Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 281 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

a found about, in conspicuous places, con- taining the followiug notice: ** $1,000 REWARD! “The above sum will be paid by Detective Sin- elair, of the U. P. Railway, for the detection and arrest of the noted desperado, Captain Crime, or his band of outlaws. “ These men are known to have wrecked the U. P. train, en the night of the — inst., hence the reward. ra Hberal reward, also, for information leading to e discovery of their rendezvous. “KK. H. Srnciam, Detective. “ Mountain View Hotel.” It chanced that Denver Doll had not seen any of these notices during her morning trip. But others had—among them, u Blonde = Deputy Marshal King, who were out to- a ep er 8 me me oe _—- = er. “Ah! just what we’ve been waiting for,” King exclaimed, as he perused the notice. ‘I now have a chance to make a season’s salary by working re a case on this Pacific Phil. Are you with me, Bl onde?” ‘That depends upon circumstances,” the ae replied. “Are you gving to lynch m ** No; it wouldn’t hardly do—especially since there’s so much detective element in the town. This man Sinclair hasa blamed sight of influ- ence with the marshal, you see, and I can’t ver well act all my own way when he’s around. Therefore, I’ll see him personally and arrange a trial, to which you will send forward three wit- nesses to testify that they have seen Captain Crime, —— Pacific Phil is one and thesame man. “‘See? Of course. I’m not blind or dumb.” ‘* Well, then, it’s settled. After Pacific Phil is stretched, you are to band over to me one thousand dollars.” ; Beau Blonde hesitated. “*That’s too much to give for the sake of grati- fying one’s spite,” he protested. “No matter. You agreed toitonce. If you back out now, Pll throw up the whole business.” “Oh! well, go ahead then, and I will be as good as my word.” “It’s abargain. I'l! off to call on the U. P.'s man now, and see what can be done with him.” ‘He found Detective Sinclair in a room of the Mountain View, engaged in writing a letter, which, however, was laid aside on the detec- tive’s entrance. ** Mr. Sinclair, I believe,” King said, on enter- ing, and beholding a little, pinched-up, sallow- —_ ferret-eyed individual, of some fifty “Exactly, sir—Elias Sinclair, at your ser- vice. Who are you?” was the brusque answer. “Tam Deputy Marshal King,” the other re- plied, seating himself. “Eh? is that sof” and the puny man adjusted bis gold-rimmed spectacles and took a good look at his visitor. ‘‘ Yes, I guess you are rizht. Believe I have seen you somewhere. What do you ‘ant, sir? I am very busy.” King scowled faintly. He had rather antici- amore cordial reception, and was not a ttle plneppeinied. “Well, I'll tell you,” he answered, after a moment’s pause. ‘I see you have offered a re- ward for the arrest of Captain Crime, the des- perado. Fork over your stamps, and I can produce your man within ten minutes,” Sinclair looked at him doubtfully. “If you bave the power to produce the man, it is to duty as a deputy marshal to do so,” “*I don’t agree with you in such a case as this. In behalf of a Somparerign you offer a reward foraculprit. If Iam lucky enough to discover him, the reward is mine. In the same t, you get a reward for bringing the cul- prit to justice, through the instrumentality of another. ‘ ae eyes of the U. P. detective smiled, gleam- inglv. “You kave evidently been waiting for this reward,” he observed. ‘That is not yet proven. I have been here but a few hours, “ Well, where is your man?’ ee. | ! Where is your cash?” ‘Where it is likely to remain until I have the genuine offender in my possession. I do not pronase to leave the vicinity until I am satisfied have the right man!” a do not suppose I would trick you, Sin- ‘I suppose nothing. 