Beadle's Dime Library No. 299 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

, 16 **It’s no use, boss,”’ said one. box that thar ain’t but one way out of, an’ that’s through the door. peaceable.” At that critical moment he caught a glimpse of a face pressed against the window, which he recognized as Shadow Jim’s; and he beard him cry: ‘ Jump!” The next instant the face disapneared. Shadow Jim’s direction to the Sportive Sport was not audible; but what be said was: “You take one of ’em to the right!” Tbe Sportive Sport comprehended bis purpose and acted in conjunction with him just closely enough so that two distinct pistol-shots were heard not far enough apart to be shot from one revolver, Two panes of glass went ‘‘ ping!” Two cries answered on opposite sides of Tiger Dick’s room ; and two heads dropped out of sighe. Dick grasped the situation in a flash—what his colleagues were trying to do for him, and what he must do for himself. He carried out his part as if be were moved by the same will. He. fired two shots—one on either side—so close upon the others and so rapidly that bis en- emies who were not hit were daunted by this vigorous assault from without and from within, and dodged down their heads. To snatch up a blanket and swing it so that it fell over his head and face; and thus protected to leap through the window, carrying out sash, glass and all, was the work of an instant. He was followed by a shower of bullets and a storm of furious yells and execrations; and his determined pursuers leaped over the partitions into his room, and followed him through the way he had cleared, while tbe rest of the mad- dened mob poured round the corner from the front of the house. CHAPTER XIV, A MASTERLY RETREAT, Dick alighted all in a heap on the ground, wound up im his bed-clothes, But he had es- caped the ugly cuts glass is sure to inflict; and much more quickiy than he could have disen- tangled himself, he was grasped by either shoulder by his friends and lifted to his feet. ‘“This way!” cried Shadow Jim, grasping his hand and hurrying bim along, while the Spor- tive Sport covered their retreat by firing at ~ their approaching enemies, ’ ‘his athletic This was to give Dick a chance to recover frotm the shock of his fall, He required but a moment, and then he was bimself again. His first words were: _“ Have you got word to Iron Despard? Is he in the house? If he is, we can’t leave him.” . Shadow Jim replied as he ran: --“ He is not in the house. y went to the widow Reilly’s to take him. Of course I came to you first. I was sorry that there was ce ery of me. I had to leave him to his uc ** At the widow Reilly’s? Do you know where itis? -Letus go there at once, We may be in time to —™= shot that will be worth some- Dick never deserted a friend, no matter how great the odds. » Shadow Jim was always prudent. He loved ** Shadow Jim” too weil to rush into absolutely forlorn hopes, Yet it must be admitted that he was faithful too, He would have taken great risks for Tiger Dick—greater than for -) However it: would be too markedly craven to back out now; so be led the way to the widow ‘Reilly’s. Now that there was no longer need for cau- tion, it seemed as if Ab Ee per had broke loose. The mob yelled its rage, and summoned ‘those who were asleep toits assistance. Shanties -were thrown open on every side, and half- dressed men rushed into the street... Whatever else they might lack, however, they were sure to bave on their boots and pistol-belts, The night was so dark, and the movements of -our friends had been so prompt, that the mob which stormed the hotel had lost sight of them; but the camp was fast becoming a very hori:ets’- nest, As if by magic lights streamed from open doorways on every side. It chanced that one of these floods of light over the party which held Iron Despard captivity. — a He bad been lifted to bis feet and seemed quite helpless—so much so that be leaned heavi- ly on the men who supported him on either side. But this was a, pretense.to beguile the watchfulness of bis captors. Bruised and bat- tered as he was externally, he had sustained no injury which would im his superb strength, lity. He waited for some cir- cumstance which would make available his -mauscles of tempered steel. » ‘Bo his friends, as they came rushing down the ‘street, saw bim iv the midsi of his enemies, Y Meet to him and to those who surrounded him Ned ; ves, beingyin the dark, were indistin- guishable, until! they were disclosed by the flashes of their weapons. ** Charge!” shouted Tiger Dick; and his revol- ver was the first to speak. ‘*You’re ina You might as well cave Three of a Kind. A demon of destruction seemed to spring up in his