Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 414 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

ie A. ~@ ing the story himself about his trouble with ® from me, and as | were beckoned ter foller I ’ not forgotten that the young miner boldly 5 mC se at ‘ ~ , “ ‘ ; —_ *.u ..2*7 in Te , > *, 4* - yn, Se ba yy a ‘ A Ri Si ah a Se “9 - one ed ther Death Mountains, it come ter my mind that he were a better man than I were, and ther result were that we parted comp’ny I goin’ my way alone, ‘‘Hain’t thet so, pards?” and he turned to Digger Dan and his comrad¢s, who nodded issent, evidently amazed at the cool manner in which Bravo had disarmed them, by tell King Kendall. ‘‘“Waal, pards,” continued the Bravo, ‘‘tho’ I says as much fer thet young miner, it are not ter be considered thet I knuckles ter any one else, nor ter him ag’in on equal tarms, and ef any pilgrim wishes ter try it on with me, he’)! find me ther most ’commo- c2tin’ customer in these parts. «Aster what tuk place arter I left ther outfit, I doesn’t know; but it do look as tho’ thar had been trouble, as King Kendall and Slouchy Sam are not here with t’others. ‘* But as fer me I went my way alone, and Vl jist tell yer I doesn’t ag’in care ter go to them Fatal Hills, fer I seen ghosts thar, I'll sruarantee,”’ ‘*Ghosts?” cried Digger Dan, Black Jack, Bonanza Bill and Denver Dick, in a loud chorus. ‘* Yas, Bravo. ‘‘Real live ghosts?’ asked a miner, in husky tones, ‘‘No, they was dead ghosts, but they was live enough fer me, and don’t yer fergit it. ‘‘Ther cause 0’ my trouble with King Kendall—and he are ther king o’ this’kentry, -you kin gamble on it—were about thet Injun ted Renard, ther Sioux Miner. ‘‘He come inter our camp and warned us ter keep out o’' them mountains, and thought as how we'd make him shout all he knowed about ther mine; but ther King tuk his part, and in ther split I got wu’sted, so went off on my own trailin’, an’ thus it were thet I seen ther ghosts. ‘‘Yer see, pards, 1 hed camped fer ther night; but durn me, ef 1 wasn’t woke up b a ghost, and found my weepins hed been tu ghosts,” coolly responded the did so, and soon come upon my hoss, and thar, on ther horn o’ my saddle, hung my belt o’ arms. ‘‘T mounted and got; but halted ag’in afore dawn ter rest, and dropped off ter sleep, when ag’in ther ghost come and p’int- ed thet I shed git out o’ that kentry. “‘T got, pards, and here I are; but as I comed back I were shooted at twice from ambush, and it were ther Injun thet did it,” “The Red Renard?” asked Doctor Dick. ‘* Yas, fer I hes his arrers here as keepsakes, ““Yer see, he shocted me in tlfer arm one time, and yer sees this leetle wound on ther side o’ my head? ‘Waal, thar are whar he hit me ther secord time, and he meant business.” ‘‘ Why did you not kill him, Buck?” asked Doctor Dick. ‘* Because I c'u’dn’t see him; but ther arrers tells me who it were,” “Yes, his arrows and his weapons are all marked with a red fox,” the Doctor said. ‘‘Now, pards, | hey done my story, and ou kin shout, though I w’u'd say thet I be- oe thet ther Red Renard are the murderer .o’ thet old Hermit Miner, who owned ther Lost Gold Mine, and thet he is enjoyin’ ther fruits o’ hiscrime, as Parson Pete w’'u’d say.” “‘Ef thet are so, ther Injun ought ter be strung up,” said one, ‘Yas, and I'll charge him with the mur- der ef he ever puts foot in Bonanza City ag’in, fer it hain’t right thet a Sioux Injun sh’u’d be a gold miner, are it, pards?”