Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 962 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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10 Flip-Flap Fred at Hard Pan. but she completed the circuit of the camp before | then, perhaps, by and by, you could slip away striking off at a tangent; and unless her keen | and tell where I am, eyes had been deceived there had been no one |; friend, and give you ver ~ themselves in the neighborhood for some e, The course that she finally took led her over something like a natural path, along the crest of along roll in the ground. When she had fol- lowed it for half a mile, or something less, she found herself on the bank of a small stream, The water was clear, and though shallow it was yr to look at. She sat down with her hands n her lap and gazed at the water. It was a leasant place, early in the morning, before the eat of the sun had penetrated to the spot, and it was the most natural thing in the world that she should linger there after once having courage to reach it. After a while the low murmur of the stream as it went over a little ripple of sand and gravel appeared to act asan opiate. She settled intoa more comfortable position, her head drooped forward, her eyes closed, and a listener could have heard the low, long breathing of the sleeper, or ten minutes or so there were no other sounds to be heard, and her rest was unbroken. Then there was an intruder. A man crept silently around the nearest clump at her back, and with bis eyes fixed steadily on her, ap- proached with crouching, stealthy steps. His presence remained unnoticed. If Dandy had been there no doubt he would have given her timely warning; and the manevidently ex- ted something of the kind, for, from time to e, his eyes wandered away a trifle, while he explored the surroundings, to make certain that she was alone. He even loosened his revolver that was in his belt, a reg, Bee would scarcel have taken time to do if he not had a suspi- cion that she might not be as entirely alone as she seemed, Finally, bis hand drop on her shoulder, in A grasp that when it tened a trifle more would hold ber helpless, For the present it was firm but did not hurt. At that her eyes opened, and she tried to ety @ loud cry coming from between her ps. Instantly the other hand of the man passed ote her lips, while he spoke in a low, gruff ne: ** Not a word, purty; nota word, There won’t be a mite ov harm done yer, bless yer purty face, ef yer only lis’sens ter reason, I don’t want ter be rough; an’ ef yer gives me ther wink thet you'll be reas’n’ble [’ll take my paw off yer trap an’ give yer a chance ter breath’ twice afore yer talks once. But don’t yer go teropen yermouth fura yell. There ain’t no show fur nobody ter hear yer, but I’d shut off ther wind, hard, on jin’ral princerpuals. Now, is yer goin’ ter bea good gal, er hey J] got ter make yer one? You oughter see how it are yerself.” iss Fanny, after that first expression of , was not as frightened as the fellow ex- Pe to find her, and when his hand loosened a hen he would be your much more than the other man, I now. Go as you please.” am. ready Fanny yes after a style that was almost in- fantile, Asshe was also dressed for the part, it appeared to be all in good faith, and the man looked at her after a puzzled fashion. ‘‘ Well, ef you ain’t a cool One! Blessed ef I | don’t feel like bein’ yer friend, aryhow, Hf | ae -— = thort ary one war goin’ter do yer harm, I’d turn yer loose an’ die a-shoutin’, I jest would do that, honey. But it'll be all right, an’ you ever so much better off than traipsin’ the camps in that ole wagon. Come with me. I’m goin’ ter treat yer well, an’ don’t yer furgit it.” He spoke with a heartiness that was par- tially reassuring, and though he shifted his grasp from her shoulder to her hand, which he held so that there was no danger of her breaking away by a sudden effort, ue was careful that the clasp of his rough paw should not hurt her, and she was guided rather than led away from the unlucky spot she had chosen for her meditations, The fellow was a stranger, or he might not have been so easily deceived. Fanny was not ont older, but she was wiser than she looked, and it was her plan to throw the man entirely off his guard. She succeeded so well that he never noticed, nor su that she had left behind something to attract the attention of Amariah when he came thither in search of her. She was really wiser