Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Horse Among The Cowboys; Or, The League Of The Plains — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

= a — ~* se wT .o ge kee ae ~ =," —_—_ 2 eee — THE FIGHT AT Down upon the thin ranks of the cow- boys galloped the Steam Horse. Frank took care not to plunge into close quarters, but rode down small parties of two and three. The ponderous iron monster, in strik- ‘ing the horses of the cowboys, would knock them off their feet, and crush them under the grooved wheels of the wageon. It resembled a miniature car of Jug- cernaut in this respect. Barney and Pomp and Arthur Bent- ley worked the repeaters just as fast as they could. The effect, of course, was immense. The mighty iron monster, crashing down amongst them, demoralized the cowboys greatly, for it broke up their attack upon the stockade, and wild cheers came from the defenders. The voice of Major Vose could, be heard giving off orders in a thundering volume. Suddenly the stockade gates andthe defenders made a sally. ) The result was that Harding’s gang were utterly routed. They could not possibly stand before such an attack. Put to flight, they galloped away over the prairie. The fight was ended. opened, The ranch was saved, or at least a} good part of it, and there’ was good reason for mutual congratulations. Frank opened the door of the waggon, and Arthur Bentley sprang out and into the arms of Major Vose. The bluff old major was wild with delight. “Thunder and guns!” he cried. “ You did save my boy.” “Tt was the work of Providence,” re- plied Frank. “And your coming demoralized. the ‘villains so that they were obliged to abandon their attack,” cried the major. “ Oh, that treacherous Harding! . I just want to see him stretch hemp.” “He deserves it,” cried Arthur, “for he is a traitor; but how is Helen ?” “Heaven bless you, lad! Up at the house,” replied the major. “ You shall come up with me this moment.” He turned to Frank. “And you, too, Mr. Reade. We will break a bottle of good old wine for this. Come along!” Frank eould not refuse. 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De Ae iA 4 : +o 472 & 4% lr =f ; = ; ; oa heey ry Coe ay vs 4 aon v5. yr Wag ya 5 49a, Le +f I | <u Wen s. byte, aT.» age ) tLe . : J - \ > 2 x J sat ao ie* FS * re Pay Pa OAM TV Vie. Vie > an 4 ;& a ‘ ry : ; ow KR , - . ? . : a 4 ioe af - ~ -—-- ee ree - — — > . 4 ae > _— “ — as ve en ee , - 7 a ~ . ° sane SS eee a ara ae ee — ~ = 7 a Mem - — DS. ee. ot ae — <3 " ae &. eed - a . ; - ie vee « + pad SS a Se eth a a ee erat ges -” :— z hee _—— —- et : yo. ; re * SJ f J - 8 THE RANCH. 19 So up to the house they went, but just as they reached the piazza a terrible thing happened. : A woman, with shrieks of terror, came rushing out on to the piazza. mo a moment Major Vose was by her side. He saw at once that it was the house- keeper. ‘ “Why, Mrs. Floyd,” he cried, excitedly. “ What is the matter ?” “Major Vose!” she screamed. “'Thank God you have come! Oh, I have awful news for you !” } “Hor me?” “ Yes—oh, I cannot tell it !” | “Speak!” commanded the major, hoarsely. ‘What on earth do you mean P” ‘‘ Miss Helen—she—’ The woman pitched forward in a dead faint. But the major in that moment com- _ prehended and realized the worst. Several of the servants were present, and two of them proceeded to carry her into the house. “Where is Helen ?? in a voice of thunder.| “ Tell me all.” “Oh, sir, she is gone!” replied one of — the servants, in tones of horror. “Gone P” “Yes, sir.” “Where ?” “Oh, we don’t know; but some rough men broke into her room, and we smelled chloroform, and broke open the > ae a door—” Major Vose waited to hear no more. “My God! they have stolen my Helen i ; away!” he moaned, rushing from the iazza. ‘ Bring me my horse. Be quick! If I have to ride into the jaws of death to-night, Helen must be res- ~~ | cued!” | 2 meee a Arthur Bentley had stood like one 9 || dazed. But now he was aroused. Cane “This is Harding’s work,” he ground © 4 out, hoarsely. “Ifit be to the ends of — the earth, I will pursue him.” 3 “Amen!” eried Frank Reade, jun. 9) “My Steam Horse is at your disposal,” “"A thousand thanks,” replied Arthur, “Oh, Mr. Reade, this is terrible.” hs eae Major Vose was storming upand down the walk. | In another moment his horse came. — The alarm was given, and a call made for men, asked the major, Quick Ms ow — te ; — > Pag a a snk pe c+ 4 4 io ~ ~ —— a Sea eee oe ~ > - 3 — . — 4 ~—_ ib me > AE TY inte thee —_een ~~ a aan == Sea 2 -_ ah i . a