Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 522 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

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At the hotel he found only Fred Fairfax in ‘the council-chamber, and made known to him, in substance, what had recently happened at the La Force mansion. ‘*Confound the infernal rascal!” Fred indig- nantly exclaimed. ‘‘He must not run across * y path, for lcould not keep my hands off of him. ‘*No; do nothing of the kind,” Dick replied. **Wecan well bide our time for the victory ‘that will be ours, Have you found Luke Len- ton yet?” ** No, although I have been in search of him. ‘The last I saw of him, he had engaged boardata Renee house, and said that for certain reasons de would have to keep quiet for awhile. I did not know what he meant, but formed an im- pression that he had got into trouble of some sort. When I went to the house to-day, I was ‘told that nothing bad been seen of him since he engaged board.” ‘**' When did you see him last?” ** Yesterday, about the time of your encounter with the sheriff and his men.” ‘* Did you find out if his trunk was at the hotel ‘where he first stopped?” ‘“ Yes. It is there, and no one has been to claim it.” ‘Strange! I hardly believe the fellow has deft town, nor can I see what he is keeping him- ‘self so shady for, except it be to avoid returning ‘the money he borrowed of me at Wah Lee’s. ‘Well, keep a sharp lookout, and ay you'll fixd him. By the way, whereare Old Avalanche and Johnny?” ‘““T haven’t seen them since early this morn- es, Presume they’re off on the trail of McDon- ald. And Fred was right. The missing two were after McDonald, and with a vengeance, too. But let’s make a slight retrogression, and pick aip the trail where we left off. W ben McDonald left the La Force mansion, his face wore an expression of diabolical triumph, while his eyes glittered evilly. ‘* By the gods! ’'m in luck,” he muttered, as the strode along. ‘‘I had no idea matters would shape around so easily in my favor. Where J expected to use threats to bring the -woman to time, the allurement of the prospec- tive fortune did the work for me. Prospective! Ha! ha! that’s a good word for it. Once she is mine there'll be a mighty slim prospect of her getting much of the money. Verily, things are working nicely. IfI can keep those accursed detectives off the track, for a time, I'll have tought the worst part of the battle, after my ameeting with Burton Bates.” He glanced at his watch, and hurried on to- ward the southern outskirts of the town. A brisk walk of half an hour brought him to _ a bluff overlooking the angry waters of the mad Missouri. Here he paused and waited. In ten minutes’ time he was joined by no less a “personage than Luke Lenton, whose face wore an eager, expectant expression, as he approached ‘the arch-schemer. _* Are you Duncan McDonald?” Lenton de- manded, thrusting out his hand. **Tam Duncan McDonald,” was the haughty ‘response, without an offer to take the proffered Anand. ‘** Who are you?” *T am Burton tes, whom you sent for to -come here, from Boston, sir, you claiming to be able to show me my long-lost sister.” McDonald laughed grimly. **So you’re Butler Bates’s son, eh?’ he said, edrawlingly. **T am, sir.” _ _ * Yes, you look considerably as he did, when _ Tsaw him last. So the old man’s dead, eh?” Yes, __ **Spose he must have left quite a fortune be- +hind, eh?” | Well, yes, he left a nice sum of money to be divided between me and my sister, in case I was ever able to find her.” _ * D)ve ever expect to find her?” -* Certainly. hy not? Didn’t you write me that if I came here to Bismarck, you would _re- store m sister to me?” A ell, yes, I did, but didn’t suppose you were _ ‘fool enough to believe it. The truth is, your ven i sister went up the flume a year ago, She wasa ow h character, and went the way all such crit- go, Haw! haw! haw!” and the wretch . aughed hoarsely, causing the listener to grow pale with horror. ; - ———— Se ‘ i ’ . ‘Deadwood Dick’s Three. ** Villain! infamous wretch!” Lenton cried, | taking a step nearer the scoundrel; ‘‘ dare you—” Lenton, otherwise Burton Bates, did not get an opportunity to finish the sentence, for he re- ceived a blow between the eyes that felled him senseless to the ground. McDonald glared down at him a moment, say- agely. N o! Pll not stain my hands with his blood!” he muttered. ‘‘The river will do the work, uite as well, and leave no tell-tale traces. Yes! the river it shall be!’ and without further de- liberation, he raised the senseless man in his arms, bore him to the edge of the bluff, which descended almost perpendicularly into the now swollen and swift-running river. Pausing and giving the body a swing, he heaved Lenton off intvu blank space. He struck the waters with a loud splash. Turning abrupt- ly, Duncan McDonald fled from the spot as though pursued by a legion of avengers. But, the crime had by no means been un- witnessed. There was a thicket of bushes on the bluff, near at hand, and crouching in this covert, the two sleuths, Old Avalanche and Johnny Smile, had witnessed and overheard all that had transpired. No sooner had McDonald started on a swift run back toward Bismarck, than Avalanche clutched Johnny by the arm, excitedly. *“ Quick! boyee,” he cried. ‘‘ After the skunk! dog him like a bloodhound, and don’t lose sight of him, until ye find out ef he’s up to any new deviltry)” ‘* But, the feller in the river—?” ‘*Never mind. Ill rescue him, if sech a thing is possible! Git, now!” And Johnny did “‘ git,” without delay. He had no difficulty in following his game, either, for Duncan McDonald never once looked back. He went direct to the office of Professor Lucius Pillbury, and found that dilapidated confederate in crime in his room, Adjoining this room was another used for the storage of firewood, and Johnny Smile was soon snugly stowed away in this place. There was a crack in the board partition be- tween the two rooms, and Johnny at once affixed his ear to this, about as firmly as though it was glued there, ‘* Well, how is things?’ Pillbury demanded, opening the vonversation. ‘* Excellent!” the schemer replied. ‘* Couldn’t be better. I’ve just got rid of Burton Bates, so he won’t be in the way, and, better than all, Fanny Fairfax has consented to marry me, two nights hénce!” Pillbury whistled. “You don’t say so!” ‘* But, I do!” ‘Then, all’s right.” ‘Yes. Whendo you expect the money on the policy?” ‘* Within a week’s time. ly settles very promptly.” ‘*T hope they wili, in this instance, as I want aay share of the divy, and then I am going to skip, PWhere to?” ‘Ask me no questions and lll tell you no lies. Once I’m heeled, Dll vamoose, for it wouldn’t be a healthy climate around here for a man of my fragile constitution, if the fraud were to leak out.” ‘*No, I presume not. [’m not of the opinion I shall tarry long, once I get my clutches on the money.” ‘*You’d better not try to grab it all, and skip, mind you!” **Oh! Til deal all square with you.” ‘*Of course you will! Yowll have to, In- deed, you will!’ sé hy so?” ‘** Because, if you’d play me for a monkey, I’d The company usual- hey you locked up!” and McDonald laughed ‘** You needn’t go to that trouble. I’m square as a die, There’s only one more job to do, and then I shall retire from the compound villeiny business, and adopt some more lucrative pro- fession,” ‘* What job do you refer to?” ‘‘ Getting hold of Peggy Parkhurst’s money,” ** Ah! have you found it?” ** No: but I am satisfied the old fool had it buried with ber.” : ‘Why so?’ ** Because two detectives are watching her Aerie constantly—one by day and one by night. f there wasn’t something more to gu than a cold corpse, they wouldn’t be there, ** Guess you’re right.” **T know [’m right.” > ‘Are you going to investigate, to make cer tain?” ‘* You can bet I am!” ‘* But, how about the guards?” ‘‘' We'll have to sneak up behind, and sand. bag ’em, then bind and gag ’em, and put them away, until we can open the grave,” ‘Who do you mean by we?” ‘* You and I.” ‘*Do I share in the boodle?” sa y no means,” ‘Then, you must get some one else,” ‘That is impossible, You are the only one I can trust!” ‘*Then, you must pay for the accommodation of having some one to trust!” ‘* How much will you take to help me through with the job?” ‘* Half the boodle!” I'll give you a thousand dollars, When is the job to be ‘* Nonsense, and no more!” ‘Well! Pll take it, done?” ‘*To-night. Be at the cemetery gate, at one o’clock, well armed, and it won’t take long to do the job.” ‘* All right. ll be there,” and McDonald took his departure, CHAPTER XV. A BAFFLED GHOUL, JOHNNY SMILE lost no time in hastening to the headquarters of the detectives, and commu- nicating to Deadwood Dick the particulars of | the occurrence on the river bluff, and what he had learned at the interview between McDonald and Pillbury. While they were conversing, Avalanche en- tered, accompanied by Luke Lenton, whom he had rescued from the river. Both were wet and cold, and glad to avail themselves of the cosey fire that burned in the detectives’ apartment. After they had dried their garments, a long conversation took place. Upon bein geanlpi, questioned Lenton ad- mitted that he was Burton Bates, and that he had come West in search of his sister, the reason for his attempting the journey being that he had received a letter from McDonald, who offered to reunite him to his sister for a small sum. Butler Bates, explained the son, had left be- hind a large fortune at his death, and the letter was a decoy and another of McDonald’s schemes to get Burton West, and put him out of the way, so that the plotter could have a chance to figure for the whole Bates property. | When Burton was informed that his sister was really alive and the wife of the not yet dead Fairfax, his delight knew no bounds, and in celebration of their first meeting, he and Fred engaged in a regular old-fashioned bug. In fact, explanations in general, ensued, which took a so much time that the night was passing rapidly. s it approached midnight, Johnny Smile asked, ‘‘ Boss, what yer goin’ ter do ’bout that grave- yard racket? Hain’t goin’ ter let them fellers scoop in thet deposit, aire ye?” Deadwood Dick smiled. ! ‘“ Well, not if I know myself!” he replied, ‘‘T know a trick worth two of theirs, By col- lusion with Doctor Disco, and the detectives, I have had the body of Peggy Parkhurst removed from that grave, and interred in another spot, Therefore, if McDonald opens the original grave he will have his trouble for his pains, and you won't be able to find a madder man, in all Dakota.” | ‘Was any money found in, the coffin?” asked Fairfax. ‘Yes, and it isall in my possession, As soon as I can get around to it, I will divide it between your wife and Mr. Burton Bates, according to the directions of the will.” ‘‘ And, you can rest assured of one thing,” Burton spoke up, ‘‘and that is, that the threeof © you shall come in services!” Promptly at one o'clock, that night, Duncan McDonald reached the cemetery gate. ‘ ‘It was a‘beautiful night, and the soaring moon shed a ghostly sort of light on all earthly objects. 5 ae With particularly weird effect did it dwell upon the white headstones of the cemetery. 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