than he, because, when she saw that his course led along the bank of the stream, she expected him to take to the water, and thus leave it uncertain which way he had gone from the spot. But he bad no fear of immediate pursuit, and was inno haste. Fora mile or more he picked his way along what was nowhere a very un- even trail, until he came to the mouth of a small gorge. Here he halted and gave a low whistle. The signal was answered immediately by the game sound, twice repeated, and then Fan's captor whistled once more, in a peculiar man- ner, At once there was a sound of horses’ feet, up the gulch, and then another man ap : riding one horse, and leading two by the bri- dles, ‘* Come at last, bev yer!” said this man, as he rode up to the two, ‘* Got ther kid, too. Glad ter seeit. Begun ter b’leve it wai goin’ ter be a water haul. Climb in. It’s time ter be goin’, an’ it ain’t no small ride we’ve got ter make afore sundown. Tell that time I won’t feel sure my neck’s safe on my shoulders, Thar’s double chances, an’ both ov ’em ag’in’ us.” ** Tell me su’thin’ I don’t know,” growled the first man, as he swung Fanny or the back of one of the horses, ‘* An’ now, little al, jest member w’ot I bin a-tellin’ ov yer, an’ don’t try ter make trouble, I know yer kin ride, ’cause I’ve see’d yer at it. ttle from her mouth she quietly drew her lips | Ef yer tries ter git away, Tom, here, kin swing away from his paw, ‘‘If you please, don’t be violent, I know very a lan’ rope, fur all thet’s out; an’ I kin stop a hoss ef it kills hossan’rider, Here we g’:: an’ well that Iam alone, and that if I cried ever so | you see thet you keeps betwixt us two till fu . er much it would not bring any one to my aid, | orders.” All [I can do is to listen to what you have tosay; | , Soabe the better | Tom, with disgust in his tone, and the less trouble I give, no it willbe. What do you want?” ‘‘They sed you was a gal ov sense, an’ now (ll swear to it. Ov course I ain’t alone, an’ ef ary one did come it would be ther wuss fur when they struck my pals in ther bushes, Ther hull, dismal fact are that ye’r’ wanted, Ef it | kee : ! ‘‘ An’ yer ain’t goin’ ter rope her on?’ asked ‘* She'll be a- comin’ slip-jack on us afore we've gone a mile.” ‘*‘ Did ther captain make me ther boss—er you —ov this outfit? She’s a gal ov sense, an’ ain’t ’em | goin’ to give her frien’s ary trouble, when they’s tryin’ to be good tober, You lead off, an’ I'll my eyeson her. lil bet she follers like a war my say-80 | wouldn’t bother. yer a blessed | darlin’. ’ minnit, but yer wanted bad, ez yer must hev uessed long afore this, I don ther least danger ov ary harm, an’ mebbe thar will be a heap ov profit. in it, so Vd jest advise yer ter come alony without worry, no wuss than draggin’ round ther countryin a cart along with a ragged ole lunatik an’a bear what may eat yer up ary moment; an’ ef | ain’t mistook ther biggest, it’ll Dve knoweda leetle gal like you when she went | marks, away, ez come back in silks an’di’mun’s, Jest remember that, an’ come along.” **T don’t want any silks and diamonds, and [ would sooner be with Dandy and my father than with any one or anything else in the world. But if I must go, [ will, Only remem- ber that Lam going back to them as soon as I can; and that they will be looking for me, If they find you with me, they may be angry enough to do you serious harm. Amariah can be very cruel when any one interferes with me; and Dandy would eat you up if [ gave the word, Better let me go, Or, if you daren’t let me go, | With a grunt the other led the way, and Fan- ’% think ther’s | ny, who was much surprised at the confidence that was being bestowed upon ber, spoke to her horse, gathered up the reins, and followed with It can’t be | as little exhibition of feeling as though she had been the companion of these ruffians all her life, The way led through retired places, and secret spots. Here and there turns and doubling’ were be a heap sight better. | made at points where their footsteps left no While they journeyed at their leisure, they were wary all the time. It would puzzle a good trailer to follow them, unless he knew the point for which they were aiming— and that was something that neither Amariah nor Fanny had any kuowledge of. Still, the only sign of nervousness that the girl gave was in occasionally glancing backward, When she did that the man in the rear smiled rimly, but said nothing. Aslongas her glances hee upon no one but himself