Frank Reade Library, Vol. VIII, No. 191 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

1d wae Steam Man a sensation wan| The force of the train robbers seemed very Of course they halted, and turned to greet omp. Jack Fair rode up to the cage as Pom ¢ ht the Man to a stop. P ‘Weill, Pomp. old man!” cried the yoang man, ‘‘ where did you come from?” Pomp opened the cage door. a Mth fo’ glory, mec Fair!” he cried, jes’ come fom de . ‘+ From the prairie?” = ** Yes, sab.” ‘+ Bat—how is that?” **Davt’a a fac’, eab.” ** Well, well, how could that happen? We ‘feft you io this pass. ‘*Dat am right, Marse Fair, bat I done folly yo’ down de pass, an’'——” ‘*And what?” Pomp’s eyes were roaming about in quest of be big bears with which he had such a ruac- on. Saddenly he espied the carcase of one some distance up the puss. **Dere dey am,” he cried. ‘* Yo’ see dat big b’ac up der? Well, I jes’ had a big fight wif free ob dem tings.” **Threa grizzlies?” gasped Jack. “Yes, sab.” *¢ And you killed them all?” ‘* Two ob dem, sah. De oder one got bliad ln bis eyes, au' I jes’ lef’ him bere to go on an’ fin’ yo’, sah.” ; ‘ Ah, why did you not succeed in finding us e9 ‘« Why, Jes’ because dat when dis chile got down to de moul ob de pass yo’ wasn’ dar.” ‘* Ah, 1 understand,” said Jack. ‘* We pur. rey the villains into another pass jus: beyond Pomp’s eyes opened wide. * Yo’ did?” ry | Y ” ‘* Mebbe it was de pase dat de ghoateses was io an’ where Marse Frank an’ Barney hab gone.” “I dare say.” ** Jes’ yo’ show dis chile where dat am, P " “All right, bat first finish your story. Where did you go after you found that we were not at the mouth of the pass?” **Golly, I jes’ looked all about fo’ yo’.” ae Yes.” * Well, I didn’t find yo’. Den I seen a big line ot} smoke jes’ ober in a bit ob timber dar.” “« Well” *« I jes’ went ober dar, an’ when I gets dar I tinds out dat dey am de train robbers. | jes’ give dem a lilly bit ob a chase. Den I sees yo’ comin’ along de foot ob be mounting an’ sees yo’ come Into dis pass agin.” ©] anderstand now,” cried Jack. ‘* Well, Pomp, I think we shell soon be able to find your master. @ are going to leave this pass at once. Yon will follow uas®”’ ‘* Yea, sah!’ Then Jack turned to Rollin anid said: ‘* Come, we have no time to lose. Let as go ahead.” ** J°m ready!” cried Rollin. Every man was called (o saddie and the start was made. Down the canyon they went at fall speed. Pomp followed with the Steam Man. Bat Jost as the mouth of the canyon was reached a thrilling thing occurred. Jack rode in advance, and he was much sarprised as suddenly a band of armed men at the mouth of the canyon. hey were train robbers, as be saw at a glance. CHAPTER XIV. TUE END. Tue train robbers had waylaid the Vigilants at the moath of the pass. In a moment a lively battle was in ress The train robbers attacked their pee with y The battle at once became a ter- rific one. Shots were quickly exchanged aad men began to fault from their saddles. FRANK READE, JR,, IN much larger than thet of the Vigilants. Pomp all this while hud been in the rear. take part in the fray. There was a break (n the Vigilapts’ ranks. The darky opened the Steam Man's throttle and sent bim ehead at a tremendous rate of Speal. Of course there was some nsk in doing this, but Pomp bad counted the chances well. be made. The Vigilants were getting decidedly the worst of the battle, and if they were to saffer defeat it would be a serious thing for Katie Rollin as well as for Frank and Barney. Therefore, Pomp was prompted to take more chances than he would have ordinarily thought safe. He opened the throttle and sent the Steam Man forward. The ranks of the Vigilantes separated to let the iron moueter through. It was like an ancient chariot charge upor a Roman phalanx. The train robbers saw the moneter coming, Bat they did nos retreat. They stood their ground bravely while the Steam Man descended upon them like a thuan- derbolt. Driven at such terrific speed, nothing in the shape of men or horses could withstand the attack of such a mouater. In a twiokling horses were thrown; men briny trampled under Lhe iron feet of the Steam an. Straight throagh the ranks of the train rob- bers the Steam Man swept. The result was demoralizing in the extreme. The train robbers were separated as with a knife. This gave the Vigilants o splerdid cnance to turn the tide of defeat into victory. With the train robbers in this state of con- fusion Jack Fair gave the order to charge. Down apon the fue the Vigilunts swept like a fury. In valu tbe train robbers tried to close their ranks. They were scattered like chaff and shot down In great numbers by the Vigilantes. The Steam Man under Pomp’s skiliful man- Ipulatior. chased the fleeing robbers like a ter- rible Nemesis. In less time than it