Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 545 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

- Hustler Harry, the Cowboy Sport. > t sr *. a . 5 thrust the revolver into a convenient pocket, with a snarling cry, the bully rushed blindly at and then bowed mockingly toward the bully. ‘‘ At yer sarvice, William! Just give ther signal an’ let ther fun begin. We kin furnish amusement fer ther boys free of charge.” Hickory Bull threw off bis coat, but the Hustler made no motion to remove the short, square-cut jacket which just then he wore over his blue woolen shirt. He simply regarded the bully’s movements ina calm, indifferent man- ner, ‘*Cum, chief. ‘‘ But, I hain’t goin’ ter, William,” smiled the cowboy sport, ‘1 don’t keer ter hev ther sharks goin’ through mer pockets, an’ so I shell keep mer clotheson. Ketch?” . Eager to see sport, the crowd formed a ring around the two men, Soon Bill was ready and faced the Man from High Notch. The bi ‘‘chief ” was trembling with excitement aie anger, but Harry was perfectly composed and indifferent, his habitual smile resting on his handsome face. Among the sports in the crowd a few bets were made, but there seemed to bea feeling of uncertainty in regard to the outcome of that contest of giants. Those who were well ac- quainted with Hickory’s powers, but had wit- nessed his previous defeat at the bands of the Man from High Notch, were not eager to ven- ture much upon his head, Indeed, many of them were offering even money on the Hustler, One enthusiastic fellow even offered to bet three to two on the cowboy. Whetber his confidence shook the faith of Bill’s backers or not, sure it was that he did not find many eager to cover his money. With a feeling of intense rage, Hickory Bill noted his loss of popularity, Within bimself he made a vow to doubly redeem the ground that he haa lost, “ Are ye reddy, critter?” he growled, with his eyes fixed upon the cowboy, Harry had buttoned his jacket tightly around him, plainly showing the outlines of his faultless form, He stood with his hands resting upon his hips. ** All reddy, William,” he replied, Slowly Bill advanced, his huge fists clinched and upraised inan awkward guard. Still the Man from High Noteb stood with his bands up- on bis hips. His utter coolness and indifference enraged the bully, and he suddenly lunged for- ward, striking straight for Harry’s smiling face. With bis bands still upon his hips, not offering to use them for his own protection, the Man from High Notch leaped nimbly to the left. As the bully passed, being unable to pause instantly, the cowboy kicked Bill’s feet from beneath him. Down upon bis hands and knees went the chief, and in an instant the Hustler was astride of his back, ‘‘ Whoa, Jinuwary!” laughed the cowboy. ‘* This hyer hain’t ther fu’st time I’ve straddled er broncho, Easy, critter! None of yer buck- in’ now, or ye'll git ther spurs.” A shout of laughter came from the crowd, The fight had taken an unexpected turn and the sports of the camp at once caught the humorous side of the affair. ‘* Two to one the cow-puncher breaks the beast without getting a throw!” shouted one, But Hickory was now furious, Despite the weight upon his back he easily arose to his feet. Harry abandoned his position and sprung away a few feet, to stand again with his hands upon hips and that same provoking smile on his ace, **Cuss ye!” roared the chief, as he regained an upright position. ‘'Try ter ride me fer er hoss, will ye? Dang my hide!” Once more he advanced, but with great cau- tion now. He had learued that he had no com- mon man to deal with, Nimbly as a jumping-jack, Hustler Harry be- gan todance here and there around the angry giant, With some difficulty Bill followed the motions, . ** Stan’ still!” he growled, ‘* Wat yer tryin’ ter act—” He did not finish the sentence, for the Hustler’s knuckles caught him between the eyes, and the vaunted chief went down. Swiftly the Man from High Notch rolled the bully’s body over with his foot, and, as Bill scrambled up, Harry again leaped upon his back, forcing the fellow down upon bis hands and knees, ‘** Woof!” ejaculated the cowboy. ‘“ We're boun’ ter git thar, Eli! I said I'd ride this crit- ter, an’ I’m goin’ ter do it shore’s mer name's Hustler Harry, ther Hard Nut ter Crack.” Once more Hickory succeeded in getting upon his feet, and once more the Man from High Notch sprung away and stood with his hands on his hips, laughing, Never was there a man more amazed than was ‘Cimarron’s chief just then. Twice had that lenaning: cow nes fail riage him down; wice er used him as he might h used a bucking broncho, Gui bave ** The clumsy brute!” . Bill heard this expression of disgust