Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 189 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

~ ipa eee ae —_ ee ¢ - . - i ent ona . ee Se Ns Ee et ee oe ee LE ER Ge ’ He was @ “ian of iarge physique, bent in form, as though «rom age, was dressed in buckskin from fcot te neck, and wore a coon- skin cap, the tail hanging down his back, and the head protruding over his face, serving as a visor, He carried a rifle, a repeater, and a pair of revolvers and‘a bowie, and handled them as though he used them daily. His hair would have been white, and also his beard, had it been washed, but he seemed a stranger to soap and water, to judge from his face and hands, and general unkempt ap- pearance. So astounded werd both the outlaws at his unlooked-for appearance, that neither spoke at his words, which were meant for a friendly salutation it seemed, Seeing this, ho again broke the silence with: “ Pards, I hopes you sees me.” “I do, and I would ask who you are?” said Oaptain Tiger in a suppressed tone, still keeping his revolver covering the stranger. ‘“‘Hain’t yer afeerd thet weepin might go off an’ I'll get hurted?”’ “You certainly will if you don’t tell me what you are doing here,” “* Nothin’.” “‘Then why are you here?” “‘Comed ter see yer, pard,” “*To see who?” “* You, yerself and Co,” *“Who am |?” ‘Old Tiger Claw, I guesses.” Hyena Harry laughed, and Captain Tiger asked: ** Are you alone?’ “ No.” Both men started, and the chief said: ““ Who have you with you?’ ** My horse.” *< Who e!se?”’ ** My bull-dogs.” * Your bull-dogs?”’ “ Yas, my shooters; them, my knife an’ my horse is my pets.” ‘How did you get here?” ** Comed.” * But bow?” “On horseback and foot-back, an’ it are a durned dizzy road, wuss nor ther turnpike ter Jordan I hav’ hearn of.” “Do you mean to say you came into this camp alone, and without a guide?” “* I does,” ** Impossible!” **TIt could not be done!” cried both Captain Tiger and Hyena Harry. ‘You is a couple o’ howlin’ liars, for it were did.” They both laughed, in spite of their anxiety, at the presence of the stranger, and Captain Tiger said: “Tf you havo dono that, you have accom- plisbed that which no other man could do,” “Thet’s my style, pards,” ** And you camo just now?” “ I did.” **Tlave you seen any ono else in this camp?” ‘< Nary.” ** And you camo to seo me?’ “Tf you is ther Tiger Cap’n, you is my man.” ‘‘T am Captain Tiger.” “Waal, yer look it. And who are thet?’ ** My namo is Hyena Harry.” “Yer looks it too. I guesses I hes got into o cirkis, or o den o’ animiles, an’ I does hopes yer'll be as good to me as were ther lions to Daniell, an’ not chaw me up.” | The two outlaws seemed to enjoy their strango visitor immensely; but it worried them greatly to think that onc man had been able to come unaided, and a part of the way under darkness, to their retreat, and Captain Tiger again asked: “ And you mean that you came here without @ guide?” “‘ Pard, breath hain’t cheap enough ter spend i all in lyin’ an’ I hes told yer what I dono,” . “And what did you went to seo mo for?” “Ter jine ther band.” ' “Join the Desperado Dozen?” ce Yas.” “A man of your years ought to be ablo to live in peace among his fellow-men, and not havo to hide in the mountains,” “ Fact, but yet IT hain’t, ca’se I hev did things thet folks don’t like, an’ they do tell me mon in these heur parts w’u’d hang me jist as quick as they w’u’d you, so you see, I don’t look well hangin’, an’ I comed here ter keep from it.” tnough Wild Bill's Void Trail. ‘* \Vhere do you bail from?” ‘*Calamity City.” And your name?” ‘The boys call me Old Nick.” * You look it.” *T guess I does,” ‘* Well, Pll enlist you to-morrow, aftor you have led me back by the trail you came, that I may see if you tell the truth, or that I have e traitor in camp. “ For the night you must be content to be a prisoner.” ‘* Pard, let me tell yer one thing, an’ it are a piece o’ advice yer ought ter remember.” * Well, what is it?” “How many men hes yer?” ‘We are called the Desperado Dozen.” Fact then yer has adozen traitors in camp, an’ perhaps as many more.” ‘‘How do you make that out, you hoary old sinner?” ‘Do you walk or ride?” ‘* Ride of course,” “Then your horses are the traitors, for I got hold of a horse that knew the trail as well, if not better than you do, and he brought me hore, ” ‘By Heaven! I never thought of that be- fore!” cried Captain Tiger, while Hyena Harry said: ‘‘ Now, old Graybeard, I know you have lied, for there is one spot on the trail no horse could come over unaided.” ‘“ You think so? Waal, yer is right, an’ when mine stopped at ther rock slide it tuk me a long time to diskiver ther cause; but at last I seen ther muffles in ther pine thicket, an’ put ‘em on, an’ so yer see I are heur.” Captain Tiger and Hyena Harry walked apart for a few minutes and conversed ina low tone, and then the former said: “« Woll, Old Nick, we want a few more men, and you can join the band, for I believe you are a good one. ‘‘ As you give such a good account of your- self I will not put you under guard to-night, as I had intended; so go with my lieutenant here, and be will introduce you to the boys.” Old Nick thanked the chief and silently fol- lowed Hyena Harry from the tent, The men, who were gambling in tbeir quar- ters, received him with looks of