Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 13 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

**'You’re growing desperate, lieutenant,’’ laughed the robber-chief, ‘and be careful that you don’t run your head into the halter.”’ “Yes, Judge,” retorted Thoms, “ you can appre- ciate the old saying, that a bird in the hand is worth twointhe bush. You've got your bird caged, and are easy.”’ Dick started slightly on ae these last words. There was a latent meaning in them which he thought might develop into something tangible, so he listened intently to catch every word. ‘*Well, Thoms,’’ he heard Reckless Ralph say, after a moment's pause, ‘‘we have got to make an- other attack on these fellows to-morrow night, and if we should fail again, we will have to unearth that old war-dog in Gibben’s cellar, and try them with that. Roop says he believes there have been in- truders in the treasure-vault. If so, these claim- locaters may have found the cave, and if they're not put out of the way soon, ‘hey may bring dragoons onto ts, and the cave and its goods would be strong evidence against us. Yes, Thoms, we must exter- minate the whole gang!”’ “But, wouldn’t the death of Rossgrove prove det- rimental to your other plans?” questioned Thoms. ‘“* Not in the least. The sooner he is dead the bet- ter, for should he once get wind of what I have in Spain, he’d bring down the heavens but what he would get her back.” ‘By cracky!’’ mused Wild Dick, when he had heard this, *‘ then the original of the captain's picter is in Spain a prisoner / But, 1 do wonder what rela- tion she is to the captain?—and why she is here? I will know something about the whole matter,’ and he bent his head and listened. “Suppose, Judge,’ he heard Thoms say, “ you were to be questioned pretty closely about your pris- onet oe some one that doesn’t understand the ropes?”’ = , I'd tell them the truth, of course/ Id tell them she is my daughter who persisted in running away from the parental roof, and that I was com- pelled to lock her up.”’ aa tells the story,’’ mused the Dumb Spy, ‘ an ee At this juncture there came a hasty footstep into the court-room, and an excited voice exclaimed: ‘Captain, captain, the guard at your daughter's rison-door is vag Bary and Scarlet Death, the mon, has slain Pp? An oath burst from the profane lips of Reckless ‘* Has she—my daughter I mean—escaped?”’ ‘**No—cuess not, captain; her door’s locked.”’ The robber-chief went storming out of the court- room, and took his way through the village, closely followed and watched by the Dumb Spy. Raft soon came to the foot of a stairway leadin up on the outside between two tall buildings. number of persons were assembled there, wild with excitement and fear, Reckless Ralph pushed boldly up the stairs, and at the top, true enough, he found the body of the man ‘left there to 1 the passage, lying head, with the mark of Scarlet Death upon his oe An execra- tion burst from the outlaw’s lips; then turning, he tried the door leading into the building on the right, and found it locked. Descending the stairs, he ordered the body of the dead guard to be removed, and two others to take their post as watch at the head of the stairs. A few minutes later the outlaw chief and his lieu- tenant were back in the court-room, and from his quarters, the Dumb Spy heard the following collo- quy: ‘** Thoms, it does seem as though our fe of lory were about over. What those claim ers don’t do, Scarlet Death will And that Demon is a mys- tery I'd give a great deal to have solved.” Do you believe thar’s more than human agency connected with it, Judge?’’ asked Thoms, ‘*There must be, Thoms, or else we would have seen it ere this. But, whether the Demon is, or is not a supernatural being, it stands to reason from the recent death of Losh, that my daughter’s im- prisonment has been discovered.” “That sounds more like it, Judge. Like as any wer eres some one lurking about to release her, and if it was my prisoner—my Dora Mobile—I'd place a on the inside of her room ‘stead of the out- e. Then, don’t you see, a lurkin’ foe couldn't slip up and knock him on the head, but would have to make his way into the room, and of course would make noise enough to put the guard in ness to ve ‘ ‘Well, pally, Thoms, your sober to-night for the first time in a fortnight enables you to display more than usual wit, for your idea ene a guare on the inside of the room is a one; and ‘ll proceed to carry it into effect by Witless Seth there on guard.” “Witless Seth?’ exclaimed Thoms; “why, that deaf and : hee thing wouldn’t be my choice for a “Well, he is mine, for these reasons: she can’t converse with him, and with honeyed words and sweet smiles bribe him to release her; then his sense of fe is So sensitive that askulker couldn’t touch the buil without his feeling the vibratory shock, however ht. And another , Witless Seth can see in the dark like a cat. So he would reall make a better guard than one who depends upon ‘‘ Well, there are some advantages in him, I'll ad- mit,”’ said Thoms. **So I'll summon the mute and instruct him at once,’’ said Reckless Ralph, and he proceeded to the Spys room. e found Dick fast asleep, but rousing him, he pe ge: him into the proc yall and raising