Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 472 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

Toombs’s dastardly trick had set everybody wild. Every honest man, whether winner or loser, was indignant, and there was a general rush for the villainous jockey. He seemed in danger of being torn to pieces at once, but Joe Baldwin raised his voice so loud that everybody paused. ‘‘ Don’t touch the coward!” cried the youth; 4<he’ll never ride in a race again, and he ain’t ' worth touching; but 1 want you to know just what he’s tried to doto-day. He has run the race with a horse which never should have been in the 1:47 class. Her real name is Lady Luce; she’s a New Hampshire runner, and hada record of 1:45. I recognized her as we came to the scratch the first time, by a scar on one of her legs, but I thought I'd try her a hack, anyhow. I’ve done it, and Black Jack has won two straight heats and the race!” He could not speak further, for the enthusiasm of the crowd broke all bounds, and the airseem- ed fairly to shake with the deafening cheers for Black Jack and his rider. CHAPTER XVII. THE LAST SURPRISE. THERE were men in the crowd who did not | cheer, and the most prominent among these were Jasper Banker and his tools. A more a dumfounded, dismayed gang it would have been | hard to find. They had risked every dollar they : ; could raise, believing that the horse they had used in their trick was as sure of winning as she was of starting, and the result left them penni- less. Angry, crushed, amazed, they stole away like hunted wolves. Not only were they beggars, but if Sam Toombs confessed, the people might fall upon them in their anger. The schemers did not feel safe there. | As for Toombs, he was arrested as soon as ) possible, and hurried to the lock-up to save his neck from personal harm. Around Black Jack was gathered a happy and admiring group—those who had won on him. } Farmer Perkins was radiant. His face was | more than ever like the rising sun, and he could only reply incoherently to the congratulations received. Horse-King Joe came in for his share of raise. It was known that he had taken a wild horse from pasture and made him what he now was, and he was voted a fit mate for the noble black. And so ended the great event. Other races followed, but none that equaled this in interest. Black Jack, the hero of the day, had literally *‘ captured the town.” Perkins and sags Joe were now ready to return to the farm, but the arrangement of trains made it necessary for them to wait over one night. Black Jack was stabled at the place where Joe had stopped on his previous visit to the town, and they passed the time as pleasantly as the highly favorable circumstances admitted. Mr, , Perkins had his pockets full of money, and was correspondingly happy. Tata Hin os searing Joe decided to take a walk, and though he had once felt sure that he never wanted to see the Banker homestead again, his feet somehow took him across the field to that place, He entered the grove where he had been bound to a tree, rescued by Melvina, and nearly horsewhipped by Jasper. He found the very tree, and stood for some time thinking of those stirring scenes—and of Melvina. Where was she now? It seemed hard to locate the wandering peo- ple, and he finally aroused and walked on. He ‘would take one look at the old wing, in which the treasure-seekers had worked, and then re- retrace his steps. Thinking thus, he advanced several yards, and then came to a halt. He was not alone in the ee ——~ ove! : He had first heard voices, and then, looking, he saw alight, and by the light were at least two men. Who were they, and what was being done? One stood erect, holding a lantern, while the other seemed to be vigorously digging at the ground with a spade. Instantly there flashed upon Joe’s mind a recollection of the treasure reputed to be buried, and the efforts to find it he had once witnessed. Could it be other men were digging for it? But wait! King Ryer had declared that the chart used by the previous treasure-seekers was wholly incorrect. Jaunty Joe began to be excited, and he moved sautiously toward the present diggers. The darkness rendered approach easy, and Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse f y neither saw or heard him. But, on his own part, he had a surprise. The man with the lantern was King Ryer. Eagerly he peered at the wielder of the spade, and again he was surprised. It was John Kane, the burglar! Kane had been some time at work and had already made quite an excavation, and he sud- deuly looked up as his spade sent forth a ringing sound, ‘*T guess we’ve found it,” he quickly said. “It may be a stone,” calmly, coldly replied the Gypsy king. ‘‘ Work on!” Kane obeyed and threw out more earth, and | then he suddenly spoke again. ‘* Great Scott! this is no stone, It’sa tin box, as sure as you live! Ryer, we’ve found it!” ‘Work on!” repeated the chief, still un- moved, A few minutes passed, during which no sound was heard except those made by the digger, and then Kane dropped his spade, stooped, tugged at something, then arose and cast upon the ground a small square box, ‘*Hurrah! burrah!” he cried, with ill-subdued excitement, ‘* We have found it! Thetreasure is won at last!” ae leaped from the pit, but King Ryer calmly said: “T believe you are right, and if it proves so, I it promptly pay you the fifty dollars 1 prom- ised. So saying, he wrenched open the tin box. It was full to the top—full of yellow gold coins, which glowed and glittered in the light as they could only glitter under the force of strong imagination and excitement, John Kane’s eyes gleamed with cupidity. What a fortune; what a vast fortune! And he could have only fifty dollars—a wretched pit- tance. But was he obliged to put up with it? Was not the game—and the fortune—in his own hands? He was alone in the grove with the old man. What was to hinder him from possessing all the gold? He glanced at the hole in the ground. It seemed admirably calculated for a grave, Wildly gleamed the burglar’s eyes, and with the spirit of murder in his heart he suddenly sprung forward, his hands outstretched to grasp the Gypsy’s throat. What happened next was a surprise to him. Something like a panther shot from the