Beadle's Dime Library No. 211 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

— et, mare. Colonel; Plunger. SS en Se eee — - SS “A little Beast from. the Governor’s place in Mohawk Valley. I ’dte him. He won on Am- bition yesterday, and there’ll be no ’olding him now.” pew “Why not fix the boy? He likes money as well asany one, don’t he?” “ *Twouldn’t eed peach. J would- n’t dare approach him. ad. feeuld! Is hé here now?” ‘No, sir. "E went ’ome with the Governor. | goes a-ridin’ in the Park.” “Hum! Then, as I said before, we must do what we can before he comes. Take me to the stables as a friend of yours, come to see. the If I see a chance, I'll do what I can.” “All right, sir, but mind, Iain’t goin’ tovrun my ’ead into no traps.” ‘I don’t want you. I'll do all the business. Come in and take a drink before we go back. Remember, I’m a friend, fond of horses.” Burton grinned, “Yes. Bioomin’ fond of ’em when your 'oss wins. All right, sir.” “They went into the groggery, and reissued, taking their way to the stables, where Burton took the visitor down the long row of stalls, talking loudly about the merits of the animals, till they ap éhed a large loose hox at the end, at the door of which a sullen looking negro boy was standing, chewing a straw. urton waved him away saying: “This gentleman wants to take a look at Fanny Flyaway, Jim. Get out of the way.” Jim gave a sort of nod, answering: ‘* Boss’s orders was no one to see de hoss; Marse Burton.” . ‘*What do you mean, you black scoundrel? Who rules this stable, you or me?” _ ‘You, I s’pose, Marse Burton, but ordérs is orders, and dis gemman can’t get into see de hoss dis day.” The trainer uttered an angry curse and caught the boy by thé throat, flinging him to one side; then entered the loose box, followed by Crooke, while Jim, after a moments rub- bing himself, ran in likewise, and got close to the head of a beautiful sorrel mare in the box, erying: **You leave that hoss alone, you. Burton, I reports you.” “Shut up your ad, you fool,” cried the trainer fiercely. ‘‘ Do you think I don’t know my business? I'll send you packing out of this stable, if you don’t keep a civil tongue in your ead.” And he looked so savage that the boy said no more, but stuck close to the horse’s head, watch- ing the stranger out of his rolling eyes, as Bur- tou pointed out to him the various beauties of the animal, which stood all the while looking at them in a startled, innocent way, that showed her to be of a kind, gentle temper. Crooke listened and answered, walked all round the mare, pretending not to notice the boy, and was going near the manger asif to ex- amine it, when a voice at the door of the box caused them to start, and ele en round there was Billy Boots, with a tal! bearded gentlemen behind him, at sight of whom Crooke turned ale. ~ Burton, on the other hand, wheeled round and called out angrily: | “‘How dare you bring strangers in, Billy? Don’t you know the orders?” ‘* Yes, I knows the orders,” returned Billy with a look of quiet defiance, “‘and I know they’s changed, Jest take a look at this, ole man, will yer?” And be banded Burton a paper, which was nothing les« than an order for Billy to take charge of Fanny Flyaway and to bring with him any person be might choose to help him in guarding the mare. — ‘** And this here gent,” observed Billy calmly, “is a detective, so I'll trouble you to get out of this, all the rest of yer.” 9) Burton ground his teeth. — ‘So tbe Governor can’t trust his trainer, can’t he? Well, I’ll show him trainers ain't to be ne up onevery bush. Is this boy, Jim, to yr “No,” replied Billy composedly; ‘‘not but what Jim’s on the square; but rs is orders, you know, and Pm going to run this shebang mysel‘, arter this.” Then Crooke and Burton walked slowly out of the loose box, and Nigger Jim followed them, grinning all over bis face, while Billy closely examined the manger and hayrack, the detec- tive standing by the door watching the trainer and his friend, who were slowly leaving the stable. , | ‘All right,” said Billy presently. ‘*‘The hain’t fixed the feed yet, Seem and if you’ stay by her awhile, I'll go and get her ’lowance out, so’s to make all safe.” detective nodded and observed approv- Marse ingly: | ti You're a deep one for a boy, you are. Go ahead, I'll watch.” When Billy came out, therefore, he went to the oat box an | secured as much as he thought the mare