Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 948 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

= ee - for-nothing, | > “eine the entire ‘panel outfit, ae hones —— — = = —_—_—_—$_$_$ shoulders head. It could but be the scout, and the boy, crouching in the. shadow of the chapel, whispered distinctly: * Buffalo Bill, don’t move, me.” There was a slight start of the shadow, the outline of a hand and arm bending to- ward a revolver in the belt was seen, and then came the low uttered words: * Who are you?” “Are you Buffalo Bil?” “You appear to know that fact, and I am not one to deny my identity.” *“ Other eyes than mine are upon and your life is in danger. “ Pretend to prepare for bed, and put out your light, for I dare not be seen. “When it is dark in your room I will come there.” “I will do as you tell me, for, in light or darkness I am able to defend myself,” was the cool reply of the scout. but listen to you, CHAPTER X. WILD KID MEETS BUFFALO BILL. There was a movement of the shadowy form, the broad sombrero was taken off, the belt of arms unbuckled, a movement us though the high top boots were being re- moved, and then the light went out. As it did so Wild Kid glided from the shadow of the chapel to the door of the little room. Entering, he heard the — low-spoken words: “ Now, pard, friend or foe, I am ready for you, for I have you covered.” The scout was not to be caught nap- ping. The thought pleased the Kid, laughed lightly and whispered: ‘Good! «You are wide awake, I see. “T always am, when not asleep. “Now, who are you?” ss Only a boy.” “Who else?” “Your friend.” “So I would judge from your coming here as you do; but appearances are de- ceitful.”’ “That's so; but you are Buffalo Bill?” “Are you guessing?” a No.”’ “Why do you ask?” é ‘I did not wish to help the wrong man.” **So you are here to help me, are you?” “Yes, to save your life, for there is a plot to kill you to-night.” “ Ah! Now you are talking business.” “I’m a business boy, for I'm dodging death about half the time myself.” “T cannot see you, but I rather like you, pard.” “T hope you will when you know me bet- ter; but I reckon I had better not preach too long, but get down to business.” “* Fire away.” “You came here from the upper coun- try, where you are chief of scouts at the _ frontier forts, and you are in Texas on a and he *¢ : special mission, but did not give yourself Bway, but told Don Trego that you were Be a government courier, and your name was “Pred Williams.” re “An! you are Juan, the Don’s son.” “Tf I was I'd expect to be hanged, and ae a good reason; but though I may die --gvith my boots on, I won't hang. ” “Who are you?” “A boy, an outeast, prairie waif, good- terror, or what you will, ichalntened by the toughs of El Monte Wild ae Kid, but at camp meeting called by the _ parson Bud'Poisal, which name I answer ~ to quick if anybody would say Bud Poisal would lie or steal a horse. “Now, you’ve got my family history, I and a broad sombrero upon his Buffalo Bill’s ued ‘Shot. it’s too dark to see me, I’m here, and to help you.” Buffalo Bill was decidedly impressed by this short and to the point explanation of the youth, and he felt at once drawn to- ward him, though he could not see a feat- ure of his face. “My brave young friend, I appreciate what you have told me, and also that you are here to aid me to escape some threat- ened danger. ‘What is that danger, may I ask?’ ‘*T'll tell you by a short traik “Three nen tried to kidnap, this after- noon, the noblest girl in the State of Texas, the only one who thinks I'm not as black as they paint me; but I saw their little game, chipped in, and sent one of them, the leader, E] Monte Ed, to round- up cattle in the happy hunting grounds, and the other two got away.” ‘*Good for you!” “IT rode nearly home —the boys call her so, but her real name is Miss Marie Brasher—and then went back to trail the two men who were with Ic] Monte Ed. “T tracked them here, and I came up ito the mission on the river side, where there is an old graveyard. “T saw a light, and standing up in my saddle, I took a peep into the room, in an old wing of the old ruin. “There [ saw Don Trego, the two birds I was after, and a man who had just ar- rived, and who they call captain, as he was once an army officer, he says, but I with Lady Beauty doubt it, though he may have been a bad soldier. * His pards calk him Panama, and I heard him tell the Don, and the others, for they all belong to the same gang, that he had a letter to-day from a friend at a northwestern fort, te:ling him to beware, as you were on your Way to El Monte to look up certain men.” * Indeed, he is well posted.” ‘*He seemed to be; but you know