Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 888 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

~~ *y - ae . ows 7 » . ~~ eC ~ .~ * a | lags i — err i. -—* age ey, a 29 -_ — wy —~ ~<~~ ~ a“ a » = a? . doen - . . a eee tert Pees * ee ae = ~~ . & ll - . : yee — F ~ = 2.2. et ee — eee - _ ‘sation Came quite distinctly to the ears of the boy “*Here’s as good aspot as any. We can halt him just as he comes out of the drink, He can’t get past us very well, and if he turns back one of you can plug him as he comes. Jimmy can stay on this side and look out for breakers.” | ‘*Sure, an’ av Oi kin do that whin he’s comin’ back whoy can’t Oi do it whin he’s goin , an’ save all the thruble?” ‘Because, if he don’t cut up rusty we may not have to do any shooting at all, You work to orders, Jimmy, und ask no questions. You'll live longer, and draw a blamed sight more pay. Fall back, now, and the rest of you follow me.”’ \ The horses came splashing out of the river, and were drawn,up afew yards from the road. They were effectually screened from ‘the view of any one making the ford, and were as quiet, well-behaved a set of horses as Harry Carter ever saw. They did not even try to give notice of his presence by the snort which ordinary, every-day sort of horses would have done, The dispositions were just in time, too. Hardly had they been completed when the clatter of hoofs.was heard in the direction of Dead Latch, and some one approached the ford at headlong pace. “Silence, all! Not a whisper,” was the low order of the leader, while Harry Carter listened eagerly. Down into the ford came the horseman, and his horse stopped’ just as the others had done. The animal drank greedily, as though it had been warmed by a long and hard ride. Had there been the slightest sound from the bank the man had the best of opportunities to hear it. But the men in ambush were silently bid- ‘ing their time, and the boy behind them was as quiet as any of them, ‘‘Come up, Jack!” finally exclaimed the solitary horseman, becoming impatient, - ‘It’s just like you to want to drink the river dry. You can have another try at a gorge when you get me home. At present I am in too much of a hurry.” The grumble was finished as the animal emerged from the water and began the as- cent of the shelving bank, and as his words ceased another voice took up the strain, in a somewhat different key. ‘‘Hands up, Angus Ames, and don’t you make any mistake about the doing of it. If a bushel of buckshot comes your way some of them will hit you, sure ” Half a dozen sharp clicks followed, the sounds rising with terrible distinctness on the midnight air. ‘*Hands up, 1 say!” continued the leader of the foes in ambush. ‘‘ And don’t you forget we have you right where we can see every move, and if they don’t come up empty, good-by, John! We can find just as much coin in the pockets of a dead man as in those of a live cne,” It was true enough, that the moon shone brightly through the break made in, the ? ‘fringe of trees by the trail; while the speaker was invisible in/the shadow. Angus Ames could understand that if a couple of double-barreled shot-guns were turned loose in his direction it would be strange if some of their contents did not find him. But at the same time, there was something reassuring in the very threat, Robbery was apparently the end in view, and there was a tacit promise that if <»e submitted quietly, he was in no great danger. Had murder been meant, they would have shot him down without any of this parley. *« Sorry for you, boys,” he said, in a voice which showed little, if any agitation, “lf I had known you were coming out to meet me, I might have tried to have my ‘pockets better lined. It won't exactly be a _ Monte Saul, the Sport. ! : water haul, but with the exception of a few | search which was being so greedily made papers and documents of no particular value | On shore, to any one but their owner, I have very little about me. Perhapsa hundred dollars will cover the amount. Better luck next time— for one side or the other,” He gave a little, short laugh as he spoke, and raised his hands above his head with a careless ease that seemed to say, he did not care much whether school kept or not, ‘‘ Never you mind whether the haul is worth the fishing for or not. Just shell out. Maybe we can judge better than you whether those same papers have any value or not,” ‘‘ Shell it is, but I wish you would be a little more explicit. If I am to turn my pockets inside out for yourinspection, I can’t very well keep,on holding my hands over my head. Jl hand over first what I can find, and if you don’t think I have done the square thing, then you can look for more.” One of his hands dropped naturally and carelessly to his breast pocket, as if in search for his wallet, and keener eyes, even, than those which were fixed upon him might have been deceived by the movement and words. But, an instant later, the careless ease was gone. ‘The hand which dove into that breast-pocket came out armed with a revol- ver, and at the same time Ames drove his spurs into the flanks of the already fretting steed, Ames was nothing more than an average marksman, but he had located the sound of the voice pretty accurately, and never hesi- tated to send a bullet straight in that direc- tion; and he was cool enough to note that at the report there was an answering