Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 801 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

SP - y- Me " of work; and the employment of any applicant at Rogue River Ranch had been recently hem- med in with difficulties, Two or three months before, Carlow’s cowboys had captured a half-grown grizzly in the neigh- boring hills and brought it bome in triumph, The title of ‘‘General” had been bestowed on it; and thereafter, every cowboy who sought work of Jim Carlow was required to mount the wildest | broncho on the place and rope the half-tamed grizzly. Kent Kirby’s advent occurred at least two weeks prior to the events narrated in the pre- ceding chapter. He recklessly announced him- self as the High-Kicker from Killbuck, and boastingly proclaimed that, as a cowboy, roper, rider or fighter, he ** c’u’d jist everlastin’ly knock the pints off’n anything that run, walked, div, er flew!" Naturally, this comprehensive boast made him the center of general attention. There were other braggarts at Rogue River Ranch, but mever one who had been sodaring., Hence, the High-Kicker was clamorously asked to give an immediate exhibition of his skill in riding the wiidest broncho and roping the ‘' General,” ‘* Hain’ ye got anything tougher’n a bronc’ fer me to straddle?’ he cried, drawing himself up in well-feigned disgust. ‘' A ring-streaked, greased rainbow, f’rinstance. Er a_ cyclone with a? airthquake tied to its tail. Trot out somethin’ that’s hard to ride, an’ Pll show you what ridin’is! A brone’t Waugh! Askin’ me fer to tackle a bronc’! Me! the High-Kicker frum Killbuck!” “Bring out Satan!” commanded Carlow, turning to one of his men, ‘‘ He’s the Kicker from Killbuck, is be? If he'll ride Satan an’ rope the b’ar, be kin have a job endurin’ the remuant o’ bis nat’ral life.” Jim Carlow was a hard-headed old ranch- man who had small use for the average ‘‘ blow- hard,” and he itched for the opportunity to humble the stranger. Satan was a coal-black stallion that bad been caught wild on the range, and whose inherent viciousness had re- sisted every effort at subjugation. One venture- some cowboy had met death in trying to break him; and as a‘ bucker” and all-around horse contortionist, the black stallion had no equal, He could twist himself into more reckless and erazy postures, and seemingly be in more places at once, than any animal thot had evor trod tha sward of Rogue River Ranch, Not a cowboy on the place but justly feared him, It was not customary to require applicants to ride Satan as a test of their fitness, and Jim Carlow would not have ordered the staliion out, but for the braggadocio of the self-styled High- Kicker, It required the efforts of a half-dozen men to throw the stallion and fit a saddle and bridle to him. When this was accomplished he was brought out of the corral, Three or four lariats were about his neck, with as many cowboys hanging to each, The High-Kicker from Killbuck viewed these preparanons with marked complacency, A road smile sat on his face and his muscular arms were folded on his breast, ‘‘ Now, if you'll bring out the b’ar, I’m ready!” and he walked with firm tread toward the pitch- ing horse, The stallion was blindfolded and beld in one osition until Kirby could mount. Then the lar- iats were cast off, and the expected ‘ circus” commenced, ‘* Whoa, January!” Kirby screqmed, as the stallion pitcbed forward in aseeming effort to stand on its head. ‘* Hang a bouse to his tail, will ye, an’ hold him down?” lt was acey. seen that, in spite of his boast- fulness, Kent Kirby was a horseman of no or- dinary character. He retained his place in the saddle with the tenacious grip of the trained broncho-breaker; and all the stallion’s bucking and curveting failed to dislodge him, It was an exhibition of skill which brought cries of admira- tion from the on-lookers. The scene of conflict was only a few paces from the ranch-house, and from a window of one of the upper rooms two women looked out; at first with fear, and then with flutters of sympathetic triumph, They were Marian Carlow, and her friend Sylvia Sterling, ** Now, bring on yer b’ar!” Kirby shouted, when he began to feel somewhat secure in his seat, ‘*1’m boun’ to have a job on this hyer ranch, er break my ole neck a-tryin’ fer it, “Whoa, January! Bring on yer b’ar!” The black stallion was far