Frank Reade Library, Vol. VIII, No. 191 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

FRANK READE, JR., IN TEXAS. The wallets from the Steam Man could moe reach them, bu were now exposed the fireof the armed guard in the mail and axpress cars. ad these cars been open to the train rob- bers, there was a possibility that they might have escaped with the booty. But unfortunately for them thesecars were y ‘ Mosely to foresee the possibility of defeat, and it infuriated him. **Curse 'em!” he yelled; ‘‘ break open that car an’ kill every mother's son of ’em.” The train robbers made an attack upon the treasure car. But they were strongly barricaded and re- sisted the best efforts to break them open. Here was an exigency which the robbers had not anticipa - They had confidently believed that it would be the easiest kind of work to compel the defenders of the mail car to surrender. But this 8 proved far from being the case. They made astubborn resistance, and the difficulty of breaking into the cars was at once apparent. Mosely was furious and swore likea troop- er, urging his men on. ut they were mercilessly cut down by the steady fire of those in the cars. Thus matters were when Frank Reade, Jr., conceived of a daring plan to outwit the robbers. He ran the Steam Man up alongside the engine. would have been an eas the robbers in the cab, who, however, saw their peril and leaped. ‘**Now, Pomp,” said Frank, quickly, “here isa jee for you.” ** A’ right, Marse Frank !” cried the darky, with alacrity. ‘‘Whatam itf’ “IT want you to get aboard the locomotive and run down to the junction with the train.” Both Barney and Pomp saw the idea in a jiffy. It would be turning the tables on the train robbers in good fashion. They were all out of the passenger coach now, and trying hard to force their way into © mail car. 7 rra, yez ought to let me have that job, Misther rank.” demanded Barney. **Sho’! Don’ yo’ do no such fing, Marse Frank. He am jes’ ano ‘count Fishman, any- way.” = Be me sow}, I'll tache ye manners fer that, nayget ** Yo’ ain’ able fo’ to do dat.” = rra, we'll ” Barney would have sailed into Pomp then and there, but Frank interfered. “No skylarking now!” he said, sternly. ** Watch yourchance, Pomp, and get aboard.” “ A’right, Maree Frank.” Pomp went to the door in the cage and apened it a brief s At a moment when he knew the train rob- bers’ attention was diverted he ea from the cage. Up the embankment he flew. Like a monkey he went into the locomotive ca It was but a moment's work to unloose the braites and pull open the throttle. The train started forward with a jerk. A mad sell went up from the train robbers. Mosely saw the game when it was too late to prevent it. With a curse he started for the cab of the locomotive. A shower of rifle bullets came into the cab. But Pomp had foreseen this and esca harm by casting himself upon the floor of the Faster and faster the train moved away. It was gaining speed every moment, and soon was fiying along at a terrific rate. The robbers were left upon the track, a eb and disgrantied pack of rascals. osely was the maddest of all. But bis anger was futile, for the fame was Kost, and the $50,000 treasure had slipped out r The Steam Man kept pace with the trafn for some miles, Then Frank slowed up a bit. When the train rolled into the junction station with Pomp at the throttle a mighty crowd was in waiting. The news of the seizure of the train had been telegraphed from Pecan City. The news bad created tremendous excite- matter to shoot | had our voyagers from susceptible to the emotion, mney might have | y a ment at the junction, whick was near the flourishing town of Lone Pine. As Pomp brought the train to a stop, a cheering crowd rushed to the locomotive cab. The armed guard in the mail and express cars came out and an explanation was given the crowd. As soon as the accurate details of the affair were known the excitement became terrific. Cheers were given Pomp and the brave de- fenders of the treasure. The Steam Man and Frank Reade, Jr., were roundly cheered. The name of posely was fiercely hissed. Public sentiment ran high. That the treasure had n are over the branch line and successfully wrested from Mose.y's hands was a feat never equaled in those parts before. And the enthusiastic crowd meant that the plucky defenders should receive deserved en- comiums of praise. ' But at this juncture the Steam Man came u e Harrey and Frank came in for their share of the praise, and an admiring and wondering crowd surrounded the S:eam Man. ‘**T tell ye that’s the kind of an invention to walyze ike Mosely with,” cried one admir- ng Texan. ‘I'll bet my sombrero on the Steam Man.” **So will I, Bill.” “It's a corker.” ‘“* Hurrab for the Steam Man !” These were the cries which went up, and Readestown been at all “elt somewhat inflated by suc reception. But Frank received quiet reserve and dignity. to ret Ss soon as possible he proposed to return to Pecan City with the Steam Man. Very soon the Southern Pacific express came thundering along on the main line. The $50,000 treasure was transferred to the mail car of the express. There was no further danger of its becom- ing stolen now, as on the main line it would be safe and beyond the reach of such a law- less crew