Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 727 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

a us good-by, I have be’n doin’ a powerful lot of thinkin’; an’ J’ve reached the conclusion that Mad Madge, the gal bandit, is the very duck that’s got him foul, though what the deuce she wants him for 18 more than my tbick noddle can comprehend. However, it’s sartain that she’s got him in a box, an’ I have purty good reasons for believin’ that their present quarters are at no great distance from this town. ‘The day before yesterday was Sunday, ye know, an’, bein’ off duty, I improved the oppor- tunity to do a little detective work on my own hook. For my base of operations, I selected the station at which Harry was removed from the engine by his captors. [It was not long before I fell in with a lanky backwoodsman, who had an interesting story to relate. Riding over the lonely country road that night, he bau suddenly encountered a party of mounted men who were hastening in an opposite direction, Suspicious of strangers, he had discreetly sought conceal- ment in the bushes; and, as they passed rapidly by, be saw that they were four in number, and that one of them bore across the pommel of his sadale an object that looked strangely like a human form. That object, you kin readily bet, was the body of Headlight Harry. ‘¢ Directly opposite bis hiding-place, the four unknown left the highway an’ plunged inter the soods with their burden. An’ subsequently, after bein’ directed to the place, which is several miles from the railroad, a brief search resulted in the discovery of a narrow bridle-path leading up the mountain-sile. Though I didn’t pursue my investigation any further at the time, bein’ alone an’ unarmed, an’ afraid of runnin’ inter some 0’ the cantankerous varmints, there ain’ta doubt in my mind that this mountain trail leads straight into the den of Mad Madge.” ‘¢1’m exactly of the same opinion, pard,” ex- claimed Roy Noble, who had listened eagerly to the fireman’s revelations, ‘‘But why bave you not imparted this important discovery to the authorities, thus giving them a tangible clew to work upon?” ‘** The authorities be dod-blasted!” was Rufe’s irrelevant Sho ph ‘*D’ye s’pose I'm goin’ to ive the result of my labors to the p’izen author- ties, free gratis for nothin’, an’ then see ’em make a botch o’ the hull bizness? No, sir-ee! I’m jest a-goin’ to circulate ’round amongst the boys, an’ pick up alittle party of my own, with which I pro to take the trail against Mad Madge— to invade hér stronghold, rescue her prisoners, and smash the hull gang into smithereens! What d’ye think o’ that for a scheme?” “Excellent! And you can count me in, through thick and thin,” cried the Express- messenger, enthusiastically, ‘‘ But we should lose no time in perfecting our plars. Delays are dangerous, you know,” “This very night will find us on the war- th,” the fireman confidently declared. ‘‘ Now ben, the first act is to bustle for volunteers, for without a strong force back of us we kin do nothin’. Any minor arrangements kin be made afterwards.” Five minutes later the two friends separated, each bent on securing volunteers for the pro- expedition. So well did they succeed that, shortly after nightfall, over a score of sturdy fellows reported at the appointed place, all well armed, and eager to eke a band at outlaw-bunting. The organizers of this aveng- ing band had picked their men with great care and deliberation, choosing only those personally known to be men of true courage, who could be thoroughly relied upon in an emergency, A small force, they reasoned, m up of men like these, was highly preferable to a larger party comprising some of untried quality, who doubtless would not only run themselves at the first smell of gunpowder, but also tend to demoralize the otbers. The contemplated movement against the out- laws was carefully kept a secret from the public at large, lest one of Mad Madge’s spies, of whom there were probably several in town, should carry the alarm to his chief in advance of the avengers. Shortly before midnight a through freight train pulled slowly out of Richville, on its wa west: and within the caboose might have been seen Rufe Ruffle and his resolute band of outlaw- hunters, They left the train at the proper point, and trudged silently over the. miles of dusty country road that intervened between them and the immediate scene of the proposed action. Reaching the place where the moun- tain trail diverged from the highway, ample opportunity was given to take a much-needed rest, it oes. impracticable to continue further until daylight came to guide their way. *Promptly at the break of day, however, the — Headlight Harry’s Siren. 