amazement; but when Hyena Harry explained that he had come to be one of them, and how he had got- ten to the camp, they seemed satisfied, and in- vited him to take a hand in their game. Ile had just set down to do so, and Hyena Harry had turned to go, when Captain Cordu- roy appeared in the doorway and started at the sight of the stranger, Instantly he stepped back and began to talk with Hyena Harry in a low tone, yet very earnestly. The result was that two of the outlaws were beckoned out, and five minutes afterward Cap- tain Corduroy entered, and walking around faced the stranger. Then Captain Tiger, Hyena Harry and the two outlaws who had been called out of the cabin stepped quickly in and took a stand be- hind Old Nick, each one with a revolver lev- eled at him, Wholly unconscious of what) was going on, he took up his cards and looked them over with considerable interest. CHAPTER XLVIII. TURNING THE TABLES, ‘‘Wuat do you do, pard Graybeard?”’ asked one of the outlaws, looking over his cards, and referring to Old Nick. “T pass,” was the reply. “ No, you do not !” Old Nick looked up quickly at tho voice, and full of nerve as he was, he seemed to start as his eyes fell upon the one who had spoken. But instantly regaining his cool manncr, ae asked: “ Did yer chip in ter me jist now, pard?” “T did,” said Captain Corduroy, and he fixed his gaze upon the stranger. ‘‘P'raps yer wishes ter tako my han’ an’ play ther game?” “No; but if you movo [ll havo your life.” With his words Dudley Duncan throw for- ward his hand, and in it was a revolver whieh covered the heart of the stranger. wvas quicker, as he had to draw his weapon, and each man covered the other at the samie in- stant But, . auick as was his act, the old stranger 4 Waal, pull ef yer hes a mind ter,” said Old Nick, in his quiet way. ‘No, I do not wish to shoot you.” ‘‘ What then hes yer ag’in’ me?’ ‘‘Pards, you have him covered?’ ond im an stvor to Dudloy Duncan’s question, addressed te those behind the stranger, and without tak- ing bis eyes off of him, there came the response in Captain Tiger’s deep tones: ‘* We havo, and if ho moves our bullets rid- dle bim.”’ “Her I got inter o trap, whar I thought I worc among friends?” said Old Nick, though he did not move a muscle other than his lips. ‘*'You have had the tables turned upon you by one you deemed dead, that is all.” ‘Who are that?’ *Do you not know me?” ‘‘’Pears ter me I hes seen yer photo afore, but then yer hes sich a common run oO’ face, I mostly fergits. ‘‘Has we met?” ** We have.” ‘Yer looks a leetle mite sickly; be yer af- flicted with mountain ager?’ ‘Captain Tiger, this man knows well who I am, for I saw his start at seeing one he thought he had killed,” cried Dudley Duncan. ‘Well, Corduroy, who in thunder is he, for I am getting tired of this nonsense,” said Cap- tain Tiger, impatiently. ‘‘T asked you to aid mo in the capture of a man you would give much to have your gripe on, and I now keep my word by telling you that this is no old man, but Wild Bill Hikok in disguise.” The name of Wild Bill burst from every man’s mouth with utter amazement and con- siderable consternation, but the accused never moved, other than to fold his arms upon his broad breast, and raise his form from its bent posture, ‘f Are you Wild Bill?” The question came from Captain Tiger in suppressed tones of joy. ‘¢ I am.”’ A wild shout burst from the outlaws at this reply. ' But Wild Bill simply removed his false beard and wig, aud duwn upon his shoulders fell his long bair, and bis piercing eyes seemed to read the face of every man presenc, ‘Tt is useless to tell you that you are a pris- ener?” ‘I would judge so, Captain Tiger,” was the calm reply. ‘* Disarm him, Hyena Harry.” The outlaw officer stepped forward and obeyed. ; ‘* Now clap the irons upon him,” This order was also obeyed. “‘ His feet too, for he is an ugly customer,” “‘Now, Tiger, waat is to be done with him? said Ilyena Harry, when he had completed the pleasant duty of ironing hand and foot the man whom all present so greatly feared, ‘‘Drag him to the den and throw him in.” * With old Insley?’ ‘¢ Yes.” Silent, defiant, Wild Bill dragged himself along after Hyena Harry and two outlaw3, for tho chains upon him were very heavy, After a painful walk for tho prisoner, they arrived at the den, and wero greeted with o most savage howl from the grizzly bear that acted as the guard, ‘Ho, old man, I have brought you com- pany,” called out Hyena Harry, unfeelin; ‘y to the prisoner back in the gloom of ste cavern. | But he returned no reply, and Hyena Hairy again called out: ‘He is an old friend, I believe, Insley, and next you will have your daughter to cheer your solitude.” ‘Liar, my angel daughter is beyond your roach, for sho is in heaven, where devils never enter, “Ha! hal bot J killed her last night, to es- cape the touch of that monster, ‘‘ Better was it for her to die by my hand than live in misery. ‘Ha! ha! ha! go and tell your Tiger Cap- tain that he is thwarted at last, and by Boyd Insley.” r Tho voico sounded wild and strange, and Wild Bill cried in suppressed tones: **Good God! he is mad.” : “By Heaven, but I believe you are right, and if so; the captain has overshot the mark this time,” and Hyena Harry called out again, and in tones of kindness. | 0)(0)@) Gomme cS