Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 917 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Flash Lightning’, Bess positively. been trying a man’s luck long enough. Let’s try a girl’s luck, strike the vein?” she demanded, seizing a light pick that lay at her feet, What will you give meif I | ‘“Give me the pick. You've | } i “*There’s a fortunc in it for you. nothing to do with it.” ‘* Hillo, gal, what beets in yer bonnet now?” _eried Dug-Out, as Flash drew back in curprise. ** Half the gold that’sin it,” rejoined Dug-Out, | with a grim laugh. offer.” ** Don’t be too sure,” exclaimed Bess, sort of mascot, you know.” She hastened toa point near the entrance to **I reckon that’s a safe ‘*Tma of soft rock. The sharp pick sunk into it almost as if it had been clay, i worked eagerly. Dug-Out stood leaning on his heavy pick and | heard you. ‘*] say it’s half yourn, and I mean ié.” ‘* Ard I say I won’t bave any of it. Hc can goto his Miss Melton, and take her bis money. I won't disgrace him with my rags, and my | ignerance, and my old aunt.” ‘Disgrace me? Why, you're crazy, girl! If | anybody but you said that I’d break his head, the shaft where the blast bad laid bare an area | | of you? t came off in thick scales as Bess | Miss Melton! what dol care for her alongside 1 care more for your little finger than for the whole of her.” ‘* That’s not so,” cried Bess, breaking outin a rage. ‘* You’ve said the same thing toher. I And I saw vou put your arm looking on, while a smile curled his wrinkled | around her and kiss her. You never did that to | me,’ lips. *That’s mighty good exercise fur a gal’s arms,” he said, ‘*I reckon that’s ’bout allit is.” Bess laughed back as she struck again. In- stead of the soft thud of her previous blows this yielded a metallic ring. She gave a wrench with the instrument, and a heavy stone rolled out, ‘*Guess ye’re "bout done, gal,” he remarked, ** Ye’re inter hard stuff now.” He carelessly picked up the stone as he spoke, and cast bis eyes upon it. Instantly a light flashed into them, and he began excitedly to turn it over in his hands, Suddenly he dropped it, raised his heavy pick ever his shoulder, and sung out in a voice of thunder: ‘* Back, gal! Leave me thar!” He pushed Bess away with a force that sent her reeling, and began to dig into the cavity with frantic energy. A few blows and a much larger stone was loosened, He inserted the point of the pick un- aed it, pried desperately, and it rolled out at his eet. cen Ne had been working like one beside himself, He now dropped the pick and began to examine this stone with eager eyes, A moment, and then he sprung to his feet, flung his hat hke a schovulboy into the air, and yelled out joyfully’: **Gold! gold, as ’m a livin’ man! It’s the vein! It’s the vein at last! You've struck it, Bess, and it’s half yourn. We're rich, gal; rich as Vanderbilt,” ** You ain’t in earnest?” ‘*Never was in such earnest afore. Ther’s gold streak all through that stone, Never saw nothin’ pan out livelier.” Bess began to dance excitedly. “To think that I doneit! Butit ain’t mine. It’sall yourn, I won’t have it.” ** Don’t you know Old Dug-Out better’n that? The gold’s half yourn, gal; and I won’t take no from nobody.” **T won't have it.” ** You shall have it. There—don’t say another word. Don’t you gitmeriled. I’m ugly when Tm riled.” At this moment there came a _ diversion. Rapid footsteps were heard approaching, and Flash sprung into the scene, Nor was he the only one. A second person followed him at a short distance, in a secret and lurking fashion, as if scouting -on his track. This person remained concealed behind a corner of rock, though near enough to see and hear all that passed. Utterly unaware that he had been followed, Flash bastened forward, and stoo’ looking with surprise on the excited faces of Bess and Dug- Out. ** What's up?” he demanded hastily. ‘* You look as if you’d stirred ae a rattlesnake, or drop- ped into a gold-mine. hich