Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 257 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

rae * i nd a 7 — = . -— = ‘ - -_ ned By a f = = . ° * ae . - , » é - ‘ — far as we are concerned,” coolly FPeplied the strange being. ‘1'l) take it all back! You're sperrets an’ ghosts an’ spooks an’ hobgobblers an’ wampires an’ wisions an’ shades an’ happyrishuns an’—” The White Chief waved his hand impatiently, and before the miner fairly realized what was coming, he was thrown to the ground and his limbs bound tightly. For a brief space he lay like a log, seemingly completely paralyzed by this treatment, but then bis indignation burst forth in hot denunci- ations of both bimself and the spectators. ** Now 1 will be durned! You uin’t no more sperrets then you be gentlemen! An’ ’m a hog un’ a liar fer ever sayin’ ye was! I take it all back ag’in, an’ ef ever I git up I'll go through ye like a dose o’ salts through a sick Frenchman!” Another motion of the white gauntlet, and a gag was Hgts between the wagging jaws, cut- ting short the torrent of angry words; then the miner was bundled into the coach. One by one the Chief of the Specters scrutin- ized the three remaining passengers, asking them a few questions, sifting their answers as though seeking to catch them falsifying, but in the end he appeared satisfied that neither of them were in the black list at which he had hinted shortly before. One after the other they were bound hand and font, then tossed into the coach, and the door fastened after them. All this while Muscovado Jack divided his at- tentions between the pistols which covered him and the operations conducted by the Chief of the Specters. Now, feeling that the end had come, he called out: “Wound the way-bill all co’rect, didn’t ye, boss? Then I reckon we kin pull out fer Death- Trap Diggin’s, cain’t we?” ‘‘Come down from that box!” sternly com- manded the chief. ** But Lain’t in the game, boss!” urged Jack, uneasily, his bronzed face turning pale anda wild look filling his little eyes. ‘‘l drive the hearse, an’—”’ ‘It will be a hearse, so far as you are con- cerned, if you stop to parley!” ‘** Ef you wipe out the men who holds the rib- bons, how long ’ll it be afore your trade’s clean gone? The line won’t run ef they ain’t no one to drive—” An impatient gesture, and one of the Specters at the head of the team snatched a coiled lasso from his. saddle-bow, and the next instant the choking noose settled around the throat of Mus- covado Jack, “Come down of your own accord, or at the end of that rope just as you prefer,” coldly cried the White Chief, **Don’t pull—I’m a-comin’!” gasped the driver trembling in every limb as he scrambled down to the ground, one band thrust inside the noose to save his neck. The Chief of the Specters met him and tore the weapons from his belt, then pushed back the brim of his hat and gazed keenly into the ex- posed countenance, “How long since you first called yourself Muscovado Jack, my honest fellow?” he asked, his voice low and even musical. ‘It was give me when a boy, an’ fust went se 7 “* You lie!” sharply uttered the chief, his hand slipping from shoulder to throat. ‘‘ Not three years ago you bore another name—that of King Perry. Shall I tell you why you changed it for another?” ‘I néver wore sech a han’le,” faltered the driver, shrinking as far back as that suddenly be os, grip would a nce more, you le, dog! I know you clear through. Not a black page of your life history but what is plain as printto me. Three ae ape ago you were called King Perry, You ad for comrades in evil, Dick Damper, Conky Peters, Breechy Bull, Teddy Moran, and Jeff Archer was your leader. There was sti]] another, a wild, reckless fellow, not utterly bad like those with whom he was associated, named Budd Painter, who called himself the Hard a from ’Way Back.” oe ae gasping, gurgling cry esca he pallid lips, and ilerraro Yack would have sunk to the ground in abject terror, only for the iron grip that held him up. bitter, contemptuous laugh came from be- neath the white cowl, and the Specter Chief flung the craven wretch to the ground, planting a foot heavily on his chest as he resumed: **Do you still deny your old name? Are you convinced that 1 know your black past? Listen: “You aided your mates to murder the first verers of the place now called Death-Trap Diggin s, in order to obtain the rich store of ea which they had accumulated by hard toil dite many privations. With them, you mur- tho ed your guide and mate, Budd Painter. You pe your bloody secret forever hidden with ones of those poor wretches, but you were seet ahs The dead have come back to seek a just vengeance, and on your head a part of the penalty must fall. Surely as the heav- aan aad Above us this night, you are death- ** Mercy—spare me!” gurgled the craven