Beadle's Dime Library No. 263 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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& Tron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer. 25 “They say no one has them.” “They lie, and they shall pay for their negli- gence with their lives. Bring them to me!” ‘* Captain, there is one thing more.” ‘‘ What is that?” ‘* Broadbelt lies dead in the basement!” Diamond pushed forward and, closely fol- lowed by Redspur and Rainbolt, sought the place the latter had mentioned. There lay ove of the Black Riders dead, but not yet cold. Dia- mond bent over him and then arose, “His neck is dislocated, and we all know whose resistless hands have done the work. Lron- Armed Abe bas been here!” The trio looked at each other with anything but pleasure pictured on their faces. Rain- bolt shivered, but Redspur pointed to the outer air, ““My place is there; I may intercept him. Shall I go?” he asked, ** Go!” Diamond tersely answered. Then he ordered the two guards brought be- fore him, They were the same who bad slept at their post, watched by Griff while the pile. oners weré rescued, and their faces were deadly pale as they faced their dreaded leader. The shadow of death was before them. ** Tronwood and Steelbar,” said Diamond, in a voice which was terrible in spite of its calmness, wo bave sealed your own death-warraats, ou have allowed my prisoners to escape.” The trembling wrébchies protested their inno- cence, and swore they had attended to their duty and that no man had passed them; but their words fell on barren soil. ‘‘Take them away, Rainbolt,” directed Dia- mond, “and confine them in the same cell. They die at daybreak,” They were burried away despite their pray- ers, and Diamond turned to a new-comer. * Well, Heavyhand?” ‘‘The chief sent me, sir,” answered the man. “*T saw four men on the mountain, one of whom was Lron-Armed Abe, Redspur thinks two of the others were the escaped prisoners, and be on burried a score of the Riders toward Black i “Very well. Is that all?’ “*One thing more, captein. I saw a strange ‘woman, with wild dress and a wilder face, start up in their path and stop them with strange words. Iron-Armed Abe seemed to recognize her, and he took ber to his breast and called her * Littie Nora,’” Diamond put one hand against the wall as a, = my nim his face was, if possible, paler than ore. © serpent’s eye, to : ed but dimly. Tal Nate 41) pteeae ‘*Malediction!” he gasped, regardless of his men, “‘ they have met at last!” One moment he cowered thus, and then bis head arose with the old haughty manner. “Enough!” he said. ‘‘Get to your places, one and all.” Tobey went and be returned to his own room. Pouring a glass of brandy he swallowed it like water. “The shadow d ns!” he muttered. ‘The accursed bunch has seen her, despite all my care, and now that he knows what she has suffered he will be worse than ever. ery likely he will no longer hold himself back but endeavor to kill me. I will offer an immense reward for his capture, dead or alive, in the morning. Curse the oli prophecy! but for that 4 be try my own hand upon him!” bi ® played restlessly with the great jewel at gh nee flashing its rays here and there. Beiter me! guard me!” he muttered, som- It was a strange sppeal, but there were times when nie aa seemed little less deranged the hunchback understood his peculiarities; but ig? days. ‘These men were seen at the d tive bird,” he resumed, anon, ‘ aa mt go and see if they had speech with her, I hope bom did.” te went to the same door upon which Abe cap- now itand passed through. A li and a bed-chamber was revealed, but it show an untouched couch. The only occupant of the pig sat in a chair, fully clad in a traveling- It was Norola. She looked at Captain Diamond with her i. eyes growing larger and darker with ap- prehension, but he bowed with an assumption of politeness. “I feared you had been disturbed by the sounds about the house,” he explained, “and though the hour is untimely, callei to assure you allis well. Have you seen anything?” F No, sir,” she faintly answered. Some thieves broke into the house,” he carelessly said, convinced that she spoke the ba ; + oer is all. Pardon me, but I see you retired. i aiden Night is the time to sleep . Can you expect a prisoner to sleep?” Do not call yourself that, dear lady. You are mv guest, and just as safe as though in your aldhome. It is true, circumstances Fave com- bt was burnin been working when discovered, unlocked |. pelled me to use some A eee but I am your friend and