Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 886 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

7 K. yi Ther lad may be sumw’ares inthis vicinity,” +, © the did Border Nomad observed. ‘‘I am goin’ ge ‘ter find ’im ef I kin.” Jackwood became interested at once. **] would like to go with you,” he said. ‘‘ Will yy. you permit me?” ’ *“To be course!” exclaimed the old man, A heartily. ‘‘ Ef yer legs are good fer er stiff iy . tramp, I'd be more’n deelighted wi’ yer com- Rany.” Ny legs are good for it,” declared Jack- wood. | Taking his rifle, the young man followed Old Disaster from the cabin, The old nomad led the way up the ravine. ink ‘‘Thar is a sorter path away up here above "T é ther waterfall by which we kin git out er this , | heer reveene,” the old man observed, as they walked ‘along. ‘*I don’t reckon it’s more’n ( gere er mile erbove the fall. I diskivered it yisterday mornin’ w’ile | war nosin’ round ther es place whar ther mysterious ole gray-head dis- a appeared. It looks like it war made by human ® critters, an’ I kin sweer as how it’s been used by a} them, an’ recently at that.. I’m goin’ ter nose roun’ thet place er leetle. No knowin’ w’at we mney stumble onter.” ith some difficulty they passed the water- | fall and then continued up the ravine. Disas- ter enjoined the strictest silence on his com- panion, and like two shadows they stole.quietly along. They finally reached the spot where the path ran down along the precipitous bank of the ra- , vine. gait” Ney “Thar’s ther highway ter up above,” said : Old Disaster, in a low tone, as he pointed at the ath, rf Jackwood’s eye followed the narrow footway te © up the steep, and a dubious expression passed | over his face. His companion noticed this, and id: ‘* Tt does look er leetle , it kin be climbed.” After spending a few minutes in the ravine, Old Disaster led the way up the path. Jack- Th wood followed. It was a difficult climb, but | they reached the top much easier than Jackwood sy had anticipated. | ‘** Hyer we are,” observed the old borderman, as they paused and looked back fora moment, ‘*Thoet’s quite er pull, but I’ve made menny a one a durned sight tuffer,” ‘** Tt surely is not as bad asit looks,” Jackwood admitted, aj At this moment they were startled by a quick, ~ light step near at hand, and both whirled swift- } ly to perceive before them a form which Jack- : wood instantly recognized, om | It was the strange boy of the scarlet sash! ie He was afoot and seemed greatly excited. i Advancing toward them, he cried: . “Quick, gentlemen, if you would save your friend! He is down that way beyond the pines! _ They are about to hang him!” | Despite his excitement, the boy's voice was clear and pleasant to the ear. His face, which jubigus, don’t it? But ni | was very beautif rg i wood quickly demanded: ib ‘What do yousay? Hang whom?” "| ‘*A young man whom they found near this spot. Oh! hasten, sirs, or you will be too late!” atte i A thought flashed through Jackwood’s brain. /| “Tt is Sherman!” he exclaimed, excitedly. Pres ‘*Come on, old man; we must take a hand in a the game)” | | He bounded swiftly away in the direction Mj that the boy had pointed, Disaster at his heels. “ay Mes Almost before they were aware of it the two ' men were in the midst of a band of fierce-looking 1 fellows who had gathered beneathatree. In an ies instant Jackwood tore the noose from Sher- man’s neck, cut his hands loose, then whirled and at Disaster’s side faced the astonished des- peradoes, a revolver in either hand, held so - the muzzles, ‘‘ Hoppin’ tomeats!” cried the old Hills tramp ; _ “This are a jubilee, I do deeclare!” Ze ‘¢ What does this mean?” cried Jackwood ina | ringing voice. ‘‘Explainthisoutrage'” _ Yes; let loose yer crooked, truth-twistin’ | tongues an’ explain this little spectacle,” chimed For a moment Stokes was struck dumb with _ surprise, but his face quickly turned black with rage, and stepping toward the old ranger, he 4 manded, furiously: | ‘} eae “Are you here to protect a murderer? Would ood ed crimina s ~ 5 ¥ : . | os ., ia wa ' er - ; : J € ’ _ ’ Sy . . ' 4 : y . ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ey, e > , Ny , 644 fi Ry ~» ie : - ‘ Le ‘ 4 \ —* 5 a “49 af i - t ‘ J a 4 ‘ - 4h a i < -_ - Tiel oe a . 