Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 281 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

re — oe “ That's cause your in snucks wi’ his darter," put i Little Bill. They're the ones what the bank, Dollbaby. I see'd ‘em!"’ * Shut up, you cursed little wh throat!’ roared the captain. “I there’s mo back talk, here.”’ “Guess a feidler can shoot off his mouth, ef he wents to,’’ Bill muttered, “ New, the way we'll work this thing,” the captain went ou, ‘is this: We'll send this precious pair off, to-night. V'o-morrow, we'll all go into camp in dis- wruise, and hang around till night. I'll contrive to :;ot all hands into the saloon, when in marches you fellers, in a body, all respectably dressed, and ar- rest (xe ones we want, 4g bein’ members o’ the Terrible Tribunal, You thust have four noosed ropes ready, and the work o’ yankin the men out avd lynchin’ em, must be done quick. Bein’ unex- ected, thar'll be a big excitement, an’ that’s what'll 1olp you ak mg, an’ give ye a chance to escape.” “That won't work—the bangin’ tenant grunted. ‘ Better way will be fer us to be uressed as miners, an’ let on to be drunk, . While a couple o’ us iw a-callin’ up an’ treatin’ the crowd, the remainder o’ the gang kin run the men we want out o* doors, and knife ‘em, an’ then slide. Jest ve It to us, Cap, an’ we'll fix itl’ “All right, Melvin; you’re trusty, an’ I'll go a hundred that any thing you undertake won't z0 wrong. Come, all hands, let’s liquor up!" The liquor was again passed around, and ee 4 aughte were indulged in by each member of the Tribunal. 4 . be captain then turned his gaze in the direction . the interior of the cave, and called * Rategan? Rategan?”’ .n response, an Old man with a hump back, and nau aa beard as white as snow, came hobbling forward, with the aid of a crooked staff. He was 4othed in rags, anda filthy-looking object to behold, to say the least, boty. ae Rategan, have you that balloon completed?” the - rtain demanded, vould like to kill him. ** Yes, sir, yes, sir. It is alldone and read !’’ the ‘.) chap replied, in trembling tones. \ ‘What is your pleasure, sir?” “Take the balloon to the gas vein on the cliff, and inflate it, and fix the basket to it, D’ye hear?” * Yes, sir; yes, sir!’ was the answer, and the miserable being hobbled away again into the interior of the cave. Crime then turned to Denver Doll: “And, now, my fairy detective, I have a little proposal to make to you. Iam in waut of a squaw for my wigwam, as the red-skin say, and I opine you’re just suited to my eye. So I'll give you a choice of two fates. You marry me, swear fidelit % my cause, and all will be serene. Otherwise, shall send you and the young imp upina balloon,and you will eventually come down in the ean!’’ ** Chance the Percifie, Doll,” sung out le BL. “Ther’s many a slip *twixt the beer-mug an’ the et wn So dons ye Me,” Do : never marry you, a3 e, replied, th decision. - ‘ | the pris- Then tp in a balloon you gs. overs, in and conduct them to — : The order was obeyed. four, men each, the two captives were Pe 9 the cave by the front entrance, and up the precipitous monatain- side to « laryre shelving ledge. ° Here a large*balloon was already inflated amd an- chored, a basket large enough to hold sevewal per- sons being attached to it, . On reaching bie cliff, Lhe hands and feet of both captives were un *I won’t be too hard on you,” Crime said, with a villainous chuckle, “This balloon is inflated with sufficient natural gas to carr miles high. Lf you want te jump out when you reach the moon, do so! Boys, draw your revolvers! Prisoners, seat yourselves in t. If yon at- tempt to jeave it, you will be shot down, and your hearts cut out!" Denver Doll entered first. Her face was very pale, but it was resolute. | ° ry fecal **Gome’ on, Billy,’’ she sald. We'll it, and run. dap cbaneeery vA ook ake aad oe ae im tae face, either w s @ 4%, rO 3 as well run the riSk 0 e balloon frip rather than be shot down here.” ‘ dedly dubious as* he obeyed her Billy looked, dorm ee to die, thera could be little 3t, but if they bh hue. By the oon there might be a chance of The rain had ceased and the wind seemed to be decreasing. Now tien, good-by!’