Frank Reade Library, Vol. VIII, No. 191 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 FRANK READE, JR., IN TEXAS, It was this which would prevent the engl- neer from starting the train back again and Frank real t. He acted quick and without saying a word to ony y- He leaned forward and pulled the couplin of the car and the tender. There was a jerk the air-brake tubes parted and F :ank brou the common brake to bear to check the speed ai train. beh dtr varda be na moment there were tween the engine and the train. a2 At frst Frank had thought of holding the train still and making a brave fight through the car windows with the train robbers. But by the quick ing of the car he saw oH once ee a thrill that they were upon a e. Rhe grade also extended down toward the junction. The car halted and Frank loosening the brake it began to move backward down e e. The train robbers saw the move and witha yell came on to the attack. Four of them reached the car platform, but k stood there like a rock with his re- volver and exchanged shots with them. Two of the robbers were shot. The bullets whistled all about Frank’s head. ** Golly, Marse Frank!” cried Pomp; “‘ come inside or youse’}] git shot, suah!” Frank concluded that it would be wiser to seek the cover of the car, and stepped inside the door. ; The fight was now kept up through the car windows. The robbers tried desperately to board the train. But it had gained too much headway on the down grade. Inafew moments it was running at full |; tilt a sixty-mile clip. Then a yell came from the conductor. ‘““Put on the brakes!” shouted the coward- ly fellow. “* They're pulling up the rails back u of us. Frank looked down the grade and saw that a of the train robbers were engaged in drawing the spikes in the raiia. If they succeeded in loosening one rail be- fore the reached the spot it meart death to all on board. CHAPTER III. 4 FIGHT WITH MOSELY'S GANG. FrRaNK READE, JR., was coo! in times of . There was never a time in his life when he stood in need of nerve better than new. Quietly and coolly he watched the opera- tions of train robbers. They were loosening the spikes. It was a question of time as to whether they would su in removing the rail in time to wreck the train. The train was rapidly nearing the spot Ata mile a minute it neared the gang of workers. A Joud and baffled yell went up from them. Then the train struck the loosened rail. Erobanny not half a dozen spikes held it in place. Like a flash the fleeing cars struck the rail. There was a slight swaying as te rail yielded @ trifle. Then a cheer went up from Barney and om The had been made. F aprang cut upon the platform and seized the brake to steady the flying cars around a curve just ahead. There was no doubt but that the train would keep on going until the junction was reached. Here they would he safe, and Frank decid- ed to unload the Steam Man here and pro- ceed to Pecan City with it over the or the prairie. en the wild train came fiying down over the rails to the junction, the astonishment of the ple there ga was greater words can express. They stood open-mouthed as the cars rolled up to the sept rank and the conductor, who had now re- ed his courage somewhat, were at the es, The cars were brought to a standstill, and then the passengers leaped out. Of course an explanation had to be made. <A sensation was “Wall, thet was a cute trick of Moeely’s I, swar,’ sald one lank Texan. “I'd advise ye to look out for him, strangers.” “T intend not ony, to leok out for him, but to look for him,” said Frank, grim) “‘ He's a hard cud, stran **So is the Steam Man. There was plenty of willing bands to help in the Unloading of the Steam Man. While thus engaged, and the work of put- ting the parts together was going on, the lo- comotive came in. The engineer pale and terrified leaped down out of the cab. “I tell ye I'm done drivin’ on this kind of a line,” he declared, positively. ‘I’m goin’ k in.” ‘* What did Mosely say to yef” asked the al who had played such a cowardly Je rs. “He didn’t say much ‘cept to tell me to stop hereafter when he hung out a sign, an’ when I had money aboard. It’s lucky for that covey what was aboard the Pullman that he didn’t fa)l into Mike's hands.” ‘Perhaps it was,” said Frank, b uely, answering the remark, ‘‘ but it’s an ucky day for him when I came to this region.” “Is that sof’ said the engineer, incredu- lously. ‘* Mike isa bad man. ‘*Well, I'm not afraid of him,” retorted Frank, ‘which is what more vban half of you chaps cannot say.” ** That’s so!” chimed in ong of the crowd, and a Jaugh followed. The engineer, however, pulled a bit of paper from his pocket and handed it to Frank. *“*Here’s something Mike told me to hand to you,” he said. rank took the slip quietly and glanced at t. Upon it, in an irregular hand, there was scrawled the following: *To FRANK READE, JR.: ‘*So you're the bloke what has come West to do up Mike Mosely. All right. I’m glad to welcome ye. Here's fair warning: There'll be another tenderfoot funeral in Pecan City afore a week. Mark the word. “oY ures trooly “Mikt MOosELY.” ** Well, Mike,” said Frank with a laugh, as be tore the paper to bite, “you are more of a fighting man than you area scholar. All right, we will settle the dispute in the near future, and you shall have cause to remem too.” The Steam Man was now hastil beginnin to show shape. J . A wondering crowd was gathered about ; none of them ever seen anything of the kind before. It was certainly an object of very great wonder, It took several hours to put the Steam Man y together all complete. ut finally the last rivet was driven and the last nut tightened. Then Frank said to Barney : ‘**Get up steam just as quickly as you can. We want to leave here at once. *‘ All roight, Misther Frank.” 