Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 888 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

; mg /- | a Es ; <2 = Vie Jay ae . a. erry : <r, 5s Ris a : ; oe ; a. ~~ 4 , J * SS ¥ Q + " : wate - - ’ : 9 re). as fi a Tad i‘ q 2 See ae NOE ONS A io Ona eis. Don’t make a diffabitterence. You’llalways § Monte Saul, the Sport. ’ «a | *) . ‘ ¢ 4 a : rn well. A mouse may helpa lion when the | toward the trail at once, and that brought e i’ conditions are right, and I won't blush to own up. What sort of a fellow was he, large or small. well dressed or disreputable, honest or a rogue, judging from appear- ances?” As accurately as she could Ethel’described the appearance of Harry Carter, and struck pretty nearly an average between the ex- tremes of the different sections of her father’s question. Ames shook his head. * He had never noticed such a boy in Dead Latch, nor could he imagine who he might be. It} was a mystery he would have to un- ravel at some future time. Certain he was, there hac already been proof “the warning was worth taking. If the boy Was only an agent he knew how to work for the interest of his principal, and some day Angus Ames intended to thank him)/if he did not reward him more substantially. ‘The strangest thing is, how they came to know I had papers of any value, or that they should desire to capture them. Perhaps they wanted to make me pay for them twice over, If not, to what use could they put them? ‘The boy may know something about it, or could put mein communication with his principal. I think it would be well to place the documents in a safe spot, and then g° see if I can find any traces of him. Had known it was only a boy I would not have abandoned him to his own resources. The more [ think of it the more cruel it seems.” Ethel offered no objection, though she did not believe the effort would result in any thing worth the trouble, As to danger, the hawks had made their swoop, and were probably far enough away by this time, 3 When she suggested he should waken Jobn, a trustworthy man of all work, who slept inthe cottage, Mr. Ames said he pre- ferred to leave him where she could have him in case any supposed need should arise. He threw. a Winchester over bis arm, saw that his revolver was handy, and quietly set out for the ford. It was a late start, but it was better made late than never, Harry had made a tem- porary escape, but he was not altogether done with the highwaymen who would have halted Angus Ames, There was a fellow who had been called Jimmy by the leader, and who had been sta- tioned on the other side of the river to pre- venta possible retreat. Le After the sharp reproof he had received, he determined to follow his instructions to the letter, and so, though he heard the hitch in the proceedings, patiently awaited the re- sult, very well satisfied that if business did not come to him, on his side of the river, he wouldn’t hunt for it on the other. Of course he heard the shouting and the shooting, but he listened to it perfectly un- moved, and heard Angus Ames dash away, with a chuckle of satisfaction, A little later he thought he understood matters, when he caught a glimpse of Harry, just after he had taken to the water, ‘It’s there yez are, are yez? Sure, an’ yell hev to d’ale wid Jimmy O’Brien now, av yez comes moi way. It’s too schmall a mark be the moonloight, but av yez lands on this side the crake, it’s moi mutton yez are.” He crept along quietly, keeping as good a watch on the river as he could, and trying to make out where the person in the water intended to land, It was not easy work he had set himself to do, and after the first sight, had he not known the boy was there, he would not have been able to locate him at all, Even then, he made some little mistake in his calculations as to where Aigat' would land, and the boy had drawn himself out of the water, and started on a trot for Dead Latch before he fairly realized it, . Unfortunately for Harry Carter, he struck him nearer to O’Brien, who silently started at an angle, with the intention of intercept- ing him. Harry had forgotten all about the man left on that side the river, and the first intimation he had of his danger was when a hand suddenly grasped him from behind. Harry. was sharp, and shrewd, and strong for his age, but he was no match fora full grown man who had him at a disadvantage. Before he could swing his pistol hand around he was on his back, and a heavy knee boring into his chest, ‘* Arrah, ye little spalpeen, Oi have yez, an’ I’ll kape yez safe tell the captain comes. We'll see phat he has to say about yez.” Harry gave a futile squirm or two, and then lay still, while the Irishman gave a low, thrilling whistle, by way of signal. ‘You've got him?’ shouted a voice from the other side of the stream, ‘Oi have some wan. Av yez ‘wants him, say so, an’ av yez don’t Oi’ll lit him go.” ‘* Hold on to him, then, and we’ll be with you ina minute, It’s the hound that spoiled the fun, and we can play to get even with him, anyhow,” Jimmy had pretty well taken in the nature of his capture, and was rather ashamed of it, but it was too late toturn him loose, He twisted him to his feet, and brought his wrists behind his back, where he held them with one hand, while he urged him on, By the time the leader and his men had crossed the river, Jimmy and his captive had reached the trail. ‘* Sure, an’ it’s ownly a shmall b’ye,” said Jimmy, apologetically, ‘‘ but Oi thought az he wor thryin to git away, Oi had betther take him in.” ‘* Right