Beadle's Dime Library, No. 142 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

18 —_———- — te ee ee ee Captain Crimson. sunk to sleep as quietly as though there were not grim phantoms haunting his evil life and beckoning him on to ruin. CHAPTER XXXIL IN THE TOILS. THOUGH the day had been so ron on and calm, toward evening a violent storm blew up, and Angel Dave, who bad not gone far beyond the mouth of the pass, was compelled to seek refuge for himself and horse in a secluded canyon. Tired out from excessive tempeh et aoe the past several nights, and finding a dry and safe retreat, the man sini oe quickly off into a deep slumber, undistur by the howling of the storm above and around his place of shel- ter. When he awoke it was dark, and the storm still raging he turned over for another sleep, and did not awake until the morning sun pene- trated his retreat and fell upon his face. His horse had been feeding since dawn on the rich ss on the ree sides, and Angel Dave hastily prepared his breakfast, and: then saddling his faithful animal, mounted and set forth upon his errand. The trail was badly washed, and many trees had been blown down, so that he had to pick his way, and it was slow traveling until he came to the valley, and there he determined to make up for lost time, So dismounted to give his horse a rest, and tighten his saddle girths. Unfortunately for Angel Dave he stopped within thirty feet of a dense thicket, and while drawing on the strap of his hair girth failed to see a dark object suddenly shoot forward, and then with a sharp whirr, settle down over his neck, while he was jerked backward with a force that laid him prostrate upon the earth, half-stunned and strangled. Ere he could put: his hands up to unloosen the eruel lariat around bis throat, a tall form bounded out of the thicket, and bending over placed a revolver tothe head of the Tiger, while @ stern voice said: | ‘You are my prisoner, my sweet A ‘‘Hello! you is Fancy Frank?” crie Dave, in a half-choked voice. ‘*So men call me.” “And White Beaver?’ “é Yes. bP | ‘And the White Medicine Chief?” “The Winnebagoes call me so.” ** And Napska? sé True.” ‘‘And Doctor Powell, former pill sharp and bone-cutter o’ ther army?” ‘*You know me well.” *‘f does, and yer is ther last man on ’arth I'd like ter meet when I is down an’ you is up.” ‘*Oh, it’s a mere ganie of life’s see saw: you had me down once, when you were bought to assa te me.” “Yas, but yer didn’t stay down.” “There is where you and I differ; you will.” Lordy! does yer mean I is a goner?” ‘6 Yes, ‘** Goin’ ter call on me ter hand in my chips?” ‘* Ves.” : “'Tain’t a squar’ deal, Pills, for you holds all ther trumps.” ** As you did, when you shot me from am- b and then robbed me.” ead Angel torgivin’, ne ther Gospil Sharp ust ter tell us, as ther r us, when you an’ me was honest fellers at ther 0 ‘You mean rascal, you were born dishonest; but Pil not argue that with you, but ask you some questions as soon as I have clipped your Tiger claws,” and still keeping the lariat around the prisoner’s neck, and the revolver at his head, for Fancy Frank well knew the man’s great strength, he took his arms from his belt, and then securely bound him, so that escape was impossible. Then he caught the Tiger’s steed, which was uietly feeding near by, and hitching him in bo thicket, returned and carried his prisoner re ‘You is as tender of me as if I were a young pred pard.” ! ” Yes, I don’t wish to hurt you until I kill ou. “Tt hain’t in yer ter kill me in‘cold blood, though I knows yer ter be hell on wheels when yer its yer mad up.” ‘We shall see; now, Angel Dave, where is your chief?” ‘* Back in the lay-out.” ** With his entire bani?’ ce ’Ceptin’ me.” ‘Where are you going, or rather were you Boing? ‘*To the Eldorado City settlement?’ ‘* Guess not.” “Where?” “ Jist nosin’ round like.” ‘Very well, your nosin’ round like has run your neck in da er; but 1 shall soon know all about you; now | will secure you so that you will await my return,” and Fancy made the bonds tignter, and then mounting Ebony started to ride away, when Angel Dave called out: i ee | _ ct **‘You has ther Black Specter’s horse, pard?” ‘*'Yes; was she in camp when you left? **She were; would yer like ter take her pris- oner, too?” “ How could I?” **T happens ter know she’s goin’ off on a leetle reckit, an’ ef yer lets me go, Ill tell yer whar yer kin find her.” ‘*T may get both.” ‘Guess not; she are a screamer to sarcum- vent; come, doctor, let me go. for I hain’t no good, an’ capter ther gal, for she’s a terror on wheels.” ‘* And you will betray her if I let you go?’ “Fact! Dll tell yer jist whar you kin light down upon her.” ‘*Wait until I return,” and Fancy Frank rode away. But scarcely had he been gone half an hour when Angel Dave, hearing hoof-falls, turned as well as he could, and looking around beheld the Black a gazing upon him, a revolver in her hand. ** Waal, this are prime,” he said, nue ‘You seem in a bad way, Angel Dave.” ‘* 1 isn’t happy, ma’am; but Lis glad yer has come, for we kin together make a rich haul.” ‘*‘Ah! what mean you?’ ‘tL is a prisoner, as you see.” ‘* Yes, and how is it that the famous Angel Dave has been caught and bound?’ ‘*I got took in with a lariat, an’ a shootin’- iron kept me from. bein’ playful while 1 w bein’ bound,” | “And who did this?” “A man who is most ’commodatin’ in an- swerin’ ter names, fer ther Imjuns>calls’ him White Beaver, Med—” ‘Hal Fancy Frank?” ‘*Thet is another o’ his handles,.”’ ‘* Where is he?’ ‘*Gone over ther hill, but what fer, I dunno; perhaps ter find a tree big enough ter hang me on ‘*T don’t:doubt it; I will strike his trail.” “ Don’t do it by yerse’f, or he’ll sing psalms at your funeral, too; but jist unhitch me, an’ we'll lay low for him, an’ when he réturns we'll bag him.” ‘**Do you expect me to release you; when I know you are now under the orders of the Mad Colonel to dog my steps?” s You's off ther trail; I wasn’t told ter foller ou. aes You were sent on some business in which I am concerned, and now you expect me to aid u. ‘You is good at guessin’, ma’am ; I was goin’ on a leetle biz thet wa’n’t jist right, seein’ as how when I was awful sick you tuk car’ o’ me as ef I'd ’a’ bin yer brother; but I hasn't forgot “So I see, when you were going to do me some harm,” | ‘*T didn’t want ter doit: but then I has lost all my honest earnin’s playin’ poker, an’ ther Colonel was ter stake me ag’in.” | ‘‘Ha! then he has planned some deviltry me; listen se ee ae tell me if you h to save life, if you do not tell me, Ill stop his plot by eee life.” There was greene in Wildbird’s face that told the man she would keep her word, and he said, doggedly: | ‘“Waal, what does yer want me ter tell yer?’ i where were you going?” The sss morered poor o face paled; b e woman and her face ; but she oem 2 asked: be y ? ‘‘Ter see the ole devil.” “That I know; be more explicit, or I may ‘Ther Cul sent him a message.” . ‘What was it?” ‘** Tt’) make yer hot ter know.” | ‘*Tell me!” was the imperious command. — “Lordy! but you’l! howl when yer knows.” ‘‘ Better let me loose fust, so I. kin skip when yer gits hot.” Her answer was to draw a revolver from her belt, and the action spoke louder than words, when Angel Dave saw the expression on her for be said ee | ‘*-You’!l set me free when I tell yer?’ sé Yes.” “Waal, leetle ’ooman, ther Cul has gotted tired o’ seein’ you around, an’ I = he’s got his eye sot on another gal, fer he tole me ter tell ole Kittle thet you was a-comin’ with a message, an’ ef he wanted yer fer a squaw, he’d better—”’ The man paused, even his evil heart touched at the woman’s face, as livid and quiverin it looked down upon him, while, her limbs refus- ing to hold up her weight, she sunk on the ground beside him in a deep swoon. ‘‘Oh Lordy! I hes played hell on my watch; she fainted, an’ me tied, an’ thet Scout will soon be tearin’in here like a hound arter a skunk; oh, I does feel strange.” CHAPTER XXXITI. A DOUBLE SURPRISE. To picture the despair of Angel Dave would | | | NT en een nnn eee er ee Tt ttCtCtGOtCtCCOoOCO¢O¢OéOBiéOUiOé iC] tCUNgHt OOO XtOttttHCtbOtitttCCOOOOtG OCG ——————————_""-——,————— LLL =: LT > be impossible, as he lay there bound and utterly helpless, gazing with staring eyes upon the white face of the unconscious woman, whom he could not aid, while each moment he expected the return of Fancy Frank, into whose clutches he looked for the Black Specter also