Beadle's Dime Library No. 518 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

es ae PT =a rt am, ~*~, — he ee Royal Richard, the Thoroughbred. might be in a position to impart information so much to be desired,” : A strange thrill shot through Dave Danton. It was only by a strong effort that he kept from betraying his real condition, mental and rhe he truth was out, and a grim, significant truth it was, Death-Eagle, the Merciless, and tbe equally notorious Three Bears were white men, masquer- ading as renegade Apaches! ** In fact,” pursued the chief, ‘‘I- did not give the matter the thought it really deserved. ‘*‘T saw nothing deep in the fellow; he seemed only a sort of roving sport—just the kind of a galoot he professed to and, as he had once done us splendid service, I let him slide.” ‘*And regretted it witbin fifteen minutes,” added Three Bears, bending over Danton and noting his condition, ‘* Exactly! I had wondered what could have brought a Wagon-train, such as our scouts re- ported, up into this region; but I confess that it never more than vaguely occurred to me that that fellow might be able toexplainitall.” — ‘He can do that, and much more,” Three Bears averred, as he sented himself beside the captive, in a position to note the slightest change in the upturned fave, ‘In short, be can let in on certain matters such a flood of light as will make this the grand turning-point of our lives!” “ Eh ad “Now, just sit down, pap!” exclaimed Three Bears, with an impatient gesture. ‘‘ And re- member, I mean just whatI say. School your nerves for something wholly unexpected; for ‘lve a tale to unfold ’—a chapter of discoveries strange, startling, wonderful!” Visibly excited, Death-Eagle obeyed. To him, the expression upon the face of his villain- ous son was possessed of a peculiar significance. — See oes that a crisis of some sort was at and, ** Speak it out, Ben!” he ejaculated, grinning wolfishly. ‘‘If it promises anything in the way of a change from this mode of life, let us have it. I’m heartily tired of our present posi- tion!” ‘Here, too! And TI tell you, pap, Pm going to leave it, at once—this very night!” Then in a low, busky tone, as he abruptly leaned forward, staring straight at his father’s painted face: ‘** Do you know whose train it was we attack- ed to-night?’ Death-Eagle started, then gave his head a negative shake, “* Your question is a insinuating smile. ‘* May I ask—” ‘Then,’ cut in Three Bears, ‘let me tell you that it was made up of what is left of the families of our old friends, Messrs, Jackson and Roger Mordaunt!” “The Mordaunts! Impossible!” and the chief of the Red Renegades gained his feet, to all appearance wild with excitement. Three Bears smiled exultantly. **Not at all—it is an assured fact!” he de- clared, positively. " **But, sit down—sit down, and keep quiet! There is far more to do!” on saga the chief obeyed, weak and trem- g. **Go on—let me hear itall!” he panted, rather than said, ‘‘ Perhaps the hour I have awaited so long is at hand!” ‘‘ Just arrived!” asseverated Three Bears, cynically. ‘‘See here, pap, you must buckle down on that excitable imagination of yours. It'll lead you into a strait-jacket if you con- tinue to indulge it, for time is precious. Do you understand?” A sullen nod was the only reply. ‘* Now to recapitulate a trifle, younger villain. * As you are aware, when this fellow whom we have known as White Panther left the camp, he was closely followed by myself and a selected squad of braves, for from his actions I suspected that he would go direct to the train and warn it of our ambush on the crest of Dead- Tree Knob, and I was determined to baffle him if it lay in ay power. **To cut a long story short, he found that the -Mordaunts had not reached the Knob, and he _ ‘pushed across the plain to intercept them. “* Long Lance had grown impatient at the de- lay when we reached the Knob, and sent for- ward with usarunner to ascertain the where- abouts of the train. _ We learned that, contrary to our expecta- r,” he said, with an proceeded the _ tions, the Mordaunts had gone into camp at the _ » Lone Ti imber, and, while the runner went back _ to fetch up Long Lance and his party, we left our horses and under cover of the grass ap- | proached to within a dozen feet of the western me edge of the motte. It chanced that one of the girls had been posted there as a sentry, and within three min- utes it was perfectly clear to me that I had ar- rived just in the nick of time to overhear a most | interesting revelation, “For, scarcely bad