Beadle's Dime Library No. 305 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

i men, it is not so well done. better, and the owner of the 10 Silver-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover. (Bond, It will be remembered that it ‘was the ‘latter who came to the rescue of the giris; and that he had handled Devlin severely. Therough had many a lame and tender spot to remind him of the fact bad it. been necessary, but it was not; his pride had received worse injury than his body. As a self-asserted pugilist and, ‘‘ chief,” his downfall was a terrible one, He spent the day brooding over it and medi- tating revenge, and. by nightfall was ready for action. Shortly after he saw Lovering outside the powing Bowl and directed him, to Madrock Ledge, he left his position and went to a low saloon which was familiarly known as ‘* Mac’s.” There he found two men seated at a table, drinking. and playing ecards. They were roughs of a town and known as Grim Jack and Snaky ic ** Hello, sport!” said the former, looking up. , We. tho’rt you had furgot ther a’p’intment.” ** Wal, I ain’t,” said Mose, with a profane addition, ‘* 1 ain’t ther man ter furget when ther business is o’ this kind.” ‘‘ What is ther riffle, anyhow, ef ther ques- ; tion ain’t too brash?’ Jack inquired, | Ttg revenge ; that’s what it is!” bissed Dev- ilin, as he struck his hand on the table... ‘‘See yer’, men, you’ve know’d me fur some time; do “ye take me ter be a coward?’ { ‘ Yow’re chock-full o’ sand,” Dick asserted. ; ‘Wal, I got laid out last night. I’d been on a t’ar, an’ I tackled a man in that condition an’ -got licked. Ther man was Giant Dave. You know bim?’ . His friends admitted that they did. . “He flung me on ther bardside o’ ther ground ‘and bruised me up a good ’eal an’ now I’m goin’ fur revenge an’ I want yer help. Not thatd can’t lay him out; I kin do that; but I want ,witnesses. See?” ¢ They said they did, and they really saw fur- ther than Mose wished. It was clear to them that while he was resolved to try and whip ‘Giant Dave, he had doubts of bis ability to do .80, and wanted them at hand to help, in case be could not ride the horse he saddled. | Further talk followed, and be had’ admitted as much in an indirect way before he was through. It wasclear he hada proper respect for Dave Bond’s muscle. ** We'll hev one more drink,” be announced, ‘fan’ then we'll goon ther war-path. Ef thar is y any shape left ter ther critter when I’m through ~ wi th him, then I'ma liar!” CHAPTER XIII IANT DAVE AT BAY. G \ Ar the further'side of the village of Bowlder Bar stood a small cabin in which jived David ‘Bond, whom his neighbors called Giant Dave. \There was nothing about the place to distin- h it from otbers of its class, but those who d been inside were always struck by the sin- gular neatness everywhere visible. | Asarule, when housekeeping is solely done Dave Bond lived alone. He was daily em- ployed in the Eighteen-Carat Mine, where he (was an industrious and valued laborer. Outside of work, ke was, however, considered decidedly *“ slow. | He was not a social man, and rarely made a ‘visit or invited any one to call on him; be never played cards or drank; he seldom carried wea- pons; and by many was considered a slow-wit- ted fellow who was too dull to know the value of the immense strength which rested in his arms and ‘ + There were those, however, who read him Highteen-Carat ‘Mine, who had come to regard him highly, sus- ted that there bad been a time when Giant ave was anything but the moderate-tempered miner of that day. That he had been ty of a serious crime Mr, Alvord did not believe, but he did think that there was something in his t which he regretted, and that he was trying to live a lite that would make amends, At times, when bantered too severely by bis ‘companions, and accused of having dull wits, a quick light would leap into his eyes which spoke as plain as words of a mer: nature under his oderate exterior; but witha great effort he would subdue his passion and bear all quietly. Something of this nature made itseif visible on the evening when he defended Ettala and Lois from Mose. Devlin. On this ¢vening, and at the hour the pugilist was collecting his allies, Giant Dave sat alone in his cabin, bending over a book. It wasnoth- ing new for him, for ina locked chest he kept several of them, and every evening saw him de- voting a portion of his time to them. Yet, they were almost the simplest of educa- tional books, and indicated that, at twenty- \three years of age, David Bond was just be- ginning his education. . Certainly, be bad not advanced sufficiently to use correct language. He was busy with the book when the door unceremoniously opened and three men en- tered. A troubled look crossed