is it?” ‘“‘Thar’s the rattler,” said See et eeane tothestone, ‘Git yereyesonthat. Youknow somethin’ bout metal.” Flash did so, examining it critically, “My stars, it’s gold!” heejaculated, ‘‘ You've struck it rich,” d ‘‘Nary time. "Tain’t me. It’s this gal as struck it, All I did was to blast inter ther Gol- den Folly. Don’t let nothin’ out in Payrock, fur I want ter keep this shady jist now Ther mought be some fool makin’ trouble ’bout ther old mine, I tell you, boy, Bess and me, we’re capitalists,” ' * Bess!” cried Flash in surprise. ‘‘Can that be so? Bess struck the vein? That’s prime. Give me your hand on it, Bess.” He advanced with extended hand and joyful face. But Bess, who had drawn back on his en- - trance, now placed her bands behind her, and said coldly: Fe hoe . say. , 4 * aa) Bi il a tig ~ ‘> eiy h. | q 3 ; > ’ ** You wouldn’: let me; that’s why. I’ve tried it, you know that.” **T never will let you. I hate you! take your money to Miss Melton,” ‘But, Bess—” ‘*You laughed when she made funof me f heard you.” ‘‘ Why, Bess—” “You did! [heard you. And I never want You can | to see you again!” She rushed away in a torrent of passion, ‘** Now, Bess, do listen—” **T won’t! I don’t want to hearanother word, I won’t be in your way with Miss Melton. Good-by, forever!” She hurried away, leaving Flash in an agony of surprise and dismay. While this went on, none of them observed the figure that was hidden behind the rock, looking on with eyes of satisfied triumph. it was Tim ae pe, who had followed Flash into the mine full of revengeful thoughts, ef sey bave found gold,” he said, ‘“‘ and want to keep it quiet, for fear the Golden Folly folks may lay a claim, I'll tell everybody. Vil spread it all over Payrock. ‘And see if I don’t let Linda know how this clown has been making love to a rag-patch. I'll let him see that no one can insult a Spruce with impunity.” He withdrew cautiously, leaving the old miner and Flash in conversation. In his spiteful dis- ition, he fancied that he had the means to do is riva] an injury. He had hardly got outside the mine before he met a person whose face » as strange to him, It was Abel Griscom, who was prowling around there, revolving in his evil mind schemes to make him even with Flash. He was not one to readily forgive the trick that had been playod on him, Tim Spruce found a more interested ancitor than he had expected. Griscom listened with the utmost attention to the story of the finding of the vein of gold, ‘*]t’s ail clear,” he remarked, ‘t They want it kept secret, because it’s in the old Golden Folly claim, It does not belong to ‘them, I have it— You don’t like these people?” **] hate them worse than I hate snakes!” ‘*Then corae with me. We'll see what can be done, I hate them, too, Come,” He led Tim away, revolving in his mind schemes of vengeance. The information which Griscom had received wes worth much to one as shrewd-and unscrupulous as he, The old miner and his protégé were in far greater danger than they dreamed of. CHAPTER XII, THE CLIMAX OF THE PLOT. WE must pass on to the second cay after the scene of the discovery, During the preceding day Dug-Out had worked diligently at the vein, and uncovered it sufficiently to prove that there was no mistake, that there was gold in abun- dance, But it lay on the very edge of the Golden Folly claim. The old mining property might be bought up for asong. He had better try to secure this before the news of his find got abroad, It would not be comfortable to find a troublesome claimant to the product of his twelve years’ labor. That night something else had happened in the town. Three of the road-agents imprisoned in the lock-up had broken out and made their escape. The fourth was too much hurt to ac- company them. How it had been done no one knew, but there was reason to believe that they had help from without. Th: escape was not agreeable to th~ townsmen, for they had about mace up their minds to hang the whole party But