Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 241 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

a | the black threats still filled their eyes to just such foolhardy actions as these, more than her beauty, did she owe their allegiance. But there was a frown upon her brow as she reached the level in safety, and dashed into the very midst of the Rustlers before drawing rein, and her voice rung out sharply as she de- manded: “What is the trouble among you wolves, now? Don’t deny it. I am not blind. I saw that there was some mischief brewing the mo- ment Iseteyes on you. What is it?” The abashed Rustlers cast shy glances at each other, at this imperious address, bus none among them seemed to care to be the one to act as spokesman Queen Dixie saw this, and her lovely face flushed hotly. Her riding- whip whistled through the air with a savage cut at runes £ as she turned to where Lofty Dick stood, his eyes downcast, his handsome countenance moody still. ** You have a tougue, Lofty Dick, and are usually fond enough of hearing it rattle!” she cried, still more sharply than before. ‘ Tell me—I command you, as your lewful queen and mistress! What is the matter? What were you drawn up in two opposing parties for? Speak—and to the point!” She emphasized the command with another stroke of her whip, the end coming so near bis face that Lofty Dick started back with an in- voluntary rare of one arm, en garde. ‘We were talking of electing a new chief—” In place of whom?” swiftly interjected the woman, her black “vo flashing. ‘‘ King Saul is your chief, and while he lives, you dare to think of putting another man in his place?’ ‘Does he still live?” pointedly demanded | | He breath. bot before Queen Dixie could speak, he added, exit ‘* Nobody knowed whar you was, ur when you’d git back. Which is why I woted fer Buf- falo Red. Which ag’in I now changes to you, ma’am, An’ I kin lick the man as dar’s to wote def’runt!” A cheer rose from the crowd, but if was in- stantly quelled by the uplifted hand of Q@neen Dixie, now less stern. ‘* Thank you, my good fellows. But I cannot accept, even if I felt sure that I could lead you as you should be led, for I must do my work after a very different fashion. [ must hasten back to town at once, I only left to carry the Spitfire Saul, King of the Rustlers. Se news of sn Saul’s capture, fearing you would | not learn of it until too late to be of service otherwise. ‘*T bad not time to learn positively the man- ner of his capture, but [heard enough to know that he did not surrender without striking hard and heavy for his freedom. You need not blush for your king! ‘** But there is work for you to do, and little time to waste in sillv quarrels like the one I just interrupted. King Saul isin jail, ironed hand and foot, treated like a captive lion by the curs who dared not even yelp at bis heels while he was at liberty. He may be dead ere this, though I think not. I poured out gold in a flood where I believed it would do the most good, and was solemnly prowised that he should be securely guarded against lynching or outside barm, though I could not get him set at liberty. ‘*] will return, as soon as my horse has had a brief rest, so that he can do the journey. You Lofty Dick, meeting her fiery gaze unflinching- | must follow, and await my instructions. I will ly. ‘‘We have just heard that he was cap- tured—that a mob was rising to take him out of the jail where he was confined, and lynch him. Even as the man rode away, he hearda rumpus which he felt sure was the end of King Saul,” ** And you were so eager to step into his shoes that you could not wait until the tidings was either confirmed or denied?” flashed the beauti- ful fury, making her lithe whip quiver, as though longing to lay it fairly over bis shoul- ders. Lofty Dick gave those shoulders a shrug, as he replied: **You know how little holds men of our pro- fession together, madam. Without an acknow- ledged head, they are worth nothing, and half a dozen Rangers or soldiers, could whip the whole outfit. For that reason, as well as to lose no time in satiing out on the forlorn hope of rescuing King Saul, we concluded to elect a temporary chief—” ** Onless it should prove the boss was raally wiped out; then the ‘lection was to stan’ fer ood an’ all, Leastways, that’s the light I ooked at it,” inte d Buffalo Red. “You two men hes all the talking, so I pre- sume you are the most prominent candidates for Kinz Saul’s shoes?” uttered Queen Dixie, ad- dressing both, but looking at Lofty Dick. *“Piaced in nomination without a word or hint to that effect; at least I can say as much for myself,” **An’ you dursen’t hint dif'rent as to me !