Beadle's Dime Library No. 204 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 Big Foot Wallace, The King of the Lariat; OR Wild Wolf. the Waco. BY “BUCKSKIN SAM” (MAJOR SAM S. HALL), AUTHOR OF ‘‘DIAMOND DICK,” ‘“‘ THE LONE 1 AR GAMBLER,’ ‘“‘ THE TERRIBLE TONKAWAY,” ‘‘ KIT CAR SON, JR.,”” ETC. CHAPTER L DOOMED. “ Poboe pablite! Pbdboe ceti !” This outcry came from a Mexican woman, and was ip a loud tone, filled with anguish the most intense, and mingled with beart-rending horror, ag the speaker sprung wildly forward, fell prostrate on the plaza, and clasped in her arms 9 small boy that had just been trampled to earth by a galloping steed ridden by a swar- thy and villainous looking Greaser, who was evidently well “primed” witt the favorite beverage of his country—mezeal. “Pat this* cowardly act was observed by men who were ready and anxious to avenge the little muchacho, will be seep by what im- mediately transpired within twenty paces of the scene. «““Thuncer an’ blazes, Wallace! what yer a- loosenin’ yer rope fer? We're in San Antone, an’ not ’mong ther post-oaks Reckon yer must be b’ilin’ over with p'ison,” These words were spcken in a quick, aston- ished tone, by a strongly-built Texan, as he observed his companion, by a lightning-like movement, jerk his lasso from his revolver, over which it hung loosely, the pistol or course being in his belt. “ Stan’ outen ther way, an’ take s squar’ gaze at me! 1’m sober, plum up an’ down, an’ means speedy biz!”’ ‘‘Why, in Crockett’s name, didn’t yer say so fust off, without axin’?’ And the questioner sprung aside from his companion, whe was a man of more than average size, and seemingly of extraordinary strength. The giant borderer drew back his right shoulder, tbe well-greased coils of the rope waving snakelike above his head; he then gave a forward swing to his whole body, the raw hides at the same moment leaving his hand and hissing through the air. The deadly noose flew over, and then sunk about the-neck of the Mexican, who, as luck had it, had been swerved toward his fate by obstructing wagons. Only an instant was be conscious of his dan- ger. The next he was twitched from his prancing, spur-maddened wustang to the ground by so powerful a hand that his head struck the bard earth, causing him to lose all consciousness In a moment the plaza was a scene of up- roar al! rushing to the point of commotion where the dexterous lassoist stood, his foot upon the man he had jerked so quickly from his saddle. The Main Plaza of San Antonic de Bexar, Texas, where this scene occurred, is a very large square, and was at this time partly filled with the wagons of rancheros, the burros of the Mexicans, and people of all garbs and na- tionalities. - §¢ Hurrah for Big Foot Wallace!” ‘Chalk another fer ther King 0’ ther Post Oaks!” “ Hoop-la! Set ’em up fer ther boss scout 0’ ther Sou’ west!” These shouts, and others of like _ character, filled the air from all sides, and in a perfect polygict; fo1 men of all nations, that is honest men, loved the giant scout of the Lone Star State. As_ has been mentioned, Big Foot Wallace war aman of large build, as well as a model of strength. : He was clothed in buckskin breeches, tucked int: huge cow-hide boots, coarse woolen shirt and black sombrero with wide brim—all these garments showing much servics—in fact, Big Foot néver felt easy and natural whem he had anything new- about his ‘“make-up,” for, in purchasing a sombrero, for example, he would kick it up and down the plaza until it resem- blea a hat somewhat worn,and roll around camp, “ ter git.”as he would say,.