7 soon ada tire in the fur- nace. The boiler was quickly filled with wa- ter from a creck nexus. Then steam was quickly gotten up. The Steam Man stood puffing and ready for the start. The three voyagers, Frank Reade, Jr., and Barney and Pomp sprang into the wagon. The door in the wire screen was shat, and then Frank took the throttle reins in one hand and placed the other upon the guiding brake of the wagon. The Steam Man :et out a piercing whistle and then started away at a long loping stride. The spectacle was a wonderful one to the people about, and a great cheer went up. It was answered by those in the and then the Steam Man rapidly left the border village behind. Frank thought cf following the railroad track closely, in the hopes of meeting Mosely and his gang. In this he was rewarded. As the Steam Man neared the vicinity of the experience of the morning, Barney sud- dene eiebene Mit ther Frank, there the oe 8 are, tHe hu}) lot av tbim. On me worrud they're comin’ for us, too !” is was true enough. A body of men, some fifty in number, came galloping down over the plain toward the an. Frank now resorted to tactics to defeat the villainous horde. He knew that if the whole gang should suc- ceed in surrounding the Steam they might possibly break some of the delicate machinery and the battle would go against em. But he knew better than to come to clozxe quarters. The Steam Man was capable of outfooting the fleetest horse. Frank glanced over the plain and laid his course. He bore off a little to the southward now. This brought Mosely’s gang somewhat in his rear. They came thundering after the Steam Man. Frank held the Man steady anc then said: ‘‘ Now, Barney, you and Pomp may try your aim. Make every shot count.” ad A right, Marse Frank.” ‘* Bejabers, we'll par'ly ze ‘em.” The two eager men sought the loopholes and began to fire at the distant g- The train robbers were within easy range and every shot toid. Barney and Pomp could work the eighteen- shot Winchesters very rapiely:, The train robbers began to fall one by one, They ae madly and also opened fire, but the bullets rattled harmlessly against the steel cage. It required some time and the loss of adozen men for the train rohbers to come to their senses and realize that the Steam was too much for them. ° Barney and Pomp had not received asingle scratch. It was easy for the Steam Man to maintain an easy distance before the horses, and they could tot gain upon him, ply whip and spur as they would. It was now near sunset. A perfect fusillade was kept up by Barney . and Pomp. It was fearfully dcetractive to the train robbers. Their horsea were also winded, and trey were obliged to pull up in sheer desperation. _But they bad not seen the lint of their humiliating defeat yet. The Man now benan to steam very svwift! about them in a circle, keeping at the wal: form distance of a couple of fur Barney and Pomp continued to porr in # heavy fire. There seemed how nothing bat ignominious retreat or total destraction for the train ro In sheer desperation they rode in a scatter- ed line for the hills near. Into these they dashed among rocky where the Steam Man could not follow. sper disappeared with savage and baffled e It was a signal victory for the Steam Man. Barney and Pomp cheered with a will. “ Jabers, av we didn’t do thim up foine, thin I'll threat,” cricd Barney. “ Golly, dat am a iac’,” put in Pomp. “ We a kin jes’ But darkness was close at As nothing more would likely be seen of the train ro that night, Frank decided to run for Pecan City at once. “I think we can make it before morning,” he declared. ‘It will be moonlight and a straight course over the plains.” So the Steam Man headed for Pecan City. But before midnight the moon was obscured by clouds and they were compelied to camp. When daylight first appeared the journey was resumed. In a few hours the Steam Man descended into a valley among the hills and cane in sight of the Texan city. It was a collection of buildings which in the East would hardly have passed for a re- spectable village. But a few acres of land, diversified into streets, may constitue a city in the far West. where views on ail subjects are much more elastic and liberai than in the eifete East. “*So dat am Pecan City,” said Pomp, with a shade of disappointment in his voice. ** Huh! ‘tain’t m of a city as I can see.” “ Bejabers, it’s bekase ye're color-blind, naygur,” declared Barney. * If yez wad only luk a bit sharper, yez would see the city.” ** Dat may be so,” retarned Pomp, “ but jes’ de same, I ant “on vag hag yet.” Owever, team Man kept and soon entered the streets of the ittle Texan metropolis. k dat tribe any time.” hand. COMICLOOKS C (SO)