Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 609 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

— ie —_ —_— et en Se — Pog - ~ * —— — . = ~ — oe “My ee ee gel aS Qe 7 | ~ « t a +") e ' : t A - b = sett anil 7¢ » | mere ar eS ae ee a 7 i, ap Ay * ae . Bolly Darrit descended the ladder with which | ther bloody cuss,” the hole was provided, to be quickly followed ‘** Nary time!” @ by his singular friend, ‘* Hyar’s lookin’ at ye, barkeep’.” In the mean time, the rapping at the door had The glasses clicked, and a suggestive gurgle grown more voilent, with loud and frequent de- | followed. Then Dan Rackhoss drew his sleeve mands for Jordan to open the jail and deliver | across his lips and turned _to Bolly, saying: the prisoner. | ** Le’s slip up an’ see how they’ve done et ‘** Now, let ’em howl!” exclaimed Sandy, as | pardner. I’m a leetle cur’us ter see w’ot kin he suddenly dropped from the ladder. ‘It | ov a knot they tied.” will require time to open that trap, even if Darrit nodded assent, and they hastened from they suspect our whereabouts.” the bar-room. ‘‘ But if they do, we are like so many rats In the shadow at the corner of the hotel they in a trap,” ventured Bolly. were met by Orndare, who at once drew Bolly “Hardly,” Rackhoss returned, igniting a | aside. match, “* This way, pardner, and we’ll fool ‘“Is Jordan to be trusted, Darrit?” he asked. these Mormon cusses,” ‘‘Es he is Dan Rackhoss, fer years a side- As he spoke, he opened a cunningly contrived | pardner ov mine, I should say—yes.” door in the side of the excavation, revealing a | ‘Good enough—it is as I suspected!” Orndare tunnel-like passage. ; exclaimed, ‘* In with you,” he urged, fairly pushing Bolly | “But the crowd at the jail yonder is begin- into a the opening. ‘Straight ahead about ten | ning to scatter. You must get under cover.” paces, then turn to the left. Wait for me there.” ‘* But Little Lightnirg—” The detective followed the hurriedly-uttered ‘Is safe, well on the way to the camp of instructions. A moment later he was rejoined | the Invincibles. He left the camp a half-hour by the jailer, lantern in hand. ago.” ** This is my ‘ Retreat’,” explained the latter, holding the lantern aloft, the better to reveal the extent of the underground chamber. “ I happened onto it by accident and have kept the discovery to myself. ‘There is a hidden passage leading from the wall yonder and opening in a bit of chaparral a few yards back of the jail, and we will escape through it. ** Here, too, are weapons and ammunition in abundance. Arm yourself, and let us go.” A moment sufficed for Bolly Darrit to put himself in “fighting trim,” as he expressed it, and then the veteran Dan Rackhoss led the way into the passage, and thence into the chaparral. The two men listened attentively. A confused murmur came from the group of Mormon roughs at the front of the cabin. Otherwise all was quiet. ‘* Plottin’ deviltry, dern’em!” muttered Bolly, relapsing into the vernacular as abruptly as he had abandoned it a few minutes before. * Pard, le’s leave ‘em ter storm ther castle while we look | | ‘'Ya-as, but ther dinged Mormon crew aire a-layin’ fer him. Pepper tampered with his guns at ther jail, so thet when et comes ter ther scratch .her boyee will hev no chaince fer his white alley,” protested Bolly. ‘He has been warned, and is on his guard. Come—we will go up to my room. Two minutes | more and you will be discove ed.” The truth of this declaration was apparent. The mob, baffled at the jail, had scattered, and was now surging through the streets of the camp, Creating a very Babel of confusion, t the same instant, a note of warning came from Rackhoss, and without further delay Lov diy hastened to the hall entrance of the otel, ‘Pull your boots off,” cautioned Orndare, pausing in the shadows. ‘The bartender is not to be trusted. If he hears us go up-stairs, the hotel will be searched,” A moment later the three stole noiselessly through the gloomy hallway to the foot of the “op stairs, and thence to the second floor, where the up ther young ‘un, mine-owner balted at the door of a room facing Rackhoss murmured an assent, and the two | the