Beadle's Dime Library No. 851 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

a ~~ ———— ee TO The man looked greatly confused at being i” ~ in all right. Buffalo ‘Bill’s Double Dilemma. again caught not ready, and said: ‘*You is away ahead o’ time, Buffalo Bill.’’ ‘‘ Just twelve minutes, ready, Silent Sam, you could not have had my horse on time.”’ Silent Sam made no reply, and hastily saw after a horse. He came back with one Buffalo Bill always rode from there—a blood-bay, that looked like a flyer, “Tf you delay me again, Silent Sam, I shall have to report you,” said the rider as he leaped into his saddle, and, awaiting for no reply, he dashed away. He got a bite to eat at the next relay, and a fresh mount; and, half an hour ahead of time, he rode up to Valley Farm Station. ‘* Well, Bill, you are a wonder, and cer- tainly bear a charmed life, for I have seen no less than half a dozen Cloven Hoofs go by on the trail since you were here,” informed Gentleman George. ‘*] was lucky enough not to meet them. ‘*But, I left you in hard luck, last time I sien here, and plenty to do. How goes Cr: ‘* All serene, for we have had no visitors. ‘*T buried the Cioven Hoofs on one side of the trail, a hundred yards from here, but Lena and myself gave poor Renshaw a rest- ing-place in the valley, a pretty spot on the bank of the brook. I read the service for ‘ y dead. over him, as in fact I did over the others, for they were human beings, Cody, and death cancels such debts as hatred, and wipes out the stain of crime.” ‘*] agree with you, Gentleman George, perfectly; but I have brought with me a valuable freight, and am sorry, to see that Pony Bob is not in,” ‘*Oh, have no fear of him, for he’ll come You forget you are half an hour ahead of time.” ‘‘True, I think there is no need for but that he might have run upon some of those Cloven Hoofs you you saw go by. ‘‘But, my greatest anxiety now is for Miss Lena and yourself, Mr. Ross, since we had the fight here—fear that the cut-throats might come back for revenge.” * We will take care of them if they do come—Lena and I, see if we do not! ‘But my daughter waited up to see you and Pony Bob to-night, and will have ready the best supper she can get up for you. ‘*Go in, and I'll fol!ow—see, the Tigers, as you call my dogs, know you as their friend now.” __ **Oh! I’m willing to be friendly, you bet, ____ for no man wants to offend one of those four- footed sentinels. ‘* What are their names, or do you just i anxiety about Bob, though I did not know. f . | | | Ad ay ea) aA » ** . 2 -—, Ly > Bios ~ ‘, 5 A oe bunch them all as dogs?” | | | | / Pott J No, Lena named them—Tiger, Lion, Wolf, Panther and Grizzly, while Cat was killed the other night—no matter which one --you eall, they’ll «Il come.” ___ ¢* They look it, and come when you don’t Gall them, too, I'll bet!” said Buffalo Bill as dell , he entered the cabin. CHAPTER XIX. pe PONY BOB’S RUSE. 9 ‘Tr was the duty of Gentleman George, as _ Stock-tender, to see to the horse Buffalo Bill had ridden to the station, and also to get fresh animals for him and Pony Bob to ride away again. -_- Here the two bags of Express and mail were exchanged by the riders, for Buffalo _ Bill was to take what Pony Bob would bring and turn over to him what he had come through with, from the eastward. _ Atthis station the riders were allowed an hour's halt for supper, and rest before start- ing back again on the longrun, so Lena Ross always prepared a good meal for them, leav- n ing it for her father to serve it, for the hour * of arrival was eleven at night and departure _ The riders needed this rest, aA supper too, for it was a long trail they had before them and hours before they got their break- _ fast, while each way from Valiey Farm the _ trail was dark, rugged, lonely and danger- ous, | | iy y@ * “ * ‘ez . +b eh PA A > “ * af f . oT Ye PEN Y and had you) started a quarter of an hour ago to get. ~—* Not long: after Buffalo Bill entered the cabin Gentleman George heard the clatter of | horses and go their separate ways: hoofs and a moment after, up dashed Pony | Bob. He had gone to his post from the Home Ranch as ordered, and was there in time to receive the next Express sent through. from the west. ‘* Just on time, Pony Bob,” welcomed Gen- tleman George. ‘It’s blind luck that I am here, pard; but has Buffalo Bill arrived?” asked Bob as he threw himself from the saddle. ‘Yes, half an hour ago.” ‘Then he was playing in as big luck as I was.” ‘* What was the matter, Bob?” “Tm hungry. Come in and I’lltell you while I eat, though they say itis not polite to talk with your mouth full.” ‘*Go in and [ll soon follow,” ordered the stock-tender. Bob entered the cabin and found Lena Ross busy preparing supper, while Buffalo Bill sat near watching her. The two pards shook hands warmly, like men who had just met after a long absence from each other, for they realized that they had both been through a dread ordeal, and glad were they to meet again. “And how are you, Miss Lena?” asked Pony Bob, turning to the young girl. ‘*Always well, Pony Bob; but, as you know it is like caring for a dying person to look after you Pony Riders now, as there is no telling if you will ever ceme in, since the outlaws have been killing you by the whole- sale,” said Lena Ross feelingly. ‘*Bless your sweet soul, Little Sunbeam, it’s worth risking life to get here and eat one of your suppers—ah! here is your father, and I’ll tell you all now how near I came to missing supper, here, to-night.” ‘“‘You had trouble then, Bob?” said Buffa- lo Bill with more anxiety for his friend than he ever felt for himself. ‘“ You bet I had trouble, or I thought I did, and I’ll tell you how it was: ‘* T stopped at the brook the other side of Signal Rock to give my horse a swallow of water, as we always do, when, out of the darkness, in a way that scared me half out of my wits, a voice said: ‘*« Ride around Indian Range, for there is. an ambush in the timber, this side of the pass, Pony Bob.’ ” ‘‘That was remarkable. called you by name?” George. ‘‘ Tt did; and I called out and asked who it was, but got no answer.” ‘* And then?” asked Buffalo Bill, deeply in- terested. ‘‘T rode into the timber, but could find no one, and I tell you I was mystified.” ‘‘ Have you no idea who it was?” asked Lena Ross, ‘‘ Not the slightest, unless it was one of my Mormon friends, for you know the Mor- mons are quite friendly to me, as I saved a train once from an attack by Indians. But, Bill, what solution can you offer of this strange warning?” ‘* Well, Pony, some one who was friendly to you gave you the warning; but you can- not have heeded it to have gotten here on time, as around the range it wonld have been twenty miles out of your way.” ~ * Allof that, Pard Bill.” ** What did you do?” | ‘** 1 played a lone hand, and won. ‘‘T rode on to the thicket quietly; then I started at a run, yelling out: *** Run, pards, all of you, for he’s coming and a big gang with him|!’” ‘Tt was a bold game to play, Bob, but I suppose it won.” ‘“It did win, Pard ‘Bill, for there were shouts of alarm, and quite a number of horse- And the voice said Gentleman men, I should say over half a dozen, mount- ed in great baste and went tearing away through the timber all together.” ** And you?” “T simply flew along the trail, and here I am, friends; but, Miss Lena has supper ready, I see, and I can do it more than jus- tice,” and Pony Bob dismissed his adventure | with the cool manner of one to whom deadly danger was an every-day occurrence, But the others talked over the strategy of | Pony Bob and his escape, ae Buffalo ‘Bill’ fired at me, the bullewarsaiteyaiy: ciao nd Box. * er Pui ~ 2s Le i * « \ tee CP Seen | ae ae “; . je of —< pvA , au a ad Y . , 7 . "4 " ' wee nl res | at. ——_—_ —_— 5 - * -* * . ‘ or tases Y 3 Whe said to him, as they went out to mount their ‘* Bob, always heed the warning of the one who warned you to-night.” CHAPTER XX. | A VOLUNTEER WITNESS. BuFFALO BrLu’s injunction to Pony Bob caused the latter to look sharply at him and ask: ‘* Do you know who it was?” ‘*T know enough to tell you to heed every warning thus given you, Bob; but I cannot say more, now. ‘* Good-night, and look out on your return for the Cloven Hoofs, for they'll be doubly anxious to down you after the fright you gave thei,” ‘You bet they will! but, I’m watching for them all the time,” and with a grasp of the hand Pony Bob leaped into his saddle and was off in one direction, while Buffalo Bill went in the other, the clattering of hoofs soon dying away in the distance; and Gentle- man George, after closing the stockade gate, going into the cabin to join his daughter, leaving the dogs on duty as untiring and sleepless sentinels to give him warning of danger. Buffalo Bill rode back with a sad heart, for he remembered the dead body of a for- mer comrade that he had t> carry back with bim to the Home Ranch, He found Silent Sam awaiting him, this time, and with the horse loaned him by his Unknown Guide. This time he had very little to say, and it was Silent Sam who seemed anxious to talk. But, Buffalo Bill was in no humor for con- versation, and warning the stock-tender to be on time when he next came through, he was riding away when he caught the low muttered words: “Tf you get through, next time ‘‘ What did you say, Silent Sam?” *¢ Nothin’?” ‘‘T heard what you said, and I want to know right now what reason you have for saying what you did?” ‘The riders is bein’ kilt every day, and you is more likely to go than any of them.” “Why?” ‘*You takes bigger chances,” *¢ Well, I’m still on deck, and I’m going to try and stay aslongas Ican. Just seeif I don't come through next time.” With this Buffalo Bill rode away, and when he came to the spot where he turned off for the secret corral, the horse turned as before and kept up the same steady pace. Arriving at the top of the cliff he lowered his saddle and bridle, hitched the horse and and then slid down the lariat into the little basin. The two horses were there, and so also was the silent form lying upon the rock shelf, When he had saddled the two animals he lifted down the body of Fearless Frank and firmly secured it to the saddle with his lariat. , Then he mounted Red Devil, and with the other horse and his ghastly burden in lead, he rode out of the basin, crossed the stream and went along once more at a rapid pace. As he reached the true Pony Trail he look- ed at his watch and saw that he was yet twenty minutes ahead of his time. “Tam glad of this, for I cannot ride as fast with this horse in lead, and so will just about get in on time. ‘And then what a surprise for all when they see Fearless Frank dead, and learn how he died! ‘‘What can I say about it and tell the ~ truth, for I hate to lie. | ‘“‘T of course cannot tell what he told me with his last words, that there is a plot be- tween Rocket Rob and his comrades to en- trap me by spying upon my trail’and proving that 1 am in league with the Cloven Hoofs. ‘‘No, I must keep that secret and watch those fellows. ‘‘T will not say that Fearless Frank was not killed at once, for it won’t do to let them know that he made any confession. ‘“‘T will just state that I saw a head dodge down behind the rock, was ready fora shot, ‘fired at the second glance I caughtofonel _ ‘believed an out!aw and that the rifle was ee ed » Sal a * " * ' ‘i * » ‘ - - 1 ' + ’ : 7 op Eh 4a. rAd a, | ’ f ~~ s oJ <1) gp "AS Sa ptt me Y'gh A a el rf r % | ca ‘ , S74 ir = & » rae. = ‘ a e ah” ers v', c pu ri a. ; A> oe . | 1 U “ a $ icbooks.com « 4 ‘