Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 792 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

bs ~- ‘** Yes, strange, truly: and it came near spoil- ‘ing our plans altogether. But, we'll come out all right now,” Whatever they meant, they enjoyed a laugh together over it, and together they went for- ward into the cavern, explvring it as they ad- ‘vanced, apparently in search of something in particular, They soon found they bad undertaken a larger work than ‘they had imagined. here were several branches of the cavern, and by the time they had explored three or four of them as far as they could penetrate, as many -hours had slipped by. *‘We do not seem to find itin anything of a ‘burry,” remarked the detective, as they returned again to the main chamber, ‘* No, but Lam sure it is bere somewhere,” re- sponded the advocate of temperance, ‘* We'll try this narrower passage to the left this time. By going rigbt we got left, maybe by going left ‘we'll be right.” After a little rest they set out anew, Turning into a narrow passage that opened on the left of the main chamber, they proceeded along it, examining carefully as they proceeded, It widened out, presently, and was similar in all respe-ts to the otbers thrcuzh which they bad passed, After a time, however, the floor took a downward tendency. ‘* This looks more like it,” said the temperance advocate, then, **l agree with you,” responded the detective. “*T think we'll get there, now, sure.” _ - Finally something abead caught and reflected the light they carried, and with an exclamation both sprung forward at an increased pace, soon ‘to find themselves at the edge of a sheet of water, ‘* This is it!” cried the detective. i I certainly believe itis, But, how to prove it? It was Mr, Balaam who carried the light, and after some moments of thought he turned the ‘Slide and shut the light off. The darkness was intense, of course, but in a moment when their eyes had become slightly ‘used to it both together uttered an exclamation -as another discovery was made, In the water was seen a band, or belt, of ligbt, ‘something like a phosphorescent glow faintly seen. It was some distance from where the ‘stood, and its outline was very irregular. is looked not unlike the reflection of an exit some- where near at hand, ‘“‘ The secret is out!” cried the detective. *“*And it is just what I thought,” said the other, quietly. ‘ It is a passage under water, to the mysterious lake, It is the moon that gives the light we see,” There was no doubting it. Such was the ex- lanation of the mysterious manner in which Satan Sam had eluded pursuit, Diving into the lake, he had swum under water through the pas- ‘sage and into the cavern. nd that being so, other facts were made cer- ‘tain to the detectives—we may as well call them ‘so, now. If Satan Sam and these Scorpions both made the cavern their place of hiding, they ‘must be working together. And from that it was only a step to the suspicion that Satan Sam was the head of the band. While they stood there, talking the matter over, still looking toward the patch of light as it was revealed through the water, they heard a sound as of the hoof-strokes of many horses. And these, coming nearer each moment, were soon heard to be directly overhead. Then came a ‘darkening fora moment of tbe patch of light, after which it wavered and appeared to grow lighter and darker by quick turns, resently into it was plainly discernible the form of a man, swimming with steady, powerful stroke, and the two detectives exchanged a word of triumph with each other, The figure soon disappeared, and then was heard a man’s deep breathing, with the gentle ee of the water as he came swimming to the shore. , a detectives made never a sound, but wait- @ 4 On came the man, and presently he was heard to strike the shore and to draw himself out upon ‘the rocky floor of the cavern, He was not a dozen feet away from the shadow- ers, and as they heard bim get upon his feet the light of the bull’s-eye was turned upon him by the temperance advocate, while the other covered him with a revolver. ‘* Satan Sam, surrender!” Such was the stern command that fell upon the wman’s astonished ears, and his face grew pale as the realized that be was trap ‘“*Tt’s no use,” cried Mr, m; “we have a 8 ‘ 7 \. i > A pee eat oe ee nS - , ¥ . , ‘ et . . wy! = rt im |. a eS J 7 a k : * ey a e* 7? a - Sa Sa as) MO et i oe got the bulge on you ag big as a barrel. This may be a surprise for you, but it is none for us, for we have suspected you from the first.” Even while spesking, the disguised detective had stepped forward and snapped a puir of handcuffs upon the astounded outlaw’s wrists, And then, when it was too late, the man began to struggle to get away. He soon found the folly of that, however, and began to:beg for liberty, promising any amount of money if they would only let him go. But, he might as well have talked to the rocky walls around him; the detectives were not to be moved, The tread of hoofs, if the distant echo could be called hearing it direct, still sounded above, and for a considerable time. Then the retreat was plainly made out, after which silence reigned, lt was then the two detectives with their prisoner returned to the main cavern, where they held a long consultation to arrange their further plans, Next day two men were missing from See- saw, One of these was the mayor, Henry Hancroft, and the other was Deadwood Dick the detective, No one could be found who could offer any ex- planation of the absence of either. Where they had gone, or why, was a mystery, It was hinted that perhaps they had retired somewhere to fight out their rivalry for the hand of pretty Tessie Weeds; but, even that did not suffice, since it was believed that one would certainly have returned, The day passed, and no explanation was forth- coming. In the evening many fellows were conspicu- ous by their absence, had any one taken trouble to note the fact, which no one did, apparently. Among these were Barnabas Balaam, Ben Blunt, and others whom Blunt had picked out as trustworthy citizens, together with quite a number who had evidently been in secret league witb the temperance advocate. Late in the evening, though, it bezan to be wondered where all the ** boys” could be, and it was suggested that perhaps they had all gone out with the hope of making the arrest of Satan Sam, who, by the way, had made a raid on the camp on the previous night. On that occasiun he had been surprised by some vigilant citizens, and they had given hima hard run to the lake, where he had lea in, horse and all, and disappeared