Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 850 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

yh. ee Tee p Y¢ ” rT, ~* < gee the liveliest circus around i room, ” 2s Ver | nM bY “ey the revolver, but on one side of his prison, there CHAPTER XVI, DIRECT EVIDENCE AT LAST, CALEB CINDERS looked into the muzzle of the leveled, revolver with more composure than was to be expected. ‘*Say, ef you’re goin’ ter do any shootin’, s’pose you give me one o’ them?” he suggested. ‘* You will know it when I do!” his enemy re- lied. ‘* Ain’t afeerd o’ sech a little chap as me, be you?” ** Not a particle.” ‘¢)'hen get another shootin’-iron, an’ le’s fight a duel!” The Castaway did not make the proposition with any idea that the man would agree to it, or because he really wanted to fightasindicated, but it was his nature never to be put down by adversity. ‘You are to be shut up; that’s te figure for you,” announced the thief, ‘‘ You have been doing a good deal of leg-work, lately, and it is time for you to pull up short. Your address for the next few weeks, or months—unless we decide to dump B ia into the North River—will ve right here, e have a room well suited for a prison-place, and ees will stay!” **{ protest!” declared Cinders, stoutly. ** Allright; do it!” eS Lemme out, or Pll hey the perleece after ou. a How’ll you get to them?” ‘Tl find a way.” ‘* When found, makea noteof it. I think I can hold you fast. Now I'll take you to your Elba, and let me say that you are not to cut up any tricks by the way. I don’t bear you any good-will, and had just as soon nail you as not. If youtry torun, or raise your bazoo, I will yank the trigger bere. Are you ‘on?’” ‘+ })’ye reelly mean ter keep me here?” ** Yes,” ** You'll be sorry !” ‘“*That’s my biz.” ‘* Strikes me that I’m interested, too,” ** You don’t hold a vote.” ‘*T may, later.” *“*Tfs0, do me up all you can,” “Thank you, 1 will; an’ don’t ye forget it. Ef you keep me here ag’in’ my will, you will ere, later, that ever showed on this globe, b’jinks!” Caleb spoke boldly and indignantly, but did not succeed in making an impression upon his enemy. That person arose, ( Beage a side-door, turned his revolver upon the boy and laconical- ly commanded ; sé Go in )? There was no help for it, and Cinders went, slowly and sulkily enough. It proved that the room was what was known as a “‘ dark” room —that is,it had no window which opened to the outside world, air being obtained by a transom. . Light was almost wholly lacking, and Caleb could see nothing when he first entered. All this was so obnoxious to him that, despite the revolver, he turned defiantly toward the door and his captor, but the latter was not in a mood of delay. He had stepped back, and the door was already closings It banged to, and the Castaway was alone, He gat down in achair, somewhat disconso- late, but as level-headed as ever. ‘¢ B’jinks! Herel am ag’in, high an’ dry on a horstyle shore, Captervated, incusserated an’ held ag’in’ all law an’ order, I desarve the name ‘Castaway’ now, ef ever, fur I’m tremenjusly shipwrecked, Nobody won’t ever find me here, an’ I guess I’minfur life.” He shook: his head in a melancholy way which was ejeonrs assumed. ; ) t feel dismayed enough iater, but, just then, he was taking it in a serio-comic ™m . After awhile he arose and looked around the’ The only pole which possibly could be termed weak was the transom. Caleb thought he could squeeze through that, but finding iron bars on the further side, decided that any weak- ness there was not very manifest. Once more he sat down. He studied how to beat his enemies, but gained no idea. In this way hours passed—how many, he had no means Of telling, but he felt sure that eve- ‘4 ming sana Oe athand. Anyway,it was a long - an wearisome wait, F' a quantity of food was put inatthedoor. He tried to inter- view the feeder, but failed —he retreated promptly It was half an hour later than this that the prisoner heard voices. They were not from the room where he had talked with the