Beadle's Dime Library No. 387 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

wus KS —_— ier NE oe ap + Sate oe Oe eet a Sg Pe Sit te Se PE +2 3eF Mr ere eg ne emg 65 rs ie De ETS a) er -.* pares ee ee © ee Se eee 08 ee ag 8 .——_— —— .---— oe and in the desperate fight which are Mes blazing gaze, then he asked, in low steady white men were sadly thinned, the rest breaking away in the darkness and fleeing for life. Of them all, only the two Wingfold brothers ever reached Denver. Through all this, Earl closely watched his | father. He felt, rather then saw, his insincerity. He believed Damon Wingfold was lying, or that he was hiding the most important part of the | story. But helet that pass for the time being, contenting himself with saying: ‘Of course you looked for the cache after- ward?” ‘* But never found it—at least J never did!” ** V6u think some other found it?” ‘* Maurice Wingfold—curse him:” the old man grated, with a vicious energy that told he was not lying now, whatever he might have been. Earl whistled softly, his dark brows arching. ‘Tf he found it, what else could he have been searching for? You know.how often he has stolen away. You said that it was to gain money with which to continue his search that he committed that—error.” ‘**T believe he found it and cheated me out of my share—a full half, since all the rest of the party were slain!” ** And this Dark Durg? Where does he come in? Didn’t he say something of the same sort, only putting you in the place you stick uncle Maurice?” deliberately demanded the son. Again that look of terror, that uneasy glance- ing around, that nervous shrinking from the shadows which filled the corners of the room. But this lasted only for a brief space. Then Damon Wingfold rallied his wits, and faced his son, a little doggedly, but faced him. ** He lied there—he lied clean through! Inever knew him. I never laid eyeson him before that day when he tried to murder me! He was mad— a poor devil of a lunatic!” ** So you explained at the time, I believe,” was the quiet comment. ‘‘ Everybody believed you, too. Why shouldn’t they? No one knew the rascal, while everybody knew you.” ‘There was no reason, of course,” and the words came with a visible breath of relief. Earl Wingfold laughed softly, almost con- temptuously. ‘* fven when you bent every energy to down him for keeps! When you spent money like water to set a mob to lynch him! And when he cut his way through—when he broke from the jailers whose pockets held gold still warm from yours—and made his escape, unhurt, though he left dead men and wounded men in plenty be- hind him—it was as a simple lunatic that you ae him day in and day out? Too thin, noble d!’ The foxy eyes tried to meet that steady gaze, but vainly. They sunk again, half-closing as though fearing to reveal too much. And it was almost in a whine that Damon Wingfold ut- tered: ** You, sonny, turn against me? me?” ‘That won't wash, daddy,” was the cool re- tort. ** You and I are both men of the world, and can tell the difference between whisky and water with our eyes shut. I don’t want to rub you too hard, but Ido want to get_at the bot- tom facts of this little romance. In one word, has this Dark Durg any interest in the lost cache ?” ‘‘ No, He’s only a desperate impostor.” ‘““That’s hearty. We'll bother ourselves no more with him, then.” ‘* Why are you so curious?” ventured Damon Wingfold. ‘‘ Partly to show you that I’m past the age of leading-strings, but mainly because I’ve taken a sudden but intense interest in this wonderful Phantom of Gold.” ‘¢ Curse Maurice! he’s unearthed it, long ago!” savagely snapped the older villain, ‘‘ He cheated me out of my share, but Pll even scores with the hoary old villain! Tl hang him—” “Forgery don’t hang, nowadays, and you don’t want to forget your own dear thrapple, daddy,” laughed Earl], lightly, choosing another cigar and flashing a keen glance across the table es he bit off the tip and strucka match. “I don’t believe, Maurice Wingfold has touched that gold since you_hid it so cunningly. If he had, he would hardly have stuck to Denver while you were a resident.” ; ‘‘T tried to believe that, but he’s a cunning devil—” ; ‘Until you set about trapping him, dad!” Damon Wingfold laughed, grimly. It wasa compliment just to his liking, and his bard face lighted up wonderfully, only to darken again as Earl] added: “Why was I so curious about this Dark Durg? Well, a fancy struck me that he had a claim of some sort on this cuche, and as I have made up my mind to have that treasure for my own, I wanted to know if it would pay to put him out of the way first.” a Damon Wingfold bent over the table, his greenish eyes glowing with a light that seemed to