Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 838 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

“ nd aati dak ~ a 0 12 Poker Pete’s Double Dodge. not fura cent. An’ ef Ezra won’t come ter | ‘Bet yer two ter one he begins ter wiggle time, p’raps there’ll be a chance to dicker | in less ner two minnits by ther clock.” with Kill. Curse him! It looks jez though 2B had got the first show an’ scooped ther deck.”’ ‘“What has Captain Kill to do with it?” asked Helen, still pursuing the high and mightly line. ‘Oh, ez I war tellin’ you, we keep posted. When a man like Kill begins to throw away his time after a girl it’s a sign he wants her mighty bad. Ef we'can’t do better we may trade with him. . We didn’t know tel! ter- night he war on ther line, but we got it down on him fine, now, an’ we’re ready ter trade er fight. I wanted ter give yera hint thet er best hold war ter keep still an’ wait. {ickin’ won’t do yer no good, an’ may doa heap ov harm.” The fellow was rough of speech, and al- together of a coarser grain than Captain Kill, but Helen was inclined to prefer him to the other. He was respectful after his fash- ion, and seemed to think he had hold of a ‘valuable article, which was to be handled carefully. When he went away he nodded ‘in a manner intended to be reassuring, and left the young lady more hopeful than he suspected. While he was waiting to come to terms with Kill, she had reason to believe her friends would be gdoing something to eftect her rescue,” ° She.was thinking over the chances of the ‘pursuit which certainly would be made ‘when there was a sudden commotion in the camp. At some little distance still, but approaching at what was evidently a head- long gallop, some one was coming in spite of himself. ‘‘ Whoa, there! Whoap! Dog-gone ye!” Three or four times over was this repeat- ed, with additions and emendations that became less and less pious the nearer the owner of ‘the voice approached. He was having some trouble with his steed, and if not frightened was a good deal nervous, to say nothing of his being in a howling fury. It did not talkkee long for the individual to come into sight. He was bent forward, with his arms clasp- ed around the neck of the pony he bestrode, while the animal, evidently wild with fright, was plunging straight forward, without re- gard to what might be in front of him, It was plain as long as the rider retained that position he was not likely to prove dan- gerous, and though two or three revolvers flew up when he came into sight none of them were discharged. Instead, several outlaws leaped nimbly out of the way to keep from being run down, while as many more broke into a tb at the ludicrousness of the whole thing. _ It was only for an instant the exhibition lasted, for the broncho dashed madly on past the glare of the fire, and the next mo- ment halted with a suddenness that would have unseated the prince of horse-breakers. In front of him rose an almost perpendicular bank, and he saw it just in time to set every hoof firmly, and go plowing up the ground for several rods until his nose fairly touched the sod. When he became stationary there was a huddled heap of boy humanity between his front legs, for his ridér had shot over his head as though discharged from a catapult, and come down with a thud that would have meant a mangled body for any one but an average boy. One of the outlaws caught the animal, which stood trembling and subdued, while another hauled the bundle out from its rest- ing-place, to get a better idea’ of the meaning of it all. ‘““ Neck broke, sure enough,” he said, look- - ‘ing, up, with the limp figure hanging over his arm, ‘* W’ot in thunder war ther fool cuss try- in’terdo?” * ‘Done!’ said the first speaker as he dropped the boy, and laid his hand on his revolver. ‘‘ It’s all right fur me, but it’sa blamed on- healthy bet fur ther boy.” ‘‘Don’t yer try it, Jack. I got yer lined, an’ ef you throw foul ter win that bet I'll play yer exec’yter an’ handle ther ef- fecks.” With a quick turn of his wrist the second speaker had thrown up the muzzle of his pistol and covered the fellow who had Ae tocstita to believe he was betting on a sure think, ‘*An’ I'm a-backin’ yer hand, pard!” ex- claimed the boy, suddenly sitting bolt up- right. ‘‘ Ef ther blamed nocky-boy hed kept his whids stowed Id ’a’ layed thar five minnits ter git through with my blushin’, an’ ef you ain’t able fur him I’m takin’ a hand in, sure ez my name’s Move-along Mike.” He slung out his fire-arms with a readiness that was wonderful for one with a broken neck, and the laughter that arose from those who were crowding near told they considered him very much alive. 