Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 513 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

ae oe ee ae a “¢ Te 10 Texas Tartar. was atime when I’s young an’ frisky, myself, an’ I kept up the Yellowbird record in a way credible ter the fam’ly pedigreen, but what kin you expeck 0’ a man who’s bein’ chased inter old age by chronic newrolgy an’ other malig- nant complaints?” ‘*Wor a venerable wreck,” retorted David, catching the veteran’s humorous fancy, ‘t you are a very good specimen. [ll wager something there isn’t a inan in Powderhorn Mile that could match you in muscle, or quickness of motion.” ‘* You understand our eccentric friend well,” added Texas Tartar. ‘‘ He has long been one of the foremost scouts of the West, and his strength and agility are unimpaired; while his bands are as steady, and his eyes as keen, as ever. He may be past bis fiftieth year, as he says, but he looks a good six years younger, and he is still the same old Yank who won the sobriquet of oe ee: by bis deadly aim when firing a rifle. The mountaineer shook bis head gravely. **'You mean wal, I consait, but ye let yer gree will ter me run away with your jedgment. ’m the weakest vessel in the Yellowbird fam’ly. By hurley! you ought ter seen some o’ my ancestors. There was my female cousin who got outa patent on writin’ poetry. She was smarter than a Sioux Injun, an’ as pooty as a lilock in full bloom, ’Twas a great idee 0’ bern gittin’ poetry patented. She gota mo- nop’ly on the market, an’ the way she reeled off verses was amazin’, Dunno how she could do it, by hurley! but I s’pose ’twas born in her, Thar’s only one thing [ ever found which was more soothin’ than ter hear her read a poem, an’ that was ter run the gantlet ’mong the Sioux, or Kimanche Injuns,” ** You seem to have survived both,” observed Texas Tartar. ‘Yas, in a measure: but it was all owin’ ter plenty o’ exercise in my youth. My gran’father, the Revolutionary relict, used ter put me thru’ the military tick-tacks reg’lar. The systum was pooty severe, as showed up by my gran’father— his name was Zadoc Obadiah Yellowbird, by the way—an’ I’ve always b’en glad 1 didn’t en- list in the Revolutionary distarbance, though I's mortal ’feerd I'd been drawed inter it ef I'd been born fifty year sooner. He had sev’ral scars, my gran’father did; an’ as he wu’n’t mean nor selfish, be tried ter give me my share by whalin’ me over the legs with a stick like hur- ley. This was ter distill the tick-tacks inter me thorough.” ‘* You evidently endured a good dealin your boyhood.” ‘**Tt wa’n’t an oita ter the egregious diffikilties * that come later—not an oita. I’ve been through more triberlations au’ distresses than most folks have. Mebbe the wu’st was when I’s a baby, though, fur the old women from fur an’ nigh— especially nigh—used ter gather by the score ter look at mein mycradle. Ef thar is any one thing that ought ter be put down it is the an- noyin’ o’ babies by old ladies—it had, sure’s you're alive. What crime has the babies done that the venerable, old, aged females should harass their youth? Be babies made ter be looked at with malev’lent cur’osity like a two- headed cow, or a bearded woman, or a bald- headed man, or a freckled gal inacircus? I consait not! No, by hurley!” The mountaineer smote his knee with his hand, and looked around with mild indignation at his hearers. Then, leveling his long fore- finger at Texas Tartar, he shook it gravely and added: ‘* But my troubles didn’t eend when I got over bein’ a baby, an’ recovered my abnormal strength. I had ter tackle corns, measles, weas- els, niumps, bumbs, thumps an’ war-whoop cough; I had ter VParn ter smoke; an’, b gracious, I had ter gocourtin’. That was the wu’st o’ all. I consait I never’d got inter it only my marm set me a-goin’, She’d been through the process an’ liked it. All gals do; they take to courtin’ nat’ral; but it is p’ison on- pleasant ter the boys.” ; oe veteran shook his head and heaved a deep sigh. “*T went inter it strong, though, fur no Yel- lowbird was ever half-hearted yit. I knowed a pooty gal named Araminta Ann Flicker, an’ I axed her ter go skatin’ with me one evenin’, on the river. All the young folks congregationed thar ’bout ev’ry night, an’ ’twas said ter be mortal good fun. Now, I never had hadaskate on in my life, but it looked an easy thing ter do, an’ J s’pected ter git along all right. **Evenin’ come an’ out we went, skates an’ all. Araminta said the evenin’ was lovely, an’ I consait it was, though I didn’t notice. Not knowin’ fur sure, I didn’t make no answer, In fack, I was go egregious flustrated by bein’ es- cort to a pooty gal that I couldn’t think o’ nothin’ important ter say, anyhow. I knelt down, an’ arter a powerful sight of pullin’ an’ jerkin’, finally got on myskates. Then I looked up an’ seen Araminta standin’ stock