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diff --git a/old/52025-h/52025-h.htm b/old/52025-h/52025-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 223572a..0000000 --- a/old/52025-h/52025-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5871 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Motor Matt's "Make and Break"; or, Advancing the Spark of Friendship, by Stanley R. Matthews. - </title> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2,h3 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%} -hr.full {width: 95%;} -hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - - .tdl {text-align: left;} - .tdr {text-align: right;} - .tdc {text-align: center;} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; -} /* page numbers */ - -.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} - -.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} - -.br {border-right: solid 2px;} - -.bbox {border: solid 2px;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.u {text-decoration: underline;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -/* Poetry */ -.poem { - margin-left:10%; - margin-right:10%; - text-align: left; -} - -.poem br {display: none;} - -.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} - .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} -img { border: 0; } -.huge { font-size: 200%; } -.large { font-size: 150%; } -.medium { font-size: 125%; } -.small { font-size: 75%; } -.chaptitle { text-align: center; } -.sig { text-align: right; margin-right: 1.5em; } - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Motor Matt's Make-and-Break, by Stanley R. Matthews - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Motor Matt's Make-and-Break - or, Advancing the Spark of Friendship - -Author: Stanley R. Matthews - -Release Date: May 9, 2016 [EBook #52025] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR MATT'S MAKE-AND-BREAK *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Demian Katz and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images -courtesy of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<a href="images/coverlarge.jpg"><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="561" alt=""Catch the rope and hold fast!" -cried Motor Matt, as the aeroplane -skimmed over the surface -of the river." /></a> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<h1>MOTOR STORIES</h1> - -<table summary="scaffold"> -<tr> -<td style="width: 50%; padding-right: 1.5em;" class="tdr"> -THRILLING<br /> -ADVENTURE -</td> -<td style="width: 50%; padding-left: 1.5em;" class="tdl"> -MOTOR<br /> -FICTION -</td> -</tr><tr> -<td class="bb bt tdl"> -NO. 26<br /> -AUG. 21, 1909. -</td> -<td class="bb bt tdr"> -FIVE<br /> -CENTS -</td> -</tr><tr> -<td class="tdr large" style="padding-right: 0.5em;"> -MOTOR MATT'S<br /> -MAKE-AND-BREAK -</td><td class="tdr large"> -<span class="smcap">or</span> ADVANCING THE<br /> -SPARK of FRIENDSHIP -</td> -</tr><tr> -<td> </td><td class="tdr"> -<i><span class="smcap"><span style="margin-right: 2.5em;">by The Author</span><br /> -of "Motor Matt"</span></i> -</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> -<tr><td></td><td class="tdr"> -<i><span class="smcap">Street & Smith,<br /> -Publishers,<br /> -New York.</span></i> -</td> -</tr></table> -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<table summary="scaffold" class="bbox"> -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc huge">MOTOR STORIES</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr large" style="padding-right: .25em;">THRILLING ADVENTURE</td><td class="tdl large" style="padding-left: .25em;">MOTOR FICTION</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class="center"><i>Issued Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year. Copyright, 1909, by</i> <span class="smcap">Street & Smith</span>, <i>79-80 Seventh Avenue, New York, N. Y.</i></p> - -<table summary="scaffold" class="bb bt"> -<tr><td style="width: 33%;" class="tdl">No. 26.</td><td style="width: 33%;" class="tdc">NEW YORK, August 21, 1909.</td><td style="width: 33%;" class="tdr">Price Five Cents.</td></tr> -</table> - - - - -<p class="center huge">Motor Matt's "Make and Break"</p> - -<p class="center">OR,</p> - -<p class="center large">ADVANCING THE SPARK OF FRIENDSHIP.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<p class="center">By the author of "MOTOR MATT."</p> -<hr class="r5" /> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</a></h2> - -<p class="center"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. THE SKELETON IN THE CLOSET.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. WHAT NEXT?</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. BRINGING THE SKELETON OUT.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. MARKING OUT A COURSE.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. THE START.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. A SHOT ACROSS THE BOWS.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. THE MAN HUNTERS.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. FOOLING THE COWBOYS.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. THE TRAILING ROPE.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. "ADVANCING THE SPARK."</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. THE TRAIL TO THE RIVER.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. UNWELCOME CALLERS.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. AN UNEXPECTED TURN.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. A RISKY VENTURE.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. CONCLUSION.</a><br /> -<a href="#MOSE_HOWARDS_FISH_TRAP">MOSE HOWARD'S FISH TRAP.</a><br /> -<a href="#PHOTOGRAPHS_TAKEN_IN_DANGEROUS_PLACES">PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN IN DANGEROUS PLACES.</a><br /> -<a href="#COSTLY_FISHES">COSTLY FISHES.</a><br /> -</p> - - - - -<div class="bbox"> -<h2><a name="CHARACTERS_THAT_APPEAR_IN_THIS_STORY" id="CHARACTERS_THAT_APPEAR_IN_THIS_STORY">CHARACTERS THAT APPEAR IN THIS STORY.</a></h2> - - -<blockquote> - -<p><b>Matt King</b>, otherwise Motor Matt.</p> - -<p><b>Joe McGlory</b>, a young cowboy who proves himself a lad of worth -and character, and whose eccentricities are all on the humorous -side. A good chum to tie to—a point Motor Matt is quick to -perceive.</p> - -<p><b>Ping Pong</b>, a Chinese boy who insists on working for Motor Matt, -and who contrives to make himself valuable, perhaps invaluable.</p> - -<p><b>Amos Murgatroyd</b>, the unscrupulous broker whose fight against -the Traquairs and Motor Matt finally results in complete disaster -to himself.</p> - -<p><b>Prebbles</b>, Murgatroyd's old clerk, who resurrects the skeleton -from the family closet, fights a good fight, and, with the help -of the king of the motor boys, finally banishes the skeleton -altogether.</p> - -<p><b>Newt Prebbles</b>, for whom Motor Matt undertakes to advance the -spark of friendship; a youth who has erred, but who comes to a -turning point and takes the right path.</p> - -<p><b>Lieutenant Cameron</b>, an officer in the Signal Corps, U. S. A., who -proves to be the cousin of an old friend of Matt, and who nearly -loses his life when the aëroplane is tested.</p> - -<p><b>Jed Spearman</b>, "<b>Slim</b>," "<b>Hen</b>," <b>and three others</b>, cowboys belonging -with the Tin Cup outfit, who make some mistakes and are -finally set right by the sheriff.</p> - -<p><b>Roscoe</b>, sheriff of Burleigh County, who plays a small but very -important part.</p></blockquote> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">THE SKELETON IN THE CLOSET.</p> - - -<p>"Where's the old man, Prebbles?"</p> - -<p>"Don't ask me, Jim. I haven't a notion."</p> - -<p>"Well, there's a letter for him."</p> - -<p>The postman dropped a letter on the desk in front of -the little old man on the high stool, and the door slammed. -Prebbles picked up the letter and blinked at it. For a -while he sat staring like a person in a dream, then a gasp -escaped his lips, and he slipped from the stool and carried -the letter closer to the window.</p> - -<p>It was almost sunset, and a neighboring building shut -off the light, but there, close to the dusty window pane, -the light was good enough. The letter dropped from -Prebbles' shaking hand, and he fell back against the wall.</p> - -<p>"It's from <i>him</i>," the old man mumbled; "it's—it's——"</p> - -<p>The words died on his lips, and a choking gurgle arose -in his throat. Trembling like a man with the palsy, -Prebbles pulled himself together and staggered to the -water cooler. He drew himself a glass, and the tumbler -rattled against his teeth as he drank.</p> - -<p>"This won't do," he said to himself, drawing a hand -across his forehead in a dazed and bewildered way. "I've -got to brace up, that's what I have. But what's Newt -writing to <i>him</i> for? I—I can't understand that."</p> - -<p>Prebbles went back and picked up the letter. He was -still greatly shaken, although he was getting firmer hold -of himself by swift degrees.</p> - -<p>It was a very ordinary appearing letter to have aroused -such an extraordinary state of mind in the old man. The -address, in a peculiar backhand, was to "Mr. Amos Murgatroyd, -Loan Broker, Jamestown, North Dakota."</p> - -<p>Prebbles was Murgatroyd's clerk, and the only clerk in -the loan office. For several weeks Murgatroyd had not -been in Jamestown, and the work of the office—what -little there was—fell to Prebbles.</p> - -<p>During those weeks of absence, the broker had been -doing unlawful things. Prebbles, knowing his employer -well, expected nothing better of him; but just what -Murgatroyd had been doing, the old clerk did not know.</p> - -<p>Strange men, who might be detectives in disguise, -were watching the office night and day. Prebbles had -been keen enough to discover that.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was the peculiar handwriting of the letter that had -had such a powerful effect upon the old clerk. Not one -man in a thousand, perhaps in ten thousand, used a pen -as the writer of that letter to the broker had used it. -Prebbles felt sure that he could not be mistaken—that -there was not the least possibility of a mistake. He knew -who the writer of the letter was, and for weeks the old -man's dream by day and night was that he could discover -the whereabouts of the man.</p> - -<p>The envelope was postmarked at Steele, N. D. The -writer might be there, or he might not be there. After -setting hand to the letter, it was more than possible he -had mailed the letter at Steele and then gone to some -other place.</p> - -<p>There was one way to make sure—and only one: In -order to find out positively where the writer of the letter -was, Prebbles would have to open it and read it. Although -a clerk in the office, his position did not give him -the right to open his employer's personal mail; in fact, -Murgatroyd had expressly forbidden this.</p> - -<p>The letters received during Murgatroyd's absence—and -they were but few—had been placed in the office safe. -A week before, the collected letters had mysteriously vanished -during the night, and in their place was left this -scribbled line:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Dropped in and got my mail. Say nothing to any one -about my having been here.</p> - -<p class="sig"> -A. M."<br /> -</p></blockquote> - -<p>That was all, absolutely all, Prebbles had learned of -his employer since he had left Jamestown several weeks -before. Only two or three letters had collected in the -safe since the others had been taken, and now this one -from Steele must be added to them, unless——</p> - -<p>Prebbles caught up a pair of scissors. Before he could -snip off the end of the envelope, he paused. To deliberately -open a letter addressed to some one else is a crime -which, if brought to the attention of the postal authorities, -is heavily punished. Prebbles was not afraid of the -punishment, for he believed that Murgatroyd himself -was a fugitive; still, it was well to be wary.</p> - -<p>Laying down the scissors, he ran the end of a pen-holder -under the flap. But again he paused, realizing, -with a tremor, that he belonged to the army, the Salvation -Army. As a soldier in the ranks, had he the right -to take this advantage of his employer? On the streets, -Prebbles, because of his earnestness in the army work, -he was known as "Old Hallelujah." Poor business, this, -for Old Hallelujah to rifle his employer's mail!</p> - -<p>With a groan, Prebbles pushed the letter aside and -dropped his face in his hands. While he was thus -humped over his desk, a picture of distress and misery, -the door opened and a boy came in with a telegram. The -message was for Prebbles, and he signed the receipt. -As soon as the boy had left, he tore the message open.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Forward mail at once to George Hobbes, Bismarck.</p> - -<p class="sig"> -"<span class="smcap">Hobbes.</span>"<br /> -</p></blockquote> - -<p>This was from Murgatroyd, and it was not the first -time he had used the name of "George Hobbes."</p> - -<p>Was Prebbles to send that letter on without first seeing -what was inside it? Duty to his employer and duty to -himself warred in his soul.</p> - -<p>That last letter received for Murgatroyd might have -been taken to the police. They could secure authority -from Washington to open it. But, if the letter came -from the person Prebbles suspected, he did not want the -police to see it.</p> - -<p>The six o'clock whistle blew, but Prebbles paid no attention. -He was fighting with his Salvation Army principles, -and the stake was the contents of that letter to -Murgatroyd.</p> - -<p>At seven o'clock, the haggard old man, the battle still -going on in his breast, pushed the letter into his pocket -and left the office, locking the door behind him. He did -not go to the cheap eating house where he usually took -his meals—there was no supper for him that night—but -he proceeded directly to the "barracks," got into his -dingy blue cap and coat, and took his cymbals. By eight, -a dozen of the "faithful" were in the street, their torches -flaring smokily, and the bass drum, the snare drum, the -cymbals, and the tambourine whanging and clashing and -rattling a quickstep.</p> - -<p>Back and forth they marched, then rounded up on a -corner and sang one of their army songs.</p> - -<p>Old Hallelujah was particularly earnest, that night. His -voice was loudest in the singing, and his exhorting was -done with a fine fervor. His thin, crooked body straightened, -and his eyes gleamed, and he struck the cymbals -with unusual vigor.</p> - -<p>"Ole Halleluyer is gittin' young ag'in," ran the comment -of more than one bystander.</p> - -<p>"If he's so pious," observed some one, "it's a wonder -he don't break away from that ole thief, Murgatroyd."</p> - -<p>It <i>was</i> a wonder, and no mistake. But the wonder -was soon to cease.</p> - -<p>At ten o'clock Prebbles and the rest were back in the -barracks; and at ten-thirty Prebbles was in his five-by-ten -little hall bedroom, calmly steaming open the letter to -Murgatroyd. He had finished the fight, and had nerved -himself for his first false step. But was it a false step? -He had come to the conclusion that the end justified the -means.</p> - -<p>The letter, carefully written, jumped immediately into -the business the writer of it had in mind.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"I must have more money or I shall tell all I know -about you and the accident to Traquair and his aëroplane. -I can't live on promises, and I'm not going to -make a fugitive out of myself any longer just to shield -you. You're a fugitive yourself, now, but I reckon you -can dig up enough money for both of us. I have -dropped down the line of the Northern Pacific to mail -this letter; as soon as it is in the office, I'm going back -to my headquarters at the mouth of Burnt Creek, on the -Missouri, ten miles above Bismarck. You'd better meet -me there at once, as it's the safest place you can find. I -suppose you've made arrangements to have your mail -forwarded, so I'm sending this to your office. <i>Bring -plenty of money.</i></p> - -<p class="sig"> -<span class="smcap">Newt Prebbles.</span>"<br /> -</p></blockquote> - -<p>For many a weary hour the old man paced the narrow -confines of his room, reading the letter again and again -and turning the contents over and over in his mind.</p> - -<p>"The boy don't care for me, he's mad at me," muttered -Prebbles wearily, "but if I can make up with him, maybe -he can be saved. What's this about the accident to Traquair? -What does Newt know about Murgatroyd? No -matter what happens, I've got to get the boy out of Murgatroyd's -clutches. If Newt stays with him, he'll be as -bad as he is."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was after midnight when Prebbles dropped weakly -into a chair.</p> - -<p>"Motor Matt will help me," he muttered.</p> - -<p>The thought had come to him like a flash of inspiration. -And another inspiration had come to him, as well. -He made a copy of the letter, then placed the original in -its envelope, carefully resealed it, and went to the broker's -office. To take the collected letters from the safe, place -them and the one from Steele in a large envelope and address -the envelope to "Mr. George Hobbes, General Delivery, -Bismarck, N. D.," consumed only a few minutes.</p> - -<p>"Motor Matt will know how to do the rest of it," -thought the old clerk. "He's a clever lad, and he helps -people. He helped Mrs. Traquair and he'll help Prebbles. -I'm done with this office for good, and I'm glad -of it."</p> - -<p>He looked around the room with a grim laugh.</p> - -<p>"I never thought I'd be pulling the pin on myself," he -said aloud. "Maybe it's the poorhouse for mine, but I'll -be glad to starve if I can make up with Newt and save -him from that robber, Murgatroyd."</p> - -<p>He turned off the light and closed and locked the office -door. An hour later he had dropped the long envelope -into a letter box and was back in his room. At seven in -the morning he had boarded the northbound train for -Minnewaukon and Devil's Lake. Motor Matt was at -Fort Totten, on the south shore of the lake, and Prebbles -would be at the fort in the afternoon.</p> - -<p>The king of the motor boys was the old man's hope. -Prebbles knew Matt, and had abundant faith in his ability -to accomplish seemingly impossible things.</p> - -<p>"He'll help me," murmured Prebbles, leaning back in -one corner of the seat; "he helped Mrs. Traquair, and -he'll help me."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">WHAT NEXT?</p> - - -<p>"An elegant day—for ducks," said Joe McGlory, turning -from the window against which a torrent of rain was -splashing. "I'd about got my nerve screwed up to the -place where I was going to take a fly with you in the -<i>Comet</i>, pard."</p> - -<p>"Well," laughed Matt, "perhaps it will be a clear, still -day to-morrow, Joe."</p> - -<p>"The day may be all right, but whether I have the -necessary amount of nerve is a question. It takes sand -to sit on a couple of wings and let a gasoline engine push -you through the clouds. Sufferin' jack rabbits! Why, -Ping, that little, slant-eyed chink, has got more sand -than me when it comes to slidin' around through the -firmament on a couple o' squares of canvas. I'm disgusted -with myself, and that's honest."</p> - -<p>"It's as easy as falling off a log," remarked Lieutenant -Cameron, of the Signal Corps. "I've been up with Matt, -and I know. He does all the work, McGlory. You -won't have to do anything but sit tight and hang on."</p> - -<p>"'Sit tight and hang on!'" echoed the cowboy. -"Sounds easy, don't it? At the same time, Cameron, you -know that if your hair ain't parted in the middle, the -overweight on one side is liable to make the <i>Comet</i> turn -turtle."</p> - -<p>"Hardly as bad as that," grinned Matt.</p> - -<p>The three—Lieutenant Cameron, Motor Matt, and Joe -McGlory—were in Cameron's quarters in officers' row at -the post.</p> - -<p>One window of the room overlooked the parade -ground and, if the weather had not been so thick, would -have given a view of the old barracks, beyond. Another -window commanded a prospect of the lake, just now -surging high and lashing its waters against the foot of -the bluff on which the fort stood.</p> - -<p>The post was practically abandoned, and no more than -a handful of soldiers were in possession. Most of these -comprised a detail of the Signal Corps sent there for the -try-out of the Traquair aëroplane with which Matt had -acquitted himself so creditably.</p> - -<p>It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and all day -long Matt and McGlory had been housed up at the post -on account of the storm.</p> - -<p>Ping Pong, the Chinese boy, was watching the aëroplane, -which was in a big shelter tent not far from the -post trader's store.</p> - -<p>The cowboy, grumbling over the cheerless prospect -from each window of the room, finally returned to his -rocking-chair and sat down.</p> - -<p>"What next, Matt?" inquired Cameron. "You don't -remain long in any one place, and I've been wondering -when you'd leave here and where you'd go."</p> - -<p>"We're liable to break out in any old place on the -map," said McGlory. "That's what I like about trailing -around with Pard Matt. You never know, from one -week to the next, whether you're going to hang up your -hat in Alaska or Panama. It's the uncertainty and the -vast possibilities that hooked me."</p> - -<p>"I haven't laid any plans," remarked the king of the -motor boys. "The failure of the government to buy that -aëroplane, after Joe and I had put up a lot of money and -time building it, leaves me with the machine on my hands. -It's something of a white elephant."</p> - -<p>"It needn't be a white elephant," returned Cameron. -"You can crate the <i>Comet</i> and leave it here at the post -until you find a use for it. The other aëroplane which -you and Mrs. Traquair sold the war department is -going to prove such a success that I am sure the government -will be after this one. It will take a little time. -There's a certain amount of red tape connected with the -matter, you know."</p> - -<p>"I'm hoping the government will buy the machine, but -I don't feel like leaving it in storage while we're waiting -for the war department to make up its mind."</p> - -<p>"Why don't you go hunting for Murgatroyd?" inquired -Cameron. "The government has offered a reward -of one thousand dollars for his capture."</p> - -<p>Murgatroyd had not only tried to wreck the first Traquair -aëroplane at the time of the government trials at -Fort Totten, but he had also resorted to crime in an attempt -to secure, from Mrs. Traquair, a quarter section of -land in Wells County, which, for some mysterious reason -of his own, he was eager to get hold of. A deserter from -the army, Cant Phillips by name, had assisted Murgatroyd -in his nefarious work; and, for that, Phillips was -now on his way to Fort Leavenworth to serve out a long -sentence in a government prison, and Amos Murgatroyd -was a fugitive.</p> - -<p>Matt and his friends had been drawn into these lawless -plots of the broker's, and Cameron supposed that, apart -from the reward offered for the broker's capture, the -young motorist would be eager to see him brought to -book.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I've lost interest in Murgatroyd," said Matt. "He's -a scoundrel, and the government is dealing with him. -What I want to do is to put the aëroplane to some profitable -use. It was damaged considerably, when Murgatroyd -brought it down with that rifle shot, and Joe and I -have had to put up about three hundred more good dollars -for repairs. Now that it's all shipshape and ready to -fly once more, I feel as though we ought to make it earn -something for us, instead of leaving it here at Fort Totten -in storage."</p> - -<p>"Aëroplanes are built to sell, aren't they?" asked the -lieutenant quizzically. "How can you make any profit -off them if you don't sell them?"</p> - -<p>"Well, for one thing," replied Matt, "aëro clubs, in -different parts of the world, are offering prizes for flights -in flying machines. This machine of Traquair's, as you -know, Cameron, is the best one yet invented. It can go -farther and do more than any other aëroplane on the -market."</p> - -<p>"I guess that's right," agreed Cameron.</p> - -<p>"However, I'm not thinking of flying for a prize. We'd -have to go to Europe in order to get busy with a project -of that sort, and I don't want to leave the United States—at -least, not for a while yet."</p> - -<p>"I wouldn't go out of the country, Matt," said Cameron -earnestly. "You're under contract, you know, not to -dispose of any of the Traquair patents to foreign governments."</p> - -<p>"I wasn't thinking of such a thing as that, Cameron. -What I was thinking of is this: Yesterday I received a -letter from a show—— one of these 'tented aggregations,' -as they're called in the bills—offering five hundred dollars -a week if we would travel with the outfit and give -two short flights each day from the show grounds——"</p> - -<p>McGlory was on his feet in an instant, waving his -hand above his head and hurrahing.</p> - -<p>"That hits me plump!" he cried. "I've always wanted -to do something in a show. Whoop-ya! Matt, you old -sphinx, why didn't you say something about this before?"</p> - -<p>"I've been turning the proposition over in my mind," -answered Matt. "Frankly, I don't like the idea of traveling -with a show so much as I do the prospect of earning -five hundred a week. I'll have to find out, too, whether -the manager of the show is good for the money before -I'll talk with him."</p> - -<p>"Are we going to St. Paul for an interview?"