Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 398 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

- and if I were end of the world, and jump off after him, if it were necessary.” - * Well, sn fa that we ride up the road and call on Worthington. ‘“*He must have had enough of his solitary confinement by this time.” All right. Does Mrs. Barton go with us? ‘** Tf she wishes to. ‘What do you say, Dainty?” ‘*T think not, Kit dear. ‘*] am not feeling very well, and prefer to re- main in the house to-day. ‘**'You will not be gone long?” ‘*Two hours at furthest. 1 think that we can accomplish all we wish in that time. “Tf Worthington should prove obdurate, we will give him another twenty-four hours of the cavern.” ‘* But, Kit,” pleaded Dainty, ‘‘ furnish him with food and drink at least.” ‘*Oh, of course. There is plenty in the cave of both to keep him for weeks. Tl see that he does not want for anything and will leave him a light this time. He might get to wandering around and fall into the river, the opening in the wall being decidedly dangerous to any one who might walk in that direction.” And soon Frank and Kit were on their way to the cave, which they reached in due course of time, and having secured their hoses, scram- bled up the gully. “Tl go down after you, Kit,” said Frank, who was decidedly curious to visit the place, ‘that is if you have no objection.” ‘* None in the world; in fact I was going to suggest it to you. You can aid me most ma- terially, no doubt, in the cross-examination to which I pe ye to put Worthington. **T will call out when I reach the bottom and will wait there for you. ‘*T suppose you can climb down the rope with- out any difficulty?” ‘*T should rather think so. I didn’t own a yacht four or five years for nothing.” ‘Well, come along as soon as you hear me call out. ‘* But be careful and don’t fall down the shaft, and be sure and crawl in head-first, keeping hold of the rope. ‘* You will find that you have plenty of room in which to turn around.” ‘* All right; go ahead, Ill follow.” And Kit dived into the opening, reached the shaft, and lowered himself to the bottom, when he called to Frank to ‘‘Come on!” and then, having lighted the lamp, waited. In a few moments his friend and allv stood py his side, puffing and blowing, and looking up toward the top of the shaft, shaking his head doubtfully. Tt ear be all right, Kit,” he said mourn- fully, as if he had lost all hope. . ** But you may as well send me a year’s pro- visions when you get to the top; I'll never be able to climb that distance.” * Oh, don’t fear; youll get out all right. ‘‘ But let’s hunt up Worthington; he'll be de- cidedly glad to see us, I warrant, although he knows that we do not come as friends.” And followed by Frank, he walked along the passage until he came to the cavern, when he called out: ‘ Worthington!” But there came no answer, and Kit continued, as he walked cautiously over to where the other lamp stood: ‘* Asleep or sulking, probably the latter. ‘‘T}1] soon have a light though, and find out which it is.” And lighting the lamp, by the bright glare it soon cast over all the surroundings, the whole cavern was soon distinctly visible, Looking hastily around he cried: ‘Gone, by all the gods!” ‘** Escaped?” os Hardly that, although he is not here.” ‘‘ What do you mean?” ‘‘T mean that he has either become maddened by the darkness and awful silence, intensified by that rushing sound off yonder where that open- ing yawns, or else, craving a drink of water, he sought it, and in either case has fallen into the subterranean river.” ‘** And then, where is he?” ‘‘ Carried, doubtless, into the bowels of the earth, and drowned or crushed to pieces long before this. “Tt was an awful fate anda punishment to him for his crimes. “But I never anticipated this, or I should have guarded against it. ‘‘] warned him that there were hidden dan- ou, I would follow him to the Teeter. | ae rr eee) Oe ---——— Co | SS me ro TE. : ? > >” - Kid-Glove Kit and Pard. a | | gers near, but he either forgot, or did not heed | ing the noise, had asked. the doctor, whom he caution.” ‘Then it is no fault of yours.” ‘* No, not directly; but indirectly, I feel that I am to blame.” ‘* Well, do not worry about it any more; he is gone and deserved death. My only regret is that he has carried his secret with him, for that means a trip to Europe for you. But tell me, Kit, how on earth did you ever discover this lace? And what millions there are in sight! ou only have to take a pick and strike a few blows, and there you are with a few thousands lying at your feet.” ‘* Yes, the walls are nearly solid with gold. I will tell you about it this evening. And now let us leave this spot.” And extinguishing the lamps Kit climbed to the top, being quickly followed by Frank, who, de- spite his lamentations, proved himself an excel- pay gymnast and drew himself up without diffi- culty. And everything being left in its natural con- dition, the two descended the gully, mounted and rode back to The Gulch. m CHAPTER XX, VICTORY! WHEN they were all seated in Dainty’s little parlor that evening, Kit, Frank and Mrs. Bar- ton, Kit began: ‘“It was not very long before I came here, that I made the acquaintance of an old man, in New. York, under rather peculiar circum- stances, ‘*T was, at that time, connected with a news- paper, and was obliged to remain at the office until two or three o’clock in the morning, and thus did not get to my rooms on Twenty-fifth street until late. ‘*One morning, as I had nearly reached my lodgings, I saw ring on the sidewalk, the figure of a man, but thinking that probably liquor was the cause, and the n ght being warm and pleas- ant, was about to pass on when I saw, by the light of a neighboring street lamp, that his head was all bloody. ‘* Of course I immediately stopped and exam- ined him, when