Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 936 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

named, a ucky Luke's room, for so he was nick- the saloon, office and gambling den, the Good Cheer was complete. The office was in the center, and im- plied hotel and stage office, post office Flies, or distinguished guests, and with | = ——EEE and Luke Leathers’ private “dive,” as the | boys called his retiring room, over which ' was the printed sign: “NO ADMITTANCE HERE Oi DBATH.”’ It was here Luke kept his “arsenal,” his UNDER PAT) money-box, books and papers, and men in | ' ‘ Mountain City there were who knew that | the sign was no idle threat, for cut into the thick door with a penknife were the names of three persons, with the legend: * Departed this life on this spot for not heeding the above sign.” Here was seen a hand with the index finger pointing up to the sign, and the dates that the men had “departed this life on,”’ There were bullet marks in the door, i£00, and some suspicious red stains on it and upon the floor. But Lucky Luke had never been the one to set the bullets flying, and it was only when some of the worst men in the camp sought to crowd him in his sanetum that, after full warning, he would “call them down,” as the boys said. The truth was, Luke was a magistrate, secretly a Government detective, United States marshal, and had money and prop- erty to guard, and did it. When the coach halted before the Good Cheer, Luke Leathers, handsome, pictur- esque-looking, and with a smile, called out: “Welcome back, Joe. But have you opened a kindergarten on the Overland?” and he glanced at Ned, while Joe replied: “It’s ther lad I told yer of, Cap'n Luke, thet they called up at ther fort Little Buf- falo Bill.” . ‘*Ah, I remember, and I am glad to meet you, Buffalo Bill, Junior, for the stage company owes you a lasting debt of grati- tude. Dismount and come in, for you are my guest. Why, Joe, what is the matter?’ and Luke Leathers for the first time saw that the driver was in trouble. “We met ther Mounted Miners this run ag’in, thet’s all,’ was Joe’s laconic reply. CHAPTER VII. NIGHT-HAWK GEORGE. Both Ned Osmond and Luke were at nee taken to Luke Leathers’ private of- fice, while the stage hands took the coach; a Le oe | Buffalo Bill’s Boy Mascot. ee _ skin, a complete suit, top boots, a woolen shirt, and slouch hat. He was a handsome man, one to com- mand attention anywhere. With a gentle, courteous manner he greeted Joe Jarvis, and then the youth, re marking quietly: “IT have heard of you, my boy, from What you did on Joe’s last run. ‘So you have had more trouble, eh?’ ‘A little, sir; but I got off well, though I fear Joe is badly wounded.” “We shall soon see.” With a touch as gentle as a woman’s, and the skill of an experienced surgeon, Night-Hawk George unwrapped the ban- dages and laid the wound bare. “Ugly looking, but not so bad as i? looks, Joe. “You got down,” “TI did, doe; but I guess it won’t stop me from driving.’ ** Not you, no; though it would put many a man to bed. But what about these irons?” “Oh, I got them put on me near about the same time. “The boy here got one of the gang, his dog choked another into the happy hunt- ing grounds, and—well, they were too much for us, and got the strong-box.”’ Just then the blacksmith came in to take the irons off, and it was quickly done, after which George Powell dressed Joe's wound most skillfully, and then turned to Ned, who said: “My dog first, sir, if you please,’ for mine is a scratch,” Chum showed that he knew a friend when he met one, and held his paw out to bé examined. The wound was not a bad one, and was as carefully dressed as had been the dri- ver’s, after which it was bound up se curely. Then came Ned’s wound, which he had Tegarded as a mere clip on the shoulder. “The bullet isgn there, my boy. I must probe for it.” Ned Osmond. did not flinch under the operation, and the bullet was taken out, while George Powell said: “This could not be done again in a thousand shots, for one bullei cut the flesh and passed on, while a second struck in it when you were sitting the wound made by the first, and entered. - “Half an inch further, and it might have been fatal. You are a plucky fellow, and deserve the name they have given you of Little Buffalo Bill, not only on account The doctor of Mountain City was as | of your nerve, but you look like Cody. good a borderman as he was a physician and surgeon, and a character in his way. “Come and see me, for my cabin is up the trail a few hundred yards,” and Night- A slender, tall, well-formed man, with a | Hawk George took his departure. «larkly-bronzed, poetic face, lustrous, deep- set eyes, and a calm dignity in manner @Ned was as much pleased to find that Joe Jarvis and Chum were not badly wounded and words, he was one of the very few in| as he was that he was not. Mountain City who was not joked by the miners. There was that about George Powell He had enjoyed looking about him in the den of Captain Luke, for it was carpeted with the skins of wild beasts, grizzly that held men aloof, yet one and all liked | bears, buffaloes, wildcats, Mountain lions and respected him. ‘To the miners he was known as “Night- Hawk George,” though he was generally spoken of as “‘the doctor,” for he was the only one in the mines.