Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 485 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

nn ee a © “ -_ we <-... ~<~—~ . 12 under the seat, guick /”’ cried Stretcher, as he sprung over to Owney an. commenced rubbing him al over. The bottle contained brandy, smuggled into the boat by Stretcher for his own delectation, A few drops poured down Owney’s throat revived him, and soon he was able to stand up and look wildly around, ‘Tuen he recognized Stretcher Bull. ‘ Hallo, Stretcher, how did 10 get here?” *: Just by accident.”’ ‘**T guess I was nearly a goner,”’ observed Owney, passing his hand across his eyes, ‘“‘Guess you were. But I’m mighty glad you pulled through, all right,’ returned Stretcher Bull. **T see the opening of the sewer is away under water. How did you get out?” * Tl never tell you.” “ Well, never mind, as long as you made it. Where are you going now!”’ “Ob, I'll get back to Pittsburg. I have to meet you on the 6th of July, and I can see thatif I'm going to stand any show witi you at all, I’ll have to eet nto training right away,” said Owney, with a smile. ‘* Well, I'm goin’ to give you as good a shake as I can, that’s a fact,”’ returned Stretcher Bull. “‘Well, young one, you seem fo be all right now, and if you are a friend of Stretcher Bull’s I know he will look after you.” ** You bet!’ declared Stretcher, empdatically. ““Good-by,”’ said Dave, and his partner, as they jumped into their boat. * We have somes business to attend to up the river.” ‘“* Well, look hore, Call at Mooney Baggs’s to-night and ask forim:, and I'll make it all right with you for what you’ve done for my friend here.” “We don’t want nothin’ for that,’ answered Dave, * but we’!l call ani see yer just for friend- ship. like. Good-by!”’ **So-long!”’ **Wish yer luc’, youn? ono.”’ *““Same to you,” responded Owney, **Now, you had better k-ep a sharp watch on Frank Burton, because he’ll trap you again if he can. I koow him,” said Stretcher Bull to Owney, as they were alone. ‘“‘He has an idea that the men what’s handlin’ you have been tryin’ a foul move, and Frank is a terror when he gets that notion. I think your best plan would be to get to Pittsburg and go into trainin’ at once. And whatever you do, don’t let Frank Burton ever know that [helped you out of the scrape.” ‘*What do you take me for?” ‘**Do you think you can meet me h‘rein an hour ora little more?” asked Stretcher. “i'l take my boat home, get some clothes on and bring you soma money to take you to Pittsbur,z.”’ ‘-J don’t need money. I have enough,” returned ‘Git Tbar’ Owney, “but I think rou ail the sam>. Tf all sports were like you, if would baa ood deil better for the professiom and we sxouldn’t all be | looked down on as we are.” “You are right about that,” said Stretcher Bull. “* Well, see me here inan hour, anyhow. You ain‘’t well enough yet to get walking around much, and you may just as well sit here on a barrel and rest yourself on a barre! until I get back. Besides, 1 want to give you some dry clothes, anyhow.”’ “Just as you say,’’ returned Owney, as he sunk down on a barre! wearily. His exertions and his narrow escape from drown- ing had exhausted him more than he had at first imagined. He watched Stretcher Bull as he pulled away with along easy stroke, and he admitted to himself that he would find his work cut out for him on the Hulton course on the 6th of July. The day was warm, and as the sun got nigher in the heavens its grateful rays exercised a somnolent influence on “ Git Thar’’ Owney, and he dropped on the ground in the shadow of the barrel upon which he had been sitting and half-dozed. Suddenly he heard footsteps, and then a voice that thrilled him through and through. It was the voice of May Cripps. ‘When are we going back, father?” she was say- ing. ‘Ah, she has found ber father, then,” thought Owney. ‘1 won’t show myself just yet.” ‘*To-day,’’ was her father’s gruff reply. ‘* There ain’t nothing to stay here for now. I'd like to find that Scrawny. He was tomeet me here and tell me about his scheme, and then we were to make ar- rangements for certain business to be done in Pitts- Crook Cripps was talkiug more to himself than to his daughter\ evidently. “T wish I knew what that scheme was,” thought Owney. “I ep poee it is some monkey business on the race, but I'l} euchre them on that, sure as my name is ‘Git Thar’ Owney.” He was about to rise and speak to May when he saw something else that made him drop again in sheer astonishment, Walking «lowly toward him, with his gaze fixed so intently on somethi-g in his hand that he did not notice Owney |) ivg in the shadow of the barrel, was Scrawny Will The somethinz in his hand was the diamond neck- lace, which Owney supposed had long since been broken up and the stones sold by the two swell- mobsmen. ~ CHAPTER XII. THE PLOT TO “KILL” “GIT THAR’ OWNEY’S BOAT AND HOW IT WORKED. Tue scene shifts toa sporting hotel on the banks of tthe Alleghany River, and the time to the evening of . ' 1 , »% * . < = f* ‘. .) al " ) . » -) a rf pf pnb 1+" » ” . . a, 3 ; : e. f . oe ¥ - ens. < - Fin NT ee 7. ed . CoE yarn ee eet Poe i _ a = “ Git Thar” Owney, the U a | Eee the 5th of July—the night before the great boat-race between Stretcher Bull and “Git Tuar’’ Owney on the Hulton course. Owney isin his training quarters _ He is put to bed every night at nine o’clock. He is made to eat plain mutton-chops and beefsteaks. He has been compelled to take brisk walks wrapped in blankets. He has practiced with the dumb-bells and the clubs, and he has taken a daily spin on the river, until his trainer, who is also the proprietor of the hotel, has pronounced him in the very pink of condition, ‘* Well, Owney, how goes it this evening?’ asked Scrawny Will,as he entered the young oarsman’s | private room, where he was sitting quietly looking Over the river nd thinking of the morrow’s work. ‘*All right,” said Owney. “1 guess I'll ‘git thar,’ I'll try good and hard.” - *That’s right, my boy—that’s right. Stretcher Bull thinks he is a good man—and so he is—but he does too much rowing with his mouth. We can get away with him.” Scrawny Wil left the room, and Owney muttered: ** Yes, but you can’t ge’ away with me, Scrawny Will, though you may think you can. Jil win this race for you because my reputation is staked on it, and because | am square, But, afterward, if I dor’t nknown., _a bad time of night for you to be out. | will get home safely.” get that necklace, you will find yourself in jail in | Pittsburg before you know what bas struck you. am watching you. You think I don’t kiwow anything about it because I haven’t menti ned it, but got you right in my clutch, and Git Thar Owney sel- dom gets left.”’ From this it will be seen that Owney had not let Scrawny Will know thatJ eh2d seen the necilace in his hand on the dock in N w York, room where your boat is to-night,and will bore three or four holes in the bottom.” * The scoundrels!” ejaculated Owney. ‘“*Then they will fill the holes with a composition that will melt in the water in a short time.” ‘*'The old scheme,” he said; **but it won’t work this time.” ** Uncle Jim is smart at anything like that.” ‘The deuce he is!’’ ‘: Yes, and he will put varnish and such stuff over the places where the holes | ave been made and filled up, and no one will be able to see it has been touched.” ‘Thank you, Mav; you are a good girl. I shall know what todo. Now, ycu had better go. This is hope you ‘** Never fear,”’ she replied. ‘‘ No one will interfere with me. But you—beware! Frank Burton and nese are desperate when things go against them, ‘All right, May. Gocd-night.” said ‘‘ Git Thar” Owney. * Carefully down the ladder.” She went down two or three steps and then paus- ed, looking up at him. ‘Would you—would you—wear a ribbon to-mor- row if I gave it to you?” she asked, falteringly. ‘Would 1? Of course I would,’’ returned Owney. ‘And I would carry it past the judges’ boat first in the race, too, as sure as my name is ‘Git Thar’ I have | He had kept | a close watch on Scirawny since they hed come to | Pittsourg, and was sure that the necklace was still in his p ssession, Crok Cripps had be»n to see kim once or twice with Serawuy ‘ill since Le Lau settied Cown io training, but he had never s en anything of May, thouazh he heard she wasia tho ciiv vwidht.er faiherc. ‘Git Thar’? Owney sai an nour or wore looking out of the window, uut-l the gha:'ows that had been spreading from East to Wost setticd over the river, and warned im that it was time to re’ire. Secrawny Will entered the room again to see that his man was safe in bed. Owney turned in, sbut his eyes, and, with a heal- thy fatizue that made his rest cnjoyable, crepped to sleep as he heard Secrawny Will locking the aoor on th outside, preparatory to going to sleep in the outer room himself, How long “Git Thar’? Owney had been asleep when he awoke with a start he could not tell for cer- tain, but he calculated that it must have been be- tween three and four hours, which would make it now someihing after midnight. What had awoke him? He could net tell! But as he sat up in his bed a figure suddenly ap- peared at his winijow end looked into the room, dimly lighted by a coal-oil lJamp turned very low. His room was on the top floor of the building, a frame addition to the regular hotel, and slightly overhung the water. In the apartmeut immediate- ly beneath were stored boats, oars, and rowing- tackle generaily, the racing shell in which Owney was to try conclusions with Stretcher Bu!l on the morrow, carefully shrouded in canvas, occupying a large portion of the space. ow could this person have reached the window, so far from the ground? Owney was not the one, however, to remain long in doubt. He sprung out of bed in his undershirt and draw- ers, and ran to the window. Then he almost sunk to the floor with astonish- | rae as he recognized the face pressed against the glass. It was the face of May Cripps! She held up her finger to warn him against mak- ing any noise, and motioned to him to raise the window. ” He silently obeyed. ** May.”’ he said. “Hush! Iam here to help up this ladder because I knew I was to do any good.” ‘* What do you mean?” “They are going to spoil your boat.” ‘* Frank Burton and Jira Cripps.” » oa Cripps—your uncle?” +e es 7 you. I have climbed Imust act quickly if “How do you know?” *T heard them talking about it.” A TT SS sees sss —— ee a “But 1. thought Jim Cripps was’ a friend of | Serawny Will’s.”’