blaze. He savagely: . ‘‘Kill him—kill bim without mercy if he ever crosses your path, my son! Strike without mercy! Strike—strike sure and swift!” For a brief space the son calmly returned that You suspect tones: ‘* For my sake, or on your account, father?” Damon Wingfold, even then, visibly hesitated. But only for an instant. He knew that he had betrayed himself by this hot passion. But what matter? He could trust Karl. The lad wasa true chip off the old block, only stronger, bolder, steadier-nerved. What better ally could he have? And he was not one to shrink in holy horror from one who had, in the days gone by committed crimes blacker even than any that had stained his hand. So— **On my account, if you will have it!” he muttered, hoarsely. ‘‘Good enough, as far as it goes,” was the calm comment, ‘‘ You are sure that this Dark Durg—your lunatic—has no possible claim on the lost treasure?” Damon Wingfold grasped the decanter and with a trembling hand poured out a full glass of brandy. Though ordinarily a temperate man, so far as excessive drinking goes, he swallowed the fiery poison without pausing for breath, without showing the effects in the slightest. Then, with still another of those curious, sus- piece glances about the room, with a slight ending of one hairy ear toward the closed door as though to make sure no enemy was eaves- a. ay ae pee he muttered: ‘‘ He has a claim, or else he is a ghost raised from the grave!” ‘‘ Ghosts are out of date, daddy,” coolly re- torted the son, ‘“‘so we'll deal with Dark Durg as a sober reality. What sort of claim has he to the lost cache? You swore that only you and uncle Maurice escaped from the Indians that night.” ** And so I could have sworn until that black day—until that demon pounced upon me and— ugh!” One bony hand sought his throat, as though he still felt those deadly fingers gripping it. Buta moment later he added: ‘** T’]] make a clean breast of it, Earl. I know you won’t judge me too hardly, when you come to realize the—” A sharp knocking assailed the door, and Earl cried out: Who's there? What’s wanting? Who are ou?” ‘* Dark Durg?” came the gasping response. CHAPTER V. THE CURSE OF GOLD. From the maze of linen and dots and figures on one side of the worn and stained paper to the somewhat peculiar name—or was it the name of a person?—on the other, Precious Wingfold gazed, only to turn again to Rex Stuart with a puzzied air. **T don’t see—what does it mean, Rex?” she asked, returning the scrap of paper, curiosity filling her eyes. ‘‘ 1 means victory for us, defeat for Damon Wingfold and his evil cub, It means the won- derful Gold Phantom, my darling!” cried the lover in tones of joyful triumph, as once more his strong arms wound about her yielding fig- ure and drew ber close to his breast. But, even as he did so, a thrill ran over his frame. He caught—or was it pure fancy?—a eyniee of a human figure moving in the shad- ows beyond, silent, stealthily, as though striving to: get closer without risking discovery. And once more his suspicions fell upon demure little Nettie Maicom. He stared pies into the shadows beyond; and though he could hardly have explained just why, he gave a long breath of relief as he saw nothing to confirm his fancy. The hall was oc- cupied only by themselves, “T'm glad, if you say it is right, Rex,” quiet- ly uttered Precious, extricating berself from that ardent embrace with a womanly glance in the direction of the chamber in which poor Humpy Dick was lying, lest Doctor Shipley should hustle out and surprise them. ‘ But still I can hardly understand what you mean. Surely—” ‘Surely I have, little lady,” laughingly in- terposed the young man. ‘Surely I have made a discovery by means of which we can rout the enemy, horse, foot and dragoons, so thoroughly | that they'll go cut their throats with pure rage and mortification. At least, I hope so.” His tones grew graver as he uttered the last sentence, and a little shade came over that feir young face. She had such implicit faith in this man, that his slightest word or look seemed law and Gospel. ‘Tt is not sure, then? There is a doubt, Rex?” ‘‘ You shall judge,” was his hurried response, “T found this paper on the person of that little hunchback. Itis clearly a map or chart. The fellow is known in town as the Beggar-million- aire, and I’ve often heard men laughing at his wild claims to possessing untold wealth hidden , form. | own self, sir! somewhere. That is why I jump to the conclu- sion that this is a map telling where a treasure is hidden.” Dark Durg, the Ishmael of the Hills. | | Keep still, if I have to gag you, sir! name was once noted in prospecting circles. He led more than one party into the hills where gold was