Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 271 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

com tra ‘ook the matter fairly in the face. .the men and what was their object?) Not rub- 416 “Yes. Hereisafork of the pass. I believe we ought to keep to the right.” ‘So we had if you want to go back to Big Nugget Bend, but to Denver—no! Our road is to the left.” ‘You may be right, for I have been over the road but once before, but I have a faculty for remembering an object once seen and I could ’ almost swear our way was to the right.” ‘** Don’t swear unless you want to commit per- jary,” laughed Yates. ‘“‘I know every foot of our way here, as well asIdo the streets of Denver. Rest easy, young man, we know our business.” There was a curtness about his last words which made a great change from his previously pleasant manner, and Allen said no more but went on. It was the business of the detectives, not of himself, to find the way to Denver. As they progressed, however, bis suspicion became a certainty. They were off the track and going he knew not where. Every minute tho way became rougher until the pass wa; but a thread, but this did not seem to disturb his nions. They drank frequently, told stories and joked, sung snatches of lawless songs and acted, on the whole, more like bandits than bonest men from Danver. Suddenly a suspicion flashed upon the pris- ‘oner. Before he had not bad a doubt; new he was sure his companions were not what they pretended. They were not detectives, but ‘Villains who had caught him ina net. Every- thing seemed to go to prove it. He had wondered at his arrest, at the route taken by the men, and by their change of manner. A\!! was now clear; they were not deteetives, and he was not arrested; be was simply in a ‘AS this conviction came to him he tried to Who were bery, surely, for he did not have any money or ‘valuables about him. What then? It was not bard to find an answer when he remembered a certain recent occurrence at Big Nugget Bend. There had been a plot to roo L ckyard, and he, Allen, bad appeared promi- nepntly when Warfield was shown that he was foiled. Lockyard bad intimated that he feared another attack. What, then, was more likely than that another attuck was intended, and that the plotters, believing Allen to be ir their way, had edopted this course to get him out of 1 . CHAPTER XX, ** PREPARE TO DIE!” ALLEN had thus far reasoned with commend- able clearness, but beyond this point all was vague and indefinite. Granted that be was not arrested, but kidnapped, what did his captors intend to do with him? Had he been taken to this remote and lonely place to be murdered? At first thought this seemed the only reason- able supposition, but maturer meditation led him to doubt. If they simply intended to kill him it might bave been done immediately after leaving the stage, What then? Allen looked at the rough way they were traveling, and wondered more than ever, Certainly they would never reach Denver by that route. If he bad possessed a weapon he would have contrived to get bis back to a rock and refuse to £0 further, but, of course, he had been disarmed at Big Nugget.Bend. Nor could be make a dash for liberty, Asa recaution he had not before condemned, he had en made to ride between the men’s sides in the wider pass and between them in a direct line when if narrowed. Tv makea dush was to give the one in ths rear oo admirable chance to put a bullet through im, pany & man of boasted bravery would have found himself badly frightened at this situation, but Allen tried to remain calm and weigh every circumstance for what it was worth. The leading villain went on in a way which indicated perfect familiarity with the route until, turning into a guicb, they finally reached # cabin which nestled under the nose of the the rock almost like an eagle’s nest, : “Here we stop and take a little sleep,” said Yates, sliding from bis horse, “I am glad enough of it,” added Sterling, more deliberately following. ‘I have had eneugh of traveling for to-day. But, what is tbissbanty? Nota hotel, I take it?” “* This is a half-way house put up by the Life- Saving Service,” said Yates, lying with a reck- lessness. which showed he no longer thought truth necessary, ‘‘ Travelers are alwavs wel- come. You and I will go in, while Warren looks out for the horses.” _ For a moment Allen’s heart leaped, for he be- lieved his chance had come; a chance to attack the men.separately; but the second villain dashed his hopes to the ground by saying the ses would take care of themselves. tbe