Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 105 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

— — _ — - —— ——¢— _ ————_——— = = = os ————_— = ee a + _ -—<<-<— ee we od Se ee oe A - ee = » : md i : - ns -—7c oo Oe x ————— ~ - 26 oe -_-—— —_—_— and surely only solid bone and muscle possessed such a resistless gripe. The wonderful likeness was still a mystery, but surely this was a living man. He uttered a hard, reckless laugh as the de- tective turned upon him. Even while know- ing that he himself was surely doomed, he felt leasure in the thought that his captor was ead to a terrible disippointment. Be- pore this Rachel Trowbridge was dead—her ones calcined amid the ruins of the Crabtree ranch | “That lady is the daughter of Noah Crab- tree, my promised bride,” he said, with his na- tural effrontery, ‘‘Of course since you have discovered your mistake, you will set me at liberty and poles for your folly.” *‘ Instead, I mean to take you back to your proposed father-in-law, and let him make the necessary apologies,” retorted Dan Brown, re- covering his usual composure as by magic. ‘Unless [am greatly mistaken, the Vigilantes will hold a grand jubilee over your return.” While these words were being interchanged Ruth recovered her consciousness and overhear the last sentence uttered by the detective. Feebly she arose, and though scarcely able to stand, staggered toward the two men. The detective heard her approach, and gently lent ber the aid and support sbe so much need- ed. Wilder glared at them for a moment, then laugbed bitterly. ‘* Better make sure that you are well rid of the old love before yon begin casting sheep’s eyes at the new, Ruth!” ‘Silence! or I'll secure your scoffing tongue even faster than I have your arms!” sternly cried Brown. ‘*He is right, sir,” said Ruth, faintly, but choking down her weakness with a noble ef- fort. ‘Time was when I did love him—when he was the very life of my soul! And though that love is dead now, yet I would not see him suffer for the terrible crimes he bas committed. If von take him back as you threatened, he will be killed—and all through life I must feel that his death lies at my door. I beg of you, let him go—go far away from here where he is not known, and where he may live a better life. Give him time to repent of bis sins—” iy | nents regret that I cannot grant your de dl lady,” said Brown kindly but with a rmness that instantly killed all hope. ‘‘ This man has sinned heavily—he is a member of a band of assassins led by Captain Moonshine. It would be a crime scarcely less than those he has committed were I, an officer sworn to do my. duty, to turn him loose to prey again upon ety. “Tt cuts you to the very core, I know,” laughed Wilder, recklessly. ‘‘ You’ll not sleep for a month for weeping over the stern neces- sity. Bah! such talk makes me sick! But you, Miss Crabtree, were in earnest, and I thank you. You are a true Christian, even if you are old Noah’s daughter, and I will do for your sake what I once swore should die a secret with ms. Only tell me one ing. Your love for Will Wilder was genuine? You really loved him before that black night?” ‘“*T did,” faintly responded the maiden. “‘Then you can cherish his memory still, for I swear to you that he was worthy of your purest love. You start. Listen and I will prove it to you. “On that night when wou were to escape from home, the real Will Wilder was murdered by the Vi tes. Your father acted as judge, and stood by while the double sentence was car- ried out. I was hidden in the grove, and I saw it all, though I didn’t know then who the victim really was. Had I even suspected the truth, there would have been a few vacancies in the band, or I would have died beside him—my twin brother! Pale and trembling Ruth listened to the strange revelation. She could scarcely believe her ears, yet she felt that the desperado was speaking only the truth. ** We were brought up together, but then our ents died, and we dually drifted apart. here was wild blood our veins, and as we grew to manhood, it began to show itself. Will and I—my name is Dick—had a quarrel, and from that day until the night when he was mur- dered, we never met again. ‘* As for me, I went to the bad, and have been one of the right-hand men of Captain Moon- shine. It was while acting under his orders that I waylaid Tom Munro, who caught a glimpse of my unmasked face. You know what a strong resemblance there must have been, So he swore, on that mock trial, that it was Wili Wilder who robbed him. ‘**T didn’t know this then. As I said, though I was near enough to seea portion of the tragedy, I could not hear the words. I learned these particulars one Of our spies, some time afterward. ‘*He was found guilty, and sentenced first to be flogged, then strung up by the neck until he was dead. The double sentence was duly car- ried out. When his murderers were setisfied that