street, cautiously Pda deeper into the chaparral, ‘‘In with you!” he exclaimed, as the door eventually describing a detour and approaching swung open. the camp from another direction, A Jamp, with the wick turned low, burned on *“We may es well it right along ter ther | a table in the center of the apartment, serving St. George Hotel,” declared Bolly, as they | only partially to dispel the gloom, and with a halted for a moment in the shadow of a ein | cursory glance at the closely-drawn curtains on the outskirts of thecamp, ‘ Like es not we'll | the two detectives helped themselves to chairs. find Little Lightnin’ thar, too, so thet we kin ‘* Here we are snug as bugs in a rug!” quoth settle things in a jiffy. Orndare, locking the door and hanging his hat . Um agreed,” Rackhoss returned. ‘We | over the keyhole. cain’t move too fast, either, fer ef we don’t| ‘Turn on the light, boys, and we’ll—” ketch ther kid et ther hotel et’s mighty leetle we A low whistle filled the hiatus, and the mine- kin do fer him.” owner stared around in thorough surprise. *“ True,” assented Bolly; ‘“but— Hear that!”| We're in the wrong pew, boys,” he ex- A series of heavy crashes, an outburst of tri- Claimed, as Bolly Darrit held the lamp aloft, umphant yells, told the story. The door of the | “ [ets get out, or— What's that ?” il had been forced, ‘A captive, by Rockies!” ejaculated Rack- Quick, now!” aol ge Rackhoss, ‘“‘ In ten | hoss, gliding in the direction indicated by Orn- minutes thet crowd will be scattered throughout ! dare, ‘* Hold the lamp a leetle nearer, Bolly.” ther length an’ breadth ov Yellow Dust, an’—ye The three men hastily crowded around the know w’ot thet means!” ee form lying in the corner, and as Darrit ‘““Ye bet!” Bolly declared laughing shortly. | leaned forward a cry of astonishment burst ‘* Rope fer two, ef we failed ter stand ’em off.” from his lips, At a rapid pace the two approached the hotel, ‘“‘ Kt’s Orthodox Pete!” he uttered suddenly Rackhoss leading the way, straightening up. “Take the lamp, pards. A glance sufficed to show that the bar-room | Thar’s bin foul play byar!” was deserted, save by the bartender, and thetwo! “Hist!” warn Orndare, lifting his hand. detectives boldly entered. *‘Some one comes! Put the lamp on the table, At the same rene Jim Orndare, the owner | and lie low!” of the Silver Streak Mine, disguised as he had| The hasty order was quickly and noiselessly obeyed, the mine-owner, revolver in hand, tak- ing a position behind the door. Then @ key clicked in the lock, and Major Menace strode hurriedly into the room. appeared before Little Lightning, strode in from the hallway. ay : = At sight of the jailer and his companion, the tnine-owner paused in surprise, then, with a significant gesture, turned and walked out into the street, ** Et’s ther boss ov ther Silver Streak,” uttered Darrit, in wary tones, ‘We must foller him. ‘A leetle rye, barkeep’,” cried Rackhoss, ap- proaching the bar to allay suspicion. ‘Darn my Ole sbhoe-packs! ef I don’t feel es shaky as Arkansaw ager!” ‘Bin jest a leetle onpleasant up your way, Sandy, I reckon,” returned the ’tender, setting out a bottle and glasses. ‘* Et’s gone over Yaller Dust like a flash thet Buster Mack’s bin mur- dered, an’ thet bis slayer war quartered at ther Hotel Jordan fer ther night. ‘* Pore ole Buster! He wara plum good ’un, he war.” ‘* Jes’ 80,” assented Rackhoss, lifting his glass. ** When I see ther boyees comin’ I jest slid out. CHAPTER X. THE BISHOP’S STRONGHOLD. A GLEAM of fire leaped into the dark eyes of Jim Orndare at sight of the gambler, and with- out an instant’s besitation he sprung forward, clutching Menace by the throat, In the same breath, almost, Darrit and Rack- hoss arose and seized the desperado, one on each side,'so that in a moment’s time he was over- powered—a helpless captive! ‘“ Hold onto him, pards,” uttered Rackhoss, in & half-whisper. ‘I’ve ther handcuffs in my pecket, an’ I reckon a gag won’t be no great shakes ter skeer up!” Menace ground his teeth savagely together as the irons closed about his wrists, and over his deathly-white face surged a Grimson tide; Without a word, expostulatory or