Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 609 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

a —~ +t rm 8 Bolly Darrit, the Veteran Detective. Ae ery (a Se hall \ that to a cool determination to thwart the ruf~| start of surprise, witnessed the proceeding with fians, if possible. She hailed the demand for food with a breath the utmost composure, Searcely a second glance had been needed to of secret relief, the hope that her father had | establish the fact that the new-comers were of escaped an encounter with the two desperadoes | their ilk. outweighing the dark suspicion that he bad met with toul play. Had he so escaped, he might now be expected to appear at any moment, and with his appearance the affair would assume a vastly different phase, : Lewis Carson, with his matchless cunning and skill and strength, would rescue her and punish the villainous intruders, Peet Brown must have divined something of these thoughts, for as the girl silently turned to comply with the pointed request, he stepped before her, his cruel eyes ablaze with suspicion. ‘¢ Let me tell ye, Rachel Carson, thet ye don’t want to try any ov ther flimsy on us,” he warned, a half-smile adding to the vindictive- ness of his expression. ‘* Don’t try ter guv us ‘ther slip, nor don’t ye fool away any time, or yell be sorry for it—mind thet!” ‘* Stuff!” growled Rube, in a sudden and un- accountable blaze of resentment. ‘* Let ther gal alone, Peet!” Brown slunk aside, taking a position where the movements of the girl could be narrowly watched. Her hand tightly clasping the handle of a small revolver hidden away in the folds of her dress, Rachel passed into the second room of the cabin, where a moment later she set about her task. In due course, the table was laid, and then with a gesture she indicated that the meal was in readiness. The two ruffians fell to with avidity. In the midst of the repast came a cautious rapping at the door. ‘Ther deuce!” ejaculated Rube, abruptly gaining his feet. ‘‘ We’ve tarried too long! Thet must be ther ole man hisself!” Peet followed his example, and they listened, weapons in hand, . A flush of hope appeared in Rachel’s white face. Involuntarily, she moved toward the door, trembliug with eagerness. ‘* Stop!” ordered Rube, in a subdued voice. 5 Ter open that door will cost yer father his ife! ‘s Not if you give us a fair count!” Scarcely louder than a whisper, yet clear, cold and distinct, the words stung through the room, coming from a point directly behind the two ruffians and causing them to wheel in direst confusion and alarm, Rachel uttered a faint i Crouching in the wide fireplace, a leveled re- volver in each hand, was a third intruder—a tall, handsome youth, beyond doubt a prairie nomad! ‘‘Et’s thet cussed Little Lightning!” grated Rico Rube, his hands working nervously. “Yes, [am Little Lightning,” quietiy averred the young ranger, leaving his cramped quarters, ‘““Up with your hands, both of you! ‘* Miss, you may open that door,” Utterly crestfallen at this unexpected col- lapse of their plans, the two ruffians obeyed, and Rachel Carson hastened to admit her father. The opening of the door revealed a man of venerable appearance on the threshold, and Rico Rube’s face betrayed fresh surprise and alarm. ‘* Pard, et’s Mose, the Hermit-Miner, and this is a bad job for us!” he ejaculated, the words er yor from bis lips mechanically, Rachel uttered a cry of joy. ‘* Villain! you were never nearer the exact truth!” said Lewis Carson, sternly, as he stepped quickly into the room, ** Rachel, what does it all mean? Have they—” A deep chuckle interrupted the miner, caus- ing him to face about sharply, a revolver in each hand. Alert though he was, yet the move- ment was too late. In the doorway beyond him were a group of rough-looking fellows—men of sinister mien and heavily armed, One glance sufficed to put Carson in full pos- session of the grim facts of the case, A crisis was at hand. ‘‘Tracked!” he exclaimed, whitening to the lips. ‘‘ Exactly, boss,” vouchsafed the leader of the