Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 589 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

oe SE Se ~" —" wee S : - — ‘ . i, Pe ie * am, > | AP PPP, *, el ° ae — ~~ a D os ‘ - > “* ** Now, Miss Edgerton!” turning again to the “trembling girl, as the men filedin. ‘‘On your own action depends the life of Clifford Curtis. If you will sign this paper, I will release both youand him, If not, 1 will hang him to the ‘brace you see ahove you.” ‘Oh, no, no!” cried the unhappy girl, striving to slip the noose from her lover’s neck. “Here is the paper!” producing it and at the ‘same time stamping the ground angrily. ‘*‘ And here are pen andink, Sign and you can both ro,” ‘He is lying!” whispered Curtis. ‘‘ I can see it in his eyes, He will not dare to hang me,” ‘* Will you sign it or not?” shouted the en- raged chief. ‘‘ITcanu answer for her!” said Curtis, hotly. ** She will not!” ‘* Up with the dog!” screamed Hammond, his veyes blazing, ‘*' We'll choke that black tongue out of him,” ‘It’s to beacase of suspended animation I see!” said Bonanza, coolly, as Pedro tossed the nd of the rope over the beam, Lily gave a scream of fright and clung con- ~vulsively to her lover, as the rope tightened and the was drawn slowly upward, CHAPTER XV. BETRAYED BY A DOG. Wuen Brentwood walked into Silver City, that morning, after starting the Tom-cat on the trail of y Edgerton’s abductors, almost the first men he saw were Hank Hammond and Fighting Fred. The sight of the former quite upset his cal- culations; for he had felt certain Hammond was cne of the men who had carried Lily Edger- ‘ton away. They were passing into a saloon; and the de- ‘tectives stepped into a building opposite for the rd ae of watching their movements, ‘‘Tf Hammond had any hand in the affair, ‘then Miss Edgerton is concealed somewhere in or near Silver City. Probably the abauction was the work of subordinate acting under his instructions. “Any way, Fighting Fred has not yet re- ‘turned to their mountain lair; and I don’t think time will be lost by shadowing them. The task will be easy, if they stick together. lf they separate!” His eyes roved up and down the street, as if in quast of some one. ‘* Hello, there’s Reke Tanner!” The miner was strolling leisurely along and ‘soon came in front of the window behind which - athe detective had ensconced himself, An almost imperceptible tap on the glass «caused Tanner to look around. He could see no one; but was shrewd enough ‘to conceal his surprise and walk carelessly into the store. ‘*Oh, it’s you, is it?’ as he caught sight of Brentwood. ‘‘I knowed in reason somebody wanted me to come in hyer, fer that tap didn’t sound like ’twas made by acks’dent!” ‘*Get in behind here!” ordered Brentwood, motioning bim toa seat. ‘' We want to see and not be seen, just now. Could you do a little piece of work in the interest of the Gold King’s ‘daughter?” ‘You may jest bet I c’u’d!” Tanner replied, earnestly, Then the detective told him of Lily Edgerton’s -abduction—at which news bis astonishment and anger were unbounded, ‘Hammond and Fighting Fred went into ‘that saloon a little while ago, and I stepped in here to watch them; they must be followed. ‘One man can’t do the work, for the chances are that they will separate. Now I want you to keep the fighting gentleman in sight all day, and all night, if necessary. I? he holes per- smanently, report at once to Molly Mitchell. ‘* { will shadow the king-pin of these gentry, sand if he throws me off the scent he will be shrewder than I think he is,” The pair came out of the saloon at that mo- ment, and separated, as the detective had feared ‘they would. Hammond walked rapidly up the ‘street, and Fighting Fred strolled leisurely away in the other direction, ‘‘Remember my instructions!” whispered Brentwood. ‘* Don’t let him escape you!” Tben he stepped into the street and com- “menced his silent and relentless chase after the «chief of the Silver Circle. Hammond seemed to have a great deal of “business to transact that day. He visited every ‘Saloon and gambling resort in the town; and | ‘tramped about as tireless as an antomaton. Tom-cat and Pard. But he could not exhaust the earnest and de- Le Rat man who hung so persistently at his eels, ‘* He is evidently rallying his men for some movement!” mused Brentwoed, as