The Half Dime Library, No. 1042 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

> - , © - > 2, Se > ee aed ‘ horse, and followed by the men who had ac- Little Grit’ the Wild Rider. the: companied him to Rocky Glen Station, rode off to the encampment of his train, some half- the dozen miles distant. Hardly had they disappeared from sight he | When there came the rapid clatter of hoofs, get and ous of the timber, some hundred yards Wet away, came a horseman at full speed. hu- “It is Jeckey Jack coming back,” cried Judge Hunter, referring to the Pony Rider who yess rode between Rocky Glen Station and the point rou, seventy-five miles beyond, and who had darted | ) away with Little Grit’s bag, as soon as Firefly the had come in with Helen Hewlett mounted , upon him. ada © “It are Jockey Jack for sure,” said Bony an- Bob, and all glanced anxiously upon the com- ing horse and rider. wilt Another instant and the animal with a loud me, meigh halted at the door of the tavern, and all crowded around the rider, who sat bolt upright sung | 10 his saddle. e his “Great Goel! he is dead!” the The cry came from Judge Hunter, and in amazement all recognized the truth of his goes. words, for strapped in his saddle and held up ittle | PY Stout sticks upon either side, that were firm- | efers |4Y fastened around him, was Jockey Jack the Pony Express Rider, with a bullet in his that | brain. false Here ar@a piece of paper with writin’; some et it |° You as has better eyes fer readin’, spit out war- | What is writ on it,” and Trumps took from the wha (|*"an’s breast, where it was pinned, a card on Las- |}Which was written a line in a bold hand. nm 40 Taking it, Little Grit read aloud: “Death lies in wait on the Overland. Your turn ae 1ext, Little Grit the Wild Rider.” A ‘hush fell upon the crowd, and it was brok- roung 0 by the one who had just read this fearful more (Ureat against him, and he said: , and “Judge, if you will let Hook bring round ash, Pll ride poor Jockey Jack’s run and let loped hem know along this line why he did not 1 she Png the Express.” [ wilt | ‘‘ But you start back on your ride to-morrow Little Plight, Little Grit.” wlett, True, judge; and I shall be back to ride ‘unter {* > A hundred and fifty miles by dark to-mor- that [TOW night, my boy, and then your own run? b 1s impossible.” | wish | | | Shall make it, judge; please order Flash,” ath isg 88 the firm reply, and the judge, who was on the ~ “ln agent, reluctantly obeyed. Rider £ Fi ® minutes after, Little Grit sprung upon , savvack of his splendid bay, that, like Firefly, 1as he, © Tidden without a briale, and a rousing » b er greeted the daring Wild Rider as he sped riding’ ¥ like the wind, regardless of the threat road, “* ce! on CHAPTER VII. ead ‘of We THE RESCUE. WILE poor Jockey Jack was receiving a de- xe bor- P™% burial, at the hands of his friends at ns ago Cky Glen Station, Little Grit was flying for he /2"8 the moonlit trail, the ciatter of the iron- a 10d hoofs of his horse the only sound that ht that ?°Ke the deatblike stillness that rested upon md the 7° Scenes through which he flitted like a phan- m rider, Lit- | Mile after mile was cast behind by the swift nd the [4 tireless Flash, who ran with neck stretched rry to [' and at a pace that few horses could equal, ist my [lle his master sat Jike a statue in his small idle, his eyes peering into the misty distance ‘intend (&@4, to spy out any danger that might be ad Boy king in his pathway. sa res \At length Flash swept over the ridge of a se ediniie bill, that marked fifteen miles from Rocky entered |°”, 20d before him a short distance, lay the shorse {'ClY cabin of the stock-tender, where Little t expected fo change horses for the next to her .".% dash across prairie-land of six leagues. he had | . Vhy, Benton is up late to-night; doubtless so, but. |°‘78 & game of cards with somebody that is own | opped in,” said Little Grit, as a light in f gabin-window caught his eye. eS : » . *8e next minute he dashed up to the Jow | rus, > £4308 to fi haif fh 7" . « ’ hae «' > iy, a! gles . F “ aigtee ~ <* ~ : 4, Heap vw - . - 1 4 *, J} . \ he Wee t a, | ¥.