Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 906 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

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The Cycle Sport dropped from his wheel, and the trooper drew rein when he came up. ‘““What's the matter, Shandy?” Sam de- manded. ‘‘My God, Maister Hoffman, I am carry- ing the worst news to General Fielding!” ‘*Then you have encountered the outlaws and Indians?” ** Yes, yes. One man is dead, poor Char- lie Weaver, and Lieutenant McKenzie is bad hurt. And that is not the worst of it—” ‘Tell me at once.” ‘The ladies—they have been taken pris- oners, with the other men, and I was the’ only one to get over But, I can’t stop; I must run my horse till he drops, and my own legs must do the rest—” | ‘*Hold on, Shandy! General Fielding is coming this way now, with his men. No need for you to go any further. Fanny Fielding —she was not hurt?” ‘*No; but, they have got her—” *“Where was the attack made?” | ‘* Half way between here and Junction,” ‘**Then it was not long ago.” **Less than an hour.” “And which way did the miscreants “To the east, bearing toward the hills, There was a dozen of ’em, at the least.” ‘Yes, I know. Well, you muy as well stay right here and rub your horse and wait for the commander, for he will soon be here. Tell him Safety Sam is on the trail, and tell him to push along.” ‘* Be ’sure’ I will, Maister Hoffman.” The sport sprung again to the saddle of his wheel, and went spinning along at a rapid rate, ‘It is worse than 1 imagined,” he said to himself, ‘* I hoped they would not meet the desperadoes, though I knew if they did it would be the beginning of trouble, “And Fanny Fielding—let them harm one hair of her head; and :I’]l hunt them to the death, every wag. them, if it takes me She must be rescued—yes, at any risk, And I'll do.it, or [ll lay down my lite in the effort. Safety Sam, your work is be- fore you.” Spite of the miles he had already covered, he bent to his task and made his wheel carry him forward like the fleetest horse, and, in due time, came to the scene of *the attack. On the ground lay the body of Charles Weaver, one of the most popular young offi- cers of Fort Fenton. Not far away, under the edge of a clump of stunted mesquite, supporting himself up- on his elbow while be looked to learn what was coming—for his ears were quick and he had caught the sound of the bicycle, was Lieutenant McKenzie. ‘* Safety Sam!” he exclaimed. _ ** McKenzie!” eR _ * Yes, curse my luck! ” You met Shan- ‘*] did, and General Fielding is coming with some of the troopers. I must spin right on, while there is daylight left.” The sun had been down for some minutes ginning to hover over the plain. _ ‘Sam, you willdo mea favor?” : _ “It itis one that I can do in a minute or ie cad a ” * 4 4 ‘ rh 7 o, tee 6s % P - J a ‘a ee Ry)? or aViukt f ahd F >’ > ’ > ee : AT: "> : td a 4 . a e SPAT bs Watt e} eo a ae PA ee, RR y # 3 : = j | : - ‘ i as” -% Pi op “ a4 ha » : *, ALM ul F Sf <oe s oy a. * bee ftv g | Ae re m q | * ty e¥ a ik wt Sh “ye, ie ya > *.. 4 + “iz ~ > ee ' , we . ow, s 7 = ¢ "ty sah s PY A at . mets er Ae en i SN ws T-t3,73 Vent aiae > * a j - . J . . —" - P , ° . “ - mae? : ‘ ~~ . , . . * s. *?* : 5 ie t * OTe . ; ~ . 2 —S a iC + ‘ } ad eu . : ; a P) 2 * ‘ ga! ' i J . - ° 7 ~ 2 1 4 Per 4 ‘ a4 tan a’ Ts Tees , ' ie, tA Fy A) os % * oar wF f — *. . * ‘ “ae +, =e 4, . 4 \ st : x ’ wit “ev ‘1 ae Sys ‘24 ‘ ey) 4 cs orn ie pert ; . we i cq Rs ah wees % rea ae Lb Ay ; r Pe Fue 2% iw cae ee ae ay ; PAIN ote vm eh) hes . * F 7 a -_ 2 ae EL eyo a Peer es can do here. Promise me that you will res- cue Fanny Fielding, if you—” ‘*T have already registered the vow that [ will lay down my life in the effort, if need be,” the Cycle Sport interrupted. The face of the lieutenant paled. ‘* Then you are still my rival?” he interro- gated, ‘* You will risk your life because you love her?” ‘*‘T will not deny that I love her, McKen- zie; but, that aside, I would attempt her res- cue anyhow, or the rescue of any other wo- man in similar distress, Where are you hurt?” ‘‘ My leg is broken, but I am hurt worse in the heart, just now. Well, it is your chance, Sam, and God speed you! Rescue her, at any risk, even if it isto rob me of her love. But, in mercy kill her rather than leave her in the handsof Grat Benson this night,” ‘- Grat Benson, the deserter, your sworn and bitter enemy!” ‘‘-Yes, yes; the same, He is the leader of the band, I knew himin spite of his dis- guise.” «* And I have heard that he swore he would rob you of Fanny Ficlding, even if he had to resort to desperate means to doit. Then he was forbade to speak to her, and he de- serted.” ‘‘ And he is just the fellow to keep his word, Heis bad, clear through andthrough, Sam, and has got these cut-throats together and has come here for the one purpose of carrying out his diabolical threats. My God! it maddens me to think of it! Save her, Sam, even if it be to make her your wife!” ‘ll save her, or give my life to the ef- fort,” was the grim response, ‘‘Hearken: They went to the east, bear- ing toward the hills, but the last I could see of them from here