Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 189 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

| | | | ee a ee ———————— \ ' en~ * _ = ; 28 . warriors had a scalp at his belt, while he had . two, and pointing with pride to his victims, he said laconically: ** All gone.” “So | see. Now goand bring Reckless Charley here, and then we will wait the coming of Captain Tiger,” ‘*Reckless Charley soon arrived, and Wild Bill said: ‘* Well, sir, we called in the chips of all of your comrades,” ** Not all.” * Tes, all. “Excepting Hyena Harry.” “Why, Red Dove killed him,” ** No, he passed the pives on a full run,” “Ho, braves, the devil himself has escaped. ‘(After him! and Wild Bill’s ringing voice sent Red Rain and his warriors flying in~ pur- suit of the wickedest outlaw of them all, “*Now, sir, you are free, and if you wisha friend, I will be one to you, and none shall know that you were one of the Desperado Dozen.” As he spoke, Wild Bill cut the strings that bound Reckless Charley, who was about to make a reply, when he started and said; “ Hark!” What is it?” | “ T hear the echo of hoofs in the arch,”’ ‘Then the Tiger must be returning to his lair,” said Wild Bill, coolly. ‘Tt can be no one else.” ‘* Then he comes just in time to fall into the snare. “We will await him, Red Dove, in his own quarters,” Fifteen minutes after four persons dashed up to the tent on horseback and drew rein, while a well-known voice shouted: ‘Ho, Hyena Harry, your suggestion of the petticoats served me a good turn, and I am back again with the fair Edna my captive,” Hyena Harry is not here, Captain Tiger, but Iam.” It was Wild Bill wh o spoke, and he seized Captain Tiger in his powerful, merciless grasp, and dragged him from bis horse to the.ground. Alarmed, the two mounted outlaws turned to fly, when two pistol shots were heard, and they dropped dead from their saddles, for this time Red Dove’s aim was true. Dazed as it were Edna Insley sat in her sad- dle, bound there securely, and watched the le between Captain Tiger and Wild Bill At last the latter rose aud said quietly: “Now, Hugh Harcourt, you are gallows- fruit, ’H stake my life.” ‘‘Heaven, I thank Thee! Saved! saved! and I owe it to you,” cried Edna, earnestly, and springing from her horse she dropped upon her knees by the side of the table and burst into a torrent of weeping. CHAPTER LVL WILD BILL’S GOLD TRAIL, WuHeEn the sun arose on the outlaw camp, the morning following its clever capture by Wild Bill, it fell upon two scenes widely differ- ing from each other. In a lonely, sheltered nook a maiden was crouching by the side of a new-made grave. It was Edna Insley bending over the last resting-place of her poor father. From a large tree, near the center of the camp, was hanging a human form. One glance into the dark face, and it could be seen that Hugh Harcourt, the designing vil- lain and man of many aliases, had not cheated the gallows, but had died as he deserved. Wild Bill stood calmly looking on at the death-struggles of the man his order had hanged, while glaring up into the distorted face with an expression of fiendish joy was a pale, sad-faced woman. It was Gertrude, the unfortunate, unbappy wife, who was dying by inches, when rescued by Wild Biull. Behind her stood Red Dove and her war- riors, and they too seemed content in the ty that the Desperado Dozen had been out from the face of the earth, though it was a regret that Hyena Harry had, with his usual good luck, escaped. _. Giving to Red Rain and his warriors the “booty of the camp, and the horses found there, excepting those he needed, and bidding Red Dove farewell, with many thanks for the noble aid she had rendered him, Wild Bill set out for Poker City, accompanied by Edna Insley, sad — Wild Bill’s Gold Trail. and wretched, and the stern-faced wife of the late chief of the Desperado Dozen. By the side of the latter rode Charley Cham- bers, alias Reckless Charley, and when the party entered Poker City the citizens went wild with joy, and Edna and poor Gertrude were only too glad to escape to their rooms, and avoid the terrific enthusiasm. With the suspense over, Edna Insley slept soundly that night, in spite of her grief, and undisturbed by the excitement raging through the town. It was late when she awoke the following morning, and her first surprise was to learn that the widow of Hugh Harcourt had taken the morning stage for the Hast, and whatever became of her afterward, Edna never. knew. Then there came a second surprise in a note handed to ber by Slick Sam, It was from Wild Bill, and_read as follows: “* Miss INsSLEY:— ‘* While lam absent. please command