dark- ness and seized his arm in a tenacious grasp. This was Jaunty Joe. Almost at the same mo- ment a cry came from the other side and a light Sess an figure darted into view. It was Melvina yer! And, as though to cap the climax, the amazed ruffian found a revolver pressed against his breast by the Gypsy chief’s unwavering hand. ‘Fool!’ said the old man,in a hard voice, ‘‘do you suppose I trusted you? I would as soon ae poisonous snake to my bosom, I expected this. Then he turned to Horse-King Joe quietly. “T did not expect you, young man, but you are welcome. There is work for you to do, Will you bind this scoundrel while I keep him covered with the revolver?” “ Willingly,” Joe answered, Kane, thoroughly frightened, protested, but he was tied securely with cords furnished by Ryer. He was taken to a tree some yards away, and then the chief led the way back to the pit where Melvina was guarding the gold, Ryer pointed to the box and said: ‘Young man, I want you to hear what I have to say. [ thought once that this gold should never be dug up, but I changed my mind. I am a sick man, and near the grave. When I go I want to leave Melvina, my granddaughter, well provided for.” He looked kindly, even tenderly, at her, and then added: t “This gold is justly hers. It was buried by Mortimer Banker, and he was her father !” The young seiped were speechless with sur- prise, and as they said nothing, King Ryer con- tinued: ‘‘Yes, he came to our camp fifteen years ago. He was a middle-aged widower, but, though dissipated, looked young and handsome. Maybe he retained these gifts through a bargain witb the Evil One; I don’t know. “This is no time for a long story. I hada daughter, Melvina—the mother of this child. Mortimer Banker won her heart, and they were secretly married by one of the clergymen of his | faith. Villain though he afterward proved, Banker did right once. ‘* But what was the result? In a few months he deserted his Gypsy wife. Then she faded away and died, leaving me only this child to re- King, 15 mind me of her. It was her daughter and— Mortimer Banker’s. ‘‘How I hated him I cannot tell, nor will I try. He died in an insane asylum, and in my old age and weakness, I am inclined to think he may not have been just right when with us. I am growing merciful. ‘‘T have jong known of his buried money— buried while he really was deranged—but I di dained to touch it until [ saw death advancing upon me. Then I thought of Melvina—her daughter—and felt that it would not be right to | leave her poor and a homeless wanderer. I was too weak to dig; I would not trust my own people; so I hired Kane to help me. You have seen the result, ‘¢- Young man,” and here the chief turned sud- denly tothe Young Horse-King, ‘‘ do you suppose Mr. Perkins will be a guardian to Melvina when I am dead?” ‘¢T am sure he will, Mr, Ryer.” Joe spoke confidently, but it was chiefly be- cause he hoped that it would be so. ‘*T want er to leave the band forever; it is a miserable life for her to lead. I want her to move in that society for which she may be fitted and this gold will do all thatis necessary. I feel tha@ it should all be hers. She is Jasper Ban- ker’s half-sister, but he has received and squan- dered his share,” “But,” cried Melvina, ‘‘ I’m not going to leave you, King Ryer.” ‘‘ Not while I live, I hope,” the chief replied, “but that will be but a shorttime. There, there child, do not grieve. Death is the companion of all men, and often a gcod friend. And now ‘et us take care of the gold and of the prisoner.” all was excitement in the town. One man had killed another and then fled, pursued by officers. It was stated that the dead man had prevailed upon his slayer to bet all his money on a horse which had lost in the flat race. Both had been left beggars. The latter had bitterly reproached the former for inducing him to bet; they had quarreled; and the shooting followed, The name of the assassin was Abe Allen; that of the murdered man was Jasper Banker. The following ue 1 Two years have passed since the scenes of our story, and great changes have taken place, Let us briefly mention them. ' Allen, seeking to were his pursuers, leaped from a moving train and was killed. isane, the burglar, was found to be very much “* wanted,” and he got ten yearsin prison. Sam Toombs, the *‘ crooked ” jockey, received a light sentence. He can never drive again. Pratt, the ally of ‘¢ Looker,” otherwise Allen, is in Sing Sing for a crime not connected with this story. Jasper Banker, as we ‘have seen, did not live to claim a share of the once-buried gold, He was interred in the village cemetery. King Ryer’s presentiment, proved well found- ed. Hesoon passed to the silent land, but before he died he had seen the gold settled on Melvina with Perkins as ber guardian, and had received a promise that she should have everything done to make her a woman fit for any society. She is now @ charming girl, and though her complexion wll always be somewhat dark, it is one of which she cannot justly complain, She is a beautiful and brilliant girl, and few would recognize in her the once wild Gypsy girl—Mel- vinia Ryer. She and Joe Baldwin are very good friends, and Mr. Perkins has prophesied that before the year of our Lord, 1880, Melvina will be Mrs. Baldwin. To-day there are two fine young horses who are known all over the country as remarkable roadsters. What their present names are need | not be stated ; they were once known as Black | Jack end Bronze Ben, ‘They are owned by | Perkins and Baldwin, which firm could not be | induced to sell their wonders. Bronze Ben bas made a big name, andis a | fine horse in every way, but is several seconds | behind his brother as regards records. | _ Joe Baldwin believes there was never another horse like Black Jack. He has ridden him in | many a winning race, and a more docile, intelli- ' gent, loving, but at the same time spirited, | horse, it would be hard to find. | His young master will never part with him, _ By ana by he will be withdrawn from the turf, and as Joe is now rich, he proposes to have his | two great speeders for carriage horses, _ Honest Mr. Perkins says they will be just the ' pair for Mrs. Melvina Baldwin to ride after om : be wedding day. THE END, eS — Gcom (E| 90 NO) (E(0)