Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 168 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

~ 6 some sort, but look as closely as they might, they failed to discover the entrance. “Tt would be same were you to make the search in the broad light of noonday,” said Hovey, with an accent of gratified pride. ‘‘Dame Nature wrought the greatest portion but human skill did the most delicate work, an formed the mask that has kept our secret safe Saree in the band until now. You are the st’? ‘‘T will answer for them with my liver, Seth,” cried Bedell. ‘There is no guarantee needed,” promptly re- sponded the young chief, dismounting and grasp- ing a small projection of the rock, swung open a door high and wide enough to permit the passage of a horse, without any seeming exer- tion. ‘‘ We generally leave this closed and fastened, with some one on guard to open only when the regular signal is given,” added Hovey, “ but I expected every arm would be needed on this expedition. As you see, no harm was done,” ell might the outlaw chief be proud of his hidden door, for it was a rare specimen of cun- ning workmanship. At first, the entrance to the cave had been but a small, irregular hole, but this had been broken and chiseled out until of the dimensions before mentioned. A door of hewn logs was made, and one side of this was covered with flakes and bunches of rock, so that, when the door was closed, the keenest eye would have failed to discover the cheat. Dudley and Sampson followed Hovey into the eave, suffering their horses to guide themselves, for all within was dark as Erebus itself. Presently the animals came to a pause of their own accord, and ere long a waving tongue of fire became visible through the darkness, grad- nally expanding into a broad sheet of flame as the pile of lightwood ignited, revealing a won- derful sight to the eyes of the two strangers. lt is now a well-known fact that a portion of South-west Missouri is blessed with a wonderful number of caves under and in its hundreds of limestone ridges, varying in size from the den barely large enough to afford accommodations to a bear or wolf family, to mammoth caves where the curious sight-seer may wander for miles, feasting his eyes upon the fantastic freaks of nature. Before the late war, comparatively little was known concerning these caves, but the guerrilla bands found refuge there, until finally hunted out, and thus the Cave Region became better known to the general public. Yet, even to this day, the discoveries are still going on, and fresh caves being found, the existence of which had never been suspected. In one of these caves our friends now found themselves, and as the ruddy flames leaped higher and shone forth witb | ae brilliancy, an involuntary ery of wondering admiration parted their lips. They were in a vast and almost circular chamber, the dome of which would have been invisible but for the firelight being reflected from the glistening points of thousands of snow- white stalactites. Allaround them were numberless stalagmites which, in the course of countless ages had as- sumed a remarkable variety ot shapes, weird and fanciful, now rendered doubly so by the dancing light of the crackling fire. Here were clusters of snow-white columns, of every conceivable shape and size, carved as by the cunning chisel of some expert artist, ris- ing from the floor to the roof, like pillars in some vast cathedral. Just beyond they take new shapes, enn wales two to twenty feet in bight, and with a Very slight draft upon fancy forming statues of beasts and fishes, birds an reptiles, curtains and ner’ apps here all snowy- white, there all nae with orange. And dim- ly seen in the distance, stood the figure of a snowy colossus, its arm uplifted, its hand clenched, save for the index finger which point- ed on high. . Still further on could be heard the musical ripple of water, falling several yards in a min- jature caseade, and a-small stream of ice-cold water wound thronugte, the stalagmites. “Tt looks prettier to the eye then the golden ha’r o’ Venus,” uttered Sampson, but with a little grimace and s*rug of the shoulders as he sniffed the damp air.» “‘ Bat ’pears to me it'd be rather rough on sech poor devils as kerries rheumaticky bones "bout with them.” Hovey laughed and prerac a blazing brand, led them to another chamber, where the floor “as covered with white sand, and the air was pareanddry. Todo so they A ogy ae through a netural gateway, formed by the particularly dripping lime- ' —— — ———— _ — Deadly Dash. stone, snowy white and fancifully festooned at the sides, while overhead the beautifully carved and fluted drapery was colored a deep orange. This chamber, where their guide hastened to kindle another fire, was much smaller, and bore evidence of steady use. A semi-circle of bunks, filled with dry leaves and grass; a fire-place and a number of cooking utensils; skins, blankets, horse furniture, clothes and weapons hanging upon the walls, all went to prove this, ‘Tt was a trace of pardonable vanity that led me to show you our curiosity-chamber first,” laughed Hovey. ‘‘ There is much more beyond—indeed I do not believe the cave has ever been wholly explored—but, after all, a good hot supper when one is hungry, is the best of good things.” ‘“T could eat mouthful fer mouthful with the cannibal king of Arcady, an’ never stop to ax what kind o’ bones I was pickin’, either!’ de- clared Sampson, smacking his lips, That others were hungry, was evidenced b the alacrity displayed in preparing a hot meal, and ere many minutes passed away, all were busily satisfying their hunger. Hovey was one of the first through, and drawing Joshua Bedell aside, he spoke earnestly for a few minutes, then led forth a fresh horse from an inner chamber, which served as stable, and started toward the entrance, Directly afterward, Bedell approached Dud- ley and gravely asked for a brief interview. A little co aly, but with no apparent reluctance, the youth followed the man whom his daring had preserved from an ignominious death. Sampson, like a faithful watch-dog, was quickly at their heels, plainly resolved not to lose sight of his young friend for a single moment. ‘‘T don’t suppose it matters much to you,” began Bedell, re essen Brig. ph as though fear- ful of being interrupted before he could have his say out, ‘‘but for my own satisfaction, I wish to explain why and how I came to be in such a painful and degrading situation.” This he proceeded to do, but at greater length than we would be justified in devoting to the — Sosdesend his narrative ran as fol- OWS: