Wrestling Joe: The Dandy of the Mines — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

¢ sear ies Fy ‘ % ae > - ' . y« a> fe mee dk 4 J ye 22 THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY. : No, 158. “Then stand away and bid that man put down my child. “Now, Fred, make a good slipping noose—a hangman’s { wish to go back to my room.” knot, if you know how.” __ A “Not yet, madam, not yet. There is a bargain tobe, Fred did know how, and it, was made in a moment. made between you and me before you leave this spot, or} “Mr. Champe, with that well hand of yours, place this touch the child you love. “T am compelled to leave this noose over the neck of your friend, Mr. Swoops. camp. You must go with me!” ‘Mercy alive, Mr. Carroll! What do you mean ¢” gasped “ Never—never, wretch!” cried the lady, her eyes flash- the gambler. ‘‘You are not going to hang him ?” ing wild with anger. | “No; I am not, but youare! You have led him into “ Never is a long, long time, and wretch is a hard word. | this scrape, and now you shall let him out of it. Put that Yet with me neither amounts to anything from your lips. noose over his head, sir. Get up and do it, or I will slice Now hear me! Unless vou consent to go with me to-mor- off both your ears close to your head.” row I will first have that child hurled zo instant death, | Champe saw Carroll lay his hand on his knife. He knew and then—then, madam, you shall be made but too willing there was not an instant for delay. With a groan he rose, to go where I'll take you. Do you consent or not?” ‘and taking the noose he slipped it over the neck of his ““No—a thousand times no!” cried the lady. companion in many a dastard crime. “ Over the cliff with the brat! then help me to bring her; The latter did not speak, but he looked as if he thought to terms !” cried the gambler, angrily. ‘there would only be an attempt to scare him, and he The man advanced toward the fearful brink, and the thought he would show game, and not satisfy them by mother, uttering one wild, ear-piercing scream, sprang asking life. upon him, and sought to tear the child from his arms. | “Bred. ag Champe has but one hand, and cannot knot The ruffian hurled her away, but quick as thought she very al you will have to aid him in executing his was upon him again, her slender fingers clutched in his friend 22 heavy beard, as she strove to turn him away from the! « Heaven _knows I’m willing!” said Bellows; “but I’d precipice toward which he bore the child. rather help to hang him !” “ Thunder !—Champe, either knock her senseless or tear; « We'll see who hangs, if I ever get the ears of the com- off her grip,” cried theman. “She is digging her nails! mittee,” growled Champe. | into my jugular.” “Take the end of this rope and fasten it out on yonder “Over with the brat—I’ll settle her !” cried the brute, as limb, Fred,” said Carroll, and he pointed to a limb which he rushed up to aid the wretch. | jutted out fate the cliff. Another scream broke from that helpless woman’s ig Fred hurried to do it, and as he~ ade it fast it drew wnen “a seen ts heavy, crunching blows. the noose close around the neck of the gambler, Swoops. f aa cnl (ies Ww ich she clung, » on in her arms, and | The latter stood near the cliff, and now it began to look oth the gamblers were at her feet ere she could draw al as if his tate was not a matter of jest—that something far errons breath. ok ‘more serious than a scare was intended. ae rag = de ee to your room, and leave! He had not much time left for thought. Tiveas Waward Carroll who A “If you think a prayer will help you, pray, Mr. Swoops, Bae look: fab chow cat ae Rin. Tndbecah seni for your time has come,” said Carroll, sternly, when the without a word she plasbed hae boy to her boRoLs and | ote se Ye af seatiaer tae dieipatenda pi Seige daa ah turned swiftly away, and hurried toward her cabin. trial a ati Sen a; hs = 2 pa atinem ae “See her safe to her cabin, Mr. Bellows, and return here a ne é = Nicid so Sea¥) at lust, really frightened. with a stout piece of rope—three or four yards long let it), YOU have been