</p> - -<p>"No, to Fargo. The show will make that town in -about a week, and I wired the manager that we would -meet him there. The <i>Comet</i> will carry two light-weight -passengers in addition to the operator, so you and Ping, -Joe, will have to fly with me to Fargo. We can save -railroad fare by going in the aëroplane, and that's why I -want to get you accustomed to being in the air with the -machine."</p> - -<p>Cameron listened to Matt with an air that showed -plainly his disapproval.</p> - -<p>"You won't like the show business, Matt," he declared.</p> - -<p>"I understand that," was the response, "but it's the -salary that appeals to me."</p> - -<p>"Furthermore," continued Cameron, "the manager of -the show will probably dock your salary every time you -fail to pull off a flight. You know how hard it is to bank -on the weather. At least half of each week, I should say -at a guess, you will find it too windy to go up."</p> - -<p>"We'll have to have an understanding with the manager -about that. It will have to be a pretty stiff wind, -though, to keep me from flying. I've got the knack of -handling the aëroplane, now, and a moderate breeze won't -bother me at all."</p> - -<p>"The show's the thing!" jubilated McGlory. "Speak -to me about that, will you? The king of the motor boys -and the <i>Comet</i> will be top-liners. And <i>draw</i>? Well, I -should say! Why, they'll draw the people like a house -afire."</p> - -<p>The first Traquair aëroplane—the one sold to the government -after the Fort Totten trials had been christened -the <i>June Bug</i> by McGlory; but this one, built by -Matt after the Traquair model, he had himself named the -<i>Comet</i>. This name was to perpetuate the memory of a -motorcycle which Matt had owned and had used with -telling effect in far-away Arizona.</p> - -<p>"I'm sure I wish you all the luck in the world, Matt," -said Cameron heartily, "although I tell you flat that this -show project of yours doesn't commend itself to me worth -a cent. However, you know your own business best. -You have demonstrated, beyond all doubt, that the Traquair -aëroplane can travel across country equally as well -as around a prescribed course. This makes it possible -for you to take your friends aboard and fly to Fargo, or -to New York, if you want to—providing the wind isn't -too strong and nothing goes wrong with the machinery, -but——"</p> - -<p>Cameron did not finish. Just at that moment a rap fell -on the door, and he turned in his chair to ask who was -outside.</p> - -<p>"O'Hara, sor," came the response from the hall.</p> - -<p>"What is it, O'Hara?"</p> - -<p>"There's a little old man wid me, sor, who has just -rained in from Minnewaukon. He's as damp as a fish -and about all in, sor, an' he's afther wantin' t' spake wid -Motor Matt."</p> - -<p>"Bring him in, at once."</p> - -<p>The door opened and Sergeant O'Hara entered the -room, half dragging and half carrying a water-soaked -individual who dropped feebly into a chair.</p> - -<p>"Prebbles!" exclaimed the king of the motor boys, -starting back in amazement.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">BRINGING THE SKELETON OUT.</p> - - -<p>The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he -had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself. -All his life—ever since he had been cast adrift to -make his own way in the world—he had been a clerk. -The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted -in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding -place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place -for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his -lodgings for sleep. During the last few months, since -joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a -strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it -merely ran down the physical organism instead of building -it up.</p> - -<p>It was a bedraggled and shattered Prebbles that completed -the trip by wagon from Minnewaukon to the post. -This lap of the journey was through a driving rain, the -old man being insufficiently protected by a thin horse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> -blanket. His whole body was shaking, as he sat dripping -in the chair, and his teeth clattered and rattled.</p> - -<p>Several times Prebbles tried to speak to Motor Matt, -but the chill splintered his words into indistinguishable -sounds.</p> - -<p>O'Hara peered into the clerk's gray face, and then -turned a significant look at his superior officer.</p> - -<p>"Sor," said he, "th' ould chap ain't built t' shtand a -couple av hours in th' rain."</p> - -<p>"Get him something hot from the kitchen, sergeant," -ordered Cameron. Then, when O'Hara had left, the -lieutenant turned to Matt. "Bring him into my bedroom, -Matt you and McGlory. I've some clothes he can put -on. They'll be a mile too big for him, but they'll be -dry."</p> - -<p>"Don't try to talk now, Prebbles," admonished Matt, -as he and the cowboy supported him into the next room. -"You'll feel better in a little while and then you can talk -all you please."</p> - -<p>O'Hara came with a pitcher of hot milk, in which the -post doctor had mixed a stimulant of some kind, and he -was left in the bedroom to help Prebbles out of his wet -clothes and into the dry ones.</p> - -<p>"Who is he?" inquired Cameron, when he and the boys -were once more back in the sitting room.</p> - -<p>"Murgatroyd's clerk," replied Matt. "I saw him once, -when I first reached Jamestown and called on the broker -to make inquiries about Traquair's aëroplane."</p> - -<p>"Then, if he works for a scoundrel like Murgatroyd, -he must be of the same calibre. Like master, like man, -you know."</p> - -<p>"That old saw don't apply to this case, Cameron," said -Matt earnestly. "Prebbles is a good deal of a man. He -belongs to the Salvation Army and tries to be square with -everybody. Why, the very first time I called on Murgatroyd, -Prebbles warned me to beware of the broker."</p> - -<p>"The old boy is the clear quill," said McGlory, "you -take it from me. But what's he doing here? Sufferin' -horned toads! Say, do you think he's come to tell us -something about Murg?"</p> - -<p>"By Jove," muttered Cameron, with suppressed excitement, -"I'll bet that's what brought him!"</p> - -<p>"Perhaps," said Matt. "We'll know all about it, in a -little while."</p> - -<p>In less than half an hour the old clerk emerged from -the room, in a comfortable condition outside and in. The -only thing about him that was at all damp was a sheet of -folded paper which he carried in his hand.</p> - -<p>"We had to swim, just about, from Minnewaukon over -here," muttered Prebbles, as he lowered himself into a -chair. "You're mighty good to an old man, Motor Matt, -you and your friends."</p> - -<p>"When did you leave Jamestown?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"This morning."</p> - -<p>"Then it was raining hard when you got off the train -at Minnewaukon!"</p> - -<p>"Raining pitchforks!"</p> - -<p>"Why didn't you wait in the town until the rain was -over?"</p> - -<p>"There wasn't time," and the shake in Prebbles' high-pitched -voice told of his growing excitement. "I just -had to get here, that's all. What I've got to say, Motor -Matt," he added, with an anxious look at Cameron and -McGlory, "is—is mighty important."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps we'd better go, then," said Cameron, with a -look at the cowboy.</p> - -<p>"Wait a minute," interposed Matt. "Has what you've -got to say anything to do with Murgatroyd?"</p> - -<p>"He's a robber," barked Prebbles: "he's worse'n a -robber. Yes, Murg's mainly concerned in what I've got -to say."</p> - -<p>"Then it will be well for Cameron to stay and hear it. -He represents the government, and the government is -after Murgatroyd. As for McGlory, here, he's my pard, -and I have few secrets from him."</p> - -<p>"All right, then," returned Prebbles. "It ain't a pleasant -story I'm goin' to tell—leastways not for me. I've -got to dig a few old bones out of my past life, and I -know you won't think hard of me, seeing as how I belong -to the army. It's a great thing to belong," and the -old man seemed to forget what he was about to say, for -a few moments, and fell to musing.</p> - -<p>The young motorist, the cowboy, and the lieutenant -waited patiently for Prebbles to pull himself together and -proceed. The old clerk's haggard face proved that he had -suffered much, and his three auditors had only kindness -and consideration for him.</p> - -<p>"It's like this," went on the old man suddenly, pulling -himself together and drawing a hand over his eyes. "I -was married, a long while ago—so long it seems as -though it must have been in another world. I reckon I -was happy, then, but it didn't last long. My wife died -in two years and left me with a boy to raise. I wonder if -you know how hard it is for a man like me to bring up a -boy without a good woman to help? The job was too -much for Prebbles. I did the best I knew how, on only -thirty-five dollars a month, givin' the lad an education—or -trying to, rather, for he never took much to books and -schooling. He ran away from me when he was fifteen, -an' I didn't see him again until last spring, when he was -twenty-one.</p> - -<p>"Six years had made a big difference in that boy, -friends. He had gone his way, and it wasn't a good way, -either. He was in Jimtown just a month, gamblin' and -carryin' on, and then him and me had a quarrel. They -were bitter words we passed, me accusin' him of dishonoring -his dead mother and his father, by his ways, -and him twitting me of bein' a failure in life just because -I didn't have the nerve to be dishonest and go to grafting. -I must have said things that were awful—I can't remember—but -all I do know is that Newt hit me. He knocked -me down, right in Murgatroyd's office. Murg was out, -at the time, and Newt and me was alone there together. -When I came to, Newt was gone."</p> - -<p>Again was there a silence, the old clerk fingering a -scar on the side of his cheek.</p> - -<p>"How like a serpent's tooth is an ungrateful son," went -on Prebbles. "And yet, Newt wasn't all to blame. I -wasn't the right sort to bring up a high-spirited boy. I -wasn't able to do my duty. He left four hundred in -gamblin' debts, when he went away. Murgatroyd showed -me the I O U's with Newt's name to 'em. That's why -I kept right on workin' for Murg, when I knew he was -a robber, and after I had joined the army. I've been -taking up those I O U's. Three of 'em's been paid, -and there's one more left; and here I've pulled the pin -on myself before takin' up the other. I don't know what -I'm going to do for a job," and a pathetic helplessness -crept into the old clerk's voice, "but," and the voice -strengthened grimly, "I started out on this thing and I'm -going to see it through. What I want, is to make up with -Newt. Lawsy, how that quarrel has worried me! I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> -don't care about the way he hit me—he had the right, I -guess—but I want to make up with him an' get him -back."</p> - -<p>The old man dropped his face in his hands. The other -three looked at him sympathetically, and then exchanged -significant glances.</p> - -<p>"It isn't so hard, Prebbles," remarked Matt gently, "to -advance the spark of friendship, and it ought to be more -than easy in the case of you and your son."</p> - -<p>Prebbles lifted his head and his forlorn face brightened.</p> - -<p>"I knew you'd help me, Matt," and he put out his thin, -clawlike hand to grip Matt's; "you help everybody that -wants you to, and I knew sure you'd see me through this -business. I did what I could for you—remember that? -Mebby what I done didn't amount to such a terrible -sight, but I put you next to Murgatroyd the first time you -ever came into his office."</p> - -<p>"Of course I'll do what I can to help you, Prebbles," -said Matt reassuringly.</p> - -<p>"It's make or break with me, this time," shivered -Prebbles. "I'm pretty well along to stand such a row as -I had with Newt."</p> - -<p>"Where is Newt now?" inquired Matt.</p> - -<p>"That's the point!" murmured Prebbles, trying to -brace up in his chair. "Somehow, he's got under the -thumb of Murgatroyd, or Murg's got under <i>his</i> thumb, -I can't just understand which."</p> - -<p>Prebbles smoothed out the damp sheet of folded -paper on his knee.</p> - -<p>"I belong to the army," he quavered, "and I don't feel -that what I've done's wrong. A letter came to Murgatroyd, -at the office, last night. It was addressed in Newt's -handwriting. I opened that letter and made a copy of it; -then I sent the letter on, with some others, to George -Hobbes, Bismarck. That's the name Murg uses when -he pretends he's lendin' money for some one else. He -can gouge and strip a man, while sayin' he's actin' for -Hobbes, see?"</p> - -<p>Every one of the three who had listened to Prebbles -was deeply interested. The bringing in of Murgatroyd -seemed to offer a chance for capturing the rascal.</p> - -<p>"Here's the letter, Motor Matt," said Prebbles. "Read -it out loud, and then you'll all understand. There's a way -to get Newt, and advance the spark of friendship, as you -call it. By doin' that, the boy can be saved from the influence -of Murgatroyd—and that's what I want."</p> - -<p>Matt took the copy of the letter from the clerk's nerveless -hand and read it aloud. Just as he finished, Prebbles -slumped slowly forward out of his chair and fell in a -senseless heap on the floor.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">MARKING OUT A COURSE.</p> - - -<p>"Poor old codger!" exclaimed McGlory, as he and -Matt lifted the clerk and carried him to the bed in the -other room. "He's had more trouble than he could -dodge, pard."</p> - -<p>"He didn't try to dodge it, Joe," answered Matt quietly, -"and that's to his credit. He's worn out. I'll bet that, -while he was scrimping in order to take up his son's I O -U's, he has hardly eaten enough to keep himself alive. -His constitution is broken down, and this trip in the rain -from Minnewaukon has topped off his endurance. It's -only a faint, that's all, but it proves the old man has got -to be looked after."</p> - -<p>Matt and McGlory had revived Prebbles before Cameron -came with the doctor. The latter, after listening to -as much of the matter as the boys could tell him, felt the -old man's pulse and shook his head gravely.</p> - -<p>"We'll have to keep him in bed for a day or two, I -think," he said.</p> - -<p>"Don't say that!" begged Prebbles. "I got work to -do, doctor! Besides, this isn't my bed—it belongs to -Motor Matt's friend, Cameron, and——"</p> - -<p>"Motor Matt's friend," put in the lieutenant, "is only -too glad to give you his bed, Prebbles. I can sleep on the -couch in the next room, and you can stay here until you're -well enough to leave."</p> - -<p>"But I can't stay here," cried Prebbles querulously. -"Didn't you hear me say I had work to do? I've got to -help Motor Matt—all of you know why."</p> - -<p>"Anyhow, Prebbles," said Matt, "nothing can be done -until morning. You stay here and keep quiet until then. -Meanwhile, Cameron, McGlory, and I will mark out a -course, and we'll tell you all about it before we begin -following it. If you're able, you can go with us. If -you're not able, you can stay here and feel sure that I'll -carry out this make-and-break affair of yours just as -though it was my own. You can trust me to advance the -spark of friendship, can't you?"</p> - -<p>"There ain't any one else I'd trust but you, Motor -Matt," declared Prebbles. "But I'm going with you, in -the morning. I haven't any money——"</p> - -<p>"You don't need any," interrupted Cameron. "You're -welcome to stay here as long as you please, at the government's -expense. You have brought a clue which may -lead to the capture of Murgatroyd, and the government -has offered a reward of one thousand dollars for him."</p> - -<p>"If he can be captured, Prebbles," added Matt, "the -money will go to you."</p> - -<p>"It'll come in handy, but—but it's Newt I want."</p> - -<p>At a nod from the doctor, Matt, McGlory, and Cameron -went into the other room and closed the door.</p> - -<p>"Prebbles will never be able to leave here to-morrow -morning," averred Cameron.</p> - -<p>"It's up to McGlory and me," said Matt, "to do what -we can."</p> - -<p>"Give me a share in the work," begged Cameron. -"Perhaps I can do something. If necessary, I'll get a -furlough."</p> - -<p>Matt was thoughtful for a few moments. Stepping to -the window overlooking the parade ground, he peered -out at the weather. The rain continued to come down in -torrents, but there was a hint, overhead, that the storm -would not last out the night.</p> - -<p>"We have a good clue to Murgatroyd's whereabouts," -said Matt presently, coming back and taking a chair facing -his friends, "but there are several points to be considered. -Prebbles sent on the original of his son's letter -last night. That means that some time to-day Murgatroyd -got the letter in Bismarck. If it is raining as hard, -over on the Missouri, as it is here, it is unlikely that Murgatroyd -went up the river to Burnt Creek to-day. With -clearing weather, he'll probably go up to-morrow."</p> - -<p>"Then," said Cameron, "it's our business to take a -train for Jamestown at once, connect with a west-bound -train there for Bismarck, and then take a team and drive -from Bismarck to Burnt Creek."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> - -<p>"The afternoon train has left Minnewaukon," answered -Matt, who seemed to have considered every phase of the -matter, "and there is no other train south until to-morrow -morning. That train, I think, connects with one on -the main line for Bismarck, but we could hardly reach the -town before late to-morrow afternoon, and it would be -night before we could get to Burnt Creek. While we -were losing all this time, what will Murgatroyd be -doing?"</p> - -<p>"Why not get an automobile from Devil's Lake City," -suggested Cameron, "and reach Jamestown in time to -connect with an earlier train?"</p> - -<p>"How will the roads be after this rain?" inquired Matt.</p> - -<p>"That's so!" exclaimed Cameron, with a gloomy look -from one of the windows. "These North Dakota roads -are fine in dry weather, but they're little more than bogs -after a rain like this. We can't use the automobile, that's -sure, and Murgatroyd is likely to reach Burnt Creek before -we can possibly get there. Will he and young Prebbles -stay at Burnt Creek until we arrive? That's the -point."</p> - -<p>"It's so uncertain a point," said Matt, "that we can't -take chances with it."</p> - -<p>"We've <i>got</i> to take chances, pard," put in McGlory, -"unless we charter an engine for the run to Jamestown."</p> - -<p>"There's another way," asserted Matt.</p> - -<p>"What other way is there?" asked Cameron.</p> - -<p>"Well, first off, we can send a message at once to Bismarck, -to the chief of police——"</p> - -<p>"Sufferin' blockheads!" grunted McGlory. "I never -thought of that."</p> - -<p>"How are the police going to locate Murgatroyd?" -went on Cameron. "The scoundrel is there under an -assumed name."</p> - -<p>"Why," said Matt, "tell the police, in the message, to -arrest any man who calls at the post office and asks for -mail for 'George Hobbes.'"</p> - -<p>"Easy enough," muttered Cameron.</p> - -<p>"No," proceeded Matt, "not so easy as you think, for it -may be that Murgatroyd has already received the letter. -But shoot the message through at once, Cameron, and -let's do all we can, and as quick as we can."</p> - -<p>The message was written out and sent to the telegraph -office by O'Hara.</p> - -<p>"Now," said Cameron, "assuming that that does the -trick for Murgatroyd, there is still young Prebbles to -think about. He'll wait at Burnt Creek, I take it, for -Murgatroyd, and if Murgatroyd is captured, and isn't -able to leave Bismarck, we can reach Burnt Creek in time -to find our man and advance that 'spark of friendship'—which, -to be perfectly candid, I haven't much faith in."</p> - -<p>"I believe," said Matt, "that the greatest scoundrel that -ever lived has an affection for his parents, somewhere -deep down in his heart. If I'm any judge of human nature, -that cowardly blow Newt gave his father has -bothered the young fellow quite as much as it has that old -man, in there," and Matt nodded toward the door of the -bedroom. "Leaving out sentiment altogether, though, -and our ability to reach Newt on Prebbles' behalf, there's -something else in his letter that makes the biggest kind of -a hit with me."</p> - -<p>"What's that?" came from both Cameron and McGlory.</p> - -<p>"Well, young Prebbles is asking Murgatroyd for -money, and hinting at something he knows about the accident -to Harry Traquair. You remember that Mrs. -Traquair's husband lost his life, in Jamestown, by a fall -with his aëroplane. It is possible that young Prebbles -knows more about that accident than Murgatroyd wants -him to know."</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about that!" muttered the wide-eyed -McGlory. "Matt, you old gilt-edged wonder, you're the -best guesser that ever came down the pike! Give him the -barest line on any old thing, Cameron, and this pard of -mine will give you, offhand, all the dips, angles, and formations."</p> - -<p>"This is plain enough, Joe," protested Matt.</p> - -<p>"I can see it now," said Cameron, "but I couldn't before. -There are big things to come out of this business, -friends! I feel it in my bones."</p> - -<p>"And the biggest thing," declared Matt, with feeling, -"is making Newt Prebbles' peace with his father."</p> - -<p>"Then," said Cameron, with sudden animation, "I'm -to get leave and go with you by train, to-morrow morning, -to Bismarck, on our way to Burnt Creek?"</p> - -<p>Matt shook his head.</p> - -<p>"That depends, Cameron," he answered, dropping a -friendly hand on the lieutenant's knee.</p> - -<p>"Depends on what?"</p> - -<p>"Why, on whether it's a clear, still day or a stormy -one."</p> - -<p>Both Cameron and McGlory were puzzled.</p> - -<p>"I can't see where that comes in," said the lieutenant.</p> - -<p>"If it's a fine day, Joe and I will go to Burnt Creek -with the <i>Comet</i>."</p> - -<p>McGlory jumped in his chair.</p> - -<p>"That's another time I missed the high jump!" he exclaimed. -"Never once thought of the <i>Comet</i>."</p> - -<p>"All roads are the same," went on Matt, "when you -travel through the air. Apart from that, we can cut -across lots, in the <i>Comet</i>, and do our forty to sixty miles -an hour between here and the Missouri and Burnt -Creek."</p> - -<p>Cameron was dashed. He was eager to take part in -the work of bagging Murgatroyd, and in finding Newt -Prebbles.</p> - -<p>"Suppose an accident happens to the flying machine," -said he, "and you are dropped on the open prairie, fifty -miles from anywhere? You wouldn't be gaining much -time over the trip by train."</p> - -<p>"We won't go by air ship," replied Matt, "unless we -are very sure the conditions are right. Give me the -proper conditions, and I'll guarantee no accident will -happen to the <i>Comet</i>."</p> - -<p>"But McGlory is scared of his life to fly in the machine," -went on Cameron. "Why not leave him here and -let me go with you?"</p> - -<p>"Not in a thousand years!" clamored McGlory. "I'm -going to ride in the <i>Comet</i>. That's flat."</p> - -<p>"Well, the machine will carry three," proceeded Cameron. -"Why not leave the Chinaman behind and take -me?"</p> - -<p>"The <i>Comet</i> will carry three light weights," laughed -Matt. "You're too heavy, Cameron."</p> - -<p>"That lets me out," deplored Cameron, "so far as the -<i>Comet</i> is concerned, but I'll go by train. Maybe I'll arrive -in time to be of some help."</p> - -<p>"We may all have to go by train, lieutenant," returned -Matt; "we won't know about that until to-morrow morning. -For the present, though, the course is as I've -marked it out."</p> - -<p>"Well, let's go and eat," said Cameron, getting up as -the notes of a bugle came to his ears. "There goes supper<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> -call. I'll hope for the best, but I'm for Burnt Creek, -Matt, whether I go in the <i>Comet</i> or by train."</p> - -<p>Prebbles, they found, was asleep. O'Hara was brought -in to sit with him while they were at supper, and all three -left the room.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">THE START.</p> - - -<p>The following morning dawned clear, and bright, and -still. It was a day made to order, so far as aëroplane -flying was concerned.</p> - -<p>Matt and his cowboy chum spent the night at the post. -Before turning in, Matt got into sou'wester, slicker, and -rubber boots and churned his way down to the aëroplane -tent to see how Ping and the machine were getting along.</p> - -<p>Everything was all right, and the heavy, water-proofed -canvas was turning the rain nicely. Ping was in love -with the <i>Comet</i>, and could be counted on to guard it as -the apple of his eye.</p> - -<p>"As fine a morning for your start as one could wish -for," observed Cameron, with a note of regret in his -voice, as he, and Matt, and McGlory came out of the -mess hall and started along the board walk that edged -the parade ground.</p> - -<p>"I'm sorry, old chap, we can't take you with us," said -Matt, "but the <i>Comet</i> is hardly a passenger craft, you -know."</p> - -<p>"What will you do with Prebbles, if he's well enough -to go?"</p> - -<p>"We'll let Ping come with you by train. Prebbles -doesn't weigh much more than the Chinaman."</p> - -<p>"Suppose Prebbles doesn't care to risk his neck in the -machine?"</p> - -<p>"I don't think he'll make any objection. However, -we'll go to your quarters and make sure of that, right -now. How did he pass the night?"