Frank Reade Library No. 12: Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXVIII. CONCLUSION. Tan of the morrow had come. All the men confined in that terrible trap had. longingly towards the east, anx- fously a the sound of the bugie, or the sen a at the eam Man Now night had come, and fust were d , there rang out the thrilling notes of the ca , foowed by the more pierc- aap yore of the Terror of the West. rescuers were at hand. Orash ! A lurid flame leaped up to the sky pealed forth their death notes, and a obe flashed back a thousand lights from the hed metal as the troopers charged down upon the Brethren of the Plains. . Snap Carter's voice rang out like a bugie, his tones heard distinctly above the clash and din, ox than the oe pete ad the figh ‘Dash down the pase!” shriek C:) ting old guide. cavalry’s here!” Scarcely had his clarion voice thundered forth the command ere the men rushed like maddened brutes down the rocky roadway, straining every nerve to reach the e-ground before the fight was over. The Steam Man was standing close to the en- trance, his huge, brilliant eyes glowing out with fearful gaze upon the scene. A huge pan filled with chemical powder was burning a the body of the wagon, and cast a wild, terrible giare over the stained field. Pe outlaws were fighting like infuriated devils, as they ate in courage, they made a most ance. The wild rangers dashed out of the pass like antelopes, and on foot rushed down upon the out- me, seekidg out the leaders, whether red or white, and engaging them .n mortal strife. Snap Oarter made a dash for Mutseer, the head and front of all this trouble, and with ease seized him in his arma, and dashed tho wall of rook, killing him instantly. Thus was he rewarded for bringing them into the horrible _ Frank oov Sholum Alarkum, and sent him to the grass with a bullet in his brain. Harry Hele looked eagerly around for Captain The brave outlaw leader was fighting like a fiend, and urging on his followers by example and command. The detecadve threw his rifie to his shoulder and Captain Slasher threw back his hands, his cloedt and be tall from his horse to the plains, Tolahfresser was killed at the same moment by @ cavalryman. Motver-Ponum was shot through the heart by Chariey Gorse, and almost at the same moment the lieutenant of the robbers was laid low by the shillelah of our friend Barney Shay. These few deaths decided the battle. Without leaders, the outlaws were unable to cope with the combined foreus, and in « few mo- ments they turned tail with one accord, and dart- aap! A A wild cheer went up to the sky, and the west- en men t Frank Rewie in their arms, and hugged him like a child. were many in numbers, and desper- bloody resiat- “ Hanky 1” they cried. ‘You're a regular screamer. Three oheare for the youngster and the Steam Man of the Plains !” And he rocky pases rang loudly with the thun- At this moment the rather stoutly-built Mr. Fitmnoodle came u so tne epoe, saying be ne had tried to reach the e-fie © to take part in the action, but “ really, h’I h’am not built for | moved b runpir.g, you know.” “Your friend is dead,” said Frank, who had ie the Ene to think ce pcor Haken woe meet- e hman © pass the day pre- viously. e Bash is gone.” “Poor *Allett!” cried Fitznoodle, throwing up his hands in surprise. ‘ Positively®” ma to our eare, Charley, Barney and mysall, and our care, ey, and m an ily promised to take ou back vilized country before we left he Then he died easy.” ** Poor fellow—poor fellow !” muttered George Augustus. ** Well, h‘I must say h’l ‘ave become so ’eartily with this ’orrid ’eathenish land where the natives have h’advocates of h’in- discriminate connection, h’and where the female natives believe h’in a perpetual leap year, that h’I shall be pleased to go back to the more civil- ized posts with you h’again. H’its h’a ’orrid sec- tion h’of country just b’around ’ere, h’and h’I shall not regret leaving h’it h’in the least.” There was a good dea! of laughter over the En- glishman’s odd observations, and then the leader of the cavalry stepped forward and offered to ex- cort the cockney to the nearest settlement, if he so desired. George Augustus said Chariey turned to Frank. ** This takes it off of your hands.” ‘Just 80,” said Frank. ‘Now we are free to fo where we please. Inthe morning we'll go to hree Islands, and start for the stream which flows over our gold.” “*Go to Three Islands. Travel west by south- west for two hundred miles, until you come to a grove like Three Islands, through which runs a stream. On the right hand, facing the sun, a tall cottonwood grows on the bank of the stream. When the sun is one hour high, the shadow of the trunk falls over some rocks in the stream. Under the furthest rock touched by the shadow the gold lies buried.” had been the sum and substance of Dash Hallett’s parting uest to Frank and his com- rades, and now the three stood beside the tall cottonwood, while the rising sun