Beadle's Dime Library No. 395 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

Deadly Aim, the Duke of Derringers. . ——S ———o & Brack” had not been so intent on silencing the ' Pegergras of Gobble, it is nearly certain that | is night-trained eyes would have seen Duke Ba r rise to the surface again, only a few i yards below the spot where he went under. e Only sais enough for a Ls gasp, for a single breath and a hasty glance about him; _ ™ then the gentleman sport again vanished below , , the surface. : This time through his own free will. He could no longer doubt the truth: that in yield- ing Portia ar gy up to these men in the phantom-like skiff, he had unconsciously played ae into the hands of Kyte Darley and Rufus a a Cramp. That there was death for him here, even more surely than if he suffered himself to bi be taken on board the Superb. And he was in a wretched plight for making a fight against such long odds. The boat-hook had glanced, it is true, but his brain was whirl- | ing, buzzing, dancing dizzily under the shock, x His scalp was torn, and bis left shoulder seemed . crushed where the heavy implement had fallen ire after glancing from the side of his head, He could use only his right hand and arm in diving and swimming under water for a spell. When the Duke of Derringers was forced to come to the surface again for breath, he did so on his back, barely suffering his face to break water, drinking in the grateful air and cleansing his lungs with long, deep inspirations, at the same time making good use of his eyes. Ra He could see nothing of the skiff, but the Su- BA t. rb was before his eyes, sparks belching from ‘ a huge smokestack, her heavy paddlewheels a sending a jarring throb through the water. The gt awl was being lowered from her stern, and Duke bar ah rringer knew that search was about to be made for him—for Portia, as he then believed. His lips actually parted to send forth a warn- ing shout to the captain and his crew, when a vison, chilling fear closed them again. Beyond a reasonable doubt, theso men in the skiff were creatures of Kyte Darley. They had made that red star signal onshore. They had come out in their boat immediately after Darley answered their signal. For what? What could it be but the precious freight which their skiff now contained? And oo he had delivered the poor child into their hands! _ Unconsciously, it is true; thinking only of pre- serving her life, of keeping her beyond reach of those Gaxtardly schemers on the Superb; yet, despite all his good intentions, he had flung her _. wight into the jaws of danger! Pei «9 “Tl get her out again, or die with her in the attempt!” flashed tarough his brain on the in- stant, as he cautiously turned his head just suffi- _ eient to catch a glimpse of the shadowy craft. Bock, v4 It was speeding swiftly toward shore. Even i were he to shout aloud the truth, long before the -——s- yaw!l could come to him, the rascals would be on land. If followed, would they hesitate to fe: sacrifice the helpless maiden? That they were --- not afraid of murder, his own treatment afford- 4 ed ample proof. es Sinking beneath the surface, Duke Barringer | struck out toward the not distant shore, swim- ming with all the power he could summon. To ay his delight he found that his twice-injured left arm was not entirely disabled. He could make weak strokes with it, and each moment was helping to dispel that painful paralysis. wice more he was forced to rise for breath, each time allowing only the merest portion of his face to break the surface of the water, his - Jungs working double-tides, for he felt that mo- ments were very precious just now. _ The first time he cong a glimpse of the two men carrying their skiff out of the water. The second time nothing was to be seen in that direc- _ ‘ tion, and his heart throbbed with suffocating _ haste as he thought that penbaee the rascals --were even then hurrying off with their captive, bearing her whither? To what frightful fate? _ -This dread fear, even more than his superhu- -_, man exertions in his partially crippled state, - eaused the Duke of Derringers to lie for a few , -. moments on the shore where he first touched it, _ ¢ Jooking more like a corpse than a living being. nearer of the yawl lent him “ — ‘ 7 . 4 a ek -" ~ a = a Pie. 5 RS 3 gts Be = ‘ 2° a “ . - 2 ~ eee — : » . * ea —. - =3*- . a ssh om = - Pod y Ma i tT “ad , The drawin ; strength to glide swiftly out of the water along- | -—- gide a stranded log of driftwood, keeping under its friendly shadow until the leafy bushes re- | ceived his dripping form. _ Again was he strongly tempted to hail the - eaptain and demand that he follow after the men of the phantom skiff, and once more a hana ague something choked back the words before oe >, they could find exit. Contrary to. his usual habit, the Duke of Derringers was guided | almost purely by instinct at this stage of the ... . game. *n ann truth, he was far from being himself just then, The shock of contact with the yawl; the savage blow from the boat-hook; the exbaust- rae ek g fight against water and suffocation; all _» * these had in a measure benumbed his brain, | Jeaving the brute predominant. «Tt was