Beadle's Dime Library No. 170 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

——— a % a 28 ‘* Needs must where the devil drives! One of two men killed my husband. What their names were, I do not know; but neither of them was Leo Friend.” ’ re ps will swear this 1 Ptmen ae the chief. ‘If necessary, yes. now what you mean. On the 4th I Leo Friend with the crime. I was half nk, then, and was paid for it, besides. Gerald Evans told me what to say and do, that day.” ‘Let that pass for the present. Who were the two men you spoke about? What were their reasons for killing your husband?’ ** Self-defense, I suppose. Let me begin at the beginning, and you will save time,” said Nell pre erself upon the doorstep, coolly. ¢ in the t place, Don belonyved to the order known to outsiders as the Crimson Clan. It was while working with them that he met his death, on the evening of the second of July— four and twenty hours before the time those men swore he was murdered by Leo Friend. ** At noon, on the 2d Gerald Evans came here, and told Don there was work to be done; that two drovers were upon the road, with plenty of money. As both were strangers, they would never be missed. That same evening, Don, Gerald, John Hopper and Jake Ramsel waylaid the drovers. e man was killed outright, but the other, though badly wounded, made a hard fight. In that fight Don was killed.” ae was his death concealed until the next night?” hat was Gerald’s doings. He said it was so no suspicion could fall upon any of them, but he bad another reason, as youal know, now. He wanted to put Leo Friend out of the way. To fix the crime upon him, he had him abducted and drugged, though I am sure Mattie Foster never knew the whole plot, for she was crazy for love of him—” ‘“‘Never mind that. Can you tell me the — of the Crimson Clan?’ interposed the chief. - “Tecan—and more. If you swear to let me go my way unharmed, I will give you a list not only of the members of the Crimson Clan, but of the entire League, more than three hundred in number. I cantell you where they rendez- vous, what signs, signals and passwords they make use of; in fact, everything concerning the organization.” ** As an earnest, tell me the real name of the man who is called Captain Moonlight—” A horseman came galloping furiously up the valley, and his shout arrested the speech of the chief. As the rider saw that he had attracted attention, he shouted: ‘‘There’s an attack on the jail! The Crimson Clan are rescuing Leo Friend! Make haste, or you will be too late to hinder them!” CHAPTER XXXIV. HUNTED DOWN |! CUNNINGLY laid though his plans were, Sim- ple Simon was forced to see them scattered to the four winds. When the runner brought word to Martha Foster of Leo Friend’s capture, he was drawing the outlaws away from the real trail of the man who killed Hark Foster, and the sound of her born took him completely Leg surprise. Not knowing just what it portended, he was rather shy about obeying the signal, and when he did get within ear shot, he only caught the concluding words, as Mattie dashed away, soon followed in hot haste by the eager out- ws. Gerald Evans remained, and that decided Simple Simon. Instead of following the horse- men as he would have done if he whom he felt assured was Captain Moonlight had been one of their number, he hastened to seeif any of his men had arrived at the rendezvous. He found two, and dispatched them in hot haste, one in quest of Sweet William and the other to the vil- lage to arouse the Vigilantes, with word that the Crimson Clan was afoot, | It was while thus employed that Gerald Evans and his two companions in villainy suc- ceeded in carrying off Belle Gladden. Not wholly unobserved, despite their precautions. Lying low beneath a irae vine-wreathed bush, Ham Belcher saw them file past, and rec- ognized each one of the quartette. He saw that the maiden was unconscious, and shrewdly reasoned that she was an unwilling companion of Gerald Evahs’s flight. Ham Belcher’s hand it was that caught Sim- ple Simon’s eye, waving a leafy twig, as he re- turned from sending off his two runners, and five minutes later he was in possession of the story. It was startling enough, but Simple Simon was equal to the occasion. “ Cumnge clothes with me—quick!” were his first words, as he be stripping off his fantas- tic suit of — “Then pick up half-a-dozen of the boys as fast as you can, and follow after. Wl blaze the trail as I ge itup. That Evans as our man and he must be taken alive /” now in a shirt and trowsers that fit- y= t ted closely to his limbs, with a Slouched hat, and moccasins upon his feet, Simple Simon started along the plainly imprinted trail like a blooded hound upon a breast-high scent. Without ch g his speed in the least, at every few rods he would twist over the top of a ‘ - bush, or jerk down some overnanees bough. thus marking the trail so