Beadle's Dime Library No. 1 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

ee — ETT et a ng ee — = ia . No. 1. ‘“‘ We're ‘ vigilance’ enough fur you!” replied one of the men; and the rest joined in a deep rumble of wrathful assent. “ Hoist away!” commanded the doctor, Out of the fourteen men—including Poker Tom—who had composed the attacking : Dr. Chillingworth, ebraska Larry and two . other men escaped those who were only slightly wounded s A 3 Hard —— a — swung clear of the und ina twinkling. His agonized writhi te terrible to behold, and must have moved any hearts not steeled by long years of wrong, OF made callous by daily scenes af semi-barbarism. He clutched spasmodically at the rope above his head; but his right hand had been rendered helpless by the doctor’s ullet. “Tet him down!’ commanded the doctor when the purple visage of the wretch showed. that he was at the point of suffocation. The men obeyed. They were MYicum 9 to pro- long the torture as much as possible. Dr, Chil- li orth loosened the noose; and The Red Hand lay in a heap, gasping for breath. “Where is my daughter?” demanded the doc- tor. when the robber chief was able to speak. ‘-where she will suffer the pangs of_starva- tion—where she will burn with thirst! Ha! ha! my suffering—” ‘Hoist away!” commanded the doctor; and the bitter words were stopped in the throat of the obdurate robber. in a scene from which the eye turns in horror. The pride of the savage (whether white or red) could enable the crime-stained man to face death resolutely and with a calmness born of bravado; but no will could compar the mus- re ee the body was in the grasp of ea “Lower away!” came the stern command ; and again a mass of quivering humanity lay ground, ‘‘ Where is my daughter?” The doctor’s voice was implacable. » “Where she will die and rot, curse you! but ou will never see—” “Hoist away?” a The doctor was a man of ice. His voice was as steady as if his victim had been a bale of merchandise. This time the struggles were faint, consisting of only now and.then an involun twitching of the limbs; but the contortion of feature, the protrusion of eye-balls, was horrible in the ex- t ‘ Oe Lower away!” commanded the doctor | when the blood to issue from the nose an . “The men obeyed, but their victim lay motion- le "Here! a canteen—quick! He is dying! Great God! if he should die now!” Dr. Chillingworth poured the Hgner a throat of the unconscious robber c a time restored him on conaci ‘Oh, curse you! have you prov was the salutation of The Red Hf: saw the face of his foe bending over him. Instantly the doctor was the ee Where is my daughter?” he demanded, as unmoved as ever. , The Red Hand made no reply, but lay with closed eyes, breathin g hearty: Presently his head sagged stigh htly to one side, and his eye- li : * . 5 °F Chilling i t his kneeling tranger. “'The man is asleep,” he said. _* What can I do? Idare not nd him He would never survive it. d if he should die what would become of my child? Advise me. “T know of no stronger motive than love of life,” replied The Stranger, gloomily. “If his revenge is stro than. that, and keeps him si- lent, suatena ‘that I am at a loss how to move ” « Suppose romise him his freedom if he einena her? “He can be hunted down at any time afterward.” “ it. ” a“ the men should ob ect?” ‘ > pul su could persuade them replied The and his eye roamed with a sort of the irnot of a, still bray“ the other end of the rope. e emp swung in the wind with ghastly su veness, Dr. Chillingworth knelt Red Hand, and shook , him into wakefulness, from that sleep which is sometimes induced by the exhaustion following intense agony- The rob- ith a start. ber chief awoke with a on EF the la a What! you again?” il claim own! fe he turned away his head wearily. “See here!” raisted the doctor, ‘I have a pro to om You ice of posal have had a spice 0 ‘te vou if you remain obdurate, if, what awaits and. you release my daughter, ou shall go free. Do you consent? oar Never!” he cried, with something of his old . “T have you both, curse you! in bav- oO without injury; but | ay until you cursed God, to lay a hand on the rope, and The Red Hand | _—— — | when he wants | ger and Dr. Chillingworth to the groun ht me back?” | —EEE _ —— Crowd; or, Gentleman