Beadle's Dime Library No. 415 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

7 a a -circumstance. man; and [ have to sleep where 22 Pale, weak and trembling, Paul Nettleton ‘stood there while moments increased to minutes. His worst fears were realized, and the gullows seemed looming before him. Dead or alive, Bill Peters was gone from his grave, and some- body must have knowledge sufficient to over- whelm him who had fired the fatal shot. | luis victim certainly had not escaped from the it unaided, and whether Bill was alive or not, e who had disinterred him undoubtedly re- mained, and held a secret which he could use with fatal effect to Paul. Chance had not led to the disinterment. How long he stood there in silence Paul never knew. He was aroused by another peculiar He had moved his shovel rest- lessly, as it stood in the grave, and it suddenly slipped from his loose hold and went down— down out of sight. Tien followed a rattling sound some distance below, as though it had struck upon stone. Startled anew, he stooped and made an exam- ination. There was ahole in the bottom of the grave, and though not large, it seemed easy to increase it. A loose, flat stone moved as he touched it. A ray of hope, which had no real foundation, came to the young man. There ‘Was vacant space below; was it possible that ‘the body had slipped through without help? It wasa fragile hope, but he was in condition to catch at every straw. He resolved to know what was below, Removing the flat stone, he found space suf- ficient to enab’e him to go down. He droppeda small stone. It fell only a few feet, Using great «are he next lowered himself, clinging to the firmer stones which surrounded the place where the loose one had been. His feet touched rock, and he released his hold. Almost in the same breath he lost his balance and fell at least three feet further. He scrambled to his feet, confused and alarmed. He was in total darkness, and the air about him was close and oppressive, though not damp. After a few seconds his calmness partially re- turned. He believed that he was in a vault used by the inhabitants of the old convent, inits daysof prosperity, and there was probably no cause for fear. \ Striking a match, he found his theory con- firmed. On all sides he was surrounded by or- dinary stone walls, save that at one side a nar- row door led to another part of the place. ‘He glanced about, hoping to see Bill Peters’s body, but there was nothing of the kind. Directly ‘under the Greve: however, was a pile of stones, upon which he had first stepped, and this seemed ‘to indicate that they had been used by whoever removed the body. A light of some sort would now have been ag thing, but he had nothing of the kind. ‘This must not keep him from exploring, how- ever. He found the little door, passed throught it, and along a ge four feet wide. He went, perhaps, twelve feet, and} then came to a sudden Before him was a light, and beside it crouched aman. He was sitting with his back to the - wall and his head almost touching his knees, and - seemed aslee Paul ga at him with feverish interest. Was this Bill Peters, dead or come to life? In thedim light he could not tell, and he advanced a few re He thought his movements exceedingly cau- th but the unknown suddenly bounded to his feet. The two stood facing each other, and Paul saw that his companion was no stranger—it was Garth Griffith, the Bush-Wolf. Paul felt somewhat relieved, for he knew Garth to bea thorough rascal, but then and there he decided that the Bush-Wolf was the per- - gon who had taken away the body. Never be- fore had he heard that there were vaults under ; | the old ruins, Probably only Garth knew of heir existence, but it was just like him to pry around and learn what honest eyes would never detect. The Bush-Wolf looked startled, but his old manner soon returned, and he bowed and smiled most servilely. ‘* Senor, this is a most pee tomer pleasure—” “ bibs: are you doing here?” Paul sharply in- pted. ** Senor, I was sleeping.” ** Ts this your home?” **Senor, lam poor; a very poor, but honest, can find a place. This is one of them,” ‘Take your lamp and show me around the vaults.” > Willingly, senor; I am pleased to oblige Garth’s manner was as humble and servile as ever, but Paul had felt for his revolver and was tempted to shoot him down where he was, Be- fore then he had felt certain vague suspicions _ of the half-breed, and he now felt sure that he - ‘was the man who had disinterred Bill Peters. If ~ $0, he