Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 105 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

r ———— annie” . - - ——_——- -— - - — a - — ae _— en we ee ees we eo eee _——— ‘Your judement was better than mine, I ad- mii,” said Tr ville, softly, es he received his winnings. .‘‘I aim much obliged to you for your kind advice. Iama novice at the game, and don’t understand it very well.” ‘‘ Waal, fer up an’ down cheek, stranger, you kin discount ary gover’ment mule as ever slung a hoof!” roared Bruiser Bill, urged on to ‘‘crowd” the *‘ tenderfoot ” still harder, by his geoming pusillanimity. ‘‘I don’t know what it may be whar you come from, but out yer we eall it steclin’ to rake in another critter’s bet.” A hot flush swept over the young man’s face, leaving it more deathly white than before. And there was asharper ring in his voice as he spoke again: ‘* Will you be so kind as toexplain your mean- ing more clearly?” “Don’t I speak plain enough English? I sa that I putt yender chips on the winnin’ keerd, an’ conusekintly the chips is mine. An’, what is mine, I’m ready to fight fer—you hear me !” angrily retor ed the pugilist. ‘Vou shifted my bet froin the queen to the jack,” said the young man frou Boston, speak- ing slowly and with an evident effort. ‘ That does not alter the ownership of the chips, since you acte’ without authority—” ‘T kerry my ‘thority in my belt,” blurted out che ruffian. ‘‘T am willing to leave the dispute to any of these gentlemen,” continued Tfreville, * and whatever they decide, 1 wiil agree to abide by. You, sir,” turning to the desler, “can settle t qu-stion by one word. Who do the chips be- iong to: this gentleman or myseli ?”’ ‘-So'tle the muss between yourselves. I’ve Dan Brown of Denver. ———-a. 6 — cn rot enough to attend to in my dealing,” was the | cold respoase, “The chips is Bill’s—any fool knows that!” put in « afogagys pressing jorward close to the disputancs. ‘* Wedcon’t want no durnei, dan- dified stink-bottles on two legs comin’ ’round yer pic«in’ a muss wi h honest gentiemen. your own, Bill, old feller!” counters. —— —$ ren rine were struck. “If you can’t get along without fi hiing, have the kindness to adjourn in‘o the street. I mean business, and I can snuff a can- dle at a thousand yards.” . Leaning against the walnut counter, which supported one elbow, the speaker leveled a aocked Winchester rifle. The spectators drew a long breath of mingled relief and disappointment, for they believed that the impending “‘ circus” was nipped in the bud by this interference. The rifleman, Billy Uliman, was know as a man of his word, who would shoot and fight at the ‘‘drop of a hat.” A low laugh broke from the lips of the young man from Boston, as he noted the glad light that sprung up in the eyes of his two antagon- ists, but his weapons were not lowered at the command as they expected. How this ‘‘ dead-lock” would have terminated, had the parties been left to themselves, can only be surmised, bu‘, at thav moment, the door opened and a man bastil entered the saloon. A single glance showed him the situ- ation, and with a swift bound his bony fingers closed upon the rifle-barrel and turned the muzzle toward the ceiling. . ‘*Don’t you be so qaried keerless, Billy. 'Tain’t white man fashion to plug a feller-critter in the back with a chunk o’ lead. Put up your shooter—quick !” bere was not another man in Grenada, if in all Colorado, who would have done this without having bis mettle immediately tested by Ull- e man; but now the gambler made no resistance, and turned white as death before the angry glitter that filled the eyes of Enoch Dodge. ‘‘T was just persuading them to go outside if they must fight,” he muttered, apologetically. ‘‘ But now you have come, it will be all right.” Without noticing the implied compliment, the city marshal advanced to where the three men confronted each other. ‘‘P.cking another muss, Bill Bruiser? Some Pick up | o’ these fine days you'll git unmarcifully saliva- _ ted. Bein’ it’s you an’ seein’ how the stranger is ‘¢ Which you bet I’m goin’ to do!” grinned that runnin’ things, ’m ’most sorry I came in, fer worthy, his huge paws fastening upon the ivory | the town wouldn’t go in mournin’ over your corpse. Sorry to interfere with your amuse- It was an unlucky move for him. The young | ment, stranger— Waal, I ber-durned!” man from Boston cried out in a clear, ringing voice: ‘‘Tako this change with the rest, you ruffian- ly brutes!” One—two lightning-like strokes, and the two outlaws were knocked headlong through the ex- cited crowd! CHAPTER VIIL. A DOUBLE DUEL. Lire frightened sheep on the advent of a hungry wolf, the crowd separated and scattered in every direction, knowing from experience that hot and deadly work must of a surety fol- low such knock-down arguments. Aud they ixnew, too, that bullets were no respecters of persons on occasions like the present promised o he, Large and heavy men though they were—one } | | as the marshal was present, of them a