Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1064 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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: ne ee eee ee 8 swered Dick, promptly. ‘‘It is the only con- solation we have, since sleep is out of the ques- tion.” “Waal, I wish yer would, fer ’'m durn sick of yer buzzin’,” the man returned. ‘I reckons sd kin go ter sleep, if yer keeps yer jaws still ong enough ter give it a try.” “All right,” replied Dick; ‘‘ you won’t bear any more out of us.” “ Oi’m shut up loike a clam,” added Barney. The woman took the cue and was silent now, and the watchman paced to and fro across the opening a few times, while Dick and Barney crept silently away in the darkness, Lucky it had been for them, but more lucky for the watchman, just then, that the challenge bad come no later. Crossing the cavern in safety, the two pressed th»mselves as close to the ground and the wall as possible, and paused a moment, liverything wasall right, thus far, and after a few seconds Dick crept.forward again, This time he drew as near to the open as he thought prudent, and waited, — watchman was on the other side, standing still Presently he started to pace across the mouth of the cavern again, his footfalls ringing out with even, steady sound, Reaching the south side, he paused a moment, and then started back again, The moment he turned, Darrel crept forward toward the open air. Fortune favored him. without having made a sound that could reach the hearing of the man on guard, and crept away along the wall to the right, as the woman had directed. Hearing the steps of the sentry again, im- mediately returning, Dick trembled for the safety of bis ally, and his weapons sprung toband. But, no alarm was made, and he concluded that Barney must have held back a little, Such was the case, and when the guardsman turned again the young [risbman followed his master’s example, and like him, got out in safety. When they had proceeded to the ledge and had let themselves carefully over, they hastened ‘away along the trail with all speed consistent with safety. — He made his way out CHAPTER XI, MURDER IN THE CAVERN, THe guardsman, all unsuspecting of what had happened, continued bis vigil with faithful ~watchfulness, and half an bour passed, Then other s were heard further back in ’ the cavern, coming toward the opening, and resently another man joined him, It was the “ve og called Handy Henry, come to relieve ' m, a **T reckons yer is about ready ter go ter roost, ain’t yer?” he made inquiry, as he came up, , * Wull, yas, but I ain’t very sleepy, either. A feller couldn’t ’a’ got ter sleep anyhow, even if he’d waoted to, fer a fact.” *“* What was ter bander him?” ‘‘Ther way ther two prisoners hev been chinnin’ all along. I shut ’em up only a little while ago, hows’ever, an’ hain’t heard a peep out of ’em sence, Guess they is asleep now, _. We'll look an’ see, an’ see if they’re all right, _ afore you go, In course they is, but I want ter be sure afore I in my watch, Yer can’t find no fault with that, I know. Whar’s yer matches?” rt? ‘‘That’s all right, Handy. Yer is welcome . ‘ter look at ther purty birds an’ satersfy yerself _ they is all thar. ae re Hyar’s yer match, an’ right i hyar’s ther eend of a torch. Light’er up, an’ Sy we'll take a sly squint at ther sleepin’ beauties, “ae if they is asleep.” aay Aw’ I reckon they is, seein’ how still they abet ‘* Ts yer asleep thar, noose-baits?” “here was no response, ma * | reckons they is, fast enough,” remarked --. _Handy, as he lig ted the old torch, ‘‘ They’s pe awful still,” ay -“Durn me if they ain’t quiet, ‘an’ that’s ther fact,” averred the watchman, as he listened to ts ad breathing, ‘‘ Hurry up with ther ght Too impatient to wait, now that a thonght of suspicious fear had entered his mind, the fellow went forward, feeling for the prisoners with his Te foot. They were not to be found, and an ejaculation escaped him, Wy with tint light, Handy, fer ther luv ov goodness! , fer ther luv ov ness! ae ean’t feel ther Said nowher.” 3 he toreh was now burning, and with it | stepped quickly forward to — af — - a t+) - * “i y Yr; . - ‘ we ; a he ‘i.