Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 379 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

ee ——E—E—————E—E—_——eee——e—— teat $$$ anyhow, afore Iceberg an’ his army comes to kick the stuffin’ out o’ us.” ‘ oH “T am waiting for your explanation, sir,” was the cold retort. : : ‘The boss thief-ketcher give a hint of it, ef you only tuck notice, pard, when he said that mebbe you'd show better grit by haulin’ off from a hopeless fight then stickin’ to the trough, whether or no.” ‘“You are dodging the point at issue. down to business.” “ Gittin’ thar, jest as fast as a cripple kin ard,” was the placid response. ‘I always did imp an’ go hobblety when any one undertuck to drive me out o’ my nat’ral gait. But now— I reckon you've ca’med down enough to listen without jumpin’ off the han’le, so here goes: “They ain’t room inside the jug fer us all. They is room fer a few, an’ that few kin do the part I set fer’em jest as well as ef they wasa thousan’, It ain’t so much fightin’, as it is talk- in’ back fer to git the critters out yender red- hot stirred up. ‘“*T knowed you’d want to be one o’ the in- sides, to keep watch over that crazy critter, but as I'd got better an’ more 'portant work fer ye to look after on the outside, I jest ee them tective critters the hint to make a slip of it, ‘ when you wouldn’t draw off a bit to play talk it over,” “That was part of your scheme to get them inside, without me?” Howling Jonathan nodded placidly. But as the sounds from the town came clearer and more distinct to his ears, he added more rap- idly: Nough fer that p’int, boss. Now fer the part we’re goin’ to play in this little jamboree. “You know #3 well’s I do, that we ain't enough in weight or number to stand off the gang that Iceberg Dave is raisin’. We couldn’t all git inside, an’ ef we could, we couldn’t fire a shot at the inemy ontel they'd bu’sted open the door, They ain’t even a winder to shoot out of. ‘Tt ain’t much better out here, Ef pay wanted to, an’ could keep cool enough, the mob could lay low in the dark out yender, an’ sweep us off without givin’ us a chaince, only by firin’ at the flashes. An’ it’s jest somesech mean way they'll try, ef we was lucky enough to drive back thar fu’st charge. You know that, boss?” **T know that while I live they shall never la a hand in violence on that unfortunate man,” coldly uttered Frank Spartan. **They’s only one way to keep ’em from doin’ of it, an’ that’s the very job I want ye to ry me put up on the p’izen critters!” earnestly add- ed Howling Jonathan. ‘‘We need to be foot- free to play it. .We want to be whar we kin try to bluff the critters off, but if that cain’t be did, an’ I’m pritty sure it won’t work with Ice- berg Dave fer a head on the other side, we want tobe whar we kin take the gang by surprise. Aw’ ef you'll agree to play your part,’we'll make Good Leather think she never hed a full-growed benefit afore—we will so /” Louder and plainer came that dull, significant muttering: a sound that somewhat resembled the distant roaring of an angry surf breaking against a rocky shore. ‘‘Durned ef they ain’t comin’, hot-foot, too!” muttered Howling Jonathan as he bent his head in listening, swiftly straightening up again and speaking rapidly: ‘* We'll try to bluff ’em off. When that plays out, we'll give ’em the dare an’ then run off—or make ’em think so, ’tanyrate. We'll dodge ’round the corner of the shanty, slip off in the shadows an’ make a circumbendi- bus ’round ag’in to whar we kin take the durn- ed fools in the rear. They’ll hev struck the fu’st blow, an’ we kin shove off onto tha’r shoulders all that may come of it—see?” ‘ Not as clear as I could wish, I confess!” _ ‘We'll hey them right whar they hed us in the fu’st place, an’ as they won’t be lookin’ fer us from that way, one minnit o’ red-hot work sech asT reckon we kin pour in, ll be mighty apt to sicken ’em so they'll haul off fer day to come to show ’em what’s happened. An’ I reckon you know how mighty tough it is to fetch a mob up to the scratch ag’in after it’s once run away,” hurriedly muttered the Holy eT Tittle | A little murmur ran through the group, and Frank Spartan felt that his Metante Plcaiied the trick with favor. He himself doubted, but Get even if all should not work as Howling Jonathan | seemed confident it would, they would be none the worse off, and could still fight for the two men. “'They’re comin,’ sure ’nough this time!” mut- tered Howling Jonathan. ou’ve got to take the rest on trust. Better you do the heft o’ the talkin’, boss. Hellow you critters!” he bawled at the top of his voice as the advancing crowd came into plainer view. ‘‘ Hello yourself!” came back the cold, clear- cut tones of Iceberg Dave, who had apparently taken command of the lynchers. “‘T wouldn't come no closter, ef I was you, rd! We're holdin’ a love-feast right