Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 508 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

\ ’ ean git hold of him, I can promise that every va / } 4) a's fs - , ~~ . - _ promised them through Deadwood Dave. i __ . Jumping out from his concealment as soon as ~~ is < at _ by the trail which led up from the ravine, ‘Wikey 8 they sat down and considered the affair as calm- ly as they could. It was the opinion of most Lf them that thero must be something supernatural about the Mad Parson, and they found their fear of him quite as strong as ever. These notions were strongly combated by one of the new recruits, known as English Bill, who declared that the Mad Parson did not differ from ordinary men, except in being more ‘‘ cute,” and in trading on the fears he had inspired. ** Thar’s somethin’ more that we can do,” said Deadwood Dave, who thought it time to bring out the idea which he had received from Dan pene and which he had not previously venti- ‘“'Thar’s somethin’ more that we can do, and somethin’ that’ll put a pile of money in our ts. ‘*What’s that?” inquired Isaacs. “Tf we can ketch the old cuss, and bundls him up, and put him whar a friend of mine man who has a band in the job will be well paid for it.” As Dan had lately been furnishing the money for the gang, and as it was understood that it had come from that friend of his, his statement commanded instant attention. English Bill, who came to the front as the stanchest and most fearless of the conspirators, was greatly taken by this idea when it was fur- ther explained, and enforced his views with such vehemence and earnestness that he compelled the others to agree with him, “‘Tf you fellers are afeard of Topnotch Tim,” said he, ‘‘ jest put me forrud to nab him, and you'll soon see that thar hain’t nothin’ to skeer at, ‘Tt looks asif it mought be an easy game to play,” observed Deadwood Dave. ‘ He is bound to go back by the way he came, and he can’t get up thar whar he lives, except as he came down. So all we’ve got to do is to hide as we hid afore, and ketch him on the wing, as a feller inay say.” ‘**And when we've caught him,” suggested Isaacs, ‘‘ maybe we can force him to tell where he gets his gold.” ‘*Thar’s somethin’ in that, too. Leave you alone, Ikey, to keep your head sot onto the gold. Well, fellers, it looks to be a good scheme, and we must work it fur all it’s worth.” In order to work it for all it was worth, they took the back track to the ravine at the western eud of the plateau, and concealed themselves there as they had before, There was a little difference, however, as it had been tacitly agreed among them that English Bill should be the nearest to the trail, so that he might be the first to make the dash at their expected prey. The scheme did not work near as well as they had hoped it would, because they bad to wait a long time for Topnotch Tim, unger did not oppress them, but thirst did, as they were unaccustomed to going so long without their regular drinks. ‘They had liquor, but it had been agreed that ‘they were to touch it very lightly until they had made an end of their business, and Dead- wood Dave, who was the commissary of the party, and who was very anxious to get hold of more of Dan Lasher’s money, dealt out the fluid in light rations, just enough to keep his com- rades from grumbling too bard, ‘Timothy Marlow, in the mean time, had been _ by no means unaware of the fact that he was followed, and had governed himself accord- ingly. e had led his sneaking pursuers not to the point which they had wished to reach, but in the direction in which he chose to take them, d, when be had fooled them enough, he had appeared by concealing himself in a hole in the rock, which was almost sure to be over- looked, even by the most careful searchers. It was not until after he had gone to the place toward which he originally started, and when he believed that bis enemies had entirely aban- -doned the search for his trail and gone away, that he set out to return home, In returning, he did not take the route by which he had led bis pursuers, and yet, as Dead- wood Dave had said, there was only one way by which he could reach the plateau, and that was It was twilight when he got there, and he was not suspecting any danger, as he believed that the men who had been ‘following him had lon since abandoned their attempt and return ome, That, however, was just what they had not ne. Though the bours of waiting had been very tedious, and though some of them had dozed ‘where they were hid, and others had fretted and worried, they were still there, ready and anx- ious to the money that Dan Lasher had __ As the old man passed close to where English _ Bill was concealed, that conspirator had a fine opportunity to ‘‘ nav"him,” and used it most ef- fectivel7. - * .