Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 776 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 that venture, If you had, that rascal would now be in our power,” “‘Or perhaps you would be a dead man,” the man of ice responded, ‘*There is nouse talking about that now,” said the colonel. ‘“‘Th past is gone, Better luck next time,” They talked on for consid-rible time, and while thus engaged the mayor *..ucd them, He fell in with the plan at once, and it was evident that it was not new to him, Finally ‘t was arranged, and quietly the men were informed, Others were taken into the ‘secret, and ere long it was generally understood that a plan had been I-id for tho undoing of the ‘Outlaw, and it was asecret only ian name what that plan was, It was no secret at all. In the afternoon the mines started up, and ‘the camp resumed iss wonted aspect in all respects, It was during the afternoon that Icicle Isaac called alone upon the Gypsy queen. His visit was not without an object, and he was au our or more in She tent, The afterncon passod peacefully, and night came on in due time “* It was understood that on the following morn- ‘ing icicie Isaac was to set out, in disguise, upon his secret mission, Preparations for his trip had all been made, and it was generally known, and consequently no secret, how and at what hour be would set out, and when he could be looked for to return, That evening at the Palace Saloon wasa lively one, It seemed that, for some reason, all the inter- -ests of the camp had centered there, ‘““The games were more than usually lively, ‘there were three or four free fights in the saloon proper, and altogether it seemed as though the -camp had let itself loose for that one night. But, had it been thought of, perhaps there was something back of all this. Certain it was, that, as the evening advanced, men crept stealthily out of the camp, and made ee way to the top of the bluff by the ledges ‘trail, They had a leader, a man in black slouch hat and big cloak, who directed all their movements, Several of the men carried packages of some- thing, carried them with extreme care, Tuese packages, when the top of the bluff had ‘been reached by all, were carefully arranged along the wall on one side of the defile that led back from the edge of the cliff, and nearly an hour was consumed in preparing something, whatever it was, after which all retired around the bend, There were about a score of these men besides the leader, Around the bend they examined their weapons ‘with care, and the leader glanced frequently at his watch iu order to keep track of the time. The hours dragged by. In the camp the lights went out one by one, cand finally the saloons began to close. Generally about the last one to close its doors was the Palace, but it was usually prompt to do 30 when its closing bour arrived, and this night was no exception. It was about an hour later, when the camp was dark and still, that shadowy forms began ‘to move about in the darkness, with one accord silently making their way to the front of the ‘Palace Saloon, where @ score or more were soon gathered. Here they waited, idly, as if for some signal. They did not remain in the street, but held close to the sides of the saloons, as if some dan- ger forbade their standing exposed, Presently, without the leist previous warn- ing, a terrific explosion took place on the top of the bluff, shaking the mighty rock to its very foundation, and awakening every soul in the camp, Following that, splinters and fragments of rock came showering down into the street, and as soon as that ceased the men waiting at the saloon sprung toward the door and forced it in, pouring into the room in a body and making their way in haste to the rear, Only one person carried a light, and that per- son Was & woman, It was a small bull’s-eye lantern which she produced from under her cloak as the door went crashing in, and with it she led the way to the rear. The saloon had been found vacant and in -darkness. Not a soul was there to bar the way, and the invading party met nothing to stop ‘ther until the extreme rear was reached. Meantime, what of the explosion? It had, of course, been the work of the men on ‘the bluff, The man in black, be with the slouch hat and cloak, had watched the time with great care, Finally he had ordered the lighting of a torch, which was done. Then, when some minutes had passed, be looking at his watch constantly, he ordered: ** Fire!” The man with the torch stooped and fired a train of »owder that had been laid, and instant- ly a ball of fire sprung forth :vrom the ground at their feet and ran forward and around the bend like a frightened rabbit, There was a suspense of c, moment or two, and then, like a terrific crash of thunder came the >xplosion, and it was over. ** Now for it, men!” cried their leader, and he led the way to the scene of the explosion. He bad in band a bull’s-eye lantern, his other hand grasping a revolver, Tbe man with the torch came next after the leader, and when they arrived at the scene of the explosion a wonderful sight met their gaze. It seemed as if the whole face of the wall had been crushed in, and so it had, too, for a distance of several yards. A cavern was revealed, but it was piled full, almost, with broken rock, The powder smoke was still pouring out of it, and it was some moments before it was sufficient- iy clear for thorough examination. Then, it was iscovered, the way was so blocked as to def entrance, and it would take hours to clear i But this was no more than bad been foreseen, Leaving most of his men on guard, the leader and the others hastened down the trail to the gulch, eager to take part in the invasion of the cavern from that direction, The other party, as shown, had reached the rear of the saloon building, there to find their i blocked completely, No door was to be seen that suggested the way of which the Gypsy queen had spoken, They searched, but in vain, and were still searching when the men from the cliff arrived. Now tbe whole camp was out, and everybody was asking everybody else what bad happened, and the general impression was that Red Roy was seeking to destroy the camp. With the arrival of the leader from the cliff, who, by the way, proved to be none other than Icicle lsaac, a new plan was suggested, and