Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 398 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

= - os — l* et a ne” ee ape ey 7 et 6 - — ~~ — “Why, you told me yourself, sir, not fifteen minutes ago, that she was asleep, when I asked you if she wished anything.” ‘“*Ttold you! You asked me!” ‘* Why, yes, sir; not a quarter of an hour ago, when you looked in.” ‘* Kither you are mad, orl am dreaming. I have just this moment returned, having been absent over an hour and a half.” ‘And JVll swear that I spoke to you, not twenty minutes ago, as you stood in the door. You had on the same suit you used to wear the last time you were here, the velvet one.” Like lightning the explanation flashed upon Kit, as he remembered that Dainty, just before he left, had unpacked the suit he had once given her, and in which she resembled him so exactly that it was impossible to telf them apart. No doubt the girl had put it on, merely for amusement, and was thus dressed when the message had arrived, and thus decked had left the house, saying a word to the hotel-keeper as she passed, that he might not go to the room during her absence. Without another word, be turned from the landlord, and bounded up-stairs, three steps at a time, and, entering his room, began to change his clothes as rapidly as he could, dressing himself in the velvet suit which had formerly made him so conspicuous. Completely dressed, and with his wide hat on his head, and his gold spurs glistening in the lamplight, he again descended the stairs, and leaving the house without being observed, he hurried to The Broadway, where all the games were in full blast, in search of Worthington, whom he had not seen for some time, The old gentleman, he knew, was very fond of a little game of poker, and being a pretty stiff player, held his own very successfully against the strong game that was nightly in session in Faro Frank’s. Charley was sitting in one corner, reading the latest newspaper that. had arrived and en- tirely unconscious of the noise and confusion about him. To Kit’s hurried inquiry regarding W orthing- ton, he replied that he had seen nothing of that Cm ye since about seven that evening, when e had come in and remained a short time, and then, having been in the back room, and com- ing out, hearing Pete say that Kit had taken his horse and ridden away, he had expressed disap- pointment at not having seen him, and left the room, ‘* But what is the matter, Kit, my boy? You look as pale as a ghost.” And Charley, rising, looked at his friend anxi- ously. ~ “Oh, nothing at all—a little tired perhaps, up late last night. I wish you would take ank’s place at the table for a few minutes, I want to see him particularly.” ‘*Certainly, always ready to do anything in the world for you.” . And relieving Frank, Charley continued the deal while Kit and Frank went into the private room, which was fortunately unoccupied, and closed the door carefully. When Kit had confided to his friend what had happened, he pulled the note, that had caused all the trouble, from his pocket and handed it to Frank. ‘* Why, Kit,” the latter cried, as he glanced at it; ‘this is your writing!” ‘* Tt is and it is not.” ** How do you mean?” ‘Why, that it is enough like mine to be my writing, yet I never wrote it, **Tt is a forgery.” ‘‘And a magnificent one at that,” cried Faro Frank, admiringly. : ‘¢ The man who wrote that could cause decided trouble in a city among the banks, ‘* But that is not the question. ** How do you explain this matter?” ** That is just what is driving me mad! “Which way to turn I know not, whether north, south, east or west. **T only know one thing and that is that this is nothing but a vile plot aimed at our happiness and perhaps at Dainty’s life, ‘**But I will search the four quarters of the earth for her, and woe betide those who have abducted her even though not a single hair of her head has been harmed!” ** And I’m with you, Kit!” ‘“T know it well, Frank, but I shall, at first, endeavor to learn her whereabouts alone. **T only want you, in case I do not turn up, to be ready to come to my assistance, if I can get, word to you where I am. “Nothing can be done to-night, so I will re- 3 Kid-Glove Kit and Pard. main here until daylight, with your permission, and then start out, at the hotel that Iam in my room, for I locked the door, and came out without being noticed. ‘* Should those who have led Dainty into this plot become aware that I am out and probably in search of them, it would put them on their ard.” ** All right. ‘You shall not be disturbed, and Ill tell that nigger, Pete, to have your horse ready for you at the first streak of dawn.” ‘Thank you, Frank. ** And, remember, should I need assistance, I would rather count on you, Charley and Dan than on any one in the State!” ‘* And you would not be disappointed, and in answering for myself, I know that I am answer- ing for them!” And leaving the room, Frank closed the door which Kit locked, and then sat down to wait impatiently for daylight. CHAPTER X. THE WEIRD CANYON. As Jordan and the unknown rolled over on the floor, the rifle held by the latter was dis- charged, when suddenly Jim rose to his feet with an expression of disgust and looked down at his late antagonist somewhat as though he was ashamed of himself. For he had been wrestling with a dummy! So admirably had the figure been constructed, however, that at first glance any one could have been mistaken. Carefully stuffed with dried grass, the suit of clothes in which the figure was dressed seemed to fit it perfectly, anc on closer inspection Jor- dan saw that the face was composed of a wax mask and that the arms and legs were held in place by bent branches of trees that admirably counterfeited the man they were intended to re- present. The figure had been placed in F oagpces exactly opposite the door, and, as Jordan shortly dis- covered, had been securely fastened to the floor. A system of wires, running to the arms to a point near the door, was so arranged that any one stepping on the top step outside, would cause the arms to raise the rifle held by the dummy to a level with its eye. And if the person who entered should step in- side, a second loose plank would discharge the weapon, and the ball would