Frank Reade Library No. 12: Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

THE STEAM MAN OF THE PLAINS. a7 h’among the ‘orrid h'Osage h’Indians, Yand bh’I’ve just made h'off by h’extreme bravery. Hl ‘ope you will grant me protection h’and shel- ter h’ the morning.” ‘‘ That’s jes as the cupen and the bows says," re- eurned the guard. ‘* Foller me, and I'll take you the **H’and who h’is ’e, h’if h’I might make so bold b’as te nig inquired Fiten e. 66 e 39 arry , ** H’and what h’is ’e?” **The boss of an expedition sent out the government to clean out the hull crowd of robbers and thieves,’’ was tho reply. ‘*He'’s one of the secret service detectivas !” Fitznoodle was cunducted by his tall guide through the mazes of tho trees to where the fire was burning. Around the embers which had been kindled thirty mien, dressed for the; most pe trv inthe regu: men, or the mos © regu- far prairie suits of woollen and hide. Prominent among them stood two men who ‘would have attracted considerable attention in any eituation. One was a grizzled old mountain and plain é@raveler by the name of Carter, a brother to the fearless guide who had the emigrant train under cha Bill Carter was perhaps fifty years of age, but his rugged form seemed to defy the hand of time. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and as tough and e@trong as some of the mountain trees he felled én his day The other man who engaged the attention of George Augustus was perhaps thirty years of He was of medium size, but his form was as perfectly strong as that of the panther. His eyes, gray, sharp, piercing, seemed to glance ugh a man, and he seemed one born to com- mand. Before these two men the trembling Cockney ‘was conducted by the guide. “* What in thunder ** Halloo !” cried Bill Carter. dave you picked up now?” ‘‘A chap what was sneakin’ aroun’ on thu out- ‘side o’ the camp,” said the . “He says his name is Filibuster Canoodle, or something like that, and he wants you to give him protection and shelter over night.” “Excuse mo, sir,” said the Englishman, with an oracular wave of his hand. “ You ‘ave mis- taken my name. H’ith’is not Canoodle; h'I h’'um George h’Augustus Eijitznoodle, h’of London, b' England, @ speculator h’in coal h’ and h’ iron e3, The sharp-eyed man looked him over a mo- ment, and e up his mind that the speculator was one of those solid men with whom it was very handy to be on good terms. “You are very welcome, Mr. Fitznoodle,” was his greeting. ‘The shelter of my camp and the rotection afforded by my men shall be yours as ong as you see fit to tarry with us. My name is Hale, Harry Hale, and I am a detective in the eecret service of the United States, This is the Jeader of ny pend of brave fellows. Mr. Caster, this is Mr. rge Augustus Fitznoodle. I hope you will do well by him.” ‘* Happy ter meet yer, Englisher,” growled out Bill er, who had a voice that was a cross be- tween a base-drum and one of those terrible Dutch trombones. ‘I’m only a rough-and- geady, stranger, but Bill Carter knows a gentle- man whee he sees the gennywine article. Tip us er r.” she: EL ” cried Fitznoodle. ‘* Flop over yer grapplin’ iron,” said Bill Carter, thrusting out a grimy hand that was like a bear's yaw. ‘ Plant your right bower thar, English.” ‘* Really.” cried the much-puzzled George Au- gustus, ‘‘h’I h’am h’at an hentire loss to com- prehend the h’exact meaning h’of your strange remarks.” ‘* English, I pass,” sorrowfully observed the rough old case, who had drop his hand, and ae any the big-worded cockney with wonder. «*T don’t smoke yer.” Harry Hale, who had been much amused lis- tening to all this odd, talk, now came to the res- sue. “You do not understand Mr. Carter,” he said | to the you. 99 Oockney. ‘ He wants to shake hands with by the explanation. ‘ With h’all my ‘eart h’and @oul.” He put forth his hand. ‘a the ticket,” cried Carter. ‘‘ Now yer 4-smoking me, and i'm smoking you, Mr. doodle, I’m happy to meet yer.” He grasped the ceckney's soft hand in his own much warrath, that poor George Augustus hopped mech warmth, poor George Augus op and shouted with