still, hold- in’ her skates. “** Ain’t ye ready”? sez I. ***1’'m waitin’ fur you,’ sez she. ‘*** But yer skates ain’t on,’ sez I. va ‘Pm waitin’ fur you ter put’em on,’ sez ne, =~ ‘ . : * ‘” 2 > as ~* ‘ a i= fe, Sait =. ee a ad = fo ve a” es + al = **Land o’ Goshen! ye can’t ’magine what a creepy shiver that sent up an’ down my back- bone, ‘**Can’t ye put ’em on yerself? sez I. ““* Sir!’ sez she, ‘*T seen right away she was mad, though what V’d done I didn’t know; but I obsarved sev’ral other fellers strappin’ on skates fur their gals, an’ down I got on my knees. Texas, I never had sech a p'ison time in my life. Ter begin with, that gal’s feet wa’n’t bigger nor a goud- sized caterpillar, an’ how a skate could hang ter them I dunno; an’ nex’ly, I was so flustered I lost my mechanical dexterity, an’ couldn’t git the hang o’ the atrocious skates fur some time. Arter gittin’ one on wrong eend front, I finally finished the job an’ tried ter git up, but embar- rassment had started the praspiration on me lke the mischief, an’ it had run down ter my knees an’ froze my trowsers ter the ice, I had ter pull like hurley ter git up, but I did it. ‘*** Do you skate wal?’ sez my gal, ina sort 0’ dubious way. *** Beautifull sez I, *** You don’t seem ter onderstand puttin’ on skates very well,’ sez she, ***Oh, yes, I do!’ sez I; ‘but my fingers are so condemn’d cold,’ sez I, ‘they’re sorter clumsy.’ ‘*** Wal, le’s strike out,’ sez she. ‘* * Ye-e-es,’ sez I, tremblin’; ‘ come on!’ ** With that [ threw out one foot as I’d seen my Uncle Peltiah’s yarler boss do when pawin’ fur oats, but I forgot ter take t’other foot along with me, an’ I sot down with one foot at the scratch—that’s tecknerkil fur the startin’-p’int, Texas—an’ t’?other several yards up the river, It burt me like hurley, but I riz up qui@k an’ obsarved, as chipper as I could, that f was try- in’ the ice ter sea how bard ’twas, ‘*Araminta Ann, sbe looked skepterkel, but she didn’t say notuin’ mean—not jest then. We took another start, an’ I tried ter keep my feet ‘long with me; but, Jand o’ Goshen! it did beat all natur’ how things did go. Them skates was wuss than a yearlin’ colt ter handle, an’ they would persist in shootin’ off on trips o’ their own, an’ it was all I could do ter keep anywhar nigh Araminta, | ‘* She was patient an’ forbearin’, the gal was; an’ though she began ter laugh egregious, she stuck to me faithful, an’ even helped me up three or four times when I felldown. I never was so mortified in my life, an’ fur ’bout ten minutes it looked dub’us which would win, the skates or me; but the climax finally come all on asudden, One o’ my feet shot out promise’us an’ ketched ag’in’ Araminta’s foot, an’ then down we both went. I fell fu’st, an’ I’ll be con- demn’d ef that gal didn’t sit right down on my stummick, and knock all the breath out o’ me fur bout ten mirutes! When I got up I stood stock still. *¢*¢ Shall we go on ag’in? sez Araminta. ***] consait not,’ sez I. ‘““*Hev you had exercise enough? sez she, snickerin’, ‘**T hev, by hurley!’ sez I. “+ Tt’s early ter go home,’ sez she. *** You kin stay,’ sez I, ‘but this ain’t no place fur me. [ ain’t wal,’ sez I. ‘My stum- mick is all smashed to bits, an’ the pain is hor- rible ter contemplate. Stay ef you want ter,’ sez 1, ‘but as fur me I’d ruther hev out a double tooth an’ lead three-year-old steer, than canter ’round on these condemn’d skates. Good-night,’ sez I; ‘I’m goin’ home ter my marm!’ ‘With that I yanked off them skates mortal quick, an’ when I got my own feet under me ag’in, [ made fur home. I had an egregious pain left, but my marm dosed me on pepper- mint tea, an’ I come out on’t arter awhile, -ut L never had on no skates arterwards!” Yank shook his head in strong condemnation of the articles in question, and then turned ab- ruptly to Norma, ‘Thar are some ways I ain’t so green,” he added. ‘*I’ve follered trails fur a good thirty odd year, and when I’m at jt the Yellowbird pedigreen will tell. Ef you say the word, [ll look inter this tangled case o’ young Kendall’s an’ see what the diffikilty is.” ‘*Do you mean it?” she cried. ‘*T sartainly do.” ** But we are strangers to you.” “True, but we're gittin” acquainted. It’s a maxim o’ the Yellowbirds never ter see folks in trouble without helpin’ ’em out. 1 consait I never yit hung back in a good cause, an’ Texas Tartar is o’ the same sort, The Man with Nine Lives, they call him, because he’s so egregious hard ter down in a skrimmage.” ‘* We shall be glad to aid you,” added Yank’s partner. ‘* An’ then thar is my dog, Moses,” continued the mountaineer. ‘‘ He ain’t ter be sneezed at.” ‘* My dear sir, we shall be delighted to have your assistance,” said David. ** And thename of Yank Yellowbird is a guar- yn of success,” supplemented Norma grate- fully. *¢ We'll do our best, little woman.” ‘* Where will