Wildcat Bob, the Boss Bruiser — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

a eee No. 6, that the flying cars were coming on and the as he beheld the yo woman, she who had - engine retreating from the deep i sip * Now, then, get ready,” ordered the outlaw. | “foaring report, that shook the © ** All right!” was the acknowledging response. The next instant there was a louder roar, and the empty cars shot out upon the trestle. Then came a vivid, blinding flash, a terrible earthquake, and, amid th king ¢ F plitting se, and, amid the cracking and splittin of mighty timbers, the bridge came erating: downward. Forward dashed the Bloodhounds with yells of triumph, and high above the din rung a shrill whistle and the cry of De Monte- rey: Ncome on, my hearties, and we'll sweep the hell-hounds from the land!” there was a fierce rush, and, cornered in a tight place, the ruffians turned to defend them- selves. Revolvers and rifles cracked and flash- ed; men yelled and cursed furiously; there wasa fierce hand-to-hand conflict; then all was silent. In the ravine oon @ score-and-a-half of bleed- | ing, smoke begrimed victors, with Director Man- | All around them lay the | ning at their head dead and dying. But two were missing, and they were Jake Corrigan and Wild Carlos, CHAPTER XXI, £ND OF LA VERGE AND KITTY AYMER. Masork BuioopGoop attended Bob back to Rompstt ir bes his charge fainted again be- fore half of the distance was accomplished, and had to be carried across the major’s saddle the rest of the way. At Tupper’s his wounds were redressed, and he was put to bed, while restora- tives were judiciously applied. It ‘was sunset tre he awakened; but he was then so tl strengthened and refreshed as to be able to sit kp and talk. ** What did you do with the old woman?’ he asked of Major Bloodgood, who sat near by. | “Was she dead when you found me in her elutches?”’ ‘* Yes—or, at least, I think so. We left her where we found her.’ “‘Humph! she was a very tigress, and as stout as a grizzly. She hauled me about unmerci- fully, and yet something instinctively told me wot to do her harm, I know not what.’ “You did not silence her, then?” ““No. A rock from the ceiling dropped upon her head, and a corner of the same ie cha ilso: and that is all I know about it,” ; eo How came you to venture into the shaft, my boy? if Curiosity impelled me to go down there and | find out the truth of the matter about all the spooks and so forth that are reported to have been seen there. As you see, I met a spook that | was a match for me. ‘“‘T thought that you went to the mill to leok after the body of old Wood.” ‘*And so I did, but could not find it, as the buildings have all been burned, and the flood is pouring over thedam. By the way, major, you card of the gal I rescued from the tight-rope— saw her, didn’t you? Well, she is in the colo- nel’s room behind the bar, and I should like to wave you ask her to come here a moment.” ** You mean Ma Belle?” ‘*'Yes, yes, Ma Belle.” *T am sorry, Robert, but she is not here. The Bloodhounds took her when they sacked the town. “Great God! major, is this true? Why did you not tell me before?’ “Because I knew that it would do you no Boot, young man.” i why not? Had you told mo when you first found me, I should have set out in hot pur- suit. Now, I shall be ve y late, and it will be difficult to trail my game.” There will be no necessity for you to go in search,” replied the map. “Already two- thirds of the population of Pompeii are scourin the country in quest of the Bloodhounds. fail to uncover them, you could not hope to, could you?” “I am not so sure about that. If one ball knocks down only one tenpin, it does not signify that the next one will not knock the whole set out of time, does it? It is the same in the pre- | rising and pulling on his boots. “ We will start: sent case, If the whole population of Pompeii fails to find the ruffians, it is no sign that I will not unearth them without half trying. Surely I can but make the attempt.” Just then there came a knock at the door, and Colonel per within the apartment with one of his ark aie shi “‘There’s a gal below, my dear Robert, as MVEA girl!’ What gil eon waht to see met Tt can want to s ton't Ma Belles" sig os ‘Not byajugfull, This gal below n e'd the Sey Soe ras en RTE $ Ma Belle: y as Ma Belle; yet ehe’s got news of her.” ‘ t! got news of Ma Belle?” **So she hinted; leastways, she’re one of the ee critters as war len away by the “Show her up, then, at once. Per she alg Pon a I can find my darl'»g,” said t deat. The colonel bowed obsequiously, and retired, soon to Feappear accompanied by 'no less a sonage than Kitty Aymer, bowed twice made an attempt upon his life. She returned the salutation haughtily, and, | after dropping into a chair, she turned to the pu i " \ ** Mr. Bancroft,” she said, her Voice trembling slightly, ‘I have come to beg your forgiveness for, the harm I have done you. Will you grant it , .