MATT REPORTS TO THE GOVERNOR.
It was half-past five that afternoon when the _Comet_ came to a halt
at the steps of the capitol building. Motor Matt, in no very cheerful
frame of mind, got off the machine and made his way to the governor's
office.
"Why, it's King!" smiled the secretary, meeting him in the outer room.
"Is the governor here yet?" asked Matt.
"Yes, and expecting you. Mr. McKibben is with him. The governor usually
goes home at half-past four, but he stayed later to-day, expressly to
get your report. Just a minute."
The secretary went to the door of the private office, knocked, and
vanished inside.
"Go right in," said he, when he had reappeared.
Cap in hand, Motor Matt passed into the other room. Governor Gaynor met
him at the door with a warm handclasp.
"Motor Matt, King of the Motor Boys!" exclaimed the governor, leading
Matt to a chair. "Sit down, my lad," said he. "I'm not going to let you
get away from here for quite a while."
Matt pulled the envelope from his pocket.
"There, governor," said he, handing it over, "that will tell you what
time I made on that 'century' run."
Governor Gaynor read the penciled words on the back of the envelope,
and laughed. Then he passed the writing on to McKibben. The sheriff
chuckled.
"What's the matter with it?" asked Matt, puzzled.
"Didn't you read it?" asked McKibben.
"Haven't had much time to read it, Mr. McKibben, since the sheriff gave
it to me."
"Listen," and the sheriff read the following:
"'GOVERNOR: This will certify that Motor Matt delivered your message
to me at five minutes of five, of the same day he carried it out of
Phoenix. It will also certify that he made the pluckiest and most
successful hundred-mile run ever pulled off in the Southwest. You
ought to make him your official courier, at ten thousand a year.
BURKE.'"
Matt flushed.
"Oh, I don't know that the trip was anything to brag about," said he.
"Luck was with me--and the _Comet_ can go."
"Luck and pluck have a way of moving along together," said the
governor, taking a roll of bills from the desk and handing them to
Matt. "There's your hundred. But for your work, Matt, Burke would have
been helpless. I am pleased to say that there'll be a thousand more
coming to you just as soon as a few formalities can be attended to. You
won't leave for Denver until after that?"
"Had I ought to take that reward-money, governor? I don't feel right
about it, somehow."
"Well, bless my soul!" exclaimed the governor. "It's good money, and
well-earned."
"What's more, Dangerfield himself wants you to have it," put in
McKibben. "It's the queerest situation I ever went up against,
governor," he added, turning to Gaynor. "In spite of the fact that Matt
captured Dangerfield and brought him in, the boy seems to have made a
bigger hit with Dangerfield than with any one else."
"I didn't really capture him, Mr. McKibben," protested Matt.
"Dangerfield was coming to Phoenix, anyway."
"Well, he's trying to help you to the tune of a thousand dollars, and
you'd better let him. Of course," went on McKibben whimsically, "Sparks
and I can use the money if you can't."
"There--there'll be some expenses on Rags' account," said Matt, "and I
want those to come out of the money."
The governor leaned back in his chair and studied Matt thoughtfully.
"You're a queer one, Matt," said he, "and your sentiments are an honor
to you. Let it go that way, McKibben," he added to the sheriff.
"Sure!" said the sheriff heartily.
"And now," went on the governor, handing McKibben a cigar and lighting
one for himself, "tell us the whole thing, Matt, from start to finish.
Don't leave anything out. I don't care if I never get supper."
Matt plunged into the recital. There were parts of it he tried to glide
over, but neither McKibben nor Gaynor would let him. One or the other
was always ready with an adroit question which brought out the whole
story.
"Why," said the governor, when Matt had finished, "that 'century' run
alone was enough to make you famous, but the finest part of your work
was the way you came in with Dangerfield."
"You can't beat it!" declared McKibben. "I need a deputy sheriff, Matt.
How'd you like the job?"
Matt shook his head. The sheriff was joking, and Matt knew it. Anyhow,
one job like that he had just finished was enough for Matt.
"I'm going to need a secretary pretty soon," remarked the governor; and
he was in earnest, even if the sheriff had not been. "How would you
like _that_ job?"
"I'd like it fine," answered Matt, "if there was a gasoline motor mixed
up in it."
