Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 888 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

a ee te en ee ee ee -s oo ow “> . Po oe 9 ee eee renee ee + eres (Oe sore Monte Saul, the Sport. For that matter, he decided that if he made his appearance it might be suspected he knew something of the matter, and he would be open to questions as to the dis- appearance, concerning which he chuckled to himself as he thought: ‘Won't that fun’ral come to a sudden stop? An’ef Monte Saul kin hide his trail ez well ez I reckon, thar will be wonderin’, an’ consider’ble doubtin’, done afore they git back ter Dead Latch ag’in.” To make sure he would not meet a second section of curious ones when he arose, the boy made something of a detour, and so found his way to the town without further interruption. 3 By and by the searchers came very good-humor. Clark Bruce was not with them, nor was he to be seen at his usual haunts. If he had been he might have heard vari- ous remarks which would not have seemed sits ae age ‘Tt was all very well for him to shoot Monte Saul after an orthodox fashion—if he was able—but to say that he had done it and then leave, or produce, no actual proofs, was too much like a game at the expense of their credulity, and a good part of the town was ready to kick, What made the matter worse was, every man felt that he had been defrauded when he was not invited to the show. Such a meeting ought to have been public property, and to think it had been carried through without a man being the wiser made them ready to curse Clark Bruce, Curly, or any one else who might have published a hint and had not, ‘‘Clark knows enough ter git in when it rains,” thought Harry, with a shrug of his shoulders as he listened to various com- ments, ‘Ther question are, whar are he gone to? Mebbe it might be ez well ter find out. I don’t reckon he could keep outer mischief ef he tried, an’ ef I kin locate him I kin see what’s goin’ on.” That was easier thought than done. Clark was not at the hotel where he boarded, though some one said he had been seen en- tering the door. Harry climbed up to the window of his room, at some risk. to his neck, and made sure that there was no one witbin. ‘‘Blazes! He can’t hev gone back an’ got on ther trailov Monte. I never thought ter ive Saul me popper, an’ I might ’a’ knowed e’d need it wuss ner I would. Ef Clark mounts him, an’ he not heeled, he’ll make an end ov him this time, sure,” He was a little puzzled how to act. A horse was beyond him, unless he was willing to risk his neck. He knew the danger when it came to an unlicensed ap- propriation of horse-flesh, and that an irate owner would be willing to hang even a small boy without giving him a chance to explain, ‘‘What’s ther matter with tryin’ ter see Miss Ames right off ther handle, ’thout wait- in’ till mornin’? Then I kin lope right off ter Honey Dew, an’ ef my man’s thar I kin post him how ther land/lays, and how public pinion are a-runnin’, Ef he was byer, now, he’d be jaybird, sure.” ' It was not so late in the evening that the idea of seeing Ethel Ames was altogether hopeless, and he put it into action at once. Angus Ames lived just fairly beyond what was considered the limits of the town, and it would not take long to reach the place. He set off at a jog trot until he reached the bank of the river. , Angus Ames was a man of some import- ance in Dead Latch, though he did not mingle much, secially, with its inhabitants. He lived in a cottage on the other side of the back in no river, and owned the only mill in all that region. TT found the timber to keep them busy, and what lumber did not go to the rival camp of Honey Dew was easily wagoned across Vie ford. The location was convenient for both the towns, and the trade in either direction was about equal. That he was making money no one thought of denying, but there was a great difference of opinion about the man himself, He kept to himself out of business hours, and the sports of Dead Latch had waited in vain to see him turn up at their popular re- sorts. As they could not understand how a man with means at his command should care to lead the life of a hermit, there was a good many who looked upon him with an eye of suspicion, and were ready at any time to hear that a sheriff from over the mountains had arrived in pursuit of the mill-owner. Others, however, gave the credit of his reticence to his daughter. From what little they had seen of her they were willing to ad- mit that almost any man would stay at home with such good company. Miss Ethel was a beauty, there was no denying that; and the gencral opinion was, she was as good as she was handsome. For once, general opinion was not far wrong. She was not a frequent visitor of the town, but was occasionally seen in the stores; and there were two or three young citizens who had found opportunity to speak with her quite outside of the line of business, though Dead Latch knew nothing about it. Arrived at the ford Harry could see a light twinkling in the distance, which he knew came from one of the windows of Angus Ames’s cottage. ‘‘Good boy! Thar’s some one afoot around ther house yit, Ef it’s Miss Ethel I kin git through with ther business in A Number One style. Ef it ain’t, I'll see thet no harm’s done. LIonly wisht I hedn’t bin so blame honest. I'd give a nickel right