found, and I’ve even heard his name spoken in connection with your fathcr’s. He may have acted as guide when the ‘Gold Phantom” was lost; I feel positive he was con- nected with that affair in some shape. If so, why may not this be the right clew to the lost cache ?” However weak his reasoning may appear when placed in cold ink, it was plain enough that be had strong faith in its correctness, and a low, tremulous cry escaped the lips of the maiden as she faltered: ‘‘Then—if so—a share belongs by right to poor father!” ‘True as holy writ, my lady!” laughed Rex, his eyes aglow. “ And—it may be enough to pay off— Oh, Rex!” She could not complete the sentence, but with a low, sobbing cry, she sunk into his strong arms, hiding her face on his bosom, The most nimble tongue in all the world could not have more clearly declared. how utterly she ab- horred the man whom she had partly promised to marry in order to save her father from sui- cide or disgrace. The chamber-door opened, and with his usual brisk air Doctor Shipley emerged, only to turn his back and fumble at the knob, burying his round, rosy face in an enormous handkerchief and sending forth a succession of sharp, explo- sive blasts that not even a pair of lovers could fail to hear and heed. ‘ * Caught cold. Eyes. so full I can’t see—eh?” with an admirably counterfeited start of sur- prise as he turned to find the lovers divided by at least two yards. ‘* Looking for you, young man. Little lady, too. Expected to bunt all over the house. Never around—hardly ever. No one to leave with the patient—imp-patient, by—ahem !” The almost hairless brows frowned ferociously. The red, baby lips puckered up in what was plainly intended for a grimace of disgust. The fat cheeks puffed out until the little red-tipped nose was almost hidden from view. Doctor Shipley was ‘‘a holy terror” when once thor- oughly aroused—in his own mind! ex Stuart was well acquainted with the little surgeon and his peculiarities; indeed, it was through Doctor Shipley that the young pros- pector gained an introduction to Precious W ing- fold, as well as his position in the bank. ‘‘ At your service, doctor. What can I do?’ ‘You could have run away, so I couldn’t do what that in— Ahem! Must see you both. Swears he will, if he has to crawl on his hands and knees all over the country! Told him he couldn’t. Swore he would. Vowed it would Le his death, but that’s all the good it done, Wiil you come? Must I carry you both? Good Moses! what a world!” If he didn’t carry, he pushed them both into the chamber where Humpy Dick, propped up in bed by a pillow at bis back, was eagerly waiting their coming. His thin face was pale as that of a corpse, though his dark eyes were glittering vividly, feverishly. His lips parted, and he even made a motion as though to rise in bed when the little doctor ran forward and checked him, frowning and shaking his head until his gold-bowed glasses flew from their perch and dropped to the floor. ‘“How dare you, sir? Crazy. Suicide, I tell you! Won’t have it, sir! Throw up the case! Sbame and a disgrace—good Lord!” Humpy Dick smiled faintly into the rosy face, slowly saying: ‘‘T'must thank them for what they—” ** Thanks— bumbug!” Precious Wingfold glided forward and gently touched the thin hand of the deformed, speaking soothingly: woly % “The good doctor is right, sir, though his manner may appear rude and abrupt to astran- ger at first—” “Well! Now! What next? Ugh! Pretty pass things are coming to! Me rough—rude— bear with a sore head, next! Ugh! Poof!” and in utter disgust Doctor Shipley caught up his slasses, put them on bottom side up, and started or the door in high dudgeon, rubbing his chub- by hands together as though washing them of the affair altogether. Rex Stuart intercepted him, however, and a whispered word vacated the testy physician to | his senses. None the less readily, perhaps, that his keen ear caught the words: | : ‘He is very kind, I thank him for his skill, though it is spent in vain. I ask now is strencth sufficient to prove my gratitude—” “By blowing out your own spark—just what you're doing, sir!” cried the doctor, with restor- ed authority. ‘¢I won’t kave it, sir! You're my patient. Placed under my care. honor is at stake, Save vou in spite of yourself. Got to! ! Or chloro- Pillow—and sit on top cf it my So there !” Still smiling Humpy Dick waited until the lit- tle doctor shot out his last explosive, then spoke, Ether. He pointed out the name written on the back | faintly as to tones, but resolute and unshaken as of the plan, ‘‘ Sterling Coin, adding: ‘You may not know it, but a man of that ‘ . del wiced to purpose. Lier ** Doctor, as man to man, forgetting physician EGoOmic 900KS 4, % Re mm »