Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 888 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

_ % oP + ay as ane ft * a. PJ T.. = —— -* ~ > a= © ae 2 7 > Pas - = - a ~ - = ~ ‘intended to take it. 14 a flume they’ll come back hard on you an Miss Ethel. An’ who knows whar Monte are now?” ‘“ Monte, as Me call him, ought to be able to take care of himself, If he can’t | wouldn’t think your guardianship would make his chances much better.” | — ‘Dm little but Pm good. Ain’t I, oh, my! Ef you’re dead sure you kin manidge Hold Up Charley ef he comes this way I ain't sure 1 better not go try find Monte, anyhow. He warn't in no condish’ fur snap shootin’, an’ suthin’ tells me in me bones thet he. needs Ethel had said little to the boy, and noth- ‘ing at all in regard to the Monte concerning whom her father had questioned him. She was listening keenly, though; and as Harry started up she endeavored to induce him to remain. . | It was no use, though. He was much obliged to them for their hospitality, but it seemed to him that he was needed more at another place. After the fiasco of the morning Clark Bruce would be apt to defer any attack there—if one was in- tended—until Angus should have time to get somewhat on his guard, So it appeared to him, and he gathered himself up, feeling of his pistols with a flourish that might be pardoned in a young- ster of his size and attainments. , ‘‘Eef I hedn’t bin so dead tired I'd ’a’ binon ther trail afore this, but even a boy kin grow weary, an’ last night I hed no slouch ov a time ef I suy it meself.” The more he had discussed the matter the more positive Harry grew about going. He knew the short cut to the Break of Day, and He could hear the latest news of Monte there, even if he did not find the sport. As he skurried along he almost laughed at his oye anxiety, but for all that never waver- ed in his purpose, ‘‘ Wouldn't be a half bad plan ter look in on Clarky ez I go along,” he thought to himself. ‘Don’t want much ter put me head in the mouth ov ther lion, but it wouldnt hurt ter know ef he’s at home, They hed a move on foot fur Thursday but it might be ez it’s bin shoved along on ther schedule. Wisht I knowed jest what it war. I could tell better when they'd be apt ter try ther riffle.” He did not intend to spend much time over the effort, and it would not take him a hundred yards out of his way. When he was passing the spot where Clark Bruce’s shaft had been sunk he turned aside in that direction and approached it carefully. It was not hard to reach the place under cover, and, before he had gone far he learned the caution he had used was not wasted, He heard the same whistle that, had been used by the roud-agents the night before; and then, some one came out of the shaft, and spoke in guarded tones, Harry dropped irstantly to the ground, but at once began to crawl forward. He was afraid he was too far off to hear the conversation he would not miss for any- thing. But the answer came in tones loud enough to reach his opened ears; ‘‘ Ther boss says he’s good an’ ready, now, an’ he’s goin’ ter finish his work ter-night er never, You better do yourn.” Then, he lay still and listened to the rev- lation which followed. CHAPTER XIV. THE BLAST All THE BREAK OF DAY, Monte Saunt was nodding in spite of himscolf, though he held a pistol in his hand, and faced the shaft which led down from the upper world. | As yet, his mine was nota very big hole i. the ground, but enough work had been done to show what might be expected, and ‘where was not a man in tne district who Ratan Moe ye 5 Mad “oy dy . - i LL ———EOEOEeEeEeeeeeeeee ee LL LL, LLL LLL i al eli eect ee aa a CES ELL ee mA.) very Monte Saul, the Sport. would not have fought for the property’ tooth and nail, had he once been put in pos- session. The only wonder was that Monte had not raised money on his expectations, and pushed faster the work of develop- ment. It was very lonesome down there, and somewhat cool and damp. Under other cir- cumstances the sport might have found it hard work to get to sleep, but he had not altogether recovered from the different ways death had come against him, and rest was what he needed. He was settling himself into what would have been a dreamless sleep when.a boy came sliding down a rope, and dropped lightly to the floor of the mine. ‘‘Tt’s Monte, sure enough,” he thought, as his quick eye caught sight of the sleeping man. ‘‘Seams ter be waitin’ ter shoot some ’un, an’ ef I don’t wake him keerful like he may kill me, Say, Pard Monte, wake up! Hyer’s news by ther bucket, an’ Harry Carter's a bringin’ ov it.” He dropped at full length when he had spoken, and the one candle threw no light on his reclining figure, while Monte, wide awake, sprung to his feet, exclaiming: “Ts that you, my boy? They have left me here alone, like a bait in a bear-trap, and it’s no safe place for you, but I’m glad to see you, all the same. l’ve a message to send, and you can carry it better than another.” ‘Message nothin’, Thar aim’t no time fur messages, Clarky bought yer men out, an’ that’s why ye’r’ hyer alone, not countin’ a boy ov my figger an’ dimenshuns, Hle’s comin’ right in on yer, him an’ his pards, an’ when he gits through with his job you won't never be heard ov no more.”’ ‘Let him come. There will hardly be enough of them to fill that shaft, and [ can stund the corpses till morning,” Monte was becoming something like his old self, and the prospect of a fight with his enemy did not give him as much uneasiness as the boy thought it should. “Oh, you don’t sabbe. He’s goin’ ter bu’st in on yer somewhar along ther level. an’ ef yer don’t know whar, four ‘tex one’ll make Jong odés when you kerry ther lamp.” ‘“ Ah, I know the spot!” exclaimed Monte, with a start. ‘‘It must be so, If they give me five minutes yet they will never come out of the mine by that track.” “hen, it’s blamed doubtfulef they git out ter-night by ary other, When they drawed their heads inter their shell I jest give’em time ter git settled an’ then cut ther rope. It would take blamed good climbin’ fur a monkey ter rise out ov that shaft, an’ Clark Bruce ain’t no monkey.” ‘Good boy! We have them,” said Monte, and he led the way back into the drift. He knew almost as much about the ground in both mines as Clark Bruce did; and if that worthy had been running a shaft to tap the Break of Day he believed he knew its exact location. There was a certain rift in the rock which offered a natural course, though it was only a crevice at the point where it ran into his drift. “Tf they baven't broken in already Pll swear to it they won’t come through this night, unless they can carry more stone than I think their backs are able.” Monte carried severa: cartridges of nitro- glycerine, and he was certain he knew where to place them to do the most good. The boy watched him with interest, nold- ing the licht above his head and ready for instant retreat. He hoped in his sou) Clark Bruce and his gang were about to be buried beyond hope of resurrection, and it was a disappointment when he heard the voice of Monte, calling into the crevice: ‘‘Back, you hounds, if you are there: You have iust thirty seconds’ lease of life.” _ Then he and the boy fled away. They had not far to go until they had : ; . 5%\ Sel bgt “es, ‘ fog Cait Set u a =~? Pre eee Bi te. . 3 ‘ ALL ‘ ’ ’ RR ERLE. ar ee fe Cae ae . a ES On al PA ery ee bs : - i = ) or ee? “ay wat Vay i: - —— erty athe 5S CTE is ; e+? . = reached a point of safety, and at the moment of halting they heard a horrible roar and crash, and the earth around them appeared to be shaken to its foundations, while the passage grew full of the peculiar nitrous out from the concussion of the air, but for that they did not care. It was soon relit, and they went back to the place where Monte had fired his blast. If looks went for vag tah 9 Clark Bruce might be half a mile off. The explosion had shaken off a thin shell which had masked a small tunnel, but that tunnel was full to the top with broken stone’ and dirt, and Monte felt sure it was choked up for yards, if not to the further end, : “Tf, as you say, you, dropped« their rope into the shaft, they wiil be apt to stay there till some one lets them out; and I'll hardly be in much hurry about doing it. ‘‘Now then, you have some other news. What is it? Was Angus Ames all right when you left him?” ‘Right side vp, but I won’t swear how he is now, though fellers like him is hard fight- ers when they gits ter goin’, an’ most likely he’s a jaybird,” “What do you mean? Was not Bruce in there, after all?” ‘‘He’s thar, right ernough. Hold Up Charley hez ther other end ov ther contract. Fact are, he heaz two ends, an’ Bruce are somewhar about ther middle. What I’m dyin’ ter know is, which end he’s goin’ ter take up fu’st, er ef he’s goin’ ter work "em. both tergether.”’ “Never mind that, Angus Ames comes first ofall, You can tell me the {particulars as we go along.” ‘“Tt’s quick told,” was Harry’s answer. “They're goin’ ter raid ther town and scoop Ames up, all in ther same moshun, Ef you thinks one man an’ a boy kin stop ’em—sail in.” ‘‘But where will they begin?” ‘*You tell; I can’t.” ‘At the town most likely, yet, who knows? And it must be almost time for them to begin their work.” ‘Jest about, fur they wanted ter hev a fair start afore mornin’,” “The town, then, for choice, there and put the men I can rely on on their guard. You hurry to Ames an tell him to be on his guard. Diamond Dave and his friends are coming to Dead Latch to-night, and if they are in time I can use them. Half a dozen men will be out at the cottage as soon as possible after I can give the word. Now, off with you,” This was not exactly what Harry had bar- gained for, but, there was no disputing Monte when he used that tone. He did not linger; and Monte went away in a direction nearly at right angies. It only took a moment or so for them to get out of sight of each ether, and then the boy halted. ‘Tooks ez though there might be a con- side’ble ov a muss ter-night, an’ no tellin’ who'll git wiped out,” he muttered, “Don’t seem jest right ter leave them villains,cooped up ter starve—pervidin’ that blast didn’t blow the’r livers out, ez it ort ter. An’ then, ef they should git out, an’ j’ine in the mix, they might git wiped out or. Their light went I will go ‘Jong with ther rest, which would save a heap ov trouble in ther herecomeatter. {il give ’em a show fur the’r white alley, an. ef ther rope ain't long ernough they kin biame theirselves an not me.” He slid. quietly over to the windlass and tistened, Not a sound was there from below, put that went for nothing, They might not yet have recovered from their surprise. There was still quite a co of rope on the windlass, and this Harry rapidly unrolied and jet down Ifitreached the bottom the caged rascals would bave a way of escape, and he w , : yok ' 7, a pavers : vo oe ‘ > an ‘ i iS . = a f., ‘ ~ , Fe l \ FF / ) : . ee ( s. : ee = a -* igy(> Wp habe ; = + ? + 44 et WSS ss = —. -~ r > a i Pa . “A e- - i. ae < atic - _— et 4 7 : 4 Sov i235 ' - 7 se . ~- = a _ - 2 rate wy ~ = Gory eS 3°?" Se 2 ae LJ Mien ae - “ fe ee ~