Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 901 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

~ Diam ee leading tothe hold of the bandits, he was | compelled to admit that without the skillful uidance of the man whom he looked upon as half dead, they could never have reached that post of advantage in the darkness; nor, having ‘reached it, would they have known which way to turn. Captain Curse crept away without a word, while they followed closely and in silence. Overhead and to one side was the bare rock, and on the other side the open canyon They were hidden in shadows, yet they could catch faintly the outlines of their leader, and they moved as he moved, while his halt was the signal for them to stand still, Suddenly, be crouched, and then rose up as he leaped forward. There was the low, craunching sound, as of a heavy blow, and a sentinel, whose eyes unfortunately for him had been peering in the wrong direction, fell with a low moan. And then, in the hidden recesses beyond, there pealed out the report of a pistol, and the long drawn, shrill shriek of a woman, Daddy Grimes when he set out to torture the mine-magnate into coming to his terms had nointention of carrying the work to a fatal termination. ' He had counted a good deal on certain twinges of pain which without’ doubt would have to be inflicted; but much more on the moral effect of the presence of his daughter. Belle had shut her lips firmly when ehe was brought forward, and though her one arm was around the waist of her companion it was to encourage Vera rather than be- cause she needed anything to*cling to her- self, Just how far this thing was to go on, or what she could or would do to bring it to an end was more than she had as yet decided, For the present, she could only watch and wait. This was her father’s business, and with that she had seldom interfered. - Jt was more than likely she tooked upon the preparations as a gigantic bit of bluff, and she even felt a curiosity to know which was going to win, Daddy Grimes or her father, : Wn? 1 Her mind was still open for cool reflection, and a very little of it showed her this torture which was about to begin would be the real thing. There was no danger of immediate death, but everything was arranged to pro- duce intense agony. In spite of herself she | — shivered, and grew cold, When the match was applied the crisis seemed reached; and yet she waited. Until now she could not see distinctly her father’s -_—_—--— The movement was so sudden that it had a certain success, The man threw up his hands and toppled over; but as he fell there came, without ordersand without delay, a rush, in the midst of which Belle found her- self a plaything, and her weapon a toy. The pistol was torn from her grasp, and several hands fell roughly on her shoulders, with a gripe which hurt. ‘“Stiddy, boys!” rung out the voice of Daddy Grimes, ‘Tie ther wild-cat, an’ fetch her for’rads. We'll give her a dose ov ther same kind, an’ see which’ll squeal fu’'st. yells ther uther’ll give in.” A roar of brutal voices chorused their assent, and forward the panting girl was drawn. Then— ‘* Attention!” The harsh order fell on their ears like a thunder-clap, and too much surprised to raise a weapon, the men wheeled toward the voice, Captain Curse stood there, erect, and with revolver leveled, not a sign of wound or weakness to be seen, Rapid though his motions were ‘it felt an age as the muzzle of the deposed captain’s revolver turned toward Daddy Grimes, It seemed as though he was giving them all a chance to defend themselves. Had it not been for the thought there must be something supernatural about. the appearance, there might have been an effort to take advantage of it, but that fear par- alyzed them, and with a cold sneer on his lips Curse quietly pulled trigger. Then, as if by instinct, and with the speed of thought, he singled out the two men who had flung him over the rocks. The three, almost as one man, fell in a heap, while from behind Captain Curse four armed intruders sprung into view, ‘* Away with you!” shouted Curse, ‘‘ Lin- ger a moment and Lopen my guns on you. There’s a force behind me you can’t resist, Among you I’m done for, but ?’ve had my revenge!” . As he spoke he toppled over, his fictitious strength utterly exhausted, while the out- laws, in a panic which there was no com- bating, had rushed headlong through the other entrance, in the very wildest of routs, oP CHAPTER: XVI. THE PAYMENT OF THE RANSOM. THoucH the outlaws were in full retreat there was no certainty the panic would last, When ther one. led ond Dave, the Gilt-Edge Shooter, oned hand he was pointing toward the spot where the train robbers had disappeared. Had it not been for Patsey the mine meet es ne nate might have had a roasting time of it the next few minutes. There would, per- haps, have been little danger of his life, but in another sixty seconds it would have been doubtful if he could have walked fer a month. The boy seattered the brands, cut the bands, and pulled John Molloy to one side. Then, the man of several millions was raised to his feet; and, as Patsey pushed the fagots together, and nursed them into a cheerful blaze, the magnate stared around him. | Miss Vera was not badly hurt, and she and Kent Buker were already nearly through with a brief but thoroughly satisfactory ex- planation, Captain Curse, having exhausted himself