Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 851 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

_-—- -— ~~ -— hand to the other, and now swung up, but as it dropped to line the glaring eyes above vanished, and before the sport could spring to his feet there was a noise, slight but cer- : tain, telling his unknown assailant had slip- ped hastily down the opposite face of the rock, and was even then in full retreat. He would have Leen up to follow but the hand of Giant Jim closed upon his coat- sleeve. ‘* That danger is over, why tempt another? | ‘Truly, he is already beyond the reach of thy pistol—though it would not be hard to bring hither yonder outlaws, to take thee within the range of theirs.”’ The sport nodded and sunk down again. He could be cool as the coolest; and be- sides, he recognized the truth of what his companion was saying. Butashe regained his old position his eyes rested upon the bowlder which now lay between them. ‘Fifty pounds if an ounce,” was _ his thought. “Who flung it, and why was it thrown? And what sort of a man is this who plays with such things after such a fashion? When I have time to do it I may as well be asking for answers to those questions. Just now—there’s business on the trail, and sas not so sure I[’ll not take a hand in, after a <Q The bit of by-play had.caused the sport to lose something of the conversation, but when he listened again the outlaw leader was speaking in a tone that was stern: ‘* Enough ov that! Git down an’ out, an’ that mighty full suddin, er thar will be quick death, an’ no end ov funerals, You, in thar! Better hustle out that galoot ez are doin’ all ther talkin’ ef you don’t want ter all go up t er flume tergether.” “‘ Nothin’ like cheek!” the individual of the piping voice flung back at him. ‘*[ jest wanted ter know how it war a- strikin’ you. Bless yer souls! J ain’t noth- in ter lose, an’ I ain’t too proud ter come down when I cain’t stay up. Hyer I are— ther roarin’ lion ov ther archipelergoes. Don’t be. shocked when yer sees who’s bin doin’ ali v this chin, fur ef I’m leetle I’m good, an’ when me pards don’t hold ace, face ner trump I know it can’t hurt ter go it alone. . Look sharp, an hyer we are.” Out from the coach came the speaker— and he came something after the fashion of a rubber ball. A dark, round object seemed to shoot up into the air, lt dropped elastically to the ground, where it turned over and over several times, and and then resolved itself into a grinning youngster, who threw out his hands from his lipsin a regular circus salute as he touch- ed the ground, and faced the agents, “ Billy Jingle, gents all, ther leetle sinner frum Side Ace, on his way ter taste a bigger one he’s jest heared ov at Sinner’s Flat. Ef you must work through ther hull program, gailin. I ain’t a-hinderin’ no longer, But doit quick an’ decent er I may hump me back, an’ put ther brand on.” Daisy Dell was certain the man at his side gave a start at the appearance of the lad. He noticed it because he would have sworn nothing earthly could have upset the strange individual. He was surprised himself, because he had thought the querulous tones belonged to a decrepit old man, but he felt sure it was not this which caused the movement by Giant Jim. Both from Side Ace—surely they were no strangers to each other. “Great grizzlies!” ejaculated the spokes- man of the outlaws. ‘*T’ve heared ov a old head on shoulders afore this, but J dunno ez I[ ever seen it. You stan’ ter one side tell bizzness are Over, an’ be mighty keerful how you cut up too many monkey sbines. e’ll ‘tend to you later on. Jest now, time’s a- pressin’, an’ thar’s a big stroke ov work ter oung | | and as he presented the hat the muzzle of The Tie-To Sport. eee _ be wrastled with. You, in thar, foller yer leader. We want yer all hyer in a row, an’ ther sooner yer git thar ther easier we'll try ter make it fur yer when we pass ‘round | ther hat.” After that there was no delay. The ice once broken and the passengers began to scramble out by the door which Billy Jingle _ had thrust open. There was no mistake about the stage having a full load, and it made quite a flock ' when the passengers were all bunched to- | gether, with Billy on the extreme right, The last two persons to descend were evi- dently of the sex feminine. ‘“ Stiddy, as ye are now,” commanded the spokesman. | ‘*Deacon Jones will perceed ter take up ther colleckshun, an’ ef ary individ’ onder- takes ter retire with filthy lucre on his per- son thar will be suthin’ he didn’t think war ' sot down in ther bills, You are all kivered thick ernuf with Winchesters fur a cold winter night, but in cases ov obstinacy we | jinn’rally use a rope, Sail in, Jonesey,” | . ‘‘A pretty good imitation, but not exactly | the real thing,” mused the sport in ambush as he listened with interest to this harangue. ‘‘He may be a road-agent, sure enough, but that’s not the lingo he is used to using. Very well done it is, yet I have stamps that say I'll know his voice if I ever hear it again. But what is that tome? Dell Ham- mond is not posing as a hero to-night, and I wish they would hurry the circus over so I can be moving.” It would have been possible enough to have flanked