Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 525 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

4 &¢- 16 Fresh Frank, the Derringer Daisy. old friend. He bad just saved me over yonder at the mountains, at the risk of his life, and I have let him go away without thanks!” ‘“*Pardon me, senorita, but I was away to- day. I would not have lied to thee. And, se- norita,the man did not go away—he was taken,” The girl’s voice dropped to a whisper. She looked about her as though fearful of some un- seen listener, and motioned to Madelaine to re- press her emotion, “Whither?” The senorita suddenly grew calm. She began to see something more than she had been willing to suspect in all this. Yet quietly as she spoke the word, there was a depth of passion under- neath. The as pointed downward, ‘Tf I mistake not thou wilt find him in the vaults below.” After that there was no rest from questioning until Madelaine and her friend had heard the whole story of how Teresa, being up at an un- earthly hour, had seen the manner of Mr, Fox- ton’s taking off, and had kept the secret, with many qualms at being its unfortunate possessor, until the shrewd questioning of Jose had sent her to her mistress, Madelaine knew something of the vaults, though she had not visited them for years, They were extensive, gloomy, lonesome; she shuddered at the idea of visiting them in the night. Perhaps she shivered as much at what Raimondo would do. “*Tf he is there, alive or dead, we must find him,” she said, looking up at Rhoda, ** If he was wicked as the worst, such a crime should not be done in my house, Yet, I own to ou, 1 dare not openly demand bis release, un- ess all other methods fail. With Jose we will visit the cellarage. If my memory does not fail me, I know where to look for him. You will go with me, Rhoda, will you not?’ **He bas never been my lover, but he has been my friend,” was the ready answer. ‘ And my friends can count on me through thick and thin. We must be sure to make no failure, That is the only thing I could fear.” The two grasped bands at that, and Teresa— who was puzzled at the unknown tongue in which the two conversed—was dispatched in search of Jose, who was found conveniently near, The prospect of a journey to the vaults seem- ed to have no particular terror for him, though he shrewdly asked one question: tes gs Raimondo—should we meet him? What en ** Spill no blood if it can be avoided; but I have promised Rhoda that we will not fail. Three of us armed with revolvers should be able by threats to make one man stand aside, If not, then there is the lead,” It seemed hardly likely, with such a secret, so hidden, that the Don would sleep very soundly. The danger most feared was that he would be met with, prowling around to look after his prisoner, Very cautiously taey moved, Jose in the advance and Madelaine following, with re- volver in one band, a bunch of master keys in the other, Good fortune and the lateness of the hour served them well. They gained entrance to the cellarage without meeting or hearing any one. Then, by the light of Jose’s lantern, they made their way behind a seeming barricade of casks, and found the hidden doorway that led to the cells beyond, ** Hist!” Jose held up his hand. “The way seems open—some one is here be- fore us.” ‘**Hide the light then, and let me lead, But keep the lamp lit. We may need it at any time.” Through the door they passed, and into the lackness of the narrow corridor beyond. _For a moment they stood there motionless, ne for the slightest sound that might in- dicate the presence of prisoner or guard. ° ** Come,” whispered Madelaine, **The cell I have in my mind is at the further end. If be lives, we will find him there.” Inch by inch, as it were, they advanced until, at last, Madelaine halted, The silence was so intense they could almost— paler altogether—hear the ting of their r earts, ‘A light, Jose; turn up your lantern. I feel sf Said before me and dare not go another step.,”' ‘ From under bis cloak Jose drew the little lan- tern, silently increasing the flame. Right at the feet of Madelaine lay a motion- less man, His right arm was doubled under him, there was a great splotch of blood on his face, and on his breast was pinned a piece of oi folded letterwise. There had been, most ikely, desperate work—were they too late? CHAPTER XVII . KNOCKED OUT IN ONE ROUND. VeRY obligingly Raimondo left a lantern when he clanged to and locked the heavy door of the cell and departed. Mr, Foxton had his wits about him very thor- oughly by this time, though he had been as quiet as a manof sense usually is when there is a knife at his back and he knows that it will go in at the first struggle or noise, When he was alone he opened his eyes and