as on other oc- casions, though the borse swam to sbore and was helped out and captured, That, as can be irony pes had been the one topic of conversation In the evening Tom-tom Tom bad come forth with his tom-tom, but the denizena of See-Saw were in no mood to hearken long-to it, and on the motion of one man the bummer was taken to the lock-up aud cabined for the night, It was midnight when the masked men as- sembled once again in the secret cavern, Near by was the detective prisoner, in the same position he had been left in by the Scor- pions on the previous night. They had found him there that morning, when two had come to bring him sometbing to eat, | « ‘The captain certainly is dead,” one brought a long talk toits climax. ‘He has certainl it this time, and has been drowned, That being so, our work is at an 6nd, and there remains nothing for us to do but to divide the spoils and get away as soon as we can.” There was prompt approval. ‘“‘And there is no excuse for putting it off a minute,” the spokesman wenton, ‘ Thesooner we get away the better for one and all. As to this detective, he can be left right here until we can send word back to the citizens where to find him, Come on, and we’)] make the division at once; it’s just as well the captain does not come in for his, much the more for the rest of us, The Scorpions are in luck this deal.” With loud laughter they removed to another part of the cavern, No soover had they gone than Barnabas Ba- laam crept forward and released the prisoner, as before, and at the same time men seemed to rise up out of the very ground, 80 quickly werea score or more on hand, under the leadership of Ben Blunt. And these, with muffled feet, moved silently forward after the band of mask- ed men, presently coming upon them at the place where they had stopped, and where they were in the act of prying up a flat stone in the rocky floor. a This they were permitted to do, and then with @ yell the other party sprung forward upon ‘ Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s. Double Device. . ; . * a f i _ a AMELIA | ( \ | ‘ H | .. , (eX es :. ' ~ I ¢ i; them, revolvers drawn, and demanding their | instant surrender, It was a surprise complete, and it was fol- lowed up before reaction could come and re- sistance be offered. In a few moments the whole masked band had been securely bound, ” No words were wasted there, but the victors, with their prisoners, including Satan Sam him- self, set out for the camp of See-Saw., When they arrived there they marched into the Square with loud cheering, and the whole population was spéedily out to learn what was the cause of all the uproar, It was seen at once, for there was the detec- tivé, with Barnabas Balaam, Ben Blunt, and the rest, with their prisoners, and as soon as the situation was taken in fully,louder cheering was heard, The moon was high and brigbt, and the Square was as ligbt as day, and a bearing was called for then and there, ‘* Very well,” said the detective, stepping for- ward into the open space, ‘‘ you sball have it, Let me introduce to your notice Mr, Richard Bristol, or Deadwood Dick, Junior, whose role I have been assuming fora purpose which you can vow understand without explanation on my part, He waved his hand, and Barnabas Balaam stepped out and made a bow, ‘That is my name, gentlemen,” he said, and with a sweep of the band be removed all disguise from his head and face. ‘ If we have played a little deception upon you it has been with a pur- pose, My ally here is Mr, Charles Paige, one of the governor’s men. He has played his *role well, and would bave done better had he not fallen in love with the belle of your town. But, that is all right, and I wish bim all the happiness possible, But, you are eager to see who these prisoners are, e will unmask them for your benefit ” Sitan Sam had been disguised like the others, and they were all now stationed in a row, ‘* These men,” Dick went on, *‘ are Satan Sam and his band of Scorpions. Do not be surprised. The Scorpions were not what they pretended to be. Now, this first bere is Satan Sam. Behold!” With a quick movement Dick removed the disguise, and there stood forth the mayor of the camp, Henry Hancroft! : The excitement can be better imagined than described. The others were quickly exposed in turn, and proved to be well-known men of the camp, ones who would have been least suspected of such business, least of all the mayor. ‘‘There they are, every one of them!” cried Dick. ‘* What do you think of your worthy fel- low-citizens, men of See-Saw? These are the men who were robbing the mines, the mails, the Express and everything else, It was their inten- tion toreap tbe rich harvest as long as possible, when they would leave the camp saddens and take their ill-gotten wealth with them, But, I it dhe you want the story of my work here in full. Very well; you shall bave it, ‘* 1] was sent her by Governor Woodlow, upon whom this rascal bas imposed for along time, I saw the difficulties in the way, I made my ar- rangements epee amene 1 I came here in a dis- uise which none would be likely to suspect, and in order to make it doubly secure I had Mr, Paige personate myself openly. You see how it worked. I had a specimen of Satan Sam’s handwriting, and when I got here it did not take me long to discover that it was the same as that of your worthy, mayor, in spite of the slight attempt at disguise. ; ‘While Mr. Paige was keeping attention drawn to himself, 1 was at work, and here is the result. I followed some of the Scorpions, when they were called to assemble at their ren- dezvous by the signal :for that purpose, which eae the drumming upon the keg by Tom-tom om— only a clever signal for the evil crew to assem- ble, and I was not long getting onto it. Once the cavern had heen found, I knew the rest would be easy. Mr. Paige put up a notice of demand, in my name, and that led to bis being taken prisoner, I was on hand to release him, found the secret of the lake,” . Dick went ou at length, making a full revela- tion of all that has been shown the reader, and when he had done the camp gave him a rousiu eheer. The prisoners were guarded well un morning, when they were sept away under strong guard to the nearest point where they could be turned over to the authorities, The lost treasure was nearly all recovered, that of Timothy Weeds among the rest, N to ‘ld a spare outfit having been found in the cavern, % Ha! that surprises you? Yes, that was’ and together we explored the cavern until we ‘ * * ¢ + ~~? » et - + ~ cj i he < z > Pe ‘ -<« ade: re i o -_ “- ~ * Fe a - PS = q . i. Mey oo Thy