Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 271 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

— ee —— for a moment Blake's life seemed hovering between the two worlds, but the fatal shot was not made, The Deacon’s band shot upward with a speed and force which proved his right to the sobri- et, ‘‘Stonefist;” and then the revolver went Toing across the room. Almost in the same breath Blake took his enemy by the arms, just below his shoulders, and held him in the old vise like hold. Kellogg gave up the struggle after a little and stood conquered, if not subdued. Blake looked him squarely in the face, his gray eyes as calm as ever, his strong face as immovable, But under the grasp of his Jong, sinewy bands it seemed to the prisoner his very bones were giving away. ‘‘Misguided man!” said Blake, “it were better for you that blindness had come to your eyes than that this deed be recorded against ou!” - Not a word for himself, not a trace of anger; enly the same rigid teaching Big Nugget Bend knew by heart. It seemed as though even a crank might be unswervedly true to his purpose, And Kellogg, whose fierce wrath nothing could cool, no longer had a thought of violence. Mixed with wonder and awe at such immense strength, he felt that the man was insane, and not accountable for what he did. Such being the case, be was glad to let the matter drop. ‘‘] am conquered,” he said, trying to speak with good grace. ‘ You have the strength of ten men in your arms; let me go, and I swear not to lift my band against you. As for the young lady, I apologize for what I have said and done,” It was a bitter necessity, but he felt sure Stonefist would not deviate one particular from his stund, and it was better to have it over. “Go!” said Bartholomew Blake, ‘‘ and when you are in a better mood, think calmly of this.” Horace brushed a little of the dust from his garments, thrust the revolver in bis pocket, and went out, Blike was alone with Althea except for Betty’s presence. ‘‘ Merciful beaven! he will kill you for this!” exclaimed Althea, brokenly. Deacon Stonefist turned to her with a shadow of surp: ise in bis cold gray eyes. 6: We are all creatures of the dust,” he said, steadily, “Men and women, in their pride, forges that; I trust lam in this respeet above theaveragep«rson. If this man kills me, such is my fate; if itis not so decreed, | am safe from him. I am surprised at your selfish fears, weman. Give your pity to the evil man who needs it; I am not of such base clay as he!’ It seemed a pity tbat his splendid achievement should .0 soon be hedged in by clouds of barsh- ness aud egotism; but of such clay—base or otherwise—was the crank of Big Nugget Bend. ‘This seems to me a moment for human feeling,” said Altbea, gravely. ° ‘‘Unless buman feeling be above the average, there should be no moment forit, Forget this scene, for are you not of the same nature as Kel ogg? And, besides, women are deep in the muddy waters of pride and vanity.” There was no kindly lightin the eyes which met her own, and Althea sighed deeply. She would gladly bave had it different; she felt grateful to the man who bad become ber champion; but he was like the bitter cod which turns water to ice. Pity him she must, as we do all whose minds are darkened, but the feel- ing could only be indulged in secret, Little more was said between them, for Altbea was already expected at Ben Po!lack’s. Blake went out first, and seeing tbat Kellogg bad really gone, went toward the heart of the village, his long bair floating in the wind. “T’'m 'fraider o’ him than I am o’ Kellogg,” said Betty, clinging to her teacher’s hand. Althea started. ‘His ways are very odd, I admit, though I do not believe he would do any one harm,” ‘Father says you can’t gamble on a crank,” the small girl lucidly observed, Althea smiled but did not reply, and, hand in hand, teacher and pupil walked home, Horace Kellogg went straight to Jack Bun- ker’s cabin and flung himself down in a chair with a sound half-sigh and half-groan, Hello!” said Jack, ‘‘who’s been a-hittin’ Billy Paterson, now?’ “Bunker, I’m about ready to throw up the onge.” en Never do tbat while you kin see outer one eye an’ hey any back teeth left, What's up?” ‘‘T was fool enough to call at the school- house and tell Miss Lawrence that Sterling was arrested.” “Wal?” ‘* Well, she irritated me, as usual, and I—” “Wal?” repeated Bunker, with some eagerness, And another pair of ears listened as anxious- ly, while two keen eyes looked down from the floor above; the eyes of Old Ketchum, the law- er. ’ ‘I made a fool of myself and was talking rather hard to her,” added Horace, ‘‘when in walked our city crank, Deacon Stonefist,” Stonefist, of Big Nugg | eee NN Oe —_ — eee Ss SS ees oe _arous one ————ee —— ——E — SE ee -_—_— et Bend. 19 “An old friend o’ mine,” said Jack, grimly. | discovered he was being spied upon, certain “Wal? ‘* Spare me the particulars; to use the current term, he wiped up the floor with me!” Bunker laid back in his cbair and laughed for at least three minutes in a way which made the table shake. He had seen something of Blake’s muscle, himself, but bad fore. d himself to swal- low the unpleasant dose because the man was deranged. He thoroughly enjoyed Kellogg’s discomfiture, however, and was willing be should know it. They talked for some time on the subject, while Ketchum impatiently waited for them to speak on more important subjects. He was oe then moving against him would very | likely go to ruin and the tug of war be irre- vocably lost. And Bunker came steadily up the ladder, CHAPTER XXV. THE MIDNIGHT WATCH. Otp KeEtTcuuM bugged the side of the box | Closely and peered out for the first sign of | Bunker. His bushy bead arose to a level with | the floor and bis bushy body followed, | * Now, then,” be said, bending down toward | Kellogg, ‘‘ give me ther light!” | The spy experienced a thrill of alarm, With running a good deal of risk by his spying, but | the lamp on the upp°r floor he was in great. he bad a resolute nature and was thoroughly in | danger of discovery. earnest about bis ‘tug of war.” True, be might escape a casual search, but anything systematic would ‘*T suppose,” said Horace, “ you think mea | surely reveal him. He ardently hoped Bunker fool to run after Miss Lawrence,” ** Wal, I dunno,” replied Bunker, giving the matter careful thougbt. ‘‘ You might be, an’ then, ag’in, you mighbtn’t. I don’t wanter say posityvely.” “Perhaps it is madness, but I shall have some hope when | know Sterling is dead.” ‘* Begin ter hope right away, then, fur yer kin feel ez safe ez though you’d see’d his grave- stone. Warfield has fixed that so it won’t break an’ before now BSterling is buzzards’ meat,” Ketchum shivered at the cold heartlessness of the assertion, would attend strictly to business. Tbe fellow took the lamp and moved along the floor. He looked burly and ominous, but eisonal fear was unknown to the old lawyer, rue, Bunker could worst bim in an encounter, but that was a small matter. Ketchum feared most to have the plotters | know they bad been watebed. <A good deal of ‘But if the men should fail to do their work?” “They won’t fail. don’t weaken on sech jobs; Warfield knows ’em. Sterling bas taken ther last degree an’ dropped | and then set the lamp down on inter ther past tense,” ‘Pil bet he returns just in time to knock over the new scheme with my wortby uncle.” zi Pil bet he don’t. We’re in ter win this time, ‘** At this rate all my money will be used up | larger one. in getting it,” vue Kellogg. ‘‘ When I bave paid you and Warfield and all the small fry, what shall I bave left?” ‘** At least fifty thousand dollars.” ‘Sometimes, Jack, | doubt you,” said Kel- logg, suddenly, “Ther blazes you do!” “ee Yes.” “Why? e Tee was looking almost belligerent at bis ally. ‘Are you sure you are sailing under your true colors?” ‘* Bless yer boots, my detective pard, bow you do git right down ter bed-rock! What d’ye suspect?” ‘“Tbat you are neither uneducated nor rough, if the truth is known; that you are my eqnal in the art of speech if you but show yourself as you are.” Bunker laughed grimly. ‘* You're on ther wrong road, boyee. I only wise 708 warright. I bev a bead fur plannin’ an’ ef [ was educated I’d be a millionaire ter short order.” ‘“‘ Again, how does it happen you know ag much about my uncle as 1 do myself?” ‘** All chance, same ez ’bwas w bert the ow] got around ther chicken-roost, Tell ve what it is, Kell, ther spoils draw ther men o’ brains. An’ you see l’ve studied up Nate Lockyard’s case,” Horace did not a..swer, but, resting his head on his band, looked gloomily out of the window, Now and then, since uniting bis fortunes with those of Jack Bunker,be bad remembered that he was only a figure-bead for the plans of his more audacious and quick-witted ally. Bunxer was doing the work, and, now and then, be had fears that be might manage to get away with the Lockyard money, If he had known how near be came to the truth that night; if he could have known just who and what Jack Bunker was, he would never have co-operated further in the scheme to rob the money-lander. Bunker watched him closely, but