Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 152 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Black Bess, Will Wildfire’s Racer. co heated and nervous. But Bess seems to grow more quiet with every start.” “That’s the advantage of bottom,’’ whispered Will. at that done f “Wh ‘*She has the stuff in her to wear them all out é. But I don’t like it. I want the thing and I'd kick Pete if I had hold of him.” Clara, quickly. ‘“ Look at There is something wrong with him. I would say he was growing pale if charcoal could grow pale.”’ Will anxiously looked at the boy, who was driving past on his return to the starti int. Plainly enough all was not well with him. mething was amiss in his interior. ‘“*T hope he is not going to become sick at this criti- cal point,’’ said Will, in a tone of great anxiety. hatever was the matter with the boy he evident- ly felt that there was no time to waste in getting the race awe. as soon as possible. There was no re- turn to his former tactics. The five horses came up, this time, neck to neck. A blanket would have cov- ered them all, so closely were they laid side by side. Their action was simply ROE: The experienced eye of the judge cast one keen glance across the exact line of the horses. “Go!” came in loud command from his li And go they did, darting like a whirlwind down the smooth track. Fora hundred yards they kept side by side, scarcely an inch’s breadth separating the line = their noses. Then training and blood began to tel. Hardy made a bad break and went to the rear. Rover forged ahead, gaining a half length the advan- tage. Lady Clare and Black Bess ve kept side by side, while Stonewall gradually fell behind. But soon the Lady Clare blood began to show itself. She moppes out with a quick burst, lapping on Rover, and leaving Black Bess a half length in the rear. The excitement of the lookers-on was now growing intense. A thousand exclamations rent the air. Shouts of *‘Go! Go!" greeted each horse that gained a temporary advantage. A hundred hats were flung into the air as Lady Clare made this decided burst. Bess had not yet deviated from the regular pace with which she set out. Pete grasped the reins ants de while a preternatural solemnity marked his ace. They were now nearing the half-mile turn, when the driver of Lady Clare, who had forged more than a length ahead of Bess, showed signs of an intention to turn short and take the inside track. “Hi! thar! don't try dat!’ yelled Pete. ‘Dar'll be somefin bu’st, sure’s you lib. Back water dar!” As the Me ype jockey still tried to crowd in, Pete gave Bess the rein, with a quick chirrup at which she darted ahead like a bird. ‘* Look out there, or your wheel's gone!’’ came a warning cry. Lady Clare’s driver took the hint, and swerved out again, but not in time to keep Pete from sweep- ing his wheels. A crack followed. Three felloes were torn from the wheel of the fouling rly at ails him?”’ cried his face! sulky. A laugh of disdain came from Pete, as Bess came grandly up side by side with her antagonist, and but a neck behind Rover, who was hugging the inside turn closely. The other two horses were a length or two behind, and showed little hope of making up their losses. A moment more and they were all dashing briskly down the home stretch, the three ae horses keeping their relative position until the third quarter had been made. Then, whatever it was that ailed Pete, he suddenly became doubled up like a knife, still elf to the reins, yet apparently holding his seat wi culty. ‘*What is the matter?’ was the universal cry. “Ts the boy sick?” “Tt is working,’’ said Mark Preston, with a sinister smile. ‘“‘ He will be on the ground before he makes a hundred paces more. The game’s lost for Black Bess.”’ But he didn’t know Pete. In a moment more he had straightened himself up again, though evident! in severe pain. Lady Clare and Rover were bo — ee the former by a half length, the latter y a head, Pete shook the reins and gave his cheerful chirrup. The intelligent animal, with a strength that seemed as f as at the start, darted onward, her long, swinging stride telling immensely, while she sun down into that crouching attitude habitual to her when at top s ‘ In a second she was neck and neck with Rover. In five seconds more she had broken down the ad- vantage of Lady Clare. The two horses trotted side by side, at a tremendous pace, which was plain- ly telling on the slighter-built animal. Scarce a hun- red yards separated them from the close. The shouts and cries of **Go! Go!” which rent the air, were broken at this instant by a general ex- clamation of alarm and surprise. Pete was n doubled up like a jack-knife, the reins had fallen from his hands, and he was swaying in his narrow seat like a leaf in the blast. “Great Heaven! what is wrong with the lad?” came from more than one voice. “And he had the race in his hands."’ But they did not know Black Bess if they thought she was not able to take care of herself in such a crisis. If Pete could only retain his seat for five seconds more! The brave boy was evidently trying hard to do so, van the noble horse shot forward in one supreme effort. ; A shout that rent the sky broke forth as she dart- ed past the judge's stand a full half length abead of Lady Clare, winning the race, But the shout was changed to a cry of fear and alarm as the next instant Pete pitched forward and was flung heavily from his seat, striking the ground with a sickening thud, It was with difficulty that Rover was swerved aside, and prevented from running over the fallen victor. CHAPTER XVI. JACK BRACE MAKES A DISCOVERY. ‘‘Sprax louder. I’m a bit hard of hearing," said the ill-favored woman, who came tothe door in re- sponse to Jack Brace's loud rap. “Is Phil Handy at home?” screamed Jack, at the top of his voice. ‘You needn't holler. I ain't so bad as that,” the woman sharply answered. “There's nobody at home ‘cept me.” * How soon will he be home?” “] dunno. He's gone to the races. Not much afore night, I s’ - She made asif she would shut the door in their faces. “We are in nohurry. We will wait till he comes,”’ screamed Jack, setting his foot against the door. “°Tain’t no use, I tell you,” cried the woman, ee hard on the door. “I’m a lone woman ere, andI won’t have no men waiting about till Lu— Phil, I mean, comes home.”’ Jack made no reply, but, setting his burly shoul- ders to the door, flung it wide open, pushing the struggling woman back to the wall. This high-handed proceeding roused the good lady into a burst of fury, and she opered on the intruders with a fierce vituperation that would have done credit to a fishwife. But Jack marched in, followed 4 with as much indifference as though it had been but a fly buzzing at his ears, ‘You owdacious villains!” shescreamed. “If my man was only here wouldn't he pay you out for this? Taking advantage of a weak, lone woman! Oh! if I only had my broom-stick I'd trounce the ugly pair of you! Pretty carryings-on indeed, for a pair of — to break in on a defenseless female! “ We are not burglars, my good woman.” “Your good woman! Your good woman, indeed! I'd have you know, you monkey-faced villain, that I'm nobody's good woman! And I'll have the law of you, too, e'll see if you're not burglars. What are you, I'd like to know?” “Policemen, madam,” said Jack, “he on. A scream came from the woman's lips. She flung herself on the door of the room which Jack was about to enter. It opened under her weight, and she tripped and staggered in‘o the room, falling into a chair on its opposite side. “That's all right,”’ Jack coolly remarked. “Take care of the virago, Frank. Use the darbies if she is his companion, obstropulous. I[ will take a survey of this interest- ing mansion.” Frank slip into the room before she could re- cover from her involuntary movement, turned the in the lock, and stood with his back to the door. Now 5 he please keep cool, my dear woman,” he quietly remarked. “My partner and I mean business, and the easier you take it the better you'll feel after it’s all over.” ‘You mean business, do you? Locking yourself up alone with me, you ugly, broken-n , blear- eyed, foul-mouthed, owdacious burglar! I'd have you know I mean business, too.” Before Frank could hinder her, she had flung open the bowed shutters of a window, and leaped through it with a strength and agility for which po one would have given her credit. Meanwhile Jack had hastily sought the upper sto- ries of the house, and was rapidly opening room af- ter room, taking in their features with one compre- hensive glance of his experienced eyes. **Ha! this looks promising!” he exclaimed, as he tried the door of a room on the third floor, op- posite that in which Pete had been imprisoned. Tt was locked. But this was little hindrance to the rienced detective. He was well provided with keys and a, versed in the mysteries of locks, and not two utes elapsed before the door stood open, re- vealing the secrets of the closed room. : Looks like a pawnbroker’s office on auction- day,” he muttered, surveying a miscellaneous accu- mulation of materials of every sort, with which the apartment was well filled. ‘A neat assortment in- deed! If we haven't struck oil, then I'll sell out. Never saw a better supplied burgiar's store-house in all my life.” more minute examination of the treasure he had vered was prevented by a sudden and vio- lent uproar below. ild cries in a woman's voice, the sound of blows, tramping of feet, and a mixture of yells and oaths in a man’s tones, were enough to startle the steadiest nerves. Hastily closing the door, Jack ran rapidly down- stairs, to witness a spectacle, which he was, for a time, pet acne from taking part in by an involun- a! fit of laughter. or the g lady of the house, ing a heavy broom as a weapon of offense, was actively belabor- ing his comrade, who was corraled in a corner, and crouching down in a vain effort to escape the inces- sant shower of blows. * You mean business, do you, you house-breaking villain? You mean business, eh? Maybe I don’t mean business, too!" And every word was emphasized with a blow which made it very evident to the victim that she certainly did mean business. Jack stood for a minute tightly grasping the balus- ters to keep himself from falling, for he was quite overcome with