now ter know what’s in this hyer note, an’ I never thought ter look while I hed ther chance, ‘But, no. Dog-gone it, I won’t look, ef I bu’st meself in ignorance. I'll trust ter luck, an’ mebbe Sport Saul ’1l tell me.” He rolled up the bottoms of his pants, waded the river where it was shallowest, and took up his line of march to the house at a lively pace. As he drew near he saw the light begin to move about from one place to another. He was thea in time. ‘‘Somebody’s ’round shettin’ up afore goin’ ter bed, an’ most likely it’s ther old man. ‘Wisht I knowed what his idears are ’bout shootin’ small boys ez come prowlin’ ‘round after ther sun goes down, ’thout in- quirin’ fu'st ef they are in good an’ regular standin’ in ther Baptis’ church, Onder sich circumstances I’ve knowed a. keerless man ter ketch a deacon in ther draw—but he war black, an’ a hen-roost most amazin’ near,” He gave a sigh over the depravity of man- kind in general, and stole along more softly than ever. The some one had come out on the covered porch in front of the house, and stood looking down the road. The some one happened to be Miss Ethel herself, She gave a start asa little figure popped up not a dozen yards from her, and a voice, which evidently belonged to a youngster, inquired ina low tone: ‘*Evenin’, miss. Are ther old man ter home?” A | ‘‘ Whoare you, boy? and what do you want with my father?” : ‘*That ain’t answerin’ my conundrum, but I’m willin’ ter go ver so fur ez ter say thet I'ma young man frum ther city, bringin’ a letter marked private an’ confidential. Like- wise, in haste, moreover.” ‘‘T am sorry, then, since my father is not here. He-went over to Honey Dew this Half a mile back of the mill his choppers morning, and has not. yet returned. He ex- ———————-ete sl a, tial t,t, al amt Ll LLL LLL LLL LLL AAALAC ttt ttt ttt ttt Le pected to pass through Dead Latch on his way back. He may be there now.” The appearance of the boy had startled her, but his voice and manner reassured her almost as soon, and she spoke in a quiet tone; and without much curiosity. Letters had been delivered by special messenger from the town before this. ‘‘That’s all right, fur ther letter ain’t fur him. I war afeared he might be a-inter- ceptin’ it an’ so war feelin’ about ter see ef he war around. Hyer you be, ez you kin see. Freeze onto it an’ it'll do yer good.” He advanced a few steps, holding out the letter as he came, and Miss Ethel had ac- atenee it before she knew what she was do- ng. Then, it was too late to temporize. The boy gaveanod and a spring. Before she had made up her mind to call him back he was almost out of sight in the shadows. ‘* What does it all mean?” she thought to herself. ‘‘ Ts it a letter from some almost,gforgotten friend in the East, forwarded in this way by Glenn, the pestmaster; or, could it be—?” She stopped short. So far, no one at Dead Latch had ever attempted to open a cor- respondence, but she was woman enough to know such a thing might be on the carpet. She turned and went into the house, She: would know what it was, and then could de- cide whether to read it to the end. The scrawl was short, and none too easy” to read. - ’ . Miss Amers:—I have reason to believe your’ father is in some danger, and would beg you: to warn him to be on his guard at all points. You may nct be altogether safe yourself... If the worst comes to the worst, remember you: have a friend who will reach you in danger,, even if he comes a little late. ‘“‘A FRIEND,” And in one corner of the missive she- noted! a little splutch of blood, freshly dried. While she pondered over the warning, she: heard in the distance the dull report of fire-- arms, and after a minute, when she: leaned: out of the window, all was still. CHAPTER IV. THE FIGHT AT THE FORD.. So far Harry Carter's mission seemed to him to be a success. He had Gelivered the missive, ’and if he: knew anything about such things he had: aroused Ethel’s curiosity. There was little doubt in his mind she would read the letter without waiting for the return of her father;. which was what was wanted. | Afterward, she might do as she chose. The principal point had been gained, and the: boy felt himself free to look around after Monte Saul, though the danger to that in- dividual did not seem as great as it did a while before. He hustled along at a lively rate till he came to the ford at the river. There he halted a moment and listened. He could hear the birds: of the night, the ripple of the water as’ it swept past him; and in the distance the roar of the dam. It seemed, too, as though there were other sounds, Horsemen were abroad in the dark- ness, and they were coming toward him. ‘* P’rhaps that’s ther old man now, Meb- be it’s some ’un else. Best continner ter go slow,” As he had done onee before that night, he slid off to one side, though this time he selected a post of advantage, where the ris- ing ground enabled him to look down upon, and eommand the trail. | The horsemen came .«§ adily on at @ pensions gait, until they had entered the ord, animals drank,. and * Pl & ll ‘Here they sett A stopped while their ‘low spoken conver-- bay - - ~—— a s ek tee on ——— et 5 a a - inna my i S38 a» ese, 4, - a -" - a ae “ : > _, . i Ss y yen oe SO a —_— ~ = es neg — - 4 « | Sos <4 = p id em. es OE er eee * Ged oe Olin ae P te a* bag z : . r lh ae : _—< ¢