Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 795 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

: 7 —" ¢ . . j ’ ‘. ty * 2 angen . “ " i -t'< Kit Bandy in Red Ruin. Kit Bandy in Red Roun: The Young Whirlwind of the Hills, BY OLL COOMES, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ HIGHLAND HARRY,” ‘‘ KIT BANDY RATTLED,” ‘‘ WHIP-KING JOE,” ETC., ETC, CHAPTER I. LITTLE FURY. Down the rugged mountain side, following a narrow goat-path that landed in Roaring Gulch, the lithe figure of a youth was coming while yet , the summit of the snowy range blazed with the gt gilding of the setting sun, p from the gulch, at the same time-—like a murky mist—crept the shadows of evening diffusing themselves among the rocks and bushes—biding under their dusky mantle, as an assassin hides his dagger, the pitfalls and death traps of the dangerous trail. But, with the nimbleness of a deer, and the air of one who well knew the path he was following, the youth floated down into the deepening shadows, Tall, slender, lithe of limb, supple as a young anther; an open, manly countenance; a keen Snahing eye, an air of genteel yet dashing abandon—these were some of the attributes and characteristics of Little Fury, the Young Whirl- wind of the Hills, His name was Frank Fewry, but had gained the sobriquet of Little Fury by the daring impetuosity with which he threw himself into the dangers of camp, hill, and trail, In Roaring Gulch, at the foot of the hill the young scout was descending, lay the mining- SeUp of ‘Red Ruin.” It then was one of the most exposed mining settlements among the hills of Colorado—exposed to both ,Indian and outlaw. But, the thirst for gold had led no less than a hundred men to pitch their tents there, a few even bringing their wives with them, A guard, however, was set over the sg skilled mountaineer who patrolled the hills almost day and night. That guard was Little Fury, who was on his return to camp when we introduced him to the reader. The darkness became deeper as the boy ad- vanced, but he moved on with a bounding stride, and was nearing the valley when he was suddeuly brought to a halt by the peremptory order of a sharp, shrill voice, commanding: ‘* Mold up thar, 8 er, afore you plunge in- to my spinal column! hat be you?” ‘‘)’m Frank Fewry,” quickly responded the boy; ‘* who are you?” ‘“* What, the Kid Whirlwind, be you?’ queried the stranger. eee so,” answered the bill scout, smiling. ‘** Wal, then, by the great Rosycrusians! band down your paw, boy, and honor yourselt by shakin’ the steps o’ Old Tom Ratcler, the Red River Epidemic!” ‘* An bonor, indeed!” exclaimed Little Fury, grasping the noted old bunter’s hand; ‘1 have eard of Tom Rattler, and am glad to meet him, and hope soon to look upon his face in the light, ‘‘'m better lookin’ in the dark, boy, for old Time’s been warpin’ it to me lively o’ late years; but thar’s as frisky spirit inside this old hulk as ever rasseled with a grizzly or made love toa maidip fair, I’m goin’ to spend a night in Red Ruin Camp ’f I don’t fall off this ’ere old Pisgah and kill myself, S’pose thar’s whar you roost, W birlwind?” ‘Yes, sir,” answered Frank; ‘‘let me go ahead, Mr, Rattler, and pilot you along. I know this path pretty well,” and taking the lead, the boy assisted the old man along the dangerous path, Soon they reached Roaring Gulch and entered Ccawp, . ‘‘You must be my guest to-night, Mr. Rat- tier,” Little Fury announced, as they moved along. ‘I’ve a room down here in the rear of a miner’s cabin where you'll be welcome as the Czar of Russia,” ‘‘ Thanks, boy, thanks!” replied theold tramp; ‘Pl "cept your invitation, Whirlwind, seein’ I’m a stranger in Red Ruin, I may not be as han’some as the Scar o’ Roosha, but I can give you some pointers, and tell you some things that’ll make your young heart tater. Did ye ever hear o’ Old Kit Bandy, Mountain Detec- Bi dae fraud and diplomaed liar? _“*Pve heard Bandy was a wonderful, eccen- tric old fellow, a terror to evil-doers,” _ __“ More’n that, boy,” declared Old Rattler; ‘ he war a holyscreecher, I do b’lieve if he’d set *bout it he’d outwit, deeceive, and oust old Satan right on his own fodder-walk. Poor old scoun- drel! Vd give a wisdom-tooth to see him, It’s nigh onto two years since the vagrant swapped lies with me ’way up in Montanny.” 