Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 545 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

—E —— SEE a Hustler Harry, the Cowboy Sport. ‘** Beside my dead father,” added the girl, ‘*1 swore an oath of vengeance, That oath I will keep. Your heart’s blood shall atone for your dastardly work, Philip Barret!” Her words were low and intense, filled with the spirit of a terrible determination. Hustler Harry straightened up, ‘* Now listen to me,” he said, earnestly. “I swear by all I hold sacred thet J had no nad in ther dirty work of whicb you’ve jest toleme, I swear-—” She interrupted him with a cry. ** Stop!” she exclaimed in a tone that drew scores of eyes upon them, ‘‘ Don’t stain your soul still blacker by falsehuod. “You are the poardarer of my father, and I am here toavenge im. Her eyes blazed with an insane light. A slen- der dagger gleamed in her hand, and leaping to her feet she bent over the table to strike straight at Hustler Harry’s throat. As her band came up with that deadly wea- pon clinched fast by her slender fingers, her wrist was suddenly caught from behindand a smooth, good-natured voice exclaimed: ‘‘ Wal, [vum to goodness! That’s a danger- ous piaything for a child. You might cut sum- buddy with ther tarnal instrument ov lascer- ation,” Uncle Peter was on hand, Ruth uttered a cry that seemed to come from the very depths of her heart, and dropping the knife, sunk back in the chair, looking helpless and shaken. Hustler Harry gave utterance to a strange exclamation as be leaped to bis feet, and eatch- ing Uncle Peter by oue arm, whirled him aside. “Thanks fer yer trubble, ole man,” he said; ** but yer aid wassent needed. I reckon Hustler Harry kin take keer of hisself.” With some anxiety, he bent over the vailed girl only to find himself looking into the eyes of anaged darky who had suddenly appeared on the opposite side of her, ** way dar!” cried the excited voice of Black Joe—‘' g’way dar, critter! Yo’ killed ole Massa Foscolo, but yo’ des don’ tetch her. Help! help!” The trembling darky fancied that Harry was on the point of ‘murdering the vailed girl, who at that moment bad nearly swooned, The excitement of these events caused the crowd to rush toward the spot. In a moment they were surrounded by a mob, burning with curiosity. ** Wat’s ther row?” ‘‘ Did she knife him?” ‘¢ Who’s burt?” ‘* Whar’s the corpus?” These andascore of similar questions were asked. And all the time Black Joe kept crying: ‘* Don’ yo’ tetch her, I tole ye! De han’ ob jedgment ‘ll struck yo’ dead if yo’ does! De pressed Lawd hain’t gwine ter stan’ dis for- ebber, don’ yo’ fink He am, critter, red han’s offen dat chile!” In this emergency Uncle Peter showed his ability to make himself useful, From secret pockets he suddenly produced a pair of revolvers and at once faced the crowd, ‘* Hole on!” he cried, in a sharp yet command- ing tone, ‘Don’t all yeou critters crowd u heer, There hain’t nobody hurt, but the lady must hav’ air. Git back there, or by golding! yeou'll think yeou’ve run ag’in’ a thrashin’- mesheene. These ar popgups ov mine may *splode suddin, Git back, I say!” ~ Muttering sullenly, they were forced back be- fore the muzzles of his weapons, and slowly Uncle Peter made the ring larger, ‘¢ No need to crowd the lady so she can’t ketch a breath,” declared the man from Maine, ‘I guess she's kerflummuxed or sumthin’ ov that sort. As soon as Ruth perceived the faithful negro at her side, she managed to gasp: “Take me out of this place! I must get out into the open air!” But at first she was not strong enough to walk. She longed to lift the vail that she might catch a freer breath, but did not wish to expose her face then, After a time she arose, and leaning on Black Joe’s arm, made her way to the door. The crowd parted respectfully to allow them to pass. Not once since Uncle Peter foiled her stroke at the throat of Hustler Harry had_she glanced toward the Man from High Notch, Harry watched her retreating form until it vanished through the door, hoarse voice say: “Ther dirty dog insulted her, [ll bet a muel,” Swiftly be turned and ran bis eyes over the crowd. Uncle Pete was at his side, and in a low tone the Yankee declared: ** Neow yveou’ll hav’ it, Thet big feller’ll com- mence ther fun while be’s got er chance, Give — ont “eo ustier Harry did not appear to notice Uncle Peter’s Sal rt : Keep yo’ Then he heard a 1 : although he heard them quite plainly, and knew that the man from Ma ine was right. Hickory Bill would not let this opportunity slip to pick a quarrel. ‘“Whar’s ther flannel-jawed whelp as sed thet?’ demanded Harry. Instantly the crowd parted, and Hickory Bill