Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 367 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

| | SS . — _ orbs. —<——_ A Royal Flush. ——— or 25 tinct, at least to the ears of the luckless wretch | rise and hatred | addressed. A muffled curse of angry broke from the lips of Fred Ducrow, and only for the quick interposition of the ex-pugilist, he | would have leaped at the throat of his treacher- | ous comrade, ironed though they both were. “You sold me—it was a cold deal, eh, Tim Warden?” he snarled, savagely, his dark eyes turning almost red beneath their shaggy brows as they met and sought to hold those shifting ‘**T owe all this to you, then, old man?” ‘*T never—I didn’t know nothin’ ontel they ketched all two both on us!” mumbled the horse- thief, with a covert and venomous glance to- ward the smiling face of the fat detective from Rocky Bar. ** As you thought,” and Nor’ West Nick laugh- ed softly, heartily. ‘‘It was as neat a bit of work in the double cross-way as I’ve seen for a Jong time! Each rascal buying his own life by selling the liberty of his fellow! Lord! what fools we mortals be!” Tt was now the turn of Fred Ducrow to look surprised, and Tim Warden to turn indignant. Just as the shrewd representative from Rock Bar calculated upon, each one felt that the other had acted the traitor and false comrade. And had their arms been at liberty, there is little doubt but what the Royal Flush then assembled would have been given a modern representation of the Kilkenny cats. Nor’ West Nick stepped warningly between them, holding in sight twin gags which he had deftly taken from their jaws when Dan Brown challenged their approach. “Don’t let your angry passions boil over, my «lear fellows, or I’ll_be obliged to use these little sugar-tits again. I want you to talk—that’s just what I took the trouble to fetch you here for—but not loud enouch to disturb the entire neighborhocd. That wouldn’t be over healthy for either of you,” Those sullen suspicious glances were turned toward him, and though he gave no outward sign of annoyance, Nor’ West Nick saw that in- stead of proving the perfect success he had an- ticipated, his thinly vailed charges of mutual treachery bade fair to destroy even the hope of extracting the much-needed information from the lips of Tim Warden, Their anger and hatred seemed turned whol- ly upon him. They seemed to think he had de- ceived them even more thoroughly than was the fact. Even Tim Warden was growing savage- ly sullen. Dan Brown, in the strangely impatient, hot- blooded mood which had been upon him ever since the first suspicion that his loved ones were threatened by bis enemies, strode forward and clutched the nearest captive by the shoulder his blue eyes i in, | vividly, his voice hard and stern as he uttere ‘*Tf you hope to see another sunrise, fellow, owl talk quick and straight to the mark! Vhere is Aces-and? Where has he put his cap- tives? Are they all together, or has he separated them?” A surly growl came through the clinched teeth of Fred Ducrow. “Pind out, durn ye! Its rope-pullin’, no matter what I say. Go on with your rat-kill- in’. The boss’ll even up matters fer mo!” A strong but soothing hand fell on the shoul- der of the half-distracted detective, and Enoch Dodge muttered in his ear: “'They’s more’n one way 0’ skinnin’ a cat, rd, an’ef I was you I’d draw back an’ let ick *tend to the critter. He ketched ’em, He’s got some sort o’ purchase riggin’ in his mind, or I’m ’way out.” | Dan Brown. hesitated, turning a _ wistful lance toward Nor’ West Nick, who smiled con- fidently as he spoke: “T can do it, pard, if you'll trust to me fora bit. Each one of these honorable scoundrels is just boiling over with eagerness to make a clean confession, and are only held back by their na- tive modesty. Give me a few minutes’ grace, and we'll know all the secrets of Aces-and, his gang, house, company and all else. I pledge you my word as one of the Royal Flush.’ ‘*From him, mebbe, but not me!” growled Ducrow, with a venomous glare at his mate in bonds. “ An’ ef he squeals, I'll be his death!” ‘* You'll have to strike the blow with a ghost- ly hand, then, my boy,” laughed Nor’ West Nick, as he motioned ‘Furk Elder to bring his double charge further under cover. With their hands ironed behind their backs, with that mighty grip on their shoulders, and with the other members of the Royal Flush walking within handy reach of them, neither of the captives made any attempt to escape while being conducted deeper into the cover, though each one knew that he was each moment pass- ing further from aid and all hope of rescue. “This will do,” at length uttered Nor’ West Nick, coming to a halt in the center of a little opening surrounded on all sides by trees and un- dergrowth. ‘‘We can talk and sing to our hearts’ content here, and even indulge in the luxury of a fire, without fear of being