must never leave the vaults alive. The circuit of the place was soon made; the rooms, one large and three small, were soon searched: but not a sign did Paul see of Peters, dead or alive, —— oO le ORME, i oe ree 7 Hot Heart. the Detective Spy. They returned to the room where Garth had | shot; had found the revolver and the man, and been sleeping. ** Set down your lamp!” ordered Paul. The Bush-Wolf cheerfully obeyed. ‘How long have you used this place as a home?” ‘*T found it only four days ago, senor.” ** Don’t lie!” , = < oe ke i ate Pe _ =: a 3 . A = mt : ipre : a roe 9 5 Se" ; : . a rescued Peters from the grave. Probably the ex-servant waseven then in Convent Rest, slow- ly recovering. But,no; he hadsurely been shot dead. And yet— Paul was in a painful state of doubt and un- certainty, but he proposed to end it all as soon as possible. He would bind the Bush-Wolf to ‘“*Senor, I swear by St, Catherine that I speak | him—a stout, crafty rascal, who would shrink the truth,” ‘* How did you happen to find it then?” ‘*There is an iron door which opens into one corner of the ruins; some one, who had been here at no crime—and, by paying him well, make of him a powerful ally. Probably Garth could easily find Red Jaguar, unless the latter had fled the State, and Paul did before me, did not cover up the door well, and I | not believe he had. found the place.” ‘*'W hat did you find when you entered?” ‘* All was as it is now, senor.” **'You will persist in lying, I see.” **Senor, | swear by—” ‘*Come with me!” interrupted Paul, sharply. He led the Bush-Wolf to where he had entered, and pointed to the excavation. ‘*'W hat have you to say to that?” ‘* Caramba ! it looks like a grave, senor.” ‘** ‘Who was buried there?” ‘** Madre de Dios! I know not, senor.” Paul grasped his arm fiercely. ‘** Don’t lie to me!” he exclaimed. Garth protested vehemently, on the word of | an honest man, that he was telling the truth; that he had never seen the excavation before, or anything to indicate that there was anything of | the kind; and Paul, trying desperately to get at | the truth, was led to believe him. The Bush-Wolf swore that he had never sus- pected that there was a vault, or anything of the kind under the ruins until four days before, and that he then made the discovery exactly as before stated; and that he had only been there twice since. On neither occasion had he seen anything unusual or suspicious. Paul believed, and began to be rather glad, of the two, that he had chanced upon the half- breed. He had wanted him to find Red Jaguar, and as he was a thorough rascal, he could be made useful in various ways. Once more he settled back to the belief that Frazer Hot Heart was at the bottom of all the mischief; that he held his—Paul’s—life in the hollow of his hand. He must be remembered. lic was a very dangerous man. Bill Peters’s body was gone, and though his | slayer had at the time felt sure he was shot dead, | doubts and fears now began to rise. Suppose | some one had been in the vault when the burial ' took place, and had taken the body downward. Would they have taken the trouble to move it away if life had been extinct? The guilty man had feared Bill Peters, dead; he now began to fear Bill Peters, living. And Hot Heart—ah! he was the cause of all the trouble, and his career must be brought to an end with a short jerk. It was his life or Paul’s, and the latter did not intend to bs the victim. He would strike speedily, too. Hiring Garth, they would at once invade Convent Rest and see if Peters was there, and then lay in am- bush for the Fire-Eater and shoot him down on his return. CHAPTER XXVII. THE BUSH-WOLF’S BARGAIN. THis point decided, Paul turned to Garth Griffith: ‘* You know Hot Heart, of course.” The Bush-Wolf shrugged his shoulders, re- ceived a twinge of pain from his still tender wounds, and admitted, with outward humility, that he did know him. ** Are you his friend?” ‘*Senor, | can’t say that I am.” ‘Would you object to earning money by working against him?” oe fom it trouble your conscience to kill im ‘Senor, I am an honest man, who believes not in what is sinful, but Hot Heart is a brawler and ruffian, and if your Honor thinks he ought to be killed, I think so too.” ‘** Then let us enter hisden.” ** Ah!