Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 100 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

a ct Belle parthy over his shoulder with greatest apparent ease. Her faco being to the rear, as he proceeded, she was able to gaze around her, considerably, without his seeing her. The night was illumined by a young moon, making objects discernible at a considerable (listance. The plateau, seemed to have at some remote date been quarried out of the solid rock of the mountain, for it was smooth and even, as were the walls, which hemmed it in on three sides, A greater part of it was covered by an edifice which the chief had rightly called a castle, for it was built of massive ne, three stories in hight, with many odd little windows and niches, und two turrets or towers pointed up skyward, at either end. It was an unsightly pile, over- own with moss and clinging vines, evidencing the fact that it had stood there many years. A wide covered court or passageway appear- ed to be the principal entrance, for through this the bandit carried Lady Belle, and into an inner square, where flowers and shrubs grew in tubs containing dirt, and emitted a gratifying fragrance, Passing on through this square, the bandit re-entered a continuation of the castle. After traversing a narrow passageway for some distance, he ascended a pair of stone steps and entered a large room, which was lighted by a lamp suspended from the ceiling. Upon a couch he laid Lady Belle, and in the action he saw that her eyes were open, and that she was conscious. ‘“ Oho! so ye’ve cum to, eh?” he said, survey- ing her with a pair of fierce gray eyes that gleamed through the holes in his mask. ‘* Well, what do you think of your new quarters?’ Lady Belle sat up, resolving to be brave. She had inherited courage from her father, stern old Sir Roderick, and it was the kind of courage which manifests itself in an hour of emergency. ‘“‘I do not like them at all,” she said, coldly. ‘Why have you brought me here?” ‘‘ Because you are a valuable bird,” the ban- dit replied, witha smile. ‘‘ You are a valuable bird to bring to my cage, for the simple reason that you willcommand a large ransom. You probably do not know me?” ‘* How should I know you?” ‘Well, that’s so! You were but a mere baby when I saw you last.’ ‘* You saw me? When did you ever see me, pray?’ Lady Belle demanded, wonderingly. “Oh! [saw you when you were a yearling babe in your mother’s arms, at Farnsworth Heath. Inever supposed I should be honored by a visit from you.’ ‘Who are you?” ‘“T am Captain Harriot Hawk, the bandit.” ‘The murderous outlaw fiend?’ “The same, if you so please to call me. I once had another name, but it matters not about it now, for it is many years since | have been called by it.” ‘“You are a bad man,” Lady Belle said, cold- ly. ‘Why should you bring me away from my people, when | have never harmed you?” URS said before, it was for the sake of making money that | brought you here. Your brother, Sir Noel, is very well fixed in this world’s goods, and will pay handsomely to have you restored to him.” ‘You may be mistaken. Ido not believe he would gratify you thus. He would quicker organize a force of men, and come to my res- ue,” are Ha! ha! he would have a fine time reaching me! Understand you, my lady, I am the king of robbers in this wild region, and some day not far distant, it is may scheme to own and con- trol the whole sweep of mountains in this vi- cinity. I am lodged here where no one short of the Almighty himself can oust me out. It is not in the power of man to do so. I am daily gathering around me hosts of men who are eager to serve under my flag, which shall goon wave from the turrets of Castle Hawk. So you see, that when, even now, I can call two hundred men to my aid, there is no hope of your brother ever reaching this stronghold alive. Should he make the attempt and refuse to pay the ransom I ask, you shall receive the same treatment meted out to all my prisoners who fail to get ransom.” * And that is—” “Death, my lady—death by a hundred rifle- bullets. But we will hope that your brother will see the advisability of ransoming you and saving your life. Until then, you shall have all the a and courtesies of the strong- hold, together-with the constant attention of a lady's maid, who is my own daughter. It is less for you to attempt to escape, as you Lise Deadwood Dick in Leadville, | - would only court instant death, where, if you remain, peaceably, you will probably in a few days be restored to your family. Respectfully, Lady Farnsworth, | bid you adieu.” And turning he strode from the room. CHAPTER VII. A DISCOVERY—A GHOST—AND A CRIME, A MAN came out from the Clarendon hotel, on Harrison avenue, Leadville, and walked through State street to Chestnut, and hurried along through that main thoroughfare, which as usual was crowded to overflowing. Without yausing to look right or left he kept on until e reached the outskirts of the town. It was early evening, and the stars overhead were making it light upon the little main street, where swarmed the populace, The man whom we have seen, was the Vigil- ante chief of the town, who had but lately tak- en his stand as such, under the name of Thor- oughbred Tom. t the edge of the town he entered a clump of heavy chaparral, and was gone for some time —for good, pager unless he could be iden- tified with the masked horseman who rode out a halfan hour later, and set off at a gallop, down into California gulch. lor the horseman was Deadwood Dick! Three men immediately afterward emerged from an opposite bunch of bushes, and gazed after the Prince of the Road, as he galloped away, They were Ralph Gardner, Jo Murphy the sheriff, and Simon Kent, one of the principal mine-owners in the Leadville district. And it was evident that they had come out here for a purpose. ‘“You see for yourselves!” Ralph Gardner said, triumphantly, pointing after the receding road-agent, ‘‘ The man who entered the chap- arral was he we know as Thoroughbred Tom, and who heads our Regulators and Adjusters. When he went in, he was Thoroughbred, Tom. As he comes out he has changed to the char- acter known as Deadwood Dick!” ‘** It seems incredible that he should have been among us, unknown,” Simon Kent said, in astonishment, ‘Il have often heard cf him, but never expected to find him in our