Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
|
=
¢
ee
cg gemnentn bette A fH
DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY, _ : 19
getting the better of it, he was going to
pitch in,
Somebody suggested his taking the
tenderfoot’s place and pretending that he
was the agent.
But he would not agree to that.
Well enough he knew that the agent
was able to take caré of himself. °-
By train time, half. the population of
Flush City was assembled at the station
to see the set-to.
Handsome Harty and the boys were on
hand, as were Archie and Ewing, and
those who were in the secret looked for-
ward to some rare sport.
A freight train passed the passenger
train at that point, and was already lying
on aside track above the station waiting
for the first-class train to pass before pull-
ing out.
The conductor of this train was in the
telegraph office with Bertie, and Bertie
had told him of the expected scriminage.
“T tell you, boy, you won’t be in it up
against that fellow,’’ the conductor was
trying to convince him.
SS “Can’t help it, I have got to makea
try at-it,’’ Bertie stoutly insisted.
“Well, P’ll.be on. hand to see that he
don’t maul you too badly.’?
‘*All I ask of you'is to be ready to take
him home after I. am done with him,’ -
said Bertie, ina modest fashion. ‘‘Hold
your train till you see the fight, and then
load him in a car.??
The conductor laughed heartily, think-
ing Bertie was only joking.
During the few minutes till train time
the agent moved around in his quiet
manner, and some of those present de-
clared that it was a pity he should have
to fight. &
“The boy is sure to git licked,’’ was
the general verdict.
Finally, the whistle was heard.
Bertie closed up the office and locked
it, and went out.as agents usually do, to
attend to train business.
There was an extra puff of black smoke
as the engine climbed-a grade just to the
east of the station, and.then the train
came rolling in and stopped.
Several persons got off, one or two got
on, and the train went on its: way.
- Among those who had alighted was.a
“A Naval Cadet’s Tarpedo:8 Boat Command.” 9
big, bull-necked fellow with — close-
cropped hair and a stubby mustache,
looking to be.a regular tough bruiser.
He had a stub of a cigar in his mouth,
set at a tough angle, and. there wasa
scowl on. kis homely face as he glared
around at the crowd. -He had a. very
tough swagger, too, when he walked.
And this was the man from Smoky
Gulch.
Bertie had picked him out and sized-
him up on the instant, and was ready for
him.
Gibson, too; knowing Johnston by.
sight and taking Bertie to be him, knew
just where to find his man, and‘swag-
gered up to him.
‘‘Say,’’ he greeted him in the toughest
manner. imaginable, ‘fare you the plug
they call Johnston ?’? :
‘““That’s my name,’’ said Bertie, look-
ing up.
‘‘Well, my name is Gus Gibson, and:
I’m from Smoky Gulch. You called me
a liar over the wire, and I’m here to take
it out of your hide—see? - I’ve got only
a minute to do it in, and catch the
freight back, so peel off your coat!’ :
“Vou did say you were coming, but
hang me if I didn’t forget all about it,”’
said Bertie, ina, quiet way. © ‘‘Let’s see,
I believe that I promised. to call you the
same. thing to-your face, when I got you
at short range, didn’t 1?”’
‘““That’s what ye did, and I’m_ here to
jam it down your throat and-all your
teeth along with it, the same as I said.
But, by the looks. of things, you~ have
called. out your. whole town. to~ help
you——”?
‘‘Not at all. As I said, it slipped. my
mind that you were coming, and now
since you have spoken out before all the
crowd, no doubt they’ll stay. and look
on.’?
‘‘But they mustn’t interfere.. The first
mai: that tries that will git what I gave
the Tough Chicken at Carson Cit a year
ago, and he has never got over it.’’
‘Oh, they won’t-interfere with you.”
The man from Smoky Gulch looked
ferocious, and Archie Johnston, standing
a little distance Away, was trembling for
Bertie. :
Even. if he had but recently vanquished
See True Blue