Beadle's Dime Library No. 297 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

mAs eR K < wy YY . ip ee Oe AR “) 4 ~ o- we 4 | Colorado Rube. The latter found in his grasp a substance which did not crush easily. Ralston’s body was like iron, and when Bill tried to break bis hold, to bend the arms which were wound about him, it was all in vain. The smaller man was as much at home asa wrestler as with his fists. Back and forth they moved, but Rube was only waiting for an opening. He saw it, caught the giant in a skillful lock and laid him flat on his back, The three Buzzards beyond the platform look- ed at each other in amazement. What manner of a man was this who handled their colossal brother so easily ? Bill arose as quickly as possible and dashed forward to another encounter. He was mad with wrath and resolved to turn the tables. In Ralston’s eyes, too, there was a gleam not before noticeable. It would be a decisive round. They grappled, and a furious struggle began. Back and forth they staggered, their move- ments shaking the platform and awakening loud echoes through the hall. But it was soon over. Colorado Rube gathered himself for a reat effort, raised the giant and threw him rom the platform. There was a tremendous crash and Bill Buz- gard and a broken chair went down together. He arose quickly, almost foaming with rage, but a new idea was in his mind. He had prom- ised to go away from Hotspur City quietly, if he was worsted by Ralston, but, to him, a promise was but idle breath. He had no in- tention of keeping it; he was resolved to have his enemy’s life-blood. He made a rush for the table where lay the revolvers, caught one up, cocked it and turned about, Colorado Rube seemed a doomed man, but he stood on the platform, facing the desperado, a quiet smile on his face, Buzzard pulled the trigger. The bammer fell, but there was no report. *‘ Before you try again,” said Rube, coolly, ** vou had better put in a cartridge and arrange your cylinder so it will revolve.” The giant looked at the weapon, uttered a curse, threw it down, picked up another and then burst into a roar, ‘*Treachery!” he shouted, ‘‘Thar has been foul play!” ‘* You have been outwitted—that’s all,” Rube evenly replied. ‘‘l knew your way, Bill Buz- zard, and prepared for this from the first. I knew you would not keep your promise, and the proposal to put all the revolvers on the table was a step to forestall your treachery. I ke to a friend of mine, and be crawled under the table, before the hall was cleared, and has been there ever since. While you have been watching the stage be has rendered your re- volvers useless, at the same time removing those of my friends. You will see they have them now.’ ‘* Av’ hyar I come, like a light from under a bushel, ez Socrates used fer ter remark,” said another voice, And Makepeace Mullin crawled from under the table. Dead silence reigned for a while in the room. Bill Buzzard was incapable of speech. He saw that he bad been outwitted; he saw the revol- vers of the three miners bearing upon him and his brothers; and he knew that it would be mad- ness to attempt further hostilities. He was de- feated; worse than that, he had been outwitted. Tie English language did not contain words enough to express the mad, blind rage which foamed within him like the waters of a whir!- pool, Outwitted! Deceived! His broad chest arose and fei) as his breath came in great gasps, and he laid one band on the table as though he was faint and dizzy. D»feated and outwitted ! It was the bitterest moment of bis life. Colorado Rube watched him keenly. Long before he had seen that Tom, Jack, and Dave Buzzard were leaving all to their elder brother, and he knew they would dosonow. Ashe de- cided, so would the matter go, Bill turned slowly and faced him. ‘““'You’ve played a cunnin’ trick, ain’t ye?’ he huskily said. “I took precautions against treachery on your part, and the sequel proves I did wisely, ou promised that if 1 worsted you, you ani your brothers would go away and leave Hoc. spur City in peace. You sbould have kept that pledge. Now, listen to me, Bill, for 1 swear I speak the trutb. You were not tricked ut the time of the election. I was sincerely and hon- estly for Rosseau, but I was also for pesce, and when Mumford was elected, I gave him my hand frankly. He offered me the place of svc- retary and I accepted. All was above-noard, and you have no cause for spite. Major Mum- ford, have I, or bave I not, spoken the truth?” “Upon my word of honor, you have spoken the truth,” the old man replied. **Hear, and be convinced, Bill. Now. I do not want trouble with yor. You have seen something of my pbysical prowess, to-night, and I tel! you