tried, convicted, sentenced,” said Car- be.” roll, sternly. “I have been your judge. Your friend Bellows bowed and hurried on with the lady, while Car-| Shall be your executioner. Henry Champe, I- give him ee — — - — - Or te ee ee ey 9 > 3% 2 ee IT * s ‘i —__ ~ ne mee ~ S a eee. ae a on @ ie tow < ; 7 <S —Petet wit ay hg uc ai did . «* rte + roll turned to the gamblers, who yet lay stunned with the ‘ree minutes for prayer. At the end of that time you at blows which had felled them—blows from the heavy butt 1! push him off the clift. Even crippled though you ee ie Ke of his pistol—and unbuckling their belts, disarmed them. | 1b will be an easy Job, for he is bound, and cannot resist. aaa i Tossing their weapons over the cliff, so close at hand, he I'll never do it!” cried Champe, shaking from head to i | waited for them to recover, and for Bellows to return. foot. sigh gee feral ee ee Both became conscious long before Fred came back. Bellows, draw your knife!” said Carroll, stepping in Champe was the first to open his eyes, for he had fallen) “2 rear of Champe, who stood by the side of _Swoops. | ies on his wounded arm, and intense agony brought him out) . YOU Will use its point, as I shall use mine, to tickle Mr. | | | of insensibility. Champe in the ribs while he moves forward with his friend. | } Ree ‘ Attempt to rise before I give you leave and I’ll shatter Be careful not to touch a vital part, for I cannot’ spare | Meee your other arm!” said Carroll, coolly, as Champe gained 2¥™ ill the fourteenth day of March arrives. Now, for- a sitting composure. “I will not kill-you till your day) Ward, Mr. Champe—forward, with your friend. Embrace : of doom arrives. I have work for you to do yet. Not him with a loving clasp, with that strong, sound arm of | such work as you delight in, not such coward work as that YOUrS, and forward ! I foiled you in just now, but you will know soon enough| Champe uttered a howl of agony, for two knife points what itis. Ah, your tool here is coming to! What is his|C2tered a tender part of his body at the same moment, Aas viame ?”? and he turned, unarmed as he was, to resist. om ee “Swoops, Mr. Carroll, Bill Swoops !” As he did so the knife of Carroll flashed so close to one i “A very nice name for a blackleg !” said Carroll, “and of his ears that he felt the skin abrazed. Rah now, Mr. Swoops. sit up by the side of your master in Face about, or both your ears shall go!” cried Carroll, iniquity, but don’t try to rise. If you do I shall send you, Sternly. Sereey P o down below without giving you time to pray, if youever| Champeturned. He dared not do otherwise. | a do pray.” “Put your arm about the waist of Mr. Swoops.” | gk The ruffian saw the cocked _ revolver, and the eye which| Champe did so; he knew that to hesitate was to suffer fell upon him, and did not offer to rise. some new agony. \ “What do you mean to do with us?” gasped Champe,| “Don’t, Hank, don’t help ’em do this,” implored : as he saw Bellows coming with a long piece of stout rope, Swoops, in a piteous tone. ee in his hands. “How can I help it? They’ll butcher me by inches if I | Fie Carroll made no answer to him. don’t,” groaned. Champe, and the sweat oozed out in “Mr. Bellows, you will do me the favor to take this streams from his forehead. stout thong and tie the hands of Mr. Swoops behind him!) “I’ll haunt you, Champe—I’ll haunt you,” yelled the Also bind his legs together.” gambler, as Champe’s arm was _ placed about him in Carroll pointed to the ruffian who had held the child. obedience to a second order from Carroll. B; “ Offer to resist, Mr. Swoops, and I will putit out of your; “Over the cliff with him, even as at your bidding he was mes power,” he continued. about to throw the helpless child,” cried Carroll. hee Swoops looked at the pistol so very near his head, and; “Mercy!” cried Swoops and Champe in one breath, one : put his hands back to be tied. | piteous appeal. ~ . Pn ad - —_ — ” . 7 ” - CLL PE yey pe ee ey ee art Pe —_—— ' :. ae : . 7 . « — . ~* > od ar . oe 43 ee ges ee +, f . eee ok & gee oe ee) ¥ — a a eee eee a i P. . a oe sy -