from being con- quered, and while the half-grown grizzjy was being ‘brought forth, the High-Kicker from Killbuck bad all he could do to maintain his Kent Kirby, the High-Kicker from Killbuck. position, More than once he came near being hurled in disgrace from the stallion’s back. The young grizzly was even less tractable than the black stallion, making several angry dashes at the men clustered about him, When set freein front of the pitching horse, _ the General drew partially erect and uttered a | Warving growl, Kent Kirby’s face wore its broadest smile, as | he loosed the lariat fpom the saddle-bow and | hurled it skillfully at Bruin’s head, The bear gave an angry snap with his teeth and turned the noose aside with a quick stroke, Again and again Kirby hurled the rope with unerring skill, anl as many times the bear knocked it aside with a blow from his paw, But, at length, the noose settled over the bear’s head and was tightened there by a quick jerk. Then began a scene which was somewhat unexpected. The black stallion did not like the presence of the grizzly, and it was only by superhuman ex- ertions that Kirby had been able to force it near | enough foracas', The horse greatly feated the | baar; and, as events showed, not without reason, ) No sooner was the noose set, than the grizzly ' drew in on the rope with all his tremendous strength. The stallion was not a large animal, ec Seer and its strength was not equal to that of the bear, as was speedily shown, In spite of the frightened stallion’s lunges, the grizzly steadily shortened the distance between them. Wild with terror, now, the broncho threw it- self backward in afurious bound, and as it did so, the girths of the saddle gave way under the strain. Satan rolled on the ground in a cloud of dust; and Kent Kirby, unexpectedly plucked from bis seat, found bimielf sprawled beneath the very nose of the bear! It was a ridiculous as well as dangerous predicament. With marvelous agility, the High-Kicker, forgetful of his boasts, scrambled backward in prudent haste, barely escaping the blow the General aimed at him. For an instant the grizzly regarded him, with tongue Jolling; then deliberately drew in the saddle and began to chew it as if it were an enemy ! The oppressive stillness that had reigned was broken by hilarious cries, now that the cowboys saw there was to be no tragedy, The High- Kicker had been discomfited, but they had no desire to see him killed, ‘‘ Pardners,” said the High-Kicker, climbing to his feet with great gravity, ‘‘I said I could lick anything that run, walked, flew er div; but I draws the line at grizzlies, They don’t do neither, They jist sets on their hunkers an’ draws in, an’ draws in, till somethin’s boun’ to bu’st, IfI have to play with grizzlies, pardners, you kin count me out. Wild stallions is bad enough, But grizzlies} Waucb! I don’t want a job that costs more’n it’s wu’th!” Jim Carlow and the cowboys were willing to concede, however, that he had justly won a place, and he was made happy shortly there- after by being informed of the fact and assigned toacot in the bunk-house and a seat at the general mess-table, And from that moment forward the High- Kicker from Killbuck was enrolled as one of the cowboys of Kogue River Ranch, CHAPTER III. A DISTRESSING SCENE, IN spite of his love and his deep gratitude, Seal Shelton could not help a feeling of gentle reproach as Marian Carlow moved off toward the pony with such an air of indifference, She would scarcely allow him to thank her for saving bis life, and seemed not to care to enter into an extended conversation with bim,: Perhans it was because she had been from the first something of an enigma that his love for ber was so fanned and fed, She piqued him by her indifference, ane drew him on by appearing not to care whether she was anything to him or not, More than once she had spoken to him sharply. even coldly. Kent Kirby had said it was because she was a girl of no heart; but, Kent Kirby was notoriously not an admirer of prettv women. Had he been, Seal Shelton would have thought his strictures due to jealousy. Shelton had visited Rogue River Ranch several days before, claiming to be a sportsman drawn from the savageness of the hills by the sight of buman beings in the plain below, He had met, admired, and then fell desperate- —EE EE IP ‘ 7) eons