Beadle's Dime Library No. 851 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 2 tion of the affair to the stations on the li line.” | ** Anything else?” ‘Pony Bob dashed through an ambush, sir, by making the outlaws believe cavalry, was escorting him and so stampeded them,” ‘* Good for Pony Bob! But now to your killing of Fearless rank: ‘‘ What is your opinion as to his presence there?” | Before Buffalo Bill could reply came the % - Joud-spoken words: Li My opinion is that it was a downright . murder and the murderer should hang for it!” 1 CHAPTER XXIII. THE ACCUSATION, Tne loud, angry voice that made this bold charge against Buffalo Bill riveted every eye upon the one who had uttered the words. It was Jockey Jack, the most devoted friend of the dead man in camp, for the two . were like brothers. His face was livid now, and his eyes glared upon Buffalo Bill, The latter merely turned toward him, an angry glance in his bright dark eyes, but he said no word, He had made his report to his chief, It was for him to speak. y, Afterward, he would deal with the man who darea to accuse him of a crime so foul. . ‘Do you know what you are saying, Jockey Jack?” demanded Captain Starbuck. ‘“ Yes, I know well, and I wish to make a _ charge against that man.” “* Make it, then.” *“T charge him, Buffalo Bill, with being the murderer of my friend, for some reason best known to himself, and for the crime he should be tried, and if guilty should hang. “‘T further demand his arrest and being locked up until he is tried.” iM Before Captain Starbuck could reply, and _ he was forced to take notice of the charge --made against his champion Pony Rider, and ete he | who stood unmoved under the accusation, | . Wild Bill faced Jockey Jack and said in his calm, cynical way: ‘And I say to you, Jockey Jack, and to your three pards there, who, I see, are ready to back you up in your charge, that the man who accuses Buffalo Bill of crime, of being guilty of a mean act even toward a foe, is a sneaking coward and a liar, and I mean it for you.” ‘There was no mistaking these words, and Bore F es asa flash Jockey Jack’s revolver was drawn, ye! before he could pull trigger Wild Bill had» prung upon him and hurled him to the gro nd with an exhibition of strength that won , eneral admiration, and rendering him senseles.: from the stunning fall, TT am on duty now, but call on me, ae enemee, when you need me,” continued Wild Bill, addressing himself to Rocket Rob and his immediate pards. his Then, turning to Captain Starbuck, he _ said In his quiet way: aa I a ready, sir.” With a leap Wild Bill was in his saddle and his horse bounded away on the long run eastward, « * A When he was gone Captain Starbuck turn- _ ed to Buffalo Bill and said: , Li BO charge avin, been made against _ you, Cody, that you k | led Fearless Frank for cause, I must abide by our laws and _ make you a prisoner, Wy ‘But as you will have to start on your ru to-morrow, if not found guilty, [ will have the trial set down for to-night, so make . . _ what arrangements you can for your de- _ © Thank you, Captain Starbuck; but all I ask is that you send two reliable men, not of Ro ne Rob’s gang, to take the trail of Fear- less Frank from the camp and fcllow it to _ the spot where he lost his life, while, if his immediate comrades will explain his reason’ for being there, and leaving camp without ‘permission, as you said, it may serve as tes imony in my behalf. Ss, ‘Now, sir, I'am ready to be locked up.” | _ Deprived of his arms, Buffalo Bill was led away to what was known as the Lock-up, a cabin of stout logs where prisoners were 4) a Ve ¢ # ‘ é s Petal 1 aw - ig ~~ an Agr cide ’ Cae pe Aiea’ ¥ : ee WP te dat) Be epaMy age Wil ee Aer I es OR e « . - Se ’ : ~ . Fv. i ‘a 7 ie ye i l 5 4 ce i ¥ Noe eM $ ‘ _" tet ; ‘ ™— | De a ,. - ret ho DL i return, and the horse, too, making no men- ; wa Tan ee. bine mur, and ate a hearty breakfast, after which, having spent the last twenty-four hours in the saddle, he threw himself upon the blanket-bed and was soon fast asleep. In the mean time Captain Starbuck had at once acted upon Buffalo Bill’s suggestion and sent for three of the best skilled trailers in the camp tg report to him ready for the road, ‘In a short while three Pony Riders rode up to the post, and going out Captain Starbuck said: ‘Little Lone Star, you take charge and go to the corral, pick up the triil left by Fearless Frank’s horse, in fact take the horse, for he will follow the same puth he took be- fore, and report all that you discover. ‘‘From where you find the killing took place you need nut go, as Buffalo Bill says that be caried the horse and body to hice them until his return, ‘*T shall await your return before I try the case, so lose no time more than is necessary,” The three Pony Riders saiuted and rode away at once upon their mission, SC oennicamediniianiaad CHAPTER XXIV. " THE TRIAL, Tur scene at the post had cast a gloom over the entire camp, for there was not a man there who was so popular as was Buffa- lo Bill. Fearless Frank had his friends too, but they were not very many, as his nature was a surly one. Wild Bill was another popular man, and thus with three of their number suddenly taken from their midst, one by death, an- other a prisoner and the third, after his punishment of Jockey Jack, gone away for twenty-four hours, it might be never to re- turn, the Pony Riders were in a very de- pressed mood, Jockey Jack had risen from the ground, where Wild Bill had hurled him, thoroughly dazed. Quick as he was known to be on the draw, he was not quick enough to prevent Wild Bill from giving him a severe lesson. He had found his master and he