plainly that those who followed might do so at full speed. D ite. this, Simple Simon used his legs so well that he came within earshot of the kidnap- pers just before they halted for the first time after leaving the cabin. He crept up so near that he heard every word uttered by Gerald Evans; heard him decide to take to the Pee ear pentiony recautions were to be used to guard a overy. He could have sent a bullet to the brain of any one of the trio; possibly could have shot down them all, one after the other, without much risk to himself, but that was not what he wanted. Gerald Evans must be captured, not killed, and to effect that he must bide his time. Just keeping the party in view, he followed behind, blazing the trail as before, and was less than a hundred yards behind when the kidnap- pers entered the highway. Here the real difficulty began, and a less self- reliant man must soon have lost all heart. The horsemen rode at a rapid pace. The day was hot and sultry. The undergrowth beside the road was too thick for easy traveling. If he kept in the road, a backward glance at any moment might discover him, when the difficult of his self-imposed task would be doubled, if it were not rendered impossible. Never scrupu- lous, Gerald Evans would not balk at murder, if it became necessary to the success of his plans. All this Simple Simon realized at a glance but he did not hesitate. Pausing for a momen until the enemy were hidden by a sharp curve in the road, he darted swiftly forw running by ear, keeping close to the edge’of the under- growth, ready to dodge under cover at a mo- ment’s notice, These tactics he pursued until nearly a mile had been covered, now, as before, blazing the trail, but then the road entered upon a level piece of ground, running straight ahead witb- out crook or turn for more than a mile. He dared not wait until they were out of sight, for he knew not at what moment they might choose to turn aside from the main road into one of the many bridie-paths which led into the timber upon either hand. So, crouching low, and hug- ging the shrubbery, he resumed his chase, Before he had taken a dozen steps into the open, the captive maiden raised her head and uttered her appeal for help. Quick as thought, Simple Simon plunged headlong into the bushes, then paused to see if he would be fol- lowed. That he was not, the reader mye! knows, but the trailer did not dare return to the road. His labor was doubled, but he did not falter. With muscles of steel, he tore on through the shrubbery, losing ground at every stride, sweat uring off him, his heart beating like a trip- Larne, yet never despairing for a moment. He was fully half a mile behind when he again ventured to take to the road. The kid- nappers had disappeared around another curve, and feeling that now was his time to make up his loss of ground, Simple Simon darted for- ward at a rate of airly marvelous in one who had already undergone such great exertion. Fate, too, seemed against him, Thé curve wasso much shorter than he had imagined that Simple Simon dashed out upon another straight stretch of road, in full view of the horsemen, whose pace had been moderated, before he re- alized his imprudence. . Swiftly as before, be sought cover, but not in time to elude the keen glance of John Hopper. Peering through the bushes, Simple Simon saw enough to feel sure that he had been discovered, and fully upon the alert, he pressed on, ready for action when the emergency should arise. Five minutes later it came. He saw Hopper signal Ramsel, and waiting for no more, he ran a few yards into the timber, then | Sor a low hanging bough and swung himself into a black- jack tree. The foliage was so dense that only an actual search of the tree top could he be discovered, and that search the kidnappers did not make. They were poor woodsmen, and the trail left by Simple Simon was as a sealed book to them, and they soon gave over the search. As their horses: dashed by, Simple Simon descended. Now that his pursuit was ted, he took greater risks, not daring to let the enemv beyond yes! for he felt sure thata trap would be laid for him ere long. The trap was set, but Simple Simon did not enter it, though his escape was a very narrow one. Pressing on with unabated speed, he neared the creek. He could hear nothing of the enemy, but the fresh tracksin the road showed that they had but recently passed. When less than a hundred yards from the ford, he heard the ripple of the waters, as he paused to listen for hoof-strokes. The sounds came from directly ahead, and he knew that the stream must cross the road. That was enough. Better lose a few rods of ground than to run the risk of being ambushed. Plunging into the bushes, he swam the creek, holding his pistols and powder high above the water, made a wide circuit and struck the road again, quarter of a mile beyond. A grim