Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 811 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

' . ’ ¥ ’ - SUF as on was overheard. Quite a creditable plot, to be sure,” * Blazes! You were listening?” ‘* Exactly !” The gambler made a sudden movement, then stopped abruptly, for he found himself looking into the glistening barrel of a six-shooter,” ‘** Be careful!” warned the stranger. ‘‘?’m up to snuff, young man,” Derby saw that he was covered. ‘* Well, have your own way,” he said, with ap- ee unconcern, ‘‘If I may ask, what is your ittle game?” ‘*T simply want to take a hand in this racket, with, of course, a share of the plunder, An equal division would suit me.” ‘And supposing such a partnership is dis- tasteful to me?” ‘Then I shall at once lodge information ‘against you with the town authoritics. By daybreak, this vicinity will be too hot te hold ou, ‘* Listen, Duke Derby!” went on the Phenix. “*T come to you, not as a foe, but as a friend and scomrade, am an outlaw, with a price upon my head. People believe me dead, but I still live, and propose to rear an organization that shali make our names a terror all along the line, I know you, Derby, to be a man of my own -stamp—cool, brave and reliable, Such as you [ meed to complete my band, I wil: make you my lieutenant, Think of the wealth that passes Alaily to and fro! A few months of skillful work will make us allrich men. What do you say to the arrangement?” Duke Derby had listened attentively. The tempting words of the Phenix impressed him favorably. Though at first resenting the inter- ruption of his plans, yet he reasoned it were folly to refuse the proffered assistance. If suc- cessful, the haul would doubtless be a large one, and he could easily afford a division of the spoils. Besides, the gambler shrewdly foresaw the value of the Phenix’s assistance in his designs against Ruth Sharon. After due deliberation he decided to accept ‘the proposition, and said as much in a few words, ** Very good!” exclaimed the White Phenix. eT, Hope you will never regret it, I shall deal squarely with you, and expect you to do the same, Now, I heard you instruct your friends to meet you here at dark to-morrow, I, too, will de here, ready for business. To-morrow night shall witness the first work of the White Phenix! Until then, good-by !” The white-faced outlaw then turned and dis- appeared as silently as he came! CHAPTER V. RUTH TO THE RESCUE. Ruts SHARON stood in the door of her father’s ~vine-clad cottage, as the clock upon the kitchen shelf chimed out the hour of six, It was the afternoon following that which ‘brought the unwelcome visit of Duke Derby. Ruth had seen nothing of the gambler that day ; but his menacing words still rung in her ears, Knowing the character of the man, she felt that he would hesitate at nothing to accomplish his purpose, It was time for her father to come home, On the table a smoking hot supper was spread, pre- pared by her loving hands. Eagerly Ruth watched the narrow lane, down which the famil- iar form of Seth Sharon was wont to come, _ Bat the usual time failed to bring the old flag- av. He was late; and as the moments flew by, ‘the maiden grew alarmed, for his absence was something unusual. Darkness fell; but still Sharon failed to ap- pear. Perhaps he was detained by some extra duty! Ruth tried to conscle herself with this thought; but, strive.as she might, she could not throw off the growing presentiment of evil, The girl was unable to longer endure the sus- pense, Filled with a sudden determination to find her father, and without stopping for hat or shaw], she rushed out into the night. Seth Sharon was not at his post, for all the day trains had passed. Anxious inquiries from various persons whom she met elicited no in- formation concerning him, No one had seen the flagman that night. _. Ruth wasoverwhelmed with fear and anxiety. des stay! A sudden thought occurred to hey It was the custom to inspect the road, at nixbtfall, after all day trains had passed, to in- sure a safe track for the passage of the night trains, of which there were several, Men were appointed to go over tlie line for specified dis- ful lookout for the broken rails, washouts, or other possible obstructions. Kach station had its section, running a certain distance, and con- necting with the adjoining divisions, In this manner every rod of the road was carefully ex- umined nightly. 1 This process was technically known as ‘“*track-walking,’’ and it was part of Seth Sharon’s duty to ‘‘ walk” the Richville sec- tion. Ruth saw a possible solution to the mystery surrounding her parent’s absence, Doubtless being detained at the crossing, he had hurried to go over his allotted beat before coming home —though this he had never done before, Hope struggling with fear and doubt, the girl hastened to the car-house. There was the well- known hand-car in its usual place. The flag- man had not been there! Poor Ruth! At that moment her beloved fa- ‘ther, bound and gagged, was lying, bruised and senseless, in an adjacent field! The flagman’s daughter felt the premonition of coming evil. Something was wrong on the railroad! She knew the next train was the evening Express, and the driver was her friend and lover, Headlight Harry, What if he were in danger? The thought inspired the girl with courage. Seth Sharon had failed to perform his duty; but she, with indomitable pluck, determined to ‘walk ” the track herself |! Quickly she set to work to place the heavy car upon the track. It was a task that taxed her womanly strength, but it was finally ac- complished. No one was near to observe her movements, To adjust the belt and light’ the red lantern took but a minute, and Ruth Sharon was ready for her wild night ride, It was the custom of the flagman to go over the eastern end first; but a subtle power guided the movements of the girl, who turned the car westward to meet Headlight Harry and the in- coming Express, Taking her place at the crank, the brave’maid moved away, slowly at first, but with steadily increasing speed. ‘The lights of the village were quickly left behind. With amazing energy, Ruth propelled the car over the rails, while the light of the lantern danced fantastically upon the track as they flewahead. Often had she