to fall. ‘*[’m durned ef I don’t believe she’s kicked: mag in her chips, or is goin’ ter; jist ter ink how hard it hit her, fer ther Cul ter treat her bad; an’ she didn’t desarve it, fer she’s been a angel in our camp, an’ 1s too good fer ther chief, or I are a chronic liar; waal, I guesses I’se gittin’ tender-footed in my heart, now Lis expectin’ my checks ter be called in; I certainly is narvous, an’ ef thet Fancy Frank comes up an’ fetches his pard Iron Face with him, then I shell straddle a-prayer an’ pass; oh Lordy! she’s a-kickin’.” > , As he spoke Wildbird moved; and then her + a opened and she gazed into the prisoner’s ace, Instantly his words came back to her, and pinoggting upon her knees she cried earnestly: *“Did you speak the truth, Dave? Did he in- wey “ betray me into the hands of that savage chief? ‘*l are a howlin’ liar ef he didn’t.” ‘‘Oh God! that he should have added this crime to his black list; but no,. it shall not break my heart; no, no, 1t will make me strong to right this wrong; it will make me a very Ne- mesis, without mercy, and loving hatred.’ ‘The Cul is in fer a hell o° a time, I:guesses,” muttered Angel Dave. Springing to her feet she paced to and fro like an enraged tigress, until a.word of Angel Dave recalled her to herself. ‘*| is expectin’ a wisiter, an’ I doesn’t wish. ter be in harness when he comes.” “True; I will keep my promise.” ** An’ we'll jist take in ther White Beaver: then we’ll make up some lie to tell ther Cul, fer I will hev to go on to Kifttle’s camp, but you needn’t, an’ yer mustn’t peach on m ee ‘*No; but do you promise not to fire on the Scout—to take him alive?’ ‘“‘Guesses I kin, fer Dll-hev ther) drop.-on him,” ‘Then I release you; now we'll await his coming, but remember, do not fire on him,” and she severed the bonds that bound the huge villain. : ‘*Come, we hes but a leetle time, fer I hears him a-comin’,” cried Angel Dave, and the two crouched down in the bushes, the woman be- hind the man, who held his rifle ready, for Fancy Frank had left it by his side. Unconscious of the change that had taken place Fancy Frank rode up to the thicket, and suddenly he drew rein, when Angel Dave called out sternly: | } ‘‘Pawsup, pard! I holds trumps now.” Taken unawares, Fancy Frank knew it would be death then to attempt to fly, or draw a weapon, but his quick eye was ready to take the slightest advantage, as he said coolly: “You've got the drop on me, certain, and an? wear ‘ ‘No, old trumps; make a move, Angel oie hae he Black 8 ‘ e last speaker was t ack Specter, who risen Angel Dave, and suddenly pressed her revolver against his head. ‘*Lordy! scratched by a cat, fer sartin,” groaned the , while Fancy Frank broke out in a ringing laugh. “Drop your rifle, Dave? He o word. “Now, sir, come and bind him,” she said, to Fancy Frank, who dismounted, and with his re- volver covering Angel Dave La ; “*Pards in or L are a ;” growled the ‘Dave, I promised toset you if youtold me of chief’s treachery, and I kept m word; you are this geu ’s , and it i th him to say what is to be done with remains wi ou, and I certainly am to ask mercy r you,” said the woman, as cy Frank ap- proached and again bound the Tiger securely, while in a few words Wildbird told of what. oecurred | had . ‘¢ Well, Lam half-inclined to treat with Angel Dave, in ~—s of the devil stamped on his face, and that ‘lL are gittin’ tender-footed now, pard.” ‘We shall see; if you are willing to tell me what I would know, and which you can. tell, I will spare your life; if not, I will kill you.” ‘I’m a boss talker, pard, when thar is busi- ness in it.” ‘‘That I shall see; now let me see you for a moment,” and Fancy Frank addressed Wild- earshot of the prisoner. ‘*J am here as I promised,” he said, calmly. “True, and I thank you; whatis the result?” she asked, anxiously. ‘“‘The major took the package, and could not remember who could have sent it, among the many who won his money; but all urging that I could do& would not change him in his deter- mination to remain here, for he said he would build him a comfortable home, and organize a know is in his heart,” said Fancy. bird, who silently followed him to a spot out of ‘Eomicbooks yed the woman’s order without a -