Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 105 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

entpewee a t—™S —— - —_ —- --_-— el —™ ~ ee - ee Dan Brown methodically refolded the note | and stowed it away in his pocket-book, then quietly resumed his meal. trace of such feeling was allowed to show itself upon his countenance, he felt an Inward exulta- tion that is not easily descri It might all be a mistake. The message may have been intended for another, wrongly de- livered through the blundering of a stupid ser- vant. Yet he did not believe this. He felt confident that the enigmatical words were ad- dressed to himself, and that they bore reference to his campaign against the outlawed band of Captxin Moonshine. vague suspicion that there might be some treachery concealed beneath that invitation to an interview did occur to the detective, only to be quickly banished. If such was intended, it would be any place rather than under the roof of the city marshal’s hotel. Perfectly familiar with the interior arrange- ments of the building, Dan Brown of Denver ran lightly up the stairs and pausing before the door of m 11, knocked gently upon the panel. Almost immediately a clear, musical voice bade him enter, and with apparent care- lessness, but in reality with every sense upon the alert and on guard against any treachery, the detective opened the door and entered the root. His hidden precautions proved needless, how- ever. There was but one occupant of the room, besides himself; a sickly, yet neatly-dressed women who arose at his entrance and came forward with both hands extended, her cheeks flushed, her eyes aglow. ‘* You left me so suddenly last night, that I had not time to thank you. I do so now, as far as poor words can—only for your heroism, I ut, though not a. rc must have lost my life!” she murmured, her | bright eyes dimming. _ ‘* You are sure there is no mistake? that [ am not usurping the thanks due to some more for- tunate man?’ said Brown, smiling, yet plainly at a loss how to understand the effusion with which he was greeted. ‘‘ You have forgotten me—or rather you onl Dan Brown. of Denver. ‘Cautious and noncomuimittal, like all of your profession; but Ido not object to that. You are the man known as Dan Brown of Denver, otherwise the Rocky Mountain detective?’ ‘“‘T have been called by both names, yes.” ‘**Good! all others have failed in: to capture Captain Moonshine and destroy his band of outlaws and robbers. You have managed to dispose of near- ly one half of the gang, but you areas far from the most important part of your plans as at first. secret, you wil] never succeed, but will disap- —— a ee C—O 21 flect, you will see it the same as I do, and thank me then.” “if not mine, then no one’s!” she cried, now a beautiful fury. “If you go out from this _ room unpledged to me, you go to your death!” You have come out here to do what | —_ Alone and unaided by one who isin the | there may be no mistake. pear as suddenly and mysteriously as have | other detectives who sought to earn the price | set on the head of Captain Moonshine.” “Tam ready torun that risk,” was the cool response. ‘‘ When I find a criminal too cunning for me to outwit and circumvent, then I have qutenown my usefulness, and am willing to make way for better men.” ‘I believe you mean what you say, even if it does sound remarkably like boasting,” returned | Clara, with a faint smile. ‘‘ Yesterday, no per- son would have rejoiced more heartily in your utter defeat than |: to-day, I liver Captain Moonshine, his entire band and all their secrets, provided—” ‘* Well?” demanded Dan Brown, as the wo- man paused. ‘**On certain conditions, of course,” she added, regaining her wonted composure with an evi- dent effort. ‘“Ilcandoso. Never mint how I gained the knowledge. Agree to my conditions, and by this time to-morrow you can place on record the proudest victory of your professional career!” ‘‘A wise man never pledges himself blindly,” observed Brown, apparently wholly unmoved. ‘* Make known your conditions, and if they are such as I can grant, be sure I'l] do it.” am ready to de-— ‘‘ A few short words—a fee to the minister— — no more.” The detective stared at the speaker in bewil- derment, but as he did so, he read the truth in her pleading eyes, her flushed cheek, her trem- . bline hands. saw ine as a woman in distress—but I—though | I were to live a thousand years, | could never forget! To me you were more thana man, then, when I had given over all hopes of living. To me you were a demi-god—my savior!” She folded tis hand in both of her soft palms, and pressed her warm lips to it again and again, before he could check her. Then she gently jed him to the sofa, seating herself beside him, when he said, lightly. ‘Tell me when and where I had the honor of serving you. Ungallant as the words