Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 508 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

= —_—___—_- - . — = = ee * Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson. 27 was so angry at the repeated interruptions and delays that he fairly raved, and came near hav- ing a personal difficulty with the detective who had misled the party. When this trouble was settled, scouts were sent out to look for the trail, as it was certain that there was a trail which led to the baunt of the outlaws. At last the trail was found by Pete Gannon, who hurried back to the rendezvous, and joy- fully announced his discovery. He was sure, too, that it was the right trail, as he had seen landmarks which he had noted on his previous journey. ‘ As soon as the otber scouts were called in by a signal that had been agreed upon, the party set forward again; but their progress was by no means rapid, as the route was a very difficult one. So it happened that it was already night when Gannon informed them that they were within gunshot distance of the outlaws’ camp. Then they moved more cautiously and quiet- ly, sending two scouts in advance of the main body, and finally, without any further misad- venture, they reached a point where they could look down into the basin in which Timothy Mar- low had been so ignominiously captured. Though they could look down, there was little they could see, as the darkness prevented them from doing more than getting a glimpse of the outlines of the cabins, which might have been easily acpi x wes for chunks of rock or clumps of deeper blackness. A re had basi burning in the middle of the basin; but it was then merely a heap of embers, and no sign of life was visible to the watchers from above. It was agreed that one of the party should go down there as a scout, to reconnoiter the ground, to discover the location of the outlaws, and to consider what plan of attack would be the most likely to put them at a disadvantage, Pete Gannon volunteered for this duty, and was accepted, as being the fittest person in the party for such an errand, and he slipped down the slope so Lipa that nothing was heard of him after he left his comrades. It was Burch Blanton’s opinion that they ought at once to rush down into the basin and begin aggressive operations; but Ben EHagleson reminded him that there was nothing to warrant them in attacking a quiet and apparently peace- able settlement or camp. As they had nothing but guesswork for the suspicion that the men down there had been uilty of the outrage and murder at Timothy rlow’s home, it would be necessary to wait until some proof against them could be Pim or until by some act of lawlessness they shoul invite a deadly assault. __ eer Blanton, who was boiling over with im- patience, was compelled to be satisfied with this, though he was by no means content, Having ideas of his own, he soon slipped away from his companions, and followed the detective down the slope, making his way about as quiet- ly as the other man had done. Pete Gannon, who had been there before, and had a pretty good idea of the location of the cabins, as well as of the general contour and style of the basin, had instantly formed a plan, which he proceeded to carry out with his usual coolness and very quietly. : Nothing was stirring in the basin when he got down there, and the reasonable conclusion was that the occupants of the cabins were en- joying sleep, though it might not be the sleep of the just. At one cabin, however, he caught a glimpse of a faint light that came through the chinks of the logs, Thither he bent his steps, as that was the only sign of life which he had yet seen. As he approached the rude building he heard the sound of voices, or, at least, of one voice, and he fancied that he recognized it, Arrived in front of the cabin, his fancy be- came a fact, as he knew the voice to be that of Dan Lasher. Planting himself in front’of the door, he found near ita pretty large chink, through which he could get a good view of what was going on in- side. The tirst thing he saw was Dan Lasher, seated on a rude stool in the middle of the little room, about opposite .o the door, and it was Hand- some Dan who was doing the talking. At his left, in a corner of the cabin, the Mad Parson could be dimly seen by the uncertain light of a grease lamp. Oa he old man had a seat somewhat similar to that of Lasher’s, and his hands were evidently tied behind his back, and he appeared to be completely broken down, cowed and dispirited. In another corner was seated a young woman whom the detective recognized as Susan Mar- low. She seemed to be very pale, though her pale- mess might have been caused by the peculiar dim light, and in ber face was an expression of resolute defiance, mingled with extreme anxiety. Dan Lasher, as has been said, was doing the talking, and the detective was in time to hear a_ considerable part of what he said to the Mad Parson. He heard the gambler tell how he had per- suaded Timothy Marlow’s wife to quit her hus- band aad meet him at a distant town. He heard the old man ask what had become of her, and heard Lasher tell of her death. At this the detective gritted his teeth, and looked as if he might have something to say or do concerning that matter, Then the gamber announced his intentions concerning Susan, and the old man implored him to forego his purpose, and Lasher gave him scorn ia return for his entreaties. At ths juncture the detective examined his revolver, to make sure that it wasin serviceable condition, Then he noiselessly tried the door, to ascer- tain whether it was locked, and discovered that it would open easily. He did nut seem to be fulfilling the mission on which his comrades had sent him down into the basin, as his investigations were confined to one point; but that point appeared to him to be of more importance than anything else he could take hold of, and he believed that in the circum- stances he was doing the best he could. He listened while the Mad Parson declared that he meant to kill his persecutor, a threat which the gambler treated with contempt. When the old man arose from his seat and shouted his defiance, Pete Gannon admired his pluck, but condemned his discretion. What could he do, old and feeble, bound and weaponless, against a stalwart adversary, who had the full control of his movements, and who was doubtless well ‘* heeled?” As Dan Lasher had said, he could break the old man like a straw, and Gannon looked to see him do it when the defiance was shouted at him. Handsome Dan did not stir a hand or foot; but the Mad Parson did. He developed a suddenness and a power that for an instant surprised and almost stunned the detective. His arms, which had seemed to be tied behind his back, flew from that position, long and sin- ewy and capable, and his feeble and helpless look disappeared, giving place to the furious as- pect of a man who was thoroughly angry and savagely in earnest, Suddenly he leaped upon his adversary with the spring of a panther, and clutched his throat with those long and sinewy fingers. Dan