one froma spot considerably in the rear of his challenger. At the same time some one shouted: ‘Sock it to’em, Pard Ames. We got ’em in a box, an’ef they don’t git a leg over ther edge, we'll shut down ther lid, sure.” The interruption was as startling to the ambuscaders, as it was unexpected, and as the first shot was followed by others, and the bullets came hurtling in among them with a closeness more dangerous with each report, attention was called in that direction, while with a great bound Jack took his master well past the ambush, Ames turned in-his saddle as he flitted by, and sent a shot or two across to where he hoped the most good would be done, but he was far too cool and careful to entirely empty his weapon in such chance firing. e could not tell what dangers he might come face to face with when he had gone further, and so saved a bullet or two for an- other emergency. At present, he knew he was tearing along the road to his home, with nothing in front of him, and did not believe there was anything could stop him unless his horse was first shot. The boy in the bushes knew all that, too; and something more, It was not likely there were two gangs ly- ing in wait for the mill-owner that night, and bar an accident the escape of Angus Ames was a certainty, The next thing for him to do was to look out for number one. It would not do to lurk there any longer, since it would not take long for the men to discover they had but a single antagonist to deal with. After that, a resolute charge, or, perhaps, astray bullet, might do the rest. He start- ed to steal away, reloading his revolver as he | have happened, of course. went. i eee It was fortunate for him he knew the river | as well as he did, or he might have got an | Ethel put the note she had received into his ugly fall at the steep bank, down which he | hand, and watched him. carefully while he slid so lightly. Below the ford the water took to it like a deepened, and Carter spaniel, Noiselessly he swam out into the stream, and then floated away on his back, with nothing but his nose above the surface. He was getting a very complete ducking, but at the same time was eluding the | of this probably came tomy rescue, Ob, In safety he crossed the stream, and finally drew his dripping figure up the shadow- hid bank on the other side. He would have dearly loved to have a closer view again, but was too wise to venture near the ma- rauders, Without waiting to watch them further he started for Dead Latch, CHAPTER V. HOLD UP CHARLEY MAKES A CAPTURE, Ernet AMES was leaning out of the win- dow, listening with breathless earnestness, when her father came clattering up to the house, and she gave a glad little cry as she recognized the horseman. “* What was it?” she exclaimed, opening the door which she had tuken the precaution to lock, and stepping out upon the porch. ‘Something has happened, for I heard shots down about the ford, and if there had not been trouble you never would have pressed Jack so hard when so near home.” “It is all right, little girl. Nobody has been hurt, unless they deserved it, and I think the racket is over for the night.” He slipped off his horse, opened the knots of the cinches, drew off the bridle, and turn- ed Jack loose to graze. Theanimal would come to him at a whistle, and there was little danger he would wander beyond hearing. evertheless, when they entered the house together, Angus Ames carefully locked and bolted the door after them, and led the way to the room he called his study. There was an assortment of weapons there, and he wanted to’ be where be could have them ready to his hand. It was possible, if not ig there would bé pursuit, and with plenty of ammunition he would hardly object to a little long range practice. Ethel was not of the die-away order, and Angus Ames knew it. He told ber without hesitation, of the the attack at the ford, and that some person, to him unknown, had ex- ecuted a diversion which had perhaps saved his life. ‘Did you notice anything peculiar about his voice?” asked Ethel, ‘“‘T did, and that is what has been puz- zling me. It seemed to be disguised, for it was shrill and piping. Probably it was some one known either to them or me, and he wished to conceal his identity. W hat- ever may have ,been his object he seemed to accomplish it. Perbaps 1 should not have deserted him altogether, but I believed then, and I believe now, his intention was that I should ride on, After I was once past the toils I heard no more of him or his gun. He must have retreated in good order. Had he pec harmed or captured I would have heard of it.” ‘*Then there is something in the warning, after all, Can it be possible the boy himself is the friend who wrote the note? Hardly, though he seems to have come in the hour of danger, and come a little late. He just fairly had time to reach the ford. - It must have. been he.” She spoke more to herself than to her father, and there was a little frown of thought on her brow as she considered the question she had raised. ‘‘T do not understand, but something must To whom do you refer?” For answer to the question of her father read it. . ; ‘Strange, this. My secrets seem to be known to more than one; and for once it may be as well to lay some stress upon an anony- mous letter. I was certainly in some danger, and if things are as you say the boy bearer co mI | CDOOKS.