Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 902 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

= Ca > ~ pert ae =" o — — a —_—_- — =~ -_ « Z = *. +@ _— ee * ee yt ote 4 _-you run us away with us to the station,” bo tay 4 ; me «P q ¢ + 4 i . ales _* i , . ‘ a4 Fut * ’ » “a4 4 ae i, * ai 7 "5 e«P)y j te ‘ ¥ ' 7 _ ‘Now, why was Gentleman Jack to be | him +‘? ” * ae ‘aid en i ‘ 4 i . “~ * ALF : a La 4 4 AP" 1h aw ASL. RY TR ‘ « Bs : oe - — Pe ; : . ‘ “a | Py be. : ~ hh oe « % 4 oy - Ay oes } 10 ——_-—— es = ee “‘ Is not Satan Sam your leader?” ‘ONO. ‘* Who is?” ‘* Well, we knows him as Cap’n, that’s all.” ** Where is he?” ‘‘ Kast, jist now, I believes.” ‘* What has Satan Sam to do with the — band?” | ‘*TTe’s lieutenant, and commands the band while the Cap’n’s away.” ‘* How long bas the Captain been away?” ‘*Seven weeks.”’ | ‘What does the band number?” ** Jist now about a.dozen, I guess.” “It was your band that held up Fred Fox’s coach some weeks ago when the at- tempt was made to kidnap Gentleman Jack?” ‘* Yas,” ‘* Were you along that day?” The man hesitated. ‘“T must have the truth, remember,’ sternly said Nat, ‘Vag ” _ ** Who was the miner who was a passen- ger that day?” ‘‘Yer means ther agents so brash?” _ ‘**You know what day I mean, and 1 ask you was not that miner your outlaw cap- tain?” ; ‘*IT don't jist recommember,”’ “(ll put this lasso about your neck to re- fresh your memory, and—’’ ‘* Yas, I knows now who yer means—yas, he were our captain.” ‘And played Gentleman Jack’s friend to betray him?” ‘ About that,” was the low reply. day you lit inter ther CHAPTER XVII. BROUGHT TO TERMS, ‘‘Now a few questions “more,” resumed New York Nat after a moment of silent meditation. dj ‘‘T’m in it to tell all I know, pard,” an- _ swered the outlaw. ‘And I’m in it to know all, or help fill in your grave,” was the significant reply. The man shuddered, and Nat asked: Rm oa say that your captain is East now?” sé as,” _ “Gentleman Jack mysteriously disappear- ed the night he reached Junction City?” ‘So I has heerd,” **Do you not know?” “7 wasn’t thar, yer knows.” ** Where were you?” ‘*T was dustin’ for a place of safety, arter from the coach.” YT remember that the old miner went on ince 8B, "" | »' * Ts your captain an old man?”. ** fle seems so to us,” ig" ‘* Well, he appeared like a rough-looking man, with gray bair ad beard of a week’s growth, while he stooped his shoulders and walked with a limp.” ‘The miner who was with Gentleman Jack you mean?” ‘* Yes, and your captain too, for I have an idea that they are one and the same, that your outlaw wears a wig and otherwise dis- guises himself at times,”’ oy i)! New York Nat saw the start the prisoner gave but did not appear to do so, But the man said in response: ‘Well, you may be right, young feller, that it were our Capt’in who was the miner but 1 guess you know more than you tell you, turn you over to a court of justice,” ah “Tt depends upon you. ‘ _ - : Ce at . i 4 . Qo? ~ > a pp ? : j ed > ¥ eto oe y “We uae LP : ; j 7 » P) if, We BSA gre | 4 * 4 7 < 7 - * Oy ab AAW a Us Tae el ,* ’ ait é . “ fe | ‘ * - 7 _ : . af 6 ¥, WHS? a ; ‘ Paras we tA re y ‘i ” ee, oa a ie | vw nl —— F ~ ~ = he 1 . ike SY) 7 i! aat 7 ‘] ‘ yy art D ee » aes ie aa £ ~ * “1 ee te 4 1 & se tef ye. P ‘ ~~ "e) i 4 ty . Wee A Ch ts . % ' . rn Sows gi i ~ J - 4 *, “Pers ° J hr au ay Sy eames © DAgee an seenee ? = : a a a TT A ee aca acacia i a Re _ {desperate foes were on their track, ; ¥ ; , ; : ih q , % AA f+ 1 P, * s % } A) : ts i £90 1 - . bes * P ' : t A ; : <a, BAe TL ee Bsa eh, Se te ; ref , : hy . , fie f , tay toy, on ad ~ gl hy ; 7} / +" " 4 e *s A. € i> ' ' a ( + é : Po. | 4 ’ ; ~ MSS onmiialey hie een ee tome Dc tea YIN “Be PZ hd : a 2. , Pina (tsa eX “5 Al ‘a o*,, ; . : ; ime iy ’ r rid + 2" £ s - «s S tf in bY ps i oa 2 Ty a ie me 4 eee a) | aS é af . ey ade” eetre i ee t. aty eye. * * a ek i ° e o~-S - vy Pen 7, ?. hog Ps yy , ‘ ~ > 7 * * ; ‘ e " - i “y Md Te en ard ies Thy Ne ($e: %* x SOLS Pts i = te —— at ~ aw a= ~ Voth New York Nat in Colorado. ee ee + eS See “The Captain know'd, we men didn’t.” ‘You know that he was kidnapped the night he came into Junction City.” ‘*l heerd so.” ! **Come, 1 do not believe you know what I wish to learn so you might as well be dead as alive for all that [ can get out of you.” The man cried out eagerly: ‘*Pard, Lremembers now that Gentleman Jack were tuk in ther night he arriv’ in Junction City.” ‘* By his friend the miner?” “Yas” ‘* Where was he taken?” ‘§ To the den.” ‘¢ Where is it?’ . ‘Up in the mountains.” ** You know the way there?” ‘¢T knows.” “You know if Gentleman Jack is dead or alive.” ‘*He were alive when I seen him last.” ‘* When was that?” ‘A week ago.” ‘* What is he being held for?” ‘The Capt’in knows,” ‘* And does not tell.” ‘*He may have told Satan Sam but not me and the rest of the gang.” ‘*Then Gentleman Jack is held as a _pris- oner?”’ ‘ “Yas.” ‘How many men are in the camp? ‘‘Only one man generally keeps camp, to look after the horses we keeps there, but there is two there now on account of the pris- oner.” | ‘*T see, and the time,’’ ‘* Yes, for he’s no slouch, and though he is ironed he’s hard to bold.” ‘“ You could guide us there?” The man started, moved uneasily and said: | ‘‘See here, young pard, don't ask me to do that, for I might as well let you hang me as todo it, as my life wouldn’t be worth much,” “It won't be worth anything if you re- use, ‘* You have confessed the truth, I believe, because you were forced to do'’so, but it was like drawing teeth to get it out of you, . ** Now I want you to go to that den, for you hold the prisoner, Gentleman Jack with- out any reason for doing so, and he must be released, ‘*Do this and you are free to go‘your way the moment we rescue Gentleman Jack, and Lwill give youa money consideration too, us well as a good outfit, several horses, and some advice,” | “Advice?” 7 ‘‘ Yes, to get away from this part of th country with all speed, for I intend to run your captain and his band of outlaws down, and you will be about the only one to es- cape.” As though acting from some sudden im- pulse the outlaw said eagerly: ‘*T’ll go you, young feller, for 1t do begin to look black for the boys. “Tl guide you to the den, and in return I am to get my liberty, some money, an out- fit and several horses?” ‘“Yes, and some advicc.” “‘Vll take it all,” “Hark! what is that?” “T didn’t hear nothin’,” “T did, . ) ‘*Come, pards, be on the alert for danger, \ | one keeps guard over him all { | | for 1 heard voices just now down the can- in the coach thet day, but I can’t swear to it, | / on, ; “TH bo and see what is up and you be ready to fight if figbt it must be,” and New | York Nat called out to bis two comrades, left the prisoner in. their keeping, and taking his __|.Tifle walked rapidly down the canyon. He soon came upon a scene that showed that they were in deadly danger, for 2 . Fi \/ - f sat i ; es - ’ = ~~ i . a of ” + yal Te e.; - et ems a pane [ee . . ; . : - \ a i. 5 we Dir eS eS Pe ed eat Weed ee rr ee a ae rr CHAPTER XVITI. THE TRAIL, SATAN SAM was a dangerous man, ever when defeated. He supposed as he fled from the attack on the trio of young Ferrets that both of his | companions fell under their fire. He saw one man go down, and supposed that the other did too. He lost no time in making the best of a bad situation, and so sped swiftly along to the ponies of the scouis, back of one and fled. But 2 surprise awaited him at the pass, when Keno opened upon him. He saw that he was in the open, the foe in shelter, and having no time to get his own: horse he kept on as he was in his flight. He was never a slow rider, and he made this time no exception, but kept his horse at a swift pace, anxious to reach Junction City before the men should leave the saloons. He had a purpose in view. But he rode too hard and used his horse up, so had to go slow for the rest of the : f 4 sprung upon the It was after breakfast when he at. last. reached the tavern at Junction City, But he had startling news to tell, and wag not long in getting an interested audience, His story was a surprising one to many, for it was in effect that he and his two com- panions had started for the mines; that they had been ambushed by the three kid miners, and his two companions were killed. He had been captured, and they had beem robbed of all they had, their horses and out- fit; and, in fact, the three turned road-agents. He had made his escape upon one of their ponies, and so had come to Junction City with all speed, and wanted a band of mem pture and string up — young miners had. o with him and ca the kid road-agents. It was but a few m Sam secured the services of over half a score of bold spirits to follow him on the trail of the alleged young road-agents, and a few — hours after his arrival in Junction City he — was mourted upon his best horse, and with | his volunteers following rode forth upon the | mission of hanging New York Nat and his two friends for the crimes he had charged _ inutes before Satar ‘T tell yer, pards, them boys, has been — playin’ a bold game out here, and nigh so tenderfooted as they pertends ter be and looks,” he said when the party of horse- men halted for a rest, | ‘* You sees,” he continued, the mines and went back with plenty 0” ‘‘They played the bab knows how they jumpe when they held up Fred Fox’s coach some = weeks ago, and yer seen that young feller, Nat, play his bold bluff on me at kee i “Well, them boys hain’t no slouc ; they come out here ter play a bluff game fer dust, and my idea is that they are New York ay crooks, as I heerd that even ther bootblacks and bewsboys of that town kin give a man nai the country pointers in a ishes to play. ules Now, Dard hain’ | : { | BS z a no ‘Sthey wag im iy ai? act, and yet yer te the road-agents a C3 ny game they s, I has preached my sarmon, and the text be that we bas got ter catch them young fellers and ha she The men d ng em—see?” ye Mite d the “text” and. ‘sermon ” which Satan Sam had ‘‘ preac ps, were most convincing. The: were readily co to follow his lead. — ‘‘ In course,” he resumed, ‘ y act and squeal like pigs under a nverted and willing ‘they will play” They lie about being innocent and wil) tig 4 x say they was the Ones attacked. but I gives > the words to string ’em upand try ’em after- uesses the critters has been rést- we'll push on at a brisk pace ag