Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 917 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 After some more of this artful conversation, the pair rose and walked away, band in hand, repressing their laughter until out of hearing of their intended victim. When Tim emerged from his concealment his face was red with repressed passion. ‘*Base ingrate!” he ejaculated. ‘‘ I a tailor’s advertisement! Ia specimen of shoe-polish! who have moved in the best New York society, ing at Flash! I, | | nothin’! there! 'zept she lets him alone.” and ama scion of one of the best families! I[ | will be avenged, bitterly avenged on them both. They shall see what a Spruce can do when his blood is up!” And shaking his fist threateningly, Tim hast- ened across the lawn and out at the gate, blind with the rage that burned in his insulted soul. Meanwhile the lurking form bebind the bush had risen and crept away. On gaining the fields beyond the garden, the small figure ranrwildly, with corvulsed face, and wringing hands, until, stumbling in her flight, she fell to the ground, where she lay moaning and burying her fingers in the moist earth, It was little Bess Martin. Bitterly had she paid for her jealous espionage on him she loved. She had been wounded to the soul by the thoughtless words spoken in ignorance of her presence. The arrows shot by the fun-loviu pair had flown further tban they dreamed of, and bitterly hurt one whom both of them would have grieved sorely to have wounded. But the mischief was done, and Bess la moaning like a stricken fawn, her heart too full for words, She had not known before how a she loved Flash. A few heedless words taught her the lesson of a life, CHAPTER VI. A SCENE OF EXCITEMENT. Our scene now shifts to another locality near the village of Payrock. It is a wild spot, close by the mountains, and a mile or two from the village. The ground is rocky and broken, with astream running down the face of the moun- tain-side, and falling in a cascade into the plain, Near by is a dilapidated frame house, that pate as if it might at any moment tumble into ruins, This dwelling occupies a hollow near the hill- side. The ground rises beyond it, and then sinks away into another cavity, from which the house is quite concealed, ‘Chis is a bushy re- gion, well calculated to conceal those who desire to keep under cover. At the moment of our approach there is a group of men in this second hollow. Two of them are persons whom we have already met, Abel Griscom and Jerry Jacobs, The remain- der, who stand more in the background, com- prise a half-dozen evil-faced fellows, several of whom look as if they would think no more of cutting a throat than eating a breakfast. *“‘This is the spot,” announced Jacobs, in a cautious tone, ‘The old woman’s hut is just over the hill. Here’s where they come when they want to get out of reach of her tongue. I’ve watched them.” ‘“* And I can trust these good fellows?” asked Griscom. : ‘* Bless you, they’re good for anything, from robbing a tin shop to blowing up a mine- ‘¢Then lay yourambush, Hush! I hear voices now. Quick! we must not be seen.” ‘* Don’t forget that I’m to have the gal for my share of the profits.” ‘¢ AndI the boy, whom you didn’t kill, for all your bragging.” | ‘* No, but he nearly killed me. He kicked me ’most into a jelly.” ; As they spoke the group of ruffians concealed behind the bushes, followed by Griscom and Jacobs, also disappeared into convenient lurk- -plaees, he voices that had been heard now grew louder. One of them was raised to a sbrill, scolding tone; the other was much softer and lower. ‘*Tt’s allers the way!” cried the first, in the voiceof an old shrew, ‘‘ allers gallervantin’ and peramb’latin’ round ’s if you owned all Russhy, “es leavin’ me to work my fingers’ ends off to eep ye. “Why, Aunty,” answered the voice of Bess, oe everything you want me to; you know 0. ““%Cept when you ain’t runnin’ round_ the country with that lazy Joon of a Flash, Drat his pictur’, he’s makin’ a fool o’ ye, gal,” ‘He ain’t!” cried Bess with spirit. ‘‘ You’re aware pickin’ at him, Aunty; and you know that he ain’t