Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 168 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

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Dick obeyed, Seth meanwhile hiding himself | among the shrubbery in the front yard, and when the three guards, unnoticing the absence of one of their number in the confusion of the moment, or else thinking he had borne Mr. | Harcourt company, rushed through the gate ‘and up the street toward the momentarily growing light, he hastened up the steps and en- | tered the wide hall. In his eagerness to reach and bear away his rsecuted bride, Hovey never noticed a dark orm lying near the door, else much of what followed might have been averted. He rushed up the stairs, followed by Dick Dado, who took the lead when the second floor was reached, and was quickly at the door of the chamber where Sally ell was confined. Lover-like, her face and form was all that he could see, as the look of terror upon her poor bruised features changed into an expression 0 joy when she recognized a dear friend instead of an —— One swift leap, and he had her folded tightly to his breast, raining lege kisses upon her upturned face, forgetful of all else in that mo- ment of blissful reunion. But not so little Dick Dado. He saw another being—a huge, fat negress, hideous in feature as sin itself—and he saw that she recognized the outlaw chief—that she was paring to make her escape in order to give the alarm, apparently not having seen him. Deadly Dash. negro together, and by a desperate effort this was “se a a brief time before Seth Hovey and Dick Dado entered the building. The negro recognized them, just as he had recognized Old Mythology, for it will be remembered that he was at the frustrated lynching, since his return frightened Dick Dado from his lurking-place in the rose-bush. He was ashrewd fellow, faithful to his master, and as soon as he could free his feet, he hastened away for help. And when Seth Hovey left the house with his betrothed, the alarm had been given, and a score of armed men were hastening to the rescue of the village autocrat. The one broad street was brilliantly ilumin- ated by the red glare of the burning building, and Hovey hesitated fora moment at the gate before emerging, but then, bidding Sally envel- op her face in the shawl, while he slouched his hat far down over his brows, he made the ad- venture, And there is little doubt but what he would have effected his escape before the settlers whom the negro alarmed, could have reached the spot, had not a man, turning the corner of the yar , ran violently against him, knocking the at from his head with the force of their colli- sion, and turning him half way around, so that the red glow fell full upon his countenance. The man was a farmer who lived a short ways out of town, who had made all haste to the vil- lage as soon as the conflagration became visible but he was one of those who had been engaged | in the lynching affair, and immediately recog- | | maiden, and before he could free it, his throat nized the outlaw chief. He uttered acry of rise, then, being no coward, nS ime, at Hovey’s throat, taking him ata disadvantage, since the right arm of the outlaw became entangled in the shawl of the was tightly compressed, and his heels kicked If not seen, Dick very speedily made himself | from under him. felt, for he darted in front of the negress, clasp- ing her huge knees, and making his keen teeth meet in the mountain of flesh that overhung him, drawing a loud scream of pain from her lips, and awakening Seth Hovey to a sense of the imprudence he had been guilty of. Grasping her by the shoulders and pressing one knee into her back as he exerted his strength Hovey quickly overturned the huge animal, an with Dick’s assistance, soon contrived to bind her hand and foot, thrusting a towel into her mouth and binding it fast. **God bless you, lad!” he cried, impulsively. **Only for you, there would have been the devil to pay, all through my thoughtlessness. We must get out of here—Sally, dear, wrap that shawl around you. The night air is cool and damp, and there is a long ride before you. Hasten, dearest.” Yet even while bidding her thus, lover-like he was hindering rather than helping her. But that was only natural. And there was only lit- tle Dick to see them, for the hideous old ne s was too badly frightened for her own self to take notes, and he had run a great risk in order to rescue her—and lovers will be lovers though the heavens fall! But at length the fair one was bundled up sufficiently to me his tender solicitude, and with Dick leading the way, and Sally hanging upon his arm, the outlaw chief descended the stairs. While Dick opened the door and peered forth in order to make sure that the coast was clear, Hovey uttered the whistle that told Dead- ly Dash and Old Mythology that he had succeed- ed in his ma 0 And then they left the building, ignorant that To explain this, a brief retrospection must be e. After aiding Deadly Dash to enter the open window, from off his bowed shoulders, Old - thology hastened to the front door, cautiously trying the knob, finding it turn freely. He opened the door and entered, the first Object his eyes resting on being a stout negro, seated in a air, asleep, his auty evidently being to answer ithe door. “we , fi pson come prepared for some su eheoruhasy, and his uscuia” fingers’ closed around the throat of the negro, checking all out- cry, and dragging him out of the chair, he soon had him bound and gagged. It was the sounds attending this operation that aroused the hopes of the Harcourts, only to be dashed by the ap- of one whom he recognized as a bitter and relentless enemy. | oe All the time the settler was shouting loudly for help, and this guided the alarmed men to the spot, shouting as they ran. Hovey knew that capture now would be but another name for death, and managing to free one of his revolvers, he thrust it against the ribs of his assailant, and fired. Instantly that vicious gripe relaxed, and cast- ing off the body—for the shot had been a fatal one—the outlaw arose. For the moment he was blinded, and moved away rather than toward Sally, who stood as though petrified, and before he could rectify his mistake the enemy was wpon him, the re- volvers cracking venomously, and with a short, half-stifled cry, he reeled and fell heavily to the ground. The fall of her lover, broke the spell