Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 367 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

Ee ae ee “Sass * =~ o J te 6 o- - Lj tS = a= = ta - = . ma 4 a-e a ——. - > ~- — ws —. : i es be + S. ee ne ee ee — —— —— — =_ ——_—_— =~ A Royal Flush. ‘“Where? What for?” sharply demanded Sol Seott. ‘*T kin show you the place better then I kin deescribe it. As fer the why, | cain’t say fer dead sart’in, though I did ketch somethin’ what the boys was talkin’ ’bout.” ‘What was it? Speak out, you devil!” grated Dan Brown, his sinewy fingers working convulsively as though longing to tear the whole trath from the stammering lips of the cowed villain, Tim Warden shrunk back, pale and trem- bling. Nor’ West Nick tapped him on the shoulder, saying uietly: ‘* You're all right as long as you talk straight and nimbly. What was it you heard the fellows talking about?” ‘* They said the boss was playin’ his keerds so’s to git part even, whether you bu’sted his main game allup or not. Ef you was to jump him at the cave afore he thought it, you mought save the wimmen, but the kids would hev to suffer. One o’ the gang hes some o’ the powder like you critters use. e hes orders to keep hid come’rs—jes’ whar, I don’t know—an’ ef a row breaks out, he’s to send up a light. The owe holdin’ the kids is to be on the watch, an’ the minnit they see that, they’re to kill the young uns.” Tim Warden cowered beneath the arm of the fat detective, awed anew by the mad light which flashed from the eyes of the brother de- tectives, For a moment or two, his life hung in the balance. Four strong hands were almost ready to fly at his throat; but luckily for all concerned, the powerful temptation was re- sisted. ‘* You can a“ us to the spot where the chil- dren are kept?” ‘| kin—lI will, ef you'll promise me— Good Lawd !” Tim Warden broke short off with a gasping, husky ejaculation, and he cowered almost to the rround as a clear, quavering whistle broke out on the night from a point at no great distance from the timber. The detectives also caught the sound, and si- lently listened for its repetition, hands on their weapons. Itcame in a few moments, and Dan Brown hissingly demanded of Warden: ‘“ What does that mean? Speak quick, and speak true, you te 7 ‘‘Tt’s the boss! It’s the signal o’ Aces-and!” quavered Warden. CHAPTER XIX. QUEENS BETTER THAN ACES, Ir was with a touch of raillery that Johnny- jump-up charged Aces-and with the possession of ‘‘ nerves,” the bane of all thorough gamblers, yet none the less was his accusation true. Aces- and did possess nerves, and nerves of the quality that would fail a man just when his wits should be the clearest, his courage the least unshaken. They lasted long enough to reach the cavern and separate the captives into two divisions, then fairly alarmed their owner by giving way in a moment, without warning. Even as he left the rock cell where the two women were confined, Aces-and caught himself starting and trembling with a sudden dread. It seemed as though a voice uttered bitter threats in his ears. He half-drew a weapon and crouched on guard before he realized that it was but the freak of an overtasked nerve—that the voice of Dan Brown was born only of his imagination. He knew this, yet by the time he gained the outward chamber, his garments seemed damp with cold sweat, his eyes roved swiftly, ner- ey about him, his face was pale and his breath came fast and irregularly. He knew what was the matter with him as soon as he came within the circle of light spread about by the flickering candles, and though he choked it down as best he could, it was only through the liberal use of the bottle that he could regain his self-control. It was not often that he permitted himseif to ‘“‘ hit the bottle” heavily, for he knew that strong drink blurred his wits and led him too often into freaks which his sober judgment would condemn severely. But now he felt that without some such stim- ulant, he would break down in earnest. ‘“ A bit of grub, a sound snooze, and then I'll be in trim again!” he muttered to himself. Unfortunately for him, Aces-and did not stick closely to this wise programme, As the liquor mounted to his brain, his blood began to crow hotter, his hatred for his brother detec- tives to increase and call on him for revenge. ‘Tf I had either of them under my thumb this night, I'd be willing to abandon all my chances in the future!” the kidnapper muttered half- laughing] Me his dark eyes beginning to glow red- Ls PEE If could only torture them as—as I can, through their wives!” and his white teeth came together with a vicious click. ‘* Why not?