Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 888 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

ge ‘He will go over the dam!” exclaimed Ames, taking in the situation like a flash. ‘* He may catch on the bank,*but I doubt it. ‘Stay here. I will cross at the ford. 1 may save him yet.” He dashed away as he spoke, and was hardly conscious that Ethel was skimming along in his rear. When hehad crossed the river she had gained a place at his side. They were too late to avert the plunge, but as yet the body had not passed them. An eddy had flung it in to the bank, and they came upon it with head on the sand, face above water, and heels swinging gently to the current. Angus Ames drew the body up from the water and allowed it to rest upon the shore, while Ethel tore open his collar and felt for the beating of his heart, Very white and still was Monte Saul, yet there was no mark of bruise or blow, and the water might not have slain altogether. 3 No flutter of the heart did there seem to be, but her hand fell upon a little locket, se- cured by aribbon around his neck, and at this she gave a glance before she covered her face with her hands, while Angus Ames sprung to his feet with a sharp exclamation. our men came bursting out of the shrubber at his back, and suddenly halted, as muc surprised at his presence as he was at theirs. ‘‘ Back, you infernal assassins!” exclaimed Ames. At that moment he knew no fear, though he stood facing them without a weapon. Clark Bruce was in the lead, and the others turned to him as if awaiting orders. Bruce did not lose his presence of mind, iy ared flush of anger crept over his ‘face. ‘* What do youmean, Mr. Ames?” he coolly asked. ‘*It looks as though, if any killing had been done you were as apt to have had a finger init as any one. We were hastening to his aid—do you want him to die on your hands?” ‘‘You know what I mean. I saw this poor boy ascending the path over the bluff, ‘and it was your hand which struck the blow that hurled him into the river.” He pointed full at Clark Bruce as he spoke, and the hand of Dick Tredgar crept into his side pocket for a pistol, while the three look- -ed to Clark Bruce for their orders. CHAPTER XII. THE BOY AT THE WINDOW. Ir Angus Ames had only known it his life hung as it were on a hair. After what he said the companions of Clark Bruce hardly expected to see him leave the place alive, and if all things had been ready perhaps he never would have done so, But Bruce could be as cool as the coolest; and so long as no one else heard the charge he did not feel that much damage was done. He faced Angus Ames steadily, an expression of indignation rising on his countenance as he seemed finally to take in the magnitude of the charge. After a little he seemed to find words, though smothering his wrath by an effort. ‘‘Heaven forgive you for the charge you have made, it means murder has been done and those who know me best would tell you what answer should be given to the charge,” While he spoke he was thinking rapidly. It did not seem possible that Ames had actually seen the blow struck though no doubt his eyes had been on Monte when he fell. If he had only been certain he would have known exactly what answer to give. But if Angus had got the merest glimpse of him denial would do no good, and a ‘different line would have to be taken. So, he made up his mind to confess and avoid, and as Ames dropped his pointing finger Bruce continued: Monte Saul, the Sport. ‘* You are wrong altogether, and yet you may not understand. There has been bad blood between this Monte Saul and me, and he had sworn to have my life on sight. Yet I would not have taken an unfairadvantage, or fought him in any way that the public opinion of Dead Latch would not have al- lowed.” ‘‘Say no more. When war has been de- clared Dead Latch justifies the assassin who is the’ quickest to draw. A, blow or a thrust is no worse than a pistol-shot, and alike the villains who give them may go unhanged.”’ ; ‘‘T tell you, you are altogether wrong. He came suddenly upon me, and when I reached for my pistol he sprung back, for- getting where he was. He was my enemy, but when I saw him go down I would have done what I could to aid him. Is he so surely dead? If not, tell me how I can give him help and see whether it will not be heartily bestowed.” Angus Ames glanced at the body. He be- gar to realize this was no time for recrimina- tions. Monte lay just as he had placed him, and there was no color in his cheek or life in his face. And yet he did not altogether seem the dead man. He was here with these men, unarmed, and hampered by the presence of his daughter. He stooped and lifted the wrist which lay almost at his feet. ‘‘l know not whether he is dead or alive, but this is no place for him to recover. My house is not far away and if you are anxious to prove your words, help me carry him there. If he is dead I will assure him of decent burial.” ‘*No, no!” exclaimnd Ethel, excitedly, “He is not dead. I felt a faint flutter of his pulse. Bring him to our home and we will nurse him back to life again.” Clark Bruce seemed willing enough to un- dertake the task, and his men nodded as he winked. Under the direction of Ames they turned the body face downward and then raised