Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 257 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

: . — . : = —— + se te ae a oo as , OT gn, e Te Pe a, ee pe PTs. ee . ve ‘“‘]’)] earry a picture of this spot to the grave with me,” said Benedict, his voice soundin strangely amid the roaring of the waters. was here that my eyes were opened to a full sense vf my folly; bere that I told my love, and had the brightest bopes man ever entertained dashed to ruins, you struck me, old fellow—the first time I ever received a blow from mortal being that I did not return with interest!” “You know why it was struck,” quietly re- lied Curtis. ‘I did not recognize you at the ime, though, even if I had, 1 could have done no less under the circumstances. You yourself admitted as much.” ‘‘Of course; you were in the right, or I would have paid back that blow long ere this, But even granting that, it was a blow, and not so readily forgotten as forgiven,” ** Come, let’s go back... This spot only awakens disagreeable feelings. Why should we linger here? Come, old fellow.” ‘‘One moment. -Look! That must be the rock my bead struck against when you knocked me into the water. I never gave you credit for so much muscle, old friend. I went down be- fore you like a log, without an effort to strike ‘back. But I felt the blow, and even then, when death seemed inevitable, I swore to repay are now I keep that oath! Down, you dog —down !” A knife flashed through the air, and was ‘buried to the hilt in the bosom of the young miner. CHAPTER X. THE THUG AT WORK, SwIrt as a flash of lightning fell the dastard ‘blow, and “ae ad swift was the deadly grip of the traitor’s left hand as it shot out and clutcbed the unfortunate miner by the throat, choking off the sharp cry of mingled pain and ‘horror. A brief struggle, then the numbness of death stole over the victim and paralyzed his limbs ‘beyond the power of offering further resistance, Back against the rock he was forced, that blood- ‘stained hand still pressing upon the weapon, those steel-like fingers still gripping his throat until it seemed as though their tips must meet through flesh and bone. Into his death-filming ‘eyes gleamed those murderous orbs, and in his ears hissed the devilisbly-maliguant voice: **Blow for blow, you milk-and-water fool! If Tlet you run for a time, it was only to make my triumph more sure and complete. I found the mates of Budd Painter. I won them over, and even now they are in possession of the pocket and all of a friends. The gold is mine, They will die, even as you are dying— all save one! She—1! will make her my bride, though a score of husbands claim precedence! W hile you—” He ceased abruptly, for the first rays of the moon as it peeped above the rocks to the east, showed him that his bitter taunts fell upon beedless ears—that Vernon Curtis was dead or senseless—and with a savage jerk, he tore his weapon from its quivering sheath. A jet of hot blood spurted from the ghastly ‘wound and struck the assassin full in the face, but he only laughed in ferocious glee as he dropped the steel and gripped the body with Doth hands, holding it upright on the very edge of the chute for an instant. Then his right hand relaxed its grip, the strong muscles of his Satie arm keeping the senseless clay from Back came his clinched fist, ouly to shoot for- ward and strike his helpless victim full in the face, the blow hurling the body out into the madly-rushing waters, ‘* Blow for blow, Vernon Curtis!” he snarled, leaning forward and watching the body asit was whirled away by the waters, ‘* Even as I took the oath, just so have [ kept it!” One moment, then the body vanished from his straining gaze, and the assassin rose erect once more, a low, peculiar whistle coming from between his lips. Almost immediately an answer came from among the rocks below, near the edge of the chute, and two dimly outlined forms scrambled up to where he stood awaiting them, ‘Good!’ he muttered. ‘‘ You are on time.” ‘An’ waitin’ fer a good hour,” grunted one of the men. ‘‘Wehearn you palaverin’ up here so long, we begun to think thar was a powerful screw loose some’rs.” ** The fool discovered me too soon, and I had to quiet his suspicions before I could strike. It makes no particular difference. There’s time ‘enough for all we have to do, and our game ‘below will be all the more soundly sleeping. ., 20U have the cartridges ready prepared?” Jest as the boss give ’em to us. bar do ‘they go?” “One beneath this rock,” and Benedict tapped the bowlder which bore the red sign of murder on its face. “It mast be placed so as to throw the rock over into the chute, and dam back the water. This is the most particular ‘oft of your duty, so see that you make no mis- takes, ‘You will have pienty of time in which And here it was I stood when | os % : . = - _ — > q Death-Trap Diggings. | to perfect your