she was welcome to ook, They made one halt, that lasted for several hours, In that time they had a cold dinner, --<ssslgssS—s-pteetett a and the horses a rest, in addition to what they could pick up to eat, and the long drink they took from the spring that seemed to have had no other visitor since the times to which the memory of man ran not back, When they started again they all felt the better for the rest, and the pace was faster than it had been. They crossed a lonely plain, now; and at length, just as night fell, entered a defile that led into the heart of a desolate chain of hills, And as yet there were no signs of any pursuit, nor any indications of their destination. CHAPTER XI. AMARIAH BEGINS TO SHOW SENSE. FAIRY FREp had a little body, but his heart was large. For a moment he was sorely tempt- ed to use the revolver that he was so free to men- tion, The remembrance that Holdfast was a man of resources, and would hardly be taken off his guard, had nothing to do with his refraining from expressing his indignation in that forcible manner, But it had neverseemed that Amariah was a bad-hearted sort of a fellow, or ove that would do a mean action and then glory in it. If Holdfast had been silent, or even angry, Fred’s suspicions would have speedily ripened into certainties, At thatlaugh, and the strange declaration that followed it, though Limberleg was at first angered it was only for a moment, Then he began to think that there was a mystery behind this, and he choked down his wrath, and spoke in a more friendly tone. ‘* Reck’n you knows best what’s what; an’ ef er comes up ter ther scratch J kin foller, yit. But yer don’t want ter waste too much time 4- leffin’?, What I wants ter know is, w’ot yer’ go- in’ ter do?’ ‘‘Thet’s all right, Freddy. I’m a-goin’ tew foller, tew see whar she goes tew. Ef yew be a ood boy yew kin come tew. But re-comember, it’s not funny whar I ’spect tew go. Thar kin be no backin’ eout ef yew start onto the trip. An’ ef yew try tew buck I shell jest leave yew alone tew starve, er die ez ther fates a. d’rect, Air yew with me cl’ar threw, er not? Yew kin take my hand er leave it alone jest ez you please. Ef yew do yew want tew foller me, an’ not say another word.” ‘* Good ernuf, Azariah, Ef yew talk thet way I kin see thet ther’s ter be more fun than yer wants ter let on, an’ ez yz it’s fur Fan’s sake yer kin count me in, Bub when it’s a choice itwixt Amariah gn Fan Pll siay with ther gal. Now, ef yer wants ter take me ez pardon them figgers here’s me hand fur ninety days on- loss other wise deescharged,” The boy held oué his hand as he spokes and Azariah grasped av without any gushfying speeches. The two, who seemed to have come together so entirely by chance, and to be 80 strangely assorted, could join in the search for Fan with perfect confidence in the good inten. tions of each other. There was, very little to say after that. Amariah looked over the inside of the wagon for a minute or two, arranging a few things for an absence, Then he wrote a sbort note, which he folded and tacked to the door, I[t merely said: ‘Wan has bin taken, ard Iam on the trail. am not here ter-night move things.” ‘Yew see,” he said, to Fred, who was eying the operation of posting the notice with an in’ quisitive look, ‘‘ Sich things ez these waz liable tew happen, an’ I have arranged according. Some one will be out frum town tew-night ef b* don’t bear frum me, an’ onless ther Lambs med. dles with things afore he comes, which I don*: think they will, he will sée ’em put whar the} will be safe tell we git back. Now, I’m réady! be yew?” yer The boy laughed and waved his hand. Th. bundle was safe in the ambulance, and the res: of his belongings he had on his person. He wal. always ready. | “Then bees ewr eyes on me, but stand stit tell I give yew leave. [ must look around a bi * tell ’m sure ov ther trail.” : The boy had failed to find the track wher’: Fanny had lett the wagon, but Amariah ha: | little trouble. Perhaps it had been 'oted before . and he only had to verify bis belief. Atan rate he soon gave the signal, and with Pred fo | lowing cautiously he led the way without th’ « least hesitation along, the ground over whic! passed our or sv before, I hs Lg hone: the boy himself conld s¢. Here and t where her light footsteps had fallen and io he bank of the stream he saw pe on aie, had been sitting, and the marl! » Ef } left by a man who had evidently been at th same spot. Eomicbooks (e(0)