Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 639 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

ay t fore. “Z sence I went ter Lame Horse,” Mr. James Enonbridge. by ‘‘ Be you a capitalist?” he asked. a ‘No, sir. Why?” fi ‘¢-You look it, an’ I kin place some o’ the best minin’ stock in Montana fur the right man. ab Seventy shares in the Snicker Mine, Lame Horse Ha, Camp. Durned gvod chance ter invest!” ‘*T have no money.” ‘* Want ter borrer?” “Wo, sir.” | “Will loan any sum ona good I. O. U. Got CPN, it all out o’ the Snicker Miue—so named, ’cause ty the gold-find made me snicker when I struck it rich. See?” Jockway was full of talk, but he received but little encouragement, To his last question he obtuined no answer, and Enonbridge showed such strong disinclination to talk that the miner f had to return to Abner Plunket, ee The two did not become deeply interested in . each other. Buck’s thoughts ran on erratic sub- jects, while Abner evinced a strong desire to tell all about his farm, his garden and bis cows, subjects which Jockway regarded with derision. Later the man from Lame Horse was severely taken to task for saying ‘‘ B’ Judas!” and he a soon tired of Abner and returned to the smok- " ing-car. The character of the day changed. The air aks had been sultry from the first, and the swift teh march of black clouds was at last followed by x rain. i? It came with the impetuosity of a summer ao x shower, and beat against the car-windows furiously. After that there was no lull, and even the trainmen were surprised. a No fiercer shower had ever been seen along ing the line, ee The passengers rather enjoyed it; the air was a greatly improved, and they felt sure that it would cease before they reached Boston. They did not reach Boston that night, how- ever. CHAPTER IV. A MISSING POCKETBOOK, THAT day was a most unlucky one on the K. & Q. Railroad. Nora nee referring to the affair afterward, recor a remarkable rain- fall all through the East, with great damage done by water and lightning. The particular train to which attention has been drawn had its share of misfortune. Shortly after noon it came to a stOPs and it yt was seen that a red flag was planted ahead. : They had reached a wash-out, and were brought i toa halt in a place remote from any village. } Just four hours were consumed in passing the ae lace, The rain had ceased, but not the newly- ormed streams of water, and it was no easy matter for the gang of men to lay a temporary . track, as they bad been sent to do, ae At last they were off again, and the travelers Po consoled themselves with the thought that, if egal happened, they would reach Boston soon after dark, Bie? | nee is be did happen—a good deal hap- a pened. a They had to run very slowly on account of gal 4? the damage done by rain, and the fall of night % found them a good deal short of Boston, They =a did not get any nearer for some hours to come, ara, The engineer stood at his post, auxiously look- S ing ahead, He could see little except a black area, The sky was completely overcast; the night was intensely dark; and the rain, which was again falling, shut off what little view re- mained, The train was passing a hilly region at slow . The engineer knew the way well, but he had to trust all to chance on this occasion, Suddenly there was rattle and tremor of the locomotive, and he promptly reversed, An- lS other moment and the engine went over on its a’ side, and the cars came sliding on in a jam. heath Nothing but the moderate speed saved them ies from a general and disastrous smash-up, As it we was, some of the trainmen and passengers were ae bruised and shaken up, but not one was severely re injured. : hey came hurrying out to find themselves in a rocky cut, with a gap in the track ahead that a full gang of men could not have repaired in a] ‘“* Hung up!” tersely remarked the conductor, ei ** Can't we get through?” Wa It was the anxious voice of James Enon- Sap. bridge. With visions of his son before him, he mes would almost have given his last dollar to be at te | the end of the line, j “| “Do you see that river ahead of us?” Lots o’ new-fangled things been got out Mr. Jockway swerved around and looked at of ordinary interest, only, but, when the was considered, Saul could not b was the work of the person who had been syste- : ‘ wean < ¢ od , . ye YY Nal Se. ek Kips OVS = Sunrise Saul. sé Yes.” ‘*Do you see any way to pass it?” ‘Ts the bridge gone?” ‘‘ There was never any bridge there; the river is one started by this flood of rain, and there is no telling when we shall get through. I see no sign of men at work on the other side, and we can’t repair the damage.” ‘*Can’t we get around?” 46 No.” ‘**T would hire a team—” ‘* There is no house within three miles. We rape tee well make up our mind to stay all night. he words fell upon Enonbridge’s ears with painful force, but Buck Jockway laughed heartily. ‘* That’s good!” he declared; ‘‘ we'll have some fun out of it. There’s nothin’ like roughin’ it, Eh, boy?” He slapped Sunrise Saul heartily on the shoul- der as he asked the question, but the newsboy did not experience any great pleasure, He had no liking for the prospect, Once more the rain came down heavily, and the passengers retreated to the cover of the cars. Those who were wise at once secured what food was to be obtained on the train. “‘T hate ter sleep here,” observed Abner Plunkett, ‘* for ’'ve got money in my pocket-—” He placed his hand against the indicated pocket as he spoke, and then stopped short, If the money was there, he did not feel it, His pocketbook was gone. Somewhat flustered, he felt in other pockets, but a conclusion was soon forced upon him—the valuable property was not on bis person. ‘* Sakes alive!” he exclaimed; ‘' I’ve drop se i It must ’a’ fell out where [ set.’ e examined the seat be had occupied, as well as the floor below, but