Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 820 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

Ota Ost ak Sa a= ML ete _ 2Acen et RA & rer re _ et & mr = ~s —_— A, het . et a ~—> —se © a a — > 7 ” *- . ic 2.2 = ie oe OS - — « be > 4 mma! a) en es : # ae = . ae ban) ‘ Bey 4 i i 4; Wayne, the bridegroom, f _ ticular friend of his, who will act as best | I have no fancy for having the story told at | ent as 2 hoss, an’ I didn’t want. ter 8 you, Carter Wayne,” continued the girl. “I fanc ied you would come, and I told my sis- ter so.’ ‘ Your sister?”’ ‘Yes. She has dressed to meet you, and there is a parson present. When you leave this house, you will be Ivy’s husband!” Nat leaped up. *‘ Girl, yeu are mad!” “Sit down!” came sternly from the Girl Ranchier’s lips. He sunk back in the chair. ‘You will find I am in earnest,” added Gertie Grant. ‘The girl you so cruelly deceived shall become your wife. Stop! Don't try to speak now! She has dreamed you would return to her of your own free will, and she must not know it was other- wise.” ‘But’ 1 do not understand: this,” pro- tested the dazed Easterner. ‘* You surely mistake me for some one else! J—I—’” “That will do! You should not attempt to play that game with me, It is too late —much too late. You will not deny you once played the lover to lvy Grant?” ‘“Ivy—Ivy Grant! Why, she—” “Enough! It makes no difference whether you deny it or not. I have heard you deny it times enough already. Do you see this?” She displayed a revolver. ‘‘ Look here,” broke in Nat; but he wa promptly cut short. ‘‘fam doing the talking. This revolver is loaded, and [ can handle it effectively. Let that be impressed on your mind. [ shall not hesitate to use it, if you act balky.” That is not all.” Again she whistled in‘ a peculiar manner, and four men entered the room, each man holding % heavy Colt’s revolver in his hand, «* Gentlemen,” spoke the girl, ‘‘ what is your business? 9? Pointing their weapons at Nathan Kirk, they replied in unison: ‘‘It is our instructions to shoot that man the instant you signal us to do so.’ Gert nodded, ‘Right. Can you see him from your | places of conceaiment outside this room?” gs We can by the aid of pistol-holes in the wall.” * Are you good shots?” ‘We are dead-shots.” She waved per hand, and they filed out of the room. Nobby Nat ‘seemed stunned, while the sheriff looked on with wide-open eyes. **] trust you comprehend the situation fully,” came from the Girl Rancher’s lips. “Tam in deadly earnest, and I mean to have my plans car! ried out. You wronged my sister, Carter Wayne, and this night shall see her your wife. If not that, then your friends will have the pleasure of burying you to-morrow,’ There was no doubting her intense earnest - ness. “ Are y ou ready” she asked. ‘* No, Y euiiol t. ‘*I must understand this thoroughly. Ne _ Gertie made an impatient gesture. You ask too much. You are in Cross Bar Ranch, and the doors are locked. You cannot escape with your life unless you y Ivy. You have the choice between 9ee and eath, and you are to act as if you were doing everything of your own free will. The first sign of rebellion in her pres- ence will be the signal for your death.” There could be 1 no misunderstanding her now. Stepping to the door, she called to some one in another room. Then a man in black clothes entered. ‘*Rev. Mr. Jordan, phis is Mr, Carter and this is a par- man. 3” ~The parson bowed, and, like dazed crea- tures, the two men returned the salute. + iy ‘ a) rs 4 4? : 2 wale ae 7 Pt vg. a ¥ ve 1 pay ay ") aay @ - i 45). y < f . = wit se that. d Amd now several persons entered the room and took seats, Not a weapon was in view, but Nat and the sheriff thought of the four men with Colt’s stationed beyond the wits. At Nat’s elbow, Gertie whispered: “T am going to bring Ivy down. want you to erect her as if delighted. Re- me amber the penalty of making a muss of the | affair. In another instant she was gone. It was only a short time before the Girl | Rancher returned, her invalid sister leaning | on her arm. Ivy was dressed ina gr tyish garment, and, although she was pale. and thin, a joyful light was in her eyes. The moment she saw Nat, she uttered a cry of delight, holding out her hands, He came forward quickly, IRR he he exclaimed. ‘‘Is it. really “Yes, yes!’ she sobbed, clinging to him. zat’ | knew you would come ‘bac kf to me—some time! I knew it!” qT here was scarcely moment’s delay, Gert hastened things as much as pos- They were soon standing hand in and the parson was pronouncing the marriage service. It was all over in a a for si ‘ble. hand, sunk ina swoon, Kindly hands lifted her, and she was carried from the room, When Nat would have followed, Gertie warned him to keep back. One by one, the guests filed out, and Nat was left alone with the sheriff. The two men looked into each other’s eyes, but spoke not a word. Within ten minutes, Git Thar Gert entered again. ‘* Now, gentlemen, ” she said, at liberty to depart.” ‘‘But—but—Ivy—’” spoke Nat. ‘She has recovered.” ‘*And am I to go away without seeing her again?” “« You are. More than that, you are never to see her again.’ ‘* Never?’ “That is what I said.” Bk **you are “She is now my wife! ‘Because you were obliged. to marry her. It was not throwzh any willingness of your own she became such, Knowing this, I shall not hesitate to put a bullet. through your head if youattempt to molest or trouble her in any way. I am in earnest, as I have been all along. I advise you to steer clear of me in the future, Carter Wayne, for I have not one particle of love for you. ‘‘As for Major Blukes, you can tell him it will take his entire army to put’ me under arrest, and even then he may not succeed.” She showed them the door, and they found two men standing by their horses outside. Still acting like persons dazed, they mounted and rode away, Cross Bar Ranch at their backs. CHAPTER IX. A QUEER OLD CUSTOMER. For a long time the two men rode silently through the night, headed toward Lone Star Ranch, The soft moonlight flooded the plain, and a black shadow clung close on the left of each horse and rider, | Nobby Nat was the one who broke the silence, *** Sheriff,” c< W hat 5% “Do you want to make fifty dollars with- out a struggle?’ ‘© You bet!” ‘Then you only ave to keep your mouth | the president of the ¢ shut concerning what transpired last night. Lone Star. es Fif Are you mum?” will, close my mouth 80 tightly | amite can't blow it open, | .- wel ~ Bae hay) iy ae dt “7 lads ver ini Pi he fag i ot A> = Uae a 72 ae. Gr ae oe S } Te rosy ara. = ait Kota oaeses r 7 a epic hae ie fie oid revolvers who were | [| few seconds, and then they were declared man and wife. As the final words were uttered, Ivy a , - he tae | Pate fein. 4 ray bs er ato Om en, Ty mF “’ 4 eth i , ’ wees 2° Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective. Three pieces of yellow money clinked musically as they passed from hand to hand. Although the midnight hour was past when Lone Star Ranch was reached, Major tt Blukes was awaiting their return, | ‘Where is your prisoner?’ he asked, ‘* We were unable to take her, major,” re- | plied Nat. ‘*‘ We did our best, but she, had a gang of nesters at her back, and that foiled us.” ‘“ By the thunders of Jove!” eran, smiting his fists together; | her to time! roared the vet- ‘Tl bring So she haS a gang of nesters to defend her? Well, Ill try ‘to for eet she isa girl. She has sacrificed her right to be treat- ed as such.” He spent much of the remainder of the night planning his future campaign, Nobby Nat being taken into his confidence. Early the following morning, a strange- looking old fellow rode up to Lone Star Ranch. The man appeared to be at least sixty years of age, and he was mounted on an aged white horse that seemed scarcely able to hobble along. “Whoa, Jinuary!” he cried, in a cracked tone, pulling hard on the bit even after the animal had halted. ‘Don’t be so dad blamed coltish, ye onery pestiferous critter! Seems like you ‘ll never git the fire o’ youth outer your veins. If you don’t stop actin’ this yere way, I'll swap ye off fer a muel— derned ef I won't!” Mustang Harris and two other cowboys approach ed. ‘Ts this here Lone Star Ranch?” inquired the stranger. id | reckon,” replied the foreman. ‘Feller called Major Blukes runs it, "low ?” ‘““Hedo. Whobe you? “T’m Ole Billy Bedam; us’ter be in his rigimint. Reg’lar ole sojer. Thought Id like ter see ther major an’ hobnob a bit with him. I know he'll be tickled ter death ter see me. Whoa, thar, Jinuary! Hang this critter! Next time I buy a hoss, I'll git one thet’1l stand.” The old white horse had not stirred; in fact, the animal was standing with lowered head and closed eyes, evidently fast asleep. “‘Reg’lar wild charger, eh?’ questioned Harris, with a grin, “Thet’s w’at he is!” nodded the gray- beard, ‘Flow much will you take for him?” ‘Now, don’t mention that! I may talk, but I can’t think o’ sellin’ Jinuary. It'd break my heart ter lose him. Then, ef | wuz goin’ ter dispose of ther onery critter, Td sell him to somebody as wanted a reg'ler race-track speeder.’ ‘ The old stranger seemed quite in earnest, but there was a twinkle in his eyes that told of a bantering nature. Leaving the horse where he had halted, Old Billy Bedam, as the eccentric individual had designated himself, coolly walked into the house and called for Major Blukes, ‘Gotter see him on powerful ’portant business,’’ he asserted, and he was soon standing before the president of the cattle syndicate. “Howdy, major,” and Old Billy made a military salute, after which he removed his hat, showing a dirty bandage about his head, ‘I’m powerful tickled to see you. It’s bina great big time sence we fit to- gether in the same company, an’ I ’low you hev fergot me.’ “TI must confess I have,” said the major, ‘Were you a soldier?” ‘* Weere TI? Waal, I sh’u’d say I were! I’d ’a’ wore straps ef I'd wanted ’em.” “Then you were not ambitious?” amiled: Brea cattle syndicate, ‘“ Waal, you see knowed I wuz igner- make a fool 0’? my self. 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