"I wish there were," murmured the governor, "for I can see where your
work is cut out for you." He got up and took his hat. "I'll see you
again before you start for Denver. It will probably be a few days
before that thousand will be turned over."
They left the office together, and the governor got into his automobile
at the curb.
"What will they do with Dangerfield, Mr. McKibben?" inquired Matt, as
he got ready to ride home on the _Comet_.
"He'll stand trial, along with the six men captured by Burke," replied
the sheriff. "All of them will get good, long terms in a government
prison. Also," added the sheriff, "the two rascals who got out of
town ahead of you in that red roadster will have a chance to explain
matters. I'm holding the car, and they'll have to come to me after it."
* * * * *
The red roadster was never claimed. Probably this is not to be wondered
at, considering the difficulties the two men would have gotten
themselves into had they shown up at the sheriff's office.
Who the men were was never discovered. They had been boarding in an
obscure hotel, and had kept the machine in a private garage. It was
supposed that they were criminals of some sort, and, if not actually
allied with the Dangerfield gang, had been commissioned by the leader
to keep watch of the sheriff.
Yet, be that as it might, both men vanished from Frog Tanks and were
never afterward located.
Two days later Ollie Dangerfield was laid away under the palms and
umbrella-trees in the Phoenix cemetery.
Susie, Chub, Welcome, Matt, Clip, and many others of the townspeople
attended the funeral. The little girl's story had become known through
the town, and had excited much interest and a good deal of sympathy for
Dangerfield.
During the days that followed, and while Matt was waiting for the
reward, a great plan had formed itself in Clipperton's brain. He called
on Matt at Mrs. Spooner's, and placed it before him in all its dazzling
grandeur.
"That red roadster is a fine car, Matt," said Clip. "You ought to know.
What do you say?"
"It's a fast car," answered Matt guardedly. "Why, Clip? What of it?"
"Suppose nobody claims it? What will be done with it?"
"Give it up."
"Couldn't it be bought? Ought to be a bargain."
"Look here!" cried Matt, starting up in his chair. "What are you trying
to get through your head, anyhow?"
"Why, it would be a heap easier for us. On that Denver trip, I mean. If
we could get hold of that----"
"That's a dream, old chap," laughed Matt. "Where's the money to come
from?"
"You'll have some. I can raise as much, I reckon."
A motor-car!
Matt's enthusiasm must have shown in his face. He knew Clip's project
was impracticable, for, even if they could raise money enough between
them to get the red roadster, it would have been madness to put all
their funds into such a venture.
"We can do it, Matt!" cried Clip excitedly.
"No, Clip," returned Matt, coming down to earth again, "we can't do it.
We'd look nice with all our money tied up in an automobile, wouldn't
we? Get your machine fixed----"
"I've had it fixed."
"Well, the motor-cycles ought to be good enough for us."
"Don't you ever want an automobile? Wouldn't you rather have it than a
motor-cycle?"
"Sure; but we can't afford to own one. By the way, just to change the
subject a little, I've got something here that'll interest you."
Matt took a folded paper out of his pocket.
"What is it?" inquired Clip, stepping to Matt's side.
"Just a minute, Clip," said Matt. "Did I tell you that Dangerfield gave
me a note, there in the notch, on our way to Phoenix, and told me to
read it any time after we reached town?"
Clip nodded.
"Well, I just read that note an hour ago. Most of the things we
couldn't understand about Dangerfield have been cleared up, but here's
a new mystery."
"You say it concerns me?" asked Clip, surprised.
"In a way, yes. Read it, and you'll see how."
Clip opened the note. It ran as follows:
"MOTOR MATT: In a few days one of my men, named Pima Pete, will
try to get your help in a certain undertaking. It's an honest
undertaking, too, and I advise you to do what you can. _You will find
it profitable to yourself._
BASCOMB."
The name of Pima Pete brought a flush to Clipperton's face.
"If Pete shows himself," said he, "he'll be arrested."
"I guess he knows that, all right," answered Matt. "Whatever the work
is, he may find a way of asking my help without doing it in person."
"Will you help him?"
"That depends, Clip. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
"As you say," said Clipperton, "it's a thing that interests me. Promise
me one thing: That you'll give me a chance to help Pima Pete myself, in
case you hear from him."