failed to find the missing article, ‘“*Tt’s pesky strange!” he muttered. ‘** Where did you keep your money?” The question was asked by Sunrise Saul. That alert young man no sooner heard Abner’s com- plaint than he had a well-defined theory, ‘‘It wasina long, flat ketbook,” Plunket explained, ‘‘an’ in my inside coat pocket,” ‘*'You have been sitting or standing all the time haven’t you?” ¥ Oe not lain down at all?’ rr NOs ‘*Mr, Plunket, you’ve been robbed!” ‘* Robbed!” és Yes,” ‘Good land! how could that be done? It couldn’t! How could anybody git at it in my pocket? Id like ter know,” ‘* Guess you don’t know how cunning profes- sional thieves are.” The Haybottom citizen groaned. ‘** An’ the parson warned me, in New York!” ** You should have taken his advice.” ‘* [ thought I knowed it all!” ‘** Don’t be discouraged; you know more now than you did before,” ‘* But that money is gone, an’ it was raised fur the heathen in Aftrikay by our church society. Oh! oh! Why, our parson talked fur the good cause until he was red in the face, an then we drummed up all the town, We got all the sinners ter contribute by sendin the children ter bone them—it’s the only way we kin work the sinners at Haybottom. An’ now that money is gone!” Abner wrung his hands and looked the image of dismay. ‘* ‘You had better see the conductor.” ** Will he make it good?” was the eager in- quiry. ** You've got a eee cont of cheek, Mr. Plunket. Why should he? No, sir; after all the warnings you have received, you’ve been plucked like a silly pigeon, and you will have to bear the loss, I presume the church society will not prose- cute you, if you pay them out of your own pocket!” There was a spice of mischief in the last words, and it had due effect, Abner turned pale. Tt was bad enough to lose the money, but, if he had to bear the loss, it was simply over- whelming. The amount was not so very large, but Mr. Plunket valued money highly. He went to the conductor, while Saul medi- tated. There had been another robbery on the train. Who had done it? Of course there was a chance that it was one past ut wonder if it matically robbing passengers on the train for some time past, Plunket was not the man an adept pickpocket would select for a victim by his appearance, but Abner had talked freely. To whom? Saul remembered the group in the car. Buck Jockway had been the old farmer’s immediate neighbor; back of them had sat James Enon- bridge and Emmie; and in front had sat two elderly ladies of very respectable appearance. Remembrance of Jockway naturally aroused some suspicion, but Plunket had been mov- ing around freely since the first stoppage of the day. He might bave been robbed when standing outside, after the recent accident, ane The man from Haybottom was not making out well with the conductor, The latter at once set the case down as one of the mysterious rob- beries, and spoke with great caution. He wished to avoid having the case made public, and did not let Plunket know that other men had been robbed on the road, of late, in strange frequency. A friendly brakeman sauntered up to Saul, ‘* Another robbery, old man.” © Ye6, di? ‘You want to grip your cash.” ‘* What do you make of it, Jim?” ‘‘T wish 1 knew who sat beside the hayseed.” ‘*Tt was Jockway, the man from the West. You saw him in the smoking-car.” ‘* Rather! Also, I heard some ere the opin- ion that the man was not from the West” ** He looks it.” ** So he does,” : **T think Jockway a Western man, but he may bea thief all the same,” % Bay, 7 t we ‘pipe’ this case? Jim took a big chew of tobacco, and gave the choice morsel a few rolls in his mouth before making reply. ‘* We've got to lay over here all night, Saul.” "Yes, Jim,” ‘* Then you can bet your last dollar that there will be more fun. A chance like this the mys- terious train-worker never had before, and never willagain. He will improve the chance. When all the passengers are asleep, the robber will try to get in bis work, expecting a rich harvest. Saul, we must turn detectives aad watch—more, we must nab him!” Sahn we'll try the racket!” the youth de- clared. CHAPTER V, THE WESTERN MAN SEES HIS ENEMY. WHEN another hour had elapsed, the passen- gers were in a condition of genera) stillness, if not of repose. In the smoking-car some worldly-minded men had settled down with the resolution of playing whist until daybreak, but they were exceptions to the rule. In the other cars men and women alike had placed themselves in the most comfortable posi- tions to be had, and were trying to get needed rest. No “sleeper” was attached to the train, Sunrise Saul was in the smoking-car. There was still sale for cigars, and, as it did not seem likely that the mysterious robber would go at his lawless work until time had been given for all to get to sleep, Saul did not throw over his shoulder the chance to see all of his stock that he could, He approved of the whist-playing. While that pastime went on, smoking would continue, Being on the alert to see every man who was in Nove of a fresh cigar, the vender was not thinking of much of anything else. i He was suddenly put in the way of other mat- ers. The front door of the car suddenly opened with such violence that it barely esca Saul, and then swept back with a bang. The youth turned in surprise, and saw Buck Jockway standing beside bim. But there was a great change in the miner’s manner, Previously, he had been noticeable for his strong, steady composure and air of power; and it had not left him even when he made known My alleged errand which had taken him to the ast, ; Now his face was flushed, his eyes sparkled, and his muscular form trembled with excite- ment, | He swept a glance around the car which al- — most startled Saul—it was one of rage and tiger- like hatred. ‘‘ Whar is he?” Buck then cried, hoarsely. ‘* Where is who?” Saul replied. ** The man!” ** ‘What man?” ~~ — -—_ —_ | an I