Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 105 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

a He -=—— - «~ amma tae ee . SS SSE. ee | _— ’ ‘am -- ---—- ee ae ee ee Wolf. py aid of the lantern, carefully searched his porsc: from bead to foot, but without finding the document to gain possession of which so much pletring was being done. : Aunoyec by his failure, and still further net- tied by the obstinacy of the prisoner, Wolf de- |. vered his ultimatum in a hard, vengeful tone: ‘‘ It’s either the certificate or your life. You i:aow where it is, and unless you yield it to us, y oa shall die the death of a sheep-killing cur. { give vou two hours to weich the matt r, and iuimnke your decision. At the end of that time, i iicome here for your answer, to deal out death ur liberty as the case may be.” Pausing a moment for the answer that did not come, Wolf gave the signal for the trap-door to be lowered, and placing the ladder in posi- ‘ion, he ascended bearing with him the bull’s eve lantern. A moment later the trap-door was raised and the darkness of death fell over the helpless prisoner in the damp pit. Bold, fearless man though he undeniabl wis, those two hours seemed a lifetime to Enoc Dodge as he lay there in the darkness, bound vand and foot. He knew where the certificate of marriage was hidden, but not for an instant did he think of yielding it up. Despite the great peril of his own situation, he could not help wondering wk y Captain Moon- shine was sO anxious to gain possession of the document. Could it be possible that it was more than a mere certificate of marriage? that there was some important secret contained with- in it? . ‘‘Ef ever I git out o’ this hobble right eend up’ards, I’m goin’ to find out all about it, sure /” he muttered. There was little prospect of his escape. Only his tongue was at liberty, and he knew that any exercise of that organ would only result in bringing his enemies down upon him. He did not believe that any friend had noticed him en- ter the saloon, or even if they had, nothing would be thought of it. He knew, too, that he night be absent from the hotel for several days at a stretch, without any suspicion of foul play being aroused in his friends’ minds. ‘*They’ve got me foul, dead sure!” he mutter- sd, sullenly. ‘* But they can’t do no more than xill me anyhow!” Meanwhile Wolf and his fellow-plotters were uc little more easy in their minds. They were uow convinced that the marshal could not be corrified into yielding to their will, and though, as a matter of self-preservation they had deter- mined beforehand upon the death of the officer, tae owner of the building now flatly refused to have blood shed on the premises. ‘‘My oath of fealty to the ‘family’ don’t run that far. The police have an eye upon my place already. Suspicion will be aroused, and some one will remember seeing him come in hore. Search will be made, and the trap-door found. After that—if body or bones are found —good- by!” Tue rendezvous was too valuable to risk its Seing destroyed, and as the shades of night be- aa to settle over the town, Wolf dispatched his allies on important business, while he returned to receive the answer of Enoch Dodge. . This was given promptly enough, and consist- ed of a flat refusal to betray the trust reposed in him by his murdered friend. Scarcely. had the words left his lips before Wolt struck him a swift, sure blow on the tem- ple with a pistol butt, instantly depriving bim of his senses. Then producing a stout gag from an inner pocket, the outlaw pressed open the inarshal’s jaws with the blade of his knife, in- serting the gag and tying it firmly in place. A few minutes later he heard footsteps in the room above, and at his whistle, his allies lower- ed a stout rope. Securing one end of this around the senseless man’s waist, he gave the word to baul away, and Enoch Dodge was crawn up into the room, after which the trap door was closed. The marshal was carried through a back door into a small yard with a high and tight board tence around it. In this inclosure now stood six horses, saddled and bridled ready for the road. Upon one of these, the limp form of Enoch Dodge was lifted, ind then bound securely in the saddle in such a manner that had he been dead instead of merely unconscious, he would not have fallen off. When all was arranged to his satisfaction, Wolf gave the order to mount, adding in a guarded tone: ‘** Until we get clear of the town, act like you all had a pretty good load of bad whisky aboard. Then, if we are noticed, it will be be- lieved that the old man is too drunk to sit up straight in the saddle.” The idea was a rem overcoat was hung aroun one, and as a lar the form of the pris Dan Brown of Denver. —— oe eee — ——— tion, but cunningly counterfeited unconscious- | Here too he was promptly obeyed, but the ness while striviag to free bis bands and feet resolved to make a desperate feht for life and liberty