Beadle's Dime Library No. 412 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

ae oin’ to hurt ye, All [ want's a night’s lodgin’, an up. Twice had he been forced into a fight, and each ) ‘ma friénd, I am.” ‘* He looked through the grating. time his victory seemed to have made matters ‘“ Go away,” she repeated, her heart beating **What’s the matter, there?’ he asked, harsh- | worse for him. rapidly, while she was raking her brains for | ly. He could not bring himself to lie down on the something to use as a weapon. ‘*He bucked me! he bucked me!” moaned Ter- | camp-bed where Terror Jim had been stretched, ‘*] won’t go away,” whispered the man out-| ror Jim, dismally. ‘‘ I wasn’t doin’ nothin’ to | He preferred tositon the stool and meditate, side, in the same hoarse tone. ‘‘ I seen your | him, and he bucked me,” while the more he thought, the more gloomy man took off. You open the door, Red Moll, or | Larry deigned no reply, and the doorman | he got. 5 it'll be the worse for ye.” shook his finger menacingly at him. e began to wish he had never surrendered s Molly Locke made no answer, but to steal back ‘You want a little clubbing, you do,” he said. | to Dayis, but had fled the country, and then, os to the inner room. She had just remembered | *f Ain’t you ashamed to buck a man like that? | when he thought of his wife, left alone in tbe $ that the window there was open. If { hear any more noise I'll put you in the dark | cottage with the baby, and of Terror Jim’s dark rae The man gave the docr a violent kick as she | cell.” hint that ‘‘Snoopey was there” he rose and be- went. He was moving away when Terror Jim began | gan to pace uneasily up and down the cell. . 9 : to whine: He heard the clock strike nine, and the peo- ns CHAPTER XII. **Oh, for God’s sake take me outer this. He'll | ple in the cells had sunk to silence. be A FIGHT IN A STATION HOUSE, kill me, he'll kill me! I’m only in for a night’s The time wore on, and again the clock struck, > As Larry Locke drove off down the road to | lodgin’.” when he heard a voice in the outer office say: 4 Holesburg between the two constables he kept he doorman: hesitated. ‘Yes, that’s the name, I’ve come to offer a keen lookout at every one they met. Hecould| ‘‘ Weain’t got no more room,” he grumbled. | bail for him.” F not help feeling apprehensive of the return to | “If he hits ye again, call me, and I'll give him Larry’s heart gavea joyful bound. He recog- a7 execute vengeance of the tramps he had driven | something he won’t want.” nized Paul Van ver’s voice, ae off. He turned and walked off, when Terror Jim Ps He asked Jack Davis whether he had seen | jumped off the bed and seized hold of Larry, CHAPTER XIII any tramps, and Jack answered: yelling: : - “ Lots of em. We took in nigh a dozen at the | ‘‘Saveme! Saveme! He's killing me.” PAUL'S’ HUMILIATIONS, . station afore I left.” ‘ The doorman uttered an angr,, curse and rap- Waren Mr. Marcellus Skinner sunk tothe © ‘* Was one a big man, with grizzled hair, they | ped on the stone-floor with his club, while Larry, | floor in the presence of all bis men, itwaswith call Terror Jim?” asked Larry, ‘He was down | seeing to what the trick of his opponent was | a sense of physical pain and weakness thatover- my way, and I’m afraid he’ll annoy my wife, | likely to expose him, clutched Jim by the throat, | powered even his mortification, He had been now I’m not there to take care of her.” threw him on the floor, and muttered: used to bullying his way all his life,and he had Davis shrugged his shoulders, , ‘You'll do it, will yout I'll give you what | suddenly met a man who overcame hil with — ‘“*T dno’. t makes ye live in sich a place | you’ll remember, then.” one blow. ae as that, with no neighbors?” A moment later Jim was black in the face, He had sufficient resolution tositonhiscbair ‘* Because it’s cheap,” said Larry, shortly. | while the sound of steps outside told that the | and watch the conclusion of payment, seeing Were ‘Ts that a good reason?” c reserve was running in. every man after Larry Locke demand the old ‘*Reckon so, Well, if tramps comes arter the The big tramp was a strong man, but he felt | scale and march out defiantly. Whenthe last © old woman, you kin bet they'll be punished, jest | like a child to y, who ground his knuckles | had gone he said faintly to Tom Trainor: Re as you’re goin’ to be punished for doin’ what you | into Jim’s throat, and never let go till he heard ve on hurt: send for the doctor.” 