Dave's face. _ The foremost of the visitors was Mose Devlin, j (and he needed no explanation to convince bim ee ns ee ee - sense the visit was a hostile one in the fullest sense of the word. He scented trouble and would gladly have avoided it, 5 ““Hyar ye be; jest the galoot we was a-lookin’ fur,” said Devlin, in a bu sf tone, ** Yas, ’m here,” Dave slow y answered. “lll save us the trouble o’ huntin’ furder. Gents, sit down an’ make yerselves at home while I transact my biz with this small moun- tain o’ a man,” Bond had laid his book aside, and he silently watched while the two minor ruffians sat down. Mose put his arms akimbo and faced the man he intended to whip, with an insolent swag- er, en You an’ me don’t need no. introduction, Mister Dave Bond,” the pugilist continued. ‘* We've met afore an’ said our little say, an’ all that needs ter be done now is ter state ther condition o’ affairs ez they now is.” *‘T don’t see ez we need ter talk ai all,”’ pacifi- cally observed Giant Dave. ‘*That’s whar we don’tagree. Mebbe you’ve forgot that you flang me ’round like a football when I had been paintin’ ther town red, an’ was in no condition ter stand up agin’ you.” “You compelled me ter do it,” urged the giant. ‘““Durn yer impudence, ye know better. What call bad you ter chip in? It wa’n’t none o’ yer funeral. You took me when ther wine was in an’ ther wits an’ strength out—it was a mean an’ cowardly thing ter do.” ‘You know why I did it,’ said Dave, mod- erately, though a deeper color was creeping into bis cheeks; a sign that the abusive manner of his visitor was having effect. ‘1 couldn’t stand idle an’ see women-folks abused. You ought not ter feel hard about it,” ** Wal, 1 do, an’ I’m goin’ ter give ye a lesson fer yer brashness that'll l’arn ye ter keep ter erself herearter. I'm goin’ ter make ye weep; ’m goin’ ter pound ye all ter pieces. I’m Mose Devlin, ther sledge-hammer pugilist, ther man that’ knocked out Tom O'Sullivan in. four rounds. I reckon it/ll take jest one round ter polish ye off, but Pll lick ye wuss than any man was ever licked afore.” ““T hope ye'll think twice afore ye do any- thing rash,” Dave earnestly said, “l’m not a fightin’ man, an’ I. don’t want no trouble. Better let it drop, an’ forgif that there was trouble.” *‘Hal ha!” laughed the pugilist, ‘‘I allays knowed ye was a chicken-hearted critter. Ye was bold enough when I was too drunk ter fight, but ye ain’t nowhar now, ye mean, sneakin’ coward!” The blood rushed to Giant Dave’s face in a deep, red flood, his eyes flashed and his lips were compressed tightly, but he clinched his broad hands and kept silent. “Do ye hear?” asked Devlin, exulting over the effect he had produced. **T hear, but I wish I didn’t,” said Dave, huskily.. “‘I hope you'll let this drop right whar ye be, an’ go away. You kin me a coward, or anything else you choose, but I don’t want no trouble.” ** You'll git yer stomach full on’t afore I’m through with you. I’ve come fur satisfaction, bg Red erp hn Sarg ies ave you've r an am ther life out o’ ye. Grim Jack, shut ther door!” The man addressed started to obey, but as he did so another man crossed the threshold and stood before them, cool, calm and careless as ers nothing unusual was likely to occur. ‘* [ll be doorkeeper,” he serenely announced. Devlin stared at bim for a moment in silence and then uttered a profane exclamation. ‘*'You’ll keep ther outside on’t!” he declared. “This is a private matinee, an’ no strangers ain’t allow Git out!” ‘Pm not ‘ gittin’, this week,’ was the cool reply. ‘ As for being a stranger, Ive left my card in the contribution-box, but I don’t mind saying Vm Silver-Plated Sol, at your service. I can’t think of goin’ away, my friend; you have two heelers here and . Bond bas none; consequently I'll chip in on my own hook and see fair play. Don’t expect me to go, for you can’t have the earth this week.” _ Devlin had tried to interrupt this speech, but the words flowed on as peacefully, yet steadily, asthe march of the sun. The pugilist recog- nized in Silver-Plated Sol a man of superior strength of mind and nerve, and he began to feel somewhat cowed. ‘* You'd better keep ter yerself!” he growled. ““T see you’re a hog, Moses. A man of your disposition ought to have a little world of his own, and then he could regulate the sun, moon and stars to suit himself. On this globe he can’t do it; not for Joe! Happening along bere I heard you, with two big ruffians at your back, ing to bulldoze a single man. Now, the rule : p to yourself!’ is a good one in most cases, but it won’t work here. Not any! If there is going to bea prize fight, I am going to be around and see oe j Thus far Devlin had listened with a sort of helpless feeling, for Silver-Plated Sol was a man who made an impression when he talked, butas he realized that his reputation as a ‘‘ chief” was at stake, he resolved to try a bluff game, ‘** Durn. yer mule-head!” he stormed, ‘‘ get out o’ this, or I’ll throw you out!” “Unfortunately for you, Moses, you ain’t big enough,” said Sol, with provoking coolness. The pugilist was stung to the quick, and he made two long strides forward, ere he paused, however. Colton had quietly drawn one of his silver-plated revolvers, ae though the muzzle was not. raised, Devlin took the hint and stopped where be was, ‘*T should dislike to get near enough to such a brute as you are to fight,” said the rover, calm- ly, ‘‘but if there is enough left of you to do battle when Mr. Bond is through with you, I suppose | can accommodate you. It’s twoto one, however, that Bond chews your ear off be- fore you can say J. Robinson,” Devlin changed his mind, He read the deter- mination of the intruder and thought it would be just as well not to saddle a second horse until he had tamed the one already caught, and he wheeled about. ‘*Giant Dave, be you ready?” he demanded. Bond hesitated. ‘* No,” be then answered. ** How much time do you want?” “What I want is peace,” said the miner, earn- estly. ‘‘I am not a fightin’ man, an’ 1 don’t want ter meet ye. Thar was a time when I'd have done it, but not now.” “ You’re a coward an’ a sneak!” sneered tho ongiNet. gain the blood rushed to Dave's face, and Silver-Plated Sol saw him clinch his bands tightly. Plainly, it was only by a great effort that he kept quiet. ‘** Be you goin’ ter fight, or wil] ye stand thar an’ be hammered all ter pieces?’ Devlin added. ‘I shall defend myself if you attact,” was the husky answer; ‘‘ but I bope you'll keep away. You’re no match fur me, an’ I don’t want ther disgrace o’ a fight.” ‘ T'll show ye whether I’m a match fur you!” shouted Devlin, and as he spoke he dashed for- ward. Had he taken time for thought he would not have been so precipitate. From the first he bad doubted his ability to whip the big miner, but be had relied on Grim Jack and Snaky Dick to joinin, . Now, there was little hope of their aid, for they had looked cowed and troubled ever since Sol Colton arrived, but the pugilist was so excited that he forgot all prudence and went into the fight with a rush. Giant Davestood firm. He saw that there was no way to avgid the fight without accept- ing the brand of coward, and that he was not prepared to do. e must meet the rough, but he was resolved to worst bim without any serious results. Consequently, as Devlin rusbed forward, his arms outstretched, Dave met him firmly, and the two came together with a resounding shock, CHAPTER XIV. DEVLIN’S COLD DAY. Sn.vER-PLATED SoL had been somewhat doubtful about the man he had championed. That Bond had the muscle to win the fight he did not doubt, but bis peculiar conduct and evi- dent desire to avoid it kft some doubt whether he had the nerve. The matter was soon settled, Giant Dave met his enemy firmly, and in a moment more they were mixed up in a des- perate struggle. evlin was large and strong, with shoulders and arms of extraordinary size, and his friends bad some bope that he might prove agile enough to worst the gah. They were speedily undeceived, The struggle could hardly be said to have reached its heat when Dave was seen to lift bis opponent bodily, and then, with a quick mo- tion, he laid him flat on bis back and planted one foot on his breast. Dave Bond was no longer the quiet, stoical man they had known. He towered above Dev- lin like a colossal statue, except that his eyes flashed and his nostrils dilated with the excite- ment of the moment. He was thoroughly aroused, and he seemed like a lion in his wrath. Sol Colton was so delighted that he was about to express bis enthusiasm by clapping his hands, but Mose Devlin squirmed under the heavy foot and A erg. ‘Let. me up; let me up, or Pl kill you! It was a foul hold; you took a mean advantage!” “IT b'lieve ’twas ketch-as-ketch-can,” said Bond, iv a clear, ringing voice. ‘‘ Fool! I tola ou, you was no match fur me; why, I could ek you with one band tied behind me. You are a child compared to me, an’ you may be thankful I don’t crush ye like ther sarpent you bei You see your game of bullyism don’t work yar. ‘“‘Brayo:” cried Sol. ‘It was the prettiest fall of the season. What! he wants more? Let him up, Dave, and give him one more for luck. He won’t know evongh to keep to himself until he’s whipped hard, and I advise you to lay the coat on thick.” | Bond removed his foot and the pugilist scram- bled up, but he had already seen his inability to fight is e strong miner, and he drew a knife with a jerk. | *‘T’ll cut you ter pieces!” he hissed. ae a EomMmicboo - cS ~ a se) | i = 91 =t - a _—_ -