veritable giant—and though the | young man from Boston used nothing save his naked fists, both Lruiser Bill and Bricktop were raised clear from the floor and hurled endlong more than their own length away. And then, For the first time he obtained a fair view of Treville’s countenance, and as the concluding words dropped slowly from his lips, the doubt- ing expression was chased from his eyes by a look of strong, heartfelt pleasure. With a glad cry that was almost a sob he asped the right band of the young man in his, while his throat worked convulsively as though he was trying to speak and couldn’t. Fancying his time was come while the ‘ tender- foot ” was tous hampered, and feeling that there was no hope of his carrying out orders as lon ruiser Bill starte for the door; but, quick us were bis motions, he had to deal with one still more active in the young man from Boston. Twisting his hand from those of Dodge, Tre- ville leaped before the bully. Just how it was done, no one could say, but all that was visible was an interposed foot and a push of the dat is arm, then the pugilist fell heavily upon back, shaking the building, causing the glass- ware to jing as and the lights to dance by the | his face paler than ever, but with a dangerous | devil glowing in his steel blue eyes, Horace Tre- ville whipped forth a pair of short derringers, each carrying a half ounce ba/l. ‘Make way, gentlemen! I have been crowd- ed enough for one evening. Elbow-room, here! By the tad of Israel! lll bore the brain of the first man that dares to interfere between ine and those two hounds!” The scattered crowd drew back still further. The complete and startling chunge that had come over the ‘tenderfoot,” whom but a few moments before they were scorning as a white- jivered craven, awed them more than did the biack-muzzled derringers. He looked more like a tiger in a white-heat rage than a coward. Confused, half stunned, their brains whirling dizzily, the two ruffians scrambled to their feet, glaring unsteadily around them, seemingly un- able to realize what had occurred. Possibly the first thougbt was of an earthquake. But they force of his While performing this feat, the derringers had vanished from view, but before Bruiser could arise, or Bricktop interfere, they once _more occupied the hands of the young man, -_——_—_ who was undeniably master of the situation. In vain Dodge expostulated with him, in un- dertones. Treville was wrought up toa white heat, and obstinately refused to listen to reason. “They nt es capes me from the very first,” he said, in a cold, hard tone that spoke louder than an outburst of fury. “I treated them like gentlemen, and yielded them every point, until the crowd were nearly ready to mob me for my supposed cowardice. At last they went too far. I gave them a little odd change, and now I mean to pay off their debt in tull, But, they shall have a fair shake. Let them name their tools: anything from fists to ob vrere not left long in doubt as to what was like- | ly to mo | go ‘*Hold! stand as youare! Another step for- word, or the first attempt to draw a weapon will be the sigual for scattering your brains over the floor!’ Sharp and clear as the notes of a silver bell rung out the words, and the peril which they recognized did more than aught else to sober the ruffians and clear their obfuscated senses, The earnest cautions of their employer were remembered now, when it was too late to pve by them. Truly this pilgrim was “ chain my ty heir lives were wholly at his mercy. He had the drop on them, and swift as might be their actions, he could send a bhalf-ounce bullet home to the heart or brain of each before they could strike a blow in seli-deiense. rifles. As for you, friend Dodge. if your official gney will not allow you to witness the circus, ige me by taking a little walk around the square, for exercise.” This speec. ereated a sensation, particularly _ the latter portion of it, for the interested crowd looked to see Enoch Dodge annihilate the auda- cious voung man. Instead, his opposition entirely ceased, and he at once began arrangements for the ‘ circus,’ declaring that the city fathers might decapitate him in the morning, but that night he was bound to see his friend have a ‘fair shake.” ““No row in this establis’ unent, gentlemen,” | eried the owner of the Shedes. whe had been standing bebind the bar when tucse ty u Licws Neither Bruiser Bil) nor his mate were exactly satisfied with the turn matters had taken, but they dared not show the white feather or at- tempt any foul play. Contident in his enermous strength and realty fair lnowledge of scientific boxing, added to his rluttonous capability of receiving punishment, aN iad Bill named nature’s weapons as his choice. —— | ied Sow ted chance of sparing inly anxions, but Treville cool- — Dodge was pla ky nodded him to go ahead and complete ar- rangemeuiats. | - uttered 9 ——_— ——_——_ +--+ ee esr — +--+ eee ee re A “squared circle” was speedily formed by drawing various tables