Mr. Dale for any service coe need rendered, as our mutual friend, the Fighting Parson, and our reformed friend, Reckless Charley, go with me on a mission I deem it a duty I owe your dead father and yourself to accomplish, * That duty is to find for you your father’s gold. ‘Its hiding-place he never divulged to me, nor, as you told me, to yourself, and I have only words sat ry from him in bis delirium to guide me, ‘*‘ButT hope for success, and at any rate you shall s00n know the result. ** With best of wishes, yours, “ Hrxox.” Edna read this note over and over again, and the tears filled her eyes when she thought of the kindness of Wild Bill to her, “But he does not love me; no, he does not love me, and I must bear the cross of unre- quited love,” she moaned sadly. A knock at her door startled her; but _con- trolling herself she called out, in a firm voice: ‘* Come in.” It was her third surprise that morning, for who should enter but a woman of striking appearance, In fact, it was Red Ruth, whom Edna had had pointed out to her, and. whose strange, sad life she had been told of. ‘Pardon me, Miss Insley, but will you answer mé a question, upon which much de- pends?” she asked, in a soft, earnest tone, “Certainly, madam; be seated,” But Red Ruth remained standing, and simply said: “It is said that Hyena Harry, the lieuten- ant of the Desperado Dozen, escaped,”’ ss Yes. » “ Did he?’ ‘*He did, madam.” ** You know this?’ ‘“ I do,”’ ‘From whose lips?’ ‘Mr. Hikok’s.” “Tell me what you know of his escape, please.” ‘Red Dove, an Indian girl, returned bis fire and he fell. “ Both Mr. Hikok—” “You refer to Wild Bill?” Yes, madam.” “Well, I am listening,” said the woman, nervously. ** Both Mr, Hikok: and Red Dove believed the Hyena dead, and left him lying where he fell. ) “But it was discovered afterward that he must bave received only a slight wound, for be escaped, though Red Dove’s warriors went in hot pursuit.” ‘* Then if he lives my work is not yet done. **T thank you, Miss Insley,” and the strange woman turned and left the room, CONCLUSION. Ir was several weeks that Edna Insley care- fully awaited the return of Wild Bill and the Reverend Harvey Haviland, and she began to grow most anxious regarding their safety, as they remained away so long, when one even- ing they rode up to the hotel door and dis- mounted. Both were looking well and had a triumphant expression in their eyes when she greeted them, which foretold success, “Well, Miss Insley, our remarkable friend here, struck the gold trail, and, after a long and weary search found the treasure for you, and I congratulate you upon having inherited a snug fortune,” said the parson. | Edna's eyes were running over with tears, and in silence, for she was unable to speak, she gave a hand to each. And, Miss Edna, as I feel like a guardian .188 Tae Borper Banprrs, By ea and foster-father to you, Iam going to trans- fer you to the protection of a wiser and better man, and into his hands I have already trans- ferred your gold, to keep subject to your order,” said Wild Bill. “‘And you intend to cast me off?” she asked with a quivering voice. “Oh no, miss, far from it; only I am a wild sort of fellow, and am a hard citizen to be the guardian of a young lady. “But if ever you need Wild Bill call on him, and he'll be your friend through all. ‘The parson understands them things bet- ter than I do, for he has just married that wild young Charley Chambers to Red Dove, and a splendid couple they made too; in fact I never expect to see a handsomer couple until you and the parson stand up together as man and wife,” Both Edna and the parson were startled out of all composure by this te a but it'set them to thinking, and some time after Wild Bill gave the bride away in the Hikok Hotel par- lors, to Harvey Haviland, and forgetting their reformation, the citizens of Poker City, I am compelled, as. a truthful historian of facts, to make known, got very drunk over the joyful occasion, and repeated the orgie some months afterward, when Atidy Rush received a letter from the Fighting Parson, saying that he had just received a call to a large church in the great metropolis, *“‘Pards, thet news are worth a drunk, an’ at my expense, so set ’em up, Carrots, an’ I’ll pay ther score out o’ ther leetle fun’ I hed left, as treasurer o’ ther chu’ch, an’ which I'll never turn over to no Bible-banger as may foller in ther path o’ thet squar’ man, Harvey Haviland, ther Fighting Parson.” With this opinion of Andy Rush, the stage- driver of the Overland, kind reader, my pen ia laid aside with kind wishes and au revoir. 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