squad, with an evilsmile. ‘The race of Mose, the Hunter-Miner is run! “ Keep your hands down; we will relieve you = yous weapons, If you resist it will be your eat While g, the desperado had advanced and Le Carson was speedily disarmed and forced aside Rico Rube and Peet Brown, after the first | | Rachel, too, realized as much, and stood as if bereft of hope. And Little in taney At the very instant Lewis Carson was uncere- moniously thrust aside, there was a swift pat- ter of feet across the cabin floor, a short, sharp scream, and with Rachel Carson in his arms the young miner disappeared in the second room, “Tively, lads!” roared Rico Rube, springin forward; ‘lively! or ye’ll lose him, ther devil! A spirited general rush followed the words, Rube leading the way; but the solid door clanged, a heavy bar rattled into place, and, for a brief time at least, Little Lightning and his protegee were safe, ‘‘ Baffled!” grated the chief of the roughs. ‘‘- Yes, baffled, Jason Marks,” came the voice of Little Lightning, from the inner room, ‘*But for a time only,” supplemented one of the crowd, a gaunt, ill-shapen fellow, evidently second in command, ‘“T would suggest, Cap, that the house be sur- rounded, We can then knock that door into splinters, with a stout bit of timber, at our leisure,” ‘* That is undoubtedly the proper plan, Con,” the chief admitted, and be proceeded to tell off and station the men. Rico Rube and Peet Brown drew aside. ‘“Rt looks bad fer us,” muttered Rube, his wolfish eves roving restlessly over his surround- ings. ‘*Ef Marks an’ his crew want ther gal, too, we aire left!” ‘* Exactly!” Peet acquiesced. let him hev et thet way!” ‘Wot kin we do?” ‘‘Do? A heap!” Rube shook his head dubiously. ““Tcain’t seeit. Ef I ewd—’ ‘“Yoe kin!” interrupted Peet, earnestly. ‘‘ Jest wait an’ let me engineer et. Fall in with Marks an’ his gang; do es they do—till ye heur from me!” At this juncture, Marks hailed the scheming pair, saying: ‘‘ Hyar, pards—you, ef ye’re with us—lay a holt, an’ give usa lift. That door must come down,” The two complied with alacrity. Then back and forth, ee by four pairs of stout arms, swayed the heavy timber, to fall with a resounding crash against the door, fore- naa, Bs ajar. | ‘ A shout of triumph escaped Jason Marks, ‘* Slow and easy, pards,” he cautioned the next moment, as his followers surged forward. ‘‘ Ther critter’s no slouch!” ‘* An’ he’s got his pepper-boxes,” added Con, grimly. ‘“But we must get them out of there, and quickly, too,”’ pursued tha chief. ** Putt out ther light, an’ make a rush fer et!” one of the men suggested. This course was quickly decided upon, - Its execution was the matter of but a mo- ment, To the surprise of all, however, no resistance was Offered. Once in the room, Marks struck a match. Its fitful glow disclosed a startling fact. Little Lightning and Rachel Carson were missing. A clew to the avenue of flight presented it- self, The one window with which the room was rovided was covered with a substantial shutter, held in place by a pair of solid bars, and it was evident that the fugitives had not escaped by means of it. The only door leading from the apartment was the one between the two rooms, “ Furies!” ejaculated Marks, as he quickly noted these facts, and scanned the apparently solid log walls, ‘‘ Here’s a mystery! Bring ther lamp, sum ov ye!” Pursuant to this request, Con, the lieutenant, stepped into the outer room, striking a match as he passed through the doorway, No sooner, however, had be applied the splut- tering lucifer to the wick, than a yell of genuine dismay burst from his lips. ‘** Look!” he cried, wildly, pointing to the cor- ner where the captive had been thrown. ‘f Look! The Hermit-Miner has escaped!” And that half-frantic declaration was the truth, incredible as it seemed; for on tke spot where Lewis Carson had been but a moment before, there was nothing buta bunch of severed pinions! b ‘** Thet is, ef we CHAPTER IX. SANDY JORDAN’S RETREAT. ‘ ‘‘ Wa-AL, ef ther camp hain’t well rid ov thet young varlet, J’m no