Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 838 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

self, and his gang comes with him. _ they strike the trail? Ae? ee OES $ 4 ay ‘ ey," ~~"? Poker Pete’s Double Dodge. 11 one, and Jolly can have it all his own way. ut that last is what has got to be done.” All this passed through’ the mind of the young hustler like a flash. With a second charge in his revolver he would not have hesitated an instant. The fuse was spitting and spluttering, and burning rapidly. There was little time to lose; yet, though he held his gun at a ready, Clean Grit hesitated, and shifted his position rapidly and noiselessly, Then, the barrel dropped into perfect line, and he pulled the trigger. Though Jolly had already placed some distance between himself and the wagon the hustler had him lined with the upturned fuse, and when the bullet sped the fuse dropped, shorn close off to the keg, and there was a howl of dismay from the outlaw, who staggered and then fell with a ball through his leg, The shot had done its work, but Clean Grit knew it would attract attention to the spot, and that there was no time to lose. Following it up he rushed out and dealt Jolly a blow on the head with his clubbed revolver that effectually placed him out of the game. ‘To transfer his belt to his own waist was but the work of another instant, and then the brave boy was severing the bonds of Hazen, Then with a bound both were in retreat, and this time there was no one to stop them. Before the outlaws had regained their camp the two were out of sight, running silent] but swiftly up the gorge, Little Clean Grit charging his emptied weapon from the am- munition found in Jolly’s belt. ‘*‘ Looks like an infernal shame to leay¥e- Sam in the lurch,” he panted, as they t6iled up a steeply rising slope. ‘“Wouldn’t have done it for a fortune if I had been sure I could have done him, any ood; but he may have passed in his checks oralll know. Did you catch on to any- thing about him this morning?” “Nothing, except that he was still alive, and in much the same condition as last night. That much I happened to hear,” “Then, he is in a mighty bad way, and nothing we could do would help him any, I’m afraid he’s elected, but I’ll raot, the mat- ter up soon as I get the chance, A mighty good pard was Sailor Sam.” ‘Yes, but as we can do him no good, we want to be thinking of ourselves first, last and all the time until we get clear of these demons. How are we to get out of this?” ‘*Blamed if I know,” confessed Clean Grit, looking around him as he spoke. ‘‘ Appears as though we were ina trap, with the gang at the other end, waiting with clubs to kill the rats when they turn around and try the door again. They don't fotlow any too close, that’s one thing sure.” “They will get here all the same if we wait for them, and I don’t like the way the land looks ahead.” The gorge was rapidly narrowing, and from the glimpse they could get of what lay ahead, it seemed as though their way would soon be blocked niyo ‘““T don’t, either, and the sooner we try a side issue the better. Here’s for it now.” As he spoke Clean Grit turned aside and began an ascent which from the starting point seemed almost impracticable, an which réally tested their wind and muscle to _ the utmost. Some progress they did make, however, and at last came to a spot which offered _ them an opportunity for both rest and con- ae cealment. | “We called the turn just in time,” said the boy, pointing downward. “If I am not mistaken there is Kill him- Will If they do, we must + give them the best in the shop. Take this “yen “¢ ‘ : vs - a . "q be ' . ~” + 7 1 Aes : j : * . : yt ra 7 7 ‘ > + ‘ , a eee ds * 4 A gun, and you don’t want to do any wild shooting, either.” _ Young Hazen took the revolver without a - ‘ . < - ao i ‘ NAb ‘> 7 tel. yay ct , ae 7. oS LOR, ee Ses Se At) . el ge «= vt ey i ‘2 urging, and with bated breath the two peered downward at the indistinctly-seen figures, “If we only had Winchesters, I'd give them a hail,’’ whispered Clean Grit, after they had watched for & few moments, The men below were carefully beating over the field, but did not seem to have a suspicion their game would be found on the higher ground to the side. ‘‘The range is too long for these pop- guns, and if they sight us they can either take us at. long range, or starve us out. I'd sooner have it quick and lively, and over in a minute; but, I want my chance all the same.”’ ‘* Not much chance if they sight us here,”’ answered Hazen, staring around, ‘“We have good cover for a little, but sooner or later they would get a position that would command our flank. They would hardly be so mad as to attempt a eb charge after the sample they have wid,” ‘‘If they only would; but, as you say, there’s not much hope of that, and as we can’t go further up without being seen, if we can go atall, we'll lie low.” ‘Hold on! Are you so certain of that? It looks—yes, there may be a chance.” ‘*You want to hurry and find it, then, for, here they come.” ‘*There is something that looks like a pass through the rocks, up yonder, and if we can reach it we can at least command the ap- proach. They may starve us out, but I'll be hanged if they could take us by force as long as the ammunition held out.” ‘* Lead out, then, I’ll follow, and keep the retreat covered. Perhaps, if they do see us going they will hurry up their stumps, and