Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 886 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

ast 4] . iy! = Phas —. f . . bery. ete oe > ily ec Ate , Pog ; leew = a VET, aot hr a ee * : I know I was wild, and that I nearly broke ay, parents’ hearts by my thoughtless deeds. know that the man who led my feet along the downward path, the gambler, Doyce Bradon, was the one rovber captured. { know that he implicated me; but as there is a God in Heaven, I swear I am innocent!” ‘* Would to Heaven you could prove that!” said Sherman, earnestly. ‘But I cannot. I was forced to flee like a criminal, and like a hunted man I have lived ever since. But, Ethan, Il have come to you to learn something of my parents and Amy.” ‘* Did you not know of their coming West?” ‘*‘No! Didthey doso? Where are they?” Then Sherman told the story of the St, Ormes’ journey Westwardand of their probable fate in the Red Canyon massacre. Jackwood was shocked and horrified beyond measure, ‘¢ Great heavens!” he groaned, ‘** This can- not be! Are you sure that they were murdered by the red fiends?” Sherman told of his search for Amy, not omit- ting his peculiar adventure near the path which led down i=to Dismal Gorge. Jackwood was badly shaken by the tcrrible news. “Tf Amy is living I will find her!” declared the brother, as he raised one hand above his head. ‘*“‘l swear it! She never believed me guilty!” After a time Disaster started onward again, Sherman close behind and Jackwood following Sherman. For half an hour they pushed for- ward and finally found themselves again gazing down into Dismal Gorge. Then Sherman turned to speak to Jackwood, only to discover that he was not with them! ‘CHAPTER IX, HOT WORDS AND A BLOW. SHERMAN uttered an exclamation of surprise, ~ perceiving Jackwood was gone, Disaster said: **Sorrer o’ Sodom! Whar is ther boyee?”’ **Gone,” replied Sherman. ‘‘ He has left us,” ** An’ w’at fer did he do thet?” grunted theold man, in disgust. Sherman shook his head, ‘*T don’t know. Perhaps—perhaps I did wrong. It may be that he would not come with me, Ethan hesitated and seemed perplexed about something, when Disaster laid one hand heavily on his friend’s shoulder, ** Boyee,” said the old borderman, impressive- ly, ‘‘ I hev took er likin’ ter Justin Jackwood, i he calls hisself. Thet lad has an hones’ ace, ‘*] know—I, know; he appears to be a fine fellow, He always appeared that way. Yet there is a stain on his nanie,” ** Justin Jackwood hain’t norobber, I don’t keer er hooter who ses so, I don’t believe it. , I never saw ther boyee afore yisterday, yet re reddy ter stan’ by him through thick an’ n. | The old man’s words seemed to touch Sher- -man to the quick, for he shrunk back, a pained expression on his face. ‘‘ And yet J am ready to believe him guilty,” he muttered, slowly. ‘‘He may not be, but if you only knew all of his wild life. His boon companion was the gambler, Doyce Bradon, who is now in prison for being one of the Brockton Bank robbers, Bradon swore that _ this person whom you call Jackwood was his ' as ref st vi 4 - —— ats : YF - Jed Jackwood inter gamblin’, but I don accomplice.” ** T don’t keer,’”’ was Old Disaster’s obstinate response; ‘‘ I don’t believe it. Bradon may a 6 be- lieye he ever got him inter any bank-breakin’ diviltry. Ther gambler most likely tole thet yarn hopin’ ter git er light sentence, ‘*[ tell ye, Jackwood’s built outer ther right kind o’ stuff. He’s got solid sand—thet’s sure. He war ther fu’st one ter reach ye as you stood wi’ ther rope roun’ yer neck er short time ergo, ® ‘ fear I ther.” >t Oe an’ wi’ his own han’s he flung off ther noose as w’u’d ’a’ choked ther life outer yer boddy in er blessed short time ef we hadn’t took er han’in ther leetle game,” Again Old Disaster’s words seemed to cut - Sherman deeply. The pained look, on the oung man’s ‘face deepened, and his eyes were fixed upon the ground, | _**T may have done wrong,” he faltered. ‘‘T id, He is her brother—Amy’s bro- _ “ What did ye call ’im—his name?” ‘Never mind his name. He calls himself sapronds we will call him that for the pres- ys ‘ 4 ty 5 . - . a > - ’ “a. ; ‘ aks . A, dete sna ieeentined eet. ene Olc li i I rm Ola Disaster grunted shortly, **I ought to have taken his hand when he of- fered it,” Sherman continued, ‘‘I was a little hard. I fear that I forgot that in a measure I was indebted to him for my life. More than that, at that time and now, there is a more ter- rible charge against me than that of robbery; but Il am innocent.” ‘* Kin yo prove yer innercence?”’ ‘*T hope to,” ** Yet ther sarcumstances look mighter kinder squarmish, Wi’my own eyesI saw yer knife buried ter ther hilt in Janardo’s breast.” ‘* But you donot believe me guilty?” gasped Sherman, ‘*surely you do not!” ‘* No, I don’t,” was the decided reply; ‘‘ an’ yit nine juries out o’ ten would convict ye on thet evidence.” ‘*{ fear you are right.” ‘*Ther ovidence are ekil ter thet erg’in’ Jack- wood,” ‘True, true! Did he know of this?” ‘* He knows as much asI do. I tole him ther hull story.” ‘* And he did not menticn it—did not even hint at it when I spoke of the stain on his name,” The old man’s eyes twinkled. **T tell ye, boyee, Jackwood are white.” ‘“{ believe you. I have treated him shame- fully. I will ask his pardon when we meet again.” Old Disaster nodded vigorously with a pleased expression on his face, but said not a word. ‘*'The manner in which I treated him may have had something to do with his sudden dis- appearance,” added Sherman. ‘‘ Hadn't we better turn back and see if we cannot find him?” ‘ **No, I reckon not. Jackwood left us on his own accord an’ we problikely c’u’dn’t find im ef we tried. I hev anijee as how he has detar- mined ter hunt up ther galas ye war speakin’ ov—his sister. He may strike ther cabing down ther reveen afore nightfall.” Then the old man briefly told Sherman of Jackwood’s companions and the placer they were working in Dismal Gorge. A few minutes later they descended by a most difficult and dangerous route into the narrow ravine and turned their faces toward the miners’ cabin, In due time they reached their ce ray. and found Cobb and Stone hard at work, Old Disaster introduced Ethan Sherman in his spay yap style, then he told of Jackwood’s resolve to find his sister, and of the young man’s sudden disappearance. ‘he old borderman was careful to say nothing of what had passed be- tween Jackwood and Sherman, for which the latter was very thankful. The day passed, and at nightfall Jackwood had-not put in au appearance, Old Disaster was uneasy anduncommunicative, but heseemed worried at the young man’s failure to appear. Almost the last thing he did ere entering the cabin at dark was to strain his eyes to peer through the gloom toward the waterfall. Jack wood’s partners were also worried about the young fellow, whom they both liked in their peculiar way. That evening the four men gathered before an open fire within the cabin, and all sat star- ing moodily into the flames, while Stone, Cobb se At Disaster filled the room with tobacco- smoke, They had not fastened the cabin-door,and were startled when it was suddenly hurled open and a man strode into the room. The four men leaped to their feet and turned on the intruder. It was Flavus Stokes! Behind him, just without the doorway, they perceived several dark forms, For a moment Stokes stood before the four men, blinking rapidly, asif partially blinded by the firelight. Finally his eyes rested on Ethan Sherman’s tall form, and he declared, as he pointed straight at the young man: } ** That’s ther chap I want, andI have come with the crowd to take him!” **Sword o’ old Goliath!” cried Old Disaster, “* Ef it hain’t Stokesie erg’in!” * Yew” prowled the villain,in a blusterin manner, *‘ have come for that murderer, and | : nae am going to take him. ow, don’t be too sart’in erbout thet,” said the old Border Nomad, as he endeavored to count the dark forms beyond the doorway, ‘* You may find it real invigeratin’ exercise ter do thet same leetle;job. I hev warned ye, Stokesie, not ter fool roun’ me unless ye’r’ anx’us ter run er- g’in’ er full sized, double-actin’ disaster,” | Disaster, the Border Nomad. ~~ <* . . a ‘ “ : ra : P . es dem : - _ a. : . v % % . at ‘ ' . Wwe ; ‘4 P = 4 . hall ahs 5, " ‘ F * , af ‘ re ll =a , i . Me OiaS Exe = ‘eek ‘t Se By Z BAG, ¥ ¢s% 7 ie = . i 4 * . eh Pog” * be —< ‘ ? rs *> » A » :- hd" he : he 74 Pe — * t 2 Ah a ’ / Ad al , J para eas Neate