. ‘* He was, but is not now.” “Oh, they bad a terrible quarrel some weeks ago, in New York, and now Uncle Jim would do anything to hurt Scrawny.”’ ‘** Why did you come to warn me?” The young girl blushed. It was not for her to tell the gallant young oarsman that he had made an. impre-sion on her maiden heart; but ‘Git Thar” Owney had tact enough to understand, more per- haps because a new aid strange thrill had passed through his own being at sight of the modest girl who had taken so much treuble on bis behalf, than from anything else he could see in her manner. | ’ ; Owney.” “Then here itis. Itis blue. I made it up into a bow in the hope that vou would wear it in the race.”’ She handed it up to him vith a smile. He took it carefully and pressed it to his lips, as he waved a f r- well. Hie watched her until she disappeared in the shadows Then gently placing the bright blue rib- bon on tbe table. he made prepara:ions to thwart Frank Burton and Jim Cripps in their nefarious designs, first he armed himself with a heavy revolver and t' e ditk knife given to him by Stretcher Bull m New York, and with which he had never faltered. Then, with a bull’s-eye lantern that was part of the furniture of the room, in his hand, he crept out of the window, and went softly down the ladder. “IT could have got Scrawny to help me if I had wanted him, I suppose; but 1 prefer to do this. job alone, soT won't disturb him. He is asleep in the outer room, and be can stay there.” When Owney had got half-way down the ladder, he was cppoete a window in the ‘storage-room where his boat lay. He easily gained entrance. ‘* Now for this ladder. We don't want that bere,” he thought, as he gave ita shove and sent it spin- ning to the ground. ‘‘I guess [ shall give Frank Burton and Jim Cyipps a little surprise to-night. They, haven’t laid® out ‘Git Thar’ Owney this time.”’ He looked around the room with his lantern. Yes, there was his boat, in its white canvas cov- ering, looking ghastly in the dim light of the bull’s- eye. He examined the boat critically. Tt had not been tampered with, so far. But it would not be long before the two men would be there to carry out their villainous scheme, They were determined to ma e Owney lose the race somehow—Jim Cripps to spite Scrawny Will, and Frank Burton to win the money he had put up on Stretcher Bull. Basil Montgomery had been unable, owing to rofessional engagements, to come to Pittsburg yet, ut he would be present at the race '0-morrow, to get his wife’s diamonds from Serawny Will, or put him in jail. Scrawny Will was being closely pursued, and by, two people whom he did not suspect—* Git Thar ’”’ Owney and Basil Montgomery. The latter had “hedged” all his bets on “ Git Thar’? Owney, so that he would not lose anything whichever way the race went. “I! must hide somewhere.” thought Owney, “so that I can jump out on them as soon as they get to work and catch them in the act,” * Git Thar’ Owney laughed softly to himself as be ahounht of their probable consternation when they saw him. ‘“‘Here’s the place. right behind the boat,’”he mut- tered. “‘ Here is a little hole made on purpose. And, by gosh! here they come,” He hastily stowed himself away in his ambush, and felt that his revolver and knife were ready for insiant action, just as he heard a noise as of a rope being thrown against the wooden side of the house, “Tney are trying to hook ropes to the window- sill.” he thought. ‘‘ Pretty cute trick.” : In another minute the hooks canght in the wooden window-sil! and he beard a scuffling outside as of men scrambling up the ropes Then Jim Crips’s burly form appeared at the win- dow, which Owney had closed when he entered, Jim a raised the sash and a inside. Hardly had he done so when Frank Burton climb- ed up and stood beside him. : ‘* Now, Jim, be quick. There is no time to waste,” said Frank Burton. “Oh, give us a res‘,”” was Jim Cripps’s surly re- sponse, ‘I know what I have .O doand I can do it in good shape, but I don’t want to be hurried and flurried. There is no danger. No one can hear | anything, Besides I sha’n’t make any noise.” “TI did not want to see you lose a race through no | fault of your own, when you had been so kind to me,’’ she said. *‘‘Anrd you surely will if you do not prevent their carrying out their iatentions,” ** What are they going to du?” **Frank Burton and Unele Jim will get into the He drew from beneath his coat a long auger and @ small bull’s-eye lantern. ‘* Now, Fran_ ,” he said, * you hold the lantern and show me a light where I want it.” Frank Burton obediently took the lantern. He knew that for the time being he must humor Jim bet ie a ¢ a = . 7 —_ ae fy $i, a pet