Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

— tred can bring itabout. But let me tell you, in brief, why I so lust for vengeance, ‘‘] was young, almost friendless, when Frank Steele first came my way. I was clerk in a dry-goods store. I roomed with a girl of about my own age—a fiery, passionate, yet generous Creole, She loved me, I think, even as I loved her, though ] could never gain her perfect con- fidence, ‘“One evening—shall I ever forget it? One evening Marie suddenly drew a dagger, and drove it repeatedly into her breast, falling dead in my arms as [ strove to stay her band. And while I was holding ber thus, the fatal weapon in my hand, just as I had plucked it forth from that last, fatal wound, Frank Steele rushed into the room, **Can you not guess what followed, my friend? Can you not see how wholly I was at bis mercy —the mercy of an utterly heartless villain who lived but to gain his own ends, who now took by force what he had tried to gain through spe- cious arts?” ‘Say no more, La Masque,” gently spoke Dandy Dutch, one hand ping | her arm as be added: ‘' Tell me where I may find this enemy of yours, and he shall pay the full price for all his past sins against you.’ ** Even though he may be surrounded by men who have taken an oath to avenge his fall if their guard fails to preserve bis life?” ‘*Even then, my friend,” was the steady re- sponse, **Even though I should declare him to be Captain Vampire?” ‘“That he is your enemy is enough for me.” ‘*Then—wait yet a few moments, dear friend,” her tones growing more natural as she hurriedly resumed her story, ‘‘ He swore that unless I would fly with him, I should hang for the death of my roora-mate. He vowed that he would take oath he caught me in the act; that I quarreled with and stabbed poor Marie in a jealous quarrel—a dispute over his love, the matchless villain! ‘*T was mad, yet stunned. I suffered him to take me ag and it was long weeks afterward when I first learned that I stood charged with having murdered my poor friend. Then—when I begged him to take me back and ciear me of that borrible charge, he laughed at me and mocked me. ‘*T fled from bim at the first chance, but that was not until I had time for deliberately weigh- ing my situation, I could not prove my inno- cence, I dared not make the attempt, “How I managed to exist during the next two years I can hardly explain, It is still likea hideous dream. But, as Heaven is my judge, Andre Deutsch, no crime or wrong-doing aided me in keeping the wolf from my docr! ‘*Then Frank Steele again crossed my path, He threatened mne with erpges unless I re- turned to him, as his wife. I detied him at first, but then—I was at the point of starvation, re- member—I at length gave way, and we finally brought up at Prospect, ‘* You can guess the rest, my friend, without many words to aid you in lifting the vail. Silky Stcele forced me to serve as La Masque.” ‘*And he—is Captain Vampire?” eagerly asked the detective. “The road-agent chief—yes!” bowed La Masque. ‘‘And now—you are still anxious to gaze upon what lies back of this covering?” tap- ping the velvet mask with a finger as she leaned toward him, : , ‘* More than ever,” was the swift response, ‘* And yet—if you are really opposed to grant me such a boon, oOF, ** Why should I be?’ with a bitter laugh, as she remove her hat, the better to unfasten the mask. ‘‘ What havelI to lose? You have sworn to avenge my wrongs on Captain Vam- pire and— Merciful heavens!” she shrieked, flinging her arms tightly about the detective, almost throwing him over upon his back. ‘‘It’s the Vampire himself! Save me—don’t let him murder me, dear friend!” CHAPTER XXVI, DANDY DUTCH WaNTS TO KICK HIMSELF. A MAN could hardly have been taken at a greater disadvantage than was Dandy Datch on this occasion, For the moment he had forgotten his usual precautions, even while feeling morally sure that La Masque was a & cunning part, Her story was too improbable for belief, and though he was not quite so positive in his con- viction that this seeming woman was a man in A et Ro Dandy Dutch. to fight for his life, but before he could ac- complish this, a heavy blow deprived hi: of his senses, How long this spell of unconsciousness lasted, Dandy Dutch had no means of telling, but it was of sufficient duration to make the ends of his captors certain. For when his eyes opened stare unsteadily about him, the detective found himself seated on the back of his horse, moving at a walk through the thick-lying rocks and clumps of sbrubbery out of sight of the Eagle's Nest trail. Mechanically he strove to grasp a weapon, as yet only dimly comprehending that he was in danger, but bis arms felt like bars of lead, and he had no power over them. ‘** Don’t you act the ass, Dandy Dutch!” came a harsh voice from bard by, then a strong band was placed on his shoulder and he stared dazed- ly into the masked face of a tall horseman, With an instinctive swaying of his body he shook that hand off, but the next instant it closed viciously on his throat, while the