Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 339 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

Spread Eagle Sam. : ee | *‘ Well enough to hit a mark occasionally, if big enough.” ‘***Casionally won’t make a bale o’ hides very fast, lad.” ive a more definite reply. If I can’t plant a bullet within its own breadth in any mark you care to show me, I pledge my word of honor to take your first advice and go home, abandoning all idea of ah hide-hun- ter or of ever winning Luada Kirkendall for a wife! He spoke quietly, but with a manner that told he was perfectly sincere in what he said. Spread Eagle Sam smiled softly, but his keen blue eyes were turned from his comrade out upon the open plain, his head slightly bent as though in listening. Then, with a silent laugh he extended one hand, pointing to where a single horseman turned a bend in the creek, riding ata hand-gallop toward them, saying: ‘“‘Thar’s your mark, lad! Seeef youkin wenti- late that hat!” The words had barely crossed his lips when the young hide-hunter leveled his rifle and fired twice in swift succession at the advancing horse- man. And blending with the reports came a sharp cry as the rider reeled, then sunk forward on the neck of his frightened steed! **Bored his brain-pan, or I’m a liar!” cried Spread Eagle. CHAPTER V. A GRIM OLD TASKMASTER. ALL unconscious of this bit of by-play, Morris Kirkendall stumped along with an energy that dotted the hig Soe soil with holes deep enough for planting pole-beans, wherever his peg-leg touch- ed the ground. He was in a grim, crabbed humor, ready to find fault with anything or quarrel with anybody, save and except his one earthly treasure, L Even at her he would sometimes pretend to growl and show his teeth; but it was only in seeming, and the little witch knew this right well. The mid-day meal was in readiness for them as soon as they reached the spot set aside for that purpose by Luada when the party first came to a halt, and before she wandered up the little valley to end in surprising the secret of her father and her suitor, Morris Kirkendall drop to the ground on the cushion prepared for him, with a surly grunt. He had his plate filled to overflowing, and had transferred a goodly portion to his mouth before he cast a glance around him. Luada was seated near him, idly toying with the food provided her. There was an empty plate and a vacant ye opposite, and as he saw this, a red glow gan to fill those hard eyes. This was some- gs growl about, at least. ** Whar’s that young feller? Gone to sleep on the way?” His under lip pouted as he glanced at Luada. She said nothing, but he followed the direction of her eyes, and saw Leo Laughlin still standing where they had left him, his head bare, his arms folded, but with that bright, but indolent smile clearly perceptible even at that distance on his handsome face. ‘‘ Snickerin’, as usual!” growled the trader, then lifting his voice and shouting: *‘ You, boy! don’t stan’ thar like a hitchin’-post, grinnin’ fer wages! Mosey this way ef you want any grub. The table ain't in’ to be kept waitin’ fer the likes o’ you—not ” Laughing Leo quietly answered the summons, marr the place assigned him, saying nothing until the cook had supplied his wants and beaten a retreat to the fire. When he did speak his voice was cool and steady as it was guarded: “‘It was for you to say whether the hide- hunter was entitled to the same privileges grant- ed the clerk.” “* Nobody ’d think o’ evenin’ the two, ‘cept an yan snapped the veteran, his eyes flashing through his s brows. ‘“‘ I never yit see a wipe the dish a true hide- ae ett off o’, nur I don’t reckon Ill begin now ‘‘ Father!” murmured Luada, flushing pain- mee Laughing Leo cast a grateful glance toward her, but there was the same cool, careless smile upon his lips as he said: “Tt delights me that you rank the hide-hunter so high, my dear sir, since I have joined their noble ranks.” ‘* You a hide-hunter? The Lord!” ‘* And the rival of Spread rle Samuel from this hour on. From all accounts he is head and shoulders above his fellows, since you left the field; but I flatter myself my arms are long enough to reach his scalp, which I have mental- ly sworn to place at your feet when the present season closes, as a token of success.” * You take his skelp—Spread Eagle?” ‘*Metaphorically speaking, of course,” laugh- “You'll think you’ve met four times four, with a hull rijiment o’ wildcats throwed in, by the time Spread Eagle gits through with ye, critter! Take his skelp! Lay it at my feet—when I ain’t got only the one! Durned ef I ever hearn the like o’ sech impidence!” snorted the old trader, savacely. **Papa, Mr. Laughlin means—” impulsively ese a tt CC LLL LL LA