Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 162 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

whe ee ee The prisoner TNT A MRT 6 ORE | PDT RNR SE YAP TW? with something of oo aspect of a wild-cat, the door of whose thet being un- fastened. The intense look of one ting f © lib- erty and revenge. e open door displayed the forms of the oo of that corridor, and of a burly welkdressed individ- ual, who bore about him an Prof eerie “Mark Preston. Is that your name?’ he asked, examining a teeny od ‘looking documemt which he held wy yo his hand. ’ replie ed the prisoner, the hungry look deep- ening in in his eyes. n for six years, as an accomplice of a gang of burglars?” This question was addressed to the keeper. “ This is your man,” replied the latter, brusquely. “Then, by virtue of the document which I hold, signed by the Governor and the State Board of Par- dons, you are pardoned for this offense, and are hereby freed from detention.” A fash of joy, that had in it something of sav exultation, shot across the prisoner's face. But, strong self-control, he r it with any further avi. oie of feeling, and said, with assumed sternness o rag | don't know that an innocent man owes many . thanks to the State officials for releasing him from false imprisonment. I thank you, though, for our whet Iam weary enough of this villainous og’s 10 A +B The official looked with an air of wonder at the prisoner, whose eves were turned with a savage glare upon the walls of his cell. A significant shrug of the shoulders, and he commenced to read the document he held, the prisoner listening with ill- concealed impatience to its legal verbiage. “Let me congrat ulate es upon your 2 pene vontinued the official. ‘Mr. Walker, you will see to Mr. Preston’s further needs.”’ He turned upon his heel, as if offended at the lack of response to his polite remark in the prisoner's ex- e on, “A rat don’t often th ar’ the kind gentlemen who shut him up ina trap,’’ muttered Preston, as he fol- lowed the keeper from his discarded cell. A half-hour afterward the wicket in the great iron gates of the prison opened, and Mark Preston ste ped out into the free air of thestreets and under the open light of the heavens. A remarkable change had taken place in his appearance. His prison garb was discarded, and he wore the well-cut, fashionable attire which had been taken from him when enter- wng the prison. Cleanly shaved, his long mustache curled in the French fashion, and a wel -fitting hat concealing his closely-clipped head, no one would have dreamed that this dapper individual had been, an hour before, an inmate of a prison cell, a convict- ed felon. Mr. Walker, the keeper, bude him a kindly God- syeed at the gate, and the freed convict walked briskly away, his face working with the conflicting emotions that filled bis mind, “Tt was lucky that I received that other legacy, he muttered, ** or _ losses on the turf, and ino ways, might have forced me to take up my new trade of shoeinaking for a living. I must see how my affairs suand. I can take m rae time in paying my respects to my friend, Will Wil Leaving him to his devices, we must return to the scene of the archery meeting, whose sport had been 80 ae interrupted. An intense confusion fol- lowed the rifle-shot, which had seemed evidently aimed at Will Wildfire. The screams of women were mingled with the ezies and ejaculations of men. The group for an instant huddled together, like a fright- ened herd of deer that hears the huntsman’s shot. Some of the ladies aes nervously to their gentle- men friends for protection This excitement was pa rtly occasioned. by the hasty exclamation and quick action of Will Wildfire. The brawling crevk ran swiftly in its shallow bed, with frequent stones llftiag above its swirling wa- ters. Leaping from stone to stone, in a minute he had reached the edge of the thickeu, followed as quickly by Pierce Browning, Harry Waters and sev- eral others. But the thicket was not to be so readily traversed. The Y and whiprie ste of grape-vines, and the thorny and whi e stems of blackberry and rasp- berry bushes, hindered any rapid Sea though Will hastily y drew a knife and cut his way through these annoying obstructions. ‘Spread to the right and lefti’’ he shouted. ‘‘ The thicket is not wide. You may surround it and catch this weasel in his hole. Quick, lads! Don’t let the netho. pelo instantly f on was instan ollowed. Some ran in Seth tion elong the benke of the creek, with intent to yey the t ee | while others darted in various lines through its dense midst, following Will's example of cutting a passage through the hin- dering vines and thorn bushes. The ladies were soon left almost alone, awaiting with intense anxiety the result of this rapid and im- pulsive search. “Shoot the hound down, if you gan’t stop him otherwise!” yelled Pierce Browning, as he plunged into the Seiaieen: breaking through all obstructions with his great weight, and trampling them under his = as ab elephant might have done in a similar sit- uation. Several minutes of intense expectancy followed. Those left on the archery ground could hear the shouts and tram se en of the pursuers, and their fre- quent cries of advice or of encouragement to e other. And now a more interesting cry came from the heart of the thicket, in the stentorian tenes of Pierce Brownin oa + “ By Heaven, Will!” he cried, “ but you are a fine . ’ : i- , Py ’ }'7 \ y. 2 will Oe A, SAARI eS in the Woods. ty ona fly. You've carried off the honors of the o How? Did I hit him?’ screamed back Will's voice from a little distance. es. He took your hat with his bulle and have taken his with your arrow. Here it is; wit good goose-feathered shaft 9" through it; and 3 inge of red on the barb as if it had er the hound’s us" ** Kee ret@rned Will. ‘That is my withas e in the bull’s-eye. The hat may 1 its owner. Drive ou, boys! He may be in hiding somewhere.”’ The plunging sounds continued for several min- utes more. “Hey! Hey! Hoicks! Stole away! Stole away!”’ came from an old fox-hunter, who had skirted the thicket. ‘* Yonder he goes, on horseback, and riding ce Jehu! By the seven saints, he has given us the Ss “Boveral others guickly gathered around him, their eyes fixed on the distant horseman, who was riding rapidly down a neighboring lane, having just lea his horse over the low fence that skirte e fiel Almost at the same instant Will Wildfire broke from the thicket, followed a moment afterward b the huge form of ‘Pierce Browning, who held aloft tri- umphantly the arrow-pierced hat which he had dis- covered. *Whereaway?" cried Will, eagerly. “Yonder.” A dozen hands pointed to the pumiare horseman, now a full quarter of a mile awa “He has given us the slip, confound claimed Pierce, in accents of vexation. ‘** Not yet,’ was Will's hasty answer. He troke quickly from the throng and ran across the field, first snatching a bow from the hands of one of the pursuers, who had. brought this implement with him. All eyes curiously followed the athletic youth, not compr ehending his object. It was soon evident, how- ever. mag Aion) clean-limbed horse was quietly | ayes the grass on the other side of the field Will slackened his _s as he approached this ani- mal, who was lifting ears in incipient alarm, But by that sort of freemasonry which exists be- tween some men and the members of the brute crea- tion, Will managed to teed ae alarm of the skittish animal. He was allowed yee Syrestne to softly stroke the glossy hide, to ahah its flowing mane. It was the opportunity he wanted. In a moment more, with an agile spring, he had flung himself astride the trusting animal. A quiver of the horse’s flanks, succeeded by a sud- den and powerful leap, followed this treacherous movement. But Will sat his barebacked steed like a Centaur. ‘Take down the bars!” he cried, as the horse con- tinued its frantic efforts to get rid of this unwelcome burden. “I will run down that villain, if it is in the creature’s limbs and muscles.” ** As he spoke, with a dextrous movement, he in- serted the string of the bow which he held, between the animal’s gaping jaws, and drew it ti ght until it almost cut into the flesh. “There is your archer’s bit and bridle!”’ he shout- ed. ‘“‘Down with the bars, some of you! I have enough to do to handle this horse, without trying to me * to obey his bidding, while Will struggled with the frightened and infuriated young animal, frantic efforts to throw his daring It was in vain. Wherever Will had learned the art of horsemanshi - he bad learned it thorough! . The animal bucked, reared, almost stood on rf: head, yet Will, grasping his side with a stecl-line gripe of his knees sat firm, punishing the maddened steed severely with his improvised bit. *‘ All ready,’ came the ery. “Then make way, for I am coming!” The furious animal, by this time, had ceased its wild gyrations and was trembling ‘ike a leaf. Its next movement was to spring forward with marvel- ous 8 , Straight toward the fence, But its’ skillful rider directed the unbroken and unenddlen creature to the opening made by his “ain ggg In an instant more they were in the open ne “IT will run him down, if there is any virtue in horsefiesh,” he cried. “ And if 1 do, let bim look to himself. He shall find that Will Wildfire is not to be shot at with impunity.”’ Like an arrow down the lane darted the furious animal, guided by the improvised bridle of his dar- = rider, who sat the horse as if part of himself ile his compressed lips and gleaming eyes showed that there was deadly earnest in his expedition. —_—_——_— CHAPTER Il. FARMER BROWN GIVES AN INVITATION TO SUPPER. PurIngEas Brown, farmer, was slowly wen his way back from market, where he had dis ofa load of turnips and carrots, and the week’s butter of 1” ex- the Brook Farm dairy. He sat back now in his coneking vehicle, hap 44 in the double consciousness of havin done his duty to his fellows by enna the primest butter of the | aCe, and his duty to = wy getting the primest price for it. d roan horse, which had been a quarter of a pe in the family, trotted along with that grave deliberation to which he felt that his venerable age and faithful ave him the right. his wrinkled but kindly-faced driver wh quite con- tent with the slow pace of the old horse. “But hadn't pose best ee up a bit, Franky?’ he quieey ten to th animate “thee knows it will be fore thee pews sea to th e horse pricked up h ‘ears at these words, as : : ee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeOEOOOOOOOeeeE EEE EEE eee ES nee eee eS... somewhat —— ker speed. a note book from the pocket of his eieeeraed coat, and began leisurely to ex- amine mat entries, a look of great satisfaction coming u face. Mr Add six, that makes nine,’ he muttered with ursed-u up lips, and compressed brows. “* Nine times fo orty is—let me see. Nine times naught is naught, nine times four is thirty-six. Three hundred sixty. Then add to that seven twenty-nine, and we have—"’ he put the end of the pencil in his mouth, and looked up, as he tried to mentally make the difficult calculation. But all thought of esand profits was sudden- I driven from his head, as his eyes glanced down road before him. For there came a furious rider on a furious steed, And the rider was bare- headed, and the steed barebacked; while the ex- rienced eyes of the old farmer had never seen a ridle like that with which the horse was managed. His wonder increased as the equestrian came nearer; while a look that was not entirely astonish- ment came upon his dry visage. ‘Unless Iam strangely mistaken I have seen that steed before,” he muttered, with a queer expression, ““Nor is the visage of the rider quite unknown to me. But what is the untamed colt bridled with?” A minute afierward Will Wildfire, for it was he, thundered up beside the wagon of the old farmer. Wild as the horse had. been at first, his breakneck drive seemed to have taken the ‘spirit out of him. Will readily drew him up with bis improvised bit. The flash was still in his eyes as he turned to the old man, who sat with a peculiarly grim smile on his features: while he adjusted his spectacles for a closer look at the horse. ‘“Execuse me for sto dea you, Mr. Brown,” be- gan Will, with rapid and eager voice. “Have you met a bareheaded rider, d ing furiously down the road by which you have coniet “Yes,” re ee the old farmer, as he continued to inspect Will e mount. ‘Where ” ‘cried the young man with impatiert haste. .‘* He’s a villain and an attempted murderer! How far is he in advance?” ‘*Pardon me, friend Wildfire,” the old fellow de- liberately answered. “I do not the < agree with thee in thy opinion, Thyself is the only furious bareheaded rider I have met to-day.” Will put his hand to his head with an involuntary gesture.. He had fo oon the loss of his hat. “Do not trifle wi ‘he cried, half an ‘** Have you not met him? “ must overtake him.”’ ‘“‘ Thee will scarcely do so on thy present course, 4 gravely returned the old Quaker, “I assure thee 1 ave met with no such character.” ‘‘Then-he must have turned off into some side ee * remarked, Will, preparing to wheel his foam ing horse. 3 One moment, friend Wildfire,’ said the old man “T would like to address thee a brief query.” Will paused impatiently. ‘*T hope you will not detain me.” “ Excuse me; but will thee tell me where thee ob tained thy steed ?”” ‘‘ Borrowed it,’’ Will briefly replied. “* And is thy bridle a newinvention? The patter, is strange to me,’ Will laughed grimly. ‘“* We were having an archery match,” he explain- ed. “I suddenly found it necessary to borrow a horse; and as no saddle or bridle was at ban J was forced to improvise the one out of the an ‘s hide, and the other out of a Maige te aty gi ” I hardly like the oo friend Wildfire,"’ was the quiet answer. eé poor creature’s mouth is bleeding.” “*T had to break in the hard-mouthed brute,” said Will apologetically. “Well, well, m young friend, thee will forgive curiosity, I ho begged’ the old farmer. ee will understand it better when I explain that thou art riding my horse, i I do not remember the fact of thy borrowing it “Your horse? The devil!” cried Will, _ hastily. “No, no. Ido not perceive that his Satanic ma- jesty has aught to do with the affair. be. I would not have believed any body but he could ridden that horse barebacked.”’ ‘*Thave a touch of the devil in me to-day,” an- nounced Will. ‘You must excuse my appro ria- ting 3 your horse. I know you will, wheu le quickly recounted t circumstance which had driven him to his hasty action, the old man listening witB wonder and sympathy. “Why, why! certainly, certainly! under such cir- cumstances thou art thrice welcome to him.” “And now I must continue my pursuit, if it is ssible to discover what road the fugitive has cen,” “Tt is not ponsibie, * remarked the farmer. “‘ There is a net-work of lanes Ye pe Reg Thee would waste thy time. Besides, I don t think I can lend thee that horse any longer to-c The creature has had enough of thy rough Ps g. Thee had better re- turn and take supper with me.” There was a sort of stu gene in the look which Will cast on the old man’s “ But—you are too kind,’ i tattered.” * ‘After my running away with your horse! ag “Do not think of that, friend Wildfire * returned farmer Brown, with a lurking smile. “1 had intend- ed to send for a ae rofessional borse-breaker to-mor- row, to break that colt to the bridle. Thee has sayed me that trouble and . Therefore I certainly owe thee in return an invitation to sup- ‘An edd look across Will's ve fae. He seemed with difficulty to repress a laugh, ' *eomicbool G S.cO