Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 105 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

‘voice. 28 power, and before we your first lesson in su your lawful husband.” ‘*T deny it—you are no husband of mine!” Dan Brown of ‘Denver. ————— = = —_ ———— EE se $e SE art, I mean to give you winked at the escape of a dozen lesser crim- mission to the will of inals. Ina few hurried words David gave the de- tective a general idea of the course to be fol- gasped Rachel, trying in vain to dart past him | lowed, promising to be near enough to give him to seek safety in flight. more particular information whenever the need ‘‘No use to flutter, my dainty bird!” he cried | for such should arise. ina tone of ferocious exultation, as he grasped | Dan Brown accepted the situation, and car- her in his arms by a sudden plunge forward. | ried it off most admirably. He collected the ‘You are mine! God, man nor devil can save | Vigilantes, announced his name and profession, you now!” adding: ‘‘A lie, foul as your own black heart! I can ‘**T was sent here for the purpose of ferreting and will save her!” rung out a clear, menacing | out this band of notorious criminals, and bring- ing them to justice. Luckily I had a glimpse in- side of the ring. One of the members of the league was captured and squealed on being adroitly pinched. From him | have learned the names of all belonging to the gang— Stop! Take one step or attempt to touch a weapon, and you are dead men!” Noah Crabtree and his men stared aghast at the tableau then presented: two of their most trusted comrades, pale as death, trembling be- fore the cocked and leveled revolvers held in the hands of Dan Brown! ‘** Surround those rascals and take them pris- oners!” he added, sternly. ‘‘Quiet! by the stars above! if you attempt to escape, you go down each with a bullet in your brain!” Mechanically his orders were obeyed. The two men were surrounded and disarmed. Noah Crabtree, recovering from his surprise, de- manded what proof the detective held against the captives, whom no one had even suspected of treachery. ‘* Proof enough to hang them ten, times over. Look at their faces—conscious guilt is written there too plainly to be mistaken. In good time more substantial proof shall be furnished. Their names are down on my black list, as I told you. For the present let them be bound and placed in charge of a guard whom you can —_—_—_—_—_—_— CHAPTER XXX. A DOUBLE SURPRISE. So sudden and unexpected was the action of David Crabtree, that the fatal blow was dealt before a hand could be raised to prevent it. Without a groan Dick Wilder fell to the ground dead, his heart literally cloven in twain. Instantly Dan Brown seized David, who made no resistance but quietly submitted. ‘*] swore I’d have his life, and I have kept my oath,” he said, calmly, though his eyes still burned with a deadly fire as they rested upon the ghastly corpse of the desperado. The detective was greatly annoyed, for he had counte1 on gaining some valuable information from the prisoner concerning the band of road- agents, but this feeling was obliterated by stronger emotion when he heard of the forcible abduction of Rachel Trowbridge. Mrs. Crab- tree, héaring the disturbance, had managed to arise and creep to the window, recognizing the black garb worn by the marauders. This much she told to her husband, who had started for home on learning that the raiders on Munro’s : ranch had been driven off without doing any | trust. If they should escape, they might get to material injury. His pace was quickened when | the robbers’ retreat ahead of us, and then good- he saw the rockets sent up by David, who per- | by to our hopes of making a clean sweep!” formed that duty the moment he recovered ‘*Do you know where this retreat is?’ eagerly sufficiently to crawl outside to the store-house | cried Crabtree. where the fireworks were kept. ‘ft mean to lead you there before the sun Others of the company had noticed the signal, | rises again.” and promptly responded’ They were on the point of setting out in quest of the marauders | voice rung out louder than that of old Jack when Dan Brown came upon the scene with | Gill. He knew nothing of what had transpired Ruth Crabtree in his company. at his own house as yet. He had been return- David Crabtree knew that there would be no | ing in company with Noah Crabtree when safety for him so long as one of the notorious | David’s signal was seen, and rode directly “family” was at liberty, now that he had | here. stained his hands with the life-blood of a ** bro- There was no longer doubt or hesitation. The ther.” He had hesitated about telling all he | two unmasked traitors were carried into the knew to his stern father, even while Ruth was | house and two were left in charge of them, with missing, for he could only do so by —— _ orders not to close an eye or for an instant lose the fact of the double role he had so long and | sight of their prisoners. successfully played. But now, as he recognized hen a fresh horse was saddled for the detec- the celebrated detective, he resolved to confide | tive, and the party set out over the prairie at a all to him. rapid gallop. In the confusion consequent upon the return oah Crabtree tried to have David remain at of one of the lost ones, and the tragedy which | the ranch, as not being fit for such a long and ended in the death of the avenger, he easily con- | hard ride, but the lad obstinately persisted in trived to draw Dan Brown aside without at-| bearing them company. He nor any of the tracting particular notice. _ | rest, knew how seriously his skull was injured. ‘*I can tell you where you can find Captain | The intense excitement lent bim a fictitious Moonshine and his band; better than that, I | strength. He would bear up until the victory can guide you to the rendezvous before day- | was either won or lost, then the reaction would dawn—and I will do so on one condition,” he | come. said, speaking rapidly. . There is no necessity of our describing that 2 “He you can really do this, your terms are wild night ride in detail. eee agreed. to before you name them,” replied Dan | made better time than the road-agents bad be- Brown, quickly, but eying the lad with an air | fore them, and that David faithfully performed of doubt. his part of the compact. He knew that he had been seriously injured, and he feared that this abrupt proposal was but the vagary of.a disturbed brain. David read this doubt in his face, and with a violent exer-_ tion of will, he calmed both his tone and fea- tures. ' “Tknow what Iam saying. There are two men among the party ceeiay who could tell you as much, and who could also reveal what I am about to do, for they are really working in the interests of Captain Moonshine—” “* Who is ke, this Captain Moonshine?’ ‘‘ His name is Brownell; that is all I can say. We seldom catch a view of his uncovered face, | But we are losing time.” ‘‘ State your conditions,” tersely said the de- tective. ‘‘ First, you must never disclose my part in this affair, least of all must the truth ever come to the ears of my father. Next, I must be par- doned for the wrongs I may have done while serving ‘the family.’ Last, you must either | found two of the outlaws on guard a few rods take those two men prisoners, on your own re- from the cave, who challenged them from under nbn te mb or else place trusty men beside | snug cover. them to guard against treachery. One thing Brown promptly ave the password, adding: more. I will really guide you to the retreat, ** There’s enfschier afoot, boys! We’ll have to but it must be by signs such as you alone will | lay low for a few days, even if we don’t have notice. You must take the whole credit on | to pull out for good. That infernal bloodhound your own shoulders. If you agree to this,say | Dan Brown,has come to life again,and has raise so.” | a big posse in Grenada, swearing that he’ll There was no hesitation on the part of the never detective. He would gladly have accepted for | treads the footstool! Is the captain inside? I less advantageous terms. must report to him—” He knew now that David Crabtree must have | Excited by this startling news, both of the been one of the “ family,” but it was not likely | sentinels emerged from cover, and at a signal that his crimes had been very serious, he was | they were seized by powerful hands that effec- stillso young. And for the sake of capturing | tually prevented all outcry. They*were choked or killing Captain Moonshine, he wou'd have | into insensibility, then securely gagged. Dan Brown rode slightly in advance, the detec- tive inthe middle. Thus asimple sign whenever the course needed to be altered, was sufficient for him. None other saw these signals, and Dan Brown received all the credit. The broken ground was reached, and as the vicinity of the cavern in which the road-agents had found refuge was neared, the pace of the Vigilantes became more moderate, Watching his chance, while the party were dismounting and securing their horses, meanin to proceed the rest of the way on foot, Davi told Brown the password which the outlaws on guard would require, together with clear di- rections how to find the entrance to the cav- ern. Thus armed, Brown selected Noah Crabtree and Jack Gill for his aids, and leaving the rest to follow slowly, he started on in advance to clear the way. True to the information David gave, the A wild cheer greeted this information, and no, A — — | Enough that they | pecting t | | raw off the hunt while one of the family | firing. | | Dan Brown, when he saw that they still wore their black cloaks and cowls, was greatly reliev- ed. Though he felt no doubt about killing or capturing the entire band, he feared for Rachel Trowbridge. If cornered, the outlaw chief was none too good to kill her outright through pure malignancy. Now he saw a chance to avert this peril. ‘* Strip them first, then bind and stow them away. ou, Mr. Crabtree, go back and guide the others quietly here, waiting at the entrance, yonder, until you hear my signal. You, Mr. oe may join me in a brief masquerade, if you will.’ ‘‘ What are your plans?” demanded Crabtree. ” f claim my share in the danger, whatever it is. ‘You will have the largest share. Iam goin to put on these disguises, and enter the cave. shall pretend to have important tidings, and demand to see the chief. ith him once under my pistol, Miss Trowbridge will be safe enough. If the alarm was given first, his first act would be to kill her, rather than suffer her to be res- cued.” oS Let Gill go for the men. Iwill join in with you. Brown was satisfied, but Gill was not. Still, Crabtree was his superior officer, and he could not openly demur, and rather sullenly he passed down the gulch. The two adventurers quickly donned the cloaks and pulled the heavy cowls over their heads and faces, then boldly advanced to the black spot which marked the entrance to the cave, A few feet inside this, ey found a double blanket suspended from the low ceiling, which completely shut off all light from within. Paus- ing only to assure themselves that their weap- ons worked freely in their scabbards, the detect- ive raised the blankets and passed into the dim- y lighted chamber, followed closely by Noah rabtree. Before them were gathered over a score of men, the wate g of whom were sleeping, though several were drinking and playing cards, near a fire which was necessary to take the damp chill off. These suspended their playing and glanced at the new-comers curiously, though they plainly entertained no suspicions that they were other than they seemed. “The devil is to pay, boys,” hurriedly uttered Brown, admirab] counterfeiting the voice of Dick Wilder. ‘‘Dan Brown has come to life again, and is after us with a big crowd. Where’s the captain? I must see him and report.” ‘*Look out you don’t git a blue pill fer fust answer,” retorted a ruffian, known as Big Horn. ““He’s back yender with the gal—reckon he’s got mighty presstv’ business with her, too, judgin’ by that squeal!” Even as hespoke there came the sound of a wo- man’s frantic appeal for os age screams which Rachel Trowbridge uttered as Captain Moon- shine, fired by drink and lust, assaulted her. Dan Brown recognized the voice, and noting the direction from whence the sound proceeded, he darted to the rescue, closely followed by Crabtree. This headlong haste under the circumstances struck the road-agents as somewhat strange, and though they were as far as ever from sus- 2 truth, they abandoned their game and followed after, satisfied that there would be a ‘ circus” when Captain Moonshine found his He, his father and vigorous courtship so unceremoniously inter- NS ny ust in the nick of time Dan Brown reached the little chamber in the rock, and uttered the words which terminated the last chapter, sup- ida them with a vigorous leap toward he surprised outlaw. Captain Moonshine dropped Rachel and sprung nimbly to one side, drawing and cocking a re- volver as swift as thought, The detective’s career would have ended then and there, for be could not close with the ruf- fian before the shot was fired, had it not bee? for Rachel. She flung herself against the road- agent, ors his aim and causing him to stagger, almost fall to the rocky floor, and be- fore he could recover his balance or cock his pistol again, Dan Brown had him by the throat in a veritable bull-dog gripe. Grappling, they both fell heavily to the floor, the detective on top, Captain Moonshine’s skull coming in contact with the rock so violently that he was knocked senseless, , Noah Crabtree saw that his comrade was equal to the capture alone, and turned upon the astounded road-agents who were uttering cries of wondering confusion at the strange scene. The Vigilante chief opened fire upon them with a revolver in each hand, p ying the weapons with terrible effect. And then wild cheers came from beyond, followed by rapid The two survivors of those who had followed their supposed comrades, turned and fled—only to run into the arms of the enemy. Crabtree was about to follow them, when a wondering cry from Dan Brown arrested him. And as he followed the direction of the detect- rH finger, he echoed that startled exclama, on, JOO comic S (E(0) ”