"I had already made up my mind to that, Clip," replied Motor Matt. "It
may be a false alarm, though, and nothing come of it."
Clip shook his head.
"I don't think Dangerfield is in the habit of giving false alarms.
Something is going to happen. And soon."
Whether Clip would prove a true prophet or not, only the future could
tell, but Matt, having won out, did not mean to borrow trouble, and so,
boylike, let the morrow take care of itself.
THE END.
THE NEXT NUMBER (4) WILL CONTAIN
MOTOR MATT'S RACE
OR,
The Last Flight of the _Comet_.
Trouble On the Road--The Stampede--Clip's Note--McKibben's Tip--A
Victim of Circumstances--The Pride of Tom Clipperton--Laying
Plans--The Rifled Cache--The Break in the Road--Prescott--Matt
Makes a New Move--The Old Hopewell Tunnel--Quick Work--Steam vs.
Gasoline--In Court--Conclusion.
MOTOR STORIES
THRILLING ADVENTURE MOTOR FICTION
NEW YORK, March 13, 1909.
TERMS TO MOTOR STORIES MAIL SUBSCRIBERS.
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One Thousand Dollars Reward.
"I really think it was just the neatest thing that I ever did in that
line," said the grizzled old Captain Gapsill.
"To what do you allude?" I inquired, knowing that I was about to hear
something interesting.
"That little affair I had with Black Ben."
"Black Ben? Who is he?"
"Hain't you ever heard tell of him?" demanded the captain, in
amazement; and then, recollecting himself, he added: "I forgot; that
was before your time--at least, you must have been quite a younker
then. Black Ben, next to Mike Fink, was one of the greatest pirates
that ever infested the Mississippi."
"What became of him?"
"I was going to tell you. In the first place, you mustn't imagine he
was a negro because he was called Black Ben. He had a skin as dark as a
mulatto's, and a fearful lot of great, black, bushy hair, which stood
up like bristles; and, as he always went without a hat, I can tell you
he was just about the most villainous-looking creature you ever saw.
Besides that, he had jet-black whiskers, short and sticking out like
needles, and growing up almost to his eyes; so when you looked at him
you saw about a bushel of black, bristling hair, and in the midst his
great eyes glowing like coals of fire. He wasn't more than five feet
in height; he had short legs, very long arms, and immense muscular
power. He generally went dressed as a backwoodsman, and had two
comrades--ordinary-looking men, but as bloody and merciless cutthroats
as he.
"Black Ben had been seen as far up as Cairo, and as low down as
Natchez. He was such a queer-looking creature that it was impossible
for him to disguise himself enough to go among the towns or where he
would have run any danger. His principal hunting-ground was from the
mouth of the Arkansas north to the Tennessee line. Here he had all the
opportunity he wished for hiding himself, and I don't believe a party
of red Indians ever could have hunted him to his hole. If he hadn't
met his fate in the queer manner he did he might have hunted there
until he died of old age.
"In those days a great many flatboats used to pass down the Mississippi
on their way to New Orleans, and these were the favorite prey of Black
Ben and his men. As the river navigation, with its snags and sawyers,
is always so dangerous, these boats often lay to under the bank during
the night, when the chances are ten to one that the sharp eyes of these
pirates detected them, and, at the dead hour of midnight, they stole
out as silently as shadows, crept over the boat, cut the throats of
the unsuspicious sleepers, gutted the craft, then scuttled it and set
it afloat. Out in deep water it would sink, and that would be the last
ever seen or heard of that flatboat.
"Black Ben was a horrid dog, and it was no wonder that there was such
terror of him all along the river. Captain Hallongton, an old friend
of mine, had his boat served in this manner, but the night was so dark
that he managed to swim off, although his three men were every one of
them murdered. The captain had a hard story to tell, and he offered
five hundred dollars to any one who would shoot this bloody cutthroat.
"I had been from Cincinnati down to New Orleans fully a dozen times
without once encountering this redoubtable Blue Beard. I had lain to
at a place where, it was said, he would be sure to find us; but never
once did we catch sight or sound of him, and I would have doubted his
existence but for the testimony of Captain Hallongton and his friends,
whom I could not refuse to believe.
"'It is strange that I never meet him.' I once said, when he and I were
conversing together regarding this river outlaw. 'It must be that he is
either afraid of me, or else has a feeling of friendship toward me.'