here, an’ hain't got time fer to be deestarbed by any. ongodly gang as goes prowlin’ ‘round town this time o’ night, when all decent an’ honest critters is in bed an’ snorin’ long ago! Scat!” ‘*Are you the acknowledged head of that a —_—$——_ $$ —_— errr eC - Ore=~S>S—X“"OSeOe— OOO ee ee Howling J onathan. pavoy? If not, let your leader speak. I mean usiness,” coldly retorted the gambler. ‘* Perhaps I can serve your turn, Dave In- gram,” sharply uttered Frank Spartan, step- ping forward a pace or two, though Howling Jonathan as promptly advanced until at his side. ‘* Either you or the fellow who arrested Perry Blair, my friend, on a trumped-up charge and a forged warrant.” ‘* That is your say-so, Dave,” was the cool re- tort. ‘** And my say-so is that you lie in your throat when you utter the words, Dave Ingram,” came a voice so closely resembling that of Davidson, the detective, that Frank started in surprise, all the more acute from his seeing that they came from the lips of Howling Jonatban, who hur- riedly whispered: ‘‘ Make the boys understand that they are to follow your lead in the trick. No mistake now. Not a shot, not a blow until your voice gives them the signal. Do it quick, ut make ’em see that everything depends on their blind obedience!” While he was hastily whispering, Iceber Dave was replying to the blunt defiance whic he believed came from the detective. ** I will beg you to repeat those words after we have settled this affair, ny dear sir—pro- vided you are in fit condition, as I trust you may be. As you will be, if you are wise enough to listen to reason instead of throwing away your valuable life in attempting impos- sibilities!” “Say you'll do it, man!” urged Howling Jonathan. ‘One agi mistake now may ruin everything! Quick! I must answer that fellow!” ‘* Til trust you,” responded Frank Spartan, as he stepped back to pass the word to his friends, ‘*Are you struck dumb by the mere sound of a man’s voice??* sarcastically added Good Leather’s cool sport, ‘* Hardly, if you call that the voice of a man. I took it for the yelping of a stray cur whose tail somebody had stepped on! Beg par- don for the mistake—but, what in thunder do you fellows want, anyhow?” **'What we are able to take if you are fool- ish enough to withold it, my dear sir,” came the prompt response. ‘*‘We want Perry Blair. We want the fellow who murdered Ugly Dan Bennison. And what we want, we’re bound to have, even if we have to walk over your dead bodies to get it!” ‘Without giving us a chance to get out of the way?’ laughed the counterfeit Davidson, ‘Surely you'll give us a chance to clear the track?” ‘Tf at once, yes. If you offer the slightest resistance, so much the worse for you, one and all!” came the stern threat. ‘‘Give me five minutes in which to consult with my friends, and I will give you our deci- sion, “Granted. Make the wisest use of the time, if you love life.” ‘Howling Jonathan stepped back and rejoin- ed Frank rtan, who “ja his hand in token that all was as he desired, ‘““They mustn’t be no mistake, boys,” hur- riedly uttered the red-haired plotter. "You want to dodge behind the house, turn to the right, an’ lay low ontel Frank gives the word. Not a move afore you see an’ hear him! Then —wade in fer all you’re wu’th! Ready, now, an’ off!” He turned as they stole away, leaving him alone with Frank Spartan, and cried out taunt- ingly: mi Coins an’ take us—ef you kin, durn ye |” Grasping Frank by the arm, he darted away, as Iceberg Dave gave the word to charge, lead- ing the way himself, grasping the front rope slung to a heavy log, which was hurled against the door. A crash, and the barrier gave way— then rose a wild, thrilling yell! CHAPTER XIX. THE HOWLER GETS DOWN TO FINE WORK. ALTHOUGH the rest of their party had turned to the right of the stone house, Howling Jonathan half led, half forced Frank Spartan to the left, turning abruptly under cover of the shadows as the mob rushed forward with that savage yell for blood, under lead of Iceberg ave. Even the Terror was taken a little b surprise at this very prompt assault, which bade fair to completely frustrate the cunning plan he had formed for their discomfiture; but, instead of showing dismay or going into a flurry of excite- ment, the Howler chuckled grimly as he turned upon Frank and dexterously twisted him to the round, one broad palm pressed over his Ge he other hand engaged in keeping the startled and enraged young man from drawing a weapon. “Tok an’ lis’en pard,” hurriedly muttered the seeming traitor, his voice full of triumph, his eyes glowing redly in the dark. ‘They’ve bu’sted open the door, an’—you hear that?” A wild, fierce yell rising above the confused tumult. Sharp cries and some words which neither of the two men lying there on the earth — - ony _—< ab SS oe ae Seb. ~ —~— aes —= ~ a -—+e in the shadow could catch with sufficient clear-- ness tobe sure of. The swarming mob falling hastily back. And then Iceberg Dave leaping over the shattered door, his voice ringing out: “The cunning devils have tricked us! There’s no one here! There’s a hole under the rear wall, through which they must have stolen away!” “ Now kin ye see through it, boss?” leughed Jonathan :s he suddenly relaxed his grip and leaped to his feet. : ‘What for—why didn’t you tell—where Las he been taken?’ huskily muttered Frank Spar- tan as he also arose, ‘** Thoy've taken the first trick, but we'll come out ahead in the game, or I'll never play another this side the grave!” they could distinguish the voice of Iceberg rising above the wild tumult that followed the startling disclosure. ‘Which goes to show we'll hev chances ’nough fer fightin’ ’thout runnin’ a-muck with that red- hot peng rights now,” chuckled the Terror as he caught the arm of the bewildered man and stole» silently off at a tangent which would soonest bring them to the remainder of the party. ‘“‘Fu'st thing’s to git our fri’nds to take a little walk fer the good o’ our healths. Ef they was to stan’ thar groun’ ontel them red-hot critters run chuck-up ag’inst ’em, we’d hev to wade in an” see em through the circus, which is jest what we want most to keep shet of. Let Iceberg Dave puzzle the trick out ef he kin. It'll hok him busy ontel we kin finish stockin’ the keerds. Then—-we'll rake in the stakes an’ vide up the effec’s ’cordin’ to Hoyle—you bet!” By this time they were far enough from the stone house, where Iceberg Dave was still haranguing his men, and near enough to the puzzled and doubting friends to attract their at- tention without too great danger of giving the enemy the office at the same time, Howling Jonathan held Frank Spartan motionless fer a. brief space while he whispered in quick and’ earnest tones: “Kin you trust your fri’nds, pard? Isn’t. they a single one in the outfit who’d weaken at a bit of resky work? Not one that you're dubious mought Ke to sell ye out ef be thought he could make a big stake? Think quick an” sure! A mistake may ruin all your brightest hopes—may bring death to Franz Moskau an” undying grief to his father and sister! An-. swer, but only when sure!” **Tll answer for “them with my life, if neces- ? that’s enough then, pard,” with a grin chuckle as his firm grasp relaxed. ‘Give ’em the signal, an’ let’s git out o’ here to whar we kin do a bit o’ talkin’ thout runnin’ too much resk 0’ hev’in’ them critters runnin’ chuck up into our council.” There was scant time to spare, for already the. mob at the stone house was enced up into compact bodies which were to search for the: fugitives and take them, dead or alive, if they remained within the confines of Good Leather, But fortune still favored the right, and the- friends succeeded in drawing off without inter- ruption. ** This slip-off business was what we ‘lowed to~ play from the very fu’st, gents,” hurriedly ex- plained Howling Jonathan, ‘‘though we didn’t — count on takin’ a crazy critter through the back door. That hole was thar, pard,” turning~ to F , his eyes gleaming with sub- dued fun, “when you went inside. Our pard was layin’ over it on his blanket, an’ it was. more to keep you from stumblin’ onto it then. from wishin’ to ketch your talk with the crazy man that you wasn’t left in thar alone.” ‘Why didn’t you trust me with your plans?” sharply demanded the young man, his eyes still. glowing with angry excitement. ‘They wasn’t time to talk it all over, an’ef they was, you wouldn’t give us a chance way” from the rest,” coolly added eae Jonathan. ss oe one of them would have betrayed your: plans ‘We didn’t know it fer sure then, an’ the prize was wu’th too much fer us to run any more resks then we hed to, pard, an’ you, gents. Look at it in a white light, an’ you'll see why and wharfore. But just now—thar’s busi- — ness afore us that we want to settle for sure, ‘When I take oath that it will be fer your own good—when I take oath that nearly all o? what is to come in fer your happiness an’ the cr ea of the woman you. love—when I say that we hope to rub out the: mystery that hes so long kivered Franz Moskau over with a mighty black cloud—kin I count on you an’ your fri‘nds kerryin’ out orders without. ri ag an’ argyin’ them all through, from fu’st to the last one? No if’s nur and’s, but plain yes or no! Frank Spartan Yan only long enough to — over the faces of his party, then re- mded: 14 Pe Tell us what to do, and we will not fail you. while one of usycan pick trigger or play a knife. I answer for all present.” “I’m hopin’ they won’t be no fightin’ at all,’”’ quickly replied the Howler, with an garry au repudiation of sanguinary record, they don’t come no p’izen awk’ard slip-up, we'll hev Good Leather whar the wool’s mighty short. . a ,OOKS.cCOM fo ne ‘€O NAILICE <s)