Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 795 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

*, « ’ a bd iy — a re ‘ « » + ae 4 ed : -\ f. : ove ma Kit Bandy in Red Ruin. - f ’ e ‘ he le ied b vat M ¥ . esa IY ve rt or ’ * 4 * ws : eer, “ ‘GTi i star sf oe ae “a ie PON IW ye Pr —- Ae wae aj -¥i = My Bu ey A he oy TEN iy) ee * eal 7 "<4 % rs. Water "Bee" Wai **Look out they don’t prosecute us, cap’n,” pig oe in an outlaw. “They? Why, there’s only one doin’ that singin’,”’ ‘* Well, he’s got a voice like Gabriel’s trum- pet,” declared Trojan. ‘‘ Listen! he’s singin’ On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand,’ sure’s pangetory. He’s some ole religious crank, ll ‘Strange, cap’n,” remarked the Desert Vul- ture, with intended sarcasm, ‘‘that you know he’s singin’ a religious hymn.” ‘*Oh! IT used to hear Chaplain Pelters sing it often when I boarded at Joliet. The old man’d line it outand start her, and then how hisstriped congregation would make things hum!” ‘* {hen the fellow comin’ may be an old cell- mate, of yours,” suggested the Vulture; ‘‘ but hear bimnow! Don’t he roll it off majestically? Isn’t he a lark?” Suddenly the singing ceased. The singer must have come in contact with the guards at the up- per watch-fire. But the entire camp was now on foot, and all eyes were turned up at the canyon, eager to get a glimpse of the nocturnal wanderer, at the same time on the alert for a possible hostile sur- pr.se. And their curiosity wassoon gratified by sight of the singer, who was marched into camp by the red-skin guards, and whose odd and striking appearance completely astonished the outlaws, while Black Dog, with a look of recognition upon,his face, exclaimed: ‘* Loud Sing! Long Talk! Big Pray! waugh !” CHAPTER IX. ‘SALVATION SAM.” CAPTAIN TROJAN and his confederates saw at once that the singing stranger was known to the Indians, for they greeted him in a friendly way. To the outlaws, however, he was a total stranger, and at thesame time, the most remark- able-looking fellow they had ever chanced to meet any where. He was a man not less than sixty years of age, and standing at least six feet in his moccasins, His limbs were long and angular, his hands and feet large. His face had been recently and cleanly shaved, revealing a cast of features upon which the ravages of time had wrought severely, There was a peculiar, vacant stare in his little gray eyes which at first sight led So- corro Dan to suspect a Jack of mental balance, But the oddest of all was the man’s dress—a full suit of threadbare, shiny und somewhat soiled broadcloth, and a tall silk bat that looked as though it had -been through a political cam- paign. His coat was of the ‘‘swallow-tail” pattern, the long-pointed tail reaching well down toward his beels. His vest was buttoned to his long, scrawny neck, which was encircled by a black satin stock. / | This unique stranger strode into camp with the air of one who knew exactly what he was doing. While maintaining a certain dignity and choice of expression, there was nothing about his looks or speech that evinced the least uneasiness or mistrust of the character of that camp. He appeared like one who felt he was among friends, and had no need of standing upon ceremony. Black Dog’s outburst of ‘‘ Big Pray,” *‘ Loud Sing,” and ‘* Long Talk,” was repeated by most of the red-skins, and in response the stranger, wee a bow and Sweeping wave of the hand, . d-evening, my red friends and white. I beg pardon for this intrusion, but I was jour- neyin’ this way andrun right into you. How are you, anyhow, Black Dog?” ‘‘ Heap well,” replied the chief; “‘ but why Loud Sing here?” , ‘*T was on my way to Red Ruin to preach,” ' the old stranger answered; ‘‘T have heard the a . \? iP 3 ~ et * on . <“ _ dians and mining-camps of the far ee - * . / . a4 2 place was a sinful camp.” ‘‘Then you're a sort of a circuit preacher, oe exclaimed Captain Trojan, approaching e man. ‘‘ Well, yes,” the old man replied, reflective- ; ‘*thatis, [ama preacher of the Salvation My name is Samuel Plenty, Where longest known they call me Salvation have been preaching among the {n- ] est two years. Ihave spent many weeks in the camp of this great and good chief, Black Dog.” ‘‘ Loud Pray—Long Talk—Big Music—make y. best an Sam, hills rattle,” added Black Dog, endeavoring to return the compliment Salvation Sam had just d him. ‘¢T ging when I grow weary, and it refreshes me,” Sam commented; “ there’s nothing like : aoe . 