Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 156 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

iy fo CHAPTER I. THE VIGILANTES. “ Try has got’em, pards, ther nigger, Chinee, Duteh, Injun an’ Trish an’ is a-fetchin’ ’em to ther tribunal o’ justice,” ; The speaker was a large, heavily-bearded miner, dressed in a red flannel sbirt, corduroy pants stuck in his boot-tops, and wearing a slouch hat a little the worse for wear, and armed with the ever necessary revolver and bowie-knife. He had just entered a group of miners from Paradise Valley mines, but frequenters of Pur- gatory City, as the settlers had called the trading hamlet, and they were gathered in a rocky canyon, discussing some important re- forms for the new settlement, as affairs had not been working right of late, for a few mysterious murders had been committed in their midst, cunning robberies had been perpetrate and two men had been seized and hanged, who, the day after, were found to have been wholly in- nocent of the crime, as they could have proven had they been given time, The very night after the summary execution a miner had been killed in his little shanty, an others had been robbed, so the Vigilantes, self- appointed, had assembled to regulate matters, and commenced by ordering the arrest of the foreigners in the settlement. ‘‘ They has ’em all, Kansas Kit?’ announced Captain Carl, the Vigilante leader, who had been chosen more on account of the awe with which he was looked upon, and his well-known cruel nature, than for bis virtues. A man of huge frame and powerful build, he possessed a face that was stamped ineffaceably with vice and cruelty, and the man who dared to brave him in personal encounter was almost certain to meet with instant death. Hated by all, he was yet fawned upon by many, and having had one of his satellites pro- pore him as Captain of the Vigilantes, none re dispute the place with him, or at least cared to do so, for his strength was well known, and his skill with revolver and knife had been too often seen to be doubted. A crowd of nearly a hundred men had thered in the canyon, and their faces showed the excitement of the moment, and all eyes turned in the direction from whence Kansas Kit kad come, and the mass of humanity swayed impatiently. Presently there came in sight a group of a dozen men, six of whom were prisoners, for they were securely bound and were being drag- ged along by their captors. One glance into the faces of those six, and pity would well up in almost a heart of stone, for the unprotected in the settlement had cer- tainly been picked out as victims of Vigilante justice. Entering the canyon the captives were placed in line, fronting their captors, and a motley set they were, for at the head stood a stately, noble joking Indian of the Bannock tribe, facing his accusers with unflinching mien, while by his side was a young girl of his own blood, and with a striking face, and form of rare grace for a red-skin. | Both were dressed in the costumes of their tribe, and neither showed a tremor’ of fear, which was in strange contrast to the other four CPO an Irishman, a German, a negro and a inee, pwnd These latter had drifted into Paradise Valley, the Irishman and German itor, diligently in the mines, the Chinee and negro doing gene- ral chores about the camp, and earning thereby a precarious living, while Blue Snake and Red Dove, the Indians, were wont to bring into the settlement game, and dressed buckskin and beaded moccasins to'sell. Upon these six, the ‘‘furriners” of the Val- ley, as they were called, the wrath of Captain Carl had turned, and by various arguments he had led his comrades to believe that upon their heads rested the crimes committed in the set- tlement and camps. ‘Waal, yer furrin trash, we has yer at last, an’ I’m thinkin’ this camp are goin’ ter be a virtuous resort, when we has strung yer up,” said Captain Carl, in his hoarse, cruel tones, at the same time sweeping his eye down the line, and allowing it to rest upon Black Brick, as the negro was called. rig massa, I isn’t done nothin’, sah; I is a sp le member o’ ther church, an’ I never stol’d nothin’ more’n a chaw 0’ tobaccy an’ a drink 0’ licker, sah; ’fo’e de Lord, I ‘hasn't, massas,” and Brick looked pry, into the faces of the stern men around him. . ‘* Dat ish so, mine frints: t’e nigger is as goot ash I pe,” poe in Yacob Holstein, lugubriously, while the Chinee added quickly: ; ““Goodee! allee samee likee Chinaman; me too goodee, too goodee.” “Vou are afther nee a goodee liar, you h’athen, and it’s mesilf as thinks it’s you has got us into trooble. Hang him up, gintlemin, an’ re the rest o’ us, barrin’ ther Ingines, an’ vil a bit does it matter what yez is afther doin’ with them same,” and Murphy nis looked proudly around, as though he expected to see his