Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 660 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

| | Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case. 13 hallway, from whence a staircase ascended to the next floor. Judging that there would be no use of searching for Frank Lester on the first floor, Dick concluded to try the second, and there- fore stole out into the hall. A glance down the hall disclosed a half- dozen people on the inside of the front door, which had not yet yielded to the persuasion of the powder. Each man was armed with a revolver, and stood in readiness to give the attacking party a@ warm reception immediately they gained entrance. There was no earthly use of Dick’s trying to attack them single-handed, so, watching his opportunity, he stole up the stairs. Frank Lester was a prisoner in this house, it was more than probable that he was on the top floor, since he was not in the cellar, The first room he entered was the same as the one below—dusty and unfurnished. From this a door opened into another apartment, but in this case the door was locked. Dick tried it several times, but it did not yield. He was about throwing himself against it for the purpose of bursting it open, when he Sen seized from behind and thrown to the oor. He was on his feet in a moment, however, to be clinched in a bear’s embrace, with no Jess a personage than Bill Breck! Neither man uttered a word. It was a struggle for the mastery, the best man to win. Each knew what was to be expected of him, and what he might expect if he failed. _ There could be no saying the fact that Dick was overmatched, for Breck was phy- sically his cep eren in every respect. _ Moreover, he had the advantage.of ti prise on his side. It did him no good, however, for Dick broke from his grasp, re-clinched with him, and, a second later, had him upon, the floor on his back, - To snap the self-loeking handcuffs around his wrists was but the work of a second, and, before Breck could give utterance to asound, his mouth was filled with a good-sized hand- _ kerchief. Dick then dragged him into another room where any possible outcries of his could not be heard. Then, removing the gag from the ruffian’s mouth, he began his inquisition. - * Breck,” he said, ‘‘ how do you feel?” ‘* Curse you!” was the grim response. ‘‘Oh! there is no need of that. along without it. How would you like to go back to Sing Sing?” “Not very much.” ‘But, that is where you’re bound, unless you come to terms.” ‘* What sort of terms?” ‘“Where is Frank Lester, where is your daughter, where is English Jack and Pete MeGoy, and where are those insurance ponies Out with itnow! You know what mean!” Bill Breck knew. Sing had any charms for him. agreeable as a net cat, “Tf I ans\ 2r your questions, do I go free?” he dem aided, ‘‘Well, for all | know. Answer truth- fully, and I will not press any charge against you, unless 1 find you are doing an act of treachery.” “Tl do it,” asserted Breck. ‘‘ What do ‘‘Ts Frank Lester in this house?” t46:4ig. _ you want to know?’ oe of Held as a prisoner, I presume?” } _ Where is Louise?” laughed, — Sing no longer e became as I can get |. ~ ‘‘Out of your power. By this time she is on her way to New Orleans.” ‘Who made up this plot?” ‘‘Old Lester and my daughter. I am ashamed to say it, but, although I am a jail- bird, I guess my girl can beat me.” ‘‘ Who bought those policies?” ‘‘You don’t expect me to know?” §*T do.” ‘‘ Well, I didn’t buy them but I got the all the same.” ‘*And sold them?” ‘‘T did; turned the mover to old Josh,for a consideration.” ‘‘T thought as much. Has he got them now?” ‘‘T don’t know.” ‘* You do know!” “‘My word of honor, I do not. If old Lester has not got them, I rather think Ferris has them to negotiate, after proofs of Frank’s death. It was he and Louise, and the old man who planned the whole scheme My only direct connection with the case, was to assist in the abduction, for which I was to-receive a portion of the boodle when it was secured. Iwas drawn into the plot by the persuasions of Louise, and forced into it by Fred Ferris who had me in his power to that extent that he could have me sent back to prison.” ‘Where is Frank Lester imprisoned?” ‘‘ Release me, and I will show you.” ‘‘Promise to make no attempt to escape, and I will.” ‘*T promise.” ‘*Unon your honor?” ‘*On my honor.” . So Dick at once released him, ‘‘Now come this way,” said Breck, ‘‘and come carefnl, for if the gang at the front door discovers us, the jig is up for sure. The old man and his sons have been paid to hold Frank a prisoner,..He and his boys ar a tough