Beadle's Dime Library No. 51: Red Rob, The Boy Road-Agent — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

18° foiks,” responded Dan, coolly, “ but I’m determined you sha’n’t carry out your threat with that boy.” ‘‘Durned if I don’t show you, ole dry-bones,” roared the bully; ‘see here, ole Dutch oven, send over another mug of ‘ strangulation.” ” The last words were directed to the bartender’s wife, who at once filled the order,:when a dozen eager hands flew to the bar to bear the glass to their master, Missouri Moll. As soon as the glass was placed in the stage-driver’s hands, the bully advanced toward the shrinking youth and reached out and attempted to seize his nose between his forefinger and thumb. But at the same instant the form of Dakota Dan straightened up and his bony fist was planted directly be- tween the eyes of Missouri Moll. The driver dropped like a log to the floor, spilling the liquor as he went down. But with a roar like that of a mad bull, he sprung to his feet and squared off, tore open his coller, shoved up his sleeves and was then ready to exterminate’ the old ranger. The boy burst into a peal of laughter. ‘*The Lord e-ternal!” hissed the desperado, ‘‘T’ll make you squeak outen t’other side of your mouth. I'll extarmin- ate both of you—” ‘Go in, King Molly, T’'ll back you,” cried Manuel Chica- loo, the ‘very individual whom’ the desperado had knocked down a few minutes before; “T’ll ’tend to that boy—lll Yarn him how to insult the King of the Stage—T1ll l’arn him manners, the insignificant little son of—” The villain’s low, abusive words were here cut short by the youth’s fist, which, quicker than thought, was planted on the wretch’s mouth, knocking him: back against the bar with terrible violence. The youth’s blow proved the signal for a general attack upou himself and Dakota Dan. And, seeing the danger of his friend and the boy, St. Ken- elm, springing forward, became involved in the fight. High above the din of the conflict. suddenly arose the piercing scream of a whistle. -It issued from the midst of the crowd.. It caused an involuntary lull in the confusion, The next moment a yell was ‘heard outside. The tramp- ling of hoofed feet was heard upon the street. The sounds approached.’ The. door was burst suddenly open, and, to she horror of all, a masked horseman galloped into the saloon! [n his hand he ‘held a cocked'revolver. «He was immediately followed by another and still another; until a dozen mounted and masked horsemen wete in the room. Terror swayea the crowd. _ “Red Rob?’ Red Rob, the Boy Road-agent, is upon us!” burst from the lips of one. It was enough. A panic seized; the crowd, and a general confused ‘rush was made for the door and the windows. The road-agents opened fire upon the confused mass. In 4 few moments the saloon was deserted by all save the outlaws and three dead men. Dakota Dan, St. Kenelm,and the boy were also gone. A yell that fairly shook the building burst from the lips of the robbers as they ranged, their‘animals around in front of the bar, and called lustily for ‘‘ drinks.” But no one answered their summons. Finally one of the party dismounted and went behind the bar to wait on the others. bar-tender and his wife; there,,curled,up, under a sleeping- bunk. The fat couple were routed out, and by strong argument in the shape of a cocked revolver, were pursuaded to set out the drinks and cigars until all were satisfied. Then one of the robbers demanded: ** What’s the bill?” The quaking, terrified German looked, wild. ** What’s the bill, I ask?” **Mine Cott, nodings!” gasped the man, ‘‘if you leave jist quick. Mine.frow is almost to death scared, and trembles in her pody mooch fast,” ‘“That’s not the question: what do we owe you?” demand- ied the masked road-agent. “Two dollars pay for all, but Ino charge you if you go fast hurry away.” Despite his remonstrances, the outlaw paid the bill, and without further annoyance rode out of the saloon, and gal- loped away toward the mountains. By this time, however, Conejos was wild with excitement. The name of Red Rob was upon every lip. of all, no one thought of attempting the capture of the, young outlaw. Self-defense was the only thought that. filled the minds of the terrified