Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 981 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

, uP es fella Pee a =," ~e' —. -. ‘Een mm “eal +4 Fa PPT are Fd é <7" a ° = nf ; « r cis : , - t | P = 3 + TVA ‘ *% _,. et, ¥. “ras 4 yf at me - ie "he en B a») ad 4 ak .? tpt th, G—= - OAS Wes pe STs aK, a + ,4 alo rs Ss ——w — oe ~—- 12 “You bet, and there’s no doubt as to his being Buffalo Bill after what we saw him do,” another added, while a third remarked: “Well, I never saw a man face what he did, and I don’t want to see another, if ’'m one of them he’s facing.” In the meantime the scout had noth- ing to say in response to the questions put to him by Lasso Sol. The latter rode first of the prisoners, just behind the scout, the length of a horse from him, He was very pale, for the color had not returned to his face since he saw the fate of his champion, and realized that it all had been for nothing. He was still a prisoner, and with more against him than before he had met the wagons. Now, there was for him to consider that the scout intended to bring the charge against him that he was Black Lariat, the Desperado of the Colorado mines. The chances were that there were men at Fort McRae who would recognize him as the Desperado. “You men will have to put up with some hard riding, for we were detained back yonder an hour, and I intend to keep right on to the fort,’ said the scout, and he urged the horses on. It was just sunset when he stopped at a stream to water the animals. ‘“T will tighten up the girths, relieve the horses of your weight for awhile, and see how nearly free some of you have gotten your’ hands,” said Buffalo Bill. Lasso Sol groaned, for had the scout ridden on a few miles further before stopping he would have been free. One of his defenders had slipped a knife into his hands, he supposed un- seen, and bound though he was, Lasso Sol had been working at his bonds and freed one hand. When darkness came on that knife would have been passed back to one and then the other of the prisoners follow- ing, and at some unguarded moment, the three men would have dashed upon the scout and tried conclusions with him. But Buffalo Bill had seen the knife slipped to Lasso Sol, and knew that he was working hard as he rode along to free himself. The man was again bound, the girths “were cinched up, and just at dark the ‘way was resumed, the scout pressing on at a good pace. The moon lighted their way, and true to his word the scout pressed on along the now. well-marked trail until the lights of Fort McRae came into view just before dawn. Answering the challenge, the reply was: “ Scout with dispatches and three pris- oners.” He was soon admitted into the fron- tier post, and his prisoners put in the guardhouse, while his dispatches, not being urgent for quick delivery, he was given quarters and told to await to see ‘the colonel in the morning. Colonel Tipton had just finished his } toilet when the arrival of the scout was reported, bringing both dispatches and prisoners. “ Why, Cody, is it you? “T am indeed glad to see you, while “you being the dispatch bearer indicates ‘that they are important,’ said Colonel ‘Tipton, greeting the scout warmly, for “Buffalo Bill had served with him in the _Northwest. “They were dispatches, sir, for the »chain of posts, and General Birney sent ‘me, sir, as I am on the search for a Buffalo Bill 28 > NER GE eee, r pew ait” ————$— oe a mysterious individual who has been rob- bing the officers of half a dozen posts, and who is supposed to be either at Mc- Rae cr Tule Rosa, colonel.” “T hope you may catch him; but what prisoners are those you brought in?” and Colonel Tipton was opening his dis- patches while he talked. In a calm way Buffalo Bill told the story of the destruction of the Bain- bridge home and murder of the people, his meeting with the young Silver Stars, and being pursued by Lasso Sol and his. two comrades, with what had fol- lowed. “Well, Cody, you are a wonder, for you do escape death most miraculously, and what you undertake you accomplish. “You certainly have done well; but I am pained to hear about this massacre, and will send a troop up the valley at once,” “May I ask, sir, that you do not, for there is a mystery about that raid that I wish to solve, and by going quietly about it I believe I can do so, while sending the soldiers would drive the villains into hiding. “T have the Fighting Five for aides, one of them, as I told you, the last of the Bainbridge family, and they will aid me greatly, while the Lone Buffalo I can depend on, and he is now on the trail of the raiders.”’ “TI guess you are right, Cody, and I will leave all to you. “ But now about these prisoners? ”’ “There are scouts here, sir, and troop- ers who know Black Lariat, and I wish to have them see the man Lasso Sol, and ask them who he is and where they saw him,” “TI shall have them looked up at once.” But the very scouts Buffalo Bill had in mind were then off scouting with a troop of cavairy, in which were the sol- diers who also knew Black Lariat. Thus several days passed away before Lasso Sol was brought to confront those whom the scout felt sure would recog- nize him as the Desperado of the Colo- rado mines two years before, for he had mysteriously disappeared from his old haunts when he learned the military were to arrest him for his crimes. CHAPTER XAXI. FACING THE MUSIC, The settlers came in the next evening with their wagons, and went iato camp near the post traders. Almost the first man that greeted them was Buffalo Bill, and he was accompa- nied by the surgeon of the post, whom he had asked to go with him and do what he could for the man he had wound- ed in the duel, Mr. Colvin received them cordially, and said: “The boys hardly need the proof of seeing you here, sir, to be convinced that you are Buffalo Bill, and Burnett will be ashamed of himself when, he hears you have brought the surgeon to see him. “He is in the far wagon, and I will call him out,” Burnett crawled out of the wagon with assistance, and his face was pale and haggard, showing that he had suf- fered. He looked sullenly at Buffalo Bill, but unheeding, the scout said pleasantly: “Glad you have gotten in, pard, and the post surgeon is with me to put your hand in the best shape possible.” The man’s face changed instantly, and he said: “Thank you, sir. ’s Fighting Five. ~ “Ther cap’n drove faster to have me cared fer, as my hand isin a bad way. “It was my fault, though, so I; don’t blame you, and Lasso Sol has been a good friend to me more than once.” “ You were right to wish to help him then, for stick to one who helps you in a time of need. “ But the surgeon. will see ‘to your hand.” a eas He did, and the forefinger was so tered it had to be taken off at the . joint. Burnett stood the amputation bravely, and was much relieved when the broken bone was gotten rid of, remarking coolly: “It was my trigger finger, sir, and [’]] have to train the next one now: but you are the quickest and best shot I ever saw, for Mr. Colvin told me you said you intended to wound me in the hand and not kill me. ie. Owe you my life, sir, and I rather think I have got something to keep you in remembrance,” and the man held up his bandaged hand. “Come over to-morrow and see if [ am not right about Lasso Sol being Black Lariat the Desperado,” and Buffalo Bill returned with the surgeon to the post. The next day at noon the troop re- turned, and after they had rested awhile Colonel Tipton called out the men des- ignated by Buffalo Billy scouts and sol- diers, and one at a titne had them led down to where the three prisoners had Leen drawn up to face the music. The first man, a sergeant, was told to look well at the three men and say li he recognized any of them. fie glanced at Reddy and Barney, fas: ened his eyes upon the face of Lasso S and said: “ This man I have seen before, and he’s the one I think he is there is noi worse, sir.’’ } “Who do you think he is, sergeant?.’ “He has cut off his long hair, and le his beard grow; but if he is not the Co}- orado Desperado, Black Lariat, I am very much mistaken, sir.” Lasso Sol turned to the hue of a corpse and Mr. Colvin said to. Burnett, who stood next to him: “ That settles it.” ‘See what the others say.” A scout then was called, three men and said: “If I knows any, thet pilgrim are the one, and he oughter hey been hanged long ago, if it’s who I thinks.” “Who do you say he is?” ‘“* Black Lariat, sir, a Colorado Wad ’un.” One soldier said he had seen Lasso Sol before, but could not say where. Anotrer of the soldiers said at once: “That one is Black Lariat, sir.” Anothsr soldier,failed. to recognize him until asked the name of a desperado gt the Colorado mines, and called out quickly: “Black Lariat, sir, and this is the man,” A scout then called: ‘Cut his beard ou, give him a wig of long hair, take that seared look off his face, and if he ain’t a man I thought dead I'll give my gun to him.” “Who?” “A man by the nickname of Black Lariat, si... “Tf Buffalo Bill, our chief at Fort Lyon, was here, he’d know him, for he never forgot a face, sir, knew the dif- ference between one Chinese and an- other,” said the scout. “ Buffalo Bill is here, and he brought this man into the fort a prisoner, for he said that he was the desperado, known as Black Lariat,” said Colonel Tipton, as eyed the } } 900 -CC Cc | cS é* a wT ~ ; ” tg eh —-, > . q ~« a YO, fore