Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 105 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

Tar or BS .. 22 eee OV am - es rng Le ce es at ke SN Re Nate mE —~ am <8. + =e a one | ¢ ; f\ } | ; 4 P| , | i / = egestas Age a se 8 = - ° ee eee ee, ee LLL TL of it, andthen, when a woman whom [ intrust- ed with all my savings, disappeared, leaving no s gn, I broke down. . «Then come a noble-hearted man to the res- cue; rough, uncouth and illiterate, but still one of nature’s nobleman.” ere Jack Gill, I suppose?” sneered Black- wood, ‘“ Yes. Sneerif you will. He is an honest | man, while you are a thrice-dyed criminal, a | liar—everything that ismean and evil and des- | picable. Bah! I care not for oon ugly looks. ‘You left me to battle for myself, and I have not forgotten how. I could and would shoot you like a mad-dog—only I do not wish to bring shame and sorrow upon him—my husband.” ‘** The courts would hardly decide him that,” sneered the lawyer. ‘* Perhaps not: but you dare not invoke their nid. I know enough of your crimes to brin you tothe gallows, and at vour first crook step, I swear that I will make all known.” ‘There could be no doubting her earnestness. Blackwood saw this, and deemed it wise to tem- porize for thse present. ** As you say, it would be suicidal for us both, to attempt revenge now,” he said, slowly. ‘‘So long as you do not molest me, so longis your secret safe in my keeping.” ‘* Not for my own sake, nor yet for yours, but for that of the noble-hearted man who took me trom the very hot-bed of vice, believing my story withouta — I agree to preserve an armed truce. But, only on one condition. I 'ing all that yonder flames were intended to | cover, the two policemen dropped their rifles | | know your failings. I suspect you are plotting | _ whose worldly all was even then being licked rw the peace or fortune of that lady—Miss rowbridge. If so, abandon your schemes. If you do aught of evil to her, or to Ruth Crab- tree, or any other woman, the moment | hear of it, 1 will place the proof of your crimes in the hands of the Vigilantes, and urge them to hunt you down to death!” With that threat, she sped away toward the now near ranch. CHAPTER XVIII. THE FIRE FIENDS AT WORK. THAT day passed quietly enough at Grenada. Always after the storm comes a calm; an apho- rism true of human as well as pbysical nature. The angry mob soon wore its fierce passions out, and when those composing it saw that the armed surrounding the calaboose did not flinch, they soon dispersed. During the day, in accordance with his pro- mise, Dan Brown of Denver paid the two pris- oners another visit. To all appearance confinement and the threat- ening yellof the bloodthirsty mob had greatly shaken their courage, and before the detective | le't the jail he had secured a partial confession from the lips of Billy Cooper, and a reluctant | promise of more information as soon as he could furnish proof of bis pledge that the should escape with their lives in return for sell- ing their comrades. As expected, the company which had set out in chase of the audacious road-agents, returned without having accomplished anything of im- portance. Warned by the bold attempt at rescue of the night, Enoch Dodge, as the shades of evening settled once more over the busy little town, stationed half a dozen men around the calaboose, with orders to halt any and all Dan Brown of Denver. — - - - - : ————— He darted away on the wings of fear, not for | thunder-clouds above and rendered the streets himself but for those dearer iar than bis own | almost as light as day, he saw the door of the life. And close at his heels ran two of his mates, those whose humble homes also ley in the quarter from whence came that terrible blood- red glare. ‘*Go and lend a helpin’ hand, boys,” cried the policeman named Jim. ‘I kin keep the door, an’ every hand is needed over yender, or I miss my gness!” No more words were needed. Little suspect- and rushed with all speed toward the doomed quarter of the town. Enoch Dodge was among the first to reach the scene of the conflagration, and at the first glance he saw that it could only have been the work of incendiaries. Half a dozen or more frail | | | | /are devouring the property of t calaboose idly swinging in the wind—saw that the nest had again been rifled! After sending the last men away to aid in eng phe flames, the sole remaining guard, James Hardress, stood before the door of the jail, watching the rapidly increasing glow with that peculiar interest which one feels in the presence of a fire, sepecial ly if the flames ose one knows well, Hardress was a single man, and boarded at the hotel kept by his superior officer, hence he had no reps anxieties to draw him from his et, and since he had no means ot know- ing but that the fire was occasioned by some ordinary accident, he