Beadle's Dime Library No. 327 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

22 peculiar, and I am in the habit of suspecting | He found no little difficulty in descending the | everything and everybody. I will say this, | mountain, as he did not strike the right ‘‘ chute” 4 though, Mr. Muldrow—if it should ever turn out ! at first, and several times got into positions from it that you had anything to do with the death of | which he was obliged to retreat and take a fresh if that man, God help you!” start The detective walked to the edge of the cliff, , ) and looked over there long and earnestly. if Apparently he saw nothing there that inspired | him with any hope, as he was sad and dejected | K) when he turned away. : ‘** This is a terrible blow,” said he. to me that [ was never hit so hard before. Terrapin Dick. ie _—— eee eee was obliged to admit that in this matter he was not altogether unwilling to accept defeat. He reached the camp on the plateau by night- fall, and told Julius Muldrow of his discoveries, adding that he saw no further use in attempting to secure the person of Nick Sanders. ‘Then I suppose we will get out of these lone- some woods and go home,” said Julius. . ‘ yes—there seems to be nothing else for us to O. This intelligence was highly gratifying to the young man, who brightened up immediately These obstacles and false moves caused him to | lose considerable time, and, not being a thor- oughly expert woodsman, he lost his way in the intricacies of the mountain. When he finally reached the level of the ‘Tt seems | stronghold of the Sanders family, and was able I | to take his bearings and ‘‘ place” himself, the =e. 7 : ~~? ~ ee ~~ - - 7 a ok aaa ats =— _ _ — — — —= —s- —_ — »e ) eee ee = = -= wes shall not have any heart after this for the enter- | day was so far advanced that he would not have prise that brought us here. Besides, I am afraid that I can do nothing without my friend Ward. I had are on him more than I relied on my- self. It looks as if there is nothing todo now but to quit and go home.” ‘* That’s it!” eagerly exclaimed Julius. ‘‘ Let us go home. That will suit me exactly.” he detective looked at him curiously. “That is queer again,” said he. ‘I bad not supposed that you would be so ready to give up the business. You originated it, had taken a great interest in it, and have spent considerable money on it. I would not have thought that ou would be willing to go home without secur- ing the man we care for.” ‘But I am tired of it now, Mr. Risden. I have had enough of it. I have seen all I care to see of this life in the woods, and the weather would soon drive us away. Tam not as anxious as I was to catch that man. Iam in no way bound to do it. I doubt if it is a matter that I ought to meddle with, anyhow. And now that poor Hank Ward is dead, I feel as if I would be glad to get away from Here.” ‘*So it seems,” coldly replied Risden. ‘‘ Rea- sons are as plenty as blackberries with you just now. Well, we will go.” The young man’s face brightened. But his spirits fell at the next words of the detective. ‘*Not just yet, though. Perhaps not for a week or so. We have plenty of time before cold weather sets in pri must not forget m duty. I don’t like give up anything that have undertaken to do, and own myself beaten. The demands of justice must be attended to. If you have no longer any interest in the capture of that man, the law has, and I hold a warrant for his arrest. I must at least make an effort to secure him. Then, again, there is Hank Ward.” ‘* What of him?” excitedly asked Julius. ‘*He is dead, of course, as he could not have survived that fearful fall. But he was j friend, and I must see that he is properly buried. It is likely that the —— down yonder have attended to that; but I must make sure of it, and must mark his last pres a eet Julius Muldrow would gladly have persuaded the detective out of his intention of remainin there; but he had learned that Terrapin Dic was as firm as a rock in his purposes, and there was reason to believe that by too much per- sistence he might strengthen the suspicions t already existed concerning himself. So he quietly acquiesced in Risden’s deter- mination, hoping that their further stay in the woods might be short. The camp on the plateau was dreary and dis- consolate r that. To Risden the place was sad and lonely with- out his friend, and to Muldrow the very air was of horror. They ate their evening meal in silence, with- out any + mmm of companionship, and at mys lay down to rest separately, one on each side of the fire they had built. manor | the night Muldrow was very restless, apparently tormented by