Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 438 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

eae 7 - — ~ —— a Se ee. Oklahoma Nick. 21. mility. ‘‘ Es fer me—I’m goin’ to eat dirt tell my craw’s full!” He strode over to where Jack Howgood—no longer to be dignified by the title or name of an honest man—was reclining, and meekly ‘* chaw- ed dirt,” to use bis own term. ‘*T was a blessed fool, pard, to fly outes I did. I might ’a’ knowed you wasn’t one to go flat back on the orders of our boss. I did know it; but I didn’t bev time to think straight. pardon, as one man ofanother. Letitrest right thar--eh?” Jack Howgood hesitated, scowling blackly. He knew that Jimson Joe was playing the hypo- crite for a purpose. He knew that a chance was being offered him to back gracefully down from a position which he was quite shrewd enough to doubt his ability to hold. But his wound was smarting sharply. His worst passions were fully aroused. And he felt that he would will- ingly risk his own life for sake of drinking deep of revenge. Jimson Joe saw how he was hesitating, and rightly interpreted it. ‘* Ain’t [ chawed dirt enough, pard? Must I git down on the two knees o’ me to ax fergive- ness? I kin do it—I kin do it, ef J must; but I wouldn’t try to rab it in quite that deep, ef I was in your place.” Softly, smoothly came the words, but there was a Vicious sting concealed just below the sur- face. Jack Howgood felt this, and it rushed him on further than he might have ventured in cold blood. ‘‘I'm boss enough fer this job, Jimson Joe, an’ hyar’s to prove it!” he snarled, jerking forth a revolver and discharging it on the instant. If he had been content to act before speaking, nee he might have gained bis desperate end. ut he had to deal with a man who was quick as chain-lightning, and full of expedients. Jimson Joe spread out like a jumping-jack, one foot striking the pistol and hurling it far away as it exploded, the other driving the head of Jack Howgood back with resistless force. And without a glance at his vicious comrade, the outlaw wheeled with revolver in each hand, ready for instant use should any of the party think of taking up the quarrel of their tempo- rary chief. rN. . “‘Stiddy by jerks, boys!” he cried, his voice sharp and ringing as his glittering eyes flashed over the startled faces before him. ‘‘ Don’t make a mistake in valuin’ your keerds, fer I don’t hold no slouch of a hand my own self—an’ the boss is backin’ of it up, too!” There was a brief period of hesitation—a — that none could predict the ending of. There was a swift interchange of glances, as though each man was waiting for another to make the first move. . ; ‘* Jack Howgood tried to drop me with a snap- shot while I was eatin’ dirt to make him feel the let-down more easy,” added Jimson Joe, quick to improve a chance. ‘Of course I got out of trouble the best I knowed how. I rammed his cabeza with my toe, an’ put him to gh When he wakes up, I’m willin’ to give hin all the git- even he wants. But neither him nur the pile o’ you kin bu’st orders while Jimson Joe's able fer i up fer the boss—an’ him comin’ any min- nit! ‘*He ain’t comin’—he’s got here, my bully boys!” cried a sharp, disagreeable voice as a single horseman came dashing around the clump of timber, drawing rein and leaping to the ground with one motion. ‘* Now what’s all this racket about, anyway? Whore you tryin’ to swaller, Jimson Joe?” Not much like the waif of the storm, taking his garb into consideration, but Jerry Viggles, for all that. Jerry Viggles in a clean and entire suit of clothes, armed to the teeth, brisk in voice and prompt in action. And from the manner in which Tommy Ducklegs, the half-breed, and his fellows shrunk back, Jerry Viggles aathonty and the nerve to see that it was re- 8 encore Jimson Joe laughed softly, feeling proud of his position, but he was tooshrewd to make the most of his advantage. Todo so would gain him in- creased favor with the “boss,” but it would at the same time earn the undying hatred of his eomrades; and the wild life they led afforded too many chances for sending a bullet ora knife- t home. ; ‘* Jest foolin’, boss,” he promptly replied, put- ting up his weapons and assuming an embarrass- ed air that served his purpose without entirely blinding his master to the real facts of the case. Jest tryin’ fer to pass away the time ontel you got here, You didn’t think we was playin’ wolf- eat-wolf in dead airnest, 1 hope?” Jerry Viggles was far from being a fool, after bis own style. He could take a hint as well as a better man, and something in the thin, keen face of Jimson Joe warned him not to inquire too closely into the matter. So, witha dubious grunt as he looked toward Jack Howgood, now recoy- from that stunning kick back of his ear, he bent over the form of the boomer, whose senses were just returning. ‘You see, boss,” confidentially uttered Jimson Joe, yet in tones loud enough for his fellows to eatch, thus making sure he was saying nothing to prejudice them. “ They wasa little row, afore Lax } we knowed it. Dan tried to buss the gal, an’ the ole man downed him fer keeps. Jack didn’t know but what the critter was startin’ out to run a-muck, an’ so he creased him. That made the gal red-hot, an’ she salivated Jacky. An’ takin’ it all in a heap, it made a right nasty lit- tle circus fer a bit—an’ then you come up, jest in time to see the endin’ of it all.” Jerry Viggles turned to Jack Howgood, who looked none the better for the bloody bunch that was starting out on his neck, ‘*Lucky fer you that it wasn’t more’n a crease you give him, Jack! Lucky fer you that you didn’t plant your lead deeper!’ ‘*Tt wasn’t my fault that they ain’t a hole clean through the head o’ the p’izen critter,” sullenly muttered the .wounded rascal. ‘* He killed Dan Switzer—wu’th a rijiment o’ sech trash ashim! I shot to kill, an’ I ain’t denyin’ of it. Make the wu’st of it—you!” It was a dangerous game to play, but it roved a successful one, despite the heavy odds. erry Viggles was not quite ready to dispense with the services cf this blunt rascal, and he only showed his teeth in a vicious grin as he made reply: ‘You didn’t riddle him, an’ that settles it fernow. You kin talk it over with tho chief, when he turns up. You an’ him fer it, Jacky!” Turning away, Jerry Viggles paused beside Evander Wright, who had managed to lift him- self toa sitting posture, despite the bonds that held his limbs helpless. There was a dazed look in his face, and his bloodshot eyes roved about with a bewildered expression that told of badiy scattered senses. He stared at Jerry Viggles as he paused before bim, but it was not until the ruffian spoke that he seemed to recognize him. Then, his face flushed hotly and he cried in flerce anger: ‘** You dirty whelp! you run off my hosses!” ‘“*Deed I jest did, honey,” laughed the ruf- fian, squatting on his heels before the pinioned mer, a malicious pleasure in his foxy face. ‘* Not that I’m a boss-thief. Not that I coveted my neighbor’s property. But just to make you realize what it is to bu’st the law wide open! Jest to punish you fer bein’ wicked enough to *vade the land which b’longs to the pore, help- ness red-skin. Jest fer that, honey!” Evander Wright was brought back to a full consciousness of his situation by these words. His confused brain cleared away, and he cast a trembling, shuddering glance around in quest of his dear ones, fearing the worst for them. ‘* They’re in the tent, ef you mean the ladies, honey,” grinned Jerry Viggles, showing his yellow teeth. ‘*The boys jest boppled an’ staked ’em out to keep ’em from eatin’ up the intire yt ie Mighty desp’rit characters they’ve turned out to be, soft an’ silky as they look to the naked eye! Wouldn't ’a’ b’lieved it was in ’em, ef the proof didn’t lay right afore the two eyes o’ me~—no I wouldn’t!” and he glanced with an affected shiver of horror at the corpse which still ~ 3 as it had fallen, in a pool of coagulating blood. “Tuck ‘em fer parfect angels, no longer ago then the last night that ever was! Turrible shockin’ how things kin ’ceive a common crit- ter, ain't it? Now I reckon you tuck me fer a pore devil dropped down in camp by that howl- in’ twister, Reckon you tuck me fer a mis‘able cuss that wasn’t dangerous to nothin’ more’n bread an’ sech chuck! ‘* They’s_ tricks in all trades but ours, ye see, pard,” with that disagreeable, mocking laugh. ‘An’ sechfun! It shakes the fat off o’ the ribs o’ me in great gobs jest to think how lively I bobbed around playin’ sarvent to your master an’ mist’ess! To think how many times you emptied your cups, jest to make me bubble over with pure — to think that I could pay you back in part by waitin’ onto ye! An the time I was squirtin’ sleepin’ powder into the cups! Good Lawd !” The mocking rascal fairly doubled up with mirth as he recalled his treacherous deeds. It was well for him that his noble host had not slighted their work, for Evander Wright flung every ounce of strength into an effort to burst his bonds, to free at least his hands. If he had, not all those grinning ruffians who looked and listened could have saved him in time from those vengeful hands, ‘*An’ then the ’way-up Oklahoma Nicholas! The look o’ his mug when I put the grip onto him as he snored on his post! It was wu'th a life-sentence jest to see that! The mighty high- muck-a-muck to be tuck intocamp by a mis’able no-count critter like Jerry Viggles! But I’ve got to sober off, or bu’st my britchin’ all to flinders!” The malicious rascal pulled on a long, hang- dog face as he added: “Tt wasn’t fer fun nur glory, nur yit profit, that [ run off your stock, my Christian friend. It wasn’t fer nuthin’ o’ the sort that I left secha plain trail fer Oklahoma Nick an’ your over- growed cub to foller. Not a hit of it! I jest wanted to read you all a lesson fer bein’ sech wicked critters—fer breakin’ the laws o’ this ge- lorious Gov’ment! An’ I’ve done the fu’st half o’ what I