with little fear of open revolt. He bad spanned the mind of his dupe and knew just where be held him, and as he watched there was nothing new to alarm him, The arch-villain’s pipe died out, and when be peas in bis pocket for tobacco there was none “Never mind,” he said, “thar is enough up- stairs an’ I'll fill ther larder. Jest bold ther light at ther foot o’ ther stairs.” his seemed a trifling matter, but to Old Ket- chum it was anythiug else. Bunker was about to ascend to his hiding place, and there was ground to fear discovery, He did not know where the tobacco was kept and he might bide —for hide he must—exacily where tne rough would go, Still, there was no help for it, and with as much caution as possible the spy crept back to the shadow of a box and laid down at the fur- ther side, What to do in case of discovery be did not know, but it was best to be guided by Bunker’s actions. Ketchum was no pest y but ten thousaid dollars would not have hired him to willingly face discovery then, If Buuker once i trouble bad been taken to get Jack in the net, to win the tug of war, but one great thing was. lacking and discovery would frighten cff the arch-villain. Jack eame straight toward the sbelteri box and a series of wild schemes ran throug Ketchum’s head. Which should he adopt? He decided to adopt neither until absolutely forced. They are of a kind that | to do it, Tbe big ruffian rolled unsuspiciously along etchum’s box,. It was on the extreme edge aid no light fell upon the lawyer, but he began to fee) as warm: as though the lamp was a gigantic furnace. It was like a reprieve, however, when Jack ave his attention to another box beside the- He looked for a moment ard then | muttered: from the point of danger. and acted in the same way. Arising silentiy as. ‘Nailed up!” Then he turned and went to the ladder. “Hi! throw up the bammer, Kell?’ be called to bis accomplice. The spy decided that he had better get away He thought quickly | possible, he bent forward and delit erately blew out the ligbt. Then with all possibile care be: turned to gain a safer part of the chan,ber. Two steps he bad taken when the boards gave way beneath bim—he made a vain etten pt to save bimself, throwing out bis bands frantically —but a heavy object, which, even then, be sur- mised was the box, came thumping down against bis back and be stopped not, neither stuyid be. As be went through the floor, be saw in the dim light the form of Kellogg just below bhim,, his face upturned in bewileern ent, and then mand met man and both met the floor, In plainer words, Ketchum dropped squarely upon Horace’s bead, knockirg bim down and falling upon him, while, just a second later,. there was a tremendous crasb as the box struck’ the floor, The lawyer bad received no injury in the ac- cident, and be was on his feet in a moment,. - Quick-witted as ever, he saw that Kellogg did not stir, and witb a noiseless step he made for- | tbe outer door, opened it, and was practically safe. He paused for a moment, however, to see the- result, The voize cf Bunker speedily arose. * Hallo, ther! Whatin percition bez broke- loose? I suy, Kell, heg ther ruff tumbled in?” There was no reply, and then Ketchum heard Jack coming down the Jadder. ‘Tsay, Kellogg!” Still there was no answer, and, with an oath Jack went back to the upper floor. He wanted’ the =P but failed to find it, and he came so- pear falling into the opening in the floor that he- was set in motion again, and bis profanity was remarkable, ' He wanted a light, and none was to be found.. There is no know ing what would have been the result, but Kellogg’s voice arose feebly and Jack descended again. The lesser villain had been knocked senseless tion, and in moving he accidentally found the amp. Aight was soon going, and the pair lockd the scene over. Ketchum waited anxiously ‘o learn if be bad been seen, but there was po evi- the loose floor, and supposed it was the box which had knocked Kellogg down, All this angered them, tut was very satis!sc- tory to the lawyer, and convinced that danger was averted, he returned to bis own bume. The following day a new clerk was at Lock- ard’s desk. The well-recommended young man. rom Denver bad been duly engaged, and it was. remarkable what an air of respectabiliiy he: geve the place, : The money-lender remained with bim for q few hours, and then Mr. Bennett found hiv seit alone. But this made no change in his con. for a brief space of time, but he wes now In mo- » dence to that«ffect. They laid all the bleme to L — = i eye + a, Se —— -« Se —————————— (EONNIE NOOLKS (E(0)