Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 888 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

a <a =) ae .° ‘ee . 7. aia +e wer oat ‘Sh > ain Monte Saul, the Sport. biebii | . “ ne = _ : Waren os. e ” dot ¥ Bs tr + Pe wef 7 4 rm Sr Mrs st A y 3 4 Sa ~~ eo oe eae *, ts: _ . x. =. oa & Pe ew 0 = aS a ag nF Fe ii ot se = a > - —™— ~ ere A OO ee D m4 F - — “yi ae Te = a 7% oe .* = tants, turning up at the Grapevine just at the right time, was briefly told, and Monte Saul warmly returned his thanks to his lit- tle ally. ‘* That settles it, then,” continued Saul, af- ter he was through with his thanks. | ‘* They are after me, now, and for some reason or other that I do not altogether un- derstand, They seem to want to get me out of the way first, and then follow up with Angus Ames, as closely as may be,” ‘* That’s ther program. Youfu’st, Angus next, an’ ther lady last ov all. It’s a kinder a puzzler ter Charley, hisself, but it don’t keep him awake ov nights. Now, pard, ef it gin’t askin’ too much, what yer goin’ ter do ’bout it?” ‘‘Moveon the works of the enemy, my boy. They have failed again, and that gives me time to lay out the campaign. Until they make the riffle with Monte Saul it looks as though Angus Ames and his daughter could sleep serenely at night.” 7 ‘“Thar’s jest whar you're out, pard, Jimmy didn’t stop ter see yer crawlin’ out frum under ther table, an’ ez he shoots con- siderable straight he’ll go back an’ sw’ar ye'r’ ready fur ther bone-yard. Don’t fool yer- self on ther outfit. Hold Up Charley ain’t stayin’ too long in one place, an’ he’ll git in his work to-morrer night—ef he don’t crowd ther mourners an’ try ter hev ther funeral afore daybreak,” ‘There is something in what you say, and it is a pity perhaps I did not send in a shot to tellthem I was alive. Only, if I had, he would have never got back to his headquar- ters to report. Clark Bruce must be a big- ger rascal, even, than we thought, to have. been able to bring the road-agents to help him in the game.” ‘‘Yep! Shouldn’t wonder ef he used ter b’long to ther gang. But what yer goin’ ter do ’bout it; an’ what yer want me ter be doin’?” ‘*T will waste no more time here. The mark left by Clark Bruce’s bullet has turned out to be but a flea-bite. To-morrow I will be as well as ever, and as fit for a fight. I will go back to Dead Latch, go back to the man who has sworn to rid the world of my presence. With him under my feet the game A ani Angus Ames comes to an end—and I'll put him there, no matter what the act may reveal. With his life to my credit Angus Ames ought to—forget, if nothing more.” It was pretty certain there was a meaning in his words beyond the boy, but that troubled him little. What he cared to know was his own part in the game. He repeated his question, with a little different wording, and this time got an answer, though it was not altogether to his liking. ‘* For what you have done you have mado a friend of Monte Saul; but that may be a doubtful blessing. It will be work that is dangerous for a full grown man, and it would be a sin to assign a part in it toa boy. Best stand to one side—if there is no Way in which I can reward you now. When the battle is over I will see that you do not re- gret the part you have already taken—if I am liying, If Ilamdead a word to Angus Ames will make him your friend if 1 mis- take not. And that word I will put it in your power to say.” ‘*Thankee, pard, but I kin gen’rally find words ter say fur meself, an’ bein’ ez luck seems ter hev dealt me a hand I don’t per- pose ter jump ther game tell ther last keard are played. Ef you can’t find mea place in ther scrimmage I’l] jest slosh ’round on me own hook, Ef 1 do more damage ner good rot kin blame yerself. I’ve froze on ter onte Saul fur a pard, an’ I perpose ter stay with him ef ther last horn blows.” ‘Shake, little man!’ exclaimed Monte Saul, extending his hand, ‘‘T have never gone back on a pard yet, and I won’t begin with you. Meet me in) Dead. Latch to-morrow—or, better, out at the Break of Day. I think I can see a way to use you without putting your head in much danger, and yet give you a chance to see the fun. Go now. I must get back to Dave and let him know I am off for the home base,” CHAPTER X, CAUGHT NAPPING. Tne two shook hands and then separated. It might not be well for them to be seen to- gether, since there was no telling what spies Clark Bruce might have in Honey Dew. Monte went back to the Grapevine to find his friend, while Harry Carter, having slept the greater part of the day, determined to utilize the night by getting back to Dead Latch under its eover. He thought it possi- ble he might be able to get his eyes again on the principal villain of the plot, and if he did so he believed he would be able to obtain in formation which was worth accumulating. It would take him a couple hours of easy traveling to make the distance, and for a boy in perfect health and training that did not amount to much, There was bright moon- light to show him his way, and his revolver was loaded and ready for any foes who might appear along the road, In very good spirits he frolicked along, with only the hazy glim- mering of a suspicion that he might meet Hold Up Charley or some of his gang. That idea had no particular terrors for him, since he had escaped them already, and did not see why the performance should not be kept up ad libitum. Hle had covered a good part of the dis- tance, and was congratulating himself there was so little further to go, when the remem- brance of the interview between Clark Bruce and the road-agents popped into his