almost surely strike the intruder in the chest. The whole arrangement was decidedly in- — and the former¢occupant of the cabin ad evidently prepared the figure so as to give a warm welcome to any one who might visit it in his absence. Leaving the guardian of the pace lying on the floor, Jordan hunted about, and finding an abun- dant nin dt of matches on a shelf, and a store of dry w in a closet at one side, soon had a blazing fire roaring in the huge chimney. In one corner of the solitary room which com- sed the cabin, stood a cot, with a half a dozen lankets spread over it, and the whole place a as if the owner had not been absent an our. But Jordan cared little for that, and did not bother himself a moment with the thought that the proprietor of the place might return at any minute, and find him in possession. Taking off his clothes, which were wringing wet, he hung them before the fire, where they steamed away, and, wrapping himself in a blan- ket, seated himself on a stool and began to ex- amine his quarters. There was not a single window in the place but the sun was shining so brightly outside that everything was distinctly visible by the light which streamed in through the open door. He saw that the latter could be fastened by a heavy iron bar, which fitted in sockets on either side, that were shod with iron, and the door it- self, being massively constructed, could bid de- fiance to almost any blows that could be show- ered on it. The next thin was a half a crotches against the wall, the use of whic could not imagine, so walking over to them, he pulled on one, and it yielding readily, he pushed it back and forth a number of times. But he could not see that any effect was pro- duced by this action, until he happened to glance out of the open door, when he saw that with each motion of the lever, all of the skeletons in sight raised their right hands above their heads, and then, as the lever was pushed back, lowered them to their sides. The next lever had the same effect on their that attracted his attention zen iron levers, restin = e ‘* Let no one come in, please, as they all think ™ | left arms, while the third caused them to ad vance the right foot as if about to step forward. Trying the fourth, he found that on moving it the left foot of the skeleton advanced, while the fifth caused them to nod their skulls gravely. But on moving the fifth, such an unearthly | noise broke out on the air, sounding like a thou- ; sand screeches and yells, that he dropped the bar in terror and stood there trembling, Soon recovering from his tright, he examined further, and found that all of the levers could be moved at once by attaching an iron bar to their ends, and trying the effect, and pushing and pull- ing rapidly, the result was awful. Por all of the skeletons he could see, and doubtless the others, seemed to be dancing and throwing their arms about, and nodding their . heads, while their fleshless jaws opened and shut and at the same time the horrible screeches and yelling sounded out, as if Pandemonium had broken loose and was holding its revels in the glade. When he had worked the mechanism to his satisfaction, Jordan, his clothes now-being per- fectly dry, dressed himself and continued his ex- lorations, which resulted in his finding a cup- soe filledewith all manner of food, from a bar- rel nearly full of flour to an abundance of canned goods, A square trap in the middle of the floor, on being raised, disclosed a cistern, which was full of water, being supplied, evidently, by a trench leading from the creek. A ladder, nailed against the wall, led to the roof, where was a square tower, built of heavy logs, pierced with loop-holes, and containing a perfect arsenal of weapons. Here the occupant of the cabin could station himself, and defend his house without the slight- est danger, his elevated position enabling him to command the surrounding glade, while the solid walls of the tower would protect him per- fectly. A Lends set in the floor and projecting above it an inch or two, was a prominent feature of the cupola, and curious to see what it was intended for, Jordan placed his foot on it and pressed heavily. In an instant a bright blue flame shot from each of the fifty trees, from just above the skulls of the skeletons, and, although it was es ae broad daylight, the effect when darkness should have come on could readily be imagined, being doubt- less weird in the extreme and well calculated to chill the stoutest heart. From this point also could be worked the sys- tem of levers below, so that from above the skel- etons could be set to dancing and nodding and tossing their arms about, while the pale blue BE could be made to cast its weird glow over al Should any one be caught there at night, and the awful spectacle burst out on them, they would either be driven insane or would flee from the spot, never to return. But how could the occupant of the place leave the canyon? That was another mystery, and Jordan set about solving it. seh a CHAPTER XI. TRAPPED. WueEn Kit had left his wife pard, while he proceeded to his ‘‘ den,” to replenish his some- what depleted pocketbook, she had just un- packed from a chest left at The Gulch when 3 went East, the velvet suit she had worn. or pastime she had dressed herself from tip to toe in the striking costume, drawing on the boots and placing her hat acing on the side of her head, and was smiling at herself in the lass when there came a sudden tap on the oor. Not wishing that any one should see her thus attired, she opened the door only an inch or so —— a hand was thrust in and a voice outside said: ‘* A note for Mrs. Barton. ‘Very important and to be read at once, ‘‘T will wait for the answer.” Sick at heart, and trembling with an un- known dread, Dainty tore open the note and read the words that Kit had found a short time after. For a moment she felt weak and faint and her hand dropped to her side and the paper flut- tering unnoticed to the floor. But in a few seconds she again became the brave girl who had been Kit’s companion in so many scenes of danger and death. Not stopping to change her dress, she slipped on her riding habit, or rather the skirt, and wrapping a huge cloak about her, opened the door and looked out, - We /