Frank Reade Library, Vol. VIII, No. 191 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

“ Mr, James Rollin, this is Mr. Reade,” said young Fair in introduction. ‘‘ Frank, Mr. llin has come to you upon rather a doubt- ful errand. He represents the part of the country infested by Mike Mosely’s gang. Sol- diers and Wlgiiants have been unable to cope ow we are sure that with your New Steam Man you can hunt them down and bring them to justice. He has a petition vigned by a thousand representative men of of Texas. What do you thinkof it f” Frank took the petition and glanced over it. He seemed for a moment affected deeply. Then he replied: i ** Indeed, Mr. Rollin, I fear your people place to high an estimate upon my humble services. I ly know how to answer you, except to repeat what I have many times be- fore re that myself and my inventions are at the service of thoee who are opp ’ or in the subserving of the ends of justice.” ** Hurrah !” cried Jack Fair, wildly. ‘I knew you would consent, Frank.” ‘Mr. Reade,” said Rollin, with deep emo- tion, “ you will bave the lifelong pratl ude of all the people of Pecan City an ne Pine if you succeed in destroying that gang of cut- roate.” firmly, ‘‘ trv.” “] cannot agree to do it,” replied Frank, but I will try **I-wish to say further,” continued Rollin, “that an uniary remuneration roe may desire w met by the people of that re- on.” ‘*T ask for no remuneration,” replied Frank, ** beyond astated sum for the covering of the expenses of myself and my two servitors, Barney and Pomp.” *It shall be as you desire,” said Rollin, warmly. ‘“‘“When will you undertake your task f” ** Within three days.” “** Good!” ‘“‘It has been my experience that if the lead- ers of a train-robbing gang are arrested or shot, the gang itself is easily broken up.” “You are right.” “Therefore I shall attempt first of all to corner Mike Mosely. Once he is in my power I will consider the crusade well begun.’ ** You will succeed, Mr, Reade,” replied Rollin, warmly. ‘‘I suppose this wonderful Steam Man is a great invention. I have never | Read seen it. ** Indeed!” exclaimed Frank, ‘‘ then I shall be very glad to show it to you.” **T shall be happy to see the wonder!” **Come this way. You will go, too, Jack f”’ “Of course I will,” replied young Fair. The two visitors followed Frank to the door. They did not wait for a carri but as it was only a short distance walk own to the shops. Entering the yard Frank hailed Barney who was just going out : ** Barney,” he said, ‘Iam going to Texas with the Steam Man to hunt down the train robbers. 1 want you and Pomp to be ready to go in twenty-four hours.” The Celt was electrified. ‘*Whurroo!” he shouted. “Do yes mean that, Mistber Frank? Shure, I'll be ready in Jess time nor bet, ag kin depend upon it. It's delighted we'l to be afther takin’ an- other a in toe New Steam Man.” Frank lead the way into a high-roofed building with large swinging doors and giase skylights overhead. “Gentlemen,” he said, warmly, ‘I take hoe pleasure in introducing you to the New team Man.” CHAPTER II. ON TO TEXAS. Jack Fam and Rollin, the Texan, gazed with wonderment upon the most marvelous piece of machinery they had ever set eyes upon. ithe Steam Man was before them. The wonderful walking man of steam, whom many believed existed only as a myth, was before their eyes. He was simply the imitation of a giant man in steel. ith driving-rods to regulate the movement of the legs at his knees, and carrying the shafts of a large iron wagon in his powerful han A thorough and careful explanation of the mechanism of the New Steam was made by Frank. The visitors listened with interest. “The furnace, you will find, is carried in : the Man’s chest,” said Frank, explanatively. FRANK READE, JR., IN TEXAS. 3 Y teed He dashed at Pomp full tilt. “The gauge, steam indicator and steam chest | A bucket of dirty s ope stood near. are upon , Barney lifted it and hurled ite contents as ‘** The legs are the cylinders and controlled ; the darky. by driving-rods. The boilers, or reservoirs of Pomp scrambled to get dut of the way, but water, are in-the upper part of the legs and | it was no use. the abdomen. The slops descended upon him and for @ ‘** You will see that the tall hat which he | moment he was nearly floated away in them. wears is the smoke pipe. A whistle is in his Gasping, gurgling and choking he was n ee mouth. ** He carries the shafts of the wagon in his hands. There are huge spikes upon his feet | rier!" yelled Barney, pic to accelerate his s , ‘** You see, tocontrol the Steam Man, it is only necessary to use the reins, which pass through this aperture in the front of the wag- on, and which open and close the throttle or the whistle valve. ‘* The wagon has four wheels with grooved tires of iron. The body of the wagon is of iron places. Over the wagon is the cage or netting of finest steel, and capable of resist- ing a rifle ball. There are loopholes in this netting to fire through. The entrance is bya door in the rear. Thecoal is carried in bunkers in the side of the wagon. ** You will see that the interior of the wag- on is fitted up with all the necessa app : ances for living a long while in it. I think this explains the entire mechanism of the New Steam Man.” Rollin and Fair coujd not find words to ex- | upo t in an instant. ‘*‘ Bejabers, take that, ge sun-burned tar- n g upamop