he was dead, they went away, and I cut the body down, Not until that moment, when I gaw bis face, all discolorcd and distorted, did I Dan Brown of Denver. ee eee” even suspect the truth. And then, over his dead body I knelt down and swore to wreak a terrible vengeance upon each and every one of his assassins. And had I been given time, I would have kept that oath to the very letter! “‘T bore his body away and buried it where I knew nothing would disturb it. Then I took the trail. I dealt two blows, but was hunted so hotly that I was obliged to lie low until the worst of the storm should blow over. But that gave me time to form and mature my plans, As the result, I acted as I have this night, You were ivcluded in my vengeance, because you were the daughter of Noah Crabtree, and be- cause I deemed you the first cause of Will’s death. lam sorry now for my abuse of you— that only, not for anything else. 1 only regret that I have not done more to avenge the mur- der of my poor brother—curses forever haunt their footsteps!” Like one in a trance, Ruth had listened to this startling revelation, but now, with a faint sigh, she once more swooned. Dan Brown gently lowered her to the ground and did all he could to restore her. He partially succeeded, but he could see that the poor girl needed more and tenderer care than he could afford her there upon the plains, and he at once made his ata hioeas for returning to the Crab- tree ranch, More used to tragic scenes and revelations, he was but little if any softened by the story told by Dick Wilder, and was more than ever re- solved to turn him over to the Vigilantes to answer for his repeated crimes. Uncoiling the lasso from his saddle-bow, he fitted the noose around the desperdo’s neck, ws fs ‘We cannot travel fast, on Miss Crabtree’s account, so I guess you will be able to keep up. ‘*Be sure | will,” retorted Wilder, with a grim significance which the detective did not fully comprehend. ‘‘ There will be a scene at the end of the trail which I am anxious not to miss. Unless I greatly mistake, it will be worth getting my neck stretched a foot or two!” Brown made no response, deeming it only empty bravado on the part of his prisoner. e placed Ruth in the saddle, then mounted behind her, guiding the horse and affording the maiden much needed support in so doing. Even had Ruth been strong enough, they could not have ridden much faster than a walk, for the ood horse, now that the excitement of the eath-chase was lacking, could hardly pass out of a walk. Though for widely different reasons, each one of the trio was anxious to be at their journey’s end, and more than once the reckless desperado broke out into a low, grim laugh as his fancy pictured the terrible surprise which awaited his as a hey had not proceeded far before he was given serious food for reflection in three rockets which shot high up into the air, coming from a int at or near the Crabtree ranch. Could it possible—bah! he had seen the flames burst- ing out at the door and windows as he rode away with his helpless captive. The building was in ashes long before this. Yet he did not laugh again, and kept close to the heels of the worn-out horse in his eagerness oF cgi the earliest possible glimpse of the ruins. The detective was troubled by no such hopes or fears, and could not understand the rls pro curse which broke from Wilder’s lips as he be- held the building stil] standing, puinly revealed by the big bonfire kindled near by. Around this fire were gathered a number of armed men, and as Dan Brown recognized the Vigilantes, he uttered a clear, ringing shout that directed all eyes toward them. For a moment there was hesitation and doubt, hut when he, eager to set their worst fears at rest, shouted out that Miss Crabtree was alive and safe in his company, the excitement be- came intense. In a moment they were gathered around, and stern old Noah Crabtree, with a heartfelt sob of joyful relief clasped his daughter to his bosom, covering her face with kisses. And, at the same moment, David Crabtree leaped upon Dick Wilder and buried a long knife to the hilt in his heart! CHAPTER XXVIII. THE SECRET OF THE CERTIFICATE. SrncE Dan Brown of Denver was still living, with his head in its proper place upon his shoul- ders, who then was tt that fell a victim to the wore ferocity of Dick Wilder and his com- rades To explain this, together with the wonder- fully opportune appearance of the Rocky Moun- tain detective, we must glance back to the even- ing on which the ill-fated detective paid such a fearful penalty for his remarkable likeness to Dan Brown. More than once before this singular resem- blance in form, face and feature had stood him in good stead, and finally Dan Brown, even then celebrated and widely known as a daring, ~ - . : : a —e - woe eee eee ~~") SRE 96 ee getting the letter which afterward proved the successful detective, formed