Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1096 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

* * A are @ He represents the law, and the held. &, Be ey Nt ee Dick’s Dragnet. Hictdotilh “cut pion! thie (ptdnen’ be; 200, With A. "Danie out upon the piazza, he, too, with a white envelope like that of the marshal’s What!” cried the marshal. ‘* You too 2” He held up bis own as he spoke, ‘*T’ve heard from Dick Darrel,” cried tbe ex- cited Fowley. **So have I, It seems that he isn’t so much dead as we feared, Hello! here comes Goodman Crawley with another!” Goody Crawl was coming over from his saloon, bearing a similar envelope in hand, and ere he arrived Li awyer Corker, Baldwin Bloome and Rev. Ambrose Bray: were seen coming up the street in company, each similarly ar med. George Pierre, Sinclair Fowle yy and Goodman Crawley jooked at one another in something like blank amazement, and then looked away toward the others who were approaching; while Ham Stanton, with some others who had paused there, looked at them all in wonderment undis- guised, CHAPTER V. DANDY DICKS NOTICE Wuen Lawyer Corker and his companions came near, they suddenly stopped short. They had caught sight of the envelopes in the hands of the others, and were clearly surprised. ‘*T venture to say: that we don’t bring you any news,” spoke Corker, advancing, after a brief moment of delay. ** Not very likely that you do,” responded Gold-plate George, ‘ judging by the appearance of the envelopes you bring along.” ‘* We have heard from brave Dick Darrel!” “* Ditto with us. It looks as though he wants it well known that he is still on deck.” ‘‘ Ay, verily, ‘of a truth,” asserted the Rev. Bray, ‘‘He sends mea notice with the request that 4 read it to my congregation at the first opportunity.” ‘*And mine he wants me to make public by reading it to the people on the public Square,” announced the marshal, ‘* Heisn’t at all modest in his demands, I shallsay. But, it’s all right.” From the others similar reports were forth- coming, the request baving been that the notices be read, posted, and otherwise disposed of, ac- cording to the position of the recipient. But, no one found any fault, being apparently too glad to sg that the missing man was alive and well ‘** But, what ar’ ther notices?” demanded Ham Stanton, with a show of impatience in his tone, “That's what we wants ter know,” cried the, crowd, quite a number having now congregated to learn what was the excitement, **T will read the one I have received,” said Rev. Bray, drawing a paper from the envelope he had ‘in band, He opened it, spread it out with a flourish, and Treat: “To Rev. Mr. Bray:— * Dein Srr:—Will you do me the great favor to make the accompanying notice public by reading it * before your congregation at the first opportunity? ‘Yours truly, ‘RICHARD Prince DARREL.” ** And this is the notice,” said Bray, continu- ing: *"o THE CITIZEN: OF IMPERIAL City—Greeting;— **T take this means to let you know that I am not dead or even slevping, but am right to*he front. . I have detected the band known to you as the Invisi- ble Sev n, and am preparing to gather them in, I am jaying my dragnet, and shall soon go seining for these Sos of Saan. Be prepared for a surprise when I present them for your inspection. You will prabably recognize s me familiar faces, “Yours on the trail, ‘“# Danpy’ Dick DARREL, ** Detective.” “Bully fer Dickey!” cried Ham Stanton. ag hope he gits thar in good style, an’ with both feet, too,” ‘*So do I,” agreed Lawyer Corker, “Is that notice like yours, Marshal Pierre? Isit thesame ane iat :s, Mr, Rowley ? And ‘yours, Mr, Craw- @ saa M I guess they are all alike,” said Fowley, * But where did they come from? demanded Baldy Bloome, “T found mine in my room,” said Pierre, = 4 Aud mine was in the bar-room,” added ow! ‘ The others had found theirs similarly near at ana. * 0 yer surpose Darrel war hyar in person last night?’ qucctfoned Ham, 4 Zo “Yes, or tho Chinee,” responded Corker, “V7 know they are pear us-now, and we must be read’ Jo lend Darrel any 4 he may gph aw must be up- (ee You rad vaya agreed Gold-plate George, rhs , : s we i AT i . an? F ad ie é no "eit " A er ae Bees “Sohn 7 ail ’ ve vl. y i mp Mp ‘ a fe! : « _ =a] u. wi 1 sew * Sey —— ——$__—— - ‘* Darrel seems bent upon hunting these rascals | recognized at Imperial City, as Darrel said in down, and we must back him up in every way | we can.? ** An’ welll do it, you bet!” cried Ham Stan- ton, ‘* But, be hasn’t revealed anything to us,” com- plained Fowle y- ‘* That's so; be keeps in the dark. He might have taken us more into his confiaence, I think,” And the others were of the same mind. ‘* Mebby he thort it best ter take no chances,” suggested Ham. ‘* He has ter be mighty keer- ful, yer knows,” “That's so,” agreed the marshal, f‘and he must know his own business best.” ‘* And what about these notices?” asked Corker, ‘* We will do as he requests us to do with then, of course, eb?” “Yes, certainly,” agreed the marshal. ‘“ It is all to our interest to have this band broken up, and if Darrel has got them spotted, why of | course he is the man for us to assist.” ** Right!” cried Sinclair Fowley. ‘‘ We'll do with the notices jast as he says, and so do our part. I bope he’ll succeed,” ‘*But he don’t say how ,he vanished so sud- | dently out of ther bar-room, do he?” observed one in the crowd, ‘*Never a word about it,” answered Goody Crawl, ‘*That will all be explained in good time,” said Baldy Bloome. ‘**For a detective of his ability, it was only a simple trick, no doubt,” reminded Fowley. * Right,” agreed Marshal Pierre, |“ But, come, and we will follow the requests that have been made, Darre)] shall not have it to say that we did not render him the assistince he re- quired.” The growing crowd was enthusiastic, and eagerly followed Gold-plate off in the direction of the forum, Gideon Gobles and his wife looked after them for a moment, and resumed their walk on the piszza. It was evident that they had little interest. They were clearly not in it, to make use of the popular phrase. When the crowd reached the place of public assembly, the marshal mounted to the seat of honor on the platform and addres#ed the people, | ‘* Citizens of Imperial City,” he said, ‘‘it is with pleasure that [ am able to announce good news to you. Dick Darrel is alive! Let it be known far and near that the noble detective lives!’ Cheers, “We have heard from him, though he docs not reveal bis, whereabouts, and he assures us that he is at work in our interest, hunting down that infernal band, the Invisible Seven, What is our plain duty, citizens? It is to aid him in er! way we can,’ tight you be!” one fellow shouted, ‘* Yes; that is our duty, aod I trust that every man of you will stand ready t o respord if the | call is made, We have seen how ably he trap- ped the wily doctor who imposed upon us for so ‘ong, but we cannot suppose that he can take the Invisible Seven single-handed. He will need aid from us,” ‘* An’ he'll git et, you bet!” “That is in the right tone and spirit, my man, Yes; he will get it, for we will back him, to a mun. As Lawyer Corker frequently reminds us, the law must be upheld though the heavens fall, or words to that effoct; and our duty in a matter of this sort is plainly marked out for us, Dick Darrel is a noble fellow, and this city is going to see him through!” There was cheering then, and when it had subsided in a measure thte marshal.read the notice, By this time the crowd had grown large, aud it need not be said that great interest was mani- fested, {t gave people something to talk about, At er the reading of the notice, Marshal Pierre left the platform and returned to the hotel in company with Sinclair Fowley, The two were in earnest conversation on the way, and continued after they had entered the har-room, where they took seats and remained for a consideral le time, Meanwhile, the others who bad received the Ce | his notice, were events of signal import, Ham Stanton, in company with Simon Slow, had adjourned to the Peach Blow, to give the matter the attention its importance deserved, ‘Yes, sir; sat down. ‘‘ Then you believe he has spotied ’em, eh?” in- terrogated Simon, ‘Sure as shootin’, You'jl