Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 917 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 ee fe oe err eee ee eS eee — <~_- ~~ my own trap, and have got to stand the consekences, | fool of yourself with your bragging and your On’y ye’d best git out o’ my sight, or | mayn’t | dandified airs,” be able to hold myself in.” His eyes flamed with such fury t£at Jacobs ran in terror into the dark tumnel. Griscom followed him, scared, despite himself, by the old man’s evident fury. Dug-Out stood for a momentas if half-inclined to follow and brain them then and there. But as other thoughts came into his mind he flung down the pick and staggered back to the heap of broken stone behind him, Here he seated himseif and buried his face in his hands, over- come with grief at the thought of what had hap- ned, or his mingled anger and consternation he bdd paid no attention to the others, who were éellow- captives with him in the mine, ‘he effect of the explosion <" Bess we have seen. At first hor Joalou-«<age and despair had hina-«cu aby other feeling from entering her mind. Then camea revulsion of feeling as she sprung up in defense of Flash against the charge made by his enemies, All this had suddenl ror, and she now looke companions, She saw them crowded close together near the rocky side of the mine, Linda was deathly pale, and moaning as if overwhelmed withfear. Tim lay in a limp ball beside her, looking up into her face as if for hope and consolation. Bess threw herself on ‘the floor beside them clasped Linda impulsively in her arms, and sought to console her, ‘* Don’t take on so!” she pleaded, soothingly. ‘*Tt’s dreadful; but Flash is outside, Hell us something. He won’t léave us to die here.” **Oh, willhe? Can he?’ demanded Linda, with hope in her beart, ** You don’t knowhim. He’d move the moun- tain to get us out, He’s so strong, and so noble, aud— Oh, Flash! to think of it! To think of it! She buried her face in her hands, and burst into tears, as a sudden revulsion of feeling came over her. ‘*T don’t want him to get me out! Id sooner die than have him get me out!” cried Tim, start- ing in a fury of jealousy to his feet. ‘*I hato him! He bas robbed me of my love!” ‘‘ And broke my heart!” exclaimed Bess, loos- ing her embrace of Linda and pushing her an- grily away. ‘* Youand he—youand he together! hat dolcare for that fallen rock? He has hurt me worse than if it had fallen on me and crushed out my life.” Jealous anger bad made two of the prisoners forget the peril of their situation in the outflow of other feelings. Their passion had a similar oe on Linda, She sprung to her feet, cry- ing out: f You are both mistaken. He has done noth- ing of the kind! It was all my doings. If i have anybody to blame, Iam the one. Flash is not in fault.’ ‘© You?” they exclaimed in chorus. ‘Yes. It was all done as a joke, I didn’t mean to hurt anybody’s feelings, Ill never joke again.” ‘¢ You don’t love him, then?” demanded Tim, with a change of countenance, ‘* No more than I love you!” Tim drew back asif he had received a rebuff. “* And he don’t love you?” queried Bess. ‘* No more than I love him,” ‘*‘ But I saw you making love to each other on the porch, bh, I can’t believe you! You wouldn’t do that for a joke!” ‘¢ You don’t know what I’d do for a joke,” re- torted Linda, angrily. ‘‘ You had no business to act the spy on us, It wasn’t right or lady- likein you. All we wanted to do was to make Tim jealous,” ‘‘ That’s so,” cried Old Dug-Out, who had been listening, ‘‘I heerd ’em confabing to- ether, and that’s all true. They both was just nnin’, ‘* To make me jealous?” cried Tim. **Tt was all done for that, sir!” ** But why—what—then you are sure that you and he ain’t in love?’ demanded Bess, her eyes full of hope. ; ‘‘Not a bit of it! It was all in fun, @hy. He loves nobody but you, you crazy girl.” >” ** Oh, A gp dear, dear Linda!” exclaimed the happy girl, clasping the other in her arms, and kissing her impetuously. ‘* You have made me py—so happy!” % Rea’ didn’t want to hurt your feelings, u “But you don’t mind hurting®mine,” Tim plaintively interrupted. ** We couldn't help