Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 484 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

Captain Ready, the Red Ransomer. -_-- this neighborhood for some time past, with the avowed intention of effecting his release.” ‘* You really believe this?” ** I certainly do.” ‘** Then the situation is not so dark as I sup- posed,” declared Alice, with a sigh of relief, raf papa is indeed out of your hands and safe in the | of me to destroy it. midst of Captain Haskell and bis men, I will not worry. But you spoke of having several vi" Captain Haskell, who has been hanging about | shall be able to give you as great a shock of surprise and disgust as has been given you by my father.” ‘That remains to be seen,” returned the chief of the Red Ransomers, with a smile which showed his white teeth. hope makes you happy, it would be very wicked The whole matter being thus placed upon its actual footing, I hasten to wish yon every possible comfort and happiness reasons for the course you have taken toward | in your new situation, and will relieve you of my me. What are they?’ ** Are they not evident enough?” queried Cap- tain Ready, as his features again assumed a smiling expression, ‘*‘ What could be more to the point than for you to stumble into my hands justas your father got out of them? Are you nota fair equivalent for him any day?” There was a deep and dangerous glitter in the eyes of the questioner which Alice was quick to notice. ‘* Certainly,” resumed the villain, “if he was content to undergo all sorts of misery rather than pay ransom, he will not be at all inclined to let you suffer in that way a moment longer than’s necessary! Prisoner for prisoner, Pa sooner have you than your father, With you in my bands and at my mercy, Miss Hamlin, I may rest assured that my demand for a ransom will not be neglected.” There was no denying this logic. Mrs, Dayton turned pale with a flood of ter- rible apprehensions. ** You mean to deprive us of our liberty, Cap- tain Ready?’ she asked. ‘*T must certainly do,” was the answer. ** And for how long a time?” “Until Mr. Hamlin has been informed of your whereabouts and of the conditions under which you can recover your freedom.” Alice grew pale at the thought. ‘* For some days, then!” she murmured. 6s 6 ai Sp for weeks. If your father should rea Vy reach the camp of Captain Has- kell, it will be no easy matter for me to get hold of him again, and I shall have to build all my hopes upon the compensation a hard fate has given me—namely, your presence!” Mrs, Dayton sighed profoundly. ‘* In what a terrible situation we are placed!” she murmured. The poor lady was not far out of the way. ** Of course,” added Ready, after he had taken two or three turns in the room, ‘‘ I am not dis- »0sed to be unnecessarily harsh with you. That [ must take measures for your safe-keeping is apparent on the face of things, but I will be as kind asIcan. To doso is not only a policy but a pleasure. I am not without a hope, Miss Hamlin,” and he again inclined himsel? before the girl, ‘‘ that you will respond, sooner or later, to the affection which flamed up in my soul at sight of you. I hope—” ** You are a good-for-nothing, vile creature,” interrupted Mrs. Dayton, with the boldness of a keen wrath and disgust, ‘‘ and we’d sooner be spared the affliction of your presence and : hopes’ than not, Have the goodness to leave us! Captain Ready was annoyed at this outburst, but such things had been too common in bis ex- perience to make any lasting impression. ‘* T have not yet told you my plans concernin our comfort and safe-keeping, Miss Hamlin, e resumed, without heeding Mrs. Dayton’s in- terruption, ‘‘ Permit me to add, therefore, that the apartment immediately over us is at your disposal and you will find there everything you may need in the way of food and drink. Ut have the pleasure of escorting you to the room in question?” ‘Perhaps that will be as well, and then there'll be no danger of our making a mistake!” replied Alice. he arose with alacrity, as Ready took a lighted Jamp from the manile-piece, and fol- lowed him to the apartment of which he had spoken. It was hard for Mrs. Dayton to do likewise, but, after two or three protests, in the shape of geo sighs, she followed the example thus set er. The apartment offered the ladies was not only comfortable, but elegant. A few moments were spent by Captain Ready in explaining to the ladies the nature of their surroundings, as also the line of conduct he should expect from them. _ ‘*Of course you are free within the limits of this house,” he