Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 173 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

; the party, but now they were freed from his presence every voice was for war. Revolvers were flourished and cocked, and with many an angry oath they assured the de- spoiled mule-driver who had n robbed, not only of his hat and blanket but his very name, that he sbould be amply avenged. Then, feeling pretty sure that the bold ma- rauder had got something of a start, they rushed out into the street. The worst of bad luck seemed to be taking a malicious pleasure in throwing all sorts of ob- stacles in the fugitive’s path that = ys aaa ran hurrying out of the saloon, the Fres tilt into another of drunken men, who were making night hideous with their howls, and they, just drunk enough to be quarrelsome, took it upon themsélves to believe the new- comer run into them on p se to pick a cam So and so at once proebeded to pitch into m. ‘*Keep off, keep off, or you are dead men!” be cried, retreating from the assault, and en- deavoring to escape from them. But the drunken men, valiant with bad whisky, were bent upon a fight, and so at last, in sheer self-defense, to save himself from beiug mauled by the rufflans, he fired, care, however, to elevate his weapon SO as not to wound the “infernal idiots,” as he mentally termed them, | But he had to deal with men whose brains were fired to madness by the fumes of bad liquor, and as none of the Pat were injured by the shot, they commenced to close in on him, and he saw that be must either disable his as- sailants or be overcome himself. Again he fired—two shots this time, and each bullet brought down a man, The men, somewhat sobered by this, began to retreat, while the Californian, anxious to be ef- fectually rid of them, dashed after the crowd, firing rapidly, as if he meant to annihilate the whole party. Are Bap heh eae eelli the wed ran at the top of their speed, yelling wi + ~ ey; then, I will make tracks in the other direction!” the Fresh decided, but, as he did so, the mul ivers came rushing out of the sa- loon, and the moment they perceived him they opened fire, There was as much noise and confusion as though a band of red-skins had attacked the town, The inhabitants came rushin house, half-dressed, equipped wit weapons, _ First in the street were Keno Bill and his sat- ellites, Despite the Californian’s disguise, the keen eyes of Alcibiades recognized him in- stantly, and shouted for the citizens to assist him in seeuring the fugitive. Things looked black for bold California John just then. CHAPTER XXI. ANOTHER LEETLE GAME. THE whole town was in an uproar; never had Needle Bar witnessed such a scene of confusion, The street was literally alive with pa and thus for the fugitive was escape cut off. Turn «hich way he would the Fresh saw nothing but hostile faces and brandished arms. ‘*Don’t shoot, boys, don’t shoot!” Keno Bill cried, loudly; *‘ for if you happen to hit him you will spoil all the fun of the anging!" Advice which all were quite willing to ac- from every all sorts of cept. A good hanging was just the thing for Needle Bar, seeing that it had not yet enjoyed that honor. The fu tive still had six shotsin his pistols, and as he faced the encompassing fhron 4 the desperate thought came into his head fo make a rush and break through the line; but the chances were a hundred to one that ‘he would perish in the attempt. No; better sur- render and trust again to luck. So he let down the hammers of his revolvers and cried out that he surrendered. The face of Alcibiades was dark and troubled as he walked up to the Californian. ‘Why, you are a regular Jack Sheppard!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Can’t we hold you a prisoner, anyway?” Well, you ought not to complain; you have been as lucky in recapturing me as I have been in escaping.’ At this moment the mule-driver came up and claimed his hat and poncho, “Take them and be hanged to you!” and the sport, divesting himself of the articles, threw them atthe man. “If it hadn’t have been for your infernal name stuck on your blanket I would have been safe out of this town long ago! ‘‘Sarves you right!” retorted the man. ‘‘-You will know enough, I reckon, to let other gg things alone next time.” The fugitive was reconducted by Alcibiades back to the rison-room. On the way Keno Bill was curious about the secret of his escape, but John would not satisfy his curiosity. ‘Ob, I walked out,” was all the explanation that he would vouchsafe. - And when they arrived at the saloon the as- tonishment of both pair of guards was only equaled by the profound amazement of Hairpin, Ee California J ohn, the | Pacific Thoroughbred. : whom