* 4% tore . SN ———— e ~~ . - a5 » hay Ve his prey had passed him, he seized the Mad Par- son by the arms from behind, at the same time jamming his knee into the victim’s back, and calling upon his comrades for assistance. They came promptly, the energetic action of English Bill having nerved them for the work, and the five toughs bad no difficulty in subdu- ing the tall old man, The sudden attack had surprised him so that he lost control of himself for a moment, and then his only chance was gone, though he tried hard to free himself from the clutch of his enemies. lt was the pressure of English Bill’s knee against the small of his back that did more than anything else to subdue him, causing him to be easily thrown to the ground. As soon as possible his assailants gagged him, to prevent him from uttering cries that might be heard at his home, and they also hastened to ti him hand and foot. . But, Timothy Marlow had no idea of uttering any cries; for, who would they bring to his he ip if anybody? is daughter, of course, and he wanted to keep her clear of the danger which she would incur by rushing to his rescue, She and Ceesar might be able to take care of themselves; but they need not be involved in his difficulties. So he ceased to struggle when resistance was useless, and calmly awaited the further develop- ment of the outrage. No doubt Deadwood Dave and his gang, whom he had at once recognized, intended to injure him, and he well] knew that he had given them ample cause for enmity; but what did they mean to do with him? Part of their purpose was speedily made ap- parent, They were going to take him to some place where they could operate upon him at their leisure, without being molested. sys him in charge of Ben Staples and English Bill’s partner, the others had a quiet consultation concerning him. ‘* What are we goin’ to do with him now?” in- quired the man who had led the attack, ‘‘That’s all a-settin',” answered Deadwood Dave. “I’ve studied this thing up, and have got it all down fine. Thar’s an old cabin a little off the trail, on the way down the mountain, and we can shut him up thar, as tight as if he was in the Topnotch jail, until I can let my man know whar to find bim,” “‘ But we want to squeeze the truth out of him about bis diggin’s,” suggested Isaacs. ‘Well, I dunno about that. My man wants him delivered in good order, and I reckon he won't pay for a damaged article. We'll have to be kinder keerful of him.” Their carefulness just then consisted in unty- ing his legs, so that he could walk, and march- ing him away, one at each elbow, oue in front, and the other two bringing up the rear of the procession, Thus they marched until they had got about half-way down the trail to Topnotch, when they turned to the right, and halted at a deserted cabin about a quarter of a mile from the trail, CHAPTER X. THE RESULT—ASHES, THE cabin which Deadwood Dave had fixed upon es 4 temporary prison for the Mad Parson had been the home of @ miner who had aban- doned it after he had failed to find a fortune in the Topnotch Hills. It was in a secluded, out-of-the-way spot, where nobody went any more, not even a pros- ctor or a hunter, and was therefore well adapted to the purpose for which it was wanted. It was solidly though rudely built, and still had a stout door, and there was no window opening by which a prisoner might possibly es- cape. opnotch Tim was escorted into the bare and unfurnished room, and was informed that he might seat himself on the floor if he wished to, or might walk about if he chose, but could on no account be permitted to get out. ‘“What have you brought me here for?” he ealmly inquired when his gag had been removed, ‘‘' What are you going to do with me?” ‘““We’ve got you foul now,” replied the big ruffian, ‘‘and we mean to work you fur all you're worth, and make you pay fur the new and the old.” _“TfT owe anything, IT am always ready to settle, and you may produce the bill as soon as you please.” ‘* Whar’s your diggin’s, then? That’s what we want to know.” “My diggin’s? I don’t know what you mean diggin’s.” by m innocent in your old age. I make no doubt that you do know jest what I mean. Your diggin’s is the place whar you git your gold, and we mean to make you tell us whar it is, if we have to squeeze the daylight out of you.” The Mad Parson smiled, as if he considered this statement mildly bumorous; but the light that flashed from