“Golly sakes, whoebber am gwine fo’ to sabe Marse Frank, now?” he groaned.
CHAPTER X.
IN THE ENEMY’S POWER.
Artemus Cliff shouted in evil glee and triumph as he manipulated the Steam Man and let him out for a swift run across the prairie.
He amused himself by racing with his followers who were on horseback.
“By jingo!” he roared, “this is more fun than I ever had before. Why this beats the steam-cars all to smash. And it’s all mine. Why I can travel like a prince now. Ha-ha-ha! I’m the luckiest man on earth.”
He turned and fixed a glowering gaze upon Bessie Rodman.
“And ye’re mine too,” he cried, “the lily of the prairie. The happy life companion of Artemus Cliff. When I get my hands onto Uncle Jim Travers’ millions, we’ll travel the world over, my daisy.”
Bessie did not appear to heed his words, though her face increased a trifle in its pallor.
“Monster!” cried Frank Reade, Jr., with intensity. “You will never succeed. Heaven will not permit it.”
“Heaven don’t have much to do with me,” cried the villain, with a lurid oath. “The devil has been a good friend of mine, and I ain’t afraid of his place either.”