Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 660 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

AO he a - —— en eR Sg — et ee : 2 _% : : : , > ; hee | eb: iy ey, wolf . ? 7 ‘ Fe <> ve é Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case, 11 ‘** By-and-by the old nag was hitched up again, Breck got into the buggy, and was driven back tothestation. I never lost sight of him, detective.” “Good for you! What else?” “Well, he went straight to Murray Hill Hotel, and was shown upstairs. Directly the porter brought down a bouncing big trunk, and ‘‘ Louise Lester” was painted up- on it. I didn’t find out where it was going to, but I’ve got my Opinion.” ‘**To the old house?” Jack nodded, **You’ve hit it.” “You feel satisfied that Frank Lester is a prisoner in that house?” ‘““ Am as good as positive of it.” “Then no time must be lost. start immediately to the rescue.” “You forget. We are not strong enough. There are six able-bodied men in that old house, if not more. What could we do in an open field against a fortified half-dozen? Not a darned thing! They’d mow us down in no time,” “Oh! we should have to use strategy. But, even then we must have more men. I shall start at once for the vicinity of this old house!” ' 3 gue for?” “To arrange my campaign.” ‘ ‘‘IT see. And how spon ma® “You? Well, listen! I judge you are ac- quainted with some of the gamest fighting men on the east side of New York—men, who, though not Sullivans, would fight with any Kind of weapons, upon an offer of fifty dollars per head.” “I’m just the boy as kin de it—boys who are stayers on a case like this and will obey a leader.” _‘“The very ones I want. I want no police aid in this business. Pick out ten of the We must flowers of the flock, guarantee em fifty each, and follow meas soon as youcan. When you get to the edge of the clearing, keep close under cover, and be sure not to be sur- rised. These men from the old house are lable, more now than ever, to be on duty, for I doubt not some spy has been put upon us.” ‘‘Perhaps. But I know the boys you will command, and they know me. From what I’ve read and heard of you, I’ll bet we'll scoop in the hull caboodle. We'll be at the appointed place at one in the morning. Right?” “Yes, that will do. Mind you don’t at- tract any attention in passing through the station village, as | want no undue excite- “ment, even after the arrest.” Dick at once began his preparations to de- art for the old stone house, where Frank peter was supposed to be confined. He ascended to his room, put on a rough suit, and equipped himself with his revol- Vers, ‘a bull’s-eye lantern, a knife, matches, and whatever occurred to him would be essential in a campaign against the enemy. He inferred from what English Jack had said, that the job ahead would not be an sr’ one, and it was best to go well ‘‘ heeled.” © when the preparations were complete, and after re-cautioning Fleming not to let Ferris escape from the hotel, he set out for re depot, and took the train for C. sta- ion, Of course he did not know exactly where the old stone house was situated, bat he could find out. 0 when he arrived at CO. he struck for the nearest saloon, and propounded his inquiries, er patronizing the bar and treating the proprietor, fe y friend,” said Dick, ‘‘do you know of such a place as the old stone house, a few miles from here?” sey Yas.” sige you direct me how to find the ~ “ Guess so.” “Well, Pll be much obliged if you would.” ‘‘You foller this street until it turns into a country road, Foller the road until you see a patch of oak, chestnut and pine forest to your right, but off from the main road some distance. It is a wood-path. Foller this, and it will take you tothe old stone house, whose history none of our present generation seems to know. But, why do you want to go there?” ° ‘* For reasons of my own.” ‘** You'd better look well ouc!’”’ “Why sor”. ‘*Because old Trum Mugee and his boys, who live there, are a tough gang, and so tough that they won’t be tolerated anywheres else.” ‘* What are they—cut-throats?” ‘* Well, I wouldn’t like to have m at their command, if they knew I mex about me!” ‘* How many is there of them?” ‘**Six boys and the old man.” ‘** Are they fighters?” “You bet! People as don’t want to get broke up keep out of them woods. Are you really going to the stone house?” “ That is just what I propose, my friend.” ‘* You won’t come back alive.” ‘* Never fear.” Dick then sought a livery-stable, hired a saddle-horse, and mounting, took the route given by the saloon-keeper, and dashed away at a lively gallop. It savored of old times to be in the saddle once more. It seemed like old days in the West, when he spurred his steed over prairie and mountain, free as a bird from the re- straintof ‘‘ refined” civilization. Leaving his horse in the woods, in a spot where he was not likely to be