Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 189 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

—s = — oe ee _-s * a —_ 7 - — -_ — —— ‘Wild Bill’s Gold Trail. emd I'd have to see him buried before I’d ) he was dead.” “But, theagh I have confidence in Mr. Hikok, I yet cannot but fear he may be killed. ‘*Not he, miss, for he is as good as a dozen men any day, and Captain Tiger’s band don’t number that now, from all acco as the Fighting Parson, az the boys call Mr. Havi- laud, cleaned some of ’em out, and while Wild Bill lives I have hopes. “So don’t get blue, Miss Insley.” “IT try not to, yet I feel as though I would go mad here waiting— Oh! what is thai?’ The clear notes of a horn were heard coming down from the mountain road, and Dan Dale said quickly. “It is the stage coming in, and Andy may have news.” He ran down stairs, and the next instant up dashed .be coach with Andy on the box, ‘Well, Andy, any news?’ ‘* No, Governor Dan, for the road is as clear of agents this trip as the prairie is of snakes in winter. ** But I has three pilgrims inside fer yer.” The ‘‘pilgrims” were two passengers who Aismounted and ascended the hotel steps. They carried shot-guns and rifles, were dressed in hunting costume, and had a couple of dogs in leash, which were under the care of une of the trio who was evidently a servant. They appeared to be foreigners, and were evidently amateur sportsmen come to America for a hunt on the western prairies. ‘“‘ Frog-eatin’ Frenchmen, or I are a liar,” gaid one of the crowd as the three passengers entered the hotel. “Come out heur fer game, an’ see ef they don’t find it,” said another of the lookers-on. Dan received them pclitely and found that they were Frenchmen, so they said in broken English, traveling for sport, and ‘ntended to ‘put up a few days, or weeks, in Poker City, as the case might be. They wanted a sitting room and bedroom adjoining, good quarters for their servant and dogs, and were able and willing to pay for all they got. They were shown to the best rooms in the house, excepting those occupied by Edna, and then Dan Dale returned to report to the maiden that Andy brought no news from Wild Bill, or of the Desperado Dozen. ‘“‘] will go wild here, Mr. Dale, with sus- pense, so please order a horse for me this after- ‘moon and 1’ll take a rapid gallop,” said Edna, * You will not go far.miss?” _ “Qh no, only ride off this feeling that op- presses me,’”’ was the answer, and a couple of hours after, attended only by Slick Sam, whom Dan Dale insisted should accompany her as an attendant, the maiden rode away from the hotel, and directed her course toward the mountain road, CHAPTER XXIII. A LION IN LAMB’S WOOL, Tose who had seen the Reverend Harvey Hgyviland arrive in Poker City, predicted that he would have a hard time of it. Those of better feeling in the wild communi- ty shook their heads dubiously, and felt that ‘Satan’s gripe on the town was too strong to be ‘shaken off. But the advent of the young parson had by mo means been a tame one, and the story of ‘this brave defense of the stage-coach against the Desperado Dozen, went from lip to lip until he became a bero, and at once command- ed the respect of the community. Several missionaries with good intent had settled in Poker City at different times, but their stay there was of short duration, for not blesse1 with an eloquence to fascinate a grizz!y bear, one bad offended by his remarks and taken a ride out of town, mounted on the corner Of a rail, and another had been advised, in the language of the advisers; “To git, an’ git lively an’ don’t yer tarry ontil yer hunts other diggin’s whar yer kin be more usefeller.” He ‘‘got,” and it is hoped found a more ap- preciative community. A third, interfering in a row had been shot, and auother, a fourth, had a faint heart which caused him to tarry in Poker City just ono nigat, and take tho first stage out, leaving his slender baggage and Bible behind hi a, for the boys were having a “high old time,’ when ho arrived, and he saw that it would take him a day or two to bury the dead. ' The “ Fighting Parson” and ‘* Holy Terrer ” eo rrr a eee as the Reverend Harvey Haviland had been christened, in the nomenclature of Poker City, had quietly ensconced himself in a pleasant, sunnyroom of the Hikok House, from the win- dow of which he had a grand view of moun- tains and valley. His trunks contained books and otber things to make him comfortable, and give a cosey look to his sancttm, Here he passed much of his time, though he had purchased a horse and spent a couple of hours daily in the saddle, There was nochurch in Poker City, but he had gone to work to build one out of his own pocket, for he seemed to have money, and though the edifice would by no meaus be an im- posing structure, it would yet be a place in which to worship. Independent of creed he called upon the best citizens and urged them to join him in the good work he had undertaken, and re- ceived some little encouragement, though as a number lived off of the wickedness of Poker City denizens, if was not to be expected they would be willing to ‘‘ take a shingle off their own roofs” by putting down vice. And in two daysand a half Parson Haviland had started his church, made himself com- fortable in bis room, called on half the ‘‘ head- lights” of Poker City, and made himself a marked man. Just after the departure of Edna Insley for her ride, the Fighting Parson came down from his room, and was greeted with some respect by the two-score idlers who had assembled to see the stage come in, and yet tarried. One ruffian, a burly loafer who was always ready to pick up a fight, seized him rudely by the arm as he was passing, and said insultingly: ‘‘Heur, Bible-banger, yer bain’t made my acquaintance yit, an’ tharfore yer is behind ther age, so I’)l interdooce yer. ‘““What are yer appellation?” ““My name is Harvey Haviland,” was the quiet rejoinder, and though the parson’s face flushed there was no show of anger upon it, ““Waal, Have-a Have-a-land, come an’ have-a-drink, fer I are Howlin’ Tom o’ Poker