Beadle's Dime Library No. 204 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

le > Big Foot Wallace. —— ee Bull’s Head and the Market House, and thence past the rear of the Herald building to his favorable post. | ‘‘ Martin,” said Big Foot, “‘ perceed ter read ther William-duxes, es Joe Boo'h calls ’em. Reckon ther cuss warn’t a ’Nited States mail ridjer, Fact air, I kin sartify if be war, folkses wonldn’t never git nary news from thar friends, speshly ef they was ’spectin’ money.” ‘You appear to be a little anxious in regard t> the contents of this letter, Wallace,” re- marked Campbell. ee ‘“T is jist on ther anxious seat, pard; ’coz | why, I gut a letter ter-day, fer ther fust time in a heap o’ years, an’ hit war from a kaliker- kivered human. She kinder hinted thet this dog-goned galoot—yer needn’t grin; she didn’t put bit in jist thet lingo—hed gut some infer- mashe ’gards whar she was a-goin’, an’ hit air a big myst’ry ter me how the cuss foun’ out her biz an’ trail. But perceed, Mart; I’m dang’d dry, but I kin wait fer my irrigate.” “‘Dog-gone bit,” said Post Oak Bill, impa- tiently, “‘ spit hit out, fer my thro2t feels like hit war chuck full o’ gypsum, an’ my stomach ‘pears ter bev a right smart scatterin’ o’ red ants gittin’ up a big fandang’ on the’r own ac- count.” With a laugh at the eagerness of his two ‘prairie friends, Martin Campbell carefully opened the crumpled letter, which proved to be two different epistles folded compactly to- | gether, the two having evidently been for- warded from points far distant from each other. , The first was from Bonham, Texas, It read thus: “To Mil Diablos; * Big lay atlast. Old man and daughter, with five niggers—daughter very beautiful—on their way to Rio Frio, to pur d and stock. A heap can ‘be made, if Cap wants to take the risk of running the ni _* into Arkansas. The beauty, El Capitan will ol m on sight. Remember the lay-out—i. ¢, a Dearborn, two horses (slam up team) and a Cones- toga, four mules. Watch for them. Then send Juan or Stage on the best nag at hand to the chief, He can pick his own ground for his game, but I get a liberal share of the plunder. Adios, “Mia Demontos.”’ ‘By ther tearin’ terrantaler o’ ther. trop- ics!’’ cried Big Foot Wallace, springing to his feet, ‘ Post Oak Bill, old pard, gi’n us ‘yer paw! I’m a-goin’ ter waltz up ter ther bar, an’ pour down yer a quart o’ prussic acid, what'll wash thet gypsum outen yer throat. We-'uns wouldo’t ’a’ thunk o’ s’archin’ ther condemned kiote, ef yer hedn’t ’a’ shot ther idee at us. Wa-al, dang my panther cat, ef we hesu’t blocked a purty durn black game. George Horner, old boyee, jist h’ist up yer mammoth corporosity, an’ sling out on ther plank ther best chain-ligbtnin’ thet ever war kerral’d inside a bottle. We-uns is goin’ ter a | | hev a fust class X XX jim-jamboree, ’Cos why? Ill sling hit straight at you, an’ hit sha’n’t cost yer a picayune, George. We hes bin doin’ a hefty biz ter-day. Hit’s ther honest fac’! I'm a-givin’ hit squar’; an’ ef yer thinks I’m per- | Capitan Caramba. He air ther wustest pill in ther box, Ther question ’fore this congrega- tion now is, hev Mil Diablos sent his yaljler spies ter Cap’ Caramba with this hyer infer- mashe?” ' ** Hit doesn’t ’pear,” said Post Oak Bill, ‘‘es though Miguel hed spit out much ter his pards. He seems ter bin kinder keepin’ hit shady, so es ter bev ther bigger chance o’ puttin’ in fer shares 0’ ther plunder, Thet’s ther way ma sottin’ him down; though ther cuss what shot him mought ’a’ know’d ther thing clean through an’ skuted fer camp ’fore this.” The attention of the three men was now drawn toward the bar, by the entrance of four young men who were evidently, judging from garb and manner, fresh from the States, or Eastern Texas. Their costumes were gotten up inan attempt to imitate the apparel of the people of the plains, They appeared weary, and were dusty, as if they bad been all day on the road; and when they came in, it was with the air and manner of strangers in a strange land, that they gazed around the room, and at its occupants. Observing the two scouts, their features manifested great interest and curiosity; and after conferring together for a moment, one of the number came up to where they were seated. Touching his hat brim politely, he said: “Gentlemen, will you do us strangers the honor of joining us in a friendly drink?’ “‘Sartinly,” replied Post Oak Bill, thus con- stituting himself the spokesman; ‘‘ sartinly, on one condish,” ‘“‘ And what may that be?” asked the young man, smiling. “Thet yer’ll all pour down p’ison with us arterward,” ‘“We shall be very proud to do so, I assure you,” was the reply; and the young man re- joined his comrades, All walked to the bar, the youth introducing himself on the way as Frank Ames from the lower Trinity country. The Texaas designated whisky as their bever- age, and the tumblers were lifted from tbe bar, clicked and raised upward, when a young man entered the east front door of the estab- lishment, some fifteen feet distant from the party who were drinking. He had the appearance of being about twenty- two years of age, was some five feet seven inches in hight, and remarkably well-propor- tioned. He bad a fair, artistic, Grecian face, handsome and bonest, and the glance of an eagle. His attire was similar to that of the strangers who kad previously arrived, but was coarser, and the weapons he carried were plain and without ornamentation, as well as having the marks of service. As the new-comer entered the bar, he threw a quick glance at its occupants; then, hastily _drawi ¢ 1is sombrero downward, to screen his _fa:e from the men at the bar, he passed direct- varicatin’, ax Martin, er my pard Post Oak Bill!” Several Texans had entered the bar while the three men had been engaged in reading the letter; and, when the giant scout ended bis characteristic ‘‘little piece,” the room rung with the wildest laughter, winding up with three ringing rounds of cheers for the King of the Post Oaks. Then Martin Campbell in-_ formed the crowd that they had found an open letter in the pocket of Miguel Rios, directed to Mil Diablos (Thousand Devils). Then remembering the second epistle, Camp- bell invited the two seouts to return with him to their corner; and, excusing themselves, they proceeded to diseuss it, “Mit D1aBLos:— “We have moved about twenty miles f ness,’ but on the opposite side from ‘ Camp.’ Good water, good game, and an easy posi- tion to defend against olds. But we can’t expect to remain here any length of time, as the scouts and rangers will run in on our outfit when they git the wind of us. The letter you sent by Ignatio gives valuable information. A party have started from East Texas, and there is adead sure thing on a big le, if we can ‘lay for’ the outfit, and take them ny lange sum by and detention Look out fora Dearborn and a Conestoga wagon. The owner is Colonél Bowen, and his lovely daughter is the ‘wanted party.’ Send Juan or ignatio as soon as they show up, and strike for Medina. “Yours, till the noose tightens, **CaprITaAN CARAMBA.”’ ‘‘Wa-al, dang my peculiar exclaimed Big Foot. tuck shooter ter git a squar’ whack at thet ee to the ‘Little Drink,’ rom the one I can depend on, for the capture | | trail that opens ‘ busi- | Mesquite | for, besides the cash they have, I am offered a / of the girl who is with the party. | ' panther-cat!” | “T’'d give my ole Ken- | ly across the open walk between the card-tables, and then, observing the rear door, opened it quietly and stepped over the threshold in haste. No sooner did the young man close the door behind him, than a man in Mexican costume, with a long knife in his hand, confronted him, h's black, snake-like eyes glaring murderously. But without drawing his weapon, the young man raised his clinched fist, which he shot out with great velocity, planting a most terrible blow in the face of his swarthy antagonist, who fellin a heap to the earth, as though a bullet had pierced his brain. CHAPTER IV. SWIFT AND SURE. DensE shrubbery grew close up to the veranda, and on the side of the house in which the sleeping apartment of Mrs. Bowen was situated, and the colonel bad but struck the floor, when, from the asaquea bushes sprung Captain Jack Ames into the room, and grasp- ing the glass which contained but a small por- tion of claret, he cast it afar into the bushes, replacing the goblet and vanishing into the dark shades as rapidly as he had come. Rosa, the quadroon, becoming alarmed at the non-appearance of her mistress, went to ascer- tain its cause. The children were now up, and playing on the veranda. Upon reaching their