from one of the spectators, and in an instant he became fairly insane with passion. From its place of peel ef ye’r’ goin’ ter,” growled the concealment a long, wicked knife appeared, and ' sical way. But, just now, the laughing cowboy. A ery of warning broke from the crowd. Harry did not attempt to avoid that blind rush, put suddenly sprung straight toward his mad foe, The next instant Hickory’s wrist was caught in an iron grasp that bhatt him from striking the deadly blow. Then the cow- boy’s hard right fist beat a rapid tattoo upon the bully’s face. Every blow counted, The crowd was wild with excitement, but, through it all, Posey Pete. and Casper Gonzalo had been at work, Here and there they whis- pered a word in the ears of such men as they chose, and in every case received an affirmative nod. . It did not take the Hustler long to bring the figbt—if fight it could be called—to a finish. Hickory Bill seemed like a child in the grasp of a giant. The brute strength of the bully was ut- terly useless when pitted against the strength and skill of his foe. The knife dropped from Bill's fingers, striking point down in the floor, where it stood, quiver- iug slightly, long after the contest was ended. Harry knew when his time came, and releasing his hold upon the chief’s wrist, he struck a ter- rible blow, which stretched Hickory at full length upon the floor, Although be was not knocked senseless, the bully made no attempt to arise, ** Hooray!” shouted one of the crowd, ‘“ Ther Hard Nut has wound up William’s worsted!” The cry was echoed by a portion of the crowd, but the majority were ominously silent. No one paid any atteution to the fallen chief, but, just then, every eye was fastened upon the cow- boy. ‘*T reckon the show’s over, pards,” smiled Harry. ‘‘It surely is, unless sumbuddy else is anxus ter corral sum sport, As fer William, he war knocked out in the final round-up,” Posay Pete stepped forward, bis face flushed, and his nose looking redder tban usual. ** Whar’s ther man ye war torkin’ with afore ye shot out ther lights?’ demanded the bummer. A murmur came from many of the crowd, Harry surveyed Posey Pete from head to foot, then turned helplessly upon the spectators, ‘Wat d’yer call it?” be asked, in evident wonder, ‘It’s alive an’ kin talk, but J can’t name it.” Not a smile greeted this question, but one of the gamblers stepped forward, ‘* Stranger,” he said, ‘* perhaps you had better answer his question.” The smile vanished from Harry’s face, and a strange light glowed in his blue eyes, His head came a a little, his nostrils dilated, and he ap- peared like an animal that had scented danger. ‘Wat d’yer want ter know?” he demanded, ** Speak out an’ talk straight.” ‘* We want to know what became of that man with whom you were talking just bofore you shot out the lights. He is gone, aud we only find a blood-stain upon the floor.” ‘Which means ther same as thet dirty dog insinerwated,” coldly uttered the cowboy, as he pointed toward Bill, ‘It means thet you pre- tend as how I have played foul wi’ ther stranger. Gentlemen, whar’s ther boddy? FP r’aps ye think Pve got it hid round me person sum- w’ares?” ** No doubt ee have accomplices who have removed the body,” said the gambler, ‘‘ The fact is, I fancy I have seen you around here be- fore to-day, though you were not playing the rtof a cowboy. If I am not mistaken, you elong to the Brothers of the Red Heart!” ** He’s their chief, durn “im!” yelled a voice, It was as though a match had been hurled into a mass of powder. With one impulse every man seemed to leap toward the accused cowboy, They sprang upon bim. Back and forth swayed the mass, then moved toward the door, Hustler Harry swept along in their midst, pl Lynch him!” A blood-chilling cry, which was echoed by another of an unexpected nature as the throng poured out upon the street. ‘* Help, help! Oh, save me for—” A ed, broken scream and a woman’s voice! | CHAPTER VI, ' FATHER AND DAUGHTER, Tum face of Martel Molima, Cimarron City’s most wealthy mine-owner, looked decidedly grim and unpleasant as he drummed nervously on bis desk aud scowled darkly now and then, He was alone in the private room of his house, The time was evening, and he bad drawn the curtains and lighted the swinging lamp above the desk. Molina was a man of about fifty, with a firm, decisive face that was marked by deep lines which seemed to tell cf great physical or mental suffering. His hair aud beard were very white. In a great measure, the lines upon his face and the unusual whiteness of his hair and beard were caused by severe nervous headaches, which had troubled him for years, Molina’s wife was dead, but his daughter, Pearl, lived with him doing ee