that was upon the maiden, and with a shrill shriek of bitter grief, she sunk on his body, shielding him from further harm with her own person, CHAPTER IX, DEADLY DASH TO THE RESCUE. EDWIN HARCOURT also sprung to his feet, but whether it was to aid kis son or to attempt making his escape, will never be known, for Deadly Dash instantly realized the imprudence he had heen guilty of, and turning upon the old sinner he shifted the heavy revolver in bis hand then dealt him a crushing blow upon the skull that knocked him senseless and quivering in his tracks. And even as he dealt the sturdy blow, his other hand swept the lamp from the table, leaving the room in almost total darkness. A faint red glow came in through the broken sufficient clearness to render their position in- stantly dangerous. Those few moments had been well aes by the settlers, who were close upon the building when Horace Harcourt uttered a wild cry for help, and when that worthy was hurled head- long through the window, carrying both blind and sash with him, he was pounced upon by the excited villagers, who believed him to be one of the outlaws, making a desperate attempt at es- ca Their excitement was intense, and each man burned to deal at least one blow upon the wretch. None of them wished or thought of slaying, since the victim was helpless in their hands, for that would only be to cheat the hang- man’s noose, and so only the weapons bestowed upon them by nature were brought into Play. Deadly Dash heard the fierce tumult, and had ing aloud at the singular error his enemies had fallen into. ‘‘Brass prison 0’ Mars, an’ winged heels 0’ Mercury!” exclaimed Old Mythology in a re- proachful undertone, as this sound came to his ears. ‘Is this a monkey show or a circus whar you come to laugh at the clown? Better we git out o’ here in a hurry, ’stead o’ laughin’.” ‘‘That we may do now, and without much danger, I believe,” responded Deadly Dash, in the same guarded tone of voice. ‘“ This side of the house is in the shadow, and the fools are so busy pounding that cowardly rascal that they will not be very apt to see us as we drop out of the window.” While speaking, Deadly Dash was not idle, He cautiously slipped behind the blind that covered the one window on the south side of the room, and quietly raised the sash. The burning building was to the north, or up the pri: cipal street, and this fact cast that side of the house into the deepest shadow, rendering objects invisible at the distance of a very few feet. As he listened to hear if any of their enemies were lurking near, Old Mythology anticipated him, and thrust himself through the opening, to bear the first brunt, if danger there should be. But there came back only a faint hiss, that told Deadly Dash the coast was clear, and the next moment the youth alighted beside his faithful friend. With weapons ready for use in case they should be intercepted, the two adventurers crept along in the deeper shadows, where the shru bery was densest, and quickly gained the fence, wriehouth having encountered any foemen, though loud cries and excited shouts seemed to come from every spot save the particular one they oc- cupied. eir danger would begin in earnest, as soon as they should cross the fence and enter the fire- lighted street, but as he caught sight of a con- fused group only a few rods before him—as he distinguished the prostrate form of aman, with a woman bending over him, being forcibly torn from the body by half a dozen arms, she scream- ing and begging for mercy—not for herself, but for the one whom she was trying to protect from their weapons—Deadly Dash forgot this, and leaping over the barrier, he ran swiftly to the rescue. Old Mythology made one ineffectual grasp at. the youth, then followed swiftly, to share his fate for weal or woe. Deadly Dash did not pause to count the odds. He only saw that the man whose friend and ally he had so strangely become, was in trouble; that, and heard the appealing cries of a woman in distress. Yet he acted with a degree of coolness far be- yond his years, uttering no sound, retaining his fire until so near that every shot should count without running any risk of striking the wrong target. en he opened fire, and every shot wasaimed to kill or disable, for he knew that the rescue must be speedy and complete, for the sounds of firing would turn all eyes upon them, and lead to a united charge of the enemy in that direc- tion. Only a'féw feet behind, Old Mythology ably seconded the actions of his young master, and almost before she or they realized the truth, the maiden was free, and three of her assailants were writhing upon the ground. ‘‘Pick him up—make for the shadows!” cried Deadly Dash, hurling himself upon the two set- tlers still afoot, felling one with a swift stroke ld Mythology grasped the form of the out- law chief and flung it across his broad shoulde while Deadly Dash, with one arm flung aroun the waist of the half-fainting girl, led the way toward a portion of the village where a clump of densely leaved trees cast a deep gloom over the earth. All this bad transpired with far greater ra- pidity than it can be read, and the rescue was effected before any of the settlers within eye sight could fairly comprehend what was the ex- act situation of affairs. But now, as our friends turned to flee, the ll seemed broken, and afew hasty shots were harged after them, while with loud and an- ral ying cries, the settlers rushed forward in ot pursuit. ith a backward glance Deadly Dash saw this, and snatching away the horn worn by Seth | the dark form was no longer lying there in the | window, strong enough for the twain to distin- | from his pistol-butt, and causing the other to : shadow—ignorant of all the peril and injury that | guish each other and act in concert, but not re- | turn and fiee as though the foul fiend and all bis * its disa rance was to work them! vealing the objects within to those outside with | imps were at his heels. '¢ The veteran ee his work well, but | no difficulty in divining its cause. Even in that | Hovey, clap it to his lips and sent forth the | ; as the fates w have it, there was a weak | momentof extreme peril, when their lives hung | shrill blast that would tell the outlaw band that | - spot in the thong that the wrists of the | as it were, by a thread, he could not help laugh- ' their services were needed. + -— --- ——- -« ‘ - fre —— Ebooks:co —- Se el