Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
“TRAPP Y
DAYS eo
forall is worth, and Mr. Cartwright is
tolen spoiled, and Mr, Cartwright
will be lucky if he collects ten per cent.
f you must have a fire loss, Charley, let
it be a total, and that’s what it’s going to
bei in Hangtown to- nig
“Don, you've a head, I'll be
hanged if you haven’ t w replied Charley, as
they. rushed into the
“Yi ut that doesn't” mean that I’m
not going to make an effort to save some
” d Don, “We'll stow
Oo go into camp while. things are
straightening out, as like enough we may.”
) accomplish this the boys now went
to rork with
w goods J which Don hustled down
into the cellar and stowed away close to
the wall, scraping up a few sbovelfuls of
earth and throwing it over them, were
such as were likely to prove useful to
themsel res.
And really there would have been no
time to do much more, for before the
were through with this the roof was all
ablaze and the store full of smoke.
The boys hurried out into the street and
mingling with the crowd did their part to
help « others for the remainder of the night.
awful night it was, too, ‘I
fire swept away nearly the entire town ;
.@
the big quartz mill which had its own fire |.a w
apparatus to protect it, and the tent
houses on the mountain side alone escaped,
When the sun rose over the mountain
tops | pext morning Hangtown was a heap
of ashes, ‘Those who had insurance took
the matter philosophically; those who had
not were bemoaning their losses and a
of the more timid tradesmen, thinking that
the day of the camp was over forever,
packed up what few things fhey had saved
and started for Prescott or Tuc:
v
Ilow the fire caught at the Varieties was.
never kno
Atsi
selves. homeless like
chance to do business
jon's first act was to wire Mr, Cart-
wright a ete account of the calamity and
then he set about overhauling the ruins of
the store.
The goods they had secreted in the cel-
lar were found practically unharmed.
The boys covered most of them up again
nrise Don and Charley found them-
be rest, with all
and let them remain where they were.
thinking that they might prove usefu
at
it was an off dayin ITangtown—decided-
ly so, Crowds gathered about the ruins;
nobody seemed to know just what todo,
. "3 no se in our staying aroind
here to-day, arley,” * remarked Do:
“ Let’s take "i couple of bags full of rovis,
he cliff houses. Annie will
‘and the ‘sooner it is done the
better, for some rumor of what we did last
night may get around town.
Charley was agreeable and now he un-
derstood why Don had eft some of the
provisions loose in the ce So
To obtain horses was tare impossible,
so the boys shouldered their: bags an
without attracting particular attention
started for Bitter Creek Canyon on foot,
It was a long walk and about as hard a
one as can well be imagined, being for the
most part up hill.
They persevered, however, and a little
after two o'clock reached the foot of the
pass leading pe. to the cliff houses, to as-
eend which, ed down as they wer
with heav. Paes proved to be the most
difficult task of all, and they found them-
selves thoroughly winded when they came
out in front of the cliff houses at last.
Don’s cheerful shout brought Annie out
to, greet him,
knew you'd come!” she exclaimed.
“Oh, Don, what a terrible thing,
climbed up on that ridge this morning to
have look, There’s nothing left of the
+
mF
tow
“ Not m nuch more than a heap of ashes,
Annie, but the mill is still standing and
work will go on just thesame, Never you
fear but what you'll see Hangtown grow
up again
“Tm sure I hope so, Don. My occupa:
tion is gone though. Just as soon as Cal
is well enough to look out, for himself I
must go off somewhere else and look for
an ongazement. can't stay idly here,”
“T might say the same ching, Annie;
course I've lost my jo! what money I
have belongs to Mr. Cartwright I haven't
the least idea what I shall do, but for a
that I bave no notion of leaving town,”
“Oh, but you are a man, Don; you'll be
eto manage someho
“I'm sure I don't know how, Annie, but
~ some way will open up for you as well as
forme. By the way, how is four brother?
Did you get along all right
“Well, it was pretty hard ‘on poor Cal,”
replied Annie, “but still we got here and
I don’t know as he is any the worse for it.
