Beadle's Dime Library No. 278 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

we . eS hon 5 me. oe a5. — a | * Silver Bow, but that name is only a di George?” | » Ferdinand Sutter's child and heiress. Where he | bunted for the lest girl. They never — es - 4 -. Hercules Goldspur. the man from Silver Bow, and his hand closed ‘‘ Because certain men know that you are suddenly on the liquor-dealer’s wrist. ‘‘ Things | here,” hey reached a sweet pass when two citizens ov Silver Bow can’t bave a little amusement, timate yer damages an’ present yer bill. Draw on ther bank liberally. ld die ef George Es- | couldn’t demolish suthin’ twice a week.” ° ‘Settle with ’im, Joe!” cried the crowd, ‘¢ Draw on the bank an’ we'll treat the house,”’ The ire of the bartender suddenly cooled. ‘‘ Called it a hundred,” he said. ‘Thar it is!” and several bills fell into his hands. sé Ah !”” Zoe seemed to sbrink from Goldspur uttered the brief exclamation. ‘* Because Cold Deck Carl is here,” Hercules went on with a moment’s passe; *“ because there’s a dead man in the deep cut to-night—” ‘* A dead man?” ‘* A dead man!” ‘* Who killed him?’ ‘Ah! not now,” and the arm of Hercules as she ‘It’s ther cheapest kickin’ matinee Goldspur stole around the girl’s pliant waist. George has had fer a month. Waltz up an’ | ‘That is one of the things you must not know select yer ratsbane, my bloomin’ sunflowers,” | for the present, Zoe.” to the crowd, ‘It’s George’s treat.” A this time to the health of the cause of the ruin by which they were surrounded. ‘Thar’s a daisy blossom!” suddenly exclaimed the Happy Rattler, springing to Zoe’s side, and a moment later he was saying in rapid tones at her ear: ‘‘'You ar’ Ferd Sutter’s girl, an’ worth a cool million. Don't you know it? I used ter court er mother—I, the Happy Rattler ov Silver ay They’ve been huntin’ you fer years, an’ men hev got ter die fer ye right byar in You- Bet. One man died already to-night. What do they call you here?” * Zoe,” said the astonished girl. ‘Zoe! It’s a pretty name. It ought ter be Zoe the Bonanza Queen, You ar’ goin’ ter be the first character ov a wild, bloody drama, I guess George an’ I will stay an’ help ’em play it out.’ And while the Happy Rittler laughed Zoe broke from bis grasp, and fled from the room. CHAPTER V. THE VELVET HAND AND ZOE. THE young girl did not pause until she found herself beneath the brilliant stars that studded the vault of night. ‘*He calls bimself the Happy Rattler from se,’ she said to herself. “I never saw him before that I know of, but he knew me at sight, and that proves that he is a different person from the one whom he calls the Happy Rattler. Where is Hercules?) Ob, that he were here now!” ‘*T am here, Zoe.” At that moment a man stepped to her side, and the young girl looked up into the giant’s fuce, ‘*You are here, Hercules; exclaimed Zoe, as she nestled close to the strong arms of Goldspur. ‘I bave been frightened, frightened almost out of. my wits.” * By whom, my pet?” asked Hercules with a smile, ‘*Who has dared to scare yout Show | me the low dog—” ‘You will meet him soon enough—I know you will,” interrupted the girl. ‘‘ Somestrange events have occurred at the saloon since you left it with the man called Cold-Deck Carl. It has been invaded by a man and his donkey and the donkey kicked the bar to pieces,” ‘Is that fellow bere?’ asked Hercules, ‘‘ He always turns up when I have some important transaction on my hands. Hails from Silver | Bow, Zoe; doesn’t he?” **So he says.” ‘‘And calls his livin’ kickin’ apparatus ss es,” “As a kickin’smachine that donkey has no rival,” laughed Hercules, ‘‘I saw him back up to a camp-fire ov Sioux an’ his heels kicked ’em in forty directions. So he is here. Where is he, Zor?” **T left him in the place.” ‘With everything within reach of the don- key’s heels kicked iato splinters?” “Pretty much.” *“ But you say he frightened you.” He did—with what he said.” “Wal, what wor that?’ ** He called me the child of Ferd Sutter—” ““ Which you ar’,” ““And said that I would become the central figure ina bloody drama—” ‘*T guess that’s avout right, Zoe,” interrupted cats Goldspur with a coolness that startled e girl. “Then, for Heaven’s sake let us cet awa from here!” she cried. “If that Led is prophet, do not let me see the light of another day in You-Bet. I don’t want a drop of blood spilled for me. Take me back to the old ranch which I have not seen for many years, If my father is living, let me see him again.” A strange light beamed in Hercules Gold- spur's eyes. “lt can’t be, Zoe,” he said with determina- tion, looking down into her black orbs which like her words were a prayer. ‘There can be no reconciliation yet. I would not cause you pain—not for all the ore in ‘these bills, ut what you seek cannot be granted. You are lives you would be a bonanza queen; but you can’t go back yet.” “Why not?’ é thank Heaven!” NS a “That man was killed because I am here,” in the crowd surged forward and drank, | she exclaimed. Goldspur smiled. * Listen to me, Zoe. The last train that —— | passed You-Bet to-night was stopped by a sig- | nal-light in the gulecb, and a passenger who bad been telegraphed for five days ago got off au’ joined the chap what waited for him. They war workin’ together. Wal, while they war holdin’ their confab on ther track a bullet hap- pened along that way an’ the passenger died with his boots on. He war shot squar’ bo- tween the vyes an’ not in the back of the bead fer the man what teched the trigger shoc‘s his enemies in the face. The man what warn’t shot war Cold-Deck Carl; the other— not now, Zoe, not now. There! don’t tease Hercules fer his name fer you'll not hear it to-night.” ‘*] will not ask again,” said Zoe, beating down her curiosity. ‘' My God! can it be that men are to fight like wolves for me, and like wolves die for a foolish girl? Tell me this shall not be, Hercules. know youcan. There is a trail that leads to my father’s ranch. tain town where men fight over an ounce of silver, and quarrel over the bomeliest Indian girl that strays into camp.” ** Don’t play the infant game, Zoe!” ejaculat- ed Hercules. ‘‘ Ain’t this arm strong enough to | protect you? When did you discover that Goldspur is a boy with neither muscle nor brains?” His look abashed the girl. The hot blood flowed to her temples and | crimsoned them as she laid ber hand on his arm. ‘‘ Forgive me, Hercules,” she cried. ‘I have never doubted your ability to protectme. But | whatis this red drama of which I am to be the central je Dare you let me into the secret? | What if [should go to the Happy Rattler and | ask him?” ‘The fool would be likely to tell you,” an- swered Hercules. ‘' But come with me, girl. I will not ae everything from you any longer.” Overjoyed, Zoe permitted the handsome giant to lead her! from the spot and toward the several mines that lay at the northern side of the town. Nosounds but those of their own steps greeted their ears as they advanced, and Hercules who guided Zoe did not pause until they reacbed an opening ina hill. **We'll goin,” he said how suddenly Zoe had | aperture, You can prevent it all; I | It leads from this moun-_ oa with a smile, noticing | halted in front of the | ‘“*Thar is the blackness ov darkness | _in the old mine; but the air is fresh and I’ve got | matches,” sured by a glance at his stalwart physique, went forward without hesitation, and the twain quickly disappeared. match dissipated some of the gloom of a cavern, and then its light was communicated to a more pretentious stick, one end of which Hercules thrust into a crack in the wall. “Now, Zoe, you will see something I have opened and took therefrom a piece of rough yellowish paper her closer tohim, ‘“ Here we go.” “STOLEN BY APACHES! “PTVE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD. daughter Zoeta was carried to stimulate seareh for her, while I shall use ail efforts pags for ber recovery myself, I offer a re- ward of five thousand dollars in gold for her return, and the same sum in the same metal for the scalpof the Apache chief, I will treat with no Apache Indian for Zoeta’s return, for I Core everything Indian; but I will have vengeance for the infamous deed that has wpe Y me of a beloved daughter. Signed) ‘* FERDINAND SUTTER.” “There was a time men tell me, Zoe, when Arizona was flooded with posters like these,” a el document. trees, rocks, and even in the depths of caves like this. Wherever man went‘ he was certain | to behold one of Ferdinand Sutter’s They did some good. The best men of said Hereules when he had finished reading the | 7 zona Indian whom they met an’ the Apa were obliged to make themselves scarce for a while. But they never found the girl.” ~ +s Zoe looked up into his face, and, as if reas- Twenty minutes later the glare of a little | | if he preserved a long time,” be said, taking from a | natural stone shelf a little iron box which he | “Pil read it for you—every sentence, every | word,” he continued as the girl’s eagerness drew | <6 ‘Know all men that on the 23d day of May. 189-,. my’ | f by a band of Apaches | under