Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 189 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

-~ — a - - > at Va ee —— ye oo ee — Wild Bill’s Gold Trail. was not to blame for losing the trail, when four of the most skillful trailers in the Sioux village soul not follow it, or account for its taysterious disappearance, All saw, however, that Red Dove had made some discovery, for the expression upon her beautiful face plainly said so. ‘“What says the Red Dove?’ asked Wild Bill. ‘*That the eyes of the Red Dove see more than the white chief and her warriors,” was the smiling response. “You then have discovered a trace?” ‘6 Yes.” ‘‘ Where?” and both Wild Bill and the In- dians looked in surprise and admiration upon ber. ‘‘Come,” she said simply and she led the party to where the very last trace of Hyena Harry's trail was vis:b'e. “See,” she said pointing to a track which only fs extraord'nary vision could discover, and one wholly stilled in woodcraft. ‘* Well, bere I lose all trace,” said Wild Bill. “The eyes of the braves of the Red Dove can see no more,’ said one of the warriors, ‘‘Cyould the pony of the outlaw fly?’ she asked. All sbook their heads. “See, even the moccasin foot of the Red Dove can make a mark here,” she said, and twisting hor little foot, she did leave a sign _ which the braves could bave followed had it continued on ag «distinctly. “Well, this is the cunning of the wicked pale-face,” said Red Dove. “How miean you, Red Dove?’ asked Bill. ‘‘ He» purposely destroyed bis trail here.” ‘‘But which way could he go, for see, had ho gone up the canyon he certainly would have left traces, even bad he muffled the hoofs of his horse.” ‘‘ He did not go up the canyon.” ** The hill there, he could not descend even en fovt.” “ He did not go that way.” “ Which way, then?’ “Back again over his trail.” ‘‘ But we would have seen his tracks,” ‘* Not if they were muffled.” “Ha! you have struck it, and I was blind not to have seen it before.” ‘“Come, let us see how far back he went.” They followed Wild Bill at a swift pace, and after going the fourth of a mile, they came upon a piace that looked as though one might branch off there and go into the upper range of mncuntains. No trail was visigle, but bounding on ahead, like hounds on the scent, the Indians soon gave ery, and hastening forward, Wild Bill and Red Dove found them bending over and close- ly examining the ground. Arriving at the spot, they saw the tracks of the eutlaw more plainly visible, and looking as though from the sudden manner in which they began, he had alighted there from mid- air. “Well, Red Dove, you are the Queen of Trailers, that is evident, and now we can go ‘* Some one else has been following the trail since I was here, and had to give it up, so we must cover up as well as we can the discovery we have made,” and Wild Bill led the way back tu the little camp. The horses were then saddied and their feet muffled, after which they were led up the hill to the point where the tracks of the oujlaw’s steed again became visible, Here the wufflers were taken off, and all mounting, readily followed the track left by the outlaw. After a ride of several miles they came upon a4 wild and rugged canyon with a flooring of solid rock, through which the trail led, yet where not tho slightest sign was visible. Here a halt was made, a camping-place was found near by, and all set to work to discover what cunning device the outlaw had taken to cover up his tracks. A search resulted in the discovery that the canyon branched off into mountain passes of the wildest nature,and not one of them was there but was too hard to leave even the mark of an iron hoof, Beyond the entrance to the canyon some dis- tance, Wild Bui descried a well-worn trail, aud instantly be called to all of his red allies to join him, ‘Sea, tho trail leads toward the Overland, and we are right, “Tt goes into the canyon, and there is lost, but we can wait here, for some one must soon come along, and then we will know more,” This sound sense, and an Indian was at once Stationed on watch, while the others went into camp. Several hours thus passed away, and Wild Bill: went himself to relieve the sentinel, and had hardly taken his place when he descried a horseman approaching. It was a white man, well mounted and well armed, and an outlaw it certainly must be, for who else could be alone in that wild and dan- gerous region but one of the Desperado Dozen. CHAPTER XL. A BANDIT’S HONOR, SHRINKING back within the shelter of the pine thicket that concealed him, and from which point he bad a fine view up and down the canyon, Wild Bill drew his revolver. But a moment after, as though changing his mind, he laid it down by his side, and uncoiled his lariat from over his shoulder, This he took well in hand, and waited with perfect calmness the coming of the horseman. The man rode leisurely along, as though he neither dreaded dangee, or expected it, in that place, and his horse cropped here and there a bunch of grass as he passed, the act un- checked by his rider. He was a young man, for his face had only a very short growth of beard, and he did not Jook like one who would select a crime-stained life in preference to an honest one. He was dressed in dark pants, stuck in top boots, a shirt of blue flannel, with a red silk handkerchief tied nattily under his collar, and wore on bis head a black sombrero, in which was stuck a plume, Whatever he might be, bandit, miner, scout, or cowboy, he was evidently considerably of a dandy. His horse was a good one, his accoutermnents handsome, and his revolvers were large, evi- dently