Beadle's Dime Library No. 263 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

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Redspur conducted his captives to one of the stone buildings mentioned in the beginning of this story and confined them in a cell not unlike those of more civilized regions. There they were left to discuss their situation together for an hour or more when Redspur returned accom- panied by a person the doctor was not slow to recognize. It was Camp, the man who had brought him from Snicker’s Gulch to the secret city, a year before. The latter adjusted his spectacles for a good look and then seemed astonished. ‘* Bless me!” he observed. ** You need it,” Redspur was heard to mutter, in a subdued voice. Doctor Rube eyed Camp steadily. ‘** Young man,” the Jatter finally said, ‘‘ is this a case of accidental resemblance, or have I seen you before?” “There’s no accidert in the case, Iam the man you took in at Snicker’s Gulch, near Alli- gator Ridge, and brought across the desert.” ** And you’ve come back again!” Camp seemed to be filled with dismay. ** As you see.” ‘*Why did you doit? Don’t you know it is fatal to see the City of the Desert—that we form a world by ourselves to which the outsider may never come? Didn’t you see enough of this place before?” Cam oke peevishly, scoldingly, and Doc- tor Ru lieved he knew the cause. “* | am here to look into your affairs fully,” hesaid. . **Captain Diamond will order you killed.” “* Captain Diamond is in San Francisco.” Again the subordinate looked startled; to all appearances, he knew little of bis superior’s movements. He did not answer, and Doctor Rube continued: s ‘*Mr. Redspur, here, has gobbled us up like a pair of turkeys. I trust you will not stand by him in any such work as that,” “Why did you come here?’ Camp irritably asked. ‘‘ Why didn’t you keep where you be- ger ice | rf +? : believe all United States soil is open to her sons, “Wrong, young man, wrong. Golden Valley jis an exception. None but the followers of Dia- mond are allowed here, or, if they come, they never go away.” Redspur chuckled humorously. ** These chickens came to the top of the Horse- shoe and stood looking down as serenely as though not an enemy existed in Arizona. Know ye, my chickens, that the City of the Desert cannot be approached at any hour on the sly. Every rock is covered by a sentinel, and you had no sooner come in sight than the fact was made known, We took yuu inat our leisure.” **One man you did not find easy to take in.” ‘* We'll have bim soon,” Redspur answered, with careless confidence, : Camp did not seem ready to decide what should be done with tbe prisoners and went away without mony more words. Doctor Rube suspected that while he was ignorant of the ex- act plans of Diamond, he kgew enough to be uncertain what Diamond would desire in the case—to hesitate about killing thedoctor like a common intruder. The day wore slowly on with the prisoners. Food was passed in through a hole in the wall, bnf neither Redspur nor Camp reappeared for some time. What would be the end of their adventure was unce Rube, who had seen Diamond in his tiger-like moods, was inclined to think it would be death; but Ned Boxfield was as gay. and calm as though still in Mr. Beesinger’s of- fice. ToC mp he had taken a strong dislike and, referring to Diamond now as Beelzebub, he invariably called Camp bis ‘‘ Best Man.” His pleasant fancies helped Doctor Rube through the day, but the latter wouid occasioa- ally lose his words and wonder what would be the end. Probabiy Camp would send to San Francisco for orders from Diamond, and then that man would not miss the ehauce to remove the principal witness in Alton vs. Templeton. It was near night when Redspur entered the cell with two men at his back, “*T am about to give you a look af the outer world,” he said to Doctor Rube, ‘‘ which, if o- ns jaa ac will show you something of in- rest, As he spoke, the covering of the barred win- dow slipped aside, and the chief of the Black Riders, mounting on a stool, looked out in silence for a full minate, Then he motioned to Rube to take his place. The latter obeyed. } The street lay revealed to him, but for the moment it seemed empty. The beat of horses’ hoofs directed his attention to one side. Two riders were approaching, one a man, the other & woman. Doctor Rube saw, and stood dumfounded, They were Captain Diamond and Leora Tem- pleton! Ay, it was no delusion—no confusion of iden- tity. Doctor Rube