Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 913 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Kit Keith, the Revenue Spotter. you can depend on it the whisky will be there, | and the whole gang along with it. The.captain | expects to receive the money, watch his chance and pe Oh, I’m dead onto his game.” ¥ l, [shall have a strong posse of United | States officers near at hand, to capiure the. | gany. I cannot tell you more definitely now, | | until [ examine the whole vicinity, where the rreek enters the river.” ‘* Will you take part in the attack?” ‘*No. I shall plan it, and then leave it in charge of a superior officer, When I am sure | the gang are well away from their stronghold, I have business there.” ‘*Ah! What?” | ‘*T believe Sadie Sefton to be imprisoned there, and propose to rescue her.” ‘*She is there, locked up in Cussick’s house, But, for the present, I don’t think she will suf- ferany harm, He’ll have to git rid of his wife first, for she watches him like a hawk. I, too, have a mission in the camp, after the gang are | gone; so, if you are agreeable, we will go to- | gether,” ‘Of course. I haveno objections. But what ' | is your mission?” ‘*T will tell you: For two years past, Cap Cussick bas had a man locked up in a dungeon | in the rear of the whisky vault. Cussick has | | been paid to keep the mana prisoner there by | | the man’s wife. I never knew any of these | facts, until I overheard a conversation yester- | day between Cussick and his wife, It appears the man’s own wife has kept her husband shut upin order to get possession of hismoney! I propose to releasehim, It wasalso my intention to free the Sefton gal. But now, since we un- derstand each other, we will go together.” ‘*You bet we will! But, do you know this | man prisoner’s name?” | ‘Yes. Itis Judson Darrel, He has been, by ‘most everybody, believed dead.” ‘* My father /” cried Kit. ‘ Your father?” ejaculated Big Pete. ‘“Yes, His real name is Kyle Kenneth, and I am his only legitimate offspring.” Kit then went on and explained the story of his life, as he had heard it from Mother Miggs, and knew it himself, Big Pete listened with rapt attention, ‘Well, if this be true, ate can claim the Darrel fortune,” he averred, ‘‘for, judging by | what I heard Cap Cussick tell his wife, the pris- | oner in the whisky-vault ain’t bookeu for much | longer in this world!” ‘*T hope to Heaven he does not die until I can see him,” Kit said. By this time they were out of the woods and drew rein, : ‘*To avoid suspicion of my intention to desert, I reckon I'll return to the camp,” Big Pete an- nounted, ‘‘]’ll bang arouné there until fate | Saturday, and then manufacture some pretense | fer goin’ to S8-——, an’ will meet you near the | Sefton cottage.” . “All right. 1 shall expect you. I will go | now and wire word to Washington, so as to be sure and have my menon hand. You return to | headquarters and keep your eyes about you, | and if opportunity arrives for you to get a word | with Sadie Sefton, assure her that she will soon | be liberated.” | “Very well. And now before you go, I'd. . kinder like to know what you look like under | | that disguise.” | : Kit accordingly removed the wig and beard and exposed his own handsome phiz to view. Yat ‘‘T am Kit Keith, of Washington!” he said, ' Big Pete uttered an ejaculation. ‘My ‘*T thought Cussick had a spy of your name — | ' ) thrown into the sea?” “So he did, but, by good fortune, Mother | Miggs fished me out and restored me to life.” _| a ? Waal, yer’ a plucky shins | anyhow, an’ I AS reckon I wasn’t fur off in regard to your age.” Feat ‘‘No you were not. [am only a trifle over pant twenty-two.” A “is Pe = _ They separated, Big Pete returning to the ren- dezvous, and Kit riding off toward B —, tine nearest telegraph station, some four miles from CHAPTER XVI. THE RETRIEVER RETRIEVES, When Kit Keith reached B——, he imme- diately iy the telegraph office and sent the following atch to the chief of revenue de- _ tectives, at Washington: __ “Have succeeded bevond my most sanguine ex- Late phees All ready for a grand pull early Sun- inorning lave fifty specials in private dress The message was flashed over the