Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 339 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

: ‘ 20 Spread Eagle Sam. -_— have rendered the occasion one to be remem- bered for all time, for a better-prepared orator after the hide-hunter fashion never drew the breath of life. As it was, his blind, unreasoning dislike got the upper hand of him, and he blurted out: ‘*Hope it will, too! Take your durned ole baird!” and off he stumped in his rage, sawing the air vehemently with his huge fists, kicking up a shower of dirt with each plunge of his wooden leg Luada fi on the part of her parent, and with a half-defi- ant glance toward Laughing Leo who stood near, smiling at the absurd break-down, she grasped both of the handsome young hide-hunt- er’s hands in hers and warmly uttered: ‘* May you long wear the honors you have so worthily won, and may you ever prove as for- tunate and successful in whatever you attempt, Jesse Purchass!” She eropped his hands, turned and fled be- fore he could utter a word in reply. But his face lighted up with glad surprise and renewed hope. Laughing Leo belied his title now, and for the first time in their experience of him, the hide-hunters saw a cloud upon his face, a look of anger or of trouble in his blue eyes. Spread Eagle laughed long and loud, wring- ing the hands of his protege until they tingled and ached. ‘** Whooray fer the little lady! I glory in her spunk, an’ I don’t give a copper durn who hears me say so, nuther!’ ‘Don’t make a ’farnal ejiot out o’ yourself Sam Ingalls!” testily snarled Morris Kirken from a distance. ‘* After you is manners,” laughed the honest hide-hunter, careless who he offended just then. “‘Fer fear the disease is ketchin’, me ’nd my she wine to ride over an’ take a look at the ig herd. You kin foller our trail, or— Yender comes some 0’ your men now. They kin show ye whar to go.’ Without waiting for a reply, the Hercules hurried Jessc Purchass off toward the dug-out on the level below. ' ** Not that they’s any sech monstrous hurry, lad,” he said, with a knowing grin on his hon- est face. work afore he gits within good sightin’ distance © the ground. Fer all he’s spent rents on the range, an’ hes made more bales by hunderds then the next best man in the biz, he’s jes’ like a boy now he kin smell the fun once more. A good-hearted critter, but the most keerless with that double-edged tongue o’ his! He jes’ is, fer sure J” ** He seems to hold a terrible me, for some reason,” and Jesse Purchass sigh- ed bitterly. ‘‘ Yet I never harmed him. I al- mous Maton him with respect, and I served him faithfully while I was in his employ. I cannot understand it, particularly as he began eee on me long before he could even suspect I falten in love with his daughter.” _** You don’t know him like I do, lad, or it wouldn’t bother you a mite!” declared Spread Eagle, as they moved leisurely along toward the dug-out. ‘‘He tuck a dislike to ye from the fu’st. You begun to craw] into his good ’pinions, or he wouldn’t never ’a’ felt more’n that. An now you’re showin’ him that they’s the clean stuff into ye; you showed him yest’day that you hed grit an’ wasn’t afeard to face him when his teeth was chompin’ white foam; youshowed him to-day that you hed plenty o’ erapen ee about ‘ye, or you wouldn’t ’a’ tuck fu’st rifle from his men an’ Kanuck an’ Johnny Bull; you made him see that you knowed your rights an’ was boun’ to stan’ up fer them, too; an’ he couldn’t go through the peppergram.” ‘* Little consolation in that, I fancy!” with a short laugh. **Don’t you b’lieve it, lad, fer I know the ole man better. He’s gittin’ skeered o’ hisself— ow’re crawlin’ so deep into his good ’pinion that 6 cain’t stop an’ face ye down like he did at fu’st. He kin see the man into ye ase lad, an’ ef all goes well, ’'m open to bet that the day ain’t so powerful fur off when he'll see a son-in- law right in your two boots! Mind, J tell ye!” Jesse Purchass made no reply, but his dark face grew brighter, and when he had eaten a hasty bite, he announced himself as ready to take the saddle once more, if Sam wished it. ‘*T reckon you'd better, lad,” soberly replied the huge hide-hunter. ‘‘The ole man’ll hev a better c ce fer findin’ out how big a fool he’s made out o’ himself this bout, ef you ain’t thar to keep his ebenezer up on eend.” As they rode away from the dug-out, passing below the plateau on which Morris Kirkendall had pitched his camp, the eager gaze of Jesse Pure detected a flutter of white coming from the cover of a few bushes and evergreens, mak- ing his heart flutter far more vigorously than did that friendly signal. He returned the sa- udge against lute, and was rewarded by a brief view of a fair | : | The laughin’ critter ken look out fer bis own " Talk of luck!” chuckled the herculean hide- | hunter as they swept on at a steady gallop. ‘* Td ruther be born that way then rollin’ over an’ ever in gold!” Now that he was out of sight of his love, Jesse ushed vividly at this