a Wes I? Wi Wr wert cat Jy #F Te oa i.” : ; . # New: “ ie » A i 4 ft att, eM ey a“ ai a Hs on a oe a ly in love with the ranchman’s daughter—the girl who had just rescued him from the fire on the cliff, He bad returned to the ranch every day since, and had used bis utmost endeavors to ingratiate himself in the good-will and esteem of this young woman, As he walked after her, now, cut to the quick, yet admiring her every motion, be was forced to acknowledge that so far he bad not succeeded very well, Hebad lost his own heart, but had not gained hers in return, ‘*T will win her, yet!” be muttered, “I will! I must!” Without her, life seemed suddenly to have be- come of little value, When she gained the pony’s side, be burried up aud offered to assist ber to mount, She sprung lightly into the saddle, with a secrnful little laugh. ‘‘ A ranchman’s daughter needs no such aid!” and she bent on him an indescribable look, ‘* That will do for fine ladies,” ‘ But you are a lady!” he protested, ‘Only old Jim Carlow’s girl! Now, we will go on, if you please, [ swam the pony across the river just there, but I expect we’d better go round by the bridge. It’s safer, if it is further,” ‘*Much safer,” he assented, looking at the dangerous current with an inward shudder, Then be asked himself hopefully if she would have taken that risk, had she not cared for him? It was a thought filled with sweet con- solation. In his present frame of mind, the longest way round was devidedly the shortest way home. Even a much greater distance would not have displeased him, If she did not positively forbid it, he meant to accompany her to tbe ranch, and the walk there would give bim opportunity for more conversation than he had yet bad with her. ‘* How did you know I was in danger?” and he looked up at the flames which were leaping wild- ly now on the very verge of the ind Fe She shuddered as she followed bis glance. there, taking my saw the fire; and ‘*T was out in the yalle morning ride, Of course then I saw—you!” ‘‘Thank Heaven that you did!” was bis fer- vent exclamation, They fell into a discussion of the probable origin of the fire, and kept up a desultory con- versation until they arrived at the ranch build- ings. He confessed he could not at all under- stand her thatmorning. Sometimes she seemed fitfully nervous and absent-minded, Frequent- ly she spoke of ber father in a way tbat did not please him. Toward this lover of bers her tenes never .warmed, nor did ber glances kindle. She was genial at times; and then, frigid, It was with feelings of regret, relief, pain and unsatisfied longing, that he saw the ranch build- ings draw near, and knew tbat the journey was approaching itsend. The long walk bad been filled with torturing sweets. Blissful pleasure and the bideous nightmare of uncertainty had accompanied him all the way. W ben the corral was gained, sbe sprung light- ly from the pony’s back, skillfully slipped off the saddle and bridle, and turned the animal into the inclosure. He did not cffer to assist her this time, believing she would not desire bis aid; that she would again refuse it, Side by side they walked toward the house, talking indifferently of indifferent things, The building was a large one, two stories in height, and rendered unsightly by the fact that it had been built up piecemeal by adding cn from time to time extra rooms and additions, It was eight or nine o’clock by this time, and, strange to say, the building and corrals seemed wholly deserted of human life, There were ponies near, and cff in the distance a number of cattle grazed. Not farfrom the bouse a saddled and bridjled broncbo was tied to a hitching. post, This struck Seal Shelton as odd, for the place ucvally wore an appearance of bustling activity, Rut when the girl remained silent on the sub- ject, and, he remembered that a round-up was to have commenced that morning, he put his un- asked questions aside. There was somebody in the house, that was certain, The hitched broncho showed that, Of course, Sylvia Sterling was there; and probably others. Neither was prepared, however, for the sight that greeted them as they drew near the open door. Within the large front room, stretched out dead on his back was Jim Carlow, the ranch- man; and near the body crouched the bound form of the High-Kicker from Killbuck, with *! Weg SS “Aaa