Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 513 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

LB 7 ese See * — Pe * ¥ . : : a ** tough ’’—who, by the way, rejoiced -at last, with a scowl. ‘trived to alig The Demon Doctor. eee ————________._ Trishman’s love of adventure would not allow him to remain in the background now that he did not sus- pect any supernaturalagency at work. || Ss. ‘‘Be jabers! I hear some one shpaking,”’ said Mike, in an excited whisper. “Hush! We must not be caught just now, That colored man thinks we have lost track of him, evi- dently, and if we don’t interfere with him I presume he won’t disturb us. All we want now is to locate and identify the gang. If we do that we shall have gained the object of our night's work,”’ While speakirg, Lawrence Sinclair was cautiously ulling at the mass of slate gies ppee 4 below the Fontaontel crack. He judged, and rightly, that it would swing open like a door. He soon made an aperture large enough to enable him to peer through into the space on the other side. A glare of light dazzled his eyes and drew forth a stifled exclamation from Mike. Sinclair stretched his hand warningly toward his companion, but Mike was too excited to notice it and only climbed a little higher, to get a better view of the scene before him, It was a “room’’ similar to the one in which ‘they stood, but was as comfortably furnished as many an apartment ina good boarding-house, Two cot-beds, several chairs and a large pine table were lighted up by animmense flame that issued from an ordinary gas pipe planted in the ground. There were four occupants of the room. One wasa burly colored man—doubtless the in- dividual that had brushed past Sinclair and Mike so unceremoniously. ‘The others were a young man of serhaps twenty years of age, who, with his soft felt iat pulled over his eyes, had the unmistakable air of a “tough,” and Barney Driver. There was still another person present, the sieht of whom had caused Lawrence Sinclair and Mike Carroll so much astonishment—a beautiful, refined young girl, none ocher than the Demon Doctor's daughter, Lucette. ** Phwat does that mean, Mr. Sinclair?’’ whispered Mike, as he raised himself a little more and leaned forward until half his body hung through the open- ing. ® Come back, Mike; they will see you,’’ warned Lawrence, softly, as he gave Mike Carroll a pull. The pull was intended to draw the Irishman out of danger, but it failed in its object. Mike involuntari- ly resisted, and leaned forward still further. It wasa fatal movement. _ There was the sound of falling rubbish; a grind- ing, crashing, rumbling noise, and Lawrence Sinclair dropped back and rolled into the center of the empty ‘‘room.’”’ under a heap of broken slate and dust, while Mike pitched the other way, and landed with a tremendous bump and a characteristic exclama- tion, squarely in the middle of the pine table, among Barney Driver and his companions. CHAPTER V. A RESCUE STOPPED. BARNEY DRIVER, the colored man, and the young in the cogno- men of ‘‘ Curly Bob ’’—started forward as Mike Car- roll made his nnceremonious d@:bu/, but as the Lrish- man sat perfectly unconcerned on the table, looking good-humoredly into the face of each manin turn, they all stopped and stared at the intruder with an expression of blank astonishment on their respective faces. , oe ‘Where did you come from?” said Barney Driver, “Phere did I kim from?’’ repeated Mike, who wanted to gain time to collect his thoughts. ** Sure, it’s meself that kin hardly tell yez. I jist dropped in as it were.”’ The frown on Barney Driver’s brew grew black as he looked into the little Irishman's careless, smiling face. : ‘‘ Get off that table,” he commanded, sternly. “Sartiinly. Lbeg the leddy’s parding,’’ returned Mike, pulling off his hat respectfully. “Never mind the lady, Illtake care of her. You do as I tell you,”’ was Barney’s gruff response. | “Don’t [always do as ye tell me—at the mill?” ‘‘Yes, and you'll do it here, too, if you know avhat is good for yourself.” “Paix, and if | know what’s good for meself, I think I’d be better off av I wasn’t in this place, at all, at all.” rs pant MD. , “T’'m shut.”’ , i from the table, and dextérously con- oan ope t at the side of Lucette, 4 A light, soft touch on his hand would have told him that she was in trouble, even had she not whis- pered. almost inaudibly, 4 single word: ** Help!” ** Get over to the other side of the room,” said the harsh voice of Barney Driver, and Mike Carroll was hurled across the apartment by the powerful arm of be speaker so suddenly as to almost take away his reath, . “Sure an’ ain’t I on the ither soide?’’ said Mike, with a grin, adding to himself: “ But Pu get that gurrul outo’ this in spite of yer teeth, Mister Barney the Blackshape. Mark me wurruds.” He dropped upon the pile of slate that had fallen with him from the hole above, drew a short black pipe from his pocket, and after due preparation commenced to smoke, “Curiy Bot” and the colored man looked curi- ously from the Irishman to barney, as if expecting orders to take some action, . The latter did not make any sign, however, and Mike was left unmolested. Barney Driver was evidently the ruler in this un- ee ait derground kingdom. He was playing a desperate cane; but then he was a desperate man, and he id not hesitate in the course he had marked out for himself. He would rather that Mike Curroll had not found him in a character—an outlaw—en- tirely different to that of the mill-worker, in which he had been accustomed to seeing him. But since he could not help it, he was prepared to face it out with the dogged courage peculiar to wild beasts and men without principle, ‘Oscar!’ he cried, suddenly. “ ‘*Sah!’’ returned the negro, as he stepped toward arney. The latter whispered something in Oscar’s ear, and with a nod of intelligence the negro walked to the door, which, Mike noticed, was of solid, heavy beams end scantling, strengthened with bands and rivets of iron, ‘* Bob,”’ said Barney, shortly. Curly Bob, without a word followed the negro, and they both disappeared through the doorway Barney carefully replacing the ponderous bar and two iron bolts that secured it from the inside. It was noticeable that Barney Driver never re- movedhis eyes from the face of Lucette while fast- ening the door. He evidently expected that she would, if possible, enlist Mike Carroll in her service and he was determined to prevent it, As for Mike he sat on his heap of slate, smoking as peacefully as if he was enjoying his noon hour rest at the mill. Barney Driver seated himself on the table and grinned triumphantly at Lucette. ‘What are you going to do with me?’ asked the girl, at last, as Barney showed no intention of speak- ing. * Sit down,”’ was the gruff response. Lucette obeyed, mechanically dropping into a chair that stood just behind her. “T ain’t going to do anythihg with you,” continued Barney. ‘‘ You don’t suppose I go around killing women, do you? It was a lucky chance that I got hold of you, and ’'m going to take advantage of it, of course, That’s business. I can strike a better bargain, with old Lightning Rod, the Demon Doctor, as they call him, while I keep you out of sight d’ye see?” ** Villain!’ gasped Lucette. ‘* Now, see here, young lady,” said Barney Driver, Savagely. ‘‘I don’t want any talk of that kind from you, I wouldn’t take it from a man, and I’m sure won’t have it from a girl.”’ ‘“Thrue for yez, Barney. You're a brave b’y Faix an’ ye are. I believe yez c’u'd lick the gurru wi’ one hand, sol do,”’ broke in Mike Carroll, who pushed down the tobacco in the bowl of his pipe with his little finger, and quietly resumed his smok- ing. Barney Driver jumped from the table, seized a chair and hurled it with all his force at Mike. The iittle Irishman expected some such demon- stration; so he dodged the chair with a quick move- ment of his head. At the same instant Lucette reached the door, and with almost superhuman strength, threw down the bar, shot back the bolts, and rushed into the corri- dor. ‘*Come back, or I'll kill you,”’ yelled Barney, as he followed her a few steps. Then he stopped, and with achuckle and shrug of his shoulders, returned to the room. ‘‘Hyar she is, boss. I thought she was gwine too fast, or I done ’suaded her to come back,”’ said the voice of Oscar, as he appeared, holding Lucette firmly by tbe hand. _ “Slipped up that time, eh?” said Barney, mock- ingly, as, the negro having again gone, the door was barred and bolted as before, For five minutes no one spoke. Mike Carroll smoked on undisturbed; Lucette sunk back in her chair in a sad reverie, and Barney, the Blacksheep, with knitted brows leaned against the wall, looking alternately at his two prisoners. Suddenly there was a noise over the head of Mike Carroll, who, it will be remembered, was sitting im- mediately beneath the opening through which he had made his entry to the room. Barney Driver looked up, and leveled a pistol at the spot with an oath. Ere he could pull the trigger, Mike Carrol], quick as a flash, had voked up a piece of slate, and, with accurate aim, tbrown it at the weapon. There was a report, the sound of falling slate and dust, and Lawrence Sinclair bounded into the room from the opening, and flew at the throat of Barney the Blacksheep. The onslaught was so sudden that the burly ruf- fian went down asif he had been hit by a cannon ball, with Lawrence Sinclair clutching his throat with a death-like grasp. ‘‘Hurroo!” yelled Mike Carroll. “Choke the murtherin’ villain, Mister Sinclair. Jist hould him till | gif one paste at him.”’ Lucette started from her chair in affright, and glanced toward the door. The combatants, however. were rolling over each other immediately in front of it, completely shutting off escape in that direction, Barney Driver tried to speak, but the clutch of Lawrence Sinclair on his throat was tightening, and he could not utter any sound save a muffled groan. Lucette had seen that some one sprung into the room, but the movement had been so sudden that she had not seen his features, Now, as the two rolled over ina desperate strug: le for the mastery, she saw the young man’s face n the full glare of the gas-light that was still flaring from the pipe, and clasping her hands in a paroxysm of hope and fear, cried: a *Lawrence!”’ The young man heard the word, and, excited as he was, a glow of pleasure overspread his pale face, and he gave Barney Driver’s throat an extra Squeeze that made that gentleman’s eyeballs bulge still more. Mike Carroll heard it, too, and he screwed up two eyes with a knowing look as he muttered: ‘Well, here’s more init. That must be Mr. Sin- clair’s gurrul, from the moighty familiar way she handles the name uv him.”’ The Irishman was dancing around the two men battling on the ground, as he sought an opportunity to help his friend by planting a decisive blow on Barney Driver’s anatomy. So far, however, he had not been able to distin- guish one from the otherin the dust and excite- ment, Barney the Blacksheep was now growing percep- tibly weaker. Though a much more powerful man than Lawrence Sinclair, the latter had gained such an advantage by clutching his throat at the first at- tack that it was evident the young man would eventually be the victor. ; One more tightening of his clasp and it was evi- dent to Lawrence that the assailant was helpless for the time being. ‘*So, Barney Driver, I think we have stopped your career for a few years,’ said Lawrence as he re- leased his hold and arose to his feet. ‘* Miss Le Fevre!’’ he exclaimed, as he met the eye of Lucette, ** what strange chance brings you to this place at this hour?” ‘Oh, Law—Mr. Sinclair, take me home; take me home. I hardly know what has aps pe this night. But rest assured that my father and I will never be able to sufficiently repay you for your assistance.” “The accidental speaking of his Christian name by this fair young girl had sent a thrill of pleasure through the young man. It bade him hope that the warm feeling he had long hardly dared to indulge for the daughter of Professor Le Fevre was not per- haps so presumptuous, after all. But this was no time for ae love. The best way to prove it would be to help her out of this den, so unsuited to her delicate tastes and refined appearance. ‘*Mike, give me that rope in the corner. I must arrange Mr. Driver so that he will keep quiet for a few hours. We'll take Miss Le Fevre home first. Then we can come back and decide what to do next.”’ ‘“ Thrue for yez, Mr. Sunclair.”’ ‘It is evident that we have found the headquarters of the gang that young Frank Trenton was talking about.”’ ‘* Sure!” ‘*And when we find him we can consult about Barney. The boy has something against him that we do not know of yet.”’ ‘* All roight, Mr. Sunclair. Hére’sthe rope. I'll tie that murthering villain meself. Begorra, he luks as if he w’u’d wake up in a minute.”’ Perhaps Mike Carroll never had a job that he en- joyed more than fastening his tyrant with the stout rope he bad found in the corner. He kuotted and twisted and pulled, and looped the rope around Barney Driver’s limbs until the prostrate bully was utterly powerless even when be had recovered from the severe throttling administered by Lawrence Sinclair. He finished the job by bestowing a hearty kick on Barney the Blacksheep. ‘Take that, bad ‘cess to yez, for what I owe yez.” Barney 8cowled malevoiently. “Phwat, ye’ll luk crooked at me, will yez?’’ said Mike, with mock indignation. ‘ Be the powers I'll give yez anither wan !”’ Mike was as good as his word, He rattled his heavy boot against Barney’s back with such earnest good will that Lawrence felt con- strainec to interfere. “ Wait a minute, Mike. There is no reason to kick the man to death, There is enough against him, according to the boy, Trenton, to send him to the Penitentiary for ten years, but we have no right to kill him beforeband.”’ ‘*T know; but he’s sich a blaggard that I'd loike to settle with him meself.”’ ‘* Well, don’t do it. Just stay here and keep watch until I] come back. ' am going to take Le a home. Her father will be almost out of his mind.” ‘*No, father does not even knowI am out of the house, or I am sure he would have found me before this.’’ sobbed Lucette. “‘Tndeed?”’ said Lawrence in astonishment. He was about to ask the young girl for an explan- ation, but realizing that in her distress she was in no mood for talking, he said nothing about it. ‘Here, Mike,”’ he said, picking up the revolver that had been knocked from the hand of Barney the Blacksheep. ‘Ta e this pistol, and, if necessary to defend your life, use it, but not ctherwise.”’ ‘*All right. Mr. Sunclair. I don’t take much shtock in goons, but I'll blow the top off the head av that er av he comes foolin’ around here again, so I will.” “Don’t forget that they hang people for commit- ting murder. Mike, that’s all.’’ said Lawrence warn- ingly, as he. took down the bar of the door. ‘Faith. then, they ought to hang Barney Droiver, 5 Ate nearly kilt me lots av toimes,” grumbled e, “Drop that gun!” suddenly commanded a voice over Mike’s head, and the Irishman let his pistol fall to the ground mechanically. Lawrence Sinclair turned around quick!y. but only to confront the muzzle of a revolver within a yard of his face held by the colored man, Oscar, who had JNA cS comicboo Ee —— ee ds ee OO ne con oe