Beadle's Dime Library No. 204 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

rman” a la i? ns through life be bordered with brilliant flowers of sweetest perfume.” The scouts looked at each other in silence. As things were going, they seemed to be get- ting mixed in with the affairs and friends of this Bowen family. ‘‘See hyer, pard,” said Biil, at length, ‘* ver must ’scuse we’uns fer lingerin’ in this erri- gate biz, fer yer see them four tenderfoots is all startin’ on ther same sort. o’ trail, an’ we war kinder sot back when yer shot out ther viame o’ Bowen. War yer ’quainted with ther curnil in East Texas?” ‘Yes; ever since I can, remember. | Those fellows must have had a spy in the household of Colonel Bowen, or 'théy ‘could not, have known of his departure. They have no; good object in view, and they shall not know, of my presence on the trail, if I can keep it secret. ‘Did they impress you, gents, favorably?” “Waal,” said Big Foot, “I shouldn’&. keer ter be on ther same trail with; them, an’ be ‘bleeged ter count-on thar puttin’ in a blow, ef a ‘scrimmage «come on, They “pears ter be more likd card-sharps than real Simon-pure XXX gents, though they puts, ona heap 0’ style.” ede ‘‘Gentlemen,” said George Adler, ‘‘I’m a straightforward man, and L never beat/around the bush. You know that I wouldn’t be fol- lowing the Bowens without aw object, and; I'll tell you what it is, for 1 would trust. my life with either of you. I love Belle Bowen;j/and she loves me; but her father. would rather. see her dead than my wife. First, because, |. am poor; and, Secondly, because he looked om my father as ‘anienemy to him | Belle’s brother is a wanderer, and has been so for years, he hav- ing foughtaduel with that very Ames who-has just left here, and thinking he had killed him, he fled) | There is some mystery about their quarrel, and. mo one,except perhaps Colonel Bowen, knows why Edward so cetested Frank Ames. The colonehdis taking Belle away se- cretly forthe reason 1 have told you. Ames is a gambler and a-dishonest man, but it is pos- sible that the colonel may be willing to give him his daughter, and there may be an under- standing between them in this move. Belle, however, has a strong will, and we are solemn- ly plighted to each other: She knows that I will follow her, and watch over her. I am aware that it isa dangerous locality through which they have to pass; and I haye sought you, gentlemen, to gain information, and, if possible, to enlist. you in our service. I am poor, as I hayé said; but I will cheerfully give you five hundred dollars each to serve me one month, Will that sum be satisfactory? What say you?” “ Hit’ll be jist ’bout five hundred pesos too much,” said Post Oak Bill. ‘How air you inclernated ter shoot off on ther ques’, pard Wallace?” ‘*] doesn’t want nary a picayune,” was the reply. ‘‘I’m in ther sarvice o’ that angel; an’ hes bin since she sent that letter ter me. Hit said she war ’spectin’ yer on ther trail, an’ she wanted we~uns ter gi’n yer astraight send-off.” George Adler caught the hand of Wallace, exclaiming: ‘“What do you mean, pard? You don't mean that she, Belle Bowen, has written a let- ter to you?’ “Why not? Yer isn’t gittin’ jealous, is yer?” ‘‘ No,” said Adler, laughing; ‘tut it seems strange, and I am greatly pleased to know it.” “Poank yer, pard; yer pan out jist *bout as Big Foot was here interrupted by a loud noise at the back door, as if some one had fallen against it. The commotion reminded Adler of the villainous assassin he had knocked down, and he sprung forward and opened the door. It was now evening, but the bar-room was brilliantly illuminated; which fact would, for a moment, blur the sight of one looking: in from the outside. The Mestizo stood facing the young mat, as he swung open the door, on thevery threshold. — A most repulsive objecu he was to look upon. His forehead was badly bruised and much swollen, and blood had flowed down over his face and breast; while, from out the gore, glittered his black eyes with a panther-like rage, as he caught sight of George Adler. Realizing his peril, he half raised his fist, his features contorted hideously, his lips curled like a wild beast at bay, his white teeth tight set and grating; then, like an arrow from the bow, he darted off in the darkness. ‘Hit ‘pears ter me thet red nigger recker- oo i— —_ — ——- = eo _ Bi Foot Wallace. nized yer, pard,” said Big Foot; ‘“‘an’ hes a heap o’ double-distilled cussedness laid up ag’in’ yer. I s’posed yer hed jist ’roved, an’ hedn’t hed time ter buck ag’in’ San Antone Greasers, | Hes yer hed a argyment with him, what called | for somethin’ with more vim than ’Nited States. lingo er Rio Grande cuss-words ter close up with?” ‘‘ No, pards; [never spoke a word with him, —— ee —E ‘‘Does yer know. ther squar’ way outen San Antone? An’ come to think, whar’s yer crit- ter?’ ‘‘ At Whittle’s stable. I made inquiries be- fore I met you, aud I can find my way out of town, and to the ford of the Rio Medina, . I am a thousand times obliged to you.for think- ing of that. Indian. . He may be of great use to me,” I remember having seen bim at my elbow near _ the Plaza House when [ inquired. in regard to_| Colonel Bowen’s wagons; and when you were drinking with Ames,and his friends 1 came in at yonder door, and:as soon as 1 saw who were. | at the bar; not wishing tobe recognized by the | men from East Texas; I passed through to.this door, opened it, and) sprung directly. out, Finding, that. xuffian im my ,path—he had no | doubt been playing the spy—Ihad_a slight. en- counter with him... He drew,a.long knife, and I gave him a stunner between the eyes. It laid him out for sometime, evidently, as he seems to. have, but jast)recovered from it, .He may be in the employ of Ames, and Il may be mis- taken in thinking that Frank does, not know L-| am ou the.trail.’’ a “ Dog-gone my,great. gran’-mother’s. old set-_ tin’ hen!”’, said..Post. Oak Bill, ashe brought»his fist down, upon,the table with a heavy bang, and then rushed.,out of. the room, cadling. for | his; {miends to join. him. ect ts Big Foot and Adler hastened outside. “ Jist. look,.a-byar,. Big.Poot,’ said Bill ex- | citedly,, ‘1 reckon 1 know whar thar’s a pa’r) o’ dang’d fools, an’ not far.off neither. .When we war a-readin’ ther letters what we took outen Miguel’s , pocket, .we sot at thet table under. this . windy, an’ hyar’s .a, spot rubbed,clar 0’ dirt. Yer kin jist bet yer last lingrin’ two-bit piece thet cuss what George laid out. war one o’ ther same outfit as Miguel, an’ thet. he air one 0’ Cap’, Caramba’s spies!” | ‘Tm dang’defil doesn’t b’lieve yer’s right,” agreed Wallace; “‘an’I ’gins ter think, pard, yer is gittin’ dog-goue smart an’ keen o’ late. Hes yer tuck in.a new stock,o’ -braius?’,) ‘Nary, ‘pard; bat I hes enough ter know | that ther Bowen outfit never’ see ther Nueces; an’ hit stan’s a fa’richance ter be gobbled up now.”’’ il 4 “What does all this mean?’ asked Adler, in surprise. | “Hitumeans thet. we hes gut ter hump our- selves ter-morrer mornin’ bright an’ hvely,’ replied Big Foot; ‘‘ fer Miss Belle air in some consider'ble danger o’ gittin’ tuck by ther rene- gades an’ scum o’ ther Bravo.” ‘Then, by heavens!” exclaimed Adler, ‘‘I shall start to-night. 1 do not propose to enter the camp of the Bowens, but just to hover around, and guard them agaiusta surprise. I shall also endeavor to have speech with Belle privately. If you, pards, will follow me.to- morrow, timing your speed tostrike the night’s camp, and arriving unobserved, I shall be re- joiced; and if you can start and keep abead of those four fellows at the Menger, I shall be doubly pleased.” ‘* We-’uns ‘ll fill ther bill ter a dot, pard. We kin take keer o’ ther four galoots, I reckon; an’ we doesn’t eross han’s with everybody what comes along. Remember thet; an’ what’s more, thar is but few humans we-’uns pards with; on a trail er off; but 1 knows a squar’ man when I sees bim, an’ I kinder cottons ter yer. ‘Sides thet, I air goin’ ter see thet gal through, er lose ha’r; so we air pards from this on. Yer hes solid: sense, an’ knows yer own biz; but look out fer ther cuss what ye laid out at Horner’s back door. He'll crawl on yer ef thar is ther leastest show. Ef yer strike ther camp o’ ther Bowens, an’ doesn’t hev no call ter glide in on ’em fer a visit, jist skute down ther bottom timber ’bout a mile below ther ford on ther north side ther drink, an’ yell ruh inter a hoss-shoe bend. ‘“When yer gits thar, jist gi’m a owl-hoot one't, then wait twoskips an’ gin two more follerin’ right speedy arter each other, an’ l’m purty sartin a fust-class Red ’ll show hisself. Hyer’s a leetle antelope-horn what talks biz wi’ ther Red. . Fasten hit ter yer belt an’ he'll know ye’re a pard o’ mine. Yer better git him ter go ‘long o’ yer, fer things is strange thet-a-way, an’ he’s ther smartest, whitest Red I ever see’d, ’ceptin’ Raven, Turtle, an’ Rattle- snake, ther three Tonkaways what I parded with, an’ does now; all ’cept Raven, who air gone on ther long dark trail. This hyer Injun air a Waco, an’ his cog’ air Wild Wolf.” Passing the antelope-horn to Adler, Big Foot added: ‘‘ All..serene, pard.. Git yer animile, an’ ride up hyer, an’ we-uns ‘ll guide yer on ther start.”’ George Adler withdrew, soon _returning mounted.and equipped for the trail, and walked his horse along the street, one of the scouts on either side of bim. . In this way he crossed the Plaza, and ina very short time reached the mesquite Miguel ,Ries swayed. slowly in the moonlight. Turning. the corner. of the street, which led past the old Cock Pit toward the Mission, Big Foot Jaid bis hand on the.bridle rein, and brought the horse to. halt.. Then he said: ‘‘Thar, pard. George, yer now, hes a, purty direct. course. Keep ter. ther trail, an’ ye’re all O. K. Take keer o’ yerself, an’ we'll jine yer ter-morrer night, I,ceckon.,, We'll, find yer, without,.yer.leavin’ ary; sign. Yer kin bet. we air bothysquar’, pard.’’ “T know ,;it, and thank you .botb,, I shall never forget. your kindness, and I am proud of. your .friendship..A. bad start is a good ending, according to my way of, thinking, and I hope Lam right this time... Sbake, pards, and good-right.” ) ine ‘“‘ Hyar’s»my. paw, pard George,” said. Post Oak. Bill, ‘an’ hit’s yourn ter command with- out; a, struggle. Bowen,;fit-out O. K. war yer stickerin front, handy ter jerk fer that yaller cuss; fer he’s, es; full o* concentrated cussedness es a terrantaler air 0’ p’ison.. So long, pard!’’ , ) _ Adios,”’. said. Adler, cheerily; and then, driving. spurs, he galloped down the, street toward the mesquite-bordered wagon road that led to the ford of the Rio Medina. ; ‘‘Wa-al, Ill .sw’ar.ter..Moses!” burst out the giant scout... ‘‘ 1 hev meyer see’d a caliker- kivered human what. peared. ter. take a tight grip from. ther.start on. my. hull, bizness ‘natomy, es thet Angel did what writ that let- ter ter me.ter-day.; though I hain’t slung a word. with. her, an’ now I'm jist ther, .wu’stest sot-up ole mustang-straddler thet ever chawed rusty bacon, ’bout this yere. George.,. He’s straight up and, down, plum squar’, es I air a bug- eatin’ Digger. What yer thinks, pard Bill? Ain’t.thet kerrect, an’ "bout ther solid way ter sot him down?” | ‘‘Pard, yer hes chalked him on, the right spot, an’ 1 air surprised “bout how he glided inter a pardship ‘long o’ we-’uns. But I ain’t any ways fear’d o’ his turnin’ out anythin’ ‘cept.a solid X XX white man.. _Howsomever, let us hump ourselves down creek ter our nags, an’ roll up in our blankets fer repose. Thar’s a hefty biz ahead, er I air a buck Piute.” “Strike out, pard; I’m with yer. But I doesn’t think ’lllay down-long. Somethin’ air a-botherin’ my brain-box. I air a-bettin’ Pll straddle my critter an’ skute toward ther Medina afore an hour.” ) The two scouts glided along the bank of the San Antonio river, through the fig bushes toward the pecan-bordered margin below the Alamo City. CHAPTER VI. GEORGE SCORES ONE. WHEN George Adler had passed the old Cock Pit, he found himself still in a much tray- eled road, but bordered by a dense chaparral, and he became plunged in a maze of thought in regard to the appearance of Frank Ames and his three friends in San. Antonio. Not that their object was any mystery to him, for he knew that Frank was determined to win the hand of Belle Bowen by fair means or foul, and, from the fact that the old col- onel had departed from the Trinity secretly, it was plain that the latter was not in favor of an alliance with the last of the Ames family. The mystery of the affair was, that he himself had known of the intended departure and proposed route, having been informed by Belle, who did not herself know, at their last interview, when the start was to be made, He had come, by the most airect road, to San Antonio, and had left Frank Ames on the Trinity; but, lo and behold, tbe latter had cS where, the body | of. I hopes. yer’ll strike ther. Keep a stiff eyelid, an’. eo nniicelovoye) Po wre (E(@)