Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 851 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

The Tie-To Sport; OR , High Hustling at Sinners’ Flat. BY WM. R. EYSTER, AUTHOR OF “‘DANDY DARKE,” ‘‘THE HUS- TLER ROGUE-CATCHER,” ‘‘ FARO FRANK,” ‘“*CLEAN GRIT TO THE FRONT,” ETC, CHAPTER I. A HOLD-UP ON THE MOUNTAIN. ** Tr you please, steady as-you are.” The speaker was young in years, com- pared with his companion, but he was well advanced in the wisdom of this section of the world. He emphasized his words after oe manner of the men around Sinners’ “lat. In his hand he held a revolver, the muzzle of which looked the other grimly in the face, ‘* Poor, dying mortal, is it with the weap- ons of the flesh you would menace one who would use no carnal sword, but pin his faith to the saber of the spirit? Put up that deadly tool, for lam a peaceable wayfarer, bound like thyself, if 1 mistake not, for the city of Sinners’ Flat, and on a mission of brotherly love. J am known as Guyon James in other regions, though here the pro- fane have sometimes called me Giant Jim. What might thine own name be?” ‘John Jones,” answered the younger man promptly; and then, after a brief pause, he added: “But it ain’t. Call me Dell Hammond and you won’t be far wrong. You do look harmless, unless you are subject to fits, and I guess I can put up my gun forthe present; but with a stranger as big as a meeting- house I’m not taking any chances. ‘Till we are better acquainted you want to go mighty slow. It seems to me I have heard of you; and the boys have it that’ you’re the Saint from Side Ace,” . The larger man heaveda sigh ashe re- sponded: ‘« Verily—though I am but a sinful mortal like themselves, save that my wickedness runs not in the same direction. Truly, we seem to be known to one another, since Daisy Dell has been spoken of more than once in my presence as the Tie-To Sport,” It seemed to be a chance meeting, though Dell Hammond had thought the other had come upon him somewhat suspiciously, and had been ready for danger on the instant, " Ae this he gave ashort though hearty augh, . * You have it down fine, uncle. Without wishing to blow my own horn Iam _ willin to say I’m a mighty good man to tie to. there is any coin at Sinners’ Flat I expect to gather it in in professional style and then go on to the next place.” ‘‘ Beware thou art not gathered in thyself. Sinners’ Flat, with which I have some ac- quaintance, is a hard place for men who live by table and card; and the lot on the hill is more than half full already. I have labored somewhat with some of its godless ones, after my quiet way, but it seems to have been in . vain. Iniquity flourishes, and honest integ- rity goes to the wall,” ‘*Let her go if she can’t take care of her- self,” carelessly retorted Hammond. ‘* But while we are chinning here the sun is climbing down ata two-ten gait, and we stund a rank bad show of getting tothe burg to-night, Iintend to pull foot, and if you think you can keep up with the procession you may start along.” He glanced over the sturdy limbs of James, and smiled as he spoke. belie him the giant would not be far behind in a day of travel. ‘‘ Verily, it is not for fear of being out- If his looks did not - ~ The Tie-To Sport. stripped that I do not accept the offer, but because it is time to take to the brush. The wicked are coming like unto roaring lions, and if thou hast not a desire to devour or be devoured it would be better for thee to do likewise,” The Tie-To Sport had already looked up with a quick glance, so that the warning came a shade late. At some distance up the trail, in the direction they had intended to proceed, there was a sound of hoofs, clatter- ing toward them at a rapid rate. ‘Thanks for the invitation, my friend, but IT am not in the habit of running away until I know what it is 1am running from.” ‘*Norof going into afray until thou know- est what forces are on the other side?” sug gested the giant, leisurely striding back into the bushes from which he had emerged a few moments before. Daisy Dell looked dubiously after him. ‘‘The blessed old crank!” he muttered. ‘¢T don’t believe I would trust him beyond reach of the turn of my wrist, yet he may not be altogether a fraud. Andif not, there is something in his watning. Faith, I be- lieve I’ll follow in his footsteps. I feel it in my bones there is something around here that. needs watching, and somehow the way those fellows are coming on sounds like real old business. There’s too many of them to take in without leaving a bad taste in the mouth of Sinners’ Flat, and I’m not ready yet to march over the range myself, Here we go.” Laughing somewhat at himself, yet touch- ing the revolvers which hung handy at his waist, Hammond leisurely followed after Giant Jim, who seemed already to have found a secure hiding-place. Nothing was to be seen of him, and his footsteps were no longer to be heard. Once behind the curtain of leaves and the sport was no longer in doubt as to which way to go. here was something like a path, which led up an acclivity, aud higher on there was a huge rock which might furnish a lurking place