intruded upon by Aces-and or his gang of cut-throats. k, suppose that you and Enoch start a lit- tle blaze, to throw some light on the subject?” Without a word of objection the two men in- dicated set to work, and while they were thus engaged, Nor’ West Nick ‘‘ buzzed” the cap- tives. ‘*It would be too much of a good thing to spare both your lives, boys, but [Pll do the next best thing. The one that speaks up first, and tells the straightest story, shall have the exquisite pleasure of witnessing the elevation of his fellow—say, as high as one of those limbs over your heads! And it’s not a very long tune that I ask of you, eitber; simply to te l us what arrangements Aces-and has made for receiving company; where he has stowed away his guests; no more.” There was noreply. Alone, either one of the rascals might have weakened in the presence of death, but together they seemed afraid to prove unfaithful to their vows. More than ever did Nor’ West Nick realize the error into which he had fallen; but not a sign of this did he permit to show itself on the face or in his voice. **One of you has got to give information, and the longer you put it off, the more trouble you cause us, the worse off you will be. I can make you talk, but ’'d rather have a voluntary report Will either of you give it?” ‘*T won't!” growled Ducrow, flashing a vicious glance toward his companion in bonds. ‘* An’ ef Tim does he'll wish he hedn’t! You kin rub me out, but all the same the truth’) git tc the ears 0’ the boss, an’ he knows how to square a’counts with traitors—cuss all sich!” “Traitor you, Fred Ducrow!” snarled War- den, showing his teeth, ‘‘ You sold me out to these—” ‘*'You lie! you done it, cuss ye! Didn’t you Sa me up thar to take a snifter o’ whisky, an’ then— Nor’ West Nick lightly tapped each pair of lips, his huge mustaches curling grimly. ‘** That’s not the tune we want to listen to, gen- tlemen, if you please. Stick to the lesson. What about Aces-and?” Sullen silence. With a short, hard laugh, Nor’ West Nick turned to his brother detectives, saying: ‘Will you just keep an eye on these birds, mates? I'll not be long.” Dan Brown and Sol Scott stepped a little closer, and Nor’ West Nick turned toward the spot where their horses were tethered, quickly rea with a couple of strong lariats in his ands. By this time Enoch and Turk had started a fire, the crackling twigs beginning to light up the little glade and to reveal surrounding objects. And thus aided, Nor’ West Nick had little trou- ble in casting the noosed ends of the lassoes over stout limbs above the clear space, each lariat having a bough to itself. Sullenly the prisoners watched these prepara- tions, but as yet neither one showed signs of giving way. Soxsty Nor’ West Nick was mak- ing a serious mistake in keeping them together! o Dan Brown appeared to think, for the anx- ious look deepened upon his pale, haggard face as he touched his brother detective on the arm. The fat member of the Royal Flush shook his head positively. ‘You are wrong and I am right, this time, friend,” he uttered earnestly in response to that unspoken question. ‘‘ Remember how much time was lost with Johnny-jump up before we got at the truth. It might be the same thing over again with these brutes. Either one might squeal quicker if taken out of eye-range of the other, but would it be the truth, or a series of false notes?” ‘“They’ll never betray a secret this way. Each one will be held in check through fear of the other!” muttered Dan Brown. ‘Just the contrary,” and Nor’ West Nick laughed softly. ‘‘ They are so hot against each other now that neither will dare lie, for fear his mate may nail it at once—don’t you see?” Dan Brown yielded, though still far from con- vinced that the reasoning was correct. ‘Take your own way, Nick, but cut it as short as possible. Time is passing, and every ae they remain in his power isa double tor- ure! ‘*The preliminaries will consume mzre time than the real work, my dearfellow. Rest easy. We'll have the plain truth out of them ina very few minutes, now.” At a sign from the fat detective, a noose was fitted about each neck as the outlaws were led beneath the stout boughs. They stood some ten or a dozen feet apart, facing each other. Another sign, and the prisoners were seated on the ground with more haste than grace or comfort. And then strong hands drew up their feet until both extremities almost met, while Nor’ West Nick deftly completed his share of the programme. He drew down on the rope which encircled the throat of Fred Ducrow until that worthy was on the point of suffocation, then knotted the free end around the ankles of Tim Warden, He reversed this performance, and when the other rope was tied to Warden’s feet, he stepped back with a low chuckle of satisfaction, rubbing his fat hands together as he viewed the peculiar spectacle, The prisoners faced each other, balanced