Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 339 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

2. ’ Spread Eagle Sam. 19 case of unusually severe or protracted storms, his reckoning may prove at fault, but in nine cases out of ten, his predictions will be found true to the minutest point. An old hide-hunter himself, and while in his rime the acknowledged ‘‘ Boss of the Range,” Morris Kirkendall spoke with confidence as to the discovery of the big herd, and would have fairly snorted at the idea of any one’s doubting its being found within fifty miles of his camp, at the very outside. He sent off his men, among them Dike Wid- geon, the spy of the She Wolf, giving them di- rections for their actions when the herd was dis- covered. Spread Eagle Sam also started off Johnny Bull and Kanuck on a similiar mission, mounted on their spirited ponies. And as soon as they dashed swiftly away, the giant hide-hunter him- self vanished from sight amid the broken rocks and defiles lying back of the camp. He wished to see Jesse Purchass. Laughing Leo mounted his good black steed, and rode leisurely away, no one save himself knew whither or what for. Now that the bustle was over; now that there was nothing more to do until the smoke-signals from the men sent out to discover the where- abouts of the big herd should announce their success; now that he had leisure to reflect more calmly over his own actions and words, Morris Kirkendall began to feel as though he had suf- fered his peppery temper to carry him too far. ‘‘Pore Beauty-bird! An’ durn the snickerin’ critter!” he muttered as he stumped slowly to and fro before the closed tent inside of which Luada had hidden herself. ‘‘ Ef it ain’t hoodoo work, like Sam said, what is it?” I kin see the look o’ that cussed she wolf in his face, when- ever he ain’t talkin’ an’ bowin’ an’ smirkin’ to a body! But then—I cain’t holp but like him, try asl may. It’s hoodoo, that’s what it 7s.” The remainder of the afternoon crept by, and the shades of night descended over the earth without any sien coming from the men sent out in quest of the big herd. Morris Kirkendall did not really expect to hear from them before the middle of the next day, though he kept looking and watching in that direction for the smoke signals until it grew too dark to see anything half a mile away. , Supper was announced, but Luada declined to answer. She was not hungry; ber head ached; she wished to be left in peace and quietness. Laughing Leo returned just as the disconsolate trader was sitting down to his meal, and at once joined him, gay, smiling, bubbling over with good humor as usual with him; but the change- able old hide-hunter withdrew into his shell, showing more aaa than ever marked a porcu- pine, ogres rom surly grunts to snarling snaps, and Laughing Leo wisely concluded to employ his time in sleeping. right and early the camp was astir, Morris Kirkendall scanning the distant horizon for smoke-signals, but in vain. ‘‘ Time a-plenty, boss,” chuckled Spread Eagle Sam, who had recently joined him. ‘“ We'll hear from some o’ the boys afore that bay-win- dow o’ yourn hollers out dinner-time.” Luada made her appearance, bright and blooming, looking as though neither her head- ache nor her chagrin had lost her many hours of sleep. She smiled on her father, bowed a little coldly to Laughing Leo, and fairly overwhelmed Spread Eagle Sam by pretending to whisper in his ear, oa | to touch his flushing cheek with her warm, red lips. gH The morning meal finished, Morris Kirkendall returned to his lookout station, Luada followin him after administering a most decided reb to the smiling aspirant after her hand. Laugh- ing Leo gazed after her trim figure for a mo- ment, then, shrugging his shapely shoulders, he went to look after his horse. ; For a few minutes father and daughter sat in silence, side by side, both plainly uneasy, want- ing to speak of the matter which most deeply in- terested them just then, but neither knowing just how to open the conversation. Then, with a subdued snarl, Morris Kirkendall blurted out: ‘‘Waal, why don’t you out with it, gal? I know ye'’re jest achin’ to give me a rakin’ over fer what I said an’ done yesterday. It’s got to come out afore you're satisfied, an’ I reckon I kin take the dose as well now as any time.” ““You did behave like a great bear, and you know it,” the maiden said, but softening her words with a dainty kiss. ‘‘It was shameful— to speak so before those men!” ‘Come to look at it now, it Wwas—part way,” suddenly spluttered the eccentric, changeable old man. “I was red-hot, seein’ that critter ‘long o’ you, when I hedn’t no more idee he was in these parts then that he was in heaven! Then—an’ I don’t know but what that was the big est pint of all!” Vou mean him—Leo Laughlin?’ whisper- ed Luada, with a shy glance over her shoul- der toward the camp, as though she feared the man named might be within hearing. “That same durned critter!” and the wooden leg plowed a deep furrow in the soil. “* Beauty- bird, hev you felt it too?” a LETTE ETT — ‘“*His magnetism? I feel it now! I feel it whenever he is within sight or hearing! And I felt it more powerfully than ever yesterday when I tried to insult him to his very face!” she murmured, shivering and drawing a little closer to his side. ‘‘ Father, what does it mean? What is this mysterious power of his? Do you know—had he asked me then, with those eyes fastened upon my face—had he asked me if I loved him—I believe I could only have answer- ed as he willed me to answer!” ; ‘*Mebbe you do love the critter, Beauty- bird?” slowly uttered the veteran, watching her changing countenance, anxiously. ‘IT don’t—I hate him!” she cried, impul- sively. ‘“‘I?’m afraid of him—he haunts my dreams by night, he starts up before me by day whenever I get to musing. I know I hate him —and yet—I could not refuse his hand should he offer it to me now, try as I might!” ‘* Tl shoot the critter as sure—” Luada caught his arm and prevented him from rising. ” Father! would you commit murder?” Morris Kirkendall sunk back, grinning faint- ** Waal, I never hev, an’ I don’t know as I could now, ef I wanted to ever so —on that critter! Ef he ain’t a ginewine hoodoo, then I never see one—that’s all!” ‘*Then you have felt his strange influence, 9” ‘*Hain’t I?’ echoed the trader, shaking his head with something strongly akin to supersti- tion. ‘* Don’t I feel it clean down to my finger- tips? Don’t I rip an’ tar an’ cuss an’ bile all over when he comes nigh, jes’ ip to hold my own ag’in’ the critter? Didn’ want to slap him over yest?day when he was blowin’ in Spread Eagle’s face? An’ didn’t I eend up by takin’ his part an’ crowdin’ Sam into makin’ the match with the snickerin’ imp 0’ Satan? I jes’ did honey!” ‘Tt must not be—it shall never be—with me as the prize!” cried Luada, pale, her eyes flash- ing vividly. t was an unluck h for her, since it awakened the obstinac of the old trader. His jaws set themselves and his under lip protruded after that bull-dog fashion. ** It’s too late fer kickin’, now, Beauty-bird,” he said, in a dogged tone of voice that she knew only too well. “‘ Dve d my word, an’ as [ve never yit went back on that, I won’t take up new tricks this late in the day. After all, he’s wu’th ten thousan’ o’ that Jesse Purchass!” ‘*Not in my eyes, father!” passionately cried Luada. Morris Kirkendall scrambled to his feet with a shrill, far-reaching yell that startled all the camp as well as Spread Eagle Sam at his dug- out half a mile away. He flung up his hat and executed a clumsy dance as he yelled: es atk thar’s the smoke as says so! Whoo- ra ure enough, a slender column of blue smoke marked the distant horizon, telling roped as though in articulate speech that the ‘‘ big herd” was located by some of the party sent out in quest of it. Laughing Leo and Spread Eagle Sam hasten- ed up to the spot, and Luada beat a retreat, her face pale and resolute. Even were fortune to favor him in the coming contest, Laughing Leo might find it difficult to take possession of his prize! ‘*Gents, the herd is diskivered, an’ ef it ain’t too fur off fer us all to git thar in good time by noon to-morrow, the one o’ you as fortin says hez the fu’st chaince, will try his han’ to-mor- row a’ternoon. Ef not then, in the mornin’ next a’ter. Is that satisfactory to ye both?” ‘You are the one to decide all such points,” quickly uttered Laughing Leo. ‘*‘ We have only iii your decision.” do our sheer the best we know how,” promptly acquiesced Sam. irkendall soon prepared lots, and in the drawing, Spread eA Sam won the right to shoot first. As this became evident, the giant hide-hunter leaped high into the air, emitting his wild shriek with unusual gusto. ‘“*That’s me! On top fu’st, last, all the time! Stranger, I’m sorry fer ye, but ye see I’ve got to beat ye!” Laughing Leo proved true to his title as he grasped the hand which his rival offered him, and his voice was just as hearty and full of con- fidence as he replied: ‘“Thanks for your celebrating my good luck, Spread Eagle.” ‘* Mine, ye mean!” spluttered Sam. ‘ Didn't I win?’ ‘‘The privilege of showing me how to set to work, no more than that, my hearty. I am for- tune’s favorite still, since Pll have the benefit of your experience, added to my own luck and skill. Sorry for you, old fellow, but the prize is mine, sure!” Spread Eagle Sam cast a wary, half-sheepish glance around them, then, with lips close to Lanne Leo’s ear, he whispered: ‘* Ef it wasn’t fur my side-pardner, Jes’, durn- ed ef I wouldn’t almost like fer ye to win—but not quite !” t he is, boss. You set the time, an’ we'll. ' Ts im ss LL CHAPTER XV. ‘“*TRICKS IN ALL TRADES BUT OURS.” No sooner were these essential preliminaries fairly settled, than Morris Kirkendall gave his remaining men orders to strike the tent and pack the wagons ready for moving. ‘Wipe away that cloud from your face, Beauty-bird,” he took occasion to say to Luada when he met her out of earshot of all others. ‘* To the devil I throw his hoodooism or what- ever you may call it! Spread Eagle will make a holy show of the braggin’ snickerer when it comes down to work—sure !” ‘* But if he fails—if Laughlin wins?’ murmur- ed Luada. The old trader tried to escape without answer- ing, but when he found himself fairly cornered, his rugged face took on a look of curiously min- gled obstinacy and cunning. ‘*Ef he does win, an’ axes fer you, Beauty- bird, you got to go, dead sure; but you ain’t no child 0’ mine ef you cain’t manidge to break his neck afore we git back to St. Paul ag’in!” He stumped away in hot haste, leaving Lu- ada drawing figures on the gravel with the point of her shoe, a curious smile playing about her red lips, a peculiar light in her dark eyes. Long before noon Morris Kirkendall on his lookout station caught sight of a horseman rid- ing rapidly from the direction of the smoke- signal, and until he recognized the rider his enthusiasm was great. But then, witha mut- tered curse of disgust at the impudence of the fellow whose face so strongly reminded him of his divorced wife, Lena Burvenich, he stum hastily away to the wagons, while Spread Eagle Sam chuckled and grinned and shook all over with high glee that finally found vent in one of his wild, unearthly shrieks. ‘*T hed to do it—deed I jes’ did, boss!” he spluttered apologetically, as the veteran scowled ferociously at his recreant pupil. ‘‘I hed to blow off steam or bu’st my b’iler right "fore the comp’ny. To think that little boy Jes’ hes come out at the top o’ the heap this airly! To think that he wiped. the eyes o’ all them old han’s, an’ at the fu’st time o’ tryin’, too! Git the baird ready, boss, fer yender’s the lad that’s airned it, fa’r an’ squar’—my pard, little Jes’!” ‘* More like the pesky critter ketched sight o” the smoke an’ tuck to his heels fer fear the In- juns made it!” growled the veteran, irritable as a bear with a sore head. “"T won't do, boss—twon’t do, nohow!” tri- umphed Spread Eagle, once more wholly loyal to his protege ae, the magnetic influence which Laughing Leo gained over him, in common with father and daughter. ‘‘ You’re the head 0’ this job, an’ sent out the boys fer the fu’st glimp’ o’ the big herd. You cain’t go back onto the good ole rules an’ regelations 0’ the craft, so ac aed baird ready an’ ’ile up your tongue!” e swift-riding messenger was now near enough to see the gestures which the giant hide-hunter made from the edge of the plateau, and rode direct for him, instead of the dug- out, half a mile below. And Spread Kagie, checking his breathless report, grinning like one filled to overflowing with pure joy, iorced the young hide-hunter up to where Morris Kir- kendall stood, a hairy object in his hand, a sour smile forced upon his rugged face. Luada. stood beside him, and smiled sweetly and en- couragingly —— to more than offset the evident di of her parent. ‘Critter, do you come as a messenger from some o’ the rest, or did you diskiver the big herd—ef it is the big herd—your own self— which I’m durned ef I b’lieve, even ef you was to take oath—so help you the Big Buffler?” Jesse Purchass, though an actual *‘ greenhorn ” so far as the business life of a bide-hunter was concerned, of course had learned from the con- versation of his mates many of the customs and legends which had once or still prevailed among the members of the craft. Among them was one which conferred sundry privileges on the ome 4 man who first sighted the “* big herd ” after hands had received fair notice. And it was this that made Spread Eagle Sam lose no time in hunting up his ‘‘ side pardner” at the rendez- vous appointed, and sending him off to take part. in the quest. Though he had not erat, of i oe g by his ood fortune until Spread Eagle Sam forced him fore the trader, the young hide-hunter was stung into a cold dignity by the doubting inter- jections of the uneasy “‘ boss,” and steadily faced im as he made g his claims. ‘‘T come on my own behalf, Worthy Chief, and claim the reward for first sighting the Bi Herd,” he replied, according to rule. ‘‘ Tf Ispe falsely, may each hair in the Magic Beard turn to rattlesnakes and scorpions, to feed upon my crooked tongue!” Morris Kirkendall held in his hand the long, glossy black beard of a buffalo bull. once the pride of the herd. It was his duty to bestow this upon Jesse Purchass, dubbing him First Rifle of the party; to enumerate the different. pees his Sagacity or fortune had gain im; to make a “‘ spread eagle ” speech and have a jolly good time in general. And doubtless: had the lucky one been any other than this espe- cial bete noir of his, Morris Kirkendall would. <€om — —— — —— — Ebooks, com