Beadle's Dime Library, No. 142 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

a ee and— ne his enemy squarely in the eyes, with no of fear in his handsome face: _ ‘Frank Powell, your tribe are going to have a sickly season of fe it, for lL intend to their chief,’ sneered Devil Dick. ‘alk less and shoot more, coward!” ‘*T intend to kill you.” ‘* T believe you foar to kill one who looks you squarely in the face.” “You shall see,” and the pistol was slowly raised to a level; but the delay was fatal to him, for in his ear came a ringmg report, and bounding high iu the air Devil Dick fell his full length upon the ground. A moment after Ross Elliott dashed upon the ‘scene, his smoking rifle in hand, and cried: ‘“Thank God, Doctor Powell, I was in time.” ‘*Oh God! my life saved by his hand,” mut- tered Fancy Frank, and he tottered back as though suddenly overcome by weakness. But a mighty effort of will rendered him himself onee more, and in the nobleness of his nature. he grasped the hand of the young man, and said firmly: ‘Elliott, you saved my life, and you will ever find. me your. friend; may your life know only Joys come, let us return to the com- man Ten minutes after, having left Devil Dick where he had fallen, the two were riding back to join their comrades; but Fancy was moody and silent. CHAPTER XXXVIL BILLY BUTTON’S MISSION. Back to the stronghold of the Prairie Tigers, I ask my reader to accompany me, and on the eve of the night that is to usher in the betrayal of the outlaws by two who would have been the last to be suspected of treachery. It is at that hour between daylight and dark- ness, twilight, which in city or country, in the wilds or on the sea, always impresses one’s na- ture more deeply than an y other time, Out in front of his cabin sits the Mad Colonel in a rustic chair, while up the valley floats a voice in song, and occasionally the bark of a dog or neigh of a horse is bh The brow of the Mad Colonel is clouded, for the night before, when he. was g to and fro, his heart a whirl of emotions at.the thought that he bad betrayed into Black Kettle’s hands the woman, whose only fault was in loving him, she had suddenly ridden up to the cabin. “Why, Bird, L thought. you had gone : to Kettle’ . camp ‘for me? he had said, with a eguilt tremor. ‘No, I was deterred from so doing oye = Scout, Fancy Frank, who discovered me, the cool response. 4 Why, your horse is as fleet as the wind, “You et that he rides Ebony, whom he a the night I was bapbaned. by Capiein Crim- ay Ant I had forgotten u are sade a, skillful ploinay omen Lai eae >on sonia ve » Selene wi some Ww . his In rei — nm and oly also ape in pilin sight and—" ” mM Wot ne near th wi’ Oy “You “did right to return; but to-morrow you can start. oan for Lam anxious. to, communi- cate with She mage no reply, and the. night and) fol- lowi y posed away, and thus i a the Mad say sitting in moody thought before his eabin door * Where ar are ‘you going, Witdbind®” he asked, as the woman came out o ‘“On my usual round TERPR, - 990.790 sick,” was | j the answer, as she dre ype beh oe Be more closely and walked 0 Colonel muttered: ¥ i | am not capable of loving any woman, or ed I loved her ona te sigh Ma ht eit my) db tie igh ots Maud her, an Bat for 1 ry 2 bitterest > 5 oa and er? bub the nig s0 wre i the nigh x ma oe fect. tigress, and she ne foor ber’ by erga i Lwas tae Bird Eienxe for ts unknown, as have killed ee aaa Ihave a to - ROR S of e what , and | rey me age ve in fore . rata + amee , And thus Steed on, Yon tnd plot the’ evil man, while Wildbird ene fame ’ satees and | sent. several of those. w had | card Porte d to lead a te hethen! lands i in the meactenc ot ; tains, under s pretense of t bringing | St e need paras he th across the river to these | i In wal w © oullaw stoc d under several her en, and hav to save those she wished to eseape the ats! made Captain Crimson. tack, she wended her way to a small hut, in which was heard a voice in song. Pushing the door open she .entered, and a youth of pte ti arose to greet her. ‘* Billy Buttons, 1 have something I wish you to do for me.” ‘*]T is willin’, ther Lord knows,” answered the youth, who was a simple fellow that had been a captive in the outlaw camp for years, and whom the men were not wont to treat kindly. . = you see this jug?’ and she drew back her Cc ‘*T hes my eye on it.” ‘*‘ Well, at ten o’clock go to the Pass and tell the guards there that you have some medicine lL sent for the sick; of course there are no sick there, but you say it was your mistake, and lead them to think that the jug contains whisky and let them have a drink all round: then come back to my stable and wait for me there, no matter how long you have to remain, for I wish you to go with me to-night, and if you have any valuables or money you had better take them with you.” ‘*Oh, I has a heap I has stole from ther boys; ‘tain’t no harm, fer they killed folks ter steal ’em, an’ I don’t kill nobody.” ‘* That is right ; now you understand what I wish you to do?” ‘* T does fer a Gospil fact.” ** Speak to no one of what. I have told you, and aacai me at the stables.”’ “Til be thar,” answered the youth, takin the jug and placing it in his bunk, which serv the place of a bed, while Wildbird retraced her way to her own cabin, which, for an outlaw’s abode was far from being uneomfortable. For some time the boy went on with his son until his room-mates coming in to retire made spe hush, although his voice was not unmu- sica Waiting until he was assured that they slept, Billy Buttons arose and ipon, up his jug, and wended his way up to the Six men were Faye on duty, seated around a fire playing cards, and ready to act, should the one sentinel at the outer end of the Pass give the signal of alarm. ou. is healthy sick folks, 1 guesses,” said Billy, approaching. ick! Who said we was sick?” growled one of the outlaws. ‘* Missus said so; said she, ‘ Billy Buttons, I hes some med’cine here fer sick folks,’ said she, ‘an’ I wants er,’ she said ; ‘ ter - it to’em, fer it’s ther ’Lixer o’ Life,’ she said. ‘€ Licker 0’ life, Billy: then l.is sartin sick yer kin gamble oni an’ I'll try\a dose, tho’ I onde om ther rail as < ote rt has to ther ual bm er ins, an’ you di ve sense enou h to, know, whar ter take it.” f any prim I tas ‘'em, on thie are © as om “It’s medicine: you say?’ ePiise o > “— gs You derned. fool who ever heerd o’ ina jug,” and. Billy brought the jug round, in full _“ Jerushal! I guess jugs don’t ever hey nothin’ ’em thet b good; they hadn’t oughter fer ther Ps ag ag hisky the hey was. e fer.’ aa e right, Dan; ef. ther med’cine’s in an ‘S zra & [ was a-lookin’ fer tated it myeee-t ‘i p’izen,’ he placed the jug to his nose P “i eee tage ti te ved | loo slike w ” Thi y dimin for serie Se renamed eae 2s i tations, and. one of them at re - the with the remark: b aay ‘Biliy’ Buttons, the ther medicine, is in ther shaken before taken ; tell t ther pretty one we we Donen now.” + | angrily seized the , and went awa away Pi A while the ou ws resumed their card-pla ying: but one ne one they became drowsy, half an hour they were all un- from the effects of t opiate the — had dragped them with. ster ~ WRONG RIGHTED. aia sit groin of coming evil ‘that Colonel pace to and fro in his __—_—_—-— cabin after the chilly night had driven him in from outdoors? It would seem so, for he was stran gely rest- less, and his brow was dark and his “lips set, while Wildbird, with pale face, but quiet mien, sat at the table saan, ‘* You are restless to aie Colonel,” she said, after awhile, ry ft ‘* Yes; somehow am in just the mood to start off on some mad expedition to drown thought, and have half a mind to call the men up and go on a raid to the settlement.” Wildbird was alarmed, for she knew his im- ve nature, and it would be just like him to ash away at the head of the Tigers and carry torch and death into Eldorado City, and what was still worse, she knew that he meditated harm toward Maud Malcolm or Violet Vassar, and perhaps both. Getting up, she went into another room to whi her - - , and from her lips came the whis h, God! I had gotten that poison to end my unhappy life when I heard the first tramp of the coming avengers; but Maud and Violet must be saved, and all these poor dwellers in the valle below, and if he attempts to go, then shall he drink the fatal draught,” She composed herself by a mighty effort, and returning to the room found the Colonel, draw- ing on his heavy riding- boots, and on the table were laid out his revolvers, to be carefully re- loaded. It was now eleven o’clock, and she knew that the band could be gotten into the saddle and be out of the Pass within half an hour, and should they descend by another trail to the valley, or the avengers under Fancy Frank be delayed, the outlaws would dash upon the settlement by dawn and carry destruction before them. . ‘* Are you going out?” she asked, composedly. ‘Yes, Pll make a visit to Eldorado, and. % wish you to accompany me to = ford, and then branch off for Kettle’s cam ‘Have you aroused the band?’ ‘*No; g0 o and tell Bones to go to each cabin and tell the Ti gers to go at once to the Pass.” Wildbird went out of the cabin, but she did _ not knock at the small hut in which Bones, the negro servant of the Mad Colonel lived: but, after a short delay returned, and her face was ashen in hue, as she asked; ‘*Must I go, toof’?. Ny ; ‘ poe pont tenti regardin ’ w are your in ons the Malcolms?’ 2 - That I shall decide after they are in my er.’ “Ty = hesitate no longer,” said Wildbird, between her teeth, and, aloud, she remarked: ‘‘T will fill our brandy-flasks, and perhaps set better take a drink, for the: night is ‘* A good suggestion : givé me: sotine “its iadanae crater sentry. said, eagerly. -_ Bois wou ] half full ofthe, th ery lied and es glass e ob Lae “ upon the seis at oo tere sat loading’ his Hesion Suilediche it ie its caving £ and, ag the revolver he placed. lips dashed off;the contents, while Wildbird ‘ had gone into the other room, Returning, she saw that he had taken the fatal dra for in it she had this oolar: less poison given her by White ‘* Now he is doomed: but God aon baited to save p-SieensFishe she groaned ETT shut “Ky ~~ o maw y vey ertner, no human ape eal ave “In God’s name what wean you?” and he taht een vition ath ats limbs postpaid acetone the fatal that will end your life wi the hour,” ae the low, calm reply. . Siig sone 7 Great God! hare you poitoned me, bag”? ates the Peary Tap and you 3 but it was + ake your ins ie Pes _ -aNO, DO, DO, yo Se Pees ed ie a me; only given me a ek groaned. selec save th ou married pe A ba woman who is now your treatment, suust Sune ticeehyene 5 you destroyed the happiness of Rose Ros: sell, and then took her father’s lifé. And aw Gaee posnpkeaes against met Ebooks eoim (E()