Originally published: Oct. 22, 1892
Genres: Science Fiction
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/171859658-frank-reade-jr-with-his-new-steam-man-in-mexico
Gutenberg link: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68349
Chapters: 14
Warning: This may include outdated and derogatory language and attitudes.
CHAPTER I
KIDNAPPED BY GREASERS
Frank Reade Jr., the inventor of many wonderful machines and whose fame was worldwide, sat in his study one day in September looking over a heap of mail matter that the servant had just brought in.
He was a handsome dark complexioned young man with a distingue air and that individuality of appearance which stamps the man of genius.
Frank’s father was a famous inventor before him.
Foremost among Frank Reade Jr.’s inventions was the New Steam Man, a machine of truly wonderful character.
We will not attempt a description of the Steam Man for certain good reasons until later; first, let us give our attention for the moment to the young inventor.
Frank Reade Jr. was naturally the foremost man in Readestown, a respectable-sized and thriving town, founded by and named after the Reades.
Here they had built the wonderful machine shops for the construction of their own machines.
These employed many of the most skilled workers in wood and steel.
Money was not a scarcity with the Reades nor was it ever likely to be, with their superlative genius to make it.
Frank opened one letter after another, hastily read them, and placed those on a file which he meant to answer.
Some of them were of importance, some were not, but he encountered none that claimed his attention greatly for some while.
Then a letter lay before him, superscribed in a foreign style, and bearing the stamp and postmark of Mexico.
He opened it with a curious premonition of its importance.
The letter was written in Spanish, but Frank knew the language well, so he read it easily.
Thus it read:
“Senor Reade—Pardon me for addressing you, a stranger, but I am impelled to lay before you a matter of the utmost moment. A gentleman from New York has been sojourning in the city of Laredo for the past year, being interested in a certain mining claim in Los Pueblos Mountains, five hundred miles from here, in the interior of Mexico. “He has busied himself contracting for men and material to dig a shaft and open a rich gold mine upon his claim. He is a gentleman of means, and I am told a former acquaintance of yours. His name is Harvey Montaine.”
“Harvey Montaine!” repeated Frank. “Indeed, he is a dear friend of mine.”
However, the young inventor continued reading the letter.
“This gentleman has made many friends here in Laredo. Both the Spanish people and the natives like him for his courtly manners and his generous heart. “But his efforts to open up the Los Pueblos claim have been attended with ill-fortune. It seems that his first expedition was set upon by bandits who infest the region, and who are under the command of Miguel Costello, a noted desperado. “His men were slaughtered, and he escaped himself by a narrow chance. But Senor Montaine is a gentleman of pluck, and he once more began to plan an excursion to Los Pueblos, when one morning he disappeared. “From that day to this he has never been seen. A notice has been posted in Laredo, signed by Costello calling for a reward of ten thousand dollars, or Montaine will be slain. “This reward, or ransom money, was quickly raised here among Senor Montaine’s friends, but the bandit promptly raised the figures to fifty thousand. “This money cannot be raised, nor is it believed that Costello would release his prisoner for it. “It is believed by many that this is a subterfuge employed by the bandit to cover his purpose of working the Los Pueblos claim himself. “It is rumored that he has a large gang of men at work at the mine, and that they are sinking a shaft. “It may be readily understood that this is a dishonest trick of the villain’s, and the sense of justice of every good man must be aroused. Meanwhile, a deserter front Miguel’s band brings us the story, also a request from Montaine, who begs us to write you to come to his relief with your New Steam Man. We are obeying the dictates of Senor Montaine in writing this letter. “That you may best follow your own conclusion in granting your friend’s request, we have no doubt that you will appreciate fully his extreme peril. “This is the case, and in laying it before you, dear senor, we believe that we are but doing our duty as Christian gentlemen. Your answer and decision we await with some impatience and much hope. I have the honor, senor, to faithfully subscribe myself yours, “Jose Ravello. “Hotel San Juan, Laredo, Mexico.”
Frank read the letter through carefully. Then he leaned back in his chair.
There was a strange excited light in his fine eyes, and he exclaimed in a musical, but tense voice:
“Poor Montaine! He is one of my best friends. So he is in trouble, eh? Well, I would be inhuman indeed not to respond to his appeal.”