midst.” ‘‘Nur me, by jabers!” decided Jo Murphy, ** Tt’s the divil’s own imp I'd ’ave quicker expect- ed to rist me eyes on. Arrah! but it’s a fine jig we’ll cause Misther Deadwood Dick to dance, whin we catch his nibs!” ** Yes, he shall not long for a tight rope, with- out getting it this time. All we have to dois keep quiet, and nab him when he is in the char- acter of Thoroughbred Tom. Then, we can string him up on short notice, for his many crimes.” ‘Thin yez’ll have to do it yoursilf!” replied Murphy, ‘for bein’ a ripresentative av tha law, it’s not becomin’ av me to lynch without a trial.” ‘* Well, give him a trial, then,” Gardner said, sarcastically. ‘* lcan scour up enough evidence against him in an hour, to hang a dozen men.” This same evening, it was, that the mine-own- er had threatened to turn the Heaths from their cabin. But it was not his purpose to show his hand in it, as he was proud of his position as a citizen in Leadville. After leaving the sheriff and Simon Kent, he hastened to his office, and for several hours sat and smoked, alternating with his writing. He at last arose and left the office, and en- tered the cabin, close by, which covered the mouth of the shaft to one of his mines. ‘I must drop down into the mine, and see how things are progressing here,” he muttered, as he stepped into the bucket, and motioned for the engineer to let him down. The engine immediately began to work, and the rope on the bull-wheel to unslack, and the bucket shot down rapidly into the bowels of the earth. Down—down—down into the Stygian gloom until the speed was lessened, and the bucket touched bottom. The mine-owner stepped out into a passageway, where tons of the carbon- ates were piled up on either side. pees) through the passageway, which was not lighted, Ralph Gardner kept on until something more than ordinary caused him to pause. He was aware of a something awful in his presence, and his hair began to feel tight. The mine was reported haunted by a genuine specter, by the miners, but Ralph Gardner had never yet ceen 1b, or had any faith in the stories. He now seemed surrounded by a strange halo 9 —— —— - — —— eee ee ——— of bluish, whitish light, but could see no object, although he gazed around him, sharply. ‘* Curse me for an idiot,” he growled, endeav- oring to quiet his nerves, and regain his scatter- ed courage. ‘“Whyam I thyscowardly? I am not afraid of a dozen specters, for there are no such things!” Bracing himself with this decision, he stepped briskly forward until he came opposite a short drift, or niche, in one side of the passage. Up the drift he saw the specter moving rapid- ly toward him, The specter, true enough—a tall, white-robed figure, surrounded by a strange halo of whitish light—a specter of the most frightful nature, for in the place of the head was the grinning, fleshless skull of a skeleton, This much Gardner saw; then, with a horri- fied yell, he turned and fled as if he were pur- sued by all the demons of the infernal regions, About this time Mrs. Heath and Jessie sat in their cabin, awaiting the coming of Ralph Gardner to turn them out, They had no doubt but that he would keep good his threat, but they were resolved not to yield until forced to. It had been a great change in their family, within a few months. From a far-away Eastern home they had come to Leadville the previous fall, hoping, with a ‘‘ thousand and one” others, to soon ac- cumulate enough wealth so that they could re- turn to their native State in comfortable cir- cumstances, Mr. Heath had obtained work at once, and soon struck a bargain for the litile cabin where they lived, Beyond this, and the fact that money came in more freely , Mrs. Heath and Jessie knew little. He was a very reticent and eccentric man, who locked his own business affairs in his own keep- ing, not explaining either his success or loss In business to his family. But it was currently supposed that he owned the Wild-cat Mine, since named ‘** The Specter Mine,” But of course this was only conjecture, as he _ had never said as much to his family, or to any LL SSS that we are running a great ris one, One morning the mangled remains of a man were found in the shaft. Identification was impossible, as but a few shreds of flesh anda few bones were left, the body having been thoroughly dissected and dragged off by the great mine rats. It was, however, supposed to be the miner, Morris Heath, as he could not be found else- where, and his hat was near the remains. Immediately after his death Mrs. Heath caused inquiries to be instituted in regard to the Wild-cat Mine, but disappointment awaited her, for Ralph Gardner had stepped forwar claiming that he was the owner of the propert and had employed the deceased miner; also, nying that Morris Heath ever owned a dollar in the lode, Of course, having no proof to the contrary, Mrs. Heath and her daughter could do nothing more in the matter, and nothing was left for them to do but depend upon their needlework and an occasional job of washing for their liv- ing, which they had done since their loss, al- though Mrs. Heath was much confined to her invalid-chair by rheumatism, A Jessie, however, was plucky and willing to work, and through their united efforts the managed to eke out a comfortable livelihood, Neate at times Mrs. Heath grew dishearten- ed. Not so with sweet Jessie, whose spirits were ever buoyant. But to-night both mother and daughter were anxious, for they knew not what the next hour might bring forth. ‘ell aware of Ralph Gardner’s evil nature, they could but expect that he would do them some ill turn, even though he should not actually attempt to drive them from the cabin. ‘*T don’t believe he will try to do that,” Jessie said, anxiously, ‘‘for that would not give him food for his wolfish passion of revenge. Ishoul quicker think that he would attempt to burn th! cabin down over our heads, or perhaps poison the water we drink.” | ‘‘T am afraid of him, myself, dear, and I feel : k in staying here alone. If we could get Mrs. Davy and her hus- band to come and stay with us untilI am able to leave my chair, I should feel safer!” Mrs. Heath said. ‘Then, mamma, Ill run across the hill to their cabin and ask them. Would you be afraid to stay alone?” “No, child. Just wheel my chair sround facing the door, and lay your father’s revolver d, ’ e- Gomichbooks