Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Horse Among The Cowboys; Or, The League Of The Plains — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

h) H ‘ ay »e% ¢ ~~ iy tw an e, e v : ay yo ee ae an —— . a « . x ie ee s -—. n ¥ a ei ' t ‘ ag ot way ee ao is ~~ <~ o - e S _ <r - ~ * pabyas! . ~~ ~~ Ss ae ~ aie « « o's x —iaaion on . ' o¢ SS a y - ata ® = : CF 2 aie Be ee ee as ~ = ~ , 3 4 egy —: Sst a = i > bs . — Pe ee on oe a ~“, on le oso - ad . oe we _ a ie » — r. = . RY: ese te kai ae ' 30 THE LEAGUE OF THE PLAINS. The grey light of dawn was just break-| “ Death (” ine when he ealled a court-martial, and A. shriek of agony burst from Hardin o's Al Durgin, Sid Buxton, and Jack Harding | lips, Itrevealed plainly what a thorough were arraigned before it. coward he was. Nothing could be said by Durgin and “ Don’t—don’t kill me!” he screamed. Buxton in defence, and ‘sentence was | “Give mo my life.” pronounced upon them. they were taken out upon the plain, | and, ab twenty paces, were /shot by a! squad of soldiers. | | hus were the plains freed of two | seone. atrocious ruffians. He refused to walk, and the soldiers Harding was now brought before the | were obliged to carry him bodily from tribunal. the ranch. Coward that he was, the villain was the picture of abject terror and despair. He } negaed piteously for his life. CHAPTER XIII. by swear to reform,” he pleaded to Colonel Hamlin, “TI will Sate os do any te teehee eat thing if you will spare my life.” \E sun was just peering above the “Jack Harding!” said the colonel, T 10r1zZ0n line, when Jack Harding stornly, “why didn’t you think of that was carried out upon the plain to some time ago P” meet tho just punishment of his crimes. The villain could not answer. The squad of soldiers carried him to They sprang forward and placed hands on him, Harding now made a miserable “ If you had you might not have come | the brink of a third grave dug in the — to this.” prairie. | “I was driven to it!” replied Harding.| Durgin and Buxton already filled tho * Driven to it ?” _ | other two. Yes,” As Harding would not stand up, The colonel was amazed. stake was driven into the plain, and he How ?” he asked. was beund to it. | “Why, my court-martial and discharge | Then the squad of soldiers at twenty from the service did it,” paces awaited the order to fire, | “ Tt did, eh ?” Shrieks and curses rolled from the Yes.” doomed villain’s lips, but all to no pur- “s Don’t you think you deserved dis- | pose. His fate was sealed. The order. charge P’ | | _ | came quick and sharp : “No.” Wire 1!” “T do, and so does every other fair-| There was a crash of rifle reports, a minded soldier. I tell you, Jack Harding, | volume of smoke, and Jack Harding’s © you had a good chance.” head lay motionless upon his breast, “A&A mighty hard one.” Fle had expiated his many crimes in 4 ‘I repeat, a good one. You have | justmanner. shown ‘yourself a villain throughout.| Within the stockade quite a different You must meet your punishment.” scene was being enacted. __ “ Now, look here, Hamlin,” pleaded the | The re-union between Major Vose and -Wretch, “ you are one of the service, just | Helen was most aflecting. the same as I. You won’t see a comrade} The old major was so delighted, that shot,” he could hardly control himself, “1 have my duty to execute. Senti-| “How the tables have turned!” he ment has nothing to do with that.” cried; “and it’s all owing to Mr, Reade “Tt is too late.” A Wi a AA asked. with awful terror. ey Lode: { ; - My) A. wail escaped the prisoner’s lips. and his wonderful Steam Horse,” °, “Oh, Ul swear to reform !” Frank bowed modestly. | “You do me too much honour,” he “I beg you not to kill me.” ' | replied, “You have'had a fair trial.” “ Not a bit of it,” reiterated the jolly The prisoners face became ashy pale. | major. “ We'll never, forget you. Three “An what was the sentence?” he | cheers for the Steam Horse ice They were given with a will, f ‘7 ‘ . } | s* | . } ; é . J 7 | | y) a : | | ; - : ¥° - ! a : ‘ ° ; ; >. a ce. : rm **) " 4 : . , a" 4 eg 4 : - ‘ if J . 4 - , ‘ i> A f °°’ { - . Fr. . ty. : wv ; , ; = é . ¥) ; : | . - j * : 7 ah ' ‘ 4 . Py ‘ae . . q : ‘. L_] | . [ : : ‘ ‘ . .3 ; o e ’ Ry Bi 54 1 - . % m 4 . ¢ \ shy 5 - q } J ry ( a > : : ~ ~ ae ; ahi 4 _) iy rh 4 . c( * h : My ia pital of ; . . (e @ m =I ® | = . 4 > ie - 7 : wot ‘ . . ts. 7 : 7 . sd eh | 4 4 ' ~%. : . * t ; ; a ie | ) i | ) ete vf! Pret ee Fe ; 1. TD i oe a a Sic Y a ee ei am joe 1! ay m4) xa yy Cara “Fi -On : N Le, Ol ; * iw . rad > ree Af. 4 “i 4 " .f > . . ot * os at + eee « a a’ a? ? Ta ye 5 i) » A , tw 7 iy * + te " Pe tk > a) . r! ee \ a ( ‘ Ny: 4 ow Ys a > —s “> vy & ».. >t mee OLS Ca vs . L¥ : a1 , ‘gee 6 ee guts. 4 ~ “a — But Colonel Hamlin motioned to a file’ of soldiers near. ‘