Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 820 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

h ~ “ + f a ~\ - “« a |» * 4 ; "n - o& ? | ” Saye 5) “es were ees ! he ‘, 4 7 a. ET - bs . Pos he Sys . ' aw LP R a ~ eles te vet Ts , vie Vee » - ~ ~~ < Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective, 7 “Some of ther critters hev bin hyer while we wuz erway!” A musical laugh came to their ears, and, looking upward, they saw on the rocks far above, outlined against the starry sky, a black horse and its rider, The rider was Git Thar Gert! The strange girl had cut in ahead of them and made a hole in the fence at Rocky Gap. ‘Dern her!” grated Mustang Harris, snatch- out a revolver. ‘‘ I'll jest—” He never finished, Nobby Nat was close to the foreman’s side, and the Tenderfoot Detective saw the deadly purpose upon Harris’ moonlight- flooded face. Just as the revolver was be- ing lifted, it was suddenly caught and wrenched from the cattleman’s hand. ‘My God, man!” cried Nat. ‘‘ Are you aware that is a woman?” ‘* A she-tiger!” was the retort. the mark of her cubs across my face! me thet gun!” He found himself looking into the muzzle of his own weapon. ‘‘ Harris,” said the Easterner, calmly, ‘‘ I thought you something of a man! Can it be you would turn a gun on that girl? I won't believe it!” A sudden feeling of shame swept over the desperado, ‘‘T didn’t mean ter no more’n wing her,” he declared. ‘‘ Mebbe I’d no business ter do thet. I ’low she is a holy terror, an’ I oughter admire her. Derned ef I don't! But w’at call hev you snatchin’ a gun from “T’ve got Give my fingers?” “The call of aman who will not see a woman injured. If Ihadn’t moved just as I cid, you would have taken a snap-shot at her. Your snap-shots are dead sure to mean something. I would do the same thing over again.” The two men sat within arm’s length and looked at each other, while the other cattle- men watched what was passing with breath less interest, . Harris had a bad record, and his comrades fully expected he would do up the tender- foot who had dared to interfere with him in such a way. They were disappointed. “You're right, pard,” and the foreman held out his hand for the revolver, ‘‘ I was dead wrong: Gimme ther gun. We won't quarrel.” Without a moment’s hesitation, Nobby Nat turned the revolver end for end, grasped LE SS -_---—_ ea ee ee ee Oe oe o_o -——— Gert herself walked slowly around the cor- ner. She paused when she saw the two men and awaited their approach. “To what am I indebted for the honor of | nervy girl. this visit?” she asked, rather sarcastically. The major made aj military salute, his fat face growing crimson as his eyes wavered be. fore the steady gaze of the Girl Rancher. “Ahem!” and he cleared his throat. ‘You see—there was—that is,—ah!—well, I don't exactly know how to begin.” He saw the faintest trace of a smile creep- ing into the corners of her beautiful mouth, but she remained silently’ gazing straight at him. Coughing again: ‘‘T regret the necessity that makes me seem uncivil to a lady, but you must be aware yon have brought this trouble on yourself, I warned you in time. Last night you were the leader of the nesters who sought to ruin the company’s fence, You do not deny that?” “Don’t 1?” ‘Do you?” ‘“T don’t acknowledge it,”’ ‘*But you were seen.” ‘* Very well; what of it?” ‘You were violating the law.” The girl showed her milk-white teeth in a smile. “The law, eh? behind his hand, he began So you are going to mask ee ee ree oe eee ; | it. ‘‘T']l shoot those dogs!" fumed the presi- dent of the U. 8. A. Cattle Co, ‘“Better not try it, dear sir,” returned the ! ‘*T can shoot a little myself, and the dogs are valuable, Even if I did not have a dog to protect me, there are sev- eral men within hearing of my voice. If I should cry out for aid, they would promptly come to my assistance.” ‘It can’t be you know what bp are do- You are defying the Ing, young woman! majesty of the law!” Gert snapped her white fingers. “That for the majesty of the law! It does not count in these parts, and you know The pie Paty of might rules here,” Never had she looked more beautiful than when she boldly faced and defied those two men, and the vcteran soldier could not help thinking what a magnificent creature she was, ‘You are simply averting arrest for the time being,” he asserted, ‘* Let it go at that.” Finding it useless to waste further time there, the major turned and rode away, fol- lowed by the sheriff. Some hours later, Nobby Nat was sum- maned to Major Blukes’s private room in Lone Star Ranch. ‘‘T have a warrant for the arrest of this Grant girl,” said the president of the cattle syndicate, ‘‘I have brought an officer from yourself behind the law? Do you think the | Prairie Valley, and I want her taken into law will uphold you in your work of last ' custody as soon as_ possible. night? It may in this country, but your cowboys were very ready with theimweapons. They were the first to draw—in fact, they were the only ones who fired a shot.” ‘This is as good