paid more attention to it _ than to his surroundings. Never once did the frame buildings had been discovered in flames — at the same moment, each situated at the edge | of aclump of similar houses, and all on the | windward side. The breeze was brisk and mo- mentarily growing stronger. Already the flames had communicated to buildings adjoin- ing those set afire. nada. Unless the fire could be checked, the morning would dawn upon a desolate heap of ruins where now stood the lively city of the foot-hills. Loud and clear his voice arose, soaring high above the wild and constantly increasing tu- mult. He summoned them one and all. Never before was his popularity and personal influ- ence more strongly displayed. Even those up by the lurid flames, paused in the mad fight to hearken unto his words. They were brief avd to the point. Unless | the flames were speedily checked, all must suf- fer—the entire town would be destroyed—every soul in Grenada would be turned out into the world without a home. This much he said, and the jena re on far-leaping flames terribly seconded his words _and helped to carry conviction to the hearts of ! and forcible. _upa few houses—tear away the ruins—starve | | the flames out! | all within bearing. Destruction menaced Gre- | truth flash across his mind. {t will be remembered that on the past night, the outlaw prisoners had a visitor on the out- side, and that Billy Cooper bade his secret friend carry the news to Captain Moonshine. This was done, and then a bold plan arrange by which law and justice might be defeated. Favored by the rising winds and gathering clouds, a force detailed for that duty, succeedea in setting fire to a number of buildings, as seen, then hastened to rejoin their comrades, eager to take advantage of the excitement and con- fusion which would speedily arise. Their success was far beyond their wildest hopes, for their spy returned with word that only one man was left on duty as guard over the prisoners whom they had sworn to release from durance. Rapidly yet silently they advanced, keeping the building between them and the unsuspicious guard, looking like some weird phantoms of the cio in their hoods and long cloaks of somber lack, By a low, puanied hiss, the leader bade his men pause, then tiptoed around the corner of the oe James Hardress, all unsuspicious of his im- _ pending doom, heard nothing, saw nothing but Then he proposed an alternative; one scarce- ly less terrible to contemplate. But those to | whom he spoke, had ere this seen the dark side | of life, and knew that some must be sacrificed | to save the majority. ‘We must cut off the fire, an’ thar’s only | one way it kin be done,” came his words, clear ‘“We must use powder—biow A few must suffer, but it shall be made up to them. [ll start a subscription list myself.” There was no need of further speech. The mass of excited men at once grasped the idea, only too glad to seize upon the slightest chance of saving the town, and sprung to their work of demolition in order to save. Some few offered resistance among those who were to lose their all, but hasty argument convinced the most, while the others were re- the roar and glow of the conflagration beyond. Then—a pantber-like leap, a sure grasp of the throat—one swift, downward stroke of a long- bladed knife—and tbe outlaw leader held in his arms the quivering form of a murdered man. His fellows now came forward, and one of their number, with a skeleton key, quickly opened the iron-bound door of the calaboose. he prisoners were awake and on the alert. Though no word had come to them since the message was sent to Captain Moonshine, they had confidence that the terrible oath that bound ruddy glow deepen and grow broader. strained by force from hindering the only thing | | that could save the town. The various magazines where mining stores | the prised. were kept were opened and powder carried by hundreds of eager arms tothe doomed build- ings. The mines were hastily formed and trains laid. Then, one after another, deep, sul- len booms announced another phase of that terri- rsons who attempted a close —— , and to | ble night. ire upon such as did not imm challenge. Thus matters stood in Grenada, that night, | tely obey the | Hig toward the lurid heavens flew the shat- ter r ents, and almost before the missiles descended, the surging crowd rushed back to when the attention of the men guarding the cal- | extinguish the sparks and bear away the de- aboose was attracted by a my oa increased glow against the cloudy heavens ond. ‘* A fire, or ['m a nigger!” uttered one, his face showing pale in the increasing glow of rud- 7, light. ‘‘ The Lord help Gren this night if it once gets fairly started!” Wild and penetrating rung out the voice of his comrade. ‘* Fire—fire! the whole town is burning up,” Sucb an alarm in one of our Western