Phil Rushington's Search, or, The Unknown Rider of the Ring — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

DO AND DARE WEEKLY. glad to see that Walt had come out of the af- fair so well. “T should say so! Found him all in a bunch, so to speak. When I left you, I got the payroll and looked it over, but couldn’t get any inkling as to Lovejoy’s identity from that. Then I evolved a plan—a real crafty plan, Rush—and started off to work it. The male performers were getting ready for their spring-board work and were all lined up in the dressing-room ready to start into the ring. “Placing myself a little to one side, where T could see the whole line, I shouted ‘Love- joy!’ suddenly and loudly. One of the men started, half-whirled around, and then turned it off by fixing his trunks. That man was the one we know as Louis d’Or.” ‘That was a clever idea,” said Rush. “You caught d’Or off his guard and made him ac- knowledge his proper name.” “He'll do!” declared Mamie. “Walt, av ye kape on as well as that, it’s as proud av yer- silf we'll be as we are av Rushy.” “Thanks, Mamie. for that, why If you'd like to hug me “Get out with yer blarney, an’ go ahead with yer yarn! Can’t yez see how Rushy is waitin’ to hear the end av it?” “Yes,” put in Phil; “I’m anxious to learn how you got tied up and buried under that pile of horse-blankets.” “Shortly after I spotted the fellow,” con- tinued Walt, “all the acrobats left for the ring. Thinking that all was fair in love and war, I stepped to d’Or’s prop trunk and tried it. It wasn’t locked, and I threw back the lid. The contents were in great disorder, and directly on top was a photograph of d’Or balancing a couple of cannon-balls in his hands. The photograph was inscribed ‘Art Lovejoy, the Modern Samson.’ Then I was sure we had our man. : Se : stood there ae at ane spe se , =. ~~ 4 ‘| ‘ ~~ * » ay r= - ~ Pee “ > ? . - “ ; 1 6 ee OO Yee x x « _ ve SA, - S ‘ oe tlh, . ” i a ’ et te Lee bs vm - F + . ; ’ .. ‘ YS ie — > . r fs * ¥ - i - ~ r —-* ture Lovejoy suddenly caught me eee be- hind, placed a hand over my mouth, threw me down, tied me with a couple of halters and muffled my head in a saddle blanket. It was all done before I could fairly comprehend what was going on. There’s no doubt at all about Lovejoy being a strong man. I was like a child in his grasp. After he had fixed me up to suit himself, he buried me under the blankets, and Curly found me there a little while after.” “Lovejoy was sharp enough to know that you had found him out, so he sneaked back from the ring and took time by the forelock by getting you out of the way. What became of him? Have you any idea?” “Not the slightest. that it wasn’t healthy for him to remain around here, so he made himself scarce. He had to leave his trunk, though. But he had the forethought to lock it before taking to flight.” “That was a good deal like locking the stable after the horse has been stolen,’ put in Wister. “He should have fastened the trunk before you got a look at his picture— that is, if he wanted to do a real nice thing for himself.” “We must find that fellow!” declared Rush. “T’d give a good deal to know which way he went, Are any of the horses missing, Curly?” “No, sir.” “He might have gone into town and taken the train,’’ suggested Wister. “'There’s been no train either way this aiter- noon.” “Well,” said Walt, “he may either be in the town now or have hoofed it straight into the country.” “Fe didn’t hoof it,” observed Cartwright, the man who had been “on” the door. “I think I can give you the information you are after, Mr. Rushington. T was around in front a a while’ 3e8. and aes d ‘Or, f maeak 0 ane pamate | ~ i a 3 : oF ¥ ™ Se 4 > ~. . =: rT <7 ~~ lene’ Xe _ ee ye ’ Ses SFh. -« q ogee £01 treo vice * - i > He probably inferred — ; . « a = bd > GA Sow at wae = * “a | i eee YZ Ing