Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 472 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

SS ————- -- perly triained, could trot well down in the ‘twenties,” if not better, and he had formed the scheme of buying the animal off-hand in his wild state. Then Professor Lacour could **tame” him, and he—Banker—would have a poe on which he could make thousands of dol- ars. Now, in the way of this plan, stood this villainous young jockey. But for him, all would be plain sailing. Banker was not. inclined to give it up, and he made a stout argument with the farmer. Professor Lacour was the best horse-tamer in the United States, he asserted, and as he had talked with Perkins before Joe did, his man ought to have the job. ‘My motto is, fu’st come, fu’st sarved,” said Mr. Perkins, looking benevolently over his spectacles. ‘‘The young chap came here ahead o’ you an’ wanted the job, an’ 1 tol’ him he could hev it. I ain’t inclined to break my word,” Jasper Banker was an angry man, but he was also sharp and tricky. He held that nothing was ever lost until it was won by some- body else, and he did not yet give up hope of possessing Black Jack. Clearly, however, the farmer could not be moyed, and to show any further temper might be to lay up wrath to come, and show his hand in any trick he might form to get the better of Jaunty Joe. Accordingly, he made a show of giving the matter up with a good grace, but said that he should watch the progress of af- fairs, and, if Joe failed, again ask leave for Professor Lacour to have a chance. Perkins readily agreed to this, and the visitor returned to the village in their carriage: Banker bade Joe good-day pleasantly enough, but the boy caught his last glance and knew that it im- plied a menace, , The turf-gambler hated him for being the cause of upsetting his fine plans. ‘*T don’t jest like that feller,” said the farmer, slowly, as he looked after the retreating car- riage. ‘* Nor I,” Joe frankly admitted. ‘‘ How’s he classed among the big-bugs?” ‘¢ He’s not in their class, Mr. Perkins. Banker cuts quite a figure at racing-parks, but my ad- vice is, have as little to do with him as you can.” ‘* By gosh! I b’lieve you’ve struck the key- note. Ef Mr. Banker will pay a big enough pile fur Black Jack, cash, an’ in good money, he can hev him; but I don’t want him nur his French hoss-trainer hangin’ ’round. W’ot was all that “i talk he gi’n me about the Royal French Napoleon Horse School, or whatever he called it? That was all moonshine; I ain’t so darned green as ter swaller all the weak lemon- ade at a county fair. Not much!” Mr. Perkins was somewhat vexed, but half an hour with a good supper restored his usual serene temper, and he ceased to mention the turf-gambler. ; Joe could find no fault with his treatment during the evening. Mr. and Mrs, Perkins were plain people who did not try to put on any Style, and they talked pleasantly and sociably. Lillian and Laura, the girls, were rather diffi- dent, but they were pretty, and seemed to take an interest in the modest young horse-tamer. He retired early, and soon fell asleep. After some hours he had a dream in which he thought he was riding Black Jack to victory, but when a few feet from the wire he was thrown violently from the saddle. This naturally awoke him, but he lay quietly in his former position an@ smiled at his dream. As he did so, a peculiar noise attracted his at- tention. It seemed like the rubbing of some- thing against the house, but his first idea that it ‘was the branch of a tree was dissipated when he remembered that there was no tree near enough to the house to toucb it. He glanced toward the window, The night was dark, but, of course, there was a degree of light at the window, and as he look- ed he saw an object darker than the night rise slowly above the lower part. It was the head of a man. The truth at once flashed upon Joe: some one had ascended by means of a ladder. ho was it, and what was wanted? He knew at once that it could not be Mr, Perkins; he would not make a visit to the room in such a way; and there was only one other explanation. Some one intended to break into the house, to commit robbery or some other crime. The boy’s mind flashed back to Jasper Bank- er. He did not know that Banker was a house- breaker by calling, but did believe him capable of doing almost anything to score a point. as tjHiittttt t=... nn nnn nnn een -7-—_-e eee ee oe Ce Ee OT —. \ it not possible that the turf-gambler had deter- mined to head him off in the Black Jack matter by other than honorable means? The boy slipped outof bed. He heard the un- known try the window, but it was fastened and resisted his efforts. Then followed sounds and motions, from which Joe knew that a piece was being cut from the glass, He coolly slipped on some of his outer clothes, There was no longer a doubt as to the character of the unknown, and he intended to give him a warm welcome, As he had never been guilty of carrying a revolver, he had to look for some other weapon, Nothing better than an old-fashioned cricket, or stool, presenting itself to his memory, he found this, and then went close to the window, taking care not to be seen by the unknown. The latter was working steadily, but with the care and skill of a practical house-breaker. Joe now had an indistinct view of his face, and saw that he was a heavily bearded man, and neither Banker nor the French horse-tamer. In a short time he had removed a square of glass, doing his work with remarkable ease and Joe knew it was time to make himself heard. Poorly armed as he was, he would have al- lowed the man to enter the house, hoping to cap- ture him, but it would be better not to alarm the household. A big hand slid through the hole in the glass, moved upward and turned the catch, Then the lower sash was slowly—very slowly raised. Scarcely a sound betrayed the unknown’s move- ments. It was time for Jaunty Joe to interfere, and he did so in a cool, deliberate voice: “Excuse me, captain, but you'll find the front door on the ground floor!” And then he stepped boldly into view. The house-breaker uttered an oath, and a more astonished man it would have been hard to find. He had investigated before beginning actual work, and felt sure that he had a clear field, and the manner in which this cool voice stole in on his peace of mind was discouraging. All idea of entering the room vanished, and he made a movement to retreat down the