Part 16 (1/2)
”I alad I happened this way,” returned dick, as he drew a long breath ”Gosh!+ what a lot of exciteh out here!
More than I experienced in all my life in New York”
”The West is the place fer stirrin' times, lad” Jack Rasco turned to his prostrate foe ”Wall, Stillwater, do yer think it war a trick now, tellin' yer ter look behind yer?”
The rascal answered with a groan
”My head is split in two!” he cried ”Who struck ster, and some day----” He did not finish
”I ain't done with yer yet, Stillwater,” said Rasco ”You war goin' ter shoot me I reckon turn about is fair play, ain't it?”
”Would you--you shoot me--now?” faltered the card sharp At the bottom of his heart he was a coward
”Why not?”
”I wasn't going to do it, Rasco--I was only--only scaring you”
”Thet's a whopper-- ter shoot oin' ter be jess as accommodatin',” and on the sly Rasco winked at dick as much relieved to think the boon
The face of Stillwater grehite as a sheet and he trembled from head to foot
”Don't! don't you do it! Let ive you all the money I have with me”
”It won't do, Stillwater”
”It's nearly a thousand dollars Take every cent of it and let rovelled at Jack Rasco's feet His horror of dying was soive yer one chance, Stillwater,” said Rasco, in deep disgust, and at once the rascal's face took on a look of hope ”Yer ain't fit ter die, an' thet's why I say it Promise ter let me an' my friends alone in the future”
”I proive up cheatin' at cards If yer don't, some day it will be the death of yer”
”I'll never cheat again”
”All right, I'll take yer at yer word Now coot ter swi Decent folks ain't a-goin' ter have yer over here”
Again Stillwater was much disturbed But Jack Rasco was fire Still pale, the gaed into the river and struck out for the opposite shore It was a hard battle against that current, but presently Rasco and dick saw hiely, then disappeared like a flash into the woods
”He'll not keep any of his promises,” said dick
”Keep 'em? Yer didn't expect it o' thet viper, lad? No, he's an enemy to the death But whar did yer co about yer poor father?”
dick's story was soon told, to which Rasco listened with much interest