Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 339 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

— —— . = ee — — pread Eagle Sam. ‘irst idea was that I had fallen into an ambus- cade of robbers or red-skins, and my second was to get under cover as quickly as possible. I played a little trick, to check any more leaden compliments, and you saw how I entered the bin. , ‘* An’ filt it, too!” muttered Johnny Bull, dole- ully. ANI zem toes infernale !” said Jean La Vic, rubbing his stomach tenderly. ‘* Monsieur, ven you come-a some more like-a zis time, you fassen ze fezzer-bag on-a you’ toes, eh?” ‘Laughing Leo nodded, smilingly, and the half- breed was satisfied. ‘* As I said, Morris Kirkendall is coming here to-morrow. He longs for a brief taste of the old life, and to add to it a peculiar zest, he has brought company along with him. He wishes to show the lady how he laid the foundation of his fortune, as a hide-hunt r.” ‘“The lady!” exclaimed Jesse Purchass, his face flushed crimson, his black eyes all aglow. ‘** Surely you do not mean his daughter, Luada?”’ Laughing Leo turned swiftly upon him, his face growing hard, his eyes glowing as he saw the excitement written upon that darkly-hand- some countenance. He bowed, replying: ‘*T mean Miss Kirkendall, yes. Sheforms one of the party. Is there anything so very remark- able in the fact that a daughter should bear her father company on a short pleasure trip?” ‘* But—out here, in the wilds!” muttered Pur- chass, hardly conscious of his own words as he turned abruptly away to hide his telltale excite- ment. Laughing Leo looked after him curiously, his upper lip beginning to curl, when Spread Eagle Sam inte , to cover the indiscretion of his comrade. ~ **'The boss is comin’ to see us, you say?” ‘*Yes. He bade me seek you out, and tell you as much. He has his tents and all other conveniences with him, and so will not interfere with your arrangements. He wishes you to select a good camping-ground, somewhere near your own location, and to make all necessary arrangements before his coming, which will probably be about noon, to-morrow.” ‘*Tll do the best I know how, sart’in; but, stranger, I’m monstrous sorry you didn’t say this right out at fu’st. Id give all I expect to airn this season, ruther than hev treated a fri’nd ©’ the ole man like we hev you!” rome am laughed shortly, a trifle bitterly, then added: ‘‘ That need trouble i pe but little, my good fellow. Morris Kirkendall will hardly quarrel with you on that account, although he may re- gret your failing to break my back!’ ‘* Yit he sent you here?” muttered Sam, per- plexed. ‘* When he saw that I was resolved on com- ing, yes. And now that my mission is properly performed, allow me to speak of a little matter that concerns both you and me. ‘* You are surprised at the way I have acted. T took that course simply because I wanted to make sure you would listen to me when I de- livered my challenge. As a “wort ag messenger from a man who employed us both, I knew suffi- cient of your nature and character to feel sure you would a at my proposal. To prevent this, I have en pains to show you I am as good a man, as a man, as any in your com- pany.” Sam scratched his chin dubiously. ‘*Durned ef you ain’t stirrin’ up the mud so thick a ten-eyed man couldn’t see the bottom!” he grunted, shortly. ‘*[ will wager five hundred dollars in gold against your situation, that I am a better and more skillful hide-hunter than you are, Boss of the Buffalo Range though you call yourself,” deliberately uttered Laughing Leo. Spread Eagle Sam stared at him fixedly, a suspicious light deepening in his bloodshot eyes. Laughing Leo coolly added: ‘* If you win, the money is yours; if you lose, ou are to abdicate, and I am to run this ranch. Do I put the case in language simple enough for your comprehension, my dear fellow? If not, I will pick my flint and try it again.” _ The words is plain enough, but I cain’t see through the reasons which orter lay ahind it,” slowly replied Spread Eagle Sam, watching the stranger closely, dubiously. ‘* What fer do you want to resk sech a pile 0’ money as that, when a ma cuit is easy made an’ they’s range a-plenty | ‘fer all as chooses to hunt fer hides? That’s the pint as gits me wu’st!” ‘*Say it is a mere whim—say that I have more money than I well know what to do with, and that | wish to give you a portion of it—if -you are smart and skillful enough to win it,” was the light response. ‘“That ain’t your reason, stranger,” gravely retorted Sam. ‘* They’s somethin’ you’re keepin’ onder kiver. Men don’t throw away money in heaps like that ‘less they think they kin git somethin’ a heap better in pay fer it.” **My proposition is plain and simple enough, old man,” a little aera ** You lay claim to the championship of the buffalo-range. Far and wide you are known as the boss hide-hunter. Men say your equal never