4 . ~ | , ied MeL”, : Poo Say * , was marked by 5 tain and a touch of terror, Old Disaster seemed struck motionless by sur- prise at the lad’s sudden appearance, but Jack- the old man. that the cowering ruffiaus conld look fairly into , =" ou stay the hand of justice from punishing a }. blood-stained eriminal?” lsaster, the border The veteran looked surprised. ‘* Hello, thar, Stokesie!” he exclaimed. ‘‘Is thet you ? Who appointed you Jedge Lynch?” ‘*1t makes no difference to you. This man is a murderer, and we are going to hang him.” ‘* Waal, I guess not!” remarked the old guide, coolly, as he shook one of his antiquated revolv- ers in Stokes’s face, ‘‘ Jist stan’ back er leetle, yer sneakin’ two-faced whelp, or you'll run er- g’in’ the wu’st disaster ye ever struck!” ’ CHAPTER VIII. A STAIN ON HIS NAME, STOKES recoiled a step. ‘¢' You old fool!” he snarled, ‘‘ Do you think you can prevent us from hanging that murder- er? Weare two to your one,” ‘*T don’t keer er durn!” was Disaster’s caim reply. ‘*°T w’u’dn’t make no difference ef ye war ten ter our one! We’re jist ther boyees as enjoy er leetle scrimmage wi’ ther odds agin’ us. Ef ye wanter picnic or er circus, all ye’ve got ter do is jist ter wink yer off eye. We're hver ter ’commerdate ye.” | In truth, the reckless old fellow seemed anxious for a fuss, Stokes hesitated, not know- ing what move to make, j Disaster continued: ‘Sneak right up, Stokesie; don’t be ’tall bash- ful. Et ye’r’ itchin’ fer ther fun, don’t hesitate erbout givin’ ther signal. We'll do our best ter make it interestin’fer ye. Sword o’ Goliath! won’t we have @ time!” ‘* You area fool!” snarled the baffled villain, as he glared at the old man, ‘* So you sed jist er second er so ago,” was the reply ; ‘‘ but thet don’t makeit so, byany means. I'd rather be er fool enny day than er cowardly two-faced imp o’ sin—thet's yerself]” ‘* You shall pay dearly for those words!” And Stokes’s face was white with passion. ‘Pay for ’em? Now, I’m dead broke an’ can’t pay. Jist charge ’em, an’ I'll settle w’en I feel thet way.” Stokes ground out a malediction. ‘¢ Hnough of this fool’s gab!” he cried, ‘* For the last time I demand that you surrender that. fellow into our cbarge.” ‘‘ An’ fer ther laster time I say fer you an’ | yer hull measly crowd ter goter grass! Ef ye want Ethan Sherman, w’y, jist took’im! But I’m bettin’ high”on ther leetle game we'r'g playin’, an’ we hold both hands chock-full o trumps.” Anji, to emphasize his words, Disaster again shook his revolvers in Stokes’s face, Jackwood was standing at the old man’s side, with a revolver in either hand. Sherman had dropped his weapons in the struggle when he was captured, but he stood in a defiant attitude with both hands clinched, Li There were six desperadoes who confronted the three men at bay—just two to one—yet they hesitated in beginning the conflict, know- ing full well that one or more of their number were sure to fall before the ready weapons of that dauntless old knight of the Hills and the resolute young man at his side, ‘* Ye don’t seem in er hurry ter open: ther jamboree,” observed Disaster, mockingly. ‘' Ye hain’t seized by er fit, be ye—ther same kind o’ er fit as got holt o’ ye night afore las’, w’en ther smoky-skins kem in onter us—er fit 0’ cow- ardicé? How ye did leg it erbout thet time, Stokesie! leavin’ me ter wallop ther stuffin’ out o’ ther red rinos. I tell ye, Stokes, ole boyee, ef I’m er fool, surely you are er double-dyed coward frum Craven Crick,” ‘Curse you!” snarled the defied villain, ‘(How did you er ‘‘Ticked ther hull durned crowd,” grinned ‘tm wuss nor-hafe er dozen eatermounts w’en it cums ter ginawin’ fightin’, Jist now I feel able to wallop this bull gang, Say, Jackwood, my boyee, jis’ stan’ back an! let me hev all ther fun, will ye?” Disaster was playing a big game of bluff. While he talked his thoughts were busy, and he was perplexed to know how they were to get Sherman out of the serape. It was apparent that the desperadoes would not surrender their claim on the young man withcut a struggle and, although the old Border Nomad a peared very confient of the result, sacretly he dreaded @ conflict. Disaster was wise enough to know that the chances were against himself and friends, If they were not all slain in the con- flict, pernans one of them would be, and that would be a severe blow. 3 : “Old man,” said Stokes aga *T will oma > ’ / ¥ tie , on a ; : , . not give up the murderer, you know what will follow. I am determined to