Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 773 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

wholly in Red Fee’s power. There was no shrinking on Red Fee’s part; no abating of bis fierceness, At the point of the revolver, he forced Tom into the mine, and toward the one narrow gallery that had been opened. The light of the new day came in but dimly. ““There’s where I’m a-goin’ to bole ye up!” pointing to the gallery, which seemed to inter- sect the heart of the mountain. ‘‘ You can take yer choice! Walk in there peaceable and sensible-like; er [)l put a ball into ye, an’ then drag you in!” Tom saw that there was no help for it, and so summoned all his resolution to sustain his sbrinking spirits; and walked into the tunnel- like place with as firm a step as he could as- sume, A few feet beyond the entrance he had to stoop, the opening narrowing down to a throat-like aperture, beyond which it again ex- panded, Against this small opening Red Fee tossed bowlders, backing these up by larger and still larger ones; and bracing all from the outside by some heavy timbers which had been brought there to serve as props, 1t_was as secure a prison as could be desired. ** Perhaps the ghost will let ye out!” Red Fee bawled, when be had completed his task to his satisfaction. ‘* No one else will come near you, no matter how you shout!” CHAPTER XIV. RED FEE DEFIANT. QUINTIUS QUARTZ viewed with satisfaction the rapid progress that was being made in re- building Rolling Stone, There were many drops of bitterness, however, in this cup of delight. The money necessary to carry on the work bad been obtained at ruinously usurious interest. Much of it had cost him five per cent, a month, or) ¢ the rate of sixty per cent. per annum, and p*yment would have to be made in sixty and ynety days. It was a fearful burden to assume, and he had done it only because be could do no- thing else. He was inthe same condition that Red Fee felt himself to bein, He must either regain the Grizzly Bear Mine, or go to the wall. His debts were already more than enouzh toswallow bis small remaining stock in the mine of Rolling Stone. He could not doubt that he was suc- ceeding in ruining Lucky Ledge; but he often questioned if he was not, like Samson, crushing himself with his enemies. He had believed that before this, Fee would be forced to a sale of the Grizzly Bear at solowa rate that he could afford to buy it in. Fee had offered it for sale to some of Quartz’s agents—of course not knowing they were such—but his figures were still too high to suit the assayer, And the days and weeks were crawling by, pooeesoety bringing nearer the periods of pay- ment, Feeling thus, he called on Fee; this visit oc- curring, as it chanced, on the nigbt following the morning in which Fee had jailed Tom in the mine, He found Fee very much disturbed, though of course could not guess why, The sotpend faode at him angrily, as he entered the room and coolly belped hiinself to a seat. ** I-came to see you on a little business,” said the assayer, smoothly, “Out with it, then!” Red Fee exclaimed, feel- ing that, as there was no love to lose between them, there was no use in mincing words, Quartz quietly drew from his pocket the claim notice he had exhibited on a previous occasion. ‘* Tbere’s no one to hear us bere, is there?” ** Not unless you’ve brought some spy along!” The assayer looked at bim sharply and in- quiringly. ‘*T don’t know that I need to care who hears this, You're the one that ought to care!” “Oh, am [? Mebbe you'll be so good, then, as to tell me what it is!” **No doubt you’ve guessed before this that when I came bere representing Philip Craigen, I came representing myself?” Red Fee’s face was as immovable as a rock, He did not intend to be caught. ‘*Z am Philip Craigen!” “Oh, you air? I’ve been thinkin’ all the time that there wasn’t no sich a man.” “Yes; ’'m Philip Craigen; and I’ve come to demand, for the last time, that you turn over to me the Grizzly Bear Mine, or its equivalent. It’s mine, aS you well know; and I’ve about got sony the evidence to convince the world of the _Red Fee stared at him with hostile and super- cilious unbelief, ‘“* And I’ve also collected evidence to show that you set fire to Rolling Stone!” In spite of bis iron nerve, Red Fee could not repress a start, as he listened to this charge. Quartz, who was watching him closely, noted this. ‘*T recognized you at the time; but my proof was not sufficient then to make a case, and | held my peace. Now, I am ready to move on your works, In the language of a certain general, I shall accept nothing but ‘unconditional surren- der!’ Red Fee’s hand had dropped to the revolver- butt that was elevating bis coat-tails, and he now glared at his adversary in a most vicious and vindictive way, ‘* Now, I’ve a proposition to make,” paying no heed to Red Fee’s warlike attitude. ‘* The Griz- zly Bear is mine, in all justice and fairness, You know that as well as 1 do; and you may as well believe me when! say that I intend io get it back! There is one thing I will do: I will repay you whatever you are out for the opening of the mine; for all machinery and work and necessary expenses. You know that the mine is worth very little at the present time!” ** And who made it wu’thless?” Red Fee hotly demanded. ‘* Whois it that’s been hirin’ some one to play ghost there, an’ scare the lives out o’ the miners?” ‘** Not I, I assure you!” “Oh, you didn't! You're a very innocent sort o’ critter, Mr. Quartz! Now, I happen to know that you’re the very gentleman that’s been a- doin’ that! l’verun that ghost business down, an’ [ know what I’m a-talkin’ about!” The assayer could not know what discoveries =n Fee had made, and scarcely knew what to reply. ‘* Whatever you have found out, I know it does not implicate me.” “Not Well,” angrily and somewhat incau- tiously, ‘‘ you can bet yer boots that yer ghost won’t play any of his tricks again! I’ve pulled his teeth—clipped his claws!” _ Tbe assayer did not connect these statements in aDyY manner witb his brother. ‘I don’t care anything about the ghost! I do want to know, though, if you intend to surrender this mine?” ‘Not to you!” was