intended for use, and were silver- mounted. | c if determining upon his course, after takiug a good look at the approaching horse- man, Wild Bill fastened one end of his lariat securely to the stump of a mountain pine, and held the noose ond ready to throw at the proper moment, At last, going along at his leisure gait, the horse was opposite to the ambush of the ranchero, and, quickly as lightning, the lariat was launched into the air. Without waiting to see the result, but as though knowing what it would be, Wild Bill bounded from his place of concealment, jest as the noose settled over the head of the startled animal. The horse bounded forward, but the lariat became taut with a Joud twang, and reined bim back upon his haunches, just as Wild Bill’s iron gripo was upon the rider, dragging him from his saddlo, ! The man, wholly taken by surprise, was upon his back on tho ground, with Wild Bill bending over him, beforo he had known how it all happened, or time to more than drop his hand upon his revolver butt. “You are my prisoner, sir,” said Wild Bill sternly. ‘* And who the devil are you?’ “Wild Bill You may have heard the name,” was the quiet response, It was evident from the start of the prisoner that he had heard the name. ‘“‘Why have you committed this outrage upon an honest traveler’’ asked the horseman in indignant tones. ‘Oh, you must expect outrages from Captain Tiger’s men,” ‘“ Captain Tiger’s mon? Are you one of that gang?” asked the man in such an innocent manner that Wild Bill was staggered. But ho answered quickly, to see the offect: “ No, Iam not, but you are.” “ How daro you accuse me of being such a wretch?” ‘‘Bahi you act well; but I have no time to lose listening to protestations of innocence, so say quickly who and what you are,” ‘ An honest man.” “Then you belie your looks,” P “You havo me in your power, so ingalf me vith impunity.” “No, cor I shall make any atonement in my power if I wrong you; but I do not feel that I do, but shall soon know,” You shall cuffor for ‘his, rir” “T am willing to take the consequences,” and Wild Bill gave the signal which was agreed upon asa call for help, between himself and his red allies, The signal was promptly answered and a minute hud hardly passed before Red Dove and her warriors glided upon the scene almost as silent!y as specters, As sight of them the prisoner's face became still more pallid, while they appeared most de lighted to see that Wild Bill had made a cap ture, ‘Dove, I have insnared this gentleman; as you see, and I intend to search him for proof of what he is, for he claims a virtue I do not give him credit for, so let your warriors bind him.” The skilful and rapid manner in which this request was complied with proved that the Sioux braves were adepta at binding pene and convinced the captive that he indeed fallen into the hands of the Philistines. To “go through” his pockets todk Wild Bil) but a moment, and the contents were of a varied and interesting character. A silk handkerchief was the first thing that made‘its appearance, and then followed some cartridges, a pack of cards, a bag of tae a few slugs of the precious metal,a bunch of keys, a pen-knifa, a watch and chain, and upon his finger was a seal ring, while a diamond stud glittered in his shirt front, sparkling bril- liantly with the dark woolen shirt as a back- ground, A bundle of letters were also found, well worn, as though read very often and addressed in a woman’s hand to: ‘‘ CHARLES CHAMBERS, ESQUIRE, Fort McPherson, Nebraska.” “ Young man, these things give you the lie, for this watch, ring and diamond stud, I re- cognize as the p of Mr. Boyd Insley, a gentleman whom I think you can aid me in finding.” ‘‘-You are mistaken, Mr. Wild Bill, for I can do no such thing,” was the blunt reply. “Do you mean cannot, or will not ?” ‘‘ Any way you please.” “T will take it the latter.” ‘*80 be it, J will not.” “ Perbaps you may change your mind.” ‘* Not I,” was the bold assertion. ‘‘ We shall see when I set my pack to worry ing you. : ‘You speak boldly, Charles Chamber, Esquire.” The man started at the mention of a name he had evidently not heard spoken for years, and his lips quivered as he asked: “ How is it that you know me, when I am sure we have never met beforef’ =. ‘‘T hit center then when I called you by the name I saw upon these envelopes.” He gave a sigh of relief, and said earnestly: ‘‘Whatever you take leave me those, for they are from my poor mother whom I love better than all else in this world.” “Tf you love her so dearly you should have Jet that love kept you from wrong doing,” ‘sternly said Wild Bil. ‘‘ Bah! don’t you preach, for if you havo never done wrong, it is because you have never been tempted as I have,” Thero was that about the man, outlaw though he was, that won the sympathy of the ranchero, and Wild Dill said in response: : “‘True, no man can judge another’s actions; but as you are now one of tho Desperado: Doren, you must expect to suffer the conse- quences,” * And I will” “They will be severe.” **Bo be it.” “Are you not afraid to die?” “ No.” “You speak like a brave man.” ]T am more afraid to live, and yet I would pot seek death, for I have a hope of one day repenting and—but Iam making a fool of my- self, so do your worst, for I am ready to face the alternative.” Wild Bill gazed into tho bold, handsome face, and upon the firmly knit form, and thought what a splendid man he might havo made, had he not gone astray, and he said in a tono of ~eal feeling: “Iam sorry Cor you, for the alternative can. only be death.” ‘Be it what it may I will meet it unflinch-. ingly. ” Eomicboo ———— | | |