from the outside, They were further screes- ed by large stones rolled in front of them; these stones serving also to prevent the ingress of hostile bullets. It was quickly apparent that the leader of the outlaws was not at home, and Connetty and Sidney naturally thought it possible he was at the head of the party of rustlers who had secured some of Sidney’s cattle. This leader, whose name was Romero, was known throughout the country as Maverick Bill for the reason that he preferred to gain unlawfu possession of all unbranded cattle he could lay his hands on to taking those that had marks of ownership on them, The mavericks could always be more readily disposed of. The treatment accorded to Sidney and the Old Nomad was not of the kindest. They were urged forward with cuffs, kicks and curses, and with threats that if they cried out to warn their supposed friends they would be summarily disposed of. The blows dealt Old Joe stung Sidney more keenly than did even those that fellon his own person. Old Joe had sought to ag Lim, and this was his payment, he interior of Prairie Gibraltar, so far as they could determine on being first conducted into it, consisted of a series of underground chambers, with many small openings here and there that let in the air and sunlight, While the chambers appeared to be underground, they were really above the general surface of the country; and the natural loopholes with which the walls were perforated gave a fair outlook on the surrounding prairie. In some respects the strange mass of jumbled rock known as Prairie Gibraltar resembled the old lava beds in which the Modocs made their last stand, But Prairie Gibraltar was not com-. posed of lava. lt was principally white stone, cemented and bound together by what seemed to bea natural concrete. rocky pile appeared to have been upheaved and thrown into its present honeycombed condition by some long-past convulsion of nature, Tbe prisoners were bound as soon as they were forced into the chambers, and given to under- stand that if they made any effort to escape they would be instantly sbot, Scouts had already been sent out to look the country carefully over, and ascertain the strength of the cowboy force which was pre- sumed to be near. The marauders were greatly excited, and men were posted by them at the loopholes to be ready to repel any attack. These, with the ones sent out, constituted almost the entire available force, for the rustlers then at home numbered considerably less than a. dozen men. Sidney and the veteran watched these pre- parations with anxious eyes, They knew there was no danger of an assault from without, but the scope of the preparations and the prompt- pess with which everything was done, showed. bow difficult it would be for any but an over- whelming number to take the place by storm. It convinced them that if Prairie Gibraltar ever fell, is would be more through subtlety or treachery than open fighting. The words of the outlaws as they discussed the situation told the anxious captives that Maverick Bill was expected bome within a short time. To warn him of the supposed danger a spy bad been sent sneaking through the valley grass to the prairie beyond. Sidney could, not help smiling a little, as he witnessed all this anxiety and worry, @ was rewarded for it by a stern look and a threat, ‘*-You won't feel so fiue, my young game- cock, when Maverick Bill gits hyer. It’s my opinion that he’ll give both o’ ye a mighty short. sbrift!” ‘* Tf you’d asked us any questions, or given us any chance to talk, we could bave told you that you’re putting yourselves toa great deal of un- necessary trouble,” This speech was not so ill-considered as it may appear. It would have been useless to have at- tempted to scare these men by making them think there were friends of the prisoners outside ready to come to their rescue, The deception must soon be discovered. By plain speaking a point might even be gained. ‘¢It’s my fault we got in here,” the young man confessed, speaking as much for the benefit. of Old Joe as for the outlaw to whom the words were addressed, a I was a little silly in rushing into danger, but no chap with a. avers of manhood about him could see a great big hulk abusing and kicking a woman without That’s what I did, and that’s what got us here. I shouldn’t care so much, if it wasn’t for my friend. He simply came to help me when I called out,” The outlaw was listening not unkindly, ‘‘ You sling that story to the captain when he comes, an’ it mayn’t go hard with you, though the captain is p’izen death on any man that’s unlucky enough to poke bis head into this hole, Did you say Panhandle Ben actually kicked the ir)?” en So, that’s his handle, is it? She called him Ben Stetson. He didn’t exactly kick her, but he threw her down and raised his foot to kick her when I interfered and stopped his game. i think he would have hurt her bad, for he was in an ugly temper.” ‘¢‘ Panhandle al’ays wus a dirty dog!” looking around to make sure he could not be overheard. ‘You may bet yer boots old Maverick’ll make it hot fer bim fer that!” ‘‘ Who is she, anyway?’ unable to longer con- trol his curiosity and glad of the chance to ques- tion this man. ‘‘Is Maverick Bill her father? W hat’s her name?” He crowded the questions on each other, in bis eagerness, ‘ She's old Maverick’s daughter, you bet! and he thiaks a pile of her, though he do abuse ber owdaciously, sometimes, Butif he cussesat ber a bit, an’ even venters to whip her now an’ then, he don’t ‘low no other man to do it. ‘That’s my heifer,’ he al’ays says; an’ he saysit ina way to make yer hair raise up, I wouldn’t be in Panhandle’s boots fer a gold mine!” He gin earnestly, showing some little sympathy interfering. for the girl and the young Man who had attempted to belp her, but perhaps more of ill-will toward Panhandle Ben. It wasapparent he hoped his statements would be prophecies, ‘6 You haven’t told me her name?” Sidney re- minded him. “Ob, I forgot, It’s Irene—Irene Romero!” Philip Sidney gave it man~ mental repetitions. 4 Eomicboo There was much stone along the river at that point, and the singular —