set out to ’complish—bet your ole socks I jest hev now!” Evander Wright hung his head, witb a hollow ; j groan. heart! What evil fate had befallenhim? What devilish snare had he falleninto? For thatsome evil had befallen both Perry and Oklahoma Nick, he felt assured. would hardly be wasting his time so carelessly! “It’s the truth that hurts, my Cbristian friend,” mocked the merciless ruffian, chucklin maiiciously es he read aright the meaning o this wretched moan. “I hate to say it, but sonny ain’t jest fit fer rough travelin’ no more. He tumbled down an’ hurt himself bad! An’ ef Oklahoma Nick ain’t heap luckier then most men, he’ll make a turrible slip-up afore he kin. tote the sad news clean back this fur!” ‘You've killed them, you merciless hell- hound!” ‘“*That’s a lie, an’ I never looked to hear sech a sin come ont o’ them Christian lip$-—no, I never- did!” whined Jerry Viggles, rising to his feet and turning away, after one long, mournful gaze into the white, haggard face of bis helpless captive. From the little tent came low, choking sobs that told of anguish most intense. Evidently the poor women had overheard the words of the- outlaw, and believed them true. A sign from Jerry Vizgles collected his noble host together, and a few hasty words told them. what their chief had decided upon doing. His word appeared to be law, and they fell to work without delay. Several men climbed into each wagon and began tumbling out the contents, using more haste- than care. Others under the eye of Jerry Vig- gles, who seemed too proud to lend a hand where actual work was to be done, sorted over the goods, piling such goods as their boss indi- cated in the newest wagon. Still others over- hauled the harness and unsaddled four of their eet preparing them for the road as draught- orses, The corpse of Dan Switzer was crowded in the rear of the loaded wagon, and Jack How his wounded arm dressed rudely but effectively, was assisted into the driver’s seat, though he was hardly in condition to hold the reins. This done, Jerry Viggles made a sign, and his» fellows dragged the bound and helpless boomer to one of the hind wheels of the other wagon,” some pope cae: upright with his face to the white tilt, while the rest bound him with ropes: to the wheel. Jerry Viggles himself entered the little tent uickly returning with the struggling form of rs. a in his arms, leaving Otelia bebind, pitifully pleading for the lives of her parents, The poor woman was secured to the opposite wheel after much the same fashion, end Jerry Viggles cut away a portion of the white tilt on each side, so that husband and wife could see each other’s faces. ‘**That’s goin’ a little furder then the law ’sists. on, mind ye,” the foxy rascal grinned. “It’s a kindness on my part that ye don’t ’pear to ’pre-- ciate as ye’d orter, jedgin’ from the way youre snasbin’ the teeth o’ ye, my Christian friend. But never mention it. Ef I don’t git mv reward in this world, mebbe I will in the next.” ‘*'You devil!” hoarsely muttered the boomer, his temples almost bursting with the swelling veins. ‘‘I don’t ax anythin’ fer myself: but os glee leave a womun to starve like this!’ ‘With you, husband—with you to the end!’ murmured Mrs. Wright, striving to steady her voice, but breaking down in a wail of motherly grief and fear. ‘’Telie—my poor child! God save her!” *““What’s the matter with me?’ impiously grinned Jerry Viggles, as he leered at the tor- tured parents. ‘* What's the matter with me fera guardeen angel? Bless the two eyes o’ ye, ma’am, they shain’t a mite o’ harm come to the lady-bird while Jerry Viggles is to the fore, Let one o’ the boys dar’ to squint cross-eved at the ritty-by-day, an’ [ll drap down onto bim likea ouse a-tumblin’! ‘‘Es fer you, what ye kickin’ up sech an un- holy bobbery fer, anyway? Hev we bhurt yea bit? Hev we bit the nose off o’ ye, or crippled ye up the least mite? Notas I kin see— wok an I remember, we hain’t! ‘Jest set ye upas a couple o’ signs fer yer friends to admire, when they this way. An’ how much is that? Would ye ruther be rigged out as stiffs? Would ye ruther hev the wagon set afire, or yender keg o’ pow- der strung by a string to the fire over yen’ way? Ef so—spit it out! Anythin’ to keep peace the fambly is my motter!” Evander Wright flashed a look into his face, that, reckless, evil as he was, caused Jerry Vig- gles to shrink back, one hand dropping to his waist as though he felt an almost irresistible im- pulse to draw a pistol and send a bullet crashing through the prisoner’s skull. ‘‘Don’t you look cross-eyed at me too hard, critter!” be muttered, with an evil glitter in his: eyes. ‘‘Keep vour threats in your own head or mebbe you'll find they’s still wuss treatment then being trussed up this fashion. I don’t want to rub ye out, fer— Bah!” He turned away on his heel, with a shrug of oe shoulders, like one out of patience with him- happen to chance EGomicbooks He thought of his son—gallant, true-- If not, Jerry Viggles- (E(@)