Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 438 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

_——_——_- ——_—= |= = "Parg 20 stained face, he fancied he could detect signs of | life still peg ten | there. With his knife he cut away the vines and bushes until he formed a rude sort of couch close to the wallof thecanyon. And then, using his great physical powers with as much care as the nature of the task would admit, be dragged | the young giant off from the mangled corpse to which, in a great measure, he had owed his es- an from instant death. ot until Perry Wright was stretched on this couch of vines and limbs, did Oklahoma Nick dare pause to examine into the nature of the injuries he had received in that frightful fall. IEXven then he hesitated, like one who -dreads to contirm his worst fears, Something of that old horror seemed to seize upon him, and he fell to shivering, trembling like a leaf. His face was pale as that of a corpse, save where marked by the blood that still trickled from the gash on his temple. His lips were -ashen gray, dry and parched. His breath came in short, quick gasps. He shrunk back, utter- ing a low, grating cry as one foot struck against the corpse of the assassin. A harsh, forced laugh came through his lips as he looked down and recognized the cause of his affright. And with the energy of one who is glaa of an excuse for postponing a dis- agreeable duty, he set to work dragging the carcass away. ‘‘ Tt wouldn’t do to leave it there!” he mutter- ed, with a side glance toward the rude couch where Perry Wright lay silent, motionless, ‘ If he should see it—if he ever sees aught again in this world!” He dragged the corpse to one side, then bent ever it with a curious interest. Though fright- fully mangled by the fall, he having struck the rocky bed of the canyon first, with the added weight of the young giant to make the work still wore deadly, there was enough semblance to humanity remaining for one who had ever known the assassin to recognize his features without much difficulty. Though his garb was that of a white man, coarse and tattered, all the rest proclaimed the red-skin. And Oklahoma Nick frowned as he recognized the face over which he bent, ‘*Grasshopper Boy, the Cherokee!” he mut- tered, rising erect and gazing down upon the face of the dead man, his arms folded tightly vover his bosom, He seemed startled by the discovery, and anything but at ease, for more thrn once he cast a swift glance about him, like one who half- anticipates a shot from ambush or a treacherous thrust from the rear. Then, shaking off the spell which had fallen ‘upon him, Oklahoma Nick dregged the mangled «corpse still further away, covering it over with ‘the vines and limbs he had cut away before ‘reaching the spot where Perry Wright lay un- -conscious. Just tasting the contents of his flask, he re- turned to the couch on which the young giant ae at his side and fcrcing himself to ma ean examination. This, of course, had to be anything but thorough. He was ignorant of surgery, and though he had had some little ex- ‘perience with broken bones and ordinary wounds in the course of a rather wild life, he felt at a loss how to proceed in this emergency. He noticed a blotch of blood on the bosom of the gray woolen shirt worn by his comrade, and gently opening ‘this, he found the track of a fullet, cutting deeply, almost directly over the heart. ‘That swift turn saved him!” he muttered, as he traced the course of the bullet and found that it had emerged at the side, under the arm ~of the youth. ‘'It was going straight for his heart, but that turn fooled the Jead!” He was still examining this wound, when a faint moan came from the lungs of the young giant, an his great eyes partly opened. Okla- oma Nick uttered a low exclamation, and drew back; but only for an instant. He saw those _-weyes following him, and he burriedly uttered: ‘‘Thank Heaven you're alive, dear fellow! ‘Take a swig—” ‘* Mother—’Telie—fetch —” faintly murmured the wounded man, his eyes closing and a slight shiver running over his frame. Oklahoma Nick started, with a sudden light- ‘ing up of his darkly bandsome face. It was dike one who most unexpectedly sees a favorable way opened through what had, until then, ‘seemed no thoroughfare. And from that mo- ment on, he acted and spoke like another being -entirely. “Tll bring them, pard, unless you can go to ‘them instead,” he said as be uncorked his flask -and held it te the pale lips of the injured man. eee SS —— “Try to swallow just a sup, Perry, old fellow! | It'll do “ies good. and put some life in those poor ‘bones of yours. Try it, and--” There was no reply, no motion toward obey- ing. And when Oklahoma Nick gently passed an arm around the neck and shoulders of the | ! injured man, lifting him upa trifle while holding ‘the flasit to his lips with his other hand, the | Oklahoma Nick. J His breath came and went, though so