concluded, ‘‘and I will take good care that you are neither intruded upon nor molested, But I must caution you not to take a step out of doors until you_have received per- mission from me todo so. There will be a fine of sentries around the house by day as well as by night, and it will be no more possible for you to traverse this line than it will be possible for any intruder to make his way past it. In other words, you are at liberty, but the liberty I leave you does not extend an inch beyond the limits of - this house.” ‘“ All this is bad niga certainly,” com- mented Alice, ‘‘ but we will try to derive com- - fort from the reflection thatit might be worse. That we shall remain herea great while, I will not believe. In some way, Captain Ready, we presence,” ‘** Till when?” asked Mrs. Dayton. ‘* Well, till this time to-morrow,” declared Ready, ‘unless you should get so weary and lonely here as to be inclined to send for me sooner.” Once more the robber inclined himself pro- foundly, directing his salute especially to Alice, and then he turned upon his heel and took his departure. he captives listened a moment, while he de- scended the stairs and locked all the doors— taking good care to assure themselves that he locked himself out—and then they turned and threw themselves into each other’s arms, with a flood of long pent-up grief and pain. In what a situation they found themselves! What would be its end? CHAPTER XXXITI. NEWS OF ALICE. Nick and his friends had not proceeded far on their journey toward the Union Pacific, when they were surprised to see a little cavalcade come riding toward them from a point at nearly right angles with their course. ‘** Now, who can that be?” asked Captain Has- kell, slackening speed. ‘‘ Evidently some one who is coming this way to intercept us,” ‘Yes, they have business with us, clearly enough,” said Nick. ‘* See! they are signaling us to stop!” The captain ordered his men to halt, and then gave his attention to the new-comers with a favorite glass, ‘* Why, it’s my lieutenant,” he declared—“ a lieutenant I sent east, with several men, in quest of two reprobates named Gilman and Brower who have been guilty of almost every infamy except murder,” He referred, of course, to ‘*‘ Dirker” and ‘* Ben Rodman,” who had imposed upon Alice Hamlin and her mother to such an extent as to lead the daughter to undertake the journey which had resulted so disastrously for her. Ere long the Pepenans had joined his su- perior, and received a very cordial greetin from him, which was in due course succeed by presentation of the new-comer to Nick Ped- die and Mr. Hamlin, as well as Gordon Vorce. A few observations were pleasantly exchanged by the various members of the party. ‘* But how does it happen that you are back so soon, lieutenant?” then asked Captain Has- kell. ‘‘ Your luck must have been very good or else very poor!” ‘* Well, captain, it has certainly not been the latter,” declared the new-comer with an air of contentment which was quite the contrary of the mien worn by aman who has been unfor- tunate. ‘** Ah, you found the chaps, then?” ‘* Yes, sir, even before I really began looking for them. Fact is, they met me about half-way from the Missouri!” “They did? How was that?’ ‘* Why, they were figuring as the guides of a young lady who was coming this way to look for her father, who has been captured by the Red Ransomers. By the way, the young lady’s name is the same as that of your friend here— Hamlin.” Mr. Hamlin fairly reeled with the shock given him by this information. ‘* The same as mine?” he gasped. “Yes, sir,” assured the lieutenant. ‘‘ The name of the young lady in question is Alice Hamlin.” The escaped prisoner gasped for breath, un- able to speak. ** And she is attended by a motherly lady friend who bears the name of Mrs. Dayton, as also by Mrs. Dayton’s husband.” These names told the story! Mr. Hamlin realized who the young lady in question was, ie f ‘‘ Excuse this agitation, lieutenant,” he cried in a husky voice, ‘* but the young lady to whom ou refer is my daughter. I am—or rather ave been—the prisoner she was coming this way to release!” ‘** Ought she not to have been here before now, lieutenant?’ asked Captain Haskell, with a sud- den shadow on his face and forehead, ** Most assuredly.” ‘‘'Then where is she?” ** You have seen nothing of her?” ‘¢ Nothing whatever.” The fact looked grave to all present. Evidently Alice was in trouble. ‘**Of course those deserters have been in no situation to interfere with her?” queried Haskell, musingly. ‘‘ No, captain,” replied the lieutenant, “ for the reason that they have been shut up like rats “Certainly, if this _ 23 in a trap from the moment of their arrest, and are likely to remain so for a long time to come.” ‘*How are we to explain the non-arrival of Miss Hamlin, in that case?” ‘** Perhaps—” The father could not speak the fear which arose to his lips. But Captain Haskell did not have the same scruples about the matter. ‘Perhaps she has fallen into the hands of the Red Ransomers,” he suggested, with a soldier- like frankness, ‘* Nothingis more likely—that’s certain. What do you say to that, lieuten- ant?” ‘*T fear that theory is the correct one,” was the answer. ‘** And why so?” asked Mr. Hamlin. ** Because,” explained the lieutenant, ‘‘ I have been so close upon the trail of Miss Hamlin and her friends that I heard of them two or three times a day on an average. I may even add that I learned late yesterday where they intend- ed to pass the night,” “ At this statement everybody was all atten- ion. Such a fact as that must certainly be full of significance. ** And where was that?” asked Haskell. ** At the Rolling Tavern!” The declaration produced an excitement re- sembling an explosion. At the Rolling Tavern! There was no need to say more to any one who knew that place of resort as well as Captain Haskell bad learned to know it through the re- ports of hig soldiers. ““ Why, if Miss Hamlin and her friends went to the Rolling Tavern,” pursued the captain, ‘*there are forty ways in which she may have got into trouble. Not only is the house fairly haunted by red-skins and white outlaws, but the old couple who keep it are legitimate objects of suspicion.” ‘* Let all that be as it may,” said Mr. Hamlin mastering his emotion by a strong effort, ‘I cannot Bo another step toward the Union Pacific until this mystery respecting my daughter’s whereabouts has been solved.” ““Certainly not,” approved Haskell. ‘““Of course we must turn back,’ declared Nick Peddie, with keen aypeey for the man he had rescued. “Is not this your opinion, Mr. Vorce?” * ‘“* It certainly is,” replied the object of this in- uiry. ‘‘ Little did I think when 1 told youa ew minutes ago, that I could go no further with you, Mr. Peddie, than the crest of the next ridge, that we would all have occasion to retrace our dg so promptly.” ** Still you approve of the idea of returning?” queried Mr. Hamlin anxiously. Fh . “‘T certainly do.” ae A brief conversation took place between Has- yay | kell and his lieutenant in relation to various | | business points of the trip the latter bad com- pleted, and then they separated, the lieutenant a | confidence, Captain Haskell,” said Gordon Vorce __ “ | at this moment. a ‘“* Certainly,” replied Haskell, passing hisarm — ' through that of Vorce and leading the way be- yond the hearing of any oneelse. “I shall be — | glad to hear your suggestions.” i proceeding in the direction of the nearest fort, which was, in fact, his headquarters, ‘** Perhaps I had better say a word to you in _ “Thanks, captain,” said Vorce. “I will speak in all frankness. The object of my presence in this vicinity is to ‘ get square’ with themanwho calls himself Captain Ready.” ea ‘** Indeed! Who is he?” +a ‘His real name is Albert Walker, Don’t you remember the affair of the ‘ black horseman,’ of a few Pcs ago?” . ‘*Of course I do,” returned Haskell, with a start of sudden comprehension. ‘ Do youmean to tell me that you are the Vorce who was mixed up in that affair?” : Pt,’ **The same, sir.” ee || **The very nian who was condemned totwenty —_|| years’ imprisonment?” ive | Vorce assented. coe | ** And who—who—” a ** Yes, sir, the same who sacrificed his thumb,” and Vorce held up his mutilated hand, “forthe sake of obtaining his freedom.” 4 | “a ‘“But your good name was cleared,” pur- di sued Haskell, with an air that waskeenlysym- pathetic. : “Of course it was; but that fact could not ) bring back from the grave my father and mother, All this, however, is a di ionfrom what I set out tosayto you. Havingcomehere | for the express purpose of making trouble for the chief of the Red Ransomers, I have been __ playing the spy over him for weeks cet: and eave got all his affairs down to a fine point. mes: ‘*Good! I am glad to hearit. Give me the y details.” ine. “T have > “| * oJ i ad ' an “To begin with,” resumed Vorce found a way of entering the camp of the robbers in such a way that none of the sentries, whoare = a sgh ogi have been so Sy Se ‘as to 4 iscover just how my goings and comingsare accom lished.” Y Bs ies Pp “You have? Nothing could be better,” com=- Ko \ Eomicboo <SiG —