Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 423 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

ee “ How do you know the law is seeking you?’’ he ried. ‘*‘Are you sure the man was really killed? When and where did this bappen?”’ She looked up wita wild eyes. ‘‘He was bleeding to de-th when I left. I have Yearned all the rest from Paul Clifford and his con- federate. I could not endure to read a word about my fearful crime. It was in New Orleans, six years ago.” ** And the man’s name was Redner Wilkinson?” ‘“Yos, yes! What can you know about it?” “*T know that you have been brutally and cruelly deceived. I wasin New Orleans at the time. are no murderess, Estelle. Deeply as you wounded him, the man recovered, Your supposed victim lived to commit more crimes. He was killed in Texas, not a year ago,in a tavern brawl. They have lied to you, to control and ruin you.” ‘*Great God, can this be so?”’ She had risen to her feet, and was standing staring at him with disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes, her arm involuntarily advanced. Just then she looked supremely beautiful. ‘*T have told you the truth, Estelle,”” he cried. ** You are free from this crime. ‘there is nothing to ‘separate us, and I owe you the devotion cf a life for: this poor finger, lost in my behalf.” He gathered her again to his heart in a burst of uncontrollable love. Her proud head slowly sunk on his shoulJer, while a flood cf tears relieved the pent-up exe oe of her soul. They were tears not of pain, ut of relief and happiness. For some minutes they stood thus, all in all to each other. The pale beams of the lamp lit up the dismal room, into whose dread depths the light of love had come. Then Harry broke from his spell of happy inaction, bis eyes burning, his veins running with fevered pulses. ‘*Shall we die now, with a life of happiness be- fore us?” he cried. ‘*No,no! Thereis yet a chance of escape! ‘here is one possible avenue by which ‘we may break out from this dreadful dungeon!”’ He sprung across the floor to the spot where he bad before been digging, caught up the fallen knife and began again to energetically fling up the wet earth. Rapidly, before his wild fervor, the heap of excavated earth accumulated. Rapidly the avenue which might become their path to freedom widened and deepened. CHAPTER XIII. _ AN ESCAPE AND A CHECK. Tue knife which Harry Foster was using as an excavating tool was long, sharp, and broad-bladed. Possibly it had been given to him to use for another purpose, if he preferred death by a knife-blow to poi-on or starvation. Used as a spade, in his strong hands, it rapidly made its way into the soft earth. Numbers of rats had made their excavations at that point, and a dozen holes cut through the wet ground. Between these holes were cakes of sodden clay which he cut loose in lumps and lifted out wi h his hands, It was not long before he had made a hole more than a foot deep, and wide enough to stand in. Estelle stood looking at him with interest and sur- prise. ‘‘ What are you doing?” she asked. escape by digging into the earth?” ‘*See here,” he replied. ‘*We are at the founda- tion of the house. These rat-holes run under the f yundation wall. It is nota foot deep here, I can thrust my hand beneath it already. Iam going to dig the earth from under it, and then let the stones fall down into the pit. Some of them are loose now, Wherever this leads I will make a hole in the wall that we can pass through.”’ P Estelle’s surprise was changed to hope and excite- ment as she realized his meaning. Her feeling of despair became one of desire for life. “This is the cellar flocr,” she said. ‘‘ That wall opens into another part of thecellar, If you can excavate it weare safe. Letmedomyshare,. You must be worn out, Iam strong.” ‘No, no. See, [am under the wall already. The rats have done good work. And this is one of your modern walls, with mortar like flour paste. The a are only laid together Ha! there comes one now!’ He started back as one of the unsupported stones of the wall dropped down into the cavity he had made. He inserted bis knife-blade into the open —— and soon had others loosened and ready to fal ‘Stand back, Estelle, he warned. With nervously eo hands he tugged out the fallen stone, and threw it on ther:!e of dirt. Then with eager haste he widene and deepened the cavity beneath the wall, dragging back the loose earth with his hands. ** Beware,” cried Estelle. I: is going to fall!” He drew quickly back, just in time to escape a ?eap of stones, mortar and dirt, which came surg- ing down wich a noise that must have resounded through the rouse. Heedless whether or not he had given the alarm he flung himself wildly upon the fallen heap, and tore out its fragments with hands that soon ran with blood. He seemed frantic in his haste as he tugged at the jagged stones. Others came down as the cavity was increased. They continued to fall in fragments until some larger stones were reached that braced the remaining wall. But a yawning opening had been made, “sige wide enough for a buman body to s through. He cont-‘nued his labors until the fallen stones ** How can we ‘*The wall is cracking! had been in great part removed, and the excavation was cleam | You | The Lost Finger. ‘Our work is done, Estelle,”’ he cried gladly. ‘““Wecan crawl through this cavity. And we must net loco a minute. Our enemies may attack us be- ft. re we@ in escape.”’ ' set sai into the cavity, he found no difficulty in creep ng through the gaping hole in the wall. Es- telle followed, heedless of her rich dress. He caught her arms, aud helped her through the narrow pas- sage. The lamov was left *chind in the dungeon, yet it threw sufficient light through the opening to reveal the fact that they stood in an open cellar, which was divided off by stone partition walls, through one of which they had made their way. The dungeon occupied one end of the cellar. The wall was a newly built one, and had not yet become compacted. They shucdered as they looked on the strong iron door, fastened with powerful bolts, They listened intently. There were noises in the house overhead. Their eyes met in alarm. ‘“We must fly at once,” cried Estelle, ‘ before our avenue of escape is cut off.”’ “Tl will make warm work for the man who stops me,’ he fiercely answered, looking around him for a weapon. He found a long-handled, rusty hammer, which lay ina corner of the cellar. Grasping this firmly, he caught Estelle by the hand, and hurried her rap- idly toward the stairs. ‘*Come,”’ he said; ‘‘our chance will be better above.” ‘* Stop,”’ she answered, in a low tone, drawing him back. ‘* Wait—listen.” Steps and voices could be clearly heard above. They seemed approaching. She drew him back to a dark corner beside the stairs. “They have taken the alarm,’’ she whispered.. “They are about todescend. L:t us conceal our- selves here. If they go forward to examine the dungeon, we can rush up the stairs and escape.” The idea was a good one; he yielded to her im- ulse. But his teeth closed grimly as he knotted iis fingers around the handle of his weapon. He did not feel inclined to fly until he had made his das- tardly foes feel the weizht of his strong right arm. The door to the cellar opened. A fainv gleam from an upper light came down into the dark and damp apartment. The sounds cf familiar voices met their ears. ‘*That was avery strange sound,’’ came in the —— of Paul Clifford. ‘‘ Could it have been down ere?” ‘** All seems quiet now,” answered Juan. ‘‘T had a job to talk down Warner and Jones. They evi- dently are expecting earthquakes.” ‘Likely we were mistaken in the direction,”’ re- joined Paul. ‘‘ However, we had better take a look, and make sure t.at allis right.” At this moment the door-bell violently rung. They hesitated. **' Who can that be?”’ ‘* Some fool that is so eager to lose his money that he has come an hour ahead of time, Let James take cara of him. We must thoroughly pluck all that come to-night. At midnight, you know, we bid good-by to this palace of cash, and we must set out with well-filled 7 ockets.” The speaker, Paul Clfford, was descending the stairs as he spoke, 4 a the idiots who have chosen to stand in our wa ‘*Poison or starvation will do for them. By the time the house is opened and searched they will cer- tainly be past harm.” A coarse laugh came from Juan’s lips, “The Countess has found her true love at last. Let us hope they may enjoy their long love tryst.” * What a dupe and a fool she has been,” laughed Paul, who had now reached the cellar floor. ‘‘ She is a tigress, though, under all her smoothskin. Do ou remember her when she knifed her former over? I wonder how she will serve this one? Kill him with kindness, probably.” Harry Foster felt the frame of the woman who leaned upon him quiver with shame and indignation at the coarse allusion. The contact set his own veins on fire, till they seemed to run with liquid flame. Burning with the fury that possessed him at these insults of his foes he forgot all caution, and sprung forward in an overpowering rage. * They laugh best who laugh last, Paul Clifford,” came in grim accents from his compressed lips. The startled villain hastily turned toward the un- expected voice, But before he could move a step or utter a sound the dangerous weapon that was quiv- ering in the hands of the indignant lover, came down with a crusbing blow on his head. He sunk to the floor as if he had been struck by a rifle-bullet, with a single groan of pain. Likeadead ye he lay there, outstretched on the earthen oor. Swinging his weapon above his head Harry dashed eased for-the stairs, on which stood his remaining oe. ‘*Come on, Estelle,’’ he cried. path.” Juah Vernel had sprung back in alarm at the sud- den fall of his companion. For a single instant he seemed asif about to fly. Then his thin lips curl- ed, his eyes flashed, his hand sought the pistol which he always carried. ‘* Beware!” cried Estelle,in an agony cf fear, as she too sprung to the stairs. *Heis armed! He is about to fire!”’ Harry flung his’ swinging weapon at his foe, with quick and deadly aim. But the sharp-eyed villain saw it coming and stooped to avoidit. It whizzed over bis shoulder and struck the wall behind bim with a crushing blow. ‘* It is my turn now,”’ he hissed, drawing and cock- ‘“*T will make a OS Raia oe oR ce ee een eee eee cre eee ee ee eee ee ee ee oem samen aun gp AON RR Rg SU a a ET a a i TS aE SA, a TG TN TRE LM a ing his revolver with a single movement. ‘And my aim never misses.”’ A touch on the trigger, a sharp detonation. and a form staggered and fell, pierced by the fatal bullet. _ But it was not the form of Harry Foster, the intended victim of the villain. For at that perilous instant, with the unselfish instinct of love, Estelle had sprung before him with a.sharp cry of dismay. It was her breast that the bullet bad pierced. . It was her form that, pouring blood, fell back in the arms of her lover, and drove bim with the dead weight forcibly from the steps to the floor A cry of triumph came from the lips of the mur- erer. ‘IT must finish my work,” he hissed. ‘ Dead men tell no tales.” : But at that momevt there came unexpected sounds from behind, There were the rush of hasty steps. A voice, full of authority and decision, seemed issuing commands. The ruffian hesitated. with uplifted pistol, as if he chafed at being cheated of his prey. But the instinct of self-protecticn triumphed. He flung the weapon, with a cry of rage, at the head of re. Fuster, who was jut struggling up beneath the dead weight of the lifeless woman. Then he turned, eager for escape, and sprung with a single leap to the head of the stairs. He went no further. A stalwart form barred his passage. The hall seemed full of strong stern men. **Hold fast, my friend. We have a trifle of busi- ness with you before you can be spared.” It was the cool, firm voice of detective Sharp. ‘*Take care of this fellow.”’ he said to the man be- hind him. ‘* There has been some bad work down here, if Iam not mistaken. Don’t let him escape.” There was but one passage, and that was occupied by a half-dozen stalwart policemen. Yet Juan leaped at them with the fury of a cornered wolf, and sought Cesperately to force his way through them. He had thrust aside two or 'hree, and leaped at the fourth with head depressed, like a human battering-ram. But he met an unexrected obstacle. The club of the officer descended with a stunning blow on his head felling him like a dog to the floor. “Put the darvies on him.” ordered the officer. thrusting him with his foot. ‘‘He’s a dangerous oO And it’s likely he has done some damage down 1ere,”’ While this was taking place Detective Sharp had hurried down the cellar-stairs. his eyes fixed on the three prostrate forms at the bottcm. “Bring a light here, somebody,” he cried. “ And look out fi r that fellow. There’s been some mur- derous werk, from the looks of things.” The pistol flunc by the baffled villain had struck Foster on the forchead, and fell: d him again to the floor, where he lay, half stunned. Estelle lay mo- tionless across his body, the glcod from her wound soaking him with its deacly cfimscn. ‘‘A light here! Quick!’’ repeated the detective. “This woman is bleeding dangereusly. And there are two men wlo have got their quietus.”’ A light was quickly procured, and the situation of affairs revea! Foster had been knocked insensi- ble by the blow of the revolver, but be recovered his senses as they lifted the wounded woman from his form. He sprung to his feet, with wild eyes and haggard face.” ‘‘Oh! she is not dead! cried, in a tone of agony, and took the bullet to save my life. I will kill myself! Answer me, some one, quick!’ “No, she is not dead,” replied the detective. ‘Her heart still beats. But she seems vo have a ter- rible wound. It is a question if shecan recover. Here, some of you—you, Hanly—run for a surgeon, instantly. Carry this woman up-stairs, some of you. Search tte house and see if there are any women in it. This bleecing must be stopped at once, Her life will soon run out at this rate.” Two of the strongest officers ti ok the insensible form in their arms, and bore her tenderly up-stairs. mer. distracted with love and grief, would have fol- lowed, but the detective laid a restraining hand on his shoulder, ‘ ‘You can do no good there,” he said, ‘ You will only do harm in your present mood. Stop here and tell me what this means. Whoare these men? What has happened to this fellow lying here?” - “T struck him down with a hammer,” answered Harry, hoarsely. “Ido not know if I have killed him; nor do I care much.”’ The detective leaned over the prostrate man. - ‘No, he is not dead,”’ he said. ‘* But you gave him asettler. Now, quick! tell me what bas happened. Where have you been? Thereis the very deuce to pay in the city about you.” i led the way back tothe dungeon and laid his hand onthe iron door. “‘T have been in there,” he said. ‘I would never have come out alive but for that hole which I dug through the wall. It is a terrible experience I have passed through. Shall I tell the story? “Yes. Tell it all.” It was partly his purpose to turn the lover’s thouzhts away from the wounded form that lay bleeding up-stairs. But he soon felt a thrilling in- terest in the story as its excited incidents were re- lated tohim. The terrible episode of the etiiey rats made even bis iron nerves quiver with excite- ment, ‘ Fo my was interrupted, near the close of his story, by the a: scent of one of the officers, ‘Tie surgeon is here,”’ be announced. “Ah! And what does he say?” “The wound is dangerous. but not fatal. With good luck she may recover. “Thank God for tbat!” cried Harry, fervently. “She sought to give her life for mine!’ Say she is not dead!” ke ‘‘She sprung before me If she is dead . et A el == ee i ee ee ~~ tee ee — — _— —— on ~ i Re a cbhooks.com