new explosion | chin reflectively. ‘*‘ Mebbe she said that to hunch | ** Now, Jes’, you look here,” “Phe boss won’t hear to our doin’ any | a TT doubting. | ** Much luck has befallen me!” he muttered, | bitterly. S read Eagle Sam stared at him wonderingly. f you don’t call it luck to hev the ‘fections Purchass once more became despondent and | | Leaving their horses hidden in a narrow defile, they climbed up the rocks until they were afforded a fair view of the ‘big herd” as it covered hundreds and thousands of acres of ground. Jesse Purchass could not gaze enough at the countless numbers, the sight amy SO am 0’ sech a dainty bit o’ human natur’ pinned onto | new and strange to him, but Spread Eagle | you, then you're heap bigger ejiot then I ever | was far more !”? | thought o’ takin’ fer a pard, Jes | The young hide-hunter laughed harshly, his | brows drawn. ‘‘TIf I were only as certain that she reall loves me as you appear to be, Sam, I’d laug at the old man 9, that dandy popinjay, back youger But what did she tell me o ay? or hated him the most, but that she knew were he to ask her to marry him she could not say no while his eyes were fixed on hers! Isn’t that something to make merry over?” ‘*'Wimmen is mighty ani critters, Jes’,” sa- piently observed the big hunter, scratching his you on a leetle faster? Mebbe she ORES Fon | in’ wasn’t settin’ her high enough up, or was a leetle too much fer granted-like in your spark- in’, Wimmen is up toallo’ them kind o’ dodges!” ‘*She was in sober earnest when she spoke of him,” with a savage lash of his rawhide quirt through theair. ‘Sam, if that laughing devil gets the best of you in this match, and her father sticks to his agreement, she’ll marry him, sure as fate!” avely uttered Sam, turning sideways in his saddle and steadily holding the glowing gaze of his companion. “You've got the little lady on your side, an’ ef you cain’t down that laughin’ critter fer good, so fur’s she’s consarned, you don’t ought to hev her —so thar !” ‘*Tt’s easy for you to talk, old fellow,” with a faint smile. ‘‘ But you’re not in love.” ‘‘IT was once,” and the giant hide-hunter sud- denly averted his face, his voice growing low and almost husky. ‘‘I knowed a gal that was the very moral o’ Beauty-bird. I thought the world an’ all o’ her, but [ was so skeered o’ losin’ her fer good an’ all, that | couldn’t make up my mind to ax heref she’d take me. Then—waal, she was Beauty-bird’s mother in the eend, It tuck me nigh ten year afore I could go to see them, an’ it come monstrous hard, even then. She never knowed what I hed dreampt over so often nights when layin’ out on the Range, an’— Ugh!” shaking himself like a buffalo bull, and breaking into a short laugh. ‘‘That was long ago, an’ we'll drap it now an’ ferever! Thar’s work ahead o’ us, lad!” For some distance the two hide-hunters rode on in silence, for Jesse Purchass was startled by the glimpse he had been afforded of what lay buried _ beneath the reckless, roaring outside of the huge | hunter. But it was not in Spread Eagle Sam to let his tongue rust for want of use, and he broke out: ‘* Thar’s tricks in all trades but ours, pard, an’ I’m goin’ to show you one or two of ’em afore your head gits gray! Ef it was only my own repetation at stake—ef you didn’t want me to beat that laughin’ critter so monstrous bad, pard, I'd never think o’ makin’ use of ’em ag’inst a greenhorr, good as he’s showed himself sence he fu'st struck our camp. Fer you, my side pardner, an’ the little lady, who give mea kiss this very mornin’ to win fer her, [ll try all I know how!” * And if you fail, by the heaven above us! Ill try a shot at something thicker than his silk hat!” fiercely ejaculated Jesse Purchass. With a swift, dexterous movement, Spread Eagle Sam wheeled his horse directly in front of the speaker, his own eyes fairly flashing fire as he sternly cried: ‘*'You’ve said them words afore, Jes’, an’ I passed ’em by as no more then empty wind from a sour stomach; but now look you here! You're my pard. I like youaheap. [’m goin’ to win a mighty big prize fer you, ef I kin; but [’m _ goin’ to do it white! Tl use sech tricks as the laws 0’ the game an’ common honesty’ll let me, but no more. An’ ef you cut in with any didoes as’!l make ag’in’ him, by the Lord that made me! I'll turn ag’in’ you ferever amen!” ates his high spirit, Jesse Purchass was cowed by the just indignation which seemed to fairly scorch him, and he made no reply. Spread Eagle Sam added, sternly: ‘You've got to pass your word, as a man an’a true pard, that you'll play him no tricks while he’s at work, or you cain’t go no furder with me. Ef you won't promise, durn my hide ef I don’t tie you hand an’ heels an’ keep you that-a-way ontel the match is settled! In one word—which is it, Jes’?” “ll give you my word,” sullenly ar pe hee the young man. ‘‘ He’ssafe from me until r the match is decided.” ‘‘ All right, Jes’,” and Sam grasped his hand, all traces of indignation vanishing like magic. ‘Your word is good, an’ I ax nothin’ more, ————— head, I reckon, with fa’r warnin’; which I'll see he gits.’ | There was little more said until the end of | their journey was reached, just as the sun was nearing the western range. yester- | | ractical, and lost no time in t-k- ing a mental photograph of the situation, noting every fact and point which could possibly serve him in his part of the curious match so soon to be decided. To the right of their position a large creek, or small river debouched from the hills, run- That she didn’t know whether she loved | ning a little distance and then widening intoa considerable-sized lake or vond, before it con- tinued its course toward the west. Almost di- rectly below the two men, a shallow ‘‘ draw” or | | | | | | | | | j ' | i | coulee found birth as a continuation to one of the defiles, running out nearly half a mile on the prairie, then taking a gradual curve toward the pond, ending by running out to a level with the surrounding ground, The nearest of the buffaloes were nearly two miles beyond that point, but as Spread Eagle Sam cast a keen, knowing look up at the sky, he broke out into a grim chuckle, then said: ‘* Le’s go back to the hosses, Jes’, an’ cook a bite. I’ve see’d all I want to know, an’ ef I don’t putt up a he-ole score to-morrow fer the big prize, 1 don’t want a red cent!” The horses were unsaddled and staked out to crop the scanty grass, as they were too far from the plain to alarm the big herd by either sound or scent. And as. they sat around the tiny camp-fire, eating, Sam gave his mate some idea of what he proposed doing. An hour after dark, Sam handed Jesse a good- sized parcel containing salt, taking another him- self, and they stole silently out from the hills toward the pond. As they did so, they saw that some of the herd were much nearer the water than when they first sighted them, and Sam chuckled again. ‘*T knowed it, Jes’! They’re boun’ to come fer water long afore we kin open the ball, sence we've got to wait fer the ole man to come up an’ see fa’r play. The pastur’s good, an’ I reckon the critters wouldn’t go fur off, anyway; but we'll make sart’in sure of enough to win the match.” ‘*You think it will work, then?” a little dubiously asked the less experienced man. **T don’t think; I knows it, lad. Ain’t I tried it on more times then you’ve got fingers an’ toes? An’ didn’t it work to a t-y-ty, all but once?” “If it failed then, it may fail again—and now |” ‘* Waal, ef you ain't jes’ about the onconsol- in’est critter to hev fer a backer in a big match, skin me fer a poor bull!” and Spread Eagle Sam fairly snorted in his disgust. ‘‘ Not a chi more ‘ll [ lis’en to out 0’ your blamed trap night—so thar !” bashed by this sharp reproof, Jesse Purchass imitated the movements of his huge companion, creeping stealthily along the curving coulee un- til near the pond. Then Sam lifted his head out of the grass and took a long, careful survey of the vicinity. The night was moonless, but the stars were —— enough to show him that there were no buffaloes near the water, and touching Jesse as a hint to follow, he stole rapidly forward. He ran along the edge of the pond where the ass first began to grow, scattering coarse salt quite thickly. From this belt, which was made only on the side nearest the coulee, he laid numerous narrow trails for several reds, then dug a narrow, ioe hole in the ground, packing each one full of salt, well pounded down, ceasing only when each one of the trails led to a minia- ture salt mine, and his supply was exhausted. Jesse Purchass had followed and imitated him in every particular, and his load, too, was dis- osed of. Then Sam beckoned him to follow, cading the way back to the coulee. This he more carefully examined, creeping out on the open ground and scouting all around, glancing repeatedly back, as though to deter- mine the effectiveness of the head of the coulee as an ambush. At length he appeared satisfied with his ex- amination, and Jesse Purchass saw him take a small package from his bosom and tearing open the buckskin cover, sprinkle it over the almost bare apm now anit then stooping over and using his knife, as though ym, gaa 9 the opera- tion performed with the salt. Then, half an hour later, he returned to the coulee and nodded for Jesse to follow him. “We've done “bout all that’s needed, I reckon,” he muttered, as they neared the hills, Ef I don’t roll up a big score to-morrow, then the devil’s holpin’ that laughin’ critter, an’ I know it!” ; ‘“VYou were scattering salt out yonder, too?” asked Jesse, curiously, as they regained their camp-fire and filled their pipes for a last smoke, ‘‘ Ef anybody axes you, pard, you tell’em you don’t know,” grinned Spread le Sam, nod- ding vigorously. ‘‘I tuck you out yender to watch an’ foller an’ imitate me in all I did, so you mought l’arn a_new wrinkle or two "bout the perfession. But I wouldn’t let you do a lick o’ work at it cause I didn’t want you to hev to EGOmichoo S)