"'Don't congratulate yourself too soon,' replied my friend. 'Depend
upon it, Black Ben will yet pay you a visit.'
"'I have heard so much of him that I must say my curiosity is really
greater than my terror.'
"'See here!' interrupted the captain, starting up in sudden excitement;
'you're going to start down the river next week?'
"'A week from to-morrow.'
"'Good! You take Dick and Tom, your usual help?'
"'Of course.'
"'I ship with you as a common hand, just on purpose to help you to a
sight of Black Ben. What do you say?'
"The proposition struck me very favorably, and I urged the captain to
it. As he was ten times as rich as I was, I didn't exactly like the
idea of his going as a common hand, although on my flatboat there was
no other position for him. It was finally agreed that he should pass
himself as one of my assistants; but as there was no need of his work,
he was to do little more than dress himself as such, to deceive any
one whom we might encounter, while he might accommodate the labor to
himself.
"We made all our arrangements as if certain of encountering this
fellow. We went more fully armed than we ever did before, and it was
agreed that when we reached that part of the river where we had reason
to expect the appearance of Black Ben, or where there was the least
likelihood of his seeing us, that nobody should show themselves above
deck except Captain Hallongton and myself. This was for the purpose of
making the pirate believe there were only two of us on board, and thus
luring him on to what we hoped would be his destruction.
"Well, we swung loose from Cincinnati one fine morning, and in due time
reached the Mississippi, and lay to at Memphis, Tennessee, one stormy
night, where we fixed everything to our satisfaction. When we started
next morning, Tom and Dick were sent down below in the cabin, with the
understanding that they were not to show themselves until they had
permission to do so.
"It was late in the autumn of 1838, and I remember that the weather was
quite chilly, so much so that both Hallongton and myself kept on our
overcoats all the time. We passed to and fro, plainly showing ourselves
to any one who might be along the bank. Tom and Dick were allowed to
come up only when the night was dark, and then they exchanged places
with us, so that under no circumstances were more than two of us
visible at the same time.
"Down below Helena, on the Arkansas side, we had fixed as the place
where we might reasonably look for the appearance. There was a long
stretch of wood country, where the wretch's most inhuman deeds had been
located.
"It was a cold, blustering night that we worked our boat under the
wooded shore and made fast to the identical spot, where my friend had
had his memorable adventure with Black Ben. He recognized it by several
landmarks, and assured me that we would hear from the gentleman before
many hours had passed over our heads.
"For the last few miles, before tying up, we had kept up a sharp
scrutiny of the shores, in the hope of detecting some signs of the
outlaw. I saw nothing; but Hallongton was positive he caught several
glimpses of a man flitting along the Arkansas bank, and maintaining a
sharp watch upon our movements.
"After we had securely tied up our boat, we went below, after our
supper, and then made our final arrangements. I should state here that
my flatboat was one made after a fashion of my own. It was long and
quite narrow, the cabin being, as usual, in the rear. This was made of
double thick planking, immediately adjoining the cargo, which stretched
away to the bow. A small orifice had been bored through this planking,
so that one in the cabin could talk in a whisper to one who was in the
main body of the boat among our cargo of pork. This was done at the
suggestion of Captain Hallongton, in accordance with a plan which we
had formed between us.
"When it was fully dark, Tom and Dick crept carefully over the cabin,
in among the pork, and took their position near the hole which I have
just mentioned. When we had chatted together a while, Hallongton did
the same, while I maintained my place near the cabin.
"We were so close under the bank that a long limb hung directly over
the cabin.
"As it looked quite thick and strong, I grasped it with my hands and
swung myself upon it. The next moment I had climbed to the top of the
tree, and seated myself near the trunk astride of a large limb, where I
patiently awaited whatever was to come.
"Our plans were fully agreed upon, and I knew that I might have sat
there until morning without hearing a word from them, or detecting an
impatient movement upon their part.
"The night, for a time, was pitchy dark, but the moon soon came up over
the river, shedding a light which made the opposite shore visible,
and gave me a little uneasiness as to whether I would not be detected
from the ground below. However, as our line of action had been agreed
upon, it was now too late for us to make any change in our part of the
program.