would require before next day’s race, and thea turned to the mare’s domicile, and 'K’s a sort of groot to Miss Fanny, when she **She’ll do now, boss, I'll take care of her. By polly, we jest got here in time, we did!” The detective smiled and walked out of the box to the entrance, where he found Burton lounging alone, looking particularly sulky. ‘*Where’s your friend?” asked the officer, with an authoritative slap on the frainer’s shoulder. Burton eyed him sullenly. ** What friend?” ' ‘The friend who was with box just now.” ** Gone home.” ** He is, is he?” ‘* Yes, he is,” *Do you know who he is?” ‘“* Yes, I know who he is; if I didn’t, I’d not be bringing him in ere.” ** What's his name, then?” “Do you know?” **T think so.” “Then why do you ask me?” ‘To see if you know. That fellow has more than one name.”’ ‘ “ 7AS ‘a dd ota Burton tried to sneer, but bis face was white, = he kept bis eyes turned away from the other. : , ‘* Yes, he has,” was the sharp reply, “ and T want vou to understand that if I see him round here any more JL’ll straighten you out, my friend.” oe The trainer turned round on hiny with all] the bull-dog instineé of an Englishman of the lower classes. ‘**Who the lickens are you? Do you want your ’ead puncbed ,” * Ob, no,” returned the other, coolly. ‘Ive not the least ambition that way. If you want to know who I am, just look here,” And he opened his coat to’ show the smull you in the mare's . silver shield on bis breast. Bat Barton, who was a_ powerful fellow, thick-set and hurly, did not flinch. ‘**{ don’t care for your shield: It don’t give you no business in ’ere, p’lice, or no p'lice. I’m trainer of the Governor's stables, and I want you to hunderstand I_hain’t a-goin’ to be put upon by no peelers., I brings in ’oo I wants. ou keep to the mare’s box, if you want’er, but don’t you go to bullyin’'me, or I'll punch your ’ead.” , He came up close to the detective, whose figure, though tall, was quite slender, and added menacingly: “* ve settled lots of coves like you afore this, and you don’t measure enough round the chest to talk to me,” The detective smiled placidly, and put up his hands in a deprecating way, saying: ** My dear friend, keep cool. As long as keep your place as trainer I shall not interfere with you, but, as I said before, if I see that man round the stables again, Ishall take charge orders,” Burton fell back a pace and glared at him savagely, growling: ‘* You'll put me out—you—you?” ou t | | ! ' } | The other saw that there was danger in the | trainer, and in a moment his manner changed | after which Crooke said: © toone of equal menace, as be said: ** Yes, I, and be civil now, or I'll take the fight out of you in two licks.” Burton ground his teeth, the foam flew from his lips, and without another word he made a rush at the detective, sending out a shower of blows, while the stable boys gathered like a swarm of flies to see the fun, from all quarters. And they saw it, though it did not Jast oug. The detective did not even put up his hands to parry, but evaded tho other’s rush, by a single spring to one side, so that Burton’s back was half turned to him for a moment, as the trainer missed his mark. The next moment, they saw the stranger stoop down, catch Burton by the thigh with one arm, the other pressed against his back, and in a twinkling the feet of the trainer went up head down, and he struck the summit of his skull on the stone floor with a violence that ren- dared him insensible, while bis cool antagonist, after standing contemplating him for a mo- ment, turned on bis heel and observed: ' ‘Best pick him up, boys, and take him to bis room. Tell him, when he comes to, thatthe next time he tries to interfere with an officer on duty, he may get shot, for I came here to run this stable, and I’m going to doit.” | So saying, he walked off to the loose box, looked in and said to Billy: . “Go and get your supper, boy, and be care- ful what you eat. If you see the man we know outside, keep away from him and go somewhere else. He’ll try to fix you, since he can’t touch the mare.” . mye Billy grinned and slapped his pistol pocket as er me out. 5 —j ae “te ain’t-a-givin’ myself away to-day, boss, not to-day, some other day, good-day.” 7 The detective took a long look down the stable between the stalls to where the boys had gath- ered round Burton, whe was now sitting up, looking round him with a dazed