Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 188 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

on = ee oon a =— - ¢ = § 10 _*T do not believe he is dead.” ** You heard what I said?’ ‘‘Yes.” and without another word Lucien De Leon wheeled on his heel to return to the Over- land Rest. And that act saved his life, for Devil Dan, the volunteer assassin of Grizzly Gabe’s band, had the drop on him, and was about to pull trigger. But the sudden motion caused him to start and lose his aim, and though the bullet sped close to the head of Lucien De Leon it was a clear miss, and it was Devil Dan’s last shot, for he fell dead in his tracks ere he could fire again, and the young ranchero turned to face the other two of the band, who were running to the aid of their comrade, or to win the hundred dollars, it is not known which. Firing as they came on, it seemed as if the ranchero must fall; but he was no man to re- main idle in danger, and throwing forward his revolver it cracked twice again, and down went the two desperadoes, just as Dave Perry and several others reached the scene, “ He is a murderer, for he killed those men in cold blood.” The speaker was Tiny Tim, and he pointed at the rancnero, upon whom a dozen men rushed to seize him, CHAPTER XV. THE TEXAS COWBOYS. ‘Ss BACK!” The one word ringing threateningly from the lips of Lucien De Leon checked the rush toward him, f-r his hands were thrust forward and each held a revolver, while the three prostrate forms on the ground, showed that his skill as a marksman was most deadly. Still a score of weapons covered his heart, and had he fired, as many bulleis would have riddled his body. The moon shone in an unclouded sky, and the picture was a thrilling one, there in the street, with the one man holding at bay a number, and Tiny Tim, with folded arms and sinister face, standing near, gazing upon the ranchero with a look of triumph. ‘Who killed these men?” asked Dave Perry, approaching, and followed by the constable, Ben . Fanshaw. «| did,” was the cool reply of the ranchero, ‘He are spoutin’ truth, pard Dave; he made stiffs o’ my poor friends thar, who wouldn’t harm a coyote; jist shot ’em down same as ef they was wolves an’ all for nothin’,” whined Grizzly Gabe. ‘*You lie; that fellow,” motioning with the toe of hiscavalry boot to the body of Devil Dan, yet not moving his revolvers that covered the crowd; ‘that fellow fired on me and I turned and killed him; those other two rushed to his aid, and an undertaker draws the prizes,” was the caim reply. ‘¢ Who says these men were murdered then?” “‘T do,” and Tiny Tim stepped forward. ‘<'You aro liable to mistakes, young man,” re- marked Dave. ‘Tf I made one mistake, it is no reason I should make another; this man followed me for some purpose, overtook me, and was intending to take my life, when that brave man and his friends came to my rescue, and were shot down by this ranchero,” was the unblushing reply of es LD ‘* Ef he did thet he must hang, jedge,” cried a voice in the crowd. ‘*'Yas, we must string him up, fer we can’t orn no lawlessness in Platte,” said Grizzly abe. ‘¢‘Murderin’ must be put down in this quiet community,” remarked another. ‘*T agree with you, men, that lawlessness must be put down, and this gentleman shall have a fair and square trial, and if guilty will have to suffer,” said Dave Perry, in a firm voice. ‘‘Trial be durned; thar is ther stiffs, thar is ther barrels o’ his revolver empty, this young feller says he did ther killin’, ther witnesses is heur, the case hes gone ag’in’ him, here are ther lariat fer a rope, an’ yonder telegraph pole will do fer a gallus, seein’ as trees hain’t growed in this kentry,” and Grizzly Gabe’s speech seemed to meet with almost universal approval, for the crowd wished to witness a tragedy. ‘* Constable Fanshaw, take charge of the pris- oner and put him in jail,” said Dave Perry, who considered this the best means to protect the ranchero, as he saw that most of the crowd were followers of Grizzly Gabe, who was deter- mined to hang the daring man whom they were afraid to meet in open fight. Ben Fanshaw immediately attempted to obe orders; but the crowd hastily pressed forward, and with only Dave Perry and the ranchero to aid him, it looked as if the jail would never be reached with the prisoner. ‘*Men, do you go against me?” cried Dave, his manner calm, but eyes flashing, and the lion in his nature getting roused. ** We does fer a fact, pard Dave; you may be jedge, but you