would have sworn to the fact, There could not be another man so like Diamond, and he knew the woman was Leora Templeton, She even wore the same garments he had once before seen.in San Francisco, while the horse was the one secured by her after the adventure with Ben Boiter’s gang. The doctor felt another person beside him and heard Ned Boxfield’s surprised ex¢lama- tion; but he did not turn his head—he had eyes for no one except the riders. They were going slowly past, talking rapidly, and though their words were undistinguisha- ble, i was clear they were in the best of spirits. Doctor Rube was not surprised to see them together, but he was surprised to see them at the City of the Desert. At the same time he was not slow to draw the inference that his own journey tothe desert a been discovered by Diamond, and measures taken to prevent his return. The riders receded, the window was abruptly closed in their faces, and they turned to find themselves the only occupants of the cell. Red- spur and his men bad silently withdrawn. ** Well,” said Boxfield, “that removes the last doubt, We can no longer question Miss Templeton’s guilt. She is the ally of Dia- mond, and they have stolen the million of Jacob Templeton, miser,” ‘There is no question as to identity?” ** 1] stake my life on it!” And Doctor Rube was willing to say as much, He felt a thrill of deep regret that one so fair should be so evil; but bia teadcniat of Diamond swept away weaker sentiments, ‘* Ned, my boy,” he said, ‘‘ we are doomed to die in this mysterious city. know too much of these precious plotters for their good, They won't let me tell it in San Franciscd,” Boxfield was not prepared to pronounce this idea an absurd one. ben men scheme for a million dollars, and value human lives which are in their way as mere trifles, they are not likely to be merciful. ; As for escape, even Boxfield did not speak of that, The stones forming the walls of thir cell were firmly cemented, and they did not possess as riuch as a pen-knife to remove them, They were literally at the mercy of a man little given to mercy—King Diamond, CHAPTER XXVIII. THE BLACK PIT. It will be remembered that Griff escaped ‘from Redspur’s clutcbes with an apne whivn surprised every one except himse @ was pot surprised, for he knew what he had been in his younger days, and that the old blood was not wholly inferior to the young. Once clear of the circle of Black Riders, he found no trouble in keeping out of the way among the rocks, and from a secret place he saw Doctor Rube end Boxfield led to the vil- lage. ' Then he shook his head gloomily. ‘*T hey my doubts ef they ever git out alive,” be said. “I don’t know this byar Cap’n Diamond, but ther doctor ain’t a man ter ex- aggerate, an’ he sez he’sa bad’un. I’m afeerd ther boyees is goners. Somethin e a chuckle caused the old man to wheel, He was no longer alone. A man sat on a stone four feet away, coolly regarding him, but when Gnff laid his hand on his knife the man did nof stir. Griff went no further with hostilities how- ever, for be suddenly noticed that this man was hump-backed, and he rembered Rube’s account of Lron- Armed Abe. 3 ‘* You don’t hide well,” said the hunchback, as Griff remained silent. . ‘“‘ You found me out, though I hey my doubts ef ev'ry one could hev did it.” ** Nonsense! You will be scooped up by the Black Riders inside of an hour as your friends have been,” th want you ter help me ont,” Griff sturdily said, Me?” . at ce Yes,” ‘Why should I?” ** Because you hate Diamond an’ bis Black Riders an’ et salary. You are Iron Armed Abe an’ a man o’ gumption. I want you ter jine bands with me,” The hunchback, who was indeed Abe, hesi- tated for a moment, but he may have been aa impressed by the grim old face of riff, | ‘Do you know where I live?’ he finally asked, ‘Ther Black Riders told Rube you lived up thar, but I hev my doubts.” riff pointed to the voleanic mountain. It had not changed to any extent since Rube saw ae Pn ome, {ai , the Hunchback Destroyer. Fi 8 EEE EEE EEE OOEOEOEOOOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEeEee——eeeeeeeee it a year before, but it somehow looked like a wratbful monster frowning down on the valley and threatening ultimate destruction. ‘Yes, I live there,” the Hercules answered. ‘Smoky Mountain is my bome and has been ever since King Diamond built his city. Yon- der people call the mountain crater the Black Pit, and say that by it I descend to regions of eternal fire and back again. They call me a