Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 683 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

<p eee ae a i — a TO I you ‘poor, insignificant critter, you ain’t a flea ite alongside o’ me!” ** Idle talk will do you no good, ing to search this house—” ** Where’s your warrant?” * We don’t need any. When any person de- Scends to infamy equal to yours, she forfeits all Sipe to forbearance, 1am going to search this 1ouse!” Mother Hooper shook like a leaf; she flung out her long arms; her face twitched and con- tracted, Fordrest thought that she was going to have a fit, but it wasaspasm of rage, only, He had never before seen such a depraved, Hlecate-like woman. ; Slowly she turned her eyes upon Hill. ‘* Be you with his nibs in this?’ she asked, ** Yes,” replied Hill, uneasily, ‘““'Then you'll get your medicine!” One of the wretched woman’s hands had been kept partially behind her. It now came out ia- to view, revealing in its grasp an iron bar, and she sprung toward Hill with the weapon up- lifted for a blow. : Fordrest was taken by surprise and could not move soon enough to help his ally, but poor Hill knew Mother Hooper’s way so well of old that he was on his guard. Not daring to face her, he dodged alertly and ran across the room, but she pursued and gained on him at every step. His life was in danger, for he made no motion to draw his revolver, but aid was not lacking. Bewildered as Saltpeter was, be realized that something must be done, He took the measure that first occurred to him, and thrust out his foot in the old woman’s path, She stumbled over it, and fell to the floor with force that made the rickety old house shake, Then her reign was over. Fordrest seized her, Hill came to his assistance, and she struggled in vain, One thing she could do, and did: she screamed with that ungovernable rage that seemed so natural to her, “That rope, boy!” gasped Hill, here, quick |” The rope hung ona peg. Sol flung it to Hill, and the latter unceremoniously bound Mother Hooper’s hands and feet. He breathed a sigh of relief when it was done, **] was afeered some o’ the men was here, an’ would pounce on us,” he confessed, ‘* but it seems they ain’t. Thank heavens fur that!” ‘Oh! you traitor!’ hissed the woman, ‘‘ you ain’t out o’ this yet. My lads will hev you, an’, when they git you, you will git done up!” Fordrest ignored her and her threats. “Stand guard, Hill,” he directed, ‘and Vl search the house.” “Go up-stairs, sir,” Hill advised, ‘* There’s nothin’ below.” Fordrest lighted a second lamp, and then, eatching Sol’s wishful gaze, nodded permission to the raftsman to accompany him, This Sol did eagerly. The old gentleman led the way with the lamp in one hand and a revolver in the other. Reaching the head of the stairs they saw a ghostly, unfinished, rambling room before them, with boxes and barrels stowed in various places; but several doors opened off of it, and light shin- ing from under one of them gave a clew. The searcher was not in a moderate mood, and he opened the door without ceremony. When he had done so he was a little abashed. Only one person was in the place, and that was a woman who reclined on the bed. She was clothed in a way which suggested that she might be a descendant of the Joseph who had a coat of many colors, for her dress had been patched in Various shades, though very ragged at that, She put out ber hand imploringly, ** Don’t kill me!” she gasped. “Kill you! I have no intention of doing so; rest easy. Where is the boy? The woman shrunk back. ‘ “Oh! I dare not tell you!” she exclaimed, *‘ Indeed I dare not!” —_———" We are go- “Give it CHAPTER XI. SOL GOES INTO DANGER. “Torn, me, for I will protect you,” declared Fordrest, ‘‘ But I dare not!” the woman reiterated, ., Why not?’ ., My sister would kill me Who is she?” ** Mrs. Hooper,” ** Is it possible?” : There was wonderment in Fordrest’s voice, for there was little resemblance between the two women, This one was an invalid, wasted with sickness, but, despite her rags, neat and ” ‘Saltpeter Sol. clean, Her face, too, was far from hard and cruel; perhaps she had been refined by suffer- ing, as metals are refined, Hordrest rallied and assumed a strategic course, ‘* Do you know the boy’s name?” he asked. ‘“‘Itis Josepb, I don’t know his last name—” She stopped short, * What more?” Fordrest asked, ‘*T can tell no more; [ have told too much already. My sister would kill me if she knew [ had betrayed his name,” ‘* At least, tell me what room heisin, I am going to search the house, anyway, and you can do no harm by expediting the work,” **'You have missed him!” she exclaimed, ‘¢ Missed him?” Yes,” “How? Where?” ‘* While you talked below with Mrs. Hcoper —fought with her, I judge!” the speaker added, with a sigh—‘*'the boy was taken away hur- riedly.” ‘*By whom?” ** Ross Brown and a girl named Eliza,” ‘That woman, again! May her sins recoil upon her own head!” ‘* Don’t blame her, sir! She helped Brown take the boy away, but it was because she dared not do otherwise; she was in fear of her life. Oh! don’t blame Eliza too much~—” ‘* She stole my grandson!” ** 1 know she did, but you don’t know how she was situated; she is a most unfortunate girl, She has been in evil company, and has been led on to do things she loathed, She was Jimmy’s wife, and she yielded obedience. Since l’ve known her I’ve talked with her, and she is eager to leave her life of wrong-doing, even if it costs her her life. She went with Ross Brown, but it was with tears and imploring words, and menaced by bis revolver, I believe she would have faced death only that she knew Brown would take the boy, anyway, and she wanted to be with him, to protect him.” ** Where did they go?” ‘*T don’t know. Brown must have been fear- ful of an attack, for he was ready to go ona moment’s notice, and he hustled the boy and Eliza away as soon as the noise began.” a Away from the house?” ** Yes. ** Who is here now?” ‘Only Mrs, Hooper and I.” ‘“Thank you