Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 292 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

26 crawling up the sluggish current, which now wound through the trees, The boat was now -_ —_—- elbow. This was a favorite attitude of his, though it gave bim a peculiarly hang-dog ap- threading its way through the overflow, though | pearance, when taken in connection with his keeping carefully over what was in ordinary stages of the water, the bed of the creek. On either hand, before and’ behind, loomed up the tall forest trees beneath whose interlocked boughs all was dark and dismal. At sundry points along the stream, the treetops fairly met overbead, and at times the tall smoke-stacks i ee off twigs and smaller boughs until the deck was covered with the debris. Even with the broad light of day to aid them, this sort of navigation would be difficult enough, and as soon as the gallant Water Witch was carried far enough from the river to insure ber safety against being discovered by any othe: steamer making its way up or down the river, her engines were slowed still more, and boats were got out by means of which she was soon securely anchored—if one may call the process anchoring, when all the fastenings were above water, being huge cables attached to stout trees, drawn taut by use of the windlass, until the Water Witch was perfectly secure from any and all cross-currents or sudden changes of wind. Much as bad transpired on that night, it was not yet day when the boat was made secure, and still other exciting scenes were fated to occur on board the Water Witch before the ris- ing of the sun, be capture had been complete, without a single shot being fired or fatal blow given. The Fresh-water Sharks had made their arrange- ments carefully, covering every possible contin- pict and the result was a clean sweep of the ard. The passengers were ironed after being robbed and disarmed, then locked up in the state- rocms, Guards with loaded rifles and shotguns were stationed so as to command every door, both inside and outside, and each prisoner was plainly given to understand that the first one who attempted to leave his place of confine- ment or to open communication with any of bis Mf as ke would be instantly shot fo eath, Then, when this was perfectly arranged, and the Water Witch secured for the remainder of the night, the leaders in this daring outrage gathered in the office for the joint purpose of consultation and dividing the rich spoils. They were only five in number, including Devil’s Dick, Shaky Joe, both of whom were unmasked, and Gideon Gillespie, who still re- tained his disguise, in company with the two others. Richard Inglehardt seemed to be in an unu- ocr good humor, his eyes twinkling and bis thin lips 4 abies 5 “ A glorious haul, gentlemen!” he exclaimed, turning from the chief clerk’s desk where he had been rapidly adding up a long column of se mitts to pay us for the risk we “ running, and leave us generous wages be- es. “How much dues it foot up?’ asked Gil- lespie. wt Well, that depends,” leisurely replied Dev- il’s Dick, as he glanced over the sheet of Raper. “If we count in the sum which Horace Ward deposited for safe keeping—” * That is left out of the common pool, remem- ber!” hastily interposed Gillespie. ‘* You un- derstand the arrangement which was made when I put you on the track of this windfall!” “Exactly: your prospective father-in-law was to be handled with care, and all his proper- ty, including his lovely daughter, was to be transferred to vour keeping, without harm or subtraction. I believe that was it?” Gideon Gillespie nodded assent, but there was an uneasy ante in bis eyes. ph 9 oy, Be Dev- il’s Dick replied, and unequivocal as his words were, the gambler suspected he was plotting mischief, and he began to feel very much as though he bad placed his rich feast under the ae of a very bungry and very unscrupulous wolf. ‘That alters the total, as I have figured it up here,” resumed the chief of the Fresh-water Sharks, “ The Water Witch was carrying fifty thousand dollars, belonging to the company, for use at the upperend of the line. That is the principal item which interests us outsiders, Then comes the amount paid in for freight and passage. From this, of course, will be deduct- ed the amount each one of our little family over the counter. Next comes the cash, watches and jewels taken from our passengers. As you doubtless are aware,a few of them panned out richly—others not quite so well, _ while a few were hardly worth the trouble of seeering. “Lastly we come to the money which cost young Stone his life, Ten thousand dollars of that amount belongs to you, G. G., as you stak- ed it in perfect good faith. The remainder, of ope will go into the general fund for divi- on. Shaky Joe had not spoken a word while this talking was going