Beadle's Dime Library No. 258 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

to housee over there an’ Johnee come pritty soonee,” His meaning was clear and seemed plausible. The hotel, surrounded by its crowd of rough miners, was not an inviting looking place to these delicate St. Louis ladies, while the house to which the Chinaman pointed did look very com- fortable and respectable, Thinking they saw Gentle John’s kind fore- sight in this, the ladies promptly dismounted and told the “ - eathen ” they were ready. He led the way at once, and as only a little over a hundred yards intervened they were soon at the house, The guide led the way in- side where they were met. by a hands: me young woman whogreeted them cordially and said’a good. many encouraging things. According to her statement, one of the rich- est men of the, town, and her father, had be- come interested in them after hearing Gentle John’s story, and Red Bar was ready to show that it was not an inhospitable plac». All this sounded very pretty and Rose and Mrs. Quain were deligh with the frankness of Western manners. The young woman had said that she would serve them a breakfast and it was soon brought in by a second Chinaman; a tempting-looking repast to which they did not fail to do full jus- tice. (oly Perhaps they did more. When the meal was finished the young wo- man suggested that p rhaps they. would like to lie down for a while, after their journey, and as they did feel tired and sleepy, offer was also accepted. © © © on a Twenty minutes later both were aster When the young woman left them she went tly to anotber room, and, her knock hav- ing been answered, she entered and was in the eo ry ste of Edmund Bartlett and Eben Gar- nd. Yes; the old lawyer, whom we left making a somersault in the air when the stage wheel struck a bowlder, was there and plainly in good condition. He had reached the Bar ahead of the stage, When he left his seat on the stage-box so un- ceremoniously he struck on the und with such force as to stun him. When he reeovered consciousness two rough, but honest, travelers were working over him, and it was through their aid that he went on to his destination, Once there, it was easy to find Bartlett. ‘Well, Hester?” said. the latter, inquiringly, as the young woman entered. ‘‘ All goes well,” was the calm reply. “They have taken their coffee and reti and if your Chinaman knows his business, the battle is won. | | “ Have no fear,” said Bartlett, confidently. “Ki Lee knows his business. Didn’t he deco them in nicely? Thatis bis way of doing busi- ness and he can be depended upon at any mo- ment. His drug will make these women sleep soundly for twelve hours; I’m sure of it.” ‘But are you sure it won't injure them?’ de- manded Eben Garland. ‘As mip? as’ Mrs, Quain bas behaved, she ir still my sister and I would not see her injured.” : ‘‘Never fear for toat, but give your wits to ng me decide what we shall do with ber helpi a d the girl, They are on our bhands—how shall we dispose of bem?” | | |. THE VAULT oF DEATH! THE reader will naturally perceive how Rosa and Mrs, Quain were , but ‘an explana- tion is necessary to show the cick of Bart- lett’s wits. They saw the stages drive up to the hotel and Garland recognized his sister. It took him but a moment-to surmise that she had come on to Red Bar to aid Allen, and as her testimony. was most dangerous to the course he upheld he became frightened. Mitt caret As soon as Bartlett had been told the trouble he seized on the points of the case. and the | remedy, and executed the plan we have seen operated, Rose and Mrs. Quain were prisoners, and un- less suspicion was directed to Bartlett's house it might be a long while before they would be of use to Allen, . | ‘‘Isn’t there some place where they can, be confined?” asked Gar . “* You spoke in a former letter—” _ , Bartlett interrupted him hurriedly. — ‘¢- Yes, 1 know; you refer to Austin’s old house, but that has been burned since then.” He bad done bis best to avert suspicion, but Hester Ware was not deceived. She knew there was a secret den about the piace; she suspected the house was full of them like the castles of the Middle Ages, with numerous traps and panels; but she yielded meekly when Bartlett dismissed ber on a plausible errand. The owner then drew Garland well to one side, ‘Yes: I mentioned my iron vault in a letter to you,” he said, in a.stibdned voice. “It is the eatest place made since the Tower of Babel. roe what it gets; being made of solid stone, cement and iron, it defies everything. I had it prepared for Robert Sinclair. “As I wrote you, 4 Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo. he took