smile curled his lip as he saw that but Sweet William, the Trapper Detective. one horse had passed along the road instead of three. Rightly “judging that this rider was Gerald Evans, he pressed ahead with redoubled confidence, feeling that success was but a ques- tion of time. we, an hour later than when Gerald Evans left the high-road with his he!pless cap- tive ae Simon entered the woods upon his track, e trailer exercised more caution now, for instinct told bim that his game was making for his covert, to await the coming of his allies. Presently the scent of tobacco-smoke came to his nostrils, and then, cautiously parting the bushes, Simple Simon peered out upon his un- conscious quarry. A moment later, his plans were formed. Drawing back, he noiselessly stole around uatil beside the Blue Rock. Then, Calling his valuable ‘‘ powers” into play, he uttered a whistle that seemed to proceed from faraway. Gerald started, but made no reply, until the second whistle sounded still nearer. Simple Simon feared lest the absence of hoof- strokes would arouse Gerald’s suspicions, but such was not the case. At the pretended call ef John Hopper, Evans turned around, his back toward Simple Simon, who sprung forwatd, like a panther upon its prey. And here one ie oversight almost proved fatal to him. The sun cast Simple Simon's shadow directly before the eyes of his enemy, and, quick as a cat, Gerald leaped aside, drawing and cocking his pistol. Striking himin the face with one hand, Simon grasped the weapon with the other, wresting it free. But in the struggle, the weapon was discharged, the heavy ball terribly shattering the outlaw’s hand and wrist. That ended the brief struggle, and five minutes later, Gerald Evans was lying bound, save for the one arm, which Simple Simon was attend- ing to as carefully as though the sufferer was his own brother. The job wasa difficult one, and the man’s surgical skill was by no means first-class, but he fivually managed to take up the principal arteries, and arrest the excessive flow of blood. ; This done, he placed a gag in the outlaw’s mouth, just enough to keep him from giving the alarm, and laid bim under cover. Then he proceeded to reassure Belle Gladden that her danger was a thing of the mg! and was speedily on the best of terms with her. He told her enough of his plans to make sure that she weuld not be an incumbrance when the emergency arose, then settled down to await the coming of Jobn Hopper and Jake Ramsel. He was not kept long in waiting. A shrill whistle came from the direction of the road so soon after his work was completed that be was uneasy lest they had heard the pistol-shot and would be suspicious; but such did not appear to be the case. He replied to the signal, and a few minutes later the trampling of horses’ hoofs became audible, and he prepared for hot work. His heart beat rapidly when the men halted, still beyond view, and called aloud to Gerald. But he promptly made reply, imitating the voice of Evans so admirably that Belle started in affrizht. ‘All right—come on! What are you stop- ping for?” The well-known voice lured the outlaws into the toils. As they pushed through the bushes Simple Simon arose and confronted them, a pistol in each hand. ‘*Halt! surrender, or I’ll shoot you like two wolves!” For a moment they but then, as with one horses forward. : Two shots that sounded as one—and the horses fell headlong, shot through the brain. A heavy blow stunned John Hopper, and ere Ramsel could free himself Simple Simon was upon him, CHAPTER XXXV. THE LAST OF EARTH.’ GREAT was the excitement of the members of the Crimson Clan, as, flocking to the door of the log jail, they saw that the words of their alarm- ed comrade were only too true. The Vigilantes were indeed coming, and after a cool, yet head- lopg manner, that boded ill for whatever ob- stacle they found in their path. Cool, because din mute amazement, cord, they spurred their their force divided, one half outpacing the, other and bending in such a manner that less than two minutes would seé them in ession of the rear and have the jail completely sur- rounded; headlong, because there was no flinch- ing, no hesitation, though none xnew better than they that the Crimson Clan had long and sharp teeth that none knew better how to use if driven to bay. Men think rapidly in such emergencies. Their first impulse was to close the door and bid the enemy defiance from their wooden fortress, but that was of only momentary duration. There could be but one ending whether the building was carried by swift, impetuous storming, or by the more prudent course of starvation. Those who were not slain outright would be taken ote core and that meant the rope—death by nging. | There was but one thing to do. They must charge the enemy and trust’ to desperate fight- ing to carry them safe through the toils, Many '7EOmicbooks.com |