Ie’s asleep just now,”
“No, I'm not!" called out a. voice from
inside the old ruins, “If t s Don Gib-
n let him come in here and Th tell him
something which will square z accounts for
what he’s done for you an
Don and Charley followed “Annie into
the hous
Cal Fersuson lay bolstered up upon
heap of the hay which he and his compan-
tons pad provi ed for their
he exclaimed, *‘ you’ re a brick,
You're smart, too, and Ll like you. I’m
going to tell you something that will make
arich man of you, if you’ "ve only got sand
enouzh to put it throug
asiaess,” replied Don,
“that is, providing it’s all straight.”
“Straight as a string, pro viding you
e | don’t mind knocking a crazy man over the
head,” chuckled the bank burglar, “and
even if you kick at a little thing like that,
why then there’s another way.”
CHAPTER XV.
THE GOLDEN DISCUVERY IN THE STREAM,
“I'v not in the head knocking line of
business,” w was Don's reply to Cal 1"
son’s astonishing proposition.
more in your line than mine, so if
want me to go into this deal you'll have to
tell me another way.
* Thought so,” replied Ferguson. ‘‘ Well,
we'll wait a bit. Mave you brought any
ru
“Yes, plenty for, the resent,”
*©Yours truly ! all never forget you.
Annie, my dear, nace around and shake
up p Something to eat, for I'm as hungry as
As Cal Ferguson declined to talk any
further about the mysterious matter o
business until his appetite was satistied,
Charley took hold and helped
Annie prepare the meal.
The wounded burglar did not say much
until he had eaten and then he turned
suddenly on Don, and remarked :
Say, I've concluded to torn oon ifI
ever get out of this snap. ou fellows
want to go into crores w ithm
“I don’t know about that,” replied Don,
noticing Annie’ 's worried look, “* What do
you say, Charle
“* Depends altogether upon jyhat ‘the busi-
ness is,” replied Charley, d
“ Mining business—sold. inning, Rich-
est pockets in Arizona!” cried Ferguson,
pith sparkling eyes, ‘I was going into
t alone as soon as I could get rid.of my
ie ng. They're all now, an
can’t work the thing. without help, rm
willing to whack up with you,”
“T think Lean guess wh ean,”
said Don. “ You refer to that fellow we
struck here the other night. He is the
craz, ,man you want us to “isnock: over the
“e You've hit it, young feller, “That man
has struck the richest gold mine ever you
saw —free goldin many pockets, mind you;
it can be scraped right out with almost no
melting. ‘There’s millions into it, and all
we’ ‘ve got to do is to dispose of him.”
jo you think I’m going to rob that
man of his: rights?” cried Don indignantly.
“No, sir! I'm straight. i wouldn't do
it for all the gold in Arizona,”
“Good, Don, good !” cried Annie. “* 4
respect you forthose noble words, Don’
Ee
d| you listen to my brother if he broposes
anything like that.
“ vv, you two hold your hosses,” said
r ergus son “I know I'ma crook, but you’re
all off the track. ‘That fellow has no more
claim to this land here than you or I have,
It’s government land and can be located
by anybody, Ile’s just dropped down on
it—that all.” ~ .
wat he discovered the mine,” said Don,
“True, but what use does he make of the
gold? Amuses himself by throwing it into
fhe creek! He's as crazy asa loon, and
half dead into the bargain.
mine is waiting for somebody.
and talk tohim about it. Go havea look
for yourselves, and then come back and
tell meif there’s any sense ina bonanza
like that going to waste? I looked this
matter up last time I was in Prescott,
The land is to be had fora dollar anda
half an acre, oritcan be located for five
dollars cash, to be paid to Uncle Sam after
the gold is struck. say it would bea
mercy to run that fellow into Prescott
and clap him into the Junatic asylum,
where he'd be cared for. He’s ne good to
himself or anyone else where he is,
jon, there's reason in what | he says—
there is surely,” said Gharley, who had been
listening attentively to all this,
‘I've no objection to have a look at the
mine, and a talk with the crazy man,” re-
plied Don, after a little thought. ‘If it is
-A3 you say, and there's any straight way of
getting hold of theclaim I’m your man,
but why didn’t you locate it yourself?"