"I was speculating on these matters, when a slight noise below
attracted my attention, and, looking down, I could discern a dark body,
moving cautiously toward the boat. In the shadow of the wood, the gloom
was too great to make out its identity; but, while I was looking, it
leaped as lightly and dexterously as a monkey upon the gunwale, and the
next minute I saw that Black Ben was on the flatboat.
"In the bright moonlight he was plainly visible, and answered perfectly
the description which I have given. He circled around the boat with the
silence of a phantom, and finally halted near the cabin and listened
as if to hear the breathing of those within. Having finished his
reconnoisance, he sprang lightly ashore and disappeared.
"I had seen no one but Black Ben, but a slight noise heard when he was
on the boat satisfied me that he had one companion at least with him,
and I was sure that he would speedily return.
"I was now anxious to hear whether Captain Hallongton had seen the
pirate and whether he was 'posted.'
"To satisfy myself, I gave a low whistle. It was immediately replied
to--a fact which convinced me that my friends were 'all right.'
"It was plain that Black Ben had no suspicion of the little plan which
we had concocted for his benefit; but whether that same little plan of
ours would miscarry or not was another question, for we knew that the
outlaw was a desperate character, who would play the mischief if he
should ever get into close quarters.
"Now came a period of watching and waiting, continued so long that I
had great fear that Black Ben had scented danger and concluded to give
us a wide berth. Fully two hours passed away, with me shivering and
cramped in the tree; but I had resolved to stay there until morning if
the outlaw did not make his appearance before that time.
"It could not have been far from midnight when I caught the rustling of
bushes beneath me, and I felt sure that Black Ben was there; but, as I
peered down, I was disappointed in discerning not a man, but a large
black bear that was lumbering along the shore and awkwardly approaching
the flatboat. Reaching it, he waded into the water, snuffed around the
boat, poked his nose against it, struck his paws against it, and made a
racket which struck me as singular upon the part of a bear.
"'I would soon stop your sport,' I reflected, 'if I were not watching
for bigger game.'
"I was watching the brute, when something in his manner of moving about
attracted my suspicion, and I scanned him more narrowly than I had
yet done. My heart gave a great leap as I penetrated the ruse, and
discovered that instead of the object under me being a bear, it was
only a man disguised as such. His object in making such a tumult around
the boat was evidently to learn whether the men on board were asleep.
"Occasionally the creature paused and was perfectly still, as if
listening; but nothing but the sullen surging of the muddy Mississippi,
or the dipping of some overhanging branch was heard, and, becoming
satisfied that everything was in the shape desired, the bear withdrew
from the water, and tumbled away into the wood, in a style which he
hardly would have dared to use had he been aware that a pair of eyes
were intently scrutinizing his every movement.
"A half-hour later, a form sprang from the dark line of wood which
lined the shore, landing on the gunwale of the boat at a single bound.
One glance was sufficient for me to see that Black Ben had boarded the
_General Jackson_, and that the critical moment was at hand.
"The hideous-looking creature glided as swiftly and silently as a
shadow from one part of the boat to the other, in order to assure
himself that no one was watching in any of the out-of-the-way places.
He then glided back to the cabin and made a single motion with his arm.
The response was in the shape of another dark form, which leaped beside
him with all the agility of a monkey.
"From where I sat I had both of these precious scamps in range, and I
could have sent a bullet crashing through both of them; but, as that
was not the plan agreed upon, I concluded to wait.
"As I had always understood that Black Ben was accompanied by two men,
I looked for the appearance of his companion; but, as the bushy-headed
chief turned his head upon the shore the instant he was joined by his
friend, I supposed that he was absent, and would not appear in this
matter, which pleased me greatly, as it could not but make the matter
all the more easy for us.
"The two villains put their heads together and seemed to converse a
while in the same manner that you frequently see horses or cows do.
Agreeing upon their course of action, Black Ben quietly drew back
the slide which covered the door which communicated with the cabin.
Flashing a sort of bull's-eye lantern down into the gloom, he leaned
his head forward and scanned every part of the cabin.
"And I know what he saw. What were apparently two human forms wrapped
up in their blankets and sound asleep. The next instant the sharp
report of two pistols in immediate succession broke the stillness, and
Black Ben and his comrade sprang down into the cabin.
"Just what we wanted. Hardly a second had elapsed when I was on deck,
and had slid the door back to its place at the same moment that Captain
Hallongton and Tom and Dick hurriedly clambered up beside me.