got his match in Payrock.” ‘*Not as a big, skulkin , lazy lubber, I know he ain’t. Jist you go on with that work, and i$ 5 » ve : * : ” +h ro | ot : a ‘ , oo) | i Flash Lightning, the Mountain Mascot. quit thinkin’ bout him, or you'll hear from me mighty suddent.” A slam of the door accented these words, The next instant Bess appeared over the edge of the hill, looking very red and indignant. ‘‘That’s always the way! She’s always pick- She knows it hurts me and she I won’t do She clinched her small (st and shook it toward the cottage, while her eyes flamed with indignation. At this instant a new figure appeared over the brow of the hill, and came toward her ata rapid ce, ‘* Hillo, Bess! Who’s been rubbing you the wrong way? Ain’t had another set-to with the old woman, eh?” It was tho form and voice of Flash. He came up ead put his arm familiarly around her waist. She shook his arm off hastily and sprung to one side, ‘*Pon’t do that! she cried. ‘‘ Don’t do what? What's stung you, Bess? I don’t hear bornets buzzing ’round here?” ‘I’ve found you out, that’s ail,” she cried, de- fiantly. ‘*‘ You’ve been foolin’ me, lettin’ on you cared for me, and you don’t one bit!” ‘* Who told you that, Bess? Whoever did told you a lie as big as a meeting-house.” She looked at him through the screen of hair that fell over her flashing eyes. ‘‘ What'd you do to the chap that done it?” she asked. ‘* I'd kick him into the middle of next week!” declared Flash, in a tone of anger. ‘¢Then you can kick yourself, for it was you that lied,” she passionately replied. ‘‘ You're alldown on me, you, and Aunty, and that red- headed Melton girl, and I don’t care whether I live ornot. I’ve’most a mind to go and drown myself, for I ain’t no use here, and 1’m in every- body’s ny ‘* Why, bless your eyes, Bess, what’s bu’sted? 1 thought this was brave little ean 4 Martin, You ain’t going to play the grown-up baby, are you? ‘‘Not for you!” she declared, defiantly. ‘‘ You’ve been treating me like a grown-up baby, and you sha’n’t have another chance. There now!’ She jerked away from the hand with which he would have detained her, and ran impulsive- ly away, looking back in angry reproach at him as she did so, Flash stood in surprise that was almost con- sternation. ‘“ Whew!” he whistled. ‘'Here’s a breeze! What under the sun ails the girl? Ive seen a ne many of her tantrums, butI never knowed er to go off quite so sbort as that before; and without anybody touching the trigger. ‘‘Blame it all, it kind of upsets me. Some- thing’s put the mischief in the gal, But what makes her open on me! I ain’t done anything to hurt her, and I won't standit. If she thinks I’m that sort of a fellow, she’ll find it’s a big misdeal she’s playing, that’s all.” He turned and walked angrily away. He had hardly gone before Bess made her ap- pearance again, The expressionof her face had greatly changed. She now looked contrite and full of self-reproach. ‘‘Flash!” she called, softly. ‘*‘ Where are you, Flash?—Oh, he’s gone, and I’ve driven him away! He'll never come back again! I could tear out my eyes for insulting him.” She flung herself passionately on the ground and buried her face in the grass, **T wish I was dead!” sheexclaimed, ‘‘ There’s nothin’ to live for now. |’vedriven away Flash. He’ll never look at me again, And there’s no- body else in this world I care for, or that cares for me.” After a moment of this self-reproach she sprung to her feet with her eyes flashing with a new light. ‘‘There! [ am playin’ the little foolagain! He doesn’t care for me. He’s in love with that Linda Melton. Theugly thing! 