advice instantly followed. But, comical as the situation looked, in spite o J —_——_~<. = Py ewe ee of its serious aspect, there was no smile on the stern faces bent on the captain’s, and Captain Carl said to the Indians: ** Have you no chin-music to give us, reds?” “The Blue Snake fears not to die; he is a great chief,” was the calm response, ‘* But ther gal will squeal when she feels ther rope on her neck,” A smile of scorn crossed the fearless face of the maiden, and she answered: “The Red Dove will fold her wings and die when the Great Spirit calls her to the village where her people wait her up there,” and she pointed her hand upward. “Waal, pards, we has ther furriners al afore us, and they is suspected o’ bein’ ther guilty parties, who has been murderin’ an’ thievin’ in our midst, an’ tho’ we was mistaken in stringin’ up Joe Race and Bricktop Bob, we can’t make a mistake this time, so my idee is ter hang these folks an’ let ther futur’ show we was correct.” The words of Captain Carl found ready as- sent from many, though there were a few who pitied the prisoners, having never seen them guilty of wrong; but the late assassinations in the settlement, and the robberies, which proved the life of none of them was safe, kept them from giving utterance to their feelings, in the hope that the mysterious crimes would cease, and a short talk among the Vigilantes resulted in the almost unanimous decision to hang the poor victims. pall | guess you won't hang the Injun gal, pards,” suddenly said Dick Hazel, a handsome young miner, who had been pacing to and fro on the outside of the crowd, with a young man of slender form, and a classical face, strangely out of place it seemed in that wild region, and whose miner’s suit, though made of the best material, seemed not such as one like him should wear. ‘* 1 guesses we will hang the gal, Dick Hazel. She’s nothin’ but a’ Injun, an’ I’m thinkin’ she’s been doing ther stealin’ while her old father has been doin’ ther killin’,” answered Captain Carl, roughly. “Then why hang ther others, Carl, if those two is guilty?” asked Dick Hazel. Had any other man in Paradise Valley than Dick Hazel asked Captain Carl, or Carl the Killer, as he was familiarly called, why he did, or did not, do such a thing, he would have made the query at the risk of his life, fora brawl would have followed; but Dick Hazel was liked by all, and no nobler specimen of man- hood dwelt in the mines than he was, while, when aroused he was known to be a most dan- gerous antagonist. “I has my suspicions on ’em all, Dick Hazel, an’ ther MA meres says they must be Pe up,” replied Captain Carl, quietly, though his eyes flashed with anger. ; ‘With Dick Hazel, I think the girl should not suffer; in fact, I do not believe any of them guilty of the crimes they are charged with.” All eyes turned ee the speaker. It was Guy Godfrey, the ‘‘Pard” of Hazel, and the school-teacher of the settlement. ‘* Look a-heur, Guy Godfrey, you is in these diggin’s ter teach kids out 0’ books, an’ not ter ch ip yer chin in whar yer is not invited,” an- said Peptein Carl. “‘I was invited to this meeting of the Vigi- lantes, and [have a right to an opinion, where I believe murder most foul is to be perpetrated,” was the fearless response! — : . Instantly ay tik Carl dropped his hand upon his revolver, but Dick Hazel’s quiet words checked him ere he drew it, . ““Hold on, Carl the Killer, my yt has a right to an opinion, and I agrees with him; but then I a! go we two will go for nothing in this crowd.” ‘You is right; we intends ter hang ther gal,” cried Captain Carl, angrily. | “ Did IThear aright, gentlemen, that you in- tend to hang a woman?” At the strange voice all turned quickly, and every eye fell upon a horseman who had unseen ridden into the canyon, and halting just outside the crowd, was calmly gazing Ha them, and with a look that seemed to rea every face it ‘upon, “Waal, whoin thunder is you?” cried Cap- tain Carl, in angry, loud tones, to which, strange contrast, came the low, calm, yet per- fectly distinct nse: ** Back on the plains, where I am known, men call me Velvet Face, the Border Bravo.” CHAPTER IL VELVET FACE, THE BORDER BRAVO, THE announcement of the strange horseman seemed to cause universal amazement, and murmur ran over the crowd, to not one 0 whom he seemed to be personally known though the name he bore all had heard, and connected with some thrilling deed of daring. The man was one to arrest attention in any crowd, and under any circumstances; but there in that wild fastness he riveted the gaze of every eye, even to the captive Indians. From his thoroughbred black horse of_ ex- quisite beauty, with his superb saddle and sil- ver-studded Mexican trappings, the eyes of the miners ranged to the rider, and a low hum of admiration went from lip to lip, while the ob- ject