laughter. As soon as he coud re- cover he ran down to the rescue of his comrade. key ae ne 13 But the latter, at the same instant, darted in a crouching attitude from his corner, taking his as- sailant in the knees, and upsetti her, broom and all, on the floor, while he crawl hastily out and hurried away from that dangerous vicinity. When the lady of the house had made her agile escape through the window, it was with an inten- tion of flight, as her guard supposed. He did not follow her through the window, but unlocked the room door, and ran out into the pacsage, making his way toward the rear exit from the house. But he calculated somewhat wrongly, for, as he opened the kitchen door, he found himself half- blinded by the descent of a broom in the stro hands of the vi . Retreat was of little avail. She had the whip d and was bound to were: it, using her weapon with such rapidity and vigor that ina minute she had her antagonist fairly cornered and at her mercy. Such was the situation of affairs when Jack came upon the scene, just in time to witness the comical denouement to the affray. _ Taking advantage of the fact that the lady was, <4 pe, ivuional ovate or hanks Ja oo and quickly sli a r of handcuffs over her disarmed hands, ‘Business, ma’am,” he said, ape ** You'll be wanted, A know; you and your s. So gabon excuse the little liberty which I am ng with you. You can come back, Frank,” he cried, to his cowed comrade, “ the dragon is muzzied.”’ “The devil take her, for ashe-tiger!’’ cried Frank, wiping off the blood which flowed from more than one deep scratch on his face. “Shoot me if I wouldn't sooner have a baker’s dozen of Kilkenny cats clawing at me. Ill give in, Jack, ve met my match for once in a woman.” “Let me at him again, the baby-faced cata- mount!” screamed the woman, striving to struggle a her feet, while Frank started back in involuntary arm. But we must return to the race-course, where Pete had just tumbled to the ground, after bringing his horse safely in as winner of the race. The uproar was indescribable. Fifty men in an instant broke into the track, some with a wild in- tention of stopping the unchecked horse, some to lift up the fallen driver. With the hoarse shouts of men were mingled the screams of women, it being feared by all that the boy must have been killed by his fall. **Great Heaven, Will!” cried Clara, with a scared face, “is he—" But Will was gone. With little heed to who sat before him, he tumbled headiong down the line of benches, crushing more than one hat, and injuring more than one bonnet in his rapid descent, and bouncing at last into the arena among the first of those who had succeeded in entering. Clasping the insensible boy in his arms he ran hastily with him toward the judge's stand, where some cushions were quickly arranged to lay him upon. “Ishe hurt? [she bleeding?’ came from more than one anxious spectator. ‘Only stunned, I think,” said Will. “ There is no blood. He seemed to strike on his head. I hope it has not produced concussion of the brain.” ‘Concussion, the deuce! Is that all you know about the thickness of a darky’s skull?’ asked Pierce Browning, who had hurried up. “He could not have hit onasafer point.—Let me athim. I know something about contusions.” en te back a little, while Pierce bent over to ex e the boy. Meanwhile Black Bess had stopped of her own ac- cord, when she found she was no longer pushed by Se horses. The intelligent creature striving to look backward, as if anxious to know what had become of her driver. **Come, lass; come, honey!” cried Pomp, seizing her bridle, and stroking her soothin with his large hand. ‘“ Neber was sich a kno hoss. Got more sense nor half de humans I's eber see’d. Come, sweetheart; you's got de race, an’ dat Lady Clare ain't nowhar. He led the horse gently toward the sheds, followed by an admiring crowd. “Has anybody got a flask of whisky?” asked Pierce, after examining the boy. If he had asked for a pistol at a western barbecue he could not have been better served. ‘Pocket pistols,” loaded with whisky ‘‘ warranted to kill at so many ” appeared on all sides, and at least a dozen were thrust toward his hand. “This will do,” remarked Pierce, witha laugh. “I don’t want to bathe the boy in whisky.” He poured afew drops from an open flask down Pete’s throat. It had a magical effect. A long-drawn sigh came from the boy, whose eyes opened the next instant, gazing wildly upward. **How do a eel, Pete?” cried Will, anxiously bending over him. “Kinder scrumptious,’ returned the . whose ne were rapidly coming back. “What's de row 9 ** You got thrown in the race, that’s all.” Pete looked 5 in his master's face with a glance of sudden intelligence. ‘**Lawsee! I know it allnow. Black Bess didn’t git beat? Don't no ‘say she did!” ** No,” replied the ju “she won the race.” **Knowed she would,’ broke in Pete. “‘ What's her time?” “She made it in 2:194." ‘* Hoopee!t” cried the boy, in a feeble tone of triumph. “Got a bet on dat. A jack-knife gina pair of ole boots. Dat jack-knife’s mine.” “Do you feel sick still?” **Nary sick. I's all right,’’ returned Pete, scramb- 6)(6)(6) eGom (c <S (E©)