Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 708 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

Lem, when on the trail. I have eyes located on every knob and corner, then, Yes, 1 knew the fellow was there, looking for notes, Hope he feels paid for his trouble!” ‘“*Ob, mamma!” ejaculated Lem, in comical chagrin. ‘‘Ef I des bin know all dat, boss! Make no home-run off me, he wouldn’t! I des bu'st he fool’ head wide open! I des—ef I only bin know he was dah!” ‘* You scared thirteen kinds of daylight out of ‘him, as it was, Lem, so you needn’t mourn,” laughed Light-beart Luke, stepping across to ‘the spring and taking a hearty drink, “ Fill ‘your tank, my lovely Dude, for we’ve got to shift our boarding place, and we mayn’t be quite so lucky in hitting another such spriog. Drink—lively, too!” Without exactly comprehending what all this meant, Lemuel obeyed, then picked up their ‘zame and traps, following his imaster as Larri- mer moved rapidly away, plunging into the ‘thick lying rocks and crags, at a course nearly at right angles with the one taken by the fleeing Spy. In a short time, Light-beart bade Lem await his return, rapidly climbing up a pile of rocks, from the top of which he soon caugbt a glimpse of Huck Shaw, plainly heading for the Elton cabin. ‘““That’s all I wanted to learn of you, Mr. Shaw!” be muttered, with grim satisfaction. lying low to avoid possible discovery should the discomfited spy look behind him for pursuers, **You’re hunting your hole, though you've precious little news tocarry back to Roxy! And she’s entirely welcome to all she can make of it, ‘too!’ Watching until certain that Huck Shaw had no present intention of dogging them further, even if his suspicion bad not been completely swept away by the innocent words he had been able to eavesdrop, Light-heart Lute turned his thoughts in the direction of his dusky compan- ion. Asa matter of course he intended probing this mystery to the very bottom. He had given a dying man hissacred oath to aid an: protect his “ little girl.” He suspected otber evil, then, and now he knewit had or was being worked against Grace Elton, even as it had fallen upon the father. Up to date, he had looked upon Lemuel Clay- bank as little better than a fantastic toy, to be sported with in idle moments, but by no ‘Means one who could be depended upon in an emergency. But now— ‘** There’s heap sight moro sand in the fellow than I ever gave him credit for!” was his meutal decision. ‘*‘ He wanted only a nod to chase and tackle that rascal, and if looks don’t lie, Mr. Huck Sbaw would have passed a mighty bad quarter of an hour, once those big paws fairly closed upon his frame! ‘*Now—lve got to go back to that cabin. Shall 1 doas I at first intended: place Lem ina hole, to await my coming—if I ever pull through? Or—tell bim the whole truth, and trust him to hold one end level?” Although he had only spoken to two persons vat the cabin, Light-heart Lute felt firmly con- vinced that he had caught sight of at least one other, while approaching the building. ‘‘ A man, I’m betting long odds, Ifa woman, why didn’t she show up, to back Roxy in her sparring match? It couldn’t have been Grace, for Adam called her his little girl. Then, too, any ,ove inside that cabin surely must bave heard my questions, and a daughter would never have lain low and listened to all that rot about her fatter! So—l reckon Tl have a ‘sober talk with my dandy dude!” Light-beart Lute was as good as his word, once bis mind was fairly made up; but, for all that, he bided his time before enlightening Lem, Picking their vey through the broken ground, drawing a little nearer the Elton cabin, while partly encircling the place, Light-heart Lute at length reached a spot where he felt sure ‘they might indulge in a fire for supper, without running any risk of attracting unwelcome at- tention. He gave Lem a liberal share of the remaining coffee, and topped it all off with a dose of brandy. Then, while they lay ata safe distance from the dying fire, smoking their pipes, Lar- Timer opened his budget, By first judiciously praising Lem for the *““sand” he had displayed in the spy episode, making him feel that he now looked upon him as aman in more than mere dimensions, Light- heart paved the way to what might lie before ‘them that