/” growled Buffalo Red, with a glance and scowl of surly defiance. ‘IT dare more than you can match, old man—” * Stop!” cried Queen Dixie, spurring her horse between the angry rivals. “Nota word more to that end, or 1 swear I will send a bullet through the brain of the first to offend. Quar- reling like a pack of wolves, when you should be working for the freedom of your chief—for shame!” Sullenly the rivals withdrew their hands from the weapons which they had grasped, an and the keen sighted woman saw that a collision be- tween them must come, sooner or later, and that it would be all the more deadly from being delayed. + Hite far had the matter gone? Which of you two men received the nay of votes?” ‘It stood even, ‘leven in’ ‘leven, when Brocky Bill come in an’ ther owed his vote fer Buffalo Red,” volunteered Appetite anny: “Then I cast my vote in favor of Lofty Dick!” cried the woman, with a triumphant lighting up of her beautiful face, ‘‘ That makes the voting a tie, and therefore no choice made,” ‘* Ef | mought be ‘lowed to whisper,” whined Brociry Bill, dropping the stick at which he had kept os Engea through all until now, “ Ef you wouldn’t think it a waste o’ time to lis’en to the ole man, now, ma’am—” “Drop that whining, and s man!” cried Q 1een Dixie, sharp y: if you’rs a mind. Out with it!” ** Lofty Dick hit the bull’s-eye, plum center, he did, now. Wecain’t do no work ’thout a head, don’t yer see, ma’am? Everythin’ ’d go flip-flop an’ skew-wobble ’um! But’tain’t a man to boost King Saul out o’ place, long’s he lives. It’s one to run the outfit ontel he gits back ag’in —which I’m prayin’ monstrous hard ‘ll mighty soon—amen!” ak out like a ‘You can ‘ i | i find means to see you, or to send you word when and where you are to strike. **One more point. Iam very sorry that this question of King Saul’s successor has arisen, just now, when he is in such sore need of every thought, every sympathy, every hand and heart to free him from bis deadly peril. At thesame time, now that I have had time to grow cooler and to look at the matter more deliberately, I admit the truth of your reasoning. I know that men like us require a hand and head over them. I see that you must have a chief, pro tem., and as your choice seems to be confined to these two gentlemen,” turning to Lofty Dick, then to Buffalo Red, she added: ‘‘one of them shall hold the oftice until King Saul returns to relieve him, ‘“ Gentlemen, do you solemnly pledge me your word to do all that lies in your power to set King Saul free? To hold no grudge for the future against the man whom fortune de- cides shall win in the competition which I am about to propose?” Nee two men nodded affirmatively, and she added: ‘*Good enough! The band shall have a chief in ten minutes!” CHAPTER XIL. QUEEN DIXIE STOCKS THE CARDS, THE mutter of growing interest which ran around the circle of eagerly-listening Rustlers, was promptly cut short by their beautiful queen imperiously waving ber gauntleted hand. ** Silence, you hungry wolves; I have more to say to these gentlemen, and your yelping dis- turbs me,” she uttered, sharply, then turned again to the rival candidates. ‘‘Are you both willing to abide by my de- cision?” Kai Perfectly,” replied Lofty Dick, witha low w. “Ef it’s a’cordin’ to Hoyle, I'll never kick. All I ax is a fa’r shake fer my money,” said Buffalo Red, less promptly, he appearing to sus- pect that the dandy Rustler would meet with more favor in the eyes of their queen than his own weather-beaten carcass. “If you are defeated you shall have only your evil star to blame,” was the swift response. ‘* But it is not yet too late for either one of you men to retreat. If oneof you declines the office before knowing the manner of test which I pro- pose, no one can accuse him of cowardice. Lofty Dick—” **]’m in the fleld to stay, if it’s all the same to you, madam,” coolly an tee the dandy Rustler, refusing to meet her glowing gaze. “ And you, Buffalo Red?” “*T didn’t ax fer the persish, nur would I hev took a step to pitk it up, ef the boys ’d’a’ made a hint o’ what they perposed afore they sprung my name onto me; but nowlm goin’ to git thar ef I kin,” bluntly declared the outlaw. “Only one of you can serve as temporary chief, and of course the other must get left. You know how it is as well as I can tell you. The defeated man will have a sore head of the worst kind, and with him will hang a few of his closest friends. Just when we must be drawn the closest together, when we require every particle of saber, Si wit and self-devotion, there will be bitterest dissension in our midst. Among men of our class, hatred and hard feelings are sure, sooner ar later, to find vent in death-blows; and these might come just when the life and free- used through sheer exhaustion of | dom of King Saul depended upon our perfect concert of action. ** For his