Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 92 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

oe =, - te nel OR A it, Ml dag tg ire * SN Te EN SRN a gE eee ——$—_— —— brought into the room, and the previous gang, Hal and Dave included, removed to another apartment adjoining, fitted up with bunks and tables, the win- dows in the roof being heavily grated. Here they were locked in, make the best of their time until their turn again arrived. Milk and roast fowl were agg upon the different tables in liberal installments, and the overworked slaves made hasty work of it. Dave and the young man who fed his press, and Hal and his aged assistant, chanced to occupy one table, and accordingly opened a verbal acquaint- anceship. The young man’s name was Harry Reynolds while the elder slave rejoiced in the cognomen of Alex. Watchman. After they had talked over the situation and their prospects for some time, the old man said: “No; there is no hope of getting out of here, as long as the den is in existence. Ten long years have I served here, and during that time I have never seen one ed avenue of escape—not one! Everyt is locked, barred,or ed. As you may have im , this is one of the greatest counter- feitine dens in America—ay, I may add, in the world. All of the dies are so nearly perfect that it requires the most rienced expert to detect the Hotta money from the genuine. The coins are of uniform welight with silver. Of the silver pieces we manu- f se fh d perfect about a hundred dollars pst day, while o 6 paper we issue from one to ten thousand er week, the denominations being one, two and five volar b None of larger figure are issued, be- cause it is these larger bills that the expert watches most narrowly.” “There must be an enormous amount of this cur- rency abroad on the market?” Hal said. ‘Yes, there is. Some banks may have large amounts of our ‘ queer’ in their possession, unaware of its being bogus, The most of it, however, is cir- culated through the extreme West—in the mines > ee ee Ted. ih expert i ee ple less requen et. © same man never - buthe the second time, in one locality, except in dis- " ‘* How often is this ‘queer’ shoved upon the mar- ket?’ ‘*Onece a month three men, armed with numerous disguises, start out, and their three predecessors come in.’ “Were any of these circulating. mediums ever caught?” ‘* Yes, on several occasions, but they always died “Canada Chet, I suppose, then, is the owner, and consequently the one whom the business most bene- fits.’ “On the contrary, I am led to believe that the Canadian and his employees, are merely tools in, the service of a ring of greater rascals, who have their headquarters in the East—men who have made their fortunes, and who have Goga nied at various times, and may yet retain h offices under both the Canadian and United Sta overnments. Probab the world at large knows not how much counterfeit money they are daily handling.” ‘Could not these leaders be implicated, and brought to justice, think you? ‘*Certainly not, for who could fe out the guilty ones, except those who belong to the ring—a brother- hood that never betrays?” * Tt is not until lately that you began the manufac- ture of bills, eh?” ‘‘ About a year ago.” ‘““Where do the steel engraved plates and paper come from?” “Originally from Washington, but previous to reaching us they travel thousands of miles out of the direct route, in charge of a sharper, employed by the oe ou learned all this?” ’, fe would ‘be hard for you to listen to a recital of how, by degrees, I have picked up ny into mntlbe. Ten years have baén consumed in the task. Harry Reynolds was a good-looking young fellow, and an enjoyable com n. He had been captur- ed, a year before, wh e trapping along Beaver e, with a party of seven others—he being the only one to escape the massacre at the hands of Canada Chet. of conversation ensued; then all Several hours hands sought rest upon the cots, preparatory to go- evening. on duty the co , Vave . Hal were in somewhat better spirits for heir. new co t mpanionship, although they each heart- ily wished themselves Back in their comfortable ho in Ottaw _ Their Cos” of escape, however, appeared re- Canada Chet had a cabin of his own, not far from the “ pen,” where he usu nt his nights, waited upon by a half-breed wen oy ag Hal and Dave’s incar- On the morning follo ceration, the of the North, as he was known among his intim Sat smoking before his door, when a man rode leisurely up and dismounted. He was a stranger in the town, and Canada Chet eyed him narrowly, without of rina A man of some five-and-forty he was, with a portly form and florid countenance, which was for the most part covered with a long, heavy growth of brown, glossy beard. The end of his nose was delicately volored, and about his eyes was a combined expres- sion of cunning, evil, an the effects of dissipation. He was dressed in citizens’ garb, with a Derby hat upon his hand, as he paused and bowed before the an. ‘““Do [ behold the Right Honorable Mr. Chester Howard?” he Redes | in soft, effeminate tones. Canada Chet. ee -_—_ + —_—- — — ——————— el + ee ‘*Yas, I reckon that’s me,” the rufflan grunted. ‘What in thunder d’ye want, anyhow?”’ “That is aed to explain, after we arrive at the subject,’’ was the reply. ” y name is Casper Dayton; an uncle, by the way, to one of the two boys you took into your ser- vice, last night. I want to buy those boys—or, rather, one of them, my nephew, from you.” ‘They ain’t fer sale,’”’ Canada Chet growled, ei ‘*I opine you're on the wrong trail, pil- m.’ “And I'll allow that I am not,” the other replied. “Just listen to me for a few moments, and I will convince you to the contrary. I have a little story to relate, which I believe will prove interesting to ou. “To begin with, Iam the youngest of three sons, of a family of gentle blood, named Dayton. My paternal relative was at one time a millionaire in the city of New York. Of course, to make any family history complete, there must be one black sheep in | the flock, and I was the one. Atan early age I was a disgrace to my proud family, in many different ways and was summarily kicked out into the world. ’ My father and eldest brother finally left for the upper world, on an exploring expedition, and I mone in prison at that time for burglary, the whole wealth was made over to my brother, who now lives in Ottawa, Canada. ‘*The property lies in New York State, and is all his, except one dollar, which I can claim at any time I choose to go forward, and risk being arrested as a forger. a! ha! Oh! you see, lam familiar to peel phase of crime— a heart-hardened wretch, my father denominated me on his death-bed. ‘Now, then, all the human individuality that stands between me and that estate, is this brother, and his son, not another heir being in existence. Therefore, I have ferreted the whole matter out, trailed the lad here, and now wish to purchase him for spot cash. The old gent ison his way hither, i understand, but I chanced to get in heat of him.” “*An’ so ye want the boy, “ei Canada Chet in- terrogated, regarding his visitor sharply. ‘* What would you do with him?” “Take care of him, so that he would never lay a claim to the Dayton inheritance,’ the schemer re- plied, significantly. ‘ Also, he should be so silenced as to never betray your secrets.”’ ** My secrets!"’ the Canadian grunted. ** Yes—the secrets of the ‘pen,’ yonder, as you call it. He shall never cough aloud, even.” ‘Why! how in thunder did you find out that the pen had any secrets?’ Canada Chet demanded, sus- piciously. “Oh! that’s all right. If you want to know how, find out. I shall not betray you, nor shall I unwit- yc Aap aes d myself.” **Cuss it! who aire ye?” ‘*Casper Dayton, at your service.”’ ‘““Why not leave the lad whar he ar’? He’s in safe quarters, I'll bet!” ** Not safe enough for my purpose. I'd rather see him six feet in under ground, e’d be surer not to trouble me then.” *What'll ye give?” **A hundred dollars.”’ ”" aan nt **No—straight.” ‘Can't have the lad short o’ a thousand, durn me ef ye can!” A thousand? That’s rough! But give me time to consider, and I'll let you know later.” “Do as ye please.” . *“T have the freedom of the town, then?”’ “Reckon ye do,’’ was the curt response; where- upon the Canadian arose and entered his cabin, and Mr. Casper Dayton mounted his horse and rode away up the lake shore. He had scarcely left the cabin when a clump of bushes near the door parted, and there issued there- from the face and form of Hazel Eye. She gave a hurried glance around to note that her movements were unperceived, after which she glid- ed on through the wood in the direction taken by Caaper Dayton. ‘He is a bold, bad man, and I can but think that he is in some way connected with grandpa’s trou- bles. He would e the life of Chet Howard, I be- lieve, rather than not get possession of the boy, Hal. Such a man needs to be watched.” After riding on for a half a mile, the schemer, Casper Dayton, drew rein at the water’s edge, and dismounted. oe his horse to crop the nernge, he drew from his saddle-bags a collection of wea apparel peculiar to an Indian chief, and donned it over his citizen’s garb, transforming himself into part of a full-fledged Indian. He next removed the superabundance of hair from his face, it being all false, and proceeded to daub his face with war- paint, and ornament his head-gear with a variety of painted quills and feathers. a After he had thus arrayed himself to his evident satisfaction, he stuck a couple of knives, and a tom- ahawk in his belt, and surveyed his figure by aid of a small mirror which he also took from his saddle- - chuckle seemed to convulse him, and he finally burst into an evil, ringing laugh. ‘*What a noble warrior I make, anyhow!—a full- fledged Indian cutthroat, no doubt. at will my ood brother, Sitting Bull, say when I make my ebut in his presence! Ha! ha! I did not tell the Canadian that another errand brought me here! My next duty is tohunt up the cabin of the Owens, for there is a fair al there, whom I would make my wife—perhaps!’ He finished his soliloquy by mounting again, and riding on through the forest, Without a noise the girl of the forest, Hazel Eye, , ri ——— - ee stole on in pursuit, until she reached the. end of the lake, where she turned off toward the magician’s cabin, while the schemer kept on in a_north-east- erly course which he evidently calculated would pane him to the, home of the beaver trapper, wen. Hazel Eye hurried along swiftly, now, and soon reached the cabin of the magician. But it required the usual formality of knocking, before she could gain admittance, The old man was busy about his porary, in some new experiment, and spoke not until Hazel Kye addressed him. “Grandpa, a new stranger has come to the woods!”’ The old man started, and wheeled upon her with a curious stare, “A new man?’’ he interrogated, in evident sur- prise, ‘*Yes, and something tells me that he is the enemy you have so long feared,” ‘Ha! ha! Ihave made ready for him then!” the magician said, with a chuckle. ‘ Let come, But the name—the name, Hazel Eye!” ‘It is Casper Dayton.” ‘‘ Ah! then it is indeed the same,"’ he muttered, with agroan, ‘‘ He shall not surprise me, however, for I will watch for him—ay! I'll foil him!” ‘*Grandpa, tell me of myself, now—my life seems more shrouded in mystery than ever,” ‘Fret not. Thou shalt know of ie ere many moons,’’ the old man muttered, as he turned back to his magic, CHAPTER VIUIL THE INDIAN BEAUTY—ANACONDA’S NEW DEPARTURE. Arter leaving Amasa Scroggs in the woods, Old Anaconda struck off to the north and strode swift- ly along in a direction which he calculated would being 1 into the neighborhood of Sitting Bull’s village. The route was free from underbrush and he was enabled to make rapid progress, even though he was dwarfed. For the remainder of the night he tramped steadi- ly along, without pausing to rest—without relaxing his vigilance, in the least. The woods had been his home, for years, and woodcraft knew »%e by actual experience. oward morning he paused to drink of the cool fresh waters of a bubbling spring, which spread out in his path. Then he went on again, until day had dawned—the moon had fully hidden itself away, and the sun was shoving its face above the eastern horizon. He now came to a halt on the edge of the timber, where it was met by a beautiful stretch of undulat- ing press, several miles in circumference, efore him lay the village of the great Sioux chief, Sitting Bull, who, a fugitive from the land of his birth, had fled into the far North where American w had no control, The village covered something like five acres of ground, and was surrounded by a high wall of adobes, which was topped off with a parapet of pointed sticks. To obtain access to the ge, how- ever, one had to enter through the gates upon the southern side. | Thus had the fugitive Sioux warrior ensconced himself behind a barricade as formidable as though they were in the days of another Crusade, The tops of a score or more of lodges loomed a couple of feet above the top of this barricade, but this would not have deceived an old scout as to the opulation of the strange Indian city. Where there is onenodge: there is, as a rule, a half-dozen to oc- cupy it. roa report had it that Sitting Bull had added largely to his band, both of red and white cut- throats; consequently, Old Anaconda had no doubt but that there were large numbers of the enemy in the village, in addition to those out upon the war- path, in the forest. This did not deter him from forming the resolu- tion to visit the interior of the village, come what might. It would be an adventure, and he wanted knowledge. Many times had bits of gossip reached him con- corning Sitting Bull’s household captives. Report had it that the great chief of the renegade Sioux had many squaws in his wigwam to watt upon him— squaws of the red and of the white race, and squaws that were beautiful of face and form. For it was said that the old warrior had a true eye for beauty, and would have no squaws at his fireside who were not pretty and possessed of a moderate portion of intellect and education. It was to discover the truth of these reports that a Anaconda particularly wished to t the vil- e, he Owens were old friends of aM wy if the chief had caused the gentle and winning y to be brought to his wigwam, the Destroyer’s purpose it was to res- cue her. For some time he stood gazing down upon the vil- lage, in which no life was visible, on account of the high wall, except a few columns of white smoke which curled heavenward from the different lodge tops. The morn late in the fall. The sun rose as bright and warm out in the east as in early summer, and.flooded the prairie and forest with brilliant light. Off upon the horizon hung a haze; a gentle and in- breeze blew in from the prairie: birds car- oled in the sunlit branches, and the little prairie dogs barked from the summit of their burrows. n vain did Anaconda watch for some sign of life about the village which lay below him in @ flood of was one of exceeding beauty, for so vigorat Eomichboo (@) cS (E(O)