CHAPTER XXI.

WHICH IS THE END.

The sound of firing now came from the hills quite plainly.

It was evident that Clark’s men were having a hard battle.

Barrows detailed his experiences as we have recorded in a previous chapter.

Then it was decided at once if possible to join the cavalry.

“If I can place Miss Rodman in your charge, Mr. Reade,” said young Barrows, gallantly, “I will gladly join the soldiers and aid in the repulse of the foe.”

“You may do that,” replied Frank, readily. “In fact, I think it safer for the lady to remain in the wagon hereafter.”

“You are very kind.”

“It is nothing.”

Accordingly Bessie was given a seat in the wagon.

Then Barrows mounted one of the ponies left by the cowboys.

“I will see you later,” he said lifting his hat to Bessie.

Then he rode away to join the cavalry in their battle.

The Steam Man, of course, could not hope to follow so quickly.

The fleet pony could go through narrow paths, and of course Barrows reached the scene of action long before the others.

But Frank Reade sent the Steam Man along at a good pace.

After some search a pass was found, and the Man made its way carefully through, and suddenly came out upon the field of action.

The cowboys were strongly intrenched in the hills, and seemed disposed to make a final stand.

Col. Clark’s men were making desperate attempts to drive them from their position.

As the Steam Man came dashing up to the spot a great cheer went up from the soldiers.

Frank answered it by pulling the whistle valve of the Man and sending up a sharp note.

The Man could not hope to reach the position of the outlaws, for the ground was too uneven.

But a position was taken up from where the battle could be easily watched.

Then Col. Clark came up to the wagon.

Warm greetings followed, and Frank said:

“Is there anything I could do to help you, colonel?”

“I think not,” replied the gallant officer. “I believe we shall drive them out very soon now.”

“I hope so.”

“If I am not mistaken the day of Cliff and his gang are numbered.”

“That is joyful news.”

“Yes.”

“I hope you will succeed.”

“Thank you.”

The colonel rode away and the voyagers watched the contest with interest.

One watching the beautiful face of Bessie Rodman could have seen that she was inwardly praying for her lover’s safety.

But fortune was with the troops, though they had experienced a hard battle.

The position of the outlaws was a very strong one and almost unassailable.

High walls of rock were there for them to use as a breastwork.

It was not easy to dislodge them except at great loss of life.

But Clark was not a man to be defeated.

He urged his men on and slowly but surely drove the foe before him. Frank Reade, Jr., now with Barney and Pomp and Bessie Rodman on board, took the Steam Man out on to the prairie.

For over an hour a kind of desultory conflict was kept up in the hills.

Then Col. Clark suddenly came dashing up to the wagon.

“We have got them dislodged,” he cried. “And I think they have struck out for Ranch V. Now if you will show us the way, Mr. Reade, we will try and exterminate this poisonous gang.”

“With pleasure!” cried Frank.

He started the Steam Man at once for Ranch V.

Across the prairie the machine ran rapidly, and the cavalry galloped in the rear.

It was in the latter part of the day that all came out upon a rise overlooking the stockade of Ranch V.

But the cowboys had got there in advance and had made ready for an attack.

Col. Clark was a man of immediate resources.

Without hesitation or a moment’s delay he threw his men forward on the charge. At almost the first attack the gate was carried and the soldiers entered the yard.

But step by step Artemus Cliff contested the way.

His men by divisions surrendered half a dozen or more at a time.

Being thus made prisoners, they were sent to the rear. In this manner the numbers of the cowboy gang were decimated.

Suddenly a thrilling cry went up.

“Fire! Fire!”

The stockade and ranch proper had been fired, and great columns of flame now arose.

The scene was fast becoming a thrilling one. Darkness was coming on, and the rattle of firearms the dark shadows of night partially dispelled by the flames, gave a weird aspect to everything.

Slow but sure was the conquest of Cliff and his gang.

Now he was driven to his last resort, the corner of the stockade nearest the river. Scarce a score of his followers now remained.

It was utterly no use for him to resist longer. The villain saw it but yet kept on fighting doggedly.

“Surrender, or die!” cried the lieutenant who led the squad. “It is your only chance.”

The remaining cowboys threw up their hands. But Cliff pitched forward in a heap upon the ground, struck by a pistol ball.

There he was found later under a heap of dead men. He was removed to the camp near and his wounds examined.

Ranch V was a thing of the past.

Not a stick was left standing, and of the cowboy gang fully a hundred had rendered up their final account.

