Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 900 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

““Not till we need ’em,” said Taylor. **Tt won’t do no harm to get some knots ready fer lightin’ as ye come along, though.” This was done, by some of the boys and men who had no gun to carry. So they pushed on and on, aod at last those who knew the road gave notice that they were drawing near to the cabin, As, they came near, the crying of a child was heard, mingled with something that sounded very like groans, and Sam Bruce made a dash to run on in advance, | ‘“Keep back! keep back!” warned the owner of the dog. ‘‘1 feel sure there’s big- ger game than human here, the way Bowger has been caperin’ up, and you might run into that lion’s jaws.” ‘* But, my child, my child!” **She’s alive, as you kin hear. now. Boys, make lights!” They were almost to the cabin, and the crying and the moaning could be heard piainly. ‘‘ Bess?” cried out Sam Bruce, Bess?” ‘*Papa!l papa!” was the glad cry in re- sponse, ‘‘[ knew you would come to Bes- sie, 1 knew you would!” Sam made another dash, but Taylor forced him back with an almost blow, at the same time ordering: ** Keep back, I tell ye; keep back fer yer life! Don’t ye see the way Bowger is goin’ on? Yer child is safe, fer her voice comes from the loft, but V’ll bet that lion is in possession below,” ‘Then make haste! haste!” ‘‘The man is right,” spoke up McHartley, the brave lion-tamer, who was one of the crowd, ‘It is all your life is worth to face that lion if it should happen to be there, We must wait a moment for lights, and then at sight of the lion, if it is here, .et every aman fire at once, “You can’t capture it, then?’ asked Murray, ) ‘‘TIt would never be safe, if we could, after this night’s work.” “‘That’s so; you are right.” Meantime Bruce had called out to Baby Bess, telling her not to venture down from where she was till he got there. They had lights, presently, and moved orward, some of those who were armed with rifles going in the lead with Taylor. In a few seconds they were before the cabin. Several pine-knots were now ablaze, and the face of Baby Bess, white as death, could , Keep cool, “ Bady For God’s sake make _ -window of the cabin-loft. wt ‘There came another moan from the inside of the cabin, below, and immediately a deep- } mouthed growl, Tie ee ‘The lion!” was the awed whisper, There was a thinning of the ranks Instant- _ Jy, and even some of those armed with rifles di not stand their ground. ) @harlie McHartley took one of tne torches, and holding it so that it blazed up brightly, hurled it into the cabin with force. The result was magical, t - There was a roar calculated to make the | stoutest heart quake and out sprung the te, escaped lion, halting just a second before ve _ the door and glaring at the crowd; then |. with another roar, it darted off into the bie ‘yao woods, and not a single shot was fired at the ek mre hdl « : , . < “ x ~ ue CHAPTER XVIII. CONFESSION AND CONCLUSION, 4“ Way the mischief didn’t you shoot?” cried Charlie McHartley is " | man of them had thought about shooting. selth fw sieht of such big game had taken alt of -} the ‘‘shoot” out of them. {| “Never thought about it,” one & % honestly declared. ' fellow SN a A | Se _y °e2 4.4 >): Cf . — 4 Pe 7? “- * * < is - 2 i a Tal ; Ae v, - Le pay he P| { J “fm ‘2 ‘ere . ta ’ ine: 1 WAG ay ¢ ; Pa “Ss 7 > ' ‘ ? a4 4 4” gery ve . Pe * a ils . . , c ° ; ! 's { . i C2 xg Moe Ys Be Rpt t si ha) Tig ke vy 3 | a + od At og, * oy ‘ P wart “A - ~ < a ak -_ i OC CL OEE TT be seen framed in the narrow, sashless | } "The men looked foolish enough. Not a Jumping-Jack’s Jubilee. | And that was the excuse, the only excuse they had to offer; they had*not thought about it. No sooner the lion out of the house, than the clown had snatched a torch from the hand of a boy near hint and sprung in to the rescue of his child, An exclamation was heard from him im- mediately, but he did not stop in the room below. He made his way to the loft at once. Taylor and nearly all who had rifles went on in pursuit of the lion, Charlie McHartley with them, The rest surged forward into the cabin without delay. A terrible sight met their gaze. On the floor lay the mangled body of Hunt- er, and in a corner sat Old Wit, the bummer, himself badly wounded, ‘‘Rer goodness’ sake save me!” he cried, ‘‘ Don’t let that beast git in here again, or I’m done up. But, has it gone? Is it safe now? I guess I’m done for, though, just the same.” ‘Yes, you rascal, I guess you are, and it serves you right,” cried Murray, with no showing of pity in his tone. Sam Bruce came down the ladder with his child hugged to his breast. ‘Thank God, I have found her alive and unharmed!” he said fervently. Then for the first time he beheld the body of Hunter. He had seen only Old Wit inthe corner, before. ‘* Ha! I can feel no pity for him,” he said, ‘*The hand of Providence was in it that my child should escape as she did. But, that fellow—he shall tell what he knows!” Murray had knelt to learn how badly the man was hurt, : ‘* Yes, he must tell what he knows,” he de- clared. ‘‘There is no hope for you, my man, and if you expect any mercy in the Be- yond, you had better make a clean breast of everythirg before you go over. We know you hold a secret that