an alliance with Henry Thorold. He had thoroughly tested his skill, bravery, coolness and cunning. He knew that his new partner was true as steel, and though the fact of their alliance was not pub- lished to the outside world, the twin detectives worked together in admirable concert. Being already known to the majority of evil-doers in the West, Dan Brown naturally received credit from them for the exploits of Thorold as well as his own, and by his seeming ubiquity, was soon regarded as—very nearly the devil. Henry Thorold remained in Denver when Dan Brown journeyed to Grenada on the hunt for Captain Moonshine, but in a strange manner he became possessed of very important infor- mation and at once set out to post bis partner. A notorious burglar had been captured while robbing a dwelling in Denver, and as there were several black counts laid up against him, he felt that matters would go hard with him un- less he could make terms. in hopes of doing so he sent for Dan Brown as the only member o the force on whose pledge he could depend. Brown being absent, Thorold responded in his pace and unsuspecting the substitution, the urglar made an important revelation as the price of his liberty. He was a member of the band led by Captain Moonshine, though for several months he had been off active duty, working on his own hook. To save himself he was ready to betray the whole league, and did give a long list of names the originals of which he swore were either ac- tive members of the notorious band, or else secret allies from whom they obtained valuable information by means of which they were able to deal swift and sure blows. oe the burglar in durance until the truth of his statements could be tested, Henry Thorold at once took the stage for Grenada, ar- riving only an hour or two before he was ointed out to the chosen assassin by Frank lackwood for the man whom he so strangely resembled, though no kindred blood flowed in their veins. One of the most important allies of the band named by the burglar, was Clara Castle, the same who made a curious proposal to the Rocky Mountain detective. She was declared to be “the woman” of Captain Moonshine. Her offer to betray the band and all their secrets if Dan Brown would marry her, confirmed this, and Henry Thorold was detailed to glean all he could concerning her, her associates, particular- ly of the male persuasion. As chance—or fate—would have it, he had de- parted from Denver in such haste that he had for- otten to supply himself with much money, and in anticipation of the necessity of bribing, Dan Brown banded him his own pocket-book, for- etective’s death-warrant. It was while taking a preliminary survey of the ground that Hen horold was captured by Dick Wilder, and he it was whose headless at now lay in the black depths of Devil’s ulch. Prominent upon the list of names furnished by the burglar, stood the name of Frank Black- wood. This name possessed a double interest for Dan Brown. It is hardly necessary to state in so many words that the gallant detective had from the very first felt a powerful interest in Rachel Trowbridge. Her grace and beauty had made a deep impression upon bis heart during that Jong stage-journey in company, before Captain Moonshine and his masked men came upon the scene in the dramatic manner described. Had such not been the case, the cool detective would not have made the bold attempt to rescue ber, since by so acting he was endangering not only his life, for which he cared but little, but was seriously imperiling the success of the project on which he had staked bis reputation. That this danger was incurred, the reader knows. By the card which he gave Rachel, his identity was discovered, and then the scheming against his life began. Busy as he had been since reaching Grenada, Brown found time to study cut the perils which threatened the fair young woman. e believed that Ezra Blackwood was playing a part, was in reality acne in concert with Captain Moonshine, and this belief was strengthened by finding that Frank Blackwood, his son, was one of those upon the list furnished by the burglar. This he bad suspected before, and he likewise believed that the two lawyers were plotting against Rachel for their mutual benefit. One thing still seriously puzzled him. If there was a fortune at stake, as he shrewdly surmised, why had father and son enlisted Captain Moon- shine as the husband? Only for that view of the outlaw chief’s face which he obtained, this could be explained by the supposition that Frank Blackwood himself was the notorious Captain Moonshine. But he knew that could not be. There was not a single point of resemblance between the two, unless it was in the eyes. He had only obtained a brief view of the masked outlaw’s face, but it was a clear one. For some hours after the departure of Henry Thorold on his mission—which was to lead him com eg 00 (E - ———— ee a TT