Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 673 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

—_- a op ot : rs hoy aS Ym > - — ad 7 7 - _ who hurried on, little thinking that fa from an opposite To leap from a flying train in safety is no easy task; but there was no alternative, and the bandit leader set the example by swinging from the tender into empty space, Quickly his surviving men followed. Fora moment the air was full of flying bodies; then all that remained upon the trainof Black Bart’s Brotherhood were the bleeding bodies that strew- ed the tender, The conflict was over, and the victorious de- . fenders, marvelous to relate, bad not even a ’ seratch to show for the desperate struggle. ‘*Thank goodness, the agony is over! Hot and heavy while it lasted, but the results are highly satisfactory,” exclaimed Renwood, as he hurried to moderate the speed of the leaping, throbbing engine. Headlight Harry, brim-full of enthusiasm, continued to wave his fire-poker vigorously. ‘** That’s what I call fun,” he cried, excitedly. ** No flies on us,eh, Ralph? Reckon Black Bart has come to the conclusion that he bit off more than he could chaw. **Pulses throbbing, and hearts fill-d with glee, Madly we dash on our wild career! Monarchs of all we survey are we; Hurrah! for the life of the bold engineer!”’ A minute later what was left of the Lightning Iixpress train rolled into the station at Rich- ville; and as Ralph and Harry stepped from the cab, it was to find themselves surrounded by an excited crowd, comprising most of the town’s 46 ong lotee who had been attracted to the scene y the heavy firing. It took but a short time for the engineer to ex- plain matters, and then thesurprise and indigna- tion of the Richvilliaus knew no bounds, After nearly a vear of peace, it had become an established belief that Black Bart’s Brother- hood was a thing of the past; but the daring attack upon the Express proved that the re- dou table train-robbers wer once more at their old tricks, An engine, well guardea, was sent back to re- cover the detach portion of the train; and a formidable party at once set out in pursuit of the outlaws. lt is hardly necessary to say that this latter expedition was unsuccessful. A wide, deep ditch ran beside the track, andinto this the ban- dits had landed when they leaped from the fly- ing train. One poor wretch, too badly hurt to get away, was found and captured; but the re- mainder, including the notorious chief, had yanished in the darkness, leaving no trace be- nd. But the train, with its valuable freight, was safe; and for this, the townsmen had to thank Ralph Renwood and his brave companion, Head- light Harry. The gallant young fellows at once became the heroes of the hour, Headlight Harry was particularly happy, for he found himself avpointed regular fireman on the Atalanta. This appointment, made at his own request, afforded the railroad-boy great satisfaction, for it not only gave him an oppor- tunity to be constantly with his bosom friend, but wasalso a prodigious stride forward to his coveted goal—the post of engineer. Harry Hilton that night was the happiest youth in Richville ‘*Cracky! Pllbea full-fledged engiucer 1m a month,” he assured himself, confidently. Next day the usual trip was made without incident, Richville was reached shortly after nightfall and Headlight Harry, his day’s work ended, bade good-night to his companion and cheerfully started for home. He lived with his widowed mother in a mod- est little cottage nearly a mile from the railway- - station. The way was a dreary one, leading _ for a considerable distances through a gloomy forest, But harry’s neart was 1 ght, and so were nis footsteps as he trudged blithely homéward, whistling a merrytune, Visions of the matron- ly woman waiting at the door to greet him with a kiss and a smile, and later, a smoking hot sup- per, with the delicacies that only his mother’s ands could ere thee formed a pleasant picture in the mind of tne hungry railroad-boy, was about to launch him into the most exciting ad- venturcs of his life, He was fairly within the depths of the forest now, and, although the moon shone brightly without, an impenetrable gloom pervaded these shady recesses, Awed by the dreariness of bis surroundings, the boy’s whistle soon died away and he continued in silence. Suddenly he halted, for his quick ear detected -" ge the rapid hoof-beats of a horse approaching direction. immediately darted to the Lennar rere sss sess ‘ a ee The Lightning Express Detective. 