Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 508 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 The marshal again asserted his authority, and again summoned the fortress to surrender, declaring that resistance to his summary pro- ceedings might lead to bloodshed. “Go on with the funeral!” was Handsome Dan’s ultimatum. “If any gets hurt in this difficulty, it will be your fault, and the Top- notch Mining Company will have to suffer the consequences and settle the damages.” Thus the issue was clearly presented, and the representative of the Tycoons prepared for action. Putting most of his men under such cover as was convenient and within easy range, he led forward half a dozen men whom he had previ- ously selected for desperate work. They were, indeed, a forlorn hope, and the in- tention was to force an entrance at the front of the saloon under Lasher’s gambling-rooms, The instrument with which this object: was to . be effected was a beam which had been prepared s 7 id ‘ . oo 7 or re < rh © \ oe .* ~ for use as a battering ram, and the half a dozen men were to rush forward with itand burst open the door. This enterprise was not as desperate as it ap- ‘ed to be, owing to the use that was made of the rest of the force. The men under cover in and about the street, who had been chosen for their ability as marks- men, were to aid the onset of the storming party by keeping up a constant fire on the front win- dows of the building, with the view of prevent- ing those inside from showing as much as a rifle- barrel. At the same time another detachment, which had procured ladders, was to mount to the roof of the one-story house, and thus make a flank attack upon the Lasher establishment. These were good plans, and they promised to be successful, though some very hard fighting might be expected. irst in order was the battering-ram experi- ment. Ben Eagleson, who was loaded with courage, was not going to order any men to go where he was not willing to lead them; therefore, he headed the stormers, who trotted briskly across the street with the beam. It was to be supposed that the sooner they could reach the building and begin their work, the safer they would be. Their advance was most efficiently covered by the riflemen, who executed the task assigned to a in a manner that was masterly and com- plete. The fire which they directed against the front windows of the Lasher establishment was so pid and continuous that the rebels were unable to reply to it, from sheer inability to get at the openings. They had the satisfaction of knowing that their opponents had begun the bloody work, but. at the same time found themselves at a dis- advantage because they had not themselves begun it. ‘All went well for the cause of the Tycoons at the start. _ The storming party reached the building without a scratch, and instantly set the batter- ing-ram at work. gain and again it struck the wood, and at the third blow the door was driven from its fastenings and fell inward. The auxiliary storming party had hastened to plant its ladders and reach the roof of the smaller building, but soon had cause to regret the rash endeavor, Dan Lasher and his friends, unable just then to be of any use at the frontof the house, could turn their attention to the side windows, and there they put in some very effective work. As fast as the stormers in that quarter showed themselves above the edge of the roof, they were icked off and tumbled over in a style that de- ighted the souls of their adversaries, or their part, they were so completely dis- couraged by this reception, that the flanking movement was immediately abandoned. First blood, therefore, was counted for the in- surrectionists, and they were of the opinion that the first real success was theirs also. It remained to be seen how the advantage which the other side had gained in front would pan out, is As soon as the door was down, Marshal Eagle- son and his half dozen followers made a rush to enter, and their friends across the street made a rush to help them. They might better have been less eager and hasty, as the entrance to that fortress was by no means as easy as they bad imagined it might be. Just behind that bursted door was a fortifica- - tion which they could not pass, and behind the fortification were plenty of resolute men, well - armed and sheltered, and determined even to vindictiveness in their defense of what they be- lieved to be their rights. This battle was their Bunker Hill, and they meant to fight it for all they were worth. The fortification had been made of the best materials available, and was something more than a line extending crosswise of the saloon, as the ends bent until ret touched the front of the room at each side of the door, where the win- dlows were practicably impassable. Thus the defenders were able not only to com- pinta command the one opening, but to cross- re from each side, so that it would be nearly as difficult to sneak-up as to approach the passage uarely. t was well for them that they had confined their efforts to this ambush, as it may be called, instead of wasting themselves on a costly de- fense of the door. This was clearly the opinion of Dan Lasher and his followers, who, relieved from the duty of guarding against a flank attack, hastened to turn their attention to the foes at the front of the house. The latter got at the first rush such a strong taste of the quality of the fortification and the men behind it, that they were in no hurry to take another bite. Indeed, the affair began to look as if they had bit off more than they could chew. Not only were they cut down by the fire in front of them, but their foes on the upper floor, finding themselves able to get at the cpenings there, began to send a shower of revolver-bullets down among the daring fellows who were clus- tered about the door. This was too much for flesh and blood to stand, and Ben Eagleson gave the order to re- treat, which was gladly obeyed by those of his followers who could get away. They resumed the positions which they had occupied before the attack was made, and opened a desultory fire upon the building, to which its defenders leisurely replied when they could do so without exposing them-elves. CHAPTER XVIII. ‘on, TO THE MINE!” Ir was ‘‘ war to the knife, and knife to the hilt,” in Topnotch. The camp bad in former times gone through some severe experiences in the line of street fights, rampant rowdyism, and conflicts between law and lawlessness; but had never known any- thing like this, Blood had already flowed freely, and the strug- gle promised to continue until one side or the other should surrender or be crushed. Neither side was likely to surrender, as the Tycoons were more than ever determined to ush their purpose, and their opponents had come excited by the conflict until it was diffi- cult to restrain them within the limits of pru- dence. Business was of course suspended, and all who were not engaged in the struggle, were either watching it or carefully keeping out of its way. Some were