Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 367 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

a eee ye - — A Royal Flush. 29 Brown, in tones barely articulate, so intense was his emotion. ““T}l do it, sure, lad, an’ never stop to ’mind ye of the nigger part,” laughed Enoch Dodge, all clouds vanishing from his face. ‘* Lord! who knows? Mebbe the ole man ain’t nigh so near played out as he looks! Mebbe—but we kin do better than talky-talky all the time.” ‘*Just what I’m thinking,” gravely uttered Sol Scott. ‘‘ Every minute we waste now is one less chance to save our dear ones. At any mo- ment we are liable to discovery, as with Aces- and; and the next time we mayn’t escape so easily.” ‘*It was the fire,” added Nor’ West Nick, as he waddled forward and quickly trampled out the last sparks with his immense feet. ‘‘We needed it to play the circus properly, but its virtues have vanished. Out goes your light! and now we're all ready for work or play, noble boss!” ‘* First, gag and fasten that rascal to a tr where he'll be safe from the eyes of anybody ene near by,” said Sol Scott, pointing to ed Ducrow, who lay on his back glaring say- agely from face to face, his unruly tongue kept between his teeth through dread of the huge fist which the ex-pugilist held above his battered face, Eire a8 Turk and Nick crowded one of the gags into the wide mouth of the outlaw, binding it securely behind his neck, then dragging him into the densest part of the undergrowth and binding him fast to the trunk of a stunted tree. While they were thus engaged, Sol Scott took charge of Tim Warden, leading him out to where the lifeless body of Aces-and lay in its gore, and forcing him to look down upon those ale, haggard, agony-distorted features. And his cold tones were emphasized by the vise-like grip he kept.on the arm of the prisoner. ‘You sce your late master, Tim Warden? Dead—just as you will be, if you have lied to us in your story-- only with this exception: Where he died all in an instant, without even feeling the first pang of pain, 7 will die a lingering death, long drawn out, filled with the most ex- uisite tortures the human mind can conceive! ou will long and aot for death as a blessed boon, long before the end will come! This I swear to you by all I hold dear—by my wife and child!” ‘*T’ve told you true,” muttered the trembling wretch. ‘‘ You'll find it jest as I said, boss!” ‘*So much the better for you, then!” Sol Scott led the prisoner back to the little glade, and he was about to give orders concern- ing the temporary disposal of the body, when Enoch Dodge intervened: ‘* Never you borry trouble ‘long o’ that kar’on Sol. The old man’ll ’tend to it. It won't tell no tales afore publishin’ time, be sure!” “Tf you say so, it’s enough,” was the quiet reply. ‘Of course, we will find you here when we come back?” Enoch Dodge nodded emphatically. ‘“‘Good again. Now, Tim Warden, one last word. You are to guide us to the spot where Johnny’s Infant has the children in charge. You are to give us warning when we come with- in two hundred yards of the spot. You will then be left behind, while we advance to prove the truth of your story. If it is straight, so much the better for you. If a lie—all heaven and earth can’t save you from feeling our ven- geeance!” Tim Warden began to mutter his perfect ood faith, but at a motion from Sol Scott, ark Elder :grasped and held him powerless, while Nor’ West Nick thrust a gag between his lips, tying it firmly behind his neck. A pair of muffled handcuffs were placed upon his wrists, and then Sol Scott muttered his last warning: ‘‘Lead the way, Tim Warden, and_ keep con- stantly in mind that it is your life you are working for—that an accident will be as fatal as a fault committed on purpose. It is success, complete and perfect, or it is death for you. Now lead on.” With an alacrity that showed how fully he believed in his own story, or else was born of fear for these stern players in the big game of freeze-out, Tim arden advanced, winding through the tangled bushes, amid the rocks anc over the broken ground. At his side strode Sol Scott, knife bared in his firm rip, one eye con- stantly on his guide, as though determined not to throw away a chance in that dangerous rame, This was only prudence, but in this ‘case it was superfluous. Tim Warden was hardly a marvel of pluck and ‘‘ sand.” He was a thor- oughbred rascal in all but dare-devil bravery. He could cut a throat or cut a purse as deftly and as coolly as the best, where the odds were in his favor, but let him be driven into a corner, as now, and he became a very cur, ready to do anything for dear life. e haa witnessed the death of Aces-and. He believed that Johnny-jump-up had met a similar fate. He felt that the gang was doomed to worse than defeat, and now had thoughts only