stare. “‘He’ll give no more trouble, I think,” mut- , « } ' _ be’ind the stables, I’ve of the place ani put you out, orders or no | door, and we can get in.” bt SS ee ee ee eg tered the stranger to himself, and then he locked the door of the loose box and sauntered to the entrance of the stable to look after Billy Boots. CHAPTER XT, . THE BITERS BIT. ~~ NiGut closed in over the race-coursée Yate Squanutum Bay Jockey Club, and the only 6 und audiblé was the occasional stamp of a horse in the stables, _— - There were stables inside and otbers outside; stables by the track and outside the palings; but ‘quiet reigned everywhere, and not a soul traversed the great desert of round by the Grand Stand, except the watchman on duty with his lantern. ‘ — The night was very dark, for the heavens were covered with clouds, and a fine rain was falling, laying the dust on the track, and fresh- ening the grass after the Jong drought ot the summer, ©“ * gt penn The twinkling light of the watchman’s lan- tern went she He and fro along the track and across the steeple-chase course inside the railing, disappearing at times; wien two men came quietly to the tall outside paling which surrounded the’ grounds and ‘stood” peeping through. ’ . ', | poe” ae ‘“Now’s out time,” whispered one, “there's only one watchman on duty. and we can see him beforo be sees us. Which way, do you think, offers most cover?” —* ~~ - ‘*Under the Grand Stand,” said the second man in the sime whisper. ‘‘ There’s trees hall round it, and we can dodge if "e comes cur — — way.” a Come along then,” was‘the response, and with that both men climbed up over the paling, no very difficult task, for trees grew close to it in several placés, Once on the top, they did not rest a moment, but dropped over to the turf beneath, taking care to keep their bodies low cown in crossing, for fear any one might be looking up against the sky line. Down in the wet grass both cowered for a while in perfecs silence, and then the first man whispered: 4 “Come on. The lantern’s on the other side of the track.” They stole softly across the grass to the Grand Stand, ‘keeping their bodies bent, and were soon under shelter, ' ) All the whbil* not a soul was to te nie a the watchman’s lantern was still moving and fro on the other side of the track. — On they went, taking advantage of ever tree, like a couple of Indians, till they camo to an open space of ground, beyond which loom up the dark mass of the race course stables. “Now what's to be dove?” w pee ie ‘Crooke, for it was no other, accon)penied by Burton, ‘Go forrard.” whisperéd the trainer. “Get got «a key to the "art * But we shall be seen,” olijected Crooke. ~~ ‘Get hunder the palin’s then,” was the an- swer. od Then they stole off in the direction of the pa- lings, keeping to the trees as long as they could, ‘We've got to craw). There’s no other way. You follow me and do as I do.” pee Se He dropped on all fours ana crept across the qpen space that separated them from the rear of the racing stables. A line of bushes grew at the foot of the palings that surrounded the track and their forms were thus rendered invisible in the darkness against the suey background, _ At last they arrived opposite the rear of the stables, and only a space of about fifty feet divided them from it, a> sitios But this Afty feet was close-shaven turf. yl ke paused and whispered: — ess “Is there a watChnisn inside?” = ‘* Yes,” was the reply, “°" ~~ e “Get your Neddy et said @roo Grooke. At the same time he drew from his pocket short stick Tortie BF" ‘india. rauharieh w Iaeg bis | ball of lead at the end. It was the terrible and noiseless slung-shot, known by the lang term of “‘Neddy.” ‘Burton imitated his example, and the two men ar across the turf to the back docr af tl & 8 °. ‘ bed ; ; i Ste R It was divided in two ‘halves, after the usual fashiow, so that the top might be opened for ventilation, while the lower part r parted rose softly dsaia en ro of the door. att aw Of ae ae PE te Ae Bort ra DUppae pLver OBE tout ook es ED a PR es ar 6 upper f , on rior of the building was while the ir t dar mee ant “etet- fea gi o rou 6 Opening they ex ihe ag lehage course ei ile th ) Lei AY. e watchman cou seen swinging nd fro, as he came al aa ota pein) nig i g with excitement, tio Tae dan se 1 urton put in his hand to unlatch the of the door. ; A moment later they had glided in, the doo EGomilchboo ‘S