Beadle's Dime Library No. 305 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

i i ft if ' 12 — - per part of _ though she did not mention it. Silver-Plated Sol ee ee , the Montana Rover. Ettala, left alone, looked after them thought- ully. wy don’t like to see Joseph so much with that gambler. I fear he is falling into bad ‘habits, and I must have a serious talk with him. No good can come of their association. I wonder what they meant by speaking abouta drug? [ would have asked them bluntly, but I don’t want to make any unnecessary talk when Bur- bank is around. He looks at me in a way which makes me shiver.” And the girl did shiver, in reality, She hated atid feared Luke Burbank; uot only did the man have a bad reputation, but her instincts were enough to tell her that he was of a thoroughly evil nature, and though she did not yet suspect that he had marked her for his future wife, she detected the fact that he was looking at her with more than ordinary meaning. As she entered the office she had heard Dan- forth’s last question and Burbank’s answer, but as no more of their conversation had reached her ears she did not attach any great impor- tance to it. She usually remained in the office for two or three hours during the forenoon, and on this oc- casion she prepared to go through with the usual routine. Two things happened this forenoon which were worthy of mention. She saw Joseph and Silver-Plated Sol pass the door, and she thought they entered the house, but as this was nothing unusual, she gave the matter but passing notice, Shortly after, Lois Orme called upon her. As we have already seen, the girls were fast friends, and were together a good deal of the time. They had not, however, met since their visit to the Magician of Madrock Ledge, and the subsequent adventure of Mose Devlin, and there was enough about which to talk. Lois, however, did not tell all that Hamed had said to her. That important epoch in her life, upon which Hamed had spoken so fully, Was one she had never mentioned to Ettala, and Ghe had no intention of speaking now. She was puzzled and troubled by it. She ‘knew not what view to take of it. She had never believed in the so-called arsof fortune . telling, but from the way in which the Magician bad spoken she knew he must either bave a ft in that direction, or, in an ordinary way, ue possessed of many facts in regard to her past e, Naturally practical, she was inclined to take the latter view of the case, and it was one which troubled her, She had hoped to leave the old life forever behind when she came to this remote Montana town, but if one person knew ‘of it, all were lidble to know. The ghost of Bertha Wardner would not be eclipsed by the Lois Orme of the eae day. Consequently, while Ettala talked freely of the visit to the Magician, there was less fact than fancy in what Lois said, though her friend _ did not suspect any evasion The girls remained in the office until ‘one _oeclock. From that time the four, by general consent, it was closed; and Ettala went up- stairs to prepare dinner. At her earnest invitation Lois accompanied her, though not without some dissent. Her manner was not different from on previous oc- casions, and Ettala* was more than ever led to believe she did not care to meet Joseph; but she yielded at last and they ascended to the up- the house together, little suspecting the experience which awaited them. CHAPTER XIV. | A MAN UNDER THE FLOOR, JOSEPH DANFORTH was alone when they reached the family sitting-room. had been the result of Silver-Plated Sol’s visit he was not then visible, and the girls.did not suspect he had been there. — | he postmaster, however, did not seem so much at his ease as usual, He greeted Lois ina different way, too, and on the whole seemed sorry to see her. He had an abrupt, nervous manner which attracted Ettala’s attention, Lois was not at all disappointed, if her calm exterior was a criterion, and she treated Joseph with the placid politeness she always showed when she met him in Ettala’s presence. There were those who might have suspected this was only a mask, but Miss Danforth was not one of them. _ Assisted by Lois she began preparations for dinner, while J h kept bis position by a cer- tain door which he had practically barricaded with his chair. The door was the means of communication with an unfinished room at one corner of the house, and while he tried to talk naturally he was always listening ‘for sounds from this room, Now and then sounds flodted up from the street in such a way that their origin was un- certain, and in such cases he would start and turn partially toward the unfinished room. The climax of his troubles was reached when Ettala came to bis ‘side, laid her hand on the door-knob and asked him to move. He bad been expecting something of the kind, and he ies. in silence, but the door resisted her (6) . . Whatever : ‘It is locked,” she said. “Well, unlock it, then,” Joseph ‘replied with an assumption of laziness. ‘The key is not here.” ‘*More carelessness on your pretending to reprove her. “ done with it?’ ‘*T haven’t bad it. It was in the lock when I saw it last; I think you have it.” ce SA **' What could I want of it?’ “To have taken it to bother me.” ‘* Wrong, my dear sister; wrong. The ke has probably dropped out and become mislaid. I assure you I haven't it,” he added, bastily, as she looked at him in a mischievously earnest way, as though contemplating an attack to set- tle that point. The fact that the key was even then in bis pocket made him desire to avoid being searched. As it was not an important point, as far as she was concerned, Ettala let the matter rest for then and attended to her household duties but Joseph kept bis place by the door and still listened secretly for sounds from the closed room. No more was said about it, but small matters often assume importance in one’s mind, and Ettala’s thoughts dwelt on the matter perti- naciously, The fact that the room was locked, made her doubly anxious to enter, Dinner passed pleasantly, and then occurred something which pleased the girls and troubled Joseph. He received a note by a messenger from one of the foremost men of the town, ask- ing him to call at once, t was an unpleasant summons. He had re- solved not to leave Ettala in the bouse during the day, but the man who wished to see him was one whose support he earnestly desired in an Official way, and he knew he was one who took offense easily. If he declined to go, trouble might result. He meditated for a moment, but there seemed no good reason why he should refuse, so he took his hat and went out quickly. “T’'m glad of that,” said Ettala. Lois smiled, but did not answer, ‘*IT mean to get into the store-room,” Ettala answered. ‘‘I feel sure Joseph bas hidden the key, just to parece me, and I will surprise him by having the door wide open when he re- turns.” “ But can you find the key?” ‘“‘Bother the key! I have picked a_ lock before now, and I believe I can do so again.” So saying, she proceeded: to find a piece of wire and bend it in whatshe thought a proper manner. Lois watched with an amused smile, for she had little faith in her ability, but Ettala was as full of freaks as a kitten, which she very much resembled. She attacked the lock at once, but it did not yield so readily. Lois gaye the doubtful assist- ance of assuring ‘her she woald fail, but this art,” he said, hat have you only served to make her redouble her efforts, and the bolt finally shot back with a sullen “There!” sbe ejaculated. “‘What do you think of my ability now?~ Don’t you think I was created for a burgler?’ ““T think you have hada good deal of trouble for nothing.” ‘Not for nothing, for I have defeated J oseph, and here is what 1 wanted— What was that? ** What do you mean?” ‘‘T thought I beard something’stirring. Yes; there’s the same sound again. Why, it sounds as though something (was under the floor!” The room, as has been said, was an unfinished one, but a floor was laid'and the boards nailed down. It was used as a store-room, and numerous cases, and odds and ends, were scat- tered about, **I think it'must be a cat,” said Lois. ‘* A cat! Nonsense! it sounds more like a grizzly bear.” Just as she made this observation there was a renewed stir under the floor—it was difficult to tell just where—and a startled look crossed Ettala’s face. She hurriedly drew Lois out of the room. ‘““There’s a burglar in there!” she exclaimed. ‘© A burglar!” “cc Yes.” ** How do you know?” © — “T's all clear enough, and’it explains the absence of the key. Some one secretly entered, locked the door on the inside, and concealed himself.” ** But why should he get under the floor?” ** He probabl did that when he heard me working on the lock.” The girl did not stop to think that it would be difficult for a burglar to take up a nailed- te floor and gain quarters, but hurriedly added: “T will go for Joseph while you stay here and watch.” “NotI! If youhave a burglar here, you may watch him, nos I.” ‘Then you may go for—” Just then a footstep sounded on the floor, She turned around hoping to see Joseph, but it was Burbank, i ; For a moment he looked en _ er SSS Ssh eee troubled at seeing them, with no sign of Dan- forth, but his look of