Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 700 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

» yo3 4 a. . — : - eee Ue ee ee eee a a ~ a a, -_ . ‘ when he fancied he heard steps in the hall, and he hesitated. He listened attentively, and soon discovered that he had not been mistaken. Stealthy steps passed his door. When they bad passed, he drew the door open just a little, and looked out, There was a candle at the end of the hall, and by its light he discerned two men, They had their backs toward him, and while he looked, they stopped at the door of Mrs. Worthington’s room, and one entered. Dick’s hand fell upon a weapon, He did not want to be discovered, but if neces- sary-— Other steps were heard, and another man passed down the hall. He too entered the room, the other man still es on guard, looking up and down the A moment d, and no sound was heard. Could it be that they were murdering the woman? That thought came to Dick, and he was just on the point of springing out when the men re- id Briere nd between them they carried the sleeping woman, who was entirely unconscious and help- less in their power. Deadwood Dick’s teeth came together with a click, and, weapon in hand, he had almost pr out, when a sudden thought checked im. Perhaps this was another victim for the death oe yaa in the hidden cavern. By following, perhaps he would be able to discover that, and come the sooner to the-rescue of Mr. Pilbrooke, if he was alive, When the men with their burden had passed his door, and had begun to descend the stairs, Dick slipped out and crept after them. When they reached the lower floor, they turned and went along the hall to the rear, en- te the kitchen. ick crept on after them, with the stealth of @ Cat. At the foot of the stairs the man ahead had nage up a candle, and Dick could easily follow he light as long as it could be seen. They had not closed the door of the kitchen quite tight, and Dick was soon there, peering ip The men were just disappearing through another door, and he heard their light tread on another flight of stairs, He rightly guessed that they were going to the cellar, or to some sort of hole under the house, and when they had gone on a little, fol- lowed after. CHAPTER XV. DICK GETS THE DAISY DROP. TxIs door then had closed after them. They had not fastened it, however, and Dick opened it een When he looked down, the men bad reached the bottom, and were out of sight from where _ The light was there yet, and for the present -he did not venture any turther. Discovery was the very Jast thing to be desired, now. Whispering was heard among the men fora moment; then the light moved, tbe foot of the stairs was thrown into shadow, and a breath of cold, damp air struck Dick’s face, Has it been mentioned that he had previously muffled his feet, so that he could explore the house without making a sound? Such was the fact, anyhow, and when he went on down this flight of stairs he moved as silently as a ghost might be expected to move, one of these men had he recognized, owing to the faint light of the upper hall when he had seen them there, and to the fact that they wore half masks over their faces. ' When he reached tbe bottom of the stairs, he discerned the rays from the candle up through a hole in the middle of the floor. He hastened forward and looked down, want- ing to got a survey of the hole before the light might isappear. , » To his surprise, he beheld a series of ladders fending down into what seemed a natural cav- _‘* Hal” he exclaimed in thought, ‘‘ this ex- Plains it! This is the way I was taken after I beets This is a part of the cavern I was in when they tried to end my earthly sojourn,” he men, with their burden, were about half way dow phe lad tom ck Waited until they had reached the bot- turned away, upon the ladders himeelf sie = gn ta nd -___ Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Drop. He feared that his presence might be felt, if he tried to descend sooner, so held back. As soon as they were clear of it, and moving on, then he made haste to go down, When he in turn reached the bottom, the light of the candle was some distance away to the rigbt, following a passage of the cavern. ‘Lead on, my fine rascals!” Deadwood Dick muttered grimly, ‘There isa day of reckon- ing coming, if I mistake not, I want to see what you intend doing with that woman,” Without mentioning all the windings and turningsof the way, and how Dick had to use ex- treme caution now and again, let us say that the destination was finally reached, and once more Dick beheld the cavern in which he had so near- ly lost bis life, Stopping in the deep shadow, in the opening that led into this chamber, the daring detective took a survey of the interior, The first person to meet his gaze was Captain Death. There he was, in his usual hideous form. Besides him, there were some seven for eight others, including the three who had just come in with the woman. . Dick looked around eagerly for Mr. Pilbrooke. Not seeing him at first, he feared the worst bad happened, but, presently, he caught sight of him, on the floor bebind some of the men. Captain Death glanced at the woman, when she was laid on the floor, saying: “So, this isthe one who would make a dis- turbance about Deadwood Dick, is it? We shall have to see that she never wakes up,” ‘* Bt looks kinder tough ter make war against women, too,” one of the masked men observed. ‘““We recognize nothing in sex, when our safety is concerned,” said Captain Death, saret ° ‘““Well, what is going to be done?” another asked. ‘‘ We will put them out of the way,” answered Captain Death, ‘‘and make the shortest possible work of it.” ‘* Mercy!” cried Mr. Pilbrooke, at these words, ‘To you not mean to accept the offer I have made for my life?” ‘*‘Can’t do it,” answered the skeleton ring- leader. ‘‘ Itistoobiga risk for us to under- take. You will have to pass in your chips.” The poor man sunk down upon the floor with a