Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 786 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

Lone Hand Joe. 5 Tt was a pleasant-sounding name, and bad even a suggestion of the romantic about it. He de- cided if was a very pretty name:—almost as pretty as the girl who bore if. Throughout the colloquy Old Connetty re- mained sternly silent, venturing not a sentence. He was studying the situation; wondering bow he and Sidney were to get out of the scrape. He realized the perils of their position even more than did the young man, Ben Stetson kept away from the captives, and away from Irene, He did not even occupy him- self with the search for the supposed cowboys, He was in an angry and sullen mood. He had been treated roughly. He did not see that he bad done anything wrong, and he resented the affront he conceived to have been put upon him,, In addition to this, be was in great fear of the <oming of Maverick Bill, and he burned to avenge himself on Philip Sidney. He felt that Sidney was the prime cause of all the present trouble, and he swore he would be even with him for it before he left the place. He went out to the corral, and looked far over the prairie to see if there was a dust-cloud any where, indicating Maverick’s approach, He dad resolved to leave Prairie Gibraltar forever. He would leave it, and escape the results of ‘Maverick’s anger; but not until he had settled with Philip Sidney! “Tl kill bim for that!” he mumbled, as he sbaded his eyes with bis bands, thinking of the young cattleman, instead of the leader for whose approach he was looking, ‘*‘ When he jumps onto Panhandle Ben, he tackles the wrong dog. Talk about me bein’drunk! If that feller hadn’t been crazy wild drunk, be would»’t ’a’ never come over that wall in sich.a fool fashion as that.” Panhandle fancied be was in love with Irene Romero, and much against her will he per- sisted in telling her so, It did not matter to him that she repulsed him time and again, ‘These repulses only made him the more resolute and aggressive, She had insulted him, and he Jnad hurled ter to the earth and lifted a foot to kick her, He was sorry for that now, but he justified it by her taunting manner, He knew, however, that regret for a thing of that kind would have little weight with Mave- rick Bill, He felt sure she would go to Maverick witb the story as soon as the chief arrived, and if Maverick chanced to be in an ugly mood, Panhandle was pretty certain to hear from bir at once, ‘*She said she'd have me shot for that!” with rankling remembrance, ‘‘ That’s somethin’ like bangin’! Ketchin’ comes first. If Maverick ‘don’t git hyer ina burry, he'll not git a chance to shoot me,” Then, reflectively: ** {,ess’n he does it when I come back!” After carefully glancing about to see that he was unobserved, he approached the place where the saddles aud bridles were kept, and arranged some of these so they could be easily got at, He then returned to his post of observation and continued his watching of the horizon- bounded prairie, : CHAPTER V. : THE EFFECT OF A KNIFE STROKE, THE outlaws were soon able to assure them- selves that their fearsof an assault were ground- less, Nothing was to be discovered on the rairie or in the valley, except the horses which daoey and Old Joe had tethered in the willow clump. These were brought in and added to the little bunch in the corral, Darkness came, but it did not bring Maverick Bill. Tiis was in exact accordance with ‘the wishes of the outlaw whose long residence in the Panhandle country of Texas had given bim the title of Panhandle Ben, Maverick’sdelay would enable him to execute his plans and escape with- out difficulty. When the night was sufficiently advanced to conceal his treacherous movements, he again visited the corral; and selected two of the best - horses it contained, which he saddled and bri- _ died, and placed ready for use. _ He had become more desperate and deter- mined with the wearing away of the effects of the liquor, He knew Maverick would never forgive him for the violence done the girl, His _ fancied love for her now made him resolve to take her with bim, inasmuch as he felt com- pelled to That was why he provided two _ He realized that haste might mean the success or failure of his plan, but he was engaged in a task in ) hurry was not admissible. What He returned to the interior of the stronghold, and, unnoticed, marked the resting-place of Philip Sidney, He meant to settle matters with Sidney before leaving. Panhandle Ben was a thoroughly bad and vicious man, with scarcely a