you are. Small boy or not he did the mischief, and he’ll do more if we don’t put him where the dogs won’t bite. If you had rung his infernal little neck first off it would have pleased me all the better.” ‘Sure, an’ it’s not too-late to do it now,” was the cool response, as Jimmy shifted his fingers from wrists to neck. Harry shivered in spite of himself, He had lived among this sort of men long enough to know that when they talked that way it was more likely to be earnest than jest, and that if Jimmy was what he seem- ed, a boy more or less on his conscience would not trouble him much, He was not certain what they suspected, or how much they thought he knew, but he believed, he had seen Jimmy before, and unless the [rish- man was utterly reckless, and altogether given over to this sort of business, Harry was in anugly position. On the face of the mat- ter, he knew altogether too much, Besides that, there was no, question but what he had fired a number of shots at the road-agents and some of them might have come uncomfortably close. He said nothing for the just as well to try and fin would be the best to follow. ‘* Hold on a trifle,” said the captain; and then erate to the boy he continued: ‘Where do you come from, and what are you doing here this time of night?” ‘*T come frum ther river, last; an’ ef you got two good eyes in the head of you you kin see that I’m a-shiverin’, Better let me run along now er I might ketch cold.” ‘* You'll ketch cold enough to ‘make you stiff as a wedge if you try any of your cheek here. Do you belong up at the house of Ames?” ‘‘ Not regular like, but ez fur ez a meal ov cold wi’ttals now an’ then, er s’uthin’ ov that sort, you might count me in,” ‘‘How many men are there about the house at night, and what sort are they? See if you can tell a straight story.” | ‘*Three men not countin’ a boy when I’m there, Alloy us heeled, an’ mighty desp'rit fighters, Be you goin’ ter call on us now, er wait tell you git a bigger gang? resent, It was out which line find the old man wide awake, an’ his guns: © ready fur biz.” | vy Toi infernal little liar! . There’s only one man on the place besides Ames, and he’s’ better suited to wear petticoats than the handsome daughter. Chuck him in the river, Jimmy, and leavehim there. He may as well be drowned as hanged; and that last is what he's aiming for.” ‘“Come along wid yez. Ye know too much to live, an’ av ye dhrowns this noight yerown mother won’t be sorry.” Never once did the Irishman relax his grip as he dragged the boy away, and before: Harry made out what was really intended he: was flung far out into the water, to the ac- companiment of a laugh from the outlaws. in the distance. ’ What was to come next was the important: question, for there were two senses to be: taken out of the order. Jimmy seemed bent on assuring him as to what he intended. ‘Sure, an’ I wortol’ave yez thar. There’s ownly wan way av doin’ it, phor yer shwims loike a doock. Howld stiddy # blessid min- nit tell Oi can get a b’ade on yez, an’ ye'll bob down sayrene,” He drew his revolver as he spoke, cocked? it, and aimed toward the little tow head, which bobbed out of sight on the instant. On the night air his words carried far, and, were heard, not only by the captain, but by some one else. As he stood there in the: moonlight he was not a bad mark, and he heard the sudden report of a Winchester, and the angry hist of a bullet, whizzing with- in an inch of his head, ‘* Howly Moses!” he exclaimed, apring backward into the shade, while the boy kept on swimming gamely for the middle of the stream, CHAPTER VI. CLARK BRUCE IS DISAPPOINTED. CuARK Bruce thought it might be as well to keep out of the way of the men of Dead Latch for the present, Monte Saul was. not an especial favorite, nor did he have many enemies among the in- habitants, and as far as a melee could be, it would appear to have been done all fair and square, according to the code. $till, there were several weak spots which might eome to light, and until he was certain what view would be taken of them it would be {ust as well to play modest and keep out. of sight. He had other reasons, also, which will be developed at the proper time, If Dead Latch took a notion to make a hero of him, and started for a red-fire celebration it would not be so easy to get away when ,the honr came. . _ Ostensibly he retired to his own quarters, but, as Harry Carter discovered, he did not. remain there long. He wanted Bi > what the deputation to the battle-ground found, and to be sure that his bullet had gone just where he thought it did, Without being seen cf any one he made his way out of the house by the rear entrance, and got around to the little cabin occupied by Dick Tredgar, the treach- erous second of Monte Saul. ‘¢ What in blazes did you come here for?” rowled Dick, as Bruce silently entered on: nding the door was not locked. ‘‘Tt’s like enough some of Monte’s friends. will be asking whether my man had a fair shake, and why the thunder I didn’t stay by him, even if he was dead. You’re sure he is, by the way? When | saw him dropl took it for granted your Jead had gone where you said it should, but I begin to think I | ae ought to have made sure.” “You'll find the ball right through the center of his heart—if he had such an organ,,. and it was in its right place. I took my time to it, for you must have seen Monte fired a = = * - ~ ~ - — aN) : 2 Ta § 2 *.}¥ i Y as : : . 4 ’ . : a uf ’ oe i 1 See 7" ¥ | YavV " oa» iy eee COMICHDOOKS.COmM —= - add : ca a Fr oY ” :