Frank Reade Library No. 12: Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

44 THE STEAM MAN OF THE PLAINS. coals of fire. ‘You are speaking with a double tongue, and your treachery is known to me. Take him, my brave boys! Seise the traitor! tie him up to this tree, and I'll send six bullets through his black heart!” The order was instantly obeyed. Even had the teamster disposed to fight with his enemies, it would have been worse than useless to have lifted a hand in self-defense. He was seized by a score of hands, thrown to ** Yes,” suid Beales. ‘Old Carter keeps special guard over it himself.” “Where is the wagon located in the train?” “‘ Always about the center.” ‘** Then there’s no chance whatever of cutting it out from the rest, whipping the hcrses, and mak- ing off with it?” ‘Nary a chance,” said Beales. ‘“‘Some men in day and night, the train are w ing that try such a game the ground, seourely bound, and was then tied to | 95 that. the tree. eyclir Mneag lier ted nas in the space of about two minutes, and before the deserter could fairly comprehend what ha‘ happened to him, he was tied securely to the trunk of the tree, a host threatening-looking faces surroun him, and the recklesa leader of this biocodth crew standing before him a with drawn and cocked weapon in bis hand, ready to serry cut the terri- bie he had made against his life. It was enough to make a man’s head swim with wonder and excitement, for the change was as — as unexpected, and as terrible as com- P ** Now, traitor, you shall receive a re- ward for your act!” cried the captain, his iatol to a level with the trembling body, and fix- bs his flashing eyes upon the man’s face. ‘You meant te betray us, and you are doomed !” “ T spose it’s no use me saying a word about the matter,’ said the deserter, looking unflinch- of ro ingly at the muzzle of the weapon covering his | f breast. ‘‘ You've got an idea in your head, and all I can say won't prevent you from shooting.” “Do you mean to tell me that you did not come to betraypme to my foes?” cried out the leader of the outlaws. ‘“ Do you not know the amount that you were to receive for your act?” ** J should say not,” replied the cool card at the tree. ‘‘In fact, I’ve not received any offer, for the very good reason that I had no such intention. Pop away, and be mange’ to you! Ive always wanted to die with a bullet through my heart.” “Fool!” cried the threatening captain, still pointing the pistol toward the apparently doomed man. “Confess your intentions of treachery, and I may content myself with slicing your ears, and een ou back to my foes as a warning that my faithful spies are everywhere.” ‘You Ry the devil!” cried ths prisoner. «¢ I’ve only told you the truth, and {’m uot going to make up lies even tosave my bacon. I'vestole, and I’ve stabbed, and foe I've killed, but I've never allowed myself to talk: crooked. You've been lied to, and my goose is cooked, that’s all. away.” The ferceious eam departed from the eyes of ot captain, and he allowed his hand to fall to his e His h out loudly, as if it were a sig- nal; the enon serene forward and released the su teamster, and with shouts, welcomed him as their comrade. The man could no more understand this change than he could the preceding one, and be looked oltingly at Captain Slasher. “Oh, that was only a little game of mine that i precticee every time any one comes to join us,” the latter. ‘‘ You see, the government is try- to wipe me out, and the only way they can do itis by getting one of their secret service men among my boys. I always put this dodge into practice, and it works as asacharm. Ifthe man {fs a spy he falls in the trap, confesses, begs for his life, and gets a dozen bullets through body. I know you now, and accept you a mem- ‘‘Oh,” said the teamster. ** What's your name?” ‘* Jack Beales.” ** Well, Mr. Beales, I welcome you as one of the Brethren of the Plains, and feel confident that you will make a good addition to my crowd of ecreamers.” ‘** Thank you,” said Beales. “Follow me. I want to have a talk with P ba for awhile,” said Captain Slasher; and with Sho- lum Alarkum, Tolahreeser and the crue! Mutseer at his heels, the leader of this very select party led the way into one of the numerous huts. The redskivs, trae to their early training, very som pineoney squatted on the floor of the hut. Captain Slasher seated himself upon a rude stool,and kicked a bench towards Jack Beales for the latter to sit on. ‘* Now for business,” said the leader, turning to | val the newly-made member. ‘Do you know how a money is in the box?” @ 0) i) } = Cannot make a guess?” “There must be many thousands. Perhaps a auperee cbousene « guarded any more closely than anything else in the train?” 7 and it would be bullet or rope “Then the only way to the box is by tack- ling the train?” _— ty ‘** That’s the ticket.” Captain Slasher turned" to the redskins, who were taking everything in without making a sound. ** You see,” he said, ‘‘ we must somewhere or other. They cleaned us out when we had a thundering sight more men than we've got now, and it’s c likely that they can do tagain. Now, I’m not going to let that box of money slip through my fingers by any means, not os fghane ot e 5 ele A ie ten ving Rs e well enough, but I’m not let my boys be cleaned out again if I cas help it. We've got to have more men, 80 put your wits 7 work and try to find out how we're to get em.” Mutseer turned to Sholer Alarkum. ‘*‘ Better get Motzer-Ponum,” he said. ‘*He bas many brave warriors,” said the chief. ‘* And his braves love fighting,” put in Tolahb- reaser. ‘He is the chief of the Osages, isn't he?’ asked Captain Slasher. ** Yes,” said Mutseer. **How many warriors would he be willing to send me?” “ AS man “Then | some help as we have.” 8 strike him by all means,” said the a dears ‘But I thought your tribe was at war Ww e 9 “The hatchet is buried,” said Tolahfresser. “We are friends.” ‘‘And therefore