Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 581 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

‘G ‘Instea reached the * 12 Double-Curve Dan. ne a oe ee ————— eS ee — ae told Dick Worth and Lionel Lacey about the trag- edy that had been enacted so near the ball grounds, and of which they evidently kuew nothing. Lionel Lacey was stanaing at the edge of the dock, trying to satisfy himself as to whether the wearer of that blue print apron, who stood on a coil or rape on the deck of the De Ruyter, was waving her handkerchief t> him in particular, or only to the party in general. “She gave me a look that she certainly did not mean tor any one else,’ he muttered, ** just before we left the ship. Well, lll find out before I am much older. Lisa! Waata pretty name, I should like her to Sve me catch a game.” The young man sighed heavily, as Dick Worth took him by the arm ani led him away, and his last glance was at the fluttering handkerchicf, which still might be meant for Dick as much as for him- self, or even for Dan Manly, for thit matter. ‘«T wish she had explained to me what th - waving of her bandkerchief was to mean,”’ he grumbled, ie he was already deeply in love with the pretty isa. , ‘: Now for the passage again,” thought Dan, when the young men had departed, leaving him standing on the wharf. “it cannot be very far from bere, but my brain is not as clear as usual, I am afraid,.’’ He walked out of the wharf, and after a little trouble found that in which the entrance io the underground approach to Chromo Castle was situ- ated. Business was in full swing, and he had to await his opportunity to find the iron plate, lift it, and let himself into the hole, He accomplished this at last, however, without discovery, nce in the passage, with the iron cover closed down, and he felt safe. He felt in his pockets for weapons. He found that his clothes had all been carefully dried, aad {at he had not lost any of his p:rsonal possessions. ilis knif+ was in its place, and bis revolver, which showed that it had been taken apart, cleaned and oiled, was in his belt under his coat, and with the six chambers loaded with fresh cartridges, **Mynheer Van der Straten, you are a man in a thousand. Perhaps I shall be able to repa you “ome time or other, A memb-rof the Secret Police Service is not a bad friend to have,” he muttered, as be pressed on toward Chromo Castle. ‘** What became of Mr. Hetherington? Iam afraid it went hard with him. I never saw him afcer that sho-devil dropped the hot coals on poor Con’s head, How can I ever face Ada again if 1 go to,tell her that she is parentless, as well as brotherless.”’ Double-Curve Dan was brave, as we have seen, hut at the thought of this he pressed his two hands to his forehead and groaned aloud. Then, with an effort, be strung up his nerves and critted his teeth, as he resolved to push tie hunt for the villain who had slain the bright young bey, if ri to follow him to the very center of the earth, T..e plank bridge was reached at last. Dan reconnoitered carefuliy from the gloom of the passage, He did not wish to show himself too carelessly, A place like Chromo, Castle was likely to be all eyes now that its occupants had found that its wis known to the police. *Notasound nor a sign. Well, I did not expect that there would be. But they may be inside there, notwithstanding. [I wish 1 had not come alone, But still, it would not be policy to let too many people k..ow of this piace. It may be useful to me in the future. These sort of retreats often make nice traps for crooks to walk into, I’ve noticed.” Double-Curve Dan thus pursue. his meditations as he stood back in the passage and took his revol- ver from his belt ready for action. He was not ‘afraid of making a noise by discharging his pistol. It would not be a bad thing for him, perhaps, if at- tention were attracted to him. ith the scoundrels he was after it was a different thing. He stepped boldly out on the bridge and waited, No one appeare | from the shanty, and no bellig- -erent Move was made by its occupants, The young detective did not knock at the door. , he let himsvif down from the bridge pps @ projection that would have been hardly noticed b a casual visitor, and by means of other projections that formed a shor’ flight 0: steps, found himself on the platform by which be had, the night before, est Dvor.”’ Without hesitation he seized a short iron bar, hooked at the end, which was secreted beneath the lanks of the platform, and which he had Jearned, by previous experience, was the ‘ key ’’ to the West oor, He put one end of the bar in the crack of the ven oor, and by a sudden wrench forced it open. The door.dropped, hanging by hinges on one. side. Dan stood back, revolver in hand, and finger on trigger, ready for an attack. by. To his surprise, none was made, ny, “Um! iscmef!” he muttered. ‘‘People who live in places of this kind are always the more dan- gerous when quiet,” What should he do? He was obliged to confess to himself that he was in a quandary, Snould he clim»d up to the bridge again and try to bring them out to the door there, retreating into the ark Hea Se as soon as he had thundered at the The idea seemed to be a good one, and for a mo- ment he was disposed to ad pt it. But Double-Curve Dan di not like to be beaten ‘In any hme of action that he had once adopted. ‘Therefore Le resolved upon a bold course. Placing bis revolver in his belt, he drew his bowie- knife, as beiug haudier to use at close quett¢ od placed his foot upon the first «f the sluts nailed to a post, which made a ladd .r to the West Door, | i, T.