Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 271 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

: hi ii 4 — eS en a — -—+ - a i : ER Aa Se ee 4 — age, All on you think you know ther bull busi- ness, but ef ye live ter be thirty, ye’ll find you didn’t know nothin’.” **In that case | shall be almost as ignorant as you,” Zora retorted. Bunker looked at ber for a moment in silence, his lips parted and an evil light in his eyes. **Don't tempt me too fur,” he finally said. *“When I tell ye that, I don’t mean I would harm yer leetle finger, even, but ef vou scoff too much at what ther Lord bez made me, hang me ef I don’t hev a kiss from that rosebud mouth o’ ourn!” “Try it, if you dare!” exclaimed the girl, never stirring, but with a red flush on her cheeks and an angry light in her eyes. The defiance was followed by two things, Bunker leaped forward at the challenge, his arms outstretched, and Zora dropped ber hand to the ket where she expected to find her revolver, and finding it, to keep bim at bay. The result was startling; the revolver was not there! And in a moment more she was in the arms of the rough, She uttered a little cry, and struggled as best she could, but her strength was so tp ‘ignificant compared with his, that she barely evaded his hairy lips fora moment; another brief space of time and she must bave succumbed; but just then there was a heavy thud, and Bunker released his hold and rolled from the rock. Zora was rescued—bow? She looked up quickly. Another man stood beside her; a tall man in a suit of sober black with a Quaker-like bat, long, straight bair and @ smooth-shaven face, lt was Bartholomew Blake! Easy enough it was then to understand the thud and the gcause of Bunker’s fall; the “re- former” had again made good his right to be called ‘‘ Deacon S‘onefist,” as Bunker had found to bis cost. But the crank of the Bend did not show the least excitement over the occurrence. Looking steadily at the fallen ruffian, his face was as calm and severe as ever. Bunker arose slowly. He was not gas but Ke was a good deal astonished. He ooked at the ®-acon as though there were a good many points of interest about bim and they must be gathered slowly and one at a time. Of course he recognized him; every person at the Bend bad beard of the crank who had set for bimself the task of reformin those who had not seen him knew bis description well, Twinker looked at the noted map. He bad beard of his powerful blow when the board was split, but regarded it as au exaggeraticn, ow, looking at him closely, he forgot that a long, frock coat, tightly buttoned, is a decep- | tive garment and believed he saw in Deacon Stonefist no ath.e’e but a slender young man of truly ministerial cut. And Jack Bunker, smarting from bis dis- comfiture, resolved to bave revenge and, at the same time, show Big Nugget Bend that he was a “bigger” m n than Blake, ** You infernal snevk!” be exclaimed, shaking bis fist at the Deacon, ‘what d’ye mean by that? D'ye know what you've done? You've awoke a full-grown cyclone an’ it is bungry fur ha’r. I’m Jack Bunker, ther raw-borse eater, an’ I never give nur take mercy. You've hit me from behind an’ only a coward would do it, but I'll knock you blind ter pay furit!” ~ And be shook a huge and none too-clean fist. “Perhaps you will try,” said Blake, calmly, “but the end will not be as you or I wish; the affairs of men arv but little in their own keep- ing. I will say, however, that you bave done a most vile and ignoble thing, and that I thank fortune IL was 1t band to chastise you, Not that I uphold this maiden, for she is of a vain, light and giddy nature, buf no one should lift his hand against his fellow-creatures without cause, That you have assaulted a woman proves that you are on the downward road.” ** He was on the downward road when he fell off the rock,” Zora could not help interrupting. Bunker leaped back to the same level with themselves, - **‘I'm on ther up grade now,” he declared, with an oath, “‘ an’ I've got full steam on an’ am a-runnin’ forty miles an hour, Look out fur me,I’m a-comin’, an’ [’ll knock you clean over ther sun!” The ruffian made several flourishes with bis _ fists, but be did not yet advance. Man,” said Blake, severely, ‘such conduct ill-b: Gomes one made in the imsge. You first ngult a woman and then seek revenge for your ust downfall. Peace!