pain. “Snakes and buffiers !” growled old Bill. ‘I’ve not hurt yer, have! stranger?” ‘**Oh, no,” groaned Fitznoodle, .to take the cramps out of his hand, “ b’only h’I wish you hadn't been quite 80 happy to me, that’s h’all.” ‘* Ho—ho—ho !” laughed Bill. “That’s cussed cute, my friend; well, I'll leave yer with the boes ae I take a scoot around the grove to see to He walked away from them with his rifle rest- | 8h ing in the bollow of his arm, and although he was an old and Vt Mca man, they could not catch the sound of his practiced feet as he moved skill- fully through the trees. ese Old western hard-nuts who live on the mountains and prairies, and wander for years tarough teacksote forests, have a style of locomo- tion is truly very wonderful, and in some strange manner they in silence over ground that nine men out of ten would stumble over. The forests and prulries, the mountains and streams, and the glorious canopy with its moon and stars are all as books to them, to be read by that education they gain by a lifetime of ex- perience. ‘‘ Be seated, Mr. Fitznoodle,” requested Hale, that he reckoned the Steam Man more than 8 match for all the ignorant redskins on the ‘* What will you doabout the poor yo er?” asked Dash Hallett, who was | of the Steam Man, smoking a pipe the build of the man of metal. ‘‘T hardly know,” said Frank. “‘Bhure ye'll not be afther lavin’ the poor body among them haythens?” put in our friend Barney the fest eu. “Oh, I don’t mind what you say,” said Frank. ‘You're a sort of Kilkenny cat yourself, and all you want is to get into a musa and seo things fiy around like Old Nick. But I'm not going to run the neck of my steam friend into danger just be- cause you're spoiling for a row.” se ee “Aisy now, me nate goseoon,” interposed Irishmen. ‘*T only want to help a friend in dis- treas, do you mind.” ‘‘That’s all right,” sald Frank. ‘ But if you had your way, you’d.grab m big ottck. fora shillelah and smash P ump into the In village, knock- everything left and right.” d quoth ney Shea: ‘Shure wouldn't that be illigant intirely?” “‘I don't see why we can’t go back,” observed and placed a log for the Englishman to sit on. | Charl ‘* Are you hungry enough to eat a bearsteak ?” “Hl really ks h’I could doa bit h’in that way,” said George Augustus, who was then served with a well-done slice from bruin’s haunch. ‘** May h’I know what you h’intend doing in these parts, Mr. ’Ale?” “Certainly,” said the detective. ‘‘In such a section of the country us this there is not anythin to be gained by kéeping affairs secret. As I tol you I am a detective of the secret service force.” ** H’exactly.” ** And I can now inform you that my present mission is to hunt down and capture or extermi- nate the several bands of red and white robbers who have for many years past been the plague and bane~ prairie travel.” ‘*H’and you think you can do it?” “Pll do it, or I'l! die!” said Harry HaJe, and a red gleam leaped to his gray eyes. “ I have some- thing more than the mere performance of duty to urge me on.” “Ah?” exclaimed Fitznoodle, ‘‘ you ‘ave been a sufferer from their cruelty?” ‘*You may well say so,” said Hale, seeming to relapse into a gloomy train of thought. ‘‘ The devils, the flends !” * H’if h'I might make so bold h’as to h’ask ‘ow much did they rob you h’of?’ eaid Fitznoodle. The detective li his head‘ and said, with flaming eyes: ‘A life!” ‘“‘ Eh! What?” ejaculated Fitznoodle. ‘‘A life” said Hale. ‘I repeat it—alife.’ Twas not mine, but it was as dear to me as my own could be. I had a brother whom I loved as ason. He was younger than myself, but bold, keen, hardy, noble, and big-breasted, and as true us steel. ‘‘He was sent out upon just such a mission as this, sent by the same powers to capture thu same gany of robbers, thieves, and murderers. ‘* He was too venturesome, and in a moment of foolhardy bravery, placed himself in the hands of the enemy, hoping to be able to get an eusy vic- ory OF seeming to desertfromhismen. In somo unknown manner the trick was discovered by that brutal Captain Slasher, and my brvther's body was filled with bullets. But