you begin?” **Can’t say until we look the field over.” ** Work your own way, but if you can‘clear Robert Kendall you shall be well rewarded.” ee ARE Oe ce ie ‘*Don’t say that. Our firm don’t keer fur gold an’ silver an’ medals, but we’re always glad ter give honest folks a boost. Cheer up, gal, fur we’ll soon be movin’, an’ I[ feel sartain we shall ’arn somethin’ o’ value—l do, by hurley.” CHAPTER XIII. THE PACKAGE FOUND IN THE STORE-ROOM. WHEN Norma and David lett the house they were in a mood more hopeful than when they went to call upon Texas Tartar and Yank. Both the Westerleys bad expressed unwavering faith in Robert Kendall, and Norma, at feast, was sincere; and Kendall’s cause, with tke mountaineer and his friend back of it, did not seem so cheerless as before. Texas Tartar and Yank, left alone, looked at each other guestioningly. ‘* Well, what do you think?” asked the for- mer, ‘*] think we’re in the game, without the least move on our part,” Yank answered. ‘*We are certainly on the outskirts, but are we in with any of the real parties,” **'You’ve heerd Tabor’s charges.” ‘* Tabor is a foo]!” retorted Texas Tartar. “To be sure, I wouldn’t give much fur his opinion, but he does figger it out pooty plausible as ter the Point o’ Pines ambush. I make bold ter say the smugglers did some way git news 0’ his movements. Now, who give him away— Kendall, Dave Westerley or Grandford?” ‘‘The three may be leagued with the smug- glers.” ** You furgit their high respecktableness.” ‘“‘Hang their respectability!” returned The Man with Nine Lives, ‘‘ Respectability is a fraud. The worst rascals in the land are sot painted over with the varmsh of respectability that their real natures don’t show. We mus, discriminate, Nevermiss, between this quality which is only one of the surface, and real hon esty.” ‘* Land o’ Goshen! ef that ain’t a choice artom 0’ pheelosophy, I dunno what ye would call it! You remind me o’ gran’father, Jairus Nickode- mus Yellowbird, the Revolutionary relict. He was given ter deep study an’ obtuse p’ints, The only difference is, you take ter pheelosophy an’ he took ter tick-tacks.” ‘* Your grandfather was as wise as all the rest of the Yellowbirds. But about our course, Have you any plan?” ‘* Sev’ral p’ints present theirselves ter me.” ‘* Name them.” ‘‘Thar is an artcm o’ hope that a visit to the Point o’ Pines might be o’ value. The ambush- ers may have left tracks,” ‘‘ A good idea, Yank,” ** Don’t git too sanguine. Ef thar are many pine trees there, an’ needles from the aforesaid trees scattered thick around, trailin’ skill won’t amount ter mucb,.” ‘** Let us hope for the best. What next?” ‘* Next, I consait we'll do wal ter look fur the Horned Fish. Usually I don’t take ter fishin’, but this partic’lar fish seems ter have oncom- mon p’ints,” ‘‘Suppose we defer our visit to the Point of Pines until afternoon, and then, when once there, remain until dark, and see what sights the lake will furnish?” ‘* A good idee.” “Very well, then. We will pass tke fore- noon in looking and listening here. There is bound to be considerable excitement when - Robert Kendall’s arrest is made known, and the citizens will think more of Tabor’s charge that the young man is an ally of the pie soni than of the Grizzly George assault case. If we listen to allthese men, we may catch some remark that will put us on the track.” ‘You've got it down fine, I see. Takes a de- tective fur sech del’cate p’ints.” ** Softly, Nevermiss, softly! Don’t apply the word ‘ detective’ to me again while we are at Powderhorn Mile, if you please. While here I am only an idle, wandering ‘sport.’ But Iam bound to beat Tabor, all the same,” ‘*T consait you'll do ic,” ‘*¢ Let’s go out now and see the fun.” They went at once, and there was enough to occupy their notice, As Texas Tartar had ex- pected, the arrest of Kendall caused consider- able excitement. The young man, though nearly a stranger in town, had been a favorite: his connection with the Westerleys, who were unanimously pronounced the town’s leading citizeus, gave him outside importance; and then there was the interrupted wedding to lend its peculiar element to the case, Sheriff troy had regretfully conducted the prisoner to the jail, and every citizen fell to talking about the affair. For some reason all agreed that the Grizzly George matter was only a side issue, and that the principal charge against the prisoner was in connection with the smugglers and the killing of Craver and Wells, The Point of Pines tragedy had started a new current of feeling. It had always been believed that the smugglers had allies in the village, though who they were was uncertain. In fact, the ordinary citizen had not cared, and sym- pathy had been secretly with the smugglers, who had not been regarded ‘as men of actual " COMICDOO KS w : a a wl SRE te - et ae. i es i