Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 906 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

It was a plain trail, and the Cycle Sport went spinning along upon it with ease. Anywhere out of tie hills, for miles and miles, it was ideal bicycle country, as we have elsewhere said, and at the present time there are more wheels than one there. At a steady pace Sam pushed on, a gait that he could have kept up half the day, if need be, till at last the whiter sands ahead told ef the desert. He had long since passed the spot where the horseman had reduced his speed, and now he came to the place where the horse had come to a walk. Still nothing was in sight, and he pressed on and on, following the track, well know- ing that he had only to follow it to its end in order to tind his prey, for there was here no ‘ud of escape. | t last, afar out on the barren waste, a dark object was visible, and as Sam drew nearer to it he found that it was a horse, and presently another object on the ground re- solved into the form of a man lying there, The Cycle Sport had by sheer perseverance run down his game of the previous night. CHAPTER XVI. TRYING FOR THE MASTERY. THE sun was by this time getting high, and the heat there on the border of the desert Was oppressive, The wheeling was good, however, the ground being of that hard, dry nature, pe- culiar to the region of which we write, and the Cycle Sport pressed steadily on. When finally he drew near to where the man lay, the horse gave a ay whinny, but the man on the ground did not move, and Safety Sam thought he must be dead, but such was not the case. Sam saw his mistake as soon as he ran up and dismounted. | ~~ The man was sleeping heavily, having Sia oa et himself completely out in his aimless rs Tide. qf The Cycle Sport detective took away the cane rifle, and a revolver which he saw in a nie! hip-pocket, and having done so, gave the - sleeper a prod with his foot. ay The man gave a grunt and stretched him- self, but it needed another prod to bring him to his senses. 4 When he opened his eyes he sat up with a ie start. aa ‘* Good-morning,” said Sam. | Where am I—what does this mean?” i A spoke the man. ke ‘“You are right here, sir, and it means ee eg you are my prisoner,” was the rejoin- ; ie The man’s hand sought his hip. Bh A ‘Jt isn’t there,” said Sam, provokingly. | ** You are safe and harmless, my friend. ) Suppose we get acquainted.” ie: Me “ Who are you?” was the snarl, Fi es ary ‘‘T am called Safety Sam, the Cycle Sport, and sometimes ® detective, out of sarcasm, __- perhaps.” aie ‘And what are you going to do with SI TB a + © Take you to Fort Fenton, dead or we alive,” if _ ** For what purpose? ~. > “That you may be brought to account for the murder of Captain Deerforth.” __-- The man had been pale from the first, but ft! now his face turned to death-like white- . } ¥ : ts murder,” he declared. \ “Hess. 5 Captain Deerforth has |) *- Nevertheless, ) ‘been murdered.” ty: | _ “ But, why dd you lay the crime to me? \ OR eth You do not know me?” : Cs ae ‘ nee é use you are the man who will pro- 5 fit most, by his death, you see.’ oh, _“*T fail to understand you, sir. Te “1 don’t see how I can state it any |. Plainly.” Bean __** But, I never heard of any . ” d 7 4 ; ‘ ' v! more such person, 4 . "is > 2 ' ra A x rk od ¥ ; ft i . - «! Mey a as we . ‘4 ; ‘i + ‘ - - fe : : \, ‘ - : . ’ - 4 . é - !from the first, and for some time he had | bones here to whiten ih the sun, since you ie, ee | . “ ’ : |. Whd and what was this man, Deerforth?” Safety Sam, the Cycle Sport, ‘* He was a captain at Fort Fenton, sir. His uncle recently met his death, and you, with certain papers in your possession, and with Deerforth and Hamilton both removed, will be benefited.” It will be remembered how Safety Sam had aia the information he now made use of, The man looked at him wildly. ‘* In the name of Heaven,” he ejaculated, what do you know, anyhow?” ‘* A few things.” ** But, you are mistaken, | swear you are mistaken, I am innocent of all you charge, sir.’’ ‘* Well, let’s see about that. Just show up what papers you happen to have on your peregy and explain who and what you are. f you prove up innocent, of course I have no more to say.” ‘But, by what right do you make this demand ?”’ ‘¢ Well, by the right of might, for instance. I have got the drop on you, and you are in my power,” ‘Then you make the demand of a coward,” ‘‘ Not exactly that. I make the demand of a detective, just now, for I have been especially commissioned by General Fielding to ferret out this matter. So, now, show down,” “* And if I refuse?” 