considering the advisability of taking sides, and each of the contending fac- tions was eager for recruits. Thus far the advantage was decidedly with the insurrectionists; but that was only because of their fortified position and the ambuscade they had prepared for their assailants, hev could not venture out from the building that sheltered them, as Marshal Eagleson’s forces were still the more numerous outside, as well as | the better organized and armed. It naturally occurred to the Tycoons that, as they had their adversaries shut up, they might Keep them shyt up, and starve them into a sur- ender. , As they were supposed to have no provisions | inside, unless the liquors in the saloon might be considered as provisions, it was reasonable to suppose that before long they would be obliged to come out and give up. It would only be necessary to establish and maintain an efficient blockade. Therefore Ben Eagleson, acting under the in- structions of the Tycoons, disposed his forces so | as to guard all possible exits from the Lasher building. At the same time he strove to secure recruits in and about Topnotch, and sent to Tolbert for more mercenaries. Handsome Dan, however, had matured and already put in operation a plan which threat- | ened to shatter the machiaations of his ene- | mies, | As soon as they retreated from his front after | their disastrous attack, he sent out a couple of | emissaries, well-known men with persuasive tongues, who were to stir up the saloonists and incite them to immediate action, ‘‘ Now is your chance,” was substantially the argument of the emissaries. “Tf you want to save your rights and keep | your property, now is the time to strike a blow | that will count. | ‘““Tf you don’t want to be crushed out of ex- istence and driven away from Topnotch, with your business destroyed and your hard earnings exhausted, help us now, and help yourselves, before it is everlastingly too late. ‘*We knocked the Tcocne cold in the first round, and have got them on the run, and now is the time to follow them up and make an end of them. ‘* All you have to do is'to shut up your places, | sally out, and spank them smartly in the rear, while we smash their faces in the front. “Then we will run them clear out of the camp, and they will have to submit to our | terms before they will be allowed to come back. | “Do this, and do it right now, and victory 1 or" ¥ -_ 4 ' re » a a ie ae ee eS eee Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson. ' is ours, and we can run the camp to suit our- selves.” This appeal was instantly effective with the saloonists, who had only been awaiting a propi- tious moment for pitching in. Under the instructions of Dan Lasher’s emis- saries they closed their saloons, sallied forth singly or in pairs, came together secretly at a spot agreed upon, and advanced against the rear of the enemy. Marshal Eagleson had not been successful in gathering recruits in Topnotch, where the senti- ment of the people was mainly opposed to the measures of the Tycoons, and the recent success of the opposition was calculated to discourage enlistments, Hours would be needed to get more mercena- ries from Tolbert up into the mountains, and in the mean time, the auxiliaries of the Lasher faction were right at hand and ready for business, Night came upon the combatants, and found them still engaged in desultory fighting; but it was such a night as Topnotch had never be- fore known, There being no street lamps, the town was usually lighted by the gayly illuminated saloons . and other establishments which the Tycoons were endeavoring to do away with; but there was no such cheerful radiance on this occa- sion. All those places were tightly closed, and dark- ness prevailed. The darkness was very dark, too, suggesting the evil period that had come to Topnotch, bringing sorrow and gloom, Nothing could suit the insurrectionists better than this, as their friends on the outside could organize and advance without being perceived, while they knew just where to find and strike their foes, Dan Lasher, watching eagerly for the onset of the saloonists, bad his followers ready to rush out and take advantage of the confusion as soon as the attack should be made. At last he heard the welcome sound of firing from the right direction, acccmpanied by yells that were intended to strike terror to the souls of the Tycoons. The expected confusion occurred just as Dan Lasher wished it to. Ben Eagleson’s forces, scattered bere and there about the Lasher building. intent only upon getting sbots at its inmates or prevent- ing them ffom escaping, were more than sur- prised by this attack from an unexpected quar- ter They were, indeed, if not thrown into a panic, so upset and demoralized that they were beyond control, and could not be rallied for any prompt and concerted action. Just at the right moment Dan Lasher and his comrades sallied forth to complete the rout of the enemy. The trouble then was, rot to secure the defeat of their foes, but to avoid the error of firing into their friends in the darkness, In this their difficulty might have been greater than it was had not their foes taken to flight. The mytmidons of the Tycoons, separated split into squads, and everywhere confronted aE enemies, were justified in supposing that all opnotch had risen against them, and that there was then nothing for them to do but to get out of the way as speedily as possible, So they did get out of the way, and their re- treat speedily became a stampede, which was not likely to be stayed by any efforts of their own or their leaders,” as the nature of the double attack compelled them to scatter in various directions. The men who bad been shut up in the Lasher building met their friends the saloonists, and congratulated each other upon their glorious victory. No time was wasted, however, in congratu- lations or any other talk, as business was press- ing. Handsome Dan, not being one of those who believe in a golden bridge for a flying enemy was eager to hurry the flight of his foes and push them to the utmost extremity. He wanted to seal the defeat of the Tycoons by driving them and their allies so far out of Topnotch tbat they would find it no easy mat- ter to get back. It had already been settled that, if they should be allowed to come back at all, it would only be upon terms to be dictated by the victors, and it was to be expected that the terms would be pretty severe. He soon discovered, however, that he was not the monarch of all he surveyed in Topnotch, as some of his followers had views that conflicted seriously with his own. The pursuit of the retreating myrmidons did not result very successfully, as most of them escaped under cover of the darkness, and found various places of concealment. Dan Lasher was especially eager in the search for Jacob Marvel and the Eaglesons, believing that if he could get them into his power he could easily settle the difficulty to suit himself; but the greater part of his friends were soon headed in another direction. Ebooks com =a hr : al A