should he succeed. All was in vain, however, and asa low, mocking laugh came from the lips of Wolf, feeling that his efforts were noticed and understood, he sulleniy yield- ed to the inevitable. For full two hours the outlaws rode through the rocky passes and defiles, pressing on into the heart of the sterile, forbidding region, lighted on their intricate way by the mellow beams of the moon, At length Wolf reined in his horse and the outlaws dismounted. Enoch Dodge was lifted from bis animal and bound to an upright pillar of rock, facing a deep chasm that lay only a few yards before him. ‘* Now, friend Dodge,” said Wolf, at the same time donning a crape mask, an example follow- ed by his comrades, ‘lam going to give youa last chance for your life-—” ‘*T will now take charge of the affair,” sud- denly inter one Of the four men, stepping forward. ‘‘ Perhaps Mr. Dodge would prefer dealing with ao meeel to the agent.” A peculiar thrill crept over the prisoner as he looked keenly at the speaker, for there flashed across his mind the description which Dan Brown had given him of Captain Moonshine, and he felt that that person stood beiore biow A low laugh came from the lips of the black- bearded man. ‘I see you know me,” he said, tersely. ‘‘ You are right. | am Captain Moonshine, whom you have longed so fervently to meet; but hardly under these conditions, I imagine.” ‘Ef my hands was only free!” grated Dodge, his eyes sowing, ‘** But t _— not, nor will they ever be free, save in death, unless you come to terms right speedily. You have possession of, or know where to lay hands upon a document that be- longs tome. Deliver that into my hands—give me an order for its delivery, or else tell me on I can gain possession of it—and you may sire 7 life safe until we meet again. fuse, and— ‘Spit it out! You air talkin’ to a man with a bacxbone an’ not a coward like you air used to consort with. Ef | refuse, what then?’ bold- ly demanded Dodge. ‘| hate to say it, for you are a brave man if an enemy, but by the moon and stars above us! if you refuse this offer, you die!” sternly cried Captain Moonshine. ‘‘ Not all at once. You shall be tortured to the utmost extent of human endurance, and then, when death does come to your rescue, your mangled carcass shall be cast over the edge, yonder, to be picked to pieces by the wolves and vultures!” ‘* Ef the hope o’ my playin’ the traitor to my murdered pard is all that holds back your hands, why you kin goon with your rat-killin’ at once,” boldly replied the prisoner. ‘‘I’ll never squeal —you git no paper from me!” At t with a low, fierce curse of rage, drew a long knife, a clear voice rung out ‘aaouty upon the still night air: _ “Go slow, pilgrims: in this game] CHAPTER Xiil. THE AVENGER AT WORK. | —— moment they turned from the trail, each of the men saw that the fire must be stubbornly fought if ay | hoped to save the dwelling-bouse end other buildings from destruction. There was a fresh breeze blowing over the prairie, lifting flakes of the blazing hay and | floating them directly toward the buildiugs. These, nearly all composed of wood and dry us tinder from the long and severe drouth, were already smoking and bursting into flames ai | several distinct points. ‘* Scatter and fight the fire as best you can!” shouted Noah Crabtree, setting a manful ex- ample himself. ‘' Vengeance shall be none the less sure if postponed a few minutes. Old Music can follow wherever that assassin may lead.” The emergency was really critical, and all, men, women and the children of the herdsmen worked faithfully, desperately. There was an abundance of water on the place, but only such as a dozen deep wells afforded, and draw- ing this by windlass and bucket was tedious work, so most of the fire-fighting was done with wet blankets and hides. A hot and suffocating ten minutes, then tbe glowing flames were checked and the fire con- fined to the haystacks. Now all that was need- ed was to keep a close and active look-out to pre- vent the fire from spreading. Improving the first moment ible to spare from the desperate struggle for his property, Noah Crabtree opened the small store-house previously alluded to. Bringing forth three goodly -sized rockets, he touched them off at re- gular intervals, sending a shower of brilliantly colored stars high up in the heavens, ‘That is the signal for the Vigilantes to col- lect here,” muttered David Cra to Frank Blackwood. ‘ There’ll be music in the air be- fore the day dawns, but I doubt aes if the hounds can be induced to follow that trail!” ‘* Then you recognized him—you know who it was that fired the fatal shot?’ demanded the lawyer, with strong curiosity or some kindred emotion written upon his face. t moment, when Captain Moonshine, | ' ‘‘T know what it was,two hours later than this last night—a dead man, hanging over the water at the end of a rope noosed ~ the Vigi- lantes,” and as he spoke, the youth glanced around him