arrangements, before the signal _ is given to fire the fuse.” * Ef we make ary mistake, you kin keep back _ our share o’ the plunder,” said the rascal, wita 'a confident grin. ‘‘Both Dick an’ me was raised in the middle o’ powder workin’s, an’ 'what we don’t onderstan’ about sech tricks, _ain’t hardly wuth knowin’.” Benedict led the way to the dam, and partly down the steep face, pausing and speaking in | guarded tones: . | “This is about the depth of the water in the pond above. You can judge for yourself where to place the powder, bearing in mind that the more completely the dam is destroyed, and the water set free in a mass, the more certainly will our work be accomplished. | Out the fuse for the cartridge beneath the | rock by the chute, to burn two minutes, and make these in the face of the dam just half that length. Watch yonder point for a flash of light, then do your duty. You fully compre- hend my meaning?” | ‘At the flash, we tetch off the fuse at the rock. We letit go nigh a minnit, by the watch, then set these off, so they’ll speak out only a tick or two ahind the fust.” ‘“Exac ly. Get all in readiness, and then watch for the signal flash at the point. If any person attempts to come up from the valley, and does not give the proper signal, use your knives, and mind there is no yelping done. Get to work now.” Clay Benedict paused only long enough to catch water in bis hollowed palms suflicient to wash away the blood-stains from his face, then descended into the valley, bound on his mission of robbery and death. Not a sound broke the stillness which reigned over the Golden Valley, save the distant roaring of the water in the race, and to all appearance, the miners were locked fast in slumber, wholly unconscious of the terrible fate which was so steadily, so surely drawing near to overwhelm them, Straight to the tent of the Burnhams went the assassin, approaching from the rear, and kneeling with his ear pressed against the can- vas. He could distinguish deep, regular breath- ing, and from the location, knew it proceeded from the hearty lungs of Ralph Burnham. For a brief spaca he paused, as though medi- tating, then produced a handkerchief of dark hue, and bound it around his face so that his features were nearly hidden from sigbt, with the aid of his slouched hat. Passing around the tent, he cautiously raised the door-flap, and entered, silently, softly, as ever a red-skin stole upon sleeping victim. Without a sound he crept over to where the veteran lay on a buffalo-robe, near the head of which the iron chest containing the golden trea- sure usually rested. Buta hissing curse escaped the lips of the assassin as his band came in con- tact only with the ground and the tent wall, The treasure-chest had been removed since last he inspected the interior, scarce three hours earlier in the ie sy Crouching low down, with hand upon knife, Benedict listened to learn if his involuntary curse had been heard, but the steady breathing yes a without a break, and all else was still. Still he did not move, The moon had not yet risen high enough to cast its rays into the Gold- en Valley, and all within the tent was black as pitch. He knew that Davy was sleeping with one of the miners, elsewhere, but that Bertha must be lying near. He knew where her couch was usually formed, but since the position of the treasure chest had been altered, he dare not trust to that fact in the intense gloom. Silently raising to his knees, he took a dark- Jantern from his bosom and moved the slide, flashing the bright ligbt around the tent, ‘‘What the devil is that? Who's thar?’ de- ' manded a startled voice, and Clay Benedict knew that Ralph Burnham had been awakened by the sudden inflow of light. As the lantern cast the glow away from him, he knew that the light had not touched his own face, and with swift. presence, of mind he brushed the masking handkerchief down so it hung around bis neck, at the same time turning the fight upon the bewildered, half-asleep miner, muttering guardedly: ‘It’s me, old frien?’—Benedict. Hist! not a sound! Don't waken Bertha, but steal out, and Pll tell you what’s the matter,” He sbut off the light and stole out of the tent, pausing beside the entrance to exchange bis lan- tern for a knife—still red with the heart’s blood of poor Vernon Curtis. is first impulse was to drive the weapon to the heart of the miner when he came outside, trusting to his skill with the weapon and bis sens Strength to stifle all outcry, and if Ralph urnham had followed at once, such would in all probability bave been the course followed by the assassin. But the veteran paused to draw on his boots, and in that brief space the fertile brain of the Thug saw a more plausible manner of escaping the consequences of his false step, and when Ralph Burnham emerged from the | anh touched him on the arm and whispered softly: i3 ‘Follow me