"'We've got 'em!' exclaimed the captain delightedly. 'Be quick and
fasten that down.'
"Everything had been prepared for such a dénouement as this, and
not ten seconds passed ere we had Black Ben and his friend firmly
imprisoned.
"The next proceeding of Captain Hallongton was to dance a double
shuffle upon the deck and exclaim: 'We've got him! we've got him!'
"'Keep still,' I said; 'you act like a crazy man.'
"'Do you know there is a thousand dollars offered for his head in New
Orleans?' said he.
"I didn't know that, and I felt somewhat like making as big a fool of
myself over it, but I did not.
"The next thing we heard was a terrible rumpus below--swearing and
yelling enough to raise the hair on your head. But what cared we? We
had the mighty river-pirate, Black Ben, and one of his comrades in our
power.
"Not knowing but what some of his friends might be in the neighborhood,
we untied the fastenings of the boat and swung out into the stream. We
ran considerable risk in so doing, as this was a dangerous part of the
river, but Captain Hallongton understood the current better than I did,
and we decided that this was the safest and best thing that we could do
under the circumstances.
"The tempest and tumult continued below until we were in the middle of
the Mississippi and gliding rapidly down the stream. Then a silence
came, and Black Ben called up to us and asked us what this all meant.
We told him that we had caught him trespassing on our boat and intended
to take him down to New Orleans and sell him. The answer to this was
a couple of pistol-shots fired at the spot where he supposed I was
standing. It struck beneath my feet, and no doubt he imagined it would
pass through the planking and kill me; but it was bullet-proof and
there was no danger. Finding he could do no harm he took a different
course of action. He tried to bribe us to let him go, and made us
repeated offers until he reached a figure as high as ten thousand
dollars. We told him we would take time to think about it, but we were
not quite fools enough to accept any offer which he could make. We knew
that all he wanted was to get out on deck, and then there would be the
tallest kind of a rumpus. Our only safety was in keeping him just where
he was and not give him the slightest advantage.
"Finding his efforts in this direction useless, he fell upon his first
plan, of swearing. I have heard some terrible profanity in my time, but
I don't think I ever heard anything to equal that of Black Ben. He kept
it up until morning, and then all was still again.
"I suppose you understand the way in which we trapped our bird? Captain
Hallongton had taken the trouble of finding out Black Ben's manner of
doing business and had laid his plans accordingly. It was his custom to
wait until the crew of the boats he intended to rob went asleep, and
he then stole aboard and quietly despatched them either with the knife
or pistol. Knowing this, we had arranged a couple of dummies, which,
as we intended, were mistaken by the river-pirate for the entire crew
of the _General Jackson_. The small orifice which I first spoke of as
connecting the cabin with the main body of the boat had been made by
Captain Hallongton, so that in case there was parley between him and
Black Ben before surrendering the boat, the latter personage could thus
be made to believe that it came from one of the forms inside, but his
course of action rendered this precaution unnecessary.
"We ran a great deal more danger in capturing this renowned outlaw than
any of us imagined. We had carefully removed everything in the shape of
a knife or hatchet or any kind of a weapon from the cabin, and yet we
had every reason to believe that both of these dogs would have their
knives with them; but by a purely providential circumstance neither
of them carried anything with them except their pistols. How it came
about, I cannot say, for it certainly was odd. Had either of them their
weapons, it would have taken them but a few hours to cut their way
through the planking, thick as it was, and we would have been compelled
to shoot them to save ourselves from being shot.
"If they had become satisfied that there was no hope for them, the next
thing in order would have been the bottom of the boat. They would have
made a leak which would have carried themselves and the flatboat to the
bottom, and likely enough ourselves, too, for you must know it is no
easy matter to make your way through the Mississippi at high water.
"We did not feel easy when we heard them thumping and rubbing the
side of the boat, for we were well aware what wonderful things these
desperate characters do when they find themselves in such desperate
straits.
"Captain Hallongton stood with his loaded rifle, expecting almost
every moment to see Black Ben burst out to view like a raging fury. By
placing our ears against the cabin we could hear a peculiar grinding
noise, which told us that the gentlemen in there were doing something,
although what it was we could only guess. We could hear them muttering
and talking to each other, but I could not catch any of the words
uttered.
