Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 189 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

; d Me a M — ee ee ee eee s Gold Trail. He was a good shot, and yet both the shots he had fired at long range were fruitless, and he noticed that those of Captain Corduroy and his comrades also failed to bring down the hu- man game they had flushed. At once, when the eye of Captain Corduroy was not upon him, he turned and darted into the hall. An open door attracted his attention, and he | glided into a large room, rudely furnished yet comfortable. | It was what was called the parlor of the | Hikok Hotel, and was devoted wholly to dis- tinguishe 1! gue-ts and Jadies. “It was no place for the’ deserting stranger from Calamity City, but it was, he observed, apparently unoccupied, and it afforded a de- lightful haven of refuge for him just then. He halted in an uncertain manner for an in- stant, while the rattle of revolvers without proved to him that he had been wise in de- camping when he did. The tremendous racket of Midnight’s iron hoofs upon the piazza coming to bis ears, a sudden thought seemed to seize him, and he darted to the window, which was open, and looked out upon the piazza. There was bis game, mounted still, and bold- ly forcing his matchless horse upon the piazza, while Captain Corduroy, lying on his back, ap- parently dead, also caught the eye of the des- perado, “Ha! now is my chance, Wild Bill, and I never miss at close quarters!” boarsely hissed the villain; and, with the side of the window for a rest, he ran his eye along the barrel of his revolver. Wild Bill was not six feet from him, and the curtain concealing his foe, he did not see him, and it looked as though death must cer-— tainly follow the shot. But ere the finger drew on the trigger a form glided from the shelter of the curtain at the other window, and a revolver muzzle was pressed hard against the head of the desperado, whose startied ears were greeted with the words: ‘‘ Drop that weapon, sir, or die!” The alacrity with which the villain chose the former alternative proved his appreciation of life. The weapon fell upon the piazza, and then came the words: ‘*Drop down on your face, sir, and lie there.’’ Never in his life before had the villain laid down in such baste. “Put your hands behind you, sir.” The order was obeyed. ‘‘Who in thunder are yer?” he growled. “A girl.” ‘*Blarst yer -petticoats, what in thunder is yer playin’ this on me fer?” ‘‘Mr. Hikok is my friend, and you sought to kill him.” ‘*Waal, this do beat all.” “Hold your hands closer together—there, now I can tie your wrists firmly together,” and with her silk scarf, taken from around her waist, Edna Insley securely bound the des- perado’s bands behind his back. | ‘““Now you are safe.” | “I doesn’t think so, gal, for I'll be chawed Up as soon as thet wild man comes in here.” ‘*'Yes, he may kill you,” was the unconsoling response. és Lordy 1!” “Tt is what you would have done, had I not prevented you.” . ‘‘ You is mistook, gal, fer I were jest lookin? out at ther circus.” | Edna laughed lightly, but it was’a laugh the villain did not like. | As the firing had now ceased, the maiden wens to the door, and her eyes fell upon Andy ush, : _ Andy Rush had boldly stood in the doorway, his revolver in his hand, ready to aid Wild Bill with @ shot, should he need it; but his admiration of bis friend and the great feat he was performing, caused him to keep back un- less he was actually needed. ‘ Bill will slew ’em all, darned ef he don’t,” he muttered. “Waal, miss, yer did see ther circus, an’ hed a front seat. , ‘‘Wasn’t it han’some?” he said; as, in obe- dience to the call of Edna, he entered the “Tt was a most thrilling scene, sir; but is Mr. Hikok wounded?” ‘‘Guess not, miss. Leastways he didn’t | look thet way, tho’ yer kin never tell, as, Bill | glad to escape, the villain darted out of the kin carry askin full 0’ lead an’ not show it. } i door, his haste causing .Audy Rush to laugh “Yas, he carries lead. in him sameas he do | heartily. liquor, miss, for neither seems ter rile him " much,” ‘“‘T wish you would kindly go and ‘see if Mr. Hikok is wounded, and—” ‘‘Lordy! what hev yer thar?’.and Andy’s eyes fell upon the prostrate..and bound prisoner. ‘* A-present for Mr. Hikok,” “Waal, he are a healthy one, and.oneo’ ther Calamity gang too—yas, he are ther one. thet never treated, but allus drinked when t’others | you for. your information, for there will treated. ‘““f guess he are a sneakin’ cuss, miss.” “Mr, Hikok,” said Edna, ““T remembered, after jour leaving, that my father’s foe and mine had a secret haunt in the Dead Man’s Cavycn,.as.it.was called, that he believed the most secluded. of all, and there, if he has not kille] my father, he will doubtless take. hi aware as he is that you are acquainted with his other retreats. .. ‘“* That is if, as you believe, Captain Tiger is Hugh Harcourt.” ‘I do believe it, Miss Insley, and I thaplx seek your father, who, rest assured, is not ‘Yes, for I captured him in some deadly | dead.” Work,” than pleased. ‘*Ef he don’t kill ther varmint, guess he’ll mark him,” and Andy Rush went in search of Wild Bill, while Ednaand her prisoner breath- | | ““T’ll fetch Bill, miss, an’ he will. be more | ' ‘* Ob, that I could think so.” ‘You are aware that by killing your father he could not gain the information he seeks; | but he will doubtless try to force from him the secret,” ‘“‘ What will he not suffer? And how deeply lessly waited, the former fearing that he might | do I feel for that poor lady, whoever she may have been killed or fatally wounded, the latter | be, that is in the power of those vile wretches,” fearing that he was. not, CHAPTER XL MERCY TO A WOLF. Ir was certainly a surprise to Wild Bill, upon entering the parlor of the hotel, to find Edna Insley standing guard over a man lying prostrate upon his face, and bound securely with the maiden’s scarf. ‘Mr. Hikok, Iam so glad to see that you have not been wounded,” and she stretched forth her hand, which Wild Bill pressed gently, | while be answ2red: ‘*No, strange to say, I escaped unhurt, and Lam surprised at their wretched firing; but who have you there, Miss Insley?’ ‘“‘One of your foes, who, fearing to face you, ran in here, and would have shot you from the window, had I not prevented him.” “‘Pard, pretty as her mouth are, it’s a- dodgin’ truth now,” put in the p-isoner. ‘Silence, sir! are you one of the gang of Captain Corduroy?’ ‘Who are he, pard?” ‘* Are you from Calamity City?’ “ Never were thar.” Wild Bill stepped out of the parlor and soon returned with Andy Rush. - “Is that one of them, Andy?’ ‘He are.” ‘That settles it, and I have to thank you, Miss Insley, for saving my life. ‘* Now, what shall I do with your prisoner?” “TI hope you won’t kill him,” said Edna. “No, | never hit a man when he’s down,” ‘“* Better mark him, Bill,” suggested Andy. “No, as he has done me no harm I'll let him go, and I will send a message to Captain Corduroy, or Dud Duncan, by bim.” “Tl carry it, pard Bill, an’ I'll rastle in prayer for yer,” cried the villain. “Prayer from such as you is a mockery,” said Edna, with a look of contempt. ‘*T suppose you know, sir, that Captain Cor- duroy, as you call him, escaped?” ‘* No, pard, fer I came in beur, not wishing to shoot yer, or git hurted myself.” *T have no doubt. that you wished to escape injury yourself, sir, and it is well for you that you came in here, for three of your comrades lie dead out there; but it. would have been the end of me, your coming in here, bad not thisiady been here to thwart your little e,? ‘* An’ she area screamer, pards, fer she jist took me in out o’ mischief, an’ yer see she hey got me fixed.” “Yes, and you are fortunate to escape death at my bands, for I was sorely tempted to shoot you,’’ said Edna, indignantly. **Lordy! I’'d’a’ sot heavy on your conscience, miss; but yer do look as though yer’d hey clipped my spurs fer me, ef yer didn’t let day- light inter my head.” ‘‘ Now, sir,” said Wild Bill, ‘‘I suppose you know where to find Captain Corduroy?” ‘‘T might be able to strike his trail.” “Well, see that you do, and also see that the sunset finds you out of Poker City.” ‘It will, fer a fact,” “Tell Captain Corduroy that circumstances caused me to kill bis brothers; and that now that I know him to be on the path of revenge against me, that I too will strike the same trail against him, and kill him when and wherever I find him. Go!” _ He unfastened the scarf as he spoke, and | i i ‘T leave at once, Miss Insley, and Mr. Dale, the proprietor, and the young clergyman, Mr. Haviland, who is a splendid fellow, you can call on, should you need aid or advice, ‘“‘Good-by,”. and ten minutes after, Wild Bill was mounted upon Midnight, and riding quickly out of Poker City, which was still ina state of intense excitement over the late thrill- ing scenes enacted there. Watching bis departure from a window of a cabin up the valley, was the villain whom Edna Insley bad captured. ‘“Go on, Wild Bill; but our trails will meet ag’in, an’ in settin’ me free yer hes shown mercy to a wolf,” he muttered savagely. CHAPTER XIL. RED RUTH, As I have said before, Captain Corduroy was a man of neive, and he thought quickly ia danger. Although he had hoped to surprise Wild Bill and kill him unawares, he yet, to make certain of him, had gotten four allies to aid him in the work, Having been thwarted by Andy Rush, in getting in a first shot, he bad called to hi- com- rades, and determined to have it Gut th.uas.J there. But the desperate rush of his foe. the reckle-s urging his horse up the steps of the piazz:, took Captain Corduroy aback, which was add to by the desertion of some of his followers, to escape the danger, and the killing of two of them. Seeing that the tide was setting strongly against him, Captain Corduroy, as he felt a stinging sensation on the forehead, where a bullet from Wild Bill’s pistol grazed him, fell quickly to the fluor. : He was not stunned, but feigned death to escape the reality, while Wild Bill rode on into the bar in pursuit of one of his foes, ORR ¢ The crowd naturally followed, as soon as the firing within ceased, and then Captain Corduroy was on his feet in an instant and dashing down the street. He sought the stable where he had put up his horse, threw the saddle upon him, and was hastening out of town, when he suddenly drew rein. ‘Dudley Duncan!” It was bis own name he heard called, and from a woman’s lips, He looked in the direction from whence came the voice, and saw a small cabin of three rooms, situated back under the hillside, and in a clump of pines. In the door stood a woman, and she it was that had called to him. The cabin was isolated, and glancing back, Captain Corduroy saw no one watching him, and he quickly rode up to the cabin, ‘Well, Dud Duncan, what brings you to these parts?” ‘‘ Red Ruth, you here?” The woman was standing in the door, and her fierce black eyes were fixed upon him with a looked that seemed to read his thoughts, Her face was handsome, in spite of its stern and cruel look, and her hair and eyes were. as black as night. , She was dressed in a red velvet ‘suit, fitting ber form, which was slender and graceful, as though made for her by a city modiste. The skirt was short, displaying small feet in JOO = i (El) EGomic cS