Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 345 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

. , . 4 . ’ ' a , ' ) oy rt \. 2 “Sze «ay? . A “~~ ~_—> -> . ~~" ~ mwe . 7 « * + _ - a > e . ,— gue es. “ = — s -_ é i.” eS ~- Py Saat a ot . - is " ae © = ba aT ae = — _- « ~ =~ ~~ x + >. Se oT. ~ ~~ 7 °- - aor et ew es ; Ga Date od . smn ate _ — Fy . . + - ———c _ 4 > ——————e —" = = oe ie fe = a - > etre ill “~~ * re) . = rs +e. * — % ee > or ada + oe 4 ® + b clk BROT ee Dart a = a PO iS =< “ .. >. —~ a * _ ~ yo — Se xz —_ s *. ~~ *e _—*. “ Sy age aps < i> - ~~ -* a tt a * a , a) * ' ‘a - - re eee + — _ a wri AS ws: ~~ we ne “J 28 readiness to come to their assistance in case of need. And when Thrailkill gave his cry of warning, they did appear, and the two rascals were bound without being seriously injured. Without the tavern a scarcely less exciting scene was taking place. Under lead of the third Masked Mark, the rest of the honest men of Rackabout Range slipped out at the rear of the tavern and moun their horses, movin around so as to come upon the party beyonc without exciting their suspicion that they came from the house, if possible. But when the wild shout of warning came from the house, Masked Mark cried: ‘* Charge them down, lads! Hurt no one who will surrender, but take all you possibly can!” There was no time for a more elaborate ad- dress, for already the party of crooks had taken the alarm, and were on the point of scattering in wild confusion each one to care for his own ore * when— ‘* Halt! hands up and empty, or down goes your house!” Masked Mark shouted, his tones sharp and menacing as he led the headlong charge from cover. ‘* No one shall be hurt who surrenders, but death for those who try to es- — by flight!” he majority of the crooks, taken by surprise and without a chief to direct them, gave up in despair. A few fled as fast as their horses could carry them, and more than one made his escape while those who surrendered were being secured. Still, it was an almost complete victory, and great were the rejoicings of the honest oe of the men of Rackabout Range when they re- gained Stokeley’s. Silently Frank Dymock and Barry Carls- worth met Masked Mark on his return, gri ping his gloved hand with ardent force that told im the truth even before a syllable crossed their lips. ‘‘He has confessed, then?” he said, slowly. ** He murdered poor Oren?” ‘* Yes. Some time we will tell you all he ad- mitted. Just now he is dying. If you wish to see him—” Masked Mark pushed pan them and entered the room of death. Colonel Vanderlyn feebly opened his eyes as the man with the hidden face ‘paused before him. And then Masked Mark removed the covering which hid his real fea- tures. Alva Bohee stood revealed. A wondering, bewildered look came into the face of the dying man, and he strove to speak. Instead of words, dark blood gushed from his lips, and his head fell back, The chief of the Crooks of Rackabout Range was dead! a Then, in the first moments of the growing dawn, the story of the mysterious masks was made clear to the men of Rackabout Range, though several points which it may be proper for us to touch upon in concluding this record, ‘were passed over by those who told the strange story. For that reason, and to avoid repeti- tion as much as possible, the exact words of — three masqueraders will not be set down ere. As has already been hinted at in these pages, Oren Bohee su ted the real facts concerning the coining of false coin in Rackabout Range, and sent information to that effect to the Gov- ernor of the Territory, also telling him that a brother of the writer, Alva Bohee, was connect- ed in a responsible manner with a prominent detective agency in Chicago, and that he could pea be induced to take charge of the inves- tigations which should gol follow. is advice was acted upon, but before more ‘than the first preliminaries could be a ed, he met his death by a cowardly act of assassina- tion. Partly from revenge for his success in ahi wren use of the information which he sent to the governor. Colonel Vanderlyn committed the murder, in company of Fee the younger, who alone knew that the chief of the Crooks had returned to the Range that night. When suspicion was east on him, Colonel Vanderlyn had no difficul- in proving an alibi by prominent men at a istance—they were interested in the nefarious Me ay oe coining, and did not hesitate to swear to a lie. It was with a double poppase that Alva Bo- hee came to Rackabout Range, after several consultations with the two men whom Oren Bohee had loved as though his own blood flow- ed through their veins. They convinced Alva that it would be a difficult and risky job, and in order to avert suspicion from themselves, the scheme of the masks was perfected. Half a dozen of these were manufactured with the greatest care, regardless