redeeming trait in his composition, The contemplation of murder sat lightly on his conscience, if be can he said to have had one, Philip Sidney and Old Lone Hand were lying near together in a little pocket which jutted off from one of the principal chambers, They were not sleeping, though they were tired enough to feel the need of such rest: but were conversing in low tones, They bad quietly talked the situ- ation over, and endeavored to devise some means of getting away, but could hit on noth- ing. Only for the cheery words of the old man, Sidney would have lapsed into utter despair, There was little of a pleasing character in thé outlook, but Old Joe managed to make the best of every situation, Their low conversation assisted Panhandle Ben in noting their exact positions, and when he bad done this he beat a retreat to make fur- ther preparations, Guards had been posted on the walls, and a scout or two out on the prairie, and as noth- ing of a startling character had occurred since the sudden appearance of the men who were now prisoners, thé remnant of the outlaws dis- posed themselves for sleep after their usual fashion. Connetty and Sidney had been given something to eat, at which time an examivation of their bonds had showed them to be secure, Ben Stetson waited until the sounds of heavy breathing assured him his comrades were ob- livious to all things mundane, when he arose and crept toward the prisoners, knife in hand, He had lain down with the others for purposes of deception, The only light penetrating to the interior was when the struggling moon occasionally shone in through a crevice, and this was of a fitful, and inefficient character, It suited Stetson very well, however, for his contemplated deed was not of a kind to bear strong inspection. What light there was, was enough to show him the forms of the captives, and he had previously as- sured himself which of these was Phil Sidney, Like a creéping panther, he stole through the gloom, his breathing suppressed, and the knife held firmly, Irene Romero was sleeping in her own little apartment a. few yards away, as he believed. At apy rate, he had seen her retire to that place, and whether she were asleep or awake would make little difference. Sidney and his pard were uot asleep, as Stet- son thus advanced on them, but they had dis- continued their conversation for lack of some- thing to talk about, Neitber could suggest anything likely to bring them immediate aid, and each was now busy with his own reflections, Suddenly the form of Ben Stetson loomed dimly through the gloom at their side, both see- ing him at the same time, They could see, too, that he held a knife in his band, and it required no keen zlance to know what be had come for. Finding that bis approach bad been discov- ered, Stetson leaped at Sidney with a vicious snarl, at the same time uplifting the knife to strike, ““?Ware there!” Joe shouted, in a very agony of terror, as he beheld the dully-shiniog steel de- a bound, be lif l ou und, be lifted himself partially, and with his corded feet lunged at the would-be assassin, Fortunately for Sidney, Old Joe’s heavy boots caught Stetson in the stomach and hurled bim backward, The knife, instead of reaching Sidney’s breast, as the desperado intended it should, struck the thongs that bound Sidney’s uplifted wrists and severed them, : Old Lone Hand’s shout was loud enough to arouse the outlaws; and Stetson, feeling sure the knife had gone true to its aim, gathered himself up and fled, leaving the weapon to lie where it had fallen. As he eped from the syria the confused sounds all about him told that the outlaws were tum- bling out in anticipation of an attack, ith a feeling of jubilance at the success of his first efforts, and sure he could readily escape, Stetson hurried toward the little room occupied by Irene, A blanket was hung before it to serve as a hough she was reclining on the cot, she had not disrobed. Doubtless she was waiting for the coming of Maverick Bil). Stetson caught her up in his strong arms, laid d | horses, One of them was fitted with her saddle, aa and this he cast aside without ceremony. with her toward the corral where the horses were in waiting, making no more of her weight than if she had been a feather. Philip Sidney felt the cords give under the knife-stroke and realized that be was free, so far as his hands were concerned, As he lifted him- self to a sitting posture, he saw the knife where it had dropped at his feet, He grasped it, in- tending to release himself and Old Connetty. However, as he sawed through