it. You did make such a steeled her against ter- round for her prisoner- so ha <¢ ‘‘ T never will again, if you'll only forgive me and love mea little. [ll forget New York, and wear cowhide boots and corduroy clothes, and swear, and drink whisky, and carry revolvers. I'll do anything to make you love me.” ‘‘Ob, Tim, for mercy’s sake, not so bad as that!” ‘‘Then you tell me what to do, and I'll do it. Anything for you. You say you don’t love Flash any more than me, Do you love him as much ?” ‘‘Maybe not quite as much,” she rejoined, with a roguish look. **Tuen I don’t care whether the rock tumbled or not,” criéd the now-elata Tim, ‘* [ll] throw away my shoe-blackitig, I’]] quit using tooth- powder, lll do anything you say.” He caught her hands and squeezed them in his joy till she winced and fairly cried out with ain. er Mercy on us! I don’t want to be eaten alive. l’ll go back and make love to Flash again if you two don’t let me alone.” There was a double groan of dismay as Bess and Tim released her from their grasp, It was followed by a merry laugh from her that con- trasted strangely with her recent terror. For the moment stronger feelings had driven that of grief and dismay from all their hearts, ‘** Now, young folks,” said Dug-Out, with some cheerfulness, ‘‘’tain’t so bad to git chocked in if it’s goin’ to make sunshine where all were stormy weather, Jist you keep happy, fur Flash’ll git us outer this, you kincountonthat/ Thar’s the old shaft, as I furgot forthe moment. He’ll git at us that way, sure pop.” A burst of joy came from all at these words, It gave them hope where all bad seemed hope- less, The old shaft! that was an unthought-of avenue of escape! Yet, hour after hour passed and no sign of rescue came. Night approached, indicated by the fading of the light in the old shaft, for otherwise there was no difference between day and night in that underground world. Fear began to take the place of hope in their hearts. ours had gone yet no sign of rescue hadcome, And this fear deepened into terror as the lamps began to burn dim, the oil in them slowly giving out. Yet, despite this reign of terrer there was one happy heart in that mountain prison-house. Linda had come closer to Tim in her despair, and in remorse for her frivolity had suffered him to clasp her in his arms. They were now crouched together in a corner of the excavation, the happy lover whispering words of hope and joy into her unhearing ears. As for Bess it was bliss to her to find that Flash had not been false to her, and she dropped off to sleep with happiness in her soul despite the peril of the situation. The two villains bad not nine d aww) since driven away by the old miner’s righteous indig- nation. They were hidden somewhere within the tunnel, a prey to the terrors they had prepared for others. And so the night came down on those hapless yet not quite hopeless prisoners; the lights went out, and dense darkness prevailed : and slowly the hours of their captivity pulsed by. CHAPTER XV, DOWN THE OLD SHAFT, It was morning once more, There was no lamplight in the mine, and yet the darkness had disappeared. A vague light came down the old shaft, that dimly dispelled the Stygian gloom, and cast its enlivening rays to some distance in- to the darkness of the tunnel. From the shadows of this two men rushed, and cast themselves at the feet of Old Dug-Out, who stood erect as an antique statue, looking down on them with eyes of scorn and distrust. ‘‘Forgive us!” cried Griscom. ‘‘We have sinned terribly. Yet forgive us before we die!” ‘**'You’ve been desp’ret villains; ther’s no ques- tion bout that,” rejoined the old miner. ‘* My evil life | as come upon me like a crush- ing load to-night,” responded Griscom feelingly. ‘* Providence is avenging my sins on my own head. If die we must, at least let us die with your forgiveness, against whom we have plotted such wrong.” *« 1’}] never steal a pin again!” whined Jacobs, contritely. ‘* There; get up,” commanded Dug-Out, with some softening of tone, ‘* We're all in the same box, and ther’s no use to harbor angry feelin’s now. Ifye’re goin’ to be good men hereafter I