you need have no fear.” He spoke soothingly, but as though to give the lie to his words the serpent’s eye twinkled maliciously in her face. ‘* Where is Miss Templeton?” she asked. “Tn her own room.” ** Will you not allow us to remain together?” ** Such is my wish,” he said, with an embar- rassed air, ‘‘ but she will not agree toit. She says she washes her hands of you.” Norola’s hand trembled perceptibly. ‘‘Tell me truthfully,” she said, ‘‘is Leora Templeton as false as she seems?” Diamond walked across the room and back again before be answered. **’'You may as well know the truth now as ever,” be finally said. ‘‘ Leora is not an angel, in the moral sense of the word, though she is a very sensible young woman. She decoyed you from your home to this place at my request,” All the fresh color faded from Norola’s face, leaving it whiter than Diamond’s own. “If it was but a plot, she is falser than the king of the lost!” she cried in terror. Diamond smiled. ** Leora is my good friend, and bas been for vears. A few days ago—after I had seen and learned to love you, my dear girl—I went to her and said, ‘I want Norola at my desert kingdom,’ and I laid my plans to secure you, She went to you and said that your father and one in whom she was interested were on the Rattlepan Plain and in great danger. She wanted you to go with her andsave them. You naturally suggested that several men be added to the party, but that was not in accordance with her plan. She said there was no time; and you mounted your borses and—came bere. L explain this because I want you to understand the situation. Loeoraisa fine girl, an excellent girl: but she has little nonsense in ber nature. I am her best friend, and I have but to suggest and she obeys.” Norola sat looking at him in dumb dismay for several seconds. She saw at last just the trap she was in, and she almost wished the lightning would fall and strike her lifeless in her chair. * She had always bad a horror of the smooth- spoken villain before ber, and she saw she was at last fully in his power. ‘*Such are the facts of the case,” Diamond added; ‘‘ but I beg that you will be under no uneasiness, This city is rather rough, as cities o, but I am your protector, and my word is aw here. I have but to command and all is done as I direct, Believe me, [ am your friend.” ‘‘Then, in mercy’s name, return me to my home!” she faintly said. ** But I have other plans, my dear.” She fell on her knees at his feet. ‘*Mercy—have mercy!” she brokenly im- plored, ‘*One would think I was a tiger or boa-con- strictor,” be answered, wholly unmoved—* I am neither; I am your best friend.” He stooped and pressed a kiss on her cheek. She sprung to her feet, recoiling as though he were indeed a boa-constrictor; but he laughed lightly and turned toward the door. ‘* Business calls me away,” he sail, pausing at the threshold; ‘‘ but I will visit you again to- morrow. Until then be of good cheer—all will be well.” He passed out, locking the door bebind him; but his face was far from being smiling. ‘‘P'm not so sure all will be weil,” be mut- tered. ‘ UnlessI can capture Iron-Armed Abe I may be dead in the midst of my power before another day. I would give all in this world to thrust the White Pine Ridge episode from out my history!” CHAPTER XXXII. DOCTOR RUBE BECOMES A ‘BLACK RIDER.” THE night brougbt no change to the party in the voleano. The Wild slept well, for when her periods of restlessness occurred Abe would re- peat his lullaby until she became as calm and peaceful as a child. They made a touching picture and one which neither of the other men thought of smiling at. For Abe to treat a woman of thirty years as a child might have seemed folly under some circumstances, but it was nothing of the kind in the present case. His clouded mind overlooked the fact that years had rolled on since bis mad sister was the “Tittle Nora” of White Pine Ridge, and bis manner showed what their life must have been before Diamond came like an evil spirit into their paradise. Griff was the most restless person in the strange refuge. All arguments to the contrary could not convince him but that be had seen Norola in Diamond’s house, and he was always ill at ease. At times he spoke of going single- handed to rescue her, but Doctor Rube and Boxfield managed to keep him from any injudi- cious act. 2 Every attempt to enlist the hunchback in their ho and fears was vain until Doctor Rube bethought himself to plainly state that the same man who had broken Little Nora’s heart bad another in his clutches; then his mood eDanged and he talked freely and carefully with em. If Norola was really in the city it would be no easy affair to rescue her after the alarm of the night. What had there occurred would show Diamond that even his own house was not free from the tread of Iron-Armed Abe and he would use every precaution; the place might even be ns 0 and guards on duty, all through the ni % And no more of them will sleep at their post,”’ the hunchback significantly added. ‘What can we do?” Ned gloomily asked. ** All must be left to the developments of the future. To-morrow I will go to the town and learn just bow matters stand, and then we will see, ‘‘Kin nothin’ be did till to-morrer night?’ Griff asked. ‘* It would be madness to try.” The matter was left thus, but Iron-Armed Abe had a new idea and he soon asked Rube to go aside with bim, " ae a doctor?” he abruptly asked, ‘ Yes.” ‘“‘There’s some one in there who needs a doc- tor’s help; some one who bas lost their mind, I’m a rich man and—but come with me!” He led the way to a niche and, removing a slab of rock, revealed enough gold-dust and nuggets for a generous fortune. fi was ararel —_ sight, but Abe shrugged his sion! ers. ‘There's my og. more where that came from. The Horshoe is full of it. It is Golden Creek that gives Diamond's men their cbject, but I can show them richer spots on the mountain. Here, under our feet, is my collection. It would bring over a bundred tlLousand dollars in San Francisco. I will give you every ounce of it if you will give Little Nora her mind!” Doctor Rube gravely sbook his head, “I am very sorry to disappoint you, but I cannot help her. I believe I am justified n say- ing that no living surgeon could give the light of reason back. As she vow is, so must she re- main to the end of ber life,” $s touched the gold again and his lips quiy- ered. ‘* A hundred thousand dollars, and all for one operation,” he slowly said. ‘Your offer is a princely one, but I examined our unfortunate sister at Griff's cabin and I now I cannot aid her,” The buncbback sighed. ‘*Poor Little Nora! Poor Little Nora!” It was all be said; but when he had again covered the gold, he led Rube near the central crater. “IT believe we shall not inhabit Black Pit much longer,” be said. ‘The internal fire is growing more active,and ere many days the emon of Smoky Mountain will burst loose. Then, woe unto whatever isin its track! Seorch- ing lava will flow down over Golden Valley and bury King Diamond’s city beneath if, Then the only green spot on this part of the desert will disappear, and, it may be, future —- will not suspect thata city stood ere. ‘** But what of us when this occurs?” ‘‘ We must watch and flee in time. I have expected it long and watched well. Within the last week there bas been a decided change, and noticeably within a day. The heat increases, a light shows in the crater, the smoke is denser, and on the whole, I think I may prophesy that ina week the mountain will be an active vol- cano, Doctor Rube shivered a little, for he had no love for a home in the maw of such a monster but Abe was very calm and practical. He said the crater must watched, as thou a spider to be crushed under one’s heel when it became troublesome, and then led the way back to the other members of his family. The Wild was again restless, pon he smoothed her hair and resumed bis lullaby, and as Doctor Rube lay down to get a little sleep bimself, he beard as the last audible sounds, the familiar olThe following 4 e following day brought no events. The Wild awoke in her bes mood “bos, Abe was unable to get a sign of ition. She was disposed to be friendly to all, but the brother could arouse no echo of the past that incladed bim. Now and then she spoke of ‘ Lucifer,” meaning Diamond, of course, but that was all. Abe went out during the day, after Eee edly ars bey not to leave Little Nora for a moment. hen be came back be reported that Norola was indeed a prisoner in Diamond’s home, and, as near as he could learn, she had been lured there by Leora Templeton. Griff clinched his hands an swore a great vow of vengeance against one who could thus forget the duty of woman to woman, but Doctor Rube, thinking of the wondrous beau of the misguided creature—he would not her wicked—sighed and was very silent. Toward night tbe hunchback asked the doc- tor to go outside the crater, This he believed to be safe as long as he had charge of affairs. They stood together so near the yawning chasm that the smoke floated over them and served to hide them from view, mNIiGDOOKS.c (E(0) (¢ (e)