Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 724 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

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He fol- lowed, and found ber crying and laughing at the same time, ‘Oh, Charlie!” she exclaimed; ‘‘ how funny it would have been if you had stuttered when you said that!” ‘* What mum-mum-mum-makes you think sus- sus-so?” W ben he continned to urge for her reply, she said, in a frank manner that was charming: “T like you, Charlie, oh, [ can’t tell how much! It is more than I ever liked any one before, ex- cept my mother—and it is different from that. I am sure it must be love. You may ask papa about it.” And so Charlie was made happy. The amateur detective was on hand at the trial of the two would-be kidnappers, which be- gan at two o’clock in the afternoon, Judge Whit- tles sitting on the case, Charlie conducted the prosecution, while an impecunious lawyer de- fended the prisoners. early the entire in- habitants of the town were present. The trial was conducted in the original style eculiar to such affairs in some of the new min- ing-camps of the wild regions of Colorado, and would have proved highly amusing to a spec- tator who was used to seeing such things carried out in the proper manner, Some difficulty was found in selecting a jury, for as fast as any one was mentioned the lawyer for the defense objected to them on the ground that they were prejudiced. At length the judge became exhausted, and roared: . ‘Thar, thet will do! If you keep on object- in’ thar won’t be any jury, fer I will ’low ther hull town’s prejudiced. If you open your mouth to objec’ ag’in, Pll add a load of lead to ther cargo of law you think you hev in your fool bead!” And, with a heavy thump, he laid a revolver on the box in front of bim, No further objections were raised, and things went on swimmingly. One of the witnesyes for the prosecution proved to be in a pitiable state of intoxication, a fact that was not discovered till he was called on tu tell his story. It was the miner Red Hot. ‘* Whash ’d I shee?” be repeated, when he was questioned. ‘* I shaw—I shaw feller wearin’ shunflower in hish busshonhole. He grashped ther gal an’ tries ter kerry her off, but he wash drunk—yesh, sbir, he wash drunk, I grabbed him by ther collarsh an’ flopped him onter hish back, an’—” **Great Jehocus!” roared Old Sunflower, ris- ing. ‘I objec’ ter this yere piece o’ evvydence! Blamed ef thet red-headed individual hain’t bin drinkin’! It’s too bad, but hisevvydence w’u’do’t ’a’ bin much gvuod, anyway, fer he wuz asleep most o’ ther time last night.” Red Hot was led from the room to cool off, and the trial proceeded, It occupied nearly three hours, and then, without leaving the room, the jury rendered a verdict of * ty,in the first degree.” Then the judge arose and’ solemnly pronounced sentence of death on the unfortunate ruffians! He concluded by stating the hanging would occur two hours after sun- set. No sign of the Regulators had been seen in ‘White Water during the day, but, suddenly, ‘two or three of them appeared and took charge of the prisoners, Then active preparations were made for the hanging. The tree upon which the two victims of Regu- lator justice had met their fate was selected as a _gallows and a buge heap of wood and brush was pee near it, showing the citizens intended to ave the light of a bonfire, But beneath all the ‘preparations there was a purpose not apparent to the casual observer. It was expected Black Bark would attempt to rescue the doomed ruf- fians, and arrangements were quietly made for his reception. The hour for the execution arrived, and with it Frank Stillman and his companions returned to White Water, unsuccessful and disheartened. The bonfire was started; the prisoners were led out. As they stood beneath the tree with tke ropes around their necks, Old Sunflower dashed up, velling: . ‘ ** Hyer comes Black Burk an his bellyons ker- whoopin’! Whoopee! Git reddy ter guv ’em .chain-shot an’ canister!” ‘saw there was @ light in the window; but in- ' | - _ : ; ,; F a “=. ; > on ° ul ha ote! my | ssh . . ip. wae . , rf. r. ; z } r pr, , : f i - . , a” a ‘ hs st 8 * = of i 4 - ar | >> i” es 7 ; - / a ot’ @ > . _ ay ‘, S _- 4 sf , b' , - hee CHAPTER XVII, THE WIPE-OUT. THE vagabond spoke the trutbh—Black Burk and his men were coming. But they were ex- ted, and in a moment the men of White ater were running for the shelter of the dark- ness, weapons in hand, With yells like a pack of wild animals, the robbers charged through the town and into the light of the big fire. They were firing rigbt and left, and evidently thought they had fright- ened the citizens nearly out of their wits by tbe wey they ran. ut they were destined to meet with a great surprise, As they dashed through the circle of firelight, some of the citizens opened fire on them and two saddles were emptied. Then Stub Smith and Humpy Dick were caught up by their com- rades, and the entire band plunged into the darkness again, The clatter of hoofs and a rousing cheer came from down the street, “The Regulators—they are coming!” cried one of the road-agents, ‘Let them come,” laughed Black Burk. ‘When they get here, we will be gone, To the bridge.” Then came the shock that filled them with terror and dismay. The bridge was gone ! ** Trapped!” shouted half a score of voices. From back in tbe town came a wild yell that chilled the blood of the insnared bandits, The bridge had been cut away for that very purpose! There was now but one way of es- caping from the pocket, and that passage was guarded by the hated Regulators, ‘‘A million curses!” snarled Black Burk, ‘We must cut our way out of here! Fight like devils, for you know your fate if you fall prisoners in their hands! Come on!” W beeling his horse, he led them back at a mad charge. Where the light of the bonfire exposed them a volley was poured into them that sent down men and horses, But they kept on till met by the Regulators, Then