—revenge is not for us rail creatures of earth—” “You'll find it’s for me!” cried Bunker, and at the last word he lanched out his fist sav- agely: ad it gone on its way unchecked it would havo found Blake's bead to bis sorrow, but we may remark, incidentally, that it somehow devi- d from its direct line and brushed harmlessly over the reformer’s shoulder. Another moment and Bunker’s bands were ‘both seized and held captive despite bis atrug- gles. The Deacon held bim as in a vise and them; and | seemed to have a wrist of iron as well as a fist of stone. ‘*Peace!” he again said, ‘‘ Your conduct is disgraceful, and it is no wonder Big Nugget Bend is shunned by timid people. Her inbabi- tants are vile and brutal, and you are one of the worst. You are on the downward road and speeding headlong toward destruction.” CHAPTER IX. JACK BUNKER SEEKS REVENGE. NEVER before bad Bunker been in the bands of a man who seemed so much like a compact bunch of muscle. Jack was the heavier man of the two and should have been the stronger, but, struggle to the extent of his power as he would he could not break that iron hold. Zora enjoyed the scene, for though sbe had taken a dislike to Blake she felt even less kindly toward Bunker, and, undismayed by the fact that two men were fighting, she laughed mer- rily. x Now I see just where your best hold is, Deacon,” said she; “it lies in your muscle. You may talk reform to Big Nugget Bend till the cows come home and you .on’t make a convert, but get them in such a grip as that and you'll be sure to make them holler.” “IT don’t boiler fur this white-livered cur!” panted Jack Bunker, madly; ‘“‘and I'll hev his life ef be don’t let go on me. Curse you, drop mv wrists!” ‘Peace, profane railer; I but conquer your brute nature, appealing in the me2znwhile to your gentler one. Reform—” He paused suddenly as Bunker made a vicious attempt to kick bimin the stomach, It wasa failure, owing to a quick movement on the Deacon’s part, but a slight flush then arose to the latter’s face, his lips b- came compressed and, quickly raising the ruffian, be cast him from the rock. He bad fallen victim to a righteous wratb. For the second time he fell to the ground, but the distance was not sufficient to injure him, and be was soon on his feet. - He did not, however, attack again. It was in his beart to shoot down the man wbo had worsted him. but with Zora for a witness, he dared not do it, Neither did he dare pit his strength against that of Deacon Stonefist; he had seen his prowess, and wanted no further illustration. In that moment, however, he vowed to have revenge. He looked at Blake, and a smile act- ually crept over his face. ‘You're not at all slow for a parson,” he said; ‘‘but, though you’ve used me ha’sh, Pll let it drop. It sha’n’t be said Idid barm ter a crank, Ez fur you, gal, you bev ’plauded what he’s did, an’ ef you prefer a looney cuss ter a man like. me, so be it. Much joy | wish you with hin. So long.” He sloucbed away, not once looking bebind | him, and Bartholomew Blake watcbed until he disappeared. The Deacon was in turn watched by Zora, but his icy face told no tales. Anon he turned bis eteel-like eyes toward her. ‘“T owe you thanks, Mr. Blake,” said the girl, “and tuey are earnestly and sincerely ziven. , ‘““T am glad you realize that I have helped ou,” he said, with a wonderful Jack of modes- te: ‘*-You seem at least to realize the trouble from which I have saved you, even though you brought it upon yourself, ? Zora flushed. “‘T admit the justice of your last assertion,” she said, less steadily tban usual. ‘ I did anger the man needlessly, but when I did so I eri I had a revolver in my pocket and was foolish enough to expect to enjoy bis chagrin, when I mex peereemy, presented the weapon to his ace, Blake’s face became sterner even than its custom, ‘ Foolish!” he severely repeated. ‘* Would to Heaven it were no more than folly. Do you really mean that you would have drawn a re- volver on a human being?” ** Certainly I would!” “ And it has come tothis! Tae women of the country, who should be gentle and reserved, and keep in the background, ss Holy Writ com- mands, now sreak flippantly of®using revol- vers, and consider it an honor!” Harshly sounded the Deacon’s voice, and Zora became even more rebellious. She bad never beard the doctrine of woman’s inferiority ad- vanced, and she was not inclined to acknowl- edge it when preached by the crank of the nd, “Tt is very clear that you don’t know much about life in the West,” she retorted. ‘‘ Let me tell you that it is well for ali who come to this town, man and woman, to be able to defend themselves. There are men here wbo scruple at notbing, and I advise you to adopt the fashion and a revolver at one and the same time.” ‘Fortune forbid! What! I, Bartholomew Blake, go about armed like a cece meinen No, woman, no! Here! bave my hands, the gift of Nature, and I ask no more. I seek to turn those desperate men of the Bend from their evil courses, but I