Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 589 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

9 i lA a) ‘ e at nui ae, ra Pate . >| . ow ‘ 14 These threats, and the fierce tone in which they were uttered, completely broke the Irish- man’s spirit—which was exactly the thing the captor intended. *Oill go along as aisy as a kitten, av ye’ll on’y take them goons away from me b’id!” he pleaded, ‘¢ We'll not keep them pointed at your head, Mulligan, if you show that you’re disposed to act fair; but we'll hold them in our hands, cocked and ready. ‘Now, walk along! You know the way to John Mitchell’shouse# When we get out of the alley turn into the trail that leads to it.” Mulligan waited for no further instruction, but shuffled along at a lively rate. He cast an sppen og glance around, when the end of the alley was reached, but no aiding hand was near, and he turned quietly into the trail lead- ing to Mitchell’s, “Only a temporary guest!” assured Brent- wood, smiling, as Molly came to open the door “* We'll hustle him out of here before daylight.” ‘‘Now, Mulligan,” he said, sternly, seating himself and motioning the Irishman to a chair opposite, ‘I am going to ask you some ques- tions, and I warn you that I want only straight answers, ‘* You belong to Hammond’s band of thieves -and cut-throats! Plain words, eh{ But they're ‘the trath!” ‘* Dade, Misther Brentwood, an’ I—” ‘* You are one of Hammond’s men andI know at. I heard all that was said and done at your meeting to-night.” Mulligan gave a start of surprise. ‘*T was the badger that Fighting Fred found under the house, So you see it’s no use to lie to me, Mulligan, for 1 know all about you and ‘your gang.” The detective saw that this blow wasa crusher for the Irishman sunk back m a limp heap and stared from face to face in helpless and bewil- dered amazement. “What I want you todois to lead me to Hammonds secret retreat in the hills.” ‘“‘ He would kill me for doin’ av that!” pro- tested the Irishman. ‘¢ And I'll kill you if you don’t. Come, where is the place? I haven’t much time to waste in asking questions, for it’s creeping along toward morning. If you don’t answer willingly, Vl 89 measures to force you to answer unwill- ingly. here was no mistaking the determined ring in the detective’s voice, ‘¢Tt’s across the river, some ten or twelve moiles down, an’ out in the mount’ins!” Mulli- gan replied, doggedly ‘* Well, you'll have to lead usthere, If you sane? us astray—!” tapping his revolver signifi- cantly ‘Yo kin trust me!” declared Mulligan, fawn- ingly. ‘‘ Oi suppose yees’ll let me go, thin?” ‘ That depends altogether on how you act, If “you treat us fair, yes!” Then, turning to Mitchell: ‘**7’]] belp you with the fellow into the grove below the mine buildings. You'll not be dis- turbed there; and we’ll tie him up, so that he can play no tricks on you. I must get a dozen or two good men together as soon as I can,” Mulligan protested that he would not budge an inch, even if he was vot tied at all; but Brentwood did not care to trust him too far. Just as day was breaking, the detective hur- ried from the grove and set about his task of collecting a force of resolute and reliable en. When this was accomplished, the morning was far advanced, On returning to the grove he was surprised to find Molly there, mounted on her pony and ar- rayed for battle. ‘You are not thinking of going?’ he asked, in re age ‘“ Why certainly I am!” she replied, laughing at bis amazement, ‘* But the way will be so rough you cannot ride, and the distance is too great for you to walk it.” *“*Molly’s got that all fixed!” said Mitchell, nodding his head sagely. ‘* That hoss can climb like a goat, an’ swim like a duck. I’m to swim im acrost the branch yender, an’ Molly ‘ll fol- ler in the boat.” Brentwood began a protest, but finding it of no avail, turned his attention to the men who were now arriving singly and in groups of twos and threes, ‘* Molly allus would have her ver mused the old man, noting the action. ‘Ef she gits the Tom-cat he’ll quit wearin’ thet cap er there'll be a row in the fambly!” ad . - |. % } 2 vi 2 , “ : ’ Ps 4 » "er a.) “~, . ats , a AN il 1 Nt 5 - . = ] ° ~ © « + 