Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 220 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

Tom Tanner, Scalawag and Scapegrace; OR, The Biack Sheep of the Flock. BY CHARLES MORRIS, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ BOB ROCKETT,” *‘ FRED HALYARD,” “WILL WILDFIRE,” ‘*SHADOWED,” ‘* DARK PAUL,” ** DASHING DAVE,” ETC., ETC. CHAPTER LI. A ROW AND A DISCHARGE, It was a beautiful day outside, and it seemed hard to be confined among whirling wheels and rattling machines, in a close, smoky and grimy room, while a ray of sunshine hardly dared to enter, for fear it might be seized upon by those iron fingers and wrought into some unheard-of shane. Yet this room was full of men and boys, who gave scarcely a thought to the sunshine, 80 busy were they over their work. Like hungry crea- tures the machines greedily devoured the iron plates that were rapidly fed to them, and let them fall again in a shower of useful forms. And the workmen themselves seemed machines, so steady and regular were all their movements. Not all, however. in a corner of the room were two boys, very much alike in face, but very different in their habits. One was quietly and .steudily feeding the narrow iron plates to his machine, with the regularity of clock- work, The other was leaning lazily against the wall, with his elbow on the window:sill, and looking wistfully out into the neighboring etree’ ‘TY here’s no use talkin’,” he growled. ‘I’m dead tired of this old shebang. I’ve got the bigscst eolion out to discharge the boss and nuke orne<s.” * You'd better stick to your work,” the other boy dauiebiy veplicd. ** All the work you do vo ‘i curb you, und you’ve got plenty of time Lo piry. : “Oo! you ary up, Frank. You’re always preechin. | wasn’t never got up for hard work, und I ain’s goin’ to bang round here, sWiplug ous steel pers, ior all the bosses as was evor beard on,” “jius., ‘Lom! Get back to your machine. Here comes Mr, Martin. There’ll be a row if he tinds you loafing here,” ‘* Row be frigzled !” answered Tom, recklessly, ‘“S’pose I keer fer old Joe Martin? I won’t take much of his slack, you bet on that.” ‘*Come, come, Tom! We've got to make a living, you know, and help our father and mother,” “Dunno as I’ve got to do nothin’ of the sort,” snarled Tom. ‘* They ought to be keepin’ me, ’stead of me keepin’ them. Krank looked uneasily around at the stern- faced foreman, who was close at hand. The quick eyes of the latter bad noticed a machine standing idle, and they now caught sight of Tom Tanner leaning lazily against the wall. ‘‘ Hillo, there!” be cried, sharply. ‘‘ What’s loose, boy? Anything bu’sted about your machine?” ‘There’s somethin’ bu’sted ’bout me,” an- swered Tom, with a saucy look. ‘* The old con- cern’s right enough, I s’pose. It’s me that’s sick of it; ’tain’t it that’s sick of me.” **See here, Tom Tanner,” said the foreman, in a tone of decision. ‘‘ I’ve had enough of this. Get back to your work now, or, hang mo, if I don’t carry you back by the ears!” Tom returned an angry look, but he knew the man he had to deal with, and he slowly raised himself. ‘Come, look alive, there! Stir up, will you, Mr. Slow-go-easy ?” Frank noticed a wicked flash come into his brother’s eyes, and hastened to say, in a mild tone: ‘‘’You’d better mind Mr. Martin, Tom.” Tom’s hasty temper flamed out at this. “‘T ain’t no dog for old Joe Martin to kick,” he growled. ‘* And I don’t want none of your slack, neither.” A flush of anger showed itself in Mr. Martin’s face. In-an instant he had carried out his threat of taking the boy by the ears, and was dragging him along the room. ‘**“Come on, Smarty,” he cried, “We'll see if old Joe Martin isn’t boss here.” ‘* Let go of me!” roared Tom. ‘Not much. Not till I take some ot the im- pudence out of you.” ? ‘ , ee But he counted too much on his own strength. In an instant the boy turned, and ferociously buried his sharp teeth in the man’s arm. The latter, with a cry of pain, released him, and struck him a blow that leveled him to the floor. But Tom was quick as a