Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 794 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

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Now, haven’t I hit the bull’s-eye sonny?” ‘* Well, supposin’ I am the individual you refer to, what of it?” ‘‘Simply this: 1 reckon you’re acquainted with the two fellers who'cum in on the stage that night, the two tenderfeet, [ mean!” ‘* Well?” ** Are yeu a friend o’ theirs?” ‘Surely, I have no reason to be an enemy.” ‘‘“Then put it there, stranger!’ cried the dwarf, in sudden delight. ‘' You’re a friend to the tenderfeet, soamJ/ Jf reckon we're well met.” ) All si of hostility on the Spider's part vanished as if by magic; the deadly revolver was instantly restored to his belt, while he advanced with outstretched hand to greet the bold young stranger, whose exploits had meg such a profound sensation in Satan’s amp. The latter seemed not a little surprised at this sudden change of demeanor, but_ he «lid not hesitate to take the proffered hand. ‘*T accept your friendship, be it offered in all sincerity,” he exclaimed; ‘‘ but 1 must confess this whule proceeding is a mystery tome. Why are you so anxious about my late fellow-travelers? Are they in trouble—?” ‘‘In trouble, hey? Holy smoke! They're - at this very minnil in the wussest kind of a'pickle ye kin imagine—bound hand an’ foot in the clutches o’ King Kirby’s gang.” “Great Heavens! Where?—in Satan’s Camp?” ‘““No; within a pistol-shot o’ this very spot.” The flushed face and excited manner of the stranger plainly indicated his anxiety, and the Spider, having satisfied himself that he had happily encountered a true friend of the prisoners, now lost no time in revealing the true state of affairs to his eager listener, ‘The poor fellows shall be-rescued—I swear it}’ cried the handsome unknowg, in grim determination, when he had learned the truth. ‘* We must strike boldly in their ors id an’ that, too, without a moment’s de- ay.” ‘‘ Right ye air, pard. There’s no time to lose, | reckon. There’s only six o’ the cusses below there, now, but no tellin’ when the resto’ the gang ‘Il come on; so it be- hooves us to git a move on an’ strike afore the odds git too all fired heavy. I s’pose yer’ well-armed, stranger?” ‘“ You can bet!” was the ready response. ‘‘Lead on to the scene of action, pard, I’m eager for the music to begin.” The Spider chuckled in demoniacal glee ashe cut a grotesque caper on the ground, "Good! We'll make the fur fiy in great style when we turn ourselves loose on the gang,” he declared, elatedly. ‘Sure, we’re only two an’ they are six, but we’ll strike ‘em onexpected, d'ye see, an’ ] opine we kin wipe out thé hull caboodle afore they kin find time to strike a lick. Now, stranger, foller me close, an’ move as though ye’r’ walkin’ on aigs, for everything depends on our ketchin’ ’em off their guard.” With noiseless strides the catlike hunch- back moved awuy, while close at his heels followed the handsome young unknown, entering with zeal into the mission of rescue. CHAPTER VII. TO THE RESCUR, Fuiiy an hour had elapsed since the lurk- ing dwarf first made his presencesknown to the Railroad Pards, and the latter, waiting vainly for some further demonstration, were now fast becoming discouraged at the delay. Was it possible that the Spider, unable to devise a means of rescue, had abandoned them to their fate? The thought was most disagreeable, and the prisoners again felt their spirits droop as the moments went miles ieee Po ee penny Rinne way ~ = aid — —ite Pere ae or owe —— oe ~~” ee en en ey by, and yet no sign from the hunch- ack. That the latter was still at hand, however, was finally evidenced ina most decided man- ner; for, as the anxious young railroaders continued to wistfully scan the top of the cliff, 1t was to suddenly see repeated the same maneuver that had first attracted their attention! Again were the bushes cautiously pulled aside, but this time, to the great amazement of the behoiders, two faces instead of one looked down into the glen. The first was easily recognizable as the repulsive ‘‘ phiz” of the Spider, but the other was withdrawn so quickly that but an indistinct giimpse was obtainable. For an instant the hideous dwarf glared down upon the scene; then he, too, disap deared, while the Railroad Pards, thrilled with sudden hope, glanced signitfi- cantly at one another. ‘*Did you see that, Rufe?” was the can- tious whisper. ‘*T reckon I hain’t blind, pard.” ‘“‘The dwarf bas secured reinforcements, it seems. Now, who can his new ally be, I wonder?” — . . ‘“That’s jest wot beats me, old man. I didn’t s’pose there was anybody within forty miles 0’ Satan’s Camp whe could be hired to strike a lick in our behalf.” ‘* Ah! you have forgotten ovr late travel- ing companion, the remarkable youth who vanished so mysteriously on the evening of our arrival. The young fellow must now be somewhere in this neighborhood, and _ it’s dollars to doughnuts that the Spider has met with him and secured his co-operation,” ‘‘T believe .you’re rigbt, pard! Anyway, the mystery ’l! soon be explained, I reckon, for our friends mean bizness this time, an’ no mistake. Jest look there!” It was a truly significant movement that now attracted their eager gaze. As before stated, the top of the ledge was strewn with fragments of rock of various weights and sizes; and one of these, a huge, rounded