shall do it by showing their sins, Stonefist, of Big Nugget Bend. not by bye ip a revolver like a highway man, oung woman, you shock me!” Zora was indignant, but, remembering tbe aid he had given her, she could not say what she wished, Sbe could not, however, prevent a flash of resentment, ‘*T wish you bad staid away!” she exclaimed. ‘Why?’ be coldly asked. *‘ Because I hate to 0 +e you gratitude,” ‘Relieve your mind, misguided girl,” the Deacon severely answered. “I do not want such gratitude as yours. I would as soon share in the fruits of a robbery. Give no thought to me, but, ratber, go and seek to change your way ward heart.” ‘What is that to you?” she flashed, ‘*No more than the future of the unhapp mand found with you. 1 would see you bot reform, for there seems to be little difference be- tween you.” Zora had borne all she could. She was one who never forgot a kindness, and Blake bad saved her from Bunker, but there are wounds of the flesh and wounds of the mind. Tears of anger gli. tered in her eyes, and when she spoke her voice was husky. ‘Since you have so poor an opinion of me, I had better goaway. Ihope you will find some one as perfect as yourself, some day, but I’m afraid you'll have to look beyond this world, For defending me I thank you, once more, and now 1’l] go away before I contaminate you,” She did go, starting before the lest word was spoken, and not once looking back. Never be- fore bad she been so indignart, ard the fact that Blake was acknowledged by all to be men- tally deranged could not atone for what he had said. He looked after her without a change of his harsh face. ‘‘ Wretched gir)! where will ber mad career end? She scorns the advice of those older, wiser and better than herself; she boasts of carrying dangerous weapons end parleys with a man but little above the level of a brute. Such depravity is shocking in one so young, and | cannot hope to save ber. Nay, lam basty; let me not view the case in this ligbt but strive yet egain, I would save her from her sins if possible!” He bad watched her until she entered a can- yon and passed from bis sight, and as he stood on the rock with bis long bair blowing in the wind and bis statue-lbke face dark and fixed, he seemed like some uncompromising, puritanical minister of olden days preaching Som a throne of nature’s manufacture. At the same time Jack Bunker was closeted with Warfield, to whom be had just given his experience. e latter did not hesitate to levgh heartily at his ally’s di-comfiture, but Jack did not view mattersin the same light, ‘*T’]l hev revenge,” he said, with a profane addition, ‘' Ef any man thinks I am aten-pin to be knocked ’round at his will, they’)l find tbere’s a big blunder on ther schedule. When I tnckled this crank I found a man with more muscle than I’ve got,an’1 had ter take water, vut nothin’ shorter a cyclone kin lay me out ter stay.” ‘You won’t be fool enough to use a revolver, will you?” ‘‘Not at ther Bend, fur—” ‘You made a confounded blunder, anyway. You bave set me on to fleece old Lockyard, and now you molest his daughter. Suppose we are seen together and the news gets to the money- lender—do you suppose he would continue to be blind to the book under my bait?” ~ ‘Go it,” replied Bunker, bumbly. “I de- serve all you say. I did stepin ther hole up ter my knees, But I do sw’ar ther gal is ex pretty as a pink!” ‘“‘ Bah! and you are past forty !” The contempt in Werfield’s voice cut his ally to the quick, but be dared not retort. Heas- ired to play a game for big stakes and make arfield bis main card, and to do this be must keep ir. his good graces, ‘*Let all that pass,” be sullenly said; “only Ene one item in yer pipe an’ smoke it. Deacon tonefist pays fur ther blow he struck me with his life!” “You bavesome plan. State it!” “Tl hev a plan. This hyar crank ain’t «4 fav’rite at ther Bend. Men o’ his cloth don’t teke wal nowhar, an’ gem fog a place whar we are free-an’--asy like we hyer. He bas pitched inter ther gang, red-hot, an’ you know ez wal ez I thet ef folks didn’t think bim a crank he would hev got ther dump #fore ‘‘That’s very true; his mental aberration is all that saves bim.” “Don’t know what you mean by that thar tarm, but I’ve got a rill a makin’ fur our crank. Ter-night, ez you know, be delivers an a’dress on what he calls ‘Tber Battle-field oO Life.’ Wal. I reckon all ther boyees 0’ my stripe will be thar, fur ther fun on’t. but ther high toned bucks will stay away. Now 0’ course Stone fist will abuse ther Bend an tell how wicked she be, an’ when be does thet be will tech on raw spots, Ther Bend don’t like ter be pitched inter in that style, see?” “ Of course.” a AMINE Ss) (0) (e(o) ,00 ‘