night. meas sketching the material points gleaned from Adam Elton, he told Lem of the vow he Light-heart Lute’s Legacy. had taken, and the great peril which he believed was menacing Grace Elton. And after relating the lies told him by the people found in posses- sion of the cabin, he added: ‘**T firmly believe that those rascals have got the little girl in their power, Lem. I believe she is even now held a prisoner in her own house! But—shall we permit her to remain a prisoner, Lem?” ** No, sah, boss!” was the indignant response, his homely face lit up with sturdy resolution. ‘*Ef you le’ me go, boss, I des bu’st dar fool’ heads wide open!” ‘* What if they were to object, Lem? What if thev had guns?” ‘* What / keer fo’ dey guns, boss? Ain’ you tote guns, too? Des gi’ me one dem guns, boss, an’ | walk yight frough dem ‘funnelly warmints! Or—I kin knock ’em out des wid a club—an’ dornicks, boss!” Light-heart Lute leaned across and lightly touched the negro’s wrist. The pulse beat strong and regular. This was not the result of excite- ment, and more than ever Larrimer began to think he had found an unlooked-for treasure in this gaunt fellow, Still, he would not decide too hastily. Al- though the sun had set and it was rapidly grow- ing dark, he knew it was too early to open the campuign, as yet. And that interval was spent in still further testing the colored boy. The result was satisfactory, on the whole, Lemuel proved full of pluck, so far as could be told without seeing him in actual combat, and as Light-heart Lute had little expectation of coming to blows—or shots—with the Shaw outfit, that night, he finally gave Lemuel permission to play a part in the work before them. * But you don’t want to forget the conditions, my good fellow,” was the grave addition. ‘“* Youre to act as reserve guard, and lie low where | station you, making no move on your own hook until you hear me distinctly call to you-—out loud, you understand?” Lemuel promised implicit obedience, and doubtless he fully intended to follow instructions to the very letter, at the time. But for al! that, a burning thirst for glory was fated to plunge him headlong into a truly remarkable position that night, It was an easy task for so practiced a moun- taineer as the Lad of Luck to lead the way direct to the Elton cabin, despite the broken nature of the ground and the darkness, There was a light shining dimly through the front window, across the inside of which a cur- tain was closely drawn. The front door was closed. but Larrimer felt confident that the Shaw outfit was within, and hoping to surprise their secrets, through attaining some point from whence he could catch their words, if talking, he bade Lemuel lie in wait at a safe distance, then stole silently away. For some little time Lem remained where be had been stationed, but he gradually grew ner- vous with inaction, longing most ardently to still further prove his manhood and value to his sé boss. » Little by little he edged forward, until he could command a fair view of the cabin and its immediate surroundings, This contented him for ms time, but presently he began fidgeting again. **When he gwine holler out? Why doan’ he fotch onde sarcus? I’m des a common, brack niggah, but—ef / was playin’ boss, bet yo’ sweet life dey fink a bull bumbly-bee nes’ done bu’st wide open ’twixt dar hine-laigs, fore dis yeah time—dey des would, now!” : He fingered the revolver with which Light- heart Lute had intrusted him, betraying the love which only one of his race can show toward the first “‘ gun” that fortune has bestowed upon him, He leveled it at the cabin, at the lighted window, at the chimney-top, and then—gavo a sudden start as he noticed the long limb of the tree which renched out toward the roof, ‘*De good Lawd! w’y di’n’ I see dat ar’ fo’ de boss done sloped? Could shin up dab—git on rufi—heah ebbery word dem warmints blaat out —desaseasy/ Et de boss bedn’t bin so—bin s0——”’ Alas! temptation was already assailing the young itcllow, and rapidly getting the upper band, too! It seemed such 2 very simple matter to Lem- uel! And he was such a magnificent climber, too! Nevera squirrel was nimbler, never a ’pos- sum could cling moresurely to a swaying bough! And—the boss was so very anxious to over- hear those rascally schemers, shut up