Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 724 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

wes be 7s" Pn G25 ny ve wel : ; yd - aS pe “) ag iv < asked the stammerer. ; ; Violet Vane’s Vengreance, He Tue stage-driver looked around in a startled manner, more than half-expecting Black Burk and his men to appear. ‘“* Hold up a minute an’ I'll be with ye.” The cry came from above, and the driver saw & map swinging himself down the almost un- scalable side of the canyon, There was but one, and the Jehu did not fancy he could be thinking of robbing the coach, so he drew rein, Several heads were thrust from the stage win- dows, and excited voices asked what the matter was. There was more than one exclamation of relief when they were assured the coach had not been beld up by robbers. In a few minutes the man reached the level of the stage-trail and came toward the coach, He was slightly below medium height, and his face was almost entirely concealed by bushy whisk- ers. ‘* Wal, w’at d’yer want?” growled the driver, as the stranger advanced. | ‘“‘T want you to take a message to White Water for me,” was the reply. ‘* Will you do it?” ‘* For a consideration.” ‘‘That isall I ask. I will pay you well for your trouble. Here it is, and here is your a ,” . He swung himself up and passed a strange- looking envelope to the driver, thrusting a coin into his band at the same time.\ The envelope was made of crimson paper with the shadowy outlines of a skull and cross-bones drawn in black upon it. It was addressed to Frank Still- man. “Take care that Stillman receives that,” en- joined the bewhiskered man, “It is of the greatest importance,” ** All right.” , The stranger dropped to the ground and the coach rolled on agein. The driver performed his commission faith- fully, for he placed the strange missive in the mayor’s hands himself. Stillman looked at it curiously, then tore it open, He drew fortha crimson sheet of paper. His face blanched as he glanced at it, and he staggered back a step, uttering a hollow groan. Upon the paper these words were written: “Tam stili living. Vioter VANE.”’ CHAPTER XIII. HARRY TELLS SOME SECRETS, Snap SHoT JAcK disappeared from White Water, for Horace Danton did not care to as- sume that disguise after the first day of his ap- pearance in the pocket camp. Still he did not assume his true name. At the hotel he regis- tered as Daniel Harmon, being assigned to the room with Charlie Ross, at the request of the Sstammerer. J a Danton was inclined to keep well within the room by day, as if he feared an unpleasant meeting with some one, which was true. He was in White Water for a purpose, and it would —_ his plans, in all probability, if he were too But at sae Horace Danton did not remain in the hotel. With Stuttering Charlie for a com- panion, he watched the cabin of the strange children, Both men were armed to the teeth and seemed ready for desperate work; but tbeir night watches were fruitless at first. No one approached the little cabin which the waifs called their home. Danton became nefvous and excited, ‘““My God!” he cried. ‘*This suspense is driving me mad! Why doesn’t that miserable devil come? If only the children knew. the truth, but it would not do to tellthem. That would ruin all. He must come soon!” After the second night of fruitless watching, Charlie resolved to see Harry again. For that purpose, he wandered out to their accustomed place of meeting. But the cabin seemed strangely deserted, Harry did not appear as usual, and Charlie was beginniag to wonder if the children were really there when he heard a light step bebind him. He sprung up and turned quickly to find him- self face to face with Harry, As he arose before ber, the girl uttered an ¢x-~ clamation of surp ise not unmingled with fear, and started back. ““Why, bullo, Harry!’ exclaimed Charlie. “T was watching fuf-fuf-for you,” She did not reply at once, and he saw there was a strange look on her pretty face—in her eyes was e light of fear. ‘““Why what’s the mum-mum-mum-matter?” * You actually appear afraid of m-m-me.” “Oh, I did not know you were there!” replied sae Pir. a, a | 7» : : : something. ‘*‘ What Harry, by way of 9 do not want to see o made you come here? t ’ “Well, Ill be banged!” Evidently Charlie was too astonished to stammer, Harry turned very red and hung her head con- fusedly, ‘* Don’t want tosee mum-mum-me?” he echoed. ‘** What is the meaning of that?” ‘Oh, I cannot explain! I must go to the cabin.” But he stepped into her path. ‘* Hold on, Harry. I must,understand t-t-this.” She looked at him appealingly, then glanced round in a nervous manner as if to ascertain if they were observed, ‘* Please do not stop me, Mr. Ross!” she en- treated, ‘* Mister Ross!” he cried, in amazement, ‘*Tf he should see me talking with you—” ‘* Who is * be?” ‘Oh, I cannot tell—I dare not!” ‘* Harry, you ought toknow Iam yourt-t-true friend,” said Charlie, reproachfully. She looked him square in the face, crying: ‘*T only wish I did know for sure!” ‘*T swear it!” be said, solemnly, meeting her gaze. ‘‘ Il would sacrifice my life to save you from harm!” | In her excitement she did not notice there was no sign of an impediment in bis speech, ‘* | believe you!” she said, quickiy. ‘* But, ob, Charlie! we must not be seen here! I cannot stop toexplain. I must go to the cabin!” But he was not willing to have her depart without an explanation. ‘Cannot you m-m-m-meet me Ee: EE where we will not be seen?” he asked, ‘*Do you see those trees down there where the river plunges into the canyon?” se Yes,” 4 Well, come there in an hour and I will mee ou.’ ¢ Then she darted past. him and ran away to- ward the cottage, harlie watched her till she disappeared, then he muttered: “The rascal has tumbled.” An hour later the young man and the girl met beneath the shadow of the trees where they were not liable to be observed. ‘‘N-n-n-now, Harry,” said the stammerer, ‘* you must explain what the meaning of this is, I d-d-don’t understand it at all.” ‘‘ Ob, Charlie! you must not ask me that!” ‘““Why not? Am | n-n-not your friend?” ‘* { suppose so,” ‘* Well, why won’t you trust me in this?” ‘*T promised not to tell.” ** Oh-ho!” He did not coax her: but suddenly she cried: ‘* 1 must. tell—I will tell! It has been all I could do to keep ita secret. I huve wanted to tell you lots of times, but did not dare. Now he says I must not speak to you. I could not make him believe you were my friend, but I am sure you are.” ** You are right,” ‘* It’s my Uncle Mat,” continued Harry, lower- ing her voice and drawing close to her compan- ion. ‘* He brought us here, and be bas given us money and things since then. He is not our real uncle, but mayma wanted us to call him that, He hastaken care of us since mamma died. He sometimes comes to see us nights, but yesterday he cams in the day, and he told me you were one of our enemies.” “Well, he lied like bub-bub-bub-blazes!” spluttered Charlie, ‘‘He said you werea friend. of my father, who is bad, wicked man, He said you had been senthere to find us and carry us back to our father.” . ‘‘ What makes youthink your fuf-fuf-fatber is a bad man?” ‘* Oa, hé really and truly is! Mamma had to run away from him and keep in hiding till she was taken sick and died. Usocle Mat wus so good to her, and be promised ber be would take care of Dick and I, He has kept his promise well, though he does seem a bit cross to Dick at times and brother is afraid of bim.” “What makes him visit you in the n-n-n-night? Why doesn’t he see you in the daytime?” ‘‘He did yesterday, but he was disguised, He says some of the men in this camp are his enemies, and he does not care to have trouble with them, ‘Oh, t-t-that’s it!” ‘‘Yes, He is a queer man, Sometimes he will bave lots and lots of money, then again be will not bave a cent. But be is a real good man the most of the time, He says my fatherisa wicked villain.” She glanced round quickly, and then replied: | -— NSS eee a LL sa sa eee eee Charlie coughed violently and rammed his cane into the ground in a savage manner, ‘* Why, look out! you will break it!” cried the girl, ‘** What makes you do that?” ‘*T was thinking I wished it was a sword and the ground was your une-— Cuc-cuc-cuc-con- found it all! what am I saying!” Harry started back and gazed at him in hor- ror. “T-t-that was a “ plained. ‘* You know dud-dud-darned tongue of mine! some bad breaks.” Harry could not repress a smile at this. ‘*That is so,” she acknowledged. ‘* Do you know where your uncle is n-n-now?” asked the stammerer. sé No.” ‘* Where does he stay days?” **T do not know that.” ** P)-d-d-don’t he tell you about himself?” ‘* Not very often.” ‘** He’s a queer k-k-kind of an uncle.” ‘* But you know he is not our truly uncle,” ‘* Well, he takes a pile of interest in you for a fellow who isn’t a b-b-bit of relation. Does he t-t-tel] you what your fuf-fuf-father will dowith you if be fuf-fuf-finds you?” ‘* No; but we know father isa bad man, and we do not want bim to find us,” ** Do you remember your fuf-fuf-father?”’ ** Ob, yes, very well!” ‘* Did he sus-sus-seem to be a bad man, as you remember him?” e * No,” she replied, slowly. ‘* I remember him as very kind and gentle, but be was bad to mamma,” ** How do you know that?” ‘* Ob, she told me he was, and Uncle Mat has told me so many times. That was why she ran away from him,” “Um!” grunted Charlie, ‘* How is Dick?” *“Oh, I do not think he is any better. His cough is terrible, and the medicine does not seem to do it a bit of good,” ‘“‘That’s b-b-bad. You say your uncle gives you the medicine for him to t-t-t-lake?” sé Yes.” ‘** 1s he a dud-cud-doctor?” éé No,” ** Then bow in t-t-thunder does he know what kind of medicine to give fuf-fuf-for a cough?” That was a question Harry could not answer. They talked for a considervble time longer, then the girl declared sbe must return to the cabin. Charlie took her hand before they parted, and gave it a pressure that brought a flush of warin blood to her face. As he watched her hurry away, he said, without the least fal- tering in his speech: ‘* Tbe cursed black-hearted villain is about at the end of his rope! I hope he will get his just of the tongue,” he ex- can’t control this dud- It will make deserts,” CHAPTER XIV, THE UNMASKING OF A DESPERATE VILLAIN, WITHIN the room of the botel, Charlie told Danton of all that had passed between himself and ‘the girl, The sad-faced man listened eager- ly, now and then giving vent to a muttered ex- clamation as the narrator related Low the girl - had expressed the firm belief that her father was a very wicked man, Strangely enough, Charlie did not stutter at all in telling the story, which revealed the fact that the impediment in his speech was assumed for a pu ’ ‘“‘ Charlie,” cridd Danton, when the story was finished, ‘‘ you have done better than the best professional detectives. When you first wanted to take hold of the case I bad no faith in you. Indeed, I bad but little faith in any one—I had nearly jost hope. Nothing but failure had met me for years, avd I had employed some of the best ferrets in the country—” ‘* Several of whom were uvprincipled rascals,” ‘‘That is true, without doubt. I had spent the larger portion of a comfortable fortune in trying to learn the fate of my wite and children, and I was ready to take my own life in despair. By chance you learned of my case and offered your services. You were an amateur—a green- born. It is little wonder 1 bad not confidence in you when so many professionals bad failed,” ‘It is possible some of them failed in their minds,” ** What do you mean?” a -""T believe*some of them truly struck the trail of your missing wife and children,” ‘*Some of them—two at Jeast—claimed they were hot on the scent.” ‘‘And then—?’ , ‘And then they suddenly found they were mistuxen,” s 1s. pat ss PS oy = a | agt a ae |: | L, 5 - ry ; SVNOOKS:«( >