Beadle's Dime Library No. 297 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

— and he stood glaring into the calm, steady eyes of Colorado Rube. There was a breathless silence, during which the two men never stirred. Bill towered far above his intended victim, his shoulders were more massive, and he would weigh forty pounds more than he; but nothing could exceed Colo- rado Rube’s coolness. One or twoof the most observing spectators, seeing how calm, how alert he was, and noticing that his form, if not gigantic, was ample and well-rounded, began to have an idea that the desperado might not have things all bis own way. Cyrus Mumford was not one of these persons. We have before said he was not a brave man! he had been a coward ever since the Buzzard brothers invaded the hall. He sat on the plat- form, trembling, but only refraining from call- ing on the people for protection because he feared the sound of his voice would at once pre- = raha the terrible quartette upon bim., t was Colorado Rube who broke the pause, ‘*T wish to observe that we can’t bave bullets flying around here promiscuously. If you have a spite against me, it is no reason why you should kill a-dozen helpless women and chil- dren.” ‘Let them keep out o’ ther way, then!” growled Bill. ‘“They will come to this hall whenever they choose, they will remain as long as they choose, and [ will kick out the man who interferes with them!” Had a bombshell exploded in the room it would not have produced more universal’amaze- ment. That any man should dare threaten Bill Buzzard seemed past belief; to those who heard, it seemed like an antelope defying a tiger. o one was more astonished than Bill himself and for awhile he was speechless, but a deep red color crept into his cheeks that told of a passion which only blood could still. Before he could speak, however, Colorado Rube added: “One word to you, Bill. I suppose you con- sider yourself a fighting man?” ‘‘[ kin lick any man in Colorado!” the giant asserted, ‘*Then I have a proposal for your considera- tion. You say you have come here to be re- venged on me, Very good; 1 am willing to give you satisfaction, since vou will not accept the truth—and here is my proposal: I will meet vou as mun to man, not with revolvers, where {should be on equal terms with you, but with bare hands, muscle to muscle, arm toarm, If you win, [am yours to kill; if I win, you and your brothers shall goaway peacefully and fore- go your revenge, If you are a brave man, you cannot decline this challenge.” Bill laughed londly. * Why, you little fool, Il can lick you with one hand! Id break you all in pieces!” ‘* We have a surgeon here who will set all the bones I have broken. Don’t let that trouble you. AsI said before, if you area brave man, ‘you'll accept.” “1 do accept!” cried Bill, quickly. Ralston had touched him in his tenderest art. The giant was vain of his great strength; Pe feared no man in Colorado; and though he had a dim suspicion that be was making a mistake, he could not decline the challenge, Dave Buzzard had the same doubts, **This is foolish,” be said, ‘** What’s foolish?” Bill demanded, ‘*This is no way to settle the matter. By the time we've wiped out Ralston, these galoots will bave recovered their sand, an’ when they do they’ll see they’re fools ter let four men cow them, an’ they’ll wade in an’ clear ther Roost.” “Let them try it!” flashed Bill. ‘I’ve said I'd fight Rube Ralston an’ Pll do it; but, Lord! bow long willit last? Lill whip him in thirty seconds.” Colorado Rube had walked to where some of the citizens were paying attention to the man who had interfered when Buzzard tried to shoot, and had been knocked down by the des- perado. The blow had been a terrific one, dashing out the man’s senses in a twinkling, but he was beginning to show signs of returning consciousness. ‘* Who is he?’ Rube asked. ‘“ A stranger ter ther town. He come in, 2- boss-back, jest at dark, an’ put up at the Old nr e,”? 