Death-Trap Diggings. wretch, writhing beneath the white foot like some crushed serpent. ‘* Mercy? Ay! such mercy as you showed those innocent beings whose gold you lusted for! Spare you? Just as you and your com- rades in sin spared the gray-haired old man the feeble women, the helpless lad! You sowe the wind on that black night and now you be- | gin to reap the whirlwind! Not one of the ac- cursed band shall escape the penalty! The oath is taken and recorded in the innocent blood of those poor beings whose bones gave to Death- Trap Diggings its ominous name! ‘You are the first of your band that has fallen into the hands of the avengers, but it has been thus from choice. The others are known and their whereabouts noted. They live only on sufferance, and because they must feel the pangs of terror—must feel that they are haunt- ed by the dead—before the final biow is dealt them. ‘‘In this you have a part to play, and for that purpose you are here alive instead of a corpse. To carry out this, we grant you a brief reprieve from death, and because we know that with each breath you draw from the present moment until the last blow is struck, you will suffer the pangs of worse than death. You will know that you live only by our per- mission, That at any instant the thread may be cut. That, try how you may, escape is im- possible, for though you will fail to recognize them in their disguises, not a step can you take, not a word can you utter, not a motion make that is not followed, beard and noted by your executioners. If you attempt to flee» from Death-Trap Diggings, that instant will your doom overwhelm you!” The solemn «voice ceased speaking, and re- moving his foot from the breast of the trem- bling man, the Specter Chief made a signal, promptly responded to by the White Cowls. They pounced upov Muscovado Jack, binding bim hand and foot, then raised him to his feet and supported him in an erect posture before their chief, ‘‘The first serviee you are called upon to render your judges, King Perry, is a simple one. In Death Trap Diggings lives a man who calls himself Colone! Claude Carey. You will have no difficulty in finding him. At this mo- ment be is at the gambling-hell called the Red Light. He will be there still when you reach town. ‘¢ Find him and tell him all you have seen and heard this night. As proof of your story, you will give him a note, If he still doubts, ask him to inspect these marks !” As he uttered these words the Specter Chief drew a bare blade from beneath his loose shirt, and taking an ear of the trembling wretch in his hand, severed it at a stroke. A wild ery of pain escaped the man, but his guards held him firmly, and with the samestern deliberation the White Chief severed his other ear; then with the keen point of the crimsoned weapon, cut a cross on his forehead, through skin and flesh to the very bone. * Yell on, dog!” hi the strange being, re- placing the bloody blade. ‘‘ Your cries are like music to my ears, for they recall the oath we swore when we gathered up our scattered bones and assumed the garb of life once more, to seek vengeance on our assassins!” As he spoke he ran a wire through the bloody ears, then twisted the ends together, and hung the gbastly token around the neck of the nearly swooning wretch. Just over these he pinned a white paper, foldod and superscribed with the name of; ** COLONEL CLAUDE CAREY.” At a wave of his hand the Specters lifted Muscovado Jack upon the box-seat, and with a lasso bound him fast in an upright position. The lines were ~athered up and wound around his hands and wrists, then bound in place with stout thongs. The doors of the coach were securely fastened, though there was little chance of the inside pas- sengers being able to free themselves from the carefully-applied bonds before the horses carried the coach into Death Trap Diggings. ‘““One word more, King Perry,” said the Specter Chief, as he mounted his horse and rode up beside the coach, ‘‘ Fail not to deliver that note to Colonel Carey, and say that the Spec- tors of Death-Trap Diggings are on his trail for vengeance!” He drew back and lifted one white hand. With wild shouts the Specters lashed the fright- ened horses with their lassoes. Snorting with terror they leaped forward, the coach swaying to and fro, while from the in- terior came shrill yells of mortal fear from the helpless passengers. CHAPTER IV. A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD, Ir was Muscovado Jack who created such a sensation ed staggering into the gambling-saloon covered with blood, bearing his own ears around his neck, as mute but terribly significant evi- dence of the truth of the strange story be had to tell, and holding out the note hie had been com- missioned to deliver, sunk to the floor at the feet of Colonel Claude Carey. : Though taken so