began to cast its shadows over the slowly-moving stream. Soon the long shadows of the cottonwood stole out over the stream towards a cluster of rocks, and the three gold-seekers watched carefully for Use long brie ps ont to the anes o . ength it fell on the largest roc © grou and then Frank looked at his watch, and declared the sun to be exactly one hour high. Instantly they waded into the stream, and ran out through its shallow course towards the rock where the alanting bar of shade now rested. The rock was long and broad, but very flat and thin, and when the man put his strong hands under it, the slab came up with ease. Before them lay three half-submerged boxes, THE STEAM MAN OF THE PLAINS.. y Frank. ‘¢ Hurrah!” cried Charley Gorse. “Will I iver go home?” yelled Barney Shea. “ You'll have en to carry you there keep you like a gentleman when you get there, a? all events,” said Frank Reade; yw front of them lay an 0 canvas of shining. gold signey.” Not dust, but coined dollars ready fos 4 ten thousand,” said Frank. as How 80?” ai eerey will bring “The premium on yellow boys amount ap to fifteen thousand,” said the driver of the Steam Man. ‘ When I left New York gold stood at one hundred and fifty, so if we can our pile safely to some broker's office, we each ket five thousand apiece.” ‘Hooroo!” said Barney. ‘‘ Faith, I'll take me- self back to the swate town of Clonakilty, to I will. I'll build meself a nate little cabin, and Tl be afther marryin’ one o’ the best and puttiest colleens in the whole county of cork, for I'll bea Jland-owner; and thin itll be good morning, Squire Shea. Hooroo!” And getting out his fiddle, he payee the “ Dev- il’s Dream. and jigged to the m to let off hia extra feelings. *‘ And what will you do?” asked Chariey Gorse of fon. T'll go home and spend half of the pile in “Oh, Pll go home spena oO! making a steam steed,” said Frank. ‘ Vmenn it opid Fr Frank, “P going to try and é¢ mean iT) : a6 m invent a horse that will by steam, and then hurrah for the weet ’ “ Bally boy !’ said Charley. “Make a team of ‘em, while you are about it—but what will you dc with the Steam Man?” -* me,” . “Iw my share of the gold for him for I want the old fellow. With so much money you can carry out your ideas fully, and come out to me next year with a steam team.” Thut decided the young genius, and from thas est belonged to Char- moment the Terror of the bey ore ey succeeded in running in safety to the vil- lage where Chariey lived, and then the and Frank took leave of their cousin and friend, and with the three boxes of gold they took pes- sage on a@ boat that conveyed them to a city where thoy connected with a railroad, and they were soon w towards New York, where they arrived in safety. George Augustus Fitznoodle and Barney Shea nappened to meet, and they took passage for the old coun er, and at last accounts, they were both doing well. Charley Gorse succeded in escaping al) the red- skins with the Terror of the West; and as for Frank Reade—well, he don’t die with the conelu- sion of THE Stream MAN OF THE PLame. The next number of the Frank Reape Lisrarky will contain another thrilling story, entitled ““ FRANK READE, JR., WITH HIS NEW STEAM HORSE IN THE NORTHWEST; or, WILD ADVENTURES AMONG THE BLACKFEET.” Complete List of FRANK READE LIBRARY: 1. Frank Reade, Jr., and His New Steam Man; or, The Young Inventor's Trip to the Far Wes 2. Frank Reade, Jr., Land ; or, On a Mysterious f Frank Reade, Jr., Wi Hot Wo Among the Greasers, b 6 Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Man Chasing a Gang of “ Rustlers ;” or, Wild Adventures in Montana, 7. Frank Reade, Jr. Search for a New Mexico, t, ith His New Steam Man in No Man’s Trail h His New Steam Man America, 4. Prank Reade, Jr.. With His New Steam Man in Chasing the Train Rob 6 Frank Read Jr., With His New Steam Man in Mexiso; or, With His New Steam Horse: or, The Million Dollars. A Story of Wild Lifo in by “*‘ Noname” by ‘‘ Noname” in Central by ** Noname” exas; Or, by “‘ Noname” *“*Noname” by “‘ Noname”* west; or, by “‘Noname” 8. Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Horse Am the Cowboys; or, the League of the Plains, @& Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Horse in the Great American Desert; by ‘“‘Noname™” or, The Sandy Trail of Death, by ‘“‘ Noname” 10. Frank Reade, Jr.. With His New Steam Horse and the Mys- tery of the Underground Ranch, ll. Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Horse in Search of an Ancient Mine, 2@ Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains; or, The Terror of the West, by “‘ {3. Frank Feats, Jr., With His New Steam Horse in the North- ild Adventures Among the Blackf by ‘“‘Noname” by “‘ Nonanic” Noname” eet, by “ Noname” For sale by all newadealers in the United States and Canada, or sent to your address, post-paid, on receipt of price. Address Box 2730, FRANK TOUSEY Publisher, 34 & 36 North Moore Street, New York. COmiIcoooe GC SS o(CO)