Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 292 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

‘bardt, better known to common report as ” 24 Armed, they might possibly have offered something like resistance, but without weapons, men will open fire, and make each bullet count on live meat! There you have it. Now open and covered by a score of ugly-looking guns, | the ball just as soon as pleases you!” they could only huddle together, those in the | | suggestion. outer circle plainly wishing they might ex- change places with their more favored mates, in the center. The little man watched them closely for a brief gia then the derringers were slightly | lowered, and a cynical smile curled his thin, straight lips, “If your sand could balance your prudence, gentlemen, I’m thinking there’d be but little | profit in this venture for us, As it is, I’m | almost tempted to svear that I wiil paint my face red and forswear my own race from this time on!’ Gideon Gillespie chanced to be near the center | of the group, tut evidently stung by this jeer- ing taunt, be pressed forward to the outer edge, ving: ‘* Who the foul fiend are you, and what does | nA be mean, anybow? If it is intended for a oke—” “You fellows will pay the piper, whether you enjoy the masquerade or not,” curtly interposed the littlhe man. “ Who am 1? My good sir, it: betray your ignorance of contemporaneous istory by asking that question. Not to know me, argues yourself unknown, What does all this mean? Simply this: 1 have taken com- mand of the Water Witch for the time being. The captain is snugly chewing a tough gag up in the Texas, with bis doughty mate and the pilots to keep bim company. A couple of m trustiest men are looking after the wheel, while—” “A gang of river-pirates!” exclaimed Gilles- pie, with a curse of mingled rage and amaze- ment **Fyesh-water sharks, my dear sir, isa more polite term, and expresses the idea to perfec- tion,” coolly retorted the little man, careless] covering the excited man with a pistol. “It may be just as well for you gentlemen to bear in mind that among my little army are some of our bluest-blooded aristocracy, who are par- ticularly sensitive to anything that can possibly be construed into a slight or slur. Sbould you ruffle their feelings—the Lord have mercy on your souls!” Tbe little man cast a swift and compreben- sive glance around him, taking in every detail of the curious scene. Then, with every trace of mockery banished from face and voice, be spoke again, rapidly and to the point: “Gentlemen, my name is Richard Ingle- Deyil’s Dick.” He ceased abruptly, the ghost of a smile playing around his thin lips as he noted the universal surprise and even terror which greet- ed the announcement of his name. The few faces among the betrayed passengers which had until now retained their natural color, ily blanched as they heard that name and title— the cognomen of one of the most desperate and bloodthirsfy wretches who ever cursed the shape of mankind! Devil’s Dick! The annals of that now distant day, were lurid with the fiendish deeds of one who seemed to have no fear of either God or man; who robbed for pastime, and cut throats for the mere satisfaction of staining his hands anew with human blood! Wild tongued rumor gave bim a thousand different shapes, all of them terrible and blood-curdling—none of them at all resembling this little man; but despite that, not one who heard bim claim the title and looked into his eyes as he spoke, for an instant doubted his words, “Devil’s Dick, groan he added, in the same hard, metallic tone of voice. ‘I am goin to turn over a new leaf and lead a different life in the future. I have grown tired of slitting throats and cutting purses, to say nothing of being bunted like a mad-dog—at a-safe distance —by bands of valiant heroes who have sworn by all they hold holy to take me in out of the wet. But I bave many expensive tastes, and in order to retire from businessin good style, I have concluded to make just one more haul; hence this capture.” He ceased abruptly, covering Gideon Gilles- pie with his derringer, bis eyes glittering viciously. Noted as he was for bis nerve, the gambler flinched, shrinking from before those blazing eyes even more than the pistol. **'You are bound to serve as an example to the other gentlemen, Gideon Gillespie! sternly uttered Devil's Dick, ‘* Youare counseling them to resist, are you?” *“ Better be shot down while trying to defend our own than to have it spread all over the land that a score of us were outwitted and whi by one man!” sullenly muttered Gil- lespie. Thanks !’ laughed Devil’s Dick, with a mock- ing bow, ‘I'll bear that in mind, my dear fel- low, and send you the first card entitling you to | a reserved seat in my master’s dominions, when you succeed in working your mates up to the fighting pitch, At the same time, gentlemen, let me give you frank warning what the conse- quences will be: At your first move in rebellion to the present authorities—which is me !