</p> - -<p>"Slept well, so O'Hara said. He was still sleeping -when a private relieved the sergeant. McGlory," and -here the lieutenant turned to the cowboy, "do you feel -as much like flying, this morning, as you did last night?"</p> - -<p>"Not half so much, Cameron," answered McGlory, -with a tightening of his jaws, "but you couldn't keep me -out of that flyin' machine with a shotgun. If we join a -circus as air navigators, I've got to get used to flying, -and I might as well begin right now."</p> - -<p>"All right," answered the disappointed lieutenant, "I'll -go by train."</p> - -<p>The doctor was with Prebbles when Cameron and the -boys reached the lieutenant's quarters. What is more, -the doctor's face was graver than it had been the preceding -afternoon. The old man was throwing himself -around on the bed and muttering incoherently.</p> - -<p>"Delirious," said the doctor, examining a temperature -thermometer; "temperature a hundred and three, and -he's as wild as a loon. Newt, Newt, Newt—that's the -trend of his talk. You can't understand him, now, but -he was talking plain enough when I got here."</p> - -<p>"Is the sickness serious?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"Pneumonia. Know what that is, don't you, Matt? -It's hard enough on a person with a good constitution, -but in a case like this, where the powers of resistance -are almost exhausted, the end is pretty nearly a foregone -conclusion. However, we're taking the trouble -right at the beginning, and there's a chance I may break -it up."</p> - -<p>"Get a good nurse for him," said Matt, "and see that -he gets all the care possible. The poor old chap was a -good friend of mine, once, and I'll bear all the expense."</p> - -<p>"Never mind that, Matt," spoke up Cameron. "If -Murgatroyd is caught, because of the tip he gave us, the -government will be owing Prebbles a lot of money."</p> - -<p>Suddenly the old man sat up in bed, his eyes wide and -staring vacantly, his arms stretched out in front of him -and his hands beating together. His voice grew clear and -distinct, echoing through the room with weird shrillness.</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"At the cross, at the cross, there I first saw the light,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">And the burden from my heart rolled away!<br /></span> -<span class="i0">It was there by faith I received my sight,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">And now I'm happy all the day!"<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p>One verse was all. Spent with the effort, Prebbles -dropped back on the pillow and continued his whispered -muttering.</p> - -<p>"It's one of those Salvation Army songs," observed the -doctor.</p> - -<p>"He thought he was marching and playing the cymbals," -said Matt, in a low tone.</p> - -<p>"Too bad!" exclaimed McGlory, shaking his head.</p> - -<p>"Do all you can for him, doctor," urged Matt.</p> - -<p>"I will, of course," was the answer, "but you may be -able to do more for him than any one else, Matt."</p> - -<p>"How so?"</p> - -<p>"Why, by bringing back that scalawag son of his. -That's the one thing the old man needs. If we can show -Prebbles the boy, and make him realize that he's here, -and sorry for the past, it will do a world of good."</p> - -<p>"I'll bring him!" declared Matt, his voice vibrant with -feeling. "Prebbles said this business would make or -break him; and, as the work is on my shoulders now, -it's make or break for me. Come on, Joe!"</p> - -<p>He turned from the room, followed by McGlory and -Cameron. Out of the post went the three, and down the -hill and past the post trader's store, the king of the motor -boys saying not a word; but, when the shelter tent was -in sight, he turned to his companions.</p> - -<p>"It's mighty odd," said he, "how chances to do a little -good in the world will sometimes come a fellow's way. -Through that rascal, Murgatroyd, I was led into giving a -helping hand to Mrs. Traquair; and here, through the -same man, I've a chance to help Prebbles."</p> - -<p>"And you can bet your moccasins we'll help him," declared -McGlory, "even though we lose that circus contract. -Hey, pard?"</p> - -<p>"We will!" answered Matt.</p> - -<p>Ping had cooked himself a mess of rice on a camp -stove near the shelter tent. He was just finishing his -rations when the boys and the lieutenant came up.</p> - -<p>"We're going out in the aëroplane to-day, Ping," announced -Matt.</p> - -<p>"Allee light," said the Chinaman, wiping off his chop -sticks and slipping them into his blouse.</p> - -<p>"You and McGlory are going with me," went on Matt.</p> - -<p>The yellow face glowed, and the slant eyes sparkled.</p> - -<p>"Hoop-a-la!" exulted Ping. "By Klismus, my likee -sail in Cloud Joss!"</p> - -<p>"I wish I had that heathen's nerve," muttered the cowboy. -"It's plumb scandalous the way the joy bubbles out -of him. All his life he's been glued to <i>terra firma</i>, same -as me, but, from the way he acts, you'd think he'd spent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> -most of his time on the wing. But mebby he's only running -in a rhinecaboo, and will dive into his wannegan as -soon as we're ready to take a running start and climb -into the air. We'll see."</p> - -<p>"Pump up the bicycle tires, Joe," said Matt. "Get -them good and hard. Ping," and Matt pointed to the -haversack of provender McGlory had brought from the -post, "stow that back of the seat on the lower wing. -We may be gone two or three days."</p> - -<p>"And mebby we'll be cut off in our youth and bloom -and never come back," observed McGlory, grabbing the -air pump. "This is Matt's make and break," he grinned -grewsomely; "we make an ascent and break our bloomin' -necks. But who cares? We're helping a neighbor."</p> - -<p>Ping crooned happily as he set about securing the haversack. -He'd have jumped on a streak of chain lightning, -if Matt had been going along with him to make the -streak behave.</p> - -<p>The <i>Comet</i> had two gasoline tanks, and both of these -were full. The oil cups were also brimming, and there -was a reserve supply to be drawn on in case of need.</p> - -<p>Matt went over the machine carefully, as he always -did before a flight, making sure that everything was -tight and shipshape, and in perfect running order.</p> - -<p>Even if anything went wrong with the motor, and the -propeller ceased to drive the aëroplane ahead, there -would have been no accident. The broad wings, or -planes, would have glided down the air like twin parachutes -and landed the flyers safely.</p> - -<p>Cameron, having manfully smothered his disappointment, -lent his hearty aid in getting the boys ready for -the start. The machine, at the beginning of the flight, -had to be driven forward on the bicycle wheels until the -air under the wings offered sufficient resistance to lift -the craft. A speed of thirty miles an hour was sufficient -to carry the flying machine off the ground and launch it -skyward.</p> - -<p>But there was disappointment in store for the boys. -The three, seated on the lower plane, Matt at the levers, -tried again and again to send the machine fast enough -along the muddy road to give it the required impetus to -lift it. But the road was too heavy.</p> - -<p>The trick of fortune caused Ping to gabble and jabber -furiously, but McGlory watched and waited with passive -willingness to accept whatever was to come.</p> - -<p>"I guess you'll have to give up, Matt," said Cameron. -"The road's too soft and you can't get a start."</p> - -<p>Matt looked at the prairie alongside the road. The -grass was short, and the springy turf seemed to offer -some chance for a getaway.</p> - -<p>"We'll try it there," said he, pointing to the trailside. -"Give us a boost off the road, Cameron, and then start -us."</p> - -<p>The lieutenant assisted the laboring bicycle wheels to -gain the roadside, and then pushed the machine straight -off across the prairie. Matt threw every ounce of power -into the wheels.</p> - -<p>Usually the air ship took to wing in less than a hundred -yards, but now the distance consumed by the start -was three times that. For two hundred feet Cameron -kept up and pushed; then the <i>Comet</i> went away from -him at a steadily increasing pace. Finally the wheels -lifted.</p> - -<p>Quick as thought, Matt shifted the power to the propeller. -The <i>Comet</i> dropped a little, then caught herself -just as the wheels were brushing the grass and forged -upward.</p> - -<p>"Hoop-a-la!" cried Ping.</p> - -<p>McGlory said nothing. His face was set, his eyes -gleaming, and he was hanging to his seat with both -hands.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">A SHOT ACROSS THE BOWS.</p> - - -<p>The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut -adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant. -The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable -lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant. -Dizziness, or vertigo, is unheard of among aëronauts. -While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a -ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head -and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands -of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.</p> - -<p>Joe McGlory, now for the first time leaping into the -air with a flying machine, was holding his breath and -hanging on desperately to keep himself from being -shaken off his seat, but, to his astonishment, his fears -were rapidly dying away within him.</p> - -<p>The cowboy was a lad of pluck and daring; nevertheless, -he had viewed his projected flight in a mood akin -to panic. Although passionately fond of boats, yet the -roll of a launch in a seaway always made him sick; -in the same manner, perhaps, he was in love with flying -machines, although it had taken a lot of strenuous work -to get him to promise to go aloft.</p> - -<p>The necessity, on account of wet ground, of juggling -for a start, had thrown something of a wet blanket over -McGlory's ardor. Once in the air, however, his enthusiasm -arose as his fears went down.</p> - -<p>Matt sat on the left side of the broad seat, firmly -planted with his feet on the footrest and his body bent -forward, one hand on the mechanism that expanded or -contracted the great wings, and the other manipulating -the rudder that gave the craft a vertical course.</p> - -<p>On Matt's quickness of judgment and lightning-like -celerity in shifting the levers, the lives of all three of -the boys depended. Every change in the centre of air -pressure—and this was shifting every second—had to be -met with an expansion or contraction of the wings in -order to make the centre of air pressure and the centre -of gravity coincide at all times.</p> - -<p>Upon Matt, therefore, fell all the labor and responsibility. -He had no time to give to the scenery passing -below, and what talking he indulged in was mechanical -and of secondary importance to his work. But this is -not to say that he missed all the pleasures of flying. A -greater delight than that offered by the zest of danger -and responsibility in the air would be hard to imagine. -Every second his nerves were strung to tightest tension.</p> - -<p>Ping sat between Matt and McGlory, his yellow hands -clutching the rim of the seat between his knees. He -was purring with happiness, like some overgrown cat, -while a grin of heavenly joy parted his face as his eyes -marked the muddy roads over which they were passing -without hindrance.</p> - -<p>Up and up Matt forced the machine until they reached -a height of five hundred feet. Here the air was crisp -and cool, and much steadier than the currents closer to -the surface.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Great!" shouted the cowboy. "I haven't the least -fear that we're going to drop, and I'd just as lieve go -out on the end of one of the wings and stand on my -head."</p> - -<p>"Don't do it," laughed Matt, keeping his eyes straight -ahead, while his hand trawled constantly back and forth -with the lever controlling the wing ends.</p> - -<p>"Him plenty fine!" cooed Ping.</p> - -<p>"Fine ain't the name for it," said McGlory. "I'm so -plumb tickled I can't sit still. And to think that I shied -and side-stepped, when I might have been having this -fun right along! Well, we can't be so wise all the time -as we are just some of the time, and that's a fact. How -far do you make it, Matt, to where we're going?"</p> - -<p>"A little over a hundred miles, as the crow flies."</p> - -<p>"As the <i>Comet</i> flies, you mean. How fast are we -going?"</p> - -<p>"Fifty miles an hour."</p> - -<p>"That clip will drop us near Burnt Creek in two hours. -Whoop-ya!"</p> - -<p>The cowboy let out a yell from pure exhilaration. Not -a thought regarding possible accident ran through his -head. The engine was working as sweetly as any motor -had ever worked, the propeller was whirling at a speed -that made it look like a solid disk, and the great wings -were plunging through the air with the steady, swooping -motion of a hawk in full flight.</p> - -<p>A huddle of houses rushed toward the <i>Comet</i>, far below, -and vanished behind.</p> - -<p>"What was that, pard?" cried the cowboy.</p> - -<p>"Minnewaukon," answered Matt.</p> - -<p>At that moment the young motorist shifted the rudder -behind, which was the one giving the craft her right -and left course, and they made a half turn. As the -<i>Comet</i> came around and pointed her nose toward the -southwest, she careened, throwing the right-hand wings -sharply upward.</p> - -<p>McGlory gave vent to a hair-raising yell. He was -hurled against Ping, and Ping, in turn, was thrown -against Matt.</p> - -<p>"Right yourselves, pards," called Matt. "That was -nothing. When we swing around a turn we're bound to -roll a little. You can't expect more of an air ship, you -know, than you can of a boat in the water. You keep -track of the time, Ping. Joe, follow our course on the -map. You can hang on with one hand and hold the map -open with the other. We can't sail without a chart."</p> - -<p>Matt had secured his open-face watch to a bracket -directly above Ping's head. The boy could see the time-piece -without shifting his position.</p> - -<p>The map McGlory had in his pocket. Removing the -map from his coat with one hand, the cowboy opened it -upon his knee.</p> - -<p>With a ruler, Matt had drawn a line from Minnewaukon -straight to the point where Burnt Creek emptied -into the Missouri. This line ran directly southwest, crossing -four lines of railroad, and as many towns.</p> - -<p>"How are we going to know we're keeping the course, -pard?" inquired McGlory. "We ought to have a compass."</p> - -<p>"A compass wouldn't have been a bad thing to bring -along," returned Matt, "but we'll be able to keep the -course, all right, by watching for the towns we're due -to pass. The first town is Flora, on the branch road -running northwest from Oberon. If I'm not mistaken, -there it is to the right of us. Hang on, both of you! -I'm going to drop down close, Joe, while you hail one -of the citizens and ask him if I've got the name of the -place right."</p> - -<p>There was plenty of excitement in the little prairie -village. Men, women, and children could be seen rushing -out of their houses and gazing upward at the strange -monster in the sky. Everybody in that section had heard -of Motor Matt and his aëroplanes, so the curiosity and -surprise were tempered with a certain amount of knowledge.</p> - -<p>"Hello, neighbor!" roared McGlory, as the air ship -swept downward to within fifty feet of the ground, "what -town is this?"</p> - -<p>"Flora," came the reply. "Light, strangers, an' roost -in our front yard. Ma and the children would like to -get a good look at your machine, and——"</p> - -<p>The voice faded to rearward, and "ma and the children" -had to be disappointed.</p> - -<p>Having assured himself that he was right, Matt headed -the aëroplane toward the skies, once more.</p> - -<p>Settlers' shacks, and more pretentious farmhouses, -raced along under them, and in every place where there -were any human beings, intense excitement was manifested -as the <i>Comet</i> winged its way onward.</p> - -<p>In less than fifteen minutes after passing Flora, they -caught sight of another railroad track and another huddle -of buildings. It was the "Soo" road, and the town -was Manfred.</p> - -<p>"How long have we been in the air, Ping?" asked -Matt.</p> - -<p>"Fitty-fi' minutes," replied the Chinaman.</p> - -<p>"Manfred ain't many miles from Sykestown, pard," -said Joe, "and we must be within gunshot of that place -where we had our troubles, a few days back."</p> - -<p>"I'm glad we're giving the spot a wide berth," returned -Matt, with a wry face. "We've got to make better -time," he added, opening the throttle; "we're not -doing as well as I thought."</p> - -<p>The <i>Comet</i> hurled herself onward at faster speed. -The air of their flight whistled and sang in the boys' -ears, and hills underneath leaped at them and then vanished -rearward with dizzying swiftness.</p> - -<p>"I'd like to travel in an aëroplane all the time," remarked -McGlory. "Sufferin' skyrockets! What's the -use of hoofin' it, or ridin' in railroad cars, when you can -pick up a pair of wings and a motor and go gallywhooping -through the air?"</p> - -<p>The machine was well over the coteaus, now, and the -rough country would hold, with only now and then an -occasional break, clear to the Missouri.</p> - -<p>Another railroad, and a cluster of dwellings known -as "Goodrich," were passed, and the aëroplane slid along -over the corner of McLean County and into Burleigh.</p> - -<p>They were drawing close to Burnt Creek, and everything -was going swimmingly. Matt, notwithstanding the -severe strain upon him, was not in the least tired. In -a little less than two hours after leaving Fort Totten they -crossed their last railroad—a branch running northward -from Bismarck. The town, near where they winged over -the steel rails, was down on the map as "Arnold."</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about this!" cried McGlory. "There's a -creek under us, Matt, and I'll bet it's the one we're looking -for."</p> - -<p>"We're finding something else we were not looking -for," answered the king of the motor boys grimly.</p> - -<p>"What's that?" queried McGlory.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Look straight ahead at the top of the next hill."</p> - -<p>McGlory turned his eyes in the direction indicated. A -number of rough-looking horsemen, evidently cowboys, -were scattered over the hill. They were armed with -rifles, and were spurring back and forth in an apparent -desire to get directly in front of the <i>Comet</i>.</p> - -<p>"Why, pard," shouted McGlory, "they're punchers, -same as me. Punchers are a friendly lot, and that outfit -wouldn't no more think of cutting up rough with us -than——"</p> - -<p>The words were taken out of the cowboy's mouth by -the sharp crack of a rifle. One of the horsemen had -fired, his bullet singing through the air in front of the -<i>Comet</i>.</p> - -<p>"That's across our bows," said Matt, "and it's an -invitation to come down."</p> - -<p>The "invitation" was seconded by a yell the import -of which there was no mistaking.</p> - -<p>"Hit the airth, you, up thar, or we'll bring ye down -wrong-side up!"</p> - -<p>"Nice outfit <i>they</i> are!" grunted McGlory. "Get into -the sky a couple of miles, Matt, and—— Sufferin' terrors! -What are you about?"</p> - -<p>Motor Matt had pointed the air ship earthward, and -was gliding toward the hilltop.</p> - -<p>"No use, Joe," Matt answered. "They could hit us -with their bullets and wreck us before we got out of -range. They want to talk with us, and we might as -well humor them."</p> - -<p>"Mighty peculiar way for a lot of cowboys to act," -muttered McGlory.</p> - -<p>"No likee," said Ping.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">THE MAN HUNTERS.</p> - - -<p>Motor Matt was not anticipating any serious trouble -with the cowboys. The worst that could possibly happen, -he believed, was a slight delay while the curiosity -of the horsemen regarding the aëroplane was satisfied.</p> - -<p>Armed cattlemen are proverbially reckless. A refusal -to alight would certainly have made the <i>Comet</i> a target -for half a dozen guns, and it was a foregone conclusion -that not all the bullets would have gone wild.</p> - -<p>The cowboys, of course, knew nothing about aëroplanes. -They wanted Matt to come down, no matter -whether the landing was made in a spot from which the -aëroplane could take a fresh start, or in a place where a -start would be impossible.</p> - -<p>The hill on which the horsemen were posted was a -high one, and had smooth, treeless slopes on all sides. -It was, in fact, a veritable turf-covered coteau.</p> - -<p>Matt was planning to alight on the very crest of the -hill. When he and his pards were ready to take wing -again, he thought they could dash down the hill slope, -and be in the air before the foot of the hill was reached.</p> - -<p>The horses of the men below were frightened by the -aëroplane, and began to kick and plunge. The trained -riders, however, held them steady with one hand while -gripping rifles with the other.</p> - -<p>The flying machine circled obediently in answer to her -steering apparatus, and landed on the crest of the hill -with hardly a jar. As the craft rested there, the boys -got out to stretch their cramped legs and inquire what -the cowboys wanted. The latter had spurred their restive -animals close, and were grouped in a circle about the -<i>Comet</i>.</p> - -<p>"Well, I'll be gosh-hanged!" muttered one, staring at -the machine with jaws agape.</p> - -<p>"Me, too!" murmured another. "Gee, man, but this -here's hard ter believe."</p> - -<p>"Hustlin' around through the air," put in another, -"same as I go slashin' over the range on a bronk."</p> - -<p>The fourth man gave less heed to his amazement than -he did to the business immediately in hand.</p> - -<p>"Ain't either one o' 'em George Hobbes?" he averred, -looking Matt, McGlory, and Ping over with some disappointment.</p> - -<p>That name, falling from the cowboy's lips, caused -Matt and McGlory to exchange wondering glances.</p> - -<p>"What did you stop us for?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"Me an' Slim, thar, thought ye mout hev Hobbes -aboard that thing-um-bob," went on the last speaker. -"We're from the Tin Cup Ranch, us fellers are. I'm -Jed Spearman, the foreman. Whar d'ye hail from?"</p> - -<p>"From Fort Totten."</p> - -<p>"When d'ye leave thar?"</p> - -<p>"About two hours ago."</p> - -<p>"Come off! Toten's a good hunnerd an' twenty miles -from here."</p> - -<p>"Well," laughed Matt, "we can travel sixty miles an -hour, when we let ourselves out, and bad roads can't stop -us. But tell us about this man, Hobbes. Who is he?"</p> - -<p>"He's a tinhorn, that's what. He blowed inter the -Tin Cup bunkhouse, last night, an' cleaned us all out in -a leetle game o' one-call-two."</p> - -<p>"If you're foolish enough to gamble," said Matt, "you -ought to have the nerve to take the consequences."</p> - -<p>"Gad-hook it all," spoke up the man referred to as -"Slim," "I ain't puttin' up no holler when I loses fair, -but this Hobbes person is that rank with his cold decks, -his table hold outs, an' his extra aces, that I blushes ter -think o' how we was all roped in."</p> - -<p>"He cheated you?"</p> - -<p>"Cheat?" echoed Jed Spearman, "waal, no. From the -way we sized it up when we got tergether this mornin', it -was jest plain rob'ry. Hobbes headed this way, an' we -slid inter our saddles an' follered. But we've lost the -trail, an' was jest communin' with ourselves ter find -out what jump ter make next, when this thing"—he -waved his hand toward the aëroplane—"swung inter -sight agin' the sky. We seen you three aboard the thing, -an' got the fool notion that mebby Hebbes was one o' ye."</p> - -<p>"Didn't you find out last night that you had been -cheated?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"Nary. If we had, pilgrim, ye kin gamble a stack -we'd have took arter this Hobbes person right then. It -was only this mornin' when Slim diskivered the deck -o' keerds belongin' ter the feller, which same he had left -behind most unaccountable, that we sensed how bad we'd -been done. The' was an extry set o' aces with that pack, -the backs was all readers, an' the hull lay-out was that -peculiar we wasn't more'n a brace o' shakes makin' up -our minds what ter do."</p> - -<p>"What sort of a looking man was this Hobbes?"</p> - -<p>"Dead ringer fer a cattleman, neighbor. Blue eyes, -well set up, an' youngish."</p> - -<p>Matt was surprised. He was expecting to receive -a description of Murgatroyd, but the specifications did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> -not fit the broker. Murgatroyd was a large, lean man -with black, gimlet-like eyes.</p> - -<p>"What's yer bizness in these parts?" demanded Jed -Spearman. "Jest takin' a leetle fly fer the fun o' the -thing?"</p> - -<p>"Well," answered Matt, "not exactly."</p> - -<p>"Ain't in no rush, are ye?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. Now that you know the man Hobbes isn't with -us, we'll get aboard and resume our flight."</p> - -<p>Matt stepped toward the aëroplane, with the intention -of taking his place at the driving levers. But Jed Spearman -stayed him with a grip of the arm.</p> - -<p>"I got er notion," said Jed, "that I'd like ter take a -ride in that thing myself." The other cowboys gave a -roar of wild appreciation and approval. "Ye say ye kin -do sixty miles an hour," proceeded Jed. "I'm goin' back -ter the Tin Cup Ranch ter see if the other party that -went out arter Hobbes had any success. It's thirty miles -ter the Tin Cup, an' ye ort ter git me thar an' back inside -o' an hour—onless ye was puttin' up a summer -breeze when ye told how fast this here dufunny machine -could travel. Hey? How does it hit ye?"