Beadle's Dime Library No. 384 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

I ) " 28 — ‘‘T have some old letters addressed to me. I will put them into the pocket of this floater, and then, when the body is discovered, the chances are a thousand to one that the police will jump to the conclusion that Malachi Everest has at Jast cashed in his checks.” From the terrible wounds upon the head, and the fact that the pookere of the clothes were turned inside out, Everest jumped to the con- clusion that the body was that of some stranger who had wandered to the river-side, where he had been assaulted and robbed, And then, in order to destroy all traces of their crime, the ruffianshad pitched their victim overboard, and if their blows bad not extin- cuished his life, the strangling waves completed the job. ; As Everest had expected, all the pockets were empty, so that no articles could be found by means of which the identity of the dead man might be disclosed. Malachi stuffed the letters into one of the pockets, and then left the body to the action of the tide, while he pulled into the dock. “There, I reckon that trick will work!” he exclaimed with a deal of satisfaction. “‘TJnless the bloodhounds are shrewd enough to smell out the trick, which I doubt, they will come to the conclusion that in escaping from them, I ran into some dock gang, who laid me out. Anyhow, even if they suspect the truth, this will bother them for a while; and while they are puzzling over the matter, I will take measures to escape from the country, for since this infernal demon of a Talbot has struck in on my track, it is getting entirely too hot to hold me.” - ‘At the dock he made the boat fast to a float, where a half a dozen others lay, and then as- cended the flight of steps which led to the top of the pier. It was no blind chance which had led Everest to this particular spot. On the contrary, it was a settled and delib- erate purpose. He was in the immediate neighborhood of one of his secret haunts; in his opinion, the safest refuge he possessed. It was a little, dilapidated stable, occupied by a cartman, but in the rear was a small room, and from tbe room access could be had to a cel- lar, which extended under the whole building. And in this cellar Everest had quite comforta- ble quarters. Only one man besides Everest had any knowl- edge of this secret haunt, and that was his con- fidential familiar, Melancholy Mike. Entrance to the room was gained by a door in the rear of the stable, which was reached by a narrow passage leading to the small yard in the rear of the building. So, under the shadows of the night, it was an easy matter for any one to dodge into the pas- sageney without attracting any attention. ‘The apartment was provisioned for a siege. There was plenty toeat and drink, lights to illuminate the darkness and books to while away the time. And when Everest proceeded to the secret haunt, he took great care that he was not ob- served , for before he entered the passageway he examined the surroundings in the most careful manner so as to make sure that no spy was lurk- ng the neighborhood, ot that he thought there was much danger in that direction, for this was a haunt that he never used excepting when he was hard pressed, and was hunted so closely that his ordinary hiding places seemed to be unsafe, And when the hunted man gained the cellar, Tit ere 2 and sunk in the embraces of a comfor- table-looking rocking chair, he drew a long breath, and exclaimed: 4‘ There, at last I am safe from pursuit. ‘“Now, Joe Phenix, de your worst; you will never be able tosmell me out in this snug retreat. *““ And as for you, you western bloodhound, pold Dick Talbot, I laugh at your malice now and can safely defy you to harm me! ‘You must move quickly too if you try to strike another blow at me, for within three days, if luck at all stands my friend, I will be out of this cursed country. ‘*T have plenty of money and I will go abroad and live like a prince in some foreign land. “To-morrow, Melancholy Mike will come and then I will know how the land lies. “Tf my ruse deceives them, or even causes them to relax their vigilance for a few hours, I will have a chance to get out of their reach.” Then, as he did not expect Melancholy Mike for a good twenty hours, he sought the couch which stood invitingly ready in one corner of the apartment and in a few moments was wrapped in slumber’s chain. CHAPTER XL. ANOTHER TRAP. PROMPTLY—almost to the moment when he was expected by Everest—Melancholy Mike made his appearance, and was warmly greeted. ‘‘ What is the news, Mike?” Everest queried. _ *¢ Tn the first place