Beadle's Dime Library, Vol. XII, No. 145 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

eee 8 ee —- - binding their prisoners, and then rummaged the house; but not a sign did they find of Har- old Wilkins or Kate, and even Irish Molly had disappeared and left no trace. ‘Bad work byar, and I'll bet you ther party in thar knows more about it than we do. Let’s shake ‘em up, an’ have em out one at a time. I reckon we kin git su'thin’ outer ’em ef we try.” "g So, one after the other, the six were over- hauled, and some were stupid, and some knew nothing, or pretended to know nothing, and it was only when they had come to the last one that they opened up a mine of information. He bad been one of the party who bad been sent by Captain Skull to approach the house | from below, so be was able to tell how Wil- kins had escaped, and further pursuit had proved unavailing. " ‘“But what’s become of them now?’ asked Soft Hand sharply.’ woman?» She was rough and ready, but she was worth a hundred such cattle as those in there.” “Them two made a through run, fur not a sign nor sound on ‘emer Molly bez ther cap- tain found; an’ ther gal thet helped ’em off won't tell. they've got her under the pump; an’ we war put hyar to ketch you ef you come.” ‘‘ But this Catalina, who, you say, must have guided them off. Where is she now; and who | is she?” ‘“T reckon the captain himself don’t know just who she is, from the way he talks, though he’s been mighty kind to her till she cut up this shine. He’s got her shut upin his ranch now; an’ ef shé ain’t mighty’careful she'll come out feet foremost.” ‘Good! We have some trail at last,” said Soft Hand, in a decided tone. where this ranch is and you'll come out right in the end.” ‘* You go—” began the outlaw, but just then a harsh voice broke in: “This frolic has Jasted longenough. Throw up your hands and surrender!” Colonel Dashwood had reorganized his fugi- tive lynchers and come out from Hangtown. CHAPTER XXYV. HOW THEY HELD THE RANCH. SorrLy enough marched Colonel Dashwood and bis doughty warriors. Heartily ashamed of their sudden, senseless panic, the latter, after being soundly rated for their cow- ardice by the colonel, who met them on their way to Tierra Roxo, were easily persuaded to follow him back; in fact, it would be almost a mistake to say be persuaded them, since he said follow and they followed. As they came near the ranch they observed mcre and more caution, and finally crept up on the amateur judges, who were putting the captured agents through a course of examination. One slight mistake they made; they ap- proached in a body. ‘If they could have risen from all sides at once, they might have caught the two at a disadva As it was, quietly though ‘they had come, Alabaster Jim recog- nized their presence just an instant before the colonel spoke, aud acted for the emergency. He and his partner threw up each a hand; but they held navy sixes, and at the same time he held up the prisoner as a barricade, shouting to Seft Hand: — “‘ Inter ther door, pard; I’ve got him lined an’ he can’t hit me. We'll hold this ranch, er bu'st a-tryin’.” At the first words the man from Cinnabar sprung for the house. That was perhaps their only chance, ‘and he wasted vo time in discuss- ing what would follow. ‘The rapid movements of the two disconcert- ed the colonel, and as he had given strict orders pot'to fire uutil he gave the word, the retreat was made without eliciting a volley. ‘*Now, kupnel, we’ve.got the cead meui- cipe on you. By this time my pard hez ther drop on yer, an’ if | miss you kin pile wp all yer duckats that he won’t. Hold on till I git under kiver, an’ then we’)l tals reason to yer.” Over the shoulder of the terrified man, who appeared like an infant in‘his arws, twinkled the eyes of the sport, and the deadly tube that’ looked right into the coionel’s eyes never wavered, The Jatter might shoot, but it was ib even chance that he bit the betpless prison- “And. where is the Irish- | Irish Molly don’t know much, but | Pistol Pards er who was being used as a shield; and at the first discharge of a weapon it was pretty cer- tain that Soft Hand, from some invisible _ station in the house would attend to him. So the contemplated rush was checked, and Ala- baster Jim quietly stepped back through the _ open doorway. ‘‘Ther’s nothin’ like doin’ things yerself, _kunnel; then yer sure they’re done right. I tell yer ef yer hedn’t been hyar thar might ’a’ | bin dreadful work. Now, ef you know what’s | healthy, you'll jist git right back to Hangtown, | you an’ yer crowd, an’ leave us to settle our | own affairs. Ef you won't listen to that, let’s _ hear what you’ve got to say.” Out from a window there was thrust a white flag, and the way was open for a parley. | So the colonel seemed to think, for, without _any besitation, he moved a few steps nearer; while Jim appeared at the window. Both otf them held their bands down. ‘‘’'You’ll hard'y fire after you’ve hung up a flag of truce, and so I’ll risk telling you a lit- tle plain truth. We've come out after you two, and we mean to have you, so you may as well give in at first as atlast. There are only two of you in there, and there are a dozen of us here.” | “Oh, ho! yer figgerin’ too fast, Thar’s | eight on us. byar, an’ kill one kill al. We'll | all waltz up ther flume together. Ef you want us, come an’ take us; an’ ther first dead man _ will be Colonel Dashwood, unless ther rest are fools enough to. let you push ’em on ahead.” “You can’t be on all sides of the house at once, and if some of us do suffer the rest are | bound to get in when we make a charge.” ‘‘] don’t see it that way. We'll salivate every last soul on one side ov ther house, an’ then be ready fur ther balance ez they. come. “Now tell us | We’re ducks, we-be; regular roosters, trimmed and heeled.” ‘‘ But even if we can’t pick you off, or drive you out, you can’t hold out forever, and we’ll sit down in siege for a month but what we'll have you,” ‘An’ what'll we be doin’? An’ how yer goin’ to fix it about ther other six? You'll hand in ther loaves and fishes fur them, ap’ in course we'll hand ‘em over, an’ starve our- selves, That's our style, every time.” ‘* Your prisoners, as you call them, must starve with you. What have I to do with them? Idon’t know who they are, and don’t care; but if six men let two corral them they must be no account frauds anyhow, and the socner they’re gone the better. But if any harm comes to them, beware. When we set tire to the old stable I fancy you will be glad enough to crawl out, and surrender.” “ An’ s’pose we do, then what?” ‘Well, that trial in town wasa farce, Be- sides, there have been developments. We want you this time, It will be as the court decides.” * You’re the court, an’ yer twelve men ther , ‘jury. Thank. you, I don’t just guess we will. When we get tired in hyar we’li bang yer six friends hyar outer ther winders, an’ muye on. Pu ne ou an offer, though. There’s been some le between us an’ I’m the best man. Ef yer aon’t believe it draw yer trends off an’ Pll kim out an’ fight you fur love er money on yer own heels or with ther gafts.”’ Once more Alabaster Jim challenged the colonel to single combat; and once more. the offer was declined. The colonel wanted no duel in his; and yet it could hardly be lack of nerve since he had had more than one single encounter in his time, ahd his private grave- ya was larger than any other two in Tierra xo. ‘ ‘* Fall back there and let the fun begin!” In went the white flag, and back jumped Alabaster Jim, who had no idea of allowing any one a chance for a snap shot at him; while the colonel and his men, at long pistol range, put their heads together, and seemed to be getting ready fora rush. ‘‘[’m sorry fur you fellers,” added Jim, ad- dressing his prisoners. ‘I wouldn't mind making a swop of it, but you heard what ther kunnel said. I’m goin’ to place yer whar you’ll do most good, an ef yer don’t stay whar I put yer thar’ll be about five ov yer plugged wuss ner any bad molar ever seen.” oa five had remuined altogether silent dur- the c Some ho and some swore, and the only one of the half-dozen who did not make more or less of a demonstration with his heels was the one who had served as shield and buckler. eee ee ew SL LLL LL tte LBBB BBB LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LALLA LLL LL LLL LLL LO LL Ct atte eet 19 He rolled into a corner, and had nothing to say, possessing himself with the hope that he would be allowed to remain there, unnoticed. At the address of Alabaster Jim the rest be- came silent. They might be placed in various ways, any of which would be uncomfortable end dangerous, and they weye in an agony to see what was to come. They did not have to wait long, since one after another the five were piled up in a heap against the closed but shattered door, through the wide cracks of which they could plainly be seen by the men without. About the time he bed made this arrange- ment Soft Hand came sliding down from above, where he had teen to take a sly look at things. He seemed in a remarkably good humor for one of two that was in for a ‘fight to the death against a dozen. . “Fun enough, here, James? Eh?” “Things is bloomin’; but it does look like a slaughter to massacre all them innercents.” ‘‘ 1’m not caring tor the slaughter; what I do care is getting the funeral ahead of the hearse. It’s bad enough now, but if we take them all in, Hengtown wayrise on its combined ear for fear we'll depopulate it; and 1 want to go back there.” . “SodolI. Ive got to, er lose my cache.” “‘ Besides, though we could easy stand them all off, that wouldn’t be helping Wilkins any, and j’m going to carry wy contract through with him.” “Then how you going to work it? If we break kiver they’re bound to run us down, an’ ef we stay hyar—they’re comin’ fur us now.” “TI think we bave them anyhow. I’ve been taking a view of things, and it’s just pig Inckin our favor. There’s six or seven mustangs cor- ———— ee raled just below; belong to ther gang we caught in here I suppose. There’s one man watching them, and two more behind the ravch watching us. We'll open fire in front, for they are going to come for us now, and then skip out of the back window, saving the two as we go along, and break for the horses. We may be hung afterwards for horse-thieves, but I'll bet rocks on it that we bave a ride to- day.” “Now you’re sboutin’, pard. We'll stam- pede tbat corral, an’ git. Ef they take us then, they orter, that’s all. Look out!” __ The consultation appeared to be over. There were only two sides of the ranch that were open toimmediate entrance, the front and rear; and the doors and windows there were so stout that the first rush might not carry them, and while they were being forced there was no telling how many of the attacking party would be picked off. ~ The ends of the house, it seemed, might be approached in safety, unless it should turn out that there were some hidden loop-holes; and it appeared that they had decided to adopt the plan already hinted at, and fire the bouse. Of course, now that he had bis men are up to their work, and as they were armed with shotguns and rifles, Colonel Dashwood bad no doubt but that if be could get the two out of cover he could at least kill them, though he would far rather have them surrender, An he had decided that no matter what use was made of the prisoners there should be no let up, though, as they were to near the door there was little danger but what they could be rescued before the flames reached them. © The attack began. ‘ From every side there came spattering bul- lets, and yells; but the two were not deceived. Something else was on foot; the shots were a blind. The eyes of the colonél and his men would turn in one direction, though four shots fired im rapid succession from the front were something of a diversion, Then, almost instantly, the shutter of the window in the rear w open, two shots wounded the two men on guard there, and out leaped Soft Hand, followed by Alabaster Jim. A moment or two would decide the matter now, but they did not mind the risk as much as the idea Of running away, though they let no grass grow under their feet. | The unexpected appearance almost bewil- dered the besiegers, who had , r leath, an really mind it was to be a fight to the did not see them until they were some away. Then they let fly a volley and opened out on the trail in full chorus; but am a, eatchhe mepelad adh ear ane and clatter of horses’ hoofs, Sod the two were titi Lo es | ’ JOOKS: GO <€om (E