hain’t justice,an’ we knows ef thet feller gits inter jail thar’ll be no trial,” cried Grizzly Gabe, now confident of his power to carry a winning hand. Dave Perry glanced calmly over the crowd, eS EEE EEE EE ———A——_—E—E—_AIE—————————————————————————————————————— OO mee eee —_ — - The Phantom Mazeppa: and saw that he had nearly thirty desperate men to deal with. That the ranchero would render a good ac- count of some of them, he knew, and also that he and the constable could drop a few he was confident, yet that the end would soon come, and against him, he was well aware, But he was no man to shrink from duty, and confident that the ranchero had killed Devil Dan and the others in self-defense, he would not permit him to be dragged by a boy to cruel death, be the consequences what they might, and he determined toso make known and let the climax come. ‘* Pards, you know me, and I tell you that this prisoner is in my hands, and I tell you to stand aside and let me pass to jail with him,”’ and for the first time Dave Perry drew his re- volvers, and that one act proved he meant busi- ness, and Ben Fanshaw, a blind follower of duty, stepped to the other side of the ranchero, his weapons ready for use, ‘*Nary, Dave, for we says no; we likes you, and don’t mean you no harm, but thet game- cock hev crowed his last crow.” ‘‘My friend, 1 thank you, and beg that, as this matter must be settled, you will stand aside and let me meet these gentlemen,” and the ranchero addressed Dave Perry, while he stepped quickly to one side, as if to at once bring on the fight. ‘*No, pard, Dave Perry has given you his protection, and this gang of coyotes have got to fight if they want you,” was the bold reply. That they intended to fight was evident, for both Tiny Tim and Grizzly Gabe were urging them on, and that a moment more would have brought on a deadly fracas was certain; but just then, around the corner of a row of cattle sheds dashed a dozen horsemen, and quickly drew rein at sight of the scene before them. At a glance Lucien De Leon seemed to recog- nize them, for he shouted, in trumpet tones: ‘*Ho! Texans to the rescue!” A cheer answered, and a voice cried: ‘Tt is the voice of Iron Arm, the Ranchero. Forward, Texans!” A plunge of the mustangs forward, a halt, and a line of horsemen were drawn. up behind the ranchero and his two supporters, while a dozen revolvers were drawn for use. ‘* Well, our captain, are you in trouble?’ asked a pleasant, but resolute voice. ‘* A little misunderstanding, Fielding; I killed a trio of coyotes that bit at me, and the pack wish to worry me, and your arrival is most op- portune,” was the cool reply of the ranchero. ‘‘We heard from a cowboy that a man an- swering your description came into the Platte this evening, and we left the herd on the prairie and came to welcome you; but, shall we ride these coyotes down, for we can do it?” ‘* No, Fielding, for I wish no trouble that can be avoided; but, come up to the Overland Rest, the saloon of my gallant friend here, and we’ll moisten our throats; but mind you, boys, no disturbance,” and, as indifferently as though the savage crowd, a moment before so confident in their power, did not confront him, Lucien De Leon stepped forward. Sullenly they had stood, cursing this inter- ruption, yet not daring to meet that little band of horsemen, although they outnumbered them, and cowed by the bearing of the ranchero, they gave him room to pass, Dave Perry and Ben Fanshaw closely following him, and behind them rode the Texans, Grizzly Gabe and his followers slowly falling to either side, but mut- tering dire threats of revenge for the death of their comrades, CHAPTER XVI. TINY TIM’S PLOT. As Grizzly Gabe and his followers fell back before the Texans, who followed their leader to the Overland Rest, Tiny Tim motioned to the huge desperado that he wished to speak to him. ‘*Saunter up ther street, pards, an’ keep in hearin’ o’ my call, fer there may be music afore mornin’, yet, an’ take ther poor lads heur to ther shanty an’ fix ’em fer plantin’, as they hain’t no use on ’arth, now,” and Grizzly Gabe motioned toward the three dead bodies, which some of the crowd at once took up and carried away. = Rote: leetle bit o’ pard, what’s in yer brain- box this time?’ and the desperado followed Tiny Tim and laid his hand on his shoulder. ‘You are aman to doa bold job, if there is money in it, and not too much risk,” boldly said Tiny Tim. ‘“Jist give me a trial, leetle pard.” ‘‘What was your trouble with that man and his son to-night?” ‘¢ Wouldn’t licker up when I axed ’em to.” ‘‘ Well, you nearly lost ees life in the effort to make them do.so, and | thought when I met you at the door and got you to go back and make the charge of robbery and murder against them, it would give you revenge.” ‘*Guess yer wanted a leetle might o’ revenge yerself.” ‘** Yes, I did.” ' ¥ Tt didn’t work worth a cent, did it, leetle f ‘* No,” —-—— ‘You had ter crawfish when ther ranchere tackled yer.” ‘*T had my reasons for changing my mind.” ‘* Yer knows this heur ranchero?”’ sé Yeas. ? * Who are he?” **A Texan, who is known on the Rio Grande as Iron Arm, the Ranchero.” ‘* He hev got a Gospil name, I'll sw’ar.” ‘You ought to know.” ‘*T does know; well, you hates him.” ‘‘As Satan does holy water,” fiercely an- swered the young man. ‘*Cut yer out with yer gal, maybe, in spite o’ yer likely looks.” ‘‘My cause for hating him is none of your affair; but I do hate him with all my heart.” ‘You looks like a good hater.” ‘*T am, and when I set myself on the trail of revenge I follow it to the end,” said the young man with the same savage manner in which he had before spoken. ‘‘ And yer is on the revenge trail now, leetle sé Yes.” ‘* You looks quite young ter be runnin’ round this country killin’ folks.” ‘““My age has nothing to do with you, any more than my motives; I offer to hire you for some dirty work, and I wish to know if you will do it?” ‘*'You has ther wealth ter pay?’ sé Yes,” ‘“You’d make such a putty angel I’ve got half a mind ter kill yer an’ take yer tin.” ‘““Try it,” and the muzzle of a revolver was pressed against the heart of the desperado with a quickness he had not believed possible, and ke sung out: ‘‘T was jokin’, leetle pard; my hokey, but yer must hev been teached ter draw a we’pin in ther same school thet durned ranchero Varnt in.” ‘« He taught me; now no more joking with me, but say if you will do the work.” ‘* Yes, ef you has ther metal.” ‘*How much do you want?” ** W hat’s ter be did?” ‘First, 1 wish you to get possession of the girl.” ‘*The gal; what gal?’ ‘* Ah! I had forgotten; you will not betray me if I tell you a secret?’ ‘* No, we is pards.” ‘Well, that youngster you thought was @ boy is a girl.” ‘*Ther Holy Rockies!” ‘It is true, and they, her father and herself, are going to a relative’s who lives on the Bird- wood, I believe.” ‘Yas; what’s his name?’ ‘* Ramsey Preston.” ‘*T knows him by sight; he’s got a ranch thar, an’ is ther cattle-king o’ these parts; but he won’t welcome no one thar, though they do say he hev changed of late.” ‘‘ Well, they are going there to live, and you must in some way get possession of the girl and let me know, for I intend to live here.” ‘*Got any biz, leetle pard?”’ **Gambling.” “Thet are enough ef yer ’tends ter it well, an’ yer looks like a sharper with keerds.” “T play to win; now you know one thing I wish you to do, and if you get the girl in your power I will pay you five hundred dollars.’ ‘* How do I know that?” ‘‘ Here are a hundred dollarsas a bonus,” and he placed a roll of bills in the hand of the des- perado. “Thet are squar’, leetle pard; but does yer want me ter fetch her ter you heur?” ‘* No; is there not some secret place where you can take her?” ‘‘Thar are a island on the South Platte whar I has a bidin’-place,” “Take her there then, and let me know; but mind you, do not harm her in any way.” ‘*] won't; is thet all yer wants done?” ‘No, I wish Iron Arm, the Ranchero, also made prisoner.” ‘‘ da heap ruther kill him, fer he hain’t no cheerful bein’ ter handle.” ‘*Can you not capture him in some way with the aid of your comrades? Iam in no hurry.” are consider; but what does yer pay fer ther job? ‘‘One thousand dollars.” ‘* How does I know?” ‘‘ Here are two hundred on account,” and the bills were placed in the greedy hand of Grizzly Gabe, sig said, SOT perenne ‘“You is a perfect gold mine, leetle pard doesn’t yer want suthin’ else did fer duckits.”’ “tf [do I will know where to find you; lam at the Platte House, so come there when you need me— Great God! what is that?” Both Grizzly Gabe and Tiny Tim turned quickly, for up the street came a snow-white horse at full speed, and neighing wildly, while upon his back was strapped a dark object that was shrieking one moment as if in anguish, and the next bursting into demoniacal laughter. . ’ Past them, like the very wind, the white steed and his strange rider, brin the keep- ers of late hours to the doors, and fhe sleepers JOO eom (C S) CO