Beadle's Dime Library No. 305 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

‘Bilver-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover. He leaped forward, but a scornful smile arose to the giant’s face and, without perceptible ef- fort, he seized the would-be assassin’s wrist, and in a moment more the knife was wrenched away and flung aside with such force that, going point first, it struck the wall and the keen steel went deep into the wood, quivering as though with life. ‘‘Score another!” cried Silver-Piated Sol. There was time tosay nomore, The pugilist remembered his old art and sent out his right fist viciously, but it missed its mark, and ina moment more Bond was again upon bim. Like a child the rough was raised from the Hoor, and then the frail cabin trembled as he was dashed down again. He fell helplessly, flat oy his back, and there he lay without sign of e. Consciousness bad been dashed from bim, For a moment there was silence in the room, but as Giant Dave saw his enemy helpless the battle-fire faded from his eyes and the old, troubled look appeared on his face. **] had to doit!” be muttered. ** Ay, and you did it well!” Colton enthusias- tically declared. ‘‘It was as pretty a piece of work as I ever saw. David Bond, I never saw you before this occasion, but you’re a man I’m proud to know, and I hope we may not wind up our acquaintance here.” ‘‘T hope be ain’t bad burt,” continued the victor, not seeming to hear the last speech, ‘‘ Bless and save us, the world is better for it if he is, Don’t think you climbed him too hard. Such a man can’t be over-licked. I glory jin your work. I say, you, what’re you going to do about it?” The last question was addressed to Grim Jack and Snaky Dick, who were looking stupidly at their fallen leader, and Dick was moved by the sharpness of the inquiry to make prompt answer. **T reckon nothin’,” he said, ‘‘We didn’t come hyar ter fight, an’ we ain’t got no quar- rel,”’ ‘* All right! I thought perhaps you wanted to try somebody a back, in which case I would- n’t be mean enough to refuse you; but as you're on the peace commission, Ill keep to myself. Your man is beginning to stir; better get him out into the air,” Devlin sat erect, but he was dull and dazed, and as he showed no inclination to talk, his comrades raised and led him from the room. It was clear there would be no further trouble from him that night. ‘* Allow me to observe that you area clipper,” said Colton, addressing the victor, ‘‘I am a few in a fight, but I lack your muscle. It was a splendid piece of work!” “T am sorry it happened, fur I had hoped naren ter be in a fight ag’in,’’ Dave soberly said. ‘* 'You’re a queer chick!” Sol tersely observed. ‘You don’t understand; but, ez 1 cotton ter you, l'll give ye an insight inter what nobod else in this town knows. Set down, an’ I'll tell ye why I am opposed ter fightin’.” He spoke with a seriousness which prevented any light reply from Sol, and the two sat down at the table, “It is ginerally said that two-thirds o’ ther ‘men in ther West bear names not their own,” said Bond, ‘‘an’ I am one o’ them. My real mame is Dave Buzzard. Two years agoI was livin’ in Colorado, an’ I bad a sister an’ three brothers. Ther last were what is commonly called hard customers, an’ they didn’t hold bu- man life ez valuable ez it should be held. I was fast follerin’ in their steps, an’ should probably hev been ez bad ez any on ’em, only I was ther youngest o’ ther four. ‘‘Ther Buzzard brothers had a bad name, an’ with good reason, an’ our sister—her name was Mona—had labored with us in vain ter effect a reformation. Finally she married a man called Colorado Rube, an’, ez my brothers was down on him, war follered. I don’t keer ter say jest what follered, but thar was lawless scenes, in which I had a part ez wal ez my/brothers, but I will tell ye how it eended. . : **One day [found myself ther only survivor .o’ ther four giant brothers, Bill, Jack and Tom were dead, an’ all had died by violeuce, brought on by their vicious ways. Then my eyes was opened. I saw that ther course my sister had advised me ter tread was ther proper one, an’ [ resolved ter do diff’rent. I left Colorado, changed my name, an’ come hyar, Thar was no human blood on my bands, an’ I thought I wasn’t past reformation. Nobody byar knowed ‘me, though some o’ them might possibly have heerd o’ ther Buzzard brothers, o’ Hotspur City an’ I resolved ter keep ter myself, avoid all -quarrels, an’ live a decent life. That is why I hated ter be driven inter a fight with Mose Devlin.” , This story was simply told, and as Colton was sensible enough to look at it in its true light— the desire