Phil Rushington's Search, or, The Unknown Rider of the Ring — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

pi we . 4, * —_ os NN eG ee a cotpery= + ~ Sean bo er. LHWy uC >a —— *y -= * ia 4% : ta! « i% ~ = ee WIN Beton HL Leming . ; ‘ EF ey it, » - Pa * - “-. a ’ ‘ ” - + : ad "2 s" a ; aed » ‘ ’ * “ss -* Cd ‘ee S ae as G re. wt — re*, J > Yo f ees wd bio “4 ~ 4 < Ww y ee « é 4 ” ‘ e * ‘ J - « 4 " ’ an . s ' : . ? : po AND DARE WEEKLY. threats, persuasion, and, lastly, this terrible plot. He does not want to give me my money. I am almost certain that it will ruin him to do so. “If anything happened to you, to whom. would the money go?” “tT. Uncle Amos—Amos Ardsley 1s my uncle’s name.” The mystery was rapidly clearing, and Phil was able to see through many things that be- fore had been dark to him. “You are in considerable danger, Miss Ardsley,” said he. “T am going to be frank with you, because I think it is best that you should know all. Your uncle is being assisted in his nefarious work by three men—Love- joy, Reddy, and a tramp called Bumpers. Lovejoy, as I understand, is with the show, and I have already taken steps to have him hunted out. Reddy was employed by me as a teamster, but I have discharged him, because I thought he attempted to run you down with that mule team, and because I am positive he cut the strap which gave you that fall in the ring “Can it be possible!” she exclaimed, aghast. “Is my uncle so inhuman as to make attempts on my life?” “IT would not say that,” went on Phil, hast- ily. “He may only have wanted to injure you, thus preventing you from searching for that letter and causing you to postpone your mar- riage.” “No, no!” said Frances, bitterly. “My marriage threatens his ruin; if he finds it im- possible to prevent that, with all his trickery, why should he hesitate about putting me out of the way? A stroke of that ‘kind would make my fortune secure tohim. And see the cunning of it. ‘Tfl was swept out of his way oe by a — aa no one could be called — : dIw would m erely pose asa vic- | a g folly. & Oh, what a Lg of the other Bie 3 ladies, without arias By beet ow bas : ly d ie x O' EH, 7 EO —— ete me i ts tet oe loyal he has been to the trust my father + posed in him!” ee “As for Bumpers,” wention Phil, ts ie ; be nytt not belong with the show, although he apr me = for a place this morning. I have cause te = eg think that the letter you seek was in the p pom session of Bumpers,.and that he has hidden i it a somewhere near this place——” een eae - eg “You know this?” she interrupted, 4 My am almost certain of it.” Usha are or S | “Then we must arrest Bumpers and force © | a him to reveal the hiding-place of the letter.” = | “T do not think he could be forced to, do es = that.” Yee if ; = ; f: : “Then I will buy the letter phe Bik: be a a | ; have not much money, but he is a tramp, you | say, and what little means I have may be sufficient.” ‘No, Miss Ardsley, I do not think you | 38 * 7? have enough money. Bumpers knows the let- oe = ter is very valuable and would demand a large a sum. I have another way to deal with | the As difficulty.” en A Phil arose to his feet. “You are going to help me, , Mr. Ru shi ton?” she asked, eagerly. ener lee a “Yes,” replied Rush. “TI am going. to bebe e i. little searching and go a it in at :. way.” dae es aes “You will first fave to find fe “T know exactly where to go to put my hands on him. Before I leave, however, SB want to tell you that your engagement with | ae, : 3 e this show is at an end. If you had told me, Mi e A at first, all that you have told me. now, I Urs v. aes woul never have permitted you as enter fee ei as a fms -_ position is delicate, as well as faateeen Mi iss Sey Ardsley. I could not place you: under the ce a's, WF ee a care of my friend, ‘Miss. Warren, nor of any ehicnoake com ~ s. + el bi Segesd : tae = ee Oe ee re a eg es a