Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 888 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

f j has he i ¢ ee ee Fe VS 7 = es -e ~ ™ a - ° SO ee eee ee —~» — ~ : : oF. + ® “S22 i ‘ . ie d a e as « t a ’ - by “ . +? 4 res « we a P c #3, < os: ae $5 ho oS 6 Ce, ‘ é . ——_—— in b, -. P ’ ee ee . ee | : . ‘ A \Wpintness e 00 a CO ee ee tae face in which the color of life was still rising higher. “‘He has a good position from which to gee the show, and he had better stay there till the play is over, orthere is a shift in the scene. He can do no harm, and may do ‘**'You bet I may; an’ I kin; an’ I will. An’ as fur aes pard, Clarky, that ye’r’ ex- pectin’ ter slide around an’ pick me up, he showed his teeth too soon, an’ got left. Uncle John hez him treed ’round ther house, an’ are watchin’ him with a double barrel’ shot-gun, Ef I know ary thing about Dutch you better git yer baggage checked an’ leave on the fu’st train. Monte are comin’ ‘round fast, an’ when he gits a glimp’ ov yer hyer thar will be blood on ther moon,” Monte Saul himself could not have reeled this off with more sang froid, and at the same time kept the party so thoroughly covered. One of his barrels devoted its attention exclusively to Clark Bruce, while the other appeared to take in the rest of the party. Hold Up Charley might have taken chances and tried to break the dead-lock, but Clark Bruce occupied a different position, and neither could or would be as reckless. He knew now that Monte was still alive, and nothing which Angus Ames could say would seriously harm him. The necessity for quick action was over provided this in- fecnal boy could be silenced, and at the moment he saw no way of doing it except by the wholesale slaughter he wished to avoid. It was plain that for the present Angus Ames was desirous of having another wit ness, and that he would resent any attack on the lad, however mildly it might be made. All this Bruce thought over like lightning, and his decision was made even before Harry was done speaking, *'The boy is an impudent little brat, who deserves trouncing, yet there is a grain of truth in what he says. If Monte found me here when he came to his senses he would be apt to shoot first and ask for ex- planations afterward. He is cruel as a tiger, and deadly as a snake, aud the less a gentle- man ngs todo with him the better. I have done all and more than I intended on the first impulse, and am free to confess I would feel & great deal more safe had he never revived, Yet you may give him my compliments and tell him what I have done for him. My friends and I will retire. Good-morning.” “ An’ ef yer wants ter take yer pard along Mister Ames hed better hev a gun in both fists an’ go out ter git him outen ther tree. Johnny means bizziness, an’ ef he saw him a-gittin’ down ‘thout orders he’d be apt ter let. both barrels go.” Bruce and his men had filed out of the door, and as he spoke Harry leaped lightly in, through the window. ‘* Go,” said Ethel, to her father. ‘The boy is right. 1 will watch here till you come back,” There was more truth than poetry in what | me yer don’t know’ him? Dick Tredgar had been | Saul, Harry had said, 2 neatly captured, and had not Ames come to his rescue it. might have gone hard with him. Still covered by the shot-gun he slouched | away to join his friends, and the four took their departure, somewhat to the surprise, but decidedly to the delight, of Harry Car- ter. ‘That leaves ther coast clear fur me an’ my pard, an’ ef we can’t hold ther fort we o’rter lose it. That's all. Stiddy, pard. Ye’r’ comin’ ’round ther curve, with steam up, an’ no slack couplin’s.”’ Sure enough, Monte opened his eyes, looked weakly around, and after a bit of si- lence murmured: ‘* Back, you villain, Turn your wrist and Pll blew you cold.” ~~ “ ie (th Monte Saul, the Spért:. 4 , ’ rrr ep rer re SPOTS © 8 ree. on. t ~ : _ . * o * es ee © — . CHAPTER XIII: LITTLE BUT GOOD; Bay Monte evidently thought he was still fac- ing his assailant, and his hand made a mo- tion the boy understood well enough. Had the sport been a little stronger he would have been training a revolver in the face of Angus Ames, ‘*Go slow, Pard Saul, Bruce an’ his gang hez skipped this ranch, an’ these hyer are friends, Shut yer eyes, take a weenty bit more ov ther oh be joyful, an’ in five min- utes by ther clock you'll be up an’ shout- in’.” Monte understood the words, recognized the voice, and fell back with a sigh of relief. He was recovering strength with wonderful rapidity, and his mind was becoming clear as well, ‘‘l'd’a’ bin hyer sooner, pard, but Hold Up Charley mounted me ag’in, got me foul, an’ started me off fur his den. 13 an’ jump his claim, he’ll soon be stiddy ez a. jedge, an’ fit ter go in double harness.” ‘* What is the trouble between these two men?” . ‘‘ Hard ter size it all up, but firstly, Bruce hez aclaim right along side ov hissen, what ain't wu'th shucks, an’ they do say Bruce are goin’ ter take it by ther tail an’ swing it ‘round till it laps over Break ov Day. Afore he does that he’d jest ez soon hev ther owner ov it outen therway. Monte ain't ther man ter stand sich.” ‘* But what right has he in another man’s property ?” . ‘Oh, he’s ’rangin’ that ez he goes along. He scems ter want ter have a hack-at you, an’ that’s a-worryin’ Monte a heap sight: more than his own affairs.”’ ‘“At me?” “Yes. He told me I shoulfi tell yer how ther land lay, and [ reckon he meantit, It: war himez sent me out hyer t’other night. with a warnin’, an’ him with Bruce's ball in, his shoulder at ther time. If’t hedn’t bin. | fur that, Hold Up Charley’d tooken yer im out ov ther damp fur sure,” “I went along with yer friend tei] peaceable ez a tint Speshully ez afore long he got me on hossback with him. But when I made out about whar that same den orter be I reckoned I bad bizziness some ‘‘Thank yon, my boy. I will try to make: other way an’ give him a keerless heave | up toyou for it. You struck in nobly, and 2 that sent him outen ther saddle an’ come | have been troubling myself ever since that [ nigh ter breakin’ his neck. Ef 1 hedn’t | did not stay by you closer, though egy tae! turned that crittur loose fur fear ov bein’ | make your final escape fromthe river, Per-~ hung fur a hoss-thief ef I struck ther real | haps [helped you somewhat in that,” man ¢Z owned it I'd ’a’ bin hee sooner; but | I arrove early enough fur Clark Bruce, an’ which accounts fur everybody bein’ right side up an’ ther enemy a-runnin’.” ‘‘ But what has happened? Where am I?” Monte had grown stronger yet. His voice had something like its old ring of determina- tion. ‘IT dunno ez I know, an’ I dunno ezI want ter know what hez happened, but ye’r' safe in ther house ov Angus Ames. Rest yer weary bones, take a good long snooze, an’ then you'll be ready fur what’s ter come next.” Monte slowly drew himself up, around, Ethel was behind him and he did not see her, but Angus Ames was near him, a stern, unrecognizing look in his cold, gray eyes. ‘‘ Not in this house,” muttered the sport. ‘TI am strong enough to work my way to the Break of Day if a dozen Clark Bruces stood between it and me, Stay here and putthem on their guard. Tell them all the | I will find you again | truth as you know it. when the time comes, I am going now.” He was staggering away as he spoke, but his strength was roburtiag rapidly, » and though Harry followed him a little, and looked wistfully after him, he saw that Monte was almost himself again, and finally he stood and gazed after Kim till he was out of sight. | Then he turned and came back to Angus, who had neither moved nor spoken while | the sport Was so abruptly taking his de- | parture, ‘* Who is that man?” asked Ames, as the lad reached the doorway, ‘Bless yer soul, yer don’t mean ter tell That are Monte what owns ther Break ov Day Mine, an’ are eZ fair an’ square a sport ez ever drawed breath. He ’pears ter be moultin’ ther last few days, an’ sorter onder ther weather, but when he’s in good order an’ they crowd him, he kin make ther feathers fly—oh, my!” ‘‘Monte Saul? A gambler, of course, with such a title. What is his other name?” ‘Blamed ef I know ef he’s got one, Leastwise, it don’t appear in general use.” “But you say he owns the Break of Day Mine. Is it worth anything, or is it simply a hole in the ground, salted to sell?” ‘‘ It’s hissen, sure enough; and they do say he kin cut out ther solid chunks ov ore, He ain’t bin gamblin’ much sence he got in- ter that, an’ ef Clark Bruce don't down him, and stared | “Helped a heap, and I’m yourn truly; Jimmy had orders ter leave me there an’ he meant ter do it.” ‘* And as for this Monte, as you call him,,. I desire to have little to do with such men, but you can tell him that if an attack if ever made on his title to the land it cannot hurt: him as Jongas it does not come through me,, —and while he or I live that will:never be,” ‘Eh? Arything fishy abouti that hole in: ther ground?” ‘*Never mind about it. I! had been ar: ranging all that when the road-agents met me, If they had cleaned my. pockets as they threatened, they might have got a paper that: could render things awkward for your friend, though I had, and have, no intention of using it against him.” ’* That’s squar' an’ noble.. Looks like you war kinder takin’ aint’rest in other folk ses. affairs too,” ' ‘‘ It was simply justice, say no more about it. Yet,—can it be that the road-agents in- tended to get possession of that very pa- per?” ‘* Betcher sweet life. Clark Bruce’d give a& dollar fur it, an’ Clark and Hold Up Charley are thick ez thieves, which they be.” ‘* And who is this Clark Bruce?” ‘‘ That’s your riddle, an’ I ain’t good at conundrums onless I know ther answer.” The boy had little more to tell, save what was patent to all of Dead Latch, and on those matters Angus Ames showed himself to be pretty well posted. When, finally, Harry announced that as he had been on the rampage all the preceding night, he wanted to go somewhere and take a snooze, Angus first placed him outside of a hearty dinner and then installed him in a bed, where he was soon in the Land of Nod. When he awoke again it was after sun- down, “* Great Scott!” he exclaimed after he bad hunted up Ames, ‘‘Ton’y wanted a snooze, an’ you let me | sleep tell I dont know ther day afore yes- terday frum the night after to-morrer, It’s too late ter hunt up Monte now, an’ef I war- n't afeared they’d come an’ burn ther house over our heads I’d camp right down hyer tiil to-morrer.” “Camp then,” answered Angus, with something like a smile on his stern face, ‘‘T will guarantee your safety while you sleep.” ‘* Yes, but; my gracious, who’s ter look arter yourn? Guess we'll both keep our ' eyes open, fur’ soon ez Monte goes up ther” mic comicbook