Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 820 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

xo A £ The rider of the injured horse was Nobby : Nat, or, as he had confessed himself really | to be—Carter Wayne. Old Billy Bedam uncoiled a lariat and pre: pared for business. At the proper time the rope circled through the air, and the noose shot forward. Wayne was paying no attention to Old Billy, and the rope caught him fairly. In another instant he was jerked from the sad- dle, striking the ground with terrible force. Leaping lightly from his steed and bend- ing over the man he had lassoed, Old Billy discerned that the man had been rendered unconscious by the shock. He might be dead, but the vagrant did not pause to exam- ine him then. Lifting Wayne, the strange man flung him across the back of the white horse, after which he mounted also. The cowboys did not notice what had be- fallen their comrade, and so Old Billy rode away with his captive without being chal- lenged or molested. Halting in a protected valley, the owner of the white horse dismounted, lowering Car- ter Wayne to the ground. Then, producing a.flask of liquor, he began working over the unconscious Villain. In the course of a few minutes he was rewarded by seeing Wayne open his eyes and stare wildly about. ‘He! he! he!” chuckled Billy, rubbing his hands together with keen satisfaction. ‘‘ Kinder s’prisin’, hain’t it, partner? Waal, sech things will happen in ther best reger- lated famblys—yes they will.” ‘* What—has—happened?” asked Wayne, after he made an attempt to rise, falling back with a groan. ‘‘I remember a—a—- shock, and then—” ‘*You woke up ter find yerself hyer. Kind 0’ a presto change trick, wuzn’t it? How do you feel?” ‘*Every bone in my body is sore. der if my legs or arms are broken?’ “Reckon not. You're jest broke up, so to spoke. I don’t wonder, fer you tuck a dump from ther back o’ your hoss.” | A look of suspicion flashed across Wayne's face, being revealed by the misty moonlight. ‘*T didn’t fall,” he declared, * “Nary time,” agreed Old Billy, cheerfully. *“You wuz jerked out o’ ther saddle ina most skientific manner.” ‘* And you—you—” The vagrant nodded, ‘Yep, I done it!” he grinned, ‘I wanted to hev a leetle talk with ye, you see. Now, don’t git riled. It shows bad breedin’ ter git riled at leetle things.” ‘Curse you, old man! what do you mean?” ‘* Don't sweer, Carter, dear! It’s naughty.” ‘“Who are you, I say?” ‘‘Do you really want to know?” ‘*'Yes,” “Then look!” With a swift motion Old Billy removed a false beard and wig, and a cry of fear and amazement broke from Wayne’s pallid lips. I won- ' hours before Gertie Grant rode boldl Lone Star Ranch. She was alone, did not seem to hesitate about entering the ranch, for she rapped boldly on the door. presence of Major Blukes. pale and her eyes showed signs of sleepless: ness, looking the man straight Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective, up. They said they had searched for you everywhere. J reckoned you had been plunked ‘by the nesters.” ‘“Not quite so bad as that, major. All the same, I came near never turning up at | Lone Star again.” ‘Sit down, sit down!” cried the veteran. ‘Tell us about it.” Nat sat down on the veranda.e ‘‘Have you seen that old fellow called Billy Bedam?” he asked. The major nodded, ‘* Well,” continued the Tenderfoot Detec- | tive, ‘that old devil came near being the death of me. In the scrimmage with the nesters last night my horse was injured.” ‘“Clipped on the right foreleg with a bullet,” said Major Blukes, “That caused me to fall behind the others,” Nat went on. ‘“‘ My attention was entirely taken up with the pursuit, and I did not see that old devil when he cut down upon me, mounted on that deceptive white nag of his. The result was that he roped me out of the saddle. When I struck the ground I was knocked senseless. The next I knew he had me foul,and I was so sore and stunned I could not move. ‘Then he gloated over me to his heart’s satisfaction.” ‘*But—but why should he do anything of this kind?” asked the puzzled major. ‘The truth is, Old Billy is not what he seems.” ‘*T fancied as much.” ‘* He is in disguise,” ees.” ‘‘He took off his false beard and wig, and he proved to be an old enemy of mine—a rival for the hand ofa certain young lady, some years ago, revenge. to escape him, he might have killed me.” He hates me, and he sought Had I not been fortunate enough ‘* How did you escape?” ‘‘He dragged me toacave and left me there, saying he would return by night. He supposed I was securely bound, but I was not, and Imanaged to get free, here.” I am ‘Well, it will not be good for Mr. Billy Bedam if he shows his, head about here again,” The two men sat on the veranda and talk- ed for some time, and then they entered the house together. The sun had not been