lived, never will come to the front; but I take the liberty of doubting the truth of your claims and of the depth of their judgment. I am ready to risk a fair sum of money against the empty title. Unless you are afraid to risk your uncontested laurels in a genuine contest, I can hardly see how you are going to get out of it.” ‘*S’posen I won’t hey nothin’ to do with it— what then?” ‘It is difficult to suppose any such action on your part, my good fellow,” retorted Laughlin, with a laugh that was almost aninsult. ‘* You are proud of the reputation you have gained on the range; as you have a right to be, too. You are a man who would far rather be cheered than _hissed. Now listen: | “JT will repeat this challenge of mine in the presence of Morris Kirkendall and his fair daughter. I will tell them, as I now tell you, that I never in all my life fired a shot at a buf- | falo for his hide. Iam an utter greenhorn as to the manner of professional hunting. But—I believe I can beat the champion hide-hunter at | his own game. lam ready to put up a fit sum of money against his title, and leave Morris Kir- _ kendall to decide which man wins. | ‘** Those are the terms in which I will place my | wishes before your employer to-morrow, Spread | Eagle Sam. ou can sleep on the matter, and | give me your decision then.” | With a low, mocking bow, Laughing Leo ' | | turned on his heel and strode out of the hut into | the gathering darkness. He uttered a shrill | whistle, and with a ringing neigh the black steed ' came galloping up to his side. Spread Eagle Sam strode to the door, his brows corrugated and his eyes glowing, but he was too late for more than to see the audacious neck speed off into the night. A light hand touched the huge hide-hunter on the shoulder, and Jesse Purchass pressed past him into the open air, with a keen glance into the face of his comrade that Spread Eagle read- _ ily interpreted. The herculean hide-hunter hesitated a mo- ment, then slowly complied with the silent request, passing out of the dug-out and follow- —_— stranger leap into the saddle and dash at break- | | | | CHAPTER XI. SAM AS CUPID’S ADJUTANT. THE hide-hunters were at work bright and early the next morning, selecting a picturesque as well as convenient camp for the expected vis- itors. This spot was found at no great distance from the dug-out, up on the higher ground, where a broad plateau-like stretch, level as a floor, extended along the range fof hills like a horizontal belt, The timber supply was scanty, but amply sufficient for all purposes; water was not far distant; a widely extended view was furnished ; and if the party was not wholly satisfied with the location, Spread Eagle Sam delicately hint- ed that they might hunt up other servants as soon as they liked. Spots were marked out for the tents, and dry bunch-grass Byres in abundance for carpet- ing them. Shelters were put up for the stock, and long before the party made its appearance along the line of broken ground, all prelimina- ries were completed, ate read Eagle had re ney Jesse Purchass aside dential talk. ‘* It’s the fu’st licks as counts up the biggest, Jes’, with wimmen critters as well as with men. ‘You see the muss, yest’'day. You see that light- nin’ critter smack my chops, beth to once, They wouldn’t ’a’ mashed a 'skeeter, sca’cely, fer weight; an’ yit it was them as licked me} On’y fer them, [ do reckon I mought’a’ got in on the jumpin’ critter; an’ once in my grip, he was gone up, sure!” Sam gazed soberly over the range in the di- rection from whence the party were expected. Jesse said nothing. His dark face was hard-set and gloomy. Evidently he felt small hopes for the future. ‘*Them slaps putt blood into my eyes, an’ I went at him head down an’ tail up—jest what the critter wanted! I was blind afore he hit a raal lick. An’ that’s why I say, lad, you want, or a CO to git in the fu’st licks, an’ putt them in the ing his protege down to the bank of the little | creek, where they had twice held consultation | _ wouldn that day. ‘“ Your eyes said fer me to come, an’ hyar I am, Jes’. It’s about that pesky critter as jes’ rid away you want to talk, [ reckon?’ ‘* Who is he, and what is his object in coming here, Sam?” hoarsely demanded the young hide- hunter. ° ‘** Who he is or what his name he never let on, as you know to the full as well as me, Jes’,” was the deliberate reply. ‘* As to the why he come, the ole man sent him, I reckon.” Purchass gripped his mentor ti htly by the arm, his eyes glowing redly kn, the gloom. _ His voice was harsh and unnatural as he spoke again: ‘*More than that, Sam! If he was only a messenger from him, I would never think twice about it; but he’s more than that. He’s in love with her—with my love!” . | ‘* That’s on’y a guess, Jes’, an’ one that may _be miles off from the center. He didn’t say so.” ‘** ‘You remember our talk to-day, Sam? You remember what I told you the old man said! For me togo out on the range and make a re- | cord to equal yours, before ing to him again | of loving his daughter?” ‘I ain’t fergot, Jes’. Them was the words, nighabout.” ‘And now he comes here to rival you—to beat your record, Sam! He comes from the same quarter, with the very same end in view | that brought me here. Sam, that laughing devil is in love with Luada. He has told her or her father of it. The old man has held out hopes, if he can come up to his foolish, crack- _brained ideal. For that reason alone he has come here and flung that challenge in your teeth!” ‘“ Ef I don’t take it up, lad? He cain’t beat _me, then,” slowly uttered Spread Eagle; but in the darkness a flush came into his face and told how hard it was for him to utter those words. ‘*Then he would shame you before them both, even as he threatened to do. No, Sam. You must accept the offer. | | | | | EEE a I will put up the money | on you—for we won’t give the laughing devil one inch the best of the fight, even in seeming. You can beat him—you must beat him !” le fellow really believed his protege would urge him to evade the contest: on which so much de- pended, Sam laughed lightly. ee Greatly relieved by this outburst, for the sim- — ‘‘ Ef you say so, lad, P’ll do the best I know. — When it gits down to business on the range— jumpin’ an’ dancin’ an’ shovin’ out them ingyne arms o’ his’n ain’t what'll win the hides. He | kivered me all over with one kind o’ science to- day: maybe I kin give him a wrinkle 0’ two of a different sort when it comes down to the shoot- | in’ straight an’ fast.” ‘‘ Don’t underrate him, Sam. He’s a devil all through, and may be as good at that as with his hands. But you must beat him, or—” foot, save in the whole of this last right spot. ‘Not on the stranger, nur yit the ole man, but little Lu’s the mark for ye to shoot at fu’st.’” ‘‘It’s over a year since I saw her, Sam,” gloomily muttered Purchass. ‘‘ Even then she t give me a certain promise. She hadn’t seen that dandy devil, then. He may have had ear in which to rub out my picture. She may have given him the place I hoped to fill. Ifso—” ‘*Ef so, you want to find it out jes’ as soon’s the law ‘lows ye, lad,” was the sharp interpo- sition. ‘‘ Fer that reason I’m talkin’ to ye now. You say the old man don’t know you're here with us?” ‘* Not unless that laughing devil told him.” ‘*T don’t reckon he thunk anythin’ ‘bout it, lad; anyway, we'll play he didn’t ontel we see he did. You'll lay low an’ keep shady, watch- in’ fer my sign. Ill see that the ole man nur yit the young feller don’t pushn in onto ye, ef you kin ketch the little darlin’ way from her ad. ‘* If you could give her a note,” hesitated Pur- chass. ‘Why not?’ laughed Sam, plainly taking a. huge delight in his novel occupation. ‘‘ Ain’t I big enough fer a hull orfice?. Jes’ you git. the talkin’ paper ready, an’ then lay low.” Jesse Purchass is ogy caught the hand of the huge hide-hunter, and actually lifted it to his lips, his dark eyes moist, his lips quivering as he muttered: “‘T can’t thank you, Sam, for the right words. won’t come; but the hope you have given me has carried me nearer heaven and further from hell than I have been for many a long day!” ‘‘ A pard’s a pard, lad, an’ that word means helpin’ each cther. I know the little lady is too good fer any common man, but ef it comes toa race ’twixt you an’ that laughin’ critter, stan’s to reason I'll do the best I know to fetch you in ahead. Not beca’se he licked me, though! ? don’t hold no dge fer that. Hedid it fa’r an” uar’, Buta pard’sa pard, an’— Jes’, ef the little gal is agreeable, an’ the ole man kicks up rusty, why—you're a pesky fool an’ a double- distilled ejiot from Crazyville ef you don't take her in your arms, straddle your critter an’ bunt up a preacher-man as fast as the good Lawd "I} let ye—so thar!” It was high noon when the expected company put in an appearance, and the sun was rapidly declining before the camp was fairly pitched and every thing straightened up. Spread Eagle Sam was one of the busiest while work remained to be done, and had time but for the briefest of reetings with his employer and his charming ughter. Laughing’ Leo was with the party, gay as a butterfly and almost as gaudy in hue. Stilla dandy, a now after the prairie fashion, with a decided leaning toward the barbaric, He was rigged out in buckskin from head to is head-gear. The material was Indian-tanned, of a light golden yellow, soft as velvetitself, and to all appearance was now donned for the first time in public. In the rays ‘*] will ef it’s on the keerds, lad; but if Islip of the afternoon sun he flashed and sparkled up?” Mi Then I'll try another shot, if I hang for it!” | savagely. daczlingly, such masses of beads and ly col- ored quills and bright-hued silks covered his per- son from throat to soles. S EGomichboo cn oo _ .