Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 786 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

— —_ > ~ 4 - ° 7 > .— = ~~ - "+ et m 8 } Lone Hand J oe. | Sidney sitting at the table, or preparing for him- self a meal, aad the interruption that followed. He did not doubt that the invaders of the ranch- house were Maverick Bill and his men; and he rejoiced in the thought that Sidney bad escap:d their clutches, He took up the loaf and munched at it as he passed out of the room, His plans were made, He would follow the trail of Sidney’s horse and see bow the young man had fared, From the hoof-prints, he believed Maverick had aban- doned his pursuit; but ef this, be could not be absolutely certain, There were many returning hoof- prints, but all of the desperadoes might not have turned back. Some of them might have continued on, He could determine that better further out on the prairie; and he hastened to place himself in a position to quiet his fears. If Sidney’s trail continued on alone, he would know the chase had been given over. If other trails accom- panied it, he would know that it had not, Old Lone Hand breathed a deep sigh of relief when, less than a half-mile from the ranch buildings, he found the trail of a single horse continuing straight out into the prairie. It was the trail of Ben Stetson’s horse, but the old man held to the delusion that it was Sidney’s; and he moved cheerfully forward, dismounting and making an examination occasionally to make sure he was not straying from the right course. He was puzzled to account for Siiney’s going in that direction, but Sidney was master of bis own movements) and might have many good end sufficient causes wholly unknown to Old oe, The night was now far advanced, and the old man was wearied and sleepy, baving had no Penner rest for a long time; but, in spite of this, eclung pertinaciously to the trail. When daylight came, and the boof-prints s'il] continued onward in a straight line, Connetty began to be puzzled still more. Jn that direction ghere was no point which Sidney would be likely to seek, . “TY reckon the young feller knows what he’s a-doin’,” he dubiously averred, ‘* but banged if it looks like it! He must bev got that excited at ever’thing that’s happened, that he’s gone plum crazy!” : In no other way could Joe adequately explain oe he conceived to be Sidney’s strange con- uct. Tbe sun had barely risen when he descended into a busby draw among sand-hills, aad unex- pected|!y found himself in the presence of a num- ber of dismounted horsemen, The horses were tethered, and the men seemed to be conversing over the morning meal. The trail of Sidney’s supposed horse led straight to the group! one Hank knew not whether to advance or whee! about, His indecision was observed by one of the men, who immediately stood out from among bis fellows and shouted: “It’s all right, Lone Hard! Come right up and beara hand witb us, We're friends!” The speaker was Stetson. The old borderman thought he recognized him, but was not sure of it; and, when the invitation was repeated, he advanced toward the fire. He felt sure Sidney must be there, either as a free man or as a prisoner; and in either case, he de- sired to know it, Although Connetty went forward somewhat suspiciously, he was not prepared for what hap- pened. There were not a8 many men as he had at first thought—only three or four. They seemed inclined to friendliness, until be was in their presence. Then they seized him and dragged him from the saddle, * at’s the meanin’ of this?” was his indig- ‘Mant question, Bid Were We don’t intend to hurt you,” Ben Stetson assured, ‘* But we wanted to make certain you wouldn’t run away, an’ we didn’t care to give you a chance to use your weepons, “ ('d Jike a little talk with you,” when the vet- eran had been relieved of his revolver. ‘* You can sit down comfortable like on the sand there, an’ we'll pretend we’re old friends havin’ a pleasant chat.” d “** What bev you done with the boy?” Joe de- manded, glaring about. Stetson laughed, the question and look ex- _plaining something that had hitherto puzzle “So, that’s why you follered my trail? You thought I wus Phil Sidney? You wus away off there; but I’m glad you’ve come, AsI said, I want a talk with you.” | _ * Where is Phil, then?” looking at the desper- ado with eyes that flamed. af | __** You'll have to ask somebody that knows. He was in his