looked around him. ‘* Mighty clever man that Raimondo is; though it’s a toss-up whether he obliged me witha glim to cheer my solitude, or to show me there’s no possible chance to escape. With this chain around my waist, and that staple in the wall, the chances look slender enough for yours truly to be satisfactory even to the Don. And then those doors and that passage, and retin knows who at the other end of it! Yes, Mr. Foxton, if Carjador means it you’re elected, and that’s a fact.” So Frank Foxton thought; and the ele tom question remaining, was, what Carjador really meant? He intended to come back or he would not have left the lantern; but what would he do when he came? . There was plenty of time to consider, and t gain an appetite, for it was fully noon the next day when a dark-faced Mexican came slippin along with a lantern, a basket of provisions an a jug of water. He entered, crept cautiously toward the Fresh Sport, and, exchanging the lanterns, deposited the food within easy reach, Then be went out as silently as be entered, and Foxton fell to with right good-will. ‘*‘One meal a day, and the supply of water limited! Certainly it is time to be seeking more comfortable quarters,” So Foxton reasoned; but as he had been try- ing for a dozen hours to getrid of the band around his waist it was no very new or brilliant conclusion. A ‘‘ A big mistake, I made, when I filled myself up with his provender. The longer I did with- out it the slimmer I[ would have got. Why, in a week or sol would have been able to jump right out. Once out of it and this cell wouldn’t hold me, Confound it! If the man it was made for had been a trifle bigger, or if I had been a trifle smaller, the Don would never have seen me agaiu until be met me on the war-path,.” Foxton seemed hopeful even then. The Don certainly could not have guessed what sort of aman he was or he would not have left him quite sv much alone, or would bave been more careful of bis own precious neck when be ven- tured near him. Carjador came, sure enough, When he left the presence of the ladies he went straight to Frank Foxton. What it was tbat he had to say was destined to remain forever a mystery. ‘lhe sport waited until be was just in proper distance, and then his fist shot straight out. Raimondo knew some little about the prisoner, and had what he considered proper respect for his prowess; but knowing next to nothing about shoulder-hitting he would have sworn that such a stroke was impossible, It caught him on the neck and hurled him back clear ¢brough the open door of the cell. ‘* Lay there, old man, I’ve evened up a little on you, but it’s an everlasting pity 1 couldn’t have knocked you the other way. You ought to have the keys I wantin your pockets, and I should have propped you up against the wall so as to have you at my leisure, Bet you a dollar I'd bave put him in my boat, and sailed out in his. And I might have had the chance if { had waited. Nouse! The buoys are never wrong. I am just too fresh for anything, and I deserve all I get. But it does a man good to see him lie there anyhow. Hello! He begins to move, Must have hit him too high up though my knuckles don’t feel much like it. Ab!” Mr. Foxton had been carelessly leaning against the wall, watching the victim of his stroke, but now he braced himself up, He heard no footstep in the passage, but some one was there, who bad lifted Raimondo and was Gragg him toward the light. ‘Huff's an’ horns!” exclaimed the new- comer, ‘“ Hit ther tack ther fu’st rattle. Plumb center fur Bob Jones! Tell yer, boss, when I’m hired by ther month, I ginerally ‘low ter kerry my end ef it’s ther northeast quarter of a coffin. I’m a leetle late, mebbe, but I hed ter nose ’round a bit afore I could find yer ter *port fur duty.” The sport was astounded, to say the least; but that did not prevent his feeling glad all over. ‘**Couldn’t have hit it better, old man; and I’m gladder tosee you than flowers in May. Don’t stop to shake. Feel in the gentleman’s pockets for the key to these shackles, and then pass me his revolver. How in the name of the great five aces did you nose me out?” **Coming up ter report *cordin’ ter order, but Icome kinder keerful, an’ war lucky ernuf ter heyar a leetle chin-chin, A feller bed seen yer mule, an’ war axin’ whar mou’t be ther owner ov it. He hit ther leetle Mexercan maiden wo’t knowed all erbout it, Mebbe he'll be "long by’m-by, an’ mebbe he won’t; but I come, rigbt Jones worked as he talked. The shackles fell off and Foxton recognized the revoPver that was placed in bis hand as one of bis own. ** Correct you were, and as they don’t seem to want me up-stairs, and I don’t fancy ae down-stairs, I think I’ll leave instanter. I'll be out a Winchester and other firearms; but