5 oa hadn’t oughter ha’ done.” __ | the door open behind him. He had been carried out by someofthe men > And after that they drove on in silence, till Then, desperate at the prospect of the club- | who wished to curry favor with the boss, and = they came to the station or lock-up, at which | bing that was coming, he threw himself over | was taken to his home near by, where the doc- Davis deposited his prisoner, who was at once | on his back, rolling the tramp uppermost, and | tor examined him and told bim what was the ae put in a cell with a sleeping tramp whose odor | shouted: matter. ae sickened even the strong nerves of Larry. “IT surrender! Don’t club any more!” “Is there much danger?’ he asked, in a low — ** Can’t you let me sit outside, sergcant?’ he His shout would not have been much use to | whisper, for he was in pain. 1 toed pleaded. ‘‘I don’t want to run away, but it’s | save him; for, a policeman’s blood once up, The doctor looked grave. ae a hot night, and that fellow’s perfume’s enough | club law prevails; but just at this moment a “Not if you keep quiet; but broken ribs are to kill a man,” clear, sharp voice cried from the rear of the | always liable to wound the lungs. Howdid it The sergeant’s only reply vas to push him in| crowd: happen? A fall?” ee and lock the grated door, when the tramp ** What’s all this? Silence, here!” ‘No; a Villain assaulted me. He must bepun- nied and turned over, showing the face of | It wasthe voiceof the captain, who was known | ished. Oughtn’t be to be?” Bi error Jim, who said, with a sneer: everywhere as ‘* Lightning Brown,” and the men He caught his breath, and anxiously awaited ‘*Oho! soit’s you, is it? Well, that couldn’t ; fell back, while the doorman reported: the reply, which came at once: 2 re have happened better. What a lovin’ couple | “Two prisoners fighting, sir. We were going ‘“Of course he ought. It’s a felonious assault. we'll be, won’t we, Larry boy?” to separate them.” The man should smart forit. Have you any He rolled over to rest on one arm, and sur- A wae hush had fallen on the station, and | witnesses to it?” FD ta veyed Harry with an evil leer. La threw off his now senseless burden and “Plenty, dector. My boy Tom, for one, ~ ‘* You're a fine pill, ain’t ye?’ he said. ‘‘ Ye} called out: Couldn’t he swear to an Y amt weet, ain’t got no rocks to heave at a man now, have ‘Captain Brown, you know me. I’mas peace- The doctor shrugged his shoulders. Sia. ye? We're all alone, ain’t we?” ablea man as goes, I’m Larry Locke. This ‘‘P'm nota lawyer. Haven’t youone? Send ~~ Larry saw there was a stool in the corner, so | man attacked me and got the worst of it; that’s | for him.” eee he took it and sat down, facing Jim, with his | all. Don’t let me be clubbed.” Skinner turned his round the room tillit back against the wall, but mademo sort of an-| Captain Brown came to the cell door. rested on Paul Van Beaver. The nephew had = swer to the tramp, who continued: ‘*Come out here,” he said, sharply. ‘‘ No one | accompanied ‘him to the house, where the uncle, =—— ‘Oh, we'll be a lovin’ couple, won't we, Lar- | shall club you, if you don’t deserve it. Let me | with ostentatious charity,had givenhimaroom — ry? And Snoopey, too, he’s goin’ to have a nice | take a look at you.” in the attic, while Tom Trainor had been put | time to-night. That’s a rippin’ nice gal you Larry instantly stepped out and stood up be- | into the gorgeous apartment formerly occu oar: married, Larry boy.” “e) fore the captain, who exclaimed: by Paul, when he bad seemed to bea veritable — Larry made no answer, but his eyes began to; ‘ Why, he’sironed! What's the charge against | favorite of fortune. oS ae blaze, and Jim laughed. him, sergeant?” ‘* Come here,” he whispered. aes |: “Oh, yes, I told Snoopey to go back. I had! The sergeant hesitated, and had to goto the | Paul obeyed, mgt eT quite a nice time, hearin’ bout the scrape you | blotter before he could tell. “You've studied law, haven’t you)” asked was in, hittin’ a man witha bar of iron. Reck-| Finally he read out: the injured man in a husky whisper. asrs on poppe y 2 about there now.” ‘Felonious assault, sir. Complainant, Mr. {| Paul bowed gravely. rae. w- sie ere,” interrupted Larry, in’ a low | Skinner, of the steel mills.” ‘** | have, sir. If I had had another sliv- tone, ‘tI don’t wait to hurt you, Jim, but if you; “Then i was he put in where he could hurt | ing secured, I could have passed; but it’s no use mas goon in that style, you'll get what you don’t | any one else?” said the captain, sternly. ‘‘ Here, | thinking of that now.” i want in a minute or two.” pull this other man out. Who's he?” And he sighed slightly. Py Jim laughed, A tramp fora lodging, sir,” answered the | Marcellus eyed him searchingly. a ce ‘*T will, will I! Well, I hear tell how you’re jt ie sullenly, ‘‘ We're that erowded we ** Would ye like to be a lawyer?” he asked. ee some on the muckle; but I ain’t no slouch, | couldn’t help ourselves, sir, and we thought the “Tt’s no use wishing, sir. havetoearnmy nuther. Come, young feller, shut up when a | big bloke could take care of himself.” living,” said Paul, quietly. 