Beadles Boys Library of Sport, Story and Adventure, Vol. I, No. 1. | Page 3

these fellows attempt to go I'll shoot 'em."
"But you can't, Billy."
"I've got my revolver, Davie and you bet I'll use it! Go, but don't make
a fuss, and get your father to come on with the settlers as soon as you
can, for I won't be happy till you get back."
Davie Dunn was trembling considerably; but he arose noiselessly,
crossed to the window at the end of the roof, and which was but a small
aperture, closed by a wooden shutter, which he cautiously opened. The
noise he made was drowned by the pelting rain and furious wind, and
the robbers went on chatting together, while Davie slipped out and
dropped to the ground.
But ere he had been gone half an hour the outlaws were ready to start,
the rain having ceased in a measure, and night was coming on to hide
their red deeds.
"Hold on, boys, for I've got ye all covered. He's a dead man who
moves."
Billy had crept to the trap, and in his hoarsest tones, had spoken, while
the men sprung to their feet at his words, and glancing upward saw the
threatening revolver.
One attempted to draw a weapon, but the boy's forefinger touched the
trigger, and the outlaw fell dead at the flash, shot straight through the

heart!
This served as a warning to the others, and they stood like statues,
while one said:
"Pard, who is yer?"
But Billy feared to again trust his voice and answered not a word. He
lay there, his revolver just visible over the edge of the boards, and
covering the hearts of the three men crouching back into the corner, but
full in the light from the flickering fire, while almost at their feet lay
their dead comrade.
Again and again they spoke to Billy, but he gave no reply.
Then they threatened to make it warm for him, and one suggested that
they make a break for the door.
But, each one seemed to feel that the revolver covered him, and none
would make the attempt, for they had ocular demonstration before them
of the deadly aim of the eye behind the weapon.
To poor little Billy, and I suppose to the men too, it seemed as if ages
were passing away, in the hour and a quarter that Davie Dunn was gone,
for he had bounded upon one of the outlaws' horses and ridden away
like the wind.
But, at last, Billy heard a stern voice say:--
"Boys, you is our meat."
At the same time several pistols were thrust into the window, and in
came the door, burst open with a terrific crash that was music to Billy's
ears; while in dashed a dozen bold settlers, led by farmer Dunn.
The three outlaws were not only captured, but, being recognized as old
offenders, were swung up to a tree, while Billy and Davie became
indeed boy heroes, and the former especially was voted the lion of the
log cabin school, for had he not "killed his man?"

CHAPTER III.
BILLY'S FIRST DUEL.
Near where Billy's father settled in Kansas, dwelt a farmer who had a
son and daughter, the former being fourteen, and the latter eighteen.
As is often the case with boys, Billy fell in love with Nannie Vennor,
which was the young lady's name, although she at eighteen was just
seven years older than he was.
But she had been over to call on the Cody girls with her brother, and a
deep attachment at once sprung up between the boys, and Billy became
the devoted slave of Nannie, making her a horse-hair bridle for her
pony, gathering her wild flowers whenever he went over to the Vennor
farm, and in fact being as devoted in his attentions as a young man of
twenty-one could have been.
But Nannie had another lover, in fact a score of them from among the
neighboring young settlers, but one in particular who bid fair to be
Billy's most dangerous rival. This one was a dashing young fellow from
Leavenworth, with a handsome face and fine form, and who always had
plenty of money.
Folks said he was very dissipated, was a gambler, and his name had
been connected several times with some very serious affairs that had
occurred in the town.
But then he had a winning manner, sung well, and Nannie's beaux had
to all admit that he was every inch the man, and one they cared not to
anger.
From the first Billy Cody hated him, and did not pretend to hide the
fact; but it seemed the boy's intuitive reading of human nature, as much
as his jealousy on account of Nannie Vennor.
One day Billy was seated by the side of a small stream fishing.

The bank was