1 couldscratch her eyes out; and his, too!” ‘‘That’srigbt. Pelt it into him!” said a voice near her, ‘‘He’sa low-down scallawag; a reg- ular dead-beat. He’sonly playin’on you. I’m the only chap in these diggin’s that loves you,” She started and looked round. It was Jerry Jacobs who had spoken. He stood near, gazing on her with eyes of admira- tion. Her feeling again changed, asa look of scorn and anger leaped into her eyes. ‘* You love me? you—toad! You dare to run down Flash! If you were swelled uF as big as an ox you wouldn’t be as much of a man as always does it on that account, I won't let you do that!” me _ - - — ee — — ——— ee) could be made out of his little finger. You’d best git away before he comes, for he won't leave a grease-spot of you next time,” ‘What! that skulking hound!” cried Jacobs,. valiantly. ‘* Why, the next time we come to- gether, I’ll let him see what a man of my sort can do, ‘6 You'll show him how fast you can run,” she added, scornfully. ‘‘ You’d better, for there’s frog-ponds and quarries around here too.” Jacobs strode forward angrily. ‘‘ Do you suppose I care for him? To prove [ don’t, I’m going to have that kiss that you owe me,” He caught her by the wrist as he spoke, ‘*T owe you a kiss?’ ‘‘ Yes; and you shall pay it.” ‘t Here it is, then.” She struck himin the face with all the strength of her strong young hand, Then tearing her wrist from his grip, she sprung away with a laugh of defiance, Jacobs stood dazed for a moment, while his. face blazed with rage. ‘*‘ How do you like that style of a Rocky Moun- tain kiss?” ‘+ 7’]] make you pay well for it, you vixen,” he hissed, as he gave vent to a loud whistle. Bess had sprung toward the bushes behind her, At the sound of the whistle three men leaped from the shelter of these bushes. Two of them grasped herarms, The third, who held a muffling cloth, attempted to place it over her mouth. He was not quick enough to Perddne her giv- ing one loud cry of alarm. Before sbe could re- at it her mouth was muffled so closely that she ad hardly room to breathe. ‘* Away with the jade! Quick!” cried Jacobs, ‘*Two of you will be enough. The rest stay.” Bess struggled with her captors, but she was as eo re 9 in their hands. In a moment they had lifted her from the ground and were carry~ ing her away. he others returned to their place of ambush, and deep silence again fell upon the scene, But the door of the cottage was heard to open, and footsteps to approach. The wrinkled face of a shrewish old woman appeared above the brow of the bill, ‘“You, Bet!” she cried loudly. ‘‘ What are you yellin’ "bout now? Have you done that work I guv you? Drat the gal, she’s gone ag’in, and never tetched it! Won’t 1 go for her when she comes back, the lazy young shrimp!” After thus giving vent to her feelings the old virago withdrew. But, she had not fairly done so before a form appeared in anothes direction, and the ae figure of Flash came bounding over the bill. He looked on the apparently deserted scene in surprise. ‘*That was Bess’s voice,” hesaid. ‘' And, she don’t scream that way without it means some- thing. What has happened to her? She don’t seem quite in hersound senses to-day, I hope the little wildfire basn’t done herself a harm,” He advanced into the bushes. As he did so the whistle again sounded, and four strong men sprung suddenly upon him, Flash was taken by surprise, and firmly ee by his arms and shoulders before he airly knew what had happened. But be was not the kind of lad to submit uietly. He gee ite fiercely with his captors, waptye AA them backward and forward over the ss, and making herculean efforts to escape, X Poa ama ia he hissed, ‘‘What is this or They kept silent, It needed all their strength to hold their vigorous captive, and they had no voice for words, | For one moment, indeed, it looked as if he wouldescape. A powerful jerk had torn one arm loose, and his fist shot like a trip-hammer into the face of his strongest assailant, felling him to the ground. Ere he could repeat the blow his arm wag seized again, and at that moment a heavy stroke: from a club fell on the back of bis head, knock- ing him forward like a dead log. + t was Jerry Jacobs to whom he owed this: ow, ‘Tie him now, while his sense is gone. He’s: as strong and fierce as a young tiger,” cried Jacobs, ‘*Off with him! Don’t let him escape, on your lives!” hey dragged their prisoner away, having: first bound his wrists. He was so dazed with the blow that he could but fairly stand, and they had almost to carry him, ‘‘Talk about the flash lightning of the Rockies!” declared Jacobs, scornfully. ‘‘t knowed I could fetch him when the Jacobs biood.