strode forward, > cr yesh al. T : pi as * oy ye CHAPTER XVI. PLEDGED PARDS, ‘* RECKON I’m ther eel w’ot ye’r’ bobbin’ fer,” observed the bully, with a leer, Hustler Harry gazed at bim disdainfully, a smile of amusement on his handsome face, The Chief of Cimarron looked decidedly ‘‘ the worse for wear.” His face was cut and bruised, and one eye was encircled by a reddish-blue ring. Hustler Harry’s hard fists had left their marks. ‘“* Hello!” exclaimed the cowboy. ‘‘Is thet ou, William? Tl allow thet I didn’t edzactly now ye.” The ruffian uttered an angry growl, ‘* Ye’ll know me better afore shortly,” he asserted. ‘*' W’ot fer war ye insultin’ that leddy?” ‘‘Thet’s er leetle thin, William,” smiled the Man from High Notch. ‘ Ef ye want to kick up a skirmish, try sum other lay.” Hickory Bill scowled and advanced a step to- ward the cool cowboy, **T don’t want no row wi’ ye—” Harry laughed. ‘* Wal, thar!” he exclaimed. ‘I had begun to think as bow ye was er reg’lar hog as didn’t know w’en he’d got ernaff, but now it looks like I was mistook. Ef so be I am, then I ax yer parding, William,” The bully was puzzled. He knew not just what to say. It had been his object to create trouble with Harry, and at once settle the cow- boy with a lead pill. He had hoped to do this in so prompt a manner that both Harry and the crowd would be taken by surprise. He would then take his chances of satisfying the crowd tbat it was a fair deal, But the Man from High Notch had met him in a manner that completely frustrated his plans. It seemed that Harry was looking for him to draw a revolver, and just then Hickory Bill dared not muke a motion toward a weapon. He resolved to force the affair and seize the first opportunity. ‘*No,” he said, gruffly, “I don’t want no row wi’ ye, but ye did insult thet leddy. Ther camp o’ Cimarron don’t allow no outsiders ter cum in byer an’ mistreat its wimmin.” ‘* So ye’r’ speakin’ fer ther camp, are ye, Wil- liam?” smiled the Hard Nut. ‘*‘ Wal, 1 must say thet Cimarron has er mighty poor repre- sentative.” ‘* Thet’s an insult ter me!” snarled Bill. ‘Wal, you orter stan’ it ef ther camp kin sur- vive arter ye call yerself its representative. Most any other burgh would consider that suthin’ ter be wiped out wi’ yer blood. Bill, you’re a poor tool!” Hustler Harry was becoming aggressive. *¢Durn your skin!” roared the bully. ‘* P’r’aps you wanter try me ag’in, I war drunk last nite, but I kin settle yer hash ter-nite.” He was rapidly losing judgment. With clinch- ed fists he advanced toward the cowhoy sport. Suddenly Hustler Harry’s face became grave, ** Hold on, Bill,” be said, as he put up one hand warningly. ‘‘ Don’t force me to pulverize eag’in. I warn ye now thet I sha’n’t leave ye in no shape atall ef ye force me to fight. I don’t waut totetch ye ag’ir. I’m a peaceable old Maverick w’en I’m let alone, but git me into the rampage an’ I’m wussen wild bosses with burrs under their tails. You was drunk er leetile last night, Bill, an’ so wasn’t quite ’sponsible fer w’at e did.’ His words only enraged Hickory Bill the more, ‘* An’ ye tuck me w’en I war drunk, durn ye! But ye’ve got ter pay fer it now.” With a yell he leaped toward the cowboy. Hustler Harry stood like a rock, parrying the bully’s blow and shooting his own fist out straight from the shoulder, , The blow caught Hickory Bill between the eyes and that worthy went down, striking the floor with a terrible thump, ‘‘Thutteration!” shouted Uncle Peter, fairly dancincg with delight. ‘‘ Warn’t thet eer jest a slick ’un!” The crowd uttered a murmur of admiration for the mau who would not turn out for the ter- ror, Hickory Bill. . . The bully had an unusually bard head, and the blow which he received only served to bring him to bis senses. He realized that he had made afool of himself by attempting to again fight the Man from High Notch on an even footing, But it was too late to retrieve the blunder. Swiftly he jerked forth a revolver. “‘ Look out, mister!” squeaked the man from Maine. ‘ He’s goin’ ter shoot!” But Hustler Harry did not need this warn- ing. He was keenly on the alert for any treach- erous move on the part of his foe, and had seen Bill draw the revolver. Swiftly he leaped forward, and ere the bully could use the weapon, it was sent spinning over. the heacs of the excited spectators, propelled by the toe of Harrv’s boot. A deft kick had dis- armed Hickory Bill. The next instant the Man from High Notch forced the chief down upon his back and stood tine. one foot planted on his breast bolding him there. . ee ——— <8 ¥ > ' | « es , wets" Be Me Pay Fe ' - Fa PS ee Ea eS oe £.6tir And 13 ** Woof!” he exclaimed, with a