of expense, and not until they were completed and found satisfactory in every respect, did Masked Mark make his ap- pearance on Rackabout Range. The yo men took turns in donning the disguise, and by having the Mounted Detective seen by others while in their company, it quick- ly became apparent—on the surface—that the mysterious man with the hidden face could not possibly be any known inhabitant of the Range. All worked to perfection until Dike Roberts — ——— : _—— — _-_ >. _— -_= ——- + Masked Mark, the Mounted Detective. -—— ee ee Or found one of the secret caches where a mask was hidden, though the last one to wear it luckily escaped detection. He lost no time in carrying the news to his employer, who would not rest satisfied until he was personally convinced that with it even oneso well known as Roberts could deceive him. And to prove this, they met in the timber near Jehudi Fee’s house, as being about half-way between their respective houses. Thus it happened that Adola Fee became con- vinced that her lover had been murdered by Masked Mark. And thus it came about that Colonel Vander- lyn resolved to kill two birds with one stone; to remove a dangerous enemy and avert suspicion from himself, in addition to conferring a great favor on his right-hand man, Demas Fee. He had Dike Roberts firmly beneath his thumb, through a perfect knowledge of his past life before Jessie was born, and cunningly awakened his hatred and suspicion against Alva Bohee by affirming that bis frequent calls were more to discover proofs of his guilt and to ruin his child than aught else. Thus it came that Dike Roberts attempted to play Masked Mark, at the meeting called by the colonel, for that especial purpose. And there is no knowing how things would have turned out, had not Roberts, in his disguise, caught sight of the real Masked Mark coming toward him. He lay in ambush until he believed he could forever rid the band of the dangerous man with the hidden face, then charged—to meet death himself. The story told by Barry Carlsworth before the assembled men of Rackabout Range was true in the main, but it was Frank Dymock in the guise of Masked Mark—the same he had worn that day when Adola Fee endeavored to avenge her murdered lover; the same when he had awaited the coming of Barry behind the motte, and hastily explaining all, placed him apparently out of the race by “creasing” his horse—for whom he was waiting. Together they lent what aid they could to the fallen man who had stolen ‘‘ their thunder,” and before he died, Dike Roberts made full confes- sion of the important secrets, even to what he suspected as to the murder of Oren Bohee. They knew that doubt would be cast upon their story unless they could have the confession repeated before other and disinterested parties. And it was in hopes that the wounded man would live long enough to reveal all at Stokeley’s that led to their moving him so far, and to all that fol- lowed. He did live until at the point where they halted for the third time, as already no- ticed. There he died. And there it was de- cided that Frank Dymock should assume and play to the end the role assigned the now dead man. They believed that it was the only man- <2 in which Alva Bohee could leave Stokeley’s alive. The reader has seen how admirably Dymock aa his part. He was afraid to give Alva ohee the secret signal for which he was so impatiently looking, lest the keen eyes which were watching hisevery movement should detect the imposture, No sooner was he clear ‘of the house with his supposed prisoner than Masked Mark revealed himself and removed the handcuffs, giving Bohee to understand what was in the wind anc the part he was expected to play. Even as he explained, Barry Carlsworth came up with the horse Alva had ridden there, and crossing their front without pausing, Frank deftly changed his mount, leaving Alva Bohee to lay the trail ey was fated to bring grief to Adola Fee and er nt. en the two men returned and carried Dike Roberts to Stokeley’s, to throw Colonel Vander- lyn into a fever of rage, cha and doubt. This was the strange and bewildering story told in proper turn by the three men who had so adroitly played their parts in the drama. And while they were so telling it, Demas Fee escaped from bondage and stole away, never again to place foot on Rackabout Range. The escape was never very closely investigated. There may have been those who fancied they could guess close to the truth, but if so, not even a questioning look was cast toward Barry Car!s- worth. There were enough of the Crooks of Rackabout Range in limbo to cover them all with glory and renown when the story of that “— was told. Vhat matter if a single man escaped? The imprisonment, trial and conviction of the counterfeiters and stock thieves have been pub- lished to the reading world inall the newspapers of the land; no