sake—the sake of the best man in all the wide land, if he is the husband of the one whose lips sing his praises—I am resolved to de- cide this dispute so fully that not even the shadow of a ghost shall ever arise from its tomb! ‘* You two gentlemen have agreed toabide by the result, and it only remains to ask the same of your ad verents. ou have heard my words, boys. Whatdo you say? Will you follow the man whom fate elects as your chief during the absence of tes Saul, regardless of the fact that he may be the one against whom you yoted at first? Speak out and clearly.” ‘* A man wouldn’t be no man, but a durned hog, ef he’d dar’ ax anythin’ fa’rer then that!” whined Brocky Bill. Though less explicit, as a rule, one and all of the Rustlers gave in their approval of their queen’s decision, and a vivid glitter came into ber eyes, as she knew that her point was gained beyond all doubt. ‘*Good enough! It is too late now for either of the candidates to retreat, even should they wish to do so, They must abide the decision of fate, and I will be her handmaiden!” With a clear, metallic langh, Queen Dixie touched her horse with the spur, and galloped around the little pond to the adobe house, where she leaped from the saddle and turned the jaded animal loose to graze and satisfy its thirst. With one backward glance at the Rustlers, she opened the vine-hidden door, and entered the building. During her absence, which was not greatly prolonged, the outlaws gathered in little knots, conversing together in low, guarded tones, cast- ing frequent glances of curiosity toward the rivals, each standing alone, quietly awaiting the result of the unfortunate dispute. ‘*One o’ them two hes got one foot into his grave, with t’other hoof follerin’ it monstrous cluss, now, do ’ee mind?” whined aoe Bill, picking up the stick which he had lately cast aside, and resuming his whittling. ‘It’s a heap pity, too, when ye think what onmarciful fight- ers they both be; now ain’t it, eh? But Queen Dixie said mighty right: ’twouldn’t be many breaths afore they’d be at each other’s thrapples in bull-dog airnest, taking thar heelers with ‘em, an’ it’s better that one man under, then to plant a dozen—now ain’t it, ch” “Ef it comes to a squar’ fight, I’m layin’ my ducats on Buffalo Red fer the top keerd,” sup- plemented Snapper Johnny. “Which I’m a-callin all sech fool bluffs as them,” came promptly from Appetite Dandy, as he pulled out a buckskin bag, ‘‘ Put up or shet up—money talks!” The challenge was promptly accepted, and betting on one or the other of the rivals, the Rustlers drew eagerly together, shaking their money in each other’s faces, talkinge loudly, for the moment forgetting the near proximity of the two men on whose chances for life or death they were gambling. Cool and unnerved, Buffalo Red wat: hed and listened, but Lofty Dick was more impulsive, and as Snapper Johnny became a little too eager in bis clamoring for takers against his favorite, the Dandy Rustler stepped forward, with a smile: **]T don’t care about winning your cash, Snap- r, but it’s a pity to see so gocd a man wasting is breath. Count out your pile, and I'll cover it. Borrow what you can raise, or make a pool, if you wish—”’ “Stay with him, mate!” growled Buffalo Red, tossing a well-filled shot-sack over to his hench- man, Lofty Dick turned to make a hot retort, but he caught sight of Queen Dixie emerging from the adobe building, and hurriedly passing his purse to Appetite Dandy, he resumed his for- mer station and Japsed into silence. ‘‘Gentlemen, if either of you have thought better of your decision, a word will suffice. Silence? All right!” and a cold laugh came through her red-ripe lips, as she brought both hands before her, each one clasping a derringer of beavy caliber, the short barrel of each having a circular bit of white paper pasted over the muzzle, so that the keenest eye could not look down the hollow tubes. ‘Just one word, You are both good men. Both noble Rustlers, whose loss will be deeply regretted by us, your comrades, and no tabs sincerely rejoiced in by all honest citizens. And yet one of you has got to turn toes-up for good and all! ‘You know the reason, quite as well as I, so there is no necessity for dwelling longer on that point. With both alive, we would be in hot water constantly. With one in the grave, the other will be chief, until King Saul comes back to claim his sboes again, and to him will be given the allegiance which would be divided between two. **'You are dead shots, both. Were I to per- mit you to meet in a regular duel, you both would die, and thus we would suffer a double loss. That we cannot afford, and hence the lucky one will be selected by fate herself. Are you willing?” ) Eomicboo 1EO } : : ; / . ‘ VQ s > < .* =