Phil Rushington's Search, or, The Unknown Rider of the Ring — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

— “Then, fisesibly you've gota quarter you'd like to invest in a physical wreck that’s pinin’ ACY fer a sandwich.”’ bse _ Kush tossed the hobo a coin, and the Jat- ter slouched off, waving his topless tile, and eon iii “Thanky, sir.’ _ Walt and Phil watched him as he shambled act toss the lot toward the road, but were sud- ea: enly startled by loud cries, a pattering of hoofs and wild rattle of a wagon. _ Whirling about in their tracks, they cast = qatick glances across the open meadow that ae lay at the back of the tents and saw a four- 7 horse mule team careening madly toward the lot. The large wagon behind them had been heaped up with hay, but this load was being aS jolted off behind in forkfuls, and a trail of it , ae lay along the zigzag route taken by the run- _ A driver was still on the seat of the wagon, _ but he had lost all control of the mules, ap- parently, and could do nothing but yell for : “| mery one to clear the path. | eee Pit’ s Reddy!” exclaimed Walt. “He went a at e to azet some ay for ie Brock Great : “€¥es , and there’s some one in the eh an the “s Rush, his anxiety and interest at once aroused. “If he doesn’t look out, he’ll %et right in the track of the runaway. Quick !” A boy had rolled out from under one of the canvas-vans, where he had evidently been sleeping. No doubt the noise of the wagon : and the shouts of the driver had aroused him, for he seemed half asleep and utterly be- wildered. ‘He started to run in one direction, and then, on hearing Rush’s shout, turned and made in another. 9? e Peaking too, returned . = of ‘ - , @ . + i : 4 ih < * a . ™ > — : x _— —_——ase e & -“« & : . 4 . Bl J ~~ . 4 ie. . ° . hd : a “ \ '* — . << 7 be -, ¢ al . @ a ."*\."}e - * “J *. ‘ = ? ' * ns 3 F . “~ oF, a 2 7 . ™. as) oe . wears Girt ; ‘ a . 7 ¥ ‘ > d : . — : ; a ’ Hi, there! Come this way! As he voiced his cry, Phil sprang toward the boy. By some strange fatality, the mules DO AND DARE WEEKLY. headed straight for the lad, and whenever he turned to get away, they turned so as to in- tercept him. Rush could not understand this, but just then he had no time to indulge in conjecture. “Jump up into the canvas-wagon!” he called. “There, Hurry!” right in front of you! The boy stood as though dazed, turning around and around. The mules drew closer and closer, bearing down on him at terrific strides, the driver tugging vainly at the lines. But, at last, the lad seemed to realize his peril. Giving one startled glance at the run- away, he turned and started quickly toward the wagon from under which he had crawled only a few moments, before. He had not taken a dozen steps, however, before he stum- bled over a stone and fell, He tried to rise, but fell again, and then lay motionless on the ground, seemingly paralyzed with fright and incapable of exerting himself. Some distance away was gathered’a little group of employees and performers, among the latter being the star rider, Isabel. Mamie and Dora. and The horrified cries of the women mingled with the hoarse shouts of the men; but ‘all voices were hushed as Phil Rushington. was seen to leap across the intervening space that separated him from the path of the runaway. Half a dozen yards in front of the prostrate boy Rush came to a halt. Jerking off his coat, he began to wave it in the hope of frightening the leaders of the team, and caus- ing them to swerve aside from the motionless form lying directly in their way. This manouevre was unsuccessful, and Phil cast aside his eoat, waited until the leaders were abreast of him, and then leaped and caught the bridle of the nearest mule with both hands. There, swinging back and forth, but cling- ing like a leech, Rush hung, diverting the , — re _ comicbooks.co