Sam’s ing her! So do your worst! Ha! ha! ha!” he added, leering at The Stranger, “ are we quits now? So you love her, do you? Well, you will have the consolation of reflecting, for the next four or five days, that she is dying a lin- ring death; unless she has wit enough to dash er head against the rocks, and so escape the hellish gnawing of hunger. Did man an ou ever starve fortune? Ha! ha! it is a glorious revenge!” The doctor turned away, sick at heart. “Tt is no use!” he said. ‘“*My God! what shall we do?” Any answer to the question was cut short by a hurtling scans in the air. Before they had time to think, The Stranger and Dr. Chilling- worth were dashed to thrown upon the ground; and a rattling volley ihm eR to the ground three out of the five men holding the rope. A wild yell—a rush—and the little glade swarmed with men. The Red Hand struggled to a sitting posture, heard their wild cheer—‘‘Hurrah for Poker Tom!”—and with a diabolical smile of triumph | sunk back unconscious. . _-_ ooo CHAPTER. XXI. FICKLE FORTUNE. Tan bullet fired by The Stranger at Poker Tom grazed his temple, partially stunning him for the moment. He arose to his feet, however just in time to see the party of The Red Hand overpowered. He turned, and with swift, glid- ing steps sought security in flight. t a distance of a few miles he ran upon an- other camp, which proved to consist of a dozen peo ith about a score of horses, Boldly the gam Jer stalked forward, until commanded to t by a sentinel. “IT come as a friend,” he said, ‘“‘ with the news that The Red Hand has just been gobbled up. | Instantly the men crowded about him, while one.of them : ‘Who are you, and what do you know of The Red Hand?” ‘Tm Poker Tom, at your sarvice, and my name’s a retty fair show of my mode of life. The Red Hand’s the man what cracks the wp eou galoots to come to taw. reckon, though, he hain’t long fur this airth, ef eou don’t take a hand in a leetle game in which e helé the loosin’ keerds.” A rapid interchange of questions and answers soon put the camping party in possession of the facts, and assured them 0 Poker Tom’s loyalty to their interests; and they were soon on the way to rescue, : skillfully-thrown lariat brought The Stran- — bound y the same noose. Before they coul ) knife or pistol, release themselves or beat off their foes, the robbers were upon them; and they were soon securely bound, d and foot. Of ‘the rest of the party, all were shot down or forced to surrender except one, who effected his escape in the darkness. As we have said, The Red Hand sunk back o . stern judge | unconscious, when he heard the shout of vic- tory of his adherents, He received instant at- | tention, and was made as comfortable as possi- ble until morning. When the “omg was astir, The Red Hand called for Poker Tom. The gambler presented himself with a conscious swagger. “Myman,” said the robber chief, scanning him sharply from head to foot, “if I remember rightly, you acted as second to Missouri Bill, when he passed in his checks?” “Boss, yeou’re a-cacklin’ tenor!” replied Po- ker Tom. “The same wi a you sided with me, when I — got in chancery ‘ Boss, yeou’re a-whistlin’ bass, fur sure!” ‘ And last night you brought these fellows to the — 4A ‘Now, boss, yeou’re jest a-shoutin’ in the high notes! T reckon yeou’d been laid on the shelf by this time, ef it hadn’t been fur yer humble ppxyant Y , ve you befriended me and my men?” Wal, ye see I knowed as how ce he was genie as was gents, the fust clatter; an’ I never the stomach to see a boss sharp walked over by alot o cattle jest because he was down— that’s the how!” . —. ee of friendship should not go unrew ‘ ** Wal, boss, I leave that to yeou.” “How can I repay you?” “T’m to make the trump myself?” “Tf you please.” a Wal, boss, when yeou truss up that thar chicken ”—poin have the fust hand on the rope!” “T don’t propose to hang him just now. I have further business with him,” replied The Red Hand, with a black scowl. * But when he gits his send-off, [ll hand in?” “i ee RAPER “Yes, if I don’t conclude to settle accounts with him with my own hand, But is that all you ask?” “leneer anything else to give?” ° ceremony was at hanging. two.” draw > | ——— nn to The Seeanger let me | the strongho Sister. —_——- ——_--. 