- ult P a 4 - ” hs : ie LP ae ‘o $e: ANS. . f F ‘4 ‘a a ie fe acvce yt Be a ahs RIN AE ee ‘ dese Boek ‘ ’ > ani 25 a cos o.. oe 3-2 : he = _* Pe? art = > Y. , A >” ad g * =e « > > + s~¥ 7 > pt > = Lo, af: ‘_) fo he ‘ +; —? adh fe » Sab ey, zn ~"43) ; ; ; . “ “_>s 2 = try ; ; Pe EN: erg eRe Gre eet fe oe Ne eae Ate teaear ee oe “2 7 .? . . . ‘ So ee . v. . . » me | ee — ———e ee there for the Pony Riders, standing hitched outside, while angry voices were heard within. As he came to a halt, a loud cry was heard within, and then came in piercing tones: ‘* Jockey Jack, help me! save me!” “Jockey Jack are dead, gal, an’ yer yells in vain.” This last was said in a gruff voice, and the one who called for help Little Grit knew to be the stock-tender’s daughter, a pretty girl of eighteen. In an instant he had dismounted, and revol- ver in hand, was advancing to the cabin en- trance, when he again heard in the same rude tones: ‘‘T knows yer has gold dust heur, gal, so give it, or yer’ll suffer as did yer daddy.” **T tell you I know not of any gold here, and my father would have given it up, rather than be murdered; oh! what shall I do?” With the last word Little Grit stepped into the room, and a thrilling scene met his gaze, for two rough-looking men held in their grasp Bessie Benton, the pretty daughter of the stock- tender, and in front of her stood a burly ruf- fian with a rope end in his hand, and which was passed over a beam in the cabin, and around the girl’s neck. To the same beam, swinging to and fro, and with blackened and ghastly face, hung the form of a map, whom the youth recognized as Dan Benton, the stock-tender, while ransacking some boxes and chests in the humble cabin, were four more of the band, whom Little Grit knew to be outlaws. ‘We has kilt Jockey Jack, gal, strung yer father up, an’ up you'll go, ef yer don’t tell us whar ther gold dust are hid, for we is goin’ ter work ther whole line o’ trail now,” and the apparent leader of the outlaws gave the rope a pull, until it tightened painfully around the neck of the maiden. But it was the last act of his life, for, re- gardless of consequences, Little Grit drew trigger and the man sprung into the air with a shriek, and fell upon the floor a corpse. But quickly followed two more shots, and down went one of the men who were holding Bessie Benton, while the other let go his hold and clapped bis hands to his head with a howl of rage and pain. ‘‘Come, Bessie, here!” shouted Little Grit, and in the dense smoke the girl saw a slender form glide to her side, and though the other outlaws now fired at random from their corner, she felt herself borne to the door, andthe next instant was out in the pure air. am ‘‘Quick, Bessie, spring on the best horse of your lot and ride like the wind and warn them at Rocky Glen,” cried Little Grit, as he forced the maiden through the stockade’gate and out among the horses, | | ‘“‘And you, Little Grit?’ asked the young irl, “Til go on Jockey Jack’s run; quick, for those devils are coming,” and he almost threw Bessie upon the nearest horse, and cutting loose the halter gave her the end. *“Hold on thar! we is coming,” came in stern tones from the cabin, and the door, which Little Grit had closed behind him, was thrown open, and out dashed four outlaws. *‘Go, for God’s sake, Bessie!” shorted the Wild Rider. “I will not leave you in danger, Little Grit,” was the determined response. “Tam going, now!” and the youth struck her horse a violent blow, just as several shots came from tbe outlaws, and startled the fright- ened animals fastened to the fence. Away darted the horse with Bessie, and with a shot in response, Little Grit threw him- self upon the back of Flash, and with a defiant shout darted away. ‘“‘Tt’s the Wild Rider! foller’ him, pards,” yelled an outlaw. 