Jack and His Seven Foes — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

so. be ‘’ ae re . Li 5 ns Dy *. , 4 ‘% “ll speak true,” he said, ‘ because _ T’ve got truth in me, and I'll tell you - what I think of your case, Mister 7 Pantaloon.”’ “Ave, do,” said the old man, hoping to get from him a ray of comfort and hope. ‘In my opinion,” said Jibber, deliberately, ‘you are as good as done for.”’ “Don’t say that!” cried the Panta- loon. “But I do say it,’ said Jibber. “You've got seven days to live, and no more. But still I say, don’t cave in.” ‘“What would you do were you inmy place ?”’ asked the shivering Pantaloon. “T’d have a run for it,” said Jibber. “Trust in me. I'll start in the morn- ing, and I'll take you four with me. The rest can follow on, they know the appointed spot.’ “Tf I could but get clear away,’ muttered?the Pantaloon. “We'll have a try for it,’ said Jibber, cheerfully. ‘ You can’t do more than run forit. It’s life or death for you.” The Pantaloon’s face grew ghastly white with terror. “ He must come for you, Pantaloon, if we all stick together,” said the Panther, ‘‘ and if we swatch for him on the day he named, surely there are enough of us to settle him.” “He takes us unawares,” - Swaggerer, with a gloomy face. “Then we must not be taken un- awares.” “Talking of being taken unawares, reminds me,” said Makepeace Jibber, “this boss of yours was here to-night.” ‘“‘ Here!” they exclaimed. said the JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. “Yes, popped in a minute before you came,”’ said Jibber, coolly ; ‘ he opened the door and walked in as if the place belonged to him. ‘Sit still,’ he said ; ‘I’m not come to harm you,’ and then he looked round as if for a friend.” “Why didn’t you shoot him down?” demanded the Panther. “That’s your business, my friend,” suid Jibber ; “he’s no enemy of mine, and shooting down in New York is risky. If it had been out in Nevada, I don’t know that I mightn’t have put a friendly bullet into him.” “Well, having looked round, what did he do?” “ Nodded, and walked out again.” “He’s more than mortal,” groaned Sneezer. ‘“You’ve said that before,’’? muttered the Swaggerer, “and if you can’t find something new to say, keep quict.”’ ‘Well, my hearties,’”’ said Makepeace Jibber, rising, ‘‘it’s time we went to snooze. You know your room, and I know mine. You have three hours before you.” He nodded to them, looked at his revolvers, and sauntered out of the room. The moment the door was between them, his face was on the broad grin. “ Durn me,” he said, ‘‘if ever I see four men so skeered by a boy. They'll believe anything. ‘Jest looked in to see if they was there,’ I says—and they all believe it. Durn me! I’m aman of truth, but I must tell a lhenow and then to keep on a level with most people. Skeered they were, truly. Ha, ha!” And with his grin getting broader and broader, he went to bed; first placing his revolver under his pillow. — LFCLDELF CLG Di PDA Dia Preis CHAPTER XXXT. IN I10WA—THE LONELY HUT-——A KIND THREE days later, Makepeace Jibber, and the Swaggerer and his gang were out upon the plains south of Iowa. _ The railway had helped them so far, and the rest they were going to do on foot. _ “Unless we should find horses,” c Jibber, *‘and then we'll ride.” — said RECEPTION, AND A DASTARDLY CRIME. An apparently uninhabited country lay before them, and the Panther made an observation upon it. Lut Jibber put him at rest. ‘Be easy,” he said, “ there’s peopie and plenty ahead of us. More than I think is good. All America will be sated and filled up before leng.’’ CORNICE (C (EO) m <S