Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 192 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

~ — , ‘to utter another syWable. 25 Ct é At that instant the judge sprung backward, and throwing his arms behind him clasped Circus Pete around the waist. There was no chance nor time for resistance. Down to ‘the floor dropped the two men together, | : CHAPTER XXYV". : ANOTHER CAPTIVE, As the twy rolled on the floor the judge uttered the signal, word and then shut his teeth hard, and with locked hands held to his gripe. As long as he could retain that he had little fear, fcr the arms of the other had bappened to be held low down, and Schneiier had _ pinioned them both. No chance had the juggler to obtain a purchase or to exert his +trength. Like bands of steel the arms were around. him, binding bim to the living cloz, me ‘Then a flickering ligut appeare:), and three | mien, heaied by Bill Cols, sprung at tha roiling | figures on the floor, hidde’ in the shadows. And just in time they were, for, ¢ spite his advantage, the arms of the judge invsened, and he dro, ped almost se soless. had cne chance, and had used it. Throwin; his head ds far back as possible, be had s.ung }5 They bad been there, | of the ‘‘court,” one after another, pronounce the verdict of death by the rope. ‘And over his breast,” added the judge, shall hang a placard, ‘This is the man that shot Lightning Dick from behind. Tried, sen tenced and execut+d by the Vigilantes.’” ‘*Nuw, boye-s, strip him a leetle, an’ we'll cart bim down to ther tree whar Circus Pete tuk ther jump fur glory,” | Water. At Cole’s suggesticn they would bave torn | away robe and cowl, but Scbneiver held up his han J, ‘*No, Leave him as he is, If uny one else saw the shot fired they will recogniz» the justice of the sentence, OY with him. won't walk, carry him, and maybe you had Letter gag hima before we start, We don’t vant the whole town turning out to ree a pri- vate circus,” As the juggler vefused to walk, be was car- vied, aul there +7a3s som? slight yiain of satis- | fection. in thar, if aman con .! find satisfaction | C rou; Pota bal | in snvthing with deaih so nea:, As the Bar was largely cecupied in a differ- ent direction, and the piace of executiou was reachel by a road that led right away from forward with all the power of the musc.es ci | his neck an | shoulder, catching, the judge jusi behind the ear, and then had given a roli.nz, sideways jerk, flinging himself looss—but righ’ into the arms of Cole and his comrades, Each one of the three was a Hercules for strength, and a panther in swiftness. They caught his arms and legs, crushed him with their weigbt, and bound him with ready cords, Then they tied loosely over his head a thin coat, and set him upon a bench against the wall. He could hear, speak; but not sce his assailants, who, as yet, were not taking any chances, In case there should come any inter- ruption he would never know who had struck in to aid the julge. The latter rose from the floor, rubbing his head, and looking around like a man not more than half-awake. He was too dazed to be gry, and it was several minutes before he _ had recovered his wits. “Tf it please ther court,” began Cole, speak- ing in a thick, husky voice, that his own mother would not have recognized. ‘‘ Ther’s bin three er four bloody murdars committed at ther Bar; an’ one ov ’em ther Vigilantes must take account ov, not beca’se oy ther party killed, but beca’se er man et hed hed er row with him took ther chance when he war doin’ his best ag’in’ er straight flush ter warp it to him from behind. Ef those style gits inter- doosed at Slaughter Bar, no man kin start a bit ov fun fur fear some tender-tved cuss ‘ll try er snap shot frum bebind er door. We hung qne Circus Pete fur jist sich er game; an’ hyar’s another ov ther same stripe. Shake him up an’ see ef he don’t pan out jist thet kind.” “Prisoner at the bar, what do you say to the charge?” The voice of Judge Schneider took up the strain. No use for him to try disguise. ““T say it’s all er put-up job,” responded the prisoner, in muffled tones, understanding that he was addressed. ‘“*This hyar gerloot