closely. There’s no need of alarming the camp just at present. Youand I will be enough for now.” ‘‘ What’s up?’ muttered the old miner, anx- iously, but the cunning traitor only gripped bis arm more tightly, as a signal for utter silence, as he led the way toward the foot of the dam, only pausing when confident that no ear among the miners could overhear them. ‘‘Be cautious!” he muttered, with his lips close to the ear of the man whom he had so ruthlessly doomed to death. ‘‘I have brought you out here, because I knew you would never believe the black truth without being an eye- witness of the whole affair, You shall see the traitor, and hear him condemn himself beyond all possibility of lying out of it,” ‘* What traitor? W hatin thunderis you tryin’ to git through ye, anyhow, boy? You don’t smell drunk, but durned ef you ain’t talkin’ mighty loose fer a sober man!” exclaimed the veteran, impatience in his tones. ‘*' Your pet, Vernon Curtis!” hissed the traitor, malignantly. The veteran turned upon bim with a sharp ex«lamation. ‘Look out, young man, what yousay. I'da — sight sooner think you a traitor than ern! ‘‘Don’t I know that?’ sharply retorted Bene- dict, casting a quick glance around them to make sure they were alone. ‘‘ I bave suspected Curtis ever since the night’ Bertha told us of her marriage, but I said nothing, for 1 hoped for better things, even against my own judg- ment. . ‘‘Tt was so hot to-night that I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I'd go up on the dam, in hopes of getting a little more air. I caught the sound of voices, and that awakened my suspicions anew, for I knew that Curtis was doing — duty to-night. I stole closer, and— Look yonder! With his left hand, the traitor grasped Ralph Burnbam by the arm, and forced him to face the dam. ‘* What? I cain’t see nothin’! Whar is it?’ whispered the veteran, bending forward, in his excitement not noticing how quickly Benedict drew back his pointing hand to snatch a revol- ver from his belt. ‘* Here, curse you!” came gratingly from his ~ as he brought the heavy, brass-bound butt of the pistol down upon the stooping head, with all the power of his strong right arm. Without a sound or groan, the stricken man fell forward upon his face, his strong limbs quivering slightly, but that was the only token of sera Bes. Panther-like in his activity, Clay Benedict Jeaped upon the fallen man, gripping his throat with both hands, to stifle any cry for help, should his blow not prove effectual; but there was no resistance, and he gradually relaxed his savage grip, feeling of the skull where the wea- pon had struck. ‘* You won’t make any further trouble, any- how!” he muttered, with a‘low, ugly laugh, as he felt the bones give way beneath the pressure of his finger-tips. ‘‘ Now for the key to the chest, I’ve lost too much time already. Gentle Jeff will begin to thing I have fallen asleep, unless I make haste.” Turning the body upon its back, the Thu searched in the pockets tor the key, a little snar of pleasure escaping his lips as his quest proved successful, ‘*I began to think the old scoundrel had come the hocus-pocus over us all, but I reckon the chest is s*mewhere else in the tent, after all,” the murderer muttered to himself, as he se- cured the key, then dragged the body aside from the trail usually followed by any one passing from the camp to the dam. 4 Swiftly but silently he glided back to the | camp, pausing for a moment at his own slee "= ing place to secure a few small articles whic . be stowed away on his person, then passing over to the Burnham tent. Again he listened with his ear close to the canvas, creeping slowly around the structure until he at length located the spot where poor Bertha was sleeping, ¢ Once more be bound the disguising handker- chief over bis face, and crept around and into the tent. Facing the point where his keen hearing had located the sleeping beauty, the Thug gradually moved the slide of bis dark-lantern, letting on the light by degrees, and thus avoiding the sud- den shock which had awakened Ra!ph Burnham, » only a few minutes earlier in the night. Slowly the sheet of light stole around until it fell fairly across the figure of the soundly sleep- Re: ing woman, and stoutly though he bad steeled — his nerves, Clay Benedict drew in his breath ~ with a quick gasp that seemed like the blade of a knife cutting through bis beart. For never before had the young wife looked to him as entrancingly lovely as she did now. | sleeping soundly, dreamlessly, ignorant of the =< tragic scenes which were occurring, with no — friendly spirit to warn her of the frightful peril which threatened her in her helplessness, Sal With eyes that glowed and glittered like those of some unholy demon, the Thug gloated over the sleeping beauty, bis breath coming hot and fast, his limbs trembling until the sheet — commie Si CO! s F (E| OOO)