Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 389 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

es em ete ae we Came 2 ee mm 8 a 6 ee me ee wee - 13 $A Colonel Double-edge. ——— — ———— clean shaven with the exception of a big mus- | the great civil war, and was fond of his profes- tachbe. It was a strange sight—the little, lean man | facing the tall, big one, who looked as if he was able to pick up bis small adversary and smash him against a wall. | | | | But the situation lasted scarcely more than a | second. Sam Jones, astonished at the sudden transfor- mation of the Mexican, was betrayed into an in- cautious exclamation. ** Col. Double-edge!” he cried. This was enough for the big desperado, who at | | | | | | sion and devoted to his duty. As Jep Jones found him there, seated at a rude table, so ae in preparing “a report of his recent expedition, he might have been mis- taken for a ranchman or a cowboy. His face was bronzed until it was nearly as dark as an Indian’s and his dress was of plain and rude material, the only thing about him to indicate his rank or occupation being a pair of shoulder-straps that were tacked to his blue flannel shirt. The circus man hastened to tell his business, Cl arley Cripps was a good rider, and he had a good horse under him, and he was anxious to get at his business and finish it. Consequently he made a quick journey to the abode of the prosperous and grasping cattle baron, whom he found at home. Jack was a large man of middle age, not tall, but very broad, with a low brow, a fat and sen- sual face, and small eyes that sparkled with cun- ning and avarice, He boasted of large possessions in land and cattle, had an exalted idea of his own impor- tary. tance, and was strong in the belief that nothing once perceived that there was a plan to ** double- | describing the raid of the cattle men upon the | that stood in his way should be permitted to bank ” him. Throop Ranch up the valley and the discom- } exist. The sudden gleam of a pistol in his hand was | fiture of the raiders. His visitor dismounted and introduced him- followed by an instant flash and report. Then he related his experience in Gonzalez | self as Lieutenant Cripps, of the United States | Jep Jones fell backward and dropped on the | that morning, which resulted in the exposure | cavalry service, | wooden sidewalk, | of Devil Dick and the flight of that desperado. Keopman did not receive him any too gra- Col. Double-edge had lifted his bridle-rein Lieut, Sa who was highly indignant, at | ciously, but asked him to take a seat and have from the post, and he mounted the big black | once ordered his horse to be saddled, and began | something to drink, | horse, before the smoke of his pistol shot had | to don his fatigue uniform, The lieutenant declined the latter invitation— vanished, ‘* I will attend to that matter at once,” said | he had not come there to be entertained—and Sam Jones, though bewildered by the rapid | he. ‘Not the stage robber business, though. | dashed at once into his business. sequence of startling events, was reasonably | That belongs to the authorities of Gonzalez or of ‘**T sent you ‘vord a while ago,” said he, . cool and prompt in his action. the Territory. As the rascal has more than | “that you must keep on your own range and ) He was quick enough to draw his revolver and | once meddled with the mails, I will capture him | quit perhering with the ranchmen about bere.” use it; but it missed fire, if he comes in my way, or will help the folks ‘I believe [ did get some message of that Before he could cock it and pull trigger again, | here if they want my help. But they prefer to | kind,” superciliously answered Koopman. | the desperado had got a good start, and was | manage their affairs in their own way, and I **1 am sure you got it, Mr. Koopman, but | galloning down the street. | shall not interfere unless I am called upon.” you seem to have forgotten it or disregarded Twice the stage-driver fired upon him; but | “I suppose it is the conduct of the cattle | it. You went to the Throop ranch in the | the shots were thrown away, and Col. Dou- | men that you mean to look into,” suggested | valley yesterday, and had trouble with the set- | ble-adge went flying out of town. | Jep. tlers there.” | The three shots and the clattering of the} “Just that. It is my duty to protect the set- ** So, you’ve got hold of that already. Well, horse’s hoofs drew a number of men to the spot, | tlers on Government lands, and I mean to pro- | yes; [ had a little difficulty down there. Iclaim | an others came hurrying thither. tect them against white robbers as well as red | that land, you see.” ‘What's the row?” was the repeated inquiry. | ones. The