ladder. As he did so Joe aimed a blow at him with the ‘‘ cricket,” and though the burgler avoided it, he lost his balance and fell headlong from the ladder. There was a momentary pause, and then he struck the ground heavily. For the first time thoughts of capturing the man entered the boy jockey’s mind, and he dropped the stool and sprung out on the ladder, hoping the house-breaker had been stunned. He had, however, Sier9 only a few steps, when the man leaped to his feet and began an uncere- monious retreat, This was not as Jaunty Joe would have had it, but his blood rose up, and he determined not to give up the idea of capture. He believed the fellow was a tool of Jasper Banker, and he wanted to prove it and show the turf-gambler up in his true light. ; el he started after the runaway at ull speed. As this order of things took him away from the house, he would not disturb the fami y anv- way, and he could have all the “‘ fun” with the burglar that was possible. He did not give a thought to the danger he incurred in molesting a person not only stronger than himself, but, very likely, ready to use his revolver without any regard to life. eally, he was bps erent risk, The unknown directed his course in a north- westerly direction and sped away like a deer. Joe followed, with Saat long steps. For a few yards there was no pereeptible change in their relative positions, but Joe had the advantage of youth and began to gain per- ceptibly. Moreover, the chances were that he could bold his pace much longer than the man. The latter looked over his shoulder and saw how the race was going, and he muttered an oath. He was a man who had done all kinds of desperate deeds in his day, and he had no more regard for his pursuer than that he did not want to get into trouble by killing him. ‘Curse the little villain!” he muttered, ‘‘ he bangs on like a bloodhound. Does he know what he’s about? He don’t want to give me too hard a pull, or I’ll snuff his candle forever. Hang it! I hate to use the barker.” He had drawn a revolver, and was nervously handling it as he ran. ‘I spose I might stop and hammer him sense- less, but it would be just my blamed luck to have him recognize me at some future time, and give me another term in Sing Sing.” Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse King, NSD ee Oe a — 8 a eT LT ss 3 — ag gee A ee At the further side of Mr. Perkins’s farm was a small lake, which was a great local resort in the summer season, and where picnics were often held. Upon the south side a boat-house had been erected, and the fugitive knew enough about the vicinity to be aware that it was never locked, As he had unconsciously directed his steps toward this building, an idea occurred to him when he saw it suddenly loom up ahead of him. He would run in there, and if the pursuer per~ sisted in following him, dispose of him effectu- ally. Phe house-breaker did not wish to commit murder if he could help it, but in same way or other the rags must be kept from doting harm. It was a hard job to reach the boat-house, for Jaunty Joe pressed closely; but after a run which nearly winded him, the panting fugitive dashed through the door a few yards in advance of Horse-King Joe. Joe slackened bis pace somewhat then. He was brave, but not reckless, and it oc- curred to him that it was dangerous to follow his man into that dark building. But what was to be done? Was he to give up all chance of solving the mystery, and let the would-be bur- glar escape? One moment he hesitated, and then all his nature protested against abandoning the at- aa at that point. ‘** Tl risk it, if it takes a hoof!” he muttered; and then, increasing his speed, he dashed through the door as though running a race, CHAPTER IIT. WILD EVENTS IN THE DARK, THE burglar was waiting in the intense dark- ness to get hold of the boy, and as Joe dashed in he made a plunge forward, his hands out- stretched, Justas he did so, Joe struck his toe against some obstacle and fell, and the burglar lost his balance and tripped over him. Both wentdown heavily, the boy at the bottom, He realized the necessity of prompt action, however, and, with a quick movement, tried to worm away. oa certain extent he succeeded, but before he could get entirely out of reach the burglar’s strong hand closed around his ankle, Jaunty Joe had no weapon, but the instinct of self-preservation suggested an extemporaneous one, and as his enemy drew himself up, the boy .- sent out his other foot straight toward the bur- glar’s face, His aim was good, and over went the man without ceremony. By this time Joe had discovered that it would be decidedly rash to fight a person not only stronger than himself, but undoubtedly a fero- cious ruffian. The fellow was swearing loudly and with his oatbs he mixed a threat fo ‘ wring % the boy’s neck. Plainly he was not a safe com- anion, and the sooner he was left behind, the tter. Jaunty Joe started for the door, but ran against an invisible boat which was turned upside down, and before he could get away the burglar again had his hands upon him, ‘*' You infernal young hound,” he hissed, ‘ VIl make short work of you. Ill learn ye not to chase me around, ri chuck ye in the pond, curse you!” And he laid hold of the lad even more tightly, and began to drag him away. Luckily Joe’s jockey’s courage held good, and as he was no child in point of strength, be pre- pared to make a stout fight for liberty and victory. “Takes two to make a bargain!” he retorted defiantly. ‘‘ Let go of me, or you'll get hurt,” ** Not by you, you baboon!” ‘Think so? Try that, then.” Joe had got his right hand where he wanted it, and he gave the ruffian a sharp blow. The latter swore again, but he thought he could settle the whole matter by throwing his plucky young enemy in the lake, and he continued to drag him across the floor. The young Jockey: struggled in vain, and he saw that he must adopt another course, Before the burglar realized the danger, a strong leg was wrapped Lege hie own, and down he went once more, Joe falling tpow him. If the man had been mad before, was rav- ing now. If Joe had been a man haw have been content to win, after due fighting, but to be thus worried by a mere boy was too much. Shouting several indistinct words, he drew his revolver, determined to end all with one shot. but as he did soa mental picture of Sing once more floated before him. No; he must not take a buman life. There was still one way left, and he turned