Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 398 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

— a ~ ~ om = - 7 = - » — — -——~.: _ Kid-Glove Kit and Pard, road, struck east at a rapid pace, and soon over- ** ‘You have been doubly tricked. took the man riding ahead. ‘* First you thought you had captured Mrs. The latter, who had heard him coming and | Barton, but soon came to the conclusion that it who, turning, had perceived that the new. ar- | was her husband who was in your power. rival was on the other road from the one he had ‘‘ The first impression was the correct one, but followed, drew rein, and waited till Kit came ; she outwitted you completely, and convinced you that she was I, a ‘** Then you thought that she was in this dress nd you find me instead. ‘**Completely outwitted by a woman at first, you are now her husband’s prisoner. ‘*T will not take you to The Gulch, for they would hang you if I told them of your plots. ‘*But I will leave you here gagged and tied, and trust to luck to find you here when I return up. | ger as Kit drew near, he muttered to him- | self, exultingly: | “The girl is riding straight into the trap. | ** And now for a little diplomacy.” As Kit came alongside, the man spoke to him, saying, in as friendly and pleasant tones as he could assume: ‘* You air out early, Miss Barton.” | ‘Yes; my husband being away, I thought I | to-night. | would take a ride, as the morning was so pleas~ ‘*] need you, and don’t want you to die just ant. yet.” And, still keeping one revolver pointed at the other’s head, Kit disarmed and then marched him inside, where he did as he had promised, afterward standing the door in its place and then riding off to The Gulch, where he found ‘¢ Did you just come from The Gulch?” ** Yes, marm.” “ And did you see Mr. Barton there?” ‘No, marm; but an hour or so ago, I seen him ridin’ to’rde the path leading ter ther | ‘Faithful’ mine, an’ s’pose he’s thar.” Dainty safe and sound, while Faro rank, seat- ** Then Pll ride on and meet him, ed on the top mer of the stairway which led to “ Are you going that way?” her hall, declined to allow anybody to pass, not ‘““Yessum. I’m ther watchman thar, sence | even the landlord. Capt'n Colton hez stopped workin’ it.” | And as he enforced his remarks with a fierce- ‘‘T understand that the mine is to be sold to a | looking revolver, every one acquiesced and none Mr. Worthington, soon.” ‘*'Thet’s w’ot they say.” ‘¢ And he’ll make a good purchase if he buys | it, I judge from all accounts.” "7 Ther s no better mine in ther kentry.”’ During this conversation they were winding slowly on and had now arrived at the path which led abruptly up the hill to the left. Here the girl—for Kit appeared to be his wife, so great was their resemblance—stopped, irreso- lutely, and then, turning her horse toward the path, said: ‘*7 believe 1 will ride up and sce if my hus- band is at the mine, ‘* He may have gone there with Mr. Worthing- ton.” ‘* Jest w’ot I war a-goin’ ter propose, mum. “Thar war sum one with him, though I eu'dn’t see eggzactly who it war,” ‘* Then you ride on ahead. ‘‘ Your horse certainly knows the way better than mine, and will choose the easiest path; I will follow close after you.” ‘* All right, marm,” replied the other, having no suspicion that things were otherwise than they seemed, and not wishing to arouse any by objecting. And so they rode on into the valley and up to the house, but there was no one in sight far or near. Before leaving Kit had so fixed the door that it presented no appearance, from the outside of having been torn from its fastenings, and as the man dismounted, he was unaware ‘that a visit had been paid to the dwelling during his absence ‘‘] fear that I shall not find Mr. Barton here,” said Kit, in his most winning tones; ‘‘but I will dismount and ask you for a cup of water.” **Sart’in, marm.” ‘¢ An’ maybe,” as Kit sprung from the saddle which he had taken from his pard’s horse, and replaced with his own, thus riding in a side-sad- dle, *‘ ye’ll go inside an’ rest a bit. ‘“T think,” with a malicious mebbe thar’s some one in thar as’ll be glad ter see you.” ‘And who is that?” asked Kit, slipping his hands under his cloak. | ‘‘ Come in an’ see.” And placing his hand on the latch, he proceed- ed to take a key from his pocket, with which to unlock it, keeping ar eye on Kit, ready to seize the girl shout he. sv.icions be aroused and she | insiste CHAPTER XIV. A CONSULTATION. RELIEVING Frank, and thanking him for his attention, Kit, asking him to await him down- stairs, went to his rooms and announced his safe return to his wife, and then, telling her that he wished to talk with Francis, he left the room again, Rejoining his friend, he went with him to The Broadway, and found everything in full blast, as, indeed, it always was at that hour of the night. Nodding to several acquaintances, Frank el- bowed his way through the crowd, followed by Kit, and led the way to the famous back room, which was always the scene of their various consuitations, Seated here, Kit gave a detailed account of what had happened to him, Dainty having al- ready told him of her experiences, And having finished, he added: ‘* Now, Frank, what does this mean? ‘* How do you account for these continued at- tacks upon Dainty and myself?’ ** Kit,” said Frank, earnestly, Worthington to-night?” This question seemed so foreign to the matter they were discussing, that Kit did not reply, but stared at Francis in blank amazement. ‘“You undoubtedly think that I am wander- ing from the subject; but tell me, where is he to-night?” ** L really cannot say.” ‘* When cid you see him last?” ‘* Yesterday, I think it was.” ‘** Well, now, Kit, you know that we gamblers have to be pretty shrewd sort of men in our business, ‘*Every man’s hand 1s against us; our hands are against every man’s. ‘“We must watch and suspect, even thoug there appears to be no actual ground for sus picion, ‘*T have been watching and suspecting W or- thington for several days, and I tell you that it is my firm belief that he is not’ what he repre- sents himself to be.” ‘** What in the world do you mean?” ‘*That he is playing some deep game, and is in disguise, ‘*T thought so the first time I saw him, and now am positive of it.” ‘* And what do you think this means?” ‘*Taking into consideration the fact that I believe him to be masquerading, and sailing un- der false colors— ‘‘Taking into consideration the fact that he has not been seen about here for twenty-four hours— ‘Taking into consideration the fact that he is perfectly familiar with Craig Colton’s posses- sions here, and the movements of the latter— ‘* Taking into consideration their plots against your life, both here and in Chicago, I am con- vinced that he is but a tool of Colton’s, and that if you strip your prisoner of his disguise you will find Worthington underneath.” ‘* Frank, you fairly take my breath away. ‘* Such an idea never entered my brain, and I am not yet convinced that it is as you say. ‘What do you think I had best do?” ** Judge for yourself, ‘“where is erin, “‘ thet attempt to escane. But as he inserted the ey, the pressure on the door pushed it inward, and it fell to the floor with a bang, ; Looking into the room, where the supposed Kit was yet seated and tied firmly, he saw that his prisoner had escaped, and with an exclamation of rage, he turned on the other. But he looked into the muzzle of a gleaming revolver, held by a tall, slender youth, who had thrown off the cumbersome drapery that envel- oped him and now stood, the fac-simile of the prisoner who had escaped. And then came the stern command: ‘*Throw up your hands!” And mechanically he obeyed. ‘‘ Who air you?” he stammered, gazing at Kit, in utter astonishment. » “Tam Kid-Glove Kit: now who are you ?” ‘‘ But I left you here tied, not two hours ago.” “That was my wife. eS ee ‘* The man has offered both you and your wife indignities to which you will not tamely submit, - ** He is in your power. ‘* Use that power to find out the truth, and if it be as I suspect, you can then make use of an means that may suggest themselves to probe this mystery. ‘* 7am convinced that some secret tie connects this man, Worthington, ard Colton. ***Seratch a Russian, and you will find a Tartar.’ ‘Scratch your prisoner and you will, find Worthington, and scratch him, and you will find Colton,” “You do not imagine for a moment that Worthington and Colton are one and the same?” ‘*Not for a moment; you misunderstand me totally. . ‘* What I do mean, though, is that the would- be adbuctor of your wife and Worthington are one, and that the latter is one of Colton’s numer- ous instruments, and I tell you, my dear fellow, the woods are full of ’em.” ‘¢ Then—” ‘Then I think that if I were you, I would take your friend, the enemy, and put him in some place where he would be safe; after satisfy- ing yourself that he is either Worthington, or is not, I would keep him confined until he weaken- ed and confessed, even if it took years. ‘Do you know of any reason why Colton should seek your life?” ‘‘The only possible explanation I can offer is that he, in some manner, cameto the conclu- sion that Dainty’s father was the owner of an exceedingly valuable mine of which he thought he could gain possession. ‘‘He killed Mr. Danford and obtained posses- sion of his papers, and evidently thought that if he could get us out of the way that he could, undisputed, lay claim to the property. ‘¢ There is something behind all this that I can- not solve, and it is for that reason that I am here, “Tf Dainty owns anything on earth I will see that she secures it, although I am rich beyond my wildest dreams.” ‘* And you have no clew to the location of Mr. Danford’s property?” ‘* Not the shghtest.” ** Well, something will turn up eventually, I have no doubt, and everything will turn out all right, ‘* But the most important thing now is to at- tend to your prisoner. ‘* As { said before, Colton has any number of men in his pay here, and they might happen to drop in and release him. ‘* Do you know of any place you can take him to?” **T do, indeed, and one in which he will be as secure as if chained to an anchcra thousand feet deep in the ccean,” ‘* Phe-e-e-w!” whistled Frank, ‘‘ it must be a daisy. ‘But come, we will goand watch the priscner until late, when this town shall have settled down, that we may not meet any one on the road. ‘*Do we have to pass through The Gulch te get to your prison?” ss Yes.” ‘Then we will not come back until toward morning.” And the two friends left the room and walked out into the saloon, CHAPTER XV. UNMASKED. CALLING Charley, who occupied the ‘ look- out” chair, his brother told him thet Kit and he were about to leave and would nob probably re- turn before morning. He therefore asked him to go to the hotel, get a book and to seat himself in the hall in frent cf the door of Dainty’s sitting-room, and to allow- no one to pass, To this Charley readily consented, and the three walked to the hotel, where Kit told his wife of Frank’s suspicions, and assured her that he ran no danger in putting the matter to a test, He added that Charley would remain in the hall on watch all night, and until they returned, so that she need feel no uneasiness whatever, Then, bidding her good-night and having seen Charley comfortably fixed with an easy-chair, a good lamp and a lot of fine cigars, he rejoined Frank, and the two left the house. 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