i Bibi 2s a lies oi a a ec hoa eran ol GON AUG Sint ie SE PN opt x ae. tgp Me. r , ; eas = aah, Es Pied 5 (okt os oh Fi. mo) i et Sack 1 eae fal et re ae > ne ly - sir aha st: <. bu AL hi eS oo ‘ ; loose an’ wade inter ther ole man. *¢ There, let up on that kind of yawp!” snarled Stokes. ‘‘ lve heard enough of your chin,” Old Disaster’s eyes flashed. ** EF you think it’s all chin, jist let yerself sorror 0’ Sodom! but w’u’dn’t we hev erracket! Waal, I sh’w'd surelaim!” But Stokes seemed in no hurry to test the old man’s physical powers, Instead, he took a step coward Ethan Sherman, but, with nervous haste, ben Stone snatched out a revolver and thrust it into the desperado’s very face. ‘* Hole on! hole on!” spluttered the California gold-huuter. ‘* Let’s reeson er little erbout this hyer. Stokes stopped promptly enough, but he drew back one hand as if to strike the wrinkled old man who blocked his path, Cobb laid his hand on Stokes’s arm, ‘*Pard,” he drawled, slowly, ‘‘ ye hadn’t bet- ter do et. Thet thar durned little runt kin ne, guicker’n ye kin strike ter save yer soul. ‘Git back!” cried Stone, excitedly shakin the revolver in the intruder’s face; ‘ git back, sa )? ; ' Stokes was obliged to retreat several steps. Sherman came forward. ‘*T thank you, friends,” the young man said ‘but I cannot ask you to fight my battle. If this man wants anything of me, let him make his business known.” ‘*T want you,” growled the angry villain, ‘‘and I am going to take you, too.” ‘* For the purpose of banging me, as you tried to do to-day, I suppose,” “ Well, that’s about the size of it.” ‘* Do you expect that I will surrender, know- ing full well that I shall be murdered if I do so?’ ‘* If you don’t surrender, we will take you.” ‘“Then you may as well walk in and take me. I shall not surrender.” ‘*Thet’s ther tork, boyee!” piped Old Disaster. ‘* Let’em walk in an’run erg’in’er cyclone 0’ devastation. Wo kin lick ther blamed pimps, an’ [ll bet mer wealth on it,” ‘‘T have ten men here at the door,” announced Stokes, ‘* Vir reg’ler gang o’ lan’ pirates, by ther sword 0’ Goliath!” snorted the old borderman. ‘I knowed it!” | ‘““We are peaceable, law-abiding people, but we don’t allow murcerers to go free while their victim moldera and his blood cries for venge- ance,” ‘* Yer’ puttin’ yerselves ter a pile o’tr’ubble,” observed Old Disaster. ‘*Simply because | have sworn that this red- handed essagsin shell not escape.” : ‘*T am no assassin,” asserted Sherman. ‘¢ You lie!” snarled Stokes, ‘* You—” But he got no further. Sherman leaped for- ward, his fist shot out from the shoulder and struck Flavus Stokes fairly between the eyes, the thwack of the blow being keard by those within and without the cabin. The ¢ctroke was a terrific one. Stokes was hurled backward through the open doorway and lanéed in the midst of his followers outside, Ere a hand could be raised to prevent, Old Disaster slammed the door sbut and propped it with a heavy wooden bar. The next instant the desperadoes hurled themselves against the door, but it withstood the attack. ‘Git out er hyer, ye dirty varmints!” yelled the old borderman. ity ye’r’ pritty apt ter run erg’in’ er red-bot dis- aster,” There was no reply. Old Disaster turned toward Sherman. ‘‘ Boyee,” he said, his face wreathed bya com- ical grin, ‘‘thet war jist erbout ther dingdest pritty clip as I ever did see.” For some time all was silent outside the cabin. Once or twice those within caught a feint mur- raur of voices, ‘* Wonder what they’re up ter?” said Cobb. ‘‘ Dunno,” was Stone’s reply; ‘‘ p’r’aps they’re | plottin’ sum deviltry.” ‘* Waal, now you jist bet yer boots thet’s ther size o’ it,” was Old Disaster’s remark. ‘‘ We shell heer frum them erg’in.” His words proved true. Listening closely, they all plainly heard the sound of softly-moy- ing feet near the rear end of the cabin. ‘¢ Wender wa’t they’re doin’ roun’ there,” said Cobb, wko seemed uneasy. y Stone did not reply, and Old Disaster shook hishead. Sberman stole across the floor and listened at the back of the cabin. A cracking sound, low and soft, came to his ears, Likea flash he turned toward his companions, crying: “* They have jired the cabin !’ ‘ef ye linger in thisvicin-._. . HE. ww"