Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 294 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

——_<—- eee ee er — ~~ _ ——- ‘Wal, you’ve fetched him to the wrong place. We'll chaw him up byar!” Did Colorado Clate see the eyes of the burly driver flash? © *“*T guess not,” he said coolly. “I ginerally stand by my pxssengers. That man thar war one. I protect him!” Look at him!” cried Colorado, stepping for- ward and pointing at the body on the porch. ‘*He’s a bloody Mormon—a man only fit to be pulled up an’ kept thar two hull days, Thar’s thirty men in Deadwood what want his biocd. Ez I hev remarked, you’ve fetched him to the wrong place. Do you like a Mormon skunk?’ ‘No, sir; I hate ’em!” was the quick response, and the stage-man stepped toward Timothy Tenwives, ‘ Thirty ag’in’ one?” ‘*Thet’s ther way it stands hyar now?” The next instant the driver swooped down upon his unconscious passenger like an eagle, and lifted him from the porch; then, with two quick strides, he thrust him back into the stage, “Thar he is—in Big Jehu’s castle!” he hissed, wheeling upon Colorado Clate. “Now, my Deadwood daisy, bring on yer thirty lynchers!” CHAPTER XV. “UTAH OR BU’ST.” IN such an unexpected manner bad the Mor- mon elder come back to Deadwood! If he had been consulted it is not at all proba- ble that he would have returned at all, but hav- ing been found lying across the Denver trail at the mouth of the fissure or pit into which we have seen him tumble headlong, he had no voice in the matter, and was carried back to the place where his life was not safe for a minute, Such is the fortune of life. If Big Jehu, the stage-driver, had been so disposed, he could have told Colorado Clate how near his foremost horses came to treading on the man lying helpless on the trail; how, just in the nick of time, he jerked the steeds ack and rescued the Mormon from beneath their very hoofs. But Colorado did not inquire, and Big Jehu was not communicative, The eyes of the driver flashed fire, as erect, like a giant, he stood at the rear end of his ve- nace and dared Colorado to bring on his lynchb- ers. He had deposited the body of his passenger on the inside of the stage, and shut the dose nel it. Colorado Clate was somewhat taken aback by the sudden action and the dare. He had not expected it from the rough driver. ‘‘ Wal,” he said, ‘‘ef thet’s a dare, we'll trot out ther daisiest gang ov hangin’ cherubs you ever laid yer eyes on.” “ Allright; trot ’em out!” Big Jehu walked around the vehicle and to the front wheel, ‘I see thet the two kids I brought along hev one somewhar ter liquor up,” he continued, ‘Pll take the hosses to the stables. My passen- ers kin stir the kernul up when they come ck, an’ ef nothin’ Happens I'll come back, too.” Mebby you’d better keep a-goin’ ef ye’r’ oin’ ter make thet Mormon yer pard,” growled olorado under his breath, as he watched the stage move slowly away. “I’m skunked ef thet isn’t a combination totally unlooked fer at this stage ov ther ‘game. I thought thet Mor- mon ’postle died with a broken neck when we had ’im in charge, although Broadcloth Burt did make us drop the carkiss; but.hyer he turns up right in Deadwood with breath still in his body. Thet man, Big Jebu, must hey made his will Nobody but a fool would attempt ter make a Mormon his pard in such a hawk’s nest ez Deadwood.” , With a glance at the Setemup, still as silent as the tomb, Colorado Clate turned on his hee! and walked away. ‘“*T haven’t found the girl, but I hev diskiver- ed a new scource ova rumpus. Let Alice fer aspell. Thet Mormon is a dangerous man, ———— ee en Se CC LMM§_CL LO LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LL LL LL elma ttt ee ee | ; a Mormon ever won, gO | everywhere except among the nine Mrs. Ten- ve Broadcloth Burt, the Denver Dandy. } ee ee A low cry burst from the Mormon’s throat. What! back again among the tigers who thirsted for his blood? His last recollection was a horrid one, of fall- ing into a dark pit, and the terrible thud that checked him he felc still, even in Big Jehu’s arms. “Tm goin’ ter shoot out the solid truth,” said the driver. ‘‘ I’ve seen a sample ov the men who want you, an’ I dared ’em ter play their game out.” The Mormon, entirely conscious now, started and shuddered perceptibly. ‘‘ Thar’s no bones broken in yer anatomy, eh, Timothy?’ ‘* Not a bone,” ‘*Thet’s encouragin’, You don’t want ter tackle the Dead wooders alone, pard?” ‘*No; but let the cowards attempt to noose me again! I am a Mormon an’ the Gentiles hate me; but, by the Saints! when men cross me, I’m a tiger.’ The last words were hissed forth, and with an effort the Mormon disengaged himself from the driver’s grasp. “Try ter stand, Timothy,” laughed Big Jehu, stepping back. ‘‘Ef you’ve the use ov yer limbs you may stand a show ef the Dead- wood toughs don’t double-team on yer. Ha! ha! thar you go! totterin’ like a baby!” And the hands of the stage-driver darted forward to catch the falling Mormon. But his arms were an inch too short, for Tim- othy Tenwives eluded them and fell ina heap on the ground. With the smile still on his lips, Big Jehu stooped over the prostrate man and was about to lift him, when a quick step fell on his ear and a hand touched his shoulder. **Great Caesar!” he cried, leaping up. “Don’t let mescare you,” was the answer ‘* Have you any message for me?” ‘“* Who are you?” ‘* Broadcloth Burt.” The driver eyed the tall and elegantly-dressed sport from head to foot. — ** I’ve got one letter,” he said. ** Let me have it.” Big Jehu ran his hand underneath bis coat and produced a small, carefuliy-sealed envelope which was eagerly accepted by tbe Denverite. Thanks, Jehu. [sn’t that man Timothy Tenwives?’ “That’s my name,” said the Mormon elder. ** What fetched you back byer?” “You'd better say who. Ask that whip- slinger.” The Denverite looked at Big Jehu. ‘**Did you do it?” he asked. ‘Yes, I found ’im more dead than alive on the trail.” ‘‘ Before Heaven! I had no voice in the mat- ter!” asserted the wife-hunter solemnly. “If I had been consulted, I think I would have voted unanimously to remain out ov Deadwood, for the present, at least.” ‘*And forever, if you take my advice,” . said Broadcloth Burt, fixing bis eyes full of meaning on the Mormon. “I repeat here what I told you on the porch of Colonel Sandbanks’s hotel: you're a dead man if you attempt to play your original game. Remember that!” ** Let me git back to the bosom of my family and Pllswear ter remain there forever,” said Timothy Tenwives. “Then; Big Jehu will start south with you to morrow.” ‘* Thet is if they let him alone till then,” said the driver with a grin. ‘‘Have they discovered you since your re- turn, Timothy?’ ‘*That man informs me that they have.” ‘Then, if you want to see your numerous family you haven’t got a minute to spare. Daylight must see you far toward Utah. You've played a foolish game. You gave outa little publicly among tbe brethren an’ others, not altogether saints, that you war going to invade Dikota an’ bring back the daisiest wife It was your open boast wives left behind. A man is often brave save When he wakes up and finds himself in Dead- | in his own house.” wood, with nobody ’twixt him and a Jariat but Big Jehu, he'll wish himself in the bosom ov his harem. in rouse the boys, we'll git to ther stables in time fer the wakin’. up.” Meanwhile, Big Jehu had reached the rickety low-roofed sheds dignified by the collective name of “the stables,” and quickly unloosed and stalled his horses. It-was the end of the stage-route of the tire, but there was no accommodation for the stage, which bad to stand out in all kinds of weather, “We're hyer in Deadwood,” said Big Jehu, as he ran his long arms into the stage and rasped his passenger. ‘‘ They’ve already dis- kivered you, an’ from what that big galoot said, they don’t like you, my gentle nosegay from Salt Lake.” He drew the Mormon out and looked down into bis face in the light of the stars. * Thet’s right; look into my face an’ wonder whar ye ar’,” he said, noticing that conscious- ness was again asserting ber power. ‘ My old pard, ye’r’ in Deadwood.” par ‘ : i } Tbe Mormon’s eyes dilated. ‘* Who told you that I made my boasts about gettin’ a new wife?” he asked. A smile appeared under the dandy’s sleek mustache, ‘Let it be sufficient to say that I know, Timothy,” he said. “TI must say that I admire your judgment. She is a flower and no mis- take, but you must go home satisfied that the Deadwood pansy will never bloom in a Utah garden. “| staked a good deal for her, though.” “Like a fool! and came within an ace of losin’ yer life,” blurted Big Jehu for an approv- ing look from Broadcloth Burt. ‘*Some men are born fools!” said the Denver- ite. “Go back to your family, Timothy. Wife-huntin’ fer » Mormon is durned shabby employment in this pistol-kingdom. Men like Paradise Paul don’t take kindly to your doc- trines,” — **I could kill that man!” hissed the Mormon in the voice of an adder. 