a fancy to return to this country and I thought the next step in his sudden bravery would be to go to St. Louis, declare his in- nocenee and demanda trial. That would hard- ly be safe, you know, and I resolved to avoid the danger and at the sume time stop the drain on my purse.” ‘“You should have done so years ago,” the lawyer said. “I realize it, now. Well, I had the vault made and lured him to Red Bullet Bar, after which I seized and confined him in the place.” “* How does he like it?” ‘* Very well, so far as I know,” said the arch- plotter, caressing his chin and’smiling blandly. ‘“ At present, his spirit must be in the hereafter. Once my captive, I left bim alone.” ‘To starve?” ae sm Garland shivered... Bad. as he was, he would not allot such a fate to any one, ** Some a this vault will do you mischief, I fear,” he said. ‘‘ What of the mason who built “He shared the joys and sorrows of’ Robert Sinclair. They starved together.” ‘Good beavens!” the lawyer exclaimed. ‘* Why should J scruple?’ demanded his com- panion, fiercely. ‘lf there is a judgment, ~ 4 condition was fixed years ago. A few ad- ditional’ crifies can’t change the matter. If there isn’t a future life, I’m safe anyhow.” “ Trué, true,” added Garland; “ that is logic, You are right to look out for your own interests and now, of. course, you are tolerably secure.” ‘“ You.would think so if you knew whata tumult has been made around my ears of late. About every half-hour some one drops in and says, sort of parenthetically, ‘ You killed Regi- nald Sinclair, didn’t you, or if you didn’t, who did? It’s the old taleof Cock Robin over again in a revised form. I feel anything but secure,” Bartlett then gave an outline of what had oc- curred and the lawyer agreed that matters were far from being satisfactory. f In the mean while there was less excitement outside over the disappearance of Rose and Mrs. Quain than had. been expected... If Gentle John had been confided in more fully it would bave been far better, but as he bad not been told that, danger might come to them, he de- cided, after once sure they were fone, that they had deliberately given him the slip, “Tl aim to be right,” he observed to the land- lord, as he gracefully tossed down a glass of yellowish liquid, ‘‘an’ I never intrude whar I ain’t wan When ther pins are all down I set "em up on t’other alley. Now, as business ain’t drivin’ byar, I think Pll start fur Nevada ter-morrer. I’ve got a over thar, a Chinee whose name is Bad ng, an’ bim an’ me’ll amble on torts ther Accident,” “ Ther Accident?” * AndthéF fiameé fur ther West. raise my warble in meeterfors,” “ Better wait a day or two. I’m goin’ ter bev in some prime Bourbon, an’ you ought to carry some for medicinal use.” ‘* I yield to your superior wisdom; I'll stay. Hyar’s ther pay fur a week’s lodgin’, at ther eend 0’ which time you kin cross my name off ther register and write down ‘longside on’t: ‘ Gone ter meet Bad Lung? ” | From which it will be seen Gentle Jolin was I sometimes not worrying much about the ladies he had: brought through to the Bar, and Bartlett’s scheme was.a complete success, . The day quietly. Neither Bartlett nor Garland ventured outside the house, but they made arrangements for the future. One of the Chinamen was sent out to*secure quar- ters for Rose and Mrs, Quain, who remained under the power of the dru where they would be held securely, but, well-used. ne They were to be removed during the night, Ever since Eben Garland heard of the deat! - vault, he had a morbid desire to see the place. He shivered when he thotight of Robert Sin- clair dying in there of starvation, but that only increased, bis desire, which was of that kind which some one bas called ‘ the. attraction of repulsion.” : } ust as the clock struck ten he stated his de- sire to Bartlett. Oddly enough, the Intter did not object; he felt proud of his little invention, and anxious to exhibit if, while the presence of ate was inside would not affect him, he be- ieved, Consequently they took a lantern and went to the store-room, carefully closing the door after them to baffle Hester Ware’s prying eyes. Bartlett. went. methodically about his work, turned the combiuation lock and raised the cover of the vault, “ Bah! what a smell of oil!” said Garland, vit leas strong than it dee out. ae atter, it isn’t all oil, Never mind; look down like this!” i Soa ; The mine-owner had skillfully adjusted the lantern to the pole as we have seen him do on a former occasion, and be then knelt down, lowered the light and scanned the interior. _ The painted walls gleamed whitely, making a sort of uncanny light, but his gaze at once wan- dered to where he had