may sound, for the life of me Lcannot imagine where we ever met before this morning.” * Yet it was only last night that you saved my life at ihe risk of your own! Ah! you remember now!” she added, with a short, hard laugh, as the detective involuntarily withdrew his arm from around her waist. He did remember. He was doing yeoman’s service at the fire kindled by the road- agents to cover their attempted rescue, and at one of the windows of a two-story frame build. ing be saw a woman, screaming with terror and crying for help. The lower part of the building was all in a blaze, but snatching up a coil of rope from a pile of goods near by, which had been hurriedly removed from a small gro- cery store, he bowed his head and dashed into the fiery mass, reaching the second story in safety, though his face, hands and clothes were scorched and burnt, while he was nearly stran- gled with the heavy, noxious smoke and gases. He lowered the fainting woman in safety to the ground, then descended himself, agra | in time. In less than two minutes after, the floor fell in, and the entire building was a mass of fire. There was too much work on hand for him to waste any time, and only pausing to see that the woman was being cared for by those of her own sex, he plunged once more into the thick of the fight with the flames. He remembered now, what he had been told after the fight with the road-agents, that this building had been assigned to a woman of ques- tionable fame and this was she-—the not too pure Clara Castle. The revelation was so totally unexpected that he could not help recoiling, very slightly, it is true, but quite enough to arouse the morbid feeling of the young woman. However, it was not without one good result. It altered the tone of a scene that was growing decidedly ro- mantic. For once in his life the detective was taken aback, and began a confused apology, remem- bering that his ho the damsel in humor, but with an impa- tient wave of the hand, she checked him. fe ey treat me like a spoiled child, I have thanked you for saving my life. But I had an- other motive in asking you.to come here. You “T have an idea, but it may be a wrong one,” the detective replied, quietly. “‘ Perhaps you had better expleir. ‘hen there can be no possi- bility ef our mu. | | iwluke.” conduct. DS Sm ‘** Wait—do not speak yet,” she cried, quickly. * Take time to think, and while doing so, I will explain. And before I go further, [ solemnly swear to you on the memory of my sainted mother, that all I say is gospel truth!’ There was painful silence for a few moments, then Clara Castle spoke in a low, rapid voice: ‘*] don’t say that I have led a blame ess life, for that would be a lie. I have made money by the sins of others. AT] the world knows that; but of that you have heard the worst. No man - botel lamp. they believed, into eternity, this man “Of two evils, Il always choose the least!” laughed the detective, bowing, then leaving the room. CHAPTER XXII. THE DEATH-TRAIL. “THAT is your man—mark him closely that Watch your chance, and when you strike, strike sure and swift. There must be no bungling work this time.” Low and hissingly these words were spoken by Frank Blackwood, on the night succeedin that on whicb Grenada had so narrowly sachted being blotted out of existence. ‘““If you have made no mistake, we won’t,” responded his lg in the same guarded whisper, gazing keenly upon the clear-cut, handsome features of the man _ indicated. ‘** Looks more like a sucking dandy fresh from college than a tough old detective! “Yet, that is Dan Brown of Denver—a blood- hound if ever there was one in human shape! Remember, it is either he or us. So long as he lives, the neck of every one belonging to the family isin danger. Ready, now!” During this hurried conversation, the princi- pal object of it was standing on the top steps of the Golden Eagle, talking earnestly with the city marshal, Enoch Dodge. He had made some change in bis clothes, but none who had ever seen him before could mistake his features, now wholly undisguised. As Frank Blackwood cut his speech short and drew back into the dense shadows, the detective parted from Enoch Dodge and lightly descended the steps. “After him, Wilder—take him prisoner if you can, and learn about the paper. If not, then kill him!” muttered the young lawyer, as the detective turned toward the burnt district. The trailer nodded, his hard-set, handsome face momently revealed by the red glow of the here was no mercy in either face or eyes. Since that terrible night when the Vigilantes under Noah Crabtree fitted the noose around the lover’s throat and swung ir as ad known only one passion—that of revenge, deep and remorseless. With the silent tread of an Indian warrior stealing upon a deadly foeman, the avenger dogged the detective, himself followed at. % short distance by