Beadle's Dime Library No. 278 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

- Se ee r | Z } Sag ’ ~s < W . ~< } ae ee Ce + - oe , 2g e ’ » ' ; i me ee we oem ‘‘ My father? I don’t know.” “More *n a million, they say,” was the an- swer. ‘‘ It’s too much for one man to hey, my dai y jumper. Thar’s goin’ ter be a divy one 0’ these days, an’ ef I keep ther hand I hold at this time, I'll be thar when it’s made.” Zoe jooked ints his face and then recviled with & shudder of disgust. CHAPTER XVIL THE ‘‘ SNAKE” COLD-DECK SHOT, THe Happy Rattler had not exaggerated to Zoe the descent of the red-skins upon You-Bet. Like a whirlwind that spares nothibg in the th of its fury, the Indians came and went, mc behind evidences of red-skin rage and vengeance. lt. was true also that.some of the roughs ef- fected their escape, and it chanced that for the most part they were men whose friendsbi Cold-Deck Carl.bad won by the display of t very trophy that had called forth the swoop of the red eagles—the scaJp of Big Wolf. it was a wonder that the victors had not ap- plied the match to the wooden shanties after their swoop, but the fact. that _it was an im- portant station on the Northern Pacific was all that saved the town, Had it been situated away from the railroad the glare of its burning would have illuminated the midnight sky. On the very night that witnessed Zoe’s cap- ture by the rough from Silver Bow, there was a re-union among the mountains that brightened the eyes of at least one man, a fall black-eyed fellow who still carried bis arm in a sling. ‘What! You-Bet cleaned out?’ exclaimed this individual staring at the seven dark- shirted men who bad surprised him at a camp- ee ee - - - ~ "= —— Hw eo: — : * + : - Ta lm MN te ie — ly ON =i - eX eS eds inal , o4 a, Salad ~ 5 * tT 4 io” 4 ofa : ie s r oS - a. < - a : . - 3 . > * 4 a + _ Lo” 4 ee eee Se as ~~ eee ~~ > a ol < eo a —— ~~ - =~ ee = a : in ta os. 4 ee « & “ poe. <4: x . - ~~ am Fees 3 = ese on sg Seryvar Te “aes * — ‘ t ee | ~~ s -_- ong -_—_: a s X ‘*Blamed ef it ain’t a fact, Cold-Deck,” was the answer, ‘‘ They came. down on us like a flock of eagles. Ef more than we seven got away with bull hides we don’t know it, Thar’s jes enough ov us ter form a kind. 0’ avengin’ rotherhood—a band oy free an’ easy chaps thet will make a name an’ money. Take us in, Cold-Deck. We're ther pards you won when ma flaunted Big Wolf’s scalp in our faces, Thet scalp made ther reds come ter You-Bet; but what ov thet?’ There were seven stalwart dark-faced men capable of desperate deeds either singly or under the leadership of @ man in whom they trusted te - “Sey « —) o> » - * « | = s A ot aa” Jr = ae 14 fo pate aa - — ee J ) — 2 Pree a "a —~etltint. ta . -* ~_ » - al aioe “s™., ee “What d’ye say,,Carl? Shall the brother- Ba hood exist?” 4 Cold-Deck Car! did not speak unfil he had stepped to the mouth of a cave in the hillside and listened there for a.moment, “Men ov You-Bet let the band exist,” he said coming back to the seven fugitives from You-Bet, 7 = «7. i. _ c oe De - ee =_— * Ps & s+ @&e ete ~ oat a eS - Ps F se = Vs a * < - —— se > pee, of Ar’ you alone, Cold-Deck?” a No « e ~ . . 