white men nowadays are getting to ‘*T would not be surprised to hear that i | ** Anybody hurt?” be worse than the Indians, and they need more | claimed the earth, But you know that you had ) ‘** Do you see that man?” exitedly demanded | watching. I sent a word of caution to that | no right to the land and no business cn it.” ‘ ‘sum Jones as he pointed at the flying figure on | man Koopman, but he has not heeded it, and ‘I claimed that land, as I said,” insisted | tuo black horse, now I shall go to him and give him his | Koopman. ‘I warned these people to get away | “That is Devil Dick—Col. Double-edge— | orders.” from it; but they didn’t go. Then I went down (19 stage-robber. He has killed my friend here ** Will you go alone?” inquired Jep. there to drive them off.” wo found him out, Git onto him, you starin ** Of course I will, Do you suppose I want an ‘*And got yourself driven off by a few good ® guoots! Thar he is! Start up and go for him!” | army? men with rifles. The effort was such a costly ! ‘lorses were hitched about the main street | ‘Jack Koopman has a desperate set about | one that I fancy you will not care to repeut of Gonzalez, and all the men within the reach | him, though yesterday’s experience may have | it.” of the driver’s voice were armed. cooled them off a bit.” ‘**'Won’t I, though? ‘You had better not be Several of them were speedily mounted, and **T have no fear that he will consider it safe | too sure of that. I will wipe those squatters out ayay they galloped on the hot trail of Devil | to play any of his pranks with me. Besides, | when I get ready.” 4 Dick. my men have had a hard ride, and they need ** You had better not get ready, then. You N But the desperado already had gained a good | rest.” will not be allowed to play that game again.” start, and his big black horse was a wonder for ** Don’t you need any rest?” ‘““Who says so?” flercely deriantied Jack “peed, and he could afford to laugh at his pursu- “* Not when those people up the valley need to | Koopman. ors, be protected. You may tell them, my friend, ** 1 say so,” quietly answered the officer. - j After a short chase they began to return, | that they may make themselves easy. I’m off.” ** And who are you?” } Covlaring that the game was beyond their reach. Lieutenant Said mounted his horse and rode ‘** As I have already informed you, I am Lieu- . away alone, leaving J opine Jones staring in re- | tenant Cripps of the cavalry, commanding the CHAPTER XVII spectful admiration after a brave and active | post at Gonzalez.” . though poorly rewarded servant of the Govern- ** What do you amount to, anyhow?” , wan. THE UNITED STATES CHIPS IN. ment, who sought duty instead of shirking it, “Not much, as far as I am_ personally con- | Sam JONES in the mean time had turned his | who attended to his business without the use of cerned, and my command is a very small one; attention to his friend, whom he supposed to | any red tape routine, and who shunned no peril | Lut in this business I represent the Government have been killed. or fatigue in doing what he believed ought to be | of the United States, and back of me are fifty But it was not intended that Jep should | done. millions of people, more or less, It won't Co to | perish in that way at that time. Satisfied that the interests of his friends were | fool with that crowd.” | The bystanders speedily raised him and | safe in the hands of such a guardian, the circus The cattle baron was silent and sullen fer a sought for the wound that was indicated by | man rode at bis leisure back to the ranch, where | few minutes, occupying himself only in sampling tl the blood on his scalp and brow. he related his adventure at Gonzalez and his in- | his own whisky. H Jep began to gasp and stir, and shortly he | terview with the officer. ** Any more orders?” he then inquired with a i opened his eyes and looked ahout. While his assurances caused his friends to | sneer, i ‘‘What is the matter?’ he feebly demanded. hope that they would be safe from further raids ‘No orders,” answered the officer, ‘ but a lit- i ** Did something hit me?” by the cattle men, they were surprised and | tle advice.” | He raised his hand to his head, and brought | troubled by the andacity displayed by Col. “Spit it out, then.” / ff it away covered with blood. Double-edge in presenting himself at Gonzalez ** One of the men who were with,you when you ‘* Something did hit me, but I can’t make it | so soon after his late lawless performances. made your attack on the Throcp Ranch was the | out. Reckon it must have knocked me a ; It was true that he had mn disguised, but | notcricus desperaco and stage-robber, known as A flask of potent aguardiente was put to his his ability