. the captain called out, when they were seated. ‘Glad to see you take it so coolly! en you get uj to the moon, tell the Man that if there’s any trails worth working up thar to bet me know, and maybe I'll come up. tegan, cut the anchor rope!” : The order was promptly obeyed, and the crowd gave a hoarse, exultant yell, as the airship rose racefully into the blackness of the night, and was fost to view with its basket of human freight. Shall we attempt to picture the feelings of the two victims of the desperadoes’ vengeance? It would be a task beyond the power of pen. The sensation of awe was nearly as great as that of fear, For several minutes the air-ship shot almost di- rectly upward; then appeared to strike a counter aorrent, and veered to the eastward. Little Bill had held out bravely, but now began to *“henver Doll, was greatly alarmed, but_knew it could avail no to give way_to grief, In- stead, she sent up afecling prayer to Heaven, tores- ‘them from their perilous situation, . ori cut your have you know you ten thousand — art,” the lieu- scowling at the man, ag if he’ pever seen you,” Denver Doll's Victory. aay Geena ny w strongér, when, a few minutes later, sh thought she detected a aight descending of the oon, ‘Don’t ery, Billy,” She said, cheerfully. “for | we're not ‘xoners’ yet, “Dye think sor” BM aged, nrightented. up. ‘** D'ye belleve ther’s any chance for us, Dollbaby? as of #,” Dell replied. “The balloon is slowly but surély destceméing, or else for once, I’ve lost my reckoning. i prayed, Bill, and this is the answer.” * Jerusalem! jest give me jbe cue how to pray, ard I'll buckle tn fer ali I’m worth!" “That is gs good as a prayer, Bill. knows o@r ever words or net, I scend at fis rate, we will strike fe; va_/’rma without dames The balloon must have sprung a slight leet, 3 ty ualfy letting the gas out, live chm 82 satldenly grow dowiGy sen’; But the leak did not grow larg, and little by little the balloon settled down between the rugged mountains, intoa deep, dark mvine, where with no ne to drift it,the ground was seob reached in safety. As the two friends stepped from the basket th beheld a camp-fire burning in the mouth of a little cavern, and heard an exclamation that sounded most pleasant to Denver Doll! arger, we would go * Shimminy gracious! dunderund plitzen! vot ish— dot!" and following the words the rotund figure of Yakie Strauss appeared in the cave entrance,: ‘Don't be scared, Yakie,”’ Doll called out. “It is only I, Denver Doll, and my new pard.” And the two adventurers advanced into the fire- lizht. The cave had a pleasant aspect indéed. Upon a pile of skins a your feminine looking, well- dressed young fellow, with a jot-black mustache, was lazilv reclining, but se sufficiently to tip his sombrero to the Detective thoeen: Explanations at once ensued, Yakie listening open- mouthed to Doll's thrilling recital, “* Vel, py dickens! dot vas a duyfel of a sehrape. : _— you vas ie mit me,” he ejaculated, incredu- ously, - Not it’s all gospel truth, And now, if you will give us the proper directions, we must strike out at once for Nugget Notch, for we shall be needed there soon,’* ‘*We will all go,” the person on the skins said, “Tam now thoroughly recovered, and l have impor- tant b s there.” . Doll prtcked up her ears, “You are a woman!” she said, more positively than inguiriagty. The other utt@re@l a lattgh. “Yes, 1 am. I am going to N t Notch to, it possible, wight a t wrong I ones did” ‘Vot! Vob tah dig? You vas @ yoomans?” Yakio. exchimed tu Srevcent, ahouch , “Yea, my pay 1B got ee off the n on you sin reseu e 4 Oh 1 Gore 1 in ‘ie I bad inowwedot Fa neler a -me shimmin I wae fooled wom linea fis oh . wae think I know who et ea have Denver Doll said, ‘* ¥ou are worn who ste in between Philip Ains bis witty Saf by a forged certificate, ca - their D ’ , ve . RRhe same—VFelice Falqueer. Idida pei un- just deed they I was a wicked fool, but I am a r woraan Row. ecently learned that P : Phil ami Kase were liable to meet in N t Notch, by chance. 1 set forth to effect a reconciliation.” ® Th are there, $00 th © Ag Ae rit méa- rege wrong of the =f @, you rasc. ept oacroh well, Sut I found you ouvr at last. ome, let's all set out at onee!” In a few momerits the quartette were en route for the mining camp, some ten miles distant. A GRAND* OInovs, Pour A culd not rest after Denve 4 Doll's departure. ‘Se icnow what he himself was free, and his wife was a in the power of his villain. ous father, ‘wed rorse than galt and A ih! to bin Fou he go told his father-in-law kek “What is the use of our remaining here idla, when others ar wORaeT he said. ‘Let us attempt the TeESCUO of Kate, at least.” ‘‘ifear that, should we do this, we might interfere with uu plans of our coadjutors, Phil,’ Conroy de- murred, “Pshaw! no. The boy's not Hable to secomppitah rouch. We can visit thé house, taking my father by ph! ana and force him to give up Kate and the pa- r— ’ pers es Or what?" ‘Kill him!” .. There was no mistaking that the buckskin sport was terribly in earnest. ss yield - thinking he’d submit to death before he’d ‘‘ Because you don't know him. Hecan use con- siderable brageadocio, Bot et heart he is a coward. © can rescue Kate at Ieast,as the young rat told me Wolk