with a nervous air. Just then the aid of all hands was needed as a sharp gust of wind lifted large flakes of burning hay and sent them whirling over and aroun: the beated buildings. But when this dange, was fought down, Frank Blackwood and Davi: Crabtree once more came together. The former knew more than he cared to ac- knowledge, and by adroit questioning soon le. the lad into telling the story of the frustrate: elopement and the dark tragedy which followed so close upon its heels. Carefully as he schooled his features, there was something in his face that betraye: him to his father, who, when young Crabtree turned away, advanced and muttered: ‘‘ What now? anything turned up to threaten our plans?” ‘‘No: only one of my best and most trusty men was bung last night by that sanctimonious I reckon Dll take a hand | hy SLAIN so suddenly that not a sound escaped | his lips, the unfortunate herdsman fell dead ' and hounds for takin almost at the feet of his young wife, who was, | in common with the rest, nobly battling to save her master’s property from destruction. Sharp and menacing rung out the strange words which followed the death-shot and the eyes of all save those of the newly-made widow, turned in that direction. Just within the rapid! wideni irc f light cast around by the b ene RB pane il ing stacks, a single horseman was visible, tall, dark and forbidding | as he shook one clenched hurling bitter curses at his enemies. Ona to fist in the air as though | 'and as soon as we left, came forth and stant thus, then bis horse wheeled as if. upon a pivot and the assassin sped away into > the es of night with a shrill, mocking laugh | floating back behind him. Brie among the men present believed that they re- as that interval was. at least three | cognized the dread rider—the three who, in| company with him whose bullet-pierced head was now resting against the bosom of his wailing wife, bad intercepted Will Wilder while bearing away the bride of his heart. And there was one other—for with a wailing cry of terror and despair, Ruth Crabtree drooped like a frosted lily and would bave fallen to the ground only for the supporting eyms of Rachel Trowbridve. Brave, icy-nerved, Noah Crabtreé was the first to recover from that terrible surprise, and drawing a revolver, be leaned forward on foot. over, his hat being pulled over bis eyes, his | sending bullet after bullet in the direetion taken drooping head and swaving body did present tue picture of a thoroughly drunken man, And ; ; by the avenger. As in duty bound the herds- inen followed his example, but only that mock- so, talking loudly, with an occasional whoop | ing, devilish langh came back to their cars, aud yell, the outlaws rode out of the town, ‘eaving the natural impression behind that they were all * half-seas-over.”’ Sinn nfter tye touwu we'd “? . = ** a? ° girls 4 ~'f e*¥ , + was Cleared, Enoch folly of further pursuit on foot, regiize his situa: ° horses and heywnds |) then the rapid trampling of hoofs died away in the distance, , i Back!” eried Noul Crabtree, menizing the, ‘J and all. rite whose guests we have the honor of being—may the devil roast him!” By this time the haystacks were nearly con- sumed, and the danger of further loss greatly lessened. Leaving the women and his son on guard, Noah Crabtree set about preparing horses the trail. ri Already the stern Vigilantes were beginning to come in, promptly answering the gathering signal, and ere long a dozen men were in readi- ness to take the trail of the bold assassin. In a few words Noah Crabtree acquainted them with what had adding: ‘‘Early this morning when we went to bury the body, we found it missing, the severed close to the noose. We must have made a fatal mistake last night. Some one of his comrades in ev]] must have been concealed in the a pein cu down his fellow criminal. We believed him dead, but in that we were mistaken: for the man who murdered r ae yonder, was none other than Will Wilder !/” The two herdsmen, fellows of the assassinated man, were not so certain of this. They recalled the terrible earnestness with which their viciim vowed to return from heaven or its antipodes to avenge bis disgrace and death upon them. one i. And they could not believe that 1+ man whom they had watched die a horrii\: death by strangulation had come back to ||: acamM. In secret they congratulated themselves wh» Nosh Crabtree bade them remain on te see that the fire did not spread or spring ur ; anew. Roth Frank Blackwood and his father volun- tewred to bear the Vigilantes company, but Crabtree begeed them to remain in charge of ’ the house and women. oe wotoriatts Capinki Moonshine. i‘ Ragk fiir ' in “There is no telling what may be the upshot,” he aided, seriously. “* That murderer was proven one of the chief mambers of the gang led by the This fire and murder may be bai a muse to draw us all away lanvinig ahe coast cleap gor them te r “Urea +t? titel a ’ GO MIECDOOKS