</p> - -<p>Motor Matt was taken all aback. An hour's delay -might spell ruin so far as meeting Newt Prebbles at the -mouth of Burnt Creek was concerned.</p> - -<p>"We're in too much of a hurry," said Matt, "and we -can't spare the time. I'd like to oblige you, Spearman, -but it's out of the question."</p> - -<p>"No more it ain't out o' the question," growled Spearman. -"I'm pinin' ter take a ride in that thar machine, -an' ye kin help us in our hunt fer Hobbes if ye'll only -take me back ter the ranch. I reckon yore bizness ain't -any more important than what ours is."</p> - -<p>"Make him take ye, Jed!" howled the other punchers. -"If he won't, we'll make kindlin' wood out er the ole -buzzard."</p> - -<p>The temper of the cowboys was such that Matt was -in a quandary. While he was turning the situation over -in his mind, McGlory stepped forward and took part in -the talk.</p> - -<p>"Say, you," he cried angrily, "what you putting up this -kind of a deal on us for? You can't make us toe the -mark by putting the bud to us, and if you try it, we'll -pull till the latigoes snap."</p> - -<p>"Don't git sassy," said Jed, in a patronizing tone. -"We're too many fer ye, kid. Ridin' in that thing'll be -more fun fer me than a three-ring circus, say nothin' o' -the help it'll be fer us ter find out whether the other -bunch o' man hunters struck 'signs' er not. Step back, -an' sing small. Here, Slim, you take charge o' my hoss."</p> - -<p>The foreman passed his bridle reins to Slim, dismounted, -and laid his gun on the ground.</p> - -<p>"We'll have to wait here till ye git back, won't we?" -asked Slim.</p> - -<p>"Sure," replied Jed. "We've lost the trail, an' thar -ain't no manner o' use ter keep on ontil we find out -somethin'."</p> - -<p>"Then I'm goin' ter git down," said Slim. "We kin -bunch up the critters an' smoke a little."</p> - -<p>McGlory's temper was rapidly growing. The cool -way in which Jed Spearman was planning to appropriate -the <i>Comet</i> was more than McGlory could stand.</p> - -<p>"You're a lot of tinhorns!" he cried. "This lad here," -he waved his hand toward the king of the motor boys, -"is Motor Matt, and he's making this flight on government -business, mainly. You keep hands off, or you'll -get into trouble."</p> - -<p>"That's me!" whooped Spearman. "Trouble! I live -on <i>that</i>. Get ready that flyin' machine, kase I'm hungry -ter do my sixty miles an hour on the way back ter headquarters."</p> - -<p>An idea suddenly popped into McGlory's head.</p> - -<p>"This way, Matt," said he, stepping off to one side -and beckoning Matt to follow.</p> - -<p>The cowboys were a little suspicious, but their curiosity -prompted them to inspect the <i>Comet</i> and leave -Matt and McGlory to their own devices.</p> - -<p>"What do you think, pard?" asked McGlory, when he -and Matt were by themselves.</p> - -<p>"I think it won't do to have any delay," replied Matt, -"but I don't just see how we're going to avoid it. If -it wasn't for those rifles——" He cast a look at the -cowboys and shrugged his shoulders.</p> - -<p>"I've got a notion we can fool the punchers," said -McGlory, "but Ping and I will have to be left behind, if -we do it. You'll be going it alone, from here on. Think -you can manage it?"</p> - -<p>"I'll try anything," answered Matt. "All I want is -to get away. Who this gambler the cowboys call George -Hobbes is, I haven't the least idea. Their description -of the fellow doesn't tally with the description of Murgatroyd, -and the whole affair is beginning to have a queer -look. I don't think there's any time to be lost."</p> - -<p>"No more there isn't," replied McGlory. "Ping and -I can wander on to the mouth of Burnt Creek on foot as -soon as we can shake the punchers, and you can look for -us there. What I'm plannin' is this."</p> - -<p>Thereupon McGlory hastily sketched his swiftly -formed plan. It had rather a venturesome look, to Matt, -and might, or might not, win out. There was nothing -to do, however, but to try it.</p> - -<p>"What you shorthorns gassin' about?" yelled Jed -Spearman. "I'm all ready ter fly, an' time's skurse."</p> - -<p>Matt and McGlory, having finished their brief talk, -walked back to the cowboys.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">FOOLING THE COWBOYS.</p> - - -<p>"If you're bound to make Motor Matt take you to -the ranch, Spearman," said McGlory, "that means that -the chink and me'll have to wait here till you get back."</p> - -<p>"Which is what I was expectin'," answered Spearman. -"I don't want ter feel cramped in that thar machine."</p> - -<p>"The rest of you will have to give the machine a start -down the hill," went on McGlory innocently. "When -the craft gets a start, and is in the air, you'll have to -watch your chance, Spearman, and jump aboard."</p> - -<p>"Jump on when she's goin' sixty miles an hour?" -howled Spearman. "Say, what d'ye think my scalp's -wuth?"</p> - -<p>"It won't be going sixty miles an hour," parried McGlory.</p> - -<p>Matt had already taken his seat in the <i>Comet</i>.</p> - -<p>"Why kain't I git in thar with him," asked Spearman, -"an' travel with the machine right from the start?"</p> - -<p>"Sufferin' centipedes!" exclaimed McGlory, in well-feigned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> -disgust. "Say, I reckon you don't savvy a whole -lot about flyin' machines. She's got to have a runnin' -start, as light as possible; then, when she begins to -skyhoot, you climb aboard. I guess you don't <i>want</i> to -take a trip aloft."</p> - -<p>"Guess again," cried Spearman. "I kin jump some, -if it comes ter that, only"—and here he turned to Matt, -who was quietly waiting—"fly low an' slow."</p> - -<p>"All of you have got to help," proceeded Matt's cowboy -pard briskly. "Lay your guns away, somewhere, so -you can give both hands to your work."</p> - -<p>None of the cowboys had six-shooters, but all were -armed with rifles. This was rather odd, but, nevertheless, -a fact. When they started out after George Hobbes, -the Tin Cup men had been counting on target practice -at long range.</p> - -<p>The horses had already been bunched with their heads -together. Four of the cowboys, who were still holding -their rifles, stepped hilariously over to where Slim and -Spearman had deposited their guns, and dropped their -weapons.</p> - -<p>McGlory gave Ping a significant look. The young -Chinaman stared blankly for a moment, and then a complacent -grin settled over his yellow face. He was as -sharp as a steel trap when it came to understanding -guileful things. Ping knew what was expected of him, -and he was ready.</p> - -<p>The <i>Comet</i> was headed down the western slope of the -hill. Four of the cowboys placed themselves at the lower -wings, two on each side, ready to run with the machine -when they received the word. Spearman, in his shirt -sleeves, was tying one end of a riata to the timber which -passengers in the aëroplane used as a footrest.</p> - -<p>"What are you doing that for?" demanded Matt.</p> - -<p>Spearman straightened up with a wink.</p> - -<p>"Waal, it's fer two things, pilgrim," he answered -jocosely. "Fust off, by hangin' ter the rope, Slim an' -me kin pull while the rest o' the boys push. Then, -ag'in, if ye've got any little trick up yer sleeve, I'll -have a line on yer ole sky sailer an' ye kain't leave me -behind, not noways."</p> - -<p>That rope troubled Matt, but he could voice no reasonable -objection to it. Already McGlory had played on -the credulity of the punchers to the limit, and it was -not safe to go much farther.</p> - -<p>"I'm goin' ter have yer job, Jed," rallied one of the -cowboys, "if ye fall outen the machine an' bust yer neck."</p> - -<p>"Don't ye take my job till I'm planted, Hen, that's all," -grinned the foreman. "I been wantin' a new sensation -fer quite a spell, an' I guess here's the place whar I connect -with it."</p> - -<p>If the plans of Matt and his friends worked out successfully, -Jed Spearman was to "connect with a sensation" -vastly different from what he was expecting. McGlory -was chuckling to himself over the prospect.</p> - -<p>The cowboys, in their uproarious mood, did not seem -to notice that neither McGlory nor Ping were helping to -give the aëroplane a running start down the hill.</p> - -<p>"Ye'll be a reg'lar human skyrocket, Jed," remarked -Slim, "if ye travel at the rate o' sixty miles an hour."</p> - -<p>"I'll be goin' some, an' that's shore," answered the -foreman. "Wonder what folks'll invent next? Say, -thar! If ye're ready, let's start."</p> - -<p>Matt started the motor. This evidence of power -rather awed the cowboys, and their grins faded as they -watched and listened.</p> - -<p>"Now," instructed Matt, "the minute I turn the power -into the bicycle wheels, you fellows begin to run the -machine downhill."</p> - -<p>"Let 'er go!" came the whooping chorus.</p> - -<p>Jed Spearman and Slim, tailed on to a forty-foot -riata, were some twenty feet ahead of the aëroplane.</p> - -<p>"Now!" cried Matt.</p> - -<p>The bicycle wheels began to take the push, and the -<i>Comet</i> started down the slope, the two cowboys ahead -pulling, and the four at the wings pushing.</p> - -<p>Naturally, the descent aided the motor. There had -not been as much rain, in that part of the State, as there -had been in the Devil's Lake country, and the turf was -fairly dry and afforded tolerably good wheeling.</p> - -<p>The cowboys roared with delight as they ran awkwardly -in their tight, high-heeled boots. What happened -was only natural, in the circumstances, although quite -unexpected to the ignorant cattlemen.</p> - -<p>In less than fifty feet the aëroplane was going too fast -for the runners. The four at the wings had to let go; -and the two at the rope, finding themselves in imminent -danger of being run over, dropped the rope and leaped -to one side.</p> - -<p>All six of the cowboys watched while the <i>Comet</i>, -catching the air under her outspread pinions, mounted -gracefully—and then continued to mount, the riata trailing -beneath.</p> - -<p>"He ain't comin' back fer ye, Jed!" howled Slim.</p> - -<p>"Here, you!" bellowed the foreman. "Whar ye goin'? -What kinder way is that ter treat a feller? Come back, -or I'll send a bullet arter ye!"</p> - -<p>Matt paid no attention. He was following, to the very -letter, the plan McGlory had formed, and was rushing -at speed in the direction of the Missouri and the mouth -of Burnt Creek.</p> - -<p>"Git yer guns!" cried the wrathful Spearman. "Shoot -him up!"</p> - -<p>It is doubtful whether the cowboys would have been -able to retrace their way up the hill and secure their -guns before Matt had got out of range. But they had -not a chance to put their purpose to the test, for the contingency -had been guarded against.</p> - -<p>When the cowboys reached the top of the hill, Ping -was at the foot of it on the eastern side, traveling as -fast as his legs could carry him; and clasped in his arms -were the six rifles!</p> - -<p>"Blazes ter blazes an' all hands round!" fumed the -enraged Jed. "The chink's runnin' off with the guns -so'st we kain't shoot. Hosses, boys! Capter the little -heathen!"</p> - -<p>And here, again, were the cowboys doomed to disappointment. -Well beyond the foot of the hill, on the -south side, was McGlory. He was riding one horse and -leading the other five bronchos.</p> - -<p>"Done!" gasped Slim, pulling off his Stetson and -slamming it on the ground, "done ter a turn! Who'd -'a' thort it possible?"</p> - -<p>"It was a frame-up!" raged the foreman. "The two -of 'em hatched the plan while they were talkin'. I was -a fool ter let 'em palaver like what they done, kase I -mout hev knowed they was up ter somethin'. The chink -lifted the guns on us, an' t'other feller lifted the hosses -so'st we couldn't ketch the chink; an', as for <i>him</i>," and -Jed Spearman turned and looked westward to where the -aëroplane was a mere speck in the sky, "as fer him, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> -say, if that flyin' machine ever comes crowhoppin' eround -whar I am, I'll shore put it out o' bizness!"</p> - -<p>"An' ye didn't fly, arter all!" bubbled Slim.</p> - -<p>"You hesh," grunted Spearman, "or thar'll be fireworks."</p> - -<p>"Ye're purty good at jumpin'," jeered another, "so -why don't ye jump aboard? I don't reckon she's more'n -two mile off an' a mile high."</p> - -<p>"Oh," fretted the foreman, "if I <i>only</i> had a gun! Say, -let up er I'll use my hands."</p> - -<p>"An' we had to push," scoffed Slim; "oh, yas, <i>indeed</i>! -We had ter git off'n our hosses, an' put down our guns, -an' push. Never reckoned nothin', did we? Never a -thing. But they knowed, them fellers did—they knowed -ev'ry minit jest what they was about. Next time I fool -with this here Motor Matt an' his flyin' machine, ye'll -know it."</p> - -<p>"An' Jed had a string on her," mourned another. -"Sure he did. Why, Jed had his rope fast to her so'st -ter hang on in case Motor Matt had anythin' up his -sleeve. Well, well! I wonder——"</p> - -<p>But Spearman could stand no more. With a fierce -whoop, he rushed down the hill along the path taken by -the Chinaman. Across, on an opposite uplift, Ping could -be seen. He was adding insult to injury by hopping -up and down and making derisive gestures with one -hand.</p> - -<p>"We got ter overhaul the chink an' git back them -guns," shouted Slim. "Come on, boys!"</p> - -<p>The remaining five started after Spearman. Ping, observing -the pursuit, hopped out of sight over the top of -the hill. Burdened as he was, he could not hope to -escape the pursuing cowboys. But he had faith in McGlory—and -McGlory did not fail him.</p> - -<p>When the cowboys reached the top of the next hill, -they could look down and see McGlory and the six -horses. Ping was mounting one of the animals, and -when he and McGlory vanished around the base of another -coteau—which they were not slow in doing—they -took the rifles with them.</p> - -<p>The cowboys had to pursue, and they had to do their -pursuing on foot. If a cattleman hates one thing more -than another it is walking, and the six disgruntled Tin -Cup men limped and staggered and toiled onward through -the coteaus, following the trail for at least four miles. -When they finally ran it out, they found their horses -and their guns, but McGlory and Ping were conspicuous -by their absence.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">THE TRAILING ROPE.</p> - - -<p>Motor Matt could not look behind and take note of -how events were progressing on the hill. He could -only hope that McGlory would carry out the rest of his -plan without any setbacks, and that he and Ping would -get safely away from the foiled cattlemen.</p> - -<p>The ease with which the boys had played upon the ignorance -and credulity of the high-handed cowpunchers, -would have been laughable could the young motorist have -known how successfully the rest of McGlory's plot was -to be carried out. As the matter stood, Matt was worrying -too much to enjoy the situation.</p> - -<p>He carried away a memento of the recent trouble in -the shape of the trailing rope. The forty-foot line hung -downward, swinging to right and left and giving frightful -pitches to the <i>Comet</i> in spite of Matt's manipulation -of the wing ends.</p> - -<p>Bending down, he tried with one hand to untie the -riata and rid the machine of its weight, but the knot -had been drawn too tight by the pulling of Spearman -and Slim. As a compromise, Matt pulled the rope in and -dropped it in the seats recently occupied by McGlory and -Ping.</p> - -<p>Now for the mouth of Burnt Creek, and the carrying -out of the purpose that had brought Matt into that section. -The mystery connected with the "George Hobbes" -the cowboys were looking for, and the success or failure -of McGlory and Ping in their final clash with the Tin -Cup men, the king of the motor boys put resolutely from -his mind. He was now to look for Newt Prebbles and -advance the spark of friendship in behalf of the poor -old man at Fort Totten.</p> - -<p>Matt conceived that the easiest way to reach the mouth -of Burnt Creek was to hover over the stream and follow -it to its junction with the Missouri. This manœuvre -he at once put into operation.</p> - -<p>The creek was as crooked as could well be imagined, -and twisted and writhed among the coteaus, carrying -with it, on either bank, a scant growth of cottonwoods. -Matt cut off the corners, flying high enough to clear the -tops of the neighboring hills, and soon had the broad -stretch of the Upper Missouri in plain view ahead of him.</p> - -<p>In a clump of cottonwoods, near the mouth of the -creek, was a small shack. Matt's view of the shanty was -not good, on account of the trees, and he could not -tell whether or not there was any one about the place.</p> - -<p>He was just looking for a spot, on the river bank, -where he could make a comfortable landing, when he -was startled by discovering a skiff.</p> - -<p>The skiff was in the river, well off the mouth of the -creek, and was heading for the western bank of the -Missouri. There was one man in the boat, and he was -using his oars frantically, watching the <i>Comet</i> as he -rowed.</p> - -<p>"That may be George Hobbes," thought Matt, "and it -may be Newt Prebbles. In any event the fellow, whoever -he is, thinks I'm pursuing him. I'll drop lower and -give him a hail."</p> - -<p>As the <i>Comet</i> settled downward over the surface of -the river, the man in the skiff redoubled his efforts with -the oars. He seemed to be seized with an unreasoning -panic.</p> - -<p>"Hello, below there!" shouted Matt.</p> - -<p>To slow the aëroplane too much would mean a drop -into the water, for a certain rate of flight was necessary -in order to keep the machine aloft.</p> - -<p>As Matt called, he passed on beyond the boat, described -a turn over the middle of the river, and came -back toward the eastern bank.</p> - -<p>The man made no response.</p> - -<p>"Are you Newt Prebbles?" yelled Matt.</p> - -<p>The other shouted something, in an angry tone, the -exact import of which the young motorist could not -catch. Taking his right hand from the oar, the man -jerked a revolver from his belt.</p> - -<p>"Don't shoot!" cried Matt. "I'm a friend of yours."</p> - -<p>The last word was snipped off in the incisive crack of -the weapon. The bit of lead zipped past Matt's head -and bored a hole through the upper wing of the air ship.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Stop that!" called Matt sternly, pointing the aëroplane -higher and turning again when over the eastern bank.</p> - -<p>Whatever he did, he realized that he must not expose -the motor and propeller to a stray bullet.</p> - -<p>But no more shots were fired.</p> - -<p>Matt wondered at this until he had faced the machine -about and was able to observe what was going on below.</p> - -<p>The man in the skiff had lost an oar. In releasing -his hand to use the revolver, the oar had slipped from -the rowlock into the water.</p> - -<p>A frantic effort was being made by the man to recover -the oar; and so wild and inconsidered was the attempt -that the skiff went over, throwing its occupant -into the river.</p> - -<p>"Help!" came the cry, as the man, thrashing and -floundering, bobbed to the surface of the river between -the overturned boat and the oar.</p> - -<p>It was evident, at a glance, that he could not swim, -or that he could swim so little the mere weight of his -clothes was enough to drag him under.</p> - -<p>"Keep your nerve!" cried Matt encouragingly. "I'll -help you in a minute."</p> - -<p>The <i>Comet</i> was well to the westward of the man. -Matt turned her sharply, at the same time bringing her -as close to the water as he dared. Then, with one hand -on the lever controlling the wing tips, with the other he -reached for the rope on the seat beside him.</p> - -<p>Laying a course to pass directly over the man, Matt -leaned forward and flung the riata downward. The sinuous -coils straightened out as the rope descended, the -lower end swishing through the water.</p> - -<p>"Catch the rope and hold fast!" cried Motor Matt, -as the aëroplane skimmed over the surface of the river.</p> - -<p>There would be a jolt when the <i>Comet</i> took up the -slack in the riata, providing the man were successful in -laying hold of the line. Would the jolt disengage the -man's hands, or have any serious effect on the <i>Comet</i>?</p> - -<p>By that time the aëroplane was so far beyond the man -that Matt could not see what he was doing. Holding -his breath, the king of the motor boys braced himself -and waited.</p> - -<p>In perhaps a second the <i>Comet</i> reeled and shivered as -though under a blow. Quickly Matt turned full speed -into the propeller, and the machine steadied itself and -began to tug at the weight underneath and behind.</p> - -<p>Then, slowly, the aëroplane mounted upward. At a -height of fifty feet, Matt could look down and see a -dripping form, swaying and gyrating at the end of the -riata.</p> - -<p>"Can you hang on?" called Matt.</p> - -<p>"Yes," was the response from below, "if you don't -want me to hang on too long."</p> - -<p>"No more than a minute. By that time I'll have you -ashore."</p> - -<p>The heavy weight, swinging under the machine like -a pendulum, made the aëroplane exceedingly difficult to -manage. In the early stages of aëroplane flying, equilibrium -had only been kept by swinging weights, and it -had remained for the Wrights to discover that bending -the wing tips upward or downward kept an aëroplane's -poise much better than any shifting weight could do; -and to Harry Traquair had fallen the honor of inventing -sliding extensions, whereby either wing area could be -increased or contracted in the space of a breadth.</p> - -<p>Now that the <i>Comet</i> had both a shifting weight and -wing manipulations to keep her steady, she was not -steady at all—one balance seeming to counteract the -other. In spite of the terrific dipping and plunging, -however, Matt succeeded in getting to the shore.</p> - -<p>The moment the man on the rope found himself over -solid ground, he let go his hold and dropped five or six -feet to the bank.</p> - -<p>Instantly the <i>Comet</i> came fairly well under control -again, and would have been entirely so but for the weight -of the rope.</p> - -<p>Matt selected a cleared spot in which to alight, shut -off the power, and glided to the earth easily and safely.</p> - -<p>Stepping out of the aëroplane, he hurried to the spot -where the rescued man was lying.</p> - -<p>"How are you?" asked Matt, kneeling beside him.</p> - -<p>"I'm about fagged," he answered. "There's a cabin, -about a rod up the creek on this side. Go there and get -the bottle of whisky you'll find on the table. A pull at -that bottle will put some ginger into me."</p> - -<p>"You don't need that kind of ginger," replied Matt. -"I'll help you to the cabin, and when we get there you -can get into some dry clothes. That will do you more -good than all the fire-water that ever came out of a still."</p> - -<p>The man hoisted up on one elbow and peered at Matt -with weak curiosity.</p> - -<p>"That's your brand, is it?" he asked, with as much -contempt as he was able to put into the words.</p> - -<p>"Well, yes," replied Matt. "It's my brand, and you'd -be a heap better off if it was yours."</p> - -<p>He had been scrutinizing the man closely. He now -saw that he was young, that he had blue eyes, and that -he was wearing cowboy clothes. His hat, of course, was -in the river.</p> - -<p>"Who are you?" the young fellow asked.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you later," was the indefinite reply.</p> - -<p>"How did you happen to be around here in that flying -machine?" went on the other suspiciously.</p> - -<p>"You'll find that out, too, at the proper time."</p> - -<p>"If you're from the Tin Cup Ranch——"</p> - -<p>"I'm not, so make your mind easy on that. But I -know you. You're George Hobbes, and you robbed the -cowboys at the Tin Cup Ranch in a game of cards, last -night. You——"</p> - -<p>With a fierce exclamation, the youth sat up, and his -right hand darted toward his hip.</p> - -<p>"You're not going to do any shooting," said Matt. -"Your gun's in the river, and you'd have been there, -too, but for me. What sort of way is that to act toward -the man who saved you from drowning?"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">A BOLT FROM THE BLUE.</p> - - -<p>Small, and seemingly trifling, events sometimes pave -the way for vital undertakings. The performance on the -coteau, in which the Tin Cup men had so prominently figured,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> -had left the <i>Comet</i> equipped with a forty-foot riata. -On the flight to the Missouri Matt had tried to untie the -rope and drop it from the machine. In this he had failed—a -very fortunate circumstance for the dripping young -man on the bank. But for that trailing rope, Matt would -never have been able to effect a rescue.</p> - -<p>"It may be," said the young man, "that you have -only pulled me out of the river to give me into the hands -of the Tin Cup outfit."</p> - -<p>"I have already told you," returned Matt, "that I have -nothing to do with the Tin Cup outfit."</p> - -<p>"Why were you chasing me in that air ship, then?"</p> - -<p>"I wasn't chasing you. You had a guilty conscience, -and if a man had been coming this way on an elephant -you would have thought he was after you."</p> - -<p>The other was silent for a space, surveying Matt furtively -and, apparently, trying to guess his business.