she could to make her father co:afortable in a phy- Martel Moliva’s [ ’ <r * 44 mind was in a disturbed condition, and Pearl was responsible. **Confound it!” he muttered. ‘This is the first time I ever knew Pearl to rebe) against my wishes. Kelnot has shown me positive proof of his wealtu, and he appears to be a polished gentleman. A good match for any girl.” For a few moments Le was silent once more, That he was thinking oD was apparent by the look on bis face, Finally, he broke out, a trifle savagely: ‘*T know where the trouble lays, She has be- come fascinated with that confounded young Craddoc, 1 would like to know just who and what that 1elow is, He represents bimself as the agent of Eastern capitalists who are looking for safe investments, but I do not half-beheve his story. Heisa handsome fellow, and I am confident that he is a gambier or rogue of some kind. As for Horace Kelnot, I owe him a debt that I can never repay.” ; Again he relapsed into silence, bowing his face upon his hands, As he sat tbusa light step sounded bebind him and a soft hand touched his shoulder, ‘‘ Another headache, papa?” Pear] had come in quietly, pretty girl. Not handsome or queenly, petite and bewitching. Martel Molina looked up with a start, “Not exactly a headache,” he said, some- what coldly. “I was thinking of you. Sit down, I wish to speak with you,” She detected something unusual in his voice, and looked at him inquiringly, as she sat down in the chair toward which he pointed, ‘Thinking of me?’ she repeated. ‘‘ Why, papa, how could you spare the time? It is sel- dom that you think of anything but business,” ‘He looked steadily at her, There was a light in his cold gray eyes that made her uneasy. She felt a vague foreboding that he was about tos of something of an unpleasant nature, ‘““The time has come, Pearl, when I must think of you. It is my duty to look after the welfare of my only child.” She laughed a little in an uneasy way. ** Then i have really become of some impor- tance?” she exclained. Again Molina drummed on his desk. He was at a loss just how to approach the matter of which he wished to speak, Finally, be faced her squarely, saying: ‘ Pearl, | spoke to you of Horace Kelnot yes- terday.” She caught her breath a little. So this was why she had so suddenly become of importance! ‘Yes, papa.” ‘*T was pained to learn that you do not re- gard Mr, Kelnot cig ean ‘*T honor him as a gentleman and my father’s friend,” ‘‘Heis more than that, I never told you of the time that he saved me from the hands of a air of highway robbers. One of the fellows bad me down and was abont to cut my throat when Kelnot appeared, Empty-handed, he itched into them both and drove them away. if did nottell you of this adventure, for I did not wish to cause youany unnecessary alarm just then,” Why did he tell her now? She knew only too well, Just then it was his object to present Horace Kelnot 1n as favorable light as possible, He watched her face closely to note the re- sult of his words. He came near uttering an exclamation of disappointment, for he fancied met his words had failed to have the desired effect. aes o4 ‘Horace Kelnot did what any brave man would have done,” she said. ‘I honor and respect him for doing that. Knowing this, I shall hereafter endeavor to overcome my aver- sion of him as far as ible,” This was not just what Martel Molina had hoped, for, and he could not quite repress a scowl of vexation and disappointment, ‘But, Pearl, you know that Horace Kelnot has asked for your handin marriage. He asked my permit to win you if possible. I gladly granted him the priyilcae, But you repulsed all of hisapproaches. When he asked you to be his wife, you declined.” ‘Which would have been the end of it with most gentlemen,” flashed Pearl. ¢ Molina continued, calmly: ; ** When it came about that he was obliged to speak of the matter, he told me of bis failure. I was surprised, and promised to speak with you, I did so, and you flatly refused to have anything to do with Horace Kelnot, or even to consider the matter, Iwas am at your utter disre- gard of my wishes, and gave you time to think itover, Pearl, I do not wish you to be hasty in this matter, for I have no desire to be harsh with you.” The girl’s eyes flashed and a half-defiant look came over her face, Never before had her father attempted to mold her will to suit his fancy. She had always been permitted to do pretty much as she pleased, and was in one sense a spoiled child. | | a4 bey _“ Father,” she said, earnestly, “do not at- tempt to force me to accept for a husband a man whom I do not, cannot like—-one who fills me with a strange feeling of dread and aversion She was indeed a but _ Gom 100 S :