Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 281 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 —_ _———— -— = OS forth Forseveral minutes he could hear the banker mumbling about, then ke uttered a ourse. *Not a match in the place te atrile a light with, T'll swear,”’ he growled; **se I shall have to let it porn, The drugged wine is on the safe, anyhow; and n chances to one that will catch the thief, and there'll be a cerpse or two in the town to-morrow rmorning.”’ Little Bill closed one eye. “My, oh!’ he mused. “Lucky I’ve got on to that. Bet ashad I'd ‘a’ soaked it all down. Won- der ef I'd better lodge in this coop ter-night or no? Old Ainsley is goin’ to leave an‘ lock up. Ef I stay, i’m . Reckon a feller might dig out, tho’, as these boards of the floor are easily pulled up.” It was on making note of this fact that he formed a determination to remain in the bank over-night, and make a search for the papers that were wanted by Pacific Phil. After pambaee about for several minutes longer. the banker finally took his departure, taking good care to securely lock the door after him. Bill listened until he heard his footsteps die away, and then made free to move around. “I’m jest as wice as a monkey,” he mut- tered; an' ef I shouldn’t bé able to git out o' heer, they'd stretch my neck fer burglary, like enuff. So I must make the most o’ my time. Guess the coast is clear.” He struck a match, and by its light took a view of the situation. **Dunno if I better light a lampor not. Kinder reckon not. Be dangerous if old man Ainsley were to pop around again. Hello! Thar’s a wardrobe purtitioned by a curtain, whar’ a feller could hide in, perwidin’ no one didn’t peep in thar’. Can't do much ’thout a lamp, nuther. Guess Ill light up.”’ He acoordingly lit a lamp, but turned it down very low He then put his céat along the crack of the door, is next move was to examine the interior of the desks, but found nothing thatéhe wanted there. “The old nut has got his papers in the safe,’’ he muttered. ‘ Wonder what sort of acracksman I'd make?" Kneeling before the safe, he studied the figures and marks upon the combination plate. * A feller w’ot don’t know the p!inters has to go it blind, an’ I judge that’s what I'll have todo. Allus was kinder lucky on lottery, seven-up, an’ sich.” He then began to turn the knoo and experiment The hour apieot by, but h tl our drag y, but he was apparently no nearer reaching the solution of the combination than at first. **Drat it! Pll bet the feller w'ot got up this con- eet Ben a pln Mena Got sum’ brains ™, , but not enuff fer t sort o’ geography. Hello! I’m a shad ef I ain’t fetched her!” It was so. By a chancé he had hit ae the right mumber!.The door was open, and the interior of the safe was revealed to view. There were several compartments filled with books and papers, and a drawer which contained money in notes. There were also several sacks of silver and gold coin, and dust, which made the young ferret’s eyes bulge out im wonder. “My, oh! Ef I war a burglar, what a haul I could: make,” he commented. “ Thar’s enuff thar to buy a railroad, locomotive an’ all, I'll bet. Ef it were only mine! "Tain’t no use o’ wishin’, tho’, When a feller's hands itches be must stick ‘em in ket. I must s’arch fer them papers now." ith quick, deft fingers he examined everything im the way of a document that the safe contained, but to his disappointment he found no trace of any- thing he wanted. “Fool's fishin’ fer fun, an’ nary a bite,’’ he mut- tered, closing and relockiag the safe. “The old cove must have his pavers hid away in his house, Now, the next thing sumthin’ else. I must pros- pect fer a lead w'at’ll fetch me out o’ this trap. Be a joke ef I couldn't get out, dashed ef it wouldn’t!" ing the lamp in its bracket, he began to ex- amine the flooring, which was of rough boards and laid down with none too much precision. After trying several which were securely nailed, he at last came to a short one that had not been nailed at all. Lifting it up, he saw that the distance hetween the floor and the ground was something over a foot, sufficient at least for him to squeeze his body in when it became necessary for to conceal him- self. He also made the discovery that there were sev- eral sacks of something stored there, where no one, supposedly, would be apt to look for them. ‘Hello! Bet a hornet that's old Ainsley's gold, wot he's hid away fer fear as how some one would steal it!’ Bill allowed. ‘Keen old rooster he is, ef Ido say it. Wonder ef I better ockerpy the hoel orno? S'pect them robbers ‘ll be along sum time durin’ the night, an’ tho’ I could get out o’ heer wi’- ou’ half tryin’, I jest surmise as how I better hide in the curtained place yonder.” : He replaced the board, and then, with the aid of the lamp, explored the curtained alcove, which he found contained a disused stove and some broken furniture. He then placed the lamp ona table, blew it out, and grop his way into the ‘alcove, where he perched himself comfortably on top of the stove, and waited! There was no telling how long he might have to wait, for the robbers might ‘not put in an appear- ance at all; but he was resolved to have patience until toward morning at least, and then. if no other way offered, dodge out when the banker came in. Reckon they couldn't keep me in jail anyhow, ef