cat. The next in- Tom Tanner, Scalawag and Scapegrace. stant he was upon his hands and knees, and had | sunk his teeth in the foreman’s leg, with a flerce bite that made him yell with agony. Frank, with his face full of concern, had sprung from his post, and was now trying to drag back the young savage. ‘*Don’ts hurt him, Mr. Martin,” he appealed. “Oh, don’t hurt him! Let me; I will quiet him. You were too hard on him, you know.” He tugged away as he spoke, and dragged Tom loose from his foe. A harsh oath broke from the man’s lips. Heedless of this appeal, he dealt Tom a violent blow that knocked him prostrate. Burning with rage, he ran forward, and raised his foot with the intent to bring his heavy boot down upon the helpless boy. ‘*Don’t do that!” cried Frank, respectfully, but decidedly, pushing between the combat- ants. ‘*‘He is my brother, Mr. Martin. You must not hurt him.” ‘Get out, you young viper!” snarled the foreman, endeavoring to push him away. ‘*No, no,” answered Frank, keeping his place. Oh! won’t you let him go this time, Mr. Mar- tin? He won’t be saucy again.” ‘‘No, drat him!” growled the foreman, as he coughs Frank’s shoulder and gave him a fierce jerk. ’ Frank was a well-built and well-grown boy, and he resisted this effort, a look of anger com- ing into his earnest face. ‘The infuriated fore- man doubled his fist to strike tim. ‘The blow fell, but was parried by the lad, though ke made no effort to return it. Mis face had grown pale, but it was very earnest and Cc- cided. Mr. Martin, besice himself with rage, again raised his heavy fist. Frank looked ap- pealingly into his face, but mace no cflort to avoid the blow. His quiet devotion to his idle brother should have touched his antagonist, but the rage of the latter blinded him to it. ** Don’t strike him, Mr. Martin,” respectfully appealed cne cf the workmen. ‘Thrash the other one as much es you want, but this boy has done nothing.” ‘‘ He has no business to meddle,” rejoined the foreman, as be caught Frank by the shculder and drew back his heavy fist. ‘‘1 won't have any boy bosses about here.” rank stood firm and unmoving, though he fully expected that burly fist wou'd be dashed the next minute into his face. But there was an unexpected diversion. During this short colloquy Tom had struggled to his feet, and rasped an iron tool that lay on the floor near im, Mr. Martin’s blow never fell. Ere he could strike, Tom leaped forward, and brought down the dangerous weapon with stunning force upon ~~ head He fell to the floor as if Le had been ot. This affray, long as it takes to cescribe it, had lasted but a minute or two, end the work- men, who were flocking to the scene, had not had time to interfere. ‘* Make tracks, Frank!” cried Tom. ‘‘ We’ve raised thunder now, for certain. Follow me. Don’t stand there dreamix’ like a blasted foe’, as you always was!” rank seemed indeed dazed, and macs no effort to move, ‘*Catch the young hound!” exclaime2 cne of the group of workmen who had sow gathered. ‘* Don’t let him escape! Mr. Martin! Catch him!” But it is not: easy to eatch a weasel. Witha shrill laugh of defiance the agile youth sprung at the window against which lie had been ctand- ing. The sash was raised only about a fcou, but through this narrow opening he shot like a lizard, squirming through and “7opping like an india-rubber ball to the ground outside before any of the men cov! reach him, Another defiant laugh came from the boy as he showed his face for a moment at the wiz- dow. ‘Hey, Frank!” he shouted. little fool, why don’ von run? scorch your back wel! if he get’s a chap~—, you bet. Serve you right, too,” Some of the men ran te tne wips-w, but it was only toses the 9f..6 you", rogue running like a deer dowx the *ect, while he turned now and the: to make gestures of disdain to- ward the “acto”. It was a™.1king group which remained with- in the rocm. On the floor lay the insensible “You blamed Old Joe now Me may have killed | ce co ED foreman, the blood slowly reddening bis bair, from the wound he had received. Near bim stood Frank’s