Phil Rushington's Search, or, The Unknown Rider of the Ring — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

ty must be cleared up before we are ready to load the show to-night. J do not know how long I will be away, Walt, but I will surely get back in time to take the train. If I have not finished my search by that time, I will have to leave the matter in the hands of the officers. However, I am in hopes to wind the affair up.” When they joined the two girls and the tramp, Rush explained his plans, and Frances at once acceded to them. Then Rush snapped his fingers in the tramp’s face and command- ed him to “Awake!” Bumpers opened his eyes and looked around him, apparently very much at sea. At least he seemed to grasp the situation. ‘Was I any good, boss?” he asked. ‘About as good a subject as I ever saw,” answered Phil. “Do I get it?” “You get this,” said Phil, throwing him a dollar. “For the present you will have to consider yourself a prisoner. As you said, Bumpers, you were found in bad company, but you will have a chance to prove your in- nocence, if you can do so.” The tramp’s bleared eyes opened to their widest extent and his jaw fell as he looked at Rist “Am I goin’ ter be arrested?” he demanded. Yes.” “For what?” | | “For concealing a letter in the head of that wooden image on your left there, and for va- rious other things in connection with that letter.” | : ; Bumpers dropped back against the wheel of the chariot. ' “iT ia DO AND DARE WEEKLY. “Say, how do you know that?” he flut- tered. “After you were hypnotized, you were obliging enough to go and get a paper from the place where you had hidden the letter.” “And you hypnotized me jest ter make me do that?” “That was all.” “Gee! If I ain't the biggest fool in seven States I don’t want a cent! You've got the letter now, have you?” “No.” “But you jest said fe “I just said you got a paper from the place where you had hidden the letter. That paper wasn't the letter, however. Can you read writing, Bumpers?” “Tf the words ain't got too many letters in ‘em I can.” “Then look at this.” Phil handed him the paper that had been found in the wooden figure, and he spelled it through, his face twisting into a ludicrous ex- pression of astonishment and chagrin as he read the signature. “This beats the Dutch, by jiminy!”’ he ex- claimed. “I’m ready to go to jail. In fact, I ought ter be behind the bars, ‘cause I’m mentally incompetent, as the lawyers say, an’ haven’t -any right ter be runnin’ around loose.” At that juncture Wister rode up, leading Phil’s horse. “Take care of him, Walt,” said Phil, leap- ing into the saddle. “And you take care of yourself, Philip,” cautioned Dora, coming close and looking into Rush’s eyes. “D’Or may have a revolver a oe ~