the outlaws while they were en- gaged with their work, but the sport never thought of that. Much as he seemed to be- grudge the time, he was bound to see the thing out, while Giant Jim appeared to be of the same opinion, and was as silent and motionless as the rock beside which he lay. The outlaw addressed as Deacon Jones followed orders to the letter. Hat in hand he advanced to the left of the line, and held out the battered tile. Though there were three or four rifles frowning at the thoroughly cowed passengers the fellow held a revolver in his other hand, the weapon came into line, while he growled out a low warning which sounded like the sure enough thing. There was no hesitancy, either. One man after another dropped in his con- tribution, and it came in such shape it seem- ed to be all he had. Finally, Jonesey came to the females. The first wasa woman fully of middle age, portly and well-dressed. With a low and briefly uttered snarl she threw in a wallet which she drew from the bosom of her dress, and as it left her hand she clinch- ed the fist from which it had dropped, and shook it angrily at the road-agent. ‘‘Much obleeged, mum, Hard words don’t hurt, an’ when we rech Cannan I'll drink to yer better luck an’ better looks, Next!” The remaining passenger was the youn- gest of all, save Billy Jingle, and was sobbing audibly. In her hand _ she held a little purse, and it seemed to the Tie-To Sport, even ‘from that distance, it was none too well filled. With one hand covering her face she drop- ped her mite, and then, as though overcome with emotion, fell back a pace, throwing her thus a trifle to the rear of the line. From a girl of her caliber resistance was scarcely to be expected, and Jonesey. paid no attention to the movement. He turned to the boy, who was carelessly awaiting him, with his hands well extended over his head. ‘‘ Bring ther hat hyer,” interrupted the leader, who had moved back a little, and sad standing by himself at the side of the trail. ** Let’s see ther size of ther donations. 3 We kin tell then to a dollar ef it’s wu’th while ter turn things upside down. I s’pect Meg Brandon hez a leetle nest aig held back in ther leg ov her stockin’.”’ The portly female scowled darkly but held her peace. It was no great surprise that her bame was known, and she was wise enough to understand that no outcry could help her. ‘* Won't do, Meg,” continued the agent, as he glanced over the collection in Jonesey’s hat. ‘Go down fur it. We want ther rest.” Meg gave a snort of anger. ‘You got my last ducat, Captain Brand, if thatis your name, andif you are white you won't try to play rough with alady. It won't do you good in the long run.” “No. You have a longer arm than ther gerloots ov ther camp give ye credit fur, an’ some day ye may hev a chance ter buy me out an’ sce me over ag’in; but all ther same —empty yer stockin’, er we’sl hev ther young lady doin’ it fur ye. No one kin say thet Captain Brand war ha’sher ter a female than he hed ter be; but this hyer shenanagin are too thin,” Dell Hammond’s interest began to grow deeper. What was the meaning of this, and how would it end? The woman stooped as though conquered. Then she partly straightened, thrust out her hand, and there was the sharp report of a pistol, fired point-blank at the leader of the road-agents. CHAPTER III. WARNED AND SURPRISED. Mre@ BRANDON pulled her pistol with the steady speed of one to whom fire-arms were no strange thing. Though she never linger- ed on her aim it is more than likely the shot would have gone home had it not been for an interruption least looked for. For all his careless look Billy Jingle was keeping a keen watch, and as Meg’s pistol came up he took a single step, and his hand shot out, striking her sharply on the wrist as she pulled trigger. The muzzle of the weapon went up, and the bullet flew high over the head of the man at whom it was aimed. The failure appeared to take away her courage, Without waiting for another shot Meg wheeled and started to fly. Though final escape might not*have been possible it is certain she would have got a fair start of the astonished outlaws had it not. been for Billy, He was active as a cat, and could move three feet to the woman’s two. In three bounds he had outstripped her, and cast himself directly in her path, throwing her headlong. She came down on him something likea mountain on a mouse, and if he was not crushed it was because he had looked for what happened, and arched himself to sus- tain the shock. ‘Sorry, mum, but it’s a down grade, an’ ef they hed ‘bergun ter shoot at you they would ’a’ hit us; an' lain’t so ding-donged sure ez I hev my callin’ an ‘leckshun sure, Better hand over an’ be did with it.” The shock to the woman turned out to be & heavy one, and the breath was almost knocked out of her. Gasping, she rose to a sitting posture, and in her hand held out a folded paper. ‘‘Take it,” she managed to utter. “ How the Hades you knew I carried it I can’t say, and it willdo you no good now that you have it, If there was a chance to win I’4 fight you tooth and nail, but—no! No!” she suddenly broke off. ‘“‘T give up! See! There lies my pistol, and here is what you want, You would not harm a woman!”