3 Thus conversing, they came to the cabin of Captain Henry Vaughn, Mayor of Red Ruin. ** Tom, let’s drop in here a moment; I report every evening to the mayor,” explained the young scout, and so saying the two entered Vaugbn’s office. Tom was introduced to the handsome young mayor, who welcomed the old borderer to the hospitality of Red Ruin, Little Fury made his report and was about to depart when the mayor said: ‘Ob, yes, Frank! Id nearly forgotten to say that Mr. Walwerth requested me to bave you call at his cabin to-night without fail, Don’t forgit to go up, Frank.” ‘Wonder if he intends to give mea share in the ‘ Jolly Jane?” smilingly observed the young scout, as he and Old Tom departed, Reaching his own dingy little room, Frank lighted a lamp, seated bis guest and proceeded to d ghar supper, fter their meal had been dispatched, Little Fury said: ‘Now, Tom, if you'll excuse me a few min- utes Pll run up and see Mr. Walworth. He’s one of the finest men in this camp, and a good friend I like to oblige.” ‘* All right, boy,” replied Tom; ‘‘I’l] amuse myself by cleania’ up my shootin’-irons,” Frank soon found himself in the presence of Jobn Walworth, a pleasant man of some sixty ears and the owner of two-thirds of the Jolly ane, the richest mine in Red Ruin Camp. ‘“‘Captain Vaughn said you wisked to see me,” the boy observed, in a business-like way. ‘* Yes, indeed, I do, Frank,” assured the old miner, closing the door and seating himself be- fore the boy. ‘‘I received a letter to-day from my daughter, sayine—” ‘Your daughter?” exclaimed Little Fury, in surprise, , ‘Yes, from my daughter, Florence,” an- swered the miner, a nog rt a over his bearded face, ‘I know it will be a surprise to everybody to learn that I have a daughter; but such isthe case. She’s now ig pote years of age, and, as I was going to say, I received a let- ter from her to-day, saying that she was com- ing to Red Ruin to join me. I have not seen Flo for fifteen years. When she was three rents old her mother died, and my sister took er into her home. I went to California, and have been knocking about here and there ever since, endeavoring to accumulate a fortune, and never, until I struck the ‘ Jolly Jane,’ have I made more than a mere living. I wrote Florence of my good luck, and that I e ted to visit my old home during the year. In an- swer to my letter comes one from her saying her aunt had died, and that she was coming to me, and even named the day she was going to start. Of course it’s a surprise to me, but a very happy one. But the letter has been so long on the road that I have little time in which to prepare for her reception. In two or three days she will be in Leadville, where she wished me to meet her, This will be impossible, for I have not sufficiently recovered from my injury in the mine to make the journey, unless it be at the risk of my life. So I want you to goin my place, and meet her at Leadville, tell her of my inability to come, and that I sent you to escort her here, To be sure, she'll come through on the coach, Now, what do you say, my boy?’ ‘* Pll go with pleasure,” answered frank, his ad flushing with pride at the confidence placed in m, ** Thanks, lad; bring her through safe and ll pay you well.”, ‘ ‘* Pido my best,” promised the youth; ‘ 1’ll start before daylight in the morning. Jl ride my pony so’s to get there on time. I'll prepare everything to-night, and when the sun rises I'll be miles from here, What shall I say to your daughter?” The old man gave him abrief yet endearin message to be communicated to his child, an then the youth took bis departure, As he proceeded toward his own quarters, the young scout’s attention was attracted by a roar of boisterous laughter in ‘‘ The Magnet,” Red Ruin’s saloon and gambling-house, Advancing to the open door, he looked in, The house was already full. Some were drink- ing, some throwing dice and some playin cards; but the center of attraction was an old bummer whose tall form and long limbs were clad in rags, and his head surmounted by the remnant of an old army cap. oo" TY Meo 1K ay , aus P r, cy } ti - ,' > ’ “, Pee : 72 ee 5 : « ' * ' a . } 2. ; “ { ‘ . ‘ . ¥ ; af @ ra a * “> P * . - ° . rp A wat ty ‘ DEIR : Gea teatiry ae wee os oy 4 mS CRs pn fal van ‘* Old Soaker,” as he was called, had been ly- ing around