of an honest man to shake off the re- utation and fate of those who had led him into ata ee ways—he reached out his hand and freely expressed his Rtg tee ‘‘Thar are times when I find it hard ter hold in,” Dave resumed, ‘‘but I know my sister is thinkin’ o’ me, an’ wishin’ me wal, an’ I keep my temper down ez much ez I can, Them who =~ = — © errs ee ee oe ae oS eee a © mes re i aaa " ay pe eee —_ ao — — “ Addressed to A. B. C., did you say?” he ask- irritate me don’t know, really, what these arms ed, with a good assumption of carelessness. can do when I’m fairly stirred up.” He put out his broad bands and massive arms with. conscious, but subdued pride, and Sol pa well believe them capable of great execu- ion. ‘What you want is a good wife to keep you on your present track,” he said, Dave started. During the last twentv-four hours he had thought a good deal about Ettala Danforth, despite the fact that he deemed her far above him,and the remark recalled his day- dream vividly, He made no reply, however, and the subject was dropped as Sol began asking questions which he hoped would give him a clew to the identity of the man and woman he had trailed all the way from Red Summit to Bowlder Bar. Dave, however, had but a limited acquaint- ance in the town, and nothing came of it. Colton soon left and returned to the Flowing Bowl Hotel. He kept a close watch for Devlin and his allies as he went, but they did not make themselves visible, Evidently, the pugilist had got enough of war for the present, ‘‘T see no way to proceed now except to call on the postmaster and get his aid,” thought the rover, when once more in his room, ‘‘ He issaid to be an honorable man, and he ought to he willing to oblige me to the extent of telling me who inquires for a letter addressed to,‘ A, B.C.’ I will write a decoy and set it afloat, and who- ever takes it in will, beyond doubt, be the man who killed Roger Hillard. I must somehow contrive to get light on the affair, which is, at present, all mystery.” Had the rover known how many other people in Bowlder Bar were interested in Hillard, he would bave had more reason than ever to say the affair was mysterious. He drew from his pocket the letter he found in the gulch, after Wild and Leach deserted the scattered mail, and, after a long study of the chirograpby, wrote one which a casual observer might well say was from the same hand, It was that. intended as a decoy for “A. B. C.,” and on the following day he intended to ne Joseph Danforth with it in bis pocket. be next morning there was a slight sensation , at the village. Lover ing heard that the river had thrown up the y of a man near Mad: rock Ledge, but he pers little attention to. the rumor until he heard it stated that Tim Shea had recognized it as that of one of the mail- robbers, Then he went to view it in haste, only to have his worst suspicions verified. It was all that was mortal of Bill Wild, and the jagged rocks of the ledge had not left him in any too good condition, Still, he was easily recognizable, and orf knew he had lost his ally almost in the hour he had gained him. There was nothing to tell of Hamed’s sharein the work, and every one except Lovering seemed glad that retribution had so soon over- taken the mail-robber, Lovering, however, saw bimself cast again on his own resources, and the way to accomplish his object did not seem clear, CHAPTER XV. THE POSTMASTER’S OMINOUS VISITOR. JOSEPH DANFORTH was seated in the post- office and going over a column of figures with clerk-like precision when a man walked in at a saunter. Joseph looked up and saw astranger, on he his face was a prepossessing one, he arose politely. ‘* Good-morning, sir,” said the caller. ‘‘ Iam here on a trifle of business, to-day, so I will first introduce myself. My name is Colton,” Joseph observed that he was pleased to see Mr. Colton, and ‘would attend to any business he had to transact. He thought it probable he was about to settle at Bowlder Bar, and he might be a. man worth having as a friend, ‘Lam about to ask a peculiar favor of you,” continued the visitor, ‘‘ but when I say it is one dictated by a good motive, I think you will not refuse,” ‘Tam sure of it,” said Danforth, with a smile. “Come right to business, and I'll tell you my, decision,” ‘* Well, I want to place a letter in the post- office and have you keep watch and see who calls for it.” ** I don’t exactly understand.” “You will when I explain. The point is right here; There isa certain person I want to iden- tify. I expect bim to call here for a letter some- what peculiarly addressed—in fact, directed simply to A.B, C.” Danforth started so ever that he knocked a pile of