—my Serene tee, cae erties LL LL LLL LL LLL LL LCL LL There was no sign of acting on his sarcastic Instead, the outwitted passengers hung their heads and kept their empty hands elevated. A clear whistle broke from the chief of the Fresh-water Sharks, and in obedience to it, three of tne masked riflemen placed their wea- pons against the side of the cabin and moved toward the group of disarmed men, One of them untied a long grain-sack from about his waist; a second stepped close to the passengers, and looked at his chief for orders. ‘*Wait a bit,” said Devil’s Dick, with a grim smile. ‘‘ No necessity in disgracing these hon- orable gentry more than we can help, You, darky, step outside, if you please!” It will be remembered that, at the wild death- cry of the murdered planter, Marcus Dingeon and Moke Horner leaped from the state-room of the former, startled by thesound. They were silent witnesses of the scene which followed. Marcus recognized the man who bad claimed to be his father, but he made no move either to assist or arrest him. And he, togetber with the Boss Roustabout, was included in the sweeping haul made by Devil’s Dick when tbat worthy cast bis net. Showing his white teeth in an uneasy smile, Moke obeyed the order, stepping apart, casting a quick glance around as though meditating flight. If so, he was given no cbance to make the effort, for at a sign from Deyil’s Dick the two men grasped him and rushed him from the cabin, pausing at the head of the steps in the office merely long enough to utter: ‘‘ Hunt your hole, nigger! But before you go, just catch hold of this bit of advice: ou try to kick up a bobbery among the crew with that infernal rabbit-foot of yours, and you'll find some tough lads with orders to chuck you head-first into the furnace, to help get up steam!” One man pushed, the other man kicked, and the Boss Roustabout went down to the engine- deck with far more speed than grace, Then the masked men returned to the cabin, “¢ Gideon Gillespie, since you seem to banker after the position of cbief, oblige me by_step- ing out two paces,” coldly uttered the chief of the Fresh-water Sharks, emphasizing his words with a leveled derringer, ; For a brief space the proud gambler hesitated, but then, as though seeing how utterly vain any resistance would ba, he sullenly obeyed, to have his bands grasped by one of the masked men and a pair of steel band-cuffs snapped around his wrists, so dexterously that the deed was ac- complished before he could move a muscle to prevent, ‘““Do your work, Iads, and lively!” added Devil’s Dick, in impatient tones, his eyes gleam- ing. more vividly than ever. be two men pushed the captive gambler over to where the fellow with the grain-sack stood, and he, with a skill and celerity that spoke vol- umes for his training, rifled the pockets of the prisoner. pitching money, watch, jewels and all nto bis convenient “ safe.” By the time his task was completed, there was another of the passengers sullenly awaiting his attention, and at another signal from the chief, a fourth mask came forward, grasping Gillespie by his collar and unceremoniously foreing him into one of the state-rooms, closing and locking the door after him. ‘*This looks rather taogh treatment, gentle- men, at the first glance, I admit,” said Devil’s Dick, with a grim smile, ‘‘ You are fated to lose what valuables you carry with you, but that is the very worst you have to dread, so long as you act sensibly. Those who cut up rusty, and try to kick too hard against the pric gir go overboard so quick it will make their heads swim—and as long as the head swims, no danger of life being lost!” It was a grim, heartless sort of speech, but precisely what was needed at that moment. Many of the passengers had on their persons all or the greater part of their worldly wealth and the certainty of losing this beyond all hope of recovery, rendered them desperate enough to attempt resistance, could they see the faintest chance of success. As it was, with this signifi- cant warning ringing in their ears, they sullenly submitted to being ironed, robbed and than im- prisoned in the different state-rooms, one man in each. Fifth in the list, Marcus Dingeon was singled out by the chief of the robbers, and though he uietly submitted, he was handled so rudely that his goggles were knocked off bis face. Devil’s Dick started and ante forward over the weapon-laden table, gazed keenly into the young lawyer’s face. “T believe { bave seen you before, my dear sir,” he said, with a hard smile that revealed bis ellow, tobacco-stained teeth, ‘‘If so, you ave grown a very handsome beard since we last stood face to face. Lads, just give that miniature forest a little tug, will you?” One of the masked men promptly complied, and started back with a little oath as the false beard came off in his band. | Moke Horner, the Boss Roustabout. *Good enough!” chuckled the chief, softly. ‘‘Mr. Marcus