ensued a brief but savage battle. The tricked outlaws were forced to wheel and fly once more. But, whence could they fly? ‘** W hoop-ee /” squealed the sunflower tramp. “They’re routed, ther hull derned gang! Come on, pards, an’ see ’em jump ther river.” In truth some of the unfortuuate wretches bad conceived the desperate resolve of making an attempt to cross the stream in some manner. That seemed their only hope, for they surely oon not break through the ranks of the Regu- ators, Captain Mute led a portion of his men in close pursuit of the doomed outlaws, The urfortu- nate wretches took their chances by springing into the strexm; but men and horses were swept away into the blackness of the night—down, down upon the jagged rocks of death! Even the triumphant shout of the sunflower tramp was sileuced as the Jast doomed wretch was carried into the darkness by the seething water, bis yell of defiance and hatred sounding like the wailing cry of a lost soul. **By jehocus!” muttered Old Sunflower. ‘“* Thet’s ther last o’ then! They’re gone, man an’ critter. Never a blamed one will come out o’ ther water alive.” } _“ You are right,” grimly agreed Judge Orson Whittles, ‘*Ther wipe-out is eomplete, an’ se! bull thing wuz ther plannin’ of Captain ute,’ On his black horse close at hand sat the Regu- lator chief, staring straight into the darkness where the last of the outlaws had vanished. Silent and grim he remained. If he heard the words of those around him, he made no sign. For five minutes he remained thus, then by a touch of the rein, he whirled his black horse and galloped away. Among the others, Frank Stillman had fought savagely. The excitement and relentlessness of the struggle seemed to relieve his feelings in a measure, But, when it sas all over, he stag- gered away, sick at heart. “Oh Go. !” he groaned. “ To have mt with such maddening ill-luck! It will kill Ione! Poor, poor girl! She must be nearly dead now! The terror of being alone while such a terrible tight was taking place may have quite overcome her. And when I return without our baby— our little Frank—that will quite crush the life out of her Pi | | When he came in sight of his cottage home he stead of cheering him, it almost seemed as if the bright rays struck like a knife to bis hart. “She is watching for me,” he groaned— “watching and hoping! And when I return with my arms empty, all her hope will be crushed to earth, Heaven above! how can I face my poor wife!” His courage quite deserted him for a time and he stood outside the cabin, dreading to enter. At length he rapped on the door, Ione’s voice demanded who was there. ‘It is Frank,” be replied, but bis voice was so hoarse and unnatural that he was startled. The door was quickly opened and he stepped in, The eyes of husband and wife met, ** Frank!” she gasped. He held out hisempty arms, Words could not have ae so much, She swayed and put out her hands blindly, He caught her and car- ried her to the easy-chair, “Tell me all about your search,” she said, faintly, after a time. There was not much to tell, but he was a long time telling a little. Suddenly there was the sound of a horse’s hoofs at the door, then another sound that brought husband and wife to their feet as if elec- trified, An infant’s wail! The door swung open and Captain Mute step- pes es In his arms he carried the kidnapped child! With a shriek of joy, the mother flew to the mysterious chief of the Regulators and caught her baby in her arms, covering its face with kisses, With two strides, Stillman was at the side of the masked man and had caught him by the arm. ‘* Where did you find it?” he cried,. “Tn the hands of Black Burk!” was the reply. ** He was the wretch who stolc your child,” Frank recoiled in amazement. ** You—you must be mistaken!” he gasped. ‘Tt was Violet Vane. lt was thus he sought te be revenged upon me,” ‘“*Tt is you who are mistaken,” replied the Regulator, firmly. “I know Violet Vane bad no hand in this work,” ‘But he left a note saying he had taken our child, which was his vengeance,” ‘“The note lied. It was all the work of Black Burk.” ‘‘How do you know this? You seem cer- tain,” ss I am,” ‘*Whom have we to thank for the restora- a our little one? Will you,not reveal your ace The Regulator lifted his hand and removed the sable mask. With a cry of amazemert, Frank Stillman reeled backward, ‘“Ycu!” ke gasped, hoarsely—“' you /” ‘“« Philip!” shrieked Ione. ‘‘Captain Mute,” the Regulator, was Violet Vane himself! ‘‘Yes, I,” said Vane, calmly. ‘I bave de- stroyed your most bitter enemy and restored vour child to yourarms, Thisis my vengeance! Farewell!” With a wave of bis hand, he sprung out through the open doorway and disappeared in the darkness. A moment later the hoofbeats of a horse sounded through the night, becoming fainter aud fainter till they died out in the dis- tance. As Judge Whittles bad said, the wipe-ovt was complete. The relentless water and jagged rocks finished the work of extermination, and never again was White Water ary troubled by Black Burk and his desperado band. And thus Horace Danton’s bitter enemy met a tragic death. Harry and Dick soon came to know and love their father for the noble and kind-hearted parent he truly was, When little Dick ceased to take Rovgal’s “ medicine” his cough began to become less troublesome, and in time he grew to be a strong and healthy fad, Harry finally married ‘‘ the real Charlie Ross,” and he made ber a devoted husband. But be did not turn out to be @ great detective; he went - into a very different business. He said he was afraid he would spoil the record he had made on his first case, With the destruction of the road-agents there ceased to be necessity for the Regulators in White Water, and the organization was known To many the identity of Captain no more, Mute remained a mystery. | Violet Vane left White Water cn the night of the wipe-out, never to return. soon followed his example. THE END. Old Sunflower EE ge NE ye ee