The Argosy, Vol. XI No. 20 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

308 “My, oh my, but wouldn't Bill Scott stare if he saw me now,” he continued. ‘* Well, why shouldn't he? If he had told me cight months ago, while we were hanging on for dear life to the mainmast of the Cinderella during the nor’easter we breasted off Cape Hatteras— if he had told me then that I vould be shut up today in a little cubby hole of a bedroom at an academy, bent on trying to get an education, I'd have said he was crazy 7 At this moment Brad heard hasty footsteps in the hallway, which put a stop to his reflections. He turned gladly, in the expectation of seeing his friend and roommate Perry Landon. But it was not Perry Landon. It was Sidney Ivers; and, from the manner in which he entered, his flushed face, angry expression, and clinched fists, it was plain that he meant trouble—and serious trouble too. Brad emitted a low whistle of surprise ; then, leaning against the wall, he surveyed his visitor coolly, and awaited developme tts. (Zo be continued.) A SHOP ON WHEELS.* BY WALTER F. BRUNS. SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. THE ** shop on wheels “18 a peddler’s wazon, owned by ‘* Uncle’ Jim Bolton, which Dick Richards and Chub Matthews offer to run while Mr. Bolton is iaid up by an accident. He hasbeen run over by Andy Mason, the son of a rival peddler, and when the latter hears that the boys are to take ‘‘ Uncle Jim's’? wagon out for him, he ia very angry, and having made an especially early start, takes pains to spread an ugly report about them all along his route. But this is not the only hindrance the young peddlers And in their path. They fall in with some tramps, whe stem their wagon and cause them noend of trouble. They are aided in their flubt awainst them, however. by Jack Walters, a young fellow whom they have picked up along the road. They escape from the tramps and fall fa with some farmers who are about to start on ahunt after a cireus iver. They join this party, shoot the tiyer, and In endeavoring to tind their way back to the farm where they have left their wagon, wo agtray, are overtaken by a storm and seek refuge ina lonely house, where grudging hospitality is offered them by a woman called Moll. During the night they hear suspicious noises, start out to investiza'e, and are discovered by some men who have been at work in the cellar, one of whan proves to bea member of the gang with whom they have already had such un- pleasant expertences. The boys are placed in another room, supposed to be more secure, but they succeed in wrenching off the bars at the window, and are plan- aing to let themselves down from it when footsteps are heard approaching. They have gone tow far to retreat now, and resolve to fight. Chub stands by the door, holding aluft a board that they have torn from the floor and used asa battering ram on the window bars. CHAPTER XNIII. HOW FREEDOM WAS WON, T seemed an age to the waiting boys, from the time the newcomer drew the first bolt until the door opened and Roper's head ap- peared. He had not time to utter a word, so suddenly did the board descend, and before Roper regained consciousness he was firmly tied with bands hastily manufactured from sacks. ‘* So far we are all right,” said Jack gleefully, as he carefully closed the door. ‘* Now we must make haste, or they might think something was wrong, and then we would have our hands full.” ‘Tf they would come one by one, and vive us time,” remarked Dick, ‘ST wouldn't be surprised if we were too much for them,” ‘* They wouldn't be so accommodating,” replied Jack. ‘' Now, if you are ready, come on for the last bar." And as the third bar was driven from its fastenings, Roper revived, took in the situation at a glance and started to yell, when Chub raised the board and said threateningly : ‘Tf you dare to ery out, you catch it!” ‘TT wasn't goin’ to,” whined Roper, changing his mind. ‘Pm glad to learn they left a little sense in you when they knocked your face out of joint,” observed Chub. ‘* By the way, it strikes me that there is a man here that bears a slight resemblance to you.” ‘* No doubt,” retorted Roper, ** How did you happen to come here, any way ?” ‘TA feller’s got a mght to come home, ain't he ?"’ demanded the tramp. | “Gh” cried Dick. ** That accounts for the picture in the front room. IT know who it favors now. And the man called Dinny is your father, eh >?” ‘* Just so,” acquiesced Roper. ‘An’ the lady that let you in is my mother. Now, is there anvthin' else you want to know 2?” Ves," replied Jack, ‘* What are they doing in the cellar ?” *Recun in No, 428 ot THE ARGOsY. THE ARGOSY Roper closed his sightless eye, stuck out his tongue and replied saucily : ‘* Find out.” ‘* We haven't time at present," said ,ack. ‘* Help me rip open some of these sacks, Chub, for a‘rope to lower ourselves with.” And while the two were thus occupied, Dick stood guard. ‘* In which direction is the main road from here ?” he asked of Roper. ‘* Foller up the creek,” replied Roper shrewdly. ‘* It is safe to infer that he is lying,” spoke up Chub. ‘‘ At any rate, I'll take the responsibility, and we will yo in the other direction.” When the rope was completed and lowered, and everything ready for an abrupt leave, Jack turned to Roper and said: ‘We are going to leave now, and to speak candidly, I shall be happy when 1 am where I won’t be able to look at you. You can shout and whistle as much as you please after we are gone, but don’t try it on while we are about, for you stand a good show of getting hurt.” ‘* You fellers are gittin’ so flossy it’s hable to rub off,” Roper ground out. ‘If I ever see you agin, an’ I hope I will, Vil give you a rap on the head an’ make sure of you.” ‘*] suppose that is because we rapped you on the head, eh ?” ques- tioned Chub. ‘* You shouldn't lay up a litle thing like that. If we were that kind, we would apply a match before we left.” ** Don’t you do it,” pleaded Roper, his face turning as white as flour. ‘“' We'd be blowed to kingdom come inside of -—" And then he stopped and bit his lips, as though he had said too much. ‘* What would do all that blowing ?”’ asked Jack quickly. ‘* Never you mind,” retorted Roper. ‘* Come on, boys,” went on Jack, and he crawled out of the window and began lowering himself to the ground. Dick followed, and finally Chub's portly body descended. Roper began to shout lustily the moment they disappeared from view, and Dick said hurriedly : ‘*Keep right up the hill into the timber, until we are out of sight, and then wecan take our time. If this is the direction to the main road, we were going the wrong way yesterday.” ‘* If the other three men are in the house, and it is safe to suppose they are,” said Chub, ‘‘ we can expect to be pursued. Dillon will make some attempt to stop us, for he thinks we know too much.” ‘* Hold on,” suddenly ordered Dick, a few minutes later. ‘‘ Keep back of this clump of trees and look in the road.” ‘* They are gunning for us already,” said Jack. ‘‘ That is Roper and Bill, and now that he has a gun and a slouch hat, he is the very picture of the fellow that warned us off yesterday. The gun Roper Carries, even at this distance, looks like the one Lige loaned me.” ‘*T wish we had taken that fellow's warning,” sighed Chub. ‘' We would not have lost so much time, and we would have our shooting irons, too!" Roper and Bill were walking briskly up the road, and the boys dodged from tree to tree and kept them in sight. They finally stopped, looked up and down the road, scrutinized both sides of the little valley, and after a lengthy argument, slowly retraced their steps. From Roper’s actions the boys concluded he was for pushing on, but Bill was of the other opinion, and finally carried the day. ‘* Now there is nothing to stop us," exclaimed Jack, after the two had disappeared. *'I haven't the least idea that they are going to stop hunting for us, and the sooner we leave the neighborhood the better.” | “Tt won't take long to do that after we reach the wagon,” Dick re plied. ‘* Let's take the road ; we can walk better, and there is no dan- ger if we keep our eyes open.” ‘Tam so certain there is something unlawful being done in that house,” remarked Chub, ‘‘that I think the best thing we can do will be to notify the officers in the next town,” ‘* And be detained, and perhaps have to come back here with them,” replied Dick. ‘* We have lost over a day now, and Mason is probably ‘way ahead by this time." | “Can't help it? responded Chub sturdily. ‘It's our duty. We can tell them any way.) Perhaps that will be all there will be to it; but ] feel as if I wanted a little revenge for my rifle.” ‘Then don't tell the farmer anything about it,” warned Jack, ‘‘ or he will peddle it all over the surrounding country and they will take the alarm and skip.” ‘And our guns, too,’ added Chub savagely. | | The farmer was working about the barn when the boys arrived, and the moment he saw them, he called out: DOO|KKS () COLL (SO) fd