as a confession that you were present at the encounter, Officer, ar- rest her.” ‘* Officer, hold on! over a bit. Ido not propose to be arrested.” ‘* You—you—you won't resist?” spluttered the major. ‘«That’s where you are wrong—I will!” ‘Tt is folly.” The sheriff was on the point of dismount- ing, but, like a flash, a pair of. handsome re- volvers sprung into the girl's hands, and the weapons were turned on the two men. ‘‘T have been forced into this affair, and I propose to fight it out,” she calmly said. ‘*¥Your men did shooting last night, major, but if youattempt to arrest me now, I shall | Cross Bar Ranch. try my hand.” The astonishment of the portly veteran caused him to catch his breath several times -the barrel and placed the butt in Harris’s | before he could utter a sound, and then he hand. would take advantage of the opportunity to shoot him dead, but took his chances on _ that. Harris had no thought of doing such a thing, and the revolver was restored to its holster. s | Git Thar Gert sat watching the entire scene, and when Harris put up his weapon, she turned her black horse and disappeared from the rocky height. ble There wasno reason for remaining longer at the gap, so the disgusted cowboys rode back to aA Star Ranch and reported to Major Blukes, who was hauled from his comfortable bed to hear a story that caused him to swear viciously. When the major attempted to turn his wrath on the foreman, Nat Kirk promptly asserted Harris had done his best and that no one could be blamed, ‘* [ll swear out a warrant for her to-mor- row!” declared the major. He kept his word, With the coming of another day, he rode to the nearest town, Prairie Valley, and con- sulted with a justice of the peace. When he returned, a sheriff was with him, and they ‘proceeded directly to Cross Bar Ranch. Some dogs came baying from the ranch- house as they rode up, and then Git Thar Hid! Cee tales ne eth ' . atte LEN be AS a He did not know but the desperado | as. ‘ > hal xf ‘ . . , ¥ \" ¥ : ‘4 ~ ’ pa Le ah BS Sr ths Vata baie As sl al iT? % , managed to stammer: | ‘“May I be jiggered ‘‘T haven't the least objection, sir,” assured Gert. ‘* You—you wouldn't really shoot?’ ‘That's where you are off, I would! you have an idea - your horse, major,’”’ The President of the U. 8. A. Cattle Co. turned to his companion. ‘* Officer, arrest her!’ he thundered. A peculiar whistle came from Gert’s lips, and her dogs gathered around her, hs . sush about her waist. ‘The man who attempts to touch me will feel the fangs of my dogs at his throat!’ de- clared the Girl Rancher. CHAPTER VIII. A STRANGE MARRIAGE, In vain Major Blukes spluttered and pro- Through it all Git Thar Girt smiled tested. calmly into his face, ‘‘Tt?s no use to make a fuss, major,” she “The fight is fairly on, and I mean I know better than to submit to arrest now. It would be disastrous to my said. business. interests,” If aim fooling, just jump off ‘Then she laughingly restored her revolvers to the - rrr rr | , Ls < a + , - 5 : -, - - ¥ a. 1." of a ; a a” Sore le! ‘ ee, Vi . ra * ai iz This cutting of fences must stop! I attempted to arrest her as we came along, but she resisted, Now, I want you to take the sheriff and ten of my men and go after her,” “T scarcely think I shall need the men,” said the Tenderfoot Detective. ‘If you | give me authority to cause her arrest, I will Let’s talk this thing | see to it.” ‘But you had better take the men along to make sure of accomplishing the work.” ‘The sheriff is the only man I shall need to take along.” “Well, if you think you can take her, But I warn you she is a tiger-cat—she shows her claws,”’ | | will clip them.” ‘All right, go ahead. The sheriff has the warrant.” \ The shadows of night had settled over the prairie land when Nat and the officer reached Dismounting at the door, they strode boldly in, It almost seemed that they were expected, for the door promptly closed behind them, ‘Right this way, gentlemen,” called a- musical voice. Walking into a lighted room, they found themselves face to face with the owner of the ranch. ’ She looked at him inquiringly, a strange sparkle in her violet eyes. ‘You will be sensible if you submit quietly,” declared Nat, rather harshly, “* We are not tc be trifled with. If you try to draw on us, it will be the worse for you,” Of a sudden, her eyes blazed. ‘‘Now you are showing yourself in your true character!” cried the Girl Rancher, “You have seen fit to remove the mask! Good! I was expecting you!” A whistle came from her lips, and in an- other instant the room was filled with nest- ers, | “Do you imagine I will submit now?” came from her lips. friends.” | Nobby Nat seemed stunned. With a wave of her hand, Git Thar Gert dismissed the nesters, and they left the room, The girl. , , bring them to my side,” ‘Then she to chairs. ‘(Sit down, gentlemen!” They obeyed. ‘“‘Thave a ° r il | ‘*'These are my little business to transact with \~ te a< z= vi — ‘ PF 4 * a * 7" * - are close at hand,” assured the — ‘T only have to utter the signal to” pointed 2 ,