* Doctor Powell was near at hand, and soon entered the office, when Luke Leath- ers Said to him: * Doe, just overhaul Joe, there, and this youth—Little Buffalo Bill they call him at and deer. There were elk, deer, antelope and mountain sheep’s heads upon the walls, Indian trophies, a skeleton, human skulls, scalp-locks, and weapons galore, with lar- iats, saddles, and bridles. The room was fully thirty feet square, and stoutly built of logs, with small win- dows opening outside, and a door into the main building, the light coming from a the fort—and don’t forget the dog, for they | trap in the roof, met the Mounted Miners on the way. “Well, Little Bill, this is my den, and “Tye got to open the mail, but sing ouf'| you are welcome here any time, so don't if vou need me,” Night-Hawk George was dressed in buck- [| * “Nighthawk George''—Doctor George Pow- ‘ell, a physician of La Crosse, Wis., and a man ‘whose life has been remarkable for its ro- mance and thrilling adventures.—The Author. make a stranger of yourself. “T’}] show you your room, and you can take your traps there, and Joe and I will look you up for supper. . “T heard you had some trouble on your way here last time, but I guess the men — on . — a= a . i. -—<. . - Sel , s— neat won’t crowd you again, but if they do they’ll have to deal with Luke Leathers,” and the boss led the way to Ned’s room, which was one of the two choice ones, set. apart for distinguished guests, Choice as it was, it was a very barren and desolate Lome, but Ned Osmond was not one to kick, and he set about making himself comfortable, for he Was determ- ined to make Mountain City his headquar- ters for a while at least. Returning to his office, Captain Luke had a long talk with Joe Jarvis, and learned the true story of the hold-up. CHAPTER YIIL. THE YANKEB BOY'S WELCOME. Captain Luke seemed intensely inter- ested in the story of the double hold-up told him by Joe Jarvis. He could not exactly understand how the women passengers had taken such a bold part in the game, and had Joe go all over it again. When he had the facts and had been oe what Ned Osmond had suggested, he said: ‘*A good idea, indeed! “That boy has a wonderfully clever head on his young shoulders, and I'll tell you what I'll do, Joe.” * Yas, cap’n.”’ “We won't give out that you were robbed, but let the people think that you fought your way through, so if it gets out that the money was taken, it of course comes from the outlaws themselves, and we must discover just who found it out.’ “The boy said that would be a good idea to spot them.” “It is, and I'll pay the wages out of my own funds, for all knew the money was coming this trip.” ‘You won't pay me, and, what’s more, as it was a couple of gals as held me up, and got ther boodle, I’ve got enough dust laid by in your hands, Cap’n Luke, to pay the loss to ther company.” “Don’t be a fool, Joe, for you could do no more than you did. ‘We'll get that back, or we'll get scalps to pay for it, especially as the boy is go- ing for Buffalo Bill.” “Of course, Cody must not come here just now, but go to the seene and act from there. “You will go out on your next run, [ take it?” ' “You bet I will.” “Well, the maifest will show me the amount of money taken—here it is—just three thousand, nine hundred dollars, so I’ll call all hands up tomorrow and pay off, and you take yours with the rest.” “Won't do it.” : “Take it openly, if you return it in private. ) “T’ll eall Doctor Night-Hawk in to-night and the boy can start for the fort just be- ‘for he can be trusted under all circum- stances.” ) “You bet he ean, and Night-Hawk’s word goes, for he knows what is what in this wild life, as he does in medicine and wound fixin’,”’ “Well, we'll talk it all over to-night, and the boy can start for the fort just be- fore dawn, to get out of the camps by day- break,” “Tt is a good idea.” ‘Te has his horses here, you left with me.” ) “Yas, eap’n, and his saddle, bridle and outfit we had with us on the hearse, but | his dog can’t go.” ‘No, I can keep him here with me.” ‘* Maybe.” The gong was then heard, rung by @ Chinaman, who enjoyed making the hor- vid din, and Captain Luke sought Ned + pier a . i. er. 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