7 Take good care of him, and, if he needs a doctor, do all for him you can and charge the expense to me.” To the reader the man was not so much a s anger. He was Neal Bishop. Jolorado Rabe again turned to the Buzzards. = eens ‘* You say your grudge is only against Cyrus | Mumford and myself. Such being the case, you will, of course, agree to have the hall cleared until after our fight. I propose that all leave here except your party, Mumford, myself and three men | may select to stand in the same relationship to me that your brothers will to you.” “It’s a durned pile o’ ceremony,” said Bill, who repented that be had made any delay whatever, ‘but put it through, putit through!” Ralston announced the arrangement in a woice audible to all. There wasa good deal of oe a = oo eg a | Colorado Rube. ee murmuring, for, though the women were glad to go, the men wished to remain and see the battle, but Rube’s word was law and they gradually filed out. While they were doing so Rube spoke to his wife and to Makepeace Mul- lin, separately. What he said no other person heard, but Mrs, Ralston went out quietly, if not contentedly, and Mullin smiled broadly. In fact, the master spirit had a well-defined pee, and if he could master Bill Buzzard be 10ped to save Hotspur City from a tragedy that night. But of those who left the ball, few ever expected to see their champion alive again, He had retained three stout miners, named Abe Mulvey, Nick Anderson and Josiah Wise, and though they were really afraid of the gant brothers, they intended to face the danger ike men, ‘*T now propose,” said Colorado Rube, ‘‘ that you and I, Bill, settle our affair on the plat- form, and that the others give us ample elbow- room, More than that, I propose that every revolver possessed by the crowd be laid on yon- der table, and that the ~on-combatants retire an equal distance from it,” “Have yer own way!” almost roared Bill; ‘but do, fur ther Lord’s sake, git down ter business some time ter-night. Ef you think you kin fool around forever with me, you’re infer- nally mistooken, that’s all!” ‘‘T have no desire to ‘ fool around’ with you, and I’ll let you at me in a moment.” ‘‘T’ll knock you stiffer than that galoot they jest kerried out.” Neal Bishop, the man to whom he referred, was at that moment just recovering his senses. He bad been carried to the street, and the fresh air soon sufficed to revive him. He sat up, and put his hand to his head in an uncertain way. ‘* What has happened?” he asked, **You run ag’in’ a rock,” an old miner grimly answered, ‘‘T remember. I interfered to prevent a murder, What was the name of that man?—I heard it but indistinctly.” ‘* Bill Buzzard.” ‘‘ No, no; the other one,” ‘* Colorado Rube?’ ‘¢ What is his other name?’ .** Ralston.” ‘Tt is the same!” muttered Bishop. ‘* What did ye say, stranger?’ ‘*]7 asked how the quarrel ended ?”’ ‘‘It ain’t ended yet. They’re shut up thar, an’ they’re goin’ ter fight ter ther death.” Bishop abruptly arose, ‘Give me my revolver. I'll go in!” ‘*No, ye can’t. Spectators ain’t allowed; it’s ter be a private game o’ throat-cuttin’.” At this moment Mrs, Ralston approached. She had been one of the first to render aid to Bishop after be was struck down, and her beart warmed to the man who had suffered in trying to aid her husband. ** Are you badly hurt?’ she kindly asked. Neal laughed shortly. **] don’t know, and it don’t make any dif- ference one way orthe other. ‘ Life’s but an empty shadow,’ at the best.” “Tam Mrs. Ralston, and I wish to say we are very grateful to you for interfering as you did, and we shall be sorry if you have received any injury which will cause you trouble,” Bishop looked at her in silence. Mrs, Ralston! She little suspected what an interest the simple announcement caused in his mind. So this was the mistress of the home against which John Broderick had his mysterious designs. He looked at her keenly, and he was enough of a student of human nature to read ber char- acter with considerable exactness, *T think you are a stranger in Hotspur City,” the little woman resumed, ‘and, as such, we offer you the hospitality of our home. Mr. Ralston will be pleased to have it so.” Bishop started as though he had received a blow; this kindness from her touched him more than Bill Buzzard’s fist bad done. “No!” he said, curtly. ‘*I must decline. You’re making too much of a trifle, and I'll bid you good-night,” And he turned and hurried away, jostling the crowd fiercely. CHAPTER VI. MAKEPEACE MULLIN WINS A POINT. ALL was ready for the fight between Colo- rado Rube and Bill Buzzard. The platform hed been cleared and devoted to the use of the contestants. The three ‘‘seconds” of each stood in their respective places, not far away. Cyrus Mumford had taken a chair somewhat apart from all. He had been gradually gain- ing composure until no one would any lon- ger bave said from his outward appearance that he was a coward, but it was only a mask; he expected to see Rube Ralston easi- ly defeated and the Buzzards triumphant. That meant death to him, A short distance from the platform stood a table which was covered with a large, red cloth. This was a part of the paraphernalia of justice, but on the present occasion it looked like anything else. A dozen revolvers lay on the cloth, and it seemed probable