AN UNEXPECTED HALT.
Swiftly flying along in their flight, neither Kent King nor his
degenerate father looked for danger ahead, and were brought to a sudden
and unexpected halt by blinding flashes in their eyes and two sharp
reports from a revolver.
Down beneath them went their horses. As Mathew Kingsland struck the
ground, a form darted out from behind a bowlder, and, at close range,
sent a bullet crashing through the brain of the man whose life had been
a lie and full of crime.
As if confident of his aim, the assailant did not wait to see the
effects of his shot, but turned upon Kent King, who had sprung to
his feet and attempted to draw his revolver. The fall had broken the
outlaw’s arm. With a curse, he seized the weapon in his left hand and
faced his foe, who was advancing quickly upon him, while Mary Hale,
spellbound, sat on her horse like a statue, watching, waiting, and
praying.
The weapon of Kent King flashed first. The aim with his left hand was
untrue, for the one he fired upon still advanced upon him, and said, in
clear tones:
“Kent King, I shall win my bet!”
“Great God! Are you man or spirit?” cried the Gambler Guide.
“Neither; I am Buffalo Bill,” was the rejoinder.
With the last word, two revolvers flashed together, and again the aim
of Kent King was untrue. But not so with Buffalo Bill, for he sent his
bullet straight to the center of the forehead of the man he meant to
kill.
With a cry of joy, Mary Hale threw herself from her horse, and once
more fainted, but Buffalo Bill caught her in his arms. In a few moments
Mary revived. Then Buffalo Bill told her of his adventures in the
Indian camp, and suggested that they strike the back trail at once, in
which she gladly acquiesced.
Tying the dead bodies of Kent King and his father upon Mary’s horse,
the scout gave the girl a seat behind him on Midnight. Just as the sun
illumined the valley they came in sight of the home of Judge Hale,
around which was gathered a large crowd of horsemen.
As they drew nearer they were recognized, and such a shout of welcome
went up as was never heard before in the Hale settlement. Then Captain
Dash rode toward them and shouted:
“Bravo! bravo! Buffalo Bill, you’re a man of men and have saved us
trouble, for we just returned victorious from the bandits’ camp, and
the judge told us of Mary’s capture!”
“The judge! Is my father living?” gasped Mary.
“He is, indeed; the bullet grazed his head, and stunned him only; see,
here he comes to greet you.”
The next moment the girl was in her father’s arms. Then the girl told
her story, and Buffalo Bill told his, and, as the Revolver Riders had
wiped out the band of outlaws, there was wild rejoicing in the valley.
* * * * *
The papers taken from Mathew Kingsland gave to Judge Hale and Mary
their fortune, for the witnesses were looked up, and the money was
found to be deposited in the banks, subject to the order of the heirs
of the deceased miner.
With Kenton Kingsland dead, Captain Dash’s trail of hatred ended in
the grave, and the loving sister, whom the Gambler Guide had falsely
married, and who had died of a broken heart, was avenged.
But the young Texan, Dudley Dashwood, struck a trail that had a happier
ending, for it led him to the altar, with sweet Mary Hale for his
“pard.”
Buffalo Bill was his best man, while Ben Tabor, Seven-foot Harry, Old
Negotiate, and hosts of others went East to attend the wedding of their
loved leader.
Soon afterward Buffalo Bill departed for the Black Hills, in Dakota,
where he was destined to pass through many strange adventures.