His daughter had three suitors more r- tinacious than the rest; Seth Hovey, Black Dan Boller and Horace Harcourt. The former, who finally won the prize in love’s race, was a young farmer, liked and esteemed by everybody save his defeated rivals, bearing a good reputation among the neighbors who little suspected he was in reality the chief of the band which had laid them under enforced contributions for several years. Nor did Bedell himself suspect this until after the engagement, when his efforts to wean his daughter from her reckless love were all in vain. Black Dan was also a member of the band, and when his suit was rejected, he “‘cut u rusty,” insulted Sally and received a soun thrashing at the hands of the father. Horace Harcourt was the son of the richest man in the village, store-keeper, banker and money lender. His suit had been rejected time and again, but since the discovery of a valuable vein of coal on the Bedell farm, he had been rsistent. The elder Harcourt had tried hard to buy the farm, at his own price, but Bedell refused to sell, saying he meant to work the coal vein as soon as he could raise the necessary funds, and from that day Edwin Harcourt was his bitter enemy, doing him all the harm he could. By some means, Harcourt must have obtained a powerful influence over Black Dan, since the latter, when wounded in the luckless affray of the night before, on the Heywood place, swore to a lie, black as his own heart, when he declared that Bedell fired the fatal shot. Though carefully guarding Hovey’s secret for his daughter’s sake, Bedell had mever mixe himself wit his first visit to the retreat. “It is all a plot to gain ion of my place,” the farmer added, onately. ‘‘ They thought to hang me out of the way, and doubt- less would have treated Sally in much the same manner, if they couldn’t frighten her into marrying Horace, or into selling the farm ata nominal price. For that they bought up Dan Boller, to swear away my life.” ‘‘Tell me what you know of this Edwin Har- court,” said Dudley, with a voice of studied calmness, though the fire that burned in his large, dark eyes could not be as well controlled. ‘‘Tf he is the man I suspect, it may be that I can be of some service to you in this matter.” ‘“‘ He came here from the South, as I under- stand, some three yearsago. He had plenty of money, and by the arts of a usurer, he has the outlaw’s affairs, and this was ; own wonderfully rich in that time. He would end money to those in need of it, taking mort- gages on their stock and farms, then foreclose, and so gain possession for a mere tithe of what the articles were worth.” Dudley plied Bedell with question after _ques- tion, and finally became convinced that Edwin a was indeed the man he was searching or. In the end his passions, until now suppressed by an iron will, burst their bonds, and grasping the willing hand of the farmer, he cried: ‘‘I believe your story—I feel that you are more sinned against than sinning. We are firm friends from this moment. I will make your cause my cause. We will work together against this devil in the garb of a saint. We will deal him blow for blow—and show him no more mercy than he has ever shown to his unfor- tunate victims!” _“You are a stranger, but I believe you are sincere—” ‘You have been frank—I will be equally so. My name— ‘Is Deadly Dash, an’ yer stan’s Old My thol- onF very much at your sarvice. Shake!’ e speaker was Sampson, and pushing his bony frame between the twain, he g Be- dell by the hand, working his own arm like a pump-handle, a broad, benignant smile upon his countenance, even while he thrust out one foot behind him and gave Dudley a warning kick on the shin. Bedell was not so blind but what he saw and divined the meaning of this action, but so far from being offended by the evident lack of con- fidence in him, he laughed softly. ‘The names are sufficient, and possess the merit of being especially appropriate, Your dash, I hope, will prove a deadly one to the hopes of our mutual enemy. So keep your se- cret until we are better acquainted.” ‘There is no great secret,” said Dudley, care- lessly, ‘‘ but, as you say, the noms de nicque fit well enough, and as those gentlemen over yonder are eying us curiously, you may introduce us as such, in due form.” This ceremony was performed, and the curi- ous names accepted without a comment. Where nearly every man had his ‘‘ pet title,” no fault could be found, and then, as Bedell said, the deeds of the new recruits spoke for themselves. Old paren 4 made a characteristic speech relished none the less because his auditors could not understand his classical allusions, then, worn out by the fatigue and excitements of the day, he and his master took possession of the bunks assigned them, and were soon wrapped in slumber. This example was soon followed by a majori- ty of the outlaws, only those who were on spe- cial duty remaining awake. The hours passed by without alarm or inci- dent deserving comment, until the night was far spent, when the man on guard at the rock- covered door received the signal that demanded admittance. As the cog S door swung silently upon its carefully oiled hinges, Seth Hovey pressed in- side, the door closing quickly behind him. When he reached the chamber where the fire still glowed, his sharp cry awoke every sleeper. And they saw that the chief had brought most important tidings, for bis face was pale as deuth, and a fierce, deadly light glowed in his eyes, CHAPTER V. TWO PRECIOUS SCOUNDRELS. WHEN young Heywood tore the self-adjusted noose from around the fair throat of y Be- dell, though he made use of no more force than lpn was really necessary, the maiden lost er balance and fell from the wagon seat upon which she had been standing in order to bring her head level with that of her father’s. It was this moment that Sampson, or Old Mythology, seized upon for giving the signal that brought Dick Dado fo with ‘his twaty startling outer Sally heard the cries and shouts, saw the ex- citement and confusion that seized upon the mob, and hope was renewed in her breast as she believed her true love had kept his vow to rescue the parent of his betrothed wife. She heard the quick rush of horses’ feet. she saw the riders as they closed up on each side of the wagon, and saw heavy blows that left her father an un ded man save for the thongs that still confined his limbs. Saw him raised aloft in the arms of a heavily-bearded man whose weather-beaten features looked to her like the face and front of a veritable angel. She uttered a sharp cry and arose to her feet, = EOMIGIOOKS (E(0) a a ea _ la TE