letters to the floor. It was a most for- tunate thing for him, for he at once stooped to poe them up and, being behind the counter hid is face from his visitor. He trembled as he did so, and his face bore a frigbtened look, but he realized the importance of hiding all this and made a desperate effort to. recover his composure. He succeeded far better than he dared hope, and, as he came up, began tying the letters to- gether with twine. ‘ Yes,” ‘** That’s a queer address,” ** Rather, but the writer is in queer business,” ‘“‘ What part is it you wish me to play?” ‘Simply to let me know who inquires here for a letter thus addressed,” ‘*T am not sure but that would be a breach of official etiquette.” ‘*What harm could. it do?” That I don’t know, as I don’t know you or A. B, C,, but I take it a postmaster should bard- ly divulge the secrets of his office,” “ How if he was thereby favoring the claims of justice?” “That would make a difference, of course, Is this A. B, C, a criminal?” “Well, yes.” ** And you an officer?” *‘ No, but Iam working to that end.” Danforth had finished tying up the letters, and he now faced Silver-Plated Sol with a half- defiant expression on, bis face, ** Tell me plainly what the man bas done and I will Beip you. Of course [ don’t want to get into trouble—I depend on the post-office to sup- port me and my sister, in a measure—and [ must go slow; but 1am always ready to act in behalf of justice.” Danforth spoke with a frankness which seem- ed to indicate that he was speaking just what he thought, but Sol still retained his dislike to making bis affairs public. ‘*T wish you would take my word that it is all right, and be content to learn particulars later,” be said. The postmaster hesitated, ‘Well, I'll think of it, and will talk with you two hours later. Just now I must get the mail in shape, for Sbea will soon be around for it. Come to me at eleven o'clock and my sister will be on duty in the office, and in a private room up-stairs we can talk itover. How. does that strike you?” He spoke with a frankness which was _ en- couraging, and he always bad a plausible air, and the rover expressed bis satisfaction with the programme, ‘*By the way, what, did you say was your name?” Joseph asked, carelessly, ‘*' Colton—Sol Colton.” “Why, you must be the Silver-Plated: Sol who figured io the stage-robbery affair.” , * So lam. * Well, I shall be pleased to see you at eleven, sharp. ) ven had then Sol went his way and Joseph was left alone... He wiped his forehead with a ner- vous gesture, tay ‘* He’s on the track!” he muttered. ‘Great heavens! what shall I do?, Shall I flee, or re- main and brave it out? But Burbank must settle it; Burbank is the man,” | It was to call in the aid and advice of the ambler that be had got rid of Sol for a time. e now tried to think how he could get nord to his ally, but, as luck would have it, Luke sauntered in serenely smoking a cigar. ‘“Who do you think has been here?” Dan- forth quickly asked. ‘‘ The postmaster-general, possibly,” ‘ Silver-Plated Sol.” “ec Ah!” Burbank showed more interest; his languid air vanished, Joseph hurriedly related what bad taken place, and then a quiet smile passed over the gambler’s face. ‘* You showed rare presence of mind,” he ap- provingly said, ‘‘and as you have arranged. matters, we will wind up Sol’s bobbin in short order. J have been unable to get at him sooner, rincipally because my men were not at hand, but we will take the cake this time, sure.” ‘é How ? ' “Easy enough. When you get the fellow up-stairs you must drug him, and then I'll pro- duce men to carry him outside the village and forever dispose of him; bly we'll s him in Mad river. That convenient little stream gave up one victim to-day, but I'll see that this one don’t rise.” ‘* We can’t get bim out of the village in broad daylight.” “We won't try. When you have drugged him, you can stow him away in a closet, or some safe place, and there let him remain_ until night. Atter dark Ill drop around with two stout fellows and take bim away.” Joseph meditated for a moment, and then an- swered: _ “ That plan looks well; all but the calling in of your men. I don’t like the idea of too many confederates.” v Perhaps you're right. Well, there’s Mose Devlin; he’s a good friend of yours; and three of us ought to be able to dispose of the sport.” “That is better; but what about the drug?” “ Oh! Pll furnish that.” Further conversation was prevented by the arrival of Ettula, and then Shea drove up with his stage. Brother and sister hurriedly com- leted their work on the mail, and when it was made the stage rolled away and Joseph and Bur- bank went out together. com Ebooks. co