Beadle's Dime Library No. 851 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

pew eh ET —_* re ee ‘‘ You wanted to have a talk with me, you say. Lone Star?” ‘*Don't mind me, for it’s Phantom Phil that has the call on you. ‘‘7’m on hand only to see if you need me to serve you,” ‘What is it, Pard Phil?” and Wild Bill smiled pleasantly as he turned to the other Pony Rider. “T’m. here Bill.” ‘Well, what does he want?” ‘He wants to call you down.” ‘Why did he not come and do it then?” ‘“ Well, he wants it all done reg’ lar like and in a business way.” ‘* Wants what done?” ‘* Satisfaction.” ‘‘T am satisfied.” ** Well he hain’t,”’ ‘“‘ He is hard to satisfy, for he insulted my pard and i downed him for it. ‘*He was in luck that I did not kill him, as I hadaright to do, for he drew a weapon on me, a thing I allow no man to do. ‘*Come, what does Jockey Jack want, for I’m the most obliging man in the world, and will satisfy him, yes and all who wish to take up his quarrel after he is satisfied. ‘‘] hope I make myself understood, Pard Phantom Phil?” Wild Bill spoke calmly, but it was plain that he did not like being crowded into an encounter with one whom he had treated most fairly. Jockey Jack had said that which he had resented, and then had tried to use a weapon and been disarmed, when he would have been killed by almost any one else. Now he sought to get satisfaction and it made Wild Bill angry, as he thought he saw a trap te@get him into a fight with Rocket Rob and his pards, and hence his words that he was ready to meet all who took up the quarrel of Jockey Jack. In answer to Wild Bill’s words Phantom Phil replied: ‘*Oh, yes, Wild Bill, I understand that you think we, Jack’s immediate pards, want to down you. ‘* But you are off, for this is Jockey Jack’s quarrel alone, and my advice to him was to let matters rest os they were, for he had given the insult and you had squared it. “There are enough of our band of Pony Riders dropping off from outside foes, with- out having us fight among ourselves,” ‘*Good reasoning surely, Pard Phil; but Jockey Jack won't sec it in that way it seems, and I am sorry, for I don’t wish trouble even with my foes, I never draw on an Indian or an outlaw, simpiy to kill, and I certainly do not care to shoot one who is a comrade, ‘*T wish Jockey Jack would look at it as I do.” ‘‘ He won’t, for there are others that think as he does.” ‘* How does he think?” ‘“That you should give-him a chance to meet you.” ‘* Tf I refuse?” “Wild Bill, you are no coward.” ‘“‘T don’t know of any man now above ground that ever told me I was,” came the calm response. ‘* Well, you know men could say so if you refused to meet Jack,” ‘‘T see that the Rocket Rob clique are set upon a meeting between Jockey Jack and myself, so 1 won’t disappoint you all. ‘** What do you wish?” ‘* Jockey Jack challenges you to meet him with revolvers at twenty paces, walking to- ward each other at the word and firing as you advance,” ‘* See here, Phantom Phil, are you as great a fool as Jockey Jack, to bring a challenge to a man and arrange all the preliminaries yourself? ‘* Little Lone Star comes from a part of the country where ducling goes all the time, so ask him if the challenged party has not the right to select weapons, place, time and distance?” ‘ Yes, that is the law of the Dueling Code, Phil,” said Lone Star. “Very well, ms, make your terms, so you meet him, for Jack is not going to be backed from Jockey Jack, Wild vw Buffalo Bill’s Double Dilemma. down, Phantom Phil, * said Lone Star hotly, while Wild Bill only smiled and said: ‘‘ Arrange a meeting, Lone Star. ‘This is my time to eat and then sleep, but, if Jockey Jack is so anxious, I'll put off my nap and meet him within half an hour. “If he prefers later, say when I wake up for supper, or early in the morning. ‘As for the place, let us have it up the valley, then, in the Pony Riders’ graveyard, where it will be convenient for the one who falls, and the surroundings will be appro- priate, for, though Captain Starbuck would not interfere, it is best toclear him of all blame by not telling him now about it.” ‘And weapons?” asked Little Lone Star. ‘Revolvers; but, instead of advancing and firing, one shot will be enough for me, so I shall need but one bullet in my weapon.” “And distance?” “Ten, fifteen or twenty paces, as you and Phantom Phil may agree, for it is a matter of utter indifference to me.” Lone Star and Phantom Phil then talked together awhile, and it was decided that the duei should be fought at sunset up the valley in the Pony Riders’ burying-ground, the distance to be fifteen paces, weapons re- volvers, and but one load in cach weapon, while the two seconds should toss up for the word to fire when they got upon the field. This being settled. Wild Bill ate a hearty dinner and then lay down to sleep, almost instantly dropping into a deep slumber, whelly unmindful of the shadow of death hovering over him, a oe CHAPTER XXXIX. THE PONY RIDERS DUEL. THE sun was a little over half an hour high when Little Lone Star, Happy Harper and Devil Dan went over to Wild Bill's cabin for him. He was still fast asleep, but Black Dia- mond, Buffalo Bill's negro servant, had a good supper’ ready and Wild Bill was awakened and said: ‘* Have some supper with me, boys?” ** No, Bill, we have had supper, but my pards came with me in case Rocket Rob’s men should not feel wholly satisfied and wish to make more trouble. ‘Your pards, Buffalo