when they were taken up, it would be to send death and destruction through the ball. ‘Come, now,” said Bill Buzzard, ‘‘ we’ve had enough o’ do-nothingism.” ‘‘ Just my idea,” answered Ralston, coolly. ““'You’ve been doing a good deal of blowing, and now we'll see if you really have any ‘sand’ and science,” Bill stared in stupid amazement for a mo- ment, and then his dark face turned that deep red before mentioned. He was a mad man, but as he had already decided to kill Ralston, there was no threat of personal violence which seemed lying around loose for him to make. ‘* We'll see!” he growled. ‘‘Just what we want to see,” said Rube, lightly. He removed his coat and tossed it carelessly aside, thus revealing one of the finest forms ever vouchsafed man, He lacked two inches of be- ing six feet tall, and was not broad-shonul- dered, but every part of his form was admirably rounded, and his chest was a marvel of develop- ment. Buzzard was at least three inches taller, his breadth of chest and shoulders was remarkable, his arms were long and large, and bis bands ponderous enough to wield a sledge-bammer like a toy. Rube advanced briskly and confronted the giant. ‘*Choose "your "mode of fighting,” he calmly said. ‘‘] am ready for eitber fist or grapple,” Bill’s lips parted in a cruel, hungry smile and he thrust out one ponderous hand to grasp his enemy’s throat. Somewhat to bis surprise, it was brushed carelessly aside. ‘*Some other day,” said Ralston, coolly, The words angered Bill afresh, and he sent out his clinched left hand with a blow which would have done demoralizing work had it reached its destination. It did not. It was brushed aside as his other hand had been, and, in the expressive language of the day, Rube never * turned a hair.” ‘‘ Stop trifling,” said the latter calmly, “‘ and come right down to business!” The giant did not decline the invitation. He sprung at Rube like a tiger and, using first one fist and then the other, sent out blow after blow, rapidly, and with terrific force, driving the smaller man around in a circle. That was all he did. Not one of his blows reached the keen, calm face before him; Col- orado Rube had his hands up in the style of a skillful boxer, and he warded off every blow as systematically as the swing of a pendulum. His friends in the body of the house, who bad expected to see him easily beaten down, were both amazed and delighted. It gradually dawned upon them that their champion bad the art of self-defense down to a fine point, and that the victory is not always with the strong. Rube’s ‘‘ science” enabled him to parry Bill’s crushing blows with ease. No one was so much surprised as the giant himself. He had expected to beat down his enemy without trouble and, having no knowl- edge of the art of self-defense, this impenetrable guard surprised and bewildered him. The only encouraging thing was that Rube gave ground, and as the desperado saw it was his point to retreat in a circle, and thus keep the platform all at his service, he determined to corner him and end the fight. A-cordingly, he acted on this idea and pre- vented the circling. Having his man cornered, he rushed in to beat him down. Then occurred another surprise. Rube passed his brawny fist upward and over his shoulder, shot forward under it, and was behind Bill in a twinkling. ‘‘Here lam, William!” he gently announced. Bill Buzzard turned about. He had exerted himself a great deal during the first round, and his wind was not so good as before, but that was notall. It was clear to him that he was no match for Ralston at the game they had been playing. lt was a bitter humiliation, but he was not all fool, and he saw that it wasso. He paused to get breath and think what he could do next. “Will you have adrink of water?’ politely asked Rube. ‘I'll have your blood—that’s what I'll have!” growled the giant, pantingly. ‘* Perhaps you'd like the earth, too?” ‘*Sneer on; Ill be arter ye in a minute.” The latch-string is always out, William.” Bill Buzzard drew a deep breath and then rushed forward again. He did not intend to waste any more strength in pounding the air; it was his intention to close with him, to crush bim in a grasp no man he had ever met had yet been able to withstand. Colorado Rube saw his purpose from the first, but be did not seek to avoid him, Standing firmly braced be met the rush un- flinchingly and the two grappled. Rube’s friends were now alarmed afresh. True, their champion had secured the advantage of hold, but what would it avail him against Bill’s im- mense strength? “oe tee a ’ \ . | 4 iy * a) | j " > a | . ine _ MN y | j é 4 - r ~ ay a > . bn a