Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 906 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

7 ES SEES oe... —- += 2a = - a tin - : Set Tune —s Sal - Ve >» - * safety Sam, the Cycle PY CLG MCs an 2S ae who is trying to escape, is what we had bet- ter ask just now,” the commanidcr interru))t- ed, ina brusque manner, and he ran to the opposite parapet. ‘*Ho! orderly ?” He had to call a second time before he was answered, ‘Tell Captain Dettlinger to get out his company as quick as God will let him, and dash to the rescue of that fellow coming from Freeman!” The orderly saluted and was away on a run instantly, while General Fielding turnod and put his glass to his eyes to take “another look at the fugitive wheelman, Mrs. Mas- ters, meanwhile wringing her hands in ex- citement and dismay. ‘“ Will he escape, general?’ the woman ventured to inquire. It was a moment before General Fielding made answer, and the answer appeared upon his face before it left his lips. The lines around his mouth relaxed slight- ly, an expression of relief came over his face, and when he lowered his field-glass he had only to put into words what he had already told silently, ‘‘ He'll escape, if nothing breaks,” he said. *‘ He is coming like the wind, and 80 are the red-skins, but he has got it all his own wa if ‘he holds out. The only ahing I fear is that they will not follow him far enough for us to get a crack at them.” 4 **T can see them now.’ “« Here, take the glass and look!” He gave his field-glass into her hand and turned to shout some directions to Captain Howard Dettlinger, who just then came dashing up from the barracks. When Mrs. Masters had focused the glass to her own sight, she was thrilled by what she saw when she leveled it at the moving objects so far away that they could just be made out with the naked eye, Distance was annihilated in the moment. ‘There was the bicycle-rider bending over at his task as he made the wheels spin, and behind him came six or eight Indians at full Speed, Puffs of smoke were seen, too, from the ‘weapons of the Indians, and its eemed strange to Mrs. Masters that she heard no report, but whtn she removed the glass from her eyes it was no mystery. The vision receded as if it had been only a picture fastened to a strong rubber of which she had just let go the end, General Fielding rejoined her, while Cap- tain Dettlinger hurried back again to the bar- racks, and, a few moments later, the boys i in ‘blue dashed out upon the plain with a ring- ing cheer, and were away to the rescue, Phe commander of the fort took the glass again, but as soon as he got it adjusted to his sight he uttered an imprecation. The Indians had given up the pursuit, and were running away With as much speed in another direction, as if aware of their danger. Ls CHAPTER ITI. FORWARD TO THE RESCUE. “Dast’ them!” was the commander’s ex- pression, “they have given up the chase; but our boys will not give them up so easily; they can bet their feathers on that!” | : “Then they are going away, general?” asked Mrs. Masters, venturing to lay her plump fingers upon the commander’s sleeve. “Yes; proof that they know the fort is here, which is also proof that they are no strangers,” “And the dear girls will be safe, do you think?” ‘Perfectly so, Mrs. Masters. Our boys will attend to the red-skins, But, let us go down and welcome that daring bicycle- -rider, I must hear his story of the race he has been running,’ The plump little woman ran girlishly for- pi Spouse a “ae ‘ cabal’ = ey RRS ward to the opening in the roof, and the commander took her hand to assist her down the rather steep stairs to the floor below, but she clung to his hand even further than that, perhaps unthinkingly—it had that ap- pearance. By the time they reached the outer fence of the fort grounds the bicyclist was drawing near, and they had not a great while to wait for him to come up and dismount, His face was flushed and he was perspiring freely, but with respect to his nerve he was as unconcerned as if out for an afternoon spin. He saluted as soon as he touched the ground, and General Fielding demanded: ‘‘ Safety Sam, what are you doing here?” “T am playing the role of Government scout, at present, general,” was the cheery response. ‘«¢And you came near to sharing the fate of some Government scouts I have heard of, too,” rejoined the. commander. ‘‘ You are lucky that you are wearing your scalp, I should say.’ The Cycle Sport smiled. ‘They had me on the hustle at first, eneral, 1 admit, when their horses were resher, but toward the last I was only play- ing with them to lure them on, for I wanted to give youachance at them. I was in no danger,” “* Barring accidents.” ** Of course.’ ‘* Well, where are you from? But, first, let me introduce you. Safety Sam was duly presented to the plump. widow, after which he told what had happened to Long- distance Hugh, ard what had taken place since his own departure from Freeman, ‘* And you say there are more of them?” the commander of the fort mused. ‘* Yes, there must have been a score in the band at first, as [ said, but not more than seven or eight of them were after me. They were Do doubt told off to intercept any one who might attempt to carry the news of their presence from Freeman to the fort, and as I was that one they took after me, like racers.’ . And you out-distanced them on that thing, ‘ Exactly.” ‘But, which wa the rascals go? that.” ‘‘They went in the City, or more properly, neat General V Pielding’ s face grew sct and stern in an instant, as he thought of the danger to his child and her companions, ‘“‘ Mercy!” cried the widow. ‘‘ The dear girls are in danger after all! Ok! what is going to be done, General Fielding?” And she caught hold of his arm in her new ex- citement. ‘* What girls?” the Cycle Sport demanded, “Why, my daughter and her visitors,” explained the commander. “They rode over to Silver City this morning—” ‘* Not alone!” ‘** No; there were four men in the party— five, with Shandy Graff as handy man for the day; but, what can they doif they are attacked by a dozen outlaws and Indians?” ‘‘ Merciful goodness!” gasped Mrs. Mas- ters, clutching his arm still more tightly, ‘*Can’t you ‘send soldiers to meet them, general?” “That is what I must do, immediately,” declared the commander, and he turned abruptly to call to one of his men, Of course the whole fort was out, the de- parture of Dettlinger and his men, and the news of Indians, having created ‘great in- terest. ‘‘Twenty troopers, quick as pessible, and my horse,” the commander ordered. ‘‘ We did the main body of ou have not told me direction of Silver in the direction of en eee ey oar ae fq) x must start out on the trail to Silver i im- mediately, Mrs, Masters, I must take leave of you.’ “ But, you will be careful, general?” she asked feelingly, looking up into his face. ‘Well be careful to give the red dew what they deserve, when we fall in with them, if that is w hat you mean,” was the rough but kindly response. “T mean careful of yourself,” ‘* Don’t trouble your head about me, Mrs. Masters. I’m allright. Tll have one of the men accompany you to the house—” ‘* Not at all, general, for it is only a step away. But, do not fail to bring the dear girls safely home, and be very sure to take good care—” But, the commander had lifted his hat to her and was eat hastening to meet the man who was bringing his horse, As he went he looked to speak again to Safety Sam, but the Cycle Sport was not to be seen, ‘‘ Where is that fellow?” the commander cried, stopping. “What fellow, general?” asked a soldier, saluting. ‘‘Sam Hoffman, or Safety Sam.” ‘Why, he’s gone; there he goes!” The man pointed, and the commander of the fort saw the cyclist in the distance, spin- ning away in the direction of Silver City, He had mounted, unnoticed by the gene- ral, had crossed the bridge that spanned the river just there, and was ‘‘ pedaling ” rapid- ly in the direction named, to the rescue of one he loved—Fanny Fielding, the comman- der’s daughter! | Sam Hoffman had first seen her at Silver City, and her beauty and peerless grace in the saddle captivated him immediately. Since that he had visited the fort several times, and on one occasion had escorted her for aride to try a new horse. He loved her, but there was an obstacle in the way; the young lady was engaged. Lieutenant William McKenzie was the happy man, and the Cycle Sport knew well enough that the lieutenant was one of the party who had gone to Silver City. But, that mattered not; Safety not the man to hold back where his help was needed, the more especially in this in- stance where love was the added incentive, ‘If she needs my _ help she shall have it,” he added to himself, ‘‘even to the risk- ing of my life to restore ‘her to the arms of my rival!” With that resolve, he bent to his task and spun along silently in the direction of the ‘* Junction.’ The trail from Freeman and that from Fort Fenton, to Silver City, came together about ten miles to the soutawest of Silver City, and were one trail from that point on- ward, This place had been named Junction, and here a trooper met the daily stage to Silver City and received such papers and letters as were directed to Fort Fenton, at the same time delivering any letters that had been sent from the fort. Sam knew the whole country well, for he had been doing considerable traveling since he had had _ his wheel. He was an expert rider, and with muscles first tire-out. His machine was one of the very best and he was proud of it. Soon he had left the fort out of sight, and Nothing was to be heard, save the slight noise made by the pedals and the constant hiss of the broad tires as they swept over the ground, and no living thing was in sight anywhere, Half an hour later the sport caught sight of a horseman coming from the opposite g oe at in aia rection, riding like a madman, an creased his speed to meet this rider the more z quickly, As they drew near to each —: a. ne ; at pen 7s w a, une i. ps ee hd PLT ra. ae . rr. y ALY s cP y se ret 7 - z er ai ~ y wt * ‘ oi g 4 oo 7 o Le 4 ri. ia ( 7 @ , a 3 is O | ) O en eae Agi geile > 2 a Ra like steel wire he had yet to experience his | was in the vast solitude of the almost desert. Sam was — ‘ 4 G. vars th, oy » Pe s s 4 : i *< ww. aed ey 2 py 2 . — 5 ate ; ee . Ex, “ e s ea * > Sor =“ . a ae « oy ay. MS a ae Pa ge, aw - aa “é.. 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