ot his own safety. To preserve his own vile life, he would have betrayed his own father to death. Silently, swiftly, he guided the four members of the Royal Flush to the vicinity of the retreat selected by Aces-and for those in charge of the three children. He led them as near as he dar- ed, then halted and nodded vigorously as Sol Scott turned and peered keenly into his eyes. ‘** Nod toward the point where the rascals are stationed,” softly breathed the detective. ‘‘I told you to stop within two hundred yards, If we are not more than that, nod again. Tim Warden promptly complied with both di- rections, and Sol added: ‘We will leave you here, where we can find you again. If you have lied in an way say your prayers before we come back. ou'll have too much else on hand, then!” With a lariat he bound the rascal to a rock that lay in the deep shadow, securing his limbs so that it would be impossible for him to either escape or to make noise sufficient to alarm his fellows beyond, then the party left him. Only for a few paces, then Sol Scott said: “Tf we could trust the rascal thorou hly, he would be of great aid to us, mates. e could decoy the ruffians from the children far enough for us to get between them and—” ““Tll run no such risks,” doggedly muttered Dan Brown. “Tl ay trust to my own arm— that and this good steel!” He drew his knife and touched it to his pallid lips, like one who breathed a silent but fervid vow ser the gleaming steel. ‘* All right,” quietly responded Sol Scott. ‘I am rather more than half of your opinion, mate. Wecan do the work, and do it silently. Only to save a life of the children must we burn powder. A single shot might prove fatal to the dear ones over yonder!” nodding in the direc- tion of the cavern. There was no response. One and all, they knew how terribly true were those words, and each man gripped his steel with vicious energy. Sol Scott said no more. The Royal Flush had acted in concert for so many days, in so many adventures where a single blunder or a single mistake might mean death to one and all, that there was no need of cautions or repeating of signals. They each man knew what was to be done, and like men they lost no time in talking it over. Sol Scott and Dan Brown took the lead, mov- ing slowly, cautiously, silently through the night, with Nor’ West Nick and Turk Elder close at their heels, Their first duty was to discover the exact location of the enemy, This proved to be a far easier task than even the most sanguine of their number had dared to hope. Johnny’s Infant was in command of the party, and his bump of prudence was not large enough to make him pass the night with- out the aid of a fire. Perhaps he was not over anxious to escape discovery, so intense was his hatred for Willie Brown, born of that gallant attempt to free his mother from the grasp of the outlaw brother. Be that as it may, Johnny’s Infant was now oe near a small but bright fire, the three children lying within reach of his long arms, bound hand and foot, with rags tied tightly over their mouths. If he could only know what deadly passions that sight aroused in the hearts of the fathers as they peered out upon the scene. To one side, but still within the circle of fire- light, the other guards were bending over a greasy deck of cards, playing as earnestly and cheating each other as viciously as though the pebbles which they were betting, represented so much virgin gold! Sol Scott took in the scene at a glance, noting its advantages for and against them, then touched his brother detective on the arm and as silently crept backward until it was safe to ar ta ‘**'You noticed the rocks a little back of the big devil, mate?” Dan Brown nodded, swiftly, his blue eyes glittering like fireballs. ‘You and [ will make for that cover. Turk and Nick will creep up to the bushes on the left of the two rascals playing cards, and bounce them. We will manage the big fellow. He is the one who will try hardest to hurt the chil- a “i is ™ power dan, rere ‘ ilent nods responded, and then the party separated, making each a half circuit of the camp. Few words, fewer instructions, but enough. They understood each other so fully, had such implicit confidence in each other, that more would have been superfluous. Never before in all their eventful careers had Sol Scott or Dan Brown of Denver shown such skill and silence in covering rough ground. They were working for priceless stakes—for their children! Not a sound warned Johnny’s Infant of the peril that threatened him. Not a suspicion of danger lessened the interest of the gamblers. All unconscious of how near their rope had run out two of them played and cheated, one watched the pale face of the gallant little lad whose throat bis fingers were itching to grip and grip until life should go out forever! And then— The brother