Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 168 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

a : ~sursed Harcourts have -m.00d,” coolly retorted Deadly Dash. . what .. sooling down. > <aay power. ~were? how you intended to act?” .@eerned the enem . ikee’t blame you, =) Deadly Dash. a d fro, while awaiting the coming of his men. She is alambin the wolf den—for those ac- t possession of her.” “So long as she is alive—they will not dare wwork her any harm, Seth,” said Bedell, in a tone wf relief. “High and mighty as Edwin Har- eourt holds himself, it would be a black day’s work for him when he wronged my child—the every women and children would rise ap and $ynch him.” “The devil may trust him, but Til not,” egrowled Hovey. ** And it is for that that you are ordering out the men?” inquired Deadly Dash, stepping a Lit- le forward. “What is that to you?’ snapped the outlaw, pourly. %Snply this,” responded the youth, speaking quictly, but with a flush deepening upon his smooth, girlish cheek. ‘‘ lhave become strange- dy mixed up with your affairs, and when | found that your worst enemy and mine were ene and the same person, I pledged myself to eee the fight to anend. But this was under the aapposition that you were aman who would wontest every point of vantage, and not ruin all Shrouzh arash impulse. Now, as I see the mis- éake T made, I beg leave to withdraw my—” “Withdraw and be hanged!” rudely inter- suptad Hovey. , ‘Remain and be hanged sounds but little bet- eter: and that is what the whole thing will csemount to, if you set forth in hi present _ Here Joshua Bedell interfered, addressing his f&.cughter’s lover. ‘Our friend is right, Seth, Sally is in no dan- r, and after what bas occurred, it would be lily for you to lead the band forth now. Who +knows but there may be spies on the watch, vand if the secret of this place is discovered, you -will be ambushed as you go or come.” ou had seen what I have—if you knew hey have already done this night, you would not be so cool,” said Hovey, but visibly ‘While you were sleeping, the wvere at work—and a black night’s work it sha be to those that had a hand in it, that I swear, by the eternal!” “So long as Sally is safe, I care little for the rest,” said Bedell. . “Even if your house, your stables, were burned to the ground, and the old place laid as bare as the back of your hand—” “But they would not dare—” “They would—they have! I saw the light ~é if . above the trees before I had left vou half an ‘hour, but though it came from the direction of place, I never once suspected the truth— “pot mntil I rode on further and saw another red glare coming from my own house. Even then i could harder believe my eyesight, and gallop- 24 on to convince myself of my error. Instead —I saw the dear old home that had sheltered ane from boyhood, a mass of blazing ruins!” “ Heaven’s vengeance — upon the coward- fy scoundrels!” cried Bedell, his face flushed, this breath coming quick and hot. “And I mean to be one of the instruments through which that vengeance is administered,” added Hovey, with a hard, unpleasant laugh. “J struck the first blow then and there, for I wavght sight of that coward ’Race Harcourt, ‘es ctering down the railing around the graves of sry mother and father, and I drew a bead upon hs black heart. But the red light fooled me, and “GT missed my mark, though one of his mates—I could not see his face—fell in his stead. “Of course I had to run for it, but they didn’t foliow me far. Afraid of an ambush, I sup- ”) ““ And my place was destroyed too, you say?” “very stick and plant. That was paid a cist first, for nothing was left but a pile of ‘lewing embers when I got there, They did “ieir foul work thoroughly, curse them.” “Wo wonder you were half-wild with rage,” « id Deadly Dash, all traces of offense banished ‘ ¢fhe story he had just heard. ‘“‘ Believe me, i Seel for you, to the bottom of my heart, and I ‘ill help you to your revenge as far as lies in Now may I ask what your plans “To charge into and carry the town—to roast -ol4 Harcourt and his precious son in their own frmel!” was the fierce reply. ie words are easily spoken, and possibly Mm old plan might prove successful, but not witiout paying a high price. You must realize ke truth of what I say, if you look at the mat- ” A surprise is now impossible, because you by shooting that man. I would have done the same ter calmly. EL — — i — ——— —— — ee ee ———— aed — eee so eee eS —- ° > ~ es thing aa ban under the provocation. But that | them tbat he delivered his message, but say shot wil at hand, and they will be upon their guard. They can bring two armed men into the field for each one of yours, and though they may not be so well disciplined, they could be defeated only at a heavy sacrifice on your part. ‘**Another point: while you were fighting your way into the village, would not t..e Har- courts take the alarm and either seek safety in flight, or at least dispose of Miss Bedell so that you could not find her?’ Hovey was convinced that he had been going the wrong way to work, but he had been in the habit of commanding so long, that it was no easy task for him to own himself in the wrong, and he muttered, sullenly enough: ‘It’s easy to say what one shouldn’t do, but it would be more to the point were you to point out a better plan.” ‘*Bid your men return their horses to the stable, and 1 think I can satisfy you, even on that score,” smiled Deadly Dash, with a quiet confidence that enforced obedience. The outlaw chief gave the desired command, TR flung himself moodily down beside the e. “In the first place,” added the youth. “I am a believer in the old law of fighting fire with fire. Since our enemies—for mine they are as much as yours—have set us the example, we will show them that two can play at the same game. ** As we can act better under cover of night, let them have one day in which to get over their first flurry of vigilance. Then we will set to work. “You say that the young lady is held a pris- oner in the house of Edwin Harcourt—” ‘Yes. I took a round through the town, after visiting the ruins on Bedell’s place, and while there [| met Dick Dado—but he must be somewbere in here, I brought him with me be- hind my saddle—you Dick!’ In response to this call, a little ragged figure came out from one shadowy corner, and drew near the fire. ‘** Tell the PE kor aa the same story you told me,” ordered Hovey. The lad obeyed, but as the first and greater portion of the tidings he had to communicate would be no news to the reader, it would be a waste of time and space to report him in full. After telling them what Harcourt said, he gave his reasons for not at once seeking out Hovey. His mistress was all in all to him, and when he believed he had thrown his enemies off the scent, he crept back and found a snug but uneasy lodgment under the open window, in the heart of of a particularly thorny rosebush. From this ambush he overheard the whole conversation of the two precious scoundrels. They agreed to blind the neighbors by send. ing off a covered wagon to the county seat, giving out that its inmate was Miss Bedell, but instead she was to be kept a close prisoner up- stairs until they could frighten or force her a3 marrying Horace Harcourt. This would give them possession of the coveted farm with its rich coal deposits, for they meant to urge on the pursuit until Joshua Bedell was either kill- ed or else captured and hung. Edwin Harcourt bade his son, as soon as any of the pursuers should come back, if they were not successful, ply them with liquor until the should be ripe tor any work, however .dastard- ly, and then set them up to burning the houses of both Hovey and Bedell. Thus far Dick overheard their conversation but then the negro man-servant returned, and fearing discovery, the lad crept away, though still hovering around until, he saw the close car- riage brought out. — This was nearly at sundown, and while it was being prepared, he ran around and lay in wait along the road it must follow. When it came, he managed to jump up behind, and cutting a hole through the back curtain, found it empty. Thus assured that his mistress was still kept a srisoner in the house, Dick hung around until e saw and recognized Seth Hovey, to whom he made known his discoveties. ‘“ And from this on, you sre my little brother, Dick!” cried the grateful cutlaw, bugging the lad warmly. ‘* You shall Jive with Saag and I when we are marricd, es long as we have a roof to cover our herds!” And little Dick Dado was made perfectly happy. “Now this is my plan,” resumed Deadly Dash, ‘‘ and if not quite so full of brilliant dar- ing as the one you proposed, I Saas you will confess if can be more easily carried out. * Dick shall re‘urn ond see the Harcourts; tell tell them there is a time of reckoning | that Joshua Bedell and the two stran; e1s had giveu the band the slip. Say that Seth Hovey swore he would find them, and deliver the fa- ther up to justice for the sake of saving the daughter. Tell them this, and not a word more. Then meet us when it grows dark, at the spot where we first cross the creek, and tell us how the villagers are working. Keep your eycs open, and let nothing escape them.” Dick nodded his comprehension and willing- ness, and being provided with a supply of food, was let out into the world once more, ‘‘Of course our plans may have to be modi fied somewhat, by the word Dick brings us,” resumed Deadly ae ‘‘but in its essential points will remain much the same, You, or some of your men, will start a fire, not too close to the house—” ‘‘ Harcourt’s store will be the very thing!” ex- claimed Hovey. ‘* That will draw the attention of the villagers. We—nmy friend and I—will hold the Harcourts in check, while you carry off Miss Bedell. With her once in safety, we will show these fellows what is meant by fighting fire with fire!” Hovey and Bedell both began to express their thanks and gratitude to the strangers for the trouble and risk they were so ready to under- take on their behalf, but Deadly Dash inter- rupted them with an impatient gesture. ‘‘Spare your words—in serving you, I am serving myself. What Ido, and am willing to do, is not through love for you, but because | hate the Harcourt family root and branch, with a hatred that will not end even in the grave!” CHAPTER VII. STRIKING THE ENEMY. Dick DADO was as good as his word, and met the company at the creek crossing, soon after the sun had sunk to rest and the shades of night settled down over the earth. He had done bis work equally well, and gave in his report with a er distinctness that carried conviction with it. He said that Edwin Harcourt apparently be- lieved the tale he told him, since fe had pur- suaded the leading men among the settlers that it would be rank folly for them to set out in quest of the outlaw band, without having the odds on their side, and to do this would be to leave the village and its weaker inmates, help- less at the mercy of the enemy, should they meditate a sudden descent upon the town to pane revenge for the buildings burnt on the past night. He repeated the message brought by Dick Dado, and advised them to wait and see what truth there was init. And in the meantime for each man to keep his arms and wits about bim, ready for use in case the emergency arose. ‘** He’s got four men planted round his house, with guns aw’ pistils an’ sech like,” added Dick. **Reckon he counts on a visit from you, he’s se mighty keerful.” ‘**Nor shall he be disappointed, though 1 doubt his being able to entertain company for many another day, when once we say good-Ly to him!” cried Hovey, grimly. In his eagerness to insure the rescue of Sally Bedell, the outlaw chief had brought with him. all of his force, only leaving one man insice the cave to work the secret door, Both Deadly Dash and Sampson thought this an unwise proceeding, when it was remembered that Black Dan Boller was in the hands of the enemy. ‘‘He bas shown himself the enemy of you both,” added Deadly Dash. ‘‘ What security haye you that he will not betray all the sccrets of the company and we find them in possession of the retreat when we return?” ‘‘ No man Could find the entrance from simple description, or even if they should stumble up- on it, the door would not open, since we have changed our pass-word,” laughed Hovey. Only a short consultation was necessary in order to perfect their plavs in those slight alter- ations rendered necessary by the report of this young spy. They expected to accomplish their purpose more by cunning than by force, where some valuable lives might be sacrificed, though they meant to fight fire with fire, and deal their worst enemy a blow that would not soon be for- gotten. : The majority of the-band were to balt in the timber near the spot where Joshua Bedell came so near finishing his earthly career in the hang- man’s hands, and to remain there until the re- turn of the others, unless they should be called forward by a shrill blast from a horn. Deadly Dash and Old Mythology were te steal | JOOK com (G Co! a