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OCR
i _ CONTAINING STORIES OF ALL KINDS.
a - “PHA (TO om
Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1909, in the office of the Librarian
of Congress, Washington, D. C., by Frank Tousey, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York.
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 19, 1909. PRICE 5 CENTS.
THE PRAIRIE TRAPPER
CHAPTER I.
THE COCK OF THE WALK.
In a rude log cabin at the edge of a wide expanse of
prairie stood the barroom of Jack Barry.
It was during the summer season, and, standing before
the door of the inn, the tall prairie grass waving and bend-
ing before the wind resembled the billows of a boundless
ocean.
Behind the bar, which was a:rude contrivance made of
unpainted pine boards, stood the owner of the place, a man
.. 80 much below the ordinary size that he was almost dwarf-
ish, but possessing a breadth of shoulders that was -aston-
ishing to the beholder.
He seemed to be as broad as he was long, and, as he
waited upon. his-customers, only the immense proportions
of his short bull neck and _ his deeply- -scarred face arose
above the counter. .
‘The room, with the exception of a few chairs, contained
nothing else, save and excepting a half-dozen barrels of
whisky standing on end.
- Upon these, at the time-our story opens, were seated a
half-dozen men, who swung their fect unceasingly, and
beat a tattoo with their heels upon the staves of the
- barrels.
By ““PAWNEE JACK” | a .
There was an uniformity in their dress, and: a descrip- {
tion of one would answer for all.
A heavy, rude, black slouched hat; a weather-stained
flannel shirt; pants tucked into a pair of cow-skin boots,’
whose leather had been tanned by the sun and the hot f FE
sand. of the roads until it~had become of a dark yellow “yh
color. ro 6 2 ie
Each one wore a heavy leathern belt around his waist,
and every belt contained a brace of revolvers. |
The chairs were empty, for these rude and uncouth
men preferred a seat above the ordinary ‘style, as it gave
them greater liberty for their legs, and rested their tired
limbs better than the customary seat. \-
They were all old and tried scouts and trappers, and
they knew best how to rest themselves. .
“Who's seen Warlock around lately ?” inquired Barry,
as he leaned his chin on the bar.
- The men looked at each other and then at their ques-
tioner, but there was no reply.
“Then nobody has seen him,” said Barry, as he became
tired waiting for an answer. “He’s getting worse and
worse. His trade here used to be worth something, but
now I wouldn’t give a rap for it for a whole year.’”.
“Té the cuss ain’t in love, then I don’t know ‘a wildeat
when I sce him,” replied. one.
“Tf I was a gal, I’d sooner fall in love with a wildcat
. . )