we'll have them at close quarters.” Hazen had made no mistake, for by a lit- tle care they could reach the spot which he mentioned with only amomentary exposure, and there was the chance that at the time they passed that point the eyes of the out- laws would not be on it. They hurried along, Clean Grit keeping a lookout to the rear, The agents were not advancing directly toward the spot they had left but had they remained their discovery would only have been a matter of a few minutes. As yet the rocks were between the two parties, but there was a gap in the shelter, and then they would be visible to each other. Harker Hazen passed the gap successfully, and Clean Grit was vanishing when there came the crack of a Winchester and a shout from below. The boy heard the sharp ‘‘hist” of the bullet as it tore along close overhead, and then he was again in comparative safety. ‘‘ Hustle along now!” he exclaimed. ‘Tf you know how to make two-ten-and- a-half time try it on.” Hazen needed no second counsel, but scrambled upward, and as he reached the crown of the pass, Clean Grit at his side, a man stood there with the palm of his hand turned toward them as he whispered: “This way!” 3 At a glance Clean Grit recognized Poker ete, CHAPTER XII. THE CAPTAIN OF THE RED OWLS HIS HAND. HELEN Forp had already some experience of the tender mercies of outlaws, and though braver than the average girl was not a little alarmed when the Owls held up the coach. At the same time, had there been any re- sistance possible she would have joined in with the rest. Taken at a disadvantage the men did not seem to care to throw their lives away, and she could only hope that since there had been no resistance the ban- dits would content themselves with rifling FORCES / ‘ ‘ oe - s - 1 ‘ > ee wath « ae are A tT r ae v : a 5 Ve, +: : « mt oh) an an ‘os COR LY | the coach and its passengers, and then go their way. She carried a revolver, with the use of which she was well acquainted, but did not draw it. Perhaps the weapon would yet be of ser- vice, and till then it was possible its ex- istence would not be suspected. She watched the leader carefully, for though he was masked she thought she would be able to recognize Captain Kill under any disguise. It wasa relief to feel there was not the slightest resemblance between this man and the one she had feared he reall was. If this were so she had hopes that it was the treasure alone he was after. Then, when Clean Grit and the rest came charging toward the coach, and the sudden rout began, she was ready to clap her hands, It all was over but the shouting. For the moment she was excited and off her’ guard. It was just then the leader of the Owls made his spring, and before any resistance could be made she was a prisoner beyond present aK of escape. The headlong flight was full of terror, and at first Helen Ford tried to scream, but a rough hand over her mouth smothered the voice. While held in such a gripe, to struggle was useless, and she resigned her- self to her fate. y After that, coolness "came back, and she began to count the chances of rescue, and listened to the sounds of pursuit. . Evem when that died away in a chorus of pistol- shots she did not despair. It had not been hard to recognize the voice of the boy hustler, and without even asking herself how he came to be there his presence gave her more comfort, even, than she knew. The flight was a long continuec one, though after a little it became orderly enough, and she could understand there was nothing like a panic. At length, a halt was made, and a camp forthe night. , With the first gleam of the camp-fire Heler had a glimpse of the singular masks worn by the men, and they brought to her mind the fact that she had incidentally heard of a gang of outlaws known as the Red Owls, and un- less she was decidely mistaken they were a totally different lot from the men who trained under the lead of Captain Kill, Bad as they might be, it was something of a relief to know she was not in the hands of the man whom she so deeply hated and feared. Though unpinioned a guard stood near, with his eyes keenly watching her, and as he held a revolver in his hand a good part of the time it was a fair proof that if she at- tempted to escape he intended to shoot, At length, when the preparations for the night had been made, the leader of the Owls returned, ‘Glad ter see yer a girl of sense,” was his: salutation. ‘¢‘Tn course, ef thar warn’t a a on fur rocks in it we wouldn’t hev bin so onpolite ez ter hold up a lady; but, ther fact are, we're out fur coin, an’ coin we must hev. Thar’s money in you, an’ I reckon we'll find ther way ter fetch it out. Ef we do you kin be sure you'll be ez safe hyer ez ef you war in a church.” ‘‘No money can you make through me, sir,” was the bold answer. ‘‘ If you get any- thing it will be bard knocks. Our little alk was in the treasure, and if you get that we will be poor indeed.” ‘You say; but mebbe it won’t altergether o. We're jest posted clean up on Pay Dirt, an’ what comes from thar,” ‘‘T have ny doubts, or you never would. have run the monstrous risk you did this. night—that you do now. Ezra Ford may not have gold, but he has lead plenty, and so have his friends.” ‘*That’s a daisy bluil, but It wen't win, » ‘ ‘ Ky 7s Ae Ye Oh ys wal | ‘ , 7 2 y : — its \j ¢ 1 ares pe SY an say; ws . . ‘, 7 : Ns, 1. ad : s ' ne "% . ? ' tie m1, . ie Fa Ds 4 oks.com | |