Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 189 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

*% “5 2 ‘¢ We can soon find out, Andy.” ‘“T knows it, fer, arter I left ’em thet Chinee man washerwoman at ther hotel asked me whar you was, an’ said as how Miss Insley wanted ter see yer. “T told Chinee I w’u’d look yer up, an’ I were passin’ ther door when I heerd ther followin’ remark: “Cap'n, ef yer gives ther thing away, Wild Bill will suspect, fer somebody will tell him, an’ then up goes our toes.’ ‘“‘T looked in ther window, Bill, an’ I see it were ther stranger pards chinning together,’ and I says to myself: *¢*T guess I'l put Bill on his guard.’” “And I thank you, Andy.” “Waal, I w’u’dn’t hev told yer, Bill, ef ther lady hadn’t sent’ fer yer, but let yer ride out o’ town, now; but she wants yer, an’ yer hes ter go up to ther hotel, an’ ef yer see them fellers yer knows what they is heur fer.” ““T do, thanks to you, Andy. ‘‘Now do me 4 favor.” ““T'll do it ef it’s ter git drunk, Bill.” ‘*No, simply go back to the hotel, and sit on the piazza, and when you see me-coming up the street, call out: “*There comes Wild Bill.’” “But they’ll get ready for you, Bill.” — ‘‘ No, not sooner than I will be for them. “If they show signs to prove I am their game, you wave your hat to me, and I'll set the circus going. ‘* Now describe them, p‘ease.” This Andy did in his quaint way, and while Wild Bill went after his splendid black horse, Midnight, the driver returned to the hotel. CHAPTER VIIL WILD BILL’S CHARGE. Wuen Anpy Rusa returned to the Hikok Hotel, he first sought the parlor, for the Chinese waiter told him he would there find Miss Insiey. “T found Bill, miss, an’ he said he were coming.” ‘* Yes, I wished to see him before he depart- .ed on his perilous expedition to make known to him a haunt where he may be able to find my poor father has been taken, if he has not been killed, and I asked the Chinee to find him for me.” “I found him at the stdre, miss, and he will be up heur soon, and ef yer wishes ter see a immortal row, jist you lie low in this heur parler an’ wait fer ther music ter begin.” “T must confess I do not understand you, Mr. Rush,” said the mystified young girl with a slight smile. “Waal, thar are a gang o’ gerloots in ther bar, an’ they hey come down from Calamity City, I'm a thinkin’, ter go fer Bill, an’ he knows thar biz, an’ as he are comin’ ter in- quire inter it ther ball will soon open.” ~ “But will you allow a number of men to at- tack your friend?’ ’ “Qh! Pll be thar, miss, an’ thar sha’n’t be no underhan’ game played ag’in’ Bill. ‘‘But I must leave yer, an’ jist you wait heur a leetle.” With this remark Andy Rush left the parlor and Edna Insley, riveted by a fascination she could not resist, remained standing at the win- dow, half hidden hy the heavy coarse curtains, and waiting breathlessly for the coming off of what the driver had called a ‘circus.’ In the meantime Andy reentered the bar and found the crowd still drinking heavily, and getting more intoxicated each moment. - But he saw that Captain Corduroy and his comrades, though they had seemingly drank freely, were apparently more sober than when he left them, which the further convinced him that they were playing a part, and were not allowing themselves to lose control of their faculties. The re-entrance of the driver was greeted with a shout of welcome, and of course he had to drink, and Captain Corduroy treated; but Andy did not swaliow the liquor, and watching closely he saw that the strangers also failed to drink the contents of their glasses, a circum- stance none of the drunken crowd observed. Going out upon the piazza Andy called out: “Pard strangers, thar comes a man, ef yer wants ter see oneJ who hesn’t got his ekal in these heur parts.’/san Captain Corduréy and his pards were on the alert at once, end passing ont into the hall- way joined Andy Rush upon the piazza, fol- lowed by a number of toe crowd, we | . rare a err -e« ~ - - - + | heey I +) of (a BiiwW ild Bill’s Gold Trail. Almost involuntarily Captain Corduroy cried: | | ‘¢ Wild Bill!—be ready!” i Andy heard the words, and asked, quickly: “Say, pards, does yer mean harm ter Bill?” ‘He means harm to me, and I will but pro- protect myself,” cried Captain Corduroy. ‘‘ All right, that are squar’; but as he don’t see yer, Ill jist shout an’ tell him.” Then he raised his voice and shouted: ‘‘Ho, Bill! thar are danger camped on yer trail heur.” The warning caused a dead silence to follow, and Captain Corduroy and his pards dropped their hands upon revolvers, as though to first turn them on Andy Rush, But he had his weapon out already, and the strangers seemed to realize that he was not the man to pick a quarrel with then and there, for a dozen friends were around him, But with Wild Bill it was different, and Andy’s hail had given out a declaration of war. A man ever cool, Captain Corduroy was only an instant nonplused, but then he cried: ‘“Wes, pards, I have come to be on Wild Bill’s trail, for he killed my two brothers, and right here Lintend to avenge them.” This caused a general scattering of the crowd from the piazza, for they were not too drunk to forget that self-preservation was nature’s first law, and they dashed into the bar-room with an alacrity that was amusing, Not because he feared to remain did Andy go too, but he thought that from a window he could the better aid Bill, and he took up his stand just inside, and stood ready for what might follow. The strangers had held their ground. They had proven themselves generous fel- lows in facing the bar, and they would not flinch now when it was a case where there were five against one man, no matter what the reputation of that man