discovered, guzzle ad any Dick stole forward and soon reached the — of the clearing. — t was now dusk, but he was able to get a good view of the antiquated stone mansion. It looked more like a small-sized citadel than anything else. All the masonry was massive. The windows were massive and the doors were ponderous. “That place would withstand a siege,” Dick mused. “ Only strategy can ever get us in there, without official aid.” Not a light was visible from where Dick was stationed, and therefore he concluded that the dwelling portion of the place must be on the other or opposite side of the man- sion. So, having plenty of.time before the ar- rival of English Jack and his crowd, Dick made an entire circuit of the premises, to dis- cover that there were no lights in any of the windows. To all intents, the place was closed, as against a siege. ‘‘ They're there, just the same, and big are the odds they are on guard, ready to riddle the first man who appears.” Nevertheless, it took a Western man to discount these villains, for, within ten min- utes, Dick’s back rested against the east wall of this old gray stone house. He had crept, snake-like, through the weeds, and, for the time being he was safe. The windows were so placed, that, from his patent position, he could not be reached by_a bullet, This position he held for an hour or more; then,satisfied that he had not been discovered, he made acircuit of the entire building, ona tour-of thorough reconnoissance near the building and along the edge of the clearing. When he reached the east point of the woods he met with a surprise. Seated on a stump was no less a man than Josiah Lester, whom he had last seen at the Morton House. nes, | Josiah seemed as much surprised as Dick. Dick’s mind was made up in a moment; he did not bet on the man from Perkinsville. ‘You have been playing detective, too, I presume?” he said. that. Who is a good climber?” ‘* Rather!” ‘“* What have you found out?” ‘* Breck, Louise, Larrezo, and them thiey- in’ country Jakes are in that house.” ‘‘Let ’em stay there, too, until my em- issary comes with the toughest part of New York. They will make short work of get- ting into that house.” ‘*T shouldn’t wonder.” Just ther a peculiar whistle was heard. Dick listened. There was a moment’s silence, and, then, Josiah burst forth, “Oh! What will Samantha say? Oh! all my money’s gone, and them steers ain’t . bought yet! She’ll give me particular thun- der when I get back to Perkinsville.” ‘‘Look here, Josiah!” said Dick, ‘‘do you know what I think I’d better do with you?” ** Woaat?” ‘“‘ Put the handcuffs on you!” “Oh! Lord!” Before Josiah could realize it, the brace- lets encircled his wrists. Dick then tied his feet together, and propped him up against a tree. ‘‘Now you stay there for awhile, Josiah, until more light is thrown on this matter. It rather hits me you know more about it than most people.” ‘*Q-o-oh! no! Lord knows I’m as in’cent as a suckin’ calf.” ‘* That's to be found out.” There was a tramp of many feet, and English Jack and his gang approached. And such a gang! Had not Dick implicit faith in the ex- sailor he would have been tempted to turn. They were about the toughest party he had ever seen. ‘‘“Well, we're here!” answered Jack. *‘ What do you think of my dandies?”’ ““T reckon they will do,” replied Dick. **Do they understand the terms?” ‘* Just as well as I do.” “* And are willing to fight?” “Fight is their meat and grog.” “Very well, for, from what I have heard, we have got a lot of desperate men to tackle.” ‘* No doubt of it.” ‘“« Are you all armed?” ‘* Yes—with revolvers.” “They are of but little use, in a battle against a stone wall.” ‘* How do you propose to attack the she- bang?” | ‘Invest all sides, at once. That is the only way we can gain entrance, It will re- quire one of the smallest men in the party to gain entrance through one of those win- dows.” ‘‘] kin do ’em!” spoke up Bleecker-street Bob, just over from Blackwell’s Island. ‘**T’ve squeezed through tighter holes than them.” - “Very well. Scatter, now, and the first one to get into the house, is to open the front door and admit the others. Nota shot is to be fired unless necessary !” The night was nearly as light as day, the moon being at full, which of course made it all the more difficult to get near the old stone house; but all, at length, stood close in its shadow. All the windows were tried, but they were not to be lifted. The front door was next inspected, but that, too, was as firm as adamunt, and would not have yielded to the persuasion of a bat- tering-ram. **Guess we're dished,” said Jack. ‘* It looks so,” replied Dick. ‘“‘How about the roof?” suggested one of the party. “Well. there is no harm in inspecting “Iam,” replied English Jack. ‘It takes a sailor to do that, don’t ye know.” A mass of climbing vines clung tenacious- ~~ JOO com (e — _ ore e ™ el