takes to tell it the gang was entirely broken up and scattered into the hille. The Vigilants were elated with their victory, and made the nir ring with their cheers. The Steam Man came in for its sbare of the eulogy and Pomp felt juetifiably proud. ‘+ T jea’ finka «de rapecal'iane amo’'t in it with de Steam Man!” cried Pomp, jo jubilation. ‘* Dey jes’ bettalh steer clear ob dis chile.” But che question now arose as to what move it was best to make next. It was discussed by Pomp, Jack Fair and Rollin at some length. ‘¢] jes’ Gnke If 1 cud find dat harnted canyon dat it would be ce bes’ fing I cud do!” declared Pomp. ‘* Do you think that it would lead to Mosely’s den? asked Jack. ‘*6[ donno anyfing about dat,” replied Pomp. ‘‘hat [ jee’ knows dat I lef’ Maree Frank an’ Barney dar, an’ dey may be waitin’ fo’ me yit.” © Qh, I see!” sakd Jack. ‘' Well, you should try to find it just as soon as you can, Pomp.” **T tink so m'sef.” ‘© Of course, and we will go along with you. It is not unlikely that they have made some diacovery by this time tha: will be of great ad- vantage to as all,” « A’right, sah. I wud like to hab yo’ go, if o° will.” ‘* We will,” replied Jack. So the matter was settle’. The Man led the way along the base of the hills for some dis- tance. Yet the latter, urged on by the daring and pluck of Jack and Rollin, made ao brave fight. The Jarky was chafing for an opportunity to Now the chance seemed to have been offered. The mechanism of the Steam Man was of a delicate order and easily deranged. But the darky knew that a desperate move had got to TEXAS. Then suddenly Pump tarned the Steam Man into a small opening vetween two high spars of the mountain wall. At once the place assumed a fainiliar aspect. The Haunted Pass was found. But there was no sigo of Frunk or Barney. Pomp went to the spot where he had left them. They had not been there so far as he coul-l discover. He made a thorough but ineffect- ual search of the vicinity. ‘¢{ jes’ reckon dem ghosteses hab done got dem fo’ suah!” he declared, despairiogly. ‘* Whatebber will dis chile do?” It was certainly quite a hard position for the darky. Bat he soon decided upon a way out of the difficalty with Jack’s aid. ‘* You say that your men went into the cun- yon?’ he asked. ‘* Yes, sah.” ** Weil, why not go after them?!” ‘* Dat am de berry bes’ way, I foks,” declar- ed Pomp. He was not in such great fear of ghosts ia broad daylight and with the band of Vigilants with him. ae it was decided to follow the canyon to its end. Jack and Rollin bad firm faith that it led to Mosely’s den, after hearing the account given by Pomp. So the start was made. Bat they had just entered the canyon, when startling sounds came to their ears. They were the distant rifle shots exchanged by Frank and Barney and the outlaws, ** Hurrab!” cried Jack Fair. ‘‘ There they are! Forward, all!” Pomp was overjoyed. “Golly!” he cried, ‘‘datam Marse Fraok an’ de I’ishman, fo’ suah.” With this he pulled the whistle valve and gent up a sharp call. {t was this which Barney and Frank had heard at the critical time depicted io a previ- Oua chapter. Up the canyon went the Vigilants and the Steam Mau. Soon they came to the cataract, and the situ- ation wus taken io at a glance. The train robbers in the pass were routed by the Vigilants and driven beyund the cata- ract. Then Frank and Barney ond Katie Rolla came down from their elevated perch. The meeting between Katie and her father was moet affecting. Jack Fair soon had the pleasure of clasping his betrothed in his arma. It was a bappy reunion, but as there was ex- citing work before them the men could not give much time to the exchanging of experi- ences. Kaue was left with Pomp in the wagon. Then Barney and Frank showed the Vigilants the way tocroes the canyon stream. sae Vigilants all passed under the cataract ely. It was determined to give the train rovbers a bitter leseon. If poesble the Vigilants would wipe them ont of existence. A good beginning had been made and the chances were fav~rable. The stronghold . suld not be defended by a great number of the robbers, for the moet of them were in the large party met apon the plain and defeated there. With the den of the train robbera broken up, it certainly looked reasonab!e that their career might be checked. The main idea was to capture Mike Mosely, the leader. If he could be dealt summarily with the band might be broken up with more ease. So it was determined to if possivie capture Mosely. Bat there was great ccnesternation In the outiaw camp wheo it was koown that they were to be attacked. Mosely himself was there, with but a handfal ‘a men. The Vigilants barat upon them with ary. The battle was a short and decisive one. The outlaws were driven to the wall and obliged to surrender. comicdooks (SO)