of their gaze seemed utterly indifferent to the surprise his coming had occasioned, and gazed upon the stern, bearded faces before him with a smile of womanly sweetness. ) Above the medium hight by several inches, and possessing a form of rare elegance, but in which a casual observer even would have dis- covered leonine activity and lion strength, he sat his saddle with a firm and, graceful seat that proved him to be a perfect: horseman. His name, Velvet Face, naturally caused those who did not know him to search for the cause of such a strange cognomen, and a glance was sufficient to show them that it was not a misnomer, for his complexion was rich, un- marred by a blemish, and tinted with a delicacy that would have driven a metropolitan belle mad with envy, while his features were effemi- nate in their beauty, until the decision on the ght and the strong character underlying the bright smile hovering about the mouth became visible from deep emotion. With eyes large, black, dreamy to sadness, his velvety skin, beardless face, pearly teeth and waving masses of red-gold hair, falling below his shoulders, he was one to fascinate both men and women by his really weird beauty, while his costume also won a searching, though rapid inspection from the rough men into whose midst he had so unexpectedly and suddenly ap- peared. A, velvet jacket of dark blue, slashed and braided, gray corduroy pants, adorned with bell buttons down the outer seams, and stuck into high and shapely cavalry boots that were armed with gold spurs,a broad Spanish sombrero encircled by a bullion cord, and looped up on the left side with a pin representing the hideous em- blem of a skull and cross-bone/, a repeating rifle at his back, revolvers and kni!a in the belt that was around his extremely sm ill waist, and you have the costume and equipmi ot of the strange character that had so fearle; tly disturbed the Vigilante meeting. ; From the handsome strat ger the miners turned their eyes upon Capta n Carl, who had suddenly stepped to the fron’, a look of con- tempt upon face for the inan whose dress and appearance made him appear like a fancy cavalier, and in tones that wert meant, to strike awe to the heart of the horsemé t he shouted: ‘* Waal, young feller, yer mivy be cal’t ther Border Bravo whar yer come om, but heur te has ter buck ag’in’ men, ef yer ’spects ter old a grip on thet title.” ee. It was evident that Captain Carl had taken a fancy to the stranger’s horse and arms, and meant business, and all looked ah with bated breath. _ But Velvet Face did not_ change solor in the least, or lose the sweet smile hovering about his mouth, as he answered: — | ‘““My dear fellow, one cannot expect to go through the world without trouble, and I am not an exception. ve: i-- ‘“*T have heard of your beautiful valley and rich mines, and that as brave a set of men dwelt here as could be found from Kansas City to California, and yet I ride up gust in time to hear one who appears their leader say that he intends to hang a woman.” rte lei “Waal, what then, yer velvec-faced dandy?” was the insolent coire se of Captain Carl, who, with the others, had listened attentively to the stranger’s words, —s_ ' A hme hy, I say that you will do no such a ng. Carl the Killer was astounded, and 80 were all others present, for though the man before them, if he was really he whom he said he was, had the reputation of being a plai of re- markable Heil! and ating they not ex- pected to see him show such u reckl of life, as to place himself against.a band of ‘a hundred Vigilantes. BIA Celaya As for Captain Carl, he was breathless wi fur ot ee still closer to the horseman, he fairly shrieked: | , ghee ei ‘Yer infernal imp 0’ Satan, Ill shake ther ae out’ yer, an’ gi’n yer ter ther do iter ~ Quick asa flash of light the man was upon the bg and one of his old-mountert he r looked squarely in the face of the ‘bully, while oJ of Colorado, he said in a stern voice: “‘Thaye the drop on you, and l’ll make you eat that lie.” ‘Boys, shoot the hound, for he’s grease¢ lightnin on ther draw and move, an’ he’s gol me sartin,” whined the bully, and several re volvers were at once drawn, but Velvet Face with his vere on his foe, said: cay “Men, lam one among a hundred, and it’s not in Paradise Valley miners to piay an unfair ri “game; this fellow*has said he would hang a @ woman, and also threatened to feed me to dogs, and I wth shall not do either, for PN prove hima whining cur with any weapons he may select, or without arms.” 9 a) ‘You are preachin’ now, pardner, and I’m in ther chair, along with my cabin mate here,” nd Dick Hazel stepped forward, accompanied y Guy Godfrey, and their example was fol- lowed by many more, though a number re- mained on the side of Carl the Killer, partly % th, Goim S) (C Cc Or “UVvYU, “ ‘ ee ~~ -- JOO