‘‘ther stif- fenin’ outen fresh leggins er shirt.” ' SOC CCS oe ee Big Foot Wallace. Appereled as he was, having also a huge bowie-knife and a brace of old-style “ Colts leetle kid, I made ready ter take him a flyin’; but I hed no idee he war ther meat I hed bin sixes” ir his belt, one would, upon glancing | gazin’ arter, though when I sent raw: bide arter at his stalwart form, his bearded face, and | him, I felt right peart an’ good from seulp ter toes, fer I knowed at onc’t I hed gut ter ther having heard his peculiar mode of expressing himself, suppose him to be a rough, perhaps heartless, brawling borderman; but it needed only one glance into his mild blue eyes to prove to any intelligent person that Wallace was as kindly as a woman, and as innocent as a child. His prodigious ‘‘ understandings ”—not that they were disprorportioned to his frame, te any very noticeable extent, but seemed larger than they really were, from the fact that he insisted | upon bis boots being ‘‘ roomy ”—had given him his sobriquet, With a heartfelt ‘‘ Gracias a Dios!” as she ascertained that her boy had not been killed, the Mexican woman, with assistance from some kindly bands, had borne the injured lad to her home; in her deep anxiety, and maternal solicitude, neglecting to thank the man who had punished the coward, who had apparently acted purposely and in malice. As the yells of the crowd subsided, ali be- came anxious to learn the name and character of the miscreant who lay senseless in their midst. ‘‘By ther grim Moses, Wallace,” said his ———$—$ $a ———— comrade, known as Post Oak Bill; “‘ yer made | thet rope whiz, like a whip snake, er a streak o’ chain-lightnin’, and ther yaller kiote struck dirt like es if a pound o’ lead hed bored him. | Whe ther dickens air he? Does anybody hyer reckerniz6 ther puserlanimus galoot?”’ “Hit "pears ter me,” put in a looker on, “thet he’s a Rio Grander, by ther cog’ o’ Mustang Jim.” ‘‘ Jim war suspended last week,” said Big Foot. ‘‘Reckon you lost a lariat about that time, didn’t you, Wallace?’ asked a bystander, laugh. | i only onc’t er twic’t a moon, ter take a soak ing. ‘‘-Ya-as, I chipped in ther heftiest part o’ ther plata, ter purchase Jim a sarviceable | neck-tie.” “‘ Mebbe so ther Greaser hed a grudge ag’in’ ther boy er ther woman, an’ we kin find out | sutbin’ by her "bout ther yaller cuss,” suggested Post Oak Bill. “ Thet war a high-fly plug he, rid, what hed chawed a power o’ ther bestest Texas mesquite- grass in hit’s day, thongh hit hain’t waltzed round ther perrarars.more’n four year, Who kerral’d thereritter? Reckon I hes a claim on ther animile.” ‘ Bob Cayle has got the horse stabled, sub- ject to your ordeys, Wallace,” explained a | citizen: ‘‘Ha! ha! ha!” laughed the giant scout. “This air a good one! Ef I should gitupa lynch picnic, makin’ ther yaller belly ther bestest draw, Bob would hev me foul; fer I owes him more fer terrantaler juice than ther critter are wuth!” The crowd laughed heartily, and Big Foot added: ‘He ’pears ter lay still enough now, but hit hain’t bin long since he war on a yellin’, prancin’ hooraw.” ‘‘Ther tumble yer gi’n him, would ’a’ made a “ big-horn” sick *nough ter puke, pard,” said Post Oak Bill. ‘Reckon we’ll hev ter’low him time enough when he comes roun’ ter biz, ter pray a leetle, ‘fore we gi’n him a whiz toward kingdom come. He won’t never be no nigher thet-a-ways than a live oak er a mesquite limb. I’ve knowed ther condemn’'d skunk all along, boyees. He’s one o’ Cortina’s boss butchers, an’ come byar- a-ways on ther spy. I ’members onc’t, when my leetle pards, Buckskin Sam an’ Reckless Joe, was with me on a sort 0’ a loose scout down Nueces way, thet we struck a camp 0’ Greasers what hed a lot o’ nags they bed con- fiscated on ther Rio Medina, Hit war rite when we tuck ’em nappin’, an’ we jist laid ther mostesh 0’ them out cold, fer kiote lunch. I gut a fa’r sight o’ this gerloot’s face by camp fire light, an’ friz hit down in my brain-box fer futur’ use, fer he lit out speedy ter kiver, an’ stompeded lively fer ther Rio Grande, “We tuck ther stock back ter ther Medina, ar’ foun’ thet ther, yaller thieves hed run in op a kerral, hed a fight ter git away with ther nags, an’ héd wiped out three rancheros, One on ’em, what war. bored clean through ther brain-box, war a pard o’ mine; an’ I swored then, ef I ever run across this yaller hyena, I'd hang him up fer seed. When I