Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 773 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 The Rustler of Rolling stone, She arose to her feet, and was about to hurry from the place, when a voice reached and de- tained her, It was the voice of Tom Craigen. CHAPTER XVI. A PROMISE OF HELP, THE distress of Jom Craigen when left in the darkness of bis prison by Red Fee was beyond description, He felt sure there was not an avenue of escape, Still, hope did not desert him. He was too young, and his nature too buoyant for that. A hundred things might happen to bring about bis release, He resolved not to admit that he could not release himself; but set to work at once to sp st the strength of the barricade raised by Red ‘ee, He might have lifted and moved some of the stones, if he could have got at them in a way to exercise his strength on them. This he could not do because of the nerrowness of the tunnel at the point where the barricade commenced, Nevertheless, the bowlders were of such size that they did not join closely together, and at one point the interstices were so connected that he could look through them into the cave, which was a mass of gloom, except immediately about the entrance. He pushed and strained at the nearest bowlder, lacerating his hands badly in bis endeavors: but he accomplished nothing. It seemed useless to look for a way out at the other enc of the tunnel, yet he kept along the rough floor until that end was reached, feeling everywhere for an opening. Of course, none Me found, and he stole back, heart-sore and aint, As the sun mounted higher and higher, pour- ing some of its light through the entrance, the various objects in the cave became visible; and for hours Tom crouched before the narrow slit, peering out in the hope that some one might venture within, to whom he could call, But the day wore away, and the mine remained un- visited, It was a long and weary day, filled with anxi- ety and pain, combined with the pangs’? bun- ger and thirst. Some time after nightfall, Tom was startled, as he looked out, by seeing the ghost enter, It swung along, with the lantern in its hand, very much as an ordinary man might have done, The lantern was set down: and then with a miner’s pick, the strange figure began to tap on the wall, producing a succession of the clinking sounds whic had so often been heard, Tom was so sure it was a man, that he called out to it, appealing for help, Almost instantly the pick was dropped and the lantern extinguished; and the ghost ran away, like any badly-scared mortal. Tom watched anxiously for its return; but, when it came agaio, though he called to it in bis most pieading tones, it paid no heed, continu- ing to tap at the walls asif unconscious of his presence, Suddenly the lantern was turned low, and the strange thing vanished beyond one of the rock buttresses of the interior: aod almost immedi- ately thereafter, Red Fee made bis appearance, coming straight up to Tom’s prison, ‘*Won’t you please let me out of bere?’ Tom begged. ‘*I shall die if you keep me in here longer!” ‘Ha! hal ha!” laughing disagreeably. ‘‘I don’t know that that ougbt to worry me, It'll save me the trouble o’ killin’ ye!” The words were utterly heartless, Tom saw that it was useless to beg for leni- ency, and remained silent, ‘*] might listen to you, an’ have some little pity on ye, if you’d ever had any on me, I can tell ye one thing, though, that likely’ll be pleas- in’: you're a-goin’ to have company purty sdon, in the person of Mr, Quintius Quartz, your brother, Itil be pleasanter like. Youtwocan talk together, an’ fizger out how you’ve downed Felix Redmond. lve no doubt there’ll be a deal “of comfort in it!” The tones were irritating and mocking. Read Fee could not refrain from some further thrusts at the hapless young man, before re- treating. He had scarcely vanished through the en- trance, when the ghost reappeared, moving along with the dimly-burning lantern, as if trail- ing bim, Tom Craigen was about to turn back to his “lta sick with disappointed hope, when bis een eyes caught the outline of a shadowy female figure. He knew this could not be Red #ee or the ghost, and impulsively called to it. When she heard that call, Louise Norton uttered a little cry of fright. Sbe did not fly from the place, however; but turned about and looked in the direction from whence the voice came, ‘it’s me! Tom Craigen! I don’t know who you are; but if you area woman, I know you will try to help me, [am shut up here in this tunnel!” Louise burried toward him, trembling violent- ly, She could see nothing, and therefore bad only the voice to guide her, She was afraid, too, that Red Fee might return, attracted by Tom’s words. ‘* Who are you?” Tom hoarsely whispered; and when Louise made herself known to him his joy pagsed all bounds, He tremulously explained bow he had been shut in there by Red Fee, ‘* You will find the entrance blocked with stones, and these propped and braced by timbers,” Louise hurriedly felt over the barricade, and then strove with all her might to lift the braces, ‘*] can’t do it!” she panted, ‘‘ They are 80 heavy, and are eqneezed in here so tight that I can’t budge them!” Again Tom’s hopes fell. ‘** Can’t you remove them in any way?” The girl tried once more; and was obliged to confess she could not, ** You will go, then, and bring some one who ean? Oh, Louise! Louise! To think that we should meet again in this way!” ‘*T came to look for you, and to help you!” she said, softly, understanding something of his thoughts. “Ill go, and at once! I hada talk with your brother, to-night, and he bas gone to Rolling Stone to get help, I will meet bim and guide bim and his men here,” Tom was about ts overwhelm her with thanks; but she had glided away, feeling that time was too precious to be wasted in unnecessary talk, CHAPTER XVII. FEE MAKES A CAPTURE. It was with a rapidly beating heart that Tom Craigen listened to Louise’s retreating footsteps. He had seen Reid Fee and the ghost vanish in the direction sbe was compelled to take, anda sudden fear for her personal safety came to bim, That bis fear had foundation was quickly shown. A scream aYrose from the entrance, followed by harsh words from Red Fe, Louise, in attempting to make her way out, had run a)Jmost