own house the last time I seen him, havin’ a lively tussle with Maverick Bill. I wus guessin’, I’d say that Maverick gobbled im, This was unwelcome information, and Old Lone Hand groaned. ‘*‘T’m glad you come,” Stetson repeated, ‘I want to do up Maverick Bill, an’ you’re jist the feller to help me, Maverick chased me like a hound to-night, and would have killed me if he’d got his fingers on me,” ‘* An’ served ye right!” Old Joe fearlessly de- clared, This was not pleasant and Stetson frowned. ‘* Better curb that temper a little, er we won’t giton so well as hoped. I’ve got you now, an’ you wou’t git away unless you promise to do what I ask. ‘You know where Fort Yucca is? About twenty miles from byer?”’ The old nomad did not reply. ‘*T want you to goto Fort Yucca an’ tell the commander that Ben Stetson, one of Maverick’s men, stands ready to show him the way into Prairie Gibraltar, You bear that, do you? you old sinner! That’s the way I propose to do up Maverick. Tell him if he’ll see that I’m granted a free pardon for everything I’ve done, I'll show bim bow to git at Maverick Bill an’ his men, an’ belp bim to capture them, ‘** These three chaps,” nodding toward his com- rades, ‘* used to belong to Maverick’s band, same asI did. But they’re out of it, now, an’ out of it for good, same as Iam, He must agree to grant them free pardon, likewise.” “Why don’t you go yourself?’ Joe ques- tioned, ‘*T should, if | wasn’t afraid to, The com- mander of the fort might bold me there, and that wouldn’t be pleasant. If there wasn’t some- thing to keep me from going, do you suppose I’d try to argue you into doing it?” ‘‘ What am I ter hev fer this?” ‘‘ Your liberty,” was Stetson’s prompt reply. ‘*G> to the post and tell the commander what I say; after that you can go where you please.” It was an excellent opportunity to get out of Stetson’s clutches, and to continue the search for Pail Sidney, All through this conversation he bad been thinking of Sidney constantly. If Stetson had spoken the truth, it was likely that Sidney was again ia the power of Maverick Bill. The old man gave himself up to a short pe- riod of thought. He bed very little faith in the ability of the soldiers. His many years of isola- tion made him prefer to rely solely on his own energies in every emergency, e really be- lieved that if the soldiers were sent after Maver- ick Bill’s men, the result would be a bungling expedition, the escape of the thieves, and more than likely the death of the young ranchman, Therefore, there was & mental reservation, when he again looked at Ben Stetson, and saiu: ** Til go!” This was the promise Stetson sought; and when he bad received it, be more fully elabor- ated the pluns he wished conveyed to the com- mander; and a few minutes thereafter, Old Joe was seated on bis own horse, making his way from the hated camp. | He kept straight on in the direction of Fort Yucca until he had placed more than a mile hind him, and was completely hidden from Stet- son’s men by the intervening sand-hills, Then he changed his course toward Good Cheer Ranch, ~ “*T told him I'd go!” be muttered grimly. ** But I didn’t tell him whur Td goto. He wus thinkin’ of Fort Yucca when I said it, an’ I wus thinkin’ o’ the young feller, an’ there’s wbur the mix come in, I don’t want none o’ them sogers to come rampin’ round, sp’ilin’ everything, I’d rutber resk the Committee of One in a thing o’ this kind! I would, by a good deal!” CHAPTER X. . AT FORT YUCCA. Brn STETSON’S anger was unmeasured when he found that Old Joe bad deceived him, He did not know of this until the afternoon of the fol- lowing day. About that time, bis anxiety be- coming great, he rode out to the sand-bills in the direction of Fort Yucca to watch for the com- ing of the troopers, He expected them before nightfall, and had planned to make an advance on Prairie Gibraltar with the coming of dark- ness, His suspicions becoming awakened by their non-appearance, he sought out the trail of Old Joe's horse, and discovered the deception which bad been practiced on him. More than twenty-four hours of what he con- sidered valuable time had been lost.. There was no chance of re-taking Old Connetty, and the only thing left for Stetson to do to bring about . P bel . f?) ¢ . i : ; a ite . ed i ' . ‘a t J é - : ” - : 9 - : ‘ ; é ! : ; ru ie : j ea . f 4 | a | ' . 