his dark eyes was more lurid ‘thanever. | “*T always supposed you to be a big fool,” Se Ae aw ““You don’t, hey? You're gittin’ to be mighty Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson. said he; ** but you seem to be petting more silly thanever, If I had any such diggin’s as you speak of, you may be sure that no amount of compulsion would persuade me to give it away to you. You might kill me, but would still be as ignorant as you are now.” “We'll see about that. If we don’t find a way to make you tell us what we want to know, you may burn me for a fool, and waste no fire- woo,” ‘*‘T hope you are not going tostarve me. You would gain nothing by that. I should bave had my. supper before now.” his was an important consideration, wbich had already impressed itself forcibly upon tbe toughs. They had brought nothing to eat, and the amount of whisky they curried was not sufficient for their needs, Deadwood Dave went outside with his com- rades, shutting his prisoner up in the cabin, and consulted with them concerning the situa- tion. He was very anxious to get back to Topnotch as soon as possible, mainly for the purpose of in- forming Dan Lasher of the capture, and turning the prisoner over to the man who was willing to pay for him. The others had various reasons, mostly connect- ed with whisky, for wishing to return to town— that is, all of them except English Bill, who de- clared that he was both willing end able to hold the fort and guard the prisoner, until they could come back and relieve him. This simplified matters at once, and gave the four the chance for which they were longing. After assuring the captive that something to eat would be provided for bim as soon as pos- sible, Deadwood Dave and bis three comrades set out on their return to Topnotch, leaving English Bill to guard the cabin. In the course of time they reached the reju- venated town, finding it lighted up as it always was at night, and just then at tle hight of its gayety and excitement, Cautioning the others to go slow, to touch the intoxicating fluid lishtly, and to be ready to re- turn with him to the bills at a moment’s notice, the big ruffian hastened to carry his important news to Dan Lasher. He found the gambler dealing faro, and made him a signal, which was at once understood. Indeed, his excited manner and bis air of im- portance was enough to inform Handsome Dan that he had something of interest to communi- cate. Dan summoned an assistant to take his place at the box, and led his tool toa corner where they could confer privately. ‘“T’ve got him,” excitedly whispered Dave. “Got your friend, Topnotch Tim? Is that what you mean?” ‘‘'That’s jest it. We've got him.” ** And how did you get him?’ ‘« Jest laid fur him, jumped on him, and gob- bled him up.” ‘* You did not hurt him, I hope.” ‘*Nary hurt,” ‘* Where is he now?” “Shut tight in a cabin up yonder and well guarded. eis safe, you may bet your head, and he is yours, to do with as you please.” Dan Lasher was silent for a moment, looking puzzled and abstracted, as if he had got an ele- phant on his hands, and did not know what to do with it. ‘*Do you think he will be safe there fora ert E a for two or three days?’ he in- quired. ‘‘He is safe enough thar now,” answered Davy, ‘‘and it ll be easy enough to keep him safe, as you’re willin’ to pay well.” ‘*Tam glad of that, as Lbave been so bus that Ihave not settled on any place where could put him. Of course I pay well, and you know that,” ** That’s what I told the boys.” ‘* Well, you need not be always reminding me of it. You will get your money.” “Say, Cap,” queried Dave, who was strug- gling with a weighty problem. ‘‘ What surt of 4 grudge have you got against the old cuss ‘* Don’t you know that he came into my place on the opening night, and sung and preached and prayed against my business, and then beat me out of two tkousand dollars, and said that it was my contribution to the Baptist church?” “Yes, I know that; but I allowed that he jest bad a lucky streak fur that once.” ‘¢ Don’t you know that he thr: atened to keep on coming? He would bave done it too, if it had not been that something of more import- ance to himself kept bim back.” “13 that all the grudge you’ve got aginst him ag . here, Dave What-you-call-him, you are much too inquisitive about my affairs. If you don’t drop that style of thing, I will have to choke you off, and I know just how to do the trick. If I have any other grudge against the person you speak of, that is my business, not yours.” “All right, Cap. I allowed that mebbe I : mought help you—that’s all.” "eomiebooks Y y 7 ea { } 3 = | |