I shall avenge him. Captain Slasher is doomed if he ever crosses my path.” “‘T reckon,” the guide said, who had come back while Hale was a ing, ‘‘ he won't stand much show with old Bill, either——” ‘‘H’excuse me,” said Fitxnoodle. ‘ Didn't you say Captain Slasher?” “TI did,” said Hale. “Then h’I can tell you where to look for the brute within the hour,” said Fitznoodle. ‘ H’I ’ave just left the village where ’e h’is.” He then related to the two leaders «ll that had taken place in the Osage villago th it day, care- fully recounting the conversation he had heard between the captain and Jack Beal:s. When he had concluded, the orders of the two leaders rang sharply out; horses were brought in from a corral close at hand, the men were soon mounted behind Bill Carter, and at the word of paler aber brave fellows dashed away for the “ah!” cried Fitznoodle, very much relieved | Three CHAPTER XX. THB CAPTURE OF THE STEAM MAN. es thn on READE was undecided about going back e v , He did not fearatribe of savages, for they were 80 superstitiously afraid of the Terror of the West, ey. ‘“‘I don’t mind the rede,” said Frank, “‘ but those cussed murdering white men don’t stand in fear of the {team Man.” ‘And probably admire him very much,” said “Exactly,” said Frank. “So you're scarit that Cap'n Slasher and his gung might get their paws on your prise,” said ‘‘ Thin it’s Barney Shea that'll show yes the way out o’ the throuble,” said the Patiander. They al] turned to him. ‘Why can't yez lave the machine here? Wan o’ yez b'ys sthop wid the consarn, and me and the others go to tho village.” ‘‘And who'll stop?” asked Frank. ‘*‘Not me av voorse!” said Barney. “Nor me!” said Charley. “You can’ keep this chicken tendin’ baby when there’s danger around !” said h. ‘‘Then I must!’ said Frank. ‘I like wild ad. ventures well enough, but when ft comes to leav- ing my steam friend behind, then I feel like stay- ing with him. He's taken me out of many & scrape, and I'll not give him over to other peo- Phin te bargain?” cried Barney “ n ‘3 a 98 ru . “* What?” *‘ Ye'll athop an’ we'll go!” at Yes 9D ‘‘ Hooroo!” cried the Irishman; but Dash Hal- lett clapped his broad hand over the mouth of the noisy rascal. ‘“‘ Shot up yer head !” growled the hunter. ‘Do ou want a hull band o’ reds pourin’ in on us? y, evon this little light is enough to be danger- ene, without your hullerin’ at the top of your ungs.” Dush referred to the headlight cyes of the Steam Man, which wore now hulf closed by means of the movable eyelids that Frank had construct- ed with great good foresight. ““Oh, well, I was only glad | said Barney. ‘“‘Then be more quietly glad,” said Chariey. “‘The redskins have sharp ears.” “Will we start now, is it?” asked Barney. ‘ You're in a burry,” amiled Frank. ‘“‘Tho sooner we begin the sooner we'll get through, do ye moind,” suid the Irishman. *‘ Jist lot me sthand fornenst a dozer of thim rid divils, and be the smoke of Kate Kelley's pipe, I think Icould knock smithereens out o’ thim.” ‘* You'll have plenty of show,” said Dash. “What distance are we away from the village asked Charley Gorse, picking up e. ‘‘Oh, not so far as you might think,” said Frank. ‘‘I did not travel away ia a very straight course, but in about a quarter ofacircle. Weare now perhaps four or five miles from the village.” ‘* An hour's ie suid Dash. ‘‘ Just about; and I propose we start just as soon as possible.” “Then come on; I can take my course by the stars,” said the hunter, and throwing his rifle over his shoulder he stepped away from the Steam Man, followed by Barney and ey. Frank listened until their footeteps died away, and then, boy-like, he began to feel terribly lone- some and almost wish that he had run the Seam Man close to the village. He couW not see very wel with the faint star- light and the half-light from the eyes of the t, but to occupy his time, and drive off the lone- some feeling, he got out his cans and rags and leathers, and proceeded to put the old prairie racer in perfect order, oiling every joint, and cleaning eve This occupiod him a considerable time, aad GOMILGIOO SS o(CO)