Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 484 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

ee eet. 22 Captain Read . . “— yr : y, the Red Ransomer. 4 | - « a= ' ‘ ‘ . which I have alluded, and we'll take care to keep it in motion until we have left all trace of Sword Bearer and his people behind us! The mother looked searchingly at her daugh- ter, realizing that she had not yet fully express- ed her ideas and intentions. ‘And after that?’ suggested the old man, who had been giving close attention to Mabel’s every observation, ‘We'll a in motion,” returned the fair plotter, ‘‘ until we have lert every trace of our past history behind us, even to our names, If you care to do so, we will cross the ocean and settle in England or Scotland.” ‘*T would not care to do that,” returned Mrs. Barter. ‘‘ [should certainly feel like a fish out of water.” ‘* Wor my part, ’d ask nothing better than to go back to the Adirondacks and build a house worthy of a prince in the center of a whole sec- tion of land, and keepall mankind at a distance. : wouldn’t object in the least to go back to Iron- ton. What! where our name is in such bad odor?” exclaimed Mabel? ‘*Our names are not in such bad odor, I can assure you,” returned Barter, ‘‘ that the posses- sion of a million of dollars would fail to make them shine like the stars in the heavens.” ‘* But how could we explain the possession of all this money?” asked Mrs. Barter. ‘We could say that we have discovered a remarkable mine of gold or silver in New Mexico,” replied Barter. ‘‘ Such discoveries have often been made, and who’s to know to the contrary of such an explanation?” ‘‘Sure enough, who?’ murmured Mabel. “The explanation we are to give of the posses- sion of this money is that we have struck it rich in New Mexico. But where are we to tell this tale? In other terms, where shall we live, what name shall we take, and so on? The sooner we settle all these particulars, the less likely we shall be to make any mistake.” ‘*T agree to all this, of course,” observed Bar- ter. ‘‘ Nevertheless, there is no necessity of coming to any final decision upon any of these matters past and present. There is a great deal yet to be accomplished before we are out of the Territory. We can leave all those questions to take care of themselves. The essential is that we take such action _as is worthy of the posses- sors Of a million, No more whisky peddling for me, even if it has paid a fair profit. Instead of selling our wines and brandies hereafter, we'll drink them. Ina word, we'll shake off all our ast, as Sindbad shook off the Old Man of the ea, and enter upon a career of splendid inde- dence.” The mother and daughter assented to this view of the situation, and the old man slipped away to the shed with Mabel’s horse, and pro- ceeded to give it the best of attention. CHAPTER XXXI. DROPPING THE MASK, WE must now look after Alice Hamlin, whom we left at the moment of her arrival in the robber es She and Mrs. Dayton had scarcely dismounted, as related, when a house they had noticed near them became illuminated as if by magic, and two or three men, who seemed to be servants or members of the household of the pretended rancher, came hastily forth to meet the new arrivals. ‘So, this is your home, is it?’ queried Mrs, Dayton, with a countenance sufficiently indica- tive of wonder. ‘‘I had no expectation of see- ink such a handsome abode in this remote wil- derness,” ‘*It is certainly the only house of the sort within many a long mile of us,” returned Cap- tain Ready, marking the astonishment of the ladies with extreme satisfaction. ‘‘ Walk in, please, and a thousand welcomes,” He led the way up the steps and into the handsomely furnished parlors, and was followed in due course by all the members of the party, with a single exception. That exception was furnished by the old cav- man, Ben Britton. en had remained outside. He stood crouching under one of the great trees shading the house, and had all the appear- ance of a man who had just been demoralized by some sudden and tremendous shock. In a word, he had made a discovery which simply left him breathless, and in a halt-para- lyzed condition, The nature of that discovery? At a moment when Captain Ready turned his face unguardedly toward Mrs. Dayton, in re- sponse to one of her questions, as they were as- cending the steps, in the full glare of several torches, the old cavalryman had caught a full and striking view of the