camp several days, drinking whisky at the miners’ expense and furnishing no end of amusement to those who were attracted nightly to ‘*The Magnet.” He was the most odd, clownish oJd bum who had ever struck a mining-camp—a regular camp vagrant who scorned labor, and was totally impervious to the insults and jibes of roughs, When Little Fury looked in upon the crowd, Old Soaker was standing in the center of a mob, holding a glass of liquor in his extended hand above the heads of those around him, making a foolish, maudlin speech—responding to the toast, ‘‘ The health of Red Ruin.” As he listened to the bummer’s talk, the spirit of mischief seized Little Fury, and, whip- ping out his revolver, he pointed it through the open door and fired, As the weapon rung out, the glass and con- tents in the hand of Old Soaker vanished, an as the shivered crystal and whisky-spray rained” down upon the heads of the ‘crowd, a roar of laughter, mingled with curses and cries of sur- prise, filled the room, ’ With a cry of **‘ Murder!” Old Soaker sought refuge behind the bar. But the excitement soon subsided when Little Fury was observed standing in the doorway with a mischievous smile upon his face, a pistol in his hand. ‘* That war a leetle reckless, but a dandy shot, Whirlwind,” observed ‘‘ Purple-Nose” Jack, an old miner and gambler. Old Soaker crept from his hiding-place, threw off his cap, and declared his intention of lick- ing the young scout; but the miners succeeded in quieting him with another glass of liquor, and with a waveof his hand Little Fury depart- ed from The Magnet, Returning to his room he told Old Tom of his intended trip to Leadville, and asked the old hunter to remain and keep watch over Red Ruin until he should return, The hunter agreed to do so, and the arrangements were at once made known to the mayor, who heartily ap- proved of the same, Long before daylight next morning Frank mounted his pony and started on his journey. The night passed and day had just dawned ( when thestartling cry of ‘‘ Murder!” ranthrough | | the ag , John Walworth, one of the proprietors of the ** Jolly Jane,” lay dead in his cabin, his skull crushed by the blow of a heavy bludgeon! CHAPTER II. | TWICK HELD UP. Re THREE days had passed. The tri-weekly Saas ' | stage-coach running between Leadville and Red ‘oie. Ruin was moving at a rattling pace up Roaring Gulch, bound for the last-named camp, Old Hi Graves, a veteran of the Overland, handled the reins of the six mules, whose clat~- Li tering hoofs, mingled with the grinding of the | E wheels and creaking of springs, woke the echoes a of the dreary pom cm There were four passengers in the coach, three men and one woman, pvt Two of the men were evidently well-to-do Bet Westerners. One of them, whom the other ad- A dressed as Major Hines, was a large, red-faced if man, with a steel-gray eye and cold, exp on- less face, The other was a swarthy-faced miner rey of Red Ruin named *‘ Tac” Barnes. The third ba was evidently from the East—atenderfoot. He was not over thirty years of age, well-dressed et and gentlemanly in appearance and speech, 7 The woman’s face was closely vailed. Her | clothes were protected from the dust and dirt of the road by @ long brown linen duster. Her hands were incased im black kid gloves. An oc- | casional deep-drawn sigh orasob escaped her lips, as if she was in deep sorrow. And she . really was, for she was Florence Walworth, the | cn ig of the murdered miner, John Wal- worth. The news of her father’s death had reached } Bases her ears soon after taking the stage at Leadville =~ ae } for Red Ruin. Thestage was met ontheway by the miner, Tac Barnes, whom Dave Luce, vs Pa Ie Walworth’s partnerin the Jolly Jane,had sent = = = | to break the sad news to Florence, NS The journey was indeed asadonetothe poor oR ea girl, and she would have turned backhadsuch a thing been possible, the stagethen being forty = miles out from Leadville, Her sorrow threw a gloom over the spirits of the passengers, They ve expressed the dee sympathy for her, and their kind wordsof comfort and assurance lifted some of the burden from her young heart. ae But the maiden had little to say as the jour- ie Ay al | neyedon. In fact, very little was said by any Rial (eke > ct of the travelers, after Barnes, who had takena 13 al Ps e y