on. He stood a little to the rear, one sbaking band clasping his quivering chin and nervously picking at his lip, his other band crossing his breast and supporting his right shifting, ferret-like eyes and that disagreeable infirmity of bis. He was clearly ill at ease from the first, look- ing and acting like one who has been detected in some disgraceful act. But now, as Devil's Dick uttered those words, he started forward with a sharp cry of objection: **Not much! I reckon I’ve got a word or two to say about that! Play fair, whatever you do!” Devils Dick turned toward him, smiling until bis yellow teeth showed in contrast with his red lips, his voice smooth and easy-flowing as ofl itself: ‘That sounds like a text for a sermon, com- ing from your lips, Shaky Joe! Fair-play is the flag you sail under, is it?” he blood-stained wretch turned a shade more pallid, but there was an ugly light in bis eyes ret dogged ring to his voice as he swiftly re- plied: ‘““When I am dealing with friends and part- ners, yes! I stand on even terms with the best of you in this little speculation. It was my skill and knowledge that picked out the major- ity of men whose aid was necessary to carry out this job. I did so with the understanding that I bh share as a full partner in the profits, and—’ ‘Have I said anything to the contrary?’ “Yes!” with a sullen side-glance into that smiling face. ‘* You talk of putting my money into a general pot, instead of passing it over to me intact.” ‘*You allude to the money which formed a cushion for young Stone to fall and die upon?’ smiled Devil’s Dick. “Served bim right!” was the muttered re- sponse. “I won it fairly, and he tried to kick against it!” “Go slow, my dear fellow,” laughed the chief of the Freshwater Sharks, again showing his teeth. ‘‘It’s all very well to parade your wounded honor, and all that rot, before the eyes of strangers, but it won’t go down here. ou lie when you say that you won that pot fairly. You lied when you swore Stone put u a job on you, and did the ace-stealing himself. I saw you stowing away the aces, before Stone changed the deci, and I saw you fill your hand from that same secret hoard. I was just on the point of giving you a secret hint to drop your claim, when you used your knife.” Shaky Joe listened like one sitting on nettles but somebow his usual dare-dévil spirit deserted him in the face of this notorious desperado, He felt that in this little man he had more than met his match, “You're mistaken,” he muttered, sullenly. ‘“*T won the money fairly. But still, rather than raise a row over it, let it go. Ill be con- tent with the amount I staked of my own.” ‘You staked it and lost. Everything goes, at poker, as you are quite old enough to know without my reminding you. You cheated, and when detected, you shed blood without—” “That's a mighty queer sermon for you to preach!” sourly interposed Shaky Joe, with a short, hard laugh. ‘What am I to understand by that, Mr. Baldwin?” coldly demanded Devil’s Dick, every trace of softness vanishing from both voice and countenance as he confronted the gambler. “That only for my action then, you would have found ita good deal tougher job to secure the ngers,” burriedly replied Shaky Joe, shrinking a trifle back. “For which you bave no right to claim the credit. In your greediness to secure the first bite at the peach, a risked your money and lost. You did this, killing that poor devil, know- ing all the time that your rash actions might be the ruination of our carefully-laid plans. And now, you kick and squeal for the money to which you have not the slightest claim!” “T only want a fair shake. Give me my rights—” “By the Lord of Hosts! you shall have them to the very letter!” fiercely snarled the chief, as he leaped forward and made a grasp at the throat of the gambler, Shaky Joe dodged nimbly, flashing out a knife, striking Vv nomously at bis assailant, The keen weapon just drew blood, and then the a. went down before a swift stroke that eft the impress of four iron knuckles on bis forehead. And like a wild beast, Devil’s Dick lea upon his body. heir three mates started and uttered ex- clamations of more or less excitement, but not one lifted hand to save the one or aid the other. Possibly they remembered that deith in either quarter would but increase their own share of gold! But it was not the intention of Devil’s Dick to slay his antagonist with his own hand, He whirled the quivering wretch over on his face, wrenching his arms behind him, then snapped a pair of handcuffs around bis wrists. Though that blow was enough to have crushed almost any ordinary skull, Shaky Joe strug- ed toa sitting posture the instant bis assailant eft him, staring around in a half-stunned man- f ie — eee mm ee ———E—EEEEEEEEEEeeeeEeEElylEEEEyEEEE—————————————————————————————_—___ a” Moke Horner, the