hez reasons fur wishin’ ter be rid ov me, an’ he’s tryin’ ter pull ther wool over ther eyes ov squarer men than hisself, Ther Bullion Boss are his pard, a bottom deal are his game, an’ I seen him fire ther shot what took ther Light- nin’ Sport out ov ther wet, I reckon yer goin’ ter hang me ter save him, That’s all right. I don’t kick when it don’t count, an’ I sha’n’t speak another word, Go. on with yer chicken-fightin’.” ~ Pete closed his mouth with a snap of his teeth that was distinctly audible; and refused Whetser he was hopelessly sullen, Or too’ full of Jwide, he did not.even offer to raise big voice to cry for help. — The shanty was by itself, some distance in the rcar of the hotel, and there was now a séntinel ‘outside to givs warning if any cone | oached, but certainly the man could have a A self heard if he had made tho effort. He there, 2 hooded statue, and heard the’ judge take the formal oath of a court of law, and then swear his life away with the soost deliberate perjury. Tt was ‘alla farce, to be sure. These men wanted to murder him, and they would have done it anyhow; but they had been shrewd encuity seme to plan to do it under a semi-legal guise. He did not even utter a grant of disapprobation when he hedrd the members Lovrn, there was not much chance of interrup- t.on, tee that in about. the length of time some meu would have taken to comb their hair, the con- demned stood under the fatal tree, a noose about his neck. and Judge Schneider’s hand raising to give the fatal signal. “ Good-night, my friend,” said the judge, coolly. ‘ You know the old saying, ‘Give a dog a bad name and hang him.’ You made a mistake when you chose yours. You are num- ber two, and I shouldn’t be surprised if a third was turned off within the month. Keep a lookout, and probably you'll see the other Cir- eus Pete coming over the range. Up with him, boys. ‘There’s no further use for him here.” “T’m not so sure of that,” interrupted a strange voice, ‘‘A minute, if you please. I want to ses what this little game is. Uncover that man’s head, and De quick about if, too.” The voice was strange, and yet there was something familiar about it, ‘‘Tt’s ther Bullion Boss, by ther jumpin’ Jehu!” Bill Cole supplemented his exclamation by a movement for his revolver, but paused as he saw it was a trifle too late for effective resist- ance. The road-agent chief never spoke until he held the drop. He and his men had their weapons out and aimed. The so-called Vigi- lantes were in a fair way to be taken in, Nevertheless, they were men of sand, and perhaps would have risked the chances if their leader had given the word. He did not; but, on the c»ntrary, first and highest of all held up his bands as he gave the order to obey. With the mask off of the prisoner the out- law bent forward and studied the man as well as possible by the light, “They rather have you foul, my friend; let’s hear what it’s all about.” “You're ’round at last,” answered Mahone, thanklessly surly. ‘It’s time you were comin’, but I thort you wouldn’t throw off on a cove that war dojn’ his level, best to earn yer money.” ‘““My money! _ Me throw off! thing strange about you, my friend, have I to do with your affairs?” ‘Don’t play off on Circus Pete—” ‘Ab! The road-agent gave a sudden spring and scized the juggler by the throat, drawing him hastily forward, and this time peering into his facé with closer attention, and then, with a quick movement, running a hand over his head, ‘“Who.are you? .What doyoumean? Well for you, at Jeost, that yot. are aliar. Iam hunting for the true Circus Pete; and by the s#me token he is hunting for me. Both of us can’t livelong. You ran a*big risk when you rung that name in on me,” “Don't play it that way on me. We talked that all over this mornin. You tole _me ter watch ther jedge; an’ I’ve bin a-watelfin’ him. Ef T hadn't done it a leetle too well he wouldn’t ’a’ run ther risks ov takin’ me in ter- night.. It war a cute trick ez done it, too; but that’s all right now. It won’t winag’in, Cut mie loose, an’ leo me go.” — “My friend, it strikes me you're piling it up a little too thick. No talk did we have, for this