“Wh You must be very new not to
understand, Am I on the right side or the
sherif? Did I want to stow mysel:
Prescott openly, and be hanged ‘for my
ains? No, sir! It remained for you to
capture me, but I wasn't deliberately runs
ning my neck into the hangman's noose,”
“Where is this mine!” asked Don, and
‘al Ferguson went into a minute expla
in | do, an
nation of how to reach a certain cave in
the false canyon,
Don’s curiosity was now pretty well
aroused, and as for Charley he was quite
wild over the thing."
‘3 go down “nd interview the crazy 1
man i he ur;
Don readily consented, and leaving
Annie at the edge of the steep descent
watching them, the boys descended into
the false can
Jhen they reached the ‘bottom they
found themselves in the same long, narrow
valley between the tow ering rocks which
Don remembered so w
on ke cave ought to ne over there,” said
, pointing up the canyon, “* You see
there is the little stream Ferguson told us
about, and there fs the white rock, ”
ome on,” said Charley, eagerly. “ Don,
this thing may be the means of making
our fortune; to be sure, I don’t relish the
idea of having a burglar for a partner, but
we may be able to buy him out if the mine
pri ores to be a big th
“Psh You are ‘counting your chick-
ens before they are hatched,” Ya’ ughed Don
he led the way toward the white rock.
y had to cross the stream before
reaching the rock. It came down the
canyon and lost itself under the cliffs af-
ter the manner of many another stream
in Arizona, At no point was it so wide
that the wyoys could not easily jump over
it, m was just about to do so
when he suddenly paused, dropped on his
Knees: and thrust his hand down into the |
wate
Jook Pick Charley !” he cried,
“e It 's yea 1 Gold!”
It was nce else. Don had taken a
golden nugget as big as a hen’s egg out
of the bed of the stream.
Forgetting all ‘about the wildman,
Charley gave a shout which might have
been heard at the other end of the canyon;
and thrusting his hand down into the
water pulled out another, larger still.
And there’s another and another!”
cried Don, ‘Charley, it’s a bonanza—
nothing less,”
Before Charley could reply—in fact al-
most in the same breath with Don’s ex-
clamationma fearful cry rang out through
ie canyon.
nee OyS dropped the nuggets and
Sprang to their feet.
bust be the wildman,” gasped
in for it now, Steady
Tellot - There he goes again,”
(ro BE CONTINUED.]
°
Charley.
(This story commenced in No, 236.)
The Silver Wheel:
OR,
The Lightning League of Lynn
A BICYCLE STORY.
y ALBERT J. BOOTH,
Author of “Two Boys, From Nowhere,”
“ Always w Time,” “*Ialf Back
arty, On Hand,” * Rob Ral-
ston's Run,” "ele, ete, etc.
“CHAPTER XXII
WARE AND NED TiGhT—WARE'S FINAL
“Wiry, it's Nea b voriead Sadie Brooke,
recognizing his voice as soon as he spoke.
0. 1! I’m so glad you've come, Ned, for
Leslie Ware has been anno ying us, and
now 5 you are with us he will have to keep
1
“Te will certainly have to behave him-
selfasa
accountable to you for
not insulted either Sade or Winnle,
have simpl. iat them my mind on certain
ers, an: mean
as often’ as ‘i todo that when and
ne of the ‘wattors,
I heard as r came up,”
to. refer tom
judging from wh:
"asia NG, eon {oe
threatens reels in their absence,”
ae onan
said Ned, eatin ye applies,
1 tol oa face what Lane ot
will never yeah San Taare poets that you
Ned, eT wave foe wa,
ing to people like . vot reply-
ing nd what is ‘that?’ "asked Ware, sneer-
S:
you ?” exclaimed
“ a thrash them within an inch of their
at “this deflant answer Ware gave a cry
oF rage, and the two girls ran towards |
«Don't, Ned, fonts” said Winnie, ina
Ow. fone of v
“Don what?
