Beadle's Dime Novels No. 310: Foghorn Phil — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

~y A USEFUL FRIEND. 59 cut-throat, Alf Ramee, wouldn't be arter ye. Ye see,I heard ye comin’ like Satan on a log, and up into this tree I lit like a jay bird, and what war wy astonishment when I heard ye stop under the tree and then bounce up here, too; but when I heard the reds go rippin’ by, and heard ye whisperin’ ’bout that Alf Rimee, I knowed what it all meant, and so I kon- cluded to make myself known to ye, and sol did. And gals, my sarvice is at your command if ye think ye could trnst me in the dark. Dll admit right here that Pm an orful ugly ole stick, and if ye could see me in the light, [ know you’d think me a grizzly b’ar; but my words fur it, gals, I arn’t nobody but Belzebub Bumble, Esquire; and I claim that I have a heart that has throbbed for other’s woes—a heart that knows mercy and sympathy, if I are ole Belzy Bumble.” There was a rude sort of politeness in the man’s tone, and a frank, open earnestness in his words that impressed the girls quite favorably, and removed that weight of doubt and fear from their minds, for al] Belzebub Bumble was an entire stranger to them. There was something in the man’s pres- ence and voice that told them they could trust him. “ We are greatly in need of a friend, Mr. Bumble,” replied Pauline Afton, “and I hope you can assist us to get back to our friends,” “We will see that you are well rewarded for your service, Mr. Bumble,” added Josie. “Plague take the reward, weemin; Belzy Bumble never takes pay for kindness, It’s a debt I like to have owin’ me tho’, for it’s no tellin’ how soon I may want an exchange of favors. But, if we’re to cast lots together for a while, we'd better be gettin’ down to terry Jirmy, aud away f.om here, for Ramee and his hounds will soon be back, so here I goes, sla)- dab down to the—” - The rest of the sentence was lost to the maidens’ ears, as he shot downward through the foliage to the earth. Then be laid aside hig rifle and assisted the maidens down. “ Now, chicks, jist you foller ole Belzy,” said the scout, taking up his rifle and leading the way toward the river, Hand-in-hand the girls. followed him softly through the un- dergrowth, and in a few minutes they reached a spot on the river bauk where the moonlight fell full upon them, The conniclooolks.com