"Toward the close of the second day, just as we came within sight of
the Crescent City, two pistol-shots broke the stillness. We could
only conjecture what it meant. My supposition was that they had shot
themselves, but Captain Hallongton suspected it was only a stratagem to
get us to open the cabin door to give them a final chance to escape, or
an opportunity to put a bullet through some of us who might look down.
So we paid no heed, but kept on floating down the river.
"When we had tied up at the wharf, we brought a number of police
officers, acquainted them with our prize, surrounded the boat, and
then removed the door of the cabin. We waited a long time, but no one
came forth, nor did any sound betray the presence of the men within.
At last, one of the officers, more venturesome than the rest, ventured
to steal up to the cabin and look down. The next instant he uttered a
shout and sprang down, while we rushed toward the cabin.
"One glance showed all. Black Ben and his comrade had both shot
themselves, and were stone dead. They had no knives, as I said, but
with their simple pistol-barrels they had almost cut their way through
the planking. I do believe that if New Orleans had been a hundred miles
farther off these two precious scamps would have got out of the cabin
and, perhaps, effected their escape.
"However, we had the satisfaction of receiving one thousand dollars
reward, and of knowing that we had cleared the Mississippi of one of
the most desperate outlaws that ever infested its banks."
_ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT!!_
MOTOR STORIES
_A New Idea in the Way of Five-Cent Weeklies._
Boys everywhere will be delighted to hear that Street & Smith are now
issuing this new five-cent weekly which will be known by the name of
MOTOR STORIES.
This weekly is entirely different from anything now being published.
It details the astonishing adventures of a young mechanic who owned a
motor cycle. Is there a boy who has not longed to possess one of these
swift little machines that scud about the roads everywhere throughout
the United States? Is there a boy, therefore, who will not be intensely
interested in the adventures of "Motor Matt," as he is familiarly
called by his comrades?
Boys, you have never read anything half so exciting, half so humorous
and entertaining as the first story listed for publication in this
line, called "=Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel=." Its fame is
bound to spread like wildfire, causing the biggest demand for the other
numbers in this line, that was ever heard of in the history of this
class of literature.
Here are the titles to be issued during the next few weeks. Do not fail
to place an order for them with your newsdealer.
No. 1. Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel.
No. 2. Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends.
No. 3. Motor Matt's "Century" Run; or, The Governor's Courier.
No. 4. Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the _Comet_.
32 LARGE SIZE PAGES SPLENDID COLORED COVERS
PRICE, FIVE CENTS PER COPY
AT ALL NEWSDEALERS, OR SENT POSTPAID BY THE PUBLISHERS UPON RECEIPT OF
THE PRICE.
_STREET & SMITH, Publishers, NEW YORK_
NUMBERS 1 TO 396
TIP TOP WEEKLY
ARE CONTAINED IN THE MEDAL LIBRARY
We know that there are thousands of boys who are very much interested
in the early adventures of Frank and Dick Merriwell and who want to
read everything that was written about them.
We desire to inform these boys that numbers 1 to 396 are pretty well
out of print in the TIP TOP WEEKLY, but all of them can be secured in
the numbers of the NEW MEDAL LIBRARY given below.
_The_ NEW
MEDAL
LIBRARY
AT
FIFTEEN CENTS
[Illustration]
150--Frank Merriwell's School-days.
167--Frank Merriwell's Chums.
178--Frank Merriwell's Foes.
184--Frank Merriwell's Trip West.
189--Frank Merriwell Down South.
193--Frank Merriwell's Bravery.
197--Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour.
201--Frank Merriwell in Europe.
205--Frank Merriwell at Yale.
209--Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield.
213--Frank Merriwell's Races.
217--Frank Merriwell's Bicycle Tour.
225--Frank Merriwell's Courage.
229--Frank Merriwell's Daring.
233--Frank Merriwell's Athletes.
237--Frank Merriwell's Skill.
240--Frank Merriwell's Champions.
244--Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale.
247--Frank Merriwell's Secret.
251--Frank Merriwell's Danger.
254--Frank Merriwell's Loyalty.
258--Frank Merriwell in Camp.
262--Frank Merriwell's Vacation.
267--Frank Merriwell's Cruise.
271--Frank Merriwell's Chase.