bad dreams, starting, groaning, and muttering in his sleep. More than once the detective crept to where he lay, and listened earnestly, as if hoping to extract some meaning from his half-uttered words and ejaculations. He was excited by what he heard, though there was nothing t conveyed to him any clear and definite idea. ‘“If I was sure that this wolf helped Hank Ward to his death,” said he, *‘ 1 would hang him to one of these trees.” CHAPTER XXXII. TERRAPIN DICK’S DISCOVERIES. THE next day Terrapin Dick left the plateau, and descended the mountain. He positively refused to allow Julius Muldrow ‘ to accompany him, greatly to the ow ee of that young man, who was actually afraid of being left alone. But Dick Risden’s word was law when he chose to make it so, and his a ee yom who was not a comrade had no choice but to submit. The purpose of the detective in this expedition was not clearly defined, and his course was to be determined by circumstances. His vague idea, as he mentioned it to Julius at the time of his departure, was to scout around and see what was to be seen, in the hope that something would occur to further the object of his mission into the wild woods. In the absence of Hank Ward he believed that he had better do his scouting alone. more than time enough to get back to camp by — he had to choose between returning and spending the night there. For himself he would have preferred the lat- ter alternative; but, out of consideration for the feelings and fears of Julius Muldrow, though he knew that that individual was deserving of no such consideration, he decided on returning to the camp. : As he climbed up the mountain-side again, he found a much easier way of ascent than he had yet discovered, and derived no little consolation from the find. It was the bed of a mountain stream, or tor- rent, then nearly dry, by following which he had a direct and comparatively easy route to his destination. This discovery pleased him so well that he de- termined to try another scout-the next day. By starting early and descending the mountain without loss of time, he would have a good op- portunity to make investigations below. He gave Julius Muldrow no satisfaction con- cerning his operations that day, and stubbornly ref to allow the young man to accompany him when he set out the next morning. | He left the camp at an early hour, and easily descended the mountain by following the bed of the nearly dry stream, reaching his destination at an hour that gave him hopes of accomplish- pene: | e sha is course directly for the gap that formed the entrance to the Sanders territory, and found it without difficulty, as he was then pretty well acquainted with that vicinity. His object was not yet a means Clearly defined, and it may be said that he trusted main- ly to the chapter of accidents. He hoped to discover something or- to find somebody. It was possible that he might find some mem- ber of the Sanders family—perhaps Nick him- self—loitering about there, in which event there would be a chance to make a capture. He saw no person, nor any sign of any person, except the plain trail which had long since been worn, and he resolved to push his investigations er. Cautiously entering the pass, he ascended it as cautiously, until he came to a new and unex- pected obstruction. This was a combination of fence and cheval- de-frise, which stretched across the pass at its narrowest point, near the head. It was composed of pointed logs and saplings, and had recently been placed there. © Risden examined this fortification carefully, ae that there was no chance to get hrough it or over it, except by the aid of an ax or of something that might serve as a ladder. But he observed at the middle of the obstruc- tion what he judged was intended to serve as a ate, though it seemed to be stoutly barred on e inside. He tried it by pushing, without effect, and then he tried it by pulling. The result was surprising. A loud explosion followed his first vigorous ull, evidently from some firearm close at hand t had been heavily loaded. . Risden could not doubt that this was intended as a sort of backwoods burglar alarm, to give the people inside notice of any attempt to get through their fortification. Indeed, he heard voices within, as if the San- ders family had been aroused, and thought that he ought to lose no time in taking himself away from there. He was not afraid me ype - hurt, but was un- Ppemeg oe expose himself, or to let his presence there be known, when there was no ce of any better result than to put on their guard the people whom he was seeking. erefore he retreated in good order, but in pretty much of a