his , Ne ee Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. “Seth, my daughter, who persists in running away from home, is a prisoner in one of the secret rooms, I mistrust enemies are lurking about, who will en- deavor to liberate her to-night, and I want you to stand guard to prevent it.” The Dumb Spy evinced some uneasiness, and at once replied: é , “ Captain, I'm afraid Scarlet Death will beat me own.” ** You will not be exposed to the Demon, Seth, for I will lock you in the room with the prisoner. Then I want you to keep a sharp watch out for enemies. Watch the. prisoner; you can tell by her actions whether she is expecting any one to assist her.” This proved a relief to the mute’s assumed fears, and he at once announced his willingness to comply with the captain's request. So he was conducted to the two tail buildings where the victim of Scarlet Death had been found. Ascending the stairs, the robber-chief unlocked and opened one of the doors, and entered the room, fol- lowed by the mute. The apartment was lighted with a tallow-dip, and Wild Dick ran his eyes hastily over the room, taking everything at a glance. And he could scareely repress an exclamation when his eyes fell upon the figure of a woman, seated near a small window. She turned toward them as they entered, and the Dumb Spy saw at once that he stood face to ae the original of Captain Rossgrove’s pic- ture She was young and extremely handsome, with fea- tures of the Greek type, and a form of exquisite beauty. Her face was a little pale, and her eyes heavy and sad, for her spirit was almost crushed un- der her cruel imprisonment. A look of deep despond- ency clouded her face when she saw who her visitors were; and with a sigh she turned away, and gazed out of her barred window into the darkness. ** My dear madam,” said Reckless Ralph, ‘‘ the time will come when you will have to look on my coming with joy instead of scorn.” ‘** Never, never, villain!’ she replied, bitterly, and in a tone that awoke a feeling of sympathy in the heart of the Dumb Spy. ‘* Well, well, madam, time will tell all. At present I have reason to think you are expecting release from lurking friends. If so, let me tell you that you'll be y disappointed, for I propose to leave my dumb servant and spy in this room with ei and while there will be no danger of your bribing him, he will be pretty — to shoot the first man he gets his eyes on, trying to converse with or to release ou.” m™ Mebby so,” thought Dick, and he turned his head to conceal the cloud that swept over his face. The outlaw tarried a few minutes longer, instruct- ing the guard, then he left the room and locked the door behind him. When his footsteps descending the stairs had died away, the prisoner breathed an air of relief; but soon she buried her face in her hands and burst into tears, and wre and sobbed as though her heart was break- ing. At length she grew calm and sunk into a sort of mental abstraction. Her thoughts must have turned upon her guard eventually, for they suddenly found expression in the involuntary exclamation: ‘Oh, if this man could only s r ‘I can, madam,” said Dick, in a low whisper, caus- ing the prisoner to start from her reverie and turn with surprise upon him. “Did you speak?” she asked. “T did, madam,” Dick replied, ‘‘but speak low as possible, for they ail think I’m as deaf as an adder and dumb as a wooden man; but, the fact of it is, I can hear as good as the best, and have hty good use of my tongue. You see, I'm playin’ a fine game on these Dispute fellers, and if they - yo a now higher trump, a life *d pay the stak madam, you're jist the very person I’m lookin’ for. **You—you looking’ for me?’ exclaimed the wo- man, @ ~~ of hope beaming in her dark eyes. 4: ly,’ responded the hunter. “I’m a spy here in this settlement in behalf of a lot of fellers called claim-stakers. Not many hours ago one of them showed me a picter, and wanted me to find out whether the original was in this settlement as a pris- oner, or free. You, madam, look orfully like that picter. “Who was the person that showed you the pic- ture?” she asked. “Captain John ve.”” A low cry of joy burst from the woman’s lips, and dropping on her knees before the spy, she said, im- oringly : ee Oh, kind stranger, tell me where John Rossgrove, my dar] husband, is?” ‘Now I'll swear,’’ said Dick, somewhat surprised, “this beats me—you, ve'’s wife ! Ca Well, the captain’s not fur sans here, and if all goes right you will be with him afore long.” ‘Thank God for this!” burst from the lips of Cam- illa Rossgrove, for she, this fair prisoner was. As she resumed her seat: “Did John, my husband, tell had to think I was in this place?” ** No, he would tell me nothing,”’ “ When will you see him again?” “T can’t = vor sigs = It will be before twenty- four hours, though. t rest assured you will rescued from here, before long. You should be set at liberty this minute, but you see I’m locked in here too, and it would take a giant to burst that lock. Lordy, if Old Hurricane was in my place, Missus John, he’d tear that door down, take you in his arms and walk away with ease and pleasure. And now I’m goin’ to manage it to git him in here too. Keep on the look-out for help, and of all you do, know me, when others are about, only as Witless Seth, the Dumb Spy.” ‘J understand you, kind sir, and I will endeavor to you what reason he observe your desire. When you see my husband, tell him of my situation.” “T will do that, Missus John, and the low-lifed vil- lain that is keepin you a prisoner here will pay dearly for his cussed meanness— Ah! hark! silence!”’ The Dumb Spy drew a pistol. A hasty footstep was heard bounding up the steps without. Then a key was placed in the lock and turned, The door was thrust violently open and Reckless Ralph burst into the room like a tornado. *“Oh, ho! by the shades of Satan!” he hissed, ‘I am not deaf nora fool! I have heard voices if this room from the one below, and by—” The rest of his words were drowned in the sh crack of the pistol in the hand of the Dumb Spy! CHAPTER XVII. “4 HORSEMAN! A HORSEMAN!” ‘*CavuGut, I fear, by Jinkers!” exclaimed the Dumb Spy to himself, when he heard the robber chief at the door; but, drawing his pistol, he sprung to the window, and when the outlaw burst into the room, and upon his profane tirade, Dick thrust his arm out at the window and fired his pistol at an imaginary foe, “What's up here, anyhow?” stormed the outlaw. “So you've n conversing with some one at the window, eh, my dear madam? Did you shoot him, Seth?’ he asked, with nervous fingers, as the sp turned from the window toward him; did you wilt the villain, I ask?” ‘*No, captain,’ the spy answered, and a cloud of disappointment swept over his face. ‘Did you see any one at the window?” ‘“Yes; a man with bearded face—a stranger,” re- plied Dick, growing easier, for die saw that he was not mistrusted. From this he knew Raft had not caught the drift of their conversation. He had only heard their voices, and suspected that some one was concealed in the room, or else talking through the window to Camilla. * You should have been more cautious and not let a soul converse with the prisoner,” said Reckless Ralph, with a frown. st thought the woman was praying,” replied Dick, considering duplicity, just then, highly justifiable: “she was on her knees and I saw her pe mov- ing. But when I (a your footsteps coming, I looked around and saw the stranger at the window; but she can’t fool me again, captain.” With an oath, Reckless Ralph turned upon Camil- and said: ‘If I have evidence of your holding a conversa- tion with outsiders again, madam, I will have you locked in a place where there will be no chance of your being found.” Camilla made no reply to the villain, for fear she might utter some word that would betray her friend, the Dumb Spy; and after having cautioned the to be more careful, the tyrant, believing he ad frightened her into submission, left the room, A smile overspread the features of the Dumb Spy, which finally broke into a fit of suppressed laughter, as the outlaw’s footsteps died away. The fair prisoner and her guard now entered into another conversation, which, however, was carried on in whispers. At vn Sy Camilla, at the earnest est of her com on, retired to her bedroom and sought repose on the couch that had been pre- pared there for her. Dick placed his chair against the door of the prison-room, and, assuming a position of ease, went to sleep and slept till artery About sunrise he was dismissed from further ser- vice, as Camilla’s guard, by Reckless Ralph. As soon as he had procured his breakfast, he wandered away westward into the woods, but as soon as he was out of sight of Spain, he bent his footsteps in the direction of Fort Defiance. Moving with all pos- sible haste, he soon came in. sight of the little post. He saw the flag floating lazily in the morning breeze, but not one of the defenders could be seen. fully he crossed the ope and approach- ed the fort. The gate was opened to admit him, and, when he had made a general statement of the situation of affairs among the enemy, he took Cap- tain rove aside and said: ‘**Captain, I’ve found your wife.” “My bes the captain. ‘* Yes, captain, she’s a prisoner at abducted and carried there by the rob The captain groaned in yoy * Oh, God! — it will. veittin’. . ‘No danger, Cap. e's "on all right, I ed ner last night and had a long talk with bet, and came danged nigh gettin’ catched playin’ mute. “Then you told her I was near?” ‘Yes; and it doné me good to see her eyes sparkle and roses gather on her cheeks. I tell you, Cap, you must be oo of sich a handsome woman.” “Oh, heavens, Dick! If you only knew the agony I have'suffered the last week, you would_know how fondly I love ry wife. And if you will effect her re- lease you shall have your own reward.” “Tut, tut, Cap; the honors I’m reapin’ as Witless Seth, the Dumb Spy, more than repays me for all J do, Then I’m goin’ to make the information I pos- sess of them outlaws’ doin’s pay me somethin’. However, I've got a plan laid for the rescue of your wife, if Old Hurricane will lend a helpin’ hand.’ “Then, Dick, I fear she will never be released, for nn. She war rs. | . I expect Hurricane is dead.’ ; je ead?” exclaimed the hunter. “Hurricane ead?” Rossgrove briefly narrated the adventures of the revious night, and the sudden and fearful depar- ome of Old Hurricane and Big-Foot on the back of the frightened horse. EoOmiicsooks (E(0)