Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 472 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

- ee ee ——— He uttered an exclamation of surprise; but she did better than totalk. She had a knife, and the quickness with which she cut his bonds was surprising. ‘There you are!” she then said, bluntly, *‘And once more I owe thanks to you, Mel- Vina.” ‘* How did you know me?” ** Didn’t we meet at the boat-house?” ‘* Yes, but I didn’t suppose you would remem- ber me.” ‘*How can I forget one who did so much to me?” ‘*T only told you to scoot—run,” ‘That was a good deal, and now I owe you more. You have saved me from a ruffian this time, Melvina, and I shall mever forget. Come into the moonlight, so I can have a fair look at rou.” : The girl hesitated a moment and then obeyed. She was as ragged and dark as ever—a true Gypsy, with wild, black hair straying down over her face; but it wasa face many a girl of high birth and wealth would have been glad to have. Joe was not unconscious of all this, ‘*I can never forget such a pretty face,” he said. Melvina gave her body that quick twist which seems to be the habit of all very young girls when they begin to receive compliments, but Melvina Ryer was nearly free from the usual emotions of such of her sex as live in the limits of society; hers was an old head, and she gave it a toss and retorted bluntly: ‘‘ You needn’t tell any lies for me.” ‘‘T don’t intend to; what I said was true. you know, Melvina, [ like you,” ‘‘ Nonsense! I’m a Gypsy.” “I'm tempted to become one, myself, just to be near you,” Joe asserted. ‘Don’t you do it!” said the girl, quickly. ** Everybody kates Gypsies.” ‘* Well, they like each other, don’t they?” ** Sometimes.” ** Will you like me if [ join your band?” ‘* Nonsense!” cried Melvina again. ‘' Don’t you talk so foolish, or Pll leave you—l’ve got to go anyway; I forgot how long | was stopping.” ‘Where are your people?” ‘‘Gone. Never mind where. I came back on the sly, cause I didn't want you to be tied to the tree all night.” ‘*You came just in time, for that infernal scoundrel of a gambler was about to fleg me with the whip you so neatly deprived him of.” ‘** Yes, by the fiends! and I’ll doit now!” snarled a voice close at hand, and then out from the shadow rushed a man. It was Jasper Banker; CHAPTER XII. HORSE-KING JOE SUSPECTS SOMETHING. THE boy jockey’s blood was up, and now that he was no longer bound to the tree, he was quite as anxious as Mr, Jasper Banker for a settling of their accounts. Consequently, when he saw the gambler rush- ing toward him, he caught the whip from Mel- vina’s hand, and then met iy ge with a blow which made the fellow roar with pain. ; Nor did Horse-King Joe stop there. Again and again his arm rose and fell, and every time it descended the lash alighted stingingly on the ambler’s head, shoulders or neck, until it seemed hat a hundred hornets were stinging him. Nobody else enjoyed the scene as much as Melvina. She was not made of the weak clay of civilization, and it was the result of her education that she thought it fun to see a man she hated subjected to such a punishment. Jasper thought nothing of the kind, and as it occurred to him that he would soon be so dis- figu ed that he could not appear in public for many days, he let this thought and the stinging lash overcome his warlike spirit, Hurling a final curse.at Horse-King Joe, who was proving himself also a tamer of men, he fled from the spot at full speed. Melvina was delighted at the turn affairs had taken. é “‘ Cricky! see him leg it!” he exclaimed. “Yes, he seems in a hurry.” — Both the young people were in good-humor, but they were too wise to og in the grove any longer. Joe was aware that Banker usually, if not always, carried a revolver, and it wouls, be just like eed to come back and use it. Conge- Do quently, they made off as fast as possible, After some persuasion Melvina confided the location of the new Gypsy camp to her com- nion, and Joe asked leave to walk with her to he place—or as near as was safe. “You'd better go home and go to bed,” was the girl’s very practical advice. e—v—X§<—“—X—X A Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse King. ee eee ee ee - —_— ee ae ee ee i i wes SS ‘** But I want to go with you.” ‘** What for?” ‘* To admire the moon—and you.” Melvina gave herself another twist. None of the Gypsies had ever talked to her in this way, and though she could hardly see a tramp across the rough fields in a romantic light, she was pleased to have a well-dressed boy pay her such attention. They started, and Joe soon ap- proached the subject which occupied his mind most, ‘‘ King Ryer is your grandfather?” ee Su ‘* Where are your mother and father?” ‘* Don’t know. never saw any, and don’t know anything about them.” ‘** Does your grandfather treat you well?” ‘* Nobody was ever treated better than he does me,” Melvina quickly declared. ‘* Why does he hate John Kane, the burglar, so?” ‘‘ That’s what I asked him, but he won’t say.” This was a disappointment to Joe, who had hoped to get a clew to the mystery, and he found himself as far as ever from light. He continued his questions until convinced that Melvina was fully in the dark, and then changed the subject. Melvina confirmed his previous opinion of her. She was bright and quick-witted, and though not educated, had Jearned so much from King Ryer—who, Gypsy or not, was an educated man —that she nearly always talked well. Finally they advanced so near to the Gypsy camp that the girl would not hear of his going further, and there they parted. They Haltaved it would not be forever. Melvina had said that King Ryer had spoken of a trip which would take them back through the town where Mr. Perkins lived, and as Joe was at once going there, they would probably meet again. The youth walked back to his quarters like one in a dream, and all his thoughts were of Melvina. In his experience he had seen rich girls and poor girls, educated girls and ignorant rirls; girls who were white, black and mixed; < never had he seen another like Melvina Ryer. Horse-King Joe was back at Job Perkins’s, and on