</p> - -<p>"You knew about that work in the Tin Cup bunk -house, last night," said he tentatively.</p> - -<p>"I heard of it from a party who are out looking for -George Hobbes. That is your name, is it?"</p> - -<p>"That's the way I was billed during that performance -at the bunk house."</p> - -<p>"What are you, by profession—a cowboy or a gambler?"</p> - -<p>"Cowboy."</p> - -<p>Matt glanced at the young fellow's hands. They -looked more like a gambler's hands than a cowboy's. -And yet, skillful though he must have been with the -cards, Hobbes had not the appearance of a gambler.</p> - -<p>"Do you live here?" Matt went on.</p> - -<p>"Yes," was the answer. "I told you, a moment ago, -where my shack was."</p> - -<p>"Then you're not doing much in the cattle line if you -hang out in this deserted spot."</p> - -<p>Hobbes gave a grunt and got up.</p> - -<p>"What are you trying to pry into my business affairs -for?" he asked surlily. "Do you think saving my life -gives you a right to do that?"</p> - -<p>"Well," fenced Matt, "that depends. You don't talk -like any cowboy I ever heard—your English is too good."</p> - -<p>"There are a lot of punchers who use better English -than I do."</p> - -<p>"Possibly," answered Matt. "I haven't been in the -cattle country very much. What was the amount of -money you stole from the Tin Cup outfit?"</p> - -<p>A flush of color ran into Hobbes' tanned face.</p> - -<p>"I didn't steal their money," he cried angrily. "I -played cards for it."</p> - -<p>"You didn't play a square game. They found the -pack you used, this morning, and there were extra aces, -and the backs were printed in such a way that you could -tell what cards your opponents held."</p> - -<p>"What of that?" was the scoffing response. "They -didn't find me out. They had the right to beat me at my -own game—if they could."</p> - -<p>"I'm not here to preach," said Matt, "but you've got -yourself into a pretty bad mix. I'm willing to help -you out if you'll send back the money."</p> - -<p>"I'll not send back a soo," was the answer, "and you've -got your nerve along to bat such a proposition up to me. -Who asked for your help? I didn't."</p> - -<p>Hobbes turned away in a huff and started for the -creek, his wet clothes slapping about him as he walked.</p> - -<p>"Just a minute, Hobbes," called Matt, "and I'll go with -you. I want to rope this flying machine to a couple of -trees, so that it won't be blown into the river if a wind -should happen to come up."</p> - -<p>Hobbes was very wet, very tired, and very sulky, but -he could hardly refuse such a trifling request. With -the rope that had saved his life, he helped Matt secure -the <i>Comet</i>.</p> - -<p>"Do you know any one, in these parts, by the name of -Newt Prebbles?" Matt inquired, while they were moving -toward the shack.</p> - -<p>"You used that name while I was in the skiff," said -Hobbes, "I remember, now. What's your business with -Newt Prebbles?"</p> - -<p>"I'll tell him that when I see him. It's important. -Do you know the man?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I know him. He's a pal of mine and lives with -me in the shack."</p> - -<p>"Is he there, now?" asked Matt eagerly.</p> - -<p>"No."</p> - -<p>"When will he be back?"</p> - -<p>"That's hard to tell. He won't come back at all if you -don't tell me what your business is with him."</p> - -<p>"Why so?"</p> - -<p>"I'll warn him away. You've found out a lot about -me, but how much have you told me about yourself? -Not a thing. I haven't a notion who you are, and I'm -blamed if I like mysteries."</p> - -<p>They were close to the cluster of cottonwoods and the -shack, and Matt fell silent. The house, as the king of -the motor boys could see, now that he was close to it, -was built of sod, and had a roof of grass thatched over -cottonwood poles. It was in a fairly good state of repair -and had evidently been occupied for some time.</p> - -<p>The door stood open, and Hobbes stepped to one side -to let Matt enter first. It looked like a mere act of -courtesy, and may have been no more than that; but, in -view of what immediately happened, Matt would have -been entitled to suspicions.</p> - -<p>Believing the shack to be empty, Matt crossed the -threshold. He was instantly seized by some one who -threw himself from behind the open door.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> - -<p>With a startled cry, the young motorist twisted around -in the strong arms that held him and caught a look at -the man's face.</p> - -<p>It was Murgatroyd!</p> - -<p>Another moment and all the fight in Matt's nature flew -to the surface. Putting forth all his strength, he kicked -and struggled until he had freed himself of the broker's -grip.</p> - -<p>He was no sooner clear of Murgatroyd, however, when -Hobbes set upon him. Hobbes had not yet recovered -his strength, and Matt would have made short work of -him had not the broker come savagely to his aid. Between -them Matt was forced to the clay floor of the -house and lashed with a rope in such a manner that he -was powerless to move.</p> - -<p>Murgatroyd, panting from his exertions, lifted himself -erect and gave the prisoner a vengeful kick.</p> - -<p>"Wasn't expecting to find me here, eh?" he asked. -"You've led me a pretty chase, Motor Matt, but here we -are at the end of the trail, and I've got the upper hand."</p> - -<p>Somehow Matt had fallen under the impression that -the police of Bismarck would take care of Murgatroyd; -hence, he had left the broker out of his calculations, and -this meeting with him in that sod shack was like lightning -out of a clear sky.</p> - -<p>"You know this fellow, then?" said Hobbes.</p> - -<p>"I know him too well, and that's the trouble. He's -meddled with my affairs until they're in a pretty tangle, -and I'll have all I can do to straighten them out again. -I wasn't expecting a chance like this," and a jubilant -note entered the broker's voice. "How did he happen -to come here, Newt?"</p> - -<p>"That's too many for me, Murg. He was in a flying -machine. I saw him coming, and thought he was on -my track for a little game that was pulled off at the -Tin Cup Ranch, last night. In my hurry to get across -the river I lost an oar, and in my hurry to get the oar -I overturned the boat. I can't swim much, and with all -my clothes on I'd have gone to the bottom if he hadn't -snatched me ashore."</p> - -<p>Motor Matt was not much surprised to hear Murgatroyd -call the supposed Hobbes "Newt." The young -motorist's mind had been working around to that view -of the young fellow's identity. He was Newt Prebbles, -and was on friendly terms with the master scoundrel, -Murgatroyd.</p> - -<p>The broker seated himself in a chair, and did not seem -particularly well pleased with the news Prebbles had -just given him. Perhaps, for his peace of mind, he was -wishing that Matt had not rescued Newt, and it may be -he resented the "hold" this rescue gave Matt on Newt's -gratitude—providing Newt harbored such a sentiment, -which seemed doubtful.</p> - -<p>Newt began changing his clothes. Before he began, -he took a bottle from the table and poured himself a -drink of its fiery contents.</p> - -<p>"When did you get here, Murg?" he demanded, as -he got into his clothes.</p> - -<p>"It must have been while you were having that trouble -on the river. I didn't see anything of the flying machine, -and I didn't hear anything of the fracas. Feeling -sure you'd be back soon, I hitched my horse among -the cottonwoods and came in here to wait. I heard you -and Motor Matt talking as you walked this way, and -I had to rub my eyes in order to make sure it was really -Motor Matt who was coming. Jove, but this is a stroke -of luck!"</p> - -<p>"You'll have to tell me about that, for it's mighty dark -to me. You got my letter all right?"</p> - -<p>"Naturally, or I shouldn't be here. The letter arrived -in Bismarck yesterday forenoon, and I pulled out of -the town at once. Stayed last night with a farmer, more -to make certain I wasn't followed than anything else." -Murgatroyd scowled. "This being a fugitive," he finished, -"gets on a man's nerves."</p> - -<p>Newt laughed grimly.</p> - -<p>"Did you bring the money?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>"Don't talk about that here," and the broker flashed -a significant glance at Matt.</p> - -<p>"All right," agreed Newt. "Suppose we let this Motor -Matt, as you call him, go free? We don't want him -around, anyhow."</p> - -<p>"Go free?" cried Murgatroyd. "I'll catch myself doing -that! I owe him something," and here a demoniacal -look crept into the broker's eyes, "and I guess, as my old -friend Siwash used to say, I'll take advantage of this -opportunity and 'saw off' with him."</p> - -<p>This threat, however, did not make Matt feel at all -uncomfortable. He had in his hands the material necessary -to play off one of these men against the other. Out -of this might come a good deal of benefit to himself, -and much good for Newt Prebbles. In case he did not -succeed in this plan, there was McGlory and Ping yet -to be heard from. If they had safely escaped the Tin -Cup men, it would not be long before they gained the -mouth of Burnt Creek and played their part in events -to come.</p> - -<p>Just then Matt felt like congratulating himself on having -been made a prisoner. Such a position gave him -the advantage of being impartial in the hostility he was -about to incite between his captors.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">"ADVANCING THE SPARK."</p> - - -<p>"I'm not going to stand around and let you be rough -with him," asserted Newt, finishing his dressing and taking -another drink from the bottle.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Nobody asked you to stand around," said Murgatroyd. -"When I'm ready to get rough, you can go down -to the river and stay there till I'm through."</p> - -<p>"Why did you jump on him like that?"</p> - -<p>Considering what he himself had done toward Matt's -capture, Newt's stand was hardly consistent.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you," and, with that, Murgatroyd went on -to relate the number of times his trail had crossed Matt's, -and the circumstances.</p> - -<p>Newt's eyes widened as the recital proceeded, and -when the end was reached it found him moody and preoccupied.</p> - -<p>"From all that," went on Murgatroyd, "you can see -just how much I am in Motor Matt's debt."</p> - -<p>"He saved my life," said Newt doggedly, "and I'm not -going to let you be rough with him."</p> - -<p>"Don't make a fool of yourself, Newt," scowled Murgatroyd.</p> - -<p>"He did me a good turn," insisted the other, "and I'm -not going to let him get the worst of this."</p> - -<p>"Sit me up in a chair, can't you?" asked Matt. "I -want to talk a little, and I'm not very comfortable, lying -here like this."</p> - -<p>"It's nothing to me," snarled Murgatroyd, "whether -you're comfortable or not."</p> - -<p>Without a word, Newt went to the prisoner and helped -him get to his feet and drop into a chair.</p> - -<p>"Leave his ropes alone," called Murgatroyd sharply.</p> - -<p>"I'm not touching his ropes—yet," returned Newt. -"What have you got to say?" he asked, facing Matt.</p> - -<p>"How many I O U's for gambling debts did you leave -in Jamestown, Prebbles, when you left there?"</p> - -<p>A lighted bomb, hurled suddenly into the shack, could -not have startled either of the two men more than did -this question.</p> - -<p>It was a random shot on Matt's part. He wanted -both Newt and Murgatroyd to understand that he was -well equipped with information.</p> - -<p>"I didn't leave a single gambling debt behind me," asserted -Newt, with rising indignation.</p> - -<p>The broker became visibly uncomfortable.</p> - -<p>"He's talking wild, Newt," said he.</p> - -<p>"Then," continued Matt, "how did it happen that Murgatroyd -had several duebills, signed by you?"</p> - -<p>"He didn't have any signed by me."</p> - -<p>"Of course not," agreed Murgatroyd, laughing derisively, -but there were demons rising in his sharp eyes.</p> - -<p>"Too bad your father didn't know that, Newt," said -Matt. "He's been slaving, and denying himself necessities -of life, to take up a lot of I O U's which, Murgatroyd -told him, had been given by you for gambling -debts."</p> - -<p>Newt, his face full of rage, whirled on the broker in -a fury.</p> - -<p>"Is that the truth?" he cried.</p> - -<p>"Not a word of truth in it," answered the broker -coolly. "From what I've told you about Motor Matt, -Newt, you ought to understand that he's cunning. He's -working some sort of a dodge, now. Don't let him fool -you."</p> - -<p>Newt was quieted somewhat but not convinced.</p> - -<p>"Who told you about those duebills?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>"Your father."</p> - -<p>"When did you see him? And how did he happen to -tell you anything like that?"</p> - -<p>"Just a minute," said Matt, playing with the spark -before he advanced it fully. "There's a point about -George Hobbes that I'd like to have settled. Which of -you uses that name? Or have you a partnership interest -in it? Newt plays cards at the Tin Cup Ranch -as George Hobbes, and Murgatroyd does business in that -name and receives letters in Bismarck when they are so -addressed. Now——"</p> - -<p>With a hoarse exclamation of astonishment and anger, -Murgatroyd flung himself from the chair and started -toward Matt. Newt jumped in front of him.</p> - -<p>"You'd better sit down, Murg," said Newt.</p> - -<p>The two men stared at each other, the broker furious, -and the younger man defiant.</p> - -<p>"He knows too much!" flared Murgatroyd.</p> - -<p>"He says so much I know to be true that I'm inclined -to believe everything he tells us. We'll hear him out, -and if you try to lay your hands on him you'll settle with -me."</p> - -<p>The spark was working splendidly. It would not be -long, now, before it set off an explosion.</p> - -<p>"You wrote a letter to Murgatroyd, Newt," said -Matt, "and posted it in Steele, North Dakota. Murgatroyd -hasn't found it healthy to be in his Jamestown -office for some time, and the only person there, when -your letter was received, was your father. He recognized -your handwriting, and he opened the letter and -made a copy of it before he sent it on to Murgatroyd, -in Bismarck."</p> - -<p>The broker's face became fairly livid. He tried to -talk, but the words gurgled in his throat.</p> - -<p>"Your father knew I was a friend of his," pursued -Matt, "and he came to Fort Totten to see me. He got -there yesterday afternoon, driving over from Minnewaukon -in a heavy rain. When he showed me the -copy of your letter, I started for this place in the -aëroplane."</p> - -<p>"What were you intending to do here?" inquired -Newt.</p> - -<p>"I was hoping to persuade you to go back to Totten -and see your father. He wants you."</p> - -<p>Newt shook his head.</p> - -<p>"It won't do," he answered. "The old man and I had -a tumble, and it's better for us to keep apart."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> - -<p>"You don't <i>dare</i> to go!" stormed Murgatroyd. "What -have I been paying you, for? Tell me that. You'll stay -away from Fort Totten, Newt. I've brought money -enough to take you to South America, and that's where -you're going."</p> - -<p>Newt's eyes brightened a little.</p> - -<p>"I wonder if you really mean to shell out enough to -take me that far?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Yes," cried the broker, "and I'll pay you well for -going, too."</p> - -<p>"You won't go, Newt," put in Matt. "You're not -going to let this scoundrel wheedle you into leaving the -country just to get you out of the way and prevent you -from telling what you know about the accident to Harry -Traquair."</p> - -<p>Silence followed the launching of this bolt, silence that -was broken only by the startled breathing of the two -men. Both of them kept their eyes riveted on the prisoner.</p> - -<p>"Traquair, the inventor of the aëroplane," continued -Matt, "tried out his machine in Jamestown, several weeks -ago, and an accident happened. Some part of the mechanism -broke. Why did it break?" Matt's voice grew -solemn as he turned his eyes on Murgatroyd. "Why did -it break?" he asked, again.</p> - -<p>The broker's face turned ashen. Drops of sweat stood -out on his forehead, his hands clinched spasmodically, -and his lips moved without sound.</p> - -<p>"Murgatroyd," Matt pursued mercilessly, "had a mortgage -on Harry Traquair's homestead, in Wells County. -For some reason of his own, Murgatroyd wants that -piece of prairie land. If Traquair had lived, he would -have sold his aëroplane to the government, and have paid -off the mortgage. But he didn't live, because a <i>supposed</i> -accident happened to his aëroplane."</p> - -<p>The broker's lips were dry, and again and again he -moistened them with his tongue. The demons grew -harder, and brighter, and more merciless in his eyes.</p> - -<p>The spark was doing well, but it had not yet been -advanced to the limit. It was the spark of friendship, -but it was coming into its own through devious ways. -The friendship was to be between poor old Prebbles and -his son; but it was to result in something else between -Newt and Murgatroyd, and prove powerful enough to -force the two apart.</p> - -<p>"Murgatroyd has been paying you money, Newt," resumed -Matt, "to keep in the background and remain -silent about what you know. Is the scoundrel worth -protecting? Is it worth while to take hush money from -him? The bribes he has been giving you, he collected -from your father by means of duebills to which he had -forged your name."</p> - -<p>Fierce anger flamed in Newt's face. Matt, seeing that -an explosion was close, hastened on.</p> - -<p>"Your father is now lying ill at Fort Totten. It is -doubtful whether he can live—and he certainly cannot -unless you go back with me and be to him what you -have not been in the past—a son."</p> - -<p>The red faded from Newt Prebbles' face and a deathly -pallor came in its stead. Stepping over to Matt, he -dropped both hands on his shoulders and looked him -steadily in the eyes.</p> - -<p>"Motor Matt," said he, "are you telling me the truth -about my father? He is dangerously sick at Fort Totten? -Don't you lie to me," he warned fiercely.</p> - -<p>"I am telling you the truth."</p> - -<p>"And those forged I O U's—where did you learn about -them?"</p> - -<p>"From your father, as I have already told you."</p> - -<p>"It's like Murgatroyd," said Newt, between his teeth. -"He did want Traquair's homestead, because he happened -to discover that there is coal under the soil, and the -railroad company will buy the hundred and sixty at a -fancy price and run a spur track to it, so——"</p> - -<p>The explosion came, at that moment, but it was not -as Matt expected. While Newt Prebbles stood facing -Matt, his back to the broker, there came the sound of -a blow.</p> - -<p>Pain convulsed Newt's face for the fraction of a second, -his eyes closed, and he dropped senseless, overturning -Matt and his chair with the force of his fall.</p> - -<p>Lying bound and helpless, Matt heard sounds of quick -footsteps, and saw Murgatroyd bending down over him.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">THE TRAIL TO THE RIVER.</p> - - -<p>Joe McGlory and Ping were in a fine good humor. -They had left the horses and rifles for the Tin Cup men -and, from the top of a distant hill, they had watched -the party recover the live stock and the guns. Then, -laughing and congratulating themselves, the boys had -ducked in among the cottonwoods of the creek bottom -and started along the trail to the river.</p> - -<p>"Plenty fine," chattered Ping. "By Klismus, my gettee -heap fun this tlip. Woosh!"</p> - -<p>"We played 'em to a fare-you-well," laughed McGlory, -pausing to extend his hand to Ping. "Shake, my little -heathen brother! You're the finest bit of the Yellow -Peril that ever landed in the U. S. You've got a head -on you, you have. Why, you savvied right off what I -wanted you to do with those guns, and I didn't have to -say a word."</p> - -<p>"My savvy look you makee all same eye," chuckled -Ping. "Top-side pidgin! One piecee fine bizness."</p> - -<p>Then, abruptly, Ping had a swift, paralyzing thought.</p> - -<p>"Mebbyso Melican men makee chase fo' McGloly and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> -Ping, huh?" he cried. "Plaps we lun, ketchee Matt, no -lettee Melican men ketchee us?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, shucks, Ping!" exclaimed McGlory disgustedly. -"When you forget yourself, now and then, and do a -particularly bright thing, you spoil it all by some break -of that sort. Those punchers don't know where we're -going! And what sort of a trail are we leaving?" The -cowboy turned and looked back over the ground they -had covered. "All buffalo grass," he finished, "and the -Tin Cup outfit couldn't run us down in a thousand -years."</p> - -<p>But Ping's fears persisted, in spite of McGlory's attempt -to smother them.</p> - -<p>"My no likee," he quavered, pausing again and again -to look back as they traveled. "Mebbyso they ketchee, -they takee scalp. My no likee. Losee pigtail, no go -back to China ally mo'."</p> - -<p>"Well, well, don't blubber about it!" exclaimed McGlory. -"You'll keep the pigtail, all right, though what -in Sam Hill it's good for is more than I know. Buck -up, step high, wide, and handsome, and don't lose so -much time looking around. Just stow it away in your -mind, Ping, that every step on the trail to the river -brings us that much closer to Pard Matt."</p> - -<p>McGlory took the lead and set a brisk pace.</p> - -<p>"Didn't Matt get away in great shape?" he called out, -as he strode along. "And that rope Spearman tied to -the machine didn't amount to a row of dobies."</p> - -<p>"Cloud Joss heap fine fo' tlavel," remarked Ping. -"Feet tlavel plenty tough fo' China boy."</p> - -<p>"I guess the circus we pulled off, back there on that -hill, was worth the price, Ping. Don't grumble. There -was something doing, and you and I answered to roll-call -during the height of the agitation. Little Chop Suey -and your Uncle Joe had something to say and do every -minute the curtain was up. Oh, shucks! I'm tickled to -death with myself. I'll be plumb contented, now, if nothing -happens to me for the next fifteen minutes. Wonder -how Matt's getting along, advancing that spark? Something -gives me a hunch and whispers in my ear that -he's having his hands full. Put your best foot forward, -Ping, and let's see how quick we can get to where we're -going."</p> - -<p>"No gottee best foot," complained Ping. "Both feets -allee same bum. Cleek makee bend, makee bend, makee -bend; heap walkee to go li'l way."</p> - -<p>"That's right," agreed McGlory. "Sufferin' serpents, -how the creek twists! Suppose we climb to the top of -this hill on the right and see if we can't work a cut-off -on the pesky stream."</p> - -<p>"Awri'," agreed Ping, and followed McGlory to the -top of the hill.</p> - -<p>From the crest they had an extensive view in every direction; -in fact, it was almost too extensive, for behind -them they glimpsed the Tin Cup men, racing back and -forth over the uplifts, scattered widely and hunting for -"signs."</p> - -<p>McGlory muttered to himself and slipped off the top -of the hill like a shot. Ping gasped as he followed.</p> - -<p>"They ketchee China boy," he wailed, "him losee pigtail."</p> - -<p>"Oh, hush about that," growled McGlory. "Do you -know where we was lame, Ping?"</p> - -<p>"My plenty lame in feet," said Ping.</p> - -<p>"I mean, where we made a hobble. It was by not keeping -two of those horses and using them to take us to -the mouth of Burnt Creek."</p> - -<p>"Woosh! We ketchee Matt now, Melican men follow -tlail, ketchee Matt, too. Motol Matt go top-side, we -all go top-side. Plenty bad pidgin."</p> - -<p>"If they're really following us, which I don't think," -remarked McGlory, "we'll fool 'em."</p> - -<p>"No fool 'em twice."</p> - -<p>"You watch. We'll take the longest way to the river -and get that bunch away from the creek."</p> - -<p>Ping groaned at the thought of more walking. He -could have stood the journey better if he had not been -compelled to hang onto his grass sandals with his toes.</p> - -<p>McGlory scuttled off between the coteaus, and every -once in a while he would climb to the top of a hill to -reconnoiter along the back track. Finally, to his great -satisfaction, he lost sight of the Tin Cup men.</p> - -<p>"That means," said he, when he reported the fact to -Ping, "that we're free, once more, to get to the mouth -of Burnt Creek as soon as we can."</p> - -<p>From that on there was little talking. The boys -needed their breath for the work before them. As before, -McGlory led the way and Ping hopped and scuffled -along behind him.</p> - -<p>An occasional hill was scaled to get the bearings of -the creek and watch out for the river. McGlory gave -a shout of joy when he finally saw the broad ribbon of -muddy water in the distance ahead.</p> - -<p>"We're close to where we're bound for, Ping," he -said cheerily. "We've been two or three hours on -the hike, but you trail along and I'll land you at the -junction of the creek and the river in less than twenty -minutes. Whoop-ya! I'm guessing about Matt. Has it -been make or break with him? And how has the spark -worked? I'm all stirred up with the notion that he's -having a time. Ever get a hunch like that and not be -able to explain how you got it?"</p> - -<p>"No savvy hunch," groaned Ping. "Let's findee place -to makee sit in shade. Heap tired."</p> - -<p>"We'll sit in the shade and rest and enjoy ourselves -after we find Matt. Keep a-moving, Ping, keep a-moving."