Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 472 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

/ } / aE —_ Se Sn eee en ‘ —_. ...-—.. * ~~ +... e7y 3 ory : ~ ee thief evidently feared the day would go against ** By the fiends!” he cried, ‘‘ the horse is mine and I will keep him. Interfere if you dare!” He sprung forward to seize the bridle, but Black Jack had a wary eye out for danger, and he suddenly wheeled partially and sent out his heels viciously, If Mr. Looker had been six inches nearer he might never have known what hit him; as it was, those shooting heels just caught his loose coat and he turned a complete back somerset, coming down heavily. Horse-King Joe saw that Black Jack’s blood “Sing up, and he determined to escape without de- ith a light spring he landed on the horse’s back, and Jack laid his ears back and, with flashing eyes and swelling nostrils, waited for the word to go. He would have gone as resist- lessly as a thunderbolt, but Pratt, undismayed by his leader’s fall, sprung forward and tore the boy jockey from his seat. Another moment and Looker was up, swear- ing loudly. ‘Hold the young demon!” he cried. ‘* Don’t jet him escape. If he tries it, knife him!” Pratt was trying to obey the first order, but Joe managed to give him a kick that laid him outon the grass, and then the boy sprung to King Ryer’s side. uf appeal to you to save me from these ruf- fians,” he said, with remarkable coolness. ‘‘ Do you know who they are? They are tools of a gambler named Jasper Banker!” Joe only suspected this, but he knew the state- ment would find good soil on which to root when made to the chief. Ryer started, while Looker excitedly ex- claimed: “It’s a lie! Don’t be fooled by the young hound, Ryer. I declare that I don’t even know Banker. Never heard the name.” ‘*T say you stole the horse for him.” **T did not.” ‘*' You did, and he used you as his agent be- cause he knew King Ryer would not help him, He dared not bargain with Mr. Ryer, so you be- came his tool.” Again a fierce retort trembled on Looker’s lips, but the Gypsy chief was at last aroused, and he grasped his ally’s arm harshly. ‘Ts there truth in this?’ he demanded. ‘‘Nota grain, [—” ‘‘You said you were the agent of another man.” ‘Tt was not Banker; I swear it.” ‘‘ Hold on! I’ve got something to say here.” And then forth from, the group of women came a slight figure which Joe recognized at first glance. It was Melvina Ryer. ‘‘ Pm well acquainted with all these parties,” she added, in a bluff way, *‘ and I reckon I can throw light on them two chaps there. They need it!” She pointed to Looker and Pratt, ‘‘Melvina! what do you know about them?’ Ryer asked, in surprise. ‘*Only what I’ve heard them say, but that’s enough to show what colored cats they are, They never took my eye at all, and I’ve taken trouble to listen to what they said. I’ve heard them talk about the man they worked for, and they spoke of him as ‘ Jasper.’” “It’s a mistake—“ began Looker, hurriedly, but the old chief turned upon him angrily. ‘* Have you dared come here as Jasper Ban- ker’s tool?” he cried, in a voice which made the villain shake. ‘No, no! The girl means well, but she is mistaken. Why, this boy is Jasper Banker’s best friend; works for him by the year; Jasper told me so himself.” Melvina broke into a laugh. “Go right on and hang yourself!” she said. ‘Now, you can’t make that go down here. Banker and Jaunty Joe hate each other like p'izon; I knew it, because L once saw them have a fight.” ‘Do you know this boy, Melvina?” Ryer ask- ed, in increased surprise. ‘“‘T should say I do. Joe, how do you do?” And the girl walked up to Joe and shook his hand warmly, at the same time winking one of her t, black eyes mysteriously. * We are old friends, Joe and I are; and I am ready to answer for him. He’s true blue, and will never do the Gynsies harm.” “That's a fact, King Ryer,” added the boy jockey. “Ihave known of you and your band a long time, and I have no wish to harm you, Now, this horse belongs to the man I work for and I want him back. Give him to me, and will promise that you shall not be molested, ca Ain’t I a better friend than these men who work for Banker?” ‘“'We don’t work for him,” began Looker, but King Ryer stamped his foot angrily. “Stop!” he commanded. ‘‘ You have be- trayed yourselves. First you declared you had ‘never even heard the name,’ and then, a mo- ment ago, you quoted what Banker told you. This is enough, and I wash my hands of you. Go, and be thankful that 1 do not make you suf- fer for your treachery, Go, and never let me look on your faces again!” The two villains knew better than to defy him, and as matters had resulted they were glad to get away. Without taking the trouble to say good-by they sneaked out of the camp, and, once gone, retreated from the vicinity and the town as soon as possible. n the mean while King Ryer had turned his eyes keenly, sternly upon Jaunty Joe, and was, it seemed, trying to read his very thoughts. ‘* Boy,” he said, “‘ there is more to this than I understand. How does it happen that you know Melvina?” CHAPTER XV. THE GAMBLER’S NEW SCHEME. HoRSE-KING JOE was not in the least trou- bled by this question, and in a straightforward manner, aided at intervals by Melvina, he told the story of their acquaintance, boldly ad- mitted that he had seen the chief both at the boat-house and the Banker ruins. When the story was told the chief remained standing in silence, looking thoughtfully at va- cancy. Minutes passed, yet he did not stir, and then Melvina, who had been glancing from him to Joe, and then back again, went to his side and placed her band on his arm. ‘You are not angry, King Ryer?” she said, softly. He started, like one who comes back from another, but imaginary world. ‘Angry? No; there is nothing to be angry at. Iam glad the boy is your friend because my enemies are his.” é then turned to Joe and questioned him in regard to himself. The young jocke y answered frankly, having nothing to conceal, and the chief was soon in possession of the main facts of his life. Ryer watched him