oe nt hink best, but el, ’m with you, if you thin ut we had better wait until the dead hours of night. We nye Beeb epee and with less Rey then.” y it was thus arranged. About anitne after inidnieht they left the hotel, and made their way to the vicinity of the Ainsley he except themselves was abroad, and very few of the saloons ae ‘Her heart beat faster, and her falth in the Al | | roy said, you. j a a ee —=- - SE —_— 15 ~~ trance into the house, and surprise the villain,” Con render,’ “Then he can have no choice but te sur- “T agree with you there,” Pacific Phil replied. ** Let us search for some means of entrance.” Coavinced by examination that there was no change to ti in at the front, they made their way to t the rear ef the house. Just as the denly pop approached them. were trying the rear door, a man sud- around the cornet of the house and * Who's there?” Pacific demanded, quickly draw- ing and cing a revolver, ma Gals sae i alqueiel was thé answer, The Savior | ye're goin’ in thar, I wanter go, too, fer I reckon the thought, whether we utter it in | old cuss has got my gal stewed away in thar. 'Sctise the balloon only continues to de- | oe ir ker, Philip, fer she means all right now, and set out & put-up job, thet ter cum hLyar an’ tell ye ‘twere certificut izness, an’ she said as how she ¢coukin't If the | rest til she see'd you an’ yer wife reunited,” **T am glad she is so sensible!" Pacific Phil replied, coldly. Examination proved that the dcor was bolted on the inside. The o fastenmegs; so the three men to the panels with a will. way, then, was to burst the pnt their shoulders With very little effort, and no particular noise, the door was forced epen; then taking off their boots, ouse the trio entered the h A lamp was found dimly burning in the kitchen. ion of this, and with re- acifie Phil took volvers drawn, the trio moved toward the front part of the house. A glimmer of light came from under th door, and accordingly it was thrown open a entered. As they did 80, the were followed persons, who had quietly entered the h 6 od they by four other ouse, were nove others than Denvér Doll, Little Th Bill, Felice ueer, and Yakio Strauss, who in I sing the housa, had seen the trio burst open th me had followed their movements, wae In the parle, an unexpected sight met the gaze of all, Lying du: oor, partly raised arm, was the ag n ey. ron ete A pool had oozed upon the a c) that wound in his breast, and it was evident was fast ebbing out, for he stared at the visi wildly. “Speak! what does it mean, father?’' Pacific ful parent. from his lif tors, demanded, quickly kneeling and supporting Ts ci “Tt means that I have got my just deserts!” waa “T have been a wicked the ing reply. and Dane siuned against you, all; but ask yo forgiven humbly. I was my sto - sg She camo lat, and I aa her of being bank robber. e shotm d fied, Oh!—ah! ah!” He fell back, then, and ¢ oa - A few words should be sufficient to close this bar- rative. ; Kate was found and released, and Felice husband olned the hands of the wron ab eapal and asked their fo As lating to Kathleen's fortun certificate, which ae soon morning ned, or : Detective Sinclair, and eee Oe8. the whereabouts of t 24 uts of the despe descent and attack made upon the of volunteers was at “the t, but Falg ‘iveness, i an wi of the remises discovered 1 iso tho fag tar The outlaws showed figh againns beg iy wally ea a not gurreien, were lit mo indignan ohisen, ae OO Sa ob t But one arrest de, and vas y ad i a eh a as none ‘discovered e other than Beau Blonds Despite Sinclair's. pro ons, he was taken t the noes tree, and achat” b wid ons ea. ee wwe fem Je oe fe? worst band of out- Nojsh. €8 ‘ e vicini of. Nugget n Ainsley was buried in where and his wife decided raph . Mt the la eres informed that he was not her child, but a harmless waif whom she had found wandering in the moun Bot she and Big acer meet gees ie eat forthwith ob ct ‘aie own, 4 RenvEnaton ‘You can ve him,” she decided. *I'd about - as soon | is0on lose my tight hand, as. with Billy.” “You bet!” he said, “auch but ye see me an’ my 7 ment."* eeged to Dollbaby, is the. deteetive team o’ tha day, an’ yr . é us no more’n tho’ we war glued tc wi’ ce So, afte , , y our two friends took thee onan tne Paes eee Notch. Before lea Denver Doll received a proposal ’ of pS cig tone "Ned Ainsley, which she firmly de- “TI feel highly flattered, Mr. Ainsley,” she an- respectfull 3 swered, “but I must not in-the market," y Say no,as I am as Philip and Conroy were abo nes hocenk, Ned‘ was obliged to prensa wii rs went or later tink their THE END, (E(©) AML ,OO The n Jeft for their home in the At- lanta aptic, a Peal rou belie i Y akle Stra Felice fates together! cs) (E(0)