and a fortification. When Dell ha reached this he found James lying prone by its side, craning his neck to peer downat the trail below. None too soon was the retreat made, for hardly had Hammond dropped down by the side of the man when the horsemen came in sight. alf a dozen of them there were, and they came straight forward to the very spot where the two lurkers had been standing but a moment or so before. There they halted, and at a few low words from the man who rode foremost certain dis- positions were made which told a story to the sport. The men dismounted, the horses were led out of sight on the opposite side of the trail, and it was easily to be seen an am- buscade of some kind was intended. “Tn truth, it looks as though they waited for the stage from Red Bend, which is due at this hour,” whispered the giant, his whole sn body seeming to cower lower as he spoke, ‘They mean it no good, but who are we that we should stop them?” ‘True enough. Ihave been held up my- self, and I notice that no one was chipping to save my gelter. We have an elegant post from which to see tne fun, but I don’t reckon there will be much of it, Hark!” Their low whispers hardly could be heard by each other, much less was there danger of the sounds mecbing We ears they knew were below. And above all, there was a noise of turning wheels which would dis- tract every ear. The coach was coming, as usual, on time. The road to the spot was slightly rising, and the grade beyond was stiffer still. Right here would be the place where the pace would be slackened if the driver had breast- ed the ascent with anything like an attempt v " . oN 2 ~ Ag ™ r. ® > 45; at shag ee ee ee. - at speed; and it would be almost impossible ao to suddenly urge his team to anything like a hurricane flight over.the sharply rising ‘round infront. It was just a lovely place for the agents to get in tkeir work, and so whispered the sport to himself. Rapidly the stage from Red Bend nearec the spot. Once, looking cautiously through the screen of leaves, Hammond caught a glimpse of the vehicle toiling up the rise after a fashion that told of a full load, and he marked the fact that it was no great dis- tance. Before he could fairly settle back into position it would be within hailing dis- tance of the ambush. Uncertain what was to come, or of his own course when the crisis came, Dell Hammond’s hand dropped to a weapon as he looked around to see what his companion ‘was do- ing. Giant Jim was doing nothing,, yet there was something in his face, in the feverish anxiety which seemed to thrill his whole frame, totally different from anything the sport had expected to see. James might be a saint compared to the sinners of the town from whence he came, but there was nothing very lamb-like in his attitude just then. He looked more like a tiger crouching for a spring. ‘“‘ Bigger chance for fun than had thought for,” was the idea which darted through Hammond’s mind; and then he heard the hail of a man whom he could not see, though he could have tossed a pistol- ball close enough to his location to be dangerous, ‘‘-You driver, thar, down brakes, an’ up han’s. This hyar are ther tax-getherer’s office, an’ ther galoot whot don’t pony up goes down—hard.” =. There was a snort from the team, a noise of the break-beam being suddenly thrown over, and then a shrill, piping voice: ‘Oh, say, Mister Man, cain’t yer put it off? We're ina hurry fur ther Flat, an’ ain’t no time fur sich ding-donged foolishness.” | What answer there was to this Daisy Dell never knew. Something caused his eyes to dart upward with their glances, and he saw a distorted face with glaring eyes peering down from the top of the rock, and two claw-like hands which poised high above them a huge bowlder. Which of the men lying there was it meant for, and when it came would it come to slay? CHAPTER II, THE GRIT OF A WOMAN. ‘ Never before had the Tie-To Sport seen ‘ the face, and at that moment he would have , ak cheerfully missed the sight altogether so that — its owner was miles away. Lying there as he was it seemed im possi- ble he should spring aside in time to avoid the coming missile, while it was just as im- possible to take a snap-shot with the hand which clasped a revolver, or change the weapon to the other, which at that moment was resting upon the ground, and support- i Ss ood share of his weight. esides, if sudden lightning should blast the being above him the bowlder would still come down. Further still, there were the outlaws upon spot. For once he hesitated in a moment of danger—and saw the huge rock leaving the claw-like hands, and straight for his brain. And then, over hands, which caught the comin | though it had been a toy, and though eo swung perilously near they did not touch the head of the endangered sport. The stone was softly placed upon the ground, and for the instant the danger was over, | What was to come next? — Dell’s revolver had changed from one ~ Py | e? : > ¥ “7 : hal * A ae, ee the trail, whom he did not care to call to the ~ na arting downward, him reached a pair of stout Be missile as . mm, i 2 Ae * . 4 Sy % e* ; * * ; ~ wi. f%