1 know nothing of yo ‘htepeieshtalians ts oivieeteiednaene use eyes.” ““Humph! Well, I can produce the genuine ease it J chocee. gape wd seth mene ¢ Denver Doll’s Victory. blic trial, and prove to you that he is without oubt the person you advertise for—?” “The reward is yours, in band.” “The hanging will then take place at once?” ‘* As soon as I can take the man to the nearest legal court and have him tried.” ‘** But one trial is sufficient. He must be tried and hung in Nugget Notch. The excited popu- lace would never allow him to be taken out of town.” “Bah! you surmise a great deal. And, too, you seem to manifest extraordinary interest in the man’s death.” “Why shouldn’t I?’ King demanded, tragi- cally. ‘* Hasn’t he robbed me of money repeat- edly? Ihave no mercy for a robber.” **Of course, I cannot say about that,” the other replied, dryly. “If you can prove you have *}*> renuine criminal I advertise for, so be it. If , u cannot, you had better subdue your eager desire for the money.” **T can cha it. I have the fellow in jail now. Within two hours I can produce plenty of witnesses to swear that Pacific Phil, as he calls himself, is Captain Crime, the outlaw.” “Very well!” Sinclair replicd, quietly, draw- ing his unfinished letter in front of him. ‘That willdo. Order the trial for three o’clock this afternoon, in front of the jail.” As he began writing tnen, the deputy con- sidered himself dismissed, and took his de- ure, with an expression of triumph upon is face. Within an hour the camp was shaken to its center, as it were, with the report that Pacific Phil was accused of being Captain Crime, the desperado, and would be tried for causing the railway holocaust at Devil’s Curve. As soon as possible, Denver Doll cleared her room of the gaping crowd, and locked the door. Then, with another attempt, she finally suc- ceeded in bringing Little Bill ou: of his fit of laugbter in o a state of serenity. Partly opening the door, she perceived that the crowd had dispersed, then turned to Bill. ‘*Now, Mr. William, [ want you to explain ourself,” she said, sternly, *‘ Why, would you betieve it, you’ve actually had the whole house aroused by your screeching.” * Couldn’t help it, sis—had ter laff—feel jest like ’splodin’ ag’in!” ** Don’t you do it for the life of you, buat tell me what on earth ails you!” ‘*Well, ye see,'this was jes’ how it was,” Bill answered, squinting reflectively at the floor, ‘Feelin’ ther portance o’ my detective biz, last night, an’ desirin’ an interview with Percific, to Varn ef he was my parental dad ornot, | waltzed down to the jail and axed togoin. The guard instanter applied the countenance of his brogan to the rear of my rank-an’-file, and lifted me six feet six. Ob! but wasn’t I mad! I jest slung apiece o’ quartz down his throat, and sloped. e slanted in the same direction. It was ni and tuck. He nipped an: I tucked. First know’d I didn’t notbin’—that is, I know’d more about it afterward than I did before. Ye see, 1 dodged into a lot o’ bushes, and went end over end down into a sort o’ pit, ’bout feet deep, which had been choked over with vines, sticks and leaves. Wonder I didn’t, break my neck; *twouldn’t been o’ much account, tho’. Well to make a short story long, when that plagu guard peeked down, thar I lay deader’n a bat— a reg’lar smilin’ serapb, you bet, not so much as anear wrigglin’. 8’posin’ I had swum across, he ae a cdo’ terbacker down inter my eye, an’ sloped, blame him! I then resurrected my- self, and took a synopsis. What d’ye spose I see’d? Right in ther side o’ the pit, cluss to the bottom, was a hole runnin’ back inter teddy firma, more’n big enuff fer a man ter crawl through!” ‘Well?’ “Well, ef I wasn’t excited, I don’t want to go to Congress. I allowed I’d found whar sum pirut had hid his nuggets, and inter that hoel I went after’em, I crawled, and I crawled, and finally cum to an end, when I liked ter cracked my skul) on a stun overhead. Et was a big flat one, an’ I tried ter raise it, an’ got it part way up, and whar d’ye s’pose I found myself?” **In China!” Doll aghed, believing he was getting off a practical joke on her. ‘*Nary a time!” Bill chuckled. ‘ That aire stone opens up inter the very jail where Percific is caged—ef it don’t, ma add Nor Peto The gota glimpre o Pere ain’t. t a gliim o’ Percific, an’ then let the stone io. oe tear: I am nat- teral as life. Now, ain’t that ernuff to make a grasshopper laugh?’ orient 1a Doe = eee ey ee ‘It is certainly good news. If danger comes to the prisoner, we can release him.” ‘* An’danger is arter him, like chicken arter a worm. Everybody’s excited outside. Percific has been accused o’ bein’ Captain Crime, an’ the’r’ a goin’ ter try him this afternoon et three. King’s at the head.” “ Never mind; the fakin? in the deal,” Doli observed, eee ‘* You’re a brick, Billy, and you can call me your pard, in truth, after this. ow just you sit down, mum, while I gather my wits together. I hardly know where to be- gin first in this matter.” She bowed her head in her hands in deep medj- tation, while Little Bill fished astump of a ciggy from bis pockets, and settled back for a smoke, Denver Doll was usually quick to think, but she took her time now. At last she arose, and dopned her ba “Tm off,” she announced, smiling. ‘ our rs open.” pier You bet!” Bill responded. CHAPTER IX. A CASE FOR BILLY. DENVER DOLL had examined the vicinity of the jail so closely thau, after Little Bill’s narra- tion, sbe knew almost the exact location of the pit he had referred to. Leaving the botel, and emerging into the street, she found that the boy’s words were true in regard to the excitement connected with the approaching trial. . very one was abroad, and the neighborhood of the jail was swarming with people, eager to get another glimpse at the prisoner; but the window was so high is in the wall of the jail that they could not look in, and the guards pos- itively refused any one erp oP ge It was in the vicinity of the jail that Doll met Harrison Ainsley again. He gazed at Doll keenly as she approached. ‘** Looks rather dubious for the fellow who is locked up in that jail, don’t it?’ he remarked. *’ You do not feel very sorry, it appears,” the girl returned. The words appeared to give him quite a start. ““Indeed, may I ask why should I?” he de- manded, rather gruffly. ’ **Oh! there are natural reasons, I did not think you were the man you are, Harrison Ainsley, or I should hardly have undertaken the job for you. As it is now I will go through with it. ou have been altogether too hasty — Payee ways. First, in dismissing your nephew, ‘* Allow me to advise you that I manage my own business affairs, miss!” the banker iater- posed, flusbing. *That’s all rigbt, when you can do so, but when you have to Spice a detective to help, you should not spoil the whole matter through temper. Another thing you’ve made a bad move in is your attempt to prove your own son, Pa- cific Phil, a rascal and desperado by making him out Captain Crime!” “You lie! I bave attempted nothing of the kind, nor is Pacific Phil my son!” the banker cried, in a- rage. Denver Doll laughed. ‘‘It is useless to deny it, when my spy over- beard, word for word, your interview with Pacific Phil lastnight. The whole matter of it is, you are an outright rascal, and you know it. Now, do you know what I’m going to dof” Harrison Ainsley did not rey Fear and rage had equal hold upon him, and his face was as white as death. **] will tell you,” Doll went on. ‘“*I am en- gaged to ferret out the robbery, and have the trap nearly ready to spring. I don’t like to mix in your other matters, but if I see an agency of yours in the trial this afternoon, d expose you before everybody. Do you under- stand?” J “Yes. But I did not start this movement!” “So I am aware. But you were mighty tickled, when it sprung into shape. As I have said, except to liberate Pacific’ Phil I shall take no personal hand in your family quarrel, unlgss employed to do so by the right. he moré shady and qniet you keep yourself, the less liable you will be to get yourself into trouble!” With which consoling bit of advice, she turned, and strode away. The banker glared after her, trembling with rage. “Oh! you she-vixen! curse you? he hissed. “You have sprung a surprise dn me that I lit- tle suspected. And for the time Being am in your power, and at your mercy. lip will escape in spite of me, A geo Ah walt! Felice may ae Then, it will be my turn—ha! ha! yes + opome cS Gomilcboo Eo