towns is very different from the same in great cities. - There are no steam fire engines, no admirably drilled force of flame-fighters, no chief whom long experience has taught exactly what orders to give, or dauntless hands to execute what his coo! head plans. Built mostly of frame, hastily put together, br and children lent their aid. “Ss. Men work like heroes, and even the women The wind blew the heat toward them. The flames shot out their devouring tongues like fiery serpents, singeing and scorching whatever they touched, striv- ing in vain to beat back the energetic mass of humanity who were destroying in order to now dry and inflammable, there was nothing in — the buildings to check or offer the slightest resis- tance to the leaping flames. A few wells, scat- ‘tered here and there, formed the only water su ply, and were these worked to their utmost capucity, they could scarcely suffice for extin- | suishing a single fire—while now, from the lurid heavens, it was clear that this was no ordinary conflagration. The glow came from the further end of the town, composed for the most part of private ‘wellings, and the quarter where three of the ualf-dozen guards lived with their families. ‘*Tell the boss how it was, Jim,” hoarsel idarm. over vender lives my fam’ly—a2 ones—an’ the baby sick too! *ve got to go, Jim!” | ' ' save. While in the hottest of this wild turmoil, Enoch Dodge ran against and recognized one of the men whom he had placed on guard at the jail over the outlaw prisoners, and that recogni- tion showed him the truth. He knew that all this bad been the work of. incendiary hands, but the emergency was too critical for him to give the reasun a second thought, until now. As by instinct he recog- nized it now, and knew as well as though he had overheard their plans that the band of Cap- them, in common with their brother criminals would not be broken, For this reason they had temporized with the Denver detective, feeding him with false hopes, playing for time, believ- ing that this was all that was needed to insure their rescue. They heard the alarm of fire, and saw the They believed it was the work of their comrades ip crime, and though they were overjoyed wh«n the door was swung open, they were not sur- A few minutes sufficed to release them from their bonds, and furnish them with weapons and the disguises usually worn by the gang. Then the party emerged and struck out for the point where they had left their horses But they were not to escape so easil¥. It was at this moment that Enoch Dodge came up, and after one mance at the open pris- on, his eyes fell upon the compact body as it moved rapidly down the street. The red light was sufficient to show him the peculiar garments worn by the retreating men, and shouting loudly, be immediately opened fire upon them. Two of the hooded figures fell to the ground, one dead, a bullet through the heart, the second with a shattered leg. Uttering a scream of mingled rage and defi- ance, the crippled road-agent supported bis tain Moonshine hoped to rescue their imprisoned | fellows under cover of the confusion which — would naturally follow the discovery of such an | extensive fire. He saw that the work of demolition, so well begun, wasin a tair way to be completed suc- cessfully, and knowing that he could be spared, veight upon one hand, and leveled a revolver at bis destroyer. Sharp came the report, and the marsbal felt the wind of the leaden migsi'c as ., whizved past his cheek, but he never fa!- tered, Shouting with every leap, he pursued the e- ety. But then he heard the rapid thud of horses’ hoofs coming up the road. and believed that the outlaws were being reinforced. CHAPTER XIX. FIRE, BULLET AND CORD. THE scene was a thrilling one. A single man pursuing a dozen black-shrouded figures, whose pistols responded to the sharp report of his re- _ volver; the still and the writhing forms upon _ the blood-stained ground; and over all the red he bade the policemen gatber a dozen good men | and hasten to the calabnose, Then, at top speed, be raced through the But great as was his speed, he was too late. By the red glare that was reflecte! from the ut- deserted street which led to the prison, mechani- | - tered the man who had sent forth the thrilling | cally assuring bimself that the revolvers were ‘*T never desarted my duty afore, but still safe in his belt, which he bad buckled wife an’ little | around him at the first alarm of fire. — light of the raging conflagration. From ahead came the rapid clatter of iron- shod hoofs at. a gallop; from behind rung out the encouraging cheers of the stout men whom the pvlicemen had rallied, as they rushed to the aid of the marshal, whom the sounds of re- pi! firing told them was in trouble. Enoch Dooge believed that these horsemen were frienes and allies of the outlaws, and (E() ECOA AIC OO) KS |