easy confidence was fast returning when Ettala began pouring out the story of her discovery. At the assertion that there was a man under the floor Burbank’s self-possession was seriously shaken, for he knew well enough who the man was. The situation was a startling one, and he saw the necessity of doing elaborate work with little time to plan it. In vain he suggested that it was a cat or dog. Ettala rejected these theories at once; and he soon saw that he must adopt her idea and do bis best to avert the threatened danger. How Silver-Plated Sol could be in condition to stir about in his narrow prison he did not un- derstand, for he had given Joseph a drug which he thought would keep him quiet until night, but that it could be anything else that had pro- duced the sounds he did not think possible, How could he prevent discovery ? He caught at the only way which seemed open. ‘Your idea of going for Joseph is a good one,” he said, coolly, ‘but as we are not sure our theory is correct, it would be just as well to do so quickly. Say nothing to others, but bring him here without a disturbance, and, my word for it, be and I will subdue all the bul gars you have aboard. I'l] remain bere on guard.” He drew bis revolver as be spoke, and looked so warlike that Ettala felt that all was properly arranged. Accompanied by Lois, she hurried away to seek her brother, and found him just as he was emerging from the house to which be bad been called. Her story at first produced the utmost con- sternation, and even after he heard that Bur- bank was on guard, Joseph looked white and frightened. ust then he felt utterly helpless and unnerved. Discoveries seemed inevitable which would ruin Lim, and he Jacked the resolution to stand u and fight his way out of trouble. As usual, however, he turned to Burbank for means of relief, and with a faint hope that his ally had rid bimself of the girls’ presence to play some bold game for relief, he accompanied them back to the bouse. They found the gambler on guard, as he bad been left, and looking the personification of cool resolution. ‘*No new developments; I haven't heard a sound,” he said, ‘‘tut we will soon unearth the fellow. ep oy have you your revolver ready?’ As he spoke he had moved near the post- master, and, seeing the expression of bis face, managed to add in a low tone: ‘* Alls well!” Danforth breathed freely in; he under- stood that carefully conveyed information. In some way Burbank had averted the danger, Then they proceeded to look for the ‘‘ bur- glar.” The floor was removed in’several places avd a search made, but nothing in the shape of man, cat or dog could be found, Whatever had been moving under the floor was no longer to be heard, and there was certainly no living jin- truder there. So it ended, for the time being, and the mat- ter settled down to theories. Danforth and Burbank clung to their theory that it had been only a cat, but Ettala was equally firm in ber assertion that a man had been there, and that he had in some way escaped. Burbank watched his chance and whispered to Joseph, while be pushed back his cuff to bide a small, red spot: , * Silver-Plated Sol will trouble ws no more !” CHAPTER XVII. A DARK DEED DONE AT MIDNIGHT, Sam LEACH, the partner of the late Bill Wild, in the stage robbery, was not in a position to readily get the news of the town, and be did not léarn of his pard’s death during the day that the body was found. Both men had been idle, lawless vagabonds drifting over the West, and when they accepted the offer of Hamed, the Magician, fo rob the stage, they were well aware that it would make them outeasts from Bowlder Bar. Consequently, when the deed was done they retired tothe mountains, and prepared to live in a cave during the remainder of the time they stayed in the vicinity. | We have oe igor seen how Bill went to re- port to Hamed; fell in with Lovering and be- trayed important secrets; and how he was speedily brought to grief and death by being hurled off Madrock Ledge by Hamnied, : Unconscious of the tragedy which had de- prived bim cf a partner, Leach waited all day for bim to return, but he came not; and, by evening, dim forebodings had taken the shape of well-defined belief—he felt sure barm bad come to his partner. ; Such being the case, he resolved to lose no time, but to learn during the night what bad occurred, and he knew of no better way than to call on Hamed. jee He left his lair in the mountains at what he deemed a safe hour, and started for the village. He went well armed, for he was aware that the people would not deal tenderly with him if he Eomichbooks. com ‘<< e 2.)