Bill and Pony Bob, are not here to back you up, but we three will stand by you,” “You are very kind, alt of you; but I hope there will be no trouble, as Jockey Jack will doubtless be satisfied. “Tf you can get the duel declared off, and shake hands all round, I’m more than will- ing, Lone Star; but if they won’t, then I guess I'll be ready when called.” ‘* You bet you will, and we'll be ready, too,” suid Devil Dan. Wild Bill ate with a decided relish, Not a shadow was upon his face, what- ever emotion was filling his heart, When he had finished his supper, they mounted their horses, for Black Diamond had saddled Wild Bill's animal, and the four rode away together. ‘“I’m coming to see yer kill him, Massa Bill,” called out Black Diamond, and he ran to catch a pony and follow them. Black Diamohd\was acharacter in his way, afraid of nothing on earth save ‘‘ ghosts.” He was an intelligent negro from the South, who had been serving a young Jieu- tenant of cavalry who was killed by the In- dians, and whose fate he would have shared had not Buffalo Bill rescued him, From that day he became the devoted friend and servant of Buffalo Bill, going with him every where, and in the Pony Riders’ camp he looked after the quarters of Cody, Wild Bill and Pony Bob, though the latter now was on another run, There were quite 1 number of men going to the scene of the duel, which re 8 | that it had become known. Some were on foot, but ’most all were mounted, and there were Pony Riders, stable- men, herders and settlers. Rocket Rob and his three comrades were there, Jockey Jack being” the one most ob- served, 19 That he was the deadest of dead shots all! knew, and his comrades wore a most confi- dent air, in fact were decidedly aggressive in their way of talking and acting. The spot chosen for the duel was a truly beautiful one. It was at the head of a little vase, over- hung by high cliffs covered with vines, and shaded by a few large fine old pine trees, through the branches of which the wind sighed an ever mournful requiem for the dead that lay beneath, for over a score of brave Pony Riders lay buried there, and not one of whom had died a natural death, As Wild Bill came up with his pards the crowd greeted him in a way that had been extended to Jockey Jack, though of course when he had arrived there had not been near as many gathered there. Jockey Jack stopped his practice of shoot- ing at wild flowers and turned toward Phan- tom Phil, while Lone Star, throwing his rein to one of his pards said: 5 ‘“Pards, I don’t think any man will say that Wild Bill isafraid to meet Jockey Jack, and if he does, why I'll give him the lie flatfooted and take the consequences, “ But Wild Bill don’t want trouble with his pards, there is enough killing to do out- side of our camp and band, and we Pony Riders take too many chances as it is, with- out having to shoot at each other, so I say let us make up this quarrel between two of the best men that ride our trail.”’ A cheer greeted Little Lone Star's words, Few men would have been bold enough to have uttered them, but all knew the man that did so, The cheer showed that the crowa thought. as Lone Star did, with few exceptions, Those few were Rocket Rob’s party, and about a dozen men backed them up, When Little Lone Star had ceased speak- ing Jockey Jack said with a sneer: ‘* Of course there will be peace as Wild Bill is afraid to fight,” The Rocket Rob party cheered these words, and all eyes were turned upon Wild 4 Bill. ‘ His face was as placid as ever, but it. could be seen that having done his best to prevent a duel, he was now ready ‘to mect the issue, Without a word he stepped to the place that Lone Star indicated, and Jockey Jack went to his position, a triumphant smile up- on his face that was malignant also. The toss up for the word was won by Phantom Phil, and. Jockey Jack took this as. a good omen, In fact he seemed to feel an abiding con- fidence in himself, Then, as the sun touched the mountain horizon miles away, Phantom, Phil word as agreed upon: ‘* Are you ready?” Both men nodded, while Jockey Jack i half turned his head and answered: ‘* Yes, Phil.” . : It had been arranged that the men shonld stand with folded arms, their revolvers in their belts, and, at the word, draw and fire Having had the answers that both were ready Phantom Phil, after a hesitation that. geige an age, called out quick and sharp: “* Fire!” . < gave the — pe” * Sy AY ee ms er ab : vy * aie, ; ® There was but. one report, for the man _ who fired that had sent a bullet into the very center of the other’s forehead before ho had gotten his revolver to a level, FS + ’ Quick as he was, and dead shot teo, — Jockey Jack had met a ae man on the — draw and as dead a shot in Wild Bil, CHAPTER 25) .\\>,)qee THE PONY RIDERS’ CONFESSION, Wuen the crack of Wild Bill’s revolver — was followed by the quick fall of Jockey | Jack. Rocket Rob, Phantom Phil and Dar- — ing Dick involuntarily dropped thei hands upon their weapons, But instantly Little Lone Star called out: ‘‘None of that, Rocket Rob, or you and your pards will rue it. “Do I say right, men?” The roar of voi affirmative convinced Rocket Rob that, h was making a mistake, and he said quickly 3 te 2! ¥ te é }. a a | Lgl voices answering in the | ~ MIAG 3 ped. D0 * T didn't do anything but prepare to pro- F seal, that Wild Bill won't back "a revolver cutting wild flowers. Poems Stor motos |.) yrs. is) a haus ney a @ | (eevee 0