Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 608 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

Dr. Horne frowned down this proposition so promptly, that Norah was abashed, and did not venture to repeat it. ‘‘ Ahem!” repeated Dan, louder than before. The doctor saw him. ‘* Bless my soul! from?” Dan silently pointed with his finger downward into the interior of the cabinet. With a look of intense astonishment, Dr. Horne wheeled a small table to the side of the cabinet, and the detective, dropping lightly upon it, and thence to the ground, said quietly: ‘* Miss Clara is in that thing. Uadn’t you better let her out? In the mean time, let me remark that I shall be ready to keep the ap- “sree gat with you and Straight Tip at mid- night.” ** T said you would find him!” observed Dick, quietly. ‘¢ It seems to me that he found: himself,” re- torted Dr. Horne, as he opened the back door of the cabinet, and let his daughter out, Where did you come CHAPTER IX. A CLOSE GAMB,, Ir was twelve o'clock at night, and the heat of the last few days had been followed, naturally enough, by a thunder-storm that extended all over that part of New York State in which Al- bany was situated. The rain came down in sheets, while the light- ning cast a vivid glare over the river from one side to the other, and made an awful dissolving view of the elements, from darkness to light, and back again. The wind whistled along the track, over the big trestle-bridge, and among the bushes and shivered rocks, as if it enjoyed the night, and were triumphing over the gentle breeze that had Spa with the July sunlight for the past week. | The lights of the depot twinkled as the wind made its way through the cracks of the lanterns and blew the gas about, and an occasional street lamp could be distinguished here and there by any one standing on the track of the Hudson River Railroad at the end of the trestle furthest from the city. It might be doubted whether any one would be at such a spot on suchanight. But there were two people. It was not easy to distinguish their features, even if it had been daylight, for both were wrapped to the eyes in rubber overcoats, the collars of which met the slouch hats that were pulled well down to protect them as much as —e be from the weather. Umbrellas they bad none, for the wind would have blown them inside out or forced their owners into the river that ran turbulently below, ‘* If we do find out who committed the robbery, I think we shall have paid pretty dearly for the information,” grumbled one of the two way- farers in the petulant tones of Dr. Horne. ‘‘It is not avery pleasant night to be out, doctor, ladmit. But Ihave had plenty of ad- ventures of this description. Did I ever tell “ of the night I was thrown into the East iver, and—” Double-Curve Dan—for it was he—evinced such a decided determination to tell a story that the doctor threw up his hands in horror, as he wailed: ‘Dan, I prithee do not begin to relate adven- tures to me now. We have enough on hand, without going back ane FON previous history. The detective Jaughed. He rather enjoyed such an experience as the present, for danger was the spice of life that suited his temperament ay ‘* Where on earth 1s the third telegraph pole from the end of the tridge? I can’t see any- thing but rain. I suppose the best thing will be to waddle along the track until we find one, I don’t know what else we can do,” ‘* T suppose so.” ‘‘ Oh, you suppose so,do you?” was the doctor’s hea rejoinder, ‘ A nice position for ioctor orne, isn’t it, The idea of a reputab‘e prac- titioner prowling about a railroad trestle in the dark, and rain and thunder and lightning, when he might be comfortable in his own parlor, or better still in bed, The first thing we know, we shall find ourselves under arrest for stealing coal, or railroad spikes, or on a charge of wreck- ing atrain. The whole business is disgraceful. Confound Straight Tip, whoever be is, I wish he had never come into my laboratory with his thievish fingers and mysterious notes, ¢ hate m Rey anyhow,” , 1 don’t know, I—” commenced Dan, The Pitcher Detective’s Foil. ARS Toa NT dT when he was startled by a smothered yell from the doctor. “Ow! Owl” ‘* W hat’s the matter?’ ‘‘ Matter? Confound it! I’ve run into a post.” A flash of lightning, lasting for a second or so, illumined the scene and showed to Dan the form of Dr. Horne resting against a telegraph pole, while he fumbled inside his coat for his hand- kerchief. ‘‘-Y ou found the pole, eh, doctor?” Dr. Horne was too disgusted to reply at once. He dragged at his inner coat pocket and brought forth the yellow silk handkerchief that he always carried, and wiped his face. He had banged his nose against the pole in the dark, and he felt certain that his face was covered with blood. Another flash of lightning enabled him to see that the yellow silk handkerchief did not show anything worse than dirty water that he had rubbed from his countenance in wide streaks, ‘‘Hallof What’s that?’ broke from Dan, as he walked up to the pole and reached for some- thing over the doctor’s bead. ‘‘ No use asking me. I don’t know anything,” grumbled his companion. The detective pulled from the pole a piece of foided paper that had been secured in a sliver of the wood, The storm now had reached a pitch of terrific fury, and the tall pole bent beneath the force of the wind until it cracked again. The river wa- ter, lashed in foam-capped waves, roared at their feet and splashed up on the track. Under the trestle,a few hundred yards from where they stood, there was a turmoil of splashing and thumping that told of the escape of boats from their moorings and the wreck of sheds and tim- ber from the wharves that were now mingling in a wild battle, and were being smashed to pieces against the great poles of the bridge. “This may be another letter from Straight Tip for all I can tell,” roared the detective, as the ductor and he stepped a little from the shel- ter of the swaying pole and found that their — in ordinary tones, were almost inaud- ible. ‘‘ T don’t care if it is from Mephistopheles him- self,” was the doctor’s sulky reply, which, how- ever, the detective could not hear. Flash after flash of red and blue