this instinct rather than reason, that Ted him to crawl off from shore, making a wide semi-circle up-stream looking for some signs that might tell him the kidnappers had passed 4 at way. It was instinct that led him to feel , his weapons, that he might not be without - qeans with which to defend himself should he 7. (a> X° ’ * 4 chance upon the men of the skiff; but it was reason that caused him to pause abruptly as his fingers closed about his faithful derringers. he painful numbness vanished that instant. His whirling brain grew steady and clear. From that moment he was the cool, shrewd, steel-nerved, far-sighted man of the world, He remembered that two of his pet weapons had been used on board the Superb, and then either dropped on deck or into the water as he hurled himself over the stern guards. He had another brace, but they were rendered comparatively useless from long submersion in the water. He felt for his little powder-flask, and a touch of the spring assured him that his powder was still dry. ie he had time to spare, he could “tt put his tools in working order—but had of ‘‘ That’s what I’ve got to find out!” he mut- tered below his breath, once more moving on. Not many rods further, however, for he caught sight of a wagon and span of horses, per- haps a hundred yards back from the river. “ Theirs! it can be no less!” he panted, with a fierce joy filing his jetty eyes. after all!” Keenly as he gazed, the Duke of Derringers failed to detect any human beings about the iis. 7 and crouching under cover, where he could keep an eye on the horses as well as a lookout toward the river, he set about restoring his pistols to working order. ith the tools he carried for the purpose, it was brief work to draw the lead and wipe the barrels =e. Still briefer time was consumed in loading. Pressing the caps firmly home on the caret dried nipples, the Duke of Derringers drew a long breath of relief. ‘*Duke’s himself again! cals chip in!” Still there were no signs of the kidnappers, and Barringer began to feel serious uneasiness, What if he was mistaken? What if those men had naught to do with this team? What if they were only waiting until the search with the yawl should cease, to again take to their boat ani row up or down the river with their ‘*T’m in time, Now let those ras- prize? By the tall dead tree which he had marked the moment he saw the men carrying their boat up the shore, Barringer knew that he was al- most directly opposite the point at which they had sought cover. And yielding to those grow- ing. fea s, he crept cautiously toward the river. ortune still favored him to a certain extent, Though shielded perfectly from view cf those on the river, the three rascals were sitting in an exposed position on the other hand, and the Duke of Derringers quickly made out their hantom-like figures as they sat close together, rack unfolding what he knew of the intricate plot involving the Wellspring millions. Foot by foot the Duke of Derringers crawled nearer their position, his black eyes searching in vain for their captive. Dense bushes hid her from his view, whether fortunately or otherwise time alone could determine, He heard enough to give him relief on the main point: Portia was still living, and in no immediate danger of death, if that black-brow- ed ruffian could be believed. And satisfied on this point, the Duke of Derringers tried to make sense of the fragments he could catch concerning the curious plot against Portia W ell- spring. Unluckily for his hopes, however, Brack had about finished his explanations when he reached a point close enough to hear his low tones. ‘‘That’s the p’ogramme, ye see, lads. This gal ain’t Miss Marshy now, but by the time we tote her back home she will be. She'll croak, aw’ she'll be buried as Miss Marshy. The tomb- stone "Il say she’s Miss Marshy. An’ them as knows it’s all a bloomin’ lie, ll never say so out loud. ‘Cause why: they’s money as tells ’em to shet trap! Money in han’, an’ more money in the futur’! Fer sech monstrous big secruts as these ain’t to be wiped out o’ mind with no one payin’. Nur two. Nur three. No, sir!” ‘Waal, the boat’s gone, an’ I reckon it’s time we was pullin’ out, too,” muttered Link, rising to his feet. ‘‘ Ef they ain’t no more fer me to do jes’ now, reckon I'd best be moggin’ ‘long with the skiff. Eh?’ ‘‘Reckon, mebbe. We'll len’ ye a han’ to git it in the drink, an’ then I'll tote the gal back to the team. It’s a right smart drive, an’ we want to beat the sun,” quoth Brack, rising together with Gobble. As they moved toward the bushes in which the skiff was hidden, the Duke of Derringers cautiously retreated, hastening back to the horses and wagon, dropping down under cover at a point where he could fully command the situation when the two ruffians should arrive with their precious burden. Several minutes elapsed before they were heard coming in that direction, for they evident- ly waited to see their comrade well off on his py And the Duke of Derringers breath- essly watched them place their helpless prisoner into the wagon, rising to his feet as they set about carefully covering her from view with straw and a blanket. ‘‘ Just take a peep into the mouths