13 onward movement of the outlaw-hunters was | cuse, as he scrambled to bis feet. Entering upon the mountain trail | pard, come down bere, quick! resumed, “But I say, I’ve made a big that was supposed to lead to Mad Madge’s secret | discovery!” stronghold, they moved slowly and cautiously in single file, each man with weapon ready for in- stant use, as he realized they were now treading on dangerous ground, Pushing laborious] through the maze of briers | and bushes that choked the narrow path and presented a serious berrier to rapid progress, they bad reached a point some distance from the highway when— Suddenly there came a deafening crash of fire- arms, and a biting storm of lead assailed the as- tonished trailers, while, simultaneously, a series of exultant yells told that the outlaws were wide awake and ready to receive them, CHAPTER XIII, VICTORY, STUNNED by that withering volley, the de- voted band of outlaw-hunters stood for a mo- mnent in surprise and indecision; before the greeting could be repeated, however, they had recovered sufficiently to seek shelter behind fniencly trees and bowl)ders, Several men were struck by the flying bullets, but fortunately their injuries were not severe, It was, however, a serious Dlow to their cherish- ed scheme, and their disgust and rage was inde- scribable, At this early hour the trailers bad hoped to find their enemies asleep, hut it seemed the latter were already up and dressed, ard ready to give all unwelcome Visitors a hot re- ception. nsconced bebind an enormous bowlder, the discomfited leaders of the expedition hurriedly discussed the situation. Despite this repulse at the very start, they were in no wise disheart- ened, he fact that the outlaws were aware of their presence would, of course, render the work of rescue much more difficult to accomplish; but, sugceed they would, by some meansor other, The trailers were fully determined upon that point, though it must be admitted that, just at that particular moment, the manner in which this herculean task was to be performed was by no means Clear to either, ‘Catch a wense! asleep, eh? I reckon not,” was Rufe Ruffle’s remark, as be ruefully rubbed the cheek where an outlaw’s bullet had ploweda bloody crease. ‘‘ Instead wo’ givin’ the varmints a s’prise -party, we’ve be’n most decidedly sur- prised ourselves. Jiminy! It’s a wonder we weren’t all wiped out.” ‘‘That friendly greeting was from the senti- nels, I imagine, Of course the shots will arouse the rest of the gang, and we’l] bave a regular hornets’ nest about our ears in a few minutes,” ‘*T reckon the varmints will act entirely on the defensive, at present. However, if they should attack our position, we are sufficiently well-posted to hold our own,” ‘‘ Which is not at all what we are here for. Our purpose is to force the enemy’s position; and hang me if I don’t think the job will bea mighty tough one,” ‘“Nevertbeless, the victory shall be ours,” said the fireman, in grim determination. ‘* There’s more’n one way to skin a cat: and so, I believe, there is another way of gettin’ at our friends up the hillside, there. It therefore be- hooves ns to reconnoiter a little, in view of find- ing a way by which we can attack the enemy from the rear. No time to waste here, doin’ nothin’, so le’s git a good-sized move on.” ‘*An excellent idea, and I'm with you at once,” assured the messenger, who was equally anxious to take decisive action, So, leaving their men strongly posted, with orders to await their return, the leaders moved cautiously in a direction that took them ob- liquely up tho hillside. Screened by the dense undergrowtb that intervened, their maneuvers escaped the notice of the outlaw sentries, who lurked still further up the rugged trail. They had proceeded but a short distance when Roy Noble, who was slightly in the rear, sud- denly beard a startled exclamation from his companion, and looked just in time to behold the latter throw up his arms and disappear from view. Rushing forward in alarm, it was to find the fireman sprawling at the bottom of a yawning pit, into which he had unwittingly tumbled, ‘* You’re a pretty spectacle, | declare. Where in the world are your eyes?” saluted the mes- senger, laughing quietly at the ludicrous situa- tion of