I found that he had been struck by some blunt weapon and severely injured by the blow. ‘*T wentin search of ‘aseistance, but, of course, could not find any one, so, seeing that the in- jured man was old, respectable-looking and ndsomely dressed, I picked diim up and carried him to my sitting-room, where I laid him on the lounge, and then went for a physician. ‘One with whom I was acquainted livedin the neighborhood, and in answer to my summons he hurried to the room, and did what he could for the sufferer, who soon recovered consciousness and was able to tell how he had been attacked by foot-pads, knocked down and robbed.” ‘* For being unable to sleep, he had started out to walk about a little and not being familiar with the city had become lost. ‘¢ He was soon made as comfortable as the cir- cumstances would permit, and the doctor took his departure, promising to return during the day and see how the cow progressed, ‘But no sooner had the door closed on the phy- sician, than the injured man, forgetful of the in- eg a to remain quiet and not to talk, turned is eyes on me and said: ‘¢* You must tell me what your name is, that I may know who it is that has showed and is show- ing me all this kindness.’ ‘* My name is Barton.’ ‘¢¢ Barton!’ cried he, excitedly; ‘ but your first name, what is that? “¢ @hristopher, sir.’ ‘¢*¢ Not the son of Christopher Barton, at one time importer of Chinese goods?’ ‘“‘*He was my father, the firm being Barton and Hale.’ ‘** And what was your mother’s maiden name?’ ‘** Mary Neale.’ ‘*¢' Then you are the very man I came to New York to see, and I can yet make reparation be- fore I die. ‘**T was your father’s partner. ‘**T defrauded him and fled to California, and now that I am rich I can restore to the son that which I stole from the father. ‘*** But, tell me, is he yet alive? ‘** The shock of his failure killed him, and my mother did not long survive the blow.’ ‘** Hurry! hurry!’ he shrieked, ‘and bring me alawyer before it is too late!’ Lee that moment some one tapped on the door, and opening it, I found there a gentleman who occupied a room near mine, and who, hear- saw going out, what was the matter. ‘‘ Having learned what had happened, he had come to see if he could be of any service, and as he was an attorney of high standing, he was just the man I wanted. ‘‘Telling the old gentleman the facts, he re- quested the lawyer to take from his pocket a bundle of papers, in which was a will, made a year before, in my favor, in which he left me everything he possessed. . ‘* The document was accurately drawn, signed sealed and witnessed, and pronounced by the lawyer without a flaw. ‘‘Then Mr. Hale dictated a confession to Mr, Wales, as the lawyer was named, acknowledg- ing his defalcations and his embezzlement of the firm’s funds, which led to my father’s failure, and stated that he left me all he owned in the world, not having a relative on earth, and de- siring to make partial restitution to the son of the man he had robbed. ‘* When he had signed this, he handed mea small package, begged my forgiveness. and then, overcome by excitement and the shock, fell back, insensible. ‘‘ The physician was called immediately, but he never rallied from his stupor and died in an 10ur. . ‘‘To make a long story short, I will finish by saying that on opening the package I found it contained a description of the mine lately visited and directions how to visit it. ‘* So coming here, I took possession and found that my wealth was so vast that I could not comprehend it. ‘¢ And now you have the story of how I gain- ed possession of the mine.” ‘Tt is but right that you should have it, Kit,” said Frank, ‘‘and it is yours of right, as Mr. Hale certainly owed his fortune to the start he made with the embezzled funds,” sé He—” ‘*Oh, Kit, see here!” suddenly interrupted Dainty, who had been toying with her father’s locket, which was suspended to her neck by a slender chain, and having broken the chain, had opened the locket. ‘‘ This is not the paper I once got out of here; the locket has two sides that open and I thought it only had one.” ‘* What is the paper, Dainty?” ‘* A torn sheet, that evidently is part of a let- ter, judging from the writing.” With a glance at Frank that seemed to say: ‘*Can it be possible!” Kit took the crumpled sheet and opened itand read these words: “that something may te this memorandum may kncw how to reach ll be ded inheritances, th of the cross which you th, the creek bencs to the d going down this exactly yaids, you will, on wa- the stream, find a flat stone, d of the brook. y the mortar which holds it and ised, when the water will flow ing thus made. creek and you will ° t will attract your estigate. ather, NFORD,”” And Kit, looking first at Dainty and then at Frank, cried ‘“‘ Victory!” and then executed a maniacal war-dance in the middle of the floor. CHAPTER XXII. THE PARTS UNITED. DAINTY gazed at her husband’s gyrations in amazement, for he had not told her of his hav- ing found the other half of the torn sheet in Worthington’s pocket, and she could not com- prehend Kit’s excitement. But he soon subsided, and procuring a large sheet of paper, he drew from his pocket the half that he had taken from Worthington, and pasted it smoothly down. Then taking the paper that Dainty had found, he pasted that alongside the other, finding that the jagged edges, where the sheet had been torn, fitted exactly. And then, the letter being complete, Kit read it to his two interested and excited listeners, who fairly hung on the words: “** My DEAR CHILD:— “*Pearing that something may happen to me, I write this memorandum for you, that you may know how to reach the mine which will be your in- heri' ance, f “+ Prom a point north of the cross which ycu are familiar with, the creek bends to the southeast and going down this one hundred yards, you will, on