otherwise, | Et wa’n’t my funeral, ye know, ef they hanged Bolly Darrit, the Veteran Detective. ay but any attempt at resistance was worse than useless, and, with the hope that his allies might quickly appear, he sullenly submitted. A very few minutes sufficed for his captors to render his condition fully as helpless as that of Orthodox Pete, and then he was dragged aside while the victorious trio held a brief con- sultation. Only a moment passed thus, then Bolly Darrit stole to the side of. the captive Jehu, to remove his bonds. Orthodox had been placed upon his side, fac- ing the wall, but as his superior bent over him, he looked up in a quick, significant manner, readily understood by Darrit, who at once re- moved the gag. Eased of that incumbrance, the Jebu at- tempted to speak, but failed, until his lips and throat had been moistened with a small quan- tity of liquor from the bottle on the table, ‘Take yer time, pard,” advised Darrit, as he set to work on bis ally’s pinions. ‘* We'll git ye out ov hyar, an’ ye kin explain arter- ward.” Ortbodox shook his head, saying: ‘** Don’t tech ’em, Bolly! Leave me jist as I was when ye kem in. e’ve struck pay-dirt at last!” ‘Leave ye—pay-dirt!” ejaculated the corpu- lent veteran, visibly astonished. ‘‘ Speak out, Pete—we aire listenin’!” ‘‘Time’s short!” grunted Orthodox, his jaws moving painfully. ‘*On’y this: Grim, Pepper, Menace, an’ Old Man Keene aire a-workin’ fer thet Mormon devil, Bishop Hearne, an’I opine thet Hearne bes Orndare’s gal.” ‘““Go on!” Bolly exclaimed, as the Jehu paused. ** Yes, yes, say on, my good fellow!” cried the mine-owner, betraying extreme agitation. ** By and by, Grim an’ another ov ther cohort wil) go ter Hearne, an’ I am ter be taken along, ter be disposed ov on ther way, or later on,” continued Orthodox. ‘‘ Jest leave me hyar, an’ then foller ’em, keepin’ close enough to keep ‘em from saltin’ me, an’I reckon ye'll strike there right trail, be job hes been putt up on Little Light nin’— ‘* We know all about thet,” interrupted Dar- rit. ** Wa-al, another thing, then: Keene hes hired Rico Rube an’ Peet Brown ter steal a sart’in gal. They aire ter report at his cabin in ther mornin’, Don’t let ’em slip.” ‘“‘ Hardly !” enunciated Orndare, clinching bis hands sharply. ‘* Now, fix me up, an’ git out!” requested the captive, in conclusion, ‘“‘ Ye may, ef ye will, slip @ we’pon inter one ov my pockets, an’ then oosen my bonds so thet I kin slip out ov ’em ef need be. ie But, above all else, keep yer grip on Men- ace, ‘** Be thet all, pard?’ Bolly asked, taking up the gag. Orthodox nodded in the affirmative, and his friend at once replaced the gag, then removed and readjusted his pinions in such a way that a violent wrench would leave him free, A revolver was then placed in the inner pocket of his coat, after which the trio prepared to leave the room. | ‘*'We'll leave everything es nigh like we found et es possible,” said Darrit, turning down the light. ‘‘ You lead ther way, an’ Dan an’ me'll bring ther major,” A hasty reconnoissance of the hallway showed that it was clear, and with due caution, the trio, with their captive, betook themselves to the room adjoining, Just in time they were, too, for scarcely had they locked the door behind them, when a clat- ter on the stairs annonnced an approach. ‘They are Mayor Grim and Marshal Pepper,” quietly announced Orndare, after a searching glance through the keyhole. ‘*They are about to enter the room we just left.” This statement accorded with the facts, Baffled in their attempt against the life of Bolly Darrit, the Mormon leaders, after institu- ting a vigorous search of the camp, had returned to the hotel to counsel with Menace, Halting at the door of his room, they gave the signal agreed upon for that night—a short, sharp cough. As no response was voucbsafed, Grim gently tried the dvor, ‘* Locked!” he muttered in disappointment, not unmixed with impatience. ‘ Confound it! this is hardly business on the major’s part.” “We'll go in, anyhow!” declared Pepper, jingling a bunch of keys, ‘* We want a chaince ter talk matters over—must hey et!” Within a minute the lock yielded, and the ’ , i ~~» - J ~ i