him from the ground. **He hasn’t the weight of a dead man,” said Dick Tredgar, as they bore their burden lightly down toward the ford. ‘It’s ten to one he will be ’round and kicking before sundown an’ I'd just as soon be away when he comes to. He'll be apt to pull his guns and begin shooting mighty sudden after he gets his eyes open.” It was a fair hint to draw Monte’s teeth, but Clark Bruce paid no attention toit. He did not believe the seemingly dead man would come to life very soon, and at present it was not so easy to search the body. Ames was watching them as they walked and it would take ‘little to arouse his suspicions. He was satisfied the way things were going, aud he believed that by the time they reached the cottage there would be but little hope of reviving Saul, even if he werc not ae Yes altogether dead. t made quite a little procession, The four men carried the body of their victim while the mill-owner walked at the side, and Ethel brought up the rear, watch- ing every movement of the men even more closely than her father. The steady tramp, slow though it was, brought them to the cottage at last, and as they neared it, the elderly man who was known as John—and seldom any thing else— came out and stared in amazement, and some fright, at the unexpected sight, When he had seen that Ethel] and her father were of the ‘party he went back in haste, and when the six entered through the door he had left open he was nowhere to bescen. ‘Place him on that lounge,” said Ames, hurrying on into the next room, nL —_—-—_——_- __ ——__ -- - --: frre ——— SO quite as nervous as when he was unarmed and introducing into his house what might turn out to be 1 pack of wolves, He knew that he could not guard himself at all points while attempting to revive Monte, but there was at least a chance for successful resistance should the time come when it would have to be made. With a stern look on his face he went about his work, and certainly he did his whole duty by the unfortunate Monte. Whether Clark Bruce helped or hindered most it would have been hard to say, but he started back and gave a quick glance at his companions as the first sign of a flush ap- peared upon’the cheeks which had been so pale until now. ‘‘He must never wake again,” was the muttered thought. ‘‘lf he does we may as well have it out here and now, dangerous though it may be. If I could only give one of them the wink to look after the old fool who saw us coming and then get out of the way. With him living to give the alarm the cake would be all dough.” He glanced around and caught Dick Tred- gar’s cye. With a scowl and a shake of the head he managed to convey something of his mean- ing, for without attracting the attention of any one else Dick managed to slip from the room. ‘‘He is coming back to life!” exclaimed Clark, as he stepped forward again, “It seems like a blessed miracle. 1 will not feel so much like the assassin you tried to make me out to be.” . But at the same time his hand went back to his hip in search of a weapon. The crisis appeared to be at hand, Angus Ames saw nothing of the movement. His attention was altogether centered on the deathlike face which was turned up to his own, There was a gasp from between the white lips, and Clark Bruce’s hand began io leave his hip, while two more hands were suspi- ciously near to the place where they carried their weapons, Ames had admitted the tigers to his home and it looked now as though they were making ready to spring. The catastrophe might have come had it not been for a sound at the open window at their backs. That sound was made by a pair of ham- mers being drawn sharply back. It was familiar enough to every one in the room, and though Clark Bruce Sclinned it was from Dick Tredgar’s revolvers, und was not so much startled as he might have been, he glanced that way. No Dick Tredgar was this, but he saw the grinning face of a boy whose arms rested on the window sill, and whose either hand clutched a revolver, the muzzle of which was pointed uncomfortably straight for Clark and his friends. “That’s right,” chirruped Harry. ‘““That’s my pard ye'r’ workin’ at, Mister Ames, an’ you're a-bringin’ him over ther rife accordin’ ter Gunter. When he gits a good an’ ready he’ll clear this ranch ov these hyer hyeners so quick it'll make yer head swim. But till he does, Clarky, I’m a-hold- in’ ov ther drop meself, an’ ef you b’lieved what Hold Up Charley told yer you know I’m mighty lively on ther shoot.” The interruption was a double surprise, for Bruce had been sure this boy, if not dead, was safely imprisoned at the road-agents’ ‘*den,” Yet not the least trace of it appeared in his face. ‘‘Who is this young lunatic?” he coldly asked of Angus Ames, ‘Does he belong in your family? If so he can play his antics in tolerable safety, He was gone but a moment, and when he | though he ought to be whipped and sent to came back he carried a bottle of brandy in his hand; but he had hastily thrust a_re- volver into his hip-pocket, and did not feel ' response, given without a glante from the | bed.” ‘‘T know little about him,” was the short \ ‘ ‘ ‘ oti ff, > F 2 y A es fz a = » | e Fs 4 x ‘ id fa ‘ : . iz 4 3 . oe. : i , ot ol te 7 i te oe ee ee © 2), Ath a oe Sr ~ “y* ae oy +3 y zt eeap ers ee