in that last fierce struggle for ven- geance, lay dead where he fell; while, by the flaming light of the now roaring fire, | Malloy saw his own daughter, none the worse for her late experiences, actually kiss- — ing Diamond Dave! ees For a moment his feelings were too deep for utterance, and in that moment Belle had come to his side and was laughing over him a little, and crying a good deal. He was a man of hard, practical sense, and knew that this could not be the first time — they had met, and that it was not a good op- portunity to make the observations which ) naturally rose to his lips. mes, ‘‘There! There! That’s enough of this . nonsinse. Give mea pistol, some wan. Those — divils are not dead yet, and they may be back.” | ‘‘Let them come.” said Diamond Dave, once more his cool, insouciant self. ‘‘ We’re between them and the young ladies now, and nothing could please me better than a meeting,” ‘‘Andif my eyes went foranything, you're ; A between the young ladies and me,” grumbled Malloy, holding out his arms toward his — f 4 daughter. ve 5) i At the same time Sandy came in, chuck- ling softly, his almost empty revolver in his — oe, hand, 7 The mine magnate caught a him, and saw the face as he had n¢ | it when the three men rode up to urge him to aid them, and this time he recogniz- ie a, of}, / ‘‘Howly Moses!” he exclaimed; Sandy Murti himsilf!” Sandy Martin was the brother of Mrs. a Vane, and the one-time pard of John Malloy not seen’ ‘TC's Sie | features. She studied them, and as yet saw nothing but resistance there. It was too soon yet to speak, Once the flood-gate of words opened and there would be a break- down somewhere. But as the fire crept toward her father’s bared feet she cou.d endure it no longer, and ve a bound which carried her toward him, “ Hold!” she cried. This must stop!” Her thought was to scatter the fire, and deal with these fiends at any price. The man with the Winchester barred her way. “ @it back, lady bird. This thing hez gone too fur not to go furder. Ef we stop- ped now you'd think we Wane ony foolin’, He's got ter squirm & leetle.” ! He tbrust her back with his crossed gun, and she staggered from the shock, which maddened more than it hurt, Single-handed - she could not hope toeven effect a diversion, put she thought no longer of that. The weapon which so far'she had kept concealed was handy to ber grasp and itg presence unsuspected. She came again. and _, this time was silent. 3 As the outlaw again barred her way with x > his rifle her hand flew up and she fired full - 4n his face, while Vera, tottering and weak from her wound, gave the cry which had * pvgroathed the ears ydthout,) °° Lis ee Ve ee wy eRe! wy o5 1% - i - . RD. 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Sas Si eo UO ks Pee mre : = < a = ——w d — -" - and Sandy was wise enough to keep them going, These men actually feared Captain Curse as though he was Satan himself, and per- haps a little worse, because there may be. some chance to bargain with the arch-fiend, but after such a trick as* they had played their captain there could be none’ at all. They had not seen his fall; his words had meant nothing, and they imagined they were his shots which came hurtling after them as they plunged down the narrow passage lead- ing to the trail, | Master Pat was better engaged. As the outlaws disappeared Diamond Dave sprung to the side of Isabel. When the, hands had dropped away from her, upon the appearance of the captain, she had reeled toward her father, and then measured her length on the floor. At the turn of the tide her strength had forsaken her; and on her brow there was.a slight cut: froin which the oozing blood had given to her white face a ghastly stain. Kent Baker had eyes only for Vera. It did not matter to him that once upon a time there had been certain misunderstandings which had wrenched him and this girl apart. Just now he saw nothing else, and was by her side in\a minute, though with his weap- in the mine which wasnow known asthe Fair Isabel. | : As He had wandered away when the fortunes of the find had seemed at alowebb, and had been haying a rather disastrous time down in old Mexico, He had lately returned from the regions ravens Chihuahua, poor in pocket and health, and was scouting © around to take stock in the property in _ which he suspected he had more than a ve) . , - 4 3 ra rap P ‘little interest, , ey As for the lawsuit which his sister had = | instituted, he knew nothing at allaboutit, or that there was a chance that before the end of this very week he would be legally | declared dead and buried, and his effects open for administration, : aT Nor did_he know that while his sister was lingering here, held alike by the great rail-— ie i road strike, and by the heart-breaking ab- 9 duction of her daughter, the wheeis of justice were rolling on in the way that the interests of John Malloy would most have them roll, Had he known he might have suspected ee perhaps, for the dead captain had some years: ay, before been known to both him and Malloy; ALES and they had befriended him in sucha way j at that time that they ought to have been uble to command his beat services now, If | — he suspected afterward he asked no que ny . oh : Me ie Ne t “ \ ~ . *. . b ‘ * : * “ ¥)~' © . ‘ a= - a : oh Tage d : *¥ rs ‘ —) ye ie eee - . ~ © “v4 Pak a i : < . ? 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