see fun afore ye are many days older, Simon,” ‘* An’ you think b ell sec Op em?” ‘‘Sure. But mebby he'll neod help; does—” ‘*The whole camp isready to give it to him, that’s sartain,” ‘* Yas, ’cordin’ to all appear; but that ain’t jest the sort o” help ther noble Richard are wantin’, I’m thinkin’, Simon.” “ What do yer me an?” ‘*] have an idee that he’d ruther have a few of us of ther Old Guard, if it comes toa pinch. I opine he'd call on me an’ you about as soon as on any of ’em,” ‘* Might,on you; don’t know about me,” ‘* Waal, say on me, then; an’ if he does, Ill be after some of ther rest of ye, yer kin bet,” Further talk ou that line impressed Simon that perhaps there would be a call for him, and he expressed himself as ready, in case there was, an’ if he CHAPTER VI. SUPPOSED TO BB DARREL, On the following morning there was cause for new excitement, Some early risers discovered it first, and soon the whole cump was astir to learn all about it. A great notice had been discovered on the board front of the forum—to use that word again for so unworthy a structure—a notice plain and bold. It was as follows: * NOTICE! ‘Dick DARREL, BEWARE! ‘* We have heard of your boastful threats regard- ingus. You do not know the kind of men with whom you have to deal. We are invisible in act as well as infact. If you are now in Imperial, you bad better escape with your life while you.may. We have taken oath tiat y u shall die. You can nut hope to overcome foes whom you can not see. Be wise, ere it is too 1 te. Wemeanit. Further, let the citizens of Imperial be careful how they assist you against us, lest they share your fate. ‘Yours in warning, ‘ INVISIBLE SEVEN.” ‘Tt seems to be a warning to us all,” com- mented the marshal, when he read it, “That's what it. is,” agreed Ham Stanton. ‘* But we don’t scare worth a cent, I reckons,” ‘Then it won’t deter you from helpivg Dar- rel, if chance offers, eb?” ‘-You lead the way,” responded Ham, Pll show ye how lose Vl be at yer marshal,” ** That’s the talk, We'will allow no such idle threats to deter us from doing our duty. Rother let the Invisibles beware of ts! That 1s more like it,” * You is right.” In less than an hour after the discovery, the whole population was out on the Square, filled with eager curiosity. The matter was discussed from ec? ¢ stand- point, and the great question was: ho are the Invisible Seven? And thete were other questions of no less im- portance; these concerning Dick Darrel. Where was be? In what manner of disguise this time?* No one answered the questions. It was about an bour after breakfast, and there was still a great crowd around the vag when a stranger rode into the *: city.” e was a man of forty, at a guess, clad in dark clothes that gave bim a clerical leok, and mounted upon a big white mule, His coat was long, and bis pockets bulged with papers. Not a bad-oking man, he was vone too neat in personal appearance, He had a tuft of beard under bis chin that made bim suggestive of a billy-goat, while a tall bat of shabhy rougb- ness and batterer-upness generally did not go to make hitn any too genteel, Stopping his mule in the middle of the Square, ‘San? heels, notices bad posted them up,in conspicuous | facing the hotel, where tho larger portion of the places, except Reverend Bray, who pocketed his for the purpose of reading it to his congregation as requested. Men here and there in groups were discussing the matter freely. That the Invisible Seven bad been detected, and that they were inen who would probably be | crowd was, be shouted: “ All hail, citizens! All hail, all hail!” And he stretched forth bis right arm at full length, palm up, as if by the way af emphasiz- ing his hail. He had the attention of everybody, ootared / “Yes, all bail!” he exclaimed yet again. “ . 4 t.< ey “sath Y . . soa | vo he aM. -F Lanta’, Ly: b’gosh!” exclaimed Ham, as they ~- ry , : \/ —_ . y - J ~ Ny ty icbooks.com . ae ’ - ve . Toe ~ - * SF a re-22T Sa epeare. he | aad a - etfae? o> q atv a * e ee * — “~ J _ eo # + po _— - me — <—~ Por - : . a “ . » 4 »* ban > . te? - —_ a at ——"% = t.. sk 7 cy Per. > % sae Si: ny a