so clusely inside the cabin! ‘** Wondah ef he would boot dis niggah ef— co’se he wouldn’t!” with a sniff of lofty indigna- tion at the debasing thought. ‘‘ De boss is a clean gemman, he is! An’ den—be nebber know nuffin’ ’tall bout it ontwel J tell him des all dey say, wud fo’ wud—so dar /” . That was the final struggle with conscience, and carefully securing his revolver in the Jeather thong twisted about his waist, Lem crept toward the tree, pretending that he was just looking for Light-heart Lute, to point out that aerial ladder of hope! ‘Sorry I dosn’ fin’ him!” mumbled Lem, with difficulty smothering a chuckle over his “‘ bad luck” in that search, ‘*‘ Would wait, an’ bunt furder, on’y —dem fool’ folks gittin’ pow’ful sleepy, yight now! Dey go bunk in fo’I kin fin’ de boss, Den—he kick, fo’ mighty suah!” That reflection was enough. Lemuel dropped all scruples, clasped the trunk and ‘‘swarmed” up it like a particularly active bear. He reached the limb already alluded to, and noting its strength and apparent soundness, he crawled out along it, eager to gain the roof where he confidently expected to win so much lory. . Ho saw success already within his grasp, and either bis keen ears or an active fancy caught indistinct sounds as of human voices engaged in earnest conversation, rising through the wide- mouthed chimoey, now almost directly beneath his crouching form! ‘*Doan’ I say so, a’ready?”’ was his exultant whisper to his own ears as he crept still further along, with greater haste and eagerness, ‘‘ Ef dar bain’t somebody mos’ mighty surprise dis yer’ night, den I—” And that somebody was fated to be Lemuel Claybank, first of all! The limb suddenly broke beneath him, and he toppled over, flinging out his arms in a@ vain ef- fort to break his fall! And then he plunged headlong directly into the chimney, up which the hot smoke was curling! CHAPTER XIII, A GENERAL UPSETTING, Boru Light-heart Lute and Lem Claybank had guessed aright: the trio of evil schemers were gathered inside the Elton cabin, busily engaged in discussing the present situation, and trying to see their safest and speediest path to success, . ! If Huck Shaw had been a little less tender of his own reputation, and had given a full and faithful account of his adventures while in the act of playing spy, perhaps the arguments might have been shorter, more nearly unani- mous. But he made it appear that the couple he had shadowed were intent only on getting out of that region with the least possible loss of time, and at the same moment be swore that this haste could have naught to do with the Elton cese, | He had heard enough to fully satisfy all doubts on that point, by stealing within earshot of the fellows when they went into camp for an early,meal, Not a bit of it! Even the devil Showy Joe called Lute Larrimer, couldn’t possi- bly have suspected his eavesdropping! Roxy Ringgold seemed inclined to neutrality but Hoover took the exact opposite. The Lad of Luck had not turned up at that precise junc- ture without a serious surpose. He was not asking after Adam Elton for naught. And if they knew the cursed devil one-balf as well as he, Showy Joe Hoover, knew him, they’d take nothing for granted until they had to, The cabin was closed, though a brisk little fire blazed and crackled on the wide hearth, for the nights were cool enough to make a bit of artificial heat quite agreeable, even to full- blooded people. The curtains were closely drawn over the win~ dows, and Showy Joe would have drappee the ~ heavy bar across the front door, only for Huck Shaw, who showed his teeth in half-defiance, half-derision. The discussion was beginning to grow decided- ly warm, when there came an interruption so une ted, so odd and startling that it fairly ansod the infamous trio. A wild, nondescript ery—as much the yell of a wild beast as the shout of a human being— came from the upper regions, followed by a furious scrambling noise in the wide-throated chimney. : : But before the startled schemers could fairly comprehend even so much of the truth, a heavy mass fell into the fire, scattering the glowing brands, kicking up a cloud of bot ashes as it assumed theshape and semblance of— surely Huck Shaw was right when he yelled, Mm terror: ‘““'The devil! Its the devil come to fetch us pore critters!” *,