Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 964 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

Silent Slayers, from the fact that they seem to be avengers, and kill their victim | in a most mysterious manner. | these = —_- an , > EE nn Si il al A ee —— = 1. to Devil's home after the frac: ‘A man is found dead with a knife in his ribs, and a slip of paper is pinned on his body, upon which is written in red ink: \' ** “Avenged. se ‘No “The number of the victim is given, and thus far they foot up twenty-one victims. “Our best men and our worst have been among the list of victims, and so no one can tell why they are killed, or by whom.” . “That is strange.” ‘Tt is, indeed, and it is causing Devil’s Oanyon to thin out, for men are moving away, for fear of being secretly slain by ‘assassins, whom no one can place.” “Do you think the young sport knows anything about these Silent Slayers?’ ** How so, Mr. Cody?’ ** Could it be possible that he can be in any way connected with them, for Bunco tells me ae it has been since his coming ‘anyon the first secret murder by them w i committed.” “ Buneco is right as to that, but I can hardly believe it possible that the boy knows of these murders, or can be in any way interested in them. ” “Nor can I, but you know I wish to get at the bottom of all the facts.” “True, and I will tell you all that I can. “As to the Silent Slayers, they are as mysterious as death, and they are un- known to every one, it seems, for we men, not of the lawless kind, can find no clew to them, and I have been afraid to talk to any one on the subject, fearing I was con- yersing,: perhaps, with one of the secret band of assassins.” “Well, we three know that we are to be, trusted. ‘““T have told Buneo T came here for a secret purpose, and brought a letter to you, “He is an old friend of mine, and I would trust him with my life—yes, you saw him save me from death to-night. ‘Now, I am determined to find out who those Silent Slayers are, and bring them to justice, as well as discover the fate of the one I came here to find, for that he is dead, I feel assured, and it may be that these ASSASSINS are the guilty ones. “TI like that boy. I don’t wish to be- lieye him bad, but I must know just who and what he fs, and we three must work secretly, and I believe we will meet with success in the end. ‘Now, you both know me only as a “* ‘THE SILENT SLAYERS. ‘prospector, and that it is not gold that I am pproapecting LO. Ry GOHAPTER Xi. AFTER THE BATTLE. The occurences in the Sports’ Delight sa- loon created a sensation that Was not for- » : gotten in a night, , ~ Red Sam had met more than his mateh,- not only in the young sport, but in Buffalo with the Iron Nerve.” Buneco had loomed up, too, out of h's - usually calm and retiring ways, and, alto- gether, there had been a decided change in affairs in Devil’s Canyon, especially as two desperadoes had been wiped out, the pards of Red Sam. The young sport ue gone Maes to. his s, and his stock had gone up a hundred ae cent, n did it but he had made a leap of six feet in je eee: blows that were bone-breakers, | “I w ll, and then there will be a few Red Sam had been most effectually funerals in Devil's Canyon.” fi elven from_ Gd ‘aed harm, at| ‘When is ther boys to be buried: who ast for ER | were 2 killed, last nigh ” & i . ald swt eas ai gin Sha a } ur Oh ea “a A Hy ea Sat , i is | my e i, | i ‘ » ; uy ey ey Ae W3 avg rhe 7 is ect, eh * Vili Ney i a ah yi Ait, Hels “ ; } wv \ *\ ce Es ei ae ha oo a9 Ait? . ses iy = eae ce "2 Mee Sy eae fa a’ be é ae fe, Aas inp Al ert sath ane | Bee +} rhea op i. ’ = Mi - ta oat Ts Xs rerye-y a at ‘ deae 7) ait uti 1 Be: ct eS ys iy sk: Prag hy helebt. had dealt two terrible blows with ee vicinity of Devil’s not know just how he had Xa Buffalo Bill’s Decoy. —_— _ — ~——— When he was able to get about again, there was net the slightest doubt, in the minds of those who knew him, that he would again go on the war-path. That there must be trouble between him and the stranger, Buffalo Bill, no one doubted, Then, too, he would not. readily forget or forgive the fact that Bunco had sided with the young sport and the stranger. What Landlord Brad Buns had done all knew would stand, and more, he would not be brought to book for it, as he had a hold upon the wild spirits of Devil's Canyon that not even Red Sam dare go against. Such was the situation the morning after the affair at the saloon. The stranger was known to have taken up his quarters at the Wide Awake Inn, and it was said that he had come to the Canyon to prospect for gold, and Bunco was reported to have known him before, somewhere further north, and said he was an all-around good fellow, a skilled prospector, and if paying dirt was to be found about the camps he’d unearth it. As gold finds were scaree, he was just the man the workers of Devil's Canyon wanted, and he was welcome. Those who did nothing in the way of work saw him start out after breakfast, mounted upon a horse he had bought from Brad Burns, to give his own animal he had ridden there a rest, and they reported that he rode by the cabin of Red Sam. They had seen him halt there and speak to a man who was seated in front of the. cabin smoking a pipe. That man afterward came up to the sa- loon to get some ‘‘medicine’”’ for Red Sam and himself, and he reported that the Man of Nerve had asked him about the lay of | the land and the prospects of gold finds, . that was all, until he told him that it was Red Sam’s eabin, and then he had politely asked how he was. The man also said that Doe Stone had set the broken collar-bone, straightened up the mashed nose, dressed the cut lips and brow, and had otherwise fixed Red Sam up as best he could, and added: “But he’s a wreck to look at.”’ “ His face looks as though he’d tackled a wildeat, and with his two teeth knocked | out, eyes blackened, face cut and his bad temper, he’s terrible, I can tell you. ‘My! but there will be music when Red Sam gets around, again, for he does noth- in’ but look at himself in a glass and cuss, and you know he’s an expert in swearin’.”’ “Did the Man o’ Tron Nerve know ‘twas Red Sam’s cabin?’ was asked. ‘*Guess not, for he’s a stranger in these parts, but thar’ was a look in his face that told me thet it wouldn't have scared him a little bit if he had.” “Did Red Sam know he was thar’?” “Yes, after he had rode on, and he wanted to take his rifle and go gunning for him, but’ Doe Stone told him if he’d look at himsolf in the glass he’d think better of it, | and he did; but he would not have let any Bill, who was at onee named “The Man- other man tell him thet but Doe, for he knows he depends upon him to feteh him around all right, - Put Ine Up a pint, Jerry, fer internal use,” and the man turned to the bartender, Who did as requested, Armed with the flask, he returned to the cabin, and there sat Red Sam, black as a. thundercloud, ““T s’pose all ther fellers hes ther big | laugh on me,” he growled. ‘No, they ‘said no man eu'd fight a fel- ler that had wings, like that boy has, and they hoped you would be about soon.’ LE TT “Yas, they it’s my treat to ’em, got I has ‘‘ Jist fix ‘em up al ther boys ter go who will, and tell them as | is curious ter know thet I'll be on hand | afore long and give a pienic sich as Deyil’s Canyon hain’t yit seen.’ And the man went off to obey instruc- tions and bury the two dead desperadoes. fact, CHAPTER XIII. A WITNESS TO A DUEL. Buffalo Bill rode on his way beyond the eabin of Red Sam, then struck out across the canyon, w hich was a wide valley, in and made his way toward the lonely, home of the youth in whom he had taken such an interest. He wished to s talk with him. The sport’s\ cabin was situated all of two miles from having been told how Bunco, Buffalo Bill found no difficulty im finding his way where others could never any have done so. He did not care to have know of his visit to the youth, when cabin, he the brush, and, his back, He felt sure that some of Red Sam’s gang had gone to even up matters with aware that he was not far from the dismounted, hid with started on foot. He had not gone very far, ing his way up the little vale leading to the lone cabin of the sport, when he heard, several shots fired in quick succession, { At once he bounded forward into a rapid the boy sport. As he ascended a rise out of the vale he strange sight. He saw the boy sport. bearded man, whom he recognized as Pete Dann, one of Red Sam’s seconds of the night before, The man was backing off from the ¢: abin, revolver in hand, youth, who was boldly advancing upon him, also grasping a weapon. Who had fired the shots he had heard Buffalo Bill could not tell, The sport’s back was toward Buffalo Bill, but the desperado saw him, and at once leveled at the youth and fired, Instantly the youth returned the shot, and down upon his knees fell the man, but as he did so he showed that he was game came upon il by firing a last shot. And that shot hit its human target, for the young sport reeled and fell across the body of his foe, just as Bata Bill came upon the scene, A glance showed. the scout that Pete’ Dunn was dead, and, fearing also that the — young sport might be, he dropped down by his side, No, he w see him and have a oe and SS 7 7 ter be planted, and Ss’ pose. good send off, git-all * end, by house, get there other TO outsiders and so, his horse in his rifle slung at and was mak- and thrilling and he saw a threatening the Tae was breathing. na 5 As he raised him in his arms, to nen jhim to the cabin, the hat of the youth dropped off, and Buffalo Bill saw that he Soe iit aac : . had been wounded in the head, ery Just above the forehead the bullet had — ie struck, and quickly, and with considerate’ | skill, from experience with wounds, the scout made an examination, and was_ “ree lighted to find that the bullet had cut along under the scalp for several inches, and then made its exit, through the er only a stunning blow. “ But I will soon, know.” | So on to the cabin he bore the youth, and oer began to bathe © ead and face, to a Bis | placing him by the s the wound and the vive him. 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