you are dead.” “‘ That’s good—if every one believes it.” «‘ Well, I think almost everybody is fooled.” *‘ Did it deceive you?” « = >= - ee —_———~ —< oe = were ym ee ie _ _— —*<= a = Injun Dick, Detective. ‘* Oh, no, though I was staggered for a mo- ment when I read about the affair in the news- papers.” elancholy Mike produced a newspaper, pointed out the account of how the body was discovered, and waited until Everest perused it. ‘‘ The police were quite sure that your humble servant had croaked at last,” Everest observed. ‘‘-Yes, and the news kinder upset me for a while, for the account seemed so positive that I thought, maybe, it might be true. ‘*So J bYisted up to the Morgue where the stiff was to get a look at it, but the moment I clapped my prepers on the body I knew it wasn’t you. ‘‘T smoked your game though immediately and went in to help you all I could. ** T enessed that it was a trick on your part to throw the dogs off the scent, and so I hunted up Billy Matthews and had him claim the body; then gave the office to all the lads to swear that it was you.” ‘“Did you hear whether the matter had come to Phenix’s knowledge or not?” ‘Oh, yes, he got on to it immediately. He hustled up to the Morgue to see the body, and when he found it had been carried to Harlem he came up there to get a look at it.” ‘*¢ And did he swallow the bait?” ‘‘ Well, Billy said that he acted asif he wasa little doubtful, but he gave it to him strong and he had an idea that the detective went away abet aga, satisfied that you had given up the xhost. “Te it will only check his pursuit for two or three days I shall be satisfied, for that will give me time to get out of the country,” Everest ob- served. Melancholy Mike looked astonished. ‘**Going to cut and run?” ‘‘ That is the programme.” ‘‘ Well, Joe Phenix and this devil of a Talbot have made it rather hot for you.” ‘‘-Ves, entirely too hot to be agreeable, and I propose to get out.” o te that would be the best game to play for I have often noticed in a case of this kin when the luck is running strongly against a man that the only way to turn the thing is to quit and wait a while before you try it again.” “That isthe idea exactly. To drop into meta- phor, this New World orange I have sucked dry and I must seek fresh fruit elsewhere.” ‘That’s the ticket!” exclaimed Melancholy Mike cg ange “You have played this region for all it is worth, and if you keep on the chances are you will find yourself inside of a stone jug the fy st thing you know.” ‘The fact is, these two men are too much for you, and in the long run are bound to win, if you keep up the fight.” “Yes, yes, I am satisfied in regard to that,” the master-scoundrel observed, thoughtfully. ‘‘T don’t like to admit that I have been beaten, but when I am I never attempt to disguise the matter. ‘* As a red-skin would say, this Talbot’s medi- cine is too much for me. ‘‘T have aimed blow after blow at his head, and all of them planned with a demon-like skill, and yet, in the most marvelous manner, he has succeeded in escaping one andall. ‘* Now, I am satisfied, and lam going to give up the contest. ** And so Pb are going to quit the game and give leg-bail?” **That is my idea.” ‘“ Well, I think you are wise,” Melancholy Mike remarked, after deliberating over the mat- ter for a moment, ‘*) think Europe will be good enough for me. T have peety of money and can live like a fight- ing-cock, without bein obliged to do a stroke of work, unless I feel inclined. ‘* That is an elegant prospect.” ‘* What do you say to a trip across the herring pond?” “Oh, [m your for life or death,” Melan- choly Mike replied, immediately. ‘““The quicker we are off the better; but we will have to pay a visit to the stone house, for I have some valuables hidden there, and it will not do to leave them behind, as there is no telling when I will see this country again; it may not be for years.” ; **Do you think there will be any danger in making the visit?” “T think not,” Everest replied. ‘‘We can take the boat and go by water, and in the darkness we can easily detect whether the detective has placed any one in charge of the house or not. : “Tf there is, it will not be apt to interfere with my plans, for we can get into the cellar by the secret rear passage without the knowledge of anybody who may happen to be in the house. “There is a small safe hidden in the cellar, and in the safe the plunder is stored.” _ “Oh, I don’t think there will be any danger in making the trip,” Melancholy Mike observed. ‘“As Phenix bas hunted us out of that hole once, he will not be apt to think we will return there again.” ‘*That’s my idea; and