“ivy
his threats at that.” iaaded Ned, snapping
his fingers as he spok
This. ‘contemptuous “conduct fairly drove -
Ware mad, and he was not able to speak
for, quite awhile.
“It’s your own fault, Wood,” he said at
length, “‘and you’ve only yourself to blame
for what happens. I have you just where
I want you. When I’ve smashed you the
girls won't think” you are quite so much of
a hero, so I'm very glad they’ re here to see
me wipe the ground up w uu.”
“I'm waiting for you,” cnia Ned, coolly,
“ Don’t you think we’ve done enough talk.
ing? The girls will think we're “profes:
sional pugilists if we say much more.”
Ware rushed at him, and as he didso
Winnie shrieked.
“Stop! Stop!” she cried frantically.
«They' re going ight,” exclaimed
Sadie, “Ob, what can we do?”
“It won't last long, girls,” shouted Ned,
confident in his ability to get the best of
the struggle, ‘I told you it wouldn’t,” he
added, as he led-out with his right,
The blow landed with telling effect, and
Ware, getting Ned’s fist between the eyes, ©
was knocked off his legs,and was sent
backwards “into the road, where he lay
ing. He was not long i in getting on
his feet, though he seemed dazed at first,
The girls made another attempt to inter-
fere, but the two boys took no notice of
them, and the fighting commenced again,
eslie Ware had arrived at the conclu-
sion that Ned Wood was not “a soft
snap,” as he was inthe habit of saying,
and he took especial care now to avoid his
opponent's fist
Ware was not afair fighter. His object
was to get the better of his opponent, and
in order to gain his end he not care
how he acted. Boiling Sith rage he
rushed tothe attack again, striving his
penrost to prevent his temper from placing
him entirely in Ned Wood’s powe:
ved was determined to finish the fight
off quickly, principally because the girls
were present, for he was not a
let them seea long fight.
way, and once when Ned thought he w
going to give a knockout blow, Ware sud-
denly d dropped to the gro
Ife’s had enough Ys sexclaimned Ned,
thinking phe battle was
“You'll find he hasn't 6 wg cried Ware
savagely. we he showed that it was not
weakness that had compelled him to drop.
It was simply a trick on his part, and
his next movement revealed it. Quick as
lightning he sprang to 3 Ned, and
then grasped him tightly z around the legs,
his object being to trip Ned up. e sue.
ceeded in this he would jump ‘on Ned and
speedily finish him.
n his first attempt to throw Ned he
fxilea, and before he was able. to succeed,
d had recovered from his surprise and
Was vigorously defending himself,
He stooped down, and striking upwards
he dealt in such a series Sof s on
Ware's face, that the latter tegen to howl
with agony. A coward cannot bear pun-
ishment well as this showed, and the more
Ned hit, the more the other roared,
His trick had resulted to his own dis-
advantage, and he was now entirely at
Ned’s merey, for he was quite powerless
to defend himself. Ilis cries were deafen-
ing, and so it was that Ned did not hear
the footsteps of several people who ap-
Proached until they were quite up to. hin,
S ‘Ned's being killed!” cried a voic!
Help him! help him " exclaimed Wi in-
nie, who was one of th
“Guess Ned doesn't niéed much help,”
said Ned himself, .“* but I fancy our friend
here is in rather bad sha
Saying this he ceased tT pum mmel Ware
and allowed him to rise if he desired todo
“So you're all right,” said Jack Ilud-
son, prognning Ned very clos
0 I Jook as if there was ahything the
matter with n
No, you seem ali right.”
“And so m, but pe did you- all
come here?”
“Joe and I found you'd left the hotel.
d
hen it occurred to us you'd probably gone
to meet the girls, so we decided we would
o the same to see that nothing hap-
ened to you. Then we met Sadie a
‘Winnie, who were rupning as hard as they
could towards the town, seeming as if the, ey.
were quite seared,”
were running for help,” cried”
u don't mean to say you
hy, yo
thought "T'was in any danger from that
thing?” said Ned, scornfully, pointing to:
Ware as he s:
The latter, roused to action by this con-
PSteK wes
Bd
ah