they were obliged to arouse from an un- usually beavy sleep. The jailer had taken care to replace the board in the floor, and only careful scrutiny could have discovered that avenue of escape. Bill and the captain were completely puzzled. Never once did they think of looking at the floor, and so the manner of the escape remained a mystery, but Bill bad his suspicions of the jailer, so he announced that he would watch the prisoner himself until See. Moved by this convincing proof of Bill’s devotion to the common weal, the captain declared that he would keep Alcibiades company. Hairpin departed; Bill brought in a fresh supply of candles, and the watch began. ot one of those within the room had an idea of sleep, and Keno Bill, noticing the pac of a which were still upon the table, re- marked: ‘‘Looks as if you had been enjoying your- selves.” ‘Yes, we had a little friendly game of poker to pass the time away. How would you two entlemen like to have a game?” the prisoner nguired. ‘‘I don’t feel much like sleep with this circus before me to-morrow. I succeeded in skinning the sheriff; in fact, after cleaning him out of his money, I won every rag that he had on him, even to his boots; but gem though, as luck is running pretty strong with me to-night at cards, it wouldn’t be safe for you to play.” A banter which excited Alcibiades more than an = defiance, as the Fresh had calculated. ‘“Wa-al, I am generally pretty lucky my- self,” the Keno King replied. ‘‘What do you say, Cap, to a leetle.game to pass the time patie “ain't jest cording to Hoyle, is it, for the udge and the prosecuting attorney to play eerds with a convicted prisoner?’ suggested the old store-keeper. ‘‘No more is it cording to rule for you and me to be hyer a-watching on him, hey ‘* That’s so.” “‘Just as you like, gentlemen, ‘you know,” the Fresh remarked. ‘I give you fair warn- ing that the odds are about ten to one that I shall skin hi: if you play, for my.‘ medicine’ i good to-night, as the sheriff found out to his sorrow.” ‘Cap'n, we will really have to take a leetle of the conceit out of this chap, or else there won’t be any standing of him until daybreak!” Bill exclaimed. ‘« Jest as you say; I play once in a while,” the ca tain admitted. ‘ So the three sat down to play, and an exciting and interesting game they had. Keno Bill was thought to be an adept at all mes of chance, but as for the captain, his owledge in that line was not generally known, but before three hands had been layed, to the astonishment of both the Cali- ornian and Alcibiades, they discovered that the old store-keeper was a perfect adept. Of course all cheated, more or less; among such sharps that was to be expected, and this was where the Fresh had the ‘ pull” on his companions; neither of the others cculd handle the cards with his dexterity. From the start, therefore, the prisoner was a winner, and the end of the first hour he had accumulated quite a pile of money on his side of the table, Alcibiades losing much more heavily than the captain, who played an extremely safe game. Bill, Brow ta decidedly annoyed at the scien- tifie way in which the Fresh was skinning him, at last forgot his caution and played recklessly, anticipating that some lucky stroke would re- coup him for his losses. ut the Californian was a very king of card- players; no matter how the game was goin whether he was losing or winning, he was sti the same careless, jovial soul; success did not elate, nor ill-fortune depress him. His head was always clear, his blood always cool. No man who yields to passion can hope to play cards successfully. At the end of the second hour Alcibiades went for the big ‘‘pot” with a capital hand, three aces, and the prisoner flaxed him with four seven spots. Ina rage, and with a bitter oath, Bill threw down his cards. ‘*T’]] play no more!” he cried; ‘I’m broke!” Just then Hairpin came rushing into the room, trembling with excitement. CHAPTER XXII. A TUMULT. ‘‘Hry, gents!” the mule skinner yelled; ‘‘durn my gizzard if thar ain’t blazes and all to pay outside!” “What do you mean?’ demanded Alcibiades, jumping to his feet, as the prisoner, paying no attention to what the excited man had to say, proceeded to “scoop” the wealth he had won into his pockets. : ‘‘Blazes has broke loose, for sure!” Hairpin declared, and on the air rose a loud and seem- ingly angry hum outside, which indicated that there was a gathering of people in the street. “Spit it out, you durned fool; what is it?” Bill cried, ina rage, ‘Are they going to try —_— to rescue this hyer man?” and, as he spoke, he drew a revclver from his belt. : Rescue! blazes! No, they want to hang ‘*To hang him?’ both the captain and Bill exclaimed in a breath. ; And