Possibly twenty of the cavalrymen had been killed.

It had been quite a severe battle, but Frank Reade, Jr., and his companions could not help but feel overjoyed at the result.

Barney and Pomp had an old time set-to over the victory, this time Pomp coming off victorious.

The night was passed quietly. Early the next morning a surgeon came to the Steam Man and called for Frank.

He announced that Cliff was dying, and wanted to make a confession but would make it to nobody else.

Frank hurried to the dying couch of the villain. Cliff’s filmy gaze was fixed upon him eagerly, and he said, huskily:

“Reade, I’m done for. I made a good fight but I’ve lost. The game’s up. I might as well make a clean breast of it. Uncle Jim is innocent of Rodman’s death. Sid Bowen and Jim Ducey, my trusted pals, killed Rodman and worked the whole game. That’s all. I reckon I can die better now.”

“You have done a good deed, Artemus Cliff,” said Frank, kindly. “And may God forgive you your sins.”

But the villain did not answer. Already his eyes were set. The Master had called him. He had cheated the gallows after all.

A grave was dug on the prairie and Frank saw that he was properly buried.

The confession was put in writing and duly witnessed. The mission of the new Steam Man to the far west was ended.

* * * * *

The spirits of all were bright and cheerful, now that the end had come.

The extermination of the Cliff gang was certainly a blessing to that part of the State, and no one regretted the villain’s demise.

Preparations were now made for the return home.

Of course, Col. Clark and his command would return to the fort, but Frank now thought of Bessie Rodman.

“By Jupiter!” he muttered, “something must be done for her. Poor girl! she is without a friend in the world now.”

Barney and Pomp winked at each other, and Barney cried:

“Bejabers, Misther Frank, have yez lost yer powers av penetration?”

“I reckon yo’ am way off, Marse Frank,” rejoined Pomp.

“What are you fellows driving at?” asked Frank, in surprise.

“Why, dat ar’ gal, she am got one ob de bes’ friends in de worl’. Jes’ yo’ cast yo’ eye ober dar an’ see dat spruce young feller what am walkin’ wid her.”

Frank did “cast his eye” in the direction indicated, and saw Bessie and young Walter Barrows approaching.

There was a particularly happy light upon the faces of both.

“Pshaw!” muttered Frank. “That young fellow can’t marry her yet. She’s got to have a home in the meanwhile. Miss Rodman, one moment, please.”

The lovers paused, and Frank said brusquely:

“I can understand your position, Bessie, very well, and I know that you need a home. I can only offer to take you to Readestown with me, and my wife will do all in her power——”

“One moment, sir,” said Barrows, with burning face. “You are very kind, but let me first explain. I am this lady’s natural protector for life.”

“What?” gasped Frank.

“Yes, she is my wife.”

Pomp and Barney collapsed at the expression upon Frank’s face.

“Your wife?” gasped the young inventor. “When were you married?”

“Just now, and the ceremony was performed by the chaplain of the regiment.”

Frank thrust forth his right hand, and gave Barrows a grip which made him wince.

“You must pardon my conduct,” he cried, “but it was such a surprise. I wish you both worlds of happiness.”

Some hours later the new Steam Man was on its way homeward. A week later it was in Omaha, Nebraska, and not long thereafter was at home in Readestown.

The young inventor was received at home with an ovation, and his father, the distinguished Reade Senior, was overjoyed to learn that the evidence had been procured to clear Travers.

As for the latter he came from prison like one coming into a new life and from that time on regarded Frank Reade, Jr. as his greatest earthly benefactor.

The new Steam Man and his wonderful western trip was the talk of the country.

People came from near and far to see the invention and it was not long before the young inventor suddenly found himself involved in another daring project.

The new Steam Man was destined to make another trip, and become involved in adventures even more thrilling than these just recorded, and a full and detailed account of the second trip may be found in

No. 2. of the FRANK READE LIBRARY,

ENTITLED

Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Man in No Man’s Land;

OR,

ON A MYSTERIOUS TRAIL,

By “NONAME.”

Transcriber’s note:

1. Silently corrected typographical errors.

2. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.

3. Retained inconsistent spelling of dialect as printed.

4. Changed ‘gate’ to ‘gait’ on p. 4.

5. Changed ‘They’ to ‘The’ on p. 4.

6. Changed ‘In’ to ‘Of’ on p. 11.

7. changed ‘she’ to ‘the’ on p. 16.