Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 902 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

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His appearance at once struck me, and I ‘became interested in him. ‘*He asked for Mrs. Hammond, and the «ard I carried up had on it: ‘‘* WALTER BENSON, ‘** Golden Gleam Mine, oF Ff Arizona,’ ‘‘[ gave Mrs Hammond the catd and she uttered an exclamation, but whether of sur- prise or pleasure I could not determine. ‘‘ She at once went down to the parlor and closed the door behind her. ‘This shut me out from hearing, though I did overhear very earnest conversation, and the visitor remained all of two hours. ‘‘Then hé left, and that night returned and asked for Miss Benson. ‘«She also closed the door behind her, and the conversation was again rather loud and earnest, and yet I could only catch a word here and there, that I may be able to put to- gether after I jearn more. ‘‘ He this time remained but half an hour - and when he left I saw Miss Benson; her face — was pale and an angry light flashed in her eyes. ‘This man, Walter Benson, repeated his . visit. daily, at one time asking for Mrs. Hammond, again for Miss Benson, and only once seeing the two together. “Tn each case the door was always tightly closed, and I could learn nothing; but now T have arranged a plan to know what passes between him and one of the two, for I am going to pretend to leave the house and then hide in an alcove in the parlor which is curtained cff for a beautiful piece of statuary. ‘It has a curtain behind it, and just space enough for me to hide in, and sc I can hear all if I do not see, for it is in,the back parlor ‘that the ladies always receive their visitor, whose name you note is Benson.’ After reading a page or two further, and upon another subject, the letter closed, but a postscript followed. ‘The P. 8. was dated the next day and was ‘as follows: Sherman Canfield, to Walter Benson of ‘‘T went to see Mr. learn if he kuew of Mr. Arizona. "He told me that he had heard of a gambler in Arizona by the name of Benson, avd who was also known as Wild Walter. He said thet he was known as an all- ‘round bad man, and once he had seen him, so he is going to try and get a look at this visitor to the. Hammond mansion, ‘‘Mr. Canfield also told me that Wild Walter had a beautiful wife with him in that wild country, and several men were killed about her. ‘*T will write you again in a few days. ‘* Lovingly, ‘OLIVE.” This letter like the former one was written in the peculiar cipher known to New York Nat and Olive alone. The letter set Nat to thinking, and he was startled from his reveries by hearing a light tap at the door, Opening it, and prepared to meet friend or foe, Nat beheld Wing Lung glide sud- denly into the room! <A curious smile lit up his face, while he saidin a whisper: ‘‘Wing Lung no big foolee like ’Melican man- —me sabe Nat allee samee he Preacher _ Lung, Chinaman who had so cleverly penetrated _ Boy,” “You are as cunning ag a fox, Wing ” and Nat grasped the hand of the ‘his. disguise and recognized him where others had failed to do so, — “ Me tellee news to Nat,’ continued Wing i , Ne the lowest of | es saad ell, Wing Lung?” cpr Wing Lung rire Satan Sam and alle ty ’Melican man with him. tia res ane capnteade a a ee ‘*He tellee big. lie on Boy Preacher, and he heap bad man, Satan Samee be. ‘‘Me havee allee down fine, and write name of allee band—see!” Nat looked at the slip of paper shown him by Wing Lung and replied witha smile: Tg ee oft cteinbitbtatens omar Ce fiat OT PAR ooo ae ame ee! > {yo ated tuna ALS PY eee oo ogee) rh tleman Jack, at the same time trapping his kidnappers, the six men mounted and fol- lowed New York Nat and Freckles on the trail to the mountain camp of the Gamin Detectives, who were playing such a bold game in the Wild West. It was nearly sunset when they rode into “Yes, I see, Wing Lung, but that is all | the camp, and were greeted by Keno, Greek to me; ‘but you can ‘translate it for me.’ ‘‘Loo Choo, he writtee ’Melican man tonguee, and he tellee Nat all. a Meet him to-morrow night allee samee place, and havee Loo Choo with me.” + ‘All right, Wing Lung,” answered Nat, and after some minutes’ further conversation inthe same low tone, New York Nat let Wing Lung glide out of the door, and then he retired to rest, well pleased with the way matters were shaping both with Olive in the East, and himself inthe Wild West. —_—_—— CHAPTER XXYVI. CAUGHT NAPPING. As he found that he would be expected to “ neach,” New York Nat played possum the next day and remained in bed, feigning sick- ness Fred Fox called upon him twice, and gave him to understand that he had bought the horses, their outfit and the supplies, and had the six men all ready to start the next morn ing. Two of them would leave abcad of the coach on horseback, the others going as passengers, There were no passengers So far save those who were to go with Fred Fox on the secret expedition, and this was fortunate. Still, others might come in on the night train, Fred said. Wing Lung carried Nat his meals, so the young ‘Ferret did not have to go out and meet him and Loo Choo at