Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 173 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

Me te — jo _ : * | — 6 ss x ‘ies Paine . aN eee 4 . “i oee Mis ‘s . a SS ile : ,* 4 “> i #7 i. F =" / - . , 7 ~~ . rey 3 . Pe ae . ‘ a) A ¥ ' - ¥ a : Zr <. Se. » » > @ x ’ - * ° r “s - J _ 7 * _ |. + is a a 6 é — om vs Ake pa ae , woe Po, . 7 : ‘ * ‘ ¥ te : 4 Ta 7 *. ¢ John, the Pacific Thoroughbred. . > *) ba?” C » ‘ ’ “* 4 2. - »eF7 __* be . i P ' . is i, i = 6S % 5 — > 47% \e a f ‘ ~ re re er we —— me Re ee ae coat, was empty! The revolver had gone to keep company with the buckskin money-bag. Alcibiades laughed heartily now, “I tell you, Cap, it was a lucky thing that I happened to come out as I did and frightened the fellow off, or else he would have stripped you clean to your shirt.” The ry xm rose slowly to his feet, a be- wildered look upon his face. ‘*Bill, lsaw the ghost of that man to-night, and thar ain’t nomistake about tt, and as spirits don’t have =~ use for cash or we’pons, it is as as a pike-staff that it wasn’t the ghost that went through me. The durned thing laid me out stiff when I caught sight of it, and then some galoot came along and corraled my plun- der, and I reckon the quicker I git on the trail ot the skunk the better.” Then the old man passed out into the night, leaving Alcibiades to his own company. Rut, this was not the only odd event of that night, As the reader will remember thé brawny foreman of the jury had managed to make him- self very conspicuous at the time of the lynch trial, and by his brawling had set himself up as one of the principal men of the town; conse- uently on this particular night he had been fouris ing in the réle of a hero in the saloons. He had the revolvers of the hanged man and had been exhibiting them with as much pride as though, single-handed, he had capt the owner and thus had wrested the trophies from him. About half-past twelve o’clock, just about an hour after the time when the ghost of Cali- fornia John had appeared to the old store- keeper, if his story was to be credited, Johnson, being “‘chockfull, up to the neck,” with fire- water, as he expressed it, concluded to go home for the night. His shanty, which he occupied alone, was up on the river’s bank, about a quarter of a mile from the town, By the time he started on his homeward jour- ney the moon had come up and afforded plenty of light. Making his way bome without an particular difficulty, he unlocked the padloc which fastened the shanty door and entered. A candle stood upon a dry goods box in the eenter of the one room. Johnson struck a match and lit this candle; then he commenced to disrobe for the night. He unbuckled the belt that supported his ownrevolver, andinto which he had thrust the two handsome weapons the Cflifornia eyes had surrendered. He placed upon the box the belt and the revolvers, and paused for a moment to gloat over the superb eé irons. ”? Suddenly he felt a current of air upon his back, as though the door had blown open. He turned, and the sight that met his eyes fairly made the bristly hairs upon his head rise in horror. There in the door—framed as it were in the moonlight—stood the Californian, his face pale and the lurid line which the rope had made still visible around his neck. A howlof terror came from the lips of the burly ruffian, and as the specter form stepped forward, with a single bound he plunged, head- foremost, through the little window in the side ef the building, carrying sash, glass and all with him, and then fled at headlong speed to- ward the town. No snake in the boots, now, but a real ghost! CHAPTER XXXTII. IN MORTAL PERIL. Tux citizens of Needle Bar were terribly ex- aited: enough thrilling events had been crowded imto the last few days to suffice for a year. The story of the Californian’s ghost traveled fast, thanks to the captain and to big Caleb Johnson, and although the “‘yarn” was not Semin | believed, many gave the tale a re- spectful hearing. ‘“‘The captain had a fit and Johnson was drunk!” This was the easy solution. Then, too, what use had a ghost for cash and st—for the ‘‘spirit” had not only re- Meved the old store-keeper of his cash and re- volver, but had also appropriated the gapital tools which Johnson had taken to himself. But public interest in the ghost story was ye by the excitement of the trial of the Though to some of the more cool-headed and fair-minded citizens it seemed a dreadful thing to put such a young and beautiful creature in mortal peril, yet the majority of the towns- men, satisfied that she had had a hand in the ' plowing up of Alcibiades’s shanty, were anx- ious that ‘* justice ” should be done. It is not worth while to detail the farce, for such it was, of the so called ‘‘ trial.” Alcibiades was the only man who attempted to raise his voiee to defend her, but he was not strong enough to stem the tide of public opinion, and s0 the prisoner was convicted and condemned to be hanged in one week's time. Then she was conveyed back to her quarters im the hotel and a strong guard