‘*Humph! are you not asking a good deal?” | asked the Wildeat, sternly. | _** Maybe I am, but believe me, sir, I am truly | repentant for what I have done. In order to | get the papers which hold the secret of my | birth, I have been rash enough to raise my hand against my fellow-man. Now, sir, I have it in my power to aid you in finding one who I sus- pect is doubly dear to you—the fair rope-walker —but I must have your promise of forgiveness for all the wrong I ; ce ve done you!” ou are freely forgiven, lady, if your in- tentions are friendly.” “They are, I assure you. But, first, before we go any further, will you. be kind enough to explain what you know of John Cameron—or, | a8 you know him, Robert Beecher?’ ' “Certainly. It will take but a few words to | explain all that is necessary. ‘**I first met Bob Beecher in St. Louis. He | was a wild harum-scarum fellow, and I soon learned that ho was no slouch at slinging fists. We, by unanimous consent, consolidated, and many 1: the lively bout we’ve had in the past, for exercise. Hoe wa: both clever and obliging. ** Ho had a great faculty of ingratiating him- self into the best society, and finally the news came that hc was en ged to the lovely daugh- | ter of old General I : other wonderfully, and this, with the similarity / of names, led to serious results. Subsequent to his betrothal to the general’s daughter, he went ' to drinking, and the sun scarcely ever set with- out seeing him more or less intoxicated. I re- monstrated with him and tried my best to re- form him, but all to no avail. | “He went from bad to worse, and at last came the fearful blow. He murdered the general’s daughter—his wife—while she slept, and robbed her. He was at the time, and I think that had it not been for that, he would never have done such a deed. He came to me, and begged of me to screen him from the law—to protect him and hide him out of the reach of | the authorities, This I could not do, as you | must know. ‘** To harbor a criminal is second to the crime | itself. So TItold him I could not grant his re- | ests and he flew into a passion and swore a rightful oath of revenge, after which he fled. | “Soon a friend came to me and advised me to | make myself scarce also, as the law might nab | me and make me a deal of trouble, on account | of my resemblance to Beecher. fiting by | this advice I slid out, and made tracks wes ere But it was the worst thing I could have one. | “Tho hounds of the law trailed me, and ever since I have suffered very serious annoyance by gy Mo dodge about, a fugitive from justice. | .“ Why did you not deliver yourself up, and prove yourself the wrong man?’ |” “Tad reasons for not doing so—oné was, to | avoid getting my name in the mouths of any- | one, as a ted murderer. Now, that I have told you this, tell me in return where is the maiden, Ma Belle?” ‘*T came here to tell yon that, or, rather to guide you to the place where she and the other irls are confined. | _‘* When we were taken from here, the ruffians went to a place called Wink’s ranch, and locked | us all in together, after which they all rode away | leaving us alone. I being the lighter one of the lot, pro that they boost me up so that I could cliurb out of the chimney, when I would ¢ome for help. It was a tight squeeze, but’ I got , out, and here Fam.” | _ “* How far is it to this place?” asked our hero, | at once.” | _“ ] cannot say how far it is. ‘I got free about | daylight, and have walked and ran alternately every step of the way here, since then.” | Bow soon do “you expect that the ruffians | will return to the ranch? | “Not before to-morrow morning.” |. “Very well. Major, will you order two horses, and see that this young lady is supplied | with food? I will in the meant t ready.” | The mayor acquiesced, and soon Wildcat Bob | was left alone. | He hastily attired himself for the journey, | and went down to the bar-room. Here he found the major and Kitty Aymer partaking of a lunch, he, being hungry. volunteered to help them dispose of it. | By the cime they had finished, three horses | were led up to the door, and in answer to the sr. aged inquiring glance, Major Bloodgood Perhaps it will surprise you, but I am going : [a We may Wildcat Bob, the Boss Bruiser. 