frankly I do not feer any man in Colorado, with revolver, rifle or fists, or in a g 2pple. But I pr-fer io be at peace with you. —— i My wife is your sister, and she wishes you well. Sodol. Let me call your attention to the fact that I did not once strike you to-night—” ‘* You’ve said enough already!” broke in the giant, who was once more calm. ‘‘ Il want ter hear no more. It is my turn now, I hev de- cided ter leave Hotspur at once. You kin sw’ar in yer mayor, an’ kick up yer heels ez high ez ye please, but mark my words: Bill Buzzard never furgits an’ he never furgives. You'll hear from bim ag’in. Your town shall reap death fur ther sowing o’ ter night; I'll make Hotspur a grave- yard! That’s enough fur me ter say, but don’t you never furgit it, Rube Ralston. You stole my sister, youve tricked an’ humbled me, an’ yer own hand hez signed yer death-warrant, That’s enough!” He thrust his useless revolvers into his belt and turned to his stalwart brothers. They, too, secured their weapons, and each one turned a glance of undying hatred upon Colorado Rube, He met their giare firmly but silently. Then, in single file, with Bill at their head, - Buzzards strode down the aisle toward the oor, CHAPTER VII. MAYOR MUMFORD SILENCE reigned in the hall uutil the door closed with a bang behind the giant brothers. It was Makepeace Mullin who spoke first. «Ther darkest hour is jest afore dawn,’ ez Socrates used fer ter obsarve,” No one answered, but Colorado Rube went to a window to see what the Buzzards would do when outside. For once Bill kept bis word— pernepe because he did not care to engage all otspur under such unfavorable circumstances, He had said he and his brothers would go, and they went. Utter silence reigned in the crowd outside, for no one ventured a word. They were glad to see the dark cloud temporarily lifted from their infant city. Ralston directed Mullin to call the people in, and himself went to Cyrus Mumford. ‘There will be no further trouble about your inauguration,” he pleasantly said. “lm thinking of declining the office,” said the elder man abruptly. ** What?” Mumford repeated his remark. ‘* What in the world do you mean?” “There is trouble ahead for Hotspur City,” answered Mumford. ‘‘ The Buzzards bave been worsted for once, but they have only received a discomfiture which will add to their wrath; Bill will do his best to keep his threat to make Hotspur a graveyard,” ‘* Of course he will, for he’s revengeful enough for anything; but what of it?” ‘‘1 do not underrate the brothers,” gravely replied the mayor-elect. ‘‘Tbey are but four, but they are equal toanarmy. All Hotspur— except you—fears ther. I foresee bloodshed, and as I did not agree to be a military officer, I wish to resign. What is needed isa younger man—a strong arm and an active head—at the front. Let Rousseau have the office.” ‘* Not by any means, my dear sir. You are legally elected, the people are pleased, and you must take the place. 1 think all Hotspur ought to be able to take care of Bill Buzzard and bis brothers. Don’t let them see we fear them, As for the strong arm, I'll fill that place and be your fighting man, and I think we can defy all of our city’s enemies.” Mumford hesitated. He wanted the office, now he was elected, and his pride rebelled at the thought of showing the white feather; but the threat of Bill Buzzard was ever in his mind, Coloradey Rube renewed hig arguments, and by the time the people were fairly in their places again, the victory was his. ‘‘So be it,” said Mumford, abruptly, ‘but you must be even more to me than was in- tended. I will be mayor, but you must be the Strong Arm of Hotspur City!” _ ‘* Agreed,” said Ralston, smiling. ‘‘ I'll back your administration for all ’'m worth, but | trust there will not be so much trouble as you anticipate. And now, as the people are ready, let us proceed with the inauguration.” Once more the dignitaries of the place as- ceended the platform, once more the Reverend Mr. Wolff proceeded to administer the oath of office. and this time there was no interruption. lt was tuken amid an impressive silence, and, for weal or woe, Cyrus Mumford was Mayor of Hotspur City. Nevertbeless, there was an air about the cere- mony which seemed more fitting a funeral than a gala occasion. Those who bad not been in the hall had received a brief description of what had occurred, and all knew that though the Buzzard brotbers had been worsted, Bill had sworn to make Hotspur City a graveyard. Mature thought shows that the idea of four men being the terror of a town is not new or strange. Let one desperate criminal be at large in an extent of country, even in the East where the law is supposed to be supreme, and men and