2 , ° a-y dy »'j 4 ’ 0 Nhe . ‘ ra ' ‘ | | { » > oa \ ) I . " Riv cad ~—* Sf ‘ ‘ | ot ee ij t. a> ya, } “ Pie « ‘ als “ Putt A , =~ 7 : af a: ” the consummation of his wishes, was to visit the fort bimself, or send one of bis men, He rode back to camp in a very irritated mood, Yhen, having thought the subject out, he announced bis intention of going to the fort. He acvised his mento remain where they were, or in tbe near vicinity, until they could hear from him; when, if he succeeded, they could come in and join the troopers in the march on Maverick Bill’s stronghold, Before morning he was in front of the gates of Fort Yucca; and after communicating bis wishes to the senitry who halted him, was led before the post commander, He found Colonel Taomas Tomlinson, a very fussy little officer—brave without doubt—but given to exaggerating trifles, and a most rigid disciplinarian, The colonel was uot pleased at being aroused at so early an bour to receive such a caller, and frowned on the intruder in the stiffest manner, ‘* What can I do for you?” he demanded, when Stetson had made an awkward salute and stood waiting before him, ‘‘ You come on business of importance, I’m told.” Stetson assured him he had been informed correctly; and was about to plunge into his statement, when the officer halted bim, ‘*] must have pen and paper to take down what you say.” He would not hear another word until these had been brought; and, in the interval, kept Stetson in nervous waiting, the outlaw not yet having been offered a chair, ‘‘ Now sit down there and let me hear your story!” dipping his pen in the inkstand and hold- ing it poised, ‘‘ Your name first, please. I . bave forgotten it, And don’t plunge on so fast tbat I can’t get down my notes!” Even when kindest, the little man seemed so stern and severe that the big outlaw sunk into the chair, abashed, and did not venture to speak again until be had been once more com- manded, Slowly, and with many halts, to give Tom- linson a chance to keep up with him, Stetson told why he had come there, and what he desired done—laying special stress on his wish to secure a pardon for bimself and companions for this betrayal of Maverick Bill. ‘¢ 7] don’t see that we can do anything in this matter fora week, at least,” the officer stated, looking up when be bad made bis Jast memo- randum. ‘The troopers are pretty badly scattered.” E ‘* A week?” Stetson inquired, incredulously. ‘‘Might as well not move at all, if we wait that long. Maverick Bill could git a thousand miles from byer by that time.” ‘* Who is the commandant of this post?” Stetson flushed under the reprimand and the keen glance given bim. ‘* T don’t mean ter criticise! Bunt hang it all, colonel! if we bave to lay around bere that long, Maverick Bill will be ‘most shore toslip throug our fingers! ef “You particularly wish to catch him—aside from your desire to earn a pardon?” with an- otber sharp glance. | ‘Td like to kill him!” Stetson gritted, ‘‘ He bain’t served me rigbt, colonel, and that’s @ fact! Tbat’s mainly why I come td you. I'd like to have a pardon, of course: but [ll bea heap sight, better pleased when Maverick’s safe in tbe clutches_of the sogers, than I will be when I git tber paper sayin’ 1 can go free.” ‘+ Tt will not be a pardon,” the colonel officious- ly corrected. ‘ Not a pardoa, strictly speaking. It will be more like an agreement not to prose- ’ cute you in consideration of your estimable | services, Stetson felt that there was something akin to irony in this conclusion, and flushed a little; but he made no reply, He had no care for what the colonel might think of bim, so long as bis pur- pose was accomplished. But this probable delay of a week before anything could be done, im- measurably galled bim. He feared the delay meant the total failure of the expedititon against Prairie Gibraltar. However, be could not hasten matters by peevish complainings Or anx- lous appeals, | J He had already told the cfficer that Philip Sid- ney was probably held a prisoner by Maverick, and he thought it might be wise to recur to this, ‘The young fellow that I told you about, who was gobbled by Maverick’s men, may be killed if we have to wait a week before movin’.” ‘So far as he was concerned, be cared nothing for the life or safety of Pbil Sidney, but hoped a reference to the young man might have a hasten- ing influence on the slow-moving colonel, ; fe . o Or eee na ‘a a 4 oh ec ~. ; _ : ~~ — . A A — TS 2 ° ae 7 = . . . es y C~ ‘> nae oe