hurry. As he climbed the mountain again it seemed to him that the enterprise he had undertaken must end in failure. There was no chance of success in sight, either near or remote. The Sanders family held a very strong position, and had fortified it so that it was impregnable. If he could not see his way clear to accom- — his purpose while he had Hemlock Hank to elp him, what could he hope to do in the ab- sence of that useful ally? Surely he could do nothing alone against such overpowering odds, To abandon the undertaking and go home ap- red to be the best course for him then, as well as the easiest. He had never before confessed to a failure, but and was unusually cheerful and good-humor during the remainder of the evening. He also enjoyed a sound and unbroken night’s rest, doubtless dreaming of scenes that might Pa my the memory of Hank Ward’s terrible ate. But something occurred the next day that put a different face on affairs, making an entire change in Terrapin Dick’s feelings and plans, In the morning he went to take a last look down into the basin where his old friend had taken that fearful plunge. He had kept away from there since he was told of Hemlock Hank’s death, as the place was hateful to him, but felt that a last look was due to the memory of his friend. Julius Muldrow was elsewhere on the plateau with his rifle, 0 for game, but at a little distance only, as he did not dare to go far from the camp. As the detective sat at the edge of the cliff, and gazed down into the depths, he saw men walking about near the Sanders habitation, and a was a tall figure that seemed famil- iar to him, even at that distance. A thrill ran through his frame as he drew from his opie: the small but powerful field- glass which he always carried, and brought it to bear on the scene below. Hastily adjusting the lenses, the figures of the men came out ore him so plainly that he could almost distinguish the lineaments of their countenances, A cry of joy and exultation escaped him as 7 emengenneh the face and form of Hemlock ank, His friend was alive and well. The fall had not killed him, and he was safe and friendly down there with the people whom he had been hunting. It seemed for the moment as if the discovery would drive the detective wild; but he con- trolled himself, as it would be necessary to dis- play no emotion before Julius, whom he did not wish to be made aware of the fact that Hemlock Hank was alive. He carefully looked through the glass again to be sure that he had made no mistake, an thoroughly satisfied himself on that point. Then he went back and called Julius, whom he informed of his intention to descend the mountain again. ‘* What’s that for?’ angrily demanded the young man. ‘It was settled last night that we were to leave here and go home.” ‘* So we are, but not just yet. I got hold of an idea this morning, and there may be some- thing in it. It will be easy to find out what it is worth, and I must make one more effort.” ‘‘ But the morning is already half gone, and you can’t get back here before ene . ‘*T think Ican. You may look for me—per- haps a little later than usual.” The clouds are rising, Mr. Risden, and they have a threatening | I am sure that a storm is coming.” ‘*Oh, if we allow the weather to stop us, we will never do anything in this world.” Muldrow looked suspiciously at the detective. There was something in Risden’s face and manner—something that he was not able en- tirely to conceal—as well as in his sudden eager- ness to get down the mountain again, that sure- ly meant something, and Julius was anxious to know what it meant. | ‘‘'What is the matter with you, Mr. Risden?” mcr acer ae seems to me ee bo eh c prea bier in last nig anything eenyre ns t is the new idea that you speak of? “I will tell you all about it when I come back. Perhaps it may amount to nothing, and I don’t want to excite any expectations that may never be realized.” ‘* Let me go with you, then.” ‘No, Mr. Muldrow. You area 1 gibce hand at knocking about in the woods and mountains, and I can’t be bothered with you.” So Terrapin Dick left the camp on the plateau again, and left his uncongenial companion full of wonder and suspicion. CHAPTER XXXIII. BONEY IS AVENGED. Hemiock HANK had an easy and pleasant time during his sojourn in the basin with the Sanders family. He was a man whose straightforward and open manner, and kindly and honest disposition made friends for him wherever he went, an among all sorts and conditions of people. Consequently it was natural] that Ike Sanders and his folks, isolated as they were, and often feeling the need of other society than their own, (E .S Gomi¢dvee _* s com)