placed over her. But no sooner had the citizens time to con- sider and debate about the affair, than the really revolting nature o* the doom pronounced upon the culprif became plain to them, ‘/ i? oa . - + ORS — eo * - “ . po <A FS ASS et PE agen chet - a> ee OM ap a Pat California A heated discussion in regard to the girl had been going on in the keno saloon, and the cap- tain, who as Judge Lynch had sentenced the girl, had become quite angry. Ever since his encounter with the ghost his conscience had smote him. He believed that the Californian had been innocent—the girl being the real criminal], and he felt as if the blood of the sharp was upon bis soul. ‘““T tell you whatitis, gen’lemen!” he exclaim- ed, excitedly, ‘‘ that galis the critter what did the mischief; she stuck the man and she tried to destroy the town, and the quicker sich a tiger-cat put whar she can’t do any mischief the better! “It will be a big thing for the town!” Keno Bill remarked, sarcastically. ‘‘I reckon the news will travel far and wide, and, mebbe, bring a heap of pilgrims in to settle with us. Needle Bar will be about the first town west of the Mississippi that I ever heerd tell on what could boast of having hanged a beautiful young woman in cold blood.” Somehow this speech sounded terribly brutal even to the men who had been most eager in sentencing the girl. They looked at each other. To hang such a woman was mot a reputable proceeding in any town. ‘* But she’s guilty and ought to be hanged!” the captain pr tested. “Guilty or not guilty, is it going todo the town any g to hang her?” Bill asked. any in the ong shook their heads dubi- ously. Clearly if would not do the camp of Needle Bar any good without regard to the inno- cence or guilt of the accused. “Why, the very name of the town will be a by word all along the hull line of the frontier,” Bill continued, in scorn, ‘‘ Wher a cuss speaks of Needle Bar, some other pilgrim will say, ‘Yes, that’s the burg where they hang young women!’ I tell you what it is, gen’lemen, you are running the machine, and of course you kin do as you like, but if you put this thing through I reckon that any man with cash in his hand kin buy what leetle interest I have in this hyer town dirt-cheap. Why, boys, can’t you see that sich a thing is going to burst the town, sure as shootin’?’ ‘*Gents, L reckon the best thing to do would be to let the gal slide,” the little Doctor now put in. ‘‘ Give ber five hours to git up and git with a warning that, if she isever found within the limits of the town again she will be hanged without judge or jury. Suspend sentence, in fact, on condition that she goes away and never troubles Needle Bar with her presence again. ‘* Why, that would be like offering a premium for having our town burnt up and our throats cut!” the store-keeper exclaimed, in disgust. ‘lf the sentiment of the town is against the hanging because she is a woman, then at any rate she ought to be punished in some way.” ee guilty or innocent, eh?” Alcibiades asked, ‘*She has been pronounced guilty by twelve good men after a fair trial,” and that is enough tor me,” the Judge replied. ‘“ But, Bill, to speak right out plain, the pretty face of the girl don’t sway me a bit. The handsomer the gal the more dangerous she is when she makes u her mind for evil. My idea about the matter that this gal is in with a hull gang who have lighted down on us with the intention of going through the town, and if we Jet her get off scot- free don’t it stand to reason that it will encour- age the rest, and if we don’t hang her I think that we ought to keep her as a sortof deco duck, so as to lure the rest of the gangon. If the citizens are opposed to hanging her on ac- count of giving the town a bad name, why then I think we ought to imprison her. course, her pals will attempt to rescue her and the chances, gen’lemen, are big that we will be able to capture them one by one, if we are care- ful to keep a close watch.’ This measure was, apparently, the best that could be adopted. ven Alcibiades had no fault to find with it, although he observed: ‘*T reckon it’s ten to one a6 in: your catching any of the gang, for I don’t believe thar is any sich thing. At this ng tes the game a bright thought occurred to Johnson, who made one of the party. ‘Say, Judge,” interposed the astute Johnson, ‘“‘why not try on her the game that wouldn’t work with the sharp? She thinks that she is going to be strung up; let some one go offer to +t her off if she will make a clean breast of it and tell who put her up to this job. It is big odds now that she will weaken and give the hull thing away.” ‘Lhis idea was received with great favor, and Alcibiades was unanimously chosen to make the isit. ‘* Mind! if she tells who put her up to it, she kin go free!” the Judge instructed. CHAPTER XXXIV. KENO BILL’S OFFER. Despite the lateness of the hour Alcibiades went to the door of the girl’s room and asked if he might be permitted the favor of a few words with her. The maiden assented, and passing the guards, * ‘ Then, of | Kt . ast