closely all the while they talked, but volunteered but few words of importance at the close, a had an amicable talk, in whick Joe re- peated his declaration that no harm should come to the Gypsy band, and then Ryer told him he could take his horse and go unmolested when- ever he wished. If he had been alone he would not have been in any hurry to go, for the novelty and wildness of the scene had an attraction for him; but the horses ought to be stabled, so he shook hands with Ryer and Melvina, and left the camp. Mounted on Black Jack, he rode to where Bronze Ben had been left, secured him, and then rode homeward. : He placed both in the stable and remained with them the rest of the night, When Mr. Perkins heard of this fresh outrage in the morning, his usually placid soul was won- derfully stirred, and he thirsted for revenge. He declared that the only proper place for ‘‘Looker” was in State Prison, and that he would put him there. Search was made for Mr. Looker, but he was not found. City detectives believed him to be a New York sharper, but said person had disap- peared from his usual haunts, and proof was wanting. At Joe’s suggestion no attempt was made to connect Jasper Banker with the affair. It would be hard to do this, and the boy jockey felt sure that the turf gambler would vet give them a hold upon him, if allowed a loose rein. His promise to the Gypsies was faithfully kept; they were not molested, and they soon left the town in their usual wandering way. After the last adventure Joe slept in the stable every night, and also had the place made liter- ally burglar-proof. At the end of another week Joe looked about for a chance to give Black Jack his first experi ence on the turf, and the announcement of a race at the town where the old Banker home- stead was situated caught him at once. He wanted Jasper to see Black Jack win, and the gambler was likely to be there when he heard of the coming event, wherever he might be just then. The black horse was showing to best advan- tage as a runner, and there was just the chance for him at this place. He was accordingly en- tered in a “flat” race for saddle-horses. Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse King’. i tS Joe had hopes that he would do a mile in 1:45, or even a second better, and though all the other horses entered were experienced on the turf, none was known to have a better record than 1:47, T'wo more weeks were given him in which to repare, and then he and Mr. Perkins took lack Jack and left the farm, It was an event- ful day for the young horse, but he seemed to think that whatever his trainer wished was all right and followed him willingly. On their way to the quarters selected in the town where the races were to occur they passed. the old Banker house, and it vividly recalled the wild night scenes Joe had once witnessed there, but though he kept sharp watch for Jasper, he saw him nowhere and could not learn that he was in town. For the time being matters were very lively there. Some really fine horses were to compete, and the sporting fraternity had turned out in num- bers. Every hotel was filled to overflowing and. private families did a good business also. Jaunty Joe, being no novice in such matters, had engaged all the accommodations they need- ed well in advance, and they had nothing to oc- cupy their attention except the race in which lack Jack was to make his first appearance, Near the further end of the village was a small white cottage owned by a widow. She usually had three spare rooms, but all were taken for the great occasion—one by a jockey who was to ride in the flat race; one by a quiets old gentleman, and a third by a gentleman who ae not arrive until the evening before the great day. His room had been engaged by the old gentle- man, and when he did come, he was at once shown to the latter’s room. The two men met in a free-and-easy way. ‘Hallo, Jas!” ‘** Hello, Abe! ‘* As you see,” ‘* Well, I’m glad of it, for I want some other " spotted man in town to take the curse off of me,’ Abe glanced apprehensively at a third person in the room; a small, red-faced man; but the old gentleman laughed and added: ‘You needn’t be afraid of him. He’s a bird of our feather. Mr. Abe Allen, Sam Toombs, the noted horse-jockey.” There was the usual shaking of hands, and then the trio sat down. The reader has recog- nized Jasper Banker in the ‘‘old gentleman,” and we need only say that Abe Allen was ‘* Looker,” to show what a gathering it was. ‘‘Sam is going to ride the winning horse to- morrow,” continued Banker, ‘Tf you’re sure of that, I wish I could do something as a bettor,” ‘Well, you can; that’s just what I got you dow a for.” ‘*T don’t like to risk it, with that infernal Jaunty Joe around.” ‘Nonsense! You're not usually timid.” ‘‘ Somehow, I feel afraid of him.” ‘* Afraid of a boy?” ‘Call hiny what you will; I’m beset with the idea that he was born to bring me to trouble,” said Allen, shaking his head gloomily. ‘*'That’s all moonshine,” said Jasper, airily. ‘Why, my dear fellow, I have more cause than you to fear him, yet here I am, bold as life, and prepared to make a fortune, I tell you, Abe, Ive got a fine scheme under way, and not only will I bleed these country folks of their last dollar, but the rest of the sporting men will go back to Brooklyn and New York dead broke.” ** You scem dead sure.” “Tam. Didn’t I'write you so? Did you bring much money?” ‘* Two thousand dollars; but I warn you I’m not going to put it out unless I’m safe, It’s all the money I have, and I am in such a hole that to lose it would break me.” “You can make it ten thousand.” ‘Show me how,” said Allen, his twinkling. Banker produced a slip of paper. ‘* Here are the entries for the race we bet on. Running race, mile heat; first horse to win two heats, wins.” ‘Maple Leaf, Zeke K., Jo oy, Valley Vic Buckeys Maid and Black J ack.” " a ‘¢ So Perkins’s horse is in?” “Of course. Were it not for that, I should not be here. My whole scheme is directed against Perkins and that cursed boy, and Ih bu’st ’em, sure.” Are you here at last?” eyes Eboo