Boss Roustabout. ner, but shivering all over as the cold, measured tones of Devil’s Dick saluted his ears: ‘Gentlemen, one word with you. I dare as- sert that none of us are over-scrupulous when there is gold to be won; but at the same time, we are notcommon murderers, like this precious rascal, He was not content with taking his chances with the rest of us, but in his greedi- ness to get the first taste of the golden harvest be risked ruining our carefully-arranged plans, and wound up by taking the life of an innocent man. [t is true that | took considerable pains to save his life, and even he will not dare say I did not save him from the rope of the lynchers. It was through no love for bim that I acted thus, but to win our own game. Still, had be not shown himself even more of a hog, I would have passed the matter by, though all of us will bave to bear a share of his individual crime. As it is, I feel that be bas ricbly deserved death, I put it to you, gentlemen: will it not be an act of simple justice to stretch the neck of the ras- eal, out of band?” **'You don’t dare—” ‘Think so, you poor, miserable ghost of a man?’ laughed the desperado. ‘‘ What I don’t dare wouldn’t make a very large book! Get up with you—or shall I roll you down the steps like a bale of cotton?” “Gentlemen!” gasped Shaky Joe, trembling like a leaf as those sinewy bands fastened upon him, dragging him to his feet and thrusting him toward the steps which led to the lower deck. ‘‘ Gentlemen, I beg of you! Don’t let him murder me!” Not one of those appealed to answered a word, but as the chief of the Fresh-waiter Sharks shoved his victim down the flight, they followed after. A number of the roustabouts, nearly every one white, met them with curious looks; and casting a keen glance over them, Devil’s LS a singled out two, Purty Paddy and Teddy uke. ‘*Here’s a bit of work for you, my lads. This gentleman is growing too nap a high- toned for the likes of us common folk, and so I’ve concluded to promote him over the heads of you all! Rig a noose at the end of one of those halliards—and step lively about it, too! He nodded toward the flagstaff, and with the swift movements of men going about a work of love, rather than preparing the means for hanging one who had so recently put hard eash in their depleted pockets, the two rascals hy or the first time Shaky Joe seemed to real- ize the full extent of bis peril. Until now, he believed Devil’s Dick was simply playing to rob him of his share in the robbery which bis cun- ning brain bad done so much toward making successful; but now he saw that his life was to be taken as well, and he rent the early morning air with wild cries and pleadings, now curs- ing his enemies, now praying that they might spare his life, struggling desperately in that iron grip. But he was helpless as a fly in the embrace of A ag of spider. Cold and unmoved, Devil’s Dick held him until the rope was ready for his throat, then he turned him over to the tender mercies of his two executioners. They dragged him to the foot of the flagstaff, fitted the noose around his neck, then leaped back and joined their fellows in pulling away on the rope, With a sbrieking curse cut short by the chok- ing noose, Shaky Joe was dragged from} bis feet and rapidly bauled up almost to the top of the staff, where he swung, kicking and writh- ing in a frightful manner as the rope slowly choked him to death! It was a horrible scene but loud laughter and heartless jests were all the dying prayers or funeral sermon the blood- stained gambler received! There was a hurried consultation between Purty Paddy and Teddy Huke while the poor wretch was struggling his last, and when Deyil’s Dick was about turning away, the former ven- tured up to him, tugging at his forelock and scraping one foot behind him, a sheepisa grin on bis hard-featured mug. ‘Well, what is it? sharply demanded the chief, thrusting one hand into bis pocket. ‘I suppose you want the bangman’s fee for turning off our genial friend, up yonder?” ** Av ye pl’aze, not jist the loikes av that, sor,” grinned the prize-figbter. ‘* But now we sort o got our han’sin, sure there’s anither dirth scut aboord that w’u’d be allithe better for a bit av nick-stritchin’, your banner! Av ye w’u’d be plazed to jist give us |’ave, sor, divil the red cint w’u’d we charruge ye for that bit o’ worruk, so we w’u’dn’t, sor!” “Why, pod bloodthirsty villains!” laughed ick. ‘ It’s that infernal nigger he means, sir,” re- spectfully interposed Huke. ‘ He’s trying to breed trouble in the crew, by parading his rabbit-foot, and we thought he would be bet- ap put out of the way of making more trou- e. ‘‘Only a nigger?” asked Devil’s Dick, with a curl of bis lip as be turned away. ‘* Doas you please with him, for all of me. Gentlemen, let's return to our mutton!” Eomicboo 7 i ee Re \ te