then, after we secure the wealth, we will get cut. ‘** We can cross the river at Astoria and take a a = SS ———————————————E7E™E ae midnight train at Harlem over the New Haven Railroad, then can make our way by a round- about route into Canada, going up by way of New Hampshire, and there we can bide our time, working gradually toward Halifax; at this point we can take a steamer to Europe.” ‘That game will work!” Melancholy Mike ex- claimed, in a tone of conviction. Everest looked at his watch. ‘‘ Tt is after ten now; suppose we start?” ‘All right,” ‘“Tt will take about en hour to make the trip.” After due preparations the two set out. The streets were deserted, and the pair did ne Payee a single soul on their way to the ock. As the tide was against them it wasalong and hard pull, but at last the old stone house rose, ghost-like, out of the shadows of the night, The place was apparently deserted, for not a light was visible, but this pair of crooked men proceeded with as much caution as though they expected the house was occupied by a squad of detectives. As stealthily as red Indians stealing upon an unsuspecting foe they approached the house. ‘* Tt is all right,” Everest whispered in the ear of his companion as they halted in the shadows of the mansion. ‘Oh, yes, no doubt of it.” ‘¢T didn’t think they would leave any watch here for it didn’t seem probable that after hav- ing been caught in a trap here once we would be apt to come back again. ‘‘ Tf Phenix knew there was a boodle in the cellar though he wouldn’t think that way.” ‘‘ Our friend, Joseph, is a pretty smart fellow, as detectives go, but it is a moral impossibili- ty for him to know everything,” Everest re- plied, complacently. Then the two descended to tho cellar, It was an ordinary apartment; as is usually to be found under such a mansion. ‘* Pll light the gas so we will be able to see what we are about,” Everest observed. They had found their way into the cellar by the aid of a dark lantern—a regular cracksman implement, with which Melancholy Mike was provided, At the further end of the main cellar were two doors, one led into the coal-bin, the other into a small room designed for a wine-cellar. ‘‘The safe is in the coal cellar yonder con- cealed by a lot of wood,” said Everest. ‘** Give me a hand to roll it out.” Melancholy Mike gladly accommodated his pal. The safe was brought into the light; Everest opened it and produced a number of packages carefully tied up in yellow WER DOING -CAPAE: ‘““A pretty substantial beodle here, about thirty thousand dollars,” Everest observed with a chuckle, bl ‘*T am glad to hear it!” exclaimed the stern, deep voice of Joe Phenix, And then from the wine-cellar the detective advanced, followed by Talbot and Joe Bowers. Allof them held cocked revolvers in their hands, The master-thief and his pal were caught in a terrible trap. In sullen rage they glared at the others. ‘‘ Everest, you are about as accomplished a nae as [ ever encountered, but the best plan- ned schemes fail sometimes, ‘‘Napoleon was a marvel who brought the world to his feet, but Waterloo came at .* ‘* And so it is with you; your career of crime ‘| has been a long one and wonderfully successful, now. but you have reached the end of your ro rom his By this time Everest had recovered surprise and regained his self-possession. Rising to his feet be faced his foes. “You are a smart fellow, Phenix, but you haven’t got me dead to rights yet!” he ex- claimed. ‘*T am a rascal, of course, but I defy the law to take a hold on me that I cannot break.” ‘‘Tt is to me you are to answer, not the law!” Talbot cried, sternly. ‘‘ One or both of us will never leave this place alive. The murder of Limber Bee must be avenged. How will you have it, pistol or knife?” The end had come and the conflict could not be avoided. | ‘Knife!’ cried Everest, fiercely, producing an ugly-looking eight-inch ‘*‘ bowie” as, he spoke. albot’s weapon—a similar one—was quickly in his hand. And hardly was he in position when Everest sprung at him with the fury of a tiger. Small chance though had such a man when so ag to a desperate duelist like Injun Dick, he blow was parried, and then the knife of the avenger struck home. ‘ A single stroke only and_the assassination of Limber Bee in the far Western canyon was atoned. The master-scoundrel sunk to the ground, gasped and died. Our tale is told. _ At some future time we may relate how Fe- delia, with Dick Talbot, journeyed to the West, how Phenix followed and of the e adven es which befell the three in the land of the tting sun, where Richard Talbot won the title of Injun Dick. THE END. a m 00 tne (e(0) (E ‘Ss =>