5 Seat ees ar e! ess - e ‘ oe 4 Fa ,*. A. . > a « : od r ry 4 io <<», x ae oe a ae a a — ~~ - “ Who's in ther cave?” “ A friend,” f The galt? aw & ~ <a <5 Py. <: . rats ? Will he join us?” IL think not. He is on the trail himself.” y Av’ you war helpin’ im?” ‘ "es. 5 , “Trot ‘im out an’ give him a chance ter join ex . Ee ee mo Weir: 3 : ‘olt would be folly. He would not join, Let pt sleep.” — BMS : iM 4 . you say, then. Shall we organize | Eee Dag St **No. Follow me. | | —s Gold-Deck Carl led the roughs from the light | ees of the camp-fire and did not pause until in a | little hollow some disiance away, he whirled | suddenly upon the seven. “Thar ar’ now eight of us!” exclaimed the gpokesman of the seven. “By ther eternal _-—- ‘heayens! this ken‘ry shall think thar ar’ eight hundred afore long. To-morrow night we'll c begin by makin’ ther Portland passengers hold GS as Pe! Pe What!” cried Cold-Deck. ‘Is the object of | the brotherhood to be robbery?” A “Kinder so.” And the speaker placed his ‘bronzed hands akimbo and langhe ——_ ——Ee ee ee 44) ’ fa t a .-- * Thar bevn’t been a hold-up game played along " ' hyar since ther road ’s been built. N»body ‘Il ae 4) “be look for it. Thar ‘ll bea rich haul, Cold- | -sdDeek, an’ a divy that'll make you smile. Dire | s es you be our chief? Dare you lead us in ther | ny eae © id-Deck Carl thought of the man he had | ‘died Fs +: lately 1 t in the hill-side cavern, the hunting | father he bad sworn to help to the great success | is si _ for which he longed. > Sm to this moment be had played his game Ferdinand Sutter had not suspected him of _, treachery, and he felt that be could not afford sat this moment to desert him to leada lot. of «« despera in an attack on a Northern Pacitic train, when the chances of success were decided- 3G, ; se, estionable. ss the hill an’ yer pards from You-Bet!” said the > ; looks like you halt between ther man in ae zaagh as Car] hesitated. ‘* We don’t want that kind oy captain, Cold-Deck, we've struck ther at’ €27 ’ o ’ Sry a - e r . *} “J . v ti a . , "Y * ° ‘ae = 4 j ak Ls ¢ r Ss ba A, - F : od al Fy =. ir & P a ‘ 1? SL ‘ ‘ : “ % Fr coarsely. | important momeut. L le aspur, — eg a a eee wrong man. (Go backter yer pard. Lieto ’im. You kin scalp Big Wolf, but you can’t lead ther men ov You Bet. Whar’s yer grit?” The eyes of the gambler-sport suddenly flashed. His courage was assailed. ‘“My grit doesn’t suffer by your taunts,” he hissed. “I’m no train-robber. Ef I have bluffed in games from Sacramento ter Dead- wood, I don’t stoop to train-robbery. I am Cold-Deck Carl.” A derisive laugh followed this flashed re- | sponse, and ata glance from their leader the | roughs from You-Bet moved forward a pace. *Ov course ye ar’,”’ be said. ‘* We ar’ the men-wolves the reds spared. You won’t lead “Then hold up yer hands an’ Sw’ar not ter betray us.” Cold-Deck Carl bit his lip. “Tl never do that,” he said under his breath, *“ By the eternal stars! I will swear no oath of secrecy for these dead-beats.” He seemed to increase an inch in stature while he stood, without reply, to the last demand, ' ‘““Sw’ar, Cold-Deck! It’s no more than fair, since we’ve told you what we’re going to do, It’s goin’ ter be hold up on ther train to-morrer night.” ‘*I’m no traitor!” suddénly roared the gam- bler-sport. “Go an’ stop the train. I swear for no man,” ** Not even fer us, Cold-Deck?” ‘*For no man, I say.” “Do you hear thet, boys?’ cried the leader of the seven, wheeling upon his companions, “Shall we take Cold Deck’s word?” ‘*Make bin: hold up bis hands an’ talk.” “Hold ’em up, Cold-Deck.” “Never!” Matters were fast approaching a crisis. be- tween Cold-Deck Carl and the toughs of plun- dered You-Bet, ' His last word, firmly spoken, told the seven that they had cornered a man who would not move an inch. They looked into the eye of the gambler-sport and read defiance there. “Never, eh, Cold-Deck?” grinned the leader of the set. ‘‘ You’ve got but one hand, We've got