best. “Then Panama pointed to a sear on his head and said you gave that to him, and he was supposed to be dead; but if you saw him you would know him, and there were other men about El Monte you wanted.” * He knows it all.” “Then it's time for him to die, as he can learn no more,” was the laconic re- sponse, and Buffalo Bill laughed, while Wild Kid resumed his story. CHAPTER XI. THE COUNTERPLOT. ‘“‘ Now, what must I call you, for I want a handie for my tongue to get a grip on?” asked Wild Kid in his frank w ay. “Call me Buffalo Bill.” “T don’t want to, for you’re a man, and a great one, and I'm only a kid, for I can’t vote for several years yet.” ‘‘My name is Cody, then.” “Then Mr. Cody goes, or is it captain, major, or eolonel, for titles are worth dol- lars in Texas,” “JT am plain W. F. Cody, chief of scouts, nicknamed Buffalo Bill.” “Then Chief Cody goes with me, for as there are no misters ‘around this country I’m not used to the name. “But let me push on along my tracking trail, for 1 wish to tell you that Panama said the only way for him to escape, and the others too, Whom you wanted, was to call in your chips.” “*I see.” “Fle wanted the Don and his son Juan to go in with him, but Don Trego backed out for the boy and himself, yet did not / say they should not do the work, for he’s ~ a bad one, I’ve had my eye on for some ™ time, ,only you know.” “Yes, like making a rabbit stew—you first catch your rabbit.” ‘Sure. But the other three—Panama, Mustang Mott, and Half Breed. Jose, all hard ones from El Monte, plotted to come over here when you were asleep and open fire on you, as they said you would natu- rally keep the door open, and thus they w ould down you. ‘At the wall a couple of hundred feet from here, is a stone room, the Don said, with a window overlooking the river, and they could drop your body out there and the stream would carry it far away.” “You heard all this?” “Oh, yes. I got it all down fine, and then I plotted to help you out,”’ “How did you get in?’ “Well, I'll tell you. I got in by a way which wil enable you to say that you were savéd by the cross,” “IT don’t understand. Are y ing missionary?’ ‘Not to any alarming extent; but as T could not get over the wails 1 lassoed the cross on the chapel, shinned up the side and down the roof, and I’m here, arn't 1?” ° * You certainly are in evidente, though I do not see you distinctly, “And now you are here to help me fight out this battle or aid me to escape— which?” “See here, chief, I could help you to escape, but I’ve got an idea you could do ' more good fighting it out; in fact, I've an idea,”’ | ‘“* Let me have it, then.” “Tf Panama is really posted, you've work ahead of you in these parts.” * True.” ‘Now, I’m not curious; but if you are playing a lone hand, but would like to have some one be pards with you, I'm with you for keeps.” “You are just the one I need, from what. I’ve seen of you.” ‘You haven't seen me yet, only heard me, and maybe when you do get a sight of my picture by daylight you won't like it.’ “Tl take chances on that.” , “Then I'll do the same. “Now, my idea is to go around the chapel, get my lariat, nnd hang the end over this side, so that I can be here with you in the fight, and then skip at a ‘quick- step outside of the mission walls, I mean. after the three men have passed jin their chips. “Tl be on hand should Don Trego and Juan, with the peons, take a hand against you; but my idea is that they will not; but, as I said, they'll hear something drop from the chapel roof if they do. ‘Well, so far, good; but I think you'd better play chat the three men must have followed you here to kill you, that they came from the northwest, not from El Monte, and make believe you think Don’ Trego is all right. “He'll catch at that bait the same as a catfish will at a nigger’s toe, and he'll pre- tend not to know the men at first; but then come out and say they are from El Monte, and asked for shelter for (he night, - which he gave them, little greaming that they Were here to murder yo “I know the Don well, and he'll be gad you a travel- got to get out of it, while if you recognize the man Panama, you can give a reason for his attack on you, Stating that in some way he knew of your coming. “When I see all is serene I'll skip, and nobody will know me in the affair, only I'll have to borrow your lariat so as to tie it to mine, so I can draw them over after I am outside, as it would not do to leave mine fast to the cross. , : “That's my game, chief.” Tae Te Re cat it’s catching before hunging, — Oe eet ae —_ wee) “—f: . 4 “ 7 a> . “+ » ’ ~ \* a Fs Fin” ds * os ’ ¥ "2 4 ‘+ , a! a b® . ae py EE “76. ae = SS aly % er . | Pe hal of ‘ a. _ *. ¥ a ° Pod a ed “a ‘opts