Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 306 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

wil legen atest in 5% ¢ * The ‘Roughs of Richmond. 17 For when he had tried the tile in various ways, a pressing downward strongly with the heel of his gaiter, the immense flag in the center of the floor moved aside as if on bidden rollers, revealing— By no means what the detectives had antici- pated! Instead of an entrance to an underground staircuse, they saw what appeared to the * ground under the floor—apparently packed and solid earth. ‘*The Indian boy has played us!” exclaimed Tuff, in disgust. But Jo Call’s eyes twinkled. ‘**No, he hasn’t, This is a clever blind; we will remove that dirt.” * What for?” “*T see through the arrangement as plainly as if I had been here when it was done,” ** What arrangement?” ‘**That is fresh earth, and the way it is pack- ed bears the evidence of man’s handiwork—not nature’s,” Call had with bim the same bag of ta»): we ‘have seen prove of such great servics i» wim formerly. Some of these were availed of now, in an im- provised way. It was not yb Rr kg they reached a board covering beneath the earth; and durin the operation of shoveling away the earth, Call warned: “Do not be reckless. I am sure that the major part of the gang is at this moment below here. One of their number, after they have de- ‘scended, has placed the earth over the entrance and left them there to finish their work, with tbe understanding that at a certain time, he would return and liberate them if the coast was clear. Careful—no noise. Hark! I think I hear the sound of machinery ia operation even now,” And others beard it too, A buzzing, whirring sound, like the revolution of small whpela that gave forth a bumming in their rapid movement. When the dirt bad been cleared from the planking carefully, Call himself cautiously drew up one of the boards, ; He had not been wrong in his surmise. There was a brilliant light below. Tne sound from the strange workshop was even loudly audible, He was the first to take a glance downward. He saw there several men in shirt-sleeves, the sleeves rolled up above the elbow, and they were engaged, every man of them, at one of the beau- tifully constructed lathes, From the lathes was constantly falling a stream of gold dust and the gold dust being ac- curately turned from the outer edge of a gold piece—slowly, adroitly and with remarkable precision, There could no longer exist in the detective’s mind any doubt as to the source of the tam- pered-with coin that was then attracting the attention of the money market, ae bad fairly surprised the criminals at their wor ; And so absorbed was each man with the deli- cate task in hand, and so incessant was the humming, buzzing, whirring of the lathe-wheels that none bad detected the sound at the trap which gave entrance to their criminal work- snp to indicate that they were being surprised, all assumed a standing posture. ** Ready all,” he whispered. ‘And remem- ber we have a most desperate gang to deal with, who will fight bard. It may be necessary to shoot down some, who I am sure will not surrender; but do not do. so unless it becomes imperatively necessary: I want to capture as many of them alive as I can. I will descend first; you follow as fast as you can and make nO more noise than is positively unavoidable, Be ready for instant action and a tong time.” “‘ All ready,” responded tbe daring detectives, Call placed one foot on the first stone step that led to the subterraneous workshop. hoary at that iustant something terrific trans- There wasa slight jar of the flooring which all felt distinctly. Then came a dull, terrible crash and a cloud of dust that seemed to puff out from the under- ground way like a suffocating smoke from the mouth of a nameless monster, A noise of falling timbers, of crashing stones, of human shrieks—a noise that was almost in- describable filled their ears and brought them ’ to an abrupt and appalled halt at the verge of the vomiting orifice, Up from the depths volumed a_ universal shriek of many voices in agony and curdling misery. A frightful calamity had befallen the crew of criminals below. The detectives recoiled, as if expecting in the next moment to be ingulfed in the jaws of a yawning earthquake! —_-_ CHAPTER XIX. THE CHINAMAN gee oi HIS GAME. For several moments Jo and Timothy Tuff were as much startled at this singular and awfully t occurrence as their companions. Ts 2 ¥ 3 -¢ oA, P J ’ - mm, Saf ee ae ‘ _ . o But as another and even denser volume of smoke- like dust came Seer from the open iron door to the prison-chamber at one side, they exchanged glances that told each the other had guessed the true case of the catastrophe. “The whole building may be down upon us next,”’ Tuff exclaimed. ‘* Yes, we had best clear out—”’ ** And that makes «a third fizzle!’’ Tuff ad 'ed, with something that was almost profane, ‘‘ What's got over us lately? Every time we've started out after this set of clews, we've been frustrated.”’ * What on earth can be the matter?” inquired one of the others. Call explained in per, He and Tuff realized that the Indian nor mast have made more amg with his vengeful k of sawing through the girder of his prison room than they had at first supposed, The girder had given away at this critical junc- ture: had it occurred a minute later, no doubt the whole band of detectives would have been crushed to death beneath the massive flooring that went crashing down, as had those who were at work at the lathes in the underground workshop. But not all had perished. Even as the ood, half-irresolute, out from the rolling cloud of dust emerged a begrimed figure with a bloody and ghastly face. Aman who serambled with difficulty and in evi- dent pain upward through the narrow shaft leading to the workshop, and who, as he gained his feet on the stable flooring of the ecouncil-chamber, uttered a cry of joy that was almost unearthly. A ery that was quickly turned into another cry of astonishment and rage, as be found himself sur- rounded by many forms who carried bull’s-eye lanterns, the combined rays of which were simul- taneously thrown upon him. He made a dash toward the curtains of the ascent to the astrologer’s room. But the muscular arms of Timothy Tuff encircled him. while the detective cried: ** Quick, Call! | he irons!” In a trice, though not until after a desperate struggle of a second’s duration, the handcuffs were clicked upon the man’s wrists. He bad to be thrown forcibly to the floor and held there in the great paroxysm of rage and resistance which seized him. When at last he lay in absolute exhaustion, a cap- tive, Call bent over him and asked: ‘Are there any more down there?’’ pointing to- ward the shaft. * Plenty, I guess,’’ was the response, given grimly. ** Alive, I mean?”’ “If anybody is alive down there, then they had better have died when the first crash came, for | they'll never get out. They at least have escaped you, you accursed detectives!” **How do you know that we are detectives?" ‘Because ycu were in here once before to-night,” ‘*Ah, so you are one of those who was so very anxious to stab out my life with a trident, are you?” ‘**No matter,” omy And the captive added, as he gazed in a sort of be- wilderment around him: **T would like to know how it happened.”’ ‘* What happened?’ ‘The falling of the floor, We built the structure ourselves, and those who managed it are skilled ar- chitects, Every girder was new and sufficiently strong to have borne a weight ten times the weight of the floor; and yet I know that there was no extra yeent of any kind on the floor of the chamber over the shop,” Call did not-enlighten him. At a signal the detectives departed with their pris- oner. One and all felt, that after such a weakening of the building by the fall of the immense floor beyond the iron door, the rest might at any moment come toppling down upon them also, “How many of you were down there?” Tuff asked of the captive, as they cautiously made their way down the stairs. * Find out,” * A queer Susiness has been rather abruptly brok- en u asn't it, eh?” + tever’ you want to know, find out, I say.”’ **You are not a very talkative bird, but I guess you will talk a little before we are through with you,” On the street Tuff said to his partner: * It’s lueky we captured one of them, anyhow,” “Yes. But in what way do you mean?’ | “i “From him we may get at some valuable informa- ion,” Call laughed lowly. “I'm afraid we'll have a hard time getting him to airulge anything about the Order of the Golden etle,”’ * Well, we've brought bougber men than he ap- pears to be to terms before this, haven't we?”’ “é ru ’ The criminal captive was duly lodged in the sta- tion-house, For a space the two detectives paused in their rear office, alone, t> sum up matters. ** Well?” said Tuff, in no good humor over the con- di ion of affairs. ** Well it is, and very well,”’ responded Call. ‘‘We shall soon, now, be able to run down The Roughs of Richmond.” “You're longer-headed than I am, then, if you can figure any such result out.” “Did you not say yourself that you hoped for some developments from tbis prisoner we have taken, who is an active member of the Order of the Golden Beetle?’ ** Admitted.” And Tuff asked, suddenly: ** See here, do you have an idea that The Roughs of Richmond and the Order of the Golden Beetle are one and the same organization?” ** Not at all.” * Well, Ican’t talk any more to-night, I'm tired. I'll just take a snooze here in the office on the lounge,” saying which, he accompanied the words by the action announced. Call turned to a desk and seated himself. ‘ine to be a very sleepless individual at e. For in the hours succeeding he was busy with his | quenter of the popular apacatas ay B e memorandum-book, and his entries were wholly i lative to the Fenwick case with its various adjunc that had assumed prominence since he had taken hold of that case, The breakfast hour at Mrs. Tubbs's boarding-house on the day following the events of the preceding chapter, was destined to be something out of the usual order of things with her guests of various nationalities. Patrick O'Rourke, the Irish politician, was seated as uaa at the head of the table, waiting for bis coilee, On one hand was the German proprietor