Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 932 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

, rr ey , ‘ —_ aould get age “Who kilt him?” Oe 12 Was it New York Nat, or sould he Hane: that it was his traitor pal’ ? He looked pale and anxious, for the time was drawing near for him to take the ves- sel he was to sail on, and be exiled from those he had sought to betray. He feared that Sykes might fail him, and thus he woutd lose his big reward for treachery, the robbery of the retreat, the money he would get for betraying the Fer- rets, and what he might find on Sykes, for he had fully made up his mind not to have two bites at a cherry—that one was enough, and that one was to be all his. He did not care to have it a case of Jong division in dividing the plunder. He had overheard a few words between Nat and Olive that he put together and made sense out of. Nat had said simply that he did not wish Olive to bank the ten thousand until later, and then it was to be divided equally, five thousand to go as a gift to her, and the other half to be turned into the treasury of the clan. And Olive had remarked: “Yes; leave it in the secret closet in your room, with the other money and yal- uables, until you decide what to do, Nat.” That was all that Rip overheard, but it was enough for him to know that there were ten thousand dollars in the retreat, with “other money and valuables,’ and they were in the “secret closet in Nat’s room.” Why should he divide his fortune with Sykes? He could see no reason for doing so. He would use Sykes to free him of his irons, to keep Guard off of him, until he t the best of the dog in some way. ‘They would search together for the val- uiables, and then he, Rip, would act. He would watch, wait, and be guided by circumstances, but of one thing he was certain—Sykes must die! And up to the prison, room came Sykes and the dog: The shadower had also made up his mind to act, He, too, had decided to be guided by circumstances, but come what might, of ane thing he was certain—Rip must die’ CHAPTER XIX. THE PLOTTERS. “Who is that?’ Rip was getting nervous. to know who was outside of his room. “Don’t get seared, pal, for 1 ain’t.” ee Sykes!’ * You bet!’ He stepped into the room, while Rip sprang from the bed. But Guard was there too and gave a savage growl of warning. This quieted Rip instantly, and made Sykes get out his bundle of meat. Both knew the dog would stand no non- sense. + « Guard ate the meat without grace, and with no thanks to the one who fed him. “Well, I'm mighty glad ter see yer, Sykes.” ‘. Ditto, Rip.” ‘“ Where hev’ yer been?” ** Watching and waiting.” “What has been ther matter: rf Yer don’t know?’ 4 No. siaNobody has told you?’ “Not a word.” “There has been a murder.” ae No.” ; “¢ Vos = 73 Who?” *“A gent from Colorado was killed.” He wished 9% “Ther murderer hain’t known.” ir, y Sagat ee , was going wrong, Pea cee ew York Nat S mere from all I heard about ther retreat; but what had ther gang ter do with it?’ ‘About ten thousand dollars’ worth.” Rip started. He had heard the ten thousand spoken of by Nat and the Girl Queen. But he held his peace about that and asked: “What were it all about?’ “Well, a rich gent from Colorado got knifed out on the Boulevard, and would have been robbed had not Professor Ller- man Spinola—’”’ “New York Nat!’ ‘* Yes, he ran the murderer off, took the man to the hospital, where be died a few hours after. * Well?” “ Before he died he just turned over to New York Nat a wallet with ten thousand dollars he had about his clothes.” “Does yer mean it?” * Every word, and more, Chief of the Secret Service came here to see the professor, and he steered him and all ther Ferrets off his racket, and not a soul suspected him. * But the house was looked at for days by the gaping crowd, and IL had to steer clear of it.” “Well, New York Nat’s a dandy.” * He is and no mistake.’ ra “And that money ¢ * He’s got it in this house, of course.’ “TT think I know where.” “Good! We'll look it up as soon as I set you free, for 1 guess we'd better act now, for delays are dangerous.” _ “So I say. “lT’ve had my eyes on the house day and night.” “The Girl Queen has been here several times, and some of the professor’s pupils, too,” ‘* Where is Nat now? ‘‘Gone up to see the Girl Queen, after which he has an engagement with Keno, who brought you some fruit.” ’ ss Yes. ~ *? “They bought it from me, for lm an Italian fruit vender. “And I heard Nat say he would not be back until after night.” “He told me I might have to wait late for my grub.” “Then now is the time to act.’ You bet it be.” “T’ve got keys here to fit those irons, and if they don’t I’ve got files to cut ’em off.” “Good!” “ But that dog seems to know what we are talking about, so you must get rid of him first, and I'll tell you how. “Down in the front *ellar, which is floored, there is a trap door leading down into a black hole, or lower cellar. “ Now, you go there, open ther trap, an’ ther dog will come lose ter look in it, so jist shove him down. “Close ther trap on him, and his bark can’t be heard, his bite: won’t hurt a lit- tle bit. See?” ‘What's ther cellar fer?” “T guess it was built for some place to hide plunder in, maybe. “Tt’s a eellar in a cellar, for beneath ther basement is ther cellar, and this is below that, and some ten or twelve feet deep, and dark as ther deuce, of course. “Tt’s walled around, and ther trap looks just like ther rest of ~therefiooring, but New York Nat found it out some way, and took us all down one night ter see it. ad “Well, it might ‘not be just healthy fer me to push the dog in, if I made a mis- too, for the take in doing so, and wa try another lan.” * What's that?” : “ Meat.” 3 i | “He'll get fat°-on that.” ‘I’ve got a little medicine here that will “ilies him.,”’ * What's that?” ** Morphine.” “That’s ther stuff.” ‘Yer can’t perscribe fer him too quick ter please me.”’ Then Sykes took a folded paper from his pocket, put a white powder it con- tained upom another piece of meat, and threw. it to Guard. The dog caught it on the fly, half swal- lowed it, but changed his mind, and with a look that neither Sykes nor Rip relished, he refused to eat the meat. ‘But he got ther medicine—or most of it!” whispered Rip. “Yes, I think he got enough to lay him out,” was the answer. CHAPTER XX. OFF DUTY. Guard did not like the taste of the last tempting morsel given him by the shadower. He did not seem to just comprehend whether he had been trified with or not. At first he gave Sykes a reproachful look, then one of anger. The shadower hastencd to make him- self solid once more with the dog by tak- ing the rest of the meat and placing it before him. He could have killed the dog with his revolver, but he would not wish the sound heard, or to risk it. He hoped Guard had gotten enough of the morphine to kill him. He would soon know. The meat the shadower had put down for him, Guard took a sniff of, his face brightened, for it did not appear like the other, and then he ate a piece. It seemed good. So he tried another piece. But he seemed to be very slow in his movements now. “Tt’s telling on him, Rip.” “TI guess.” “Yes, he won’t give us no trouble in a few minutes more,” 1 hopes not.” “ Now let me try to unlock your irons,” With this Sykes sat down upon the foot of the bed and began to try manacle keys to find one to fit. “Look at ther dorg,” said Rip, in & whisper, as Guard’s eyes closea. “ He is getting sleepy.” “You bet.” After working still longer with keys, Sykes said: “T think I’¥e got it, for this half turns At. 7? os Good kg ‘See ther pup!” * He’s asleep.” It ‘was true, The faithful dog was asleep, and still sitting up. A movement of Rip and a rattling of the chains caused him to open his eyes. But they closed at once and he sank down upon the floor. * He’s fixed.” * Dead?” “Well, if he is not, he’s dead to us, so we've got nothing to fear from him.” “And you've unlocked the irons?’ “ Yes, this key fits.” With this the manacles were taken off of Rip’s ankles, and another key soon freed his wrists of the handcuffs, for New York Nat made doubly sure of his prisoner when he expected to be gone for any length of time. Rip sprang from the bed and stretched himself, a look of joy upon his evil face, Then he skid, in a sly way: “I'm free, Sykes, thanks to you,” the coo Oo ks.co Ff he. re Tr oes | * +. et wae a cre ial ay rar, OS ee { *, ‘‘’ \ * fee bate aos by