Night-Hawk, The Mounted Detective — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

- m4 args i C "s — - was a wonder. Tom had owned him from a colt, and taught him a number of useful tricks, and the extraordinary natural intelligence of the animal aided him in the teaching. The detective pretended to accept the fel- low’s declaration, appeared good-natured, and even interested, and asked: ** How much have you bet?’’ ‘* Ten dollars,’ . | ‘* How about the height of the horse? This animal of mine is pretty tall.’’ The men laughed and said: ‘FT hat’s where I’ve got him. I was just look- ing for a high-hander, and ]’m going to win.”’ ‘*A)] right, you must settle your bet quickly, as 1 want to get along home in good season.”’ As he spoke he dismounted from his steed. and as he put his face close to that of one of the men, he could see a triumphant gleam in the fel'ow’s eyes, despite the darkness. “Let my friend hold tke horse,’’ said the jumper. ‘All right,’’ answered the detective, and he stepped to one side, when the robber made a Jeap and landed in the saddle, and at the same ‘nstant the man who had pretended to bold the horse stepped around, and with a club attempted to kneck our hero down; but he had reckoned without his host, as the detective was prepared with a loaded riding-whip, and as he avoided the Llow of the club, he dealt the fellow a rap which turned him over in the ditch. Singu- larly enough, in the darkness, the man on the horse made a mistake, thinking it was the ownpe1 ot the horse who had been downed and not his pal. ‘* Did you drop him, Jim?”’ ‘Lhe detective gave an aflirmatory grunt, but not a direct answer. ‘lhe fellow was still de- ceived and bade the horse get up. The intelligent animal did not move a step. ‘* Hello!’’ exclaimed the horse-thief, ‘‘ he is a balker, eh?’’ and he strcck the animal a vio- Jent blow, when the beast reared, dashed for- wari, came to a sudden halt, and again made a spring forward. As he did so the horse thief went flying over his head. The man was not hurt, and rising to his feet ran to seize the animal’s bridle. But Badger made a plunge at him with bis fore feet, and the scoundrel was compelled to spring aside in | order to save himsell. ‘“The animal is a devil!’’ exclaimed the dis- comfited thief, thinking he was addressing his companion, and he set to speak soothingly to the horse, but every time he made an effort to approach Badger the animal went for him with his fore or hind feet, and finally, in his rage, » the man drew a barker, exclaiming: ‘‘T’ll fix you, my dandy!”’ Tom Hawk suddenly leaped forward and ex- claimed: ‘“‘Holdon, Johnny.” The man uttered a curse and demanded: ‘* Ain't that you, Jimmy?” ‘‘ Jimmy lies down there in the ditch, and you’ll drop where you ‘ cover ’ if you don’t get that ‘ barker’ out of your hands in about two- seconds!”’ The man raised his hand, but the night was dark, and Tom was looking out forhim. He just went down for the old game with his little club. The horse thief uttered a yell and keeled over. The horse thief squealed. ‘¢ Down with your barker!” said Tom. The man chucked his barker to one side, and the detective said: ‘* See here, my friend, you did not take the tight measure this time!’’ : ‘¢1 reckon I didn’t! You’re the devil him- self, and your horse spits fire irom the lower regions, ’’ ‘* You’ve hit it toa nail head, and as you’re not badly hurt, 1’ll bid you good evening! You’re marked and so you had better get away from this section of the country as quickly as possible, or suulight will see you in the lock-up and ]’il turn. in to see rou sent up. So mosey! but ‘take your friend with you, as there is a posse coming this way to-night and they’ll not be as merciful as I have been!”’ ‘‘ You’re a gentleman,’’ said the thief,‘* and some day I may do yon a good turn yet.’’ ‘‘ You’re a thief, and some day I may see you . ae i a ee = C+ = ot A LT . — oo G NIGHT-HAWK, Without another word the detective leaped on his horse, and the good animal sped away as gently as a gamboling lamb. Meantime the man who had been Knocked into the ditch recovered his senses and came up to where his companion lay. ‘* What’s happened?’’ he demanded. ‘* We tackled the wrong man and got burned that’s what happened!’’ | ‘‘T heard a couple of blows.”’ ‘‘ Yes, you did, and I got one that will give me a headache for a week.’’ : CHAPTER XXIV. ‘‘ Tas was a bad go, 9ld man; are you badly hurt?” ‘*] think not; give me your hand.”’ The man’s pal assisted him to his feet, and the fellow raised him and examined his wound. ‘Only a little tap,’’ he said, in a cheering tone. , ‘© We’re in luck so far.” 4é Yes. ”’ ‘* Let’s flit.”’ ‘* You bet!’ . ‘‘“And I reckon we'd better take a long tramp.”’ ‘** That’s what he told me to do.”’ *“* Who?’’, , ‘* The devil.”’ ‘* Who is he, anyhow?”’ ‘. Well, I’ve an idea.”’ ‘* Sing ou’ your terror.” ‘* We’ve run against Tom Hawk!”’ ‘* By all that’s strange, 1 believe you’re right, and why didn’t he nip us?’’ ** Well, you may bet your bottom dollar that he had other business on hand. or it would have been free board for us; but he gave me a Warn- ing.”’ es on you to get-away entirely?” 66 es,’’ ‘* He’s a good man, we'll take his advice.” ‘‘ He’s a good man. He could have settled me. He’s a dead shot, but he only set in to give mea bark. I’ve heard he won’t down a man to silence unless he is compelled, and he takes Icng chances.”’ ‘‘ A good man: a pity he wasn’t in with us.’’ The horse-thief was compelled to chuckle as he said: ‘It’s more the pity we were not in with him,”’ : The two men stole away in the darkness, and meantime the detective had made his way to the cottage of the widow and her niece, and was working to save a life, filled with a resolve if the chance came, to act the full vdle of the angel of vengeance. , ! - He went under cover, and it was well on to y ten o’clock when a miscrable-looking tramp | knocked at the cottage door, firm voice: ** Who is there?’’ ‘* Please open the door,’’ I'he door was opened, and a fair-faced hand- scme girl siood in the passage. She ran her eye over the tramp and demanded: ‘* Well, what do you want?’’ Shelter and food.”’ ‘© 1t is late to come and ask for food.’’ ** Need does not select its time.”’ | ‘‘] can give you something to eat, but you must seck shelter for the night somewhere else.”’ | ‘* Can 1 enter?’’ | ‘‘ No: L will bring you something to eat.” ‘Thank you.’”’ She closed the door and stepped to the kitch- en, and had just opened the cupboard when she heard a step, and turning, saw the tramp. The fellow had followed her into the kitchen. She did not scream, but merely stepped to a rear door, opened it, and whistled; and in an instant an immense blood-hound, an animal of huge proportions, and with fiery eyes, leaped into the room. y * fine dog!’’ said the tramp, coolly. é¢ Take And the girl patted the animal on the head, while the beast kept its fiery eyes fixed upon the tramp, and a low grow! struggled from be- | tween its jaws. ‘‘] thought I would come in to est, as I bave $ a ON ad Ser gr res = ee en Fee en ay ee a . ** Certainly not. ered ?”’ ‘* You are a brave gir!, and that is good.”’ ‘*] do not understand you.”’ ‘* No; you do not understand me, but I am Why should 1 be fright glad you offered me food. But, after all, it ie not food I want.”’ ‘* What do you want?’’ She still spoke in a firm tone. ‘* Shelter. ”’ ‘*IT told you that yon must seek shelter som@e where else,’” ‘* You are a brave girl.’”’ 3 ‘‘ Ycu need not repeat your compliments. | am a brave girl, and I certainly am not afrai@ of you.’”’ a ‘‘ Ah, you have no cause to tear me, and | am glad I am here—doubly glad, since you offered me food, since I have seen you.”” ® She Jooked at the man suspiciousiy, and saids ‘*] do not understand you, and if you do not need food, go!’’ tae as ‘No, nc. IL’ve a few words to say to you.’* ‘I can not listen to you any longer. You may be sn honest man; you may be a rogue; your life is in my hands. 1 have but to speak. one word, and this dog would tear you to pieces !’’ ‘* Do you value the dog ?”’ ‘sé Yes.’”’ ‘Then do not speak the word. But come,. Miss Knight, 1 wishfyou to make me a promise.” ‘* What shall 1 promise?’’ ‘* Not to scream if 1 ask vou a few ques tions.”’ ‘* You need not fear; I will not scream.”’ ‘* Where is your aunt?’’ The girl had exhibited a little agitation when | the man called her by name, and a deeper pal- | lor overspread her face when he put this latter question. I iat ‘* You know my name?’’ she said. eé Yea?" , ‘* And you ask about my aunt?’’ 6é y es. >? ‘* What business is it of yours where she is?’ ‘* She sleeps?’’ ‘*T will not answer your question; now order you to leave my house!”’ ‘*] can not go.’’ ‘** You must!’’ ¢é No.’’ ‘* Be careful!’’ | ‘*] shall stay here,’’ : Pr harm comes to you, it will be your ow ault.’’ The girl was very pale, and her voice trem- bled as she spoke. -** 1] shall not go!’’ ** Once ‘more, go!’’ sé No!’’ ‘* It is your own fault!”’ She took her hand from the hound, and with a yelp the fierce animal sprung at the tramp, and | : but did not tear him to pieces, siinply because Some time passed before the query came in a P pry {he tramp was master of the dog. The animal made his spring, the tramp stepped to one side, seized the huge animal behind the ears, ang held him in a grip of iron. ‘* See; 1 do not fear your dog.”’ in a firm tone, the girl asked: ‘* What is your purpose here?” ‘‘] came with a purpose.”” — ‘* To rob?”’ of No. +> ‘* Why did you come?”’ The detective still held the struggling dog, ' and finally mastered the animal, and caused him to remain juiet. ‘*] came here as a friend.”’ ‘* You come in a peculiar guise, and I do not recognize you.”’ : ‘‘It was needful that I should come in peculiar guise, and it is needful that I should win your confidence; and that it why 1 per- mitted you to set the dog on me. You and the dog are at my mercy.”’ , CHAPTER XXYV. ‘* Not as securely as you think,’’ said the girl, . ) A pleasant. srnile played over the detective’s face, and the girl saw the expression thas gleamed in his eyes. hehe ‘* You do not think you are in danger?” é¢ No.’”’ “You are assured?”’ —— 7. ~*~ ae ae vere 4 s es . - - 7 r something to say to you.”’ ! | ‘‘I did not bid you enter, but since you are here, I will feed you.’’ ‘* You are not frightened?” ee Yes. ”’ | ‘* Why are you so sure?” ** Shall I speak plaialy?t” a4 >> Yes. hang, but take warning from _ this night and never again attempt to steal a Pegasus from the | region of fire!’’ g ~~ —. - Ms % * ’ . ; Fe es ee A * pe > vr * = —_— ree he “wn — -’ p ? * = . ~ ~ : ca — ~ . Ona NEES eaten nl ee ee oe ame : ap - , A ee eee Cheenti aan © . be a She ~ S - = ~ : Se ae F ware: ”