Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 917 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

4, He i~ e _— ~~ . —-—-,- —_—-- a : Ps" eens eee Ome ~— Flash Lightning, the Mountain Mascot. 9 again. The released prisoners had not taken proper advantage of their opportunity, and they were once more in the toils of their foes, CHAPTER IX, MOLLY MARTIN SHOWS HER METTLE, CRITICAL as was the position in which we have just beheld our principal characters, we must leave them awhile and take up another thread of the story of that day’s doings, We have told how the cross-grained old shrew, Molly Martin, had put herself on the track of tbe ruffians and their prisoner. In spite of her abuse of Flash, she had a secret lik- ing for him, and she tracked his captors as faithfully and cautiously as any trained scout could have done. Two hours afterward the old shrew made ber ss pg eeaeg at the commer of Dug-Out, her face red, her bair disheveled, her whole aspect pre- senting signs of haste and weariness, The old miner was seated at his house door, taking an afternoon smoke, while his hands were busy on some household labor, ‘* Hello, old woman!” he shouted, ‘* What’s up? You look ’sif somebody been hustlin’ you through briers, Ain’t been havin’ no set down with nobody, hey ?”’ ‘* You’re wanted,” she cried, breathlessly. ‘* What fur? Ain’t nothin’ bad come ter Bess, hey?” he demanded, taking the pipe from his mouth, ‘* ['m "feared so, I know ther’ is to that scape- race o’ yourn,” ‘*What! Flash?” cried the old man, dropping his work and springing to bis feet. ‘ Blazes! what isit, old’oman? Flash! Good Lord save us! why don’t you let it out?” ‘*] will when you guv me an openin’,” she sbrewishly replied, dropping into the seat he had vacated. **Oh, come, Molly Martin, don’t you see I’m b’ilin’ over? Let it out short, old ’oman, and Vil guv you a dollar a word.” ‘* {t’s road-agents,” she said. ‘* Dunno what tbe’r’ up to, but they’ve snatched him, and—” ‘* Road-agents! Hold on!” He rushed into the house, and came out in an instant, rifle in hand, his face red with excite- ment. ‘‘ Who are they? Whereare they? Do you know them?” he ejaculated, as he examined his " bY. ep wuss nora baby three months old,” d rs. Martin, contemptuously. ‘* Jist bridle yer tongue, and I'll teli ye somethin’, If you don’t shet up I’!/ slide.” ‘*Go ahead,” he replied, more humbly, ‘‘Go ahead. I’m listenin’,” ‘* Tf you say another word I'm off. They was road-agents, I see’d’em snatch him, and I fol- lered ’em,.” ** You—” began Duy-Out, but checked himself at toe flush of the old woman’s eye, ‘*[ treed ’em, too. Run ’em down, and come back here arter help.” if But—” he began, and again checked him- self, ‘* Ther’ was a good half dozen of ’em, I want you to rouse oP some of the miners and fotch *em here, and I'll show ye the spot.” ** Yes, and—” **T@ ve let one word more out o’ yer talk-trap Pil go home and finish my washin’, and ye kin find ’em yer Own way. You go fur help, and I'll rest, fur I’m clean teeret out,” Dug Out looked asif he would have liked to ask some more questions, but the face of his vis- itor was so full of spiteful vim that he dared not speak, Flingirg the gun over his shoulder, he hurried off toward the town, leaving her to the rest she needed. _ ‘That’s jist like men,” she soliloquized, ‘They allers want to doall the talkin’, Wo- meén don’t have no chance ter gita word in ed ways, cept they choke it in, lite I jist did,” ith a squeaking laugh of triumph, she stretched herself on the bench, and quietly awaited the coming of the rescue party, An hour passed before the old miner reap- red, He bad made good use of his time, bere followed him five or six stalwart miners, all well-armed, and with faces full of resoju- tion, The mere hint of danger to Flash would have roused the whole town to his rescue, for he was @ universal favorite. But at that time of day most of the people were engaged, and he con- tented himself with the few he found at leisure, , By this time Mrs, Martin had recovered from her fatigue. Sne was wiry and capable of great