Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1004 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

be ed ad 'it possible that you are the chap they call Scorcher Sam? ”’ “lam the fellow; but don’t let it out. IT have got business up here on the hill. Were you going in that direction?” “Yes, and I would like to lead you a ~seorch over Washington Bridge, just for the fun of it. I have come up here on purpose to try that piece of road. I hear it rides like a carpet.” “Don’t try it while I am in sight any- how,” laughed Sam. “I would be under the unpleasant necessity of taking you in if you did.” “Then Ull wait till you are out of sight, if that is the case.” They had now turned into Amsterdam avenue, and continued on in company as far as i8ist Street, where Dixou took leave of his new friend and turned in the direction. of the bridge. Scorcher Sam continued on to the top: of the hill at 190th Street. From this section had come many com- plaints respecting a certain gang of toughs who made it their stamping ground. Nothing serious had been charged, but many petty annoyances, yet no police- man in uniform had been able to happen on hand at a time to witness any of the minor misdemeanors and “iaks a cap- ture. ' The east side of the avenue, along there, is given over to small stands, small amusements, ond fakirs. It re- minds one of a Coney island in minia- ture, with its many cheap attractions, and at one point 2 tent under some trees bore this sign in big letters; CACTUS BILL'S CIRCUS. The tent was of fair size; there was music within; before the opening a typi- cal Western sport was pacing up and down, and haranguing the passers-by to entice their patronage. He was a tall, well-formed fellow, with long hair, big hat, and a short, fancy coat, with a gaudy Spanish sash around his waist. -‘e had strong features and a big mustache. At the top of the hi!! Sam had stopped, and after viewing the splendid -=cencry for a time, though it was neither new nor novel to him, started down in the direction he had come, now walking. In front of Cactus Bill’s tent he stopped. “Walk right in and prove the truth of my statements, ladies and gents; and get your money back if it is not just as represented,” the Western sport was say- ing. “Only a dime, and your wheel checked free while you see the show. The next act is to be pistol sharp-shooting, and you are just in time to see it, Noth- ing like it to be seen out of the vrild and woolly West.” Scorcher Sam had certain instructions respecting some of the shows along the avenue, and putting his wheel in a rack that stood near at hand, he paid the ad- mission and entered. — e interior of the tent was roomy, nd at its rear end was a small stage, Quite a number of persons had entered, and presently a bell tinkled, the curtain Was Sree aside, and &@ young woman appeared, ” She was clad in fancy costume, and carried in her hands a number of glass balls, which she laid on a stand in front of her and made her bow to the audience, Spanish or bay Having on r bow, she took up two of the yegan tossin, air from ond’ to hand, first left, then i ght, then for a few mo ts; ty ‘then she a third ball, Rescre the pe orm- ance to suit the number; | he has committed a them in assing them closely | in i gaa Scorcher Sam’s Sweep-Stakes. then a fourth ball, then a fifth, then a sixth, keeping them all in motion with a steadiness and regularity that was surprising to many who saw it. Then the sharp crack of a pistol was heard, and nearly every woman under the canvas uttered a scream. The top- most ball at the moment was shattered to fragments, but the girl kept the others steadily going, merely changing to suit the number of balls that remained to be handled. Those who looked in the direction whence the shot came saw there Cactus Bill, smiling and confident. He had a revolver in each hand. Presently came two more «shots in quick succession, and two more of the glass balls met the fate of the first. This left but three, and one of these was quickly picked off with a shot, and after that two shots fired at the same, time disposed of the other two together. The rest of the performance was va- ried; but enough has been told for our purpose. The alarm the first shot created had passed away at once, of course, and after that the performance was_ thor- oughly enjoyed until finally the young woman made her bow to retire. Just as she was in the act of bowing she was seen ‘o start; the smile left her “ace instantly; and with a cry she leaped forward to the,edge of the stage, pointed in the direction of the entrance, and cried: | “There he is! I would know him among a thousand!” A man had just entered, and he stood staring, his face-the hue of death, almost. Scorcher Sam was on his feet at once, at the first sign of the young