pursuit re useless the fugitives were not to be ound, ' the Mountain Mascot. Pve got | of men were collected ina mountain ravine not 1i Near nightfalJ of the day in question a group very far away from Payrock, Two of these, rifle in hand, were on guard at the up and down entrances to theravine, They were two of the | escaped road-azgents. Two other men stood in an open space in the center. They were Abel Griscom and Jerry Jacobs, who were engaged in earnest conver- sation. ‘*Revenge and gold:—they are two things worth working for,” remarked Griscom. ‘Revenge is enough,” returned Jacobs, rub- bing his back, with a wry face. ‘*O’ course, f don’t object to the gold. But—a sore back wants to be cured by a sore head.” ‘* They laid it on heavy, then?’ “1 fought like a tiger,” rejoined Jerry, witha great show of courage. ‘But what could one mando against a dozen? I must have knoeked down ten of them, and if these fellows had only come tomy help, But a man can’t make buil- dogs out of cowards.” “ That’s true.” rejoined Griscom, smiling grim- ly, ‘‘exce t by the help of his tongue.” **Tf I'd only bad one good man to belp me,” declared Jacobs. ‘‘ But what can one do against twenty ?” ‘* Dry up, Jerry; you’re wasting your pow- der. Save that for green goslings, There's porns left but to get satisfaction for your sore ‘*Say how,” cried Jerry, viciously. ‘I’m open for anything.” **'You know about the find in the mine. T have laid my plan to lure everybody who is in our way into the mine to-morrow—then—” ** Well, what then?’ ** A buge rock overhangs the entrance to the mine, It is loosely poised. A dynamite cartridge exploded under its upper edge will lift it and hurl it over the entrance.” ** And bury them all alive?” ‘* Under five hundred tons of rock. It will take a week for all Payrock to open the tunnel! again, and long before that time there will be only dead bodies inside,” acobs stood in silent reflection, with Gris- com’s eyes fixed meaningly on his face, ** Well,” he asked, harshly, ‘‘you’re not afraid?” ** It’s like wholesale murder.” ‘* What would you do to get rid of that sneak, Flash ?” ** I'd murder a dozen!” cried Jerry, viciously. ‘“* That’s one thing. Another is, ’ve laid my plans to buy the Golden Folly claim, The vein will be ours,” ‘* Are you ready to say halves?” ec Y es. ? ** Then here’s my hand on it.” “Good.” He shook Jerry’s hand as cordially as if they had just completed some honest bar- gain. ‘I have one of our men at work now clearing out a cavity behind the rock, He is working under cover of thick bushes, and by night will have a hole ten feet deep, between the two rock surfaces. Then we have only to sink the cartridge, fix everything for the ex- plosion. and all will be ready.” ** When will it be done?” ‘** To-morrow, My man willlie hidden wait- ing for the signal, which is to be the waving of a white handkerchief. Then off goes the cartridge and down comes the rock. My plans are laid to get everybody whom we fear in the mine,” “* How?” ‘* Through the help of that New York dude.” “Can you trust him?” ‘‘Trust him? Yes, to play the fool. Out and Flash will be therc, workin vein. I wart the girland the dude, have all that know the secret,” ‘*The dude? Is that the way you are going to pey him for his help? Griscom laughed unfeelingly. ‘* There will be only one fool less in the world. Zan gd be missed out of the vast total of ools, “ But the girl, Bess, She’s so confounded pretty, and l’ve got such a hankering after er. ** What’s come of your hankering? First, a souse in a duck-pond ; next, a roping on the bare back that’s enough to cure twenty lovers. an want another dose of the same sort, do. ou?’ ‘*No,” cried Jerry, gritting his teeth vicious-- Dug- at the hen we ly. “Go on, ’m wit you through the whole. game,” Some further conversation ensued between the: worthy pair in which they considered the details: of their villainouy plan. It had been skillfully . vat * “o ‘ E: \ ule a. . - ‘ oe icbooks.com