Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 396 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

| own eyes and heard with m _ late, -_ 4 discarded, with the other hand he struck a match that burst into a clear little flame just in time for him to see a section of the floor close with the same ominous sound that had been heard once already. Whatever had become of Hardy, he was shut out from him completely; and the closed trap in that imperfect light left no outline to mark its position. Beyond, the way seemed to be barred by a solid wall. ‘‘ There is nothing I can do here,” thought Blaine, rapidly revolving his chances. ‘‘Some one, who knows that two men dropped through, is working the trap, and if the mistake is once discovered they will be around to murder me before I can find my way out and give the alarm. — I'll try for the back track. ‘Lucky that I kept my head cool and noted which way I was going. He raised to his feet as the match, burned to his fingers, gave a last dying flicker. Then, suddenly, the little hallway was il- lumined, and looking over his shoulder, his finger cn the trigger of the pistol he thrust that way, he saw, standing in the narrow doorway that had noiselessly opened at the back—Regina Rawle. CHAPTER XXVIII. ALL ON THE WAR-PATH, Av the sudden appearance then of Regina Rawle the major was dumfounded. Was he deceived again; and if not, was she living or dead? He began to think that she must be something unearthly in any case. Not so with the young lady. She started first, and would have fled; but turning one more glance upon him she recognized his features. ‘‘Oh, Major Blaine, have I really found a friend, and have you come to our aid?” “Regina,” he said. ‘* How does it come that I find you here? It cannot be that you have your home in this den of murderers.” “No, no. We have been entrapped ana betrayed, I and my father. His life is in danger at this moment, even he be not dead.” “Regina, answer me. Is he your father? What is this strange mystery that binds you to him? I cannot believe that you are his accomplice—I can scarcely believe that the honorable soldier I once served under could have sunk solow. Yet I have seen with my own ears. Your father is in no danger, since | know, beyond a doubt, that he controls the gang of ruffians from whom you profess to be flee- ing. If you would not share their fate come with me at once from this spot.” ‘*You mistake, vou mistake, as I did, or almost did. Oh, we told you the truth this eve, It is the false General Rawle who has deceived you. My father is a prisoner in his hands, as I was, unknown to him, until I found my way thus far out. Do not fail me. Howard will be here soon, but it may be too There is not a moment to lose. Will you go back with me?” For answer he flung up his pistol-hand and fired straight down the passageway at the man that had just entered it. The shot struck home, and none too soon, for, as the man fell, a revolver dropped from his nerveless fingers. He was an enemy that Regina might have found it hard to ass. ar? Now,” said Blaine, with sudden decision, ‘‘T am widling to follow you. I trust you, and I will do my best, if you swear to me there is no time to go seek for aid.” ‘No, no! Come at once. Perhaps we can find the way to their cells. The road is open.” Partly through chance, and partly through reason of previous information, Regina had stumbled on the secret of a connecting door between the two houses, and through this Blaine followed her. In any event he was finding a way into the house in which he had reason to believe the mystery of the Gilt Edge Gang could be solved. And in case that could be accomplished, he felt that he was not leaving Captain Hardy to his fate. The worthy police captain, meantime, was holding his own better than the major sus- pected. At the moment he found that he must go without remedy he made a despe- rate effort, and whirling over once in the air, he alighted on his feet clear of the trap in the ' ee Cee ee oe “om Dhe Piper Detective. room below, tremendously jarred, but prac- tically unhurt. He stood there, perfectly silent in the darkness, with all his senses on the alert, un- willing to risk a single movement, and it was a stern test of his nerves to bear the rush of a body just behind him, that passed on and downward. He had not a doubt then but that it was Preston Blaine. When the trap-door closed, he felt that at every hazard it was time to do something, and with the cool- ness that was natural to him in danger, he struck a match and lighted a small bull’s- eye lantern he had in his pocket. Then he steadily examined his surroundings. Not three yards away lay the body of a man, bound and gagged. To partially loosen this man was but the work of a moment, when he had once deter- mined that life was there. At once the stranger sat upright and star- ed around him. ‘* Who are you?” asked Hardy, cautiously covering him with his revolver. ‘* Hector Rawle,” was tke positive, prompt answer; ‘‘and if you belong to the police, as I suspect, you have landed at the spot where of all spots you are most needed. This is aden of thieves and cut-throats, and if I am still living it is because they thought they might have some further use for me.” ‘“‘T belong to the police, a8 you may find to your sorrow. This General Rawle busi- ness begins to get more and more interest- ing. lf he keeps on growing, there will soon be a dozen of him, and if there were twenty I'd pull him all in the first chance I got. He has become a suspicious individual. What is he doing here?” ‘‘I was decoyed here to meet a woman known only as Madam Velvet, who profess- ed to have some information that would be of value to me. Instead of a woman I found the man who has personated me; and backed by his gang, he robbed me of some money, and papers that are worth a thousand times more.” ‘‘Andis he here yet? I must have him, whatever else is left untouched. Hf he pas left the house, then the sooner | find my way out and get a force to raid the building, the