his bonds, filled with this good intention, he beard the smothered scream which Irene gave when Stet- son invaded herapartmevt. Ittold Sidney that the girl was again in peril; and, with the hot impetuousness which was oneof bis failings, he rushed in the direction of the cry, leaving Old Lone Hand still bound and belpless. A feeling that be was not doing right was upon him, and he told himself he would return in just a moment; but, when he saw Panhandle Ben dart away witb the girl, be forgot this and leaped in pursuit. Tbus the opportunity of re- turning was lost, for in less than a minute there- after the outlaws were up and with arms in their bands, Stetson was not to escape so easily as he had anticipated, The interruption to bis scheme did not come, however, from PhilSidney. As Stet- son reached the horses with the frightened girl —Siduey being at the time in full chase and shouting loudly—there camea pounding of hoofs from without, and an inquiring call from Mav- erick Bill. The chief of the desperadoes had come at Jast. Stetson uttered a bitter curse, as he heard Maverick’s call, but he still strove to mount one of the horses. As he did so, Maverick, who knew that something was wrong, hurled down the corral gate and stood in the opening. The fitful moonligbt showed him the girl struggling in Stetson’s arms, At the same mo- ment, too, Irene released herself suflicieuatly to cry out, he answer wasa shot from Maverick’s revol- ver, that spun perilously near Stetson’s head, Thus beset both in front and rear, Stetson let the girl slide to the ground, bent low in the sad- dle, and made a dash for the opening in the corral. So quick did be make this rusb, that Maverick was bewildered and fired wildly. His aim was also frustrated by the cry which came from the girl as sbe dropped to the stony floor, The men who had been with’ Maverick Bill on this last cattle-drive were hurrying their horses up the slope. They now turned in full chase of Panhandle Ben, when the latter burst through the opening and rusbed away. : ‘‘ After’ him!” Maverick yelled, furious with rage, ‘“‘Ketch him! Shoot him! Lay to it, boys! Don’tlet bim git away!” He ran for his own horse; and, as soon as he could mount, rode swiftly in pursuit, The outlaws who had been within the fortress bad rusbed out; and now, as they heard Mav- erick Bill’s loud commands, they hurried to get their own horses, paying no heed to the girl, nor to Philip Sidney, and equally forgetful of - Old Joe, Likely, if they noticed Sidney, they thought he was one of them. In an almost inconceivably short space of time, they were racing across the prairie, guided by the retreating hoof-beats of Maverick and his inen. Sidney had seen the girl slip from the arms of Stetson, and as she did not arise, be ran toward her as soon as he could safely do so. | With the exception of these two, the corral was vacated, There were two or three horses still in it, and Sidney was not so crazy but that he noticed one of them was the phantom horse seen by Old Joe on the previous night, oe did not stop, though, to give it a second glance, The girl was more scared than hurt, and she was scrambling to her feet as he drew near, ‘‘- You here?” was her excited question, when she recognized bim, ‘‘ You must not stay here. aminute! You will be killed, if you are caught! Take that borse, that shining one over there, and leave at once! He is the fastest—and for. other reasons I want you to take him.” Sidney looked at the horse in amazement, _ ‘You are not hurt?’ he questibned, ‘ Tell me your not burt!” | ‘Pm not hurtat all! Take that horse and got Go, while you can! It will soon be too late!” “ But [ must return for Old Joe!” he declared, stung by bis banmporane Steers ‘You cannot get back there!” she urged, ‘‘The guards never leave their posts. Go! Go while youcan!” | : . | In spite of this, Sidney ran back toward the opening, only to find that her words were — he meant to do, must be done cautiously. _, + & hand across her lips to stifle her cries, and ran! correct. He was recognized and fired at byone@ ¢ a av > ’ Pa. - - ; , ‘* ; J : : i? : . . . - : * c ~4 as - eevs ; Re A : < ’ < ae rf ‘ = % a. f tr 5 <,'S iyaeh * < +3 i .F f , 4 a ° acest anh Ey h -_—* : a : ~The - , : — , . a XS r % | Pe Nt MEE - ¥7- aX eyigy ier S et / . . ; j : : x : a > Gl Za's a)/ @ \\ ; , i | oe al ‘ P df Sal ls ’ aS am Sead She § ‘Ke : f a sand ¢ ; Z hah ; A ; a Le i | a at) . ' v | ee ‘ae -. by 7. P; a ri. | 4 J \ @, @ ) | ~ a j ' ; i ‘ ‘ he oS Be = eee i yee. & pe ye 4 : a. ree Tv. m5 * ar a 2 a sae “4 7 as —.