5 side of the road and, crouching there in the bushes, waited for the rider to pass. A moment later the horseman hadarrived up- on the scene, but instead of riding by he drew rein within arm’s-length of the spot where the boy was hiding. Through interstices in the foliage above a radiant moonbeam slanted into the glade, bath- ing steed and rider in its mellow glow; and as Headlight Harry gazed upon the features of the new-comer he gave a start that nearly betrayed his presence. ‘* It’s Black Bart, the outlaw, or I’m a China- man!’’ he gasped. CHAPTER Y. PLAYING THE SPY. Yrs, it was the notorious chief of the train- robbers, as formidable as ever. A handker- chief was bound tightly about his brow, while several strips of court-plaster adorned his cheeks, hightening the ferocious expression of his naturally repulsive countenance. His clothing was torn and nfuddy. Indeed, from Black Bart’s tout ensemble, it was appar- ent that he was considerably the worse for wear, after his rough-and-tumble experience of the night before, eadlight Harry gazed curiously at the no- torious road-robber, as he sat upon his steed, motionless asa carvenimage. He was evident- ly waiting for some one; and the railroad-bo was on the qui vive, for the presence of Blac Bart, at this place and hour, signified that mis- chief was brewing. A minute passed; then from up the road came the shrill, peculiar cali of the whippowil. Black Bart immediately echoed the signal; and then a man made his appearance on foot, coming from the direction of the town. As the new-comer advanced, an involuntary exclamation escaped the lips of the youth in the bushes, for the aa moonlight enabled him to recognize the man’s features immediately. The last arrival was Dave Darke, cashier of the Richville National Bank, and Ralph Ren- wood’s unsuccessful rival for the hand of fair Grace Garland, daughter of the wealthy rail- way king. **On hand, I see, Bart!” exclaimed the cash- ier, advancing promptly. ‘* Yes; and waiting this ten minutes,” return- ed the outlaw, rather shortly. ‘‘ Black Bart al- ways keeps his word.” ** Well, I’m sorry to keep you waiting, but it couldn’t be helped,’’said Dave Darke, apologeti- cally. ** However, now I’m here, let’s lose no time in getting down to business.” ‘*Not here. Come back from the road a lit- tle, that we may be secure from observation. I’m mighty solicitous for the welfare of my pre- cious neck, ‘*Curse the luck! I feel as though a freight- train had been running over me,” continued Black Bart, as he dismountec with some diffi- culty. rh co look as if a cyclone had been wrestling with you,” complimented the cashier, with a sardonic smile, as he followed the outlaw, who, leading his animal, left the trail and disappear- ed in the thicket. Headlight Harry had listened to this brief conversation in open-mouthed astonishment, scarcely able to believe the evidence of his senses, What meant this secret meeting in the forest? What were the relations of Dave Darke, a trusted bank official, with the notorious chief of outlaws? ‘*T allus sot Darke Dave down asa bad egg, but I didn’t think he was so low down as to as- sociate with Black Bart,” soliloquized the rail- road-boy. ‘‘ Talks as if he’d knowed him fer years, too. One thing is certain—there’s mis- chief on foot; an’ shoot me fer a Chinaman, if | don’t find out the whys and wherefores of this mysterious bizness. ere goes!” Without the slightest hesitation, the intrepid lad followed the two men into the thicket, They had halted in a little glade, a short dis- tance from the road; and guided by the voices, Harry had no difficulty in locating their 2 song up- tion. No naked Indian scout ever advanc on the foe more cautiously than did the daring railroad-boy, who stole noiselessly from bush to bush, and finally reached a position close to the objects of his oe. e could just distinguish the forms of the two men, who had seated themselves, and were conversing in low tones. ** Curse the infernalluck! To think that we were outwitted, after the treasure was almost within our grasp,” growled Black Bart, ‘ Five of my best men gone, and as many more wound- ed—caramba ! It makes my blood boil to think of it.’ **Bah! A few men’s lives don’t matter. You can easily get recruits toreplace them. How- ever, [ had everything at stake. The success of this scheme was my only salvation. Now you have failed, what is to become of me?” ‘*T fail to understand why our failure should affect you, beyond the loss of your share of the spoils. You must have had another object, Dave, of which I knew nothing.” ‘* Right, captain,’ allowed Darke, frankly. ‘* Listen, and I will explain everything.” ‘* Proceed !” ‘‘Two years ago, Bart,” began the bank cashier, ‘‘ I was the trusted lieutenant of your powerful Brotherhood. No better man ever served you, if I, myself, do say it, until one da I chanced to see handsome Grace Garland. fell desperately in love with the maiden, and swore to possess her for my own. ‘*To do so it was necessary for me to change my calling, for what pure girl would accept the attentions of an outlaw? True, 1 might easily have carried her off to our stronghold, but in that case I would forfeit all hopes of fingering her rich sire’s fortune. Iresolved to renounce outlawry, and become a virtuous citizen, until I could win my prize. Accordingly, I left your band, first taking an oath never to betray your secrets—” ‘And you have kept your oath faithfully, Dark Dave,” declared the road-agent chief, heartily. — ‘* Well, I went to Richville and commenced my new career. Being tolerably well educated intelligent, and not bad-looking, L soon managed to make myself quite a favorite with the towus- people, none of whom dreamed | was an ex~- member of the dreaded Black Brotherhood, So well did I succeed that when the bank cashier died suddenly, I was appointed to fill the va- cancy. ‘* But while I was thus making myself solid with the citizens at large, the fair object of my adoration did not seem very favorably im- pressed. Truth to tell, she was already in love with another—a handsome chap named Ren- wood, poor as a church-mouse, who earns a pre- carious livelihood by driving one of her rich fa- ther’s engines; the same fellow, by the way, who ran the Express last night, and whose prowess was too much for you and your band of bloodhounds.”’ ‘* Curse him!” gritted Black Bart. ‘*Tt took me some time to discover that my case was hopeless,” continued Dave Darke. ‘** Meanwhile, my passion for gambling led me to indulge, on the quiet, to a considerable ex- tent. As luck was against me, and my salary was inadequate to the demand, I was conse- Scere compelled to ‘borrow’ from the bank, rom time to time, until], at the present mo- ment, the deficiency amounts to a cool ten thou- sand ‘dollars. ‘* Knowing that the time for the annual ex- amination was near at hand, I naturally looked for some way out of the difficulty. Just then we received notice of a consignment of bullion. Here was a chance for salvation! I posted you in relation to the proposed shipment, on condi- tion that I receive one-third of the plunder for the information. ‘** Had the plan succeeded, I could easily have made good the deficiency, But now, all is lost. To morrow the bank examiners will be here, and my only chance is to—” ** Skip!” finished Black Bart, tersely,. ** Exactly, captain! My career as an upright citizen of Richville is over. Now,I propose to resume my old position in your band, providing my presence is welcome.” lack Bart’s eyes lighted with pleasure. ** Your old position as first lieutenant is oo to you, Dave,” hesaid, ‘‘ The boys, what’s left of ’em, will be glad to see you back once more, But the girl! Do you intend to accept your fate, and resign her to the tender embrace of this young engineer?” ‘*Never! The girl shall be mine!” Dark Dave fairly hissed. ‘‘ That is the point I was coming at. The girl must be seized, and carried to our stronghold. Once there, I will tame the proud beauty, and laugh at the agony of my rival.” ‘* But can this be done?” ** Yes, with your assistance,” **'You shall have it,” declared Black Bart, for the cashier had been a most valuable assistant, and the chief was elated at the prospect of his a al band. ‘When is the deed to be one ‘*This very night. The girl’s parents are both away, and there’s no one at home but the JiR \ ‘ com a - a” . : ve ‘ 7 | © oe 7 ’ +r 2