stretch Ethan Sher- man’s neck for his crime if I have to wade through blood to do it.” , ‘* Whew!” cried theold borderman. ‘‘ Yer er reckless critter, now hain’t ye? Waal, ye need- n’t bother ter waste er minute. I'll tell ye now thet if ye get Ethan Sherman ye'll hev ter take him, So walkin an’ let ther fun begin.” At this point Sherman spokeup; ~ ‘* Don’t endanger your own life on my ac- count, Disaster. If these men will give me half a show I will prove that [am innocent of the crime with which I am charged,” Disaster laughed scornfully. ‘*Thet w’n’dn’t make no difference, young man. They’re boun’ter hang ye anyway, ef they kin. Ef they knew ye war innercent they w’u’d hang ye jist thersame, That’stheirstyle. It’s not tuer murder they’re doin’ this fer; I reckon it’s er piece o’ pure out-an’-out cussed- ness, an’ Stokes is ther chief Satan ov these cut- throats.” ‘You are right, Disaster,” added Jackwood, ‘‘While pretending to avenge murder, they are simply committing another, These fellows are evidently ruffians of the worst type.” Stokes said not a word, but, watch in hand, counted the seconds as they sped by. Soon he closed the watch with a snap, and announced: ‘* Time’s up!” Hardly had he uttered the ‘words when the sound of a rifle-shot not far away came to their ears, followed by a series of whoops, which plainly were from the throats of red-skins. Disaster saw his opportunity and instantly uttered an ear-splittipg yell. ‘Ther red varmints are upon us!” he cried, ‘*Scoot, every one 0’ ye! scoot fer yer lives! Don’t waste er second ef ye don’t want yer skulps ter hang in Sioux wigwams! » Git/ buz- zards an’ eagles!” The old man’s apparent excitement was con- tagious, The men wheeled swittly in alarm and ran as fast as their legs would carry them. But, ere he fled, Stokes made one last seapernre J effort to take young Sherman’s life. Snatching out a revolver, he took a quick aim at the youn man’s breast, but, before he could fire,a kick from Disaster’s foot sent the weapon flying from his hand. " ‘Uttering a fierce curse, the defeated villain followed the flying men, ) *¢ Come, lads,” called out Old Disaster, brisk- ly. ‘‘Foller me an’ we'll hit kiver afore ther red varmints sight us.” He swiftly glided away, Jackwood and Sher- man at his heels. The old Border Nomad was an experienced Indian strategist and at once — made for the nearest cover, Within three min- © utes he was stealing his way through a dense — mass of tall bushes like a weasel, ; ‘“'Ther blamed red rinosrun erg’in’ ther boy © 0’ ther scarlet sash,” Disaster observed as the burried along. ‘‘ Hf he only held their tention long ernuff we'll hev no tr’ubble wi’’em, As fer follerin’ er trail ef they try thet they'll find several ter foller,an’I reckon they’) imagine as how they’ve struck er deefikilty.’ For thirty minutes they stole along, and then the old guide halted in a little glade, ‘© Waal, youngsters,” he observed, ‘* them red varlets putt in their yawp at jist ther right — time, They helped us out o’ er blamed deefi-— kilty, bless their condemned dirty hides!” Sherman and Jackwood said not a word, — They stocd facing each other, and the old man saw by the strange looks on their faces that — something serious was to follow, ri: Sherman was the first to speak. “And so itis you, Frank St. Orme?” Jackwocd bowed. i, ‘‘T see you know me,” he said, holding out his | hand, ‘ Will you shake?” prided Sherman hesitated. \ ‘*f cannot take the hand of acriminal,” he — finally said. a | | Jackwood’s face bowed, coldly, ‘* As you please,” and his voice sounded husky. — **T see you still believe me guilty.” Pi ‘‘How can | think otherwise? The circnm- stantial evidence wes very strong, and the con- — fession of the captured robber served to convince every one,” 4 ‘‘ No, not every one!” cried Jackwood. “ Amy — never believed that I was guilty.” * “True, she did not, But, others did, Even your father questioned your innocence, and — your mother would only write her bands and weep. Not once did she say that she believed you innocent.” nae For all of that, I swear to you, Ethan Sher~ became very red, and he give you just one minute to decide. If you do ' man, I had no hand in the Brocton bank-rob« ‘ : Xs i j ‘hed igh ai ; yim 7 | . } ve / “ y f PF A, } : + ay ey , ; he (7 us ; t ay Dy iv? a : Pr ; a i et TR A: . wae (eu aia t : +i ‘ "OTe T As bs oe ” - ‘ A n 4 :