sooner we will get to the bottom facts and find poor Blaine,” ‘‘] think he has gone. I saw him but a moment, and he gave his directions in haste. I hope and trust he bas not fallen in with my daughter, whom I left lingering near. You may trust me to aid ycu, for if I may seem to have been erratic, I swear to you it - a : Ms | thing and called in the police. was but to defeat the machinations of this | rascal who was plotting against me and mine.” ‘“‘I believe you,” replied Hardy, shortly. “‘T don’t take long to make up my mind, but if you have deceived me, so much the worse for you. There; shift for yourself, or follow me.” The room was not specially adapted for use as a prison, and there was but little diffi- culty in forcing the lock of the door. As they emerged into the hall the captain flashed his light along the narrow passage, and it fell upon two men who, at the occur- rence of the unexpected, drew hastily back into the doorway through whlch they had just slipped. Without hesitation Hardy dashed after them, General Rawle following closely in his wake. With a couple of leaps they cleared the in- tervening space, and so promptly were their movements made that the four went tum- bling down a stairway together. ‘* Look out for the knife!” shouted Rawle. The warning was none too soon, for the two men had suddenly turned at bay. Though Hardy was quick as could be on the defens- ive he would hardly have been in time had not the general struck as he spoke, and b chance or skill he put his blow where it would do the most good. The man dropped and his blade dropped to the floor, the clang- ing sounds being almost drowned in the rush of feet. Half a dozen masked men were gathered around the intruders, while a bright light flared upon the scene. “You may as well surrender,” said the other of the two who had fled. ‘‘We don’t want any shooting if we can help it; but you fire a shot and down you go.” It seemed worth while for Hardy to hesi- tate. His companion was unarmed, and it , a ey .. =< —_, ' ee 25 was really six to one, while these men look- ed as though they both could and would use fire-arms. To advance would be madness, while to retreat was as impossible. The door above had swung shut behind them, and while fumbling with the spring-lock on the stairway ee would be a fair mark. ‘“You infernal fools!” retorted Hardy. “You had better throw down your own weapons. I’m only here a couple of minutes ahead of my men. You can kill me, but I tell you or te have you lateron. If you try any monkey-shines with me they'll swing you sure.” ‘* We'll risk that. I Sipe when we get you we gét all there is left of you; and if we don’t, things can’t be any worse. If you've got brains throw down your pistol and hold up your hands; it’s the last time of asking.” ‘*Down it is!” exclaimed Hardy; and at — the same time he took a snap shot from the level of his hip, and plunged forward, the general springing to his side, hen there was a confused medley of shouts, shots, strokes, the two men working away like a little army, until Rawle went down with a bullet in his shoulder, stagger- ing back and falling just within the reach of the man he had struck, ard who had now fairly recovered his senses. ‘Curse you, I’ve got you /” ground out the fellow between his teeth as he knelt over the | prostrate man and raised his knife. lt looked very much as if the end bad come. Only for unexpected aid it would have come. | While the knife glittered in the lantern- light some one sprung clean down the stair- way with one desperate leap, and fell upon 'the would-be murderer with a force that ' crushed him face foremost to the floor. It ° was Preston Blaine, who, led thitherward by pe had burst thro.gh the upper door, an flung himself into the melee with all his — old-time reckless intelligence, striking hard where he saw the first head. leaped to his feet, unharmed though a little shaken. It was four men to two by this time and Hardy was already so much the worse for wear that another moment would finish the game, when what seemed to be a solid sec- tion of the side wall swung open, and a man with a broken arm hanging limply at his— side sfaggered out. ‘Keep it up, Hardy!” he shouted. ‘‘My partner outside has got the han come.” It was the other Proteus who had led the captain to Ferd’s. e punctuated his words with pistol-shots, | and dropped at least one man as he spoke, while’ above could be heard the crashofa _ Guided by the — voice of Regina Rawle above, and’the up- | door and the tread of feet. After that he — of the ere they | roar below, the men directed thither by | Charley Rand made their way straight to the spot. As they were stout, resolute fellows they — did not hesitate a moment, and their simple coming was all that was necessary to discom- fit the remnants of the gang. They broke away and attempted flight. ‘‘ After them!” cried Howard. ‘‘ Follow them close or they 1l dodge you. they can fight.” It was scarcely worth They are © on the run now, and they can run as well as” while to waste his — a 2 - e breath.” The officers saw how desperate had been the struggle and did not mean to miss © the chance to gather in such a batch of | criminals, or allow them any start into the | They darted after, intricacies of the place. ina close pursuit, whicb was speedily suc: cessful. ; Captain Hardy was pretty well hacked, istoled and pounded; but oe He shook himself, decided that no vital harm had been done, and then looked around him. ‘“We've got what's left of the gang this — time, sure,” said Howard, advancing. ‘*We have it down fine on the man that has been posing as General Rawle, Judge | Weatherington, and half a dozen other inter- _ _ changeable characters even if I missed him a / moment ago. And these men I can swear, and you can swear, are his @complices, pou e was hardto — ill, and the instinct of his profession was » \acr’ > wee Ff. ae t. a ss “~*~ 4 . ¥ Unfortunately I scared them out of their — regular place of meeting, though I can show Eomie <S ~~ ee = —— JOO . te 4 ¥, w col lO *.