be pretended to examine an array of articles hanging ina show-window, while covertly watching Ham- mond, who was conversing with some cronies a block away. ‘I don’t seem to be making much ty phe toward the discovery of Lily Edgerton; ut [ will have to trust to Tom-cat for that, He is a regular bloodhound, on the trail. This Hammond evidently needs watching, and I must stay with him.” Along in the afternoon Hammond went to his rooms, doubtless to obtain needed rest and sleep. He did not emerge until after dark; when Brent- wood again commenced his persistent dogging, Just before midnight, the chief of the Silver Circle left the town and started for the Edger- ton Mine buildings. One of these he entered; and Brentwood, who was not far in his reur, crept up to the wall, in a listening attitude. he low hum of voices and subdued shuffling of feet showed that the night-hawks owning Hammond’s sway, had gathered in force, They were in a dimly-lighted inner room, which Brentwood found it impossible to reach without imminent danger of discovery. Profit- ing by their previous experience they had senti- nels posted in every room and hall in anyway connected with, or leading to this inner apart- ment. Evidently they did not intend to be caught napping a second time. Twice Brentwood circled the house, with cat- like steps, seeking an unguarded opening. Then he stooped down and began an examination of the foundation. This promised better results, Near the front steps he found a hole which a dog had evident] burrowed in chase of arabbit. By alittle work he enlarged this, and crept under the house. The bum of voices and shuffling of feet direct- ed him; and he was soon beneath the room occu- pied by Hammond and his followers, He had scarcely settled himself comfortably when the humming and shuffling ceased. Ham- mond was rising to speak, ‘*Our good friend, Brentwood, endeavors to stick closer to us than a brother!” said the sil- ver chief, with an attempt at grim pleasantry. ‘*T discovered that he was following me this afternoon. I gave him the shake to-night, how- ever’, and he is now, no doubt, stumbling around the alleys of Silver Citv and improving his tem- per by barking his sbins.” A hearty laugh followed the statement. ‘* 'm glad you think so,” Brentwood smilingly mused, ‘*T was shaddered, too, boss!” said a rough and heavy voice. ** Fighting Fred!” gasped the detective. ‘* Then Tanner must be not far off,” ‘*Ole Reke Tanner ’tempted the spotter biz- ness with me—to his sorrer!” ‘*You didn’t kill him?’ Hammond eagerly asked. ‘“N6!” with a grating langh. “I wouldn't be idjit enough to go fer todo that. But I jest laid fer the ole fool, ana when he come up I give ’im a love-tap that keeled ’im over. He ain’t hurt, he ain’t. Tanner’s got a head like a billy-goat. He’ll have a lump onto it, though, *bout the size o”a goose-egg, er my name ain’t Fred’rick!” ‘*So Tanner’s out of the chase!” Brentwood muttered. ‘‘’m afraid we're making progress backward, like a crawfish,” continued Hammond. ‘ I’ve commenced a game, though, that I think will pull us through, ‘You know we've got this property, and only Lily Edgerton stands in the way of our holding it. I’m negotiating now with a fellow who is willing to come in as an ‘innocent purchaser’ and take it off our hands. That will at least throw the matter into the courts, for our ‘inno- cent purchaser’ will of course make a big battle for his own. ‘* The Gold King’s trial will be post another two months, I understand. it will be put off longer. ‘*Now, I am afraid this detective will have some kind of action instituted in favor of the daughter. That might reveal everything. ‘*To prevent that, I visited Miss Edgerton and tried to get her to transfer her rights to me, under threats. The threats didn’t work, and I had her carried away. ‘*T intend to circulate the report that she bas left the country, and will also, if possible, secure papers and letters from her, confirming my statements and claims, ‘*She is now at the cave, andI propose to ned for robably ate ds ’ x . * ° F, . ‘ * x ‘ : /. Li ‘7 « ) \ f > } D “ « * ot oe we s | Pe, i mi. 4 i . ~ 4 aD . he ’ = , bg . *¥ > > a sd %y 3 , , a “ *y Pad “ . a ( - yA Stok’ mH. Kis re : 2 Pi at + dob Le ee rom I < ‘. *. h ete, Uae . ~ ha Ly wring these from her by threatening the life of