5 i i. * ” = a ; A..F +t ‘ —_ J on ; er 4 ‘ —_— —~ vs 7 Tom-cat and Pard. There was but one boat available; and the party was transported across the stream two at a time concealed by the sheltering belt of the timber. Then John Mitchell swam the pony across, and the march upon the cavern was commenced. It was a toilsome and laborious journey, and occupied almost the entire day Just before sunset Mulligan halted. ‘*Tt’s roight acrass the ridge, now!” he whis- pered, pointing out the way witha very dirty forefinger. ‘It’s in a litthle cubby-hole wid rocks an’ threes around it.” The fellow was as pale as acorpse and fairly trembled, so great was his fear of the man he was betraying. Brentwood sent ascout ahead, and led the advance in person. All was quiet when they reached the fringe of trees which concealed the mouth of the cave, Then a shot rung out, followed by a series of cat-howls and screeches, “‘That’s the Tom-cat!” shouted Brentwood, excitedly. ‘“ Forward !” CHAPTER XVIII. A SURPRISE. BRENTWOOD Grew his revolver and bounded into the dimly-lighted cavern, his followers close at his heels, The Tom-cat, heedless of consequences, seemed rushing to certain destruction, but the fire in his eyes boded death to some, at least, of the das- tardly crew who had so remorselessly strung up poor Clifford Curtis. Curtis was now upon the ground, apparently dead, and Lily was bending over him in blind agony. Twice the Tom-cat’s deadly revolver spoke, and each time it found a victim. Hammond and Bonanza Bill went down, before they had time to grasp the meaning of the sudden charge. ' Then, as Brentwood’s ringing cheer smote the echoing walls and galleries, the rest of the mis- arcana broke into a disorderly and panicky ight. wo men fell before they succeeded in effect- ing an escape by way of the winding galleries— one of them being Pedro, the Mexican. The chase was short, sharp and furious, When Brentwood and the cowboy returned from it, they found that Curtis bad regained consciousness, A purple mark around his neck alone showed the results of the severe choking he*had received, Possibly Hammond did not intead his death, and only took that means of frightening Lily into a compliance with his wishes. Whatever the intentions of the Silver Chief, in that respect, no one could say that his death had not n merited by bis villainy. While congratulations were yet being show- ered upon Curtis, a bound and gagged figure rolled slowly and painfully into the chamter from one of the side galleries, At sight of this figure Lily gave a startled shriek, while exclamations of astonishment and wonder broke from the lips of many present. ‘““Oh, father!” Lily screamed, rushing for- ward and throwing herself prostrate upon the form of the helpless man. It was Edgerton, the Gold King, whom all present had oa aga confined at that moment in the Silver City jail. The Tom-cat quickly cut his bonds and assist- ed him to an upright ure. So tightly had the cords been knotted, and so painful the chok- ing gag. that it was some moments before he could walk, or speak distinctly. “That is not the man [I saw in Silver or jail!” asserted Brentwood, regarding him wit an intense earnestness, ‘ There is a general re- semblance, but that is not the man,”’ *¢ Jail? jail?” stammered the Gold King, star- ing at the detective, who was wholly unknown i ‘The man is mad! I have been in no jai . “ You are puzzling us, father!” said Lily, sob- bingly, looking from her parent to her lover. ‘* Nothing puzzling about it!” the Gold King protested, beginning to find the use of his tongue, ‘I have been in the hands of a set of scoundrels who have been torturing me to make me sign pres my rights in the Edgerton Mine, But I wouldn’t do it. No! fire couldn’t make me do it! So they trussed me up just as you saw me a little while ago and left mein the cayern over there to die. ‘¢ When I heard the shots and the shouting I knew that a rescue was being attempted, and so I rolled out here. Took me a quarter of an hour to do it, though. Nothing vuzzling about that, that I can see!” P ,;* . ; cs Shale . ‘ Rae % cats ‘ \ bf , - < = », ; « _ ‘‘Then you didn’t shoot Clifford, as I thought you