Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 271 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

‘© Also, bein’ ther kind o’ man you be, you know ther rank an’ file o’ men are ez easy moved ez a leaf is whiffled by ther wind. When Deacon Stonefist—I like ther name o’ Deacon Broadcloth best, ‘cause I don’t like ter remem- ber how he hit me-—when he gets up ter speak, I say, thar will be ten good men thar what Dye talked with an’ made ter think it are a shame fur even cranks ter abuse ther Bend. See?’ ‘*T detect violence,” said Warfield, slowly. “ Voylance it will be, fur thar will bea yell ter run him out o’ town, an’in ther row ther blood o’ ther Bend will go up an’ Jdedge Lynch will ketch hold o’ ther plow, See?” ‘‘-Yes, And I see you are an adept at getting your enemies off the track, but I doubt the wis- dom of your coursé. My advice is to let Blake alone. ou will but bring yourself into noto- riety and it- may spoil our plan for Lockyard’s old.” di Don’t you think 10, old man. [ willrun this game through an’ at the same time keep myself out o’ sight. Trust me for that. This Deacon Broadcloth dies an’ nobody is the wiser. Wait an’ see.” COAPTER X, JUDGE LYNCH VS. DEACON STONEFIST. TuHeE self styled reformer did not remain long on the mountain, but returned to the village. He bad just reached its outskirts when a man arose from a rock and confronted him. The first glance showed Blake that he was intoxicat- ed, and there was little chance to hope it was his first deviation from the path of sobriety. His spotted face, watery eyes and trembling hands alike betrayed the confirmed drunkard, while his rags and dirt betrayed the poverty- stricken and careless drunkard, It was Daddy Clover. ‘ ‘‘ Peace to yer worship!” said Daddy, potting up both bands. “ Peace, prosperity, good will to men. May yer shadder never grow less!” ‘‘What means all this wild talk?” demanded Blake, bis sternest frown called up by the fel- low’s appearance. . : “Fur be it from me ter cavil,” said Daddy, humbly, ‘‘T am your slave till ther cows come e,’ ‘Wretched man! you are stupefied with liquor!” Seale ‘‘T know it—ba! ha!” said Clover, gleefully, ‘San’ good whisky it was; went right ter ther right place.” ‘ “Then it would have gone to perdition, not into your foolish mouth. Miserable wretch, do ou comprehend what you bave done? Do you i your feet are treading the banks of the eternal and destroying river? The vile fluid which is depriving you of health and mind in this world will ruin you for the next,” ‘Hurrah! Whoop her up! bit ’im ag’io!” and Clover tried to execute a dance. ‘* Oh! if would be royal fun ter hear ye buzz when ou’re full wound up, an’ that’s why I’m here. { move that we jine bands an’ I second ther motion. Ob! we'll make the howlin’ist team in Colorado!” ‘* What do you mean?’ Blake almost angrily demanded. ‘ Dc you suppose I would disgrace myself by being known as your assuciate?” ‘** Hol’ on; hear me through afore you holler. You don’t ketch ther idee. I don’t want none o’ ther profits; nothin’ more than ter be kept in food an’—an’ whisky.” ** Do you suppose—” ‘* Hol’ on, do hol’ on, now, Wait, What l want is fur you ter take me r'ght along whar you goeza terrible exainple o’ what liquor ’Il do. ou kin make a big stake on me, fer ther’ ain’t another man so broke up ez Iam ter be found iv Colorado. Jest keep me full ter ther chin with whisky, worshipful sir, an’ I should turn thousands from ther downward path an’ at ther same time be as happy eza clam myself. Say, now, will you take me?” Daddy was wholly in earnest, and at the end he put out bis hands to Blake in a pleadin way. He believed he saw his way clear to rol in clover the rest of his days, if he could but convince the reformer, and he was trying to put his best foot foremos and make a good im- pression. Tbe result, however, was unexpected, Evi- dently, Blake felt that he had found a customer more than his match, for, without another word, and leaving the drunkard in ignorance of his sins, he turned on his heel and strode toward the village. Daddy Clover called after him in vain; he kept on as fast as one of his dignity could con- sistently walk and the elder man was left in un- certainty as to whether he would be accepted as a ‘‘ terrible example” or not. That evening Blake went at an early hour to the place—it was a long shanty, the interior of which had not yet been finished—where he was to lecture on ‘' The battle-field of Life.” | He had intentionally chosen a romantic title, believing that nih: touch the