—a—senor, is it safe?” Garth had not forgotten his previous experi- ence, or the way in which ths Fire-Eater could direct a whip. His back bore witness to Hot Heart’s prowess. ‘‘He is away, and will not return for two hours.” ‘*Then I am at your di They had started toward the iron door when ipo. whieh valgh’ tak Gieegieeatae- taboo. ser sign whic isagreeable tales to any one, and the sooner it was refilled, the better. He mentioned his opinion to the Bush-Wolf though without referring to it as a grave, an the latter to fill it up in due form. The offer was accepted, and while he worked Paul sat close by and meditated. Before that night he had looked upon Garth with fear. A wanderer of the night like him was not a safe man, and was liable at any time to learn too much. Yet, despite the last turn of the tide, Paul had decided that the Bush-Wolf was inno- cent. No doubt it was Hot Heart who had done all the mischief. He had seen, or heard, Peters , senor.” The grave was duly refilled, and arranged to — as much like its old appearance as possi- e. Then the younger man led the way to Con- vent Rest. Garth was willing to be in the rear. He had a horror of Frazer Hot Heart, and though smarting for revenge, did Frazer full justice and realized that he was a very dangerous per- son to molest. The Fire-Eater had not yet made his strange home impregnable, and they entered as Gart | and Lopez had done on a former occasion— through one of the narrow windows of the lower stcry. The Bush-Wolf’s knowledge of the place now came in use, and though his heart was in his mouth, figuratively speaking, he led the way to- ward the winding stairs. Even the declaration of his companion that Hot Heart had ridden away toward Clifftown did not quiet Garth’s fears of the terrible Fire-Eater. He found the stairs and they ascended, The trap-door was lowered, but not fastened. It was raised, and in a moment more they stood in the Fire-Eater’s abode. A light v as struck, and Paul looked about. There was little to re- werd his curiosity. The simply furnished room was soon surveyed, and no sign found of a sick, or dead, man. They descended to the lower balf. This was certainly a bleak place for an in- valid, but Paul peered about among the rubbish until satisfied that nothing was there. He did not tell Garth what he was looking for, and that discreet and honest man asked no questions, but all was done thoroughly. ** Now,” said Paul, ‘‘ the great question is: Is there a vault under this part of the convent?” The Bush-W olf shook his head. ‘**T see no sign of one,” ‘* But the other was not visible.” ** True, senor.” ‘*T am convinced that there is such a place.” ‘** Perhaps so, senor.” ‘* Suppose we raise the flooring, and investi- gate?” ‘* Ah! but what if Hot Heart returns?” ** Are you afraid of him?” eé No,” ‘*' Then why talk so much about him?” ‘*Senor, my reputation is a priceless jewel, and if—” ‘*That will do. Garth, you are not a man cf over-sensitive conscience. Could you be hired to put Hot Heart out of the way?” ‘* Speak plainly, senor.” ‘*Bah! You understand well enough, and you carry knife and revolver. Will you use them?” " My revolvers are poor, and money is needed ‘*T understand. I will give you money when Frazer Hot Heart is dead. How much?’ ‘* Say two hundred dollars, senor.” **T will give it.” ** Then he shall die.” “Tt’s a bargain!” Paul gave his hand to the Bush-Wolf, but the latter’s grasp was not a warm one. He had be- fore been hired to kill the Fire-Eater, but in trying, he had come to grief, and the Hermit still lived and prospered. Garth now had a chance to earn double pay, but he was not at a)l sure he would earn anything. He had formeda superstitious estimate of the master of Convent Rest, and feared him accordingly. “Now to work,” said Paul. ‘* Valuable time is ing, and we have none to spare. We will raise the stone floor, and try to discover another vault.” It was not hard to do this, and Garth again set to work with the shovel. He worked witha will, too. Despite Paul’s confidence that they would not be molested, he had a strong impres- sion that Hot Heart would descend on them and tear him, at least, to pieces. He knew, if Paul did noc, what a terrible fellow the Fire-Eater was. His energetic work soon made a good-sized opening in the ground, and Paul did not allow him to pause. Lower and lower he went, and higher grew the pile of earth thereby thrown up. Their hopes of finding a vault below a thin layer of earth faded away, and when Garth had made a pit three feet deep Paul bade him use. **'We may as well give it up here, but we will try again over at that side.” ‘*Senor, I am about played out.” **T will pay you for every minute you work,” ‘‘Caramba! lama giant again,” | Eomichboo cS 7 ine wie TR