lightning threw an awful glare along the track, and en- abled Dan to see a little recess in the rock on the inside of the track. Into this recess he dragged the doctor, and turning his face to the bac of the little haven, he unfolded the note and pro- tected it from the rain with his person, ‘‘ What is the use of a letter in the dark?” wled the doctor, ‘‘No use at all. But 1 always carry the tools of my trade when on a professional expedition, as I consider this is,” answered Dan, cheerfully, as he produced a small bull’s-eye lantern, with a powerful reflector. He turned the light upon the paper and read: ‘‘ Walk toward the trestle. Ay he ‘‘ Walk toward the trestle,” growled the doc- tor. ** Why, confound his impudence! We have just been walking away from the trestle at his command. Does he think we have nothing to do but to trot up and down the tracks of a rail- road in a thunder storm at midnight to satisfy his caprice? I believe the whole affair is a hoax.” ‘‘T do not,” declared the detective, quietly, as he put the paper away'in his pocket in company with the lantern, The two men buttoned their waterproofs, enc down their bats over their eycs, and, with an Manly in the lead, left the recess and plod- ded in the direction of the trestle, The storm still maintained its fury, and they had to bend their beads and fairly butt their way through the wind and rain that disputed with them every inch of the road. ‘Here we are,” shouted Dan, at last, as he turned around and allowed his words to be blown into the doctor’s ear. ‘* Here is the be- ginning of the trestle.” ‘‘Well, and what now?” the doctor tried to say, but the wind sent his voice down bis throat, and he could only gasp and grimace convul- sively. Dan tried to penetrate the darkness in the ex- pectation of secing the writer of the note, whom he conjectured to be either Slicker or Barker. “Ts your pistol all right?’ he asked, putting his face close to that of the doctor, Dr. Horner was not disposed to strain his voice again, so he nodded emphatically by way of answer and tapped the right outside pocket of his coat, which was covered by a large flap. “Good! We may-need it. The men I expect we shall meet will very likely mean murder if they cannot do without it,” ‘“ Pleasant!” muttered the doctor, in his throat, “So be prepared. Butdo not sheot unless you are obliged, ‘Lhisisa job in which brains will tell more than brute force.” Standing to windward of his companion, as he was, 1t was easy for Dan to make his voice heard by tbe doctor, thougs difficult to get an answer. This did not matter, however, for the detective, being in charge of the expedition, onlv wanted to know that his directions were sakemeood “Ah! What’s that?’ exclaimed Dan, five minutes later. He bad walked upon the trestle, going slowly toward the depot, with the doctor close at his heels, when he heard, or rather felt, an ominous thumping. The doctor was now by his side, and, being close to him, could make himself heard by speaking at the top of his voice. ‘It’s a train coming!” he roared. “Yes, Coming out from the depot.” ‘Thunder !” “We are on the outward-bound track.” ‘- Let us go back.” ‘¢ We haven’t time, track.” +s ‘¢ Jump!” was the laconic reply. | The two tracks, laid on ties from twelve to eighteen inches apart, were separated from each other by a space of about five feet, while far be- low the river roared and tumbled in black awful- ness, To jump from one track to the other was a feat that would be none too easy in the day- light. Now, at night, with the wood slippery with water, and the wind blowing a tempest, it seemed to Dr. Horne that it must be certain death, Dan, too, did not feel comfortable over their situation. A flash of lightning for a seccnd showed him the wet ties and the sbining rails, while a glimpse of the brown, muddy waters of the river uncer his feet seemed to be afforded him involuntarily. And now the thump,thump of the approach- ing train was more and more distinct, as a long line of light from the locomotive head-lantern was thrown along the track on which they stood. The situation was terrible. But the flash of lightning showed Dan some- thing that inight give them a cbance. On a very wide tie, the end of which was exactly opposite, on the other track, was a pile of fine sand, such as is used to prevent locomotive wheels slipping when the brakes are bard down and the rails greasy. There bad evidently been a bad slide at this spot not long before—a very natural thing, consi ering the state of the weather—and the locomotive had dropped sand very freely to enable it to contrc] its speed. ; Without hesitation Dan jumped, his feet strik- ing the sand on the wide tie, and stopping short, This was what he bad anticipated. The great danger was that he might slip. ‘Now, doctor!” he bawled. “Steady, and jump as you never jumped in your life before!” Dr. Horne did not try to answer. The lene of light from the steadily approaching engine was very near now, and the clang of the bell, bich the fireman who had just seen him, was ringing with all his might, nearly deafened bim. “Jump! For your life! Jump!” repeated Double-Curve Dan, desperately. One look over his shoulder at the engine that was nearly upon him and Dr. Horne precipitated himself across the chasm. His feet alighted on the edge of _the tie, and then, wildly struggling to get a firm foothold, he felt himself falling!” ** Dan!” he cried, in agony. But there was uo occasion for him to shout. Hardly had he realized that his jump was a fail- ure, when a strong hand clutched his coat at the shoulder, and he found bimself dragged across the wet ties and rails, while the train on the other track tuundered by like a spirit of evil baffled in its prey. J Dr. Horne was in a very decided state of ex- haustion, and for a second or so he lay where he had fallen, to recover bimself. He bitterly re- gretted now that be had taken any notice of the anonymous note. He would rather have lost twice $50,000 than have found bimself in such a predicament as the present. ‘Not hurt, eb, doctor?” asked Dan. “No, but it is a wonder,” grunted the doctor, ungraciously. He blamed the detective for get- ting bim into such a scrape. We must get on the other