and Ruano upon the darky. ** Ki dar, look out fo’ yo'se’f, lish!” Pomp lowered his head like a battering ram. He met Barney full tilt in the stomach. He eat down witha thud and an agonis- ing loss of breath. pias as he was concerned the battle was ended. Pomp might have wreaked further ven ance but at this moment Frank Reade, ap upon the scene. he skylarkers slunk away to clean them- aves up, and avoid a jawing by thelr em- ployer. e Steam Man was quickly packed and made ready for the trip. ’ f Provisions and weapons and equipments of all kinds were stored in the wagon. In just two days the arrangements were made complete. Barney and Pomp and Frank Reade, Jr., Kes press their wonder at, and admiration of the, boarded a special train for Texas, wonderfu! invention. “It far surpasses any these modern times,” said ‘*That's so,” affirmed Fair. ** Indeed, Mr. Reade, I wish we could go with you in the wagon.” ‘“‘That would be bardly possible,” replied Frank, with a smile. int,” rejoined the Texan, jocularly. ‘‘ Well, Mr. e, oar prayers will go with you.” ‘Thank you. I feel that I shall surely suc- other invention of Rollin, ‘*Oh, we will not press the A half bour later Fair and Rollin were driven back to the depot to take a return rain. A tremendous excitement was created in Readestown when it was known that Frank e, Jr., would undertake the capture of the train robbers. ‘I tell you he will succeed,” declared one of Frank's admirers, warinly. yet failed.” Frank went at once to make preparations for the ourney. The Steam Man was taken apart in sec- ane, and prepared for shipment to Pecan y. Arrived there, Frank intended to recon- struct the Man and then start at once on the trail. Barney and Pomp were wildly enthusiastic over the affair. The Irishman and the African were the warmest of friends in reality, though given to continual wrangling and sky‘arking. Each were never happy unless playing jokes upon the other. Barney had been engaged in packing a part of the Steam Man. Pomp had some y swabe in his hand wie which he had wiping some of the rings. “T say, ye for nothin’ naygur,” yelled Barney. f ties don’t yes worruk bit? Yes are 80 lazy that av yes aln’t careful yez will grow to the wome wan av these foine mornings.” Pomp sniffed contemptuously at this de- claration. = G'long, you no count Irishman. You'se (yy no good fo' anythin’. If you lived in de Souf they wouldn't gib yo’ tode alligators.” jabers, ye're roight, for | wudn't live ar.” ‘““Ob co’se yo’ wudn’t. Dat am a good reason why.” Barney raised his head a bit. “ Phwatf”’ ** Dat am it!” Whizz-whish-bang! The y swabs took the Celt fairly under the law. Barney turned a half somersault, got one of the swabs in his mouth, nearly choked with the grease, and altogether was badly used up. He sprang to his feet, as mad an Irishman as ever the sun shone on. ‘*Wharroo!” he yelled. “I'll break the back av yes for that, naygur!” But they were not destined to reach Pecan City without a little rough experience. Of course, the train robbers themselves must necossarily hearof the contemplated ex- pedition of the Steam Man. It happened that a dark browed man of most suspicious appearance had been hang- ing about the depot while the Steam Man was being put aboard the cars. Barney noticed him once and even went so far as to cal] Frank’s attention to him. But the young inventor only replied: ‘‘I don’t believe there is any harm in him, At least, we have seen none yet.” So the matter dropped. The special train made a rapid run until well over the Texas line. Here they were obliged to switch off onto a branch road in order to reach Pecan City. After leaving the junction ofthe railroads the special ran for a dozen miles at a moder. ** He has not! ate rate of s Then the door of the car flew open and the conductor in charge rushed in. He was as pale asa ghost, and cried hoarsely: ‘‘Gentlemen, we have got to stop the train. The track is barricaded ahead. It is the work of Mike Mosely's men.” ‘“Whatl” cried Frank Reade, Jr., leaping to his feet. ‘‘ Are we into the robbers’ ter- ritory?” si Well, you see, sir,” epateree the terrified conductor, ‘‘ he has probably heard of you? coming here with the Steam Man to him, and he means to cut ye off.” “Ob, that’s the game, eh!” cried Frank, with set li ‘* Well, run back to the juge- ee Ahe sir, but th rippl he rail a sir, but they are ng up the rails ust behind us, I fear that we cannot got by hem in time.” Frank saw the perils of the situation at a Ries Lnew that something desperate had e knew some to be done. ne got It would never do to let the Man fall into the hands of the train robbers, first off. It was strange that he had not been warned of this danger, but he was in for it and made quick action. Frank sprang to the front door of the pas- senger coach. It was a Pullman, a private car chartered for. ene occas fon. e only passengers, and Barney and om. Besides the Pallman car there __ the car In which the Steam Man was packed. Frank throw open the front door of the car, He saw a number of mounted men riding alongside the track. The train was rapidly slowing up. The en- anOeE was reversing the lever to bring It toa a There was no other move to mak track was barricaded ‘ahead. The He ges of course, were Frank the mounted men, a tall, heavy framed man with a black mask, was alming a rifle at the engineer. EO NOOKS (C (SO)