might be. ‘*Give out ther hymn, cap’n, an’ we'll shout ther doxology,” cried Kit Carr. ‘‘T will meet him first,” sternly said the avenger of two brothers, and he stood his guard ‘by the door of the hotel, ‘“‘Thet bein’ ther case, we'll fall back a leetle,” and Kit Carr gave a backward step or two, which was followed by his immediate comrades. _ “You lose your gold if you desert me,” say- agely cried Captain Corduroy. “‘Hain’t desertin’, only takin’ up a more safer posish, cap’n.” In the mean time Wild Bill was coming toward the hotel, bis horse in a slow walk. He had answered the hail of Andy with a wave of the hand, and shown no other sign that he understood it. He saw the sudden decamping of the crowd, and smiled, and then his eyes fell upon the tall form of Captain Corduroy, and all saw that he recognized him, for he gave a slight start. He was mounted upon his matchless black, Midnight, sat easily in his saddle, and was evi- dently equipped for a journey. As he drew near the steps leading to the hotel piazza, he drew rein and said: “JT thought you were in your grave, Dud Duncan.” ‘‘No, Wild Bill, I lived to avenge my brothers,” was the savage reply, and the man drew his revolver. ‘Then it is war?” said Bill, at the same time drawing his weapon. , “Yes, war to the death,” shouted Captain Corduroy, and with the last word he threw forward his revolver to fire. But ere it could flash the report of Wild Bill’s weapon was heard, and the bullet shat- tered the pistol of his foe, knocking it from his hand. “Come, boys, at him!” yelled Captain Cor- duroy, shaking his hand, severely stunned by the shock, yet but very slightly wounded. Then, with his war-cry ringing on his lips, a revolver in each band, and his spurs held to the flanks of Midnight, Wild Bill rushed to the charge. It was a thrilling, desperate scene, and the pistol-shots rung out quickly. Reaching the steps, up them the noble horse bounded, with his daring rider, and it was more than the human nature of the Calamity Wity pards could stand, and they gave back before the desperate advance of the man who rushed upon them, horse and horseman seem- ing to be one, and bent on one purpose, and thut to kill. Ff CHAPTER IX. — ANOTHER CHANCE FOR REVENGE, THERE are circumstances which cannot be ° accounted for by any ordinary reasoning, and the escape of Wild Bill from instant death in his desperate charge on horseback, was one that though hundreds saw it, they could not understand. They saw shot after shot poured upon him, and then his shot struck the pistol from Cap- tain Corduroy’s hafid. They beheld one of the quintette fire from the bar-room window upon him, with a rifle, and then saw Captain Corduroy fall, then an- other, and another of Wild Bill’s assailants, drop before the deadly aim of the assailed, and then the noble black animal, bestrode by the daring man was safely upon the piazza, and urged on by his anger-maddened rider he bounded into the hallway and then into the bar-room where he was brought to a sudden halt. There was a wild scattering, and even Car- rots, accustomed as he was to wild scenes and wilder men, dodged down behind bis bar. One of the quintette was the game that Wild Bill had followed there, and hotly pursued by his mounted foe he had turned at bay. There were two shots, and one went into a heart, the other did no harm, It was the Calamity City man who dropped dead. And, as he fell, Wild Bill dismounted and coolly said: **Carrots, set up drinks for the crowd, and don’t forget Midnight for he deserves a glass of your best brandy.” There was no excitement about the man whatever now, and the mad fever that had been on him was gone. “Come, gentlemen, let us have something,” and he turned his piercing eyes over the room, Then, from under tables, behind chairs, up from the other side of the bar, through win- dows and doors, where all had taken refuge who could, came hosts of thirsty men, in silent, almost appalled admiration of the man they had just seen do a deed none had believed possible. ‘** You hain’t even nipped, is you, Bill?” asked Andy Rush coming in from the hallway. ‘No, Andy.” **T was sent to see.” ‘Who sent you?” “The young leddy.” ce Ah !” ‘* Better come in soon as yer takes suthin’, Bill, fer she hes a present fer yer.” ‘Take something, Andy.” ** No thankee, Bill, not now.” “Then say I'll soon be there, please,” and, as Andy Rush disappeared, a miner said: “You kilt ’em all, Bill?’ ‘No, I shot at only four, and the fifth got away, for there were five of them,” The drinkg had by this time been “set up,” Carrots seeming to know just what each man wanted, and as Bill threw some pieces of gold upon the bar to pay the score, Andy Rush en- tered quickly: ** Bill, he hey lit out.” Who?’ ‘Ther boss of ’em all,” “The leader?” “Yes, Captain Corduroy.” “I shot to kill him.” ** Waal, you missed him.” “TI did not, for I saw the cut on his fore~- head as he fell.” ‘‘Then the bullet glanced on his hard skull, and he played ‘possum to get away.” “That may be; but let him go. ‘“Here, Andy, look after Midnight, while I | go and see Miss Insley,” and Wild Bill left the | bar-room, and at once there arose an excited hum of conversation regarding his wonderful achievement. Going out upon the piazza, Wild Bill saw that Captafn Corduroy was indeed gone, though two of his allies lay dead where they had fallen, and a third he had just left lifeless, lying on the floor of the bar-room. CHAPTER X. A VILLAIN SURPRISED. WHEN Wild Bill made his desperate charge for the piazza, there was oue Of the strangerg from Calamity City who felt that he had mada a mistake in volunteering upon a’ service so dangerous as the killing of the noted ranchere seemed to be, JOO Se Gomice | ; . s _ ae v«