erect figure, the disheveled hair falling over bis pale and earnest face. Close by was the group of workmen, some angrily 1e- garding him; others with looks of sympathy. And regardless of all this the wheels and levcrs rattled and throbbed, roared and clankcd, v it) |a double vigor now that they were relieved from work. ‘*Snatch the other one!” cried a workman. “They have killed Mr. Martin between them.” ‘No, no,” replied another, ‘* This boy isnot to blame. Everybody knows he is the best boy in the shop.” ‘*Keep a stiff upper lip, Frank,” whispered one of the boys wko had apprcached him, ** A‘l us boys think it served old Martin right.” ‘‘Take him to the office,” suggested an int<1.i- gent-looking workman. ‘ Let Mr. Wilson de- cide, And some of you look after Martin, He is only stunned. He is two thick-skulled to be easily burt!” This suggestion was at once carried out. Two of the men led the unresisting lad toward tle office, while others examined the condition cf the prostrate foreman. It was soon evident he had received only a scalp wound, and a deep groan, as they turned him over, gave signs of returning animation. An indignation meeting was meanwhile being held among the boys. None of them couit bear Tom, but Frank was afavorite with thuru all, and they were rather glad to think that old Martin had been paid off for some long scorcs of their own. ‘‘T move we strike if they do anything to Frank Tanner,” proposed one. ‘‘ He’s just the pr-mest fellow out,” 4 ‘*Suppose they cischarge him?” ‘* But it ain’t his fault, and they ain’t got no business to ship him. I move we strike ag’.n’ that too.” ‘“S’pose he discharges hisself, how then?” asked another. ‘If a chap asks for lis own walkin’ papers, I calculate that’s his own look- out.” ‘* Well—yes. It sort of looks that wry.” ‘* Hey, boys! Old Martin is coming to. Law- see! didn’t he catch it!” This was a new matter of interest, and the boys broke up their meeting to gloat over the downfall of their foe. Meanwhile Frank had been taken to the cf- fice, and now stood before Mr, Wilson, the pro- prietor of the establishment. This was a middle-aged gentieman with 2 quick, nervous manner, and a certain steruness of countenance, He had heard the story turned sharply upon Frank with the remark: “Well, sir, what is this 1 hear? I call this pretty behavior in a workshop. The whole place set by the ears and one of my foremen with his brains neariy knocked out. Now, sir, what excuse have you for all this?” “It wasn’t I that did it,” rejoined Frenx, in a respectful tone. ‘ He tried te <ick my brether Tom, and I was only trying to stox Sim.” ‘Your brother Tcm! =< )yretty young rasca! he is, toc—at the bottom of half the mischief in the shop. He ought to nave been kicked ous Jong ago,” “Excuse me, Mr. Wilson,” replied Frank. ** He is a little wild, 7 know; but he isn’t suck a bad boy.” ‘* An. incorrigible little villain,” persisted Mr. Wilson. ‘*Ii’s bad blood, l’m afraid. I dcu’t know that I cught to keep you, either.” ‘*T haven’t asked ycuto keep me,” blurted out Frank, the bot blocd rising into bis cheeks. ** If we do work fur you, Mr. Wilson, we’re not slaves or cogs. You Leve no righttoinsult me; and, as for discharging me, you won’t have the trouble.” “Allright, my toy. But if ycu leave in that way, I will take care that you get no work in any other pen factory in the city.” A hot reply rose to Frank’s lips, but he was preventes? f:uom speaking by the entrance of somes of the men with the wounded foreman ke- tween them, The ‘svrer was a sorry object, with his *~-— covered sith stains of clotted bloc2z and ame** wue-begone expression of coun- venane? ‘““«700d heavens, man!” cried Mr. Wilson in some alarm. ‘‘ Are you badly burt?’ “The young wretch knocked me down witl a monkey-wrench,” growled the wounded man. ‘* But I don’t calculate that I'm much the worse And this little viper here—” ‘‘Now there’s enough of that,” cried Frank, hotly. ‘‘ You shall not call me such names if you were as biz as all out of doors. Everybody of the affray, and Eboo <€oim S (EO) i >.