7 . ‘ ‘ nd) ‘ - » " ; . » fl : \ ' , f ry Aba ; ’ es : ‘i a : ‘ 4 = iO ye + . : rs Pe A ¢ . s sie Ve pit a Gs : ee Sy . oe o . ° 1 . , ’ Pa) : ’ ee = 4 Reet, é < ae : . tar acd . ce) ( ++ . * *' 4 i 4; A * music to cheer the mind, purify the soul and lighten the footsteps,” ‘* Real, downright fear in case a grizzly war after a feller, | think, would make the footsteps lighter than music,’ declared Hector, the out- law; and his friends greeted his remark with a laugh. ‘*Salvation Sam,” said Captain Trojan, call- ing up Socorro Dan by a motion of his hand, ‘fT want to introduce my friend, Bracelet Dick.” ‘‘ Bracelet Dick!” repeated the Salvationist, shaking hands with the Vulture; ‘‘rather a peculiar name,” ‘*Do you see them, Samuel?” queriéd Socorro Dan, holding up to the old man’s view his man- acled wrists; ‘‘them’s what give me my name, I’m proud of them, for they cost Old Kit Bandy his miserable, pestiferous life,” ‘* Ah! my friend Dick$” exclaimed the old man, With a shake of the head, ‘' I’m afraid you’ve been a little wildin your day, and per- chance aresowing some wild oats yet!” ‘¢ Well, to tell the truth, Samuel, a little sav- ing grace wouldn’t do me any harm,” confessed the desperado, tipping Captain Trojan the wink; ‘tand perhaps you won’t object to givin’ me a trial sample of your Gospel goods,” ‘* Yes,” put in the facetious Hector, ‘‘ give us a song, anda short-cut sermon in the mount, while you tarry among Us sinners,” ‘‘*A song! a sermon! a sermon! a song!” called out the other outlaws. ‘* Let Loud Sing make music,” added Black Dog, who possessed in a slight degree a sense of humor, ‘* Really, my friends,” said the Salvationist, ‘‘famina very great hurry to reach Red Ruin by to-morrow night, lam told it is a wicked camp, aod I woul rescue 1t before it is entirely lost, So, under the circumstances, couldn't you excuse me this time?” ‘‘No! no! no!” shouted the outlaws, in chorus, ‘* Yes, give us a short cut right from thé shoulder,” Hector added; ‘* somethin’ for a nightcap—to dream ’bout.” ’ So urgently did the outlaws insist on a ser- mon from the old man that the latter, ap- parently unaware that he was the mere object of brutal sport, finally consented to sing a hymn and talk to them a few minutes, Removing his hat, adjusting his choker and clearing his throat, he sung: ‘*Pass me not, ob, gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry, etc.” His voice was clear and melodious, and he sung with a feeling and patbos that would have stirred the soul of any one possessing a grain of the more tender sentiments of the human heart. The echoes took up the refrain and carried it abroad into the night until it seemed a choir of invisible spirits hovered among the hills, The Indians listened in silence, but the out- laws seemed restless and uneasy, and with winks and guilty smiles exchanged glances with each other, And Socorro Dan, as if suddenly reminded of something, glanced toward the walled grotto, and was Visibly startled by sight ot a sad, white face gazing over the stone wail at the singer, But as if dispelled by the villain’s hateful stare, the face instantly sunk down behind the barri- cade. _ After he had finished singing Salvation Sam gave out a text-quoting from memory—and then proceeded to business in a downright, earnest way. Black Dog, who understood English fairly well, listened attentively, while most of his warriors rolled over on the ground and went to sleep. The outlaws seemed decidedly amused, though at times Socorro Dan was observed to slightly wince under the preacher’s fire, but with affect- ed indifference he sat tossing pebbles into vhe fire and watching the sparks go dancing up into me oe ever and anon glancing toward the otto. sets when Salvation Sam had finished his sermon, the Vulture sprung to bis feet and pro- posed three cheers for the preacher which were given with a will. The old man appeared to take it all in good art, and putting on his hat announced his in- tention of departing on his journey. The out- laws made no objections. Socorro Dan was lad to getrid of him. He “us afraid he might Reanaver the presence of the captive, and as he —the preacher—was evidently