Red Fee’s wrathy reply. ‘* You can’t prove what you say, an’ you’re only tryin’ to frighten me out of my property. But you'll not doit! You may as well understand that, fu’st as last!” ‘*But this proof I have against you? This proof that you fired the town?” *“Which you hain’t got!” bristling aggressive- ly. ‘* Crack yer whip, Quintius Quartz! I never stole the Grizzly Bear Mine: an’ I never set fire to your windy old town! Your proof! Bab!” “ Then you refuse to do anything?” ‘*It ain’t the mine you want to buy, Quintius Quartz! You want me to pay you for your silence! I sha’n’t do it! You ought to bave sense enough to know, that, after the fight we’ve been makin’ against each cther, nothin’ you can say about me would be believed, It would be put down to spite and enmity, I think you know that, as well as I do,” Quartz did know it, though he would not say 80. He saw that nothing was to be gained by further talk; and after reiterating his charges and threats, took his departure. CHAPTER XV, A WOMAN'S COURAGE, AS Quintius Quartz left the house, he was confronted in the darkness by Louise Norton. She did notapproach him while he was near the ses but some distance away, and near the street, Her first words showed him that she had been crying, ‘Oh, Mr, Quartz! Your brother!” na gave aygasp of surprise and wonder- ment. RY My brother?” he queried. “Yes, your brother—Mr, Tom Craigen, the— the typewriter girl!” The assayer could scarcely find bis tongue to reply. A storm of contending thoughts and theories possessed him, How had the girl gained this knowledge? _ “I don’t know that I understand you!” striv- ing for time and further information, She proceed hastily to explain. It was not an easy task, for she did not desire to speak of Tom’s confession of love, ‘Why, Mr. Redmond found out this morning that your brother was not what be seemed to be! That, in fact, he was not a gir) at all, but a The Rustler of Rolling Stone. LL 1I And then—thev he dragged him away! And ob, I’m afraid, Mr. Quartz, that something dreadful bas happened!” Even in the faint hgbht, Quartz could see her clasp her bands appealingly. ‘*Come further away,” he requested, in an agitated whisper. ‘‘ We are liable to be over- beard here,” He drew her deeper into the sbadows, ‘*How did Mr. Redmond discover this?” It was a pointed question and not easily evaded, ‘* He heard Mr. Craigen talking to me—and something that was said revealed it to him.” ‘** Did you know of the deception before?” ‘*T did not. I never dreamed of such a thing!” ‘And you do not know where Tom was taken?” in deepest anxiety. There was again a negitive reply. Quartz was lost for a moment in thought, He knew how desperate was Red Fee; and the ex- perience already had with the man was enough to show that he would hesitate at no crime, **'You fear the worst?” gently questioning her, for he could only be grateful to this girh who was accepting such risks to aid him, ‘‘T dcn’t know what to fear! Idon’t know what to do!” Again he wasfsilent. “Do you think you would have courage enough to do a bit of spying and trailing, should it become necessary? If your fathb—if Mr. Red- mond bas done anything desperate in the mat- ter, it may be bard to find it out. It will be hard, anyway. Butif he hasn’t killed the boy, the fact may be revealed by watching bim, and following him, Would you be willing to under- take the task, Miss Norton? I don’t know who else to ask, or of apy one who would have an opportunity to doit so well as yourself, Red- mond may already be leaving the house, ‘*T will hurry to Rolling Stone, advise with friends, gather a body of men, and return as quickly as possible, *T will do what I can,” she timidly prom- ised. . *‘ 1 fear it will not be much. You don’t know what a temper Mr, Redmond bas, when he is aroused.” She was much agitated, and her voice shook, The assayer felt that no time was to be lost: and with a few words of counsel and encourage- ment, be hastened away, It was some time before she could muster sufficient spirit to turn again toward the house. As sbe did so, she saw Red Fee glide down the garden walk in the direction of the mine; and, witb a prayer for strength, she followed close after bim, flitting along like a shadow. She did not at once pass through the epening into the mine, as she saw Fee do, but hung about the place, filled with strange fears. She could scarcely bring herself to venture in. But this she did, after a time. The floor was uneven, and she stumtJed along blindly, in constant terror lest she should be discovered, She could not see Red Fee; but she fancied she heard him talking or mumbling to himself, and crept in the direction of the sounds, She did not dare approach too near, and crouched in a depression, trying to ascertain what was occurring. Red Fee soon retreated, passing very close to her, causing her to shiver with fear. He con- tinued on toward the entrance, bowever. She now knew not what to do. An impres- sion that Tom Craigen was blocked in the mine somewhere bad grown on her, and she had even fancied that what she bad heard might be a con- versation between him and Red Fee, But this might only be fancy. She hesitated, asking herself whether she should agein follow Red Fee, or make a search of the place. Before she could decide, she was thrown into a panic by the sudden blazing forth of a light, It came from a lantern, the flame of which was turned low. By the gleam of the lantern she caught her first glimpse of the mysterious babi- tant of the mine. Louise Norton was not at all superstitious, her brain being far too clear and well-b:lanced to permit a belief in ghostly appearances. Never- theless, she could not repress an involuntary start of fright and awe, She had listened to descriptions of this particular gbost, and these descriptions tallied exactly with what she now saw. Thee could be no mistaking that horri- bly bloody visage, She crouched even Jower than before, clasping” her hands and almost bolding her breath; and remaimed in that position until the uncanny tbing had passed from sight. To judge from its actions and the direction taken, it was pursuing Red Fee, man, and your brother. Cc ofele) com =