1h Toy ‘* No, let him go, for he’s a-ridin’ toward ther river; come, cotch ther gal, or she’ll rouse ’em_ vu ‘ocky Glen,” replied another, and two men - out and mounting in hot haste rede Benton, _ | po Bt Aaccoh nol Ma oh > . ‘AS rel ‘ Wit!) Rit be se’ S >, i ieee ie) Ae ~ : U s , ) Dd. iris - bh . + ©) ¥eA z and brought her horse to a stand-still = = <a 4 ao? yy Instantly Little Grit halted, and gazing back watched the chase for an instant, and then Said in a joyous tone: ** As luck would have it, I mounted her upon a fleet horse, for she is dropping them; now, Flash, old fellow, there is double work ahead of you, but I cannot spare you; come, show your mettile.”’ As if understanding the words of his young master, Flash darted off like a bird, and onee more the Wild Rider was dashing along the moonlit trail, having lost just five minutes at . Dan Benton’s stockade; but ere he had gone a dozen rods, he halted and turned back, saying firmly : | “ITU risk it !” CHAPTER VIII. THE PHANTOM RIDER. WHEN Little Grit struck the horse, upon which Bessie Benton was mounted, she was compelled to go and leave the brave youth, whether she cared to or not, and realizing that he knew best what she “should do, and that he was fully capable of taking care of himself, she urged the animal on rapidly up the trail leading to Rocky Glen. But she had not gone far before she dis- covered that she was pursued, and at once she felt anxiety for her personal safety, as she knew how cruel bad been her foes, and the hanging form of her father was before her eyes, in all its horrid ghastliness, Encouraging her horse to greater speed she soon felt assured that she was mistress of the situation, as he ran along easily and gained steadily, although her pursuers were pressing their steeds with whip, spur and shouts. As if seeing how utterly useless the chase was the two men gave it up, but yet Bessie Benton continued her rapid flight until she came to a narrow canyon, where she lessened the speed of her horse for an instant, and then, with a startled cry came to a sudden halt, while with staring eyes she gazed before her - upon: \*% object ‘that stood in her path. Jusu'' where a few mconbeams struggled through the foliage, and fell into the canyon were a horse and rider, ov phantoms. Atsnow-white. steed, standing as motionless ~ as though carvéd in marble, and a rider. that was clad in a gauzy material sat in her saddle, for it was a woman, and _¢emed gezing intent- ly at the maiden who had invaded the dark re treat, ‘‘Tt is the Ph*ntom Rider! the Spirit of the Canyon!” cried Ressie i: dismay, and in ter. ror she turned to and, as if also startled afi the strange appaistion her horse sped away at fearful speed, at’, unguided by his rider, turned into a trai‘ running along the ridge of the hill. | As she gained the path, where the fev? 2ivsg- gling trees did not okstruce une view, Bessie Benton glanced ever her shoulder with a shud- ~ der, to see if she was followed, and a cold chill seemed creeping ever her heart, as she beheld the Spirit of the Canyon coming rapidly on in chase.., vi. . ‘“Fly! oh fly!.good horse,” shé cried anx- icusly, and she ‘ong end of the ,halter serving — “0 @ Wiip, sie .ashed the flying animal savage- ly, and smarting with pain he increased his speed, and bounded along at a pace that was dangerous in the extreme, considering the na- ture of the trail. “She is gaining upon me, and yet I cannot hear the hoof-falls,” said Bessie, and she strained her ears to catch the sound; but her own horse made such a loud clatter as bis iron shoes struck the loose recks and flinty ground, that it seemed to,drown all other noise, and — ee she felt that it was-her imagination ouly that caused ber to think that the white zteed be- hind her was gliding silently along rather iLau — pf running. 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