Frank sprang up and put on his hat.
As he left the study he met a colored man in the hall. He was a fat, jolly little black man, and as black as the ace of spades.
“Pomp,” said Frank, sharply.
“What am it, sah?”
“I want you to go with me.”
“A’right, sah.”
The black man followed Frank out of the fine mansion and down to the street.
A few minutes’ walk brought them to the gates of the machine shop yard.
Here they met a jolly-looking Irishman, whose twinkling eyes and broad mug stamped him a genuine son of the Green Isle.
“Barney O’Shea!” said Frank, sharply, “I want you to come with me.”
“All roight, sor!” exclaimed Barney, with great readiness.
The black man and the Irishman were old servitors of Frank Reade Jr.
They had been in the employ of his father before him, and Frank would never have thought of going on a trip without them.
Their services were invaluable. Barney being a first-class engineer and steel workman, and Pomp was a fine cook.
Passing through the yard which was filled with workmen, Frank led the way into a private office.
It was here that the plans of all his wonderful machines were draughted in secret.
Frank sat down at a table and threw Senor Ravello’s letter upon it.
“Pomp,” he said, tersely, “get me a map of Mexico.”
“A’right, sah.”
Wondering much what was coming, the black man quickly obeyed.
The map was spread on the table.
Frank quickly placed his finger upon Laredo. Then he traversed the interior of Mexico to the Los Pueblos Mountains.
“That is it,” he said, theoretically. “It is a long trip, but it can be done.”
Then he turned to Barney:
“Barney,” he asked, sharply, “has that new gauge been put upon the Steam Man?”
“Yis sor,” replied the Celt.
“Good! Is the machine all right every other way?”
“I think so, sor.”
“All right. Now sit down and let me read you this letter.”
The two men sank into chairs and Frank read them the letter from Ravello.
They listened with the deepest interest, and when Frank finished Barney cried eagerly:
“Bad cess to the omadhouns! Shure ye’ll go afther them, Misther Frank?”
“Golly, I jes’ hopes yo’ will, Marse Frank. Dis chile am in it fo’ suah.”
“Then you are ready and willing to go?” asked Frank.
“Yo’ kin jest bet.”
“Yez are roight we are.”
“Of course my sympathies for Montaine are strong,” said Frank; “he is an old and very dear friend of mine.”
“Shure, yez oughter go to his help,” averred Barney.
“Well, I will consider the situation. Let us take a look at the Steam Man.”
All three arose and went into an inner chamber of the factory.
This was a large, high-roofed room. In its center stood the wonderful invention that had made the name of Frank Reade Jr. famous the world over.
Picture a giant man made of iron plates holding the shafts of a wagon in his hands.
The Man was made of plates of steel hinged at the ankles, knees, and hips.
There were driving rods down the legs, showing that the Man’s motive power was steam.
The body of the man-made furnace, and upon its back was the steam chest as well as gauge and indicator.
The tall hat was the smoke stack, and in the Man’s mouth was the whistle. A headlight was placed on the forehead.
The reservoirs of water were in the Man’s legs and arms, so adjusted that a continual circulation was kept up with the water in the boiler.
Reins extended from the throttle and whistle valves in the Man’s mouth to the dasher of the wagon, and it was by these that the iron monster was guided and driven with the greatest of ease.
This completes the description of the Steam Man.
The wagon was also made of plates of steel, cleverly riveted and bulletproof.
The wagon contained bunkers for coal, also compartments for the safe storage of provisions and ammunition.
Bunks to sleep in were arranged over the coal bunkers.
The wagon was covered entirely with a fine netting of bulletproof Steel.
In this netting, there were loopholes through which rifles could be fired at an enemy.
A door in the rear of the wagon furnished means of entrance and exit. Once inside this steel cage, the inmates were safe from any sort of a missile but a cannonball.
The Steam Man was certainly a wonderful invention. The four-wheeled wagon with its grooved tires could be hauled across level ground by him faster than the ordinary train of cars.
The Man’s stride was something tremendous. Large sums had been offered Frank for the secret of his invention.
But he would not sell it for many good and sufficient reasons.
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