concerns the lives of some worthy persons in this town.” ‘* T’ll tell what I know on one condition.” ‘* What’s that?” ‘That you'll let me off, in this.” , Murray looked at Bruce, ‘ You can safely promise it,” he respond- case I git over ed. ‘* Yes, you can go free, if, you get over the effect of your hurt,” the clown gave his promise, ‘‘ That is, so far as I am concern- ed, ‘* But that don’t speak of Al. Cooper,” ‘* No, it does not.” ‘‘ Tl must have his promise; too, or I won't speak,” ‘‘Then haste must be made,” said Murray. ‘‘ This is almost as good as his story, in the way of proof, but we must have the story, if possible.” ‘ T’ll tell it, if Al. Cooper will promise,” moaned tbe old wreck. They set to work in haste, and improvised two stretchers, on one of which the body of Hunter was laid out, and on the other Old Wit. This having been done, willing hands took them up and bore them back in the direction of the town, where they/arrived in due sea- gon, und where the body of Hunter was turn- ed over to the proper authorities. During this time Jumping-Jack was not idle, and. Murray now turned to him and bade him lead the way to the house to which the farmer, Cooper, had taken the.mother of Baby Bess. . ack was to the front density and led the way, a considerable crowd of interested persons following, and ere long they reached the place. roa ‘There Mile. Lucie was anxiously pple es news of her child, and when Sam entere with Bess in his arms she gave a cry of de- | light and caught the little one to her breast. ' 9 ‘ + 15 os And, as soon as permitted, Mrs. Cooper cid the same. The old bummer was carried in, stretcher and all, and laid down in the wide hallway. Albert Cooper was told of the proposition he had made,and all atremble he readily agreed to it. He felt what was coming, In fact, the way had been paved so gradually and yet so well that the news could scarcely be a shock to them, and yet, proof was needed to confirm what they sus- pected, : ‘‘Seems to me the promise ain’t no use now,” muttered the bummer, ‘‘ fer. I reckon I’m sent fer.” ‘«'There’s a bare chance that you may get well, though,” urged Bruce. “Tf I thought it was all up with me, I swear I’d never open my lips about it, never in the world!” He was encouraged, however, and, de- luded with the hope that be might get well, and so, for his own protection in case he did, he proceeded with his story. Needless to say he had an attentive audience. ‘‘l own it now, Al. Cooper,” he declared. I’m the man what stole your kid, and there she is, now known as Mademoiselle Lucie. Ye see, her name was never changed—that is to say, her first name, but I did give her | another last name, to hide her ’dentity.” The mother and daughter had sprung into each other's arms. \ ‘No wonder Baby Bess looks like I used to!” cried Lucy. ‘And no wonder my heart warmed to you,” responded the mother, ‘Yes, it’s so,” confirmed Old Wit. ‘‘I hated you, Al, Cooper, and I wanted to get even with Mary fer jiltin’ me; so I planned to steal your baby. I was with Cook an’ Tucker’s show, when it came here, seven- teen years ago, an’ was known as Pop Tur- ner, If you remember, it wasa few days after the show was here that Lucy was miss- in’. Well, I kem back an’ stole her, an’ we spent the first night in that old cabin where we went to-night. Then I took her on, lit- tle by little, till we overtook the show, an’ there I told a reasonable story an’ she was tuken care of by Lucy Long, an’ when she died I swore she was your mammy, Made- moiselle Lucie.” ‘Yes, yes, 1 know you did; I never be- lieved it fully.” ‘And that’s the long an’ short of it,” avowed the rascal. ‘‘ Lucy took to ridin’ an’ goon made a name; but finally I got the bounce out of the company an’ we drifted apart, an’ fer years I never heard nothin’ of the gal, au’ could hardly believe my eyes when I seen her here to-day. That’s the story, an’ it’s God’s truth, I swear!” It wasa story that scarcely needed the proving, and yet it was easily verified. The old bummer died before the morning. — ———— q_— ———_—_ — — It was a joyful reunion, needless to say. Mrs. Cooper and her daughter were drawn together in warm affection, but to the former Baby Bess was more like the child she bad lost, and to the Rose of the Ring her warm- est love went forth. 4 As for the old farmer, he could scarcely speak, but sat and wiped the tears of jo from his eyes as fast as they blinded his vi- sion, and he was kept at work in that manner pretty constantly. After so many years, the void in his honest heart was filled at last. Murray had found it necessary to wit LL LL - Baby Bess was left in the ke grand-parents, until the show season shou d close, and the time was then pear ghhand, ve Ada, See. EE l, soa ce a Ae" z, AS a ree t * sa), | | 0 A . ; Dat tans ent ; > r + * Lo a. i { » by A 7 4 q, ; : . | "oe | 4 cone - J] ° Re & nt " ° oks - ae 4 \~— > 7 : . - 7} : ' _ : : _ — - ' , af Pesto F205 ‘ i i y LF, RPE, we ae ’ ; ® : . 4 draw, to attend to his duties; and the family ¥ keeping of her » : 2 : ~~ | tf? @ group was left in privacy, save for the prese ence of Jumping-Jack and the family of the house. ; of , * < 4 or ty ic , A happy hour was spent, in which it was almost forgotten that Sam Bruce was still = in his clown’s attire. Dr ERS «te ae 4. ‘ - ~ com |