Beadle's Dime Library No. 278 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

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Mike’s saloon with it once,” He stooped and caught up the yet warm body of one of his red victims and whirling it around his head, dasiied like a lion brought to bay at. his foes. “Tnjun ag'in’ Injun! Oh, I’m handy with any weapon!” pealed from his throat. “Ye varmints, I’m fightin’ fer ther daisiest girl in Idaho, ez well ez fer Hercules Goldspur. out ov my way!” at a disadvantage, and the giant beat them back with the novel but terrible war-club which he swung over his head, At last as a final effort he flung bis weapon into their faces where it struck as a shout of defiance made the welkin ring. ‘That's enough fer to-night! Ye know me— Hercules Goldspur!” and he turned toward bis horse again. Twenty feet away he uttered a ery, spun half-way round and then sprung forward. He reached the mouth of the little pass and saw a horse in the starlight. * Another wound but I’m still The Man of the Velvet Hand!” he erates falling against the animal whose mane he clutched as he seated himself in the saddle with an effort, ‘* I'll set- tle with you yet, red-skins. Winged an’ stag- gered, I still have Zoe! She’s a bonanza for which Hercules Goldspur is ready to die.” as an outburst of Indian yells rose on the air, he wheeled the steed and rode back ! oo the trail he had made—back toward You- Once he rose in his stirrups and with his laced ‘* A pic-nic like this The Man of | | ‘“‘ That kickin’ mule?” But tbere was an end to the deadly shots he | poured into the rauks of the Indians whose | rope ef [ wen ‘*T cleaned out Santa Fe | Git | _ with submission in his eye; Forced to keep close together by the narrow- | ness of the pass, the Indians found themselves | | i | hatin his hand waved defiance at the red ene- , mies in the pass. ** You must kill Hercules Goldspur to harden | This velvet band!” he shouted at ths tep of his voice, and the words that went back tcward his foes brought out another yell of fury. CHAPTER . XII. HOW A SCALP GOT PARDS, “GENTLEMEN, thar’s a ghost in one ov the mines,” said the ttle man who showed a white face to the group of roughs and toughs that steod in front of Joe’s den as the sun went down on You-Bet, the night after Goldspur’s encounter with the Indians in the pass. ) “TI guess not, Pigmy!” laughed a dozen men. | ** Shoot me fer a gopher ef thar isn’t!” was the quick retort and the little man straightened and > bis eyes flashed. ‘ Didn’t I hear a noise down in ther shaft. Ef thar’s a man ov ye whut bez ther Mor r grit, let’im foller me.” *“ We'llall go. Come, boys. Efa ghost hez come ter You-Bet we want ter form his ac- quaintance,” Led by Pigmy Pete who was confident that he had made a genuine discovery, the roughs of You-Bet rushed pell-mell to a certain unused tover whose edge several leaned and lis- —_ - ——- —_ ——- oe —_~ ‘Ghost! the devil, Pigmy!” suddenly ejacu- It’s a mean sell an’ yer treat.” “Not yet,” and Pigmy Pete sent his voice | down the bleak shaft. * Ar’ ye thar yet?” he asked. | **] sbould remark ter mention, my unwashed | seraph!” came back the answer i) hollow tones that drove the kneeling listeners to their feet. *‘ Durned ef I couldn't eat a grizzly an’ George hyar hez injured his kickin’ ot segs Toss down hyar a decent ration fer ther stomachs ov | A skeletons. I’m no ghost; but the Happy | ttler from Silver Bow.” | The desperadoes of You-Bet uttered excla- | mations of surprise. | ** We'll pull ye up!” cried Pigmy Pete. “What's encouragin’. Pull me up? Do ye hear thet, rd dayli an’ a squar’ meal. Won't we satisfaction out ov a certain individual an’ win the bonanza yet? Pull us up, pards, an’ ther blessin’ ov the Rattler an’ his gentle pard will never leave ye.” “Up you com, Rattler. Preparations were now made to draw the two pards from Silver Bow to the surface once | of th ir tumble down the shaft, . cm: ded th.t their escape from death | meek as a rabbit, my blushin’ pinks.” bordered on the miraculous, and not one but to which he did ample justice despite their was willing to extricate them from their critical situation. In a few minutes a long strong rope was let down, and the Happy Rattler grasped it with an exclamation of joy. ‘* 1’l] send George up first,” he said. “Yes, George couldn't tie himself ter ther t up first.” ‘*That’s so; but ain’t he dangerous?” ‘Not when he’s in a fix like this. He’s as ‘* Send ’im up, tben.” Five