did?” ‘*Shoot fiddlesticks! I was rather wrathy against the young man at first, Pl admit; and no doubt I said some things I oughtn’t to have said; but I didn’t really intend to shoot him, or to barm him in any way but get rid of him as your suitor—that is all.” ‘*T was a good deal excited, and was harsh and unjust in what I said to you, my child, 1 admit it now, and am sorry for it. But I have had ample time to think all of that over while lying here, tied up by these villains, and I say frank- ly that a little cool reflection’ generally works a mighty change in a man’s hastily-formed opin- ions or too selfish ambitions. ‘When I married * bed mother, my dear, I married the woman I loved because I loved, and I shall have no objection if Clifford Curtis does likewise.” ‘Whoop! Mariar!” shouted the Tom-cat, quite overcome by the turn of affairs, Then in a low voice to Molly, who was stand- ing near: “An’I ealec’late that John Mitchell is a- thinkin’ just like that air Gold King, this bless- ed minnit!” Molly dashed the tears from her eyes, and ave him a sound box on the ear, for his impu- ence, Then Brentwood took a hand in the running fire of comment and question and explanation, and by the time night had set in our little cirole of friends grew quite jovial. It was impossible to climb the rocky, home- ward trail in the night and darkness, So Mul- ligan was set at liberty and the bodies of the slain desperadoes were: borne away and given burial. Rousing fires were built in the outer cavern chamber and the jubilant party pre- pared to pass the night, When they reached Silver City the next day it was found that “ Blinky ” Smith, the jailer, was gone and with him the prisoner he had been so sedulously guarding! Then Hank Hammond’s plot became revealed in its entirety, Profiting by the tirade of abuse and threats which the Gold King had been publicly heapmg upon Curtis, he at once set on foot a scheme which promised to make him master of the Edgerton mining property. e selected one of his men who most nearly resembled Edgerton in general appearance. This man was instructed to so disguise and dress himself as to increase the resemblance, and then seek an ap er to kill Clifford Curtis—the object being to make the world be- lieve that the Gold King was the actual mur- derer. Hammond was in waiting when the cowardly shot was fired. Then, as Curtis was onl wounded and stunned into insensibility, his heart failed him, and brought about a change in his plans. He had Curtis carried away to the mountain cave, abducted the sleeping Gold King, and had bad the unconscious daughter placed in care of tho family servants—all done through no spirit of tenderness or meneys but in the hope that if his plans miscarried, the inevitable punishment would not be so great, Deliberate murder, as he well knew, was a quick hanging offense, even in Silver City. This change of plan necessitated a mock funeral, and the incarceration of the Gold King’s personator in the Silver City jail. As “Blinky” Smith, the jailer, was in Ham- mond’s puy and confidence, the accomplishment of the latter presented no especial difficulties, It was now remembered that the pretended prisoner had been carefully excluded from the view of the general public. In fact, no one not in the secret bad seen him except Brentwood ; and to the detective the Gold King was unknown. The delay of the rescuers at the cavern had given the jailer and ‘“‘ prisoner’) ample time te receive warning and effect their so And now that the tangled web of mysteries has been swept away, what remains to be said? Only this: Lily Edgerton and Clifford Curtis were soon after happily married. Bruce Brentwood, the tireless and inde- fatigable, is still a terror to the scoundrels of the border. And the brave, the reckless, the irrepressible Tom-cat has discarded his beloved cap! Why? He is now the life partner of rosy Molly Mitchell, the miner’s daughter, and a more do- cile, tractable, but ‘‘ rantankerously happy Tem- cat "—as he avers—does not exist, THE END. . — 2 rid a. : = gee | “> ay - . * ht, oF » Fie vs > bg 4 ‘< bo - 3 4 4 4i- a r vd A - ae MS as 2 a ‘ * - hy Mies e + i (Ch, , *< cit Salis . ” et st Kee S: om