woman’s emotion, and was within a yard or .two of Cactus Bill when he wheeled to face the entrance. Cactus Sill still had his revolvers in hand, and the Seorcher, not knowing what was coming, leaped forward within y72ch. - “Yow are sure?” the sport. asked, turning to the girl on the stage. “Yes! yes! See his white face, the color of his coward’s heart! It is Louis Murrill; [ would know him even in an- other world! ”’ She spoke in English, but there was a foreign accent that was as pronounced as her color. This had occupied but a few seconds. A moment’s pause, a desperate look around, and the man at the entrance turned to run. “Stop!” cried the showman, lifting his revolvers. “Stop! or I will drop you in your tracks, Louis Murrill!” But, the man did not stop; a couple of strides would carry him out of range, and he meant to take the ~ desperate chance—scarce one in a thousand. The revolver in the sport’s right hand camo up to the level and its report — out just as the man was disappeari but the aim had been disturbed, and bullet went wide. Cactus Bill wheeled and faced Scorcher Sam furiously, his eyes fairly burning. “Why did you do that?” he cried. “To save you from doing a murder, © was the cool answer. “© And aliowed a worse than murderer to escape! Out of my way!” — She was quite dark, and evidently | “Not in your present frame of mind. I will undertake to capture the man, if crime, but I can’t allow ¥ be fans 2 him ne you intend.” rut sie e worse for Yous ou!” wand ty pial’ estern sport step ceeard and raised ‘his wranend: but, in the same instant, the Scorcher grabbed ah by both wrists. . A, 4 - ; oo ata 4 af, ve 4 gia rm 4 °s ae ee ‘ae _? ‘ 2 > = : * + oe X Lisa ~/ v “~¥ . ASf . ~ 3 The greatest excitement prevailed, the women were inclined to scream, and all were crowding toward the entrance. Scorcher S- and Cactus Bill were car- ried in that direction by force, the latter in a towering rage, and the former try- ing to calm him. The young woman had disappeared from the stage. —_ CHAPTER: ITI. SCORCH! +» SAM SCORCHED, Cactus Bill had met a surprise. The scorcher was holding his wrists with apparent ease, though the sport was . powerful man. Tho Westerner had no small opinion of his own prowess, and with good: rea- son, but here he had evidently met his better, for Sam Buckley was a trained athlete. “ Unhand me!” the sport panted. “If you promise not to nH I will, is said Sam. < 4 That man must not escape, I tell you! ‘ “Tam willing to help you take him,” — “Who are you?” “ A police detective, and you can thank me for saving you a sitting in the death mi eok You certainly meant to shoot to ‘No, you mistake; been poor revenge. that would have But, I did mean to’ “# > ~ -—~ bring him down with a bullet, so that - he could not get away. Expert as I am, { could have done it without danger to any one else.” . can well believe that.’’ Jam ad released him, now, and ‘they. were hastening out. ‘“hey came out into the open space: between the front of the tent and the sidewalk, to find already there the young woman who had juggled the glass balls on the stage only a few minutes before. She was pointing down the street and = calling upon the people to stop the mam | who had escaped. “ There he goes!” she cried, on seeing Cactus Bill. ‘“ He will escape us! I know he will escape us!” = “Not if I can help it,” answered Scorcher Sam. “‘ Where’s my wheel?” — “But, he is on a wheel—don’t es see? ” cried the girl. “And I believe it is mine!” cried Sam, | looking where he had left his “ bike, ” “It is, by Jupiter! ”’ “He has taken your wheel?” “Yes; and I’ll never catch him in the. world, if he is an expert rider, with that wheel!” “Here, take another!” urged Cactus Bill, quickly. “Take your pick of the lot; I will stand the damage, whatever it may be. No time to fool away.” The Scorcher made a hasty choice, mounted the wheel, and was abe in pursuit of the fellow. He had a pesaonns ter, 0Ww. The fellow had ‘ long lead, and was. wheeling at a good pace, and by. the way he followed th2 iron plating under which }:. the railway cable Sam knew he was no novice, and Sam felt misgivings about securing his wheel again. _ He admired the fellow’s selection, — which was a further proof of his being rienced wheelman. t have been by chance that he had taken the largest wheel and highes gear of the lot, but it looked he det se, There was only one hope for the Wines an ex It ive, and that was to gain ground before | he was discovered, | Rcd O18 rs So, away he went. It was down hill, going the Blt of High Bridge er other wheel: iS, 3 «4 ‘ os P ea ¢ a ~ , M TS | Lt’ . ; een o~ (9 4 o * " is a , : é > 3 J he _ we ays | tL “ - bat” Ui vs =< ‘+ , rage ee iS fF 5 ae 4 sis ry al wey ae + ° « “y se % a interest in the mat- ; j .* a= a t . LK a eo] <> - ‘ ; oo ap il ’ 2 com ae