minutes later a voice saying ‘‘ All right! pull!” came up from the depths of the old shaft, and the twenty brown-armed men who seized the rope and pulled with all their might brought the rope’s burden to the top. After a brief pull, four hoofs lashed close together appeared at the top of the pit, and another effort landed Kicking George safe on the ground. There he lay well covered with mud, but to all outward appearances one of the most innocent creatures in existence, His exploit in Joe's den, the night before was still fresh in the minds of the roughs of You- | Bet, and at a safe distance from the mule’s hoofs a consultation was had as to the safest means of releasing him from the rope. ** What! afeared ov thef gentle biped?’ came upin impatient tones from below, while the valiant men discussed various projects. ‘‘ He's as serene as a dead Injun, ’Pon honor, he wouldu’t kick bis worst enemy now. Send thet rope down byar, daisies, an’ pull up ther Hungry Rattler ov Silver Bow.” This seemed to decide the council, for Pigmy Pete crept up to the donkey, and after sundry pattings and a profuse announcement of his generous intentions, took off the rope, when George instantly got upon his feet as if he had pre ns 9 the bottom of that dangerous shaft. ‘Killa mule ef ye kin, boys!” laughed Pig- my Pete. ‘“‘Thet crittur will live ter split ev- ery bar in Idaho!” The rope lowered now for the Happy Rattler soon found that individual, and in less than a minute after its reception by him, he was being drawn to the top of the shaft. When he made his appearance in the last streaks of daylight, hatless and well sprinkled with wet clay, he presented a picture that would bave called a laugh from the most | solemn. ‘* Not ez I was, but ez I am!” he exclaimed, facing the crowd that greeted him. ‘* Upfrom the jaws ov death. Whar’s your lunch-count- | er?’ ! shaft, for they crowded about him ea _ ward,” he persisted, another shock on my gentle natur’. amg We're goin’ skyward ag’‘in up an’ drink ter ther from ther grave.” Hold yer appetite | life. hunger ant distance bim. I can’t wait fer ther _buffler an’ trimmin’s. placed The men of You-Bet seemed to forget that the Happy Rattler had been confined for twen- ty-four hours without food in the bottom of the r to bear the story of bis fall and his remarkable preser- vation from deatb. ; ““A squar’ lunch first, explanations after- “T’ll take a b’ar roasted, a buffler stuffed with sage chicks, an’, ef not too much trouble to ther cooks, an antelope pot- pie. 1 guess that’s about ther extent of my tirst order. Feel kind o’ lonesome byar,” and fer an epicure,” ‘Zoe!’ exclaimed the liquor-vender of You- Bet, as he recoiled a step. ‘“‘ Don’t you know she went off last night?” ‘*No. Who did she leave with?” “ With Hercules.” ** Jebosaphat!” ees the Happy Rattler. ‘An’ I war whar! couldn't prevent it! I bed ther man what said ‘jump.’ [’'d tie im ter George’s bind hoofs. Gone!—Zoe clean gone, an’ with Ther Man ov ther Velvet Hand? It’s Wal, Vl oe thet squar’ meal, ef an Injan hez ter cook ti. The next moment the man from Silver Bow broke through the crowd and started toward the gambling-den, He was followed by his losg-eared pard who did not seemed to have suffered by the fall! save in a slight limp, and also at a respect- ful distance from those dreaded hoofs by the crowd. Joe had erected’a new bar and the Happy Rat- y rs. Walk appy Rattler’s return | tler leaned against it and called out: ‘* Nominate yer ‘cong y wax-fig A You-Bet crowd never displayed any back- wardness when invited up to Joe’s bar, and two eagles changed hands, Now, Joe, bring forth the necessities ov Empty yer larder an’ I'll run a@ race with Set out what ye’ve got —turkey, cow, hoofs, horns—by George! I'll tackle a potpie ov nails! I wish could of the denizens of | whisper i hetatat thet were alive to tell the | bunery.” yer inmost soul, Joseph, thet I’m The presiding nius of the place at once fore the appy Rattler several dishes = <n ete © pee me = et 8 ee —_ ont Oe we ee we oe , he laid his bronzed hand on his stomach. ‘Joe, | _my smiling hoori, get Zoe ter dish up a feast fit ' the men ov You-Bet fer | ye play any hand you glanced at bisgarments. ‘‘1lift up my hand an’ wee ee oo =. - ow wm ee ee —- -——— colduess, The crowd stood back and looked on amused and interested. “Ty does me good ter see him eat!” said Pigmy Pete. ‘Twenty-four hours more an’ arter his first meal thar’d be a famine in this kentry. I wish Lola