as Mosely’s gang. Frank now sprang aboard the Steam Man, as did Barney and Pomp. **T jes’ finks yo’am gwine back to Pecan City now, Marse Frank f” asked Pomp, with a grin. ae replied Frank, ‘but not directly. I think it will be advisable to take a little run into the hills on the way back and see what we can accomplish towards rescuing Katie Rollin.” she Bejacers, that’s phwat I say,” cried Bar- ney, w th readiness. “Dat jes’ suits dis chile,” chimed in Pomp. The Steam Man left Lone Pine Junction amid the cheersof the people. Very soon the iron monster was spurning the prairie beneath his spiked heels. A run along the railroad track was taken rs fas as the spot where the train had eld up. Here the trail left by the robbers was found. This was what Frank wan It was quite discernible in the soft soil of the prairie. Holding the Man down to a moderate pace Frank proceeded to follow it. He could see no reason why it should not lead him direct to the stronghold uf the train robbers. It was yet early in the day and the trail was followed through a tract of the wildest coun- trv that Frank had ever seen in his life. lling prairie, timber and rocky hills came in their turn. At sength the trail led into a deep which looked like the entrance to an Inferno, and here it me lost. All efforts to find it were unavailing. A clear space of ledge covered with flinty stones effectually concealed it. After some search Frank decided to keep on up the pass. But now a puzzling problem confronted him. The here branched off in two di- rections. hich one to take was a question. Frank was poasie at whet shall we do?” he asked Barney. ‘I am befo “T'll tell yez how to settle et said the Celt, solemnly. ‘An’ luck goes wid it.” ‘*How?f” asked Frank, with an amused amile. ‘“Jist flip a cint over yer back an’ which- ttering all overtures with brought | rock f Wh La H b ed i been to die Ba pl pass, iver way it turns up go by it. Heads to the lift and tails to the roight.” i “All right,” agreed Frank. “It shall be one. A cent was produced and Frank tossed it over his shoulder as directed. It fell with the head u *To the right!” cried Frank. “All aboard. To the right it is.” ‘*An’ may luck go wid us,” cried Barneys, content: So the Steam Man took the pass to the right, and it was followed for some wa 2. pon either hand, for what seemed oily a thousand feet in height, rose sheer walls of At times these so nearly me above as to give one the impression that he was ina vast cavern. The rocks assumed all sorts of groteaque and unreal fornis. Beast: of strange shape, profiles of marvel- ous accuracy were plainly seen. Indeed, so much like petrified images did they look that Barney, who had an Irish- man's superstition, began to evince fear. ** Bejabers, I'm thinkin’ it’s into some den of hobgoblins we are going!” he said, with a shiver. ‘‘ Bad cess to it, but no luck will come of entering here!" ‘‘ Very likely we shall see fairies before we go much further,” laughed Frank. “* Ah, Bar- ney, you are a rogue!’ ut the words had not left Frank's lips when the Celt sprang up with white face and oc manner, and pointing up the canyon, elled: ‘*Bejabers, wud yez look at that! Be St. Pathrick, we've run into a thrap av death!” CHAPTER VI. SUPERSTITIOUS FEARS, BAlLNEY's words were startling, to say the least, but not more so than his manner. Frank and Pomp were startled by them, aud instantly turned their gaze up the can- on. "They beheld at that moment a thrilling 8 t was easy to see that Barney had a good reason for his display of terror. Along the edge of a precipice upon the can- on wall and fully two hundred feet from the ttom of the gorge was a most weird and uncanny spectacie. at seemed like a procession of white human skeletons were walking along the verge. They were visible but a moment, disappear- ing beyond a turn in the wall. here was for a moment a disposition upen Frank’s part to treat it as an optical fllusion. e rubbed his eyes briskly, and strove to cispel the incongruous vision. ut Barney and Pomp had both seen it and all the auperstion of their ignorant minds tself, bone, it’s a warnin’i” cried Barney in wailing tones. “The white skeletons. I merce ace t fail. Shure, wan av us is marked assert h **Golly sakes alibe!” cried Pomp, procaine like an aspen. ‘‘I jes’ beliebe dat de debbd am up dat pass!” Barney had sprung forward to seize the brake and turn the Steam Man about. But Frank thundered: ‘* Let go of that, you coward!” rney obeyed implicitly, but he raised a voice of protest. ‘**Oh, Misther Frank!” he whimpered. ‘It will be death av we go any further up this ace. cess to it, I-say ‘* Yo’ ain’ gwine fo’ to gib debbil, Marse Frankf” plead into their honest faces and Frank felt anpelled to laugh. ‘Upon my wo he exclaimed, in sur- Pre. “You area plucky pair, and no mis- C. ‘“‘Oh, Marse Frank, we ain’ ’fraid ob nuffin’ dat am alibe. But we'se a heap ‘fraid ob ghosteses!” ‘* Ghosts!” cried Frank, contemptuously ; ee a 4 talk that way. e have seen no ghos **Tax your parding, Misther F rank,” said Barney, earnestly, ‘‘ but didn’t yez see thim whoite skelingtons goin’ along the wal! up there phwere a livin’ man cudnt walk at all Frank, coolly, *‘ but o’se’f up to de Pomp. **I saw them,” said they are not ghosts.” COMICOOOKS.GO