jedge ov such matters!” exclaimed Marshal Red Pepper, as the foot- steps of Little Lightning died away, after his liberation from the lock-up of Yellow Dust. ‘‘Dern me! I wouldn’t won’er, may’r, ef we'd made a leetle mistake in not lettin’ ther sassy galoot take ther chances fer life right byer with Bill Williams!” ‘* Pcssible,” admitted Grim, with a show of re- luctance. ‘* There wus certainly a vicious look in the fellow’s eyes.” Sandy Jordan, the jailer, gave his head a neg- ative toss. ‘*Twan’t thet,” he averred, with the air of a- sage. ‘* Ther kid’s all right—chock full ov pluck an’ bottom, an’ not ter be crowded, ‘* Howsumever, I’m glad enuff he’s out ov ther way, ef thar’s goin’ ter be a ruction. I reckon Williams will be enuff an’ a plenty fer Jedge Lynch—barrin’ accidents.” ‘* Yes, yes,” exclaimed Grim, justa trifle irate- ly. ‘*One victim ought to satisty the boys.” ‘* But I would suggest, marshal, that we move on down into the camp, Sandy here has been duly introduced, and if anything is brewing we can be of more service there than here.” ‘Ye kin sartainly do no good byer,” grimly affirmed Jordan, a peculiar look coming over his rugged face. ‘“‘ The prisoner’s safe with me— till [ hev ter guv him up. When thet p’int comes, reckon I’1l see w’ot’s best ter do.” ‘‘No doubt ov et, a’ tall,” said Pepper, gain- ing his feet. ‘Come, Grim—let’s vamose,” ‘*Remember ‘my instructions,” warned the mayor, as he turned to leave t he prison. ‘No bloodshed to save the cuss!” By way of reply, Jordan simply shook his head, the peculiar look upon his face deepening Ze a grin as the two officials took their depar- ‘ure, _ No sooner were they teyond sight and hear-~ ing, however, than his visage cleared as if by magic, giving place toa determined expression boding ill to the plans of the plotters, Closing and carefully securing the door, be crossed the room to the rude table at which Pepper had been seated a moment before, then took up the lamp and closely scanned the floor. Under the table, well back toward the wall, lay a single cartridge. ‘‘Thort es much!” muttered Jordan, half in triumph. ‘‘I heard it drop. Le’s see—Pepper’s guns aire 44s; this ca’tridge is a 32—ther kid’s size! _“ Ther find tells its own story! Bill Williams ain’t in hafe ther danger his young pard be!” Replacing the light on the table, the jailer crossed to the door of the second room, or cell, and deliberately removed its numerous fasten- ings, Bolly Darrit stepped forth, his hand extended, a trace of a grin on bis round face, ‘‘ Shake, pardner!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ Et took time ter pick a hole in thet thar make-up ov yours, but I’ve done et!” “ Bolly—” ‘‘Rackhoss! ye condemned Arkansaw scare- crow! Ef I hain’t tempted—” The sentence ended in a hollow gurgle, as the long arms of the jailer suddenly closed around the detective with a bear-like hug. ‘“Thet’ll do, Dan,” puffed Bolly, after a mo- ment, ‘ Jest a chaince ter git my breath, an’ I’m ready fer eny kind ov a mill! ‘‘But now, fu’st oy all, tell me w’at this gay deception means,” ‘‘ Business, every time,” Rackhoss replied; “T1 give ye partic’lars later on. Jest now thar’s su’thin’ more important ter talk about. ‘*Gid Grim an’ Pepper bev set up a bad job on th r kid,” and in rapid tones the jailer pro- ceeded to detail his suspicions.§ The veteran detective listened to the revela- tion pointing to a fiendish plot, the varying ex- ression of hiseyes betraying no small degree of interest, ‘* The scoundrels!” he ejaculated, when Rack- hoss had ended. ‘Give me some weapons, sone Pll go bail there’ll Le fun, by and by, l — At that juncture a determined rap at the outer door interrupted the conversation, | * Hist!” cautioned Rackhoss, placing his finger upon bis hps, ‘* Follow me!” ith that, he moved softly across the floor, halting beside his cot and lifting a trap-door, “Down!” he cautioned, pointing into the gloomy opening. ‘‘ Judge Lynch is at hand. The only avenue of escape is by way of my res treat.” . ~~ SS — ee ee . li llama. : ~ _— 44, — ee 7