are willing to stop murdering each other in order to combine and murder other people,” said the captain. ‘‘ Well, we'll have something to bite, and then we'll ride to the rer a age. We can reach there before dark And by the way, if that infernal steam con- Pilbra gets in my way again I'll make a dash or tD ‘‘ It would be valuable to you,” suggested Jack es. “Bo I think,” said Captain Slasher. ‘‘I want to lay my peepers on that boy who runs the ma- chine, and I’ll make him wish he’d never left his mammy.” A hast band, and then they walked down to a grassy en- closure where their horses were picketed. They were soon mounted, and with th«ir lead- ae at the front, the mouee hal “ine awa. be ) , and by there be ore dake The shout which alarmed Frank and Dash Hallett had been ro them, for the keen eyes of Ca Slasher had made out the form of the boy he had cursed for his late defeat. CHAPTER XVIL SOME EXPLANATIONS. DasH Haxterr was a decent sort of runner, and so was Frank, but the boy seemed to grow tired after running a few hundred yards, and panilngly subsided to a walk. ** Lively !” said Dash. ee, SEEPOR “TI ain loaded down,” panted Frank, but with long strides he made pretty good time in the di- on of the grove. He plunged thro the trees with Dash at his side, and was immediately taken in tow by Char- ley Gorse, who took the young genius by the arms, and almost } him over the ground to where the Steam Man was standing. Barney Shea was sented on the driver’s seat, with his arms resting on the break, very coaily puffing away on a clay pipe that was as k as @ coa The steam was well up in the monster, as was attested by the hissing sound coming fror. the ves, ‘“‘ Tired out, old boy?” askcd Charley, as Frank stumbled and almost fell. “Dead beat,” said Frank, ining his feet and breathing hard. ‘ This cussed shirt is enough to kill anyone if they are foolisa enough to run.” And to Dash Hallett’s great surprise, the boy re- moved the wires from his coat, took two curiously- shaped concerns out of his pockets, and then re- meal was prepared and eaten by the | vi moved a splendidly made shirt, formed entirely a Sr links of steel. ese were laid in the trunk on the floor of Se eee to his seat. ** I feel like a now man,” he «« How darned heavy that was. Whereare those chaps that were following?” ‘* I can hear the of horses’ hoofs on the d,” said Dash. ‘Then hop in the ,” said Frank, and laia his hand on the conn steam rod. Dash hopped in. The Steam Man stood just on the edge of the ve, hidden from the in the village by © intervening trees. . The sound of horses’ feet could be distinctly Frank did not pull the rod, for he wished to see who was in pursuit. The steam man was so constructed that he could be started or stopped at a very short notice. A head of steam could be let on at once and the old fellow would start off at a high rate of speed, an anplessant jerk being the only Fan. Therefore, being desirous of seeing who was in porsur. and not having the fear of capture be- ore his eyes, the boy waited for the enemy to a . Hoon the hoofs of the rapidly advancing steeds came crashing ert ion © outer edge of the bushes which grew thickly among the trees. Frank caught a glimpee of many mounted men, heard savage oaths and excellent Engilsh eu and then he made up his mind that the section country he was then in was growing very sultzy, ra , too. ) pulled the rod, and let on almosta full head of steam and then shut it off a little, following the plan adopted by the most experienced en- eei8. Then he pulled the whistle cord. The Steam Man made a jump. Then he shrieked. With the jump down went Dash Hallett in the bottom of the wagon. Barney Shea tumbled squarely on top of him. Frank held the reins for support, and his cousin secured himself by grasping © iron brake. “Forward!” yelled the voice of the daring Captain Slasher. ‘There's the Steam Man. One hundred reward for him.” Away leaped the huge iron monster out on the grassy A ae The Indians had not been able to clearly com- prehend who and what the Steam Man really Was. They believed him to be the devil on a tour, or else a sort of envoy extraordinary of his satanic ma » Sent to roam this earth in search of Anyhow they very respectfully declined to go in pursuit of the chap. @ white men held no such fears, and with Cheddar ters eee spat tnt Sy ey r the o stepper, but were no match for the iron-limbed man, They fired several shots at the inmates of the n, and Dash Hallett could not stand that. © seized one of the loaded rifies which were always kept in readiness near the driver’s seat. The murzie flew up, the stock tou his shoulder, and his quick eye flashed for one brief instant over the barrel and through the sights. Ther his fin E proceed the trigger ; the gun went = with a loud bang, and crowed ex- tantly. The others looked around. Captain er and his horse were both tumbling to the ground. This neat effect put a damper on tho ardor of the pursuers, and they concluded to stop for the lead dismounted and gathered around the fallen er. Dash could see them lift the captain from under the body of the horse, and he noted that the leader appeared to be uninjured. ‘*Guess I didn’t hit horse nor man,” muttered the hunter. ‘That critter must have stumbled just when I pulled trigger.” He saw the horse regain his feet, and then be- held the captain remount him. The pursuers did not continue the chase, for the to see that their jaded horses were no match for the tireless limbs of the Steam Man. Frank had kept up just a nice rate of s confident in the ability of his man to o pthe pursuers in leas than three minutes with the full power of steam turned on. He did not increase his rate now, but slashing through the rank at about tw miles an hour, keeping a lookout for obstacles and handling tho novel reins with skill. ‘I’m not going fast, because I don't really want to get a distance away from the ” he said to ey. Conmiclooolkks.conrn