populace, for all they had no, need of fear. They possessed nothing that the outlaws wanted— Beadle’s Dime Library. To his surprise he found the - But in the midst. nothing that they could make away with, and Joy followed to the brief reign of terror, when it had become known that the’ road-agents, on leaving the saloon, had taken their departure from the village. The list of casualties at the saloon were four men killed —including the one shot at the gambling table—and several wounded. Among tbe latter was Missouri Moll. received a wound in the fight with Dakota Dan and the boy that was likely to lay him up for several weeks, as in fact it did. Dan and St. Kenelm escaped with but few bruises; but it left their minds in a state of fear. They were afraid that He had’ their participancy in the saloon fight would involve them in ~ future trouble; and the fact of their being at the saloon at all would be instrumental in causing the withdrawal of the © friendship of the better class of the citizens. ‘But we’ve got to watch ’em, major,” Dan said, as they wended their way back toward camp; ‘‘they’re a set of devils, and thar’s no tellin’ which side you’re fightin’ on, nor whose friends you're strikin’. Ob, Lor’! if P’d jist had ole Patience, my mare, and Humility, my dorg, thar in that sa- loon, the Triangle ’d been complete, and gracious man! no tellin’ what ’d ’a’ happened.” “T am really sorry that we got into any trouble at all, Dan,” said St, Kenelm. ‘‘§o am I, major; and I reckon I’m to blame fur it all; but J couldn’t help it. If thar’s anything on earth that Pll fight fur, it’s for women and children, for I war a chile onc’t, and my ole mother war a woman When that boy came in thar, lookin’ innocent-like, I couldn’t stand and see that ’tar nal big bully. impose on him. But, mortal p’ison, major! a volkaner of strength and fightosity slumbered in that boy. Ole Patience, my mare, couldn’t kick harder’n he struck that ’ere Mexican; and I never seed Humility, my dorg, fli around spryer than he did.” “Do you know how he came out of the fight?” asked the major. ‘‘ Never see’d him arter we closed in, through safe, though; for I tell ye, major, I took to that boy as natural like as water runs down hill. He’s nobody's greeny, I'll bet you. I think all his rural appearances wai put on. But be chat as it may, whenever we mect him ag’in, we'll meet a good, brave friend.” I hope he got ’ “Yes, we assumed the risk of our lives for him,” replied his companion; men was in the saloon at the time we were.’ ‘Even so, major; ‘and the moment the fight began)’ he called his pals by that ear- splittin whistle. rusalem! I thought judgment had come when I see’d the reckless devils come a-gallopin’ right into the saloon and go. to shootin’ and bangin’ right and left, regardless of friends or foes. “but, Dan, it appears that One of Red Rob's ; Snakes of Jeo- 4 I war jist sailin’ in handsomely on Missouri Moll, - churnin’ his physeognomy in splendid style, when they came’ in. But that boy, major—did you notice him?—did ye ‘see — his eyes? and honestly believe that that very identical boy war Red Rob!” ‘Indeed! I have thought so myself, Dan. Probably we'll find out soon. He may give ourcamp a call before he leaves the country,” replied St. Kenelm, uneasily. At this juncture they reached camp, and found that their friends were entirely ignorant of Red Rob’s raid upon Conejos, CHAPTER XVI AUNT SHADY’S TROUBLES, GREAT excitement prevailed in Conejos on the morning following Red Rob’s raid upon the saloon. Of three men that had been killed, not one had come to his death by a bullet. In every case, knives had been the fatal weapons, Several, however, had been wounded by the hoofs of the robbers’ horses that thundered so suddenly in upon them. But the most startling of all were the placards posted on every road converging at Conejos, and upon which was writ- ten this notice: “Notice—any one injuring a hair of the heads of the old man and his friend who visited the ‘ Swill-Pail’ last night, will be shot without trial or jury. I am responsible for all thas occurred in the fight there last night, and to me let the ines look for satisfaction, Rep Ros. Gomicbooks Major, I, Daniel Rackback, do firmly, positively” (E(0)