morning I was twenty miles away. Strike There’s some- W bat Schneider? If he | some obker lead that will pan out a better crop of truth.” : ‘IT b'Peve yor afeard ov ther jedge, an’ are takin’ water,” ground out the juggler, appa- rently exasperated by what he considered the c ol mendacity of the statement, ‘‘ An’ I tied ter you ’cos I thort \ou war ther better man! Bah! You ain’t fi$ ter lead blind monkeys te Ask ther j-d- eet LE hain’t done ther w rk jist ez yer tol» me, Oh, puil an’ sho_t. You ain’t fit ter kick crippl+s.” ** Don’t bs so fresh, my friend. . How is this, What is thisaman mooning about: “If you want to disown your agent, leave him in our bands,” sullenly responded thea judge, * But there's no use for meto tell a ligaboutit, He’s earned the twenty you gave him this morning; but he’s a deal too. sharp. He may ‘serve you well enough to-day; bus to-morrow helliake usbotb intocamp. Betier let him, tell vou all he knows, which I] swear Pn’ mnh, smd then leave bira with us.” * And you set up the same story, to. Tor 2 Cozen dollars Vil wipe you all.out; but tbers se insa ter allt) be sometiing werih lookines into bere. LU give you wy werd—as! I don’t. often lie - that neither of you havo I So sharp was the action of the commit- | — ————EeEeE ” ana seen before to day.” “Then hold your edge till I see what Tin going to.do on my hand,” The judge spoke with quick earnestness. He was half convinced in spite of himself. * Not a bit of it. From what EI gather, he is a very worthy sort of a young man. [Pl tell you what ’lido, Tl let you out for tha present, Youand your men skip right owt, and as for Circus Pete, as he calls himself, lil take charge of him.” sé But—” ‘‘ Against a wall, will you? Skip—I mean it! VU see you again when I know more, By by.. And don’t forget there’s half a dozen revolvers looking after you. Don’t you stop, or step slow, or there'll be some dead citizens lying round loose,”’ The judge hesitated, : ‘‘ Git!” repeated the other, in deadly earnest. Then Schneider and his men, thoroughly subdued, walked away, leaving their intended victim in the hands of the road agents. CHAPTER XXVIL AN UNSATISFACTORY INTERVIEW. THE judge was in. a horrible bad humor and | when they reached the street, at the Pilgrim’s Pride he dismissed his attendants, who chuckled as they turned away. As yet they had no particular quarrel with Circus Pete, and so had no interest beyond a financial one in tak- ing him cff in an underbanded way. As for at- tempting the capture of the Bullion Boss, in which there would have been a great deal more money, they had been so thoroughly covered and the case was so utterly hupeless that they never once thought of it until they bad sepa- rated from their commander. ' With his bands deeply immersed in hig pockets Schneider strode along. Although he saw a man strolling ahead of him he paid lit- tle attention to bim. His form was just visi- ble in the shadow of the long, Jow building, At another time the judge might have suspect- ed a spy, now he was thinking of something else, As a consequence his rapid gait carried him past the man, Then he felt a sudden slap on his shoulder, and looking around, there was his bete now again. 1 ‘‘ Ha, ha!, Not. a half bad game, jedge., Yer think I can’t climb a chimbley, eh? Nary wool did yer draw over the eyes oy. Circus Pete. . I see’d thar war a game afoot, an’ Llet yer plant ther other man, I’m still around,” Schneider uttered .a hearty curse as he stag- gered back from the thump, aud siered at the man as if he was a ghost. He could 1.ot be lieve that he had made such a mistake; and, if he had what did the other @ouble want with him? S35 ERUEe both after me, I knew—or thought [ knew—what you wanted; but what was he up.to/ There can be no mistake. He and that Lightning Dick were pards, and the black velvet sport was—* | He finished the sentence to himself; and the words he murmured-were “young Clinton Bride.” 7 ‘* Kerrect, ez I’m willin’ ter put up me coin, Me namesake are a bad man, an’ he meant. ter go through yer. Ef yer had ary specie, bul.. lion er'vallyble papers he war ther rooster ter, swipe ’em in,” » JOO <eoim Ss) €o (E