need to comment on the trial or result, Adola Fee was severely wounded by the bullet of one of the men who mistook her for Masked Mark, besides being badly bruised by the fall from her horse as it dropped dead, But in due course of time she recovered, and as the murder of her lover had been fully avenged, she rose from her bed far more like her olden self than the half-insane being she had been until that eventful night. y to her father and—long afterward—to her husband, did she explain why she had been abroad that night in such a guise. She believed in her semi-madness that she could — —* : . , —— - * 2° tan tes oY ¢ rw t * - + ‘ ’ _— discover and capture Masked Mark. And when, in sudden terror, she fled from that stern chal- lenge, she failed to recognize the voice of her parent. Long after the Crooks of Rackabout Range were meted out the punishment they so richly merited, Barry Carlsworth received the reward he so nobly deserved. Adola loved him far bet- ter than she thought she could ever learn to love again; if not so fiery, so impulsive as had been her passion for Oren Bohee, it was still better; a calm, true, trusting love, such as makes the happiest of all homes. nd Alva Bohee, too, received some recom- pense for all that he had undergone, in the hand and heart of Jessie Roberts. For along time the little wild girl bitterly mourned over her dead, and at least partially blamed Alva Bohee for it. For a long time she refused to see him or to leave her Jonely home in the broken land; but then Adola Fee visited and won her from her solitary grief, and living with her and the broken-spirited old man, Jehudi Fee, Jessie gradually learned to take a more correct view of the sad affair, and to place the blame where it roper! M belonged; partly at the door of Colonel ictor Vanderlyn, partly—but no, not even in her own heart would the loyal daughter admit that Dike Roberts had done wrong. ‘‘The Parson ” still resides on the ter but a vail is kept drawn over the past. ough both Barry Carlsworth and Frank Dymock pre- serve in a prominent place, one of the masks worn in those troubled days by ‘** Masked Mark, the Mounted Detective,” Alva is far too consid- erate to bring sad memories to his little red- haired angel of the household by doing the same. And Jessie loves him none the less for it, be sure! THE END. Half-Dime Singer's Library 1 Wnroa, Ex! and 59 other Songs, 2 Caprain Curr and 57 other Songs, 8 Toe Garnsporo’ Hat and 62 other Songs. 4 Jonnny Moraan and 60 other Songs. 5 I’ut Starke You Wira A FEATHER and 62 othera, 6 GeorGE THE CHARMER and 56 other Songs. 7 Tae Beitie or Rockaway and 52 other Songs. 8 Youne Fe.LaAn, You're Too Fress and 60 others 9 Say Youne Grew and 65 other Songs. 10 I'm THe Governor's ONLY Son and 58 other Songs, 11 My Faw and 65 other Songs. 12 Comin’ THRo’ Tur Rye and 55 other Songs. 13 Tae Rouiickine IRISHMAN and 59 other Songs. 14 Otp Doe Tray and 62 other Songs. 15 WHoa, CHARLIE and 59 other Songs, 16 IN TH1s WHEAT By anv By and 62 other Songs. 17 Nancy Lee and 58 other Songs. 18 I’m THe Boy THat’s Bounp To BLAZE and 57 others, 19 Toe Two ORPHANS and 59 other Songs. 20 WHAT ARE THE WiLpd WAVES SayInG, Sister? and 59 other Songs. 21 INnpigNanT PoLLy Woe and 59 other Songs, 22 Ine Otp Arm-Cuair and 58 other Songs. 23 On Coney IsLanp Beacnu and 58 other Songs, 24 OL_p Simon, THE Hot-Corn Man and 60 others. 25 I’m 1x Love and 56 other Songs. 25 PARADE OF THE GusRpDs and 56 other Songs, 27 Yo, Heave, Ho! and 60 other Songs. 28 ‘"Twres Never po To Gib it uP So and 60 others. 299 Buur Bonnets OVER THE RorDER and M4 others, 80 Tae Merry Lavcnrine Man and 56 other Songs, 81 Sweer Foraxet-me-Nor and 55 other Songs. 82 Lererte Baby MINE and 53 other Songs. 883 De BANJO AM DE INSTRUMENT FoR ME and 53 others, 84 Tarry and 50 other Songs. 85 Just TO PLEASE THE Boys and 52 other Songs, 86 SKATING ON ONE IN THE GUTTER and 52 others, 87 KoLoRED KRANKs and 59 other Songs. 88 Ni. DesPpERANDUM and 53 other Songs. 89 Tue Grru I Lerr Benrnp Me and 50 other Songs 40 "Tis put A Lirrte Fapep Ftower and 50 others 41 Pretry Waiiue ata aad 60 other Songs. 42 DANCING IN THE Barn and 63 other Songs. 43 H. M.S. Prvarors, compiete, and 17 other Songs Sold everywhere by Newsdealers, at five cents per copy, or sent post-paid, to any address, on re- ceipt of Six cents per number. BEADLE AND ADAMS, PusBLisHErs, 98 Witi1aM STREET, New York, - The Dime Dialogues No. 32. Containing eighteen Minor Dramas, Extravaganzas, Burlesques, Farces, Dress and Humorous Pieces, for the Amateur Stage, Parlors. Schools and Exhibitions, All original and by favorite authors, professors, teachers and amateurs, For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, post-paid, on receipt of price—ten cents, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pvrs.isHers, 98 William Street, New York, Ebooks eGom