13 *“No doubt of it, an’ thar’s a woman not a thousand miles away who could kill you both.” ‘*T know that,” and Timothy Tenwives re-. coiled several] inches as be spoke, ‘“‘I was almost within reach of ber hand to-night.” ‘* And I told ber about whar I left you.” ** You did?” ‘Yes; shortly after I left you after yer hang- in’ by the Deadwood toughs, I met Merciless Maud in the mountains. She swore that she would not take your life if she found you—at least not now, and I told her where you war, But she didn’t find you it seems,” The Mormon was silent for a moment. ‘“*T escaped her by falling accidentally into a pit,” he said. ‘* When I afterward crawled out of it I fainted on the trail, and Jehu thar found me. I am in a bad fix ain’t 1+hunted by a female tigress and wanted by Paradise Paul and his Deadwood vultures!” “‘] should gently observe that you ar’in a pickle, Timothy. . Salt Lake City’s the only safe place for you. Go thar and live; stay byer and a Take yer choice, but don’t choose like a ool,’ ‘*T'll go back. By the bones of the Latter Day Saints! [ll shake the dust of this place from my feet forever!” The Mormon seemed in earnest; he looked frightened and penitent. “Help him out of Deadwood if you can,” whispered Broadcloth Burt at the stage-driver’s ear. ‘*I don’t want the thirty tigers to tear him up. You go back to-morrow. Hide him somewhar till then.” “Pll do it!” was the response. ‘It riles me ter see thirty ag’in’ one, even if thet one is a Mormon snake whose head I’d like ter crush.” Broadcloth Burt turned away with an ad- monishing glance at Timothy Tenwives. ‘Will we meet any more, Broadcloth Burt?” asked the Mormon. ‘* That depends,” was answered back over the Denverite’s shoulder. “*Go home, Shall I re- peat my warning of the porch?” ‘It’s not necessary,” and the Mormon saw the Denverite disappear. ‘*Come! I’m goin’ ter take you out ov this, pard,” said Big Jeha, as his heavy hand dropped on the Mormon’s shoulder. ‘* You have prom- ised ter go back ter yer affectionate family. Ter stay byer is to die, an’ you know it, too.” The Mormon did not stir, but the hand of Big Jehu shook bim up. ‘**Did I really promise that Denverite to go back?’ he asked. ‘*Sartinly you did an’ thar’s whar ye’r’ goin’! This way, please, my Mormon serapb.” Before he could remonstrate Timothy Ten- wives foand bimself being hustled along with force and but little ceremony. “It’s Utah er bu’st, Timothy,” said the driver, ‘‘an’ ef ye stay hyer, it ‘ll not be Utah!” The next moment and almost before Big Jehu bad finished bis sentence the clear report of a Winchester rung out on the night air, and the figure of the Mormon Apostle reeled from his companion’s grasp. ‘* | guess that Mormon snake will stay hyar!” said a loud voice. CHAPTER XVL A MOTHER'S MESSAGE, QvuiIcK as a flash the big driver of the Denver stage whirled upon the man who had delivered the sudden shot. ‘*Show yerself!” he grated. ‘‘ Walk out like a man an’ face Jehu ef ye dare!” There was no response, ‘*] know ye,” continued the driver. ‘‘ You ar’ the man | met on the porch ov the Setemup when | carried the Mormon from the stage. They call you Colorado Clate hyer. This Mor- mon war nuthin’ ter me, but it’s infernal cow- ardly ter shoot a man thet way. Come out an’ face me, if you dare,” Big Jehu was rewarded witb no reply to bis challenge. and after awhile he went to where Timothy Tenwives lay and picked bim up. ** I guess it’ll not be Utah, my Salt Lake nose- gay,” he said looking down into the white face revealed by the stars. ‘‘ Ef you war a Gentile how I would make Colorado pay for thet shot, But ez it is, ye’r’ not worth avengin’ anyhow, though while my blood war hot, 1 would hev made the Dead wooder show bis colors.” He carried the Mormon from tbe field of dis- aster and passed down the Denver trail with his burden. ‘Broadcloth Burt told me ter take the Mor- { mon out ov town, an’ I’m goin’ ter do it ef he is a corpse. I kinder like thet dandy Denverite ef he isa walkin’ bandbox. Thar’s grit in bis heart, an’ if he ever wants help an’ wil! draw on Jehu, he’ll git it.” Nobody seemed to follow the stage-driver and his ghastly burden, and two miles from town he began to examine the Mormon for the bullet wound. ‘‘Rlamed ef he war hit at all!” he suddenl exclaimed looking up in astonishment as some one stood over him waiting for his re- pant ‘The mean skunk’s ball only wincen aes ormon spider. No! byer’s blood under his hair. The bullet tore along bis skull,” | ~ comicbooks. 4 (Eo) | « e rw * “ « ” . a ; =, F” oe +. Cae