lately seen the two dark heaps. They were still there, and with a 27 slight wavering of his strong nerves he with- drew his gaze, “You may look—” he began, addressing Garland, but the sentence was never finished. Strong bands suddenly seized the arch-plotter, aud as be twisted vainly, thinking Eben was playing a practical joke upon him, he was pitched headlong down the opening—down into the vault of death! The old lawyer had just one. climpse of a dark form. as his companion wes fling down: then the cover clanged down in place, the man wheeled and he and Eben stood face to face, In the dim light the latter could only tall that a stout, broad-shouldered man stood before him, but there was a lawlessness about bis bearing which terrified him. He. stood in shivering silence, his, mind anxious for flight, but his feet seeming.to be glued to the floor. ‘Hello, Eb, old boy!” exclaimed his com-« panion. y **How are you? Ain’t you glad to see me Conscious only that Bartlétt had been hurled. ting to meet as. into the death-vault, and e severe a fate himself, the lawyer half-uncon- sciously faltered: | **T don’t know you.” | The man laughed mockingly.’ . ‘‘ What's the matter: with your eyes? . You ought to know me, for we are old friends, My name is Tom Quain, at your service!” Bullet Head was indeed on the scene, - : The information was not very encouraging to Garland, but he caugbt at the one straw. ‘*Why, Thomas, am, really—” ; “Why of course you are,” sneered Quain. “Why shouldn’t you be? We are brothers-in- law and old companions in crime. Whoever thought, in the old days, that Robert Sinclair would end bis career by dying in such a hole as that under us? Well, fate’s a queer thing and he sleeps down there. I’ve sent Bartlett to keep him company. Do you suppose be will en- ‘‘] don’t know,” said Eben, shivering. | ‘‘He ought to, I’m sure, for the place is one of his own making. find out all about it. You. see I met Sinclair when he first came to Red Bullet Bar and took an interest in his case. He disappeared. L searched far and near, but not a trace could I find. I felt sure Bartlett had made way with him, but this vault was an idea of which I had never heard.” : ‘*] don’t think Bartlett intended they should starve,” said Garland, apologetically. “Who said he did starve? Not I; and it seems you are fully Bartlett’s confidant if not in the plot. It was a diabolical plot! Why, I would not throw a mad dog in there and give him such a death!” ‘His voice rung out angrily and his flashing eyes still further alarmed his companion. ‘‘Don’t blame me, Thomas; Louis, at the time,” ; ~ ‘True, out like a vulture hastening to a car- cass, you were attracted to Red Ba scent of blood. Oh! you are a pretty pair; I know you of old and a rich living I'd ab gon of you all these rae’ had I not been doing better elsewhere. Bartlett, however, bas trod on my toes atid be must take the consequences, I’ve ea him into bis death-trap, and there, where i all that is mortal of vert Sinclair and Ibert Leverett, he. can remain for the time. Or will you summon his John Chiramen to open the vault?’ ) 7 7 ‘No, no!” n hastily declared. + ‘“T don’t believe you: I.can see falsehood branded on your face. You shall go with me, Eben, and I | d’ye hearthat” = = = fey sew A muffled sovmd arose from the vault, Bartlett is trying bis,lungs... Let, bim howl; nobody will hear him unless they’re in this room. As for you, old'man, you may go: with ce | WIS ear a But. Thomas—” are a ‘Go with me or into the vault. Take your choice!” | 5 oe . joy it?’ a | i : : A TRIO. oF ENIGHTS-ERRANT, hin 6 LIgUTENANT Darke had not taken the Hsk which he ran in baffling Bullet Head without & good deal of fear and trembling. There was a chance that his schemes would not succeed he knew that if he failed he was a lost man. Bullet Head never forgave a treason. . It was the knowledge of this fact which impelled Darke to make the ‘attempt. Had he n sure the Bravo would receive him back into the band and ’m pleased to see you. I. It took me along time to. was in St. r by the ll find you a secure place. Ha! Se forget bygones, he would have abandoned Lila and Wiles be one; but he had a strong suspicion that once surrendered her he would also have tosure - render himself, . Such being the case, he resolved to risk all on the cost of the die. wep! TOs Py yy me r + Head outside the but passing out a rear as the Bravo afterwa discove hastened to the cabin where Lila really eonfined. , RON lt was the work of a comparatively short time to ) lace | his horse, in the saddle. mount — ad ° away. His face was toward the north and he not EOMMUC MOOLKKS) tend to pause until a goodly dis — (E() ——