into position, and wit the understanding that the combat was to be verned by the revised rules of the London Prize Ring, the two pugilists stripped and enter- ed the ring. Enoch Dodge first double-locked the doors, then made a little speech. The battle was to be decided upon the merits of the two men, snd any attempt at foul play, either in or outside the ring, would promptly be cut short by a lul- let from his revolver. And, standing upon cne of the tables which formed the ring, w hcre be could overlook everything, be called “time !” As the antagonists conironted each other in that contracted space, the disparity between their size and weight became almost painfully apparent. Half a foot taller, fifty pounds heavier, with arms at least two inches the long- est, Bruiser Bill seemed able to crush the life out of his lithe adversary at the first collision. And though his bold demeanor, ever since de- livering those two knockdown blows had entire- ly changed the sympathies of the crowd to his side, Treville saw how low his chances of win- ing were estimated. Ten to one was offered freely on Bruiser Bill, by those who did not al- low their private feelings to sway their gam- bling propensities. These odds were temporarily lowered hy Enoch Dodge, who called to UlImen and bace him accept every bet cffered at thcse ocds, in bis name. But no ore purse cculd ccmpete with fifty, and Bruiser Bill was still a hct favorite in the betting when the first blow was struck. It is not my intention to give a literal report of that bitterly contested struggle. Enough that Bruiser Bull more than mede good bis reyu- tation as a yugilist cf fair science, bull-co courage and remarkable atility to withstan punishment. But in the young man frem Pcs- tor he meta phenomenon. Quick as the clain lightning Frank Blackwcod | ad likened him to; a maguificent two-barded fi; hter with a guard that was absolutely perfect; a temper ui der perfect control, and a ccurege that nothing could daunt, Horace Treville fcrced the figh ting from the first, planting his tlows straight frcm the shoulder with unerring precision ard a icice that speedily reduced the liquor-bloated counte- nance of bis antagonist toa nask of tlocd, In ouly one respect did the bruiser displey his su- periority. His enormous strength more than countei balanced the cther’s skill as a wrestler, thanks to the circumscribed space in which they vere obliged to fight. A few trials convirce:| them both of this, and then, while Bruiser t+ nt all his energies to clenching and throwi) g Lis man, hoping thus to wind and exbeust him ty adding bis own weight to the shcck of the feli, Treville, when he could no longer stall cff tle rush of the giant, yielded easily, in yrefarcrce to using up bis strength in striving ior the ja). After the first half-hour, the victcry tcceme only a question of time. Ccn pletely blinced, owing to his being cut of condition, Bruiser Bill was knocked frcm piles to pcst, bis egile oj ] o- nent cexterously eludirg his bli: d hy he giant took a vast cea] of beatirg, Lut frally a cesperate uy Uh cut fairly hited Lim ficm_ike floor, and wlen he fell his bead aré tlLovlcers striking first, be ley tlere quivering, urat le to respond to the prcmpt call of “‘ time,” a whipped and horrible Iccking ot ject. Flusted erd bentirg irc m bis great exertion, the young nan ircm Pcstcn scarcely listened to the Joyful congratuletions of Ercch Dedje, tut lanced eround in quest of Fricktcp, bis eycs ae anew as Le discovered that wortLy hard y. Reckless and cesperate though the cutlew vas, when he sew hcw mervelcusly Lis inten ced victim yericimed with such 6 nen as Eruier Till, he would leve stclen away curing tle fight, hed rot the dccrs Leen Iccked and tle «ye ot Ercch Dcdge overlecking all. But vcw, as le net that glitterirg stare, telling him pleinly trat his turn was ccming now, he made ihe Lest cf a bad sitvaticn. Bidding Dccge make the necessary arrenge- ments with Lis seccnd foe, ard flatly refusing to listen to any suggestion of either deley cr c m- prone, the ycurg men ircn: Ecstcn was) cd 1 is ‘ands and sporged cff lis heed, face and Lcdy to the weist in cold water. When this was dcre, it was reen that be bore not a trace of his desperate stiuggle with Bruiser Pill cn bis face: a few bruises ard ¢bis- sions of the skin cn bis bcdy, the results of Lis falls, being the only marks. “The critter chocses revolvers, thinkin’ your bands may be cnsteedied Ly what ycu've ccre through,’ Botte Dedge. ‘There'll be a fureral in town to-moricw, then,” laughed Treville. herdly. ‘‘Thcse iwo belong to the band of Captain Moonshine, #14 crowded me, thinking to put a dengercus ice out of the way. Bnt, I reckon they struck a little surprise party instead of a soft trep.” ‘* Ef he’s one o’ that pang, durned ef I don’t run him in myself!” cried ag er gerly spep- is yourg hiicnd Owl have to stand up in } ve to s up is Tleee,” Ne, more thar half in eaten “Ihave sworn to read them a lesson, and to. Gomicbooks “< 4 Gon