Beadle's Dime Novels No. 214: The Forest Monster — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

TO THE POINT. 53 “ No, sir,” was the response. “Why ain't yer?” Hammond laughed quite heartily before he answered ; “Your questions are rather pointed, Tom, and such as I deem too pointed you will permit me to decline answering.” i Sartinly ; ; you needn’t answer any, if they don’t suit you.” “T am aware of that, Tom; therefore, I am not hunting for gold for the simple reason that I don’t need it. There is con- siderable of the precious metal about here, but it can only be obtained by hard labor, and when I am at home I am ino comfortable circumstances. Is that satisfactory, Tom ?” “Yas. Wal, I’m poor, and so are all the chaps that be with me, and we think we see a chance to better ourselves.” “So you do; go ahead and you will do well enough.” “ You've. been here several months ?” “Yes; during. most of the season.” And bain’t huntin’ arter gold ”” “ Not at all.” “ See yer,” suddenly exclaimed Black Tom, “ have you seen any thing of that striped and speckled critter that chaws up red-skins whole ?” “I know the animal to which you refer,” replied Ham- mond, more seriously. “I have seen it more than once.” “ Did it ever hurt yer?” “I don’t look dangerously ‘hurt, do I?” laughed Ham- mond, as he surveyed his own person, as if searching for griev- ous wounds, “No; it has never harmed me, but it Aas killed many & one.” “Don’t you know nothin’ "bout it ?” “Haven't [ told you enough ?” This was evasive, but it answered the purpose for pm it was uttered. Hammond knew.a great deal about this: ? lous creature. Indeed, had he chosen, he could have secret regarding ‘it—a most wonderful secret, which the eae shall learn in due time. But his lips were sealed. He had not the right to tell what he knew—not yet. The time might come when he could tell all, but, for present, he must remain. mute “It beats any thin’ I ever heard tell on,” said the trapper, as if talking to himself, “I Wlieve it’s a spook.” conniclsoolks. corn