on good terms with the capricious Black Dog, there was no telling what influence might be brought to bear upon him. : f ith a friendly ‘‘ good-night” the old Sal- vationist departed. **Cracked in the upper story!” declared the outlaw, Hercules. ‘* Yes, but a rattling singer, and a spankin’ good talker,” added Hector, ‘‘He threw some hot-shot into this camp—one or two that made Socorro Dan’l squirm, and—” ‘‘T was afraid,” interrupted the Desert Vul- ture, ‘‘he’d see the gal, She Peeper up over the wall a time or two and if the old luny’d looked that way he'd been sure to ’a’ seen her, and it might caused us lots of grief. Of course he’s harmless as a suckin’ dove. No sane man’ be trampinp’ ’round these bills wastin’ time and breath tryin’ to convert Trojans into Christians, His dress gives him dead away,” “ Dan’l,” spoke up Captain Trojan, ‘‘ don’t bank too much on that man’s wor There may be a method in bis lunacy that’) bring you to grief anyhow. If I’d been boss of this camp I'd kept him here to-night, anyhow, if Red Ruin had sunk to the lowest pit for want of his pres- ence, Them's my sentiments clean cut.” ‘*You may be right, Cap,” replied the Vul- ture, ‘‘It isn’t too late to bring im back yet. Pll get Black Dog’s permission, This be had no difficulty in obtaining, and so he and the burly Hercules started off at onee after the old ‘ pilgrim.” They overtook him at the lower watch-fire, where he had stopped to exchange a word with the Indian guards, ‘Say, Salvation Samuel,” called cut Socorro Dan, ‘‘ we have come after you to go back and stay all night with us.” ‘*T cannot possibly do it,” declared the old Salvationist, | ‘*But you must,” persisted the Desert Vulture; “ Black Dog sent us after vou.” ‘*T must dechne to go,” was the old man’s an- swer. ‘*Then we'll have to tuke you!” and the two outlaws advanced toward him. ‘*Keep away!”’he cried, extending bis long arms and nervously shaking his bony_ hands, a keep away! do not lay hands on ine, I beg of ou! ms Look here, Salvation Sam!” exclaimed So- corro Dan, bristling up as if to frighten the preacher into submission, ‘‘ you don’t want to it obstroperous and compel us to use force! Jo you see them bracelets? I’m a bad man from the Sandy Desert, I am!” **So’m 1} exclaimed the preacher, shoving a derringer into the face of each of the outlaws; “Tm Kit Bandy, the Mountain Detective, I am !” CHAPTER X., A FEW SURPRISES, HAD a demon leaped out of the earth and con- fronted the two outlaws with eyes of flame, Se- corro Dan could not have been more startled, terrified, than when Salvation Sam declared he was Kit Bandy; for, in the changed voice, the clean-shaved yet rigid features, the blaze of those eyes into which he had once before looked in the Red Ruin Saloon, the Desert Vulture re- cognized, indeed, the dreaded Mountain Detect- ive in flesh and blood, Starting back with ren Ye terror, the red-faced desperado ducked his head just as the ristols of the old detective rung out as one. The bullet passed over Lis head, but Hercules fell dead--shot througb the brain. At this instant the three Indian guards gave utterance to a yelland bounded forward to the assistance of their friends, Socorro Dan, recovering from his sudden sur- prise, made a lunge at Bandy as the latter turn- to flee, but, stumbling over the body of Her- cules, he fell. As he went down he made a grab at the ‘‘ preacher ” and seized his long coat- ip and endeavored to hold him until the In- lians came up. Band Eoenal to kick the Viiture loose, and as he did go the tail of his coat parted from the waist. At the same instant the old detective saw a dark object come whirling from the shad- ows of a bush at the side of the canyon and strike among the red-skins who had just then reached Socorro Dan’s side, . Then the old man beheld a confusion of flying limbs, he heard a few quick, dull blows, gasps and groans, and, lo! the three red-skins lay prone upon the earth with the outlaw—all in a — struggling heap, from which bounced a lithe “ene, as though it were animated rubber, ‘‘ Little Fury! by the horn o’ Joshua!” burst from Old Kit’s lips in evident astonishment, “Yes!” exclaimed the Young Whirlwind, grasping the old detective by the arms, ‘‘ let’s run, Kit Bandy, for the whole Ingin camp is comin’ a-booming!” Together the two disappeared in the shadows