all sides he had been warmly received. Mr. Perkins’s face beamed more than ever and he looked over his spectacles with the air of a man who findsthe world a happy place, de- spite the attempt of Adam and Eve to upset the harmony of the universe. But no one else welcomed him with the joy manifested by Black Jack. That noble animal had shown perceptible signs of loneliness while Joe was away, and his return produced a corre- sponding elation. Jack knew him at once, and testified his joy in brute fashion, It was Mr. Perkins’s wish that Joe should re- main on the farm and fit the horse for the track. ‘*] ain’t never been a sportin’ man,” said the farmer, ‘*nur put no hoss-flesh into a race, but I relly would like to see my name in print, once, ez a winner.” And so it was arranged that Black Jack should be entered for some of the fall races, and Joe set to work to fix him for the event. Every day he appeared with the black horse, and it was a common sight to see them dashing over the hills. The young trainer gave him thorough trial both under saddle and in harness, and in both respects he showed admirable qualities, but Joo was inclined to believe that his strongest point Was as a runner. The youth did not let time pass in idleness. It will be remembered that Mr, Perkins possessed two other and younger horses, which were as wild as Black Jack had been, These Joe sub- dued. They were promising animals, though nowhere equal to Black Jack, One of them the farmer sold when he was well under control, and he felt that the boy jockey’s coming to the town had been a most fortunate thing for him. A month ssed peacefully, Nothing was seen or heard of Jasper Banker, He was not the kind of man whose name was likely to get in the papers through bis connection with sporting matters, for he represented a class of hangers- on who can be hail-fellow-well-met with all legit- imate members of the trade, and at the same time despised by all. Silent as Banker was, Joe Baldwin did not for- get him, and he felt sure that the gambler’s memory was equally tenacious, and that Black Jack would never appear on the track without Jasper also coming to the surface in some wey For a month there was no evidence that the outside world knew anything about Black Jack; 11 but one day, when the young trainer came out of the stable, he met Mr, Perkins and two stran- gers, The boy flashed a quick look at them, for they were not like the ordinary residents of the town. They seemed to be master and servant, and the former had a highly respectable and almost ministerial look. He was a tall, slender man of middle age, with a dark face which was smoothly shaven except for a small line of beard near each ear, and his. dress was a sober black. Perkins introduced him as Mr. Looker, of New Haven, Connecticut, and Mr. Looker bowed vey politely, but did not shake hands, e had heard of the name and fame of Black Jack, and had come tosee him. They entered the stable, and he looked at the black horse critically. He soon proved that he knew some- thing about horses, and spoke very highly of Mr. Perkins’s property. A long ‘‘ horse-talk” followed, in which Per- kins, Looker, and Joe took part, while the ser- vant stood somewhat back and listened. Looker stated that he lived on Whalley avenue, in New Haven, kept two horses, and found most of his: recreation in driving. Finally, he came to the point of asking what Perkins would take for Black Jack. The farmer stated that the horse was not for sale. Mr, Looker said he was sorry, but, as the sequel proved, did not give up yet. Looker proved that though he looked like a minister, he had the art of driving a bargaim down fine, and if Perkins had not firmJy re- solved not to sell, Black Jack would undotibted- ly have changed hands that day. Beginning with a small offer Looker advanced his figures until he named the climax—five hun- dred and fifty dollars. It was an offer which would have staggered Perkins two months before. Horse-King Joe was very Perkins would yield. Mr. Perkins, however, did not hesitate a mo- ment, His mild, beaming smile was as placid. es ever as he replied: ‘Sorry tew disapp’int ye, neighbor, but ore thousand dollars would not buy him; he ain’t fur sale. I ain’t a poor man, an’ I’m goin’ tew keep Black Jack fur my recreation.” Looker yielded gracefully, and next talked about the other young horse which, however,, was only two years old. All this had taken up a good dealof time, and night overtook them before the matter was decided; so Looker asked if he and his servant could be quartered for the night. Perkins readily agreed, but Jaunty Joe was: not so well pleased. He might be wronging the New Haven gentleman, but he had a vague sus- picion that Looker was there for no esod CHAPTER XIII. BLACK JACK’S PERIL, Mr. PERKINS was a hospitable man, and as her had no reason to believe that Looker was any- thing less than what he represented himself to be, he proceeded to make him welcome for the night, and show him that though the farm might be behind New Haven as regarded style,, it was not so in point of comfort. They went into the house, leaving Horse- King Joe to care for Black Jack. The youth carefully locked the horse in, while Looker’s servant hung around and talked in what he probably thought an entertaining way. ‘*] say, does your biz pay well?” he finally asked, ** Fairly,” Joe briefly replied, ‘** Been at it long?” ‘* Four years.” ‘*Do you know, I’ve often thought of goin into it. I like horses, and can handle the best o them when they are broke. I'd like to be a. trainer.” ‘* Well, the field is open to all.” ‘* But how am I to begin?” ‘“*'hat’s for you to decide.” ' ‘‘Tf I’m here to-morrow, can I drive Black Jack?” Joe shook his head. ‘*T shall have to say, no. It is a part of m bargain with Mr. Perkins that no one else shalt. handle the horse at all, you see. ‘‘ Are you going to put him ina race?” Jaunty Joe grew wary. ‘*T don’t know.” “ He ought to win.” ‘‘You must remember there are other good horses,” ‘“Of course, pl fe know there’s always: room for what’s good, Have you any particu- lar race in mind? much afraid.