robber-chief, and had instantly realized that Mr. ‘‘ Hobart” was mere- ly another name for the renowned chief ot” the Ransomers! How terribly Britton had felt at this recog- nition of the imposture which bad been prac- acd upon Alice and her friends, need not be re- i . He had never received such a shock in his life. A moment he stood clinging to a hitching-post which came opportunely in his way, and looked after the robber-chief and his dupes in silent consternation. ‘‘ What's the cap’n’s little game now, Hal?” demanded one man of another, within a few rods of the cavalryman, as he thus stood mo- tionless. ** Oh, it’s hard to say, but he’s doubtless play- ing some of his old tricks,’ was the answer, ‘** Know the ladies?” ‘* Not in the remotest degree. They’ve never before been seen hereabouts, that’s certain. How pretty that girl is! I reckon she'd not be talking and smiling in that way, if she knew the man she was talking to is the famous Captain Ready!” The couple passed on, their words dying out of Britton’s ears, and silence and darkness re- sumed their sway around him. In what a whirl were his thoughts! During the few days he had been in the em- ploy of Alice Hamlin, he had learned to think as muchof her as if she had been his own daughter. What could he do? Evidently his first measure ought to be to get out of the robber camp, so that he could carry news of the situation to Captain Haskell. He lost no time in acting upon the thought thus suggested to him. Ere he had gone ten rods, however, taking the direction from which he had entered the camp, he suddenly saw a sentry looming up just before him, rifle in band, and was startled by a stern challenge, ‘* Who comes there?” ‘* A friend!” announced Britton, from mere force of habit. ‘* Advance, friend, and give the countersign,” was the order that succeeded. Being unable to Ek eh with this injunction, the old cavalryman took the next best course open to him. He turned and fled toward the house as ifa demon had been after him. An instant only he halted at the entrance, re- flecting rapidly, and then he seized his revclver with a grip which meant business, and. sprung into the parlor where Alice and Mrs. Dayton were seated. ‘*Where is that man?” he asked, glaring around the room, rather than surveying it. + oO one could instantly find voice in which to reply. All stared at Britton, as if afraid that he had suddenly been bereft of his senses. ‘* What man?” asked Alice, after a brief in- terval of silent wonder. ‘“‘That man who conducted us to the house, and who calls himself Hobart!” ‘*Tsn’t that his real name?” asked Mrs. Day- n. ‘“‘No, madam! That man is a terrible fraud and impostor! In a word, he is no other than Captain Ready!” silence like that of the gravereigned during the next few moments, ‘* How do you know that?” then asked Alice. ‘* T’ve often seen him,” ““Then why didn’t you tell us so sooner?” asked Dayton. “Simply because I didn’t catch a glimpse of his face until he was ascending the steps of this house under the glare of the torches.” The ladies gained their feet with a celerity yan attested how thoroughly they were star- tled. **'What are we to do?” demanded Alice. ‘“We must make our escape—and be very quick about it,” replied Mrs. Dayton, ‘*Come!” eried Britton, facing about with a uickness and precision which can only come rom long practice. At this moment a footstep was heard at the doorway by whicb the dupes of Ready’s false- hoods had gained the apartment, and Captain Ready was seen blocking the way, with a coun- tenance which wore a grim smile of triumph. ‘*Sorry to appear uncivil,” he said, looking from one to another, ‘“‘ but there is no escape for any of youin this direction. The camp is surrounded by sentries, and it will be impossible for you to make your way past them.” Dayton drew a revolver, as did the two young men behind bim, and a view of these move- ments caused a glance very much like lightning to per in the eyes of Captain Ready. ‘* Let’s have no nonsense now, gentlemen,” he added, with a sternness of voice about which there could be no question. ‘‘If you undertake to use those weapons, your lives will not be worth a grain of sand! Beware!” He put his whistle to his lips and blew a long and peculiar blast, which seemed to echo through- out the whole camp. This sound had scarcely ceased to echo when at least a dozen of his armed followers came pouring through the two or three doors leading into the apartment ‘* Take