LAL LLL tlt tt a ————— ee ___ ae began Luada, only to break off with a warm blush as she realized the nature of the task she had undertaken. ‘*That from this date he is no longer in your employ as bookkeeper; that he has accepted the challenge you flung out, and resolved to be- come a hide-hunter until he can show you a record clean and bright as the best ever made by Spread Eagle Sam. If he fails in this un- der ing, you nor yours will ever hear of him again. If, on the contrary, he proves himself a better man, hunter, shot, than your champion, he will claim his reward, in accordance with your proposal.” ‘** Set still, Beauty-bird,” commanded Kirken- dall, as Luada, with hotly suffused cheeks, made a motion to rise from her seat and take to flight. ‘‘ They ain’t goin’ to be no more ’posals made this day, an’ the hull matter draps to the groun’ as soon as I kin saya dozen words more. ‘*'You, boy, don’t want to fergit that they’s bin no promises made, one way nur the other. Ef you want to make a bigger fool o’ yourself than natur’ did, by tryin’ your hand at the work fit only fer men from the sullar up, you do it on your own resk, Now hold your hush, an’ eat your grub.” Laughing bowed in silence, and the meal was concluded without further discussion. On Luada’s part, however, eating was but spe | ssible | shallowest pretense, and at the earliest moment she rose and hastened to the crat” wagon. ‘* Satisfied now, hain’t ye?’ snapped Kirken- * demo- dall, with a savage glance at his smiling com- | ‘*Tuck the panion. away with your durn foolishin’! “I could not refuse her when she ke in that manner. I love her too dearly to deny her any— ** Bite it off right whar you be, boy!” sharpl cried the veteran, his heavy hand entotcing ae commands by dropping on the arm of the lover. ‘*They ain’t no sech thing as love to be mixed up in this business. They ain’t nothin’ ontel you've read your title clear to bein’ a man from the ground up. Onless you kin scratch up sense enough to see what a pesky ejiot you’re makin’ out o’ yourself, an’ll take your davy you'll fall back into your old place without no more sech high-up idees.” ‘You mean to remain your bookkeeper, and forget my love for your daughter?” ‘ “J es’ that, lad. It’s the wisest thing you kin 0. Laughing Leo smiled coldly as he replied: ‘*You have always accused me of being an idiot; 'llnot prove you wrong in your judgment by powggs the sensible path you have just point- ed out. I have made up my mind to become a jolly hide-hunter, and with the hide-hunters stand.” ‘““On your own bottom, then. Don’t ax no favors in my name. You've got to hoe your own row clean through.” ‘That is understood, of course. And now, since I am no longer your bookkeeper, but a free hide-hunter, Iam going to take horse and ride on in advance to tell Spread Eagle Sam ‘ou are coming. If you have any communica- tion to send him, and will prepare it while I am changing my rig, I will take pleasure in deliver- re gal’s appertite all | ing the message.” She hain't ett | -“Y “You're in dead airnest, then?’ Seep grub enough to kerry a hummin’-bird over till | Kirkendall, his brows contracting darkly. supper-time.” ‘The blame rests on your shoulders, if blame there be, my dear sir.” ‘Waal, ef you hain’t got the impidence o’— how come it my fault, critter?’ indignantly cried the trader, “By pong her sensibilities through mak- ing her sit at the same table with an ordinary hide-hunter.” That was a doubly-shotted gun, and bly not another man in all the range of Morris Kirkendalls acquaintance would have dared discharge it. But Leo Laughlin calmly smiled in the purpling face, actually seeming to enjoy | the hit. The huge hands doubled tightly; the heavy | jaws parted; the gray eyes threatened to score the penthouse brows through which they glared; but then Morris Kirkendall laughed. The very audacity of this young fellow saved him. “You're either the biggest ejiot this side o’ crazy-land, boy, or else you’ve got more sand in you then I thought,” he said, his voice much able than it had sounded before that elivered shot. was to prove my manhood, you know,” ughed Leo. ‘**Look out that you don’t make your tongue break your neck afore you git fa’rly started on the road to manhood, boy. You didn’t miss it more’n a mile that bout. J was a com- mon hide-hunter as you callit. I'm proud of it. She’s proud of it, too; or ef she ain’t she'd orter be.” ‘**Let us hope she will be proud of another member of the same honest craft,” gravely ut- tered on Morris Kirkendall at him curiously. He saw naught of levity in that handsome coun- tenance now. It was grave and firmly-set, manly in every line and curve. For the first time Morris Kirkendall began to look upon the