trio entered the cabin together, and ates promptly found a balf-co-sumed torch and started a light, Warren in the meanwhile standing at the door so as to give Sterling no chance, With the light once going, the latter examin- ed the interior of the place. Jt was guiltless of finishing, but not of certain comforts. There was a@ bed in one corner, made up largely of bear-skins, and Nature bad been drawn upon liberally in other ways to make the dwelling comfortable. Allen, looking at all with a critical eye, saw plenty of evidence that it was regularly occu- pied by some one, and knowing that rascals of all kinds were to be found in a radius of fifty miles, he did not doubt but it was an outlaw refuge. He was directed to a seat, and then bis com- panions went without hesitation to where they found pipes, lighted them, and sat down to smoke, Allen did not decline the chance they gave bim for similar indulgence, ‘* Kind in the Signal Service to establish such a half-way house, wasn’t it?’ questioned Yates. ne never heard of it before,” Allen bluntly said. Oh, it is not generally known, Only offi- cers of the army, of the law, and the like know of it. It would soon become a home for idle vagabonds if it was made public.” ** You have been here before, I judge?” Both men smiled. **T wo or three times, haven’t we, Warren?” “‘As much as that,” was the reply, and the speaker seemed to see a joke somewhere, Sterling asked other questions, taking care not to let them see he suspected anything, but as the minutes wore on he became conscious of a strange dullness and sleepiness stealing over bim. e did not need an explanation; such a thing was new to him and he quickly suspected that it was caused by the tobacco he was smok- ing. Some other article had been mixed with it to put bim asleep, and the drug was working. His first impulse was to fling bimself a the men and make a fight for his liberty, but sec- ond thought suggested another way. If be was not already hopelessly affected, he might fight off the power of the drug. For some time be had been yawning, and he now increased his show of sleepiness and scarce- ly touched the pipe. Yates urged him to smoke more, but be made some vague reply and looked as stupid as he could, though he managed to de. tect a quick glance between the kidnappers, “ By Jupiter!” be suddenly said, arousing a little, ‘‘get me to bed, I’m villainously sleepy, Where’s my room?” He had arisen and, standing unsteadily, looked at Yates with dull eyes. The latter smiled, ‘‘Our reserved rooms are all taken up,” he said, jovially, ‘‘ but you can camp down any- where. Don’t you see the bed?” Allen did see it very plainly, but staggered a little in going to it and then dropped heavily on the bear-skin. Tbe mental effort he was making had cleared his head not a little, aud he was acting with a zeal few professionals ever used, For it was not a reputation, but a life, at stake, ‘* Best bed I’ve seen for a year!” he muttered, sleepy: ** Real goose-feathers in it, lad,” said Yates, laughing. ‘*T’'m no goose,” replied Allen, trying to be as foolish as he could and succeeding well. “ He'll get plucked just the same,” observed Warren. ‘* Hash!” ordered Yates. But Allen had heard the words, and with his suspicions thus strengthened he muttered in- distinctly for a few seconds and then, to all ap- pearances, fell asleep, Silence reigned in the cabin for a while. Allen had settled down in a position where he could watch his companions secretly, and he let no chance pass to weigh them in the bal- ance, They sat for a while without motion, except as their pipes required, and a frequent turning of their eyes toward Sterling. ‘* He’s asleep,” said Warren, at last, in a sub- Gued voice. ** Let us speak in Spanish.” “Very well, but Gabriel’s trumpet only can wake bim. I know the power of that drug.” True.” said Yates, in Spanish, *‘ but there is nothing like caution. Now, then, we have our man caged and at our mercy. We bold the game in our own hands, and he—well, he is better off than he would have been had we we. a bullet through his brain, according to or- ers : « “The poor fool did not know what a narrow squeeze he had when he objected to our taking the left branch of the pass.” ‘““ Why should he? arfield fixed us out so clever that [almost felt like a genuine detective and was tempted toarrest myself.” — ‘** What evidence could you bave found to con- vict yourself?” There was a break in conversation as the men laughed as though some rare joke had been made; then Yates aided: “* But if Sterling