2 ge ay man of my age talks to ye. ‘Tain’t fittin’ fur A grim smile crossed the captain’s face as he - and get that Larry Locke punished for boys to talk to men.” looked at Terror Jim, whose face was battered | me, and [Pl see ye pass,” said Skinner,inalow, As he spoke he threw down his feet and sat up | to a jelly, remarking: eager tone. “Get him punished. Put bim in on the side of the bed, surveying Larry in the ; - ms he couldn't. And the other man | the State Prison. Show ye’realawyer,andIJl | same lowe way. ironed too. Pull bimr out. Let him lie on the | see ye get the means,” Loe Larry saw that he meant fight, and drew up | floor till be comes to,” Paul shook his head. : Bs ¥ his own feet fora spring, when Terror Jim ob-| Then, turning to Larry, he said, sternly: ““That’s impossible, sir.” tar i. ‘“* You're a strong man, but don’t presume too ‘‘ Impossible? why?” asked hisuncle. “‘There’s — tee | ® y y Be , ~~ '" ; he | — « . ai . Larry Loc f é enter the house, where her baby lay asleep in the cradle. At that very instant she heard a step near the “We'll see about that. Now holler for the Cops, and I'll know I’ve got yer-” ‘I don’t need to holler for the cops,” returned house at the back, and saw a dark figurecoming | Larry, scornfully. ‘* We’ll see who hollers first, round the angle of the wall toward her. In a moment she had whisked into the door you darned bloat.” Terror Jim glared at him ferociously, but as and slammed it close, locking it with desperate | Larry only laughed, the tramp suddenly made haste, for she felt nervous and frightened. She had hardly time to fasten the back door ib i is spring, intending to grapple. In the same instant fairy stooped and rose also, when she heard a gentle knock at the one | again, with all the force of his stout, muscular she had first closed and a voice whispered | body, hoarsely : ‘“Say! Say! Open the door!” ‘“Go away!” she answered, with a courage that surprised herself, for she was all alone in the dark. “I’ve got a pistol.” There was a low chuckle outside, and the voice whispered back: “Open the door, ye durved fool. I ain't served: ‘*T1'm goin’ to whip you, Larry boy.” There was a dull crash in the gloomy cell, and Terror Jim staggered back, clutching at the air, and fell on the bed, with a stream of blood gush- ing from his nose and mouth. arry had caught him with one of his old ** bucks,” that he had not used since he was a c: and knocked him stupid in a single round. he noise of the short scuffle brought the door- m much on your strength. You've done a brutal ke, the Man of Iron. ———— ei tee — ** What is it?” asked the captain, “Only this, sir. That man called himself a fighter and set on me, ironed asl was. I had to fight.” ‘“*Couldn’t you have called for help?” asked the captain, more kindly. rry smiled rather proudly. ‘**I suppose I could, sir,” he answered; ‘‘ but in the mean time he would have given me some- thing like what I gave him.” ‘“Well,” said the captain, coldly, ““men who fake the law into their own hands can’t grumble ° if they’re punished. There’s another charge against you to-morrow.” So saying, he went away, and Larry, left alone at last, threw himself on the stool and be- gan to revolve the misfortune of the day. The more he thought, the blacker looked everything round him. lots of men would do it, but you’re my nephew. 9 ; wy ’ ; ms o * Are you?” reto Larry, coolly, ‘I don’t | deed, and it will go hard with you to-morrow. | I don’t want to be too hard ‘on ye, only totake believe you, You always was a darned liar.” | Go in there.” that wicked pride outer ye.” 2 ‘Terror Jim got hisy yi Trapani 0! on me Larry went quietly in, but turned as they | Paul compressed his lips anédrew back. as he ! floor, and a savage grin said; locked the door to say: ** Will you hear me a word, sir?” ** Let some one else do it, sir. clerk now—I'm not a lawyer.” I’m only your — a -~ 4 7 a s, ae | sat | comicbooks.com