exertion, and was quite ready again for another long tramp. } a > 4 - “y ‘ ry ad <4 a a Sd *7' ' oh ’ in JS BS eee en, ae! iz) Bee AE. ~Ry wee ( * Her temper had also become somewhat molli- fied, and she did not object now to tell the cir- cumstances of the day’s adventure. The story excited her listeners greatly. They grew eager for the road, and were fnll of deep threats of vengeance on the villainous gang. ‘¢ T reckon that’s ’bout enough talk,” she final- ly declared, in a decided tone. ‘* Work’s the next thing to be did, and ther’ ain’t no time to lose. Foller me, and 1’ll fotch ye to ther spot,” She set out at once, leaving them to follow as they pleased. She had said her say, and not another word could bs got from her during the journey. With lips shut like a steel-trap she led on ata pace that kept them busy to follow her. The old lady was showing her mettle in a way she would hardly have got credit for. Soon they had disappeared in the distance, and the cottage of serted, But, leaving them to their journey, we must return to the captives, whom we last saw pris- oners in the hands of Griscom and his gang. Since we left them, a marked change has come upon the situation. Flash is again bound, the rope being placed again over the beam, and one of the party stands with tha noose in his hand ready to throw it over the head of the prisoner. Jacobs, who has been set free, is grasping Bess firmly by tue wrist, with a look of mali- cious triumph on hisface, The tables have been turned very much to his satisfaction. Griscom stood contemplating —is captive with a look of cold-blooded determination. ‘You thought you were playing a smart dodgein destroying that paper,” he suid, coldly. **Do you know what that document was, and what yon have really done?” “IT never was good at guessing riddles,” an- swered Flash. ** lt was good for a fortune of two hundred thousand dollars, which has been waiting for a claimant ever since the death of your father and mother, If I had gained that paper I would not have cared what became of you, lt would have served my purpose, which is to handle that fortune. Without the paper I cannot handle 1t safely while you are living. So you have signed your own death-warrant, *That’s the game. is it?’ rejoined Flash. **T’'m glad the cat’s out of the bag, That’s very useful information.” ‘** lt won’t be of much use to you. These good fellows would have given you your life; but since you’ve played them that trick, and put bullets in two of them, you've cut off your last hope. You’ve got to hang.” * What’ll you bet on that?” demanded Flash easil y ‘* Dm ready to take odds you don” hang me, ‘*There’s been enough of this nonsense,” re- joined Griscom angrily. He turned and spoke to the men, who had set standing by witb grim faces and merciless ooks, Instantly the one with the noose dropped it over Flash’s neck, drew it tight around his throat, and adjusted the knot, At this moment there was an unlooked-for diversion, Pess had been listening to the con- versation with heaving breast and flashing eyes. But she had re_saired silent and motionless, as “ recognizing tha. words from her would be use- ess. Now, with a: sudden jerk, she tore her wrist from Jacob’s grasp, aud flew to the rescue of her lover. ‘*'You shali not hang him!’ shecriea, ‘‘ He a done you no harm! Yov ghall not hang im!’ As she spoke she clasped him closely in her Seas and strove to tear the noose from his neck. This she was prevented from doing by the man wtio stood beside him ‘‘Oh! Jet bim go!” she pleaded ‘* He is so young and strong and handsome! And he is the only one in the world that cares for me! Ob! Jet him go!” ‘‘Take her off!” commanded Griscom,. un- moved by her appeal. Two of the men seized her and tore her loose from the prisoner. She broke away from them and threw herself at Griscom’s feet. **Oh, don’t hang bim! don’t hang him!’ she Pleaded. ‘‘He is ali l have in the world: the only one I lovein the wo:ld! Oh, for my sake don't hang him |”: “* You don't deserve this girl if you can’t take better care of her,” suid Grisecom, coldly, to Jacobs, i on