Beadle's Dime Novels No. 305: The Girl Scout — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

A COWARD. - (48 “ Now, what’s fhe matter, Jess?” said Bracer, pleadingly. “ Ain’t I on the square with you, nowadays ?” “No you ain't, you missable trap-thief!’ replied Jess. “Tm of a peaceful natur’ or else I'd alter the shape of yer mouth.” The younger man has been already described by Gaston, but the speaker is worth a description. He was taller than Gaston Foix but more slender, although it was evident that all the covering of his bones were muscle and sinew. There was a quick, panther-tike grace about his movements which proclaimed him a desperate enemy. But his face! Ye gods, was there nothing to relieve its unapproachable home- liness? His hair was of that dirty sandy color which al- ways looks mean and frowsy, his eyes were slits in the flesh and from his forehead to his chin freckle overlaid freckle ina ridiculons manner. It was impossible to say how old he was; light complexioned men never show their age. His hands, which were of tremendous size, worked nervously as he picked at the lock of bis rifle. “ Don’t let us querrel, Jess,’ said Bracer; “I don’t feel right about that ar’, somehow.” | “ You'll fee} a cussed sight worse ef I go for ye,” growled Jess Lurner, “A wan! Yow ain’t a man but a low-born thoroughbred skunk of misfortune, You'd steal a cart-wheel —you'd steal a mule’s tail unlest you could steal the bull of him. Tell me suthin’ you wouldn’t steal, you wanderin’ musk- rat thief and ’possum of iniquity.” “ Will you stand abuse like that and never lift a hand 2” hissed Foix, ‘Out steel and into him, and I’ll do the same by his friend.” “Tm afeard of Jess Turner,” whined Buck Bracer. “ He’s alive alligator, Jess is, and I'm afeurd he’d make me hunt my hole. Let’s go away from ’em.” “T am sorry, gentlemen,” said Gaston Foix, “that my Companion is not disposed to resent the insults you have heaped upon him. If it had been my own case, your evi- dent desire for a quarrel would not have been baffled I as- sure you.” “ Devil doubt you, Gaston Foix.” said Jess Turner. “ You may be all right but you ar’ in cussid bad kumpeny, and a ee Comicbooks.com