-L - . —_—_——_—Re- ::. ee CO On — ee eee He fully expected that as soon as his head was through the hole in the floor above him, he would be attacked by the desperadoes in the castle, but he determined that if he could only keep his right haud free, he would make it interesting for his as- sailants, He thought of Ada Hetherington and bis oath to hunt down her brother’s murderer, The thought of her fair face, and of the trust she had reposed in him, made hin forget all danger. Likea cat heran up the rude ladder and climbed in the Castle. The shutier to the window was tightly closed, and (he room wasin darkness save for the little light that came up by way of the West Door. Dan looked hastily around in the gloom, but could not discern anybody. Drawing his revolver, and placing his back against the wall nearest the river, he edgei alorg until he reached the window, With a sudden movement he threw open the shut- ter and let daylight into the room. ! dt wis enter ly empiy! Dan: ran to the cupboard by which Mag Mullins had been wont to reach the little lookout window over the bridge. It was locked, but Dan easily forced the door with his knife. There was no one there. *Gone!” Le exclaimed aloud. ‘*Every one of smerny Mr. Hetherington and Con! Where are they?” astily ho searched every nook and corner of Chromo Castle, inside an: out, . He discovered the boat fastened up under the floor, and laid bare all the seerets of the place. All except one. Tie papers and money stolen from the Hetherington Bank w re no longer in the hiding- place under the floor, to which Bili Craneh had re- ferred as the safe, and of which Mag Mullins had seemed to be the custodian, Double-Curve Dan's brow grew dark as he stood ‘in the Castle and realized that the precious scoun- drels had escaped him, and had perhaps dealt foully with the banker and the little Irishman. ** You have stolen a base on me this time, Wilfred Noel,” he mutiered as he looked around, ** but Pl catch you on the fly and win the game yet, as sure as ny name is Dan Manly!” | CHAPTER XIilI. A DEVILISH PLOT. WHEN Billy the Buffer received the crack on his skull that sept him tumbling down the ladder from the West Door, Steely Williams was so taken by sur- prise that he could only stand and look at his pros- trate friend, without tendering any assistance for the moment, . Then the face of Mag Mullins appeared at the opening, and her harsh ton<s, calling him by name, broke the spell. ‘“* Steely, come up here,” ‘* What is the trouble?” ‘Nothing particular. [s Bill dead?” She asked this last question with such provoking cooluess that it was hardly to be wondered at that Mr. Cranch, who was sitting on the platform rubbing his head, should feel somewhat indignant, ** Dead—nothin’,”’ he growled. “I believe you'd be glad ef I was dead you she-devil. You get mean- er every day you liv».’ ‘“What'’s that?’ croaked Mag, as she flourished her favorite weapon, the iron bar, threateningiy. *“Oh, nothin’. I was only sayin’ as you was the ar cohen critter I ever knew, that’s all,’’ returned ill. ** Come up here, Steely. I want to show you something,” said Mag, ignoring the fallen Cranch. Steely hastily climbed the ladder and stood by the woman's side in the room, “There he is. What do you think of him?” She pointed as she spoke to the unconscious form of the banker, which lay stretched upon the floor at Steely’s feet. pens thing for all of us that 1 am handy with this chunk of metal, or I believe he would have laid out the whole gang. He had been waiting up here for us. lt ain’t often ‘Ses find a man of his kind, whose hardest work is sitting in an office, cutting off coupons, as full of fight as this fellow.” Pre made Cranch’s head ache,’ %bserved Steely Williams, calmly. ‘“ But that don’t matter,” ‘* Not a bit.”’ ** Exactly. But what are we going to do with this individual?” asked Williams, kicking the body of the banker roughly, in mere wanton cruelty. Ere Mag could answer a Joud splash was heard, followed by an exclamation from bill Cranch. * What’s that?” exclaimed Steely. ‘* Has Cranch tumbled into the river?” ‘‘Darn that Irishman! He's gone!’ brokein the voice of Billy the Buffer, with an oath or two at- ed. ** Wheré’s he gone?”’ demanded Williams. ** Jumped into the river, that’s all I know.” “ Why didn’t you watch him?” . “I was mescne him, but I didn't suppore he was going to sprawl imself into twenty feet of water and get away, especially when he seemed so anxious +: keep out of it before,’ said Cranch in injured ones, . ‘- You're a fool!” declared a F Perhaps Mr. Cranch agreed with the lady. At all events, he did not contradict her. -_—_—_—e6s6ws.-.