they did ketch me, onless they chained me up Mkeadorg. Hoels in the ground aire mighty con- on’c’s an’ a while!" a a a a ce nm a eee Denver Doll’s Victory. The minutes dragged slowly away—too slowly to suit the young detective—for no harder task could be im u him than to keep still for any great length of time. If he could only indulge in a good whistle, he thought it would be a decidedly precious boon of re- lief. But such a thing was out of the question, Mum must he remain, for fear he would attract attention which was not at all desirable. ‘*Can’t stop mefrom thinkin’, anyhow,” he mused. “That's whar a feller kin get the best o’ the hull caboodle of ‘em, They can't stop ‘im from shutin’ off his mind, nohow. Ef them robbers is only goin’ to come, I wish they’d hurry up, 'ca’se I'd most or- fully like to squeeze in an interview wi’ my old gal Kate somehow or other.” Seeing no prospect that he was likely to be dis- turbed very soon, he settled back into a more com- fortable position, with the view of taking a ae. But he had hardly closed his eyes when he heard — one at the door, and he was instantly on the ert. He heard the key turn softly; then, after a mo- ment, the door swung open, and two persons en- tered stealthily and closed the door. They did not lock it, for the reason that there was no bolt upon the inside. ** Well!’ one of the party said, in a hoarse voice, which Billy instantly concluded was disguised, “here we are again. © must clean the place out, altogether to-night, for it won’t do for us to be caught here, w ich would likely be the result, were we to continue the raids.” “You are right. The sooner, the better, to suit me. First, you know, blame will be laid upon me." **Pooh! youare nervous! But, I think, myself, that it will be best to slack up for awhile, and allow matters tosimmer down. Did you bring any thing along to leave here that would be apt to throw sus- picion upon Ned?” “Nothing but a hand*erchief, with his name stamped onit. That wasthe only thing I could find.” “Tt will serve all purposes. Now, Ill strike a light, and we will see what Ainsley has left in the safe for us!” A moment later the lamp was lit, and the two night-hawks approached the safe. Peering from between the curtains, Little Bill was able to make out that both wore top boots, long dark cloaks, slouch hats, and the face of each was securely concealed behind a heavy vail. Nor could the young detective remember that he had ever heard their voices before, owing to their being changed purposely. The two nocturnal thieves knelt in frontof the safe, placing the lamp on the floor, between them. “ne of them began experimenting at opening the safe. ‘*Some one’s been fooling with this safe!'’ he rowled. ‘“‘Itisn’t the way it is usually left. Bet ‘ll have to work half an hour before I can open it.”’ “IT hope so," Little Bill soliloquized to himself. “While you're atit, I'll just try and sip out of this. Ortent to let ’em get away wi’ the old gent’s biden I suppose, but dash me ef I don’t wanter track these skunks to their head-quarters. That’s worth a heap sight more than nailin’ "em now, when I ain't got no backin’.” It was a ticklish undertaking to cross the room, open the door, get outside and close it again, with- out being discovered, and Bill was well aware of it, but with that pluck that was charactertstic of him, he made uD, mind to try it, and run the risks. The two burglars seemed intently engaged at the safe, and he had confidence that he could make his exit before they might look around. Restoring one revolver to-his belt, and grasping the other in his right hand, he tip-toed across the floor, with cat-lixe tread, toward the door, his every nerve strung to its utmost tension—his breath com- ing short and quick. He advanced sidewise, so that he could not be surprised by any sudden turn of the enemy, and in this way succeeded in reaching the door. To raise the latch and open the door was the next important thing, but he accomplished it, with the same degree of success that had marked his move- ments across the floor, : On second thought. he resolved to leave the door slightly ajar, and so doingy Re was not long in put- ting Limself at a respectable distance from the bank, but yet not so far that he could not see the burglars leave it, without. being seen himaclf. ere he waited patiently, for he calculated he could afford to be patient, as it was beginning to rain hard, and he could accordingly follow his foes, with less danger of discovery. About half an hour passed; then he saw them leave the bank, and lock the door after them, after which they. hurried in the direction of the Ainsley residence. Like a shadow Billy followed in their wake, keep- ing just far enough behind them to feel sate from being seen. He was so slight of form as to be easily mistaken for one of the blackened stumps that were scat- tered about the camp. When within a dozen yards of the Ainsley dwel- ling, the burglars halted, and Billy stealthily glided into hearing distance. ‘*Well, I'll leave you here,” the taller one said. ‘‘T must hurry to head-quarters, for I ordered a meeting there, to take place an hour hence. | reckon the handkerchief will throw the suspicion on to Ned Ainsley.” “T should think so. When shallI oertt again?”’ a To-morrow night, likely, at the usual place, So- ong!’ They shook hands then, and the shorter of the two moved away toward the house, while the other strode away up the gulch at a rapid pace. Little Bill followed the latter. Though soaking ba Bong ardor was not a bit dampened. “T’m a shad ef I ain't beginnin’ to see into this hyer case,"’ he muttered, as he trotted along, which he was forced to do.in order to keep anywhere near the object of pursuit. ‘ Kinder gittin’ off own ob onter Dollbaby’s, but et’s all the same in Dutch, 7S cps This hyar pe iy in gx belongs to tie esperado gang, you bet, an’ ef he’s the captain vo’ the hull caboodls I shouldn't be surprised Then that t’other feller war'n’t no feller at all, but a pul in breeches. The banker's step-darter fer ducats! Phew! w'ot a rib-tickler? She’s bin gittin’ toe step in on the old gént, tho’, in bootiful shape. Won- der what he'll say when he finds it out? Bet he’ il a his self all over Nugget Notch fer a consarni:t rro {" Further soliloquy was not for Billy, for he had fully his match in trying to keep up with the outlaw ; who was a quick-footed pedestrian. The route was through a rough and rocky part of the country, and the boy soon found his feet to pe sore and bleeding, but he resolutely kept on, in spite of rain or pain. It seemed to him, however, that the journey would never end, nor the outlaw's endurance ever tire, for soon he heard his footsteps dying out a good ds tance in advance, oh ** Go it, lemons!”’ the plucky boy gritted. “Tl be along some time next week.’ Further on he came to an abrupt bend In ¢he gulch, and was ~~ in the act of rounding it when he was suddenly pounced upon and seized by the man whom he had been so persistently following. * Oho! pon young whelp, so I’ve got you at last. nage eer eroared. ‘I'll soon cook your goose, sve on’ " CHAPTER XIV, UP IN A BALLOOW, Tse rufflan seized Little Bill by the nape of the neck, and strode on, dragging the after him. Struggle as he would, the juvenile ferret ceuld not get aa Luckily there was not far to go. Just around the bend was a large shanty, where it had once been designed to start a town, but no pay streaks being found, the place was deserted in favor of Nugget Notch, furtherdown the gulch, Back of it a dismal, pine-wooded glen ran back isto the mount- ains, Into this the outlaw dragged his victim, until they came to the mouth of o intke cavern, @hier was entered. . A bright fire was burning in the center of thefsub- terranean chamber, and surrounding it, se upon various-sized blocks and fire-logs, were some two- score of masked men—all bewhiskered, roughly dressed, and armed to the teeth. To Billy’s horror, he perceived that Denver Doll was also there! A stake had been driven into a crevice in the floor, and she was securely bound t it hand and foot. : “ Hurrah!" yelled several of the outlaws, as B and his captoy entered. ‘*‘ Here comes the capt an’ another prisoner! It’s the kid, too!’’ Captain Crime turned Billy over to the care of a couple of the men, and then turned to Denver DolL “Aha! so my gallant men have been lucky enouch to catch a prize, have they?’’ he said, ex- ultantly. ‘Upon my word, I'am highly elated at your capture, my fairy detective. You came to the mountains to catch a tiger, and got caught your- self, eh? Ha! ha! hal” “Yas boss,”’ exclaimed one of the men, who was evideatly “She dogged lieutenant of the gang. Barker, whose room is next hern, at the hote), and we cotched her sneakin’ around the edge of the cave. Iguess she’s found out she was barkin’ up the wrong tree.” ‘**Not at all, I'ma woman to be sure, but I’m not afraid of any of you.” ‘** Don't be quite so sassy, my pert or Pll give a chance to prove your assertion!” the captain iyi ** Pass around the liquor, boys, it’s devi- n dry!’ : A large demijohn was produced, and a tin cup, holding fully half a pint. This was nearly filled, and the captain downed it at a gulp or go. is ex- ample was followed by the remainder of the crowd. ‘** Now, after we transact a litthe important busi- ness, we will have some sport. But, to the business, first. As I stated last night, we have as the organi- zation of the order of Skull and Cross-Bones, got to look out, or the first we know we shall find our- selves in hot water, and at the mercy of the law. Since the sad railway catastrophe, several danger- ous persons have come to Nugget Notch, who it is imperative we should remove; the the serenity of our existence is not likely to be soon disturbed again, The citizens of the camp, in themselves, have not the punphon to hunt us down, It is these outsiders we haye to fear. It is them we must re- move, Luckily, we have two of the foremost ones in our power, now, and if we let them escape it is our own fault. They are the only ones that know our camp is so near to Nugget Notch.” “Goin’ to spill em?” the lieutenant growled, y. “No! I want no more murder on my hands, than can be avoided, It is a wild night—the wind is blowing like fury. Do you remember this nigh&, three months agof”’ . ““Shouldn’t wonder ef I did! We sent Jem Hol, den a-kitin’ that night an’ he’s never turned op since. It’s a sure way o’ gittin’ rid ov people, *thout sinnin’. * Wel ao Nay Se pacific F aay eye to be corne at 00 acific Phil, eputy sheriff, Kin , and the ra sharper, #incljair. Then, it will be well enough to remove the banke Harrison Ainsley !”’ MIE OOO KS (E(©) (E (E()