. A general assent was given to this, and then Digger Dan told his story, passing over lightly the scene between the Bravo and King Kendall, as he and his comrades had held them at bay, too. ‘‘ Waal, pards, bere’s ter another drink, and durn ther expense, fer I pays fer it, and my toast aie ther hope thet Red Renard ma hang fer murderin’ thet poor old Hermit Miner.” As the Bravo paid for the drinks, many of CHAPTER XXX. THE CHARGE OF MURDER, Hap a lightning-stroke suddenly descended upon the Free and Easy saloon, it could not | haye startled its patrons more than did the Indian, Red Renard, upon entering the place. He was wont to visit Bonanza City now and then, seemingly only to buy stores and ammunition, and he always had plenty of gold to pay for his purchases. He had always been peaceful, except when set upon, and then those who attacked him had been made to feel nut only the weight of his arm, but had also become convinced of his deadly aim and courage. _. Those who had waylaid him for the pur- pose of robbery, had more than met their match, and, as the Indian had done many little kindnesses to poor miners, helping them by liberally giving them gold, he had become a favorite with many, and been tolerated by others who dared not openly arm him, | The bold charge of the Bravo, however, seemed to set the tide against him, for, if guilty of killing a white man, and then liv- ing upon his gold, he certainly should die. If dead, many believed it would be a safe thing to look up his mine, which it was by no means a safe thing to do with the Sioux miner living and ready to protect his prop- erty. ite had been offered large sums for his mine and refused them, as he did also to allow any one to have a share in it with him, while the best trailers had failed to track him to the golden spot of their hopes. The Red Renard had several times before visited the Free and Easy gambling saloon, and looked in at the players; but he had never played cards or taken a drink, and those who now saw him were somewhat sur prised to hear him order a bottle of wine, ‘‘Tf he gits drunk, pard, we'll make him preach of whar his mine are, so I'll say noth- ing jist yet o’ the charge o’ murder ag’in’ him,” whispered the Bravo, as Red Renard bowed in a @ignified way to Doctor Dick and several others present, and took a seat alone at the table, while the bartender placed the wine before him. ‘“Well, Dan, what do you think of the young miner, who you say remained in the Death Mountains?” asked Doctor Dick, will- ing to turn the attention of all from the Indian, whom he had taken a great fancy to, ‘*T thinks he are chain lightnin’, Doc, and hes got more narve then are safe fer one man ter carry round with him.”’ “So says I, Doctor Dick,” put in Bonanza Bill with enthusiasm. ‘‘My sentiments till death,” remarked Denver Dick, while Black Jack added: ‘‘Tfe are clean white, and ther man as picks him up fer a dandy will find he are a boss.” ‘*T have an idea he is the best man over in these mines, and my moncy says so,’’ Doctor Dick said quietly. ‘Any man as stays in them mountains among ghosts, are not ter be skeered by hu- mans,” eel Dan added, and just then in walked a man who was received with 4 shout of welcome. It was Parson Pete. ‘* Parson, I am proud to see you. ‘Sit down and join us in a drink, and maybe before you go, some of the boys will make more work for you to-morrow,” said Doctor Dick, rising and giving the new- comer a seat, ‘A leetle, Brother Dick, wi!l I take for my stomach’s sake, for that the Scriptur’ stews it is very meet and right so to do, ‘But I have a notice I wish to paste up in your saloon, and one of many I received by the Overland to-night, ‘See, it is in reference to the old Hermit Miner who was killed some years ago so mysteriously, and—’’ ‘‘Read it out, parson,” cried a number of voices, ‘‘ Well, bretheren in sin, I will do as you his hearers voiced his sentiments, and one | wish,” and in a loud, sing-song voice Parson cried aloud: ‘‘ Yas, string ther Injun up on sight, are amy sentiments.” As he spoke, into the saloon stalked none other than Red Renard himself!. Pete read: ‘“‘Noticr To MINERS! “Tt having come to the knowledge of those inter- ested in one known as the Hermit Miner, and who was said to bave found a most valuable gold mine Red Renard, the Indian Detective. 