the leadership of Chief Grass Snake. Inorder | Would make a ‘No, because I am she!” cried Zoe. “My name has been shortened: why I du not know. Is the offer of reward still good?” 4 Yes.” “Why do you not claim it?” Hercules Goldspur laughed. ‘*Why, | might lose you, my bird!” he ex- claimed. ‘lt might lose my little Zoe, the pearl of the mountains.” The girl drew back from him. ‘Then you prefer to see my father suffer,” she said. ‘Then, Hercules, you want me to become the central figure of the bloody drama of which the Happy Rattler spoke. Then—” ‘* Hush!” interrupted Hercules springing to the girl’s side and seizing ber wrist as he gezed down into her eyes. ‘** You have said enough. Iam truly The Manfof the Velvet Hand. There are near me foes who sball learn that I havea right tothat title. Let the play begin. It bas be- gun. It began to-night in the cut, an’ one map lies dead before the curtain has fallen on the first act. You know who you are—Ferdinand Sut- ter’s child: an’ he a millionaire. But that peper is a lie, Zoe. It does not set forth the truth. Itsays that you were stolen by Apacbes, but you were not.” “Then, by whom!” ‘* By white men.” - <4 father’s enemies?” uy ” “Did no Indians help at all?” “They were side actors,in the of the man who planned the theft. They misled your father an’ bis friends. If all the Apaches bad been hunted down then, you would not have been found.” : ‘*] know nothing about my abduction,” said oe. ‘‘Of course not. You were taken from the cradle,” “*My mother—” ‘* Had been dead three months.” The girl was silent for a moment. ‘It isa wild romance. Will it never end?” she suddenly ejaculated. | ** All ae end,” smiled Hercules. **Men will will fight for me, you say; but they shall not doit! I will not play in the red drama The Man from Silver Bow talks about. For the last time, Hercules, take me back to the old man who waits for his child.” | It was a plea spoken in tones that would have made an impression on a heart of stone. If it moved the bandsome giant, he did not give way to his feelings. Quick as a flash, he stooped and kissed the girl and then burst into a langb, ‘““Give you up, et:” hecried. ‘*I or you. Let them gather at You-Bet for the prize that is bere. tthe man | met to-night draw his boasted blood-line around the town if he will; let Lola shoot an’ the Rattler laugh; let the other man kil] an’ the red devils come. I am ready for all, Zoe. They don’t separate us till | am ready for it. Iam The Man of the Velvet Hand” 2 CHAPTER VI. ’ THE DOOM OF THE PARDS, “TnIs. gentlemen, is the only original Kickin’ George ov Silver Bow,” said the Happy Rattler as he leaned against his donkey and removed from between his teeth a cigar with which he had regaled himself as he surveyed the crowd who had witnessed the avimal’s late exploits. ‘‘He’s gentle, but not handsome; kind, but not very grateful. Ingratitude is his only fault, Give ‘im a squar’ meal to-day an’ to-morrow gets a chance he'll kick your head off We'll liquor up again among the ruins of bar and then me an’ my pard will travel on. Wahz up, my sweet-scented shrubs ov th mountains, and draw yer subsistence.” ) Once more, as before, the toughs of You Bet did not hesitate to accept the Rattler’s invi- tation, and when the glasses bad been emptied, he led the wonderful donkey from the place. ‘“‘] knowed the girl the moment I sot eyes on her,” be ejaculated to himself when he found himself beyond the precincts of the den. ‘*She’s got ber father’s eye an’ disposition, an’ bonanza queen. Kindo’ surprised ber when I told her who she war. She wasn’t lookin’ fer a revelation ov that kind, and mine war in the nature of a thunder- bolt from a cl’ar sky. What am I goin’ ter make ont ov this expedition? How much, George? In the first place, thar’s the old Injun | reward ov five thousand. That war doubled ‘* Men found them everywhere, on | | | | some years ago. It’s ten now with interest, By Jehu! it’s a bonanza fer this angelic being. Then while I’m in this kentry I might strike a yieldin’ claim, who knows.” alking thus aloud and in a strain full of glee as he led thedonkey toward the northern con- fines of the town, the Happy Rattler was building in the air castles which were liable to be knocked to pieces, He had struck a trail for which he had hunted an along time. | His donkey had not kicked counters to pieces for nothing, for his last exploit in that line had brought to light the long-lost heir of the gigan- JOO <€om S) (é my Northwest angel?—not — *ve gone through too much . Joe's , (E(0)