it was carried out at once, Powder was put in the a of the saloon, and it was blown to match- wood, CHAPTER XVI, THE GRAND RAID, THIS second explosion brought everybody to the scene, every man eager to find out what it all meant, The saloon wide open, they followed in with a rush, and some one lighted enough lamps to throw ligbt upon the scene, Mayor Grimm, Icicle Isaac, and the others in the secret, stopped for nothing, but bastened to the rear to learn the result of the explosion, There they found thingsin a terrible wreck, and the floor having been shattered, a passageway below was disclosed to view. Then, too, the secret of the hidden door was made plain. A whole section of the floor bad served the purpose, being moved with chains and wheels, Icicle Isaac was the first man down, and im- mediately after him went the woman with the lantern, who was none other than the Gypsy queen, who had avowed ber intention of being one of the party. And after them the mayor and bis men, till the passage was about full, Icicle Isaac and the Gypsy queen bearing the lights, they Jed the way, anda short distance brought them to a door, which a single effort at opening proved to be fastened on the other side, This obstacle did not detain them long, huw- ever, for two of the men were armed with axes and a few minutes’ work served to clear the door out of the way, Forward they went, then, with a rush, up an incline into an unknown cavern that opened ahead of them. Icicle Isaac and the Gypsy queen still led the way, and after them came the mayor, Colonel Mossler, Detective Jones, and the rest of the crowd, Presently a light gleamed ahead, and they had proceeded half-way to it, perhaps, when their way was suddenly blocked by two terrified colored women, who began at once to beg for mercy. m Fo? lub ob goodness don’ shoot we-’uns!” one of thsm called out. ‘‘We am ’mos’ dead a’ready.” ‘** Lead us to where the prisoner is, then, and be quick about it,” ordered Icicle Isaac, sternly, _ They signified their willingness, if only their lives would be spared. It was plain that they were frightened half / Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Resurrection. 7 our of their wits, probably by the explosion, and were eager to do anything. It was Icicle Isaac’s plan to get to the prisoner as soon as possible, for be feared Red Roy would kill him if given the chance. In truth, be more than half feared he oad doue so already. The two women led the way up the passage, presently turning to the right and bringing them abruptly to a small, dismal chamber, Here Icicle Isaac and the Gypsy queen flashed their lights around, and discovered a man in one coruer, ‘*Gregory Mayham, is that you?” Icicle Isaac demanded, The man got up, to the clanking of a chain as he did so, and cried: “*‘Thank God! Rescued at last! Yes, I am Gregory Mayhan, or what is left of him.” The man of ice sprung in to him, and a short examination showed that he was chained to the wall, a rawhide belt about bis waist and the chain attached to that by a ring at the back, Isaac cut the belt, with one stroke of his heavy knife, and next freed the poor fellow’s hands, and he was led out of the dismal hole tbat had so long been his prison, He was terribly emaciated, and so weak that he could hardly walk without support. Some of tlie men assisted him promptly. Dick— There,itisout! But, no matter now, for the reader bas long since reolised that Icicle Isaac and Deadwood Dick were one and the same. Likewise that the Gypsy queen was Kodak Kate, Let us drop the deception at once. Dick, as we started to say, directed that Mavham be taken to the saloon and cared for, while he and the others pusbed on, When the light was reached, it was found that it was at the entrance to the red chamber, aud there the colored women abruptly stopped, **Look out, now!” they hoarsely whispered, ** Ef de boss am dar, et am death to de fu’st man what goes in dar!” ‘Pll take the risk of that,” cried Deadwood Dick, and pushing them aside he sprung in. The moment he did so the report of a pistol was heard, and Dick felt a ball barely miss his neck, | Throwing up his arm to protect hisneck, and at the same pushing Kate back out ef range, he opened fire in the direction from which the shot bad come, He could see no one, but fired on chance, and a mocking laugh greeted his bullets. His next shots were at the chandelier, The lights were put out, and he and Kate turning off their Jan- terns the room was plunged in darkness, Quickly, then, Dick gave the word for the men to advance into the room, and at his turn- ing on the light, if a sbot was drawn from the outlaw every man was to fire in the direction whence it came. By this means they hoped to wound him, or to scare him into a surrender. The next moment a challenging voice was heard, ** Deadwood Dick?” it called out, Dick stepped apart from the others, so that a shot in the direction of his voice would injure no one, and answered the call, ‘‘ Well, what kave you to say?” he demanded, The answer was a shot, and it was too close for comfort, too, Before the echo had died away there was a perfect volley from the crowd, and bullets went speeding into the darkness in the direction hom theshot had come, and a low cry was eard, ‘* Forward!” cried Dick, himself leading the way. ‘* You have winged him!” His lantern now flashed out full, and by its light the men made a rush for the quarter where the foe was known to be. But, even as they advanced, a mocking laugh was heard, coming from further away, and fol- lowed with a sbout of defiance, ** Come on, Deadwood Dick!” it called. ‘* Come right on, Mayor Grimm! Come on, the whole pack of you! You want Red Roy; come on and take him! But, if you follow it will be to your death!” Another volley in the direction of the voice, but with no effect, save to bring out another laugh of defiance, ‘He will escape us yet! cried Dick, ‘ We must take him now or never!” __ They made a rush in the direction of the voice again, but suddenly the cold hard wall barred their gress! defiance, still further away, and all was still. ‘“This way!” suddenly called Kodak Kate. ‘¢T know the way tothe other exit! But, take care or you will fall into the chasm that yawns beside the trail.” ebooks. (ECO) f re) And then once again came back the laugh of ee