very kindly for your informa- tion, madam; I may be able to reward you, some time,” Fordrest, followed by Sol, abruptly left the room, While remembering that there was a chance that he tmght be deceived, he was of the opinion that the sick woman had told the truth, If this was so it was a severe blow: he had had his grandson almostin his grasp, and had lost him. He wondered at his blindness in neglecting to seta guard outside the house, ‘We will search the house, and then pur- sue,” he said, to Saltpeter Sol, in a concentrated voice, ‘** Come on!” The raftsman was in a state of eagerness, and as much interested as if the affair had been his own. He opened the next door, but the room had no tenant, Noone was found anywhere on the second floor. : They descended to the kitchen, and found Hill watching Mother Hooper wearily. The old woman turned a questioning, anxlous gaze upon Fordrest’s face, and then, reading it well, burst into a mocking lauyzh. ate you happy now, sneered, ' Fordrest ignored her, but motioned to Hill, and the trio went to the next room, “Ts the woman up-stairs reliable?” the old gentleman asked, ’ ‘“ Prob’ly so; ’m»pretty sure so; but she’s too sick ter be questioned,” Hill responded. “Indeed! Then excitement must have given her suddea, fictitious strength, for lve talked With her. Sae says the boy has been taken away by Eliza anda man named Ross Brown, ., And a big knave he is, sir.”. f bey ve just fled in haste. Where would they be likely to go? Think carefully!’ To Brown’'s‘house, no doubt.” hen we will go there. First, let us search the lower half of the house.” This was done, but no one was found; then, after scouting a little to make sure that the kidnappers were not lurking near, Fordrest, Hill an’ Sol re-entered the carriage and started for Brown’s, The chase was fascinating to the raftsman, old times rock?” she ae oO 2 9 but he delicately forbore making any com- ments whick would seem trivial He knew that his leader was greatly affected, as was natural, Hope and fear struggled together, and the lat- ler was aided by the painful vexation of having been so near victory only to have everything lost by an oversight, Brown’s house was only a short distance away. When they arrived they found it un- lighted and silent, but this was not surprisin Sol was sent to the rear, with directions to watch for attempted escapes there, and then Fordrest proceeded to the door, Sol, from his post, heard the knocking plainly and, finally, the opening of the door. Then came a lull; whatever was said, the voices were too low to be audible at the rear of the house, The raftsman had taken his position by a tree so that no prying eyes from the house would rest upon his figure, Back of him was an ex- tension wood which, however it might be in the daytime, was dark and gloomy now. His at- tention was soon called to it particularly, » There was a crackling of dry sticks as if un- der the pressure of feet, and he turned bis head, lt might mean something; it might mean noth- ing. A man could have caused it; so coulda cow, a horse or a sheep. But Sol soon decided that it was not caused by a domesticated animal. Out from the shadow of the wood came a bu- man figure. It advanced with long, yet light steps, until he could see thatit wasa man. The stranger came up within thirty feet of the rafts- man, but saw nothing of him, His gaze was fixed upon the house intently. ‘‘T reckon the coast is clear, but I won’t be reckless,” he muttered, and then went on as be- fore, A suspicion flashed upon Saltpeter Sol, Was this man Ross Brown, returning to his home? If so, where was little Joseph?—where, unless he had been left in the wood? This suspicion was too attractive not to be investigated, and he resolved to run the risk of leaving his post. This he did, and was soon among the trees, Once there, the darkness discouraged him a good deal. The lost Joseph was only three years old, and a dozen boys of that age might have been near him and yet invisible, He decided to act boldly, and did go, ‘‘ Joseph!” he called, in a low voice, There was no answer; all remained silent. ** Joseph !” He spoke louder this time, but without result. He took a few steps, and then paused in irreso- lution. Perbaps he was ryining his leader’s chances of success by deserting the post where he had been placed. “Tl give it a last try,” he thought, and then go back, Joseph Fordrest !” The bushes crackled off toward his left, and then a half-stifled cry sounded; a child’s cry for help. Sol ran in that direction, ‘* Where be you?” be demanded, excitedly, He was trying to locate the exact spot of the cry, as he paused again, a tall, massive figure rose near him, and then the raftsman received @ blow which felled him to the ground. CHAPTER XII. SOL HANGS ON STUBBORNLY. ** LAY there, meddlin’ fool!” uttered a voice, in hoarse anger; and then he who had*dealt Salt- peter Sol the blow turned away. The raftsman was floundering on the ground, He bad been struck with a club, and the force of the stroke half-stunned him, He tried to rise, but seemed to have lost certain necessary powers, Meg: He could move, but not regain his feet, He heard and saw his assailant making off; saw him bend for a moment and Snatch up an object which, obviously, was a child; and then, once mores, came a boy's frightened ery, It spurred Sol into new activity, He managed to regain his feet, but reeled dizzily and would have fallen only for the support of atree. He saw the unknown still in retreat, and forced himself to pursue, but his head was not yet clear; be staggered as he went, His feet splashed in a brook, and he hada creditable idea. He bent, dipped his head in the water and arose refreshed. His mind was clearer, and the dizziness gone. All sounds had not died away, and he began to pursue with vigor. He knew he was gaining, but when he paused to listen, later nothing was Cc ’ en ] . ~ ; =! ee - is . rg “om . . s\ cd -— oe \ wh 4 : 4 a a, wet oe 900ks df