fourteen—a big percentage.” ‘No. I have two hands!” And the hand until that moment at rest in the sling leaped ouf, and in the twinkling of an eye the two revolvers on Cold-Deck Carl’s hips were drawn and cocked. ; ‘*Go an’ rob the train,” he continued; ‘ but don’t begin the game ov hold-up hyer.” The thunder struck seven recoiled from the reyolvers that leaped forward. ‘T swear no oath of silence fer any man. You’ve struck the wrong man, boys. You'll hey to organizs ther brotherhood without me.” ‘*T guess we kin do thet, Carl,” was the answer. ‘ You won't be with us to-morrer night, but we'll get along. Got ter do suthin’ now; You-Bet’s no good. Them infernal red- skins didn’t leave a drop ov red-eye in ther hull town. . Wasn’tit strange! First came the man from Silver Bow an’ hed Joe’s counter kicked ter pieces; then ther reds came an’ cleaned out ther bull place.” The speaker talked with Carl’s revolvers star- ing him in the face. — » was a burly fellow, fully Cold-Deck’s equal in bysiqae, and he spoke, not the least concerned about the weapons at whose triggers rested the deadliest fingers in Idaho. “We part byer, as we can’t quite agree,” he went on.‘ We'll not exact ther oath to-night.” Carl’s look said ‘* You'd better not try.” and his pistols dropped at his side, but he did not move an inch. Suddenly one of the seven pushed his way to the front, and, with a leer, said: **She’s makin’ a long trail fer ye Cold-Deck,” “Pigmy Pete!” exclaimed the gambler-sport, ‘*T didn’t see you till now.” “Oh, Big Burt thar hid me,” laughed the lit- tle man, who looked dwarfed beside his athletic companions, * I’m little, but immense. Hevn’t 9 found ’er yet, I see?’ ‘Found who?” “Oh, you know. Come, 1 know a few things, ef you an’ Ferd did give me the slip t/other night. Iam one of the few what left You-Bet because the reds came. With ther rest what got away, bizuess called me away at the most Move along, boys. I hev a jag o’ bizness with this man.” He stepped toward Cold-Deck Carl as he waved his companions off, and the following moment the dwarf and the gambler-sport were alone, “Td like ter see Ferd,” said Figmy Pete, looking up into Carl’s face. ‘‘ He’s with you back yonder.” That instant the sport’s face darkened, and he flashed the little man a look dire enough to make him recoil. ‘Well, we'll go to him,” he said, beating own his rage. ‘* You want to see Ferd? Come, e didn’t Triton to desert you in You-Bet, Pigmiy ; but circumstances hastened our depar- ture, 4 * ee ee ee a ae - > - _ a? ? —_—- ee “a: i a ‘ ‘ ‘ é 4 v4 ” ? ‘ : ; ; a a ee = ee “Oh, I understand,” said Pigmy Pete, with significance. ‘I knowed thet only important > bizness would take him away without seein’ me. Lola be couldn’t have seen, for she war gone, = oe | An’ you are his pard, Carl, Goin’ ter help ’im -. oe? I’m glad ov that. Give us yer hand, rd.’ The hand of @old-Deck Car) closed on the one the little man thrust forward, but from under his dark lashes he eyed Pigmy fiercely. The pair were walking back toward the cave on the hillside, the dwarf with shrewd, glitter- _ ing eyes as he watched Car]. ' | “ve found ’em!? he said under his breath, | ‘*T know who made him leave You-Bet without _ consultin’ Pigmy Pete. I know vou pretty well | Cold-Deck Carl, an’ if I don’t put a bug in Fer _ Sutter’s ear, set Pigmy Pete down fer a durned | fool,” ‘ | It was not more than three minutes’ walk to the foot of the hill, and at its: first fringe of undergrowth Carl stopped. , Not noticing his halt, Pigmy Pete advanced - | another vy | | Then he heard his