Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 794 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

, = : ; . : ~ - - — _— ee ee ee ee ee eee 2 «a ‘ —~ pay ete ~apvoe sinouumuetanenie ; vel eee eee anew ma a . , - al asdile pel Salsa nica we 7 a a REA MEE | - a a Bs F ° 4.4, be” ; . + ie na ‘ ~ : . ; a ocd erat aia: Headlight Harry’s Hunt. ett 7 | | eadlig: arry’s Hunt, , ee 4 ” ; r ‘“ i ls v8 = ’ ' . ay is no skylight, but I fancy it will prove no _ difficult task to make an opening that will answer our purpose. The ‘‘hotel” was a large, two-storied frame structure, put together in the careless, slap-dash manner so characteristic of houses built ina hurry. The walls, floors and par- titions were all of rough pine boards, merely nailed to scantling, not morticed or lap- jointed. The roof was flat, being simply a flooring of inch boards. There was no lath- ing nor plastering, such things being un- unknown luxuries in Satan’s Camp. Harry had carefully noted all these features of the building, and this knowledge now communicated to Rufe, they at once proceed- ed to carry out the plan suggested, working with all caution yet with a vigor that evi- denced their anxiety. _ The room was low-studded, and by stand- ing upon the bed they readily reached the ceiling. It was but the work of a few mo- ments with their united strength to uplift and shove aside two of the boards. This led them into the low loft above the ceiling, into which they quickly made their way; and then, a heavy pressure on the low slanting 1 es a quickly opened a passage to the roof. — Replacing the ceiling boards carefully so as to disguise their mode of exit from the room the two pards stepped forth upon the roof, ready for further procedure. And none too soon had they acted, for scarcely had they reached the outer air when the tread of heavy feet and the hum of voices came from the street below, indicating that _a large party was approaching. A moment later the new-comers were heard to enter the saloon. ‘*Hyar they cum, pard! Now look out for fun,” whispered Rufe Ruffle, eagerly, as the two crouched low on the roof. ‘See that your shooters are in good trim, old fellow,” was the engineer’s admonition. ‘‘If the worst comes and we are discovered, we'll give the rascals a red-hot reception. Hark! Here they come!” There was a sudden rush of feet up the creaking stairs, followed by a chorus of vengeful yells as the gang dashed straight for the room so recently occupied by the Railroad Pards. The door was locked, but there was no pause, no demand for admis- sion; the frail barrier went down with a crash before the fierce assault, when, witha whoop of victory, the ruffians swouped into the apartment; but only to pause in sudden astonishment as they realized the truth. The room was’ empty, their prey had flown; and the open window seemed to indi- cate the manner of their exit. Black Jerry looked first about the room, then at the window, and finally at the evil- faced proprietor of the place, who had fol- 10Wed them up-stairs. ‘* How’s this,’ Pedro?” he demanded. *‘'There’s a big mistake somewhere, I reckon you've gone like a durned blunderin’ fool, an’ p’inted out the wrong room to us,” ‘Not much, pard,” declared the hotel- keeper, positively. ‘‘ The strangers entered this very room—I saw them with my own eyes! An’ l’ve had a man stationed in the hallway ever since, with orders tu keep a sharp wateh on this door, an’ see that the galoots didn’t leave.” _‘*But confound you, tae fellows are not here. Can't ye see that the place is empty?” ** There’s no secret about their disappear- ance, | reckon,” and Pedro pointed sugges- tively to the open window. But, Black Jerry gave an impatient ges- ture, as if to show his utter disbelief in that theory, | ‘*D’ye think I’m a durned fool?” he cried. ‘Why, l’ve had a line o’ men circling this ranch for the past two hours, an’ nobody could leave the place without diskivery. No, galoots are still stowed away this hyar caboose, an’ don’t neither!” And so firmly convinced was the shrewd scamp that such was the case, that he in- stantly ordered a thorough search of the building. In prompt obedience the man- hunters hastened away, searching the various apartments, and peering into every nook and corner large enough to contain a human form. Meantime, crouching upon the roof above, with weapons ready, the Pards watched and waited. The conversation of the group be- low was perfectly audible to them, and Black Jerry’s orders to search the house thrilled them with sudden apprehension, for it was evident that cunning scoundrel suspected something of the truth. What if he should take a notion to search the roof? The fugitives listened breathlessly to the movements of their enemies, as the latter continued to ransack the building up-stairs and down. But, shrewd though the ruffian was, the mystery of their disappearance proved too deep for Black Jerry’s brain to solve; and presently he was heard to abandon the hunt, and summon his men into the open air. ‘*T reckon ye’r’ right, Pedro,” he growled. ‘*We’ve hunted high an’ low, an’ there’s no trace o’ ther durned galoots inside the she- bang. They must ha’ went through the winder, for sure; but hang me for a _ hoss- thief if I kin imagine how they managed to slip by the gang. But come on, boys! We'll have ’em, yet, blast their ugly hides, for they can’t be far away!” and Black Jerry led his murderous gang away, leaving the ‘‘ hotel ” to assume its wonted aspect, while the lurk- ing fugitives listened to their departure with intense relief, **Pard, you’re a dandy schemer an’ no