won't put nothin’in yer way; that ain’t my ee | ee get OE enn Hee - a nn — ghtning, the Mountain M $e ee ascot: — —— ~~ ee ‘“We are,” declared Griscom, rising witn @ very contrite aspect of countenance. ‘Me too,” broke in his companion. ‘‘ Jist show us some signs of it, That’sall I ax fur. You've been playin’ it heavy ag’in’ Flash. Now let us know what’s yer game.” ‘‘ Tt was to get his property,” replied Griscom. ‘‘ His father lefta large fortune, which is wait- ing for an owner in New York. Iam an uncle of the young man, and the nearest heir after him. But the courts have kept possession of the estate, for it was not sure that Mr. Bernard was dead. ‘‘ Among the papers you held there was only one I cared for. Under it I could have claimed the property, but lash destroyed it. Then only one thing remained—to put him out of the way, prove to the court that be was dead, and enter my claim, I acknowledge that I have been a desperate villain, Itis past now, I will never do a harmful act again,’ ‘¢ You didn’t want to kill the hull of us to get Flash’s property?’ queried Dug-Out, Griscom was silent. He bad no words to an- swer this accusation, But Jacobs at once burst out: ‘‘ There ain't no use telling half a story. We knew you'd struck gold, and wanted to finger it ourselves—that’s the truth, and nothing but the truth.” Dug Out grasped his ites again, with a mo- mentary return of his fiery anger. But he in- stantly released it and cried out: ‘* Ther’ ain’t no use barborin’ ill feelin’s when mebbe death is hoverin’ over us all, I forgive ye; but don’t do any more devil’s work, fur if ye do, ther’s got to be a settleinent atween us, and a lively one, now you bet!” Tim and the two girls had been listening to this conversation. But before anything further could be said, Bess sprung forward with gleam- ing eyes. ‘Look there!” she cried, eagerly and hope- fully. ‘* See what’s falling!” As she spoke, a piece of white paper fluttered down the old shaft and struck the rocky floor almost at her feet. With an exclamation of joy, she seized it and lifted it to her eager eyes. it was evidently written upon. Holding it where the light was strongest, she read: ‘Keep your spirits up! All’s right, Look for me down the shaft. And don’t forget, darling Bess, that if I rescue you, you belong to se FLASH,”’ Bess kissed the paper, while a flush of joy made her face almost radiant. ‘““Saved! Saved!” cried Tim, ‘1 forgive him. everything now.” a do you forgive me, too?” asked Linda, archly, ” There is nothing left to forgive,” he re- sponded, clasping her hand. ‘' That was done long BGO. And I thank you both for curing me of my folly, and teaching me how to be a man.” ‘¢ Saved! saved!” came from the others, and all eyes were fixed in eager hope and expecta- tion upon the shaft. But they were destined to a eo wait. Slow- ly the minutes went by till more than hour had passed. Hope defe began to change again to fear in some of their hearts, It grew darker also, a gloomy presage, Dug-Out stepped into the opening and looked up it, Ki I thought so,” he said, ‘* It’s kinder closin’ up. They’re riggin’ some plan to send a rope down,”’ As he spoke, a second white messenger fluttered downward and floated into the cham- ber, There was just light enough to read this: ‘*Standfromunder. I’m coming. Fiasa#,” The exclamations of joy redoubled. Dug-Out, in his sudden exhilaration of spirits, shook ds with everybody, not forgetting Griscom and Jacobs, ‘‘Tell yer what,” he shouted, “‘ ther’ ain’t no lads like Flash. He's a bull circus, an’ a lionan’ a lamb in the bargain. It’s my bringin’-up as doneit. Isworel’d make a man of him, and I reckon I’ve did it.” ‘That you have,” declared Griscom, seizing the hand of the old miner. ‘ He’sa different man from what he’d been if he’d had New York training, as the heir of a fortune, There’s a specimen of city being ne Up ” and he pointed to im, with a look of contempt. ‘¢ Not a word against him,” exclaimed Linda, her eyes flashing. ‘‘Do you think you are a fit judge of what is a man?’ ef have been an empty-headed dude, I con- fess it,” rejoined Tum, ‘ But I’m going to show We ore a. :