groan. ‘The curse of heaven rest upon you for this!” he moaned, ‘* You rob me of life, and my fam- ily of a husband and father. Ob! but your day of reckoning will come! It must come!” ‘¢ We'll take chances.on that,” was the care- less answer. ‘‘ Come, men, pick the old coward - and stand him against the wall, and we'll riddle him wlth bullets, If he won’t stard, two of you will have to bold him,” eadwood Dick stood ready for the desperate encounter that must come, His*teeth were hard 8: 6, and his weapons were in hand. Nota thought of mercy to such merci- less men as these was in his purpose, Four of the men had rifles, as on the other oc- casion. . At the order given by the captain, they laid them down, not far from the opening, and threw themselves upon Mr. Pilbrooke. ‘“Come, governor,” one of them cried, “‘ you must stand up and take your little dose of pills likea man. It won’thurt you much.. It will be over before you can wink your eye.” ‘““Spare me! spare me!” the despairing man cried. ‘‘ All my wealth will I give you, if you will only let me return to my home and family.” ‘No use whining,” said Captain Death. ‘‘ We cannot afford to let you go with the information you have got. Die you must, so make up your mind to it.” ! ; Tbe men had jerked their prisoner to his feet, and now they back him up against the wall, in the place where Deadwood Dick had been shot at. But, no sooner had they let go of him, than he dropped limp and helpless to the ground. ‘“‘ Untie his hands,” ordered the captain, “and two of you hold him up by his arms,” This was speedily done, and two of the inhu- man wretches held Mr, Pilbrooke up by his arms, despite his struggles, while the four turned to take up their rifles. Then the gleaming revolvers of Deadwood Dick covered them! Gliding silently into the chamber, he planted his feet upon the rifles, and was waiting for the 8 to turn toward him. Tt was desperate odds to fight against, but Dick Bristol knew not the word fear, nor would he bold back in a case of this sort, no matter what the outcome, 13 _——-r ‘‘Up with your hands, you devils!” he cried. The men stopped short, for the instant para- lyzed, while Captain Death wheeled around with an oath, his hand falling upon a weapon, ‘* Hands, up!” Dick ordered again. Two or three obeyed; but, not so Captain Death. ‘* Never!” he cried, snatching a weapon from his belt, ‘* We'll die first!” Dick’s revolver spoke, sending a bullet straight for the rascal’s heart, but without effect, other | than to send a bullet wide of the mark thatcanie | at almost the same instant from the outlaw’s. weapon, Dick fired again, now a snap-shot at one of the eye-holes of the grinning death’s-head, and. Captain Death went down, another shot from his weapon going even wider of the mark than the first. These shots were exchanged in a second of time, and others of the rascals were reaching for their revolvers. Dick fired twice again, in quick succession, and down went two more ofthem. . ‘“Hands up!” he ordered yet again, “or it’s death to allof you! Deadwood Dick holds the drop on you this time, you devils!” “Thank God for this rescue!” cried Mr, Pil- brooke. ‘““Your bands are free, sir,” said Dick; ** step over here and pick up one of the riflesand cover the dogs with it,” Mr, Pilbrooke made haste to obey. ‘* And if one of them lowers a hand, shoot him as you would acur!” ‘* So I will, assure as | live.” Ordering the rascals to stand together, Dick put bis weapons back into bis belt and advanced upon thein. Half a minute later they were handcuffed to- gether in pairs, and disarmed. About the time that was done the woman on the floor began to come to, and sat up, looking: around in affright. ** Where am 1?” she gasped. Mr. Pilbrooke looked at her, startled. ‘‘ My God!” he cried, ‘‘ it is my daughter! my long-lost child!” — The woman looked at him, wildly, wonder- ! ingly, and uttering the word ‘‘ father!” covered her face with her hands. Deadwood Dick looked from one to the other of them, puzzled to understand, . “s hat manner of revelation was this going to e Mr. Pilbrooke had lowered the rifle, seeing there was no further need of it, and now he dropped it and sprung to the woman’s side, | ‘Jessie, Jessie!” he cried, taking her bands, ‘* tell me if it is indeed you 2 ‘“* Yes, father, it is I,” the woman sorrowfully answered. “Thank Heaven for this!” ‘Then you forgive me, father?’ she asked. ** Freely and fully,” was the answer. ‘‘ You have been forgiven all these years, but we knew not where to find you.” Deadwood Dick did not interfere until their talk was done. From their conversation he learned all, and was glad to see the happy meeting between the father and wayward child. When Mr, Pilbrooke rose, he turned to Dick, saying: ‘Pardon me, sir, but from what you have heard you will understand, Thisis my daughter, who, strong-willed, disobeyed me and married against my wishes, and whom I, in a fit of rage, turned from my house. From that hour to this I bad never heard from her, though I longed to call her back and tell her she was forgiven.” ‘‘T understand all,” said Dick, ‘‘ You came near sharing the same cruel fate together here this kour.” ‘‘ But, how came I here?” the woman asked. ‘* You have not told me. What were they going. to do with us?” ‘‘- You were near to death,” explained Dick. ‘‘ For what you overheard yesterday, and re- ted to the landlord of the Grand Union, they intended to put you out of the way.” ‘ Ts it possible! Then the landlord was—” * As great a rascal as any of them,” finished Dick. ‘ Here he is, to answer for himself,” and, stepping up to one of the prisoners, he snatched off bis mask, and it was Baldy Benson! The masks of the others were torn off, and there stood Casper alee f the man Bakers, who had been at the kead of the escort that had been sent with the stage, and others who had been his men. To Mr. Pilbrooke it was a revela- tion such as he had never dreamed of, before Dick had warned bim. icboo