to assume a disguisé was another | Devil Dick, or Col. Double-edge. i presume H lips, and the fiery liquor qey coursed | proof of the dangerous character of the man. that you hired him to help you in that job.” | through his veins anc stimulated his senses, “Tf I ever,” said Jep, ‘had the least doubt “Well, what if I did?” | The stage-driver informed him of what had | about who that sconndrel really is, I have no ** would advise you not to cmploy such a man happened, and Jamented the escape of Devil | longer anv doubt. The stage-driver recognized | for any purpose,” I Dick—Col. Double-edge. him at once as Devil Diek, or Col, Double- ‘You are a little too fresh with your advice, * Just my luck,” answered Jep. ‘But Tam ! edge, and I am sure that he is Jim Sartine, who | young man, I suppose the man you speak of is glad that 1 am alive. The scoundrel meant to | was Marshal of Sandstone when I was there.” Dick March. I have never hiréd kim to rob wipe me out; but he shot a trifle too high.” ; _ I suppose you must be right,” observed Wal- | stages, and if he is up to those garres it is nene Sam Jones led him as a matter of course in- | ter Brandis. “*T have had a bit of news since | of my business. I employ the best men I can ect to a saloon, where his wound was washed and | you left here this morning. A man from the | hold of for my purposes, and take them as I find dressed. Sandstone region passed by the ranch this morn- | them.” ° It was then discovered that the desperado’s | ing, looking for some land to locate a warrant ‘You may not have hired him for stage-rob- bullet had glanced off his skull, inflicting a | on. He told me that they have had another | bing,” observed tke cfficer, “Lut you have put scalp wound, and only succeeding in stunning | election at Sandstone, Jim Sartme ran for mar- | him to even a worse use. The fact is, Mr Keop- im. shal again, ar.d was defeated.” man, you havo crossed the line of the law pretty os A close call, no doubt, though a miss was as “That accounts for his presence here, Walter. | often, and some day you mey go too far. It good as a mile, end Jep Jones had another | He has come back to Arizona to go into his old | won’t be safe fcr you to hire or harbor such a grudge laid up for the ex-Marshal of Sandstone. | business.” man as this Double-edge Dick, and you had bet- } In the saloon he learned, much t6 his satisfac- ‘Well, I hope he will let us alone.” ter drop him. It is no affair of mine to hunt tion, that the soldiers had already returned. *T hope so, too, but ain afraid he won't. The | stage-robbers, as a general thing; but yon know having been called away ea a false alarm, and | United States of America will protect us | as well as I do that the people of these parts are were again quartered near Gonzalez, against Jack Koopman and his crew; but who | sore on that subject, and the may take it into This was good news fo the circus man, as it | will protect us against Devil Dick and his | their heads to worry you, an they will do it if might be expected to insure the safety of his | gang?’ you continue to harbor a public nuisance,” friends at the ranch up the valley, . ‘“We must protect ourselves,” interposed “That is my lookout, young man, and it is ) As soon as he was satisfied that his Skull bad | George Throop, who had become quite lively | none of your affair, as you say. I don’t thank ' not been fractured, though his head still pained | since he learned that his wound was not a dan- you for your officiousness, and have had enough z | him and he felt a little dazed, he mounted his | gerous one. of your jaw.” horse and rode out to the barracks, which were | ** We must protect ourselves by carrying the “Very well, I bave given you fair warning, i located in some old adobe_buildings at the dis- ' war into Africa and going for the scalp of Mr, | and that is all I came here to do.” tance of half a mi’e from Gonzalez, | Devil Dick, the two-edged colonel. Just wait | Lieutenant Cripps rode away, pretty well satis- i There he found Lieut. ores the com- | till I get well, and then something will be | fied with the result of his mission, notwithstand- Se he mandant of the and the leader of the two | done” ing his extremely ungracious treatment by the 1 . <iozen blue-coats who represented the power of The United States of America, in the mean | cattle baron. ty | the United States at that point. fame, as represented by Licutenant Cripps, had | He had no doubt that his words would be | The heutenant was a young man who had ' made as nearly as possible a bee-line for Jack remembered, and that the effect would be salu- | gained bis position by brilliant service during Koopman’s extensive cattle-ranch. . Eomicboo (C SiG (0)