was not one to forgive. Jockey Jack was an Englishman, had rid- den races in England, then spent a couple of years in the Australian bush, and coming to America had enlisted in the army and been a cavalry man, Then he had turned Pony Rider and was known as an excellent man. He was small, but tongh as a pine knot, quick, active and an athletic, while he was mosh as a dead shot and a man not to trifle with, His companions stood in certain awe of him, and he was proud of the fact. To be humiliated by Wild Bill was a bitter pill for him to swallow, and there was but one way and that was to demand satisfaction, although he nad been the aggressor in accusing Buffa- lo Bill of a cowardly murder, to wipe out, all said, the injury, The day wore away and Buffalo Bill con- tinued serenely sleeping as was his custom, until nearly dark, when he arose and had his dinner brought to him. As he was eating it Little Lone Star and his two companions returned, leading Fear- less Frank’s horse. | | All their horses showed that they had been hard ridden, They reported their return to Captain Starbuck and then went to get their supper. It was just nightfall when the bugle sounded from headquarters, calling the camp together. Captain Starbuck, while in the army had also served usa bugler, and fond of play- ing the cornet he was wont to often wake the echoes of the hills with his ringing music, and always called his men together _by its notes. The moment they heard the call the crowds pore gather at the headquarters. "he eating-room, the largest place that could be found in that primitive settlement, — made to do duty as a court-room, and ce ak ered Captain Starbuck, who | as here h ropp udg Bi?) for h Bh lt is ag a 7 ~~ wu 8 ‘ : +e « Shh rae, fal Mas { hoe SCA AN ARS ah é ‘v 1s i ig ’ ) ' : Vv Buffalo Bill’s Double Dilem ee eee ! . . ry He accepted the situation without a mur-,| while near him was the prisoner, the wit- | nesses and his accuser. e of the peace,! ‘* I se - = &, ie, * # : Ye. 5) i! Cd vi ad f ; ‘ So ’ a rh me gi eh 1h x ma. horse from the corral. and kept up a gallop, so the tracks were deep —-* The crowd gathered as soon as possible, and when all was in readiness the judge de- clared that the court was open for the trial of William F. Cody, nicknamed Buffalo Bill, for the killing of his comrade, Fearless Frank. Buffalo Bill sat unmoved, the only expres- sion upon his handsome face that of weari- ness. “Jockey Jack, you are the accuser in this case, so stand up, take the oath to tell only the truth and tell what you know,” said the judge. Jockey Jack arose, his face very pale, and a bruise upon his forehead where it had come in contact with the ground that morn- ing when thrown down by Wild Bill. He made the charge that his friend was | murdered, as Buffalo Bill had never liked | Fenrless Frank, being envious of him. : ‘‘On the contrary Fearless Frank, my poor dead pard,” he continued, ‘‘ always liked | Buffalo Bill, and had said to him, Jockey Jack, that it would be a good thing if the: | Pony Riders would go out singly and patrol the trail to prevent the outlaws from killing: more of their number, and my pard had doubtless been cn that errand when shot down by Buffalo Bill.” ) This was all that Jockey Jack had to say, i and then his immediate pards expressed themselves as believing as he did, Rocket, Rob saying: ‘‘T hate to accuse Pard Cody, but it does look as if he had had it all his own way with : poor Frank.” : ‘ Buffalo Bill, . of Jockey Jack?’ ‘*T have, sir,” ‘You have heard that Rocket Rob, Phar- tom Phil and Daring Dick agree with his ac- cusation?” ‘¢T have, sir.” ‘‘ State to the court fully your meeting with Fearless Frank, and just how he died.’” ‘+ T will, sir, ina few words,” and Buffalo: Bill told the story over again, and substan- , tially the same as when he first made his re-. ort. , ; But not once did he convey the idea that Fearless Frank had not been instantly killed by the shot. ‘‘Thatis all that I have to say, sir,” said he; as he finished his story and sat down. Then Captain Starbuck said: ‘‘Now, Little Lone Star, I will hear what you have to report of your trail this morn- ng. ”) / ——— you have heard the charge CHAPTER XXYV. THE THREE WITNESSES, LitrLe Lone Star took his name fron his size and because he hailed from Texas. He was a man universally respected, and his word was law among his comrades, while he was known asone of the best riders and. deadest shots on the frontier, Asa trailer he had the greatest skill, and his companions were wont to say that he i could trail a rabbit over rocks, | When called upon by Captain Starbuck he. advanced briskly, kissed the Bible, and said. without further urging: _‘* We took the trail of Fearless Frank’s, ‘‘ By we I mean Happy Harper, Devil Dan and myself. ‘¢ The horse left the corral on the jump, Kj.) and we had no difficulty in following the. trail. ‘It made a flank movement around the iS ranch, then kept parallel with the Pony tie Riders’ trail, and after keeping so for a long La distance, branched Off into a thicket before » me coming to Wolf Den Pass. ‘« Here the horse was hitched to a tree, and a handkerchief, folded on the ground, here» it is, showed that he was muzzled to keep | 4 him from neighing. =| ’ itd at Y ‘« The tracks of a man led from the tree to take a which the horse had been hitched tonlarge | rock some hundreds of yards away, and =| | within easy range of the Pony Trail. 0) adv hat Aq “The rock was nearly hidden by dwarf oH re fis “y Pes | ;. ie 3 et pines that grew about it; but we saw where some one had been lying in ambush there. =) Devil Dan off to reconnoiter about. > Seige & if ém@ | JS Fie) At ie yal