room, the girl discovered her master, lying upon the floor, and shrieked with affright, causing the other house-servants to flock around her; all adding their cries, as they realized that something dreadful had occurred. Not one of them felt equal to approaching their master, and the silence and deathlike stillness of their mistress, as she jay on her couch in that dim chamber, filled them with dread and horror. They all fell on their knees, At this moment the old slave from the stables, came rushing in with a scared face, Grasping a pitcher of water, he dashed the contents over the bead of Colonel Bowen, who groaned for a moment, and then opened his eyes in bewilderment. When the truth, at length, burst upon his mind, be sprung to his feet and threw himself beside his dead wife, clasping his arms about her rigid form. As soon as he bad sufficiently recovered bim- self, the old servant gave a prolonged wail, which was echoed by the other slaves, who were now aware that death was in their midst. To make the sad scene even more impressive, the children, Eddie and Belle, now rushed into the room; aud seeing their mother silent, climbed upon the bed, and began trying to awake her. But we must draw a vail over this hour of anguisb, and hurry on, by a mere mention of the facts which transpired soon after; for more exciting scenes in the lives of those we write of call for all the space we have at our command. There was, as may be imagined, much com- ment among the neighboring planters and their families, in regard to the sudden death of Mrs. Bowey, and poison was hinted at; but as no one could have had any motive for such a deed, except ner husband, and as his grief had driven him to the very verge of insanity, his worst enemy would not have thought of accus- ing him of such a rime. The family physician found no traces of poison, and pronounced the death of Mrs. Bowen as having been caused by disease of the heart; be certifying that she had been so af- fected from her childhocd. Captain Ames bad disappeared on the same afternoon: but this was not coupled by any one with the sad affair, for he had always been in the habit of suddenly eppearing and disap- pearing. But the stricken husband knew well, in his own mind, that his wife had met her death at the hands of his partner and friend; and that, sooner or later, Jack Ames would come and demand payment of the note which he held against him. There was no saying, in- deed, what such a villain might not be found capable of doing. Colonel Bowen, in the depths of bis great grief arid remorse, registered a vow that he would avenge the cowardly murder of his wife; that Jack Ames, if he ever crossed his path, should die by his hand. He decided, however, upon instant removal from Florida; and, disposing of the planta- tion and the greater number of the slaves, he took the two children, and teft for parts un- known to the old friends of bis wife. He went to Texas, and there purchesed a plantation, within five miles of the estate of Major Adler, a fact of which be was not aware, until some time after he bad been set- tled in his new home. When Frank Adler first learned that the woman he had so fondly loved had some to her death so soon after her marriage, be had bis own suspicions of foul play, and resolved at once to watch over the interests of ber chil- dren, as wel! as to keep an eye upon the ac- tions of Colonel Bowen. The latter led a miserable life, daily expect- ing the appearance of Ames upon the scene. He had not iong to wait. Scarce three montlis had he been in Texas, when, one evening es he was riding in the dense bottom timber of the Trinity river, a horseman confronted bim, and although it was twilight, he recognized his old partner—an exultant and sinister smile stamped upon his face. Ames appeared to be, judging from his ap- parel, in reduced circumstances; or, possibly he had assumed his rough garmeovts as a disguise. Colonel Bowen trembled for a moment with long pent-up rage, but soon mastered himself, — and became firm as a rock. “Hallo! old pard,” said Ames, “we ure well met. I was just om my way to your plantation.” ‘You are no ‘perd’ of mine, Jack Ames,” returned the colonel, in an icy tone. ‘* When you poisoned the best, the kindest, the most beautiful woman in Florida, und that woman IOO com Cs) (E