Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 189 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

+ Tee — —a “Wild Bill’s Gold kifled you, when we attacked. the coach, and he also saved the treasure for the company and lost it for us.” ) “Do you mean it?” “ Fact, for Poker City is full of his exploits, and he is as full of fight as he is of gospel. “The boys call him the Fighting Parson.” “And he it was, who came upon you?’ “True, and he dropped the count in. his tracks, with one shot, knocked Pierre out of his saddle with another, and, as I dared not fire on him, for fear of hurting the girl, I tusned tail and here I am.” “And he killed those two men and rescued the girl?” ** He did.” “One man against three,” “ Yes. ” “And he a preacher?” True.” “Hyena Harry, if I did not know you to be & brave man, I would fling the coward iu your face.” ‘*T did all I could; but I would not risk killing the. girl to fire on him, fooling that we couid get her another time,” said Hyena Harry, who wished to tell a story to make his hasty flight seem as pleusible as possible. “You did right; but the parson rode back with the girl?” “Yes, and I camo on to tho stronghold to report.” Captain Tiger shook his head and muttered: Things look black, Hyena Harry, and our Dozen is running down fast; but come what may, I will have Edna Insley in my power, and ~e must plot another scheme to accom- plish it.” CHAPTER XLY., AN UNLOOKED-FOR ARRIVAL. THE sentinel, who was kept between the stronghold and the Overland stage-road, was riding leisurely along upon the samo afternoon of the arrival of Hyena Harry in camp, when he saw a man approaching. The guard was allowed a latitude of five miles, and more, if he thought best, to roam about, so that he did not, at any time, get far from the direct trail leading to the stronghold. He had been down toward the stage-road and was returning, when he saw the form of a man advancing slowly toward the trail. Instantly he reined his horse back under cover of some mountain pine trees, and covered the stranger with bis rifle, Nearer he approached, until brought to a halt by the challenge: **Pull up, pard, an’ tell us yer biz.” The man turned quickly, and raised both bands above his head, as though to show he had no hostile intent. ‘**Ah! you hain’t dangerous, it do seem; bu’ let yer tongue wag what yer wants, whar yer come from, whar yer is goin’ an’ who yer is?” ‘**T am one of the Dozen,” was the reply. “Shout ther words ter prove yer hain't lyin’.” “Tiger and Hyena.” “OQ. K., all serene; now, how is it I find I don’t know yer?” “T only joined a few days ago, with a com- rade, and went off with Hyena Harry on a lit- tle secret work for the captain.” ‘Yas, I remembers an’ recognize yer now, pard; bat yer hes changed yer togs, ther bar- ber hev been trimmin’ yer, an’ durned ef yer don’t look sickly. “ Hes yer cotched ther measles?” 4 No.” ‘‘ Been badly skeert, likely, fer yer is white as a gal actress on ther stage.” “‘No; I have been hanged and buried alive,” was the hoarse reply. Even the hardened questioner started at the reply, and said: ‘Yer don’t mean it?” “I do mean it, and you must tako me at once to camp.” ‘* Whar's yer horse?” “‘ Dead.” ‘¢ An? yer pard?” “‘ Dead.” ‘‘ And the Hyena Loot’nent?” ** He escaped.” “Waal, waal.” “While you ask questions, I am suffering, so 1 beg you to help me to camp,” “Git up bebind, and we'll try ter git thar dark, “Ef we don’t, we'll hev ter camp on ther trail, an’ thet won’t be pleasant fer yer, rt ° 7% ¢* | nts d Trail. ‘But, though I kin yo through by day, I hain’t ther man ter tackle ther trip by night.” Witb some difficulty, for he was very weak yet, Dud Duncan got bebind the sentinel, and the horse, unmindful of his double load, started toward camp. By urging the animal all he dared over the dangerous road, the guard arrived at a point of the road just at dark, from whence he could find his way into camp, It was however an hour after sunset, tefore he deposited Dudley Duncan at the tent of Captain Tiger. A light was visible within, and at a table sat the chief and his lieutenant, talking over different plots to capture Edna Insley. Suddenly there stood before them the tall form and pale face of Captain Corduroy, whom they both believed dead, and, in spite of their nerve, they sprung to their feet, a cry of hcrror issuing from the lips of each, “Corduroy, from the grave, by Heaven!” cried Captain Tiger. ‘The devill” burst from Hyena Harry in hoarse tones, “No, Hyena Harry, 1 am not the devil, but my own self in proper person, and, Captain Tiger, you speak truly, for Iam from out the grave, and back from the very portals of death,” said Dudley Duncan in low, hoarse tones. ‘* You look it, Corduroy, and so sure was I that you were dead, after I heard Hyena Harry’s story, that I drank a bumper that Satan might rest your soul. “Here, man, dash off this glass of brandy, , and it will put life into you, and redden up your blood, for it is from the chief surgeon’s stock at the fort, or rather was to have been, only I laid claim to it before it got there.” Captain Tiger poured out a glass of brandy | as he spoke, and sinking into a chair, Dud Duncan dashed it off at a swallow, while not to be slighted Hyena Harry followed his ex- ample with another tumblerful, at the same time muttering: ‘| wonder how his story will differ from mine?” To his surprise, in relating his story, Dud Duncan did not differ from Hyena Harry in any of the salient points, and agreed with bim that his only chance was to fly, when he saw that the parson was having it all bis own way. “But how in thunder did vou get over the wound that knocked you from the horse?’ asked Captain Tiger. “Tt was slight, and I soon rallied out of that, with tho aid of Wild Bill,” “Ha! that fiend again?’ “Yes, and ho has added another debt to the hatred I owe him,” hissed Duncan, and then he went on to tell of his having been hanged by the great scout. ‘Hanged! Great heavens! but how did you resurrect?” asked the chiof, ‘‘A woman’s curiosity, to see who was in a grave that had no headstone raised me from the dead, for she found me still warm and re- vived me—oh/ it is fearful to think of,” and he shuddered at the thought. **] should think so,” “lt is horrible,” cried Captain Tiger and Hyena Harry with sympathetic shudders, But ere he could say much more, Dudley Duncan’s head reeled and he fell from the chair. “Poor fellow, the remembrance of it has been too much for him: but a little rest and good nursing will soon bring him round, “Reckless Charley is a good nurse, and he shall take charge of him,” and Captain Tiger called to one of the band, placed Dudley Dun- can under his especial charge, and then re- sumed his plotting with Hyena Harry, against the freedom and happiness of poor, persecuted Edna, CHAPTER XLVL A STRANGER IN CAMP. SEVERAL days passed away, after the com- ing back of Dudley Duncan to the outlaw stronghold, and still he kept his bed, in the tent to which Reckless Charley had taken him. He was however only prostrated, and his nurse bad dismissed him as an invalid, telling him that a few days more would give him back his former strength and health, In the camp things remained at a standstill, for Captain Tiger had not made any move to again strike the stages, but had passed his time plotting with Hyena Harry for the future Do £3 good of the band, he said, but with himself only in his eyes. >a. ee The “‘ Dozen,” with the addition of Dudley Duncan, now numbered but eijht, and one of them had to be on guard, and this left_but six for active duty, so that Captain Tiger was most anxious to recruit his force up to the re- quired number ere he made any decided move, avd was thinking of rigging himsel? up in some disguise and visiting Poker City te enlist a quartette of villains who he knew would be readily foun there ready to join him. Hyena Harry distinctly refused to leave the camp again, for he said: “You know, Tiger, I told you I would only leave the stronghold to make an attack on the coaches, and I nearly ended my life by break- ing through that rule. ‘It is superstition with you, Harry,” said Captain Tiger. ‘““It may be, but I intend to humor it, ‘‘Here I know 1] am séefe, and in a dash down to the Overland I am always resdy to go, but elsewhere I will not, for there is ore on my path who is determined to kill me, end that one is the only being I fear in ali the world.” “Well, I must go to Poker Gity and pet four recruits, and ’ll wager high I use them to get Edna Insley into my power.” “IT don’t doubt it, Tiger, for you cre a Llond- hound once you get on a trail. ** But do you intend to kill that poor wcman in the cage?” és No.” “Tbe men all have orders to take ber ne food.” “Yes, and the one I know gives her a morsel shall die by the worst death I can con- coct for him.” “Then she will die.” “Certainly, if she does not eat.” “Oh! I see; you make her starve herself to death.” se Yes.” “She is a deuced pretty woman.” “Hyena Harry, I will hear no commen‘’s upon that woman, | ‘* She is my wife, who gravely wronged me by being poor, when she should have been rich, and she came here to kill me for fancied wrongs I had done her so long ago I really had forgotten about them, “I placed her in that cage, and when she dies I will bury her decently, so let me bear no more about her.” * Certainly, if it is your wish; but how about the old man in the den?” “ His life depends upon his tongue, for tlcre is a confession I wish to wring from bim,” “ A secret?’ “ Yes.” “ He won’t tell?” cc No.” “Put the screws to him.” ‘““He has the stoicism of an Indian chief, and no physical torture will open his lips,” * Then it is a dead secret?” ae No.” “‘How can you make a bird sing when it won’t sing?’ “T'll make him divulge what I should know as soon as | get his daughter, Edna Insley, into my clutches,” ‘€ Ah, I see. ‘* He'll sing to save her when he’d die with sealed lips where be was concerned.” ‘Success to you, then, for it must be a snrg little sum when you take such trouble for it.’ ‘* Who said it was money?” ‘No one; only I know that is all you cara for.” . ‘You seem to know me; but I Jove blood- letting as well as I do gold-getting— Ha!” Captain Tiger was upon his feet in an in- stant, his hand upon his revolver, the muzzle of, which covered the heart of a man who hau just then entered the tent and stood gazing at - him. Hyena Harry also drew his revolver, and the two men stood, as it were, at bay, for the man who had so unceremoniously come npon them was a stranger to both, and a stranger in the outlaw camp was a startling circumstance to the Desperado Dozen. CHAPTER XLVII. OLD NICK. ‘* Parps, I hopes I sees yer.” Such was the salutation of the individual who had appeared like an apparition before Captain Tiger and Hyena Harry, EGOmicboo (E cS