minere more than a plain one, but bis purpose was to tell them plainly just what sinaers they were and what a wicked place was Big Nugget Bend. Blake was the first, but not by aby means the last man on the spot, The miners dropped in, Stonefist, of Big Nugget Bend. <i followed to see how he would take his banish. ment, but they did not suspect the tragedy in store for them. The prisoner needed no urging. When once he was overpowered he gave up a useless struggle, but all their jeers failed to make him speak, even as low-uuttered threa.s failed to make him show fear. Just beyond the northern side of the ermn, on the way to Stinger’s Bar, was a grove of pines, and toward these the mob went. They bad nearly reached it when there was a sudden stir at the front, and wavering of the line, angry cries and a confused athagales Just whatewas wrong those not in the plot did not know, but they supposed the ‘‘crank” had made an attempt to escape and were not sur- prised when the tumult subsided again to Lear some one call out: ‘* Tt’s all rigbt; we've got him again!” “No: it ain’t all right,” said anotber man. “Tom Berry bas got a knifesiash in his side; ther crank has stabbed him. Bring ther doc- tor!’ ' The confusion increased, but those at the rear managed to catch from those in front that Blake had burst bis bonds, seized a knife from Berry's belt and stabbed him, CHAPTER XI. A DEBT WELL PAID. ANY one acquainted with the temper of a Western mob can understand bow this new re- velation fell upon those in charge of Blake, Ae- cording to all accounts be bad stabbed a man without provocation, simply because be was be- ing expelled from the town; and many a man has died in Colorado for a lesser crime whema mob was out, “tt Jack Bunker's gang were ready for the final act. ; “Tom Berry is bleedin’ ter death!” “Serve bis murderer ther same way !” “ Hang him!” ‘String up ther crank!” | So much fury did they instill into these cries, they had backers even among the honest citi- zens, but they were not needed; Bunker's brain had cut-and-dried the whole thing. | A rope was produced and Blake’ was bustled under the tree, The case began to look serious; any one could see it was no joke they intended and, unless something unexpected intervened, Deacon Stonefist must go on bis way to another land than Colorado, ¥ But not fora moment did he waver. Seme there were who believed they saw a loss of color on bis cheeks, but he faced them bravely, bis face as stern and grimly rigbteous as ever, aud his eyes looked into their faces unflincbirgly. One end of the rope baving been cast overa limb, the other was noosed around bis neck, and they were ready to pull bim up. . ‘“Now, then,” said the seit-appointed Judge Lynch, “ ef you've got ny say yer kin raise yer fog-horn an’ toot. e give ye jest one minute!” ' | “It would please me,” said Bartholomew Blake, calmly, “if I had time, to finish the lec- ture you interrupted, It was a carefully con- sidered discourse, and contained truths you must have felt Oo abies bef With the limited time allowed me I cannot finish it, however, so 1 will merely say that it be hooves you to employ the brief time at your own disposal to reform, Abandon cards, liquor—” , “ffold on!” said Judge Lynch, wine? (Os “Never mind us. At this time you chould be thinkin’ of yourself.” singly or in pairs, until he was certain of a good bouse, But, as Jack Bunker had hoped no one else came; no women and no merchant or mine- owner. It was to be a rough-and ready crowd in the fullest sense of the word, When they began to gather Blake went among them and talked seriously, as a preface to bis lecture, He was careful to say he did not meddle with religion, not being a minister; but he did want them to abandon drink, cards, and kindred failings. All of these first-comers were men selected by Bunker for his tragic contribution to the affair, and they so managed to worry the “reformer” that he took his place on the dry-goods case— it was the same he had used in front of Kipp & Turner’s store—he showed bis mental aberration more plainly than usual, and was prepared to deal relentlessly with bis audience. And he did deal relentlessly with them, As he spoke in bis usual vein, we need not give his address here; enough that be handled ig Nugget Bend without gioves; that from his accusations a stranger would have thought it the very worst town between the Pacific and the Mississippi river. Many of his hearers merely smiled at this. Had he been in bis right mind and tbus abused, they argued, it would