breast, and he leaped into the very midst | | While held in captivity he had learned Joe Moran’s plot. He knew that it was useless to of the surprised vigilantes, blazing away witha | protest against it with the men who bad, for an pistol in either band, entirely different reason, resolved upon his de- The Sportive Sport was not much behind | struction. He had therefore made no attempt bim in execution; but Shadow Jim, movements were like the sinuous writbing of a snake, glided in, and with lightning slashes of his bowie, severed the ligatures which bound bis friend, Then he thrust a weapon into his hand. Even as he received it, ron Despard throttled Moran with the other hand, tripped bim, and threw him to the ground heavily. The surprise was so complete that Moran bad not bad time to move a muscle in self-defense, when the crash with which he struek the ground was followed by a stunning blow on the head with the butt of a revolver. Iron Despard had work to do whith required ‘xpedition; and he made every movement tell. The prize was in bis hands, if he could but get possession of it, and make his escape from the men who, attracted by the uproar of this terrific set-to, were rushing to the spot from every direction. ) | | ' ; a — ee | whose | to sbow up Moran’s villainy. ‘*‘ Gentlemen,” he now said, ‘* I have reason to fear that an attempt will be made against th» life of the man whose rights we bave under- taken to vindicate. Of course his partner can- not afford to let him live to denounce him, I. will not urge you toincur the risk; but if you are willing to aid me, I will make an attempt to remove bim to a place of greater security,’ “Risk!” langhed Tiger Dick, recklessly, ‘*Wasn’t it risk that we bargained for{ Of course we will risk it, if you can call it risk with such coyotes. By the gods! their camp is well named!” ‘* And you?” asked Iron Despard of the Spor- tive Sport. * You may count on me, of course, for what common bumanity demands of us,” said Ed- ward Haveland, with a quiet dignity, ‘*It is agreed, then, and we have notime tc waste,” said Iron Despard. ‘‘ Follow me, gen- His hand glided into Joe Moran’s bosom, reap* | tlemen!” eared with the precious package,and was thrust into bis own pocket, whence it came forth ouap ry. e then snatched Moran’s bowie, and aimed a deadly blow at his heart, determined to end the contest and punish his treachery with a single | stroke; but his wrist was seized and a down- ward blow aimed at his neck, which he with difficulty evaded; and he found himself strugg)- ing in a wrestling bout with a foe wortby of his muscle. Even if he could master him in the end, the fellow might be able to detain him until the arrival of overpowering aid. All seemed lost, when Shadow Jim rendered him avother inestimable service. A quick blow on the head so stunned the per- tinacious wrestler, that Lron Despard was en- abled to cast him off and leap to his feet, ‘* Maybe next time you won't be so quick to think me a snide, pardner,” laugbed Jim. But Iron Despard did not stop toanswer him, He was in no bumorous mood. On the con- trary, he was evraged at having been surprised avd made a prisoner by these men whom he de- spised. In bis wrestling match, between stag- gering and rolling, he had been carried out of the vicinity of Joe Moran, who yet lay uncon- scious, a stumbling-block in the darkness, Un- aware of this, Iron Despard bad not the time to bunt him up; but he resolved to take satisfac- tion for his humiliation out of all within reach, Tiger Dick, as we know, fought with a spirit of devilish recklessness which possessed him. The Sportive Sport, being in a contest, always fought to win. So these three best fighting men in the mines scattered their enemies as the storm-wind drives dry leaves in autumn! The rout was instantaneous and complete. All told, it had not taken thiriy seconds, But the party under Adam Farley, and tbe miners who rushed from their shanties—the whole camp was attracted to the spot; and the vic- tors were in imminent danger of being surround. ed and overpowered by numbers, Mb was Shadow Jim’s prudence that saved them, | ‘*Come, boys!” he cried. ‘‘ What are you trying to do?