of the bottling establishment that had recently opened at the east end, On the other hand was the slim French music- teacher, with his sallow white face and deeply sunken black eyes, About the table were scattered several sewing- rirls eating their hasty meal, and O'Rourke was en- tertaining all with his customary wisdom upon overnmental finances which he might have settled ong ago—as might any other whisky-drinking fre- he could have only had a hand or tongue in management of the important matter. At the foot of the table was a rather handsome young man who pursued his task of eating in com- parative inattention to the loud-mouthed Irish- man's harangue—Albert Royal, the post-office delivery clerk, who was the most liked by the land- lady of all her boarders, and upon whom she openly lavished more attention than any others were favored with, Suddenly there was a hush throughout the dining- room, The tongue of O’Rourke seemed to have been pin- ned to his teeth in the midst of an extraordinary effort to explain the entanglements of the United States Treasury. Heads and eyes were elevated. For into the room bad come Canding An altogeth- er unexpected addition to the list of boardcrs, who was announced by Mrs. Tubbsin a half apologetic way as: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is Mr. Wing- Wing, . rich, a very rich gentleman from the Pacific 8 oO mae, | “Howly murther! look a’ that!’ burst from : O'Rourke. **Gott inhimmel! ware you get dot mans!"' splut- tered the German. ‘*Ah—ha! ect iz ze Chinaman, ze coo-lee wiz ze } pig-tail,”’ grinned the French professor. | | ‘**Ladee, gentlee, hope fine tlime bully boy you blet—"' Wing-Wing began to say, But O’Rourke bounced to his feet and one ee? came down upon the breakfast table with a start- ling thump that shook and rattled everything on it. **Mrs,. Tubbs, af ye pl’'aze, d'ye mane to scy ye'’ve brought that haythen Chinee intil this house es a boardher, ma’am?”’ ‘*Why, he’s a very rich, a very rich—” “The divil floy away wid his riches, ma’am. It’s Gl no haythin ‘ll be a-sittin’ down at the same table | wid Pathrick O’Rourke, d’ye moind; an’ af he’s to be a boardher, ye'll plaze make out me bill, ma’am, nd an’— No, I'll ha've the copper-skinned thing out, so ; I willl It’s a insult to the loikes ay any one but a ; nagur ‘imself !"" | sented 't {<4 * Dot wes so!’ e German. it * Yees, eet was a strange insult for ze madam to be, have put on ze bo of ze house.”’ ‘wl * Git out av this, ye haythin:’’ shouted O'Rourke. . “You wos make yoursellef py the outsides!” supplemented the German, also gaining his feet. y. There was a general uprising of all at the table. The more timid, with murmurings of alarm, began to hasten from the room, : ***Melican man no like Chinamanee, hop skipee, rat Py git; hit Chinamanee, make sweat Padee!” declar- ed Wing-Wing, with a significant nod, though his or face was broadly smiling. Jat ‘** Ye’ll make me sweat will ye?” roared O'Rourke. 3 And then there was a sound of war in the air as the Irishman started on a rush for the despised rep- oe resentative of the Celestial land. a But a form interposed between the Irishman and [ his intended prey. mt “Hold!” : ’ Albert Royal extended one arm half shieldingly ) before the estial and gazed sternly at the irate teh tician. ; aS PCT think you ought to be ashamed of such con- Ax duct, Mr. O'Rourke, in the presence of ladies. If eS you do not wish, to associate with the Chinaman » SAI who has been received by Mrs. Tubbs as ber board- er—a matter that is entirely her own business and not yours—you have pall tig e of leaving the ss house, but not the privilege o slarming. hese ladies and creating a disturbance. Hand ; EAS ys —— Mr. O’Rourke.”’ Ak urke had pared in some surprise. He ~ hen ey of course he would be backed by every one Ase | resent. . ‘ee PivAre ve defindin’ the haythin?” he demanded, very red in the face as he glared at the young man. © me ‘**Tam intending to prevent anything likeaDennis Kearney exhibition ina house where'I feel that T . have a right to assist in preserving order, TE FQ 0% “fp strike that Chinaman, you will settle with pe also,” A h and the young Southerner’s eyes flashed with a de- termination that O’Rourke knew meant business. > With an oath that cansed a shocked murmurfrom = the females who had paused near the dcorway, the © i 2 a Irishman strode from the dining-halland tookhis hat from the rack with a Jone andaslapontothe | thout saying more, re gi Ss his head, departing w Tey an instant things subsided into quie pie The German and the Frenchman cast sidelong glances at the young champion and each mentally | concluded that he was one who could take pretty _ ha good care of himself if it came to t. has *“T am sorry this has occurred, Mrs. Tubbs,” he = said, to the terrified landlady. ‘ But I minke Mr. O’Rourke never comes back, you are wellridofa nuisance. His incessant mouthing is far more dis- reeable than the presence of unoffending = Chinaman," with which he passed outand ascended Saran he deacseled tus whe sud tin Sill ceanam en he descen e was ig. <P clothes; his uniform had beenlaidaside, = = Gomilechboo