1” . ‘‘Stow yer money ‘** Horses?’ “Humph! They’d be a through ticket fur a free swing, ef I got ketched with one!” The Red Hand regarded the gambler closely, as if to divine what lay beneath his replies. Then he said, slowly: : “My friend, I reckon you haven't led a strict- ly Christian life?” “T allow they could spot me fur everything in the calendar, from carryin’ a pair of aces in my sleeve to rib-stickin!” ‘Suppose you join our brotherhood.” “Boss, that’s jest the music my year’s been a-ticklin’ fur, this half-hour! I’m yer huckle bert fur ninety days!” ‘«“Well, my men are in the habit of earning their positions. "You know the traitor Nebraska . When you bring me his scalp, my mes shall salute you as first-lieutenant, in place of sah genr ough! Boss, let’s strike palms on that! “ And now,” said The Red Hand, when that rformed, “let us see your skill ut these oO. Under the lead of Poker Tom, who sought tring up every one the work with avidity, eager for a chance to show his zeal, the wounded and the hel less Seg were suspended to the limb on which e Red Hand had so nearly expiated all ‘his crimes. They bore themselves manfully, none deigning to ask mercy of the hand they knew was ruthless. When The Red Hand had thus in a measure sated his vengeance, the band took up the line of march toward their mountain stronghold, bearing their chief on a rudely-constructed lit- ter. Bound to the backs of horses, The Stranger and Dr. Chillingworth were led away, captive, by their bitterest foe. The former betrayed no acm bet rage ba jo a oe hho per hanging despondently upon his breast, an tears of anguish trickli slowly down his beard. It was more terrible to know that his daughter was in the power of this fiendish out- law, as a woman, than it had been as an infant. Then there was the possibility of rescue, now— “Oh, God! the only ones who could help her are helpless!” He might have rebelled against Providence, had he had the strength; but, crushed by his t sorrow, he could only weep. With the face of a demon, The Red Hand had dressed his followers: “Men, keep your wits busy while we march. The man who invents the most cruel torture shall receive promotion!” And turning to his prisoners with a brutal luge he added: ‘But L have a rare treat for you of my own devising. You shall witness our nuptials. Ha! ha! ha! the law requires two witnesses, does it not? But one formality we will be forced to dispense with—the priest! Ecod! we're any- thing but priests, we free rovers! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!” These thoughts were tearing the heart of both lover and parent. The one wept, the agony of the other found expression only in the beads of sweat that stood thick — his brow, when he thought that he was he pless—utterly ee Vhen they entered the defile which gave ad- mittance to the robbers’ home, and saw. the huts, even the stout heart of The Stranger failed him; and his head sunk upon his breast, while his heart seemed rent asunder by a sob firm-set lips would not let escape. A moment more and he should see her—oh God! in what a plight! ie Bat suddenly, his ears are greeted by a ingine discharge of small-arms, followed by ringing a rallying shout; and in his immediate vici eries of human agony and the shriekin of terrified and wounded animals. en the perate commands, the raving rors of revoly- ers, and cheer ss ey cheer of triumphant assail- ants. Then a headlong scattering of terror- maddened horses, some bestridden, some rider- ess. From out the dust and smoke a horseman dashed up to The Stranger, His bonds were severed and a pistol thrust into his hand. “ Put in a shot or two for the of human- ity !” shouted a voice; and r Dauntless J a : Fis raven locks swept from his temples by the wind, and his eyes carga Rhine excitement. “ God bless you, boy! ere is your sister?” eried The Stranger. , “War first and chin-music _ afterward!” shouted the youth in return, as he dashed away. The Stranger was not slow to take in the ait: pa. . og 8 rrr Nt a Dauntless J ty, at their evidently got possession 0 ead and set an aratanaih for the re- turning robbers. The surprised freebooters fought with the gee one of men who knew that escape was set over against the noose, But, they were outnumbered, their horses rem f com 700KS.com