softly that it required a close examination to make sure of the fact. ‘* He don’t breathe like a man hurt inside,” muttered Oklahoma Nick, as he gently bathed the youth’s face with the pungent liquid. ‘‘ It’s the shock, I reckon! And yet—how could a man take such a tumble and live to tell of it?” This seemed so incredible that he resumed bis | examination. He found that onearm was either sweeping a glittering knife in circles as a mon- sort of war-whoop burst from his skinny ips, Horrible as it sounds, the fellow—of cross- breed beyond a doubt—actually intended te scal the defenseless boomer. but before he could put this intention into play, a strong hand caught his arm and hurled him endlong away. ‘** None o’ your Injun work, Tommy Ducklegst Orders is orders, an’ they’ve got to be kerried broken or dislocated; he could not be positive | out even ef I hev to play boss my own self!” which. He fancied that some of the ribs had been fractured, but here, too, he was left in doubt. In his ignorance he dared not make too rsistent an effort to learn the whole ,truth, est he hastened the death which reason told him must surely follow such a frightful fall. ‘** And he must live until he can tell ’Telie!” Selfish? Well, it may beso; but when one is so deeply in love, one is apt to look out for num- ber one! A few minutes later Perry roused up for a brief space, again begging in broken, discon- nected sentences for Oklahoma Nick to bring his mother and sister to his side. Curiously enough, he never once mentioned the name of his father, though the ties of affection were strong and tender botween them in health. ‘*] wish I could take you to them, instead, old fellow,” said Oklahoma Nick, his voice sounding full of pained regret. ‘‘ They'll suffer death a thousand times over with suspense before I can bring them all thisway! And Id rather be shot to inch pieces than have to carry them this bit- ter black news!” ‘‘No fault—fetch here—make all—right,” faintly muttered the injured man, sinking back into insensibility once more. And as though feeling a little more resigned after this assurance, Oklahoma Nick made wlat scanty arrangements for the comfort and safety of his comrade that lay in his power. He formed a little shelter of bushes over Perry’s head. He left his canteen uncorked close by his side, propped up with stones so that it could not easily be overturned, and when he succeeded in this, he spoke hurriedly: ‘*T bate to go away and leave you here alone, pard—hate it like poison! But what else can I do? You can’t be moved, and though I'd glad] tote you every foot of the way on my ‘ioc couldn’t get you out of this infernal hole before dark! See!” and he called his attention to the food and water. ‘Try to help yourself, and bear up until I can come back again.” ‘** Bring *Telie—mother—” His bead fell back, and his consciousness fled once more. ‘ CHAPTER XIII. JERRY VIGGLES AND HIS NOBLE HOST. Ir all passed so rapidly; the insult and its avenging; the dastard shot from behind that sent the mer headlong to the ground at the feet of his wife and daughter; the wild cry of Otelia Wright as she interfered to save her parent from further harm, sending the chief of scouts reeling back with a shot from the re- volver which she drew from her vere It all passed so rapidly that before tke scouts could fairly realize trouble was brewing, their chief was dropping to his knees with a stream of red blood flowing through the fingers that tightly clasped his left shoulder. And for a brief space they were on the point of a panic, half-believing that some cunning ambush had been sprung upon them. For a single breath another shot would have been sufficient to send them fleeing at top speed; but that shot did not come. Poor Otelia, though she so bravely avenged the fall of her father, no sooner saw the chief of scouts staggering back than she dropped ber pistol, turning and sinking on her knees beside the prostrate form, sobbing and moaning as though her heart was breaking. And opposite knelt the wife and mother, pate as a ghost, but silentin ber grief. ‘* Satan erill the wildcat!” snarled the chief of scouts, still clasping the wound from which he was losing so much blood, ‘*‘ Down ’em, lads! Cut him to strips ef ye like, but hold the gal— hold her fer me to pay off as she desarves! Down ’em, you—” The sound of his voice, with the absence of further shots, checked the incipient panic, and with a united rush the ruffians swept the two women, screaming, pleading, thinking only of their father and husband. away from the mo- tionless body of the the boomer, Their des- perate struggles were worse than useless in such strong, brutal bands. ‘*Rope the crazy wildcats!” snarled the wounded villain, leaning against one of the wagons for support, bis bronzed face that of a demon, with savage hatred in every line. ‘‘Rope an’ hopple’em! Pitch ’em into the tent an’ some 0’ you come look tomy