</p> - -<p>A pass between two hills brought them out into the -creek bottom again. The sun was getting low in the -west, but it was still uncomfortably warm, and the shade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> -of the cottonwood trees was refreshing. Ping tottered -along with his eyes on McGlory's heels. Suddenly the -cowboy stopped and whirled around.</p> - -<p>"Look!" he murmured, pointing.</p> - -<p>The Chinaman swerved his weary eyes in the direction -indicated and saw the sod shack.</p> - -<p>"Hoop-a-la!" he exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"I hear voices in there," whispered McGlory, "and -I'll bet Pard Matt's busy laying down the law to Newt -Prebbles. Let's not interrupt, but slip carefully up to -the door and get the lay of the land before we butt in."</p> - -<p>Ping was for getting to a place of comfort and refreshment -in the shortest possible time; but, as usual, he -deferred to the superior wisdom of the cowboy.</p> - -<p>Silently they stole toward the open door of the hut. -Through the opening there came to them the sound of a -voice. It was a strange voice, and the words were not -distinguishable.</p> - -<p>While they were still some distance from the door, the -voice was blotted out by the impact of a blow; and immediately -there came a crash as of something being -overturned.</p> - -<p>McGlory was no longer anxious to "get the lay of the -land" before butting into Matt's argument with Newt -Prebbles. In an instant he jumped for the door and -stood peering into the hut.</p> - -<p>The scene before him was difficult to comprehend. A -chair had been overturned, and there was a form—no, -two forms—lying on the floor beside it. Then, too, there -was some one else, a man, bending over one of the -forms.</p> - -<p>The dark interior of the shack was not favorable to a -clear survey of the scene by eyes but recently turned -from the glaring sunshine.</p> - -<p>McGlory, however, caught one detail of the picture -that wrenched a sharp cry from his lips.</p> - -<p>"Murgatroyd!" he shouted.</p> - -<p>The bent form lifted itself with catlike quickness, -<i>Crack!</i> The sharp note of a revolver rattled through -the narrow room, followed by a warning shout in a -well-known voice:</p> - -<p>"Look out, Joe! It's Murgatroyd, and he's in a killing -mood!"</p> - -<p>Matt was in the room, bound and helpless. That was -the next detail that flashed before the eyes of McGlory.</p> - -<p>Murgatroyd's shot had missed. Mad with rage, he -was making ready to fire again.</p> - -<p>Blindly, desperately, the cowboy flung himself across -the room. Pard Matt was there, and in danger. Think -of himself, McGlory would not.</p> - -<p>The demons in the broker's eyes glowered murderously -along the sights of the leveled weapon. It seemed -as though nothing could save the cowboy.</p> - -<p>At just that moment, however, a window behind the -broker crashed inward. A stone, hurled by Ping with all -his force, had shattered the glass, plunged across the -gap, and struck Murgatroyd's arm.</p> - -<p>The arm dropped as though paralyzed, and the broker -staggered sideways with a cry of pain. McGlory sprang -upon him, and the two were struggling fiercely when -Ping raced into the room and took a hand in the battle.</p> - -<p>Murgatroyd, with only one hand, was no match for -his wiry young antagonists.</p> - -<p>As Newt and Murgatroyd had overpowered Matt, so -the cowboy and the Chinaman wrestled and secured the -advantage of Murgatroyd.</p> - -<p>One of the forms on the floor slowly lifted itself -and became busy with the cords around Matt's wrists.</p> - -<p>"I can do the rest, Newt," said Matt, sitting up and -freeing his ankles.</p> - -<p>A few moments more and the tables had been completely -turned. Murgatroyd was now the prisoner, and -the king of the motor boys and his friends were in command -of the situation.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">UNWELCOME CALLERS.</p> - - -<p>Once more, during the course of that eventful day, -Ping was to be congratulated on his quickness and wit. -McGlory had gone to the door to make his survey of -what was transpiring inside the sod shack, and Ping -had approached a window. The revolver shot caused -the Chinese boy to jump, and to debate in his startled -mind whether it would be better to run, or to hold his -ground. He held his ground and used the stone—to the -lasting benefit of Joe McGlory.</p> - -<p>Now, at last, it seemed, the brawling and the violence -was over. Murgatroyd lay in the place where Matt -had lain, Newt Prebbles was bathing his injured head -in a basin of cool water, and Matt, McGlory, and Ping -were sitting down and explaining to each other how -everything had happened.</p> - -<p>"You were foolish to talk like you did to Murgatroyd, -when he had the best of you, Matt," said McGlory.</p> - -<p>"He didn't have the best of me," asserted Matt. "I -had made a friend by that talk, and the friend was Newt -Prebbles."</p> - -<p>"That's the truth," spoke up Newt, turning his head -for a look at Matt.</p> - -<p>"Well, then," bristled McGlory, "maybe you'll explain -why you helped Murgatroyd down Matt, in the first -place?"</p> - -<p>"I was to blame there," answered Newt, "but I didn't -understand the situation. Everything had been sprung -on me all of a heap, as you might say, and I was dazed -and bewildered. Murgatroyd had come here because I -had written and asked him to. He had money for me, -as I supposed, and I considered myself in duty bound to -help him. Later, when Motor Matt did his talking, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> -discovered some things which put up the bars between -Murgatroyd and me. That last thump on the head, -of course, topped off the whole affair. Murgatroyd was -crazy mad, that's all. He hit me with something harder -than his bare knuckles. Was it the handle of his revolver?"</p> - -<p>"Maybe it was this," and McGlory leaned forward and -picked a pair of brass knuckle dusters off the clay floor.</p> - -<p>"That's what he used," declared Prebbles.</p> - -<p>"I have always feared," said Matt, "that our dealings -with Murgatroyd would end in some violent work, like -this. And it was all for a hundred and sixty acres of -coal land, which would have netted Murgatroyd only a -few thousand dollars, at the most!"</p> - -<p>The broker's anger had vanished with his capture, -and left him miserable in spirit; but, even now, while -his fortunes were at lowest ebb, his crafty mind led him -to think of some way out of his troubles.</p> - -<p>"You've got me," said he, with a bitter laugh. "I -didn't think you lads could do it, but you've turned the -trick. Are you any better off?"</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about that!" muttered McGlory. "Matt's -a heap better off. I don't know what you were going to -do, when Ping and I showed up, but I'm feeling a whole -lot easier to have this matter just as it is."</p> - -<p>"So am I better off," put in Newt Prebbles. "I've led -a hard life, and I've been a hard man, but I'm the only -one to blame for that. And I know this: Association -with Amos Murgatroyd, for any length of time, is an -excellent passport to the penitentiary."</p> - -<p>"That's right, Newt," said the broker scathingly. -"You know on which side your bread is buttered. Get -on the side of the winning team, by all means. But I -wasn't talking to you or McGlory, but to Motor Matt."</p> - -<p>His voice changed to a pleading tone.</p> - -<p>"I'm wrecked, Motor Matt," he went on, "if you turn -me over to the authorities. There's nothing in my past -life that's so very criminal. Of course, knowing what -I did about the Traquair homestead, I was anxious to -get hold of it. But that's out of my power, now. You've -been put to a good deal of inconvenience, but I'll make -that all up to you in dollars and cents if you'll take -these ropes off me and let me clear out."</p> - -<p>"You say," said Matt, "that there's nothing in your -past that is so very criminal. If that's so, why are you -afraid to face the music? Why do you want to shirk the -consequences?"</p> - -<p>"Even a short term of imprisonment will ruin my loan -business," answered Murgatroyd. "I have built that -business up very carefully, and I hate to see it go to -smash. I tell you what I'll do. If you'll release me, -I'll wipe out that mortgage of one thousand dollars which -I hold on the Traquair homestead, and I'll give you and -your friends a thousand apiece, all around. What do -you say?"</p> - -<p>"I'm sorry for you, Murgatroyd," said Matt, "but I -haven't any authority to set you free, even if I was inclined -that way. It's the government that wants you; -and the government wants you so much that a price has -been placed on your head. You've danced, and now -you've got to pay the fiddler."</p> - -<p>"He says he hasn't done anything so very criminal," -remarked Newt Prebbles, as he tied a handkerchief -around his head. "I'd like to know what he calls criminal."</p> - -<p>"Well," sneered the broker, "I haven't been bribed for -keeping what I know away from the authorities."</p> - -<p>"As I was bribed," retorted Newt hotly, "with money -my own father paid you for forged duebills!"</p> - -<p>Murgatroyd laughed, and it was the laugh of a wretch -utterly devoid of conscience.</p> - -<p>"That <i>was</i> rather a neat play of mine," said he. "But -you haven't given me your answer yet, Motor Matt."</p> - -<p>"Yes, I have," said Matt. "You're going to Fort -Totten."</p> - -<p>"And so am I," put in Newt Prebbles, "just as quick -as I can get there. I'll take Murgatroyd's horse and -ride to Bismarck. There's a night train I can catch for -Jamestown, and I ought to be at the post some time before -noon, to-morrow."</p> - -<p>"You can't get there any too quick," observed McGlory -caustically.</p> - -<p>He had no liking for Newt Prebbles. A man who -would do what Newt Prebbles had done could never -stand very high in the cowboy's estimation.</p> - -<p>"You'd better watch that fellow, Motor Matt," called -Murgatroyd. "He'll not go to the post, but will clear -out for parts unknown."</p> - -<p>"He'll go to the post, I'm sure of it," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"I will," declared Newt. "My father and I never -agreed very well, but I guess that was my fault, too. -When you leave here, Motor Matt, just lock the door -and bring the key. I don't know whether I'll ever come -back to this shack or not—I don't think I will, as I feel -now—but it will be well for me to have the key. Good-by."</p> - -<p>He stepped toward the king of the motor boys and -extended his hand.</p> - -<p>"Haven't you forgotten something, Newt?" inquired -Matt.</p> - -<p>Prebbles gave him a blank look. The next moment he -understood what Matt had reference to, and pulled a -jingling bag from his pocket and tossed it upon the -table.</p> - -<p>"That's the whole of it," he said. "You'll see that it -is returned?"</p> - -<p>Matt nodded.</p> - -<p>"That means that I'll have to walk to Totten, or ride -Murgatroyd's horse," Prebbles added, as he moved toward -the door.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> - -<p>Matt was about to lend him the money for his railroad -ticket, when a form darkened the door and stepped into -the room.</p> - -<p>"Goin' somewheres?" queried a voice. "Well, I -wouldn't, George—not jest yet."</p> - -<p>It was Jed Spearman. Behind him came Slim, and -back of Slim trailed the cowboy who had been referred -to as "Hen."</p> - -<p>Matt, greatly alarmed, sprang up and stepped forward.</p> - -<p>"Don't lay a hand on that man, Spearman," said -Matt. "His father is sick at Fort Totten, and he's got -to go there in a hurry."</p> - -<p>"Oh, ho!" guffawed the foreman. "If here ain't Motor -Matt, who was flyin' this way on gov'ment bizness! An' -the chink that run off with the guns, an' t'other chap -as lit out with our live stock. Waal, now, ain't this -here a pleasin' surprise—fer us? Don't git vi'lent, any -o' ye. Three o' us is in here, and thar's three more -watchin' on the outside. I reckon the boot's on the -other leg, this deal, hey, Slim?"</p> - -<p>"I reckon," agreed Slim. "This is a whole lot funnier -than that other game, over on the coteau."</p> - -<p>"Don't ye ask us ter put down our guns an' do no -more pushin'," said Spearman. "Ye kain't work that -joke on us twicet, hand-runnin'. We've cut our eyeteeth, -we hev. Got any weppins among ye?"</p> - -<p>Newt Prebbles, glaring at the Tin Cup men, had -backed into a corner. He had his eye on the broken -window, and Spearman observed his intention.</p> - -<p>"Don't ye never try <i>that</i>, George," he grinned. "Ye'd -be riddled like a salt shaker afore ye'd hit the ground."</p> - -<p>"Spearman," said Matt, "you don't understand this -matter. If you did——"</p> - -<p>"Thar was some parts o' it I didn't onderstand none -too well, back thar on the hill, a few hours ago. But -ye heered me say we'd cut our eyeteeth, didn't ye? I -meant jest that."</p> - -<p>"I came here on government duty, just as I said," went -on Matt, "and if you interfere with me in any way, -you'll regret it."</p> - -<p>"Will I? Waal, life is plumb full o' sorrers an' regrets. -Who's the gent on the floor?"</p> - -<p>"I'm a helpless victim of these young scoundrels," -said Murgatroyd plaintively. "Release me, gentlemen, -and do an act of simple justice!"</p> - -<p>"His name is Murgatroyd," corrected Matt, "and the -government has offered a reward of a thousand dollars -for his capture."</p> - -<p>"That's your story fer it, young man. I ain't takin' -your word fer nothin'. Slim, step over an' cut the gent -loose."</p> - -<p>Slim started. Matt stepped in front of him.</p> - -<p>"Leave that man alone!" ordered Matt. "You fellows, -I suppose," he continued, turning to Spearman, -"have come here after the money Prebbles took from you -at the ranch. He was leaving it with me to deliver to -you, just as you came."</p> - -<p>"Likely yarn," scoffed Jed Spearman, taking a chair -in the doorway. "Consider yerselves pris'ners, all o' ye. -We ain't so terribly het up over Motor Matt, and we -ain't so mad at t'other feller or the chink as we mout -be, seein' as how they left us our hosses an' guns an' -then trailed straight fer this place whar we diskiver -George Hobbes. It's Hobbes we want, an' I tell ye plain -we're goin' ter play bob with him afore we're done. -That's flat."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">AN UNEXPECTED TURN.</p> - - -<p>Motor Matt was never more at sea than he was at -that moment. What could he, and McGlory, and Ping do -against six armed cowboys who, because of their hostility, -would not listen to reason?</p> - -<p>Jed Spearman and his companions could do exactly as -they pleased. They could take the law into their own -hands, so far as Newt Prebbles was concerned, and -delay his departure for Fort Totten; and, in reckless defiance -of what Matt said, they could release Murgatroyd.</p> - -<p>Ping, so far from being a factor of strength in the -slender force to be mustered against the cowboys, was -a decided element of weakness. He was afraid he was -going to lose his queue, and the fear had made him -almost daft.</p> - -<p>"Slim," called Spearman, tilting back in his chair and -fanning himself with his hat, "jest count the <i>dinero</i> in -that bag an' see how much it foots up."</p> - -<p>Slim slouched over to the table, Matt, meanwhile, -standing guard between him and Murgatroyd.</p> - -<p>With elaborate ease, Slim dumped the contents of the -pouch on the table and proceeded to count the gold -pieces.</p> - -<p>"Why, Jed," he called, "I'm blamed if it ain't all here, -an' a dollar more'n what we lost."</p> - -<p>"Keep the dollar fer int'rest, Slim," said Spearman -generously. "Tell me, Hen," he proceeded, "what we're -goin' ter do to the low-down tinhorn who run in them -fancy tricks on us at the bunk house?"</p> - -<p>"Hang 'im," replied Hen promptly.</p> - -<p>"Oh, ye're altogether too desp'rit. Somethin' lighter'n -that. What say, Slim?"</p> - -<p>"Waal," replied Slim, "I'd suggest runnin' him out o' -the kentry, Jed. We ain't got no room, in these parts, -fer a robber like what this feller is. The law kain't -tech him, ye know."</p> - -<p>"Hev we got ter waste our vallyble time pusson'ly conductin' -sich a missable galoot across the border?" asked -Spearman.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Thar's a hoss among the cottonwoods, Jed. Let's tie -the tinhorn ter his back, take off the hoss' bridle, an' -then chase the critter fer a ways. That 'u'd do the -trick."</p> - -<p>"Gentlemen," came the imploring voice of Murgatroyd, -"that animal belongs to me. I beg of you not -to use him in your scheme of punishment. How shall -I get back to Bismarck after you release me?"</p> - -<p>"Stop yer talkin', you!" scowled Spearman. "I reckon, -if we turn ye loose, that ort ter be about all ye kin ask. -Slim," he added to his comrade, "yer suggestion is in -good taste, an' hes my approval. The trick hes been -done afore, an' allers, I make no doubt, with good an' -lastin' effects ter the community. Pris'ner, hev ye got -anythin' ter say?"</p> - -<p>"Only this," replied Newt Prebbles. "My father is -lying sick at Fort Totten. He needs me. If you try -to tie me to that horse and send me across the border, -I'll fight till I drop. What more do you want?" he -cried passionately. "I gambled with you, and I resorted -to a gambler's tricks, but I have returned more money -than I took."</p> - -<p>"Ye returned the money bekase ye had ter," said -Spearman grimly. "If us fellers hadn't blowed in here, -we wouldn't 'a' got it."</p> - -<p>"You're wrong there, Spearman," called Matt. "I -have told you once, and I repeat it now, that Prebbles -gave up that moment before he, or any of the rest of us, -knew you were coming here. I protest against such inhuman -treatment as you're planning to give him."</p> - -<p>"All right," grinned Spearman, "protest. Now, we'll -let that drap while we consider the case o' the gent on -the floor. I reckon, Motor Matt, ye're plumb anxious ter -take him ter Totten, ain't ye?"</p> - -<p>"I am," answered Matt. "As I told you, he's wanted -by the government."</p> - -<p>"It 'u'd be a feather in yer cap if ye toted him in, -wouldn't it?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know anything about that, and I don't care. -He's a scoundrel, and ought to be punished."</p> - -<p>"An' thar's a thousand out fer him?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"Which ye'd git?"</p> - -<p>"No. It goes to another man."</p> - -<p>Spearman drew down an eyelid in a knowing wink.</p> - -<p>"'Course I ain't swallerin' that, not noways. It was -right funny, that thing ye done over on the hill. I -reckon ye've laughed a-considerable about that, hey? I -didn't git a chance ter fly with ye, an' the boys hev been -joshin' me ever sence about it. Ye ort ter be punished -somehow, an' I reckon the easiest and best way ter do -that is by letting yer pris'ner go. Ye won't hev no -feather in yer cap, an' ye won't hev no thousand dollars. -Slim!"</p> - -<p>"On deck, Jed."</p> - -<p>"I ordered ye, a while ago, ter let that man loose. -Now, I order ye ag'in. This time, I want it done!"</p> - -<p>"Wait a second!" cried Matt. "Spearman," he went -on, "are you such a fool you think you can punish me -by allowing this man his freedom?"</p> - -<p>"Keerful!" warned the foreman. "Don't git ter callin' -names. I won't stand fer that, not fer a minit."</p> - -<p>"If you allow this criminal to go, you'll be getting -yourself into hot water—you won't be hurting me."</p> - -<p>"I know what I'm about. Slim!"</p> - -<p>Slim started toward Motor Matt, swinging one hand -carelessly but significantly behind him.</p> - -<p>"Keep away," said Matt, a dangerous light rising in -his eyes. "You'll not let this man go."</p> - -<p>"Are you going to let yourself be bluffed by a fellow -of his size?" taunted Murgatroyd, taking another tack.</p> - -<p>"No words from you," growled Spearman.</p> - -<p>Slim undoubtedly felt that it was up to him to let the -foreman and Hen know what he was good for. He had -a natural delicacy about using a weapon against an unarmed -youth, so he made the mistake of thinking he -could eliminate the barrier with his hands.</p> - -<p>"Side-step!" he commanded.</p> - -<p>Matt held his ground.</p> - -<p>"Waal, if ye won't, then take that."</p> - -<p>Slim swung his fist. What happened, then, must have -astonished him exceedingly.</p> - -<p>His fist clove the empty air, and before he could recover -his poise he was struck a blow that heaved him over -against Hen, and toppled both of them against the wall.</p> - -<p>"Jumpin' jee-mimy!" stuttered Slim, rubbing his chin. -"He hits like the kick of a mule—an' it was about as -quick."</p> - -<p>"Oh, blazes!" growled Spearman, in disgust. "Hen, -you help. If the two o' ye ain't enough, I'll join in."</p> - -<p>McGlory had pressed closer to Matt's side. The two -chums were now shoulder to shoulder.</p> - -<p>"I'm a cowboy myself," cried McGlory, "and if you -longhorns have come out prancin' for trouble, I guess we -can accommodate you."</p> - -<p>But the matter was never brought to an issue. A -shrill whistle echoed from the outside. Spearman -jumped to his feet.</p> - -<p>"That's from one o' our boys," said he. "What's -doin'?"</p> - -<p>The next moment Spearman knew. A khaki-clad -officer appeared in the doorway, covered with the dust of -a hard ride. Standing there, for an instant, he surveyed -the interior of the shack.</p> - -<p>"Cameron!" cried Matt joyfully.</p> - -<p>"Whoop-ya!" roared McGlory. "Lieutenant Cameron, -of the old U. S. A. Speak to me about that! He's just -in time."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Who's Leftenant Cameron?" snorted Spearman. "I -don't know him from Adam."</p> - -<p>"Possibly not," answered Cameron, "but, fortunately, -I've got a man with me whom you do know. Come in, -Roscoe!" called the lieutenant, stepping farther into the -room.</p> - -<p>A burly individual slouched through the doorway and -stood looking out from under his bushy brows at Spearman.</p> - -<p>The foreman's careless air left him in a flash. He -fell back a step.</p> - -<p>"Roscoe!"</p> - -<p>"Surest thing you know," replied the burly individual, -"Roscoe, Sheriff of Burleigh. Now, what's been going -on here?"</p> - -<p>There was something humorous, after that, in Spearman's -attempt to explain. The whole story was finally -given by Matt, and listened to with attention.</p> - -<p>The sheriff, when all the details were in, drew a large -slab of tobacco from his pocket and nibbled off a corner.</p> - -<p>"Who's got the money that was won at the bunk -house?" he asked calmly.</p> - -<p>"Slim, thar," answered Spearman.</p> - -<p>"Fork over, Slim."</p> - -<p>Slim promptly tossed the bag to Roscoe.</p> - -<p>"If you Tin Cup men haven't got sense enough to keep -from being skinned," remarked the sheriff, "you ought to -be done out of your eyeteeth. And, furthermore, you -haven't any call to chase the man that was too sharp for -you and try to run him out of the country. You fellows -at the Tin Cup are a heap too lawless. I've had my eye -on you for quite a spell. The money goes to the man -that took it. Here, stranger! I'm not approving of the -way it was come by, mark you, but, so far as the ethics -of this case are concerned, the money is yours."</p> - -<p>"I don't want it," was the astounding response from -Newt Prebbles. "I'm a different man from what I was -when I got that away from the Tin Cup fellows."</p> - -<p>The sheriff stared, then calmly dropped the bag into -his own pocket.</p> - -<p>"I'll accept the donation," said he, "and pass it along -to the Bismarck Orphan Asylum. Now, Spearman," and -he stepped over and tapped the foreman on the chest, "I -wish I could take you to town with me for planning to -release a badly wanted man. But I can't. All I can -say is that I've got my eye on you. Scatter out of this. -That will be about all."</p> - -<p>The Tin Cup men "scattered." As the galloping hoofs -died away in the distance, Lieutenant Cameron stepped -over and caught Matt's hand.</p> - -<p>"I guess I was of some use, after all, eh, Matt? You -fellows have had most of the fun, but I managed to get -here in time to save you some unpleasantness."</p> - -<p>"You did," answered Motor Matt gratefully, wringing -the brave fellow's hand. "You've saved the prisoner, -and made it possible for Prebbles' son to get to the post -in time to——"</p> - -<p>"Wait," interrupted Cameron, pulling a yellow slip -from his pocket. "That reached me just as the sheriff -and I were leaving Bismarck."</p> - -<p>Matt took the telegram. It was brief, but terribly to -the point.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Prebbles can't last more than twenty-four hours, at -the outside. Useless to bring his son."</p></blockquote> - -<p>This was signed by the doctor. Silently Matt passed -the telegram to Newt.</p> - -<p>Young Prebbles read it, dropped into a chair, and -buried his face in his hands.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">A RISKY VENTURE.</p> - - -<p>While Roscoe was removing the ropes from Murgatroyd's -hands and replacing them with a pair of steel -manacles, Matt and McGlory stepped out of the shack -for a brief talk.</p> - -<p>"Young Prebbles is pretty badly cut up," said Cameron.</p> - -<p>"He ought to be," said McGlory. "I reckon this is a -lesson for him, and for any other young fellow who -feels like taking the bit in his teeth."</p> - -<p>"It's pretty tough," murmured Matt, shaking his head. -"There's good stuff in young Prebbles."</p> - -<p>"That's Pard Matt for you, Cameron," said the cowboy. -"He always looks for the good stuff in a fellow -and never sees much of anything else."</p> - -<p>"After all," approved Cameron, "that's the best way. -But I'll warrant Matt can't find much to commend in -Murgatroyd."