into Fee’s arms; and before she was aware of his presence, one of his strong hands had closed on her shoulder ina vise-like grip, extorting the scream whicl) Tom heard, Red Fee was much surprised when he dis- covered who his captive was. He bad caught the gleam of the ghost’s lantern, and was lying in wait; but the ghost had turned in another direction; and just as Red Fee was about to make his way back into the cave, Louise had appeared in the entrance. The angry man placed one of bis big palms over her mouth .to still any further cries, and barshly dragged her outside, ‘* What air you doin’ hyer?” he fiercely de- manded, raising his hand as if to strike, ‘‘ Tell me that, or I'll murder ye!” Louise was stubbornly silent. Although des. perately frightened, she realized that confession might make her position worse, “You follered me byer!” Fee savagely growled, ‘*I know that well enough! An’ you come to git that two-faced critter out of his scrape? I guess Il] see sometuin’ about that myself, Now, you'll come along with me, er Dil know why?” He jerked her angrily forward, pushing her into the path that led toward the bouse, “It’s mighty strange, when even my own fam’ly turns ag’in’ me!” was his bitter comment, as he urged heron, ‘ As if it wasn’t enough to have these hounds a doggin’ me!” Louise made no reply to this outburst. She was greatly terrified by what bad occurred, well knowing the vindictiveness of Red Fee's nature, Her anxiety for Tom was also great; and she racked her wits in vain fora plan by which she might acquaint his brother with his pozition. ted Fee did not allow her to halt until the house had been gained. Then be pusbed her in front of him into the hall, and drew the door to after them and locked it. ‘When you git a chance to play a trick like that ag’in, my lady, you'll know it!” glowering at her, “I didn’t think you’d side with my enemies, er I'd have watched you; but I'll know what to expect in the future!” He motioned ber on, and pointed to the stair- way that led from the corridor, ee ere eee ie i i i Sree eee On eae ae ‘You'll go up to your room, an’ you'll stay — there until I choose to let you out! An’ that won’t be in a hurry!” Louise dared not refuse, Her face showed white and drawn under the swinging lamp that illuminated the corridor, and her eyes were tear-filled. She was trembling, too; so violently she could hardly stand. **Go on!” he growled, as she seemed to hesi- tate. ‘‘I don’t want to bave to make ye; an’ you'll regret it, if you drive me toit. I ain’t in any mood fer foolin’!” His Words were not necessary to reveal this. It was shown by his entire manner, Louise turned wearily toward the stairway, up which she advanced in frcntof him, When her room was gained, he pushed open the door and comm nided her to enter. She obeyed submissively; and when he had locked the door and pocketed the key, he left her, His thoughts were in such a whirl that he was forced to pace for a time up and down the cor- ridor, before he could determine on a definite line of action. For several days it had been plain to bim that he could no longer hold out against his enemies, His debts were overwhelming. He saw he could never pay them; and felt that, when the end came, foes more bitter than angry creditors would be arrayed against him, While affecting to scorn the charges which Quintius Quartz bad made, he was really much alarmed by them. He had been uneasy ever since he was caught near the fire at Rolling Stone; and only Quartz’s long silence on that subject had lulled him into even a fancied secu- rity. fo could not always keep Tom Craigen shut up in the mine. He could slay him, it is true; and was probably only kept from it by a cow- ardly conscience, which was beginning to trem- ble at every shadow. A rap at the office door caused him to start guiltily, So shaken was he by the events that were hermmming him in, that he half feared to ascertain who the caller might be; and, as he strode toward the office, be dropped his hand to his r volver to be ready for an emergency. It was only Curt Thomas who had rapped at that unseenly bour; and Red Fee let him in with a growling protest, His face brightened, however, and his thoughts took a change, suggested by Thomas’s pres- ence, “I'm gittin’ tired of wnis busivess!” he de- clared, belping himself to a chair, after he bad turned up the light. Thomas stared at bim. not comprehending his drift, ‘‘T mean this whole o1amed ousiness! The fight on Rolling Stone, the mining, and all of it! I believe (ll put out, an’ jist let things slide,” ‘You can’t do it, can ye?” ‘*Aardly; but I can do that better than I can stay! I'm ruined,any way you putit. If I had back some of the money I putin hyer, I’d go before mornin’! ‘*1j] tell ye what Pll do, Thomas: I'll sell ye my half-interest in the Grizzly Bear for a thou- sand dollars, if you'll spot it down in cash,” Thomas looked at him as if he could scarcely credit the statement. ‘*Pif do it,” he said, with great promptnes3; and thereupon dived into an inner pocket and drew out aroll of bills, ‘Cash itis! Jist look ’em over to see that I don’t cheat ye in the count,” Thomas knew that only a few weeks before Red Fee had been holding the mine at fifty thou- sand; ani) he acted as if he feared that the thousand-dollar offer might be withdrawn as quickly as it had been made, It was Red Fee’s turn to exhibit amazement, He had fancied Thomas would have difficulty in raising the amount, yet he saw before him bills to the valuerf almost five times that. ‘*T thought ye told me t’other day wae was hard up?” an angry lightinbiseyes. ‘“ You was herd-up when I wanted to borrow a little; but you’ve got money to snap up @ bargain, when it comes along!” Thomas wiuked knowingly, not heeding the tone. “Tt’gall right, pard, This hyer ain’t counter- feit, You can bank on that! A feller’s got to look out fer Number 1!” He counted out tbe thousand dollars, and rolled the remaining bills into a wad, which he thrust back into his pocket. ‘‘There you air! Now, make out and sign the document that’s to give me possession!” Red Fee permitted the bills to lie on the table, while he took up a pen and began to write, ~ CoO _—— } oe > i * is We 4! _- » 5 . . “" > . we att ' 4! | iw 4 +e yy 1 3] > RA ott if ar 1 > 4 Ber 1) eee “weg