Lasher was so iy ge by this sudden and vigorous attack, that he was thrown off his balance, and was nearly strangled before he could summon his senses to aid him. Exerting all his eerie tyes he wrenched himself loose from that frenzi p, and hurriedly drew his revolver, though it seemed that his bands ought to be sufficient for an encounter with that feeble old man, But Susan Marlow, starting up with a short a 4) had already rushed to ber father’s help. izing the gambler’s hand, she diverted his aim so that the bullet from his pistol went harmlessly upward when he fired. Just then Pete Gannon threw open the door and ran in, making the odds decidedly against Dan Lasher. The Mad Parson needed no help. Recovering himself as soon as he had been thrown off, he returned to the attack, and again clutched the gambler’s throat with his long and sinewy fingers. This time he got such a deadly grip that it could not be shaken off, as his adversary’s breath was stopped, and his strength went with it. The gambler turned black in the face, weak- ened visibly, and fell backward on the floor, with the Mad Parson on top of him. Thus far the contest was in favor of Timothy Marlow, and the only question was whether the pistol-shot would arouse the men in the other eabins and bring them to the aid of their chief. To prevent that as far as possible, Peter Gannon drew his revolver, and faced the open door. CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE MOUNTAIN WAR, As Burch Blanten had his own ideas of the proper mode of attack by the expedition of search and revenge, so he took his own view of the situation as he found it in the basin. He quickly discovered that there were four cabins, which were presumably occupied by sleepers, as everything was quiet about them. Krom one of them, however, came faint glimpses of light, and at the dvor a man was standing, who was doubtless Pete Gannon. The detective appeared to be looking, or listen- ing, and doing nothing else, and Blanton was of the opinion that he had better not be interfered with, as be might have some purpose which he aeemed of special importance, Yet, though the other cabins were so quiet, it occurred to Blanton that any moment something might happen to arouse their occupants, in which case they might be expected to sally forth and ‘ play the wild.” At their own homes, and with their knowledge of the locality, they would have such an advan- tage as might make them hard to handleif their fighting blood was up. If they could be confined to their quarters, J aS LL ly ct ao i ce 5 1S" with the only way of egress well guarded, the affair would be greatly simplified. Upon these ideas the engineer formed his plan, and hastened to put it in execution, He decided that he must take upon himself the mission which Pete Gannon appeared to be neglecting. He went back to his comrades as quickly and quietly as possible, told them what he had seen, and explained his simple plan, urging that it should be adopted immediately, before the out- laws could get out and put themselves in a posi- tion of defense, Ben Eagleson took kindly to this suggestion, the more so as he perceived that it ecukt not be an aggressive act to station guards at the cabins, and that the blame of the fight, if there was to be a fight, might be put on the shoulders of the mountain men. As the other members of the expedition were eager to get to work, no time was lost in adopt- ae Blanton’s plan. hey hastened down into the basin, and the marshal, with the aid of Blanton’s advice, at once assigned the men to their positions. Before they were fully in place, the report of a pistol-shot sounded from one of the cabins, and immediately there was a stir in the settle- ment. An outsider would not bave ss tes that: such a shot, fired inside of one of the cabins, could have awakened sleeping men in another; but those mountaineers were very quick of hear- ing, and they usually slept, as the saying is, with one eye open. Ben Eagleson, with three of his party, had just stationed himself in front of a cabin, when there was a bustle inside, and the door was quickly opened. Three men started to rush out, looking as if they had been suddenly aroused from sleep, but also looking as if they had tumbled into bed with their clothes on, and had consequently not: been compelled to waste any time in dressing. ‘*Halt, there!” ordered the marshal, as the first man made his appearance, ‘* What in blazes would we halt for, and who air you, anybow?” ‘* Officers of the law! Stay where you are, or we will shoot you down!” “Will you? Reckon two kin play at that! Come on, boys!” The three outlaws made a break, but the chances were against them, as they might have known if they had not been the ruffians and toughs they were, ot only did they have to face four wide- awake and well-armed men, but the narrow doorway through which they must pase put. them at a great disadvantage, as they could easily be marked as they emerged from the cabin, So their bold break broke them up. When two of them had been shot down, the third begged for quarter, and thus was ended the first conflict in the basin, The attention of the victors was immediately called to anotber quarter, where a pretty ho fight had been begun. At the second cabin, which was nearer than the first to that from which the shot had come, and further from Eagleson’s men as they enter- ed the basin, the occupants had already got out- side when their enemies came in sight of them, and were hurrying toward the place where they knew the shot been fired, Thus the men from Topnotch were compelled to pursue them, instead of meeting and stopping: em. They did not allow the firing at the first cabin to distract their attention from the business at hand; for it was evident that “ the old man,” as they called Dan Lasher, was in danger, and that. they must hurry to help him, At the door of his cabin they were met by Pete Gannon, who resolutely opened fire with his revolver, and bravely defended the entrance, Burch Blanton, who hada sort of roving commission in command of his men from the mine, had started toward the same cabin, and he reached it in time to give the detective the assistance that he sorely needed, Then the others came up, and short work was made of that detachment of outlaws, but not until Pete Gannon bad been badly wounded, At the remaining cabin which may be called the fourth, the Topnotch men had not had any- thing like so easy a time. : In that cabin there were half a dozen men, outnumbering by two the force that was sent against them, and they bad the whip hand of their adversaries, as all had got outside mee the detachment of Topnotch men came ati tbem, They treated with derision the order to halt and surrender, and began business by immed- iately assuming the aggressive. The Topnotch men forced toretreat, called on their friends for help, and Ben Eagleson and — bis party, having won their part of the fight, hurried to them, reaching them in time to stop their adversaries from going to_the as- eee of their own friends at Dan Lasher’s cabin, Gomic IoO0k