see’d ther pepper-eater stompede his critter over thet eend of a keerect trail. “Dang ther long-ha’red, short-legged son of a raw-hide scraper! He’s hed consider’ble ter do with Cortina, fer Sam gut a sight o’ bim in a scrimmage at ther Carrizo scrape. He hev mixed right smart with white folkses, an’ could make some big buzzard-fly’s in purty pure ’Nited States lingo. But, boyees, he’s begin- nin’ ter come back ter Texas ag’in. We'll gi’o him a few breaths o’ San Antone air, an’ then a telegraph send-off ter Tophet.” The Mexican showed signs of returning con- sciousness, groaning heavily, kicking and toss- ing his arms wildly about, while his ruffianly features were contorted with pain. ‘‘Thunder an’ blazes!” exclaimed Post Oak Bill. ‘‘ Let’s cut off his wind, boyees, afore some ‘ fresh’ comes along an’ gits a sight o' his beautiful pictur’! He air enough ter scare a woman inter a dead wilt et any time, but [ll sw’ar, es he ‘pears now, he’d stompede a kava- yard 0’ nags, by jist smilin’ in his lovin’ way at ther critters.” At this moment an American youth came in haste through the crowd, elbowing bis way, and springing to the side of the giant scout, when he touched his hat brim, saying in a re- spectful tone: ““T believe I have the honor of addressing Mr. Wallace?” The King of the Post Oaks glanced down into the face of the youth, in some surprise and bewiderment. ‘‘Ya-as,” put in Pest Oak Bill; “thet must be ther man ye'’re a-huntin’, but yer - needn’t ter mister my pard fer hit makes him ' ' sick, an’ he kin dress hisself without troub- lin’ anybody, fer he doesn’t skin off his togs with ther gars an’ cat-fish, jist ter be sociable like.” The youth looked in wonder at the speaker, and also in some impatience; and when the communication was brought te an end, he quickly passed a delicate note into the hand of the giant scout, who received it with even more surprise than he had the introductory words which preceded it, The young man now said, in explanation: “ Big Foot Wallace—if I may be so familiar as to cal! yor thus, which, upon second thought, I acknowledge [ought to have done at first—a lady, a young and very beautiful lady gave me that note to deliver to you, She is in yonder Dearborn, to which two fine horses are attached. I advise you to read the letter at once, or you will not be favored by a sight of her, as they are about to start from the plaza.” The face of the scout was nowastudy. Con fusion, perplexity, and ever apprehension, stamped themselves in turn upon his features, settling down to the latter feeling, as he beld the epistle betweer his thumb and fingers. at arm’s length, as if expecting the thing to explode. Post Oak Pill roared with laughter, as a’sc did many of the bystanders, for they all knew that the famous scout and ranger would much rather take bis chances in a .charge into e Comanche war party, than to be forced to con- verse, or make an attempt that way, with a woman, old or young, for ten minutes, “Hyer, leetle one,” he spoke up at last, ‘‘thar’s a peso fer yer, ter pay fer pickin’ up yer heels lively an’ skutin’ fer them wagons ag’in. Tell ther drivers thet ef they doesn’t bump tharselves, an’ git outen San Antone in two flip-flaps of an alligator’s tail, Big Foot ’il scoop ’em in outen ther wet; fer I sw’ar by ther blood o' Crockett I wouldn’t sling tongue fer five minits with a female woman for fifty saddle-nags. Whatin thunderation does ther caliker-kivered humans mean by gittin’ cl’ar outen civilize?’ «Frightened atthe amount of trouble he seemed to have been the agent in bringing upon the noted frontiersman, the youth rushed back through the crowd to perform his errand: but, before he had gone ten paces, Bill Lambert, a young pard of the giant scout, volunteered to relieve his prairie friend from his embarrassing position, by reading the letter. Opening it, therefore, Bill read, in a tone which could reach the ears of Big Foot and Post Oak Bill only. It ran as fol- lows: (E(e) Ne - ——4 — +--+ fH : - a