Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 432 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

& ‘* What is it? PU get it fur you. I know somethin’ ’bout jumpin’ toothache, you bet! Been thar myself.” ‘It’s gunpowder,” groaned the count, press- ing his hands to his face again. ‘* There’s noth- ing else touches it, Fetch me some of that, won’t you, for a gocd soul? Here’s money. Bring me a quarter’s worth. I want to stuff my mouth full.” Vithout a shred of suspicion the fellow re- tired. The shrewd captive paid no attention to the dinner, but continued in his disconsolate position until the humbugged keeper returned. ‘** Here’s the stuff,” he said, passing in a paper parcel. ‘I hope it'll do you good.” ‘*{ know it’s just the thing for a fellow fixed like me,” answered the count. He opened the package and thrust a large pinch of the gunpowder into his mouth. ‘**i’ll be ready for dinner in a little while,” he remarked, closing his lips heroically on the un- pleasant remedy. The keeper continued to look at him curiously, Five minutes passed. Then the count sprung up. “I feel fifty per cent. better already,” he de- clared. ‘*Gunpowder always touches the right spot. Ill try to eat now.” He got through his dinner like a man who had never known what toothache meant, and re- turned the dishes to the attendant. ‘* Tf it comes back on me I'll give it another dose of powder,” he remarked. Yet the fooled fellow had hardly closed the panel ere the count sprung joyfully to his feet. ‘T's my turn now, my hearties, or I know nothing about human nature,” he gayly de- clared. In a few minutes he had recovered the revol- ver. One further point was needed. He had pistol and powder. Bullets were wanted. But this was a trifling difficulty. Getting the board he had hefore used from its hiding-place, he proceeded, with the aid of a sharp knife, to cut some pieces from it and round them off to the size and shape of a bullet, fitting them to the pistol barrel. Two or three hours’ steady work served for the manufacture of a half-dozen well- shaped bullets of hard wood. He had found some pistol caps in the pocket with the pistol, and was now fully provided. A few minutes sufficed the expert prisoner to make a series of cartridges, and to load his weapon, He thrust it into his pocket with an odd smile. The game was in his hands. Yet something more was to be done. As the hour when he expected the keeper with his sup- per approached he proceeded to the bed mat- tress, thrust his hand into the opening he had made, and regained the ball of burnt rags. This he opened and scattered the charred fragments on the floor, directly under the panel of the door. A strong smell quickly arose. By the time the attendant appeared the smell of burning again permeated the room. The fellow snuffed suspiciously on opening the panel. | ‘‘What’s that!” he cried. ‘‘Shoot me if there ain’t that blasted smoky smell ag’in.” . ‘* There’s no use making such a row about a bit of burnt paper,” answered the count. ‘** Burnt paper! Who’s been burnin’ paper?” The, fellow hastily unlocked and opened the door. A cry of surprise and anger came from him as he perceived the blackened tinder on the floor. ‘‘How come that thar?’ he cried furiously. ** What the blazes are you up to?” ‘* This,” answered the count. ‘‘ I’ve conclud- ed to leave this place. And I'd advise you to be- have very nicely if you don’t want to get a worse toothache than I had to-day.” ‘An exclamation of alarm burst from the fellow’s lips as he looked up. There was good reason. cocked and leveled revolver was staring him in the face. And behind it was an eye that meant business. | ” CHAPTER VII. A SCARED PACK OF VILLAINS, THart the ruffian was thunderstruck need not be repeated. But stupid and easily humbugged as he bad shown himself he was not wanting in boldness and resolution. He stood hetween the prisoner and the door, and with a fierce oath he sprung toward the latter. The count did not move a step. But a keen flash shot from his eye, his pistol hand stesd-~ ied itself, and his finger lightly pressed the trig- ger. _ There was a quick flash, a sharp but nct loud report, and the astonished keeper felt a twinge of pain in his ear. e thrust his hand up hastily, and it came back covered with blood. ‘* That’s only to show you that the thing will work,” remarked the count, calmly. ‘‘ You are right sure now that it isn’t a dummy?” ** You bet,” stammered the cowed villain. ‘* Very well. If I pull the trigger again, ’m afraid you will lay down fora long rest. I only touched your ear that time to let you hear what I had to say.” ‘* Deuce take you fur a confounded cool ’un!” growled the discomfited rogue. ‘*‘ Where’d you git that thar revolver, hey?” ‘*Lead on,” answered the count, haughtily. ‘*And try no tricks, mind you. You lent me the powder to load the pistol. So I won’t shoot you except it is necessary. No more prattle now. Lead on.” With a suppressed oath the villain did so, the count following him too closely to permit any tricks with the door. He followed along a passage and down a flight of stairs. They found themselves in a hall, with several doors opening into it. With a grin of cunning the guide opened one of these, and immediately sprung within it, out of pistol-shot. ‘Wake up thar! Didn’t ye hear thebarker?” he shouted. ‘‘ He’s nailed me, and bu’sted out!” There were two men in the room, the same precious pair of worthies that Tom Spicer had made his villainous bargain with. They sprung up, with violent oaths, at this alarm, and made as if they would rush for the door. But the appearance of a resolute face there, and a hand bearing a cocked and pre- sented revolver, bade them pause. ‘* You dirty dog!” cried the count to his be- trayer. ‘‘l’d keep my promise of putting a bul- let through you if you were worth a pinch of peaeis But I guess Pll save what bullets I 1ave for these gentlemen. Hold fast, there, my hearties, or somebody will get hurt!” The ruffians had not waited for this order to check their steps before the leveled revolver. Afar turned their eyes furiously on the fooled creeper. ‘*Where did he get that barker?’ demanded the one called Jacob. ‘* Have you let him hum- bug ae you dead beat?” ‘“Save your breath to cool your porridge,” suggested the count, calmly. ‘‘I’m here, and that’s the interesting point just now. I just stopped tobid you good-by, as I always like to walk out of a man’s house decently.” The ruffians looked at one another with a furious meaning in their eyes. Then they sprung simultaneously forward, determined to risk everything in the recapture of their valuable prisoner. The pistol cracked. Once, twice. Jacob fell to the floor, with a hole through the fleshy part of his leg. His comrade hastily retreated, as a ball went clear through his hand. ‘*No bones broken, I hope,” remarked the count coolly. ‘* You can plaster up those holes, But, don’t try it on again, or plaster won't work. You hear that, Jake Clark and Toby Myers?’ ‘‘How the blazes did you get our names? Who are you anyhow?” cried the ruffians to- gether. In reply the count put his hand to his face. He manipulated fora moment. When he took down his hand his whiskers and mustache had disappeared. He went through the same move- ment with his hair, and a black wig came off in his hand. There stood before them a man with close-cut brown hair, and a face that had been clean- shaven, though it was stubbly now for want of the razor. It was a clear-cut, sharply-intelli- gent face, with eyes that blazed like two dia- monds, A cry of surprise and consternation broke from the villains. ‘*The Ferret!” ejaculated Jake. ** Invincible Logan, or I’m a donkey!” growled Toby, with on oath of astonishment. “Tt seems you gentlemen know me,” quietly remarked the transformed count. ‘‘ Ma x you know it’s not safe to try any of those sudden movements again. I have three more wooden bullets in this pistol, and they are good for three corpses. Just tie up your wounds, for I fancy there is some bleeding going on. Then I wanta short chat with you.’ He step into the room, and quietly took a chair, laying the pistol across his knee. He was as easy and unembarrassed asif these were three of his special friends. He was in no danger from them, They ~ ~~ Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. seemed thoroughly frightened, as much so as if ge had suddenly turned into a tiger before em. The next ten minutes were devoted to dressing their wounds, which were bleeding freely, though not dangerous. No bone or artery seemed to have been touched. ‘* See here, my slippery fellows, I don’t mean you any harm. So you needn’t be scared. I’m a hawk that’s flying for higher game than yon, and if you'll tell me the truth you shall go scot free, for this. You took Count Ormond. The count has stepped out, and Jack Logan the Fer- ret has taken his place. Now I want a clean breast of it. Who put you up to taking the count? And what were you to do with him?” Jake looked at him with a sour face, though a very uneasy one. ‘* Mought ha’ known we couldn’t keep you,” he muttered. ‘‘ Thought it was cnly an Italhan count. Every fool knows as the Ferret’s slip- perier nor an eel. Wasn’t goin’ to do the count no harm, anyhow, ’cept to slice off his ears and nose if the ransom wasn’t forked over.” ‘* The ransom, eh? So the count’s put to ran- som, is he?” ‘** Fifty thousand. in’,” growled Toby. ‘*'That’s rich! Who's working this neat little game, my hearties? It’s too heavy a job for such as you.” ‘‘Now don’t you ax us that, Ferret,” urged Jake in a pleading tone. ‘‘ You wouldn’t want us to split, now, would you?” “Tf you don’t answer every question I ask ou [ll have all three of you under lock and key efore you’re two hours older,” was the stern an- swer. ** And 1’m not the man to fool with. You know that. Who employed you in this job?” ‘*' Tom Spicer’s his name, and that’s all I know *bout him,” averred Toby. ** Tom Spicer, eh? What do you know about him, Jake?” . ‘* Nothin’, ’cept he’s a sportin’ kind o’ spark as has guv us jobs more nor once. Dunno where he lives or what’s his biz. But he wears store clothes and cuts a swell. It’s him that’s workiw’ this boodle. We’re only in fur our share of the plunder.” ‘* You can swear you know nobody but Spicer in the business? You’ve seen or heard of no- body else? The truth now, mind you is ‘* There’s nobody but Spicer. I'll swear that.” The detective, into whom the assumed count had been so quickly transformed, now rose to his feet. ‘*The business has got down to this shape With the privilege of fall- now,” he said. ‘‘I want this job to go on. Count Ormond won’t be seen in New York. He’s in your hands yet, mind you. You can pei that into Spicer’s knowledge tank. Let im go ahead with the ransom business. What was to be your share?” ‘* A thousand apiece and five hundred for Bill here. We’re to do all the work, and the big ‘uns to finger the cash. But we had it in our heads to bleed a bigger pile outer them.” ‘‘ Allright. If the ransom is paid you are good for your share. Work your game well and report to me every move, and you won't go ° cmpty-handed. But don’t try any trick on me if you don’t want to be salted down.” The Invincible’s eyes were fixed on them with that searching glance which they occasionally assumed. His tone was stern and threatening. The trio of villains, who would not have shru from any common crime, were completely awed by the look and tone of this individual. They knew the power that lay concealed in that quiet frame. ‘*’-You understand?” ‘6 Yes.” ‘‘ You are my men now?” ‘¢'You bet!” ‘‘T will take care of you. I never break my word.” He turned with these words and walked —_ without taking the trouble to look back. e had no fears of a treachereus assault, The Ferret, or Invincible Jack Logan, as he was known to the law-breaking fraternity, was not the man that it was safe to play a trick on. A few steps brought him to the front door of the house. It was yet daylight, and a quick glance around him gave him a full knowledge of the locality. He knew New York and its environs as clearly as if he had a map of the region in his brain. e spot on which he stood was isolated, and not far removed from the waters of the East river. Brooklyn lay spread out before him to the east, and across the waters rose the spires of the great city of New York. He continued to gaze until he got the location : i «¢ , ’ eI |* |, p . me - ae = oa