I settled into a comfort- able position to await the arrival of Long Lance, / aD ri a. , -nouncement. tei ERE eae this galoot here—Rugg McBuff, Dave Danton, or White Panther, just as you choose to call him. ‘Tt is needless to repeat all ‘that passed be- tween the two. McBuff, it seems, had become enamored of the girl, Pauline Mordaunt, and his passion had gotten him into trouble with the entire party; but, to curry favor, he told the girl that the train was surrounded, pleaded bis cause, and ‘’fessed up* to any number of mis- deeds, all in one breath, ** And now comes the astounding part of the affair. ** You remember Dick Royale?” A wicked gleam appeared in the eyes of the old chief. ‘*Only too well, my son!” he gritted, his voice hoarse with vindictive hatred. ‘‘ Curse him! wasn’t it he who nosed out our connection with the Royale-Mordaunt crash and forced us to leave for the West between two fdays, five years ago? ‘Yes, yes! I remember him! Am I not to = this day hunted, yet dreaded, as the Branded iper?” ‘* Well and good!” uttered Three Bears. ‘* Let it suffice, just now, that you have not forgotten Dick Royale. He'll never trouble your or yours again. ** What—what mean you, Ben?” ‘‘ Brother Rube has avenged our wrongs!” Death-Eagle seemed dazed at the bare an- He stared blankly at the face of his evil son, his own hideous visage working convulsively. Then with a bound he suddenly gained his feet, cinging up his hands and uttering a shriek of wild, fierce delight. ** Rube—Rube Harpy!” he enunciated, his tones sinking to a whisper, his clinched hands beating against his breast, after a maniacal fashion. ‘‘Ah! Duke Harpy! you have not lived the past three years in vain! ‘* Where is he, Ben?” ‘‘ With the Mordaunts, in the guise of his foe, Dick Royale,” and Ben Harpy proceeded with his narrative, repeating nearly all that bad sed between Dave Danton and Pauline Mor- daunt at the edge of the motte, ‘Recognizing Rube, at the last moment, I gave orders that be was not to be harmed,” he said, in conclusion. ‘‘No sooner did he speak than I peneirased his disguise. ** And now, pap, as soon as this galoot can speak, we must pump him dry—tben put an end to his meddling. I am morally sure the Mor- daunts have stumbled upon some sort of a big pay-streak up in these bills—a pay-streak which it behooves us to take possession of. ““T haven’t the remotest doubt that Rube has been working in the same direction, although it must be admitted that his old-time passion for Pauline may have been his ruling motive. ** At any rate, if Long Lance and his braves are successful, Rube and Roger Mordaunt’s daughter will be brought in between now and daylight, captives. e must throw aside this disguise, assume an attire becoming civilized gentlemen, make a mock rescue of the girls, and with them and Rube leave this place forever, going by way of the secret pass.” **Tt can be done,” declared Duke Harpy, nod- ding his approbation, his brain working with feverish rapidity upon the details of the scheme suggested. ‘* Both of us have changed greatly —so greatly in fact, that there is little or no risk of recognition. ** But if Long Lance fails?” “Then we shall seek Rube, later on,” Ben Harpy returned. ‘‘We must join hands with him in this matter, for then, with the exception of poor Madge, the Brood of the Branded Viper be again be complete and well-nigh invinci- le. “Poor Madge! she is dead and out of ber misery Jong ago, I fear!” uttered the old chief, with a sound akin to a’sigh. ‘‘ Surely, we bad cause to hate Dick Royale! Had—” The flap of the tent was at that juncture lift- ed, revealing the face of an Apache brave. Duke Harpy sprung to his feet. The hoarse, almost unintelligible jargon coming from the lips of the savage warned him that an unexpect- ril was at hand. ‘ ‘** You are needed, pap—go!” ** And Danton, there?” “Leave me to deal with him! Just you re- member my plans and act accordingly.” Old Harpy, with a muttered imprecation, sullenly strode out of the lodge, his son follow- mg ie to the entrance, ave Danton covertly noted the move. . ‘* Now is thetime!”’ be thought, and he stealth- ily arose from the pallet. At that instant, Ben Harpy turned—an oath escaping him as he noted the attitude of bis cap- tive. Without a breath of hesitation, Danton, al- though wholly unarmed, sprung straight at the throat of his desperate foe. CHAPTER XX. SCHEMING TO ESCAPE. ou have beard all!” screamed Ben ** HOUND, Harp : a ‘Se y, madly, as be recoiled, and with drawn _. when who should appear before the girl but ' knife awaited the furious onset of Desperate ey Dy " Lt ise Dave Danton, ‘* You have played the eaves- dropper! You have learned cur secrets. Dll kill you—I’1l kill you!” Danton halted. It was only too plain that the renegade held the winning hand—that strat- egy must take the pluce of force. He pressed his hands to his head; his face assumed a dazed look; he seemed both startled and mystified by Harpy’s ferocious threat. ‘* Kill me!” he ejaculated, staggering like a drunken man, while a puzzled smile crept over his bloody features, ‘‘ Kill me! Come; don’t make a song of it, Three Bears. I could stand ’most anything better than music like that / “Going to give me the knife, eh? Well, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you did, you idiotic red donkey! A red-skin is a red-skin the world over!” “Ob, but I ain’t a red-skin, you know!” promptly protested the renegade, savagely shaking his head. ‘‘ I’m just as white as you are, every whit, and it’s useless for you to at- tempt to conceal your knowledge of the fact! ‘You have taken a mean advantage of us, to play the eavesdropper in furtherance of some aad of your own, and I reckon it'll be serving you just right to put you out of the way!” ** And} you are just as white as I am!” ex- claimed Danton, assuming an air of profound incredulity. ‘*T just am!” iterated the renegade, no more an Apache than you are. white, and my name is Ben Harpy! ‘* And maybe you’ve heard that same name before?” ‘‘Harpy!” Danton echoed, with a start. ‘* Have I heard it before? Say, you—you cross- grained cuss! [’ve a pard named Harpy—Rube met F ‘*Oh, yes; I suppose so,” ! And we’re on the biggest lay of our lives, just now. In a word, we’re working to obtain possession of a gold-mine—a treasure- deposit discovered in these bis by one Jackson Mordaunt, an old-time enemy of my pard.” **Oh, you are, are you?” exclaimed the rene- gade, jeeringly, controlling himself by a master & ‘* A likely story, that, Dave Danton. Maybe you'll bave the kindness to sit down and give us the scheme in detail,” ‘* And maybe I won’t!” quoth Desperate Dave, readily penetrating his captor’s shallow pre- tense of incredulity. ‘‘I may die here, but I sball not spoil my partner’s game by blabbing it. Of that you may be sure, for Rube Harpy and myself have trained togetber too long for one to attempt to better himself to the injury of the other. ‘* No, sirree, my frisky Benjamin! Kill, and be hanged to you. I can’t die younger.” The very coolness of the words seemed to startle the renegade. He stared steadily at his captive a full minute. ‘See here, pardy,” he at length broke forth, making a movement as if about to sheathe his knife; ‘see here—what’s your little game, any- way?—A bluff?” ‘‘Try me and see!”-returned Danton grimly, a mocking smile again crossing his bloodstained fet Vees if? th N i ery good!” was the equally grim response. Po “iat with, how much of what passed be- tween my father and myself did you overhear?” ‘* Enough to convince me of two facts.” ‘* Name them, then.” ‘¢ The first is, that you came within a sprat of most effectually blocking your brother’s game,e to night!” : 7) Oo on.” “That you are just now making a first-class donkey of yourself,” Ben Harpy bowed profoundly, then deliber- ately returned his knife to its place in his belt. ** You may be right—I give you the benefit of the doubt,” he observed, a crafty glitter in bis he ‘*Tf, as youclaim, you are the pard of ube Harpy, there shall be no bad blood be- tween us, ‘*Can you back up that claim?” ‘* Oh, yes—and most willingly, I assure you; for, tobe frank about it, Rube and I are buck- ing against heavy odds, and a little belp from the proper quarter wouldn’t come amiss.” ‘*Tn other words, the game is open to us if we choose to enter?” ‘‘That is for Rube tosay. By this time he is firmly installed in the midst of the enemy as Richard Royale—if the train escaped from your red-skins.” ‘It did,” was the terse response. ‘‘ We have just learned that, owing to the unexpected ar- rival of a strong squad of blue-coats, our braves were forced to retreat.” ‘* All the better for Rube. ** But here—a glance at these bepers should convince you that I have accurately described ~ relations existing between Rube and my- self. As he spoke, Danton drew from an inner ket a small packet of papers, which he ied pi to his cor gn ; . n Harpy gra at it eagerly—so eagerly, in fact, that ft slipped from his hand to the “*T am My skin is ground. ‘ Forgetful of his wariness, he stooped to secure 1 . . : ¥ ~ — * in’ =. ol