Dingeon, if I mistake not?” Cold and stern, the prisoner gazed firmly into his malicious eyes, deigning ro otuer reply. * All right, my dear fellow! I can wait un- til business is not quite so pressing. You and I will have a little confabulation together, then! Clean him out, leds, and bundle him into a state-room. One of you fellows keep an eye on him, then.” When everything of value was faken from his person, Marcus Dingeon was bundled into a state-room, one of the masked men entering with him, bearing a rifle in his hands. ‘Orders is orders, boss,” growled the mask, in a hoarse, peculiar tone of voice that seemed purposely disguised. ‘‘ The chief give me mine, with that purty wink o’ his, an’ ’m bound to kerry of ’em out, if it takes a wheel off! You try to come any of your gum games on this chicken, an’ you'll git the gaffs clean through your brain in a holy minnit—you hear?” Marcus made no reply, seating himself on the side of tbe lower berth, ruminating deeply. Why was he treated with more severity dials the other passengers? Why was a special guard placed over bim? He could only ask the ques- tions: to answer them lay beyond his power. Meanwhile the game went on in the cabin. One by one the passengers were robbed, the grain-sack swelling into respectable fatness be- fore all was done. Then, when the last of the men were attended to, Devil's Dick led a select few of his men into the ladies’ cabin, closing the doors behind them. Moke Horner went tumbling headlong down the stairs, hie saving bis neck by a desperate exercise of agility. But before he could recover bimself, he was pounced upon by half a dozen men, foremost among whom were Purty Paddy and Teddy Huke. ‘‘ Augh! ye black divil!” snarled the Irish- man, slapping the helpless negro on one cheek, then on the other, with a cruel force. ‘Sure an’ I’ve gat ye now, right where I want ye! Wurruk the dirthy rabbit-fut av ye, why don’t ye? Pita charrum an us ye divil’s imp o’ dar- rukness! Aiquil yersilf to an bonist whoite gintlemon ag’in, will ye, ye dirthy scut!” CHAPTER XXI. DEVOID OF BOTH HONOR AND MERCY. THE thoughts that busied the brain of Marcus Dingeon as he half reclined on his berth, with his grim guard standing with his back against the locked door, rifle cocked and beld so that the slightest dropping of the muzzle would cover his person, were anything but agreeable. For himself he cared comparatively little, though he kad been most thoroughly fleeced by the Fresh-water Sharks under the orders of Devil’s Dick. To his own penniless condition he gave not a second thought, so intense were his apprehensions on account of Drusilla Ward. Even now, what shameful insults might she not be enduring? And with bated breath he listen- ed, bis muscles straining with an insane resolve to dare all in her defense, should he catch the sound of cries or pleadings for mercy from be- hind those closed doors. ** You do, an’ I'll boller out your brain-pan so itll sarve to wash hands in!” sternly uttered his watchful guard, reading his frenzied thoughts as clearly as though they had found utterance in the plainest of speech, Fortunately, perbaps, no serious alorm came from the ladies’ cabin, for Devil’s Dick had laid his plans carefully and his men bad carried them out without making a single mistake. It was a curious affair from beginning to end, and it is not so much to be marveled at that the brain of the young lawyer, still feeling the effects of that midnight assault in the streets of New Orleans, throbbed painfully as he strove to untangle the twisted threads. i That wildly improbable charge which Shaky Joe had brought against him, bolstered up by such cunningly-contrived proofs; his own unex- plained disappearance from the scene when be should have been most active in defending his honor; the damaging rumors which Ena 2 ble Moke Horner brought him when he was be- ginning to recover his senses, though still too weak from fever and loss of blood to rise from his humble couch or even plan the discomfiture of his unscrupulous foes. It was when his brain was half distracted that he concluded to take passage aboard the same steamer that was to carry the object of bis devotions away from New Orleans; had he been in full possession of bis wits, he would hardly have acted thus, Secure in bis disguise of false beard and goggles that effectually concealed his eyes, those most pronounced features of the human face, Marcus Dingeon watched impatiently for a fair opportunity of speaking to Drusilla Ward in private, but, owing to the precautions which she took to avoid another and unwel- come suitor, thus far he bad failed in bis aim. It is bighly probable that the hot-blooded lover would ere this bave cast aside his dis- guise and risked all in an open interview with Horace Ward, had Moke not told him of bis dis- covery of the two men who he felt confident had attempted his life on that eventful night, - (eo) | micbooks.¢ - =e? —_ 2 Pl — @ S @ 4 ee ' * fs. 2.2% my . J a