Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 838 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

er a _ suppose it woul hese much to borrow a horse when the owner was out of town, but it might break that_refor- i my oie lam -' o? - | 4 # 7) i 4 * : Re # - * ° ee ‘4 $ a * aN bai) eae Hf ——_ + iia service, and whom they were all de dighting to honor, was almost beyond belief. Yet, they: had the evidences of their Senses, and it did not take them long to get Tready for action. With howls of wrath half a dozen men sprung toward the spot from which they be- lieved the bullet had been sent; but none ‘had actually seen the weapon discharged, and though a close search was made no man who was not above suspicion could be found. There was running this way and that, and excited questions, followed by answers of the same kind, but that was all; and young Clean Grit himself succeeded no better. All he knew was that he had been made a target of, and that it wasa close call indeed. Was it an accident? or, had they an im. placable and secret enemy ? When it was found that all search was vain, the spot was gradually deserted, and after a little the two young hustlers slip- ped away, where they could have a con- versation over what to most persons seemed to be a singular thing. Weil, cully, what do yer think of it?” asked Mike, after a cautious glance around to make sure there was no one within hear- ing distance. ‘*Wasn’t he an out an’ outer, an’ no mis- take? I might have tried a snap at him, but I couldn’t bear to send sucha game cove to cash in on the very first deal.” ‘What! You saw the fellow who fired?” ‘*Bet yer sweet life I just did!” averred Mike. ‘*Who was it? What did he look like?” 1 Can't prove it by me. Never see him afore, an’ he was jest the ordinary lookin’ feller, One second I had him down fine, an’ my thumb was on the hammer, but I didn’t pull. Then, the next second he was gone, an’ I was wishin’ I had.” For a minute Clean Grit silently brooded over what he had heard. Then, he roused himself after the fashion of one who had made up his mind to an unexpected and un- pleasant fact.” ** Mike!” ‘* Fire ahead, pard! Mike’s listenin’.’ “Do you know I’m not sure—not just dead sure—that Captain Kill and all his Pe Bost up in the tunnel?” egins to look that way, but I reckon you're not scart. I ain’t.” ‘Come now, you know I’m not, either. But, if Kill is still loose, and ready for the rampage, he would be just the nervy sort to try to throw me cold with all Pay Dirt looking on; that’s his style.” « Just the hairpin he is, prezactly.” “And if he has his old gang behind him, or enough of it to make it count, I should remark that he’s not the fellow to give up on the treasure outfit that’s just gone out. There will be a circus before they get through to.the Flat, and it strikes me we ought to be in the ring.” ‘* My platform to acharm, Pard Grit! But, you're runnin’ things. Prehaps Sailor Sam ain’t as big a fool as he looks; an’ Hank Henry may know beans.” ‘Which means?” ‘What you want to make out ot it; but Tm bettin’ that when the music strikes up it/ll find Sam an’ his crowd ready fur ther grand entrance,” ‘Guess you’re right on that, but still, that will be where the fun goes on, and that’s the So we want to be camping. 7 hty ucky thing, this grand presentation. on't d have hurt your feclings - mation of yours all up; and I wouldn’ have ‘been in it at all.” ‘*Sooner padded the hoof, would you? Guess I’d rather try a prance, an’ if there’s _ any in the market we’ll own a pair of them On the square. We're nabobs, now—we are, ‘s 4 | i t, i” » i ~ I Ww ¢.0 ! ot Pied y 5 al ’ ‘ ‘eo. 7 Poker Pete’s Double le Dodge. rrr EE LT sna ase 3 I’m not much on the ride inyself, but you can hold on for both of us.’ ‘‘And the sooner we get on the trail the better. Guess Dixon will beas likely as any one to know if there’s any live stock of the kind we want in the market. If we have to, guess we can give hima hint of what we think is in the wind.” No further plans could be laid until they knew more of the situation, but once having made up their minds to this much they were ready for a beginning. They found Dixon .without trouble, and briefly gave hima hint of the situation, as they saw it, and wound up by asking where they could soonest procure a pair of good speed bronchos. $* Horsefle sh for sale is rather scarce around this camp,” was his answer; ‘‘ but I guess I can he:p you out. Poker Pete dropped into town .ast night, with a little string of ponies he won at ‘draw, over the mountain some- where. I don’t know if he wants to sell, but 1 guess I could make him hear reason, especia.ly if I talked a little loud. Let's go hunt nim up.’ Clean Grit remembered having caught a glimpse of the man the pre vious evening. Though a stranger to him, Pete seemed to be fairly. well acquainted with the people of Pay Dirt, which he had previously visited more than once. He was nota bad looking fellow, though he talked loud, and, at the time the boy hustler saw him, appeared to be anxiously hunting for some of the card- chiefs of the town. He was just sitting down to a game at the Early Bird Saloon when the marshal found him. A few words explained the errand, at which Peter pursed up his lips after the man- ner of a man who was puzzled exactly what answer to make. ‘* Honest truth, Dixy, I don’t keer ter sell. I kin make a leetle fortun’ outen ’em over at ther Flat ef I kin git ’em thar ‘thout givin’ ther game away. But I'd like ter ’commo- date yer, an’ ther kids ez hez bin standin’ by Pay Dirt.” ‘Well, what are you going to do about it? Say it quick for we have no time to fool.” ‘It’s jest this hyer way: Like ez not ther kids wants ter go to ther Flat, an’ when psa got thar they could git ther pick ov ther floc thar, Ill give’em five dollars apiece ter ride ther two spare ones over, er T’ll sell ’erm to ’em now, an’ ef they'll bring’ em in in a week I'll pay the’r money back, an’ give ’em ten dollars fur ther barg’in.” “That’s offering to puta heap sight of trust in us,” remarked Clean Grit, who bad been watching the face of the man with a well concealed curiosity. ‘Don’t fret yerself, kid. It’s Ralph Dixon a-standin’ behind yer thet makes yer face good. What he says goes, an’ ef he don’t know what he’s talkin’ about so much ther wuss fur his pocket. Im a-trustin’ hum.” ‘Guess the best plan, then, will be to do no trusting at all. We'll pay for the bronchos now, and dicker over the trade when we get to the Flat. We won't need them after that, but if you don’t want them some one else will.” ‘« Jest ez you choose. An’ ef you'll want me fura pard on ther way, an’ ll wait teil I've cleaned out Handy John an’ the Dutch- man, hyer, I wouldn’t mind goin’ along.” He spoke in a friendly, careless tone. If he had not had a clearly-defined object in view the boy hustler would have waited. But he shook his head as he answered: ‘*Can’t wait for General Jackson himself; so do your work up in shape, and hustle right along, and you may catch up wit’, us by camping time, We go slow and steady, but that takes us far in a day.” **Go round to the corral and take des choice, then, and let Ralph pay acco I can’t lose the chance at these highflyers here, and they are just itching to begin the game.’ It was a careless way of making a trade, but it was just after the style of Poker Pete, as Dixon knew him. He asked for a deserip- tion of the bronchos, and their prices, and Pete barely took time to rive them, Then, he was throwing around for deal with his two antagonists, while the marshal, followed by the boys, was seeking the broncho corral, As the corral was located near the center of the town, and justa little to the rear of the line of the buildings, any one taking a horse from it would have to pass quite a dis- tance up or down the valley before he was secure from observation, It. happened, too, that the only animals in it at present were the bronchos belonging to Poker Pete. As the three Came near to the gate they saw aman spring to the back of a horse which had just been led out. ‘‘A horse-thief, by glory!’ Clean Grit, swinging up his hand, all! #e’s my meat !”’ But, quick as was the boy, the man was as quick. Ralph Dixon had the reputation of being a dead shot, and something was sus- pected about the boys by his side. Probably the horse-thief recognized them at the mo- ment he was discovered. As the revolver of Clean Grit cracked, the corral thief swung himself over and down- ward, the ball whistling close to his head as he went. He touched the ground lightly, and without a pause broke away in flight, darting straight up the decline. He found cover marvelously soon, and the three did not attempt pursuit. They were more concerned about catching the broncho, which, fortunately, had not been frightened, and which they succeeding in heading back into the pen without much trouble, ‘* Guess the fellow had as good an eye for horseflesh as I have, and his choice will go forone. If the fool had only known it I wasn’t shooting to kill. He might have chucked himself right into line with the lead if he had not been playing in great luck. Next time I'll shoot a trifle higher, and not run so much risk.” ‘* Next time you'll hold plumb center, Grit, ef I know anything. It’s what he tried to do not so very long ago, for that’s the same cully that tried the snap shot at you when you were waltzing off the store box. If you don’t get down to business purty soon he will, and I'll be out a pard, to say nothin’ ov what may happen to me,” This information from Move-along Mike, as he was nicknamed, came a trifle late to be of any use. The fellow was already out of sight, and to follow would be useless, Clean irit shrugged his shoulders, and began, to look over the other bronchos. There seemed to be little choice between them, and a selection was soon made. Sad- dles and bridles—with which Pete seemed to be well furnished—had been included in the bargain, and in a few minutes the wide- awake lads had paid to Dixon the sum agreed on, and started out of town, well equipped for the dangerous trail they believed they were to follow. CHAPTER ITI, DOWN BRAKES, AND UP HANDS! THE two boys had not been taken into the confidence of Sailor Sam, but Mike had made a shrewd guess, and bit off the truth as well as dastiontis had received a tip from head- quarters. After the vigorous efforts the road rogues had made to get at the treasure while it was still in the storehouse, it surprised no one exclaimed ‘Steady that extra precaution was taken, in the shape-of a larger guard than usual; but there was a scheme to protect the gold in its transit out, of which nothing was known outside of the circle of those immediately re— sponsible for its safety on the way.