wire with- out delay, and in half an hour an answer came back: ** Mr, Krr Kerra:— * Will come by water. Land two miles north of Jarvis aven, Saturday eveni:'g. Come there. **CoL. ——-, “* Acting Chief U. S. R. Detectives.” Mounting his horse he returned to S——, and found Lawyer Coburn at the Horn of Plenty tavern. Taking him to one side and introduc- ing himself, Kit held a somewhat lengthy con- sultation with the attorney, after which he remounted his horse, and set out for Darrel Manor, where he intended to make a call, On arrival there he dismounted, hitched his horse, and rung the door-bell. The summons was promptly answered by a servant, to whom Kit presented a card bearing the uame: Hon. JosHUA BRADLEY. In his detective excursions the retriever al- ways carried with him a stock of business and calling cards containing various names, finding that it aided bir) materially in perfecting his changes of character, The servant disappeared with the card, but soon returned and ushered the caller into the parlor and bade him be sented. A few minutes later Mrs. Darrel entered, and Kit at once recognized ber as the same woman be had encountered in Washington. She was looking pale and haggard now, however, and had evidently passed a restless night. f Mrs. Darrel, I believe!” Kit remarked, ris- ing, with a profound bow. ‘‘T am Mrs, Darrel, yes, sir,” was the reply, in a tone that evidenced that the lady was in na too pleasant a humor, ‘* And, you, sir— ‘‘Am Kit Keith, the detective!” was the re- ply; and, by a quick movement of his hands, Kit removed his false beard and wig, at the same time covering Mrs. Darrel with a revolver. **Do you recognize me, madam?’ Mrs. Darrel started back with a wild cry of alarm, her face growing sickly pale. ** You!” she gasped. ‘7, madam! I see you recognize me. Al- though [ lost track of you in Washington, I have at last run you down and found out the whole of myhistory. I know all, everytaing, and have called to see how soon you will be ready to vacate these premises.” ‘ Never!” the woman replied, her hands clinch- ing together. ‘‘Il am mistress here, and intend to remain so, Who are you, that you dare to come here and ask me when | intend to va- cate?” ‘‘T am the only legitimate son and heir of Kyle Kenneth, who married you under the as- sumed nawe of Judson Darrel when he had a, wife living. You were not then 4 iegitimate wife, madam, ad your son, Roger, therefore, is not of legitimate birth. My mother’s marriage- certificate is in existence to prove that she was legally wedded to Kyle Kenneth several months before you were. Also, | believe, proof of this fact can be found among Kyle Kenneth’s papers, Unknown to you, I was in this house yesterday, but could not gain entrance to my father’s library. I desire to visit that apartment now, madam.” ** You cannot do so. my house instantly.” ** And 1 refuse, There is no such thing as cannot, You must admit me to the library, madam, Refuse me, and, woman though you are, [’ll shoot you down as though you were a she welf. JI mean to search the library, to see if I can find a will, Remember, you have got a aE now to deal with who will not be thwart- Mrs, Darrel laughed scornfully. ' ‘Oh, well, you can search the library, if you like,” she said, ‘‘ but you will find nothing, for I command you to leave _it has already been thoroughly searched and nothing found. You cannot prove your claim, nor anything you. have said, you adventurer, and I will bave you arrested for a fraud and blackmailer.” ‘‘Look out I don’t have you arrested for keep- ing Kyle Kenneth locked up ina dungeon for two years,” Kit retorted. ‘‘Come! I wish to be conducted to the library, Any attempt to give an alarm or to frustrate m ns will result in our being shot down. Ido not intend to pun- h you by law if youaccede to my terms, | in- tend to dispossess you of this estate and have all my rights fully conceded. So, if you don’t want a term of imprisonment, you will find it to ———— a EE _ ee a ee oe oe Sd ee ee ee, te wi 1S White with rage, Mrs, Darrel glared at him z moment as if sbe would like to strike him down. with a death-blow; then, grating her teeth in vicious impatience, she said: **Well, come along. You can search till doom’sday, for all I care!” She led the way from the parlor toa room on the second floor, the door of which she unlocked, and she and Kit entered. The room was of good size, cozily furnished, and contained several desks and bookcases. ‘Give me the keys to the desks, and then sit down yonder in the corner, and don’t you dare to move!” Kit ordered. ‘*l won’t detain you , ne a rembling with her illy-suppressed passion, she obeyed him. After receiving the keys, he proceeded to make a minute examination of the desks, at the same time ening his revolver handy for use, and an eye on the now desperate schemer, Examination of the first desk and its contents yielded no discovery , the desk being of ordinary construction, and the contents of a commonplace business character. The same occurred in the instance of the sec- ond and third desks. The fourth desk was rather an antique affair, and Kit’s hopes rose a little as he began its ex- amination. Mrs, Darrel watched him narrowly. | Suddenly, a cry from his lips caused her to | spring to her feet in eager expectancy, He had touched what was apparently a solid knot in the interior of the desk, and a secrets panel had shot to one side, revealing a cavity beyond. Reaching into it, he drew forth two docu- ments. ‘** Last will and testament of Kyle Kenneth, otherwise known as Judson Darrel!” he read. ** Also, the ‘ Confession of Kyle Kenneth!’ Ha, ha! the very papers | want!” ‘Give them to me—they are mine!” fairly screamed Mrs. Darrel, rushing toward him, ‘“‘ They are mine—give them to me!” ‘* Back!” ordered Kit, sternly, leveling his re- _ volver at her. ‘‘Come nearer, and I'll drop you!’ < Then, with weapon poised, he examined the r documents, His face lighted up as he did so. The confession was first read. It told of Kyle Kenneth’s sinful life; of how he had married twice; of how he had pushed his true wife into the sea, and afterward had given his son, Christopher. to an Italian organ- grinder. It also narrated the incidents of Kit’s life, up to the time he entered the United States revenue service, and in conclusion asked bis son’s for- giveness, and further stated that the confession was made in fear of impending evil, the con- fessor believing that his second wife had designs upon his life in order to secure his property. The will bequeathed all his money, real estate and personal property to his son, Christopher Kenneth, who, at the time of the making of the will, bore the name of Kit Keith. When the young retriever had finished the perusal of these Cocuments, he read them aloud to Mrs. Darrel, who listened, pale and speech- a less, . ‘‘- You see now that I am master here, I pre- sume!” Kit observed, ‘‘and that you will have to vacate. I shall place these papers in the hands of a lawyer, and have matters settled up at once!” : " ** { won't vacate!” she hissed. ‘‘ I'll stay here | and fight you in court!” ‘‘ Perhaps,” Kit said, dryly—‘‘ perhaps not. When I tell you that, within a few hours, Ca A Cussick’s gang will be broken up, and Kyle i Kenneth set at liberty, fierce and vengeful— perhaps, then, you won’t care to tarry long in | this neighborhood.” The guilty woman reeled back at this infor- mation, and with a gasping moan, fell prone up- on the floor. : Leaving her lying where she had fallen, Kit ad pocketed his precious papers and left the house, CHAPTER XVII. CONCLUSION. WHAT remains to be told it need not takelong. to relate. Saturday evening a revenue cutter, contain- ing a strong posse of officers, dropped anchor above Jarvishaven, and was met by Kit Keith, who conducted them to an ambush near where the Dark Run Creek emptied into the York River, and gave them such instructionsas would here at dusk, «9 aorrow night, Will mee" youthen, | Your advantage to obey my orders promptly and | enable them to capture the moonshiner+ witbout vi Answer. , , Kit Kerra.” implicitly,” much trouble, ‘ ie y - : \ . bie : aM wer > : hs \ ii i ; ei. i’ : hi eed gy a BN ee Nk eae NE Sh AD od ae ee che M He iS irae X , eg aie Donte aA ee ve \cer a cy i My Py: } ri : \ Pe ok eth ; ie sey iy. Biden, vi was ARN ler coh ern Bee 0 (ei eyexe) u @ ; Sea, Ae Bec :