his comrade, “The top of the confounded hole was com- pletely covered over with brush—that’s the reason I walked right into it,” was Rufe’s ex- ‘ / j | | | ‘* The dickens you have! What is it?” and Roy | Joined his comrade with alacrity, ‘‘ This bere place is the entrance to some sub- terranean passage, which leads—” ‘*To the outlaws’, retreat,” eagerly broke in the messenger, at once greatly interested in this new discovery. ‘It is quite possible that Mad Madge has taken up quarters in a cavern, and this is one of the avenues leading to it,” ‘In that case, seems ter me they’d have a guard at the entrance,” said Rufe, doubtfully, ** Seemingly so, indeed; yet it’s quite possible that the outlaws bave failed to fully explore the recesses of their cavern retreat, and so remain In ignorance of a secoud entrance, How does that theory strike you?” ‘** Hang me if | don’t b’lieve ye’r’ right, pard,” averred the fireman, eagerly, ‘I reckon it'll pay us to explore this place a bit, an’ see where the deuce it does lead to,” Accordingly, the trailers boldly entered the passage, cautiously groping their way, step by step, through the Stygian gloom that immedi- ately encompassed them, They proceeded in utter silence; ever on the alert for danger, and yet quite unprepared for the complete surprise that awaited them when, after covering a distance of perbups fifty feet, they rounded an abrupt turn in the passage and saw standing before them, Jamp in hand, the familiar figure of Headlight Harry! | It would be bard to say which of the three men was most astonished at this unexpected meeting. For some moments they stood like images of stone, unable to believe the evidence of their senses. When, however, they did re- cover themselves, mutual explanations were quickly in order. It was, indeed, a most re- markable and Providential meeting, and all hands were naturally elate to a high degree, ‘*Thanks to this opportune meeting, victory is thrown within our grasp; but prompt and de- cisive action is necessary in order to secure it,” Headlight Harry hurriedly exclaimed. ‘ Bring your men here without delay. It will be an easy matter to effect an entrance to the main cavern from this side, and so take the outlaws completely by surprise. I will leave this lam here to guide you, for I can find my way bac quite readily without it. Now, be off; but there’s nota minute to waste. Success depends entirely upon your eelerity of movement.” ‘* Ye kin expect'us back with tbe boys, jest as quick as the Jaw allows,” was Rufe Ruffle’s part- ing assurance, as the three friends again separa- As the engineer groped his way back to the cell, it was to feel hope and elation rise buoy- antly in the breast where but recently dwelt the deepest grief and despair. With the knowl- edge of so. many stanch friends hastening to therescue, he was confident that, if all went well, another hour at most would find him mas- ter of the situation. Waiting impatiently for the reappearance of his friends, it was with fast increasing anxiety lest an inopportune visit fram Mad Madge or some of her satellites should result in the dis- covery of the newly-made bole in the wall, in which case suspicion would surely be aroused, and the frustration of their cherished plans be the inevitable result. Happily, bis fears on that score were groundless; and after waiting minutes that seemed like hours to his restless mind, he caught the glimmer of an approaching ght, and knew his comrades were on hand at ast, One by one, the avengers glided noiselessly through the opening like so many grim phan- toms—bold, resolute fellows, every man of whom fairly burned with impatience to be turned loose upon the outlaws, ‘“Hyar we are, at last, pard!” was Rufe Ruffle’s: whispered salutdtion, ‘Left part of the boys outside to intercept the varmints when we drive ’em out 0’ the cave. Jerusalem! Won't we jest xive ’em their never-git-over?” All that now prevented an immediate entrance to the main cavern was the buge slab of stone which, secured in some way from the outside, effectually blocked the narrow mouth of the passage. This was, however, an obstacle easily to be removed, A quanitity of gun- powder was quickly placed under the edge of the stone, a train laid and the match applied, while all hands eagerly awaited the result ata safe distance, There was a terrific explosion that shook the very walls, while the slab of stone was riven into a thousand fragwents, this last barrier removed than the avengers No sooner was