head, and he looked wistfully in the direction of the spot where it had taken place. ‘It’s quite a piece out ov ther road, but what are legs fur? Like ez not I'll find ’em bunched thar, waitin’ fur Jimmy ter come an’ report. I wouldn’t mind hearin’ that same report meself, an’, by mighty, I’ve a noshun ter do it.” Without waiting to argue the matter with himself he turned sharply aside, and aug menting his speed hurried toward the spot. He knew the Jay of the land well, and there would be no trouble in approaching it without being Giscovered, so that in case the outlaws were there he did not think he was running any great risk. He might learn something in regard to the matter on foot against Angus Ames; and, what was almost as important, he might hear something which would enable him to locate the den, of which he had heard something; and of the nature of the work that was on hand for the following Thursday night. The nearer he got to the spot the more reasons he found for his little side journey, and he was quite disappointed, as he came within hear- ing distance, that the murmur of voices did not reach his ears.. That was what he had been confidently sia He did not lose caution for all that. This wasas good a place as any to rest, and he dropped noiselessly to the ground, stretched himself at full length, rested his chin in his hands, and listened. Everything was silent around him, There was not even the note of a night bird to be heard, and if he had: been given to nerves he might have found the loneliness oppressive, There were pleuty of other things for him to think about, however, and finally he was so deeply engaged, turning them over in his mind, that he was almost taken off his guard when he heard a low, trilling whistle, which sounded almost at his side. | Some one had approached as quietly as he had done, and was giving a signal. It sounded so like to his own style of work that he cume near giving an answer himself. We soon saw that all of his caution had not been thrown away. There was silence; but it was only for about the space of a minute. Then came an answer. There had been someone within half adozen rods or so of him, all the time. ‘‘Tt’s there yez are?” exclaimed a voice the boy had no difficulty in recognizing as belonging to Jimmy O'Brien, ‘* Sure, an’ Oi began to think Oi war all be mesilf alone, barrin’ the baby elephants at the Brazos. Roight out av the din av lions we are, wid heads up, an’ troonks a shquir- min’,” ‘‘Tt’s time you were coming. What’s the best word?” 7 ‘‘Sowld ag’in, an’ another angel made happy, av me eyes didn’t desave me.” ‘* No mistake about it this time, is there?” ‘‘Not onliss he’s a charrumed loife. We kicked up the most illegant bobbery, an’ thin Bolly shtipped out av the way an’ Oi hild sthraight, crooked me finger, an’ saw him dhrap. What more wad yez have?” ‘‘ His scalp, of course. With a man like: Monte in the case there’s nothing less will go for evidence.” “ Yez kin have it an’ wilcome, but you'll have to go an’ git it. Wid all Honey Dew comin’ phor me, an’ Johnny racin’ ondher the bar phor his two revolvers Oi lift in the fourst boat; an’ be the same token, Oi’ve the sash wid me. It’s a bahd place to hit the wrong, man, is that same Ghrapevoine, an’ Doiamond Dave wor there to haul on the rope.” ‘‘T suspect you were more afraid Monte would come to life again; and that is what is. troubling the court here. He seems to bea pretty hard man to kill. I hada try at him once myself.” ‘‘Sure, an’ Oi won't ask paymint phor the job till it’s sure we are that he’s wint over ther range. We'll know whin Andy comes, Oi lift him to bring the news, phor he didn’t go into the Ghrapevoine at all,” Hold Up Charley, who had been carrying on the conversation with the Irishman, gave a short Jaugh. ‘All right if you called the turn on him; but if youand your little army missed it 'H put you all into the rear rank and try my hand at it myself, Our friend is too everlasting careful about how he gets his man out of the road. When I take a hand I'll do it, and there will be no more foolish- ness,” Jimmy would no doubt have had an an- swer for this had it not been for a sudden in- terruption. ‘“T’ve got you, kid. Don’t you kick or you are a dead duck!” That was the exclamation which came sharply to their ears, and it was followed by the sound of a slight struggle, and the gurgle of acry that was cut off at its very commencement, Master Harry had been so interested in the conversution in front of him he had forgotten to guard his rear, and had been taken in with a neatness and certainty that admitted of no resistance, ‘‘ Steady, there!” continued the voice. ‘‘Here’s some one who can give you all the news, and I reckon you've seen some- , thing of him before.” | ‘‘ Bring him in, then,” answered the cap- tain, who had recognized the voice; and Harry Carter was dragged, unresisting, out of his cover, and into the immediate presence of the men who were squatted around on the | grass. ‘‘Mighty Moses! It’s our boy of the | ford! He must live around here. What’s the little whelp after now? You don’t mean to say he has been getting in, the road again?” ‘‘ Looks a heap like it. Jimmy must have tripped up on his shot, for I saw Monte and this kid come out of the Grapevine to- gether. They had some chin together and Pile 2 J . : / + | , . é , , f : ‘. a ; 4 . > : Apart AL | ¢ } ; i - - : ae i. a ~~ he! r | = UE : = Pi bh ? Ne: t amy lal ye ee % eer a <_e i x add -20g = ‘> . wy 25 - — ae > - - - 4 . = mentee oy. st eet: = 3 ~, . ; < = ee . * - ~ ~ —. : < SS arg wr * - —_ —— a= ea se . —_— * a : . = aad ne ge) “ <<