accompanied her father been his rounds, cheerfully tugging at the crank, charmed by the merry music of the humming wheels; and now the training served her in good stead, For three miles the car sped on without inter- ruption, The region was a lonely one; dense, loomy woods skirted the track on either hand. t this point the road penetrated a lofty ridge, through which a deep cut had been made, local- ly known as the Devil’s Ditch. On either ‘side of this narrow gorge, steep walls of rock and earth rose to the hight of a hundred feet. As Ruth Sharon drew near this dismal spot, she saw a sight that thrilled her soul with hor- ror. The full moon was rising above the crest of the ridge, and the girl beheld a group of shad- owy forms standing upon the edge of the cliff, in bold relief against the lighted sky. There were tive of them, fantastic figures in silhouette, whose movements were plainly re- vealed by tae moonlight. Industriously they labored to dislodge a huge bowlder, several tons in weight, which rested upon the very brink of the precipice, All this Ruth Staron saw at a glance. The truth was obvious, The men on the hight, striving to hurl this ponderous mass of rock down upon the track, could have but one object —the destruction of the Evening Express, which would soon be due, ae The brave girl was determined to save it. To do this sbe must pass through the Devil's Ditch, and already the huge rock quivered, seemingly about to fall. Desperation lent her almost superhuman strength, and the hand-car scarcely seemed to ne the rails, as on it flew toward the fatal spot. Aloud shout from above told that she was discovered, The whir of wheels had reached the vigilant ears of the marauders, and, as if divining the girl’s purpose, they worked desper- ately to dislodge the bowlder. ’ Like a meteor the car flashed between the echoing walls, just as the mighty mass, pried from its foundation, rolled rapidly down the hillside, followed by a stream of earth and stones, With a mighty crash, it fell squarely across tances, mounted on hand-cars, keeping a care- ' the track, forming an insurmountable barrier, ‘ ff xt Paras Y : : ay * ; iden oO Ve %° oF 4 ws ah “uk “ “+. ._« P +. A ie | Ad b cee a ' But Ruth Sharon wassafe. Byahair’s-breadth, she had escaped the falling bowlder, and now her red ligbt flashed defiance, as she sped on her mission of rescue, © Yells of rage came from the baffled wreckers, followed by a volley of pistol-shots. Bullets flew thick and fast. One actually grazed ber cheek; another shattered the lantern and extin- guished its light, The brave girl never flinched from the storm of lead. With compress d lips and flashing eyes, her hair, unconfined, flying wildly to the breeze, Ruth Sharon stood resolutely at her post, while the vehicle bore her rapidly out of danger. A few moments later, she heard the long, low whistle of a distant locomutive. It was the Ex- press, less than a mile away. Ruth’s heart gave a joyful bound, only to be followed by a feeling of consternation. Her lantern was broken and useless. How could she signal the train and save it from de- struction? The moon was now obscured by a threatening bank of clouds, that portended an approaching storm, Utter darkness reigned. The engineer could not see her until too late The train was Repialy approaching. Not a moment to lose. ust all her efforts be in vain? No! Woman’s wit devised a way out of the difficulty. Leaving the car to proceed slowly by its own momentum, Ruth qninahy san off a strip of her underskirt, Hasty search in the locker brought to light, in addition to various tools, an oil-can and a box of matches. Saturating the cloth with the contents of the can, she twisted it into a rude torch, and applied a match, just as the headlight of the locomotive flashed into view. Springing to her feet, Ruth Sharon raised her improvised torch, and waved it frantically, at the same time pressing the foot-brake that checked the motion of the car, Fanned by the wind, the beacon-light blazed brighily, flashing its warning to the keen eye of the engineer, The panting monster moved slower—slower and paused at last, its giant eye gleaming full upon the frail hand-car and its fearless occu- ant, s Headlight Harry, followed by his fireman, sprung from the engine and hurried forward, In utter astonishment he beheld the flagman’s daughter. ‘Ruth Sharon! What are you doing here?” he demanded, excitedly, as he clasped the brave girlin his arms, A crowd of passengers and trainmen had gathered round, impatient to learn the cause of the delay. uth hastened to explain, much to the surprise of all. ‘* Your bravery is unparalleled, young lady, and shall certainly meet with its reward,” de- clared Conductor Chase, who had charge of the train. ‘' Now, then, Hilton, move ahead cau- tiously, I hope the obstacle is not too great to be removed; otherwise, we must return to Vin- ton for assistance,” , ‘¢ But the train-wreckers?” ‘*Pshaw! Little fear of them, for they will hardly dare attack us now, knowing we are pre- ared to give them a warm reception.” Headlight Harry shook his head doubtingly. ) However, Chase was in authority, and the ea mounted his engine without another word, Ruth Sharon was permitted to ride with her lover, while the hand-car that brought her on her merciful errand was also taken aboard, The train moved ahead slowly and ten minutes later arrived in the dangerous Devil’s Ditcb, It was seen at a glance that the bowlder was too heavy to be removed. Nothing but powder and drill could affect the ponderous mass, and to procure the necessary implements for blasting it was necessary to return to Vinton, a station several miles away. A brakeman was sent ahead to signal all ap- proaching trains, while the Express started on the backward run, Nothing was seen of the would-be wreckers, and the passengers breathed more freely as the train bowled smoothly along. Headlight Harry, however, still scented dan- ger. A subtle instinct told him they were run- ning intoa trap. Standing in his cab, he eagerly sought to pierce the gloom, Suddenly there cawe a peculiar, grating sound, instantly followed by a violent, jarring motion of the cars. The experienced engineer knew the meaning well. The train had left the track! 4 . == 2s * _—