276--Frank Merriwell in Maine.
280--Frank Merriwell's Struggle.
284--Frank Merriwell's First Job.
288--Frank Merriwell's Opportunity.
292--Frank Merriwell's Hard Luck.
296--Frank Merriwell's Protégé.
300--Frank Merriwell on the Road.
304--Frank Merriwell's Own Company.
308--Frank Merriwell's Fame.
312--Frank Merriwell's College Chums.
316--Frank Merriwell's Problem.
320--Frank Merriwell's Fortune.
324--Frank Merriwell's New Comedian.
328--Frank Merriwell's Prosperity.
332--Frank Merriwell's Stage Hit.
336--Frank Merriwell's Great Scheme.
340--Frank Merriwell in England.
344--Frank Merriwell on the Boulevards.
348--Frank Merriwell's Duel.
352--Frank Merriwell's Double Shot.
356--Frank Merriwell's Baseball Victories.
359--Frank Merriwell's Confidence.
362--Frank Merriwell's Auto.
365--Frank Merriwell's Fun.
368--Frank Merriwell's Generosity.
371--Frank Merriwell's Tricks.
374--Frank Merriwell's Temptation.
377--Frank Merriwell on Top.
380--Frank Merriwell's Luck.
383--Frank Merriwell's Mascot.
386--Frank Merriwell's Reward.
389--Frank Merriwell's Phantom.
392--Frank Merriwell's Faith.
395--Frank Merriwell's Victories.
398--Frank Merriwell's Iron Nerve.
401--Frank Merriwell in Kentucky.
404--Frank Merriwell's Power.
407--Frank Merriwell's Shrewdness.
410--Frank Merriwell's Set-back.
413--Frank Merriwell's Search.
416--Frank Merriwell's Club.
419--Frank Merriwell's Trust.
422--Frank Merriwell's False Friend.
425--Frank Merriwell's Strong Arm.
428--Frank Merriwell as Coach.
431--Frank Merriwell's Brother.
434--Frank Merriwell's Marvel.
437--Frank Merriwell's Support.
440--Dick Merriwell at Fardale.
443--Dick Merriwell's Glory.
446--Dick Merriwell's Promise.
449--Dick Merriwell's Rescue.
452--Dick Merriwell's Narrow Escape.
455--Dick Merriwell's Racket.
458--Dick Merriwell's Revenge.
461--Dick Merriwell's Ruse.
464--Dick Merriwell's Delivery.
467--Dick Merriwell's Wonders.
470--Frank Merriwell's Honor.
473--Dick Merriwell's Diamond.
476--Frank Merriwell's Winners.
479--Dick Merriwell's Dash.
482--Dick Merriwell's Ability.
485--Dick Merriwell's Trap.
488--Dick Merriwell's Defense.
491--Dick Merriwell's Model.
494--Dick Merriwell's Mystery.
=Published About January 5th=
497--Frank Merriwell's Backers.
=Published About January 26th=
500--Dick Merriwell's Backstop.
=Published About February 16th=
503--Dick Merriwell's Western Mission.
=Published About March 9th=
506--Frank Merriwell's Rescue.
=Published About March 30th=
509--Frank Merriwell's Encounter.
=Published About April 20th=
512--Dick Merriwell's Marked Money.
=Published About May 11th=
515--Frank Merriwell's Nomads.
=Published About June 1st=
518--Dick Merriwell on the Gridiron.
=Published About June 22nd=
521--Dick Merriwell's Disguise.
STREET & SMITH, _Publishers_, NEW YORK CITY
Transcriber's Notes:
Added table of contents.
Replaced oe ligatures with oe for text edition; HTML edition retains
ligatures.
Bold is represented with =equal signs=, italics with _underscores_.
Page 1, changed "cast is off" to "cast it off."
Page 4, changed "animal's heads" to "animals' heads."
Page 7, normalized "Potters' Gap" to "Potter's Gap."
Page 13, changed "derived it's name" to "derived its name."
Page 16, changed "give up the slip" to "give us the slip."
Page 28, changed "Chubb" to "Chub" in "Susie, Chub, Welcome, Matt,
Clip, and many others...."
Page 30, added missing quote before "Occasionally the creature...."
End of Project Gutenberg's Motor Matt's "Century" Run, by Stanley R. Matthews