7 in the vicinity of Bonanza City, that he was murder- edon the mountain trail one night about two years ago, a reward of Frve THovsanp DoLLARS is offered for the apprehension of his murderer, or murderers, and Five THOUSAND DOLLARS will also be paid for the discovery of his claim, now referred to as the Lost Mine, ** Address, ‘*SHARPE & CHEATHAM, ** Aitornevs-al-Larr, St. Louis, Mo.” — ** Now, bretheren, I—” ‘‘Hold on, Parson Pete, fer I hev a word ter say right here,’ and Buck Bradley, the Bravo, was upon his feet. Then wheeling quickly he continued: **] claims ther five thousand reward offer- ed fer ther murderer, fer | knows him. ‘‘Thar he are, and he are my prisoner, fer I charges him with ther murder. ‘‘Injun, ef ye winks even, yer’ll be food fer coyotes,” and Buck Bradley held his re- . volver leveled full at the heart of the Red Renard. The Sioux Miner did not move a muscle ° at this charge against him. He was dressed in his usual style, half- miner, half-Indian, but had the appearance of one who had ridden far and hard, for his cavalry boots were spattered, and he did not look as neat as usually was the case on his Visits to Bonanza City. His bow and arrows he did not have on; but his belt of arms was about his waist, though he made no effort to draw a revolver. Looking the Bravo squarely in the face, while a breathless silence reigned in the room, he said in his dignified way: ‘* Bad pale-face; tell heap lie.” “You lie yourself, Injun, and you know it, for you did murder the old Hermit Miner, and you know where his gold. mine is!” yelled the Bravo. ‘‘No, Renard no kill Hermit Miner; but knows where gold mine is,” was the calm reply. A burst of applause came at this, for it had only been surmised before that the In- dian knew where lay the Lost Gold Mine. ‘* Does yer hear, pards?” ‘‘We hears,” shouted a score of voices. ‘‘HWe confesses he knows whar ther Lost Gold Mine is!” yelled the Bravo. ‘*Yas, he owns up,’’ was the chorus of re- plies. ‘Then he are guilty o’ murder, and we'll make him tell, or we'll string him up.” “Yas, make him tell and string him up, too,”’ came the cry, “Tl do it. Injun, you is my game,” and the Bravo stepped forward to place his hand upon the still unresisting red-skin, who ~ had not risen from his seat. But suddenly the Bravo started back, as a form appeared like magic confronting _ him, and a stern voice cried: | ** Hands off that red-skin, Buck Bradley!” CHAPTER XXXI. A FRIEND IN NEED. Buck BRADLEY, have stepped into his old place in Bonanza City, through his little game of bluff, when he entered the Free and Easy saloon, ‘‘ load- it. Te had turned the tide that was setting against him, gotten on friendly verine sae Renard out a murderer, and was in a fair Lo ; way to get him hanged, for the crowd Ss ead with him, and no one seemed to speak for the Indian. : The Bravo would much rather preferred — to have Jet the red-skin go free, and catch him in the mountains; but he had an idea = that torture would not wring the secret he held from him, and so determined to get him hanged, secure the reward of five thou- sand, and then trust to King Kendall to finé the Lost Gold “Mine and he and his pards, sent with him by Captain Kit totake it from him. = The Bravo was a fiendish plotter, and he | had even looked so far ahead, on his ride _ the Bravo, seemed to. <a pra ed for geese,” as one of the miners expressed +e * § & ° ° ~ wre > o* with Digger Dan and his party, made Red ~— . ay te = Lj = ae - > ‘« 7 ‘ i's 4 Se by . os . “+ aE , = - — & % ie x A Mee ame | . off + @" « Fe one ae 2. to Bonanza City from the Buzzards’ Nest as to plan the death of those who went with him on the hunt for King Kendall, after the mine was found and the miner safe in his power. <eom po re = . , . C > 4 5, ee ,OO (E CS young as “ . a oe ti» te By *