Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Horse Among The Cowboys; Or, The League Of The Plains — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

6 On went the Steam Horse with flying | strides. The hills drew nearer, and Frank was looking for the Star Ranch, when Pomp — suddenly cried : “Hi, Marse Frank !” “What is it?” asked the Foung in- ventor, sharply. | ‘ i do fink dat am de ranch ober dere a 1b.” Frank gazed in the direction indicated, anc saw a collection of roofs visible above a stockade fence, not more than a mile distant. He did not doubt but that it was the Star Ranch. “That is it!’ he eriedi Barney, as fast as you can,’ They rapidly drew near to the ranch. Two plainsmen stood by the stockade “ Go ahead, gate. Frank decided to run up close and “hail them. fer a game, Misther Frank.” northward. } When within speaking dis- tance he shouted : “ Hallo, friends !” ~The answer came back in a rich, full Voice : “Hallo, to you !” CHAPTER iit. AT THE COMFORT RANCH. Frank, in loud tones. ‘Is 16 not the Star Ranch ?” “This 1s ts / ( a ranch is that?” asked “No,” came back the reply. the C raneh, or, as we callit, the Comfort Ranch. You’re welcome.” Frank was dumbfounded. ‘ Heavens!’ he gasped, “ what is the matter? It must be the Star Ranch.” “Golly, dat am queer enuff,’ ‘muttered Pomp. “Be jabers, it’s stuffing us they be!” de- clared Barney, suspiciously. “ Look out Anidea occurred to Frank. “ Where is the Star Ranch?” he asked One of the plamsmen pointed to the “Six miles in that direction,” he re- plied. “KeeP straight on.” “banks,” rephed Frank. ‘‘ Who is the ewner of this ranch ?” “Major Henry Vose,” was the reply. & Won’t ye come in ?” Frank was undecided. He was eager for information, but he might be going _ directly into the lion’s den. ei Therefore, he was cautious. LEAGUE OF THE PLAINS. , As “Barney and Pomp,” he said, coolly, “keep an eye on those men, and at the least sign of treachery pop them over. Do you understand P” “ Ay, sor!” replied Barney. Then Frank opened the alighted from the waggon. From the first, the two plainsmen had regarded the Steam Horse with amaze- ment. As Frank now boldly approached, one of them exclaimed: “Shake, pard! Ye’re welcome. But first tell us what kind of a high falutin’ thing ye’call that out there ?” “With pleasure,” replied Frank. is a Steam Horse.” | “Whew!” exclaimed the plainsman. “Wall, that beats me. Tve seen plenty of steam engines, but never anything lilce that. Yedon’t have to have a track to run on ?” | “ By no means,” replied Frank. ‘The Steam Horse will go anywhere.” “Waal, it beats anything I ever saw. Be you the inventor P” “Tam,” replied Frank. * Waal, you’re a buster, an’ no mistake if you did that. It’s a clever thing.” “I'd like to ask you a question,” sax We Frank. ‘Is this ranch connected in any Fea way with the Star Ranch P” A The two plainsmen whistled and ie shrugged their shoulders. | As “1 should say not, cap’n,” said one) of fap 4, door, and ¢ It them. “™ We’re a different tribe over here. It’s a hard lot that runs the Star.” | “So I have heard,” rejoined Frank, discreetly. ‘ What is the name of the principal owner of the Star Ranch ?” “Waal, they do say the real owner was a young feller from the Hast, named/ Bentley. me “Bentley!” repeated Frank; “then +. ie you know Arthur Bentley ” Seis “ Reckon.we did. He made his head- i, See quarters at this ranch while he was here. 7} He used to try to eject them vilyuns © 9} from the Star, but they call themselves the Cowboy Leagne, and reckon they own it by squatter rights. Thar ain’t much law in this section only lynch law, ° Bentley was allus goin’ to bring soldiers here to attack the gang, but one day he turned up missing.” “Ah!” cried “Frank, with interest. a “What became of him ?” | Bee 3h, Peas, The other shookhis head hime “That, nobody knows.” ea, | Shh ‘ iis ry Fear ceiynl be Sot Se teres CMa ite mn) on