Cliff Curtis. ‘‘That will head off this bloodhound, ’m thinking. With Miss Edgerton absent and papers in my hands, the genuineness of which none can deny, showing a voluntary release and transfer to me for a valuable corsideration of all her rights and interests, Brentwood will find himself powerless.” ‘*But what ef she won’t sign ’em, boss?” queried Fighting Fred. ‘Then we'll remove her from our path!” The cold-blooded heartlessness with which this was uttered caused even Brentwood’s iron nerves to quiver, ‘* We must hold this property by hook or crook for at least six months. Then it will not be worth possessing. I am increasing the work- ing force, In that time we will skin the cream from the ore-bed. Run on credit, as far as we can. Increase the force to enable us to take out and dispose of two hundred thousand in bullion, Fight off suits for possession in the way I have indicated; and in six months’ time we can leave here with well-lined pockets.” Fighting Fred now got on his feet and backed up his chief with a speech ina similar strain. Then every man in the room, almost, had to un- burden himself of his ideas and opinions; and it was long past midnight when an adjournment was dips ee One of the men was accompanied by a litte dog, which had for some time been sniffing sus- piciously about the room, When they filed out of the building this do darted to the hole by the side of the steps an set up a furious barking. ‘‘Hello! exclaimed Hammond. ‘There seems to be something under there.” Then with a flash of suspicion: ‘‘We'll have to investigate it. Maybe it’s Brentwood, or one of his infernal spies!” ‘Well, now, ef I don’t jest etarnally crack his neck, ef it is!” declared Fighting Fred, kneeling down and applying an eye to the aper- ture. “ CHAPTER XVI. A DIFFICULT TRAIL, THE Tom-cat experienced very little trouble in trailing Lily’s abductors as far as the river, They had made several twists and some at- tempts at concealment, but these did not worry or baffle the cowboy. When the river was reached, however, the trail abruptly ended. ‘*They’ve tuck to a boat!” said the Tom-cat, looking up and down and across the stream. ‘* Might as well try to foller a bird as a boat. But [ll try it. A bird’s got to light some time, and a boat can’t go on allus ’thout touchin’ the shore,” Evidently his disgust was great. For some time he searched around in hopes of finding another skiff; for he could see by the marks on the sand that a skiff had been used, There were a few boats stowed away in one of the mine buildings, as he knew from previous inspection. But the day shift of workmen were gathering, and he dared not attempt to pur- loin one, ‘*They’re jest a-layin’ there a-crackin’ their jints open in the sun!” he exclaimed pathetic- ally. ‘‘I don’t ’low, though, that the gen’leman what’s now a-runnin’ that instertution would loan me one, considerin’! ‘¢ Now the fellers that rustled this young heifer either went down the crick er acrost it, It’s tough pullin’ up-stream, an’ they could make faster time that way afoot.” He rolled a light log into the river, tied his re- volvers and cartridge-belt about his neck, seat- ed himself astride the log, and picked up a piece of plank to use as a paddle, ‘* Ef this craft turns under me, them weepins 11 be apt to hold my head down an’ my heels up!” he muttered, grimly. ‘‘ But, hang it, ’ve got to resk somethin’, Can’t snoop aroun’ hyer all day.” He pushed his ungainly craft into the stream and commenced to work it slowly across. Then the swift current caught it, and he had aN he could do to keep his position and prevent the log from rolling, More than once he thought he would be com- pelled to abandon it, together with bis weapons, and swim for the nearest shore, By almost superbuman exertions he at last freed it from the suction of the arrowy center and drove it into the calmer waters near the furtber shore. But the torrent had carried bim a long distance below the point at which he wished to land, On reaching the rocky bank be turned the log - een A ” dod ee NT hoe ie eae - ” . . ay , hor . as ve . - . : y + 4 - 1. E ° — - _s , f * w : rq; \ eee DA + : b +7 a " ’ a a | x? a ‘¢ v-. ‘Oo é y 4 ay 5 2 4 7 i i we bos OE: ee >= . Py 48, ae : a ‘ +) =... —_ hg . id ~ —_——- — 70%} 5 es 2 kA? Ws, re a a - i) - . -) > { , OKS=com — a