Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 801 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

a. 2B mith eyes that glittered with suppressed ement, “Only a short distance separated him from the artificial cavern, and he could see and hear with tolerable certainty what was occurring and being said, A number of men were within the cave—a half-dozen, at least—and one of them was Tom Conner, the ex-foreman, Kirby had descended the shoft, after witness- ing these men vanish into its capacious mouth, Then he had felt about in the gioom until he had found the drift, and had crawled along the wet and winding passage until the light ap- peared, No securer place could be found anywhere for the consummation of criminal deeds, .It was not possible for the light to penetrate to the bot- tom of the shaft and be there seen by any one, even if so unlikely a thing as a watcher should chance to be standing above and looking down into the bole, The High-Kicker had no more than got him- self well settled in the cramped aperture, than he heard a slight noise in the direction of the shaft; this showing that some other momber of the band was approaching. The nan passed so near that Kirby could have touched him with bis extended hand, The gloom was 80 great, though, that he could not tell who the fellow was until the latter had entered the circle of light. He saw, then, that it was the cowboy whose drunken lack vf caution had set him to search- ing for this place, What the cowboy had said was the merest hint—and was doubtless thrown out asa feeler; he thinking, probably, that the High-Kicker would desire to become a member of the band, should its existence be made known to him, “Pll have to cultivate yer acquaintance, Jerry!” and the High-Kicker thrust out bis tongue ina knowing way. ‘* Yer head’s full uv facts an’ idees that’u’d be val’ble tome. Who knows but that I may become one o’ ye, yit? Pve done stranger things in my time, The High- Kicker,makin’ an’ shovin’ o’ thequeer! Waugh! I reckon [ll have to think about that!” The little band was greeting Jerry with a sub- dued uproariousvess that was suggestive. Were they always so cautious, or did they feel that they had special need of care at this time? This was tne question Kent Kirby asked him- self, and which found no adequate reply. The yellow flame of the lamp was turned a little higher; and Kent Kirby could see that the business which bad drawn them together was to be at once taken up. They had evi- dently been awaiting Jerry’s coming. The detective watched them with sbining- eyed interest, He knew he saw before him the menibers of the band of counterfeiters, of whom be believed Jim Carlow to have been tbe head, Tom Conner’s words furnished what seemed convincing proof of this, **T run onto a little more of the queer that the old man throwed arouund s0 lively!” ho said, with quiet emphasis, producing and ex- hibiting a small roll of bills. It was the roll Sylvia Sterling had given him. He held up the counterfeits, **Did some feller do ye up by passin’ ’em onto ye?” one of the men asked, ‘‘No, Dll tell ye bow I come by ’em, after awhile. Jist now, we’ve got other business, I’ve kept ny hawk-like optics on this infernal Seal Shelton, and I think I’ve seen enough to prove he’s what we have thought,” He had shoved tbe bills into his pocket; and now took a seat before the rough table: that rested in the center of the cave, The otbers had already grouped themselves in ey about the table. Onit the lamp was rest- ng, ** Seal Shelton, eh?” and the tortoise-like head of the High-Kicker was pushed still further out into the drifn, ‘*This byer’s growin’ as inter- estin’ as a fairy tale. An’ some 0’ the ‘queer’s’ been comin’ back! I sbould think it might; the country’s full enough uv it, About every other dollar you run ag’inst in this section is bogus!” **Do you know, I believe that Sbelton is the ‘vary chap that done up the old man!” and Tom Conner swept the circle of excited faces with burning glance. ‘Tf IT wusn’t so dead shore that Mary Ann ‘Carlow wus at the bottom o’ that job,I’d believe that my eyes wus a-lookin’ at that chap this very minute,” , As he muttered this, the High-Kicker was staring with eager intentness into Tom Conner’s glowing face, . “I’m pretty sure of it,” Conner continued, ” é i. . - * pe . - all * § “9! . , . 44 4 , si. ee Sele Oh a ei ee ee acti’ Lia. Kent Kirby, the High-Kicker from Killbuck. still referring to the murder and Seal Shelton’s supposed connection with the dead, ‘ But setting all that aside, we’ve got enough ag’inst him to warrant us in doing him up,” ‘Ay! Ay!” came from the angry group. ‘*Gittin’ interestin’er an’ interestin’er!” and the High-Kicker stretcbed further out into the drift. ‘* We'll be havin’ a regular circus d’rec’ly, with Tom Conner fer ringmaster—an’—an’ your humble servant fer clown, Goin, band wagon! I’m after ye! The closter I kin git to the music, the better I’m pleased!” He was craning his neck almost recklessly in his effort to hear and see everything. ‘Shelton has come here for the express pur- pose of ferreting us out and causing our arrest,”’ “* K’rect ye air!” and Kirby set down mentally the names of all witbin the cave. ‘ He’ll not go back empty-handed, Leastways, Pll not; for I don’t think V’.a fool enough to let any purty woman lead me around by the proboskis an’ make me fergit my biz, I think I’ve got the roster of this hyer comp’ny aJl sot down in the note-book up in my head, an’ it’ll be harder to rub out than indelible ink,” He was so pleased, and his smile so expansive, that any one seeing his face would have been forced to laugh outright, ‘You know what we do with such cattle?” Conner continued; at the’ same time tearing some hits o€ paper and passing them to the men, ‘' If theold man was still alive, he wouldn’t go through any such form as this, but I don’t like to take all the responsibility. You'll put down on those slips of paper your verdict; and then we shall see what we siiall see,” The faces were threatening and ominous, as they bent over the bits of paper while the fingers painfully traced awkward characters. For a minute a silence reigned that could be almost felt. Then, there was a shuffling as the papers were gatbered up and tossed into a hat, “Take ’em out an’ read ’em, Jerry!” and