Beadle's Dime Library No. 27 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

—EEE —— -—-— — Keenly on the watch, and suspecting that a foe lurked in each dark shadow, the haunted man would be certain to hear the stealthy footsteps approach him from the rear, and then, alarmed, he would either run like the grayhound, or else turn and fight with the desperation of the stag at bay. And if he adopted the latter course and was armed, as the chances were ten to one he was, the Virginian felt that he might sacrifice his own life and yet not take full measure of revenge upon his foe. With a mighty effort the colonel calmed the tor- rent of rage surging from heart to brain, unloosed the iron gripe upon the handle of the knife, and re- turned it to its hiding-place. **No,”’ he muttered, half-aloud, “I'll take no rc rr rr a ——- 1H he ( \ } be iAI hh { | \\ cNVTNNNT TNT UTT = ee _The Spotter-Detective. aan Bib ee = —— —— ae ee ee craft; he was providing ainst man’s keenest skill; he had not dreamed that his daring plan, framed to baffle the wits of the detective officers, would be set at naught by a strange chain of cir- cumstances; fortune ofttimes mocks at skill and courage, and bestows her favors with an unsparing hand upon the fool who can boast of neither, The man went on with a light and careless step, and ever and anon a smile would appear upon his face as he reflected how well his A es ad succeeded and how completely he had baffled the keen-scented hounds of the law, who had once been so close upon him. He hardly looked around, so confident was he 17 —— ~~ — ee Bowery, where the presence of the shrewd-eyed de- tectives, in plain clothes, might be expected. As steadfast as his shadow the Virginian had fol- lowed on the track of the fugitive, and so careful had the spy been in his movements that his watch had not even been suspected, Along the river front to Catherine street the dis- ruised man went; then crossed the street and went hrough a gateway leading to one of the docks, Glancing up as he followed him, the Virginian read that the steamer “ Bridgeport” would leave for Bridgeport at twelve, midnight. that no peril threatened him. Once only, as he turned from the avenue into Twenty-third street, he | @wa- As Fa Fi / LS The teeth of the colonel came together with a flerce snap as his eyes read the sign. The chase was done and the prey run to earth at last. ul {| il | | ° “ 4 4 ut i, A ~ iL = i 1D f : 4, Wy 7 4 PE PLS ee Z 7 é GE. os CHITA : ' AND THEN THE THREE STOOD BY THE DOOR, LANE’S HAND UPON THE KNOB.—Page 7. chances this time, but get ‘dead wood on him,’ sure. If he’s got a revolver he could bore a hole through me beens I could get within striking distance. Be- sides, it would be folly to attempt to get near him; he has ears likea cat, and would be sure to discover me, So I'll just track him till I run him to earth. Then (ll warn the officers and he’ll go back to pe Mars And acting upon these thoughts, the Virginian skulked along, taking advantage of every shadow that afforded concealment. He feared that at any moment the pursued man might take it into his head to look carefully behind him in quest of a spy. But the disguised man never once thought of such a thing as a spy upon his track. Why should he? What subtle power is there in nature to warn himof danger? He “worked hy wit, not by witeh- cast a short, quick glance behind him. It was done more out of habit than from suspicion of danger. The hunted deer starts at the whir of a dead leaf, and so the human, who knows that all honest hands are raised against him, sees cause for flight in every dark shadow. But the man again turned his head, he had seen naught to excite his suspicions, He had not noticed the watcher on the other side of the street, gliding after him with stealthy tread. Down Twenty-third street to Avenue A, along Avenue A to Essex street, through Essex to Rutgers, and through Rutgers street to the river front, It was plain that the man had selected the unfre- | quented side streets, where the homes of the work- ing-cleaes were situated, rath | than the crowded The colonel advanced cautiously along the dock, ' and, concealed behind one of the pillars which sup | tiently ; | | ported the roof, saw the man he had tracked so = 0 up to the office of the steamer, pay is fare, and receive the key of his state-room; then he _ went up the stairs which led to the upper cabin, ‘“Now I’ve got you!” the spy muttered, in flerce oy. “I must warn the officers in some way. The at won’t leave before twelve, and it’s only about nine now. That gives me three hours to send a mes- sage to the detectivea and get them here.”’ hen the colonel took out of his pocket a small memorandum-book, and tore a leaf out of it, On the leaf he wrote: ** John Blaine is on steamer Bridgeport. Come eas <S7 EGO GOmichboo