they were separating as if they intended to scatter in every direction—” ‘* Good heavens! If that is the case she is lost!” | ‘‘No, no; hear me out: She is in the hands of Benson himself, and he rides a big brown, That is the track of his horse, just there. Examine it well. You can pick out the same track where they separated, and that will set youright, If you are success- ful, you will at least owe this much to me.” ‘‘T’ll not forget it, lieutenant, You said something about his disguise.” ‘‘He is rigged out foran Indian. Some other fellow i or was, pretending to be at the head of the band.” ‘¢ Fanny was on her horse?” ‘‘ Yes, and tied to the saddle when they started from here.” ‘‘Good enough. Now we are beginning to get the matter in shape, McKenzie, and I only regret that you can’t go with me. ’ ‘* Rivals as we are, eh?” ‘‘Rivals as we are. We are not foes, thank God, ‘even if love has strained our friendship,” Safety Sam was standing with his foot on the step, and with his hands on the handles of the handle-bar, ready for the start. ‘‘ Anything 1 can do for you?” he paused to ask. ‘* Nothing, Sam, Never mind me, but hurry on to rescue her. Take care not to let them get a chanceat you, or she is lost,” “Pll try to.” With that, the Cycle Sport sprung to the seat and went rolling away. William McKenzie looked after him, and for a few moments his lips moved silently as if in prayer. | ‘Tt is a daring risk,” he then said to him- self aloud, ‘** but who would not take it, for her? If he is successful, he ought to have first claim upon her, but—”~ - Hedid not finish itin words. | Meantime Safety Sam was pressing steadily forward on the trail, at good speed and with- out asign of tiring. | re The ground was not bad for his purpose, Safety Sam, the Cycle Sport. ‘‘You do not understand; it is nothing you | being almost barren. It was one of those ay om places where, in ages past, the sea must have washed, and which the ages present are only beginning to reclaim from the desert. The trail was broad and easy to follow. But, night was now coming on, and every Lessing minute made it more and more diffi- cult. Before it was quite dark, the lone cycle scout came tothe place where the band of cut-throats had dispersed, and without the clue he possessed he would, perhaps, have been utterly helpless. But, would he be so? Let us see. Dine he first cf ali lighted the lamp with which his bicycle was furnished, and by its light he scanned the ground, It was easy to pick out the tracks of the big brown horse, and presently he struck the trail where it and one other horse had gone off together. A few steps further along, and he picked up one of Fanny Field- ing’s gauntleted riding-gloves| CHAPTER YV. THE SPORT'S CLOSE SHAVE. “Ha!” he exclaimed, as he caught it up and pressed it to his lips, ‘‘this isa grand discovery, The trail would have been mine anyhow, for certainly 1 would have searched well for some guiding clue.” Still, he would not deny that the informa- tion he had received from McKenzie had led. him to the finding of the glove, and that it. would be the means of saving time which otherwise he must have lost. 1t was a satis- faction, though, to feel that he could have done without it, Alone and unobserved, he pressed the glove fondly, then put it in his pocket, Walking a little way, to make sure that he was not mistaken about the tracks, he finally put the lamp in its place and mounted the wheel, “The light will be a telltale,” he mused: ‘but, no matter, I can’t do without it, and if I find I am discovered it will take buta moment to put it out and run & new course,” , He found now that he had to go at a slower gait than before. He had to keep to the trail by the light, and to be sure of it had to be constantly ert. Still, his speed was not slow, by any means. The ground was smooth enough for safe riding, and, at the same time, the tracks were clear cut and distinct, : He pressed on, and still on, with all the silence possible. | Prenenisly he came to a Sudden stop and dismounted. There were here some droppings along the trail, and he touched one of these with his. finger. | It was still warm with animal heat, and this discovery told him that at last he was close upon hig foes, and that it would be necessary for him to observe all possible caution. “They can’t be far away,” he said to him- self. ‘* Another little spurt, and I'll have to dispense with the light, I suppose.” He remounted, and, guiding the machine with one band, held the lamp with the other in such a way that it lighted up the ground — just ahead and yet could not be seen a distance off, save in one direction, Some minutes of this, and he again stop- ped; he thought he caught the sound, of horses not a very great distance away. Turning low the light he slipped the lamp into his pocket, and’ mounting, he took a spin forward through the darkness, at a rapid pace, | BA” Soon he halted once more, There was no mistaking the sound now; horses were only a little distance ahead, go- great ing at an easy lope. he must have run perhaps, discovered, A little further,and down upon them, to be, ——— < a On - =~ ~—— a ee —_—=——