gang, and would not hesitate to kill a man for a very small monetary considera- tion.” ‘* Allright. Lead on.” Breck took a key from his pocket and un- locked a door leading into the next room, which they entered. This room was also unfurnished. There was a door communicating with another room, Boog handed the key to this to Deadwood ick. ‘You can go in,” hesaid. ‘I'll takea quiet sneak,” «What for?” ‘‘ Because I don’t want to meet Lester,” ** You are afraid of him, eh?” ‘No, but I'd rather not meet him.” ‘Well, go ahead.” Breck did not wait for the second invita- tion, but immediately hurried away, evi- dently glad enough to get off so easily. Dick then unlocked the door, and entered the next apartment. ‘ - was inky dark until he turned on his ight. ; This room was furnished with a cot hed- stead and mattress, a Wash-stand and an old cook-stove. Two men were reclining upon the bed, fast asleep. One of them was English Jack. The other was a tall, gracefully-built young man of dbout Dick’s own age, with light curling hair and mustacbe. . The room was close to suffocation, there being no window to the place to give it ven- tilation. ‘‘ Hello, there!” cried Dick. ‘‘Are you fellows dead, or are you asleep?” Both men sat up with a start. But it was several seconds ere they could accustom their eyes to the light, so they could make out who their rescuer was. Finally the Englishman leaped to his feet with a glad cry. ‘* Deadwood Dick!” he ejaculated. .. .*» ‘* At your service.” , ‘* And you have come to rescue us?” ‘* That is the order.” ‘*Well, you came in the nick of time!” ‘* How so?” ‘* The farmer threatened to kill us between now and daybreak, unless we signed, a aper.” ‘* What sort of a paper?” “One exoneratiung him from all blame.’ They caught both me and Pat as we dropped down the chimney. I was run in here for safe-keeping, and Pat is gagged and held prisoner in another room.” ‘‘So I suspected; hence I dropped down another chimney in search of you!” ‘Bully for you! You are a trump, Mister Dick. But where are the boys?” ‘They are attacking the front door now. I reckon it is a little strong for them.” ‘‘Who’s got charge of the party?” ‘* Bleecker-street Bob.” ‘Then you can bet he will bu’st in, for there ain’t no door as can long resist him.” ‘‘Ts this Mr. Lester?” ‘Yes, I am Frank. Lester,” replied the young man. ‘‘Who all were in this conspiracy against ou?” : ‘*My uncle, Josiah Lester, was the origin- ator of the scheme, I understand; but m foster-sister, Louise, was the one who put it into execution. In this she was aided and abetted by her father, Bill Breck and Fred Ferris, whom I had always counted upon as being my friend.” ‘‘ But what caused Louise to send for me to investigate the matter of your disappear- ance?” | ‘*To divert suspicion from herself, for m disappearance created a sensation at my club when it was know I had so much money on my life, and that the policies were in favor of Louise; so, to disguise her hand in the dia- bolical plot, Louise hit upon the expedient of hiring a detective, never supposing, | pre- sume, that he would be able to ferret out the mystery, especially as she had chosen a Western man.” ‘Did you have a quarrel] with Louise be- fore your were incarcerated here?” ‘‘No; she was, apparently, always solicit- ous for my welfare.” ‘‘Did you dispose of your insurance pol- icies to satify gambling debts? ‘‘No. They are deposited with the Gar- field Safe Deposit Company, corner of Twenty-third street and Sixth avenue.” ‘‘Then the story of their being in posses- sion of Breck and old Josiah is untrue?” | ** Yes; it was in order to get possession of them that | was decoyed here. Louise and old Josiah put their heads together, and figured it out that.by establishing the fact that I was really dead, they could secure the insurance on my life, and keep me locked up here until they hail time to carry out their scheme, and them to skip to parts un- known.” “ ‘‘Well, Iam glad their little game is baf- ‘‘Old Lester and Ferris—what of them?” ‘‘ Both are prisoners.” ‘‘And Louise?” | “She has fled the city, as Breck informs” ‘Where to?” ‘*Gone south, he says—bound for New Orleans. Will you pursue her?” “No. Let her go. Iam only too glad to get rid of the treacherous viper,” was the earnest reply. ) Just then the report of firearms came from . | the front of the house. 3 “Our boys have gained entrance, I reck- hd va Pe ck. ‘ Let’s off the reson” ‘*] have no weapons,” Lester announced. ‘Here! Take one of m covelvies,” and Dick handed him one. “Don’t fire to kill unless forced to for self- tion.” Bir ‘All right.” ee ““Eomicbook