The Argosy, Vol. XI, No. 21 — page 6: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

326 He vanished from view bef€re he reached it, but after waiting unti] it was reasonably expected he had entered, the next man followed. And one by one they left him, until Chub stood alone, and then when the time arrived for him to follow, he did so, but not without some apprehension. “ Here I go,” he told himself with an inward groan. ‘If some one catches sight of me, there is no one to drive them back from the window. It’s hit or miss. If there is any shooting done inside, I will probably stop all the bullets. But it’s too late to show the white feather now, even if I wanted to.” And Chub felt relieved when he reached the nole, although the most dangerous part of the mission was yet to be faced. He went through feet first. Some one guided his feet to the top of a barrel, and when he descended he found him- self among the men. ‘‘Use your dark lantern, Broadwell,’ Hart was saying. And then he flashed his own about the cellar. Chub caught sight of a row of barrels and a furnace with a big copper kettle, when the light went out, Hart saying: ‘‘ There is a pair of stairs here leading to the rear rooms, but how are we to catch those in front unawares ?” ‘* There must be some way of getting up in front,” chimed in Chub; *‘ for when we knocked over the chair they sent Bill up to see what it was, and he stepped out of what we took to be a bedroom just in time for me to run into him.” ‘That is so,” exclaimed Hart. ‘* You go with Broadwell and this man and capture those in front, while Brady and I take those in the rear. Try and gauge the time so we will act at the same moment.” ‘Come on,” said Broadwell, allowing a small ray of light to escape from his lantern, enough to faintly light their way. ‘* Be careful to make no noise.” In the far end of the cellar a ladder was found, ascending which, and passing through a hole sawed in the floor, they found themselves in the room the boys had concluded was a bedroom. It was empty, with the exception of a single chair, and after waiting until he was satisfied Hart and Brady were in a position to act, Broadwell gave the order to move. The door was openel softly, and following Chubh’s directions, they turned to the left. Broadwell peered around the casing of the door to the front room, but being unable to see anything, he pulled the slide of his lantern, at the same time singing out: ‘‘Hands up! Mind you, don’t try to raise a weapon or you are dead men!” Almost at the same moment Hart's sharp voice could be heard in the rear. Aud what a picture in the front room | The bright. rays of the dark lantern threw those behind into more dense darkness, so, had the occupants of the room been able to look, they could not have told how many there were. Roper, Foxy and Dillon each crouched by a window with aygun, with nothing below their eyes above the sill, watching for a chance to shoot. So unexpected and complete was the surprise, that neither dared to move, and they retained the position until Broadwell said sharply : ‘Stand up! Keep your hands off those guns and above your head.” Foxy stood up sullenly, with hands uplifted, and the deputy stepped forward, slipped a pair of handcuffs on his wrists, and then searched him for dangerous weapons. Roper and Dillon were performed on in the same way, and then Broadwell turned the light over to the deputy, and said hurriedly : THE ARGOSY ‘* Keep your-eye on ‘em till I go back an' see if Hart wants any help. For all we know the tables may be turned.” But they weren't, as Broadwell saw at a glance the mo- ment he entered the kitchen. Bill, Dinny and Moll stood looking at the handcuffs on their wrists, as though the fight had been suddenly warped out of them, leaving them with stooped shoulders and dejected mien. The house was 1n a deplorable condition. There was not a whole pane of glass on the lower floor. Bullets had knocked the plaster from the walls in large patches, scarred and splintered the furniture, and from the number and ranges it seemed wonderful none were hit. All the prisoners were placed in the front room, with four men to guard them. ‘Three dark lanterns illuminated the scene. ; | ‘We want to get through with this business as soon as possible,” said Hart. ‘* Ride back to town, Brady, and stop those extra men and provisions the two boys ordered.. We would probably have had use for them but for this chap.” And as Brady hurried from the house Mr. Hart began a tour of exploration, accompanied by Broadwell, Chub and another deputy. When they gained the cellar they reached the interesting point. When the dark lanterns were flashed about, Chub saw a row of barrels and a large tank on oneside. A pile of barrel staves and wood was scattered about near the furnace, and in the forward end of the cellar one corner had a cement floor, As Mr. Hart had surmised, a spring ran through the cellar, kept within bounds by a cement trough. ‘They had things fixed very nice,” said Hart, after the examination was over. ‘* Plenty of water handy, without having to carry it at night and run the risk of exciting sus- picion. The cement floor in that corner was used as a drying room for malt, I suppose.” ‘‘Just so,” acquiesced Broadwell. ‘‘They must have been running for a good time, for there 1s a good many of them barrels full of spirits.” ‘‘Spirits! Malt and spirits!” kind of a place is this?” ‘Why, don’t you know ?” asked Hart, in surprise. ‘Tm beginning to get a hazy idea,” replied Chub. ‘Well, ll help you out,” returned Hart, laughing. ‘It is an illicit distillery, and about as snug a still as I’ve seen for some time !”’ But, as the information had come so gradually, Chub was not so surprised as he would have thought. Whense they returned to the front room, Chub stepped in the light for the first time, and almost instantly Foxy cried : ‘©Oh, it zs you we have to thank for this?” ‘‘Why, hello, Foxy,” cried Chub cordially, as though he had not seen him before. ‘‘ Hello, yourself, an’ see if it makes you healthy!” re- torted Foxy. ‘*T told you those chaps would blow,” complained Roper ; “but Bill knew a whole lot an’ wouldn’t listen to me. Thought they was too skeared an’ glad to git away’to do anythin’. If I'd had my way I'd follered 'em till I canght ‘em or put a bullet into them!” “ You are all right," satd Chub, cheerfully. everything placed where it belongs.” ‘You won't be all right if I ever git a chance at you,” said Roper angrily. ‘t 1——"’ “That will do!" interrupted Hart, sharply. ‘* Don't plan too far ahead, for you are not likely to be able to harm any- body for the next ten or fifteen years.” Roper was not pleased in the least with this sweet conso- lation, but he dared say no more, and sat throwing ferocious repeated Chub. ‘* What ‘¢T like to see ecomnieoooks COU