entirely + surprise, the gal- lant colonel was prompt enough in his actions, and before the paper could drop from the un- nerved fingers of Muscovado Jack, he stooped and secured possession of it. A sweeping, com- prehensive glance at its contents was enough to _ drive the blood from the colonel’s face, leaving _ him pale as a corpse, while the start he involub- | tarily gave as his eyes met the signature, told | how sharply the blow bad stricken him. | For the instant be forgot where he was, and | what bis surroundings. A savage curse parted | his lips. ‘The paper was tightly gripped in one hand, while the other grasped a pistol-butt as though in defiance to the author of that note. A low, mocking laugh at bis shoulder startled him, and turning abruptly be bebeld the masked proprietress of the Red Light standing so near that he felt sure she could, bad she felt so in- clined, have read the contents of that strange communication with perfect ease. ‘‘ Your heart again, gallant colonel?” she ut- tered, low and mockingly, her eyes gleaming brightly through the holes in thecrimson mask. ‘* Decidedly, you must take better care of your- self, and seek medical advice, or else Death- Trap Diggings may have to go into mourning over the untimely decease of her most bonored citizen and main-stay—and that would be sad!” Colonel Carey returned her brilliant gaze with anew and startling suspicion finding birth in his brain; but his temporarily demoralized shrewdness and wits were rapidly recovering their usua) keenness, and the words which sprung to his lips were strangled ere they found audible utterance. This little bit of by-play passed unnoticed by all save the couple immediately concerned, for | the passengers whom the Specters of Death-Trap Diggings had sent on their journey in bonds were now free again, and each man surrounded by an eager and interested group, the peculiar adventure was rapidly colored to suit the spec- tacles through which each narrator observed 2 surroundings at the moment of capture and duress. Colonel Carey turned swiftly upon the woman in red, bis new-born suspicions trembling on bis lips, the words being checked only by a violent exertion of will. But even his marvel- ous powers of self-control could not entirely conceal the effort made, and there came an in- quiring light into the eyes of the gambler queen. ** You spoke, colonel?” she asked, softly, com- ing a step nearer, ber small, gloved hand touch- ing his arm, almost caressingly, as it seemed to him at the time. ‘1 failed to quite catch the meaning of your words, in this disgraceful up- roar.” A sudden plow filled his eyes, and bending forward until his lips were close to her ear, he whispered: ‘‘May I repeat them—at a more favorable peentenmy and place? Might 1 dare to hope that—” ‘** Hope is common to all, colonel,” with a low laugh and coquettish toss of the small, proudly- poised head. ‘‘ As for daring—you do not bear the reputation of a coward, dear sir—and if I dare listen, surely you can utter the words.” ‘*Thanks—a thousand thanks!” bowing his head over the red gauntlet. ‘‘ Then I may call on you, at your bome?” “Whenever you please, colonel, noon and dusk.” ‘“* To-morrow, then, since you are so gracious. I will try to show you how thoroughly I appre- ciate your kindness, then; just now important business calls me away.” Touching the gloved hand to his lips, the colonel turned and was hastening away, when the gambler queen called out: i between | | | | “Your friend—your messenger, colonel? Shall 1 have his wants attended to, or will you see to him?’ | Colonel Carey started and looked at the pros- trate figure of Muscovado Jack, whom he had entirely forgotten. A swift glance around the | room decided him, and making a signal which brought several roughly-dressed fellows to his side, he bade them lift the senseless man and bring him after. His orders were promptly obeyed, and he > pressed through the crowd that was steadily - increasing as the me > tidings spread rapidly through the town. ust before gaining the door which led to the outer air, it was flung open and a tall, well-dressed man of middle age entered the saloon. ‘* Hello, colonel,” he cried, cheerily. “What the devil’s to pay now? What’s this about a pack of ghosts holding up the stage and playing ob in general?” ; ‘Jeffreys, you’re just the man I wanted most to see!” exclaimed Carey, adding in a more guarded tone: ‘*Come with me. There’s the devil to pay, and we've got hot work ahead, if we want to come out even. Not a word in this crowd—come.” > Accompanied by the three men who carried the driver, one at each shoulder, and a third with a foot held under each arm, Colonel Carey and the man he called Jeffreys left the ©} ONO) eGolm Ss G ~~ + i ; i. 7 a f J 7 « -“ xX a 4 * ov oa _? \s , eal - t od * ra : , « nes me’ » ™