night, but had a list of names given him by the Chinaman. The next morning Nat was up early to take the coach, and waJked like one who was | quite feeble, while he had his head tied up and looked the picture of despair, like one suffering with excruciating toothache, There were only the four men whom Fred Fox had corralled on the coach, and away it rolled—Nat, ill though he pretended to be, saying he world ride for awhile on the box, Thus he and the driver arranged their plans, and the two horsemen were soon over- taken and kept up with the coach, The six men were fine specimens of man- hood, and were armed to the teeth. They knew that Fred Fox wanted them for some good and dangerous deed, but never once had suspected that the Boy Preacher was init, too. | When Fred at last drew rein at the spot where he had picked Nat up on the way in, he said: ‘‘Come out, pards, and. let me interdooce yer all to yer young cap De “This hain’t sich a sky pilot as he looks, but the Boy Miner, New York Nat, whom Satan spun sich a yarn” against. ‘Take off yer coverin’, boy pards, and let ther boys see yer as yer is, and he'll tell yer what is ter be did, for Thas ter drive on ter The outlaw prisoner was there, gagged as well as bound, for Keno would take no chances when alone, As the gag was removed for him to eat supper, he ‘begged piteously for his life, and New York Nat answered: ‘‘T will spare it upon one condition,” **T’ll do it.” ‘‘You are to lead us to the cabin, knock and tell the men who you are, and that you have a message from Satan Sam.” “Tl do it.” ‘When we have the gang safe, and pris- oner rescued, you shall have a horse and outfit, anc be set free, as soon us we réach a point near Junction City; but if you do not get out of this country quick, then you'll have to hang.” “God .knows I'll go,” answer, After supper the six men and the three Ferrets and their prisoner mounted and rode away up the mountain trail, The prisoner, to show his good faith, now that he was fairly caught, had, at Nat’s de- mand, given him the names of ‘four men be- sides Satan Sam who belonged to the road- agent band, and frankly confessed that they would find five men in the camp, adding: ‘There was thirteen of us, including the Captain, and you know you | killed Buster when we jumped your camp.” Glancing at the names given him by Loo Choo, N at saw that they were the same that théoutlaw gave him, so muttered: ‘These are right, “We'll get the whole band except the was the eager Captain, who is Kast, for this fellow is to go. free, and Buster is in his grave,” They soon Came to the cliff, from whence | a view of the retreat could be seen, and all saw the outlaws gathered about the fire, and the prisoner near, and who was recognized Ly several as Gentleman Jack. They rode slowly along the ridge for a mile, then left their horses staked out and ~ with his continued on foot, the prisoner, hands bound behind his back, and gagged so that he could give no alarm, leading the way. When they had descended the rugged trail to the valley, they saw that the camp-fire was deserted, the men had retired to their cabin, and the midnight visitors advanced slowly to make their call upon the unsus- pecting outlaws, CHAPTER XXVIIL. THe FERRETS SPRING THEIR TRAP, “ Say, pards, let me in!” It was the outlaw prisoner who spoke, and he rapped heavily upon the cabin door, Voices were heard within, and the name of the man was asked and given, while as Aiea the door was thrown open several asked: ‘‘ Anything gone wrong, ard?’ The answer was in New ork Nat’s voice, q * ae > he ther mines, but expects ter hear a good re- | for Winchesters covered the man nearestthe HN port of yer ‘when I gits back.” door, and he called out: ene To the surprise of the men they now ‘Hands up, all of you. for your cabin is eet) recognized the Boy Miner, who had helped | surrounded, and it is death to resist!” ae Fred Fox out in the attack of the road- But those desperate men, banded together rel 5 agents, had bluffed Satan Sam ata game of ; to rob and kill, were not the ones to surren- ; ie ni cards, ‘and: then was accused by the latter of | der tamely, and at once there was & sharp a Sara being aroad-agent. . | cracking of revolvers, Biss over a score of Phos In a few words Nat made his story known, | , shots had been fired and men belt dropping and then giving a signal agreed upon, | dead in and out of the cabin, before a ORY, clare ae came for quarter. Then three outlaws, one of them wound- — es Mf Bidding good-by, and telling | ed, held up their hands and stepped out into’: him t net? pte} eiaaly follow the lead of. the bright moonlight, one of them did as | the young Ferre and rescue his Lida bal a ee fell upon t eir betrayer: Freckles rode into,sight, riding one horse and ae other: her al “saddled and bridled. | : . F Or Hs a’ : T, ‘ 1 - : ' a . . - « . 7 se ’ t * 7 : 4 A #7 i : : f bd d . , : ‘ he | x” + ' ‘ f ‘ , : . " é Pe . “ , ; » } Py : * Pe ws > f 5 he hey ; _ “ ; . f - 3 ‘“ - . ao ; ab. ' ’ ‘ ‘ : ? ‘ _ > pet ’ ‘ ( : ’ : b . ; . m4 7 3% 7 % v. r 7? ‘ » 7 y ” 4 ’ . me t.! i * . . - ane ; ro. : 7 s ik “ ‘> e é 4 Re i poe. a st! ~ ia \ ~~ eomicbo Boke. “CC pe ay