Conner pushed the hat across the table, Jorry Cavanaugh, the cowboy, drew out the papers one by one and slowly and impressively read what was written on them: ** Death!” ** Death!” ‘The knife!” ‘* Hang him!” These and similar words fell from his lips, There was nota vote in favor of clemency or mercy; not a vote to indicate that any man there doubted the guilt of Seal Shelton. “T reckon Seal had better camp out in the woods to-night!” the High-Kicker muttered, anxiously, as he listened to the ominous reading of the vote. ‘‘ This byer climate is like to git mighty onhealthy for him,” ‘*You have heard the verdict,” Conner com- mented; ‘‘and I need bardly say I approve of it, We must show these minions of the law that they can’t come about here! At the same time, we must work the thing carefully, so that no suspicion can arise against us,” A long discussion followed, and it was decided that Seal should be waylaid some dark night and shot. A dozen bullets were thrown into a hat, one of them having been previously marked, oe the hat was once more passed around the table, Each nian carefully drew out a bullet. of them were anxious for the nicked one. They were examined by the dull light of the lamp; and it was seen that Tom Conner, him- self, had drawn the fatal Jead, ‘*T’s all right, boys!” and he smiled grimly. ‘*T’ve not hankered for the job; but you never knew me to sbirk a plain duty. You can depend on me to attend to the matter!” ‘* What was that?” One of the cowboys turned excitedly toward the drift. The High-Kicker bad become incautious through his intense anxiety to hear and see all; and in squeezing still further forward, had dis- lodged a rotten board, CHAPTER XI. IN DEADLY PERIL, KIRBY was a man of rare courage, but a sud- den thrill of fear shot through him, He knew that his death would result, sooull he bs caught there spying on these men. He hesitated for an instant, uncertain what course to pursue, The rascals within the cave were listening now with strained ears to any sound that might come frotn the direction of the shaft or the tunnel, He knew it would be almost impossible to rise to his feet and glide away without being heard, and it seemed foolhardy to remain where he was, or even in the niche. None — . as’ F. b Oy Bitel ee ee EO Ce ae --—~ — —- — . —— *e No doubt a search of the shaft and drift would soon be instituted, when he could hardly escape detection, Tom Conner settled the question by striding toward the drift with drawn revolver. The High-Kicker was about to rise and trust to his beels for safety, but was checked by a noise that came unmistakably from the sbaft. Some one was entering from that direc- tion. He could do nothing but crouch closer to the moist earth and work himself quickly back into the niche. Here was a new complication, which might bring disastrous results, Tom Conner hurried into the drift and ad- vanced cautiously along it, witb his revolver held ready for use, A low curse and a half fall came from the end toward the shaft. The new-comer had stumbled over an obstruction, The ex-foreman was very near the niche where lay the concealed detective, and the latter could hear bim give a sigh of relief and at the same time mutter an anathema against the clumsy intruder, ‘* Ts it you, Shorty?” Conner anxiously called, Shorty answered with an outburst of drunken rage. “Why in Sam Hill don’t you keep things clear down hyer? Do you expect a man to bave the eyes of a bat? I do b’lieve I’ve gone an’ broke my leg!” ‘Come on in, and shut your yawping!” was Conner’s angry command, ‘* You'll bring the officers down on us!” ‘‘Offcers be-e b-blowed!” declared Shorty. ‘‘Wh-who’s afeared uv the off’cers? Show me an off’cer an’ I'll p-pulverize him!” He squared off and delivered Conner a drunk- en blow that sent the latter reeling against the wall and extinguished the lamp. ‘‘Now’s my time!” the High-Kicker whisper- ed, ‘*I’d better slide right now, This hyer comin’ uv Shorty has throwed e’m off the trail fer a minute, but they’re purty shore to pick it up again. Yes, reckon I’d better dig out while I kin!” Proof that bo was right in this was even then forthcoming, Excited and angry questions were being hurled at the intoxicated man, and his replies tended to show he could not have haere the noise which bad been heard in the ar Conner, after a wrathy adjuration, was again advancing with the re-lighted lamp, Kirby was on his feet by this time, and sneak- ing with all caution toward the shaft, Conner was flashing the dull, yellow light on the walls and recesses as he advanced, “Ah! what’s this?” the High-Kicker heard him exclaim, Conner had reached the point where the rotten board had been dislodged, and was now staring at it. Those within the cave hurried to where he was, when they saw him stop. ‘‘There’s something wrong here!” Conner cried, stooping to look at the board, ‘“ That never fell Gown here accidentally. There's been some one in here! Boys, Seal Shelton has been in here!” He set down the lamp and bounded nimbly toward the shaft, which Kent Kirby was at that moment entering. The High-Kicker heard him coming, and, dropoing all his precautions as now useleas, he leaped to the ladder that clung to the sides of the well-like opening and scrambled in all haste to the top. The ladder was a rickety affair. It had been in use a long while and bad never been repaired, To have ventured to repair it, except in the most secres and stealthy fashion, would have been to call attention to the old shaft, and this was just what was not wanted. Notwithstandivg its sbaky and treacherous character, Kent Kirby went up the ladder at a double-quick; and, when the top was gained, threw himself beadlong into the weeds at the side of the mouth of the mine, As he vanished over the edge of the shaft, a revolver cracked in the depths below and a bul- let whizzed upward close at bis heels, The shot was fired by Tom Conner. Conner had not been quick enough to see who the intruder was; but he had canghta glimpse of vanishing heels, and at these he bad sent the shot, , “Phew!” and the High-Kicker climbed to bis feet and sped recklessly away into the gloom, ‘‘That was a parrer squeeze! Too narrer by half fer comfort!” He could hear the sounds of subdued voices at the bottom of the shaft, and hear the shaking of