Beadle's Dime Novels No. 305: The Girl Scout — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

THE ROBBER PRISON. 55 “T}l take the job myself,” said Gabe, quietly. “And I reckon I'd better go before them two git out of sight.” He overtook Bracer and Black Wolf before they were out of sight of the camp, and told the half-breed he might go back. His smatl, black eyes twinkled with rage, for he had promised himself a terrible vengeance upon poor Jack Byre- ton. He looked back and saw Gaston Foix signaling him to return, and with a savage oath he turned back. “You needn’t go, Buck,” said Best. “I want you to help me with the stone. I don’t reckon I could move it alone, nohow. You can fix it, and so you'll have to come along.” “You stood up for me after all, Gabe,” said Byreton. “Ill Owr it went to my heart when I saw you stand like a stone, and never offer to open your mouth in my defense.” “Don’t make any mistakes, Jack,” said Gabe Best. “I’ve been a good friend to you, but if it turns out you’ve betrayed us to Rod Phelps, saltpeter won’t save you—for I’d be the fust man to cut you down.” “If Rod. Phelps knew any thing about the Secret Brothers, Which I don’t believe,” said Jack, “he never got it from me, and he never would if he had lived a thousand years. No, no, my old boy; I never betrayed you and I never will.” “The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” said Gabe, “T’ve got to put you in the coop, and V'll keep you there — until the captain proves his charge or has had a fair chance to doit. There’s a dozen men in the band more likely to betray us than you are, Jack. Why, this skunk here, Buck Bracer, if he thought he’d make a cent more by it oes keeping faith with a, would go back on us as quick as pont could wink your eye.” ‘What do you want to pick on me fur ?” growled Bracer. “ [ll be inter ye with a bloody spur ef ye don’t look out.” “You'd look mighty nice trying it on!" sneered Best, “Why, you low, copper-nosed son-of-a-thief, ’d break yon into the most minute fragments in two minutes by the clock —and you know it.” Bracer subsided, as he always did when his braggadocio Was promptly met, and they kept on their way through the Swamp, a distance of a mile or more. As they proceeded Gabe Best plucked some forest herbs which he chewed into a comlicloooks.com