on their posteriors. A rope ran from each neck straight up to a limb overhead, then passed at a sharp angle down to the feet of the opposite ras- cal. If one attempted to lessen the strain about his throat by lowering his feet and legs, it choked his opposite more severely, and vice- versa. Nor’ West Nick struck an attitude between his victims, saying: ‘* Now, gentlemen, the fun begins! How long it will last, depends mainly on yourselves. When you’ve had sufficient—when you think you can sing my song, and sing it straight from end to end without a single false note, all ycu’ve got to do is to signify as much. I’m going to set free your hands. You can use them on the rope that anchors your neighbor, as much as you please, but not to touch the rope that en- circles your cwn neck. ‘The first effort you make in that direction will be the signal for putting on the bracelets again, leaving the non- offender free to complete the hanging, if his strength holds out.” Even as he spoke, Nor’ West Nick passed be- hind them in succession, unlocking and remoy- ing the handcuffs, then falling back to await the result. His patience was not long tested. Already the strain occasioned by that doubled-up posi- tion was becoming painful, and each man sought to relieve himself at the expense of his fellow, the instant their hands were freed. They caught at the diagonal ropes and tugged savagely. As a result their feet came nearer the ground, but this was acecmplished at the expense of their throats! Owing to their hampered situa- tion, neither man could gain more than a few inches of rope, but that was sufficient to produce in the other all the torture of hanging without the danger of death. ‘‘Plenty of time, gentlemen!” cried Nor’ West Nick, mockingly. ‘‘ The ig eer much more than one-half spent as yet. Take it easy, and the fun ‘ll last all the longer!” ‘* Life to the one who will confess all we want to know!” uttered Dan Brown, earnestly. *‘ Life and liberty to the one who first gives way! Death to you both if you remain stubborn!” The end came right speedily. Weaker in body and spirit than his fellow, Tim Warden dropped the rope and flung out his hands appeal- ingly. He tried to promise full admission, but the words were cut short by the tightening rope, as Ducrow, furious at the thought of defeat even in victory, cast all his strength into the effort, dragging his craven mate fairly clear of the ground. The same effort almost dislocated his own neck, and as Nor’ West Nick leaped forward and cut the rope, both men fell backward half- dead. Turk Elder fastened on Fred Ducrow, replac- ing the handcuffs and holding the gag ready to slip between his jaws as soon as he could regain breath sufficient to keep from suffocating. The remainder of the Royal_Flush gathe about Tim Warden, but Nor’ West Nick picked him up and carried him out of sight of his mate. ‘* Tt’s the truth we want, and that in the short- est possible time,” he muttered hurriedly. ‘‘ We'll hear this fellow tell bis story, and then question his pard. If both tell the same story, we'll know it’s the pure quill, and can act ac- cordingly. us—T'll take his hide off by inches at a time!” A feeble groan from the lips of the tortured outlaw told his captors that this threat had not entirely escaped his ears, and with new hopes they awaited the result. Nor’ West Nick gave Tim Warden a little whisky, and then Propping his back up against a tree trunk, he spoke sharply: ‘‘Now, my fine fellow, you want to sing straight as a string, or out goes your candle for good-and-all! You understand? Tim Warden nodded, licking his hed lips, glancing wistfully at the flask which the fat de- tective was recorking. Nor’ West Nick laughed shortly as he noticed the direction of that glance. ‘‘ After a bit, if you are deserving! but until ow’ve emptied your budget you can fast. You chow what you have endured. You know now that we mean business right up to the handle. But you can’t know all that is in store for you if you try to deceive us or play any tricks. Plain death isn’t a circumstance to what you'll suffer if vou stray from the one straight path!” ‘* 111 tell all—only spare my life!” gasped the wretch. ‘‘- You shall have that—life and liberty both if you serve us faithfully!” eagerly interposed Dan rown. “But you’ve got to earn it first,” added Nor’ West Nick, evidently thinking his brother de- tective too fast. ‘‘ You want totell us just how the game stands. Aces-and is in the cavern, over yonder?” : Tim Warden nodded assent. ‘* His prisoners are with him? Mind how you answer, now! We know enough of the truth to catch you in a lie, should you be ass enough to attempt one.” ‘The two wimmin is thar, in the little hole back o’ the main cave. The childern ain’t—he sent ’em off in keer o’ Johnny’s Infant.” Eomichbooks If not—if he is fool enough to lie to- . . 5 i, ~ _ i» * , a : sf , i | | : = . ~ « 2 SES