arm—lI’m bleed- in’ wuss then a stuck hog!” A rattling volley of curses bore these sen- tences company, but they are omitted for de- cency sake. One of the ruffians—short, slender, wiry. but liquor trickled down over his chin without any | making up in malignancy what he lacked in sattempt to swallow. Yet he was living, as an examination proved, ‘IBlis heart was beating regularly, though feebly. | jer hysical power—crouched over the prostrate mer, one hand buried in his iron-gray locks, ' Toe wounded ruffian gave a howling curse as he saw this, and he started forward from his saan fumbling at his belt with his blood-wet and, ‘** Who told you to chip, Jimson Joe?’he snar]- ed. showing his yellow, wolfish teeth viciously. ‘* said to hash him up, an’—” ‘* An’ the boss said we wasn’t to do no more barm then we hed to, didn’t be?” was the cool retort of the tall, athletic fellow who bad inter- fered to save the scalp of the boomer. He made no effort to draw a weapon, though he was keenly watching the unsteady hand of the chief, ready to dodge a shot or close at once. whichever course promised the greatest chance for safety. ‘‘ Tm boss, now, an’ what I say goes as it lays!” with another long string of curses. ‘** You chip in an’— Ketch me—lI’m gone up!” He staggered heavily, and would have fallen in a heap but for the prompt action of Jim- son Joe, who sprung forward and gave him the required support. It proved to be only a temporary faintness, caused by the free es- cape of blood, added to his hot passion. And in a tew moments more Tom O’Donnell was pretty. well himself again. ‘‘ T don’t want no row with either you orTommy Ducklegs, Jack;” the tall ruffian said, his voice cold and even, but showing that he meant every word that passed his lips. ‘‘But you know what the boss said: we was to do the work the easiest, cleanest way we could. We wasn’t to do more hurt then we hed to, an’—” ‘‘[m goin’ to git even, boss or no boss!” doggedly growled the wounded man. ‘I’ve got my discharge fer—” ‘You ain’t hurt bad enough to kill a ’skeeter, pard,” and there was a trace of contempt in the voice of the speaker. “Jest a bit o’ lead through the thick o’ your arm; an’ what does that ‘mount to?” ‘*Tt’s easy enough for you to talk, durn ye. But—” Talkin’ ain’t my best holt, pard, an’ you’d ought to know as much by this time. Orders is orders, an’ I’m goin’ to stick by them as long as I can pick trigger or play knife—an’ them’s words with the bark all on!” Jimson Joe stepped back until his rear was protected by one of the high-bedded wagons, his hands grip ing his revolver butts, though as yet he rine 6 effort to draw them from his belt. His face was white and hard-set, his little, head- like eyes were glittering like the orbs of an enraged serpent. An icy smile parted his thin lips just enough to show a line of white below his thin mustache. A cool, dangerous rascal he looked, just then. And a]l save the man with a bullet through his arm seemed to realize as much, too, ** Down him, lads!” snarled the angry ruffian, himself starting up to a sitting pusture as though he would Jead in the attack; but a choking groan rose in his throat as he fell back, blindly. **T don’t reckon I'd try it on, pards,” coclly uttered the rascal at bay, his icy smile growm deeper, his teeth showing more plainly. “1 ain’t only me you'll bev to buck ag’inst, but the boss. Jack Howgood ain’t in his sober senses, jest now, or he’d be the fu’st one to say I was dead-right in what ’m doing. An’ then— wouldn’t it Le jest as well to find out whetber’ the critter we’re squabblin’ over is anythin’ lt et- ter then so much cvld meat? Durned et I thought o’ that afore!” There was a trace of comedy mixed with the tragedy, after all. And the threatened collision » was averted for good. Jimson Joe was far too shrewd a rascal not to join in the langh which his quamt dismay pro- duced, and he abandoned his defensive position to be tbe first man at the side of the still motion- less boomer. To look at Lim then, no one would have realized that, a few seconds before, he bad been standing at bay with a most promising a for losing bis life in defense of his prin- ciples. ’ ‘*A clean sell from the jump-off!” he cried, with an admirable assumption of chagrin. ‘“Takes Jack Howgood to fool a pard when he sits right down in the traces—bet your ole rub- ber boots it jes’ does /” His nimble fingers had sought out the wound, laying bare a bloody furrow along the skull, just over one ear. The lead bad torn its wa a the scalp, but witbout fracturing the skull, The shock was heavy enough to produce instant in- sensibility, causing the boomer to drop in his tracks as falls the steer under the ax of the butcher. ‘* Take his tools, lads, an’ then truss him up fer safe keepin’ ontel the boss comes,” add king back his unresisting head, the other ' Jimson Joe, rising to his feet with increased hu- <€om Ebooks. . ; (E(@) | | { 7 a at 4 _~ - >