Phil Rushington's Search, or, The Unknown Rider of the Ring — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

= ~~ , « ¢ LU 4 . Y, ¥, ss - . * a — a ra « ~ * “an 62% 2 ~ ‘ " ® rs 26 “Tf he does, little girl,” smiled Rush, “I'll Good-by !” keep out of his way. as of value, and Rush did Every moment w any more time than was ab- He and Wister rode oft not wish to lose solutely necessary. at a gallop. When they reached the road, Cartwright was there to point out the trail for them and see that they were started prop- erly. The streak of middlings was quite thin but plain and easily followed. “This reminds me of a game we used to play when I went to school,” remarked Rush, as he and Wister started west at a swinging call it ‘hare and hounds.’ ” said Wister. pace. “They “‘T’ve heard of it,’ For half an hour they continued their steady jog westward, and then the trail turned into a farmyard. The farm buildings were in a dilapidated condition, and everything about the place bespoke a shiftless and slip- shod owner. “Eureka!” through the gate. cried Rush, as they trotted “I don’t know what a ‘democrat’ wagon is, but I’ll bet something handsome that that’s the vehicle beside the barn.” “T know what it is, and you’re right,” said Wister. “There are a number of bags in the back, and the one near the énd-pake is less than a quarter full. That must have been the one that sprung. the leak.” Hitching their horses to a couple of posts, they made their way toward the house, a _ freckle-faced little girl in a gingham dress a Pe ag and sunbonnet suddenly confronting them, ee lives. here, sis?” asked Rush, stoop- gs d patting the child’s oe * Ps . ag ° n’ 1 Ir 806 A: —— ae a“ Pay ne 2 pe a i ao Sf? jv: of , ‘ In ” ill pO AND DARE WEEKLY. “Veth, thir. Pap went for Bor erith “The grist ?” v “Yeth, thir, an’ mam’s givin’ him — fith ‘cauth he lotht a whole bag o’ middlin’s.’ are “That’s too bad! Did any one come home with pap?” Peers a “Yeth, thir, a man from town. Mam’s) * — givin’ pap fith about that, too, ’cauth we don’t — ee : want no visitorth, we don’t, not when they come to thupper. Did you come to thtay to thupper ?” “No. Is pap and mam and the visitor in . the house?” a, “Yeth, thir.” “Thanks, sis. We'll go on and see pap.” Here’s a nickel for you. Phil gave the child a five-cent piece, and_ he and Wister continued on to the house and rapped at the front door. | A man in overalls answered their sum- mons. “What do ye want: >” he asked. “I'd like to have a word with the man you brought out from town.” “Didn’t bring no man out from town ‘cept < ie : in’ myself, an’ I’ll be hanged if I don’t wisht Bie I hadn’t brought myself, the way the ole woman has been combin’ me down, An’ all | on account of a measly bag o’ middlin’ S, too.” ss “Your little girl tells me you did bring a : - man with you oe town, and that he’s in this house now,’ Pyle 9 : Well, what of it? aver t I got a bright | to bring a man from town with me if a oe cs - to? That's ’nother thing I'm gettin’ 1 Hi: eter | a hadn’ t been born.” (ts y Soul « h you hhadn we cs SY ae 5: oe ie tar stg ¥ ¢ wet" <> A oe P .. aif ‘ .* nt al » 4