City, an’ when I shouts ther little. fellers squeal,’ ‘Thank you, but I do not driak,” ‘Don’t drink? Joes yer mean it?” “T never drink intoxicating liquors, my friend.” “Then yer is no friend o’ mine, an’ I hev half a mind ter wear yer inter ribbons ag’in’ ther floor.” “I certainly should advise you not to try,” was the calm rejoinder, and Parson Haviland would have passed on, when the drunken bully, infuriated ‘at the warning, seized him by the throat. Instantly there was heard a dull thud, and a heavy fall, and Howling Tom of Poker City fell his full length wpon the floor, his face bleeding from the terrific blow he had received from the fist of Harvey Haviland. Shouting with rage he arose to his feet, and the parson, warned by a score of voices, again turned, as the ruffian was rushing upon him. Parrying the blow of -the sledge-hammer like fist of Howling Tom, the parson dealt him a second telling stroke, straight out from the shoulder, and once more the bully went down amid a general shout of delighted applause, “ Howlin’ Tom, yer is licked.” “Ther Bible Buccaneer ure a Bruiser from Bruiser ville,” “Ther Holy Terrer aro 2 screamer ” “Don’t hit him ag’in, parson, or yer’ll hev ter bury him.* ‘* Bully fer ther Gospel Grinder.” | “ Hooray for ther Doxology Screecher !” “Look out, Holy Pard, he are goin’ tc «so his weepins!” The last was good advico, and caused Parson Haviland to turn agail, as °0 vas walking toward the door, and he saw °‘s foe just rising to his feet, bis hand upon his revolvor, With the bound of a tiger he was upon tho bully, and with the rapidity of lightning rained half a dozen blows in the bleeding face, which sent Howling Tom athird time to earth, and this time unconscious, Disarming him of his revolvers and bowle- knife, the young minister handed them to Dan Dale, with the quiet remark; “When that bully regains his senses givo him these weapons, please, Mr. Dale, and with them the advice that he had better shun me, if he means harm, for, though I wear a white cravat, I shall protect myself from insult.” Amid a general burst of applause the parsom walked out of the hotel, while Andy Rush, whe had seen the fracas, and stood ready to aid the parson, cried: “ Pards, thet man area lion in a lamb’s wool, or I are a liar from infancy.” This expressed opinion of the popular stage- driver was concurre! in by the entire crowd, and when Howling Tom recovered his senses, he was advised by a chorus of voices to steer clear of the Fighting Parson. ‘*7’ll kill him fer it,” he muttered savagely, as he left the hotel and went to his den to nurse his bruised and bleeding face. CHAPTER XXIV. EDNA’S ESCORT. Srick Sam, the Chinese man-of-all-work at the Hikok Hotel, was no horseman; but he was delighted to be the escort of Edna in her ride, and when placed on the top of his horse ro- marked with confidence; ** Me ridee borsee til tailee come offee.” ‘You ride the tail off o’ thet animile, yer durned heathen, and Goy’ner Dan will cut yer head clean off yer shoulders,’ was the threat of the stableman, and it cooled Slick Sam’s ardor somewhat, But he gave one of those cunning leers, pe- culiar to his race, and which Mr, Bret Harte has designated “child-like. and bland” and rode on after Edna, who was mounted upon Meteor, one of Wild Bill’s horses, which he had left in the care of the hotel proprictor. Stick Sam wasthe envy of all who saw him ride away with Edna, and remarks, not at all complimentary to the Chinee-American citi- zen, were passed upon him for the honor hav- ing fallen upon him, ‘‘ What are it on ther summit o’ thet anni- mile?” ‘‘ Are it a monkey witha tail on ther back 0’ his head?” | ‘‘Did ther wind blow it down from the mountains?” ** What does it feed on?’ “** Tt are a Injun pappoose?”’ Such were the remarks that reached Edna regarding her escort, as she rode along, and, in spite of her grief and anxiety she smiled, as she glanced back at Slick Sam, who had had himself tied in the saddle, and with his legs perched up, did not look at first sight, uniike a huge yellow menkey. The same Jeer was upon his face which he had started with, and as the remarks of the crowd grew more frequent, he drew from his pocket a pack of cards and held them up for view, while he shouted back in his shrill tones: ‘‘Slickee Samee no ride horsee allee samee like Melican man, an’ Melican man no jlay cardee allee samee likee Slickee Samee,” There were many present who realized the truth of this, as the deft fingers of the Chinee bad caused them to lcse many a game of cards in playing with him, and which loss also meant a diminishing of their money, for such a thing as playing except for money was not to be tolerated in Poker City, and was locked upon as a sin a man was not to be guilty of, Leaving the biome behind her, Edna held on her way along the stage road which the stage had been attacked upon, although she knew well the danger of being alone, for, as a protector sbe did not regard Slick Sam in a very flattering light. She seemed to hope she might meet Wild Bill returning with glad news for her, or at. least with words to relieve her painful sus- pense, be the fate of her father and the vailed. lady what it might. She was also compelled to confess to herself that her interest in the handsome ranchero, Wild Bill, was very deep, and her anxiety re- garding him was as great, almost, as for her- father. : Though reared in the far East, in society of the best kind, and having met men who were shining lights among their fellows, Edna Insley yet felt drawn to this dark-faced, long-baired borderman with feelings of the strongest kind. In the past he had saved both her own and her father’s life, and what deeds of valor she bad seen him perform, and which were ac- credited to him, had filled her with both awe. and admiration. ‘* What if he and my father should both be dead?” she muttered as she rode along. Then her face flushed and her eyes flashed, as she said aloud and in a ringing tone: ‘If harm has befallen them, then, as sacred. ty as does the nun devote her life to one pure cS Eomichboo