Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 948 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

But, as the Mexican got to his feet, re- volver in hand, Wild Kid had his weapon ready, and seeing that the man intended to kili him, he touched the trigger a sec- ond in advance of his foe. It was enough, for it saved his life, his shot striking the Mexican in the left side, While the latter's bullet cut through the rim of Wild Kid's hat. Doctor Delmar caught the Mexican in his arms as he staggered back, and cried: “You have done for him, boy. I'll see you later,” Again came the boy’s reckless laugh, and then the words: “So you said before, doc. the present,”’ Whatever Doctor Delmar would have done, a quickly whispered word from Brimstone Bill checked him, and he ealled for aid to carry the wounded Mexican to his room in the Lone Star Hotel. Wild Kid had replaced his weapon, but stood his ground, until Brimstone Bill grasped him by the arm and whispered: “Come with me, boy, or the Vigilantes will hang yer up.” ‘*No; the Vigilantes may make mistakes now and then, but they won't hang a boy for killing a man who insulted him, and fought a fair stand-up fight.” “He did start it, that’s a fact. But yer wants ter see me, yer said?’ and Brim- stone Bill seemed a trifle nervous. As Wild Kid moved toward the door some one shouted out that he had only defended himself, and called for a cheer, ind Brimstone Bill joined in the rousing shout that followed. “Now, boy pard. what has yer from Mustang Matt and Half Breed Jose fer me?’ asked Brimstone Bill, as the two walked away out of earshot from any one near by. “Don Trego sent me to tell you that they were both dead.” The man almost staggered under the blow, end cried, in a hoarse voice: “What kilt ’em?"’ ‘“ Buffalo Bill, the great scout of the Northwest,” was the quiet response of the boy. No time like CHAPTER XXY. WILD KID LEARNS SOMETHING. The words of the youth seemed to im- press Brimstone Bill strangely, for he mut- tered to himself over and over: “Dead! and Matt knew the secret only. I've been a fool, for El Monte Ed is dead!” “Yes, Brimstone Bill, I killed El Monte Ed, as you know; but he was masked, as were also Matt and Jose, and all I saw were three Men with their hands on Lady Beauty, so I acted just as you would have done if you had not then known how it ull was, and was not in the secret of who they were, and supposed they were raid- ers from over the Rio Grande. “But when I saw who El Monte Ed was, then I did not understand just what to do, after seeing Lady Beauty home, I came back to take their trail, thinking from all I knew, they had gone to the Mis- sion Ranch. “And they had, and Panama too, and they found there Buffalo Bill, and he was on his way to El Monte.” “Coming here?” cried Brimstone Bill, in alarm, “Yes,” and in the same manner, feeling his way for points and trying to trap Brimstone Bill, Wild Kid continued: “They planned—Panama, Matt and Jose —to down Buffalo Bill, whom they had not seen, but they knew he was there. “You see Panama, who had been a sol- dier in the Northwest, recognized him, and they planned to catch him asleep; but he didn’t sleep, and saw them coming, so Buffalo Bill’s Snap-Shot. ——— kiled Matt and Jose, and took Panama alive,” “The deuce he did! “I would not believe any man alive, not even Buffalo Biil, could get the best of those three men,” and in his excitement Brimstone Bil had dropped his dialect and incorrect way of speaking. “Well, he did, and he’s gone off with Panama to the fort.” ‘*My God! can he not be headed?’ ‘“No; for I tracked him, and he’s there now.” “And he'll come back with a troop of cavalry to back him?” “No, I guess not; for, you see, he goes as Fred Williams, and was only recognized by Panama, “He has come here on some secret serv- ice, and will come into El Monte alone, you bet!’ “Then he goes under right here, for we can -fix it,” ‘You see, I was with the Don, Juan and the peons on his trail, and the Don sent me on to tell you. “But Major Brasher and Doe Delmar were hunting me, so I had to keep in hid- ing and was late; but I determined to put you on your guard against Buffalo Bill, as the Don asked me to do, so I braved trouble with the doc and came here to- night, and yet I got into it with both feet, for I could not let Captain Munoz say what he did to me, and he did not know [ was one of you, I guess, or Doctor Del- mar, either, and he says he’s got to settle With me after a while.”’ ‘No, he won't, for I’ll go right in and have a talk with him, and tell him you come from the Don, who vouches for you. “T guess the doc would like to have a talk with you, for we want you, boy, and we didn’t just know how to take you and . your gang.” “What made the doe say that was a fake rescue of Lady Beauty, and cart El Monte’s body off to prove it?’ “Had to, Wild Kid, had to; but the doc didn’t think you could be trusted then, you see,”’ “Well, I can.” *T should think so; but I'll go in and see Doc Delmar and tell him the news you bring, for he knows Buffalo Bill, as I do, and we don’t want to see him until we know just what to do.” ‘Well, you just ¢ell Doc Delmar, if he's got anything against me, I’m in the Gold Mine Saloon, and we can have it out; but I’m not going to let him or any other man put me up for a fool.” “You bet you won't, boy pard; but I'll fix it, and I guess the doe will want to see you. But, Lordy! how you did scatter the money in yonder, and call on El Capi- tan to hand you his chips—for I guess he’s cashed ’em in. * But Ill see the doe, but don’t get into another row, for we need you, Wild Kid.” “All right,” and while Brimstone Bill hastened to the Lone Star, Wild Kid saun- tered into the Gold Mine, where all was in full swing once more, as a tragedy in their midst made but little impression on the men gathered there. “T guess I’ve learned something, and I’m on the trail to learn more,’ muttered Wild Kid as he entered the saloon, where he was greeted with a shout by some of his admirers and a scowl by those who did not like him. CHAPTER XXYVI, THE DYING MEXICAN. Refusing a score of invitations to “take something,” for Wild Kid never drank anything, never touched tobaeeo or ut- tered an oath, in spite of his wild life, he walked up to a table where half a dozen . 1S men were gambling heavily, and took a position that gave him equal command of the two doors, in case Doctor Delmar should return to carry out his threat to “see him later,” He had not been there very long before Brimstone Bill entered hastily, and called out: ‘“Here,. boy pard, I wants you. No, gents, this hain’t no fight, but business, for a dying man has got something to say to the Wild INid.” The crowd seemed disappointed, while Wild Kid walked quickly to the door and joined Brimstone Bill, who said: ‘“T has seen Doc Delmar and it's all right. “He wants to talk with you later, Kid; but just now El Capitan is crowdin’ along on his last trail, and he has got something to say ter yer, he says, and there's no time ter lose, “Yer see, I thought he wanted ter kill yer, but he hain’t got a weapon, and it's something he wants ter git off his mind, so as ter let him lie easy in ther grave.” Brimstone Bill had hastened, Wild Kid along to the room where El Capitan had been taken, and there lay the dying Mexi- can upon a cot, Doctor Duke Delmar, the landlord and his wife by his side. As the two entered the room Brimstene Bill called out cheerily: “Hold on, El Capitan, he’s here, ‘The Mexiean muttered a prayer in Span- ish, and Doctor Delmar stepped forward and extending his hand, said in a low tone: “It's all right between us, Wild Kids we are pards.”’ “Tf you say so,” was Wild Kid's re- sponse, and the next instant he stood by the man whom his bullet had brought down. The pallor of death was already creeping over the face of Miguel Munoz, and he said, as-he raised his hand with an effort: “I brought it upon myself, Wild Isid, and I forgive you, as I hope you will for- give me, for I meant to kill you—l had a. reason more than others knew.” “Don’t mention it, senor, for I never hold ill-will—you played your card, and I held a winning hand. ‘What can I do for you?” “I wish to be alone with you.” Doctor Delmar led all from the room, and, seated by the cot, the youth heard what the Mexican had to tell. I¢ was a long story of crime, of a man born to riches and good name, who had gone wrong because he Jost the woman he had loved, and who had sought to kill his rival, an American officer, Who mar- ried the fair Mexican, who had discarded him, her cousin, Miguel Munoz. Dismissed from the army, he had gone from bad to worse, until he had become an outlaw, and was then chief of the Mexi- can band of the Renegades of the Ria Grande. But he had sought revenge upon his rival through his son, who had been kid- napped in youth, discovered after years to find his mother dead and to be told also that his American father had cruelly de- serted his Mexican wife. But Miguel Munoz had not then ended his revenge, for the boy, taking his moth- er’s name, had been falsely accused of crime of which he (Munoz) was guilty, and he had been forced to fly from Mexico. | That boy was then with Wild Kid, known as Henrico Sanchez, and the con- fession of Miguel Munoz, with the proofs he would give Wild Kid, would enable the young man to return to Mexico and claim his just inheritance. | But there was more to tell, and that was that the American officer had not deserted ‘9 YJ a . - . a. | a ws di No Baths CDOOk . 7 ry 4 wet PF beh ae ‘oe - . “A < > + “oe Ay) ee eR) 4 $A. Re esc rls: _ 4 J Z<