risen more than two up to ut she One minute later, the girl was in the Her face was ‘*T have come for my sister,” she said, nthe eye. ‘‘T know nothing about your sister, Miss Grant,” he asse . ‘* Do you speak the truth, major?” His face flushed. “The solemn truth, young lady. .What about your sister?” ——— a te ee + i ee tolaw. But, that is the most effective way to deal with you, Miss Grant, I think.” ; “Thus far it has not proved very success- ul.” ‘**T confess not.” . ‘1 believe my other enemy is beneath this roof,” “Who is he?” ‘ Oarter Wayne,”’ ‘There is no such person here,”’ ‘‘ He is known to you as Nathan Kirk,” ‘What—Nobby Nat?” ‘Exactly. Will you tell him I wish to see him?” ‘* Ceriainly.” The major left the room, returning with. Nat in a very short time, The Girl Rancher’s eyes blazed when they rested on the young Easterner. ‘* Carter Wayne, where is my sister?” she demanded, in ringing tones. ‘“Would I could tell you, Miss Grant,” was the sober ren ‘*T believe you know!” ‘*T do not.” , ‘*Pah! What does your word amount tof You are the one who crept into Ivy’s room, and lured her away!” ‘ “You are mistaken,” A ‘“T knew you would deny it; but, that does not count, Your word goes for nothing, Carter Wayne! Only you could have crept. into the house and lured Ivy away without arousing the place, You are the one!” ‘‘T sce it is useless to deny it,” “Then you confess?” “ By no means, Idid not do the deed, but you do not believe me when I say so, knew she was induced to leave the ranch.” . Gertie started forward. ‘*¥ou knew it? That isa fatal admission? How could you have known it unless you were the one who kidnapped her?” ‘‘T saw her with the man who took her from Cross Bar Ranch.” A low cry came from the Girl Rancher’s lips. . “That is very thin! Where did you see her?” ‘* Many miles from here.” “Where?” , ‘*T cannot direct you to the spot.” “You will not! I am not deceived in the least! You induced her away into the hills. somewhere, and I believe vou have killed her, you dastard!” | The man winced a trifle pefore ner scath- ing language, but still his eyes met hers. boldly. . Tastead of that, I tried to save her from her foe. I would have succeeded ‘but. a cruel fate was against me.” With each moment Git Thar Gert’s pas- sion grew more intense until finally, with- out the least warning, she snatched out a revolver, crying: ) ‘You'll never deceive another girl, Car- ter Wayne! Die, you wretch!” Then she fired point-blank at him. Down went the man! Wheeling instantly: Gertie Grant dashed 7 | ‘‘She was kidnapped from her room, and | from the room to the open air, where her “ t | CHAPTER XV. the Whig ye os ees away sin) to fire pone ps waiting. rere si pe back is Sar the ranch, e would have succeeded, but | of the thoroughbred black, she dashed away” Nab | ae ala og aS PA ROT that the flames were discovered by a for- | toward Cross Bar Ranch, the revolver still - fx / Tue gray light of another morning was | tunate chance.” grasped in her hand, eae Ne /showing in the east when a man came stag- ‘And you thought—just what?” Te / gortng SP to Lone Star Ranch, his appear ‘Tt looked like a blow from my enemies,” CHAPTER XVI Cael dy ’ ance being that of a person who had tramped | The President of the U. 8. A. Cattle Co. Sore A aa Bok many weary miles. assumed his most dignified manner. THE BEGINNING OF REVELA % erten ee) iA Major Blukes had spent a restless night | ‘I do not domy fighting in such a beastly | Barevy had Gertie left the ranch when and risen before all the stars pale in the bk . | way,” he asserted. Nobby Nat arose to his feet—unharmed! He was smoking on the veranda when the ie Major Blukes had been standing like a. fee fa _“ '- man came slowly up. , , oe ‘““T have other enemies besides you, 7 man dazed, but now he cried: Major.” “Great Scot?!” he cried. “Is that youor| ‘‘Iam not your enemy, young lady. If} ‘ Where are you hit, Kirk?” \ . . ” . , . c. Vy aa ~ your eae Kirk? ° _ | you cut my fences, 1 Sarak efend my| ‘Iam not touched,” was the reply. “T Lat: ‘It is I,” replied the voice of Nobby Nat. | property. tis all, but I'm no enemy of, saw she was going to shoot, and dropped Well, where in the name of all that is | Miss Grant.” | just in time to avoid the bu!let, which you: = + “wonderful have you been? You went out | — Wl ‘ Instead of fighting, you seek to have me will find in the wall behind me.” bin t , . ‘ Li 3 . . | with the peaeee night, but you didn't come | arrested.” ’ - “Great Cesar! but you are in luck! I ra back with them, although your horse showed | ‘If you werea man, I would not resort thought she had finished you, sure!” ide ey fe pe Pas NEL eo Ree eR tee Dh) eT Renews Ce Ps a Pech dierent sb ere“ Comichbooks.cc " if STE s ie, Ay je uead abst Sam . ahead, vk ’ BA ra Cf * ob , PRAM Fatt et TPT) ia lr PEPFAR OL | = od 4 ee oe .