three other men who heli - themselves in readiness to rush to his assistance can truthfully say that my soul is not as pure— as when [lay an infent upon my dead mother’s | : The detective passed on to where the blackened breast. You can have the rest of this day in which to make full inquiry about me and my If you find any one who can prove me dishonored, I solemnly swear to furnish you with all the information you desire without | _ price or condition. How I came to occupy my present position in life, does not matter now. That story I will only tell to my husband—if I ever have one. And this brings me back to my condition. Marry me. I will make ful wife. : moment when I had abandoned all hope of liv- ing—when I saw you rush to my aid, burned, on tire—a hero, almost a god!” She ceased oar Uely and bowed her face u on her hands. e detective was strangely moved. Only for a pure, lovely vision whic arose in that critical moment before his eves, he might have said or done something for which | he would have been sorry as soon as he had time for sober reflection. As it was, bis voice was unsteady as he at length made reply: **] do believe what you say, but, unfortun- ately for us both, perhaps, I am already wedded —to my profession!” ‘And in that I can aid youl” eagerly cried Clara, raising her head, her eyes aglow. ‘I ask no better lile--”’ the motion and read it aright. She gazed steadily into his eyes, npn is pale, resolute features, and knew that the prize on which she had set her wayward heart, was not to be gain- ed by such as she. Still she was not content to a t defeat. She recapitulated all she could do. She would place Captain. Moonshine in his power. She could deliver up to him the entire band, with complete success of the all their plunder and their secrets. She could make a wife with whom he could trust all his | was lowered ambitious schemes, and one who could aid him | on to carry them on to success. The detective listened to her courteously enough, but even she could see that her passion- depended on his keeping | ate appeal had no effect upon his resolution. a “ | When she ended he replied: “If I could in honor, I would do as you wish, but there is another who fully occupies my heart. I can feel love only for her, and to ac- cept your offer, while such is the case, would be wronging you—” ‘‘T am ready—eager to run the risk!” she in- “But am not.” he added, rising to cut the interview short. ‘‘ When you have time te re- ou a true and faith- | I loved vou then, in that horrible | victim to arise. | : ’ at a moment’s ae, Fortune seemed to favoring the outlaws. ruins showed weirdly in the moonlight, never once glancing behind him, all unsuspicious of the terrible doom that overhung his head. The ruins were deserted. Wilder cast a keen, comprehensive glance around him, and saw wad the moment for decisive action had ar- rived. He unloosened the lasso which hung coiled at his belt, and swinging the snaky coils around his head, glided silently forward until within hurling distance. Swift and sure the rope shot forward and descended over the head of the detective. A of surprise broke from bis lips, but was cut short as Wilder leaped back- ward, pulling fiercely upon the lasso. With a heavy shock, the captive fell to the ground, lying still and motionless as though slain cut- right. wittly the three men darted toward tlic fallen man, while Wilder kept the rope taut, ready to check any attempt on the part of his his precaution proved need- less, however. In falling the detective had struck his head heavily against a fragment of quartz, and was now insensible. Not a word ange between the road-agents. Their course had been arranged beforehand, _and was promptly followed. Dan Brown slowly shook his head. She saw | : | | | : : i A serviceable was fastened in place. The detective was disarmed and his hands bound behind his back. Then the three men raised him from the Wr and rapidly bore him away, Wilder following and acting as look-out. He had a plausible account ready in case they should be met and questioned by any curious y, but no such meeting took place. From t to last everything was favorable to the nefarious plans. en fairly clear of the rte the detective the ground, and leaving Wilde, d, the three outlaws hastened away fur their horses. The death of Dan Brown had been decided upon, but no outsider must ever know the man- ner of his taking off. His fate must remain a mystery forever. rcely had the three men disappeared, when consciousness returned to the detective. With a faint groan he opened his eyes and strove to arise—only to hear a low, mocking laugh as he realized that he was helpless. os and easy, my dear fellow,” moeled W 4 ing over bis bound victim. ‘We have callcd the turn on you at last. Yor lave played the bloodhound long enough, : nd row EGOMIIGDOOKS,. co