be proper to exact an eye for an eye, but it would be foolish to become angry at a “crank,” and if was best to look up- on him merely as a comedian. Unluckily for Deacon Broadcloth, Jack Bunk- er had sown the seeds of trouble skillfully, and iat element began to show after a while, Bunker’s followers—he was not present bim- self—looked at each other and muttered darkly, as though their passions were being gradually aroused, and matters went from bad to worse, just as Jack had wished, The storm finally burst, A stout fellow, who was a typical Western desperado, suddenly arose head and shoulders ohne his fellows, as he found a block to elevate im, ‘* Feller-citizens!” he cried, interrupting the speaker, ‘‘ what sort.o’ a place is Big Nugget Bend that. we stand hyar an’ hear ber abused? Is she a rendezvous o’ cut throats an’ blacklegs, an’ be we that kind o’ critters?” An angry roar arose from his backers, ‘*No! no!” they shouted in chorus, ‘*Do we wanter be knocked down an’ trod on, either?” ‘*No! no!” replied the chorus, as before, * Feller-citizens, I accuse this critter o’ comin’ Byat, ter hurt the Bend in int’rest o’ Stinger’s ar} He pointed to Blake and another roar arose from the chorus. The former, abandoring an Mies @ to speak for a time, folded his arms and looked at them without a change of counte- nance, If he was capable, in his mental condi- tion, of realizing his danger, he certainly had good nerves. The last charge had been a fire-brand; Sting- er’s Bar was a rival town, and bitter was the enmity between the two, Even some of the honest miners began to change their opinion of the Deacon. “*Boyees,” continued the spokesman, ‘‘ I move thet we don’t b’ar it no longer. We hev stood too much a’ready. I move werun this critter out 0’ town!” The idea Pigased those who had already decided upon it and they said as much. “Down witb him!” Me i out!” 4 sah i be of myself?” Blake asked, evidently ‘No reformer need apply surprised, “Ther crank must go i Wh y, youre about ter skip over ther divide With these cries they rushed forward, making for their intended victim on each side, bus Deacon Stonefist stood firmly erect, heedless of thé mob’s angry cries. Seemingly he was not going to resist, for his arms were still folded, but when the first man laid bands on bim he leaped from the case and went at them like a battering-ram, If any one had doubted the appropriateness of his sobriquet of ‘‘ Deacon Stonefist,” the were speedily undeceived. He struck out wit both arms, first the right and then the left, and each blow took effect. Back from that attack reeled Jack Bunker’s tools, and many a man carried bome hurts which would make him wish he had never followed Jack’s banner. But the fight could have but one end, for men are but men at the best, and as the rioters piled on Blake in a body he was finally secured and his hands bound. Then he stood among them as erect and stern ri ever; no signs of fear on his sharply-cut ace, . But there were men about him who had broken noses and loose teeth to attend to, and a dangerous sentiment arose against Deacon Stonefist, Cranks are never safe companions, Run bim out of town!” Some one reminded the mob of what they had started to do and the rush began. Blake was surrounded by those pledged to kill him and marched from the ante and through the town. Some not in the plot an’ it looks ter me ez though eg would do well ter reform yourself, first of all.” ; ‘Oh! Iam allright,” said the Deecon, *T have lived a perfect life, you see, But you, misguided men—” s ‘Ten seconds Lynch, “You, misguided men, have great need to reform, Your sins are dark and many. You are slaves to strong drink and cards; you lie, steal—” >* * Time’s up!” é “« And enjoy yourselves in vain and indecorous wa ys)” finished the Deacon, om: “Pull bim up!” ordered Judge Lynch, “ Reform!” The single word, which seemed likely to be Blake’s last, pealed from his lips clearly, ear- nestly, unfalteringly. Surely no man in his right mind, or pertion théreof, could thus torn his thoughts from himself at such a moment; ' he a a crank in the fullest sense of the word, ’ There was a feeling at the rear of the mob that the matter ought to end there; that it was nothing less than murder to lynch Blake; but those in front did not waver, and they pulled sbarply at the rope. Witb what result? | Bartholomew Blake remained on the ground though the rope went up, and beside bim stood a slight figure with a knife clasped in one band. It was Zora Lockyard. left!” announced Judge Gomichboo Sjn(E(o)