women alike ill have the possibility of a secret attack alwavs before them. Every large city bas its bard” locality. The thugs of the section are comparatively few, but the man who wanders through the streets in their aoe by night does so with every sense on the alert. The Buzzards reigned supreme at Sugar-Loaf. When the first cabin of the infant town was erected, the builders looked up and saw the ‘* Roost” on the top of the peak. And in the days which followed, they had been left alone, hated and feared. Only one man would bave dared lead an at- tack against them, and though he was the Strong Arm of Hotspur, be bad married the Buzzards’ sister and would not barm them. So the young city must goon, fearing them, guarding against them, ever dreading an at- tack, but afraid to carry the war into the ene- my’s camp. But the night’s work had made Rube Ralston the idol of Hotspur. That any one man could defy and conquer Bill Buzzard as he had done seemed almost impossible, but five good citizens had seen him do it, and the people knew too few words with which to properly express their admiration. Mumford’s chance expression was heard and taken up, and from that hour Colorado Rube was called the Strong Arm of the city. When the people separated, it was with e feeling of pride that they lived in a city; but over all hung like a sable robe the threat of Bill Buzzard—he had sworn to make Hotspur City a graveyard! The following morning Neal Bishop was seat- ed in the saloon connected with the Old Rye Hotel, when Rube Ralston sauntered into the room, He was on his way to the office when he observed Bishop, and wheeling, came to his side and held out his hand. He bad not failed to recognize the man who had interfered in bis behalf the previous evening. ‘*Good-morning,” be said, pleasantly, ‘“T trust you are not feeling any ill effects from the events of last night?” Bishop would greatly have preferred to be left alone; for reasons best known to himself this friendliness from Ralston was unpleasant; but he answered, with the manner of one in- tended by nature for a gentleman: ‘‘Thank you, sir, 1 do not. I received a heay blow, but it alighted somewhere—I never real- ized where exactly, it came so quick—where it did no harm, I haven't so much asa scratch to show for it.” ‘“‘That'’s pleasant, for I should have been sorry if any one had been injured in my service. I want to thank you for your good-will, and as you seem a stranger in the city, I shall be pleased to see you at my house.” Visit Rube Ralston—tbe man whom his sister was deliberately planning to ruin for some un- known reason! Neal Bishop would as soon have thought of trying to kill him. Whatever the young man’s: faults, at which Broderick had hinted, the sense of honor was far from being dead in him, and he could not have broken Ralston’s bread and let the iniquitous conspiracy go on. He felt like hastily asa and leaving the place, but this would hardly do. & ‘‘T am very much obliged, sir,” he stiffly said, ‘“but I cannot allow my slight service to be so enlarged. At the most, it was only what hu- manity demanded, and I made a botch of it, As for visiting you, you are very kind, but circumstances compel me to decline — with thanks.” Ralston saw that Bishop meant what he said, and he gracefully retreated from his position. ‘*Do you intend to settle in our city?” he then added. ‘*Not if last night’s scene was a specimen of life here.” ‘“‘T assure you it was not. Such a scene was never before known in Hotspur City; it is not a place of roughs and murderers. If I had not been there last night, there would have been no trouble. The hostility of the Buzzards is all directed toward me—or was, primarily—but it really amounts to nothing. I can afford to laugb at the fellows, for otherwise — life isa very happy one. I’ve a fair share 8) worldly goods, and the happiest home in Colorado. Neal Bishop clinched his hand tightly. Why did this man sit there and talk to him about his happy home?—to him who knew that a storm was gathering which might blast that home forever, and, knowing, dared not give so much as a bint. » : “T leave the city at once,” be curtly said. “In that case, there is no more to be said. Well, I wish you good luck, and if you ever come to Hotspur again, and want a friend, re- member me.’ . Ralston arose, extended his hand, which Nea} took with reluctance, and resumed his way to the clerk’s office. “An odd genius, that. If he was not born eccentric, ’'m afraid Bill’s blow has upset his mental equilibrium somewhat. Now for the other business.” He accosted the clerk genially, and when # few words had been said about the weather, and the inauguration, added; Comic ‘ oa, te 900 : t s.com