of these pretty barkers, won’t you, my fine lads?” he A Sy, ; tA f ‘ e Ae oa ” ned MAT RS Oe ele o ‘ / said, sharply, covering the thorough! startled rascals, ‘ What do you think of t eir teeth?” ‘*The stranger!” gasped Brack, shrinking back, one hand uplifted as though to stop the lead he plainly expected. ‘‘T knowed it! Stick to the knife! It don’t never fool ye!” panted Gobble, crouching low and mechanically flashing forth his beloved blade. ‘* Down him, Brack! Stick to the—” He sprung forward, panther-like, only to pr ina quivering heap eas cne of the pistols exploded, driving the ounce ball through and through his skull. And like an echo came the second report, shattering the raised elbow of his companion. Howling with pain, Brack reeled against the wheel, to be flung at full length as the frightened horses started as far as their tethers would per- mit. A single glance assured Barringer that they could not break away, and then he pounced ie the crippled wretch, deftly robbing him of all weapons, rolling him over on his face and binding his hands and feet with strips cut and torn from his own garments. This done, Duke hastened to look after Portia. To his dismay he found her in a lifeless swoon, so closely resembling death that it was not until he had set her hands and feet at liberty, not un- til he had felt and heard her heart faintly throb- bing, that his fears began to subside. Nor did he cease his efforts to restore her senses until perfect success rewarded him. Never mind just what words escaped his li in those first moments. If a gambler, Duke Barringer was still human. If he could kill in time of need, he could also love. And love as madly, as hotly, as foolishly as the veriest knight of olden days. And Portia? Startled, bewildered, fearful at first as she vainly sought to recall all that had transpired, she was not so terribly alarmed after a little. She seemed to recognize this tall man as a true friend, though she did shrink a little from his ardent murmurings after the first bewilderment began to fade away. And the Duke of Derringers, with a tact that would not have disgraced that same armored knight of the long ago, choked back the long- pent-up passion, and tried his utmost to make her feel at ease. In as brief s h as he could command, he mace known the main facts, begging her to trust him as a true friend until he could prove himself such by his actions. And as he spoke thus, he led the horses a few rods away, hitching them again as he turned back to say a few part- ing words to the groaning wretch whom a just retribution had overtaken in the hight of his brutal triumph. ‘You won't perish, you rascal, richly as you deserve death. The fellow you sent off in the skiff will doubtless come back to look for you when he fails to find you at the plantation. Until then, you can count up how much you'll make by this bit of deviltry.’ ‘Don’t leave me here, tied like a hog!” groan- ed the wretch. ‘‘ It’s killin? me—thisarm! Let me go loose—I’m dyin’, anyway!” ‘No such good luck! There’s a halter waiting for you, and it’s almost near enough for me to count the strands. Good-night! I’m off!” It was prudence rather than heartilessness that hurried the Duke of Derringers back to the wagon. He knew that the reports of his der- ringers would float far on that still night. They migot bring Link back to investigate. True, he was but a single man, but he might have numer- ous friends within reach, whom he could induce to follow and try to rectify the mistake, And what he would have laughed at with ouly him- self to care for, was to be avoided now that Portia was involved. It was difticult, even dangerous traveling through the night, for however well he might be ucquainted with the actual shore of the river, and the country immediately surrounding the towns, Duke was little better than lost while the gloom enveloped them. And yet, though onl certain that they were heading up-stream, fol- lowing a dimly-seen, poorly: kept road, there was a peculiar pleasure found in that moeeey such as neither of the occupants of that wagon had ever before experienced, Before the day dawned, much that had puzzled Barringer was made tolerably clear. Helearned who ‘*‘ Miss Marshy” was, and began to see how the Wellspring millions could be won by the sub- stitution of a false for the true heiress, for Portia said that, though she had never met her in the flesh, Marcia Wellspring, her cousin, was de- clared by others to be her perfect image in face, form and even voice! And on his part, Duke had much to relate that was of absorbing interest to his one auditor. He frankly told her his name and amis Neto in- duced to the last confession, perhaps, because he knew that the name alone would tell her the rest. He told how curiously he gained his first inkling of the plot against her, and how he sought to frustrate it. He told how he had been accused by Rufus Cramp, and even arrested on that vilecharge. He smoothed over the manner of his escape, and hurried on to what discoveries he had made on board the Superb. fle declared his belief that the real Marcia Wellspring had been smuggled on board in dis- (ECO NAV ICE OOK o) . 4 be | | | Py a es Se a — > :