musical laugh. ‘Tm Hustler Harry, ther Hard Nut to Crack! Ye don’t want ter try any little tack- hammers on my hide. Bring out yer big sledges, an’ pit yer lives insured w’en ye tackle ther job.” In cold type the words seem very much like the bluster of a braggart, but those who heard them felt that the cowboy sport was all he claimed to be. Harry spoke in a cool, even tone that was pleasant to the ear, There seemed to | be nothing effusive in the words as they came from bis lips: but uttered by another, half-a- dozen of the crowd might have considered them a challenge, “Wal, I swan to man!” exclaimed Uncle Peter, as he witnessed Harry’s little trick. Thet's jest what I call clean science, by gold- ing! ‘At this moment Hustler Harry felt a touch on his arm, and a familar voice said in his ear; ‘*T wish to speak with you, sir, at once, Every moment lost is disastrous,” He turned to see Eric Craddoc at his elbow, In amoment he remembered the young man whom he had seenin front of the saloon the previous night. Erie’s face was very white and he appeared terribly excited. A thought flash- ed through Harry’s mind: ‘‘The girl—she isin trouble. He has come to me because [ aided him last night.” ** Lead on; Pl foller,” he said aloud, Without paying any further attention to Hickory Bill, the Man from High Notch turned and accompanied Eric toward the door, With a treacherous glare in bis eyes, the dis- comfited chief sprung up, producing a second revolver, his gaze fastened on Harry’s back, But before he could use the weapon, he heard a sharp voice say: ‘* None ov thet, you sneakin’ snake! If you try it [ll rize ther holl top ov yer bhead—I! will, by gum!” Hickory Bill glared around to see a leveled revolver within three feet of his bead and just beyond it the grinning face of Uncle Peter Hodge. Hustler Harry passed out unmolested. As soon as they were out of the saloon, Eric said: **T need your aid. Like you, I am compara- tively a stranger in this camp. 1 have been here a little longer than you, but IE have made very few friends, Chance threw us together last night when you baffled the fellow who was carrying Miss Molina away—kidnapping her. I gota glimpse of the kind of stuff you are made of then, and am satisfied that you are the very man I need in the emergency that has since arisen.” Harry saw that the young man was greatly excited, and rigatly surmised that something of an important nature had occurred, In a mo- ment he hit upon the very thing. ‘* Ther gal—” “The villains have completed their broken work of last night I fear,” groaned Eric, ‘* She has been kidnapped?” ‘*T am sure she has.” ‘* Ye kin tell me of it as we go’long,” said Harry. ; Hurriedly Eric told bis companion of his meet~ ing with Pearl at dusk, ** T did not feel easy after I left her,” he con- tinued. ‘It seemed as if trouble of some kind was menacing her. I could not rest easy, and finally I returned to the honse, For a time I stood beneath her window and called her name, but received no answer. I finally concluded that she might be in her father’s private-room, where he keeps his valuable papers and attends to a certain part of bis business, Passing round the house, I reached the window of his room, The curtain was drawn, but there was a small hole near the bottom through whicb I peered. I saw Martel Molina lying on the sofa, and at first thought he was asleep, Pretty soon he ut- tered a groan. Then I noticed that there were two overturned chairs in the room, I began to think tbat something unusual had bappened, al- though I did not dream the truth, olina be- an to groan more and more, and finally in famievalion I resolved to enter if I could. To my amazement, I found the door unfastened, hen I reached Molina’s room he was just trying tositup. At the sight of me, he gavea shriek and siak back calling for the villains to bring Pearl back. With a terrible dread seiz- ing on my heart, I searched the house but found nothing of her. Mr. Molina, but he is deranged and appeared to think me one of the kidnappers, I could learn nothing save enough to confirm my fears.” “You hain’t giv’ ther ‘larm?”’ ** No. eceact for a friend on whose good judgment I could depend. You were the onl I then attempted to question — one [ could think of, strangely enough, and for- — tunately I found you.” They soon reached Molina’s house, and a few — seconds later were in the mine-owner’s private room. Martel Molina was ying on the sofa, groaning and caliing for Pearl, Hustler Harry touched him on the shoulder. ‘F ‘* W’at’s ther trubble?” he demanded, Mclina started up. ““Phey’ve carried her away—my darling i? . (e() JOO aallice S oi he f A, yrs x, com