—clean out the whole camp? But w as aly will that do you?) We ain’t fightin for. glory, as I understand it. Take a fool’s advice, and cut stick! AL way, I’m off!” | They all.saw the folly of continuing the thing any longer, their number being complete; but it required, the voice of a Spr e Sport in support of Shadow Jim’s sensible suggestion to prey the other two from their mad debauch of ood, | ‘‘Come, gentlemen! let us get out of this while we can. These men are notbing{o us, We bave more profitable work before us, Let us consider that first.” : Tbus urged, the Tiger and Iron Despard de- sisted; and the three made good their escape from what in a moment longer would bave been as bot a hole as any men need wish to be jn. Shadow Jim had already left them. He bad noticed that, in the war against his friends, he seemed to have been quite overlooked or forgotten. This suited bim “clear down to the ground!” Dosides, while waiting for the Sportive Sport to get through the window, he h kept his ears open and bad heard the man who bad taken his quarter-eagle make an effort to aid him by de- taining the mob, He therefore did not fear be- trayal from that quarter. If, then, he had not been seen in the rescue of Iron Despard—and he had kept carefully in the dark—who bad any quarrel with him, that be might not yet walk the streets of Coyote unmolested! Jim preferred toavoid any ‘‘ unpleasantness ;” and in standing by his friends as long as they were in trouble, he felt that he had acquitted himself in all that could be demanded of a gentleman. So now, not being a member of their league he “ slid,” But [ron Despard was not yet done. He rapidly led the way to the widow Reilly’s. They owed their freedom from interruption in this to one fact, While the mcb was rusbin hither and thither through the camp in soul, of them, securing lanterns and torches for the purpose of dissipating the darkness in which they found refuge, the one man whose natural instinct would have led them to the spot where Iron Despard’s purpose must bave been frus- trated, od yet unconscivus, Thus while the camp was being flooded with fight, and men were scanning each other by the lurid blaz2, Iron Despard led his comrades to the shanty where lay ill-starred Bob Cady. ‘This way!” he said. ‘* Here is a litter.” And while the others lifted the vehicle on which he had dragged Cady thus far, he for the Sei time demanded admittance at the widow’s oor. ‘“Madam,” he said, hurriedly, “I find that your patient will not be safe bere. Will you accompany him in the capacity of nurse beyond the reach of the man who is bent upon complet- ing his purpose of murder?” **That I will,” cried Mrs. Reilly; “ but lam afraid it will be the death of bim to move him in the state he’s in. Ain’t there enough honest men in Coyote tosee that he comes by no fur- ther harm?’ ‘** Take the straw-tick and all,” said Iron Des- ard to the Sportive Sport, as be himself took hold of the end at Bob Cady’s head, to lift him off onto the litter. | ‘We have only time to. stop for your bonnet and shawl,” he went onto Mrs. Reilly. ‘‘ Have you found them?” | ‘‘ Yes!” answered the widow, who, impressed with the urgency of the case = the expedition with which the men worked, had run and snatched them from the peg on which they hung. rei Despard instantly blew out the light. ‘“ Now, gentlemen, you can open the door and pass out without danger of being seen. Madam, give me your hand, if you please,” This with all bis repugnance to women! What incentive was strong enough to enable him to overcome it? The same that was leading him to risk so much for a man unknown to bim three hours ¢ go! Then, while his comrades ‘were passing ee ee the door with their burden, and as he took her band to guide ber trembling steps in the darkness, Iron Despard answered the widow’s question. “There are doubtless enough honest men in the camp, if we could get a bearing from them; but circumstances which there is not now time to explain have made tbat impossible at ae. Before we succeed in gaining their ear it might be too late. Now, then, not a sound more until we are safely beyond ear-shot.” In leaving ber bome thus, the widow Reilly was not going with an entire stranger, She hed known Iron d before the year of his marriage which had ended sodisastrously; and whatever else migbt be said of him, she bad know bim to be thoroughly “square” in all his dealings. Sonow she followed him without question. Their course was unavoidably a difficult one, since they had to leave the road and make their way over wild ground. But worse was to come, They bad hardly gained twenty rods from the shanty when Tiger Dick, who was in advance, stumbled; and as the lurch caused the Sportive Sport to take a long stride over an ob- structing stone, the thrust bore the Tiger to his knees, and made him drop his end of the litter. The shock roused Bob Cady from the deep sleep into which be had been sunk; and as be woke somewbat delirious, and found himself in the dark with unknown voices about bim, he was seized with an unreascning terror, and leaped from the litter, yelling at the top of his lungs: — “Help! help! belp! I’m being murdered!” dismay. “In Heaven’s Gom o ovorey cS