7 ‘Weil, in that case I think I am man enough to overcome you and search you by force,” “If that is your thought, sir, you may as well begin. I am not going to be bullied into doing a thing, and if you search me you will have to do it by force.” Safety Sam measured his man more closely. What meant this bold defiance, when he had the fellow in his power? The Cycle Sport thought he understood it, and he made no mistake in his guess in the matter, either. It was the only chance the man had for escape, and he meant to make the most.of it. Sam knew that it would be a hard fight, but he had gone too far to draw back now. If he refused the challenge, for such it really was, how would he get his man to Fort Fenton. | | ‘Well, get up here and we'll see about it,” he said, coolly. " ‘‘But, you are armed and Iam not,” the man argued. ‘‘ You dare not take me on equal footing.” ‘“Do not imagine any other way,” said there and I will la then we'll see whic short order.” , The prisoner readily complied with the re- quest, and Sam was not unmindful of the look of desperate hope that beamed in his that I would take you Sam. ‘‘ Just step out off my weapons, and is the better man in eyes "The Cycle Sport was full of calm and quiet determination, He laid aside his revolvers and knife, and stepped forward to meet his foe for the con- test. It was better for him to lay the weapons aside. It was fair to the man he was to con. tend with, and it insured his own safety against their falling into his hands during the struggle. ‘“ Are you ready?” Sam asked, “Ready.” They sprung together instantly. Sam tried to get a certain hold, but miss- ing it he gave his opponent an advantage. The other was not slow to take it, and everything almost his own way. ‘« We'll see which is the better man,” the rascal opponent grated, ‘‘I’ll teave your saw fit to follow me.” | ee gins ae breath,” said Sam. | 4 i —————————————— mmm rr aaa —————————————— al —_——e. =" 7 —~ could bring to bear to keep from being over- come, : At a disadvantage, as said, he could do nothing more than stubbornly resist, and by resisting he made it necessary for his antag- onist to put forth every effort to hold his ad- vantage. This lasted some minutes. This way and that they swayed, to and fro, grinding their heels into the ground as they exerted their strength. Suddenly Safety Sam saw his chance, With a turn as quick as thought he changed his hold, and the advantage w his. ’ Another move, and he had gained the hold which he had tried to get at the beginning, and from that moment the battle was his, for he had superior strength, slightly, Finally his antagonist was on his back on the giound, and the Cycle Sport had his knee: on his breast. ‘* How about it now?” Sam asked, ‘‘Curse you!” was the panted response. “You may do that if you want to, cer tainly.” ‘“You’ll never take me from this spot. alive, I swear it!’ ‘“You make your mistake there, my good: fellow. Iam master of the situation now, and it will be as I say.” ‘* You'll see.” ‘And so will you,” ’ my Sam’ brought the man’s hands together, and bound them with a strap which he took. from his jacket pocket, — ae done, he got up and stretched him-. self. ‘*T think I’ll take my bones back home with me, after all,” he said in a light man- ner. ‘I did not fancy the idea of leavin them here to whiten, as you suggested,. Now, for those papers.” - With that, he stooped prisoner’s pockets. There were some letters and papers in one,. and in another was the packet he had re- ceived from the man in the Saddle Saloon. ‘These are the documents, sir,” said Sam.. ‘These tell the tale, Even if you did not kill Deerforth yourself you know who did, and you are the man responsible for his. death, ‘You are in for it.” 4 “ihe CHAPTER XVII. | THE DUEL IN THE DARK, Ir was useless for the man to deny further, now. | ‘ | | He changed his manner immediately, and began begging for his liberty, offering to pay well for it. That, however, with a man like the Cycle Sport, was worse than useless, and finally the prisoner lapsed into sullen silence, refusing: to speak when spoken to, ) Another thing, Sam had discovered in the ’ beard was false, and on removing it he found at all. and the expression of his eyes that the stamp of villain. : and said: ‘Get up, confound youl” he will make it mighty interesting for you.” The fellow hesitated a moment, and Sam ) dtr ed all the strength the Cycle Sport | With a how! the man was on his fe C quick Nike x Fi 3 n ’ er (my ’ | ¥ ; iat an | ; as ; . ! P ss ey , ‘ : ; Tae a Se “4 a ’ a’ we ; y 7 vs ie, Cal’s, «wt? ; vent ar Rae emai uit {pti es : . ‘e ; be Se . L a P and examined the: struggle with the fellow that the black the may to be entirely innocent of any beard — He was not a bad-looking fellow by any means, but yet there was that about hisface gave him Sam put the papers in his own pocket, A = ~- \ é oa a ‘ * -" . + _ *. —— an % 4 " a 4 “i af - he 4 _ ,* 5 wh | Joie pea ; a rf) oy ¥ DS “Now, sir, Pll help you to mount, and = A i we'll be off on our return, ard T’llintroduce = == you to General Fielding,” Fy No response, and the man did not offer to tg Pe “Did you hear what L caide” cid the oho Cy he fk els 5’ a The Cycle Sport took a pin from bis jacket. — a é L : re he : “spt a r et J “4 ae : ; - a* ‘ Ny Pe AX +