mass Weighing nearly a ton, was poised within a yard of the verge, and exactly above the guards! And now, as the pfisoners looked upward, it was to sée this ponderous mass slowly but surely moving forward, as though propetled from behind by strong and sinewy hands, There was no mistaking the purpose of the Spider and his new-found ally. In an- other moment that massive bowider would descend upon the ruffians, who still sat deep- ly engrossed in their game, utterly oblivious of their imminent peril. Even as the astonished captive Railroad Pards gazed, the huge mass, poised for an instant on the very verge of the cliff. sud- denly pitched forward and fell with a thun- derous crash into the very midst of the doom- ed guards. Cries of mingled agony and rage followed this descent of the bowlder, for two of the ruffians Jay crushed beneath the ponderous mass, while their companions scrambled to their feet in sudden surprise and terror. At the same instant the two rescuers appeared at ther top of the ledge, and opened fire upon the bewildered enemy. Crack! Crack! Crack! sounded the pistol-shots in swift sue cession, While above the crash of firearms, arose the ear-splitting yell of the Spider, as he danced like a demon on the cliff above. One ruffian— then another--went down before that deadly fusilade, while the two survivors, both seriously wounded, made a breakneck dash for safety, rushing madly among trees and bowlders in their efforts to escape. Fast though they flew, the Spider’s lead was faster, and the hindmost scoun drel fell, shot through the head, ere he had fled a dozen yards. | Not even then, bOwever, was the wrath of the demon dwarf appeased. Determined that not a single enemy should escape, he scrambied down the steep declivity, and ~~ ‘efforts we are free once more. (2 23" ~ Se 2 * Headlight Harry’s Hunt. ; é Seeeel with tigerish bounds sped after the sc viviog ruffian, who by this time was i& disappearing down the glen. Meantime, his less bloodthirsty comrade descended more leisurely into the glen, and approached the Raiload Pards, who had re- mained eager witnesses to this brief but san- guinary encounter. ‘‘ Well, pards, this is a pretty fix I find you in, trussed up like a pair of fowls in the cook’s oven,” was his cheery salutation, as he hastened to relieve the prisoners of their bonds. ‘‘I little thought that when we met again it would be under such peculiar cir- cumstances.” . In a moment the liberated ‘railroaders had struggled to their feet, aud were shaking the hands of their dgshing deliverer. ‘This is, indeed, an unexpected pleasure,” exclaimed Headlight Harry. ‘‘ It seems to me that some good fairy has deputized you asthe guardian of our welfare, for this is the second time within a few hours that you have been instrumental in getting us out of. difficulty.” ‘‘In this case the credit should be given to your friend, the dwarf,” was the laughing response, ‘‘But for him I should probably still be in igorannce o' your disagreeable situation, though I.was searcely a stone's throw away when he discovered me.” ‘* Lucky for us that you met so opportune- ly, for we had begun to give up all hope of rescue. Let me assure you that we are dul grateful to you both, while, as for yourself, in particular, this meeting is rendered doub- ly pleasant from the fact that we already feel somewhat acquainted—though it’s true that you have never told us’ your name.” At this the youth started suddenly, evine- ing symptoms of no little embarrassment. ‘Oh, names amount to nothing in these parts,” be finally exclaimed, with a nervous little laugh. ‘*‘ Handsome Charlie is my latest handle; but, if you don’t like the name, why call me anything you choose,” ‘I fancy it would be difficult to select a mcre appropriate title,” was Headlight Harry’s rejoinder, as both he and Rufe stared in unfeigned admiration at the handsome youth, who, flushing slightly before their ardent gaze, turned away in evident em- barrassment: At this moment the Spider suddenly reap- peared. There was a perceptible limp to his gait, and his ugly face wore an expression of deep disgust. ‘‘Well, Spider, what luck? Did you catch your man?’ queried Headlight Harry, as he eagerly advanced to, meet the dwarf. ‘Curse it, no! The pesky imp got clear,” was the fierce reply. ‘‘ 1 would ’a’ got him though, sure enuff, if I hadn’t fell over a log and nearly broke my gol-durned neck, Confound the pesky luck!” ‘‘Never mind, Spider! Let the ruffian wretch go! You have wona famous victory, nevertheless, and thanks to your. noble What more is to be desired?” ‘Sure enuff, pard, you're free for the present, but your future liberty ha’n’t assured yet, not by adurned sight. Why, that pesky galoot won’t stop runnin’ until he gets ter Satan's Camp, an’ King Kirby ‘Il have his hull gang on our track as fast as they kin hoof it, you can bet high on that.” The Railroad Pards had to see the force of this startling suggestion. | ‘* You're right, Spider; we're not yet out of the woods by any means,” declared the engineer, gravely. ‘It’s a pity indeed that the fellow escaped; but, now that the mis. chief is done we must make the best of it. What would you suggest as the wisest course to pursue?” ee ar ‘‘ Wal, pard, I opine it’s impossible te leave the kentry altogether, cause the only way out of the mountings is by the south. west pass, an’ the varmints ’ll probably cover