young man asa man rather than a mere machine, too finely finished to be worth much outside of the niche it first filled. He glanced toward the ‘‘ democrat” where Luada had taken refuge, and catching a Simipee of her bright face through an opening in the curtains, he rose to his feet and taking Leo by the arm, stumped slowly up the valley to the cedar tree. His face was hard-set, his eyes and voice both stern, but there was no longer scorn or ridicule in either as he said: ‘* Look ye, young feller; we want to start fa’r in this little matter. They’s no promises made by me or you. was when [ told you to prove yourself a man, then come ag’in an’ tell me them words. I didn’t say what answer I'd give ye, did I?” ughing Leo was grave enough now to sat- isfy the most exacting. The half-lazy, half-in- solent smile left his lips and his eyes, and he looked years older than a minute before. His tones were as grave as his face when he spoke: ‘*You made no promises, nor have I asked you to do so, Mr. Kirkendall. In a matter like this, a pledge would be valuable only as it came from her lips.” “Which you won’t, nur won't try to git now, ef you valie yer bones!” growled the veteran, ominously. ‘‘ You went back on my wishes a bit ago, when I hinted fer ye to hold yer hush; do it ag’in, an’ out ye go, neck an’ heels, *thout time fer to ax isit a cyclone ora airthquake that’s got ye foul!” Laughlin bowed, with an air that was almost humble. roba- more ‘ard la The nighest to it I ever come “Tam. Ill prove myself as good a man as there is on the range this day, or I'll leave my bones for the wolves to sharpen their teeth on. And if I win the record—if I prove my manhood to your satisfaction, then—” ‘**Mebbe yes mebbe no,” slowly replied the old trader. ‘‘ To say it right out, I don’t like you, man or weaklin’. They’s a look in your face that ‘minds me of that cussed she-wolf!” The words came gratingly through his strong teeth, and as he turned abruptly away from the young man, it was clear he believed what he said. And yet, once he had uttered the same words to Jesse Purchass, between whom and Laughing Leo there was not the most remote likeness, Laughing Leo turned back and disappeared within one oft he covered wagons, after bidding one of the men prepare his horse for the road. Sufficient has been said to show who and what were these individuals, but their presence in this lonely ay be remote from any settlement, re- mains to be explained. Morris Kirkendall, three-score years of age, and a cripple though he was, had never forgot- ten the times when he ranged the wilds, spend- ing months at a time on the buffalo-ran ‘‘prairie fever ” still burned in his veins, as it does with all who have ever experienced it in all its wild, delirious ecstasy. Time may weaken, but only the grave can entirely destroy the erms. P For years he had fought against it, chiefly be- cause he could not bear to leave his id daughter, and was too careful of her life and limb to take her along on such a trip. But now the dangers were minimum. The In- dians no longer hunted the hunter. The buffalo- range was as safe as the crowded streets of the city, and when Luada coaxed him to take a more extended camping-trip than she had ever ventured, while the weather promised such glo- rious things, he yielded and at once made his pre- parations. They set out from St. Paul in wagons, at ing every essential and many luxuries of with them. They had guides and hunters alon with them, besides a good cook and drivers, wi handsome Leo under the old trader, of course. Morris Kirkendall set no particular point as the end of the trip, for the weather must decide that. Though he felt to be full as able to fight egainst King Winter on his own domains as ever in his life, the welfare of Luada must be consulted above all else. The weather proved all that could be asked, and now they were within a score miles of the t where Kirkendall expected to find Spread agle Sam and his hunters. He had sent no word to the herculean hide-hunter, for fear of disappointment, and Spread Eagle was still in ignorance of the honor in store for himself and camp. Brief as had been the interval, the veteran hide-hunter had almost forgot the disturbing in- cipent of that halt, in his eager anticipations of once more taking the field, even though it was only for a day or two, when he stop short in his walk and uttered a sounding oath of blank amazement. Laughing Leo had emerged from the covered wagon and was approaching; but what a trans- formation! Rigg he could not entirely disguise his fine figure, he had apparently done all he could to- ward that end. He was the very picture of the modern EOMMUCGOLoe) ‘S (E() -_ Laughlin as general overseer, %