the Calfornian, who had just stowed away the last of the spoils in his pocket, looked up with a placid smile. “«*Going to hang me, eh? Well, now, this is getting interesting. But, what are they in such a deuce of a hurry for? if. they will only hold their horses my esteemed friends hyer will save them the trouble.” ““Oh, they air = -tearing out thar, I tell you!” the mule-skinner persisted. ‘They air ing to have this hyer man or else they air go- ng to tear this old shanty all to pieces!” ‘The blazes they are!” growled Bill. reckon I will have a word to say about that be- tore they get through.” ‘They mean business, Bill!” asserted the sheriff, ‘‘and I want to warn you, as a real, old, solid friend, that the odds are big; you will get hurt if you tiy to fool with this hyer conven- tion. ey air ugly, Bill, you kin bet on it!” ‘* But, what started it, and who is bossirz the machine?” ““That durned red-skin doing "bout as much talk as any one of the gang. You see, this hyer sport plugged two or three of the boys pretty bad in that leetle skir- mish, and they and their friends are anxious to get square, so I reckon that started the muss; then that durned old Hunchback, Hiko, he has been chinning pretty lively, saying as how he kin hang this hyer sport as well as any man liv- ing, and not half try, either; and not only that, Charley Yampaes, is but he could put him in a hole in the’arth, head — down, arterwards. You see, Bill, that kinder tickled the crowd, and they kinder come to the conclusion that as long as the ran was going to be hung, he might as well be strung up first as last, an’ planted in new style.” ‘‘ Not much are they going to take him to- night. Ireckon I will have a few words to say about that matter. We will see, and mighty soon too, who is going to run this town.” ‘Tf there is going to be a t, pardner,” in- terrupted the prisoner, ‘“‘all 1 ask is that you will give me a chance to see the fun. As things look now | ain’t got very Jong to liveand I want to enjoy myself all I can,” At this moment the two sentinels who had been posted at the back door came rushing into the room in a hurry. ‘‘TLook a-hyer, Bill!” the first one cried, ‘‘ thar’s going to be trouble if you don't speak to this hyer crowd outside—tbhey are just tear- ing mad!” ardly were the words out of the man’s mouth when into the room came one of the two men who had been ted in the saloon, ‘*Say, Bill, them fellers are trying to bu’st the front door in. My pard is a-talkin’ sweet to them, but I’m afeard they won’t take no taffy, and they are a-threatening to cave his head in if he don’t open the door. Then there was a crash, followed by a yell outside: the mob had forced in the front door of the saloon. “Two of you stay lryer with the prisoner!” Alcibiades ordered. ‘If he attempts escape kill bim on the spot! The rest follow me! If this gang want blood they shall have it!” And with a cocked revolver in each hand Bill dashed into the saloon, followed by all, excepting the prisoner and his two guards. The keno room was lighted by a single hang- ing coal-oil lamp; this and the moonlight stream- ing in at the side windows afforded ample illu- mination. The crowd had now commenced to pour in at the front door which they had foreed, and the single sentry was retreating before them, but when Keno Bill came dashing into the saloon, it put a new face on affairs; the Keno King meant ‘‘ business,” and the rioters fell back, re- treating through the front door in a hurry. But when Alcibiades reached the front door he realized that if the crowd were really in earnest his resistance would be futile. ‘* Wa-al, gen’lemen, what does all this mean, anyway ?” he demanded, at the top of his voice. ‘We want that air sharp to g bim—the man wot stole my hat and blanket, and he got two bullet-holes in the poncho too, so that it ain’t worth a durn for a tent now!” velled the foremost man in the crowd, easily recognized as the mule driver. ‘‘He will be hung in the morning; why can’t ou let matters take their course?” the old store- eeper questioned. ‘*He bas draw’d much blood to-night, and he ought to be strung right up now!” cried an- other one of the multitude. ‘‘Durn me ef he didn’t come within an ace of plugging me for d! Asitis, he put a mark on my arm that won’t get ri: of for a month of Sundays, so up with him, I say, and the quicker the better!” Some of the crowd were on horseback, and among them Charley Yampas and Hiko, the Hunchback, who, it was plain, were urging on the rest—the Hunchback brandishing a coil of we in the air that he carried on his arm. ill had been at a loss to guess why these Eomicbooks , oo oy ’ ne ee —E “ey. - (E(o) y o ~ hmedke Ce . mM " 1 ee! , Dy nag ~ - 2 .