charge of these men,” ordered Ready, in his most resolute tone, as he indicated Britton and Dayton, and his assistants, by a comprehen- sive gesture, “and shut them up securely at headquarters until further orders.” ‘ee -« tr R14) 2 tees ae ; oe al Sw te teste 2 oe Na eS a It was hard for Britton and the rest to sur- render, as completely as they were overpowered, but they were wise enough to make a virtue of necessity, and in due course their hands were bound behind them, and they were marched away to close confinement. Mrs. Dayton and Alice were left alone with their captor, and it was with a feeling of pro- found horror and dread that they realized their situation. CHAPTER XXXII. THE FACTS STATED. CAPTAIN READY took a few nervous turns to and fro in the apartment, while Alice and Mrs, Dayton sat trembling in the chairs of which they had taken possession. ‘““Of course, ladies,” he said, after a brief pause, as he halted in front of them and in- clined himself profoundly, ‘“‘I must plead guilty to a little deception in regard to my identity !” ‘* You are really the chief of the Red Ran- somers?” demanded Mrs, Dayton, finding her voice. ‘*T have that honor.” ‘“‘But Captain Ready is not a real name. Have you nothing better than such a mask as that to go by?” ‘*That ‘mask’ subserves every purpose that a real name could,” replied the captain. ‘* Be- sides, the immortal William has informed us that ‘a rose by any other name would smell as sweet!’ There is really no occasion for you to find fault with the assumed cognomen under which { am figuring.” ‘“That’s true enough,” admitted Alice, ‘‘ You would be the same wicked man under any name, or even without any. May I ask what is the moving cause of the violence of which we are the objects?” ‘* Certainly. There are several causes invol- ved in my action. One of them is that I have been for some time past retaining your father in close custody.” ‘* Ah, you avow it!” cried Alice. ; E I certainly have no intention of denying the act. ** And your purpose?” ‘“The very purpose which is usually apparent in al] transactions of this nature,” acknowledged Ready, cynically. ‘* Your father had—and still has, I’m sorry to say—a great deal of money I was anxious to possess, It came to him easier than it would have come to me, even if he had at once acceded to my demands forit. But I was not long in discovering that Mr, Hamlin is as inflexible as a hill of granite in any resolution he has taken.” “‘L appreciate the compliment you pay him,” returned Alice, gradually recovering her self-~ control, ‘‘ even if I cannot thank you for it.” ‘*Tt was in vain, therefore,” pursued Captain Ready, ‘‘ that I asked your father for a good share of his cash as a reasonable equivalent for his liberty. It was no go, hearken to me.” The girl’s eyes began glowing with a proud and defiant light. Clearly enough, she was a ‘“‘chip of the old block,” and prepared to endure any inconve- nience rather than yield to the persecutions of oe a vulgar tyrant as she now had before er. ** And so you couldn’t force papa to accede to your wishes?” she resumed, every instant grow- ing calmer and calmer. ** No, I couldn’t!” ‘And you’ve kept him shut up in some gloomy dungeon?” ‘* Naturally enough!” **Poor papa! here is he? CanTI not see him, and immediately?” **'No, you cannot!” The response was so emphatic that the girl’s heart sunk within her. ‘‘ Why not?” she faltered. . ** Because I do not know where he is.” Alice turned pale. ; What did he mean? | ; Had her father’s prolonged captivity been fa- ta] to him? Was he dead? Her lips refused for a moment to shape the dreadful question. ** No, he’s not dead,” then answered “Apiaan Ready, with ill-concealed annoyance. ‘‘If he had died, I shouldn’t have fretted at the cirenm- stance, I should have taken it as natural and inevitable. But the real sting of the situation is that he made his escape.” For a few moments Alice could not accept the evidence of her senses, The statement of ,her captor seemed too good — to be true. . But she could not mistake the meaning of the sullen wrath and annoyance she saw reflected upon the robber’s countenance, ‘¢‘ What place did he escape from?” demanded Alice. ‘* And how?” Captain Ready briefly gave her the partic- rs. ‘* And where has he gone?” : ‘*T have not yet been able to discover exactly where,” avowed the’ i ae ‘“‘but I readily foresee that he will take was comicbooks See ss ee oy we Sia He would not is way to the camp of —