_ It’s art of the game. Maybe it will cool off my ats. a bit. aybe it'll make sleep come the easier! Tl have a shake at it, anyhow!” Thus it came about that the two women were subjected to a second infliction almost before they had time to recover from the first. And the head villain laughed maliciously as he noted their pale faces, where the traces of tears were still plainly visible; rubbing his hahds in devilish —_—s_ glee as he saw how heavily his last blow had sunk into their hearts. ‘*Tt’s nothing to what isin store for you, my dainty beauties,” he said, his tongue slightly thickened, his gaze passing from one face to the other, gloatingly. ‘‘Fate must have had an especial spite against you when he threw you into the arms of those bloodhounds! For their sins you are called upon to suffer, and through you, your children. How bitterly, neither I nor you can as yet say positively.” ‘Was it only to mock our misery that you came?” uttered Rachael Brown, her eyes flashing, her temper only kept within bounds by a severe exercise of her strong will. ‘*To take a taste of the revenge I have sworn to get gloriously drunk on, rather!” and Aces- and bowed mockingly. ‘‘ You are part and arcel of Dan Brown of Denver. Youware the etter half of Sol Scott. And being one with them, what you suffer must torture them as well. You see my meaning, gentle doves? You follow me, my beauties?” May Scott turned paler than ever, and sunk a little behind her stronger spirited companion in captivity. She, with Rachel, saw that Aces- and had been drinking freely, and knowing not what insane freak might seize upon him next, she sought to collect her strength and nerve. Aces-and saw her involuntary recoil, and evi- dently interpreted it aright, for a low, malicious laugh came through his teeth, and a mocking sneer curled his bearded lips. ‘* Not so early in the game, my littlelady. It may come to that in the end, though I’m one of the sort that has but little use for the fair sex, save in cases something like the present. You are safe enough from love-making on my part, until after [ve settled accounts with your pet bloodhounds—until the ransom money is paid over and wy 9 beyond danger of recapture. Then—well, i can wring the hearts of my enemies one bit tighter by squeezing either or both of you, be sure I'll never let my touch of misogyny stand in the way.” ‘* You are drunk and know not what you say,” coldly uttered Rachel Brown, facing the rascal firmly, haughtily, her eyes glowing hardly. ‘‘ If you are wise, you will go where you can sleep off your folly. Be sure you will need all your wits when it comes to a test between your evil gang and our husbands!” ‘** Don’t you think it, pretty,” chuckled the out- law, with a knowing leer, as he recovered from a sudden lurch that almost cast him headlong to the floor. ‘‘I’m master of the hounds now, and when my whip cracks, never a sullen cur among them all but drops his tail and trembles lest he feel the lash. ith you and the kids I hold the game in my own hand. I can name my own terms. Iwill, too! And they'll be such as strips Dan Brown and Sol Scott of eve ollar and every dollar’s worth! When I’m through with them, they’ll be beggars on the face of the earth, if no lower. Jf, did I say?” and a cold, chilling laugh parted his lips as his figure drew erect, all traces of drunkenness vanishing as by magic. e came a step nearer, his right hand uplifted and quivering in the air, his eyes eG redly his white teeth showing through his Bearded lips, his voice harsh and bitterness itself: ‘*' There is no room left for an ‘if’! I will strip them d I will wring their hearts even more thoroughly than I do their pockets. I will tor- ture them until they beg and pray for death to come and cut short their utter wretchedness, I will first befool them. I will raise their hopes, only to cast them down again to the lowest pit of misery. I will take their gold and then bid them wait—wait and wait in vain! ‘*Bah! dearly as I love gold, it is hardly the first factor in this big game of mine. am after revenge, and that I'll have when your pet bloodhounds can give no more wealth. When they ask for their loved ones—when they beg me to deliver the precious goods for which they have paid such a price—P’ll laugh them to scorn! I'll kick them out to live and suffer! I would kill them, only I know life will be to them worse than death, a thousandfold! ‘* With you two and your kids in our midst, they'll never dare obstruct our path. Tl leave this country. Ill threaten them until they give us plenty of room; and then I'll make my re- venge complete. ‘Not by death, not by killing either of you,” and he uttered a short, curdling laugh, his eyes seeming like coalsof living fire. ‘“ Then neither Dan Brown nor Sol Scott would believe one-half the black and bittertruth. I'll set you free, and bid you crawl back to them, to tell your story. To tell the happy fathers how their children left this world! To tellthem bit by bit what came to you, my dainty ducks!” ces-and had given way entirely to the fiery liquor, that seemed to set his brain reeling and to drive away the last remnant of prudence. He only thought of torturing his captives, leav- ing the future to take care of itself. And yet, as his tongue rattled on viciously, the women could see that he was telling the simple truth, that he really counted on bringing all this to | his utmost efforts. pass. And Rachel Brown grew desperate as she felt that they were so hopelessly in his power —that neither Dan Brown nor Sol Scott, with ' assailing € —~—-~w a LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL. LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL the remainder of the Royal Flush to back them, could do aught to foil his devilish schemes, un- less— With a low moan of bitter agony, she sunk down near the rocky wall and bowed her head in her lap, with back turned toward the exult- ing demon. He laughed harshly, feeling the sweetness of his revenge. And then he turned his tongue more particularly upon May Scott, who still faced him, her limbs trembling, her eyes filled with a wild, hunted light. ‘* All this, and more, my dainty little witch! When I bid you return to your adoring hus- buand, you'll know more of life than he could or would teach youinacentury! You'll be wiser, if not—” He ceased abruptly, though it was hardly of his own accord. Rachel Brown rose to her feet without a par- ticle of noise. Aces-and was partly turned from her, and without a moment’s hesitation she sprung toward him, her hands going up, then falling with all the strength lent by utter des- peration. There came a sodden thump, and Aces-and reeled forward to sink to his knees, then drop on his face without a cry or sound be- yond that first gurgling moan! ‘‘ Courage, May!” almost fiercely breathed Rachel as she leaped upon the fallen villain and clasped his throat with her nervous fingers, ‘‘ It is life or death, now! Think of them—think of your child and your husband! Think of them, and help me draw the teeth of this demon!” It was a timely appeal. May Scott was on the — of swooning, but she rallied and came to the assistance of her bolder companion, a lit- tle blindly, but still working with good effect. “Take his belt of weapons from him first,” anted Rachel. ‘‘ Kill him if he should get the etter of me! We can suffer no worse at the hands of bis men than at his, should he conquer after this!” She need not have gren this warning. Aces- and was little better than a dead man just then. The stone which Rachel had so adroitly secured for a weapon, wrapped tightly in her apron, had driven the senses out of him, and he lay like one dead. So like, indeed, that a new fear seized upon the desperate woman. She counted on using him as a means of secur- ing their escape to the outer world. If dead, he would be worse than useless for this, ‘*Thank heaven! he lives!” Rachel Brown breathed a few moments later. ‘‘I can feel his heart throb, faintly!” ‘It would be awful, to have even his blood upon your hands,” said May Scott, with a nerv- ous little laugh that was almost hysterical. ‘* But—I could never thank heavenfor his life!” ‘* You will, dear, when you know allI have in mind,” more calmly uttered Rachel as she drew the keen knife from its scabbard and slit the leather belt into strips. ‘‘ First, we'll tie and bag the rascal.” till wondering, but too deeply agitated to put her doubts into words, May Scott lent her aid to render the chief of the kidnappers secure. His hands were tightly bound behind his back. A strip of leather confined his ankles. A gag was formed of a per of his garments, tightly rolled up in a handkerchief, ready to be slipped between his jaws as soon as he should show signs of returning consciousness. And then, with a revolver in each hand, Rachel Brown stocd at the entrance ready to open fire on_ any of the outlaws whom chance might send that way be- fore Aces-and could be utilized as she intended. It was only a brief period before May Scott gave the cautious warning that Aces- and was recovering his senses, though it seemed like an age to the woman on guard, Despite her outward composure, her stern re- solve to die before permitting his rescue, poor Rachel was being terrible tried. There was so much at stake! So much—and sbe but a weak woman! As Aces-and opened his eyes, a curse parted his lips, but before he could even dimly realize what had happened, a gag was forced between pie teeth, and firmly secured behind his head. en— His own revolver stared him fairly between the eyes. His own keen knife rested with its . point against his throat. And while May Scott waited in readiness to send the bright steel home, Rachel Brown was talking sober business over the leveled revolver. ‘You see, Asa Sand, the cards can’t always run your way!” and as she spoke her low, cold tones sent a peculiar thrill through the rascal’s veins. ‘It is my deal now, and like you, Pll give you a ee at my hand before I play it. ‘sl hold your life at my finger’send. ll take it without mercy if you refuse to fall in with my plans, or if they threaten to miscarry through the interference of your ruffians. You want to take this in clearly, rascal, for your life hinges upon it.” With a sudden effort Aces-and strove to burst his bonds and to shout out a warning to his men, But in vain. hye bonds had ge ee fully applied, and were strong enoug e a4 2 And the keen point of the netrated the skin of his throat until he his struggles, a new and chilling dread e fear of a5) { COMIC OOO KS knife cea —— (E()