-. OO... 0S 0 0 rm - illiams went down the ladder to the plat- Stee form ae looked out into the river, ‘“‘There he is,’’ cried Bill, erly. ‘See him, pobeeny along between those Durn his picture, he swims like a duck.” ie ue Sete pera | a os coke,”” com- manded Steely, looking up fag, who was peering through the trap from the room above, es out there, throw these at him.” suggested Bill. ‘** Here, boots, ‘The skunk kicked them off in ‘**Here’s his the excitement, aud we never noticed him. That accounts for his swimmin’ so easily.” ie Sterly picked up one of the boots, and poising it in his haud in about the same way that be had many a time held the ball in a game, suddenly let it fly at Con’s red head. A boot is not as easy a thing to throw asa base-ball, and Steely Williams’s aim, though true, was divert- ed a little by the awkward shape of the missile, The boot missed Con’s head by being about a foot to the right. i Curse him! Til catch him this time,’’ hissed Steely, as he took up the other boot and prepared to launch it at the escaping Irishman. “I'd give five dollars to sec you fetch him,” ob- served Bill Cranch, who had forgotten the peril in which they stood, and in fact, everything else, in his interest in Steely Williams's skill as a marksman, “T «ill fetch iim,” declared the other, gritting his teeth. “I never saw anything weighinz under ten pounds that I coul:!n’t put just where I wanted it.”’ He turned the boo over and over in his hand to secure just the hold upon it that he desired, and took a long look at Con’s head, bobbing up and down in the moonlight, a goodly distance away by this time. ; Suddenly the boot went whizzing through the air straight for its mark, Con turned at this instant, saw the boot coming, and—dived. abn) Steely Williams's aim had been true this time, for the boot struck the water at the very spot occu- ied by the Irishman’s head a few seconds befcre. Nothing but his dropping under water saved him from a blow that would probably have render.d him senseless, and resulted in bis drowning. *‘Och! Be jabers. / Ye are a fine «ne,”’ he splut- tered, as he appeared on the surface again, and looked back at Lill Cranch and Steely. “*Can’t yo let a gintleman take his morning bath widout thry- in’ to scare the daylights outen | im?” ‘‘Give me a piece of coke, Mag,” howled Steely, beside himself with rage. The hag hastily handed him a Jump as big as his fist, but it was too late. Con had swum around a barge, and was out ¢f sight. ‘‘ He’s gone, sure!’”? observed Cranch philosophi- cally. Now, what?’ ae “Why, to get away from this in short order, That's what, of course,’ broke in the voice of Mag Mullins. ‘* Here’s his Money: bags des here, waking up. too. You'd better come up, Steely.” Seely Williams did not answer. He simply climbed the ladder and entered the Castle. Mr. Hetherington was sitting up on the floor, look- ing from one to the other. ‘You villain!” he exclaimed, as he realized that Steely Williams was the Wilfred Nocl who had slain his son. Steely’s fingers played with the handle cf the dirk that lay conc*aled in his sleeve, but he restrained himself. Murderer as he was. he did not desire to add another crime to his list, unless lie was obliged. “There is nothing to be gained by hard words,” he said. | ; “How can you look me in the face?” demanded the banker, as he sprung to his feet, and seized the other by the throat, Steely Wilhams shook himself, and Bill Cranch, who had followed him up the ladder. threw his arms around Mr. Hetherington’s waist and pulled him away, ‘*Siove him in here,” suggested Mag, in her matter-of-fact way, as she opened the little cup- board where the ladder led to the lookout. Bill Craneh did so, and the Goor being jocked, the three worthies held a hasty council of war. ‘‘There’s the ranc’: at the Palisades,’’ observed Bill. ‘* That is safe for awhile.” ‘Yes, and it’s a little nearer Sing Sing than Chromo Castle,” said Mag. giimly. ‘‘Never mind about that, Mag. You're aware a-savin’ sumething uncomfortable ** grumbled Bill. ‘- How can we get there?” asked Steely. , ‘¢Yes, and what in thunder are we to do with that noisy cuss in there,’’ added Bill. pointing to the door se pe eenp hones at which the banker was bang- ng and kicking lustily. a We can mm J there easily enough.” declared Mag. ‘“ And we can scon stop_his noise,” said Steely with a scowl, ax he showed his dirk-kuife for a mo- ment with a significant movement, | ‘-Needn't do that. Steely. It's dangerous, I have a better scheme,’’ remarked Mag. } ‘* What is ir?” 14 ‘‘\Ve can take an early train at Forty-second sist een in the morning.” | a7 e y ‘‘ When we get there we know where our skiff is lying, don’t we?” * Yes. Well?” : ‘We can row across the ruin to the ranch on the Jersey side.” : “OF course. Thatis all right. But what about that old cuss in there?” ‘Take him with us.”’ * Take—him—with—us?” ‘That is what I said.” ‘But—how? We never can do that, unless we hob to bring opr a police-station, all t of us. , you mus crazy.’ | | “fe od ee ph ag easy as—as—the Irishman umpio to the river. : Confound the Irishman! But how can we take old Hetherington? What's your plan?”’ “A very e one, You an a to a private luvatic asylum over in Jersey an — : i ‘ ; 7 ” (S| 00K) Bill are officers 2 mt NS a ee Oe ee @ | = a) ,' > Re PySS Le a)