¥ eel ee LL LL LLL LL LL A Dandy Dick Decoyed. where his comrade awaited him, and where a startling discovery awaited them both, ‘‘ Gone!” cried the guardsman, his face turning ghastly pale, and perspiration breaking out upon his forehead. ‘‘ How in the name of all hey they done it? Thar ain’t been a sound, Handy, not a sound of ary sort.” ‘‘l give it up, but gone they is, sure ’nuff,” was the response Handy made, his own face startlingly pale. ‘An’, see!” he cried, ‘“‘ They has had belp! Somebody hev been in hyer an’ cut ther cords that beld ’em, Ther devil help you when ther cap’n calls yer to ’count.” Handy Henry bad caught up the ropes with which the prisoners had been secured, and examination showed that they had been severed with a keen knife. ‘‘ Ther doose is ter pay byer,” he declared, ‘¢ an’ we'd best wake ther cap’n up an’ tell him, It won't make it no easier fer you ter hold it back, an’ ’sides, it was none o’ my doin’s, an’ I’m not goin’ ter be blamed fur it. Hello! Hello !” So he sung out, loudly, waking the echoes in the cavern, and bringing shouts and a hasty scramble of steps from away back in the rear, ‘‘ What’s ther matter?’ demanded the voice of the Right Bower, as he came running out. ‘““Ther prisoners has got away, that’s what’s ther matter,” answered Handy. The Right Bower increased his speed and was immediately with them. And others were com- ing. ‘“ Where are they? How did they get out?” he demanded. ‘‘ Speak up, cuss yer!” to the trem- bling watchman, ‘Tell what yer knows about this byar business.”’ ‘TJ don’t know nothin’ about it,” the poor wretch could only gasp. ‘‘I have been right hyar all ther time, haven’t shet me eyes oncet, an’ haven’t beerd ther least sound.” ‘‘ You're a liar, you are!” was thecry, “* You hev been asleep, and somebody has got in and done this business, Thar’s no other way, no other way er tall! When ther captain comes thar will be music, you bet!’ All the others were now on hand, all save Morgan himself. The unhappy watchman was striving to de- fend bimself, saying over and over he had not been asleep, but be was not believed, Every man present was against him. It was impossible, they all agreed, that any one could have got in without bis knowing it, had be been awake. It was either that, or he was a traitor. But, where was the captain of these rascals? That was now asked, as he was tardy in mak- in his appearance, and all shouted for bim—all save the trembling guardsman., They were about to start in search of him, when his voice was heard in response, answering their call. And, immediately after, a great cry came from him, It was a cry of commingled horror and alarm, if the rascal was capable of either emotion, and was immediately followed by the wildest impre- cations, ‘* What in tarnel kin be up?” one of the men demanded. “Something unusual, be sure of that,” said the Right Bower, ‘‘ Mebby he’s got ther prison- ers thar. Come on!” Morgan’s ravings grew louder and by the time the men reached the rear of the cavern he sprung out from his private apartment in the miserable hole, confronting them, ‘* Have vou got ther cusses?” asked'the Bower. “Have I got what—who— what are you talk- ing about?” the chief thundered. ‘““Why, the prisoners, They has got away. There have—” ‘‘Got away? How did they geyaway? But, that tells the story. This is the’ work of Dick Darrel! Curse him! Curse him!” “ What is the work of Dick Darrel?” was ask- ed. i, What hev he done? Tell us ther bull of ‘But, this escape,” Devil Duval interrupted. ** fow was it accomplished? How did they get free? By heaven! the man who was on guard at that time, dies!” ‘‘Somebody cut the cords that beld ’em,” explained Maron. ‘‘Somebody got in, that’s sure, but this man swears hard that, he wasn’t asleep a minute, an’ didn’t hear a bit of noise.” “He lies! Curse him, he lies!” cried the chief. ‘*Do you mean to say you don’t know anything about this?” “No more’n you do,” was the answer. “I swear ter you, cap’n, that I hadn’t shut me eyes oncet, an’ didn’t feel a bit sleepy. ‘Sides, I Petey ee talkin’ only a little while afore Handy em! Without a word of warning the outlaw flash- ' v . Garr ’ Jy ea ey! SE a Ae AS ac * te) Ate. ie Lyiae 4 . ——— —___ — ed forth a revolver and shot the man in his tracks! “Take that, liar!” he cried, as the man dropped. The others about him paled, and drew back from him, all save the Bower. ‘‘Served bim right,” he declared coolly. ‘‘ But, cap’n, what has happened here? What was you shoutin’ about?” *’ Look and see!” was the ycr, With a jerk, Devil Duval tore down the cur- tain that shut off his private retreat, and snatch- | ing the torch from the band of Handy Henry, flared its light upon the scene within, There, on a rude bed on tie floor, lay the body of the woman who had been instrumental in bringing about the capture of Dandy Dick. She was disrobed, only partly covered by the bed- | clothes, and her breast was covered with blood! ** Murdered!” cried the Right Bower. ‘‘- Yes.” echoed Devil Duval, ‘‘ murdered— stabbed to the heart!” ‘‘Oh! ther mean, cowardly dog!” exclaimed Handy Henry. ‘‘ Hedesarves ter have his heart cut out alive!” ‘‘ A worse fate than that will be bis!” shouted the enraged chief. ‘He bas struck mea blow that nothing but his life can satisfy. Adele Woolfe was the best and truest woman I ever had for a friend.” “But is yer sure it was him?” asked Handy Henry. ‘* How is it ke didn’t kill you, too?” ‘‘Of course twas him!” Morgan asseverated. ‘“‘ Who else could it be? And the reason he didn’t kill me, be wants to meet me in fight. Curse bim! I'll give him that chance, ifever we meet again,” The excitement ran high, and the outlaw chief was beside bimself in his rage. ’ Rushing out to the spot where the prisoners had been, it was made clear that some one had helped them to escape, Who had it been? Was it the guard who had turned traitor— No; or he would have gone with them, It was plain that he had been asleep. ‘¢ A thousand curses!” Devil Duval cried, sud- denly. “I have it now!” ‘“What is it?’ demanded the Right Bower. ‘* Who helped ’em to git away?” ‘Tt was the woman we failed to capture, that’s who it was. Curse her! She must have followed some of you here.” “That's it, sure as you live,” agreed Maron, ‘*She’s ther one that done it! <A pity we didn’t et her too, and we'd been sure of ’em all. ever mind; the day of reckoning will come,” CHAPTER XII. MCDONALD’S HOPE DASHED. THE hotel at Satan’s Delight, the Mountain Mansion, laid claim to high respectability. It had been leased with the express understand- ing, that it was to be kept on a strictly first- class plan. When completed, a card in the Denver papers had brought applications for the house, one from a Mr. Richmond Danewood among the number. This gentleman was from Kentucky, according to his own statement, and bad had considerable experience in the hotel line, As he had come in person, and his manner and address were pleasing, he had little trouble in securing the property for a year. He seemed to have plenty of money, and, in a little time, the house was thrown open to the public, And now the claim it laid to being respectable seemed sup- ported by the facts. Mr. Danewood was, as stated, pleasing in manner and address. He appeared to be about forty years of age, and was certainly no older. His manner of dress was markedly Southern, as was his appearance, as a whole. He wore mustache’ and imperial of about the proper style, and the broad hat peculiar to the country he claimed to hail from, His accent and manner of speech, too, were unmistakably Southern, There was no doubt about his being what he claimed. His house had the air of his native clime to a certain extent, and if further proof were wanting, it was provided for in the quality of his whisky, of which he was an acknowledged good judge, His manager, clerk and assistant, Mr. Walton Tur- gee, declared there was none better. As Mr, Danewood was absent considerable of the time, the management of the house r more upon Mr, Turgee. He was from the same section of country as Mr, Danewood, and was similar in, general character and temperament in many . He was a younger man, b some years. Mr. Danewood had business inter also at Cheyenne, and traveled horseback be- | tween that place and the camp. He was fre- quently away for days at a time. ) . + bee agi ’ 3 : 7, 42 7 > ay” DpDOOKS.CO i i — a ee —_ 9 ae oe. ae + —— ee