if [ can find Rhadamanthus and my saddle all right, lll forgive him for them till I get a chance to pee in my bill, I guess you know the way out tter than I do,so put your best foot for- ward,” There was nota bit of delay after that save that Foxton hastily scribbled a note and pinned it on the breast of the still insensible Don. About the time Madelaine and her friends were cau- tiously feeling their way toward the vaults the sport was adjusting his suddle on Rhadaman- thus, preparatory to making his escape good, ‘*A very elegant residence, Robert, and the people are just too hospitable for any use, but when I come to finish my visit I think Vl be sure that the proprietor is at home.” So they struck off from the building, leaving a couple of peons, who bad been so upfortunate as to meet them, lying around loose in about the same condition as Raimondo Carjador, Of course it was the body of the latter that Madelaine found, and she recognized him at the second glance, ‘Ts he dead?” she exclaimed. ** See, thou, Jose, I dare not touch him.” ‘*Not so dead as he might be,” interposed Rhoda, who was bending eagerly forward. ‘*T think he is regaining bis senses. Hereisa letter that may tell us all that we want to know, After the foul play of some kind that has cer- tainly occurred you surely have the right to know what it says. As for Raimondo—have no fear for him. I bave seen men before that bad been knocked out and that is wbat is the matter with him, His neck is not broken, his heart beats, and this blood is only nature showing it- self at his nose, Lt might have been more seri- ous, otherwise,” Until this matter was more thoroughly under- stood the Don was not likely to receive much sympathy. Gentlemen who descend to act as unauthorized jailers are apt to lose favor with the fair sex; while Jose did not like the Don anyhow. ‘* Read it, read it!” exclaimed tke senorita, who bad been taking a glance into the vacant cell. Jose held up the lantern while Rhoda read: **My Dear CARJADOR:— ‘*You have found out what an American can do— even in chairs. I might leave you as you left me, but I don’t care to handle a man who can’t speak for himself. When we meet again it might be best for you to look out for your scalp. I got away with your friend Wilson, and after that you can consider your chances. Yours, ** Fox: on.” **That will do,” said Madelaine, ‘‘ There is war to the knife, henceforth, between these two gentlemen, and just now my sympatby is against my unfortunate relative. e will put the letter where we found it and allow Raimondo to take his own time for reviving. But remember this isa secret, Not a word of it to-morrow, but be on guard.” bey all flitted noiselessly away, and just in time, for Raimondo was reviving. It was some little time before he could sit up, rub bis neck tenderly, and stare around in a dazed, wondering way. He did not suspect the ne of the prisoner much less the late presence of the senorita and her friend, Ween at last he had recovered suf- ficiently to glare in through the open door, he saw the empty shackles and then the note pinned to his own breast. He read the parting words, and bis profanity was entirely too deep for utterance. Very quietly he picked up his two lanterns and made his way out by a hidden passage, that led from the cellars to a concealed trap-door in a little summer-bouse, Just outside of the summer-house he found one of his men, senseless as he bad been, and not uite so well posted as to what had struck bim, e was satisfied, then, that Foxton was beyond any silent pursuit, and be did not want to sound anything like a general alarm. A couple men more or less in his confidence was one thing; and Madelaine and all ber retainers let into the secret was another, And then he was rid of the Fresh Sport, any- how, No doubt Foxton would retire some little distance, if not beat a retreat altogether. There was a chance to strike him before he could see the senorita. Unfortunately for the Don’s plans the senorita had already seen the sport, and had he known it, the masterly silence she had maintained in regard to the adventure would of itself have seemed to him suspicious. He was thinking in some such way as he poured some brandy down the throat of the senseless man, and tried to bring him to his sen- ses, The fellow opened his eyes at length, gave a few gasps, and then staggered to his feet just as Raimondo had done, When the Don asked for an explanation of the plight in which he had been found he mut- tered sometbing about baving been kicked by a mustang, at which the Don smiled grimly. ‘Hold to that story then, to-morrow, when thou art questioned, for some answer must needs be ready. Get to your quarters and be silent about the American, Gomicbooks