detectives gained their selected ambush, They peered out upon their unsuspect- ing prey, then cast a glance over to the clum of bushes, to see Nor’ West Nick hold up his gleaming knife as a token thatall was ready with him and his mate. And then— Out leaped the two athletes, Sol Scott landing on the shoulders of the giant, Dan Brown sweep- ing the three children to one side, taking their lace with flashing knife, ready to cleave the heart of Johnny’s Infant. Up sprung Turk Elder and Nor’ West Nick, striking swift and sure with their weapons, sending the gamblers into another world befcre either could utter a groan, much less grasp a weapon. Sol Scott rebounded from the shoulders of Johnny’s Infant, only to drop upon him with uplifted knife. Not to strike. or, strange as it may seem, the giant made noeffort to arise or to cry out. is neck was broken by that oarne shock, and he never knew what hurt im. A moment later the gags were cut away, and the fathers held their children to their hearts, in an ecstasy of joy that was almost delirious in its intensity! And little Willie cried: ‘*T knowed you'd come, papa! I knowed you would, but—mamma, too! **'You shall see her, and soon, my little man. I swear it by all that hea-en holds holy!” brokenly uttered Dan Brown of Denver. CHAPTER XXIT. ‘fa ROYAL FLUSH!’ As the four members of the Royal Flusk listened to the account given by little Willie Brown of all that had occurred, more than one muttered a regret that Aces-and and Johnny's Infant were too dead to be restored to life again, if only for a brief space! ‘‘If they are beyond our vengeance, others of the same accursed gang still live!” uttered Dan Brown, his face pen and hard-set, his eyes glow- ing fiercely. ‘‘ ve this carrion where it lies. May the wolves and vultures give them burial, for no honest man shall so disgrace his hands!” Nor’ West Nick passed from one body to an- other, giving each a keen and careful scrutiny, to make sure no spark of life remained. He lingered ee om over the corpse of Johnny’s In- fant, and when he turned from it at length, the fat detective was wiping his long knife. And he muttered confidentially in the ear of Turk Elder: ‘“There’s nothing like being dead sure, pard. These broken necks are mighty deceptive some- times, and that critter carried too much muscle and natural cussedness wrapped up in his hide to run any risks with. Let him come-to now, if he can!” i Elder winked knowingly as he chuckled slyly. ‘The necks he breaks don’t never give no trouble, honey! That I kin take my davy to, fer yender ain’t the fu’st one I’ve seen him snap! ‘* Well,” sighed the fat member of the Royal Flush, ‘* it can’t be helped now. Man is born to trouble, but I don’t feel so awful sorry at having — taken a little extra on his account!” Sol Scott carried his daughter, and Dan Brown the other two children. He would not yield the care of one of them to either of his mates. It seemed as though they had been re- stored to him from the very grave. Sol Scott paused for a moment beside the bound and helpless outlaw whose fear of death had led him to betray his fellows, and bade i his soul in patience as best he might. When we win the final victory, Tim War- den, you shall be set free and permitted to go your way. Until then you are safer here than you would be running round loose. If you wish to hasten that time, pray for the defeat of your former mates in evil.” There was no reply in words as the de- tectives passed on, but if looks could kill, not oue ‘of them would have taken a second step. Himself a traitor, perjured, forswo Tim Warden felt that he was left thus to perish by inches of thirst and hunger, if the wild beasts failed to scent him out and hasten the coming of death. And as the moments rolled by, he suffered all the torments of the damned. Riven he was not to fall out of that big game of freeze- out without paying the penalty. A cautious signal warned Enoch Dodge of their coming, and that gaunt worthy met them with a genial smile that at once set at rest the anxious fears which showed in the eyes of Dan Brown. ‘It's allright, then? You've got the key you spoke of?” he muttered, for the first time since their recovery, permitting the feet of his chil- dren to touch ‘the ground, The genial face clouded just a trifle, and the cheerful voice grew graver as Enoch Dedge responded: . ‘* Let Turk keep the young ‘uns fer a bit, mate, an’ [ll show ye. But fu’st—mebbe you'd like another glimp’ at Aces-and?” There was something peculiar in the tones and manner of the ex-mayor of Grenada, and with- out a word Dan Brown complied. The children were turned over to the ex-pugilist, with whem they were on excellent terms, and the other members of the Royal Flush followed Enoch Dodge out of the little clearing and to a secluded. (ECON AMINCE OOK o) cS com Se