bettie | o : Chie ' . a, eae a Bill entered the room, closing the door carefully behind him, as if determined there should be no witnesses to the interview. Explaining to Miss Romero that he had come on a mission he took a chair and eame at once to the business in hand. ‘* Miss, to come right down to the bed- I spose you understand you are in a terrible hyer,” he ee The face of the girl betrayed very little signs of emotion as she replied: ‘* Yes, as faras human judgment can deter- | mine, lamindeed ina position of great danger. * ‘* Well, miss, the men who are running this machine have been talking the matter over, and they have come to the conclusion that, seeing as how you are a woman they will give you a chance for your life, although, miss, to tell you 4 the honest truth, the people in the town areter- ribly prejudiced ag’in’ you, and they are howl- ing to have you hanged as soon as possible,” | slight shudder shook the maid’s form at the word “‘hanged;” but she was possessed of un- daunted courage, and except the involuntary motion she exhibited no trace of fear. “In the t hand of Heaven I am,” she re- — “If it is the will of a wise and just. ovidence that I should die whatcanI do but submit with resignation to the decree?” Stes ‘“*I said that the leading men of the town have been talking the matter overandthattheyhave come to the determination to give youanother chance for your life. You,see, miss, they are of the opinion that in thismatter youhave not been exactly a free agent but that you have been carrying out another’s plans.” ts An amazed look swept rapidly over the girl’s | face, and Bill, watching her clo ely, at once in- ferred shat there was somebody else in the back- © groun eee “‘They think, mebbe,”-he continued, “that you didn’tknow exactly what youwerea-doing, and they are willing to give you a chanoe = get out of it; so if you wiil confess who put , up to it, and give us a chance to get hol them they are willing to let you slide.” ‘You mean, betray my accomplices?” ‘“‘Exactly; let us know who they are, so ~ we kin get our clutches on them,and we are willing to call it squar’. We'll hang them in- _ stead of you. Come, what do you say, wilh you do it? awk The girl shook her head. xe ‘You won’t do it?” ty “T cannot admit that I have any accom- plice.” . = ‘‘Well, miss, I reckon you are true blue— clear grit, for sure!” Billexclaimed, admiringly. ‘* Take plenty of time to think overthe matter — now; don’t be ina hurry, rememberitis your — life that is at stake,” ras ‘I fully understand the position, andif yor —_ should give mea year to consider, Tshould’‘not “ be able to return you any other answer.” tic A peculiar look over the faceof Alci- biades; then, drawing his chair still closer,and _ with a cautious look around, as if he feared eavesdroppers, he said: . ae ‘“* Miss, if thai’s anything in this world thatI like it’s pluck, and I don’t think ary bit the worse of you for having grit enna in keepa stiil mouth, In fact, I have hada mighty good opinion of you ever since you struck thistown, | | and, now that you have got intoatight place, I am real anxions to help you out.” “Hi The maiden looked fastly at the **Oh, I mean it, honest Injun!” he d ee “It is asafe thing to bet on,sure as you are born. Iam kinder sick of thishyer town, any- way,” he continued, in a meditative m SE. “and I had just as lief emigrate as not, and,to tell the trutb, Il am gitting rather tired of dling my own canoe. I cae a Gospel sharp preach once upin Frisco, out in the sand-lots, and, though | dicn’t take much stock in the most of his talk, yet he said two or three t and that seemed to hit me whar I lived, and oneon 3 em was that it wasn’t good for man to bealone. J It struck me at the time that thar was a oY ful deal of truth in that are saying, and thatis why, I s’pose, that men areso apt to go pard- ners with each other; but, pards ain’t in my line; I never had but two or three,and them __ and me didn’t hitch well at all, artera while. _ They were allers trying to get the best of me, or I was a-playing roots to get the deadwood on ‘we . 4 a ” 6 nt «! , * . - ‘ py them; but the moment I set eyes on you the other day, I sed to myself—thar’s the kind of: 3: \ pardner that would suit me.” fy he The girl opened her large eyes widely in as- tonisiiment; this was the most nevel love- x ing she had ever heard of, but thatthe man was thoroughly in earnest there wasn’t any doubt. —__ ‘‘ Now, miss, if you kin see your way clear,I kin,” Bill continued, finding that the lady was not inclined to speak. ‘‘Jestsay the word,and ~ I will have you out of this town before you are Bie oe A a week older, and I don’t care either bow a 4 guards they put around you. Whenthe pinch comes I can play as keen a game as anyman that can be scared up iv this region.” 2 Ae ‘You can rescue me from my present peril?’ “Yes, if you are willing to pay the price.. ain’t much on Jove-making, you know, but you ~ will find me square, every time. Iam pretty _ well fixed for cash, and 1 am one ef those men » a - = comicbooks: ee