man with f f AP: . _ ‘ . \ : ' ; -,.). ie Ma “te a at % ee ec 4 " oh ; } : * ra eee i* ‘<4 og Veet sy 4 . : Oe ea) : ; ‘ P we Rak} Mes Edw’ i9? So Oe a aaa aaa aaa ee —_——-— had once been a door, which, later, had been | Caleb Cinders, the New York Castaway. a i ee ee 13 Day was fast approaching, and not much time boarded over and closed, but not cut off by any | remained for wor partition. Such things, Caleb knew, were not uncom- mon, and he had known amiable women to listen at such points to learn their neighbors’ business. The Castaway now resolved to profit by ex- perience given in the past—he went to the door and listened eagerly. Muffled voices came to his hearing, but the words were fairly dis- tinct, ‘*T tell you that you’ve made a mistake!” de- clared an unseen speaker, ‘* W hat else could I do?” asked a second voice, ‘The boy was dangerous,” ‘¢ You did right to nab him—” ‘¢ Then why do you complain?” ‘‘T refer to the woman. Great Scott! you will have the liveliest row afoot ever heard of. Such a woman as Mrs, Richardson cannot dis- appear without a general howl!” ** Let them howl!” ** Be sensible!” ‘*So I will, Proctorham. Well, to face the matter fully, they can't trace her here, for she dismissed her carriage at Tiffany’s, sent the driver to get one of the horses shod, and came ne car, Nobody saw her enter that knows er, **She may have told her driver she was com- ing here,” ‘* From what I learned by skillfully question- ing her, I think not.” ‘Or it may be known at her home,” ‘*'You are bound to look on the dark side, Proctorham,” ‘*I’m bound to look out for my precious self. Mrs. Richardson is a woman who can wield a good deal of influence, and if she gets loose, now, oA may as well check your trunk for Sing Sing. Are you sure she cannot get out of this house?” “*Dead sure!” ‘* Ts she bound?” ‘* No; but her prison is secure.” ‘‘T must leave it to you to look to that, and to bang to both her and the iat As for Caleb Cinders, make no bones with him!” ** What shall I do?” **Can’t you put him in a bag, and throw him into the North River?” ‘* Tt might be done, possibly.” “*Then do it!” The rattling of a chair followed the last words, footsteps were audible briefly, and then all became silent, The men had gone, | ‘* Humph!” Cinders muttered, ‘‘So I’m ter be put in a bag an’ throwed in the river? That's cheerful, b’jinks! Ain’t heerd anything so con- solatin’ sence some time previous ter no time, But I ain’t in yet, an’, Proctorham, oJd chap, I’m onter you!” Proctorham’s hand did, indeed, show plainly in the case at last, and Caleb felt that, if he was clear of the house, he would be equipped for the fight better than ever. ut he was not clear, He looked wishfully at the transom, and then drew the table to the locked door, mounted upon it, and tried the iron bars which shut him in, - They did not seem to be particularly strong and the ends were buried in ordinary wood, ‘Ef I had time I could cut my way out,” he muttered, thinking of the sharp knife in his pocket, After much meditation he put the table back where he had found it. o begin’ work at a would be reckless, for he might have vis- rs, He sat down and endured another period of idle, painful waiting. At last the house aratna perfectly silent, and the distant sound of a striking clock conveyed to him the fact that the hour of eleven had come. Then he put the table under the tran- som and began the task of cutting away the bars. A less sp spirit would have despair- ed, for, keen as his knife was, it was not of a size suitable to the work, and he had to labor in the darkness, Caleb Cinders, however, was not one to be beaten without a struggle, and he began to cut at the wooden frame bravely. Hour after hour the fight went on, His hands, hardened by toi] though they were, grew blistered, and his legs and head ached, but he was making progress, Five bars had been in the way, and it required an hour and a half to get rid of the first, but the others came a little quicker. | the last waz removed, and just