Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 964 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

_———- = oe ~ for him, so he would now pick out the worst there were in Devil’s Canyon. They were all there, good and bad, and the latter predominated five to one, He soon spotted three men, and simply motioned to them They stepped out without more ado. * Here’s my gang to sarve me, stranger, and they is all gents from. wayback, and thar’s no slouch about ’em, or goody-good style nuther, “'Thet one be Pete Dunn, this one are Ben Lucus, and ther third are Doc Stone, all at yer sarvice.”’ Buffalo Bill nodded indifferently to the men at Red Sam’s introduction, and said, addressing Doe Stone, as the best of the three where all looked bad: “My young friend here, whom you know as the boy sport, has decided to give Red Sam satisfaction, and we are to arrange for a meeting between them, and, as the challenged party, we have the choice of weapons. I will select revolvers at ten paces.” ' ‘ “ Hold on, sir, please, for revolvers are not my choice,” cried the boy sport, to the surprise of every one present, “What is then?’ asked Buffalo Bill. “T will fight with no other weapons than those nature has given me—fists.” , A loud laugh greeted this announcement, and no wonder. Red Sam gave a rude chuckle, and all were surprised i the daring of the young sport. Red Sam was considerably over six feet in height, with great, broad shoul- ders, a bull-like neck, arms of great length and corded with muscle, while his hands were of enormous size, and like iron in hardness. He was well set upon his legs, and weighed some pounds over two hundred, while he was known to strike a blow that would. kill a mule. The young sport was as completely his opposite as well could bé, weighing seven- ty-five pounds less, eight inches less in height, and of a slender, yet compact build. His hands and feet were small enough for a woman, and it seemed as though one blow of Red Sam must kill him. “You surely do not mean what you say?” said Buffalo Bill. “Certainly I do.” “Why he will crush you.’ “Tt is catching before hanging,” was the calm response of the youth, upon whom all eyes were turned with surprise at his temerity. CHAPTER » 8, THER SPORT AND THE DESPERADO. “That man has been a prize-fighter, and a geen him in the prize ring,’ whispered Doe $tone to the young sport. “¥es, you cannot stand against him an - instant, sport,” said Brad Burns, Che “T know what I think I can do,” was the confident reply. A Buffalo Bill had said no more. ie He was used to the strangest of sur- prises, and he had said to Bunco: Ns Seience and quickness are better than eee strength, “¥ ; _“T believe the boy ‘knows what he is ie cs “As T does,” returned Bunco. Nef ae So the arrangements, were made for a peng ws _ battle with nature’s weapons, the youth | f Jacket, and put his sombrero jauntily upon whispering to Buffalo Bill: Re fs fight with each man in his corner,” <3 ior ‘This Buffalo Bill did hold out for, and it He had failed to get good men to act [ it was because he killed a couple of men ig his blows that he had to fly, for I’ve. 1 ae for a big ring, and to. begin pe Buifalo Bill’s stu ee ee | ee 2 0 re oe eee “I will tackle the stranger when I polish the kid off, and it won’t be in a prize ring,’ he muttered so his admirers should hear him. The crowd was delighted at the prospect of more trouble still. The man and the boy stripped for the fray, or rather the boy did, as Red Sam merely took off his weapons. The sport took off all of his weapons, his boots, his hat and jacket, and then the comparison between the two seemed ridic- ulous. * See that your man strips himself of every weapon, for if he shows any I shall deal with him in a Way he will not like,” was Buffalo Bill’s threatening remark, and Red Sam was seen to hand something else to Doe Stone, as though the seout’s words had frightened him, Then the two took their stands opposite each other, in a ring that had been formed of tables put end to end in the saloon, and thus forming a circle, The crowd stood around on the outside, the secends of the two fighters had a bench to stand on, and the space thus en- circled was about twenty-five feet in diam- eter, ‘* Are you ready?” called out Buffalo Bill. ‘Yes, indeed,” glibly said the sport. “Yas, come, kid, and git ye’r spankin’! said Red Sam, and his admirers laughed. The ‘kid’ did come, and with a rush. It startled the big man, who quickly made a spring toward him, then threw pine’ on his guard and made a lunging ow But up into the air went the boy, higher than the head of the desperado, and then | with terrible force his bare feet were driven full in the breast of his antagonist, who staggered backward under the blow. But the sport was off from him in an in- stant, before he could be grasped by the half-dazed bully, and then he came with another flying leap and landed right in the face of his big foe. . This time Red Sam went down, the crim- son flying from his nose, cut lips and brow. He fell like a log and the sport stood over him, ready for another spring. me Knocked out, by thunder!” * He’s kilt him!” } "Yas, he’s dead!” “Ther kid fights with his feet.’ ‘‘Never touched him with his fists!’ “Ther kid kin outjump a deer!’ “Ts he dead, Doc?” Such were the comments on all sides from many. ~ Others stood dazed with surprise. Doe Stone, once a physician before he turned desperado, had been listening to | Red Sam’s heart beat. ** No, he’s not dead, but that first blow broke ‘his collar bone in two places and knocked him breathless, while the second stunned him, and cut him on the brow and the lips, while it bruised his nose and broke out a couple of teeth. 4 ‘Boy, you are a terror.” : A yell Pegs the werds, and the friends of Red Sam bore him out of the saloon and off to his cabin for Doc Stone to work upon, while the crowd ranged alongside of the bar and began to drink, “Come, kid, and take somethin’!””) was an invitation the sport refused scores of times, But he refused all; no one had ever seen him take a drink or smoke a cigar, nor had heard him utter an oath, but he would. play cards, and men called him a terror, As soon as he drew on his boots and his head, he turned to Buffalo Bill, and, thanking .him for his services, slipped quickly out of the saloon, — all like him because he goes the rounds ee latter, and when they were seated in what | « was the best room in Devil's Canyon, Buf- w falo Bill said: ii “Now, Mr. Burns, I wish you to tell me © all that you know about that young sport, | } all that you can tell!” | h v CHAPTER XI. . | A SECRET AMONG THREBRP. In answer to the request of Buffalo Bill, Brad Burns took his pipe out of his mouth, and said: t “You know about as much as I do, Mr. Cody, regarding that strange youngster.” 1 “Do you know his name?” ‘ “T do not.” a) “And more, I do not believe. there is 2 man in, Devil's Canyon who does.” “To every one he is only known as the ; Kid and the Boy Sport.” ‘ “When did he come here?” ‘‘A year ago.” “Trom where?’ ‘No one knows,” “He just came quietly into the camp one night, well mounted and armed, and ~ set to work. “ * Doing what?’ ‘First he located himself in a cabin in an obscure spot in the hills, just at the head of a little valley, and where there was a small spring, . “The eabin was built by the Mormons as a stopping place when they followed the trail through here, but it was too far from the camps to suit any one here, and the boy’s taking it didn’t conflict with any one, so he has lived there.” | * Then what did he do?’ “Well, he calls himself a gold Hint and prospects for ore, I know, while he comes into the camp every night and often gambles, winning far more than he loses.’* | “He has been in several difficulties?” “Yes, and come out on top, for he has justo Rw men to my knowledge, and for “THe Me a wonderful yi young fellow, and utterly fearless, for it has been said the Silent Slayers would nip him in his cabin some time, but he shows no fear of them whatever.” | “You have talked to him?” “Often, but he is as silent as a clam about himself. “He pays eash for all he gets, and just appears to enjoy the wild life he leads.’ “ How old do you think he is?” “T should say, by his looks, seventeen, yay by his deeds and experience, twice a s? * And he will not talk of himself?” “Not one word.” * But he is not one to forget a fayor, and helping the sick and those in distress all he ean. “You saw him give me that money to- night?” vf Yes, and it was a ‘most generous act.” “Tt is his way of doing business, and you may be sure he will never forget the | Service you rendered him to-night.’’ ie. “Tt was but my duty,” “8 “True, but you did it well and ‘took big ‘ chances ‘in doing it. “You must look out for Red Sam, tion: and also for his three pards, you know, and — he has others you do not know, but T will 7 spot them for you, as will Buneco ante | also, for he knows them all.’”’ | “Yes, I think I do,” was Bunco's aaniet } reply. | } Then Buffalo Bill asked? “Now, landlord, what do you know about the Silent Slayers?” he Yh + Nothing. ivf ' “You mean that you do. not know. who at they’ are?!" fs | ei { see ON WV as agreed upon, Red Sam seeming hardly | The scout accompanied Buneo and Land- ““T mean that I Ast that theve is a se q s ne jr aterested in the affair mit Saas oh Va i Ramait ree Sgotinee to ue Mies boi of Lew’ eret et band § in Devil's Tauren, ae. 5 Sf Ria rs . eid aes ba Wie | dared, “a tafe a Ry says ay ; hr . sey a A>) 1a I Mahe « , M 9 | " ee me Meh 7% toh Watt NAc tare ‘ - HES dacs lk a as y Teens, Ee Php i As, n a Ht ‘ ae ight n't Ie hey fh FUG Ie si hae i oF : ty 5) si ‘ Hi me iz iv ae Py sie day: atte: % in ios aa ‘i air ‘staan ; : bho Pid Pes 0 pena es ua ‘. ag bt Wee ik ite vi fie rue +74 Shey Pa ’ M yin fs A A wi fe yp nie Mra id gh x if ie th ty # ‘; Ba iy via ne ees 4! fa a ve ran i : i: Hh ual its hy ; iy Weta ta hoes aa a tye ee tases TN ees! 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