name called. Whirling at the voice, he found himself face to face with Yold-Deck Carl. ‘“’m no fool, Pigmy Pete,” hissed the gam- bler-sport, his eyes blazing bebind the cocked ' revolver that almost touched Pete’s. face, ** You will never see the man in the cave!” The lips of the dwarf suddenly contracted, | but his expression lost none of its determina- tion, | ‘ Ye'r’ showin’ jedgment, Carl,” he said, a | faint smile even visible at: the corners of his | mouth, “I’ve come a long ways ter die so | so clus’ to ther captain, hévn’t 1?” | ‘‘A long distance, Pigmy. Can’t I tell him what you war goin’ ter say?” viet Then out with it, fer by Heaven! I’m goin’ ter press this trigger in less than two minutes,” Pigmy Pete seemed to think a moment. * Dare you convey to him my last message?’ | be suddenly exclaimed. ‘ Cold-Deck Car) | you're afraid ter swear thet you will tell Ferd ' Sutter what | um goin’ ter say.” |. TJ swear fer no man!” was the answer. “Go on, er keep yer mouib shut ferever!” , ‘Teli him, then, that he is playin’ with ther meanest snake thet ever crawled,” cried the dwarf, who might well be defiant to the last, for there was no mercy in the eyes that scintil- lated behiod the revolver. ‘*Tell bim thet | Cold-Deck Car] is playin’a game thet will fer- | ever deprive bim ov Zoe. hisper in his ear, | if you dare, that you are a traitor, a wolf thet _ trails with ’im ter eat the fawn when she’s | caught, Ab! you dare not tell him this.” At the end of Pigmy Pete’s speech there was a ee laugh which the gambler-sport did not relis ‘Nothin’ else?’ he said sarcastically. “Yes; tell Zoe when you find her that to hate you with all her heart is her only salva- - tion. But she'll do thet without te)lin’,.’ This time the sport laughed, ‘‘T’ll tell’em every word, Pigmy!” he said derisively. ‘Thar’s nothin’ mean about Cold- Deck Carl, Now I cl’ar my way ter Zoe!” “Crar it; but thar’s Lola yet,” said the dwarf, * Lola! her eves,” ‘Wait an’ see! Thar’s nothin’ snappy about her but Yes, Cold-Deck Carl, wait an’ see what thet daisy lial‘ ov mine kin do. Touch the trigger at yer fipger, an’ find out what thet black-eyed she wild-cat kin do.” “Tl do it!” With the last word there rung out a Joud report, and the little desperado who confronted the gambler-sport leaped into the air, to fal) back and le on the ground without a quiver,” ‘*He died as ther fcol dies!” ejaculated Cold- Deck Carl, as he stepped over the body, upon which be bestowed a merciless glance. ‘ VI} serve the Mexican pantheress the same way if | she crosses my path! Pigmy Pete, ef ye warn’t | dead, Vd like ter tell ye thet I’m goin’ ter show Ferd Sutter that I'm a traitor ov the first class, But he’ll find thet out when the time comes,” Away went Cold-Deck Carl with a cold; heartless laugh rippling upon his lips. Ten minutes later he éntered the cave in the hillside, and called the name of his companion, in dense darkness, “Here Lam,” said a voice, and the gambler- sport felt a hand at his wrist. ‘Ive dreamin’ of Zoe again. Cold-Deck, tell me, for Heaven’s sake—and tell me now when I will see my child!” ‘* It'll be efore along, Ferd,” was the answer. ‘* Did you hear a shot awhile ago?’ .) [ do not know; but something broke my rest, ‘Wal, it war me. I went down the moun- tain an’ found a snake in my path. Ov course, I killed it.” The “svake ” was Pigmy Pete. CHAPTER XVIII. HOW THE ROUGHS PLAYED HOLD-UP, **HYAR she comes! It’s our first game ov. hold-up, an’ we must play it well.” malice ‘co © of gt 200KS oe Oo Se ',% fe Sag Og a a ee ee eee _@ . ‘ ah ~~ - 2 x