demon, a fiend, and other pet names, but 1 am the only man who was ever in the Black Pit. Dare you go there with me?” ‘Et it’s an asylum fur you it'll be ther same fur me, ef you’ll allow it,” Griff answered. ‘I don’t believe in a step-ladder betwixt ther two worlds, an’ as you seem ter hev kept in good bodily health on Black Pit, J prefer it to hang- in’ round here fur them black imps ter gobble.” The hunchback’s face expressed something akin to satisfacticn. ‘“You shall go with me, though I thought I should never conduct any one into my volcano home, But, never mind; the time is near at hand when no one shall live there; the time is near at hand when the demon of the Smoky Mountain shall arise in his wrath and streams of lava shall flow down Golden Valley and bury the city of King Diamond forever from sight.’ Tbe Destroyer had grown somewhat wild and dramatic at the end of bis speech, but his mood suddenly changed, and he tersely added: ‘*Follow me; to remain here is to invite cap- ture.” Griff pobesitabiogty followed. Doctor Rube had told him how Abe bated Diamond, and in the face of the man he saw bonesty and sin- cerity in the present case, if nothing more, Abe led the way acruss the Horseshoe toward Smoky Mountain. The place was by no means one to inspire awe at a distance, for the smoke was thin aud arose lazily; but when they stood at the edge of the crater Griff looked with less indifference. The Pit was about a fourth of a mile in diam- eter at its widest point, but its toundary line was exceedingly ragged and irregular, the sides approaching in some places so that a stone might have been hurled across with ease. The smoke rose only from the very center, where the cavity looked bold, rugged and awe- inspiring, and though the rocks under their feet were less than blood-warm the air from the smoking region was hot and unwholesome. *“'You don’t live in there,” said Griff, sudden- ly, turning on his companion, “Why not?’ the Hercules asked, smiling. “Tf Tam a fiend from the regions of the lost, as Diamond’s men say, a little voleanic fire and brimstone won’t barm me. However, don’t judge the whole crater by this one point which sends up heat and smoke. That is where the mountain demon sends out bis fiery breath. Come with me!” ' The speaker led the way around the side of the crater, pausing now and then to let Griff look down; a poor satisfaction since he only bad a view of dark, volcanic rocks which ended in utter darkness where the light failed to pene- trate to the seemingly-bottomless pit. They finally paused where an arm of the crater shot off at one side and a gradual descent led around in a balf-circle to an unseen point. Down this the hunchback went and Griff closely followed. The latter “‘ bad his doubts” about the wisdom of what he was doing, but he made no useless talk. Very soon they arrived at a point where their ath ended abruptly and a deep chasm yawned beyond, but Iron-Armed Abe led on where no one else would think of going and they finall struck a more substantial feeling floor, theug they were in utter darkness, ‘* Here is my reception-room,” said the strange man, chuckling. ‘Let me get a light and show ou. f He did as he said and Griff Jooked around in wonder. He was ina vast, vaulted chamber of dark, somber rock. Its exact forward size was uncertain, but it had a gloomy grandeur which impressed even his practical nature, ‘*Hal ha!’ laughed the Destroyer, ‘ who says Black Pit isa mean place of residence? Even King Diamond lacks such a magnificent ball as this. It is an abode fit for Alexanders and Hannibals.” ; “Griff had never heard of these worthies, but he said he “had no doubt but ’twas,.” EO Abe swung his light, which was a pine-knot, uvtil a flourishing blaze was produced, and then bade Griff follow once more. They went on through chambers like the first, all grand, spa- cious, and comfortable, but so gloomy thet Griff could not add his voice in ‘admiration witbout his usual amendment: “It may be a place ekal ter a Mexican hacienda, but I has my doubts.” . When Abe had satisfied himself by wander- ing, he conducted his companion to his living- room, explaining that it was just near enough to the half-active fire of the main crater to be comfortable. veal 4 Griff had bis own ideas of comfort, which did not include living inside of a voleano which might at-any time arouse in its fury and con- sume bim; but he had a bravery as grim #s his general grim nature, and he let tie m-ttes GOmie SS ee eee 26 er .