Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 569 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

but, not being pleased with the answers, uncere- moniously dragged him to a third room, All this had occurred so rapidly that Ben was confused, and, coming from the miserably-fur- nished den beyond, he was now dazzled by the scene of splendor revealed to bim. A rich carpet covered the floor; a piano stood at one side; all the furniture was pay gem and the gas shone through globes of several different colors. The room was grander than wealthy Franklin Damon’s parlor, and the rest of the house was the scene of poverty, squalor and wretchedness, i Ben was amazed, and did not at first notice a man who reclined on the luxurious sofa, but he was given little time to look. ; ‘** Captain,” cried the bo>’s enemy, ‘‘ here is a sneakin’ spy I’ve took. He came in by a winder an’ he means mischief.” ‘* No, I don’t,” declared Ben. ** Who is he?” asked the captain. ‘‘Don’t know; he ain’t the sort that lives around here. He’s a sneakin’ spy, an’ that’s all I know.” ‘‘T ain’t nothing of the kind,” persisted Ben. ** What’s your name?’ asked the captain. ‘Sam Woods.” ‘** He tol’ me Tom Woods?” shrilly interrupted the old man. ** Humph!” The captain sat up. He was a tall, rather handsome man, with a powerful face and cruel mouth. His eyes looked uncommonly keen as he looked at Ben. ** Boy,” he said, severely, ** if you have atruth- ful story to tell, let me hear it at once,” ‘* The long and’ short of it is,” explained our hero, ‘‘ I’m homeless, and I came in thinking to find a place to sleep.” ‘* Did you see the sheds outside?” ** Yes, but they didn’t look water-tight.” ** You are too. particular for a genuine tramp. Which window did he come in at, Uriah?” ‘The one over the east door.” ** And he expects us to believe his yarn! A man, nor boy, don’t take such a climb mere] for shelter when shanties are near at hand. The boy is a spy.” ‘* What shall I do with him, cap’n?” ‘Hold him prisoner. He looks as though, he would make a good cabin-boy.” This expression puzzled Ben, but he was not given much time to think about it. ‘Tie him up and plaut him over in yonder corner,” added the captain. — Ben remonstrated, but all in vain. He was tied securely, not only in the plain sense of the word, but, after his hands and feet were attend- ed to, he was secured to one leg of the piano. Uriah aud the captain then consulted. Ben Brooklyn Ben. SEEiiinia tiie =ttiite *‘Our recruits are required to go through a terrible ordeal,” the captain proceeded, in a hard voice, ‘‘and only one-half survive it, Those who do survive are truly heroes, Two new recruits are placed face to face, each witha revolver in his hand. One revolver is loaded with cartridges which never miss fire; the other is loaded with blank cartridges. The new re- cruits are compelled to aim at one anvther’s breasts and fire. One remains unhurt, the other falls lifeless.” The sailor showed slight signs of emotion, but he firmly answered: ‘**T have heard of this.” ‘* And you dare risk it?” vee {Ss The captain grasped his hand. ‘** Young man, [ admire your courage and hope you will come out of it alive, Itshal] bé de- cided at once. Uriah, bring in the other man, and let us see which is to live through the test of valor!” CHAPTER VIII. THE BRICK VAULT. ONE of the masked men shuffled out of the room, while Brooklyn Ben looked on with grow- ing interest which was now less pleasant than ever. If hehad feltany doubt as to the character of his companions it was by this time gone. They were desperate men who would hesitate at no crime, A large oil-cloth was spread upon the floor, and the captain kindly explained that it was to keep the slain man from soiling the carpet. The sailor shut his lips and maintained dogged si- lence. A second man was brought in. He was a coarse-featured, brutal-looking fellow, and seem- ed less at ease than his predecessor. Looking restlessly around he muttered to himself in an unintelligible way. Two revolvers were produced by the masked men, and two boxes of cartridges, They ex- jlained that one was