Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 485 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

lil patty tin nll eee AGS * Paes <<. ¢~ wy & . « i, ee ee tM oy a" 7 af. : +42 power. sen least, not this time. his policy. “That's right,” said Jim, “* Holdit right there while I lift off the canvas.”’ With dexterous hands he removed the canvas aes the boat and showed her beautiful smooth keel, ** Seems almost a pity to spoil it, don’t it, Frank,” said Cripps. ‘ Darned if she ain’t a picture.” ‘Yes, it’s a pity to spoil it,’ said Frank Burton, sarcastically. “*‘ Leave it as it is, so that Scrawny Will will make a pile on the race.” ‘Curse him!’’ hissed Jim Cripps. ‘* Where's that auger? I wish I was goin’ to dig it into his heart!”’ He placed the point of the auger against the var- n'shed surface of the boat’s keel. One twist and a hole would be bored clean through, But the twist was never made. , “Git Thar’? Owney was only waiting for the critical moment to show himself. As soon as he saw in the light of the lantern that the work was to be done, he acted. Acted swiftly and surely! Jim Cripps dropped iike a log! ‘*Git Thar’? Owney bad given him a rap with the butt of his peary pistol that made his head ache and stunned. bim for t.::e moment, “TIT guess [* got thar’ just in time, eh?” said Own- ey, with a smile. ‘Don’t know about that!’ exclaimed Frank Bur- ton, as he sprung upon Owney and bore him back- ward to the ground, The attack was so sudden that “Git Thar” Own- ey had no ORR, to defend himself, ‘ Now, I could kill you, if I wanted to,” hissed Frank Burton in Owney’'s ear, ‘‘and no one would be any the wiser.” ‘Could you?” said Owney, sarcastically. * Yes; you know I could.” ‘““Why don’t you do it, then?”’ ‘Git; Thar’ Owney’s reckless courage would not allow him to ask mercy of any one, least of all of a man whom he had caught in such a despicable act. ‘*Curke you, I will do it!’ howled Frank Burton, in a perfect frenzy of rage, very different to his usu- a! cool demeanor. He drew a bowie-knife from an inside pocket, and made a lunge at Owney’s throat. Tne young Oarsman threw up his hand and ar- rested the blow. It was but a momentary respite, however. Owney’'s left hand was doubled underneath him, sothat he could not get it out, and Frank Burton could easily hold his right. Again the knife was raised. **Good-by, old world,” gasped Owney. I’m gone this time!” There was not a shadow of mercy m Frank Bur- ton’s blazing eyes. Nothing but a fierce, murderous thirst for * Git Thar ’* Owney’s life, Things did indeed look critical for Owney. Frank Burton poised the knife in the air for a mo- ment. He meant the blow to be sure, He must strike to kill! If Owney escaped, it would be to blazon forth to the world that Frank Burton—who had always boasted that he was a ‘“‘square”’ man—had been ** Guess Samat trying to ‘kill’ a boat just before a race. That would be hisruim as a sport, and he could not stand it. Down came the knife. ; But only sng bp be ¥ oar was suddenly thrust out from the dark- nee. and knocked the hnif e out of Frank Burton’s n . Then another blow from the oar stretched him senseless by the side of Jim Cripps, who was just regaining consciousness. ‘Git Tnar ’’ Owney was on his feet in a second. Who was his unknown deliverer? He just caught a glimpse of a female figure climbing out of the window, and heard a soft voice say: x Tam going home now.. I was afraid they might rhaps be too much for you, and so on’t be angry. Wear my ribbon in the race, and win if you can.” And she was gone! ‘Yes, May, I will wear your ribbon, and if I win the race I sha!l know that it was through you I was enabled to git thar,” murmured Owney, as he turned to look after his two foes. “Here, quit that, Jim Cripps,” he said, sternly. “You can't play apy monkey business with me. Put that auger down or Pi Shoot you through the head as if you were 4 rat. Jith Cripps dropped the auger with a discomfited air and looked at the shining barrel of Owney’s pis- tol which showed plainly in the moonlight. “I've got the drop on you, Jim Cripps; so climb out of that window.”’ i A did as he was told, went down the ladder and disappeared in the darkness. “Now, Frank Burton, it is your time,” said Owney, as he saw that the other was beginning to realize that he was alive. * ‘“What are you going to do?” asked Frank Bur- cry could ‘kill you if I wanted to,” said Owney srontoally. as he pointed his pistol full at Frank Bur: ont writhed as he heard his Own words re. “But I don’t mean to do it,” a08 Git Thar” “ Git y° it Thar” Ow eS " G ° Cripps, and he never let his temper run away with I watched, —— **Do you mean to give me away?” asked Frank Burton, as he edged toward the window, with his eye fixed on the barrel of the revolver in Owney’s hand. “Grrtt”’ ‘*All right! I’m sorry I tried to fix your boat. You are full of grit and darned if I don’t admire you. Will you shake?” holding out his hand. * Gra lt:t’ Frank Burton “ got.”’ CHAPTER XIII THE LAST OF JIM CRIPPS. Wuitze “Git Thar” Owney had been _ going through the adventures narrated in the last chapter Scrawny Will had not been so quietly sleeping in the outer room as Owney had supposed. Scrawny had other business to look after. He had staked nearly his whole pile on “Git Thar’’ Owney, and he meant to win. Certainly his man was in good condition, and everything pointed to sur. victory. But, on the other hand, Stretcher Bull had never been beaten yet, and was said to be trained to ex- actly the right point, without an ounce of super- fluous flesh, and with his muscles hardened to a st: el-like pitch of perfection, His training quarters were about a mile below those of Owney’s, and he had been kept down to work steadily for the last month ** Don’t like it,” thought Scrawny, with a dubious shake of the head, after he had locked Owney in his room, The more Scrawny Will thought over it, the less he relished the idea of Stretcher Bull being so “ fit” for the race. He would have liked his man to have all the odds ieee favor, so that his defeat would be an impossi- ility. He backed Owney’s rowing because he believed there was money in it, and cared nothing at all about the development of the highest physical man- hood, which is, or should be, the true object of ath- letic sports. “I must get at Stretcher somehow,” reflected Scrawny Wil. But how? ; He would go for a stroll and reconnoiter. Owney was safe enough in his room, and there was no risk in his going away for an hour or so by himself. He qui tly slipped down the stairs and out into the night. Everything was still, the only sounds being the murmuring of the summer breeze through the leaves of the sycamores, willows, and maples and the gentle rippling of the waters of the river. Scrawny walked along the river-bank until he came to a small, but well-built shanty-boat, half in, half out of the water. In this red pg dwelling Stretcher Bull was being got in shape for the race with the boy-oars- man, ** Git Thar’ Owney. All was dark save one small window near the stern, which lay out in the water. ‘Too bad!” muttered Scrawny. “If that light was on sh. -re instead of out in the river, I could peep in and perhaps get a chance at Stretcher.”’ He sat down on a piece of lumber that had been washed ashore ina freshet at some time or other, and thought over the situation. Ah! A small boat! He just. caught sight of it, moored to the shanty- boat on the other side. Scrawny Will did not hesitate to Soprees the small boat. There was no one around, and it would enable him to do what he desired—get to the win- dow where the light was still gleaming like a bright star; so he stepped softly into the boat and unfas- tened the rope by which it was secured, There were no oars, but Scrawny did not care about that; he could guide himself to the stern of the shanty- boat by holding to the sides and passing himself along hand over band, . 3 In a few minutes he had gained the desired posi- on. pe ously he drew himself up until he could just peep in by ae to the window:sill. € was compelled to lift his feet out of the small boat, but he found aledge on the large one on which he could just rest his toes. By Cesar, there he is!” ejaculated Scrawny de- lightedly. ‘ Alone, too!” € could see Stretcher Bull’s magnificent physique lying easily on a cot-bed. with the light of a lamp on the table shining full in his face. Yes, he és ‘fit,’ that’s a fact. Owney’s a good boy and will row to win. I know; but I am afraid of aman who looks as well as that. Z must get athim !” Stretcher Bull t rned over and tbrew one of his hands carelessly above his head. The slight noise Scrawny had made had disturbed him. but he did not open his eyes. ‘*What shall I do next?” thought Scrawny Will, as his foot slipped and he almost fell into the river. Stretcher Bull settled the matter for him by sud- denly opening his eyes and looking straight into his ace “Who are you and what do you want?” roared Stretcher. springing form his cot and coming to the window, which, by the way, was open, to air the small apartment. ‘Nothing, Stretcher,” said Scrawny, apologeti- cally. ‘‘I just wanted to see how you looked, that was all,” “Ob, that was all, was it?” said Stretcher, mock- nglv, O Veg, that was all; and I’m glad to see you are in such good condition,” . cad “¢ -. 2 = * ' x ; ed a t ae ‘ _ ¥ WH? 7 "s * iz =s Zt ney, the Unknown. 1 — ; « —_=» ee **Oh, you are?”’ ‘* Yes.” “It pleases you better than if I was all broken up, is " ’ does it * Why, of course, haveup. I just want tosee a good square race be- tween youand Owney, and | want tc see the best man win, whether I make or lose.” ‘*That’s it, is it?’ ‘Sure as you are born. Scrawny Will, * You lee!” P Stretcher Bull hurled this at Scrawny Will with a venomous intensity that was in awful contrast with the smiling mockery in which he had indulged previously. Scrawny Will's small eyes blazed for an instant, and if he could have reached his pistol he would un- doubtedly have sent a bullet crasbing through Stretcher Bull’s brain. But he had to hold on with both hands to keep himself on the narrow ledge, snd was powerless to resent the insult. As soon as he bad caught his breath he was thank- ful that he had not been able to give way to his. vengeful feelings. “There is no sense In your talking that way,,. Stretcher,” said Scrawny, with an injured air, | ‘*Yes, there is plenty of sense in it.’’ replied " Stretcher Bull, ‘“) know you, Scrawny Will, and F know that if you were an honest man you wouldn't be sneaking around my training quarters in the middle of the night. That’s what! And I want you to get out of this right away.” ‘I don’t believe I can,” said Scrawny, as he looked down and saw that the small boat had floated. away. : ‘Why not?” asked Stretcher Bull. ** Because the boat I came in has drifted down- stream. Can’t you let me come through your room ?”’ Stretcher Bull's only answer was to give Scrawny a sudden and violent push that sent bim sprawling into the river. ; Fortunately for himself, Scrawny Will was a good swimmer. He struck out for the land and in a few minutes was safe on shore, where he could yet hear Stretcher Bull's mocking laughter echoing in the night air. ‘Very well, Stretcher Bull,” he muttered vindic- tively as he shook his clinched fist at that part of the shanty boat where the woman's room was situa- ted. “You sha’n’t win the race now, T'll beat you at any cost. It is no longera question of money with me, but revenge.” ' He sat down on the bank in his wet cluthes and I don’t care about the money I Honor bright!”’ returned tried to decide what he shall do, Could he get at Stretcher Bull’s boat? No; that was too well taken care of. even know where it was. It would not be produced until just in time for the race. Stretcher had been practicing in it for the last few days to get used to it, he knew. but it was always taken away as soom as the oarsman stepped out of it and even Stretcher himself did not know where it was kept. Frank Burton was a man who did not put temptations in the way of his adversaries if he could pele it. No he could not hope to ‘‘fix”’ the boat But Stretcher! He might yet be able to give him» something that would make him sick. He didn’t He sat still for an hour, thinking- thinking! “Til try it again!’ he ejaculated, at last spring- ing to his feet. ‘ut how to get around to the window! The lirtle boat had drifted away down-stream, and. was entirely lost for the present, He must hit upon some other plan, Scrawny Will was fertile in expedients, In a minute he had made up his mind what to do; The moon was rising and shed a faint glimmer on the scene over the edge of a bank of clouds. “There is not enough light to give me away, and it will help me to see where Iam going.” / He crept softly on board the shanty boat—on the end that lay ashore—and, with the ity of a cat, climbed on the roof of the long cabin that ran to the extreme end, in the water. Cautiously he stole along until he knew that he was mapas ately on Stretcher Bull's portion: of the. craft. Was the oarsman asleep again? Thot was the first thing to find out. Scrawny Will lay at full length on the roof of the: cabin and noiselessly put his head over the edge un- til he could look, upside down in the window. panes PORE Bull was lying on the cot bed again, fast. ‘| asleep. . His little controversy with Scrawny Will seemed to have added a zest to bis slumbers, for his sleep. were sounder than befere, *That’s all ei thought Scrawny. “That’s all right * muttered Scrawny. “T’ll fix a this time, Stretcher Bull, and don’t you forget a 5 took off his shoes and put them down on the roof. Then he hastily let himself down until his feet. were on the window-sill of Stretcher Bull's cabin. Another movement and he was inside the room. He walked softly to the side of the sleeper, and, \ bending down, listened for a few seconds to his regular breathing. : He is safe enough for three or four hours unless there is an earthquake or somebody fires a cannon at his ear. He sleeps like a log,” By the side of Stretcher Bull, on his small table, was a glass of water, in which floated a lump of ice. Scrawny took up the glass and looked at ita ~ contents thoughtfully. ® ) ; ‘ ‘ Tr . - eS alll et