Old Shadow Shot — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

OLD SHADOW-SHOT, were pushing through the forest as fast as | as well as ever. Fifty thousand dollars! the night would permit. The camp of the outlaws was left to the right, and its fires disappeared. Jack Gustin’s iron hand held the bridle of Captain Rough’s horse. Shadow-Shot rode a little in advance. After several hours’ riding the long rahger drew rein and turned to his associate. “The young ’uns may hey gone to the eave!” he said. “I hear somethin’ down among the rocks. Stay hyer, an’ I'll go ahead an’ reconnoitre.” Rough’s eyes brightened as he saw ‘Shadow-Shot move off, and leave him alone with Gustin, one of the late members of his train. There was a minute’s silence between the two men, : “Jack,” said the captain, suddenly, ‘“sve’ye always been friends.” The ranger smiled as he turned to listen. “There are fifty thousand dollars in these woods for us to-night. We can make it ours without much trouble. Let us be friends and make our fortunes before we go baek to the city.” “Fifty thousand dollars!” ejaculated Gustin, in assumed surprise, “ Whar might that mine be, cap’n?” “Tell me first if you will go with me!” eried Rough, anxiously, but catching eagerly at hope. “Fifty thousand isn’t to be made every day. Even I could cut a swell in the city with the half of it. It wouldn't be ‘Old Jack’ at Burley’s any more; the high bobo- links at the nest would have to ‘Mr.’ me.” “Certainly they would!” exclaimed the captain. “You must decide quickly, Jack. Two are enough. I'll share equally. Shadow- Shot might return and spoil our plans.” “Whar’s the mine, capn? I’m not the feller to embark in enterprises afore I know somethin’ about ’em.” Rough was chagrined ; he was losing time. “Tt is where the girl is,” he said. “She is worth that to us!” “ How?” “T’ll tell you as we ride away. Cut my bonds, Jack, an’ let me get a grip on the lines. Then we'll make a dash for the for- tune.” The next moment Captain Rough saw a knife flash in the starlight; his eyes replied to the glitter. “Out your bonds?” cried Gustin. “Td sooner cut your throat. Whar ’re the boys what you desarted a few days ago? The Vultures followed, as you knew they would, and butchered every one! D’ye think Jack Gustin is a fool? Cap'n, all the friendship I ever had for youl kin put im my eye, and sce That'll be the amount on your bond when we git you back to Chicago!” The expression that covered the ruffian’s face was frightening in the extreme. From the pinnacle of hope he had been dashed into the pit of despair. He could not look at the honest Gustin, and turning his face away, sought to hide his countenance. “They're comin’!” said the ranger, sud- denly, and Captain Rough heard the voice of & Shadow-Shot in the forest. . The tall ranger soon made his appearance, accompanied by Nightingale Nat and Violet, whom he had overtaken near the cave-home, the scene of several thrilling events in our story. “Waal, hyer we are!” cried the hunter, locking up into Rough’s face. “Cap’n, ain't it kind in me to bring you the fifty thousand- dollar gal? An’ hyer’s the leetle one, too.” The discomfited man did not reply ; a dark scowl settled on his face, and he tried to look away. . “The time is hyer!” continued Shadow- Shot. “Now, Cap'n Rough, look at that boy an’ tell him who he is!” But the stubborn man sealed his lips. There was the sharp click of a pistol-lock. ‘No foolin’, cap’n! I mean business!” CHAPTER XVII. RETRIBUTION ! | HADOW-SHOT moved nearer the cap- tain as he uttered the last word. Nightingale Nat, with his eyes full of wonderment, imitated his protector’s ex- am ple. “Now, tell us alll” the ranger said. “Who is the boy?” ‘His right name is Wilfred Maxton. His father is dead—has been these thirteen years. His cousin, Geoffrey Nixon, is spending the money that belongs to the boy. In his babyhood, the chap was stolen an’ taken from Chicago. By-an’-by the man who was raisin’ him moved into the city, an’ began to manufacture fireworks. Do you recollect that, boy?’ “Yes!” cried Nat, eagerly. “He is tell- ing truth!” he said, to Shadow-Shot. “Which is jest what we want. Go on!” “Geoffrey Nixon found out that the boy was a thorn in his side. He hunted me up, but he saw British John, the firework- maker, first. I agreed to bring the boy into these woods and lose him. Our trip to the copper mines was a sham, for some fellows appeared to be watchin’ me. I did bring the boy here, an’ he lost himself |” GoM (E(0) Miicloooks