blank and one “ deadly.” hey experimented, and the ‘‘ deadly” variety put a lump of lead through aboard. Both re- volvers were soon loaded, and the new recruits were then made the focus of every glance. **Do either of you want to back out?” asked the captain, bluffly. ‘‘T don’t!” declared the second recruit, sharp- ly. ** Nor I,” said the first, firmly. ‘* Remember ‘t is sure death to one of you.” ** Never mind.” **Go on!” Thus replied the candidates, and the captain motioned to the oil-cloth. They took their places. The two revolvers were concealed fora time, @ : ‘*T am with you,” said the sailor, heartily. ‘*Good! Mix with the men, and you shall be told all in due time.” A rap sounded at the door, and Uriah opened it. He talked for a few moments in a subdued voice, and then called the captain. Another consultation followed; then the leader returned. ‘*Sometbing is wrong,” he said, looking at Brooklyn Ben. “The men announce another capture, and it seems we are really beset by foes. Uriah, give our new member a mask: let no one show his face here,” **You’d better kill all the blamed spies,” growled Uriah. ** Perhaps | will.” ** Nothin’ is ever gained with sneaks,” ** We'll fix em when we get them on board the vessel,” ** Ef they don’t fix us, before then,” ** We won't give them a chance.” ‘*That boy looks slippery;” and Uriah gazed at Ben through the apertures in bis mask ina wavy far from friendly. “You can use the ‘cat’ on him when he has blossomed out as a cabin bov.” A rap again sounded at the door, and the cap- tain bade the applicant come in. Entered three men, two of whom were masked, w bile the third, bound securely, walked between them as a prisoner. This man gave Ben a fresh start—it was Ned Chester! The young man had evidently seen hard times. is clothing was disordered, and there was a slight cut on one temple. Prisoner that he was, he faced the masked men boldly. ‘* Here,” explained the captain, ‘we bave a party who has thought fit toactasaspy. He is now before us for judgment. Number Twelve, tell your story.” One of the masked men answered, and Ben recognized the voice of Exlon Blair. “The prisouer is named Chester,” he ex- Pangan ‘*He came to me and said that he had een prowling around the city some, and had got track of our organization. He offered me twenty-five dollars to betray the whole snap. Ié seems be knew next to nothing, but be wanted to Jearn more, and then blow cn us.” There was a fierce murmur from the masked men, but Ned faced them in scornful silence. a, Why did you bring him bere?” ‘*T saw that he had got to be silenced at once, and as there was no other way, I decoyed him here where we could attend to him—and save ourselves.” ‘*'You have done well, Number Twelve, and I thank you in the name of the organization. Now, men, there are two courses for us to pur- sue in regard to our prisoner. We can keep him under lock and key until we are ready for could hear but little that was said, but he man- | and then the sailor was given his choice. He | action, and then make him one of us: or we can aged to make out that something was about to | made it quickly. —end his career at once!” be done in the room; that Uriah advised his re- ‘‘Now get ready,” ordered ths captain. ‘I ** That’s the sort—kill him!” cried Uriah. moval, but the captain was in favor of letting a prisonor see and hear all—why, was not ain, z The matter was soon settled, and Uriah went out of the room, The captor then donned a mask wbich completely concealed his face. Ben looked on in wonder. There was a brief lull, and then the door re- opened and five men entered. All but one were masked like the captain. The single exception was a young, dissipated-looking man in the dress of a sailor. Ben was at a loss to decide whether be was there willingly, but this point was soon settled. The new-comers faced the captain, and that person addressed the unmasked man; ** Your name?” ‘‘ Alf Tomney,” was the ready reply, “* How long have you been a sailor ** Goin’ on ten year.” ‘* Are you 4 bold man?” ‘*Iclaimtobe.” . ‘‘ How is your conscience? ‘Don’t know that I have one.” ‘*Do you want to get rich?” te Yes ” “In what way?” iL don’t care what way.” Nl, ‘Well said, my man, but don’t be too precipi- tate. There is hazardous work ahead for all of us, and I warn you that danger must be met bravely. We all take,our lives in our hands and risk them on the cast of a die. You have been duly warned as to this by my aids, I suppose, ge eae you face it?’ “cae. Was the unhesitating reply. Some of us will surely die in the venture.” ‘* I will take my chances.” ** Have you been warned that the initiation is ‘may send us to the gallows. shall count from one to three; at the last word you are to fire together. I wish both of you could escape, for you are brave men, but one must die. Let me shake hands with both of you.” He did so, while Brooklyn Ben looked on with cold shivers chasing each other along bis spine. ‘* Now, then, all ready for the great, event,” added the captain. ‘‘ Cover each otber!” They did so, Each presented his revolver at the breast of his adversary. ‘Now for the last act, Remember to fire at the word. One! Two! Three!” A double report followed. Ben Hamlin leaped up nervously, only to be jerked back by his bonds. But there was no fall: both men remain- ed standing. The. second of the two smiled. Then the captain stepped forward to the sailor. ‘* Bravo, young man!” he said, ‘ You have roved yourself a good one, I will now say that th revolvers were loaded with blank cart- ridges, but it was a trial of your pluck just the same, Your opponent isone of my old men. You are now fully initiated, and Iam glad to welcome you to the fold.” Once more he shook the sailor’s hand, and the ceurer tried to act at ease, but his face was pale, “Béar cne thing in mind,” continued the leader; “though there has been no blond shed ere, we are not joking men. We have not played on your fears; we have simply tested your courage, The work in which we are to engage is desperate, dangerous work, Whether we succeed or fail, New York and the whole civilized world wil] ring with the exploit, and it nay Yet, we are not Socialists, Anarchists or murderers, and we shall not deal in dynamite—not by a good deal, A general murmur of approval arose from the men ‘* Prisoner,” continued the captain, *‘ what have you to say for yourself?” s Not a word!” Ned boldly replied. ‘* How’s that?’ exclaimed the captain. “All I have to say is that vour esteemed brother, the Reverend Mr. Number Twelve—or whatever you call bim; I call him Exlon Blair —is an infernal liar. Not one word of bis state- ment is true. [ was not decoyed here to see you; I never asked him to betray you; I never heard of you until this evening; and I don’t know who you are, anyway.” ‘** A cunning lie,” commented Blair. ‘* A stupid lie, you mean,” added the captain. ** Just so,” “Hear the parrot!” scornfully cried Ned, ‘* He will echo all you say, and he will stick to his lie. Well, gents, I don’t know that I can persuade you, so you will bave to do with me as you see fit. Drive on vour machine!” ‘‘By Mars! Irather hate to kill so bold a fel- ow,” “He's all the more dang’rous,” expostulated Uriah. : The captain meditated, but Ned did not show the least sign of uneasiness. He looked at the masked men with a cool, satirical smile. _ ‘“‘ You are an interesting-looking gang, I must say,” be observed. “‘ What have you done to make you so ashamed of yourselves? I don’t doubt that you are a set of sneaks, but why ed- vertise it so plainly? Perhaps you think that you look grim, dangerous and awful in your lack night-caps. ou do not: you simply look absurd. I suspect you are only a lot of old women,” This sarcasm was not thrown away. It an- | ver severe?” \ Our plan is as unusual to New York as it is bold, | gered the masked men,and they vented their es. hazardous and promising of great wealth.” anger in savage mutterings. \ Uriah appealed to / Ge } , * ae . é 4? a agit 4 : ** 4. iS Mair, Saw ie: ih ot eer x Y oe vA Saal 7 h ; k v pV se iter yo he ay pat 7 i * x é 2 . ta , ¥ ' : \ ' . ; : * Po yy , Mj -* ne ‘s ss Sa ates ~~ ree} ‘ves , ba Pare oe ee eS eT ey ~~) tlt pti gale ax : : = a : v= we 3 pas. en ae a oe ' we.