23 ~ ; | need your strong arm before we succeed in get- | ' ting ion of the girls.” " oh ye git you’re clutches on that Big Hank, jest ae him a punch fer me,” said ex-confeder- ate uncey, as the trio mounted, at the door. **'Ye see I hain’t no particular affection fer thet ornery cuss, an’ I'd jes’ ’s Peve ye'd settle hie hash as not.” ““T will try and accommodate you,” replied the pugilist, laughing, and then they rode away. Ki took the lead, as neither of the others knew the route to the ranch in question, and soon they were speeding westward, as the shad- ows of night began to envelop the land. For a couple of hours they galloped along without interruption, when suddenly, and unex- as it was sudden, there occurred an event that left Wildcat Bob without equine power of locometion. With not a moment's warning, a man leaped frem a clump of hazel bushes in front of the advancing trio, and raising a pistol, ed. Whether he intended the bullet for Bob is not for us to say, for instead of him, it struck his horse, and dropped him to the ground—dead! At the same instant there was another report, and the strange enemy fell, by the handwf Ma. jor Bloodgood, Wildcat Bob quickly disengaged himself from the lifeless horse, and went over to where the dead mati lay. As he gazed into the sinister face, now pale and haggard, he saw that it was the rascall esa of Ma Belle, the good-for-nothing **How shall we manage it now?’ asked the major, after all had viewed the corpse. ‘* There's I thought nothing | three of us, and only two horses. Some one, | strange of this, considering that he was a lady’s | evidently, will have fo ‘‘ Unfortunately for me, we resembled each afoot.” ** There is no need of that,” said Kitty. “ Mr. Bancroft can take my place in the saddle, and I will ride behind him, if he has no objections to my clinging to him.” Of course Bob had no objections, and so it was arranged. In short order they were gal. loping on again, leaving the corpse of Leek om the prairie, to call for it on their return. Away, over hill and dale they sped, and about midnight Kitty Aymer su ed a halt, as they were in the vicinity of the Wink Ranch, wherein the girls were imprisoned. Only a small motte of timber intervened be tween them and the cabin. “We had better dismount, and leave the hor- ses hereabouts,” said the girl, and then we can approach the cabin with more caution, which we shall have need to exercise, as the may “Eh possibly returned sooner than I ex. ‘ted.’ Accordingly they did dismount, and the ani. mals were secu in the edge of the motte. Then the trio set out afoot for the ranch. Creeping cautiously through the timber, they presently emerged ona ee of prairie on the western side, and beheld, looining up the gloom, the cabin known as Wink’s ranch, It was a long, low, rambling structure, and had not a very inviting a ce, as viewed ree the oan one - rs a built for a ti g-post, but never ha a success, had soon been abandoned. . **The doors and windows are all on the fur- ther side,” said Kitty, as they haited to make ob- servations. “‘Now, you two men had better creep around one way, while I go the other. If you see a light inside, you may rest assured that some, or perhaps all of the gang are there, as I left strict orders with the girls not to light up, until I returned.” ‘“How many apartments gre there in the shanty?” asked the major. “Only one. The interior is not divided by partitions. Now, let's be moving, as every mo- ment is valuable.” So saying, the young woman flitted off. Wildcat Bob and the m also moved away. they Se ype to the right of the cabin and No. difficulty fenced tp“ guinisig fe) c was experien a front view of the place, and here a strange tab- leau was presented to the gaze of our friends. In front of the cabin were planted a dozen or more stakes, to;which Ma Bee and the bar- girls were individually bound, and Big Hank was seated before them, exulting over their pain and misery. “Haw! haw! wah! hoo!” roared the giant, **thes ar’ fun—ther climaxyed summit o re fined amoosement. No harrum done at all, my deer tender sex; et’s qnly one 0’ _~ playful freeks 0° natur’, thet’s all. Sumtimes I’m jes’ ’s fawn an’ lamb-like as enny day-old goslin’ ye evyer see’d, an’ I wouldn’t no moar kill a bug in yer bewtchiful_ he’ds, than I'd swailer a pin o’ tobac’-juice, Then, ag’in, I feel jes’ like a rampshush two-yeer-old colt in fresh clover, an’ ken crow better, an’ cackle wuss nor enny other Shanghigh chicken in the hull wide universe. “<P tell ye who I ar’, my festive nimps—I’'m. ain’t ye? Pm ther illustri thick sot in . + " sgt chlo th are a eae eee Oe Ta