could see him git outside ov that repast.” ‘** Lola? ah, yes. Sbe hasn’t come back yet,” said the man at the little man’s elbow.” ** Not yet, Dan. Gone ter look arter Hercules Goldspur, an’ ther girl he run off last night. She would go. I said no, but bluff a Mexican woman ef ye can.” At that moment the Happy Rattler threw the last well-picked bone on the floor at bis feet, his donkey baving been fed in one corner of the saloon, and turned to the crowd. ‘It wara tumble, it war!” he said, ‘‘ Half- way down thet blamed shaft thar’s a beam an’ on it somehow er other me an’ George caught an’ hung fer a few moments. I tried ter climb up but it war no go fer all at once ther beam broke an’ down we went ag’in. When we lit I didn’t know who war on top, but an investiga- tion showed thet it war ther Rattler from Sil- ver Bow. George war lyin’ down with bis eye cocked up at ther top ov ther shaft laughin’ ter himself ter think how he came all ther way ter ther bottom without breakin’ a limb, My listenin’ gophers, I’ve hed falls afore, but thet’s the durnedest one lever bad. Mud? I should gently remark ter mention,” and the speaker say ‘Curse ther man what said jump!’” ‘Name ’im, Rattler,” said Pigmy Pete, ‘ An’ we'll cuss ’im, too.” For a moment a serious look and a flashing of his large eyes drove away the good-nature that seemed inseparable from his countenance, ‘| delight ter name ther skunk,” he ex- claimed. “I know what brought bim to You- Bet, an’ he knows why Iam hyar. That’s why lve sent George an’ me ter ther bottom ov ther shaft. If I had him hyar, l’d show ’im how George could spoil his anatomy in three seconds by ther fastest watch in Idaho. Don’t I like ther cherub? Why, my bloomin’ roses, I could take ’im to my heart an’ whisper words OV un- dyin’ affection inter his ear. George 'd know ‘im on sight, Mebbe he’s left You-Bet because Zoe's gone away. He wants the girl. He'd bold her fer a ransom an’ marry her besides. 11) name him, pards, I’ll—” ' The Happy Rattler stopped suddenly and with eyes that seemed about to fly from bis bead, started toward the door, ‘“‘What’s ther use ov namin’ bim?’ he ex- claimed, ne at the crowd, as be poinred toward the portal. ‘‘ He’s come back an’ saved me thet trouble, Feast yer eyes on bim, chro- mos ov You-Bet. Thar stands ther man who said * jump!’ ter George an’ me last night!” Already the denizens of the wild-cat city were staring at the man who stood in the doorway with a wild, triumpbant flash in his black eyes, ‘*Il am the man!” he a cried, as he came forward, without a weapon in either hand, but with defiance in bis swift glances that took in the entire crowd. ‘ I have first to settle with a man more worthy cf my bate than that gentle- man from Silver Bow. Men of You-Bet, where is the coward who calls himself The Man of the Velvet Hand?” ‘*Gone!” answered Pigmy Pete for thecrowd, ‘* Cold-Deck Carl, ye’r’ a little too Inte.” A shade of bitter disappointment passed over the face of the gambler-sport. ““Gore! but I will find bim!” he grated. “A man who would throw a helpless buman am a lot ov Injuns deserves only ter die! He fe I would come back. I am here to throw into bis face the scalp of the scarlet devil to whom he flung me. This is it! this is the stl] wet scalp of the head demon ov the Sioux marauders— Big Wolf.” There was a rush forward as Cold-Deck Car) held up to the gaze of all, the long scalp of the Indian whom he had overcome during the ride back to You-Bet, A wild cheer nbn « the bloody trophy. ** We'll take ye inter full communion fer thet, Cold-Deck,” cried several voices. ‘ Covnt on r pards! We'll help u pick up, an’ stand by yer through thick an’ thin. An instant later Cold-Deck Car] stood in the midst of the excited crowd whose friendship he had gained by one ect—the scalping of the a red enemy the wild: cat town had ever > ad ‘As for the Happy Rattler, his countenance fell, and finding bimself entirely deserted by the men who were about toswear eternal bat- red against Cold-Deck Car], be went sullenly to the corner where bis donkey was stil] eat- ing his hay and laid his band on his back and said ina hoarse whisper: “Markind is blamed unsert’in, pard! Ther men ov ‘You-Bet bev s new love. An Injun’s ha’r did it all. George, you an’ I don’t craw) ter any scalp. Tber man what said ‘‘jump!” last night is back. He’s made pards ov all You-Bet, but by ther eternal heavens} he shall yet be tied ter yer tail.” Comicboo { ‘ ’ — — * * ° ‘COI hy y — - az = a.