then Finall he heard the clock strike four, ' SN Sess w—re———— -——_— eee Ce He rested only a minute or two, and then made the attempt to crawl through the tran- som. This he accomplished after a good deal 7 wriggling, and finally stood on the other side, He found himself in a room filled with rub- bish of various kinds—boxes, boards, and odds and ends—but there was no window, and the only door was that which led to his late prison- room, A ladder-like stairway led to the floor above, however, and he began the ascent promptly. ‘* Don’t know what in p’ison I shall find,” he thought, ‘but ’m in fur the war, Never say die!’ CHAPTER XVII. THE FINAL STRUGGLE, THE Castaway’s first view of the floor aly .ve was encouraging. He saw a window, with a faint light shining in, and the relief it gave him was great, ‘* B’jinks! that’s the pootiest sight I’ve seen in anage, Cinders,old man, thar may yit be balm in Gilliam fur you— Hullo!” He had made a fresh discovery; he saw evi- dence of other light than that of nature. It was the dull gleam of gas through a space three. feet long and eighteen inches high—clearly, an- other transom, with a cloth curtain, Caleb bad an idea, and he found a chair placed it by the door, mounted upon it pushed. the curtain aside and looked ae the tran- som, He saw a lighted room, and there sat Mrs, Catherine Richardson, wrapped ip an un- romantic bed-spread, keeping a solitary vigil. His heart bounded with joy—he had found his companion prisoner, But how wes he to reach ber? Of course the door was locked. He ran his hand down to find the knob, but touched a key, instead. It wasin the lock! His face flushed with joy, and, without stop-. ing to form any plan, he fae turned the ey. Anvther moment and he had the door open, and had entered the room, Mrs, Richardson started up with a startled, air, but he made a quick, warning gesture, ‘* Don’t speak above a whisper!” he cried,, anxiously. ‘‘ I’ve come ter rescue you, but of them p’ison critters hear any sound, our name is Dennis!” The lady was looking at him in bewilder- ment. ‘‘ Say, you remember me, don’t ye!” he added, ‘*-You seen me on the train, when the feller tried. ter rob ye of the hand-bag.” ‘‘] do remember you,” was the quick reply, ‘* but why are you here?” ‘‘Ter rescue you. Jest believe that, an’ (1 ane 3 ye out ina jiffy. You’re a pris’ner, ain’t ve Yes.” ‘* What fur?” ‘‘Tt is the plot of an enemy named Irving Proctorbam—at least, I think so.” ‘* Why does he want you shut up?” ‘‘T am trying to get facts which will deprive him of ill-gotten money.” ‘* Say, tell me about it, quick!” urged Caleb. ‘‘T may be able ter help ye!” ) His excitement was epee and some im- pulse led the lady to confide in him, ‘‘Twenty years ago Proctorham inherited pag which ougbt never to have been his,” rs. Kichardson explained. ‘‘It appeared, then, to be bis rightfully, for the only nearer heir—a little girl—had seemed to die. Seemed to die, I say; but, after many years, I have be- come convinced that her death wasa sham; that he substituted another young*girl for her, and. that she did not die at all.” ? ‘* Where is she, now?” ‘‘T don’t know, but I think thatanold woman called Mother Beck could explain,” ‘¢ Was the child named Claribel?” ‘‘No; it was Eveline Vincent. She was my cousin’s child, and a relative of Irving Proctor- ham’s mother, which is why he inherited the property when little Eveline seemed to die, But why do yeu ask? Do you know of her?” Fa erly Mrs. Richardson asked the eer and, having come close to the boy, she stood trembling with strong emotion, ‘+ Let me ask one more question,” replied the Castaway. ‘‘Hev you any idee what become o’ that small heiress?’ “T have heard a rumor—Which I am trying to verify or aeons by seeing Mother Beck—. that she gave the child to some orphan asylum. Heaven knows what became of it after that!” ‘8 © a : - : by ms | rf i py 4 re’ > 11ICDOO NY OU a+ : : - ' : = le : 7 . Pal > 3 fan : ae bis . >. arth 7 fa « * ° - -* a“ ie »- \ - a ee Bs T “4 Lua oa ‘a ~ . Ae r A