Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 390 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

place and the tools, and I'll be there so quick it will make your brain reel. You flat-nosed son of a brindle kioodle! ll turn you inside out before you can tell what has happened!” ‘‘ Brag is a poor dog,” the Mexican sneered. ‘‘T know he is. There is no brag about what I am telling you, though. I am ready to prove it to you. I am only waiting for you to say how you prefer to die, that is all.” ‘Will you meet me now, in the street, with pistols at twenty paces?” ‘* ’m your hu¢kleberry, every time, Come right out there, and Ict’s have the thing out, Just choose some man to pick you up and bury you, and Il attend to making you ready for him. It would really be some satisfaction, though, to know what I am killing you for. You claim that 1 am in your way, bat that can hardly be, for you are not in my way in the least. Where does the aifficulty hinge? What ¢ it that has roused you up so, and rumpled your feathers? I would like to know something more about it while you are in fit condition to tell me.” “Can you not guess?”’ ‘No, | am not worth a cent at riddles.” ‘““Then I will tell you. It is because but one of us can wed the beautiful Miss Huckle- bee, and that one shall be I!” Cibuta John’s whole manner changed in an instant, and those who knew his way saw that he now meant business, ‘‘Well, you impudent pup!’ he cried. ‘‘ Just get yourself out of doors in quick order, or [ will drop you right where you stand. Do youthink I will allow that lady's nume to be mentioned by such as you? Come! The quicker we settle this thing, the better!” and he actually forced the Mexican to retreat out of doors. It was a lovely night. The round moon was sailing overhead, and it was almost as light as day. The crowd poured out of the saloon, and the news of the coming fight spread around like wild-fire. Ina few minutes both sides of the street were lined with eager spectators. ‘‘ Have you any one to act as your second?” Cibuta John asked. “No,” answered Bartolo, ‘‘I have not. I do not require any one.” “Oh! yes you do, or you will, at least, be- fore you are done. Say, Tom,” turning to Tom Billings, ‘t you act for him, will Meese ‘ Sartainly,” Tom responded, ‘I'll pick up his carcass, after you git done with him,” ‘And you, Jeff Parsons,” Cibuta continued, ‘* you act for me.” ‘* You bet, boss,” said Jeff, and he stepped to the fore. é ‘Now, Mexican,” turning to the angry challenger, ‘‘ how will you take it? Do you want it all at once, or in small doses?” ‘‘Tt must be a duel tothe death,’ was the response, ‘ “ Yes, that’s all right; but do you want all your arms, or only one revolver?” ‘‘Let each one keep whatever arms he may possess, and let it be a duel for life.” ‘ Allright. As I said before, I can agree to anvthing. Now, just pace off the distance, and then face about.” “Tlold on,” said Jeff Parsons and Tom Billings in one breath, ‘‘ we'll attend to that ourselves ”’ And they proceeded to measure the ground and get their men into position, Ina few minutes all was ready, and the antagonists stood facing each other, each with a revolver in his right hand. ‘* Are you both ready?” was then asked. ** Yes,” came the reply, ‘ we are.” ‘‘Then somebody give the word,” said Jeff Parsons. ‘*T'll do that,” announced Bill Twicker, ‘‘T’ll count three, and then cry ‘fire,’ and th’ instant I say ‘fire’ both o’ ye blaze away. ‘Now, heur goes: One, two, three— fire!” Both revolvers cracked at the same instant, and Gibuta. John felt the Mexican’s bullet graze his neck, while the Mexican gave a sudden start which showed he was hit. It had pveen agreed that they were to fire twice by count, and after that were to go as they pleased. Again Bill Twicker counted—‘ One, two, three, fire/” and again the weapons spoke. This time Cibuta heard the ball whistle over his head, and again was the Mexican seen to start. oe was Clear he was getting far the worst of it, i = ; The Giant Cunid. ——__——— The two time-shots being fired, the revol- : ‘‘Do you hear that, Mexican?’ Cibuta ver held by the Prickly Pear quickly barked asked. again, and this time the Mexican’s weapon | was sent flying out of his hand. Then came an unlooked-for and sudden ending, begged to be spared. CHAPTER IX. The Mexican fell to his knees and ‘* Yes, senor, I hear,’’ was the answer, ‘Well, heed it. Just pick yourself up and get out of town as quick as you can, and never let us see your face here again. ‘When you came here four months ago, you were treated as well as any man ever was treated. We all did the square thing MARKED FOR LIFE. | by you, and you cannot deny it. J, as Ir was a surprise to every one present. It alcalde of the town, did all in my power to was something no one had expected. Right down in the middle of the street the Mexican had dropped, the very picture of abject terror. ‘‘Spare me, senor, spare me!” he cried. | “Tam satisfied. Spare | my life.” ‘Wal, I'l be gosh hanged if you ain’t a healthy skunk fer a man to act as second to,” cried Ton Billings, in disgust. ‘‘ Whar’s | yer sand all gone to? Git up, now, an’ fight it out!’ ‘“No, no!’ the Mexican cried. beat! I give up!” ‘You're a fine specimen, then, yow be. I'd sooner act as second to a yaller dog.” I accept my defeat. ‘‘T am ‘‘Gosh all pertaters!” exclaimed Bill Twicker. ‘‘This heur beats th’ merry Dutch. Why, from th’ way the ball opened, I expected we would see one o' th’ greatest fights on record, an’ heur is Mexico knocked | out in th’ first round.” “You don’t mean to say you are done, do you?” Cibuta John demanded. ‘‘ Yes, senor, I am defeated.’ ‘But, you said this was to be a battle to the death. You are not playing according to your agreement. The audience will demand their money back if we do not carry out the programme. Come, get up and let me finish you. You have just got me roused up now, and I am thirsting for gore. You had better let me put on the finishing touch, hadn't you?” ‘“Oh, no, senor. Spare me, spare me,” ‘“Are you sure you are satisfied?” ‘“Yes, senor, yes. Llask no more,” ““And you think there will be room for both of us in the world, eh?” ‘* Yes, senor, yes.” ‘Well, then, get up. worthless life.” The Mexican obeyed. He was completely cowed, The change which had come over him in so short a time was wonderful. At first, no one except Cibuta John could un- derstand it. When the Mexican rose to his feet, how- ever, and the crowd pressed forward, then the secret came out. It was discovered that the tip of each of the man’s ears had been shot off, and that his right hand was badly wounded, the bul- let which had torn his revolver from his grasp having glanced and cut its way through the flesh. Finding Cibuta John to be so unerring a marksman, had completely unnerved the Mexican. He saw that his life was com- pletely at the merey of his antagonist, and that he was being toyed with as a cat toys with a mouse before putting it to death. He could not stand it, and hence his surrender. ‘‘ Great horned toads!” cried Bill T wicker. “‘Did ye ever see sich shootin’? Dast me if th’ Prickly P’ar hain’t cut a chunk right off 0’ both o’ this feller’s ears, ter say nothin’ ‘bout shootin’ his pop-gun out o’ his hand th’ way he did. Pards, low me ter hint right heur thet Cibuta John are a chief, an’ no mistake,” “{ thought I would mark him so that we may always know him,” said Cibuta. ‘He started the difficulty, and he must take the result. 1 could have killed him as easily as not, but I did not want to do that.” “It’s a pity ye didnt, though,” Jem Pat- terson declared. ‘‘He’ll be striking you in th’ back some time when you least expect it. These heur Mexicans is bad eggs.” **T shall look out for him, and I warn him now that he must keep clear of my path, or there will be blood spilled.” ‘‘ What’re ye goin’ ter do with him?” Bill Twicker asked. ‘Why, I guess we had better let him get out of town about as quick as he can, don’t you think so?” ‘“Yes, that will do; an’ while ye’re about it, pard, jest warn him not to be seen heur ag’in,”” I will spare your business, give you a footing here, on the strength of the letters of introduction you presented, and as long as you acted the part of a map, so long you stood in high favor. ‘You had not been here long, though, be- fore you began to show your true colors. You set up your claim, and then wanted us to recognize you as the ezar of all the Rus sias, or something more. ‘* You fooled yourself badly. ‘‘ Wad you acted the part of a man, you would have made known your business on the day of your arrival here, would have asked us what we would do, and then would have warned us of what you would do, and then one about it in a business-like way; but you idn’t. “You courted favor for three or four weeks, or until you thought you were sure of your ground, and then you attempted to take right hold of the reins. ‘You see, though, it didn't work. ‘* And now you have put on the finishing touch. You have clapped the climax grand- ly. If you are any the worse for wear, it is your own fault.” The Mexican ground his teeth In rage, as he nursed his wounded hand and caressed his injured ears, but his raze was impotent. He now realized that he was entirely alone in the enemy’s camp, and it would have been better for him had he realized it a little sooner. Perhaps he would have shown the good sense to avoid a quarrel, and thus have preserved his beauty and saved his ears. ‘‘It is your turn now,” he hissed, “ but mine will come. I shall soon have my rights restored to me, and then beware. I am de- feated now, but my day will come.” ‘«Let her come!” cried Bill Twicker. ‘‘In th’ mean time, though, if ye’ve got any com-’ mon sense left in yer cabeezar ye'll steer clear o’ this heur burgh.” ' ‘“When I come again,” the Mexican re- torted, ‘it will be to take possession of my property, and woe to the man who stands in my way.’ ‘*Do not count too much on that,” Cibuta John warned. ‘‘ We intend to fight this case as long as we have a leg to stand on, and as we are in possession you will not find it an easy matter to oust us.” “If the law can not give me my rights, then I shall use force.” And the ieaione, uttered the words hotly. ‘‘And the moment you try that, my friend, your name will be Dennis—with a big D. ou will find us the toughest gang you ever tackled. You have already had a taste of what we can do in the way of fighting, and whenever you feel a desire for more, call around and see us,”’ So returned the Prickly Pear. At that moment there came some fresh actors upon the scene, Two horsemen were scen coming down the street, and the mcment they reached the | crowd they brought their animals to a stop, One of these new-comers was a Mexican, and evidently a man employed by the other as a guide, for his appearance indicated that such he was, The other was an American. He was a man about forty years of age, apparently, and was clad in garments of American style. He was a short man, not very stout, and his hair and beard were tinged with gray. He wore glasses. ‘*‘ Ahem!” was his first utterance, as he and his companion halted. ‘* Citizens, this town is Ante-Bar, is it not?” he then queried. ‘*Tt is, sir,’ Cibuta John responded, ‘Ahem! Yes. Very good. tell me where I can find the alcalde of the town?” ‘‘T am he, sir,” said Cibuta, I do for you?” ‘““Ahem! Ah, yes. To be sure. sir, | have come here on a little matter of By the way, cam you tell me EGhbooks:G 4 Can you | ‘What can ‘ Well, q “com