had kicked against the devi- Stonefist, of Big Nugget Bend. ation from the pass, I’d have sent a bullet through him so quick he wouldn’t have known whether the revolver missed fire or not.” * Luckily, he didn’t, and here we have bimas “eed he can be—in the Signal Service cabin. Ha! al’ “The next thing is to see what we can make of him, Gid Warfield isn’t a man to proceed to extremities without a cause, and this man must either be dangerous to him or in the way of some of Gid’s schemes.” ** OF course.” “Gid is a fool to trust us,” said Yates, taking a drink of whisky. ‘‘ You are the only man in the world I trust. Now, then, we shut up our man and you guard him while I go baek to the Bend in disguise and get onto Gid’s game. You still agree to it?” ‘Yes, of course. But, see here; sup find’ we can’t make a dollar cff of What of this fellow?” He pointed to Sterling. ‘In that case we will obey orders and: shoot him. Lacking a way to better our condition, I believe in honor among thieves.” : The reader may be able to imagine the emo- tions with which Allen listened to this conver- sation. All his suspicions were confirmed, und he saw that he was among men who would sbed his blood withous seruple. It was plain, too that he had beed decoyed away to give Lockyard’s enemies a_ better chance. The kidnappers had mentioned War- field, and he was the man who had been the agent of the fictitious Quickstep mine. Evident- ly a gigantic plot was on foot or the schemers would not have gone so far as toarrange for the death of Lockyard’s clerk, All the resolution of Allen’s nature arose to meet his enemies. He lacked the impassiveness of long life amid such scenes, bu! he had the next best thing; ready wit and bravery bad been his birthright. How was he to outwit, or defeat, his cap- tors? This question be rapidly considered from every point, while still keeping up bis pretense of slumber and sharply, but secretly, nee 5 them. They had said be was to be shut up an left in care of Warren while Yates went back to Big Nugget Bend. In that case, of course 's would be bound, or in some way made help- ess. Plainly, he must strike for freedom while he conld, even though he fought two men. He eet covetously at the revolvers lying on the able. As though in keeping with his thoughts, War- ren suggested that they at onc3 bind their pri- soner before he could awake. There was wis- dom in the idea, of course, and they arose. Yates produced a stout cord. Sterling saw the crisis at band. He prepared for work. He resolved to make a dash for the revolvers and use them freely. His hed was clear and he reasoned well. The man ap- proached and he made an effort to arise. An effort, only. His limbs were like lead and he could not gain his feet; the power of the drug was on them if not on bis brain. “Curse him!” cried Yates, “be has plaved ‘possum and overheard all. Shoot him!” And even as he spoke be sprung forward and clap- ed his revolver to Allen’s head, a murderous ight in bis eyes. -“* Prepare to die!” he furiously added, CHAPTER XXTI. A WELL-RECOMMENDED YOUNG MAN. On the morning of Allen’s departure from Big Nugget Bend, Mr. Wisecraft. alias Old Ketchum, made a late breakfast. He was just swallowing the last of it when a white peper shot through the open window, sailed past the old lawyer's nose and fell on the floor at the fur- ther side of the room. He looked at it sharply enough to see it was in the form of a letter and then, instead of pick- ing if up, ran to the window and looked out, Only one person was visible near at hand; Bar- tholomew Blake was walking down the street with his infallible head bigh in the air and bis infallible, heels covering ground with a steady stride. Evidently Old Ketchum did not think it necessary to run around the bouse to look for the mysterious postman, so he returned, picked up the letter and read it. What he saw there made him exclaim, eloud: ' “Great Pompey! what next? The tug of of war grows warm. Greek has met Greek and it strikes me the upper dog has the best of the grapple. By George! this must be attended to right away!” He clapped on his hat and was about burry- ing out. when he suddenly ebay “This won’t do! I am hot and excited, and if I rushed over in this way I might reveal all. So, steady, Oid Ketchum; put on a sexton like look! And he obeyed his own injunctions so well that when he crossed the street his parchment- like face expressed about as much as a side of leather, e Fes He went eine to Father Lockyard’® | aud found Zora you arfield, id = comicbooks:co ‘vera ss “> a | _. "|