ee ae ace ll gp ERPS %, r - = At this hint Jacobs seized her and tore her away, holding her too firmly to again escape, though she struggled desperately in his i ‘* Don’t mind me, Bess, I ain’t worth it,” said Flash. ‘* This hound has the whip hand now, but he’s got Old Dug-Out to deal with yet.” ‘Oh, it’s too dreadful!” she writhed with agony. ‘‘It will kill me! It. will kill me!” ‘‘Swing him off!” cried Griscom. ‘‘ Don’t mind that baby of a girl. We'll see what Old Dug-Out will do ” Two of the men seized the rope, and were on the point of bauling the captive from the floor when there came a new diversion. A sound at the window drew all eyesin that direction. What they saw there was a wrinkled, weather-beaten face, full of fierce resolution; and the protruding muzzle of a rifle, ‘* You want ter see what Old Dug-Out can do. ug-Out remained de- | Here’s what,” came the harsh voice, and simul- taneously the rifle cracked with a sharp re- pore. The men at the rope hastily loosened their hold, as the singing bullet whizzed between their hands. Ere the villains could recover from their as- tonishment, Dug-Out was through the window and on the floor, At the same moment the door of the room flew open, and Mrs, Martin rushed in, followed by a group of armed and stalwart men, Only one thing met the old woman's eyes, There was ber niece struggling in the grasp of aman. With a yell of rage she flew at Jacobs eaught him by the aair, and began to pummel him with a vim that she would hardly have been thought capable of Meanwhile Dug-Out had rushed forward to Flash. thrown the rope from his neck, and cut th cords that bound his hands. ‘‘Good!” cried Flash, ‘‘I offered to bet him odds that he wouldn’t hang me, Where is he? Hillo!” He had just caught sight of Griscom climbing through the window. He flew to stop him, but was too late. The villain bad escaped, One of the miners spruug there with his rifle, but could see nothing at which to shoot, The fugitive had dodged under cover. The miner sprung through the window and rushed in pursuit, Meanwhile Bess had again clasped Flash in her arms like a recovered treasure, and was weeping tears of joy over him; Mrs, Martin was still pummeling her helpless foe, and the road- agents were crouching in dread before the rifles 8) aa miners. The tables had baen decidedly turn CHAPTER X, LOVE AND JEALOUSY. Wer must go forward several days from the riod of our last scene. A few words will suf- ce to tell the outcome of the situation in which we left our characters, Griscom, as we have seen, hadescaped., As for the road-agents whom the miners had captured twoof them, who were recognized as notorious desperadoes, had been oe ov the rope which they had provided for ash. Jerry Jacobs only escaped the same fate at tess’s solicitation. Instead of hanging him, they gave him a good twenty-five with a rope’s end, and let him go, as of too little account for further trouble. The others were brought to Payrock and 1oiged in the lock-up, until 1t could be decided what should be done with them, Twoof them were wounded—one seriously, the other slight- y. Such was the state of affairs a week after the events narrated, Our story now brings us back to a familiar scene, the exterior of Dug-Ouat’s cottage, where we find the old man seated on his favorite bench, He has in his hand the doc- uments which Griscom had pretended to read for him. Before him stands bess Martin, looking very quiet and sober for her. She seems to have just heard a surprising communication, ‘You ain’t sure” she asked anxiously. ‘‘Dead sure. It’s down in black and white in these yere dokyments. I jist got that rabbit- faced dude, that’s dawdlin’ arter Lindy Melton, to read ’em, and he guv me the real gist on ‘em, I tell yer, Flash is a gentleman born, and is got a big fortun waitin’ fur him.” “Thats what that chap Griscom said, when he was going to hang him rejoined Bess, gloomily. ‘‘I’m ever so sorry.’ “Sorry, gal? Whatfur? Sorry ’cause Flash is got a fortune comin ?” ‘* He'll never have nothin’ to do with me agin,” she sadly answered, ‘A little ragged 4 ina . ta