1t was sport for them, but it might have been death for Mike had the captain not moved up with the rest. ‘‘Stiddy, thar, you Jack! I cain’t spare you, An’ you, lad, turn over them guns er it'll go bad with yer. What in high thunder brought yer hyer?” “That dog-rotted hoody -doody ov a prad. First off, I war skeered an’ wanted ter cut my lucky, an’ then he got skeered, vamosed, an’ hyer we be.” As he spoke, with the utmost nonchalance Mike placed his pistols in the captain’s hands. . CHAPTER XIII. WHAT HARK HAZEN FOUND. Ir was well for Poker Pete he was so quickly recognized, because before his body came into sight Clean Grit had his head lined, and at the first suspicious movement was ready to pull the trigger. As it was, He did not abate much of his Vigilance, since there was no knowing what was to follow. Of course he did not hesitate to advance, for though the outlaws might feel their way a little, and te loth to expose themselves to his sure-shooting revolver, yet sooner or later they would find their game escaping, and move up with a rush to get to close quarters, ' ‘¢ And Peter came also,” laughed the boy as he darted into the pass, and felt for the moment comparatively safe. ‘Tf it is fun you like, hyer it is by the great bucket full. Been a-wondering why you lingered, and half thought they had taken you in out of the wet last night.” ‘‘Not fur Pete! He knowed when it war time ter draw off; an’ when ter come ag’in. Ef I’d ’a’ stood on me ear jest then it'wouldn’t ’s’ done me a bit ov good, an’ would ’a’ give them a good reason ter kill you. This way I saved ther cayeuses, an’ you orter ’a’ got a good look at the’r camp. See ary thing ov ther purty damsel down thar?” ‘Nary thing. This is another gang, and we got no business with them except to be getting out of the way fast as we can. They have it in for us large, but I wouldn’t weep if we never saw them again,” ‘©Then, thar’s on’y one thing fer us ter be doin’, an’ that’s ter take ther trail ag’in frum ther hearse. We can’t strike no sign racket- ing around hyer, an’ thar we might hit trail ef they come back on it, ez they will. This a side pard ov yourn?” He looked sharply at Harker Hazen, and seemed to be debating whether the stranger could be trusted or not, ) “That's what / call him, and a good young , be * Teer. ek LV Ne i. i eee > Ln A aie tg = isd 7 ns : ny eS - 4 man heis to tie to. As for the other hearse, this is the gang that held 7¢ up, and they have Sailor Sam down there now, but nary a treasure did they get. There has been a game of some kind played, and it strikes me Sam and the men of Pay Dirt have been too sharp for their own comfort.” ‘Wal, kim along while those gerloots are willin’ ter hold off. We'll git to ther bronchos fu’st off, an’ chin arterward. Yer pard hed better kim too, but he’ll hev ter take it footback. He looks ez though he could travel, an’ mebbe we'll pick up s’uthin’ fur bim,” Unless they intended to remain for a fight it was time, they were thinking of re- treat. The outlaws would not wait much longer, and though the three could hold off successfully all those in sight they had no desire to fight for the fun of the thing. They passed along through the narrow cut in the crest of the mountain, and then down the first sharply precipitous descent on the other side. The bronchos were gathered where Pete had left them, and without wasting time the two swung into the saddle, while Hazen took his place by the side of the boy hustler. Now they were ready to move the advice of Pete began to look more reasonable to the boy. Bince the Killers had made their appear- ance it would be difficult to separate their trail from that of the Red Owls, and it was likely they might scout around at large for a long while before they would happen across any of the latter whom they could recognize. If Helen was held for ransom it might be possible to trace her through the messenger who was sent to announce the fact, but meantime with Captain Kill and his men as a disturbing element, the force was too large and too small, Clean Grit would soon have been on the trail alone. So far he had not a chance to explain to Hazen what had happened, but expected to be questioned shortly, and was not mistaken. Enough bad been said to make the man curious, and briefly but with- out any concealment the boy hustler told him ell. To a lover the position seemed terrible enough, but Harker Hazen had seen Helen Ford rescued once from the hands of out- laws, and had full hope that it could be done again. ~« We are too few to rescue and too many to find,” was the response. ‘‘T believe Captain Kill will do us good service now, since he will start upon the trail of Helen himself. You too can seek aid, while I will remain as aspy upon the outlaws. If they take me they can but kill me, and I will die near Helen.” ‘‘You’re a hummin’ bird, you be!” averred Pete, heartily; ‘‘an’ yer talk’s ther kind I like ter hear. Hyer you kin do good, an’ ef yer -kim along you'll be a hinderin’, Keep yer eyes wide ope’ an’ it’s a chance yer do ther trick.” ‘« And at the same time you may be doing something for Sam,” added Clean Grit. ‘*What I’m afraid of is that if he don’t go over the divide of himself the infernal wolves will either knock him in the head, or leave him there to die when they break camp. Oh, we have a heap of things to look after, and as I don’t see where it is best to begin, perhaps the best thing to do is to follow Pete's lead, and take a new base. Have it as you want, pards, and J’ll never whim- er.” With a few words of parting caution the two moved away, leaving Harker Hazen to his own devices, It was not so sure the young man was not in great danger, for it would not be hard for the outlaws to follow on bis trail, but he was willing to run any and all risks, and without any haste or excitement he glided away from, ? <3 on 44. - ~ 4 4 « : ee id ee ey a s ~~ : va ———, © = . > Seeee eo a ia Fe = 'ywv 7 += > > 7< a & re - ey /