Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 932 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 sinning to realize that he had been badly treated—that something was wrong.’ Then, too, if able to see around him, ‘Guard must have discovered that his pris- oner was gone—that the iron cot empty—that the manacles had shaken off. For a moment the young traitor Ferret halted, half-inclined to go back and shoot the faithful dog. But he thought better of it, that he“could reach the _ street 4zuard was able to pursue. So, down-stairs he went, his pace quick- ened by another yet stronger howl from ‘the dog. He had reached the landing and was hastening toward the door, when he heard a click! click! Some one was coming in! With terror in his fase and trembling limbs he fled back to the rear and down the stairs to the basement. He would wait there until whoever came in had passed om up-Stairs and then he could make his escape, To escape from the sbasement he knew was impossible, for the end door was doubly locked and Nat held the keys, while all the windows had a heavy iron grating over them, and an iron door closed both the front and rear entrances on the ground floor. No; he must make his escape only by the front door. So there he stood, trembling with fright, the sweat dropping from his face, and his teeth clicking together with a nervous ehill. In his despair he felt for his reyolver— the one that had been Sykes’. He reeled with faintness when he found that he had not put it in his pocket when changing his clothes. The knife, too, in its unique scabbard, was gone! He had left that, also, up-stairs. Then he knew he could not defend him- self. He heard some one come in and the door close. “It is getting dark, so I'll light the gas,” he heard, and the snap of a match fol» lowed. | Then, to his renewed horror, he heard that dismal howl of the dog from above stairs. What did it mean to him—that forebod- ing dog-wail? The words of the one who had entered came distinctly to his ears, and they proved that more than one had come into the house. * Something is wrong with Guard. Wait here until I go and see, but be on your guard!”’ It was New York Nat’s voice he heard, and then followed the rapid step going on up-stairs. But.some one remained on watch. Who was that some one? He did not know, but he did know that all the Ferrets went armed. In the very moment of success death and despair stared him in the face! A moment after a call came from above: “Rip has escaped! * Guard has been drugged, but is coming round all right. * Guard the door until I come down!’ ** All right, Nat, I will!” It was the Girl Queen who answered, but Rip, the traitor Ferret, knew that she was as dangerous to face as any one of the clan. CHAPTER XXITT. THE FATAL CATCH-LOOK. In his despair Rip at last plucked up courage to face Olive and try to dash out by her. been and felf before New York Nat’s Drop. He arose from where he had been sit- lardly walk. Then he heard New York Nat eall out: | ting, but his knees trembled so he could ] | Waid | “I will come down and search from | cellar up, Olive.” That settled it with Rip. He hastily irr e-SeSS unst-s descended to the cellar, where was a hid- ing place which he well knew. It was a refrigerator in the wall, which he did not believe New York Nat had ever noticed. Rip had opened it once and recalled that it was large enough to conceal him. So he staggered rather than ran toward it, sticking to his satchel of booty, how- ever, like grim death. He reached the spot, opened the door and found that the space within went baek several feet—that it was quite roomy enough, in fact, to hold half a dozen men, He left the door open a moment to ad- mit fresh air, but hearing a step on the Stairs, he sprang in and pulled to the heavy panel. He heard a click, and knew that it was locked—that the catch had caught. With trembling fingers he felt for a handle on the inside, but, to his dismay, he could not find one, and then the horri-— ble truth dawned upon him that there was no handle from the inside, where none was needed, and that he had been caught like a rat in a trap. More still, he knew that within that air-tight place he must die of suffoca- tion. There was a wastepipe hole, it was true, but he could get air through that only by holding his nose close to it, and if not found he would surely die—be en- tombed alive. In the meam time New York Nat had come down stairs, and there Olive met him with white face. ‘*Nat, some one is here, for I heard a sound in the basement. Can the police have raided the place, do you think?’ “Tt may be, but if so, we must face the consequences, admit that we are the Chief’s Unknown Ferrets, point to our splendid secret services, and ask pardon for those who have to receive it.” “Yes, it is all that we can do; then, our work is not yet finished. say that Rip has escaped.” “Yes, his manacles were unlocked and he is gone.”’ “And Guard was poisoned?’ “ Drugged, I think; but he is coming round all right, I guess.’ “Nat, the police would mot drug the dog.” “That is so. | Rip must have been helped by some one autside—ah! L have it!’ : ‘Well, brother?” ‘Who knows the working of our band, outside of it, but Sykes? He has been shadowing us, when we go out and come in, and it must be that he has dared to enter here in our absence and so rescued the traitor. ‘Tf that is so we must leave here to- night, before they can inform upon. Us. I will post all of the band so that none of them will be caught. ‘But first let us see if any one is here, for they may not have had time to get out. “You remain ‘here, ‘Sis; om guard. Stand here inside the parlor door, where you will not be seen, and guard the stairs, should any one be up there. “T will go to the basement and cellar and search there.” | “Take Guard with you.” “He is hardly able.” “Call him, for moving about will help: him if he has been drugged,” but You - estes “You are right,” and Nat gave a eall. A low yelp answered it, and then Guard was heard coming. He was so unsteady on his feet that he fell down. the first flight which he started to descend, but the fall seemed to arouse him rather than to hurt him, and he made his way down to the first floor, though weak and unsteady on his feet. He seemed a trifle dazed, but followed New York Nat at his command, and they went down-stairns to the basement to- gether. With Olive on guard at the only en- trance and exit, Nat felt safe and pro- ceeded to the cellar to begin his search and to make it thorough. Down in the cool cellar Guard seemed to rally quickly, and gave a low whine and ran at once to the trap door to the dungeon, sniffing about the spot where Sykes had lain. “Aha! Down there, is he, Guard?’ and New York Nat h&stily cast off his blond wig, spectacles and whole disguise is the professor, and prepared himself for work. « * Rip knew of this dungeon, and I will see if Guard is not right. “Yes, good dog, you shall have your revenge if. they are in there,” and New York Nat turned to get the lantern which he always used when in the cellar or dungeon below. It was not where he had left it, but near, and with lighted matches he soon found it. Lighting the Iantern, he muttered: * This has been used recently. Now for the trap.” With this he raised the trap door, keep- ing out of sight lest a shot from the dark depth of the dungeon should do him harm. CHAPTER XXTY, NEW YORK NAT’S DROP. But there was no sound down in the depth of the dark earth-chamber. Guard was rapidly regaining strength and full possession of his faculties, and crouched upon the edge of the trap; look- ing down into the darkness beneath. As he simply uttered a low whine, it Seemed to convince New York Nat there was no danger there, so he held the lan« tern over and peered down. He could see but indistinctly, yet be- held what appeared to be a human form. “T will just take a drop into the black- hole and see what it is,” he. decided, promptly. With this he took his long silk neck- scarf, ran it through the wires ait the back of the lantern, and tied it about his waist. By so doing the lantern hung just im front of him and gave him the’ use of both hands. . ’ Slipping over the edge of the trap open. ing he then swung himself around and hung by both hands a moment. Guard crouched by the: trap and watched his master’s movements intently, whining In & low, nervous way. As he swung by his hands, prepara- tory to dropping into the dungeon, New York Nat beheld the form of a man lying below, and with manacles upon his wrists. . The lantern’s rays fell full upon the Silent form that Nat now beheld almost beneath his feet. Dropping into the dungeon, the daring young detective took the lantern from about his waist and flashed it into the face of the motionless man. “By Great Caesar’s ghost! lumber I showed! th i p rough: the house some days’ ago.” | @) a vib ile “rs 2 le MIG cor It is the: ‘ + a's 6 : rs 7 ' iy 7 « r= “ - - r i> athe - Eg : —_ ‘ - An be _ i, SI ae —_—