</p> - -<p>"He's old enough to know right from wrong," said -Matt, "and now that he's made his bed, he's got to lie -in it. Where did you find the sheriff, Cameron?"</p> - -<p>"Wired him I was coming, and he met me at the train -with a couple of riding horses. They couldn't remember -anything definite at the post office, although one of -the clerks had a hazy recollection that some one had -called for a letter addressed to Hobbes. That's all we -had to go on. We hit the trail and rode hard."</p> - -<p>"Good thing you did. If you hadn't ridden so hard -you might have got here too late."</p> - -<p>"What a day this has been! I should think you fellows -would be about fagged."</p> - -<p>Before Matt could make any response, Newt Prebbles -came out of the shack.</p> - -<p>"I'm going, just the same," said he doggedly.</p> - -<p>"There's no way you can get to the post in time, Prebbles," -returned Cameron kindly.</p> - -<p>"I'll get there, anyhow, whether I'm late or not. Good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> -heavens! You don't understand what this means to me! -You don't know——"</p> - -<p>He bit his lips to keep back the emotion that grew -with the words.</p> - -<p>"I've just got to go," he finished. "I'll get through -somehow."</p> - -<p>"How'll you get from here to Bismarck?" inquired -Cameron.</p> - -<p>"On Murgatroyd's horse."</p> - -<p>"Your connections are poor all the way through. -You'll not be able to reach Totten before to-morrow -afternoon."</p> - -<p>"I'm going."</p> - -<p>"Wait," said Matt. "Are you willing to take a little -risk, Prebbles?"</p> - -<p>"Risk? I'd take any risk if it could shorten my trip -to Totten by a single hour."</p> - -<p>"Do you know the country between here and Totten?"</p> - -<p>"Every foot of it."</p> - -<p>"By night as well as by day?"</p> - -<p>"Any time."</p> - -<p>"Let's get a little something to eat," said Matt, "and -then I'll agree to get you to Totten inside of three hours."</p> - -<p>"How?"</p> - -<p>"We'll use the aëroplane."</p> - -<p>There was a silence, then a protest from McGlory.</p> - -<p>"Pard, you're not made of iron. You can't stand that -trip, after all you've done. Sufferin' cats! Why, you're -workin' every second you're runnin' the <i>Comet</i>! And it's -the hardest kind of work, at that."</p> - -<p>"I can do it," said Matt, looking around at the gathering -dusk. "But we'll have to start before it gets too -dark."</p> - -<p>"Look at the risk!"</p> - -<p>"We'll face it. Besides, it's not so much."</p> - -<p>There was no arguing with Matt. He had his mind -made up and was like a rock.</p> - -<p>"You and Ping, Joe," said Matt, "will come with Cameron -and Murgatroyd. Have you a lantern, Newt?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"Get it."</p> - -<p>The lantern was secured and lighted. After Matt had -hastily bolted a few mouthfuls of food, he took the lantern -and started for the place where he had left the -<i>Comet</i>.</p> - -<p>Cameron, Ping, and McGlory accompanied the king of -the motor boys and Newt Prebbles. Roscoe remained at -the shack with Murgatroyd.</p> - -<p>The rope with which the aëroplane had been made fast -to the trees was taken off, and Matt, while he was going -over the machine to see that everything was in proper -order, told McGlory to hunt for a favorable place to -make the start.</p> - -<p>When Matt had finished his inspection, the cowboy -had selected the nearest spot which was at all promising.</p> - -<p>"It's at the top of the bank, Matt," said McGlory. -"There's a clear stretch, sloping slightly to the east."</p> - -<p>"Then let's get the machine up there."</p> - -<p>The <i>Comet</i>, a ghostly monstrosity in the gloom, was -pushed and pulled to the top of the bank and pointed -down the slight slope. Matt walked over the course of -the start with the lantern, to make sure there were no -stones in the way.</p> - -<p>"We don't want the lantern," said Matt, coming back -and handing the light to McGlory. "Lock up the shack -when you leave and bring the key with you, Joe."</p> - -<p>McGlory was nervous and apprehensive. He grabbed -Matt's hand before he took his seat.</p> - -<p>"It's a risky venture," he breathed.</p> - -<p>"A little risk, of course," answered Matt. "There always -is."</p> - -<p>"But this is night, pard. You never tried to fly the -machine at night before."</p> - -<p>"There's always got to be a first time."</p> - -<p>"There's some wind, too."</p> - -<p>"Not enough to be dangerous."</p> - -<p>"You'll win out, Motor Matt," said Cameron; "you -always do."</p> - -<p>"There's got to be a first time when he won't," -croaked McGlory dismally.</p> - -<p>"Take your seat, Newt," said Matt.</p> - -<p>Newt, without a word, placed himself as directed.</p> - -<p>"I guess we're all ready," called Matt, starting the -motor. "Help us in the getaway, you fellows."</p> - -<p>Cameron, McGlory, and Ping pushed the car down -the slope through the dusk. Finally it drew away from -them, and they saw it, like a huge spectre, sailing skyward.</p> - -<p>Newt Prebbles undoubtedly remembered more about -that daring night trip than Motor Matt.</p> - -<p>The king of the motor boys had eyes and ears for -nothing but his work. The propeller whirled the great -planes on and on into the gloom, and sense of touch -alone told Matt when to meet the varying points of air -pressure by a shift of the wing tips.</p> - -<p>Newt said little, and what he did say was in the nature -of directions for keeping the <i>Comet</i> on the right course. -With eyes peering ahead and downward, he watched the -dusky panorama flitting away below them.</p> - -<p>Matt admired his courage. Calm and steady, he kept -rigidly to his place, interfered in no way with the freedom -of Matt's movements, and watched alertly for the -landmarks with which he was familiar.</p> - -<p>Whenever they swept over a cluster of lights, young -Prebbles named the town instantly.</p> - -<p>The stars came out in the dusky vault overhead, and -a big moon crept up over the horizon.</p> - -<p>Swinging through space, hung from the zenith as by -invisible cords, the <i>Comet</i> glided steadily and surely -onward.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Oberon," announced Newt, as they swept across a -gleaming mat of yellow.</p> - -<p>"Great spark plugs!" exclaimed the king of the motor -boys. "I don't know, Newt, but I've a notion we're -making a record flight."</p> - -<p>"It's wonderful," mused young Prebbles; "but there's -something which, to my mind, is even more wonderful -than this work of the flying machine."</p> - -<p>"What's that?"</p> - -<p>"Why, that you're doing this for me—for a man who -nearly drowned himself trying to get away from you, -and who tried his best to cripple you, or the <i>Comet</i>, with -a bullet."</p> - -<p>"We all of us make mistakes, now and then," answered -Matt. "It's a mighty foolish man who won't rectify a -mistake when he finds he has made one."</p> - -<p>From Oberon the course led north and east.</p> - -<p>"There's the post trader's store," reported Prebbles.</p> - -<p>"That means we're just about where we're going," said -Matt.</p> - -<p>"Where'll we come down?"</p> - -<p>"On the parade ground at the post."</p> - -<p>When near the old fort, they could hear the call of -the sentries, and were able to mark the fringe of oil -lamps around the barracks and officers' quarters.</p> - -<p>Silently, like a wraith from the Unknown, they dropped -downward, struck on the bicycle wheels, and glided to -a stop.</p> - -<p>"Be hivins," cried a voice, "it's th' <i>Comet</i>. Now what -would you be afther thinkin' av that? Th' <i>Comet</i>, d'ye -moind, rammin' around in th' dark th' same as if it was -broad day. Is that yerself, Motor Matt?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Matt, stepping out of the machine. "How's -Prebbles, O'Hara?"</p> - -<p>"Th' ould sawbones has given up hope, an' that's all -I kin tell ye. But who is it ye have along?"</p> - -<p>"Prebbles' son. Take him up to Cameron's quarters -at once, will you?"</p> - -<p>"Sure I will."</p> - -<p>"I'll see you in the morning, Newt," Matt added.</p> - -<p>Young Prebbles paused to grasp Matt's hand.</p> - -<p>"I appreciate what you have done for me, don't forget -that," he said.</p> - -<p>Matt gave the <i>Comet</i> into the care of a guard, then -hunted up a place to sleep. His head had hardly dropped -on the pillow before he was off for the land of dreams.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">CONCLUSION.</p> - - -<p>Doctors are not infallible, and the post doctor was no -exception in this respect. All his experience and skill in -diagnosing the ills of humanity, made him certain that -Prebbles was booked for the other world. But there was -an error—and, more than likely, that error was due to -the arrival of Newt, who, it will be remembered, the -doctor had wired it would be useless to send.</p> - -<p>Prebbles was singing his Salvation Army hymns when -Newt stepped into the sick room. All night he was -marching the streets, in his disordered mind, pounding -the cymbals and exhorting. Occasionally there crept into -the oral wanderings a reference to the young man watching -at the bedside.</p> - -<p>Most unexpectedly—most unaccountably, to the doctor—a -lucid moment came to Prebbles in the early morning. -He saw his son, he recognized him, and he felt -his handclasp. There was a smile on the old man's -lips as he drifted back into his sea of visions.</p> - -<p>But, from that moment, there was a noticeable change. -There seemed more resisting power in the wasted body of -the old clerk, as though hope for better things had -grown up in him and was giving him strength.</p> - -<p>To Matt, Newt Prebbles told what he knew about the -accident to poor Harry Traquair.</p> - -<p>Siwash Charley, under agreement with Murgatroyd, -had tampered with Traquair's machine before the fatal -flight, just as he had tampered with Matt's machine before -the official trials at Fort Totten. But Traquair had -not been so fortunate as the king of the motor boys.</p> - -<p>Newt had learned of this villainous work through -Siwash Charley, and had received from Siwash, at a -time when the ruffian was under the influence of liquor, -an incriminating note from the broker, signed with his -<i>alias</i>, "George Hobbes."</p> - -<p>Prebbles had made use of this document, holding it -over Murgatroyd's head and extorting money from him -on account of it.</p> - -<p>This, of course, formed a sad commentary on the -character of young Prebbles. But Motor Matt, in "advancing -the spark of friendship," so played upon the facts -in the case, and showed up the broker's duplicity, that -the old clerk's illness formed the turning point in his -son's career.</p> - -<p>Such transformations are not so rare as it would seem.</p> - -<p>Cameron, Matt, Ping, and Roscoe arrived at the post -in the afternoon following the arrival of Matt and young -Prebbles. Murgatroyd, of course, accompanied them.</p> - -<p>Murgatroyd was tried, not on the Traquair charge, but -on the later one of conniving, with Siwash Charley, to -injure the aëroplane at the government trials, thus endangering -the life, not only of Motor Matt, but of Lieutenant -Cameron as well.</p> - -<p>His sentence was commensurate with the evil he had -attempted, and he followed Siwash Charley to the Leavenworth -prison.</p> - -<p>After a few days the post doctor was as certain Prebbles -would recover as he had been positive, at the time -he sent his message to Cameron, that he had not many -hours to live.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> - -<p>The reward paid by the government for the capture -of Murgatroyd was made over to the old clerk. On -this, he and his son were to begin life anew.</p> - -<p>One of the first things Matt did, after reaching the -post with Newt Prebbles, was to write to Mrs. Traquair, -at Jamestown, settling a mystery which had long puzzled -every one who knew of Murgatroyd's attempts to secure -the Wells County homestead.</p> - -<p>There was coal under the soil of the quarter-section, -and the railroad company wanted it. That was the secret, -and Mrs. Traquair profited handsomely by the -knowledge of it.</p> - -<p>The mortgage was paid, and the homestead passed into -the hands of the railroad company.</p> - -<p>In a country so barren of trees as North Dakota, coal -is a valuable commodity.</p> - -<p>Matt still kept the aëroplane, and still persistently refused -to put it in storage at the post, to be called for -later.</p> - -<p>"The <i>Comet</i>," said Matt, one evening when he and -McGlory were again with Cameron, "has got to earn -something for Joe, and Ping, and myself."</p> - -<p>"Ping comes in on the deal, does he?" laughed Cameron.</p> - -<p>"Share and share alike with the rest of us," averred -Matt. "That Chinese boy is loyalty itself. Down in -that shelter tent, below the post trader's, he spends his -nights and days watching the aëroplane."</p> - -<p>"And talking to it, and singing about it, and burning -rice-paper prayers to the heathen josses, asking them -to keep it carefully and not let it go broke while up -in the air," put in McGlory. "Oh, he's a freak, that -Ping boy; but, as Matt says, he's a mighty good sort of -a freak at that. Look how he ran off with the rifles -when we fooled the Tin Cup punchers on the hill! And -remember how he slammed that stone through the window -when Murgatroyd had drawn a fine bead on me -and was about to press the trigger. Share and share -alike? Well, I should say."</p> - -<p>"You're still determined to go into the show business, -Matt?" asked Cameron anxiously.</p> - -<p>"I don't see why we shouldn't," said Matt. "Five -hundred a week isn't to be sneezed at. Joe's agreed, and -so has Ping. When the first favorable day arrives, we're -going to fly to Fargo."</p> - -<p>Two days later the favorable moment was at hand. -All the soldiers at the post were out to witness the start, -and even the gruff post trader was present to say good-by -to the king of the motor boys and his friends.</p> - -<p>Matt's last call, at the post, was made on Prebbles. -The old man was practically out of danger, but his recovery -would take time, and for a long while yet he -would have to remain in bed.</p> - -<p>He was not able to say much, but what little he did -say Matt considered an ample reward for the strenuous -adventures that had befallen him and his chums on their -flight to the upper Missouri.</p> - -<p>Newt had become his sworn friend. Whenever Matt -wanted any help, in any way that was within Newt's -power to grant, he was surely to call on young Prebbles.</p> - -<p>When finally Motor Matt took his way down the post -hill for the last time, he was in an exceedingly thoughtful -mood.</p> - -<p>He remembered when he had first come to Devil's -Lake, knowing nothing about aëroplanes, and had practiced -with the <i>June Bug</i> until he had acquired the knack -of flying the machine and had made good and sold the -machine to the government for enough to give large -profit to himself and his friends, and, what pleased him -most, to place Mrs. Traquair above want.</p> - -<p>He remembered, too, how he had sailed away alone -into Wells County on a fool's errand, had become entangled -in a losing cause, and had experienced a sharp -reverse.</p> - -<p>But, best of all, in his estimation, was the night -journey back to the post from the Missouri River, bringing -Newt Prebbles to his father's bedside.</p> - -<p>Down into the cheering throng below the post trader's -store went the king of the motor boys, shaking hands -with every one he met, Indians, whites, or "breeds," -receiving good wishes from all and heartily returning -them.</p> - -<p>For the last time the aëroplane was dragged from -the shelter tent, given a strong start along the old -familiar roadway, and then watched as it climbed up -and up into the air and winged swiftly eastward, carrying -Motor Matt, and Joe McGlory, and Ping into untried -ventures and fresh fields of endeavor.</p> - - -<p class="center">THE END.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center medium">THE NEXT NUMBER (27) WILL CONTAIN</p> - -<p class="center huge">Motor Matt's Engagement;</p> - -<p class="center medium">OR,</p> - -<p class="center large">ON THE ROAD WITH A SHOW.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"On the Banks of the Wabash"—In the Calliope -Tent—An Eavesdropper—Queer Proceedings—Motor -Matt Protests—A Blaze in the Air—Was -it Treachery?—A Call for Help—Black Magic—The -Mahout's Flight—The Paper Trail—Carl -Turns a Trick—The Lacquered Box—The Hypnotist's -Victim—"For the Sake of Haidee"—The -Rajah's Niece</p></blockquote> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> - - - - -<table summary="scaffold" class="bbox"> -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc huge">MOTOR STORIES</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr large" style="padding-right: .25em;">THRILLING ADVENTURE</td><td class="tdl large" style="padding-left: .25em;">MOTOR FICTION</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class="center">NEW YORK, August 21, 1909.</p> - - -<p class="center"><b>TERMS TO MOTOR STORIES MAIL SUBSCRIBERS.</b></p> - -<p class="center">(<i>Postage Free.</i>)</p> - -<p class="center"><b>Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each.</b></p> - -<table summary="Terms"> -<tr><td>3 months</td><td class="tdr">65c.</td></tr> -<tr><td>4 months</td><td class="tdr">85c.</td></tr> -<tr><td>6 months</td><td class="tdr">$1.25</td></tr> -<tr><td>One year</td><td class="tdr">2.50</td></tr> -<tr><td>2 copies one year</td><td class="tdr">4.00</td></tr> -<tr><td>1 copy two years</td><td class="tdr">4.00</td></tr> -</table> - -<p><b>How to Send Money</b>—By post-office or express money-order, -registered letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk if sent -by currency, coin, or postage-stamps in ordinary letter.</p> - -<p><b>Receipts</b>—Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper -change of number on your label. If not correct you have not been properly -credited, and should let us know at once.</p> - -<table summary="scaffold"> -<tr><td> -<span class="smcap">Ormond G. Smith</span>,<br /> -<span class="smcap">George C. Smith</span>, -</td> -<td style="font-size: 200%">}</td><td style="padding-right: 1em;"><i>Proprietors</i>.</td> -<td class="tdc"> -<b>STREET & SMITH, Publishers,<br /> -79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City.</b> -</td></tr></table> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="MOSE_HOWARDS_FISH_TRAP" id="MOSE_HOWARDS_FISH_TRAP">MOSE HOWARD'S FISH TRAP.</a></h2> - - -<p>Nicodemus Squab, Professor of Orthography in the Jimtown -district school, was a man of an inquiring turn of mind.</p> - -<p>Overhearing some of the scholars discussing a prospective -coon hunt that was to come off the following Saturday night, -the professor drew near and inquired if they would allow -him to join them.</p> - -<p>"Of course you kin jine us," said Mose Howard, who was -the ringleader in all the devilment in the neighborhood. -"Glad tu have you go 'long. We'll come by for you."</p> - -<p>"Thank you," said the professor. "I never was coon hunting -in my life, though I've always wanted to go—just to see -how it is done, you know."</p> - -<p>According to promise, Mose Howard, Dick Miller, and -Joe Smiley came by for the professor, who was ready and -waiting, and who joined the hunters, anticipating a jolly old -time.</p> - -<p>After winding up the coon hunt, which resulted in the capture -of five possums and three coons, Mose Howard proposed -that they should go back by the fish trap and catch a -mess of fish.</p> - -<p>The proposition was unanimously agreed to, and they -struck off down the creek, the professor bringing up the rear, -puffing and blowing, though highly elated at the variation -that this additional act in the programme promised, as well -as at the prospect of a successful raid upon the finny tribe.</p> - -<p>The "Dofuny" contraption that Mose dignified with the -name of fish trap consisted merely of a large sack held open -by a hoop, around which the mouth of the sack was fastened, -and a couple of ropes, one end of which was fastened -to each side of the hoop, while the other ends were fastened -to trees on the opposite sides of the stream, in such a way -as to allow the hoop to remain about halfway submerged.</p> - -<p>On the bank of the creek was a lantern, in which was -about half a tallow candle.</p> - -<p>Producing some matches, Mose lit the candle and proceeded -to explain to the professor the modus operandi of -catching fish with his new-fangled trap.</p> - -<p>"You just take the lamp, and wade into the trap, and hold -the lamp right in front of the mouth so that the fish can see -how to run in, and we boys'll go away down the creek and -pull off our clothes and wade into the creek and drive the -fish up and into the trap."</p> - -<p>The professor, as unsuspicious of any trick as a sucking -baby, shucked himself, and then taking up the lantern, waded -into the trap that the boys set for him instead of for fish, and -in the construction of which they had not only exhausted -their financial resources in the purchase of the material out -of which it was constructed, but also their ingenuity in the -getting up and fabrication of the same.</p> - -<p>"Ugh!" grunted the professor, as he reached the trap and -placed the lantern in the position indicated, "this water is -cold as ice. I want you boys to make haste."</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," responded the boys.</p> - -<p>"You'll hear us hollerin' as we come," said Mose, and off -they started down the creek in a trot.</p> - -<p>"All right," said the professor.</p> - -<p>As soon as they got out of sight their gait slackened to a -walk, which they kept till they reached a point some four -hundred yards distant from the trap, when, seating themselves -on a log, they began the most uproarious din of yelling -and howling that had ever awakened the slumbering echoes -of those old woods since the aborigines had vacated the -premises.</p> - -<p>After about an hour spent in this way the boys got up and -advanced slowly up the bank of the stream about a hundred -yards, when they seated themselves on another log, where -they continued to whoop and yell like so many wild Indians.</p> - -<p>After another hour thus spent they made another advance -which brought the professor and the fish trap within their -range of vision, though, owing to the darkness, they were -not visible to him.</p> - -<p>"Hurry up, boys!" he shouted. "I'm nearly froze, and -the candle's nearly out."</p> - -<p>That was what they were waiting for—the candle to burn -out—so that their failure to catch fish could be laid to the -absence of the light.</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir!" they shouted back; "we're hurrying as fast -as we can!"</p> - -<p>And renewing their yells, they advanced slowly—very -slowly—up the stream.</p> - -<p>"Hurry up! hurry up!" again shouted the professor. "The -candle will be out in two minutes."</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, sir!" shouted Mose back; "but you must stop -hollerin', or you'll skeer the fish."</p> - -<p>Sure enough, in about two minutes the candle gave a last -convulsive flicker, and in the twinkling of an eye thick darkness -reigned as absolutely over the professor and the fish trap -as elsewhere.</p> - -<p>"Boys," said Mose, in a tone of voice loud enough for the -professor to hear him, "there ain't no use wadin' in this -water any longer; let's go back an' git our cloze."</p> - -<p>Seating themselves on a log, they sat perfectly silent for a -while—long enough, as they thought, for it to have taken -them to go back to where they commenced their drive, dress -themselves, and reach that point on their return—when they -got up and resumed their progress upstream.</p> - -<p>On reaching the trap, they found the professor on shore, -and though he had completed his toilet, his teeth were chattering -together worse than a pair of castanets rattling off a -quickstep march.</p> - -<p>"We'll have to try it over ag'in some other time," said -Mose, "and fetch more candles with us. I thought we had -plenty this time, but we didn't. I guess I'll bring enough -next time."</p> - -<p>"Why didn't you fellows hurry up?" said the professor. -"What made you come so slow?" the chattering of his teeth -as he spoke causing him to cut the words into more than the -legitimate number of syllables to which they were entitled.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Couldn't come no faster," said Mose. "The water was -so thunderin' cold the fish wouldn't drive fast."</p> - -<p>Satisfied with this explanation, the professor fell into -ranks as the boys filed off in the direction of home. The -exercise of walking soon brought a reaction in his system, -the first effect of which was to put a stop to the music of the -castanets, and on reaching home he pronounced himself all -right again.</p> - -<p>Sometime during the ensuing week Mose Howard informed -the professor that they were going to try the fish trap -again the following Saturday night, and asked him if he -didn't want to go along.</p> - -<p>The professor gave an involuntary shudder as the recollection -of that protracted soaking in ice water of the previous -Saturday night flashed across his mind.</p> - -<p>Discretion prompted him to give a negative response. -Curiosity, however, got the better of discretion, and he accepted -the invitation.</p> - -<p>"I'll be on hand," said he. "There's no fun standing in -that cold water, especially when you get no fish; but if you -can stand it I guess I can."</p> - -<p>At the appointed time the boys came by, when, the professor -joining them, they proceeded to the fish trap.