mistake. Thetrick has worked like a charm,” Rufe Ruffle chuckled, in high glee. ‘‘ How slick we fooled the durned wolves, tu be sure! Say, pard, it ’d be a huge joke to sneak back to our room when the coast is clear, an’ appear to that scoundrel, Pedro, in the mornin’ as though nothin’ had happened. Wouldn’t it set his thick bead to thinkin’, hey?” ‘¢ Perhaps that would be a good plan were our situation less desperate; but under the circumstances it would be advisable to light out from here on the double quick,” was Headlight Harry’s prompt rejoinder. ‘‘ Since every denizen of this camp is our enemy, with the possible exception of the Spider, our lives will be no safer in broad daylight than at the present moment, So ‘go’ is the word.” ‘‘Right you are, pard! There’s no dis- putin’ that conclusion, I guess. And, since we’re obliged to up an’ git, [’m ready to make a break any time when you say the word.” ‘‘'The sooner we start the better; but let us look out. sharply to see if the coast is clear.” P Creeping cautiously on hands and knees, the Railroad Pards proceeded to make a cir- cuit of the roof, carefully scanning the camp in all directions, Though long past midnight, Satan’s Camp was still wide-awake, and the revels of her illustrious citizens continued unabated; but the saloons were now the center of attrac- tion, aud the streets were almost deserted. Nothing was to be seen or heard of Black Jerry’s gang. To all appearances the time being pro- pitious for successful flight, the Pards de cided to make the venture without further delay. The rear of the “hotel,” being wholly in shadow was selected as the most ae ae point from which to leave the roof. ' ; The distance from the roof to the ground somewhere in ye forgit it, ihe i _sir-ee! This hyar open winder racket won’t | was fully twenty feet, but this did not deter $0 down with an’ old bird like me. Them | the desperate young railroaders. Swinging a t ie | | . > Elem , hrees a pre . / = ap ‘ ei a Ot” if ye © J ‘ty, vo pee a ee i el Rad. 6 es ‘ o i. : An a te J 2 ease $ Je n ‘ Shae Ace from the edge of the roof, they hung moment against the wall; then, simu!tan ously they dropped to the earth, alighting with catlike agility upon their feet. In another moment the fugitives were stealthily making their way through the set- tlement, shaping a course that would event- ually bring them to the wagon-trail leading south to Fortune City. The knowledge of their perilous position lent extraordinary caution to their movements, as, side by side, they flitted like phantoms through the gloomy night. Studiously avoiding the saloons with their illuminated fronts, the Pards kept discreetly within the denser shadows, easily eluding the few nocturnal prowlers who chanced to be abroad; and their hearts beat high with renewed hope when at length they found themselves upon the very outskirts of the pen | ‘*Rufe,” whispered the young engineer, in elation, as they paused for an instant to take breath, ‘‘1t seems almost too good to be true, but 1 really believe we shall outwit our enemies, after all.” ‘‘Praise the Lord for that! I shall be tempted to go down on my marrowbones an’ offer up thanksgivin’ when we once git clear of this durn cantankerous piace. Skin me for a muskrat if ever I struck sicha - fire-eatin’, sulphur-an’-brimstone smellin’ lot o’ devil's imps in all my born experience.” Alas! for the pards and c<heir new-born hopes! They had slightly underestimated the cunning of their foes. At the moment when escape seemed al- most certain, a chorus of yells suddenly assailed their. ears, while a score of forms leaped from the earth as if by magic. And loud above the echoing din arose the voice of Black Jerry: ‘‘Hyar they are, boys! Hyar’s yer game! Down with the durned galoots!” Like vultures swooping upon their prey, the gang bore down upon the startled fugi- tives; then, for a moment, ensued a scene of wild excitement. The revolvers of the brave two spoke twice in swift succession, to be answered by the cries of their smitten vic- tims. But then the scrimmage suddenly ceased, for the Railroud Pards, crushed to earth by superior numbers, lay bruised and senseless heneath a heap of struggling hu- manity—helpless prisoners in the hands of King Kirby’s minions! CHAPTER VI. ON THE TRAIL. Ir was a wild, desolate Spot in the very heart of the mountains, over a mile from Satan’s Camp, on which the rising sun looked serenely down, upon the morning succeeding the capture of the Railroad Pards. Dark. walled cliffs and beetling crags uprose on every band, while massive bowlders were scattered about in wild profusion, sur- rounded by a dense growth of scraggy trees and tangled underbrush. Into this sequestered nook King Kirby’s minions had conducted their luckless cap- tives, and now, at the dawn of day, the latter were to be seen bound hand and foot and closely guarded. They sat side by side upon the ground, leaning against a bowlder; and it needed but a glance at their countenances to indicate the/state of their feelings at this unexpected turn of affairs. The guards were six in number, stout, muscular fellows, armed tothe teeth. They evidently regarded their duty as a very soft snap, which called for no particular wateb- fulness on their part, for they had retired to a sheltered nook a dozen yarés away, and were now deep in the mysteries of a poker game. With only an occasional glance in the direction of the prisoners. The Railroad Pards, however, were en- abled to profit nothing by this apparent lack of vigilance on the part of the sentinels, since their bonds were 80 secure ag topre- . -