</p> - -<p>On arriving there, Mose produced a couple of pieces of -candle, one of which he proceeded to light and put in the -lantern. It was nearly twice as long as the one they had -burned out on the previous occasion.</p> - -<p>The other piece he placed in the lantern, so that it could -be easily got at if it should be needed.</p> - -<p>This latter piece Mose had had manufactured himself -especially for the occasion, and had taken some little pains -in its construction.</p> - -<p>After soaking the wick in water until it was perfectly -saturated, he had taken a skillet and melted some tallow -therein; then placing the wick in a mould, he filled the latter -with the melted tallow, and the thing was accomplished.</p> - -<p>This particular candle he had carefully marked, so as to -be able to distinguish it from any other candle.</p> - -<p>Before completing their arrangements at the fish trap, preparatory -to beginning the drive, the professor proposed that -one of the boys should take his place at the trap while he -accompanied the others and assisted in driving the fish.</p> - -<p>"Kin you swim?" asked Mose Howard.</p> - -<p>"No," answered the professor.</p> - -<p>"Well, you'd run the resk ov gittin' drownded, then," said -Mose.</p> - -<p>"You go on, then," said the professor, "and I'll mind the -trap."</p> - -<p>So off the boys started, and going down the stream about a -mile, seated themselves upon a log, and began yelling and -whooping, as on the previous occasion.</p> - -<p>Hour after hour passed, each hour seeming to the benumbed -professor an age.</p> - -<p>The yelling approached slowly but surely.</p> - -<p>The boys had now arrived at a point where every motion -of the professor was distinctly visible.</p> - -<p>The piece of candle Mose had lighted and put in the lantern -was nearly burned out. Taking up the other piece, the -professor proceeded to light it. Placing it in the lantern, it -gave a splutter and went out. Dark! Dark was no name for -it. No moon, no stars, no matches.</p> - -<p>But that bogus candle would have been a match for a -whole box of matches.</p> - -<p>"What in thunder's the matter now?" shouted Mose.</p> - -<p>"The candle's gone out," shouted the professor back. -"Have you got any matches?" he inquired.</p> - -<p>"Nary match," said Mose.</p> - -<p>"What's to be done?" inquired the professor.</p> - -<p>"Nuthin'," said Mose. "The thing's played out. Put on -your cloze, while we go and git ourn, and then we'll git for -home."</p> - -<p>Seating themselves on a log, the boys remained quiet for -a while, then rising to their feet, they came up to where the -professor was waltzing around trying to get up a circulation.</p> - -<p>"Another waterhaul," said Mose.</p> - -<p>"Looks a good deal like it," said the professor.</p> - -<p>"Don't know why the mischief some of us didn't think tu -bring some matches," said Mose.</p> - -<p>"I don't know, either," responded the professor, in a deprecating -tone of voice, as though he entertained the idea that -somehow or other he had been mainly instrumental in producing -the bad luck.</p> - -<p>"Better luck next time," said Mose philosophically, as he -struck out for home, followed by the others.</p> - -<p>They had proceeded about two-thirds of the way home, -groping their way as best they could through the thick darkness, -when a shrill, prolonged scream directly ahead of them, -and apparently at no great distance, broke upon their startled -auriculars.</p> - -<p>"Painter!" ejaculated Mose, in a low tone of voice, though -sufficiently loud to be distinctly audible to the professor, at -the same time springing to one side, and the next moment he -was out of the professor's hearing.</p> - -<p>The fact was he had only taken a couple of steps and then -squatted in the grass as completely concealed from his companions -by the intense darkness as though he had been on -the opposite side of the globe.</p> - -<p>"Painter!" repeated the other boys, following Mose's example, -of springing to one side and squatting in the grass.</p> - -<p>Left alone, the professor, with hair on end, paused a moment -to collect his scattered thoughts; but only for a moment.</p> - -<p>Another scream long drawn out, and apparently but a few -yards distant, set his dumpling-shaped body in motion, and -the next moment he was streaking it across the country as -fast as his duck legs could carry him.</p> - -<p>Tumbling over a log lying on the edge of a bank some -twenty feet high and nearly perpendicular, down which he -rolled, he landed in a mud hole at the bottom.</p> - -<p>Gathering himself up he began looking for his hat, which -had parted company with him on the way down the bank, -when, another scream breaking upon his ear, he struck out -once more on his race for life, hatless and covered with mud -from his head to his heels.</p> - -<p>Coming to a brier patch, he was on the point of diverging -from his course in order to try and go around it, when another -scream precipitated the terror-stricken professor into -the patch like a catapult.</p> - -<p>Emerging from the brier patch with his coat tails torn -into ribbons, the mud-begrimed professor held on the even -tenor of his way without any diminution of speed for a hundred -yards or so, when his pace began to slacken a little. -Another scream, however, put him to his mettle again, but -as that was the last, and as he was about exhausted, he soon -settled down to a walk, and presently stumbling over a log, -he picked himself up and seated himself thereon.</p> - -<p>After resting a while, plunged in the meantime in a deep -cogitation, he finally concluded to try and seek a shelter for -the remainder of the night. So, starting forward, he wandered -about first in one direction and then in another, and it -was not until daylight began to streak the eastern horizon -that he stumbled on a clearing in the woods, in the midst of -which was a log cabin.</p> - -<p>Cautiously approaching the cabin, he had reached the foot -of a sapling some fifty steps from the door when a big dog -came dashing around the corner of the house, barking in a -most furious manner.</p> - -<p>No sooner did the professor catch sight of the dog bouncing -along in the direction of him and the sapling than he was -seized with such a sudden panic as to cause him to grasp the -sapling in his arms and start up it, though, owing to want of -practice, with hardly the agility of a squirrel. After a tremendous -effort he succeeded in reaching a fork some ten feet -from the ground, where he seated himself, and awaited the -issue of events.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> - -<p>He didn't have long to wait. The furious barking of the -dog soon roused the inmates of the cabin.</p> - -<p>Scarcely a minute had elapsed after the professor had -succeeded, by the most superhuman exertions, in seating himself -comfortably in the fork of the sapling, out of the reach -of the dog, when the door of the cabin opened and a huge -six-footer of a backwoodsman, somewhat airily attired, with -a rifle of corresponding size with himself in his hand, -emerged therefrom.</p> - -<p>"What you got thar, Bull?" said the man, as he approached -the sapling, at the root of which the dog was barking in a -most vociferous manner. "What is it, old feller?" he continued. -"B'ar, painter, ur catamount?"</p> - -<p>Bull's response was an abortive attempt to climb the tree, -accompanied by a most furious outburst of barking.</p> - -<p>"Be quiet, old feller," said the man; "we'll soon see what -it is," at the same time raising his rifle to his shoulder.</p> - -<p>"Hold on there," shouted the professor, who was beginning -to realize the perilous position in which he was placed, -and the imminent danger he was in of being shot for a bear -or catamount. "I am no varmint. I'm Nicodemus Squab, -Professor of Orthography in the Jimtown district school."</p> - -<p>"Hallo," said the backwoodsman, as he lowered his rifle, -"is that so? Well, that gits me. What in thunder ur you -doin' up thar?"</p> - -<p>"Wait till I get down, and I'll tell you."</p> - -<p>And crawling out of the crotch in which he had been -seated, the professor slid down the sapling, when he soon -succeeded in explaining matters to the satisfaction of that -thinly clad backwoodsman and his savage bulldog.</p> - -<p>It was now broad daylight, and when he reached Jimtown -the sun was some distance above the horizon, climbing upward -toward the zenith.</p> - -<p>Of course every man, woman, and child in the place beheld, -with wonder-depicted countenances, the advent of the -mud-begrimed, hatless professor, and a thousand conjectures -were indulged in as to the cause of his singular appearance.</p> - -<p>The professor was disposed to be reticent on the subject, -answering interrogatories in relation to the matter evasively; -but the joke was too good to be kept, and in less than -twenty-four hours his approach toward any crowd was -greeted by a broad grin overspreading the countenances of a -majority of the members thereof, and his departure signalized -by a long guffaw.</p> - -<p>This conduct on the part of the citizens annoyed the professor -considerably at first; then it grew monotonous, and he -became disgusted.</p> - -<p>Finally he burst into a flame of indignation, and after taking -his revenge out of the hides of the pupils, especially Mose -Howard and his confederates, the irate professor shook the -dust of Jimtown off his feet, and betook himself to parts -unknown.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="PHOTOGRAPHS_TAKEN_IN_DANGEROUS_PLACES" id="PHOTOGRAPHS_TAKEN_IN_DANGEROUS_PLACES">PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN IN DANGEROUS PLACES.</a></h2> - - -<p>"Race war in Alabama. Take cinematograph pictures of -fighting and country." "Want pictures of Dyaks of Borneo -as soon as possible." "Series wanted of whale-hunting in -Arctic regions."</p> - -<p>The average man, receiving one of these messages with -his breakfast, would not regard the commission exactly in -the light of a pleasure trip. To the cinematograph man, -however, such orders are all in a day's work. He simply packs -up his machine, makes his arrangements in the shortest possible -time, and goes right ahead with the business.</p> - -<p>It is thrilling and wonderful work at times; and it requires -a little patience, too. "One of our photographers," said the -manager of a company recently, "once sat beside a geyser -in Iceland for three weeks, waiting for an eruption to take -place, in order that he might obtain some pictures of this -wonderful phenomenon. The geyser seemed in no hurry to -oblige him, so he left the district for a couple of days. When -he returned he found that the eruption had taken place and -the geyser had again become inactive.</p> - -<p>"Another of our photographers, who went out to Borneo -to take pictures of the home life of the natives, narrowly -escaped losing his head as well as his machine. The natives -thought the latter was some new and powerful weapon, and -it was only by the timely intervention of the interpreter, who -explained matters, that they adopted a more friendly attitude.</p> - -<p>"By the way, this particular photographer raised a good -laugh when he came home. We wanted some pictures taken -while traveling down the water chute at an exhibition. It -was necessary for the operator and the machine to be -strapped to the boat, in order that he might be quite free to -turn the handle and take the photographs as he shot down -the chute. I asked the photographer from Borneo to do the -job. 'I would rather be excused,' he said; 'I've got a weak -heart.' Here was a man, who spent weeks among one of the -most savage tribes in the world, who was afraid to go down -a water chute. Nerves are peculiar things.</p> - -<p>"I think, however, the worst experience which has befallen -one of our photographers was that of the man we sent to -take the pictures of a whale-hunting expedition. A fine -school—I believe that is the correct term—of whales was -sighted one day. The boats went in pursuit, and our photographer -with his machine entered one of them. The crew -of this boat managed to harpoon a fine big whale, who went -through the sea at a terrific pace, dragging the boat behind -him. Our photographer was just congratulating himself on -getting some of the most realistic pictures ever obtained, -when suddenly the whale doubled in its tracks, and, to make -a long story short, smashed the boat. Luckily, another boat -came up at the critical moment and rescued the crew and -the photographer. But the latter is always bemoaning the -fact that one of the finest sets of cinematograph pictures ever -taken lies at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean."</p> - -<p>Some of the most interesting pictures shown, however, -are scenes taken en route while traveling by rail in various -parts of the world. A special engine is chartered, and the -operator, with his machine, takes his place on the front platform -of the engine, or on a low truck which the engine -pushes in front of it. Thus mile after mile of scenery is -photographed as the engine rushes along. It is a rather -ticklish job, particularly in wild regions where all sorts of -animals stray on to the line, and there is a risk of collision -and general smash.</p> - -<p>Doubtless many readers are acquainted with the entertaining -and novel manner in which these pictures are afterward -shown. One sits in a stationary model of a railway carriage, -the picture being thrown on a screen at the end. A -motor underneath the carriage gives a realistic impression -of the noise made by a train when traveling, and thus one -seems to be rushing through the country which is being depicted -on the screen. It is a novel notion, which is deserving -of all the success and popularity it has attained.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="COSTLY_FISHES" id="COSTLY_FISHES">COSTLY FISHES.</a></h2> - - -<p>The most beautiful and withal costly fishes in the world -come from China, and of these the most expensive and rarest -is the brush-tail goldfish. Specimens of these have sold for -as high as $700 each, and in Europe the prices range from -$250 to $500. The brush-tail goldfish is so small that a -half-crown piece will cover it, and probably there is no living -thing of its size and weight that is worth so much money.</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 class="huge bb"> -<a href="images/i1large.jpg"><img src="images/i1.jpg" width="48" height="23" alt="hand" /></a> -<a name="LATEST_ISSUES" id="LATEST_ISSUES">LATEST ISSUES</a> -<a href="images/i2large.jpg"><img src="images/i2.jpg" width="48" height="23" alt="hand" /></a> -</h2> - - -<h3>MOTOR STORIES</h3> - -<p>The latest and best five-cent weekly. We won't say how interesting it is. See for yourself. <b>High art -colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.</b></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen -Brady.</p> - -<p>12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Castaway in the Bahamas.</p> - -<p>13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest.</p> - -<p>14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the <i>Hawk</i>.</p> - -<p>15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of the -<i>Grampus</i>.</p> - -<p>16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters.</p> - -<p>17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos.</p> - -<p>18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.</p> - -<p>19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.</p> - -<p>20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor -Boys.</p> - -<p>21—Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need.</p> - -<p>22—Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the Right.</p> - -<p>23—Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck That Wins.</p> - -<p>24—Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying For Fame and Fortune.</p></blockquote> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>TIP TOP WEEKLY</h3> - -<p>The most popular publication for boys. The adventures of Frank and Dick Merriwell can be had only in -this weekly. <b>High art colored covers. Thirty-two pages. Price, 5 cents.</b></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>684—Dick Merriwell at the "Meet"; or, Honors Worth Winning.</p> - -<p>685—Dick Merriwell's Protest; or, The Man Who Would Not -Play Clean.</p> - -<p>686—Dick Merriwell In The Marathon; or, The Sensation of the -Great Run.</p> - -<p>687—Dick Merriwell's Colors; or, All For the Blue.</p> - -<p>688—Dick Merriwell, Driver; or, The Race for the Daremore -Cup.</p> - -<p>689—Dick Merriwell on the Deep; or, The Cruise of the <i>Yale</i>.</p> - -<p>690—Dick Merriwell in the North Woods; or, The Timber -Thieves of the Floodwood.</p> - -<p>691—Dick Merriwell's Dandies; or, A Surprise for the Cowboy -Nine.</p> - -<p>692—Dick Merriwell's "Skyscooter"; or, Professor Pagan and -the "Princess."</p> - -<p>693—Dick Merriwell in the Elk Mountains; or, The Search for -"Dead Injun" Mine.</p> - -<p>694—Dick Merriwell in Utah; or, The Road to "Promised Land."</p> - -<p>695—Dick Merriwell's Bluff; or, The Boy Who Ran Away.</p> - -<p>696—Dick Merriwell in the Saddle; or, The Bunch from the -Bar-Z.</p> - -<p>697—Dick Merriwell's Ranch Friends; or, Sport on the Range.</p></blockquote> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>NICK CARTER WEEKLY</h3> - -<p>The best detective stories on earth. Nick Carter's exploits are read the world over. <b>High art colored -covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.</b></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>646—Three Times Stolen; or, Nick Carter's Strange Clue.</p> - -<p>647—The Great Diamond Syndicate; or, Nick Carter's Cleverest -Foes.</p> - -<p>648—The House of the Yellow Door; or, Nick Carter in the Old -French Quarter.</p> - -<p>649—The Triangle Clue; or, Nick Carter's Greenwich Village -Case.</p> - -<p>650—The Hollingsworth Puzzle; or, Nick Carter Three Times -Baffled.</p> - -<p>651—The Affair of the Missing Bonds; or, Nick Carter in the -Harness.</p> - -<p>652—The Green Box Clue; or, Nick Carter's Good Friend.</p> - -<p>653—The Taxicab Mystery; or, Nick Carter Closes a Deal.</p> - -<p>654—The Mystery of a Hotel Room; or, Nick Carter's Best -Work.</p> - -<p>655—The Tragedy of the Well; or, Nick Carter Under Suspicion.</p> - -<p>656—The Black Hand; or, Chick Carter's Well-laid Plot.</p> - -<p>657—The Black Hand Nemesis; or, Chick Carter and the Mysterious -Woman.</p> - -<p>658—A Masterly Trick; or, Chick and the Beautiful Italian.</p> - -<p>659—A Dangerous Man; or, Nick Carter and the Famous Castor -Case.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><i>For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, -5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by</i></p> - -<p class="center large">STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><b class="medium">IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS</b> of our Weeklies and cannot procure them from your newsdealer, they can be -obtained from this office direct. Fill out the following Order Blank and send it to -us with the price of the Weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail. <b>POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.</b></p></blockquote> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<table summary="form" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"> - -<tr><td colspan="6" class="tdr sig">________________________ <i>190</i></td></tr> -<tr><td colspan="6"><i>STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City.</i><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>Dear Sirs: Enclosed please find</i> ___________________________ <i>cents for which send me</i>:</span> -</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> -<tr><td><b>TIP TOP WEEKLY,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>Nos.</b></td><td class="br">______________________</td> -<td><b>BUFFALO BILL STORIES,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>Nos.</b></td><td>______________________</td></tr> - -<tr><td><b>NICK CARTER WEEKLY,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>"</b></td><td class="br">______________________</td> -<td><b>BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>"</b></td><td>______________________</td></tr> - -<tr><td><b>DIAMOND DICK WEEKLY,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>"</b></td><td class="br">______________________</td> -<td><b>MOTOR STORIES,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>"</b></td><td>______________________</td></tr> - -<tr><td> </td></tr> -<tr><td colspan="6" class="tdc"> -<i>Name</i> ________________ <i>Street</i> ________________ <i>City</i> ________________ <i>State</i> ________________<br /> -</td></tr></table> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><a name="A_GREAT_SUCCESS" id="A_GREAT_SUCCESS">A GREAT SUCCESS!!</a></h2> -<hr class="full" /> -<p class="center huge u">MOTOR STORIES</p> - - -<p>Every boy who reads one of the splendid adventures of Motor Matt, which are making -their appearance in this weekly, is at once surprised and delighted. Surprised at the generous -quantity of reading matter that we are giving for five cents; delighted with the fascinating -interest of the stories, second only to those published in the Tip Top Weekly.</p> - -<p>Matt has positive mechanical genius, and while his adventures are unusual, they are, -however, drawn so true to life that the reader can clearly see how it is possible for the ordinary -boy to experience them.</p> - - -<p class="center"><b><i>HERE ARE THE TITLES NOW READY AND THOSE TO BE PUBLISHED:</i></b></p> -<blockquote> -<p>1—Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel.</p> - -<p>2—Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends.</p> - -<p>3—Motor Matt's Century Run; or, The Governor's -Courier.</p> - -<p>4—Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the -"Comet."</p> - -<p>5—Motor Matt's Mystery; or, Foiling a Secret -Plot.</p> - -<p>6—Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On the High -Gear.</p> - -<p>7—Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto.</p> - -<p>8—Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds -Forward.</p> - -<p>9—Motor Matt's Air Ship; or, The Rival Inventors.</p> - -<p>10—Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon -House Plot.</p> - -<p>11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange -Case of Helen Brady.</p> - -<p>12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Cast Away in the -Bahamas.</p> - -<p>13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the -Iron Chest.</p> - -<p>14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the -"Hawk."</p> - -<p>15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise -of the "Grampus."</p> - -<p>16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in -Strange Waters.</p> - -<p>17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don -Carlos.</p> - -<p>18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.</p> - -<p>19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.</p> - -<p>20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory -for the Motor Boys.</p> - -<p>21—Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need.</p> - -<p>22—Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the -Right.</p> - -<p>23—Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck that Wins.</p> - -<p>24—Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying for Fame -and Fortune.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center small">To be Published on August 9th.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>25—Motor Matt's Reverse; or, Caught in a Losing -Game.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center small">To be Published on August 16th.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>26—Motor Matt's "Make or Break"; or, Advancing -the Spark of Friendship.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center small">To be Published on August 23d.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>27—Motor Matt's Engagement; or, On the Road -With a Show.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center small">To be Published on August 30th.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>28—Motor Matt's "Short Circuit"; or, The Mahout's -Vow.</p></blockquote> - - -<p class="large center">PRICE, FIVE CENTS</p> - -<p class="center">At all newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt of the price.</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<table summary="scaffold" style="width: 50%;"> -<tr class="medium"><td style="width: 33%">STREET & SMITH,</td><td class="tdc"><i>Publishers</i>,</td><td class="tdr" style="width: 33%">NEW YORK</td></tr> -</table> -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="transnote"> -<h2><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber's Notes:</a></h2> - - -<p>Added table of contents.</p> - -<p>Images may be clicked to view larger versions.</p> - -<p>Page 2, corrected "aëroplan" to "aëroplane" in "Traquair and his aëroplane."</p> - -<p>Page 3, corrected "Tarquair" to "Traquair" in "try-out of the Traquair" and "you and Mrs. Traquair sold."</p> - -<p>Page 6, corrected "wil" to "will" in "money will go to you."</p> - -<p>Page 10, corrected "se" to "see" in "see the time-piece."</p> - -<p>Page 25, corrected "Pebbles" to "Prebbles" in "good stuff in young Pebbles."</p> - -<p>Page 29, corrected "thty" to "they" in "which they kept till."</p> -</div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Motor Matt's Make-and-Break, by Stanley R. 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