horse he was riding came to a halt. ‘‘ Will you?” savagely grated the outlaw, closing bis muscular fingers until it seemed as though they must fairly meetin the flesh, ‘It wouldn't take much to make me finish you off for crov- bait, you infernal bloodhound! If you want time to say your prayers and make a will, play docile, my gentle sport from Dead-Lift!” With a parting pressure that left its marks to linger for days, the athletic outlaw removed his hand, laughing viciously as the captive de- tective swayed dizzily in the saddle, saved from falling under his horse’s feet only by the strong bonds which had been applied during his un- consciousness, ‘* The time for kicking was before the hopples were applied, Dandy Dutch! Just now your motto wants to be meek snd modest!” The party moved forward once more, the cap- tive swaying dizzily in the saddle, as his mount picked its way along the tangled trail. Dandy Dutch said not a word, partly because his tongue seemed hampered quite as effectually as his limbs through weakness and the benum- ing effects of that brutal blow from behind, partly because he began dimly to realize that he was hopelessly betrayed. More than aught else this growing belief served to quicken his brain and bring back his scattered senses, Ere long he was able to cast intelligent glances around him, though ee care not to make a movement which even his brutal assailant of a while before could distort into an effort at escape. By this means he was gradually post- ing himself as to the situation, othing very comforting about that, Though the nature of the trail at that point obliged the party to travel in Indian file, Dandy Dutch managed to make out that his captors numbered not much less than a dozen in all, each one heavily armed and disguised beyond recognition by any person who might chance to take note of their movements. Over each head was drawn a flour-sack, fitting closely enough to the face to give its wearer an unobstructed vision through the slit running transversely for several inches, yet not follow- ing the profile so close as to afford even a hint as to the outlines beneath it. ‘‘Taking notes, my gentle bloodhound?” laughed the athletic figure which he had first seen on recovering his senses in part. ‘ Much geod may they do you. But I’m doubting it— a . ——— - Dandy Dutch ventured no reply, though his tongue felt more natural than at first, for as yet his captors had not seen fit to gag him, ** Not, mind you, sport,” his voice losing some- thing of its harshness as a widening of the trail permitted him to range alongside his captive once more, ‘‘ that we really want to hurt you more than we are actually obliged to, for I reckon there’s a heap more money in you living than dead, ‘“By which I am to understand?” ventured Deutsch, . ‘That your treatment depends mainly on yourself, That we roped you to make a stake, That if you act decent, and pay out liberally, you can shortly have the pleasure of telling your mates how gentlemanly the Bats they curse so freely really are.” * Then yeu are Captain Vampire?” ** Do I fully answer the description given you by La Masque?” the outlaw laughed coarsely, fi pi his isshe! What have you done with er <n eee 21 —— SSL ae in keeping with the crimes which already mark- ed his evil record. He was thinking thus when a halt was called and a sack of heavy material was slipped over his head and neck, then firmly bound about his shoulders, effectually blinding him. ‘for your own good, Dandy!” chuckled the tall outlaw, whom he now felt morally sure must be none other than Aubrey Conyers, though his tones were so different from the cool, suave voice of the gambler. ‘‘ Just to guard you against the temptation to bring a company of your pet hounds to inspect our quarters, you know.” ag this covert warning, Dandy Dutch bent his whole mind to keeping track of each crook and turn in the trail, fixing the position of the sun as he bad caught his final glimpse of it; but before half an hour had passed by, he re- luctantly gave over theattempt, The turns and changes came so fast and so many in number that even with the full use of his eyes he would have found the task no easy one. Of course he could place little dependence on that hint at ransom given him by the tall out- law. If La Masque was indeed Silky Steele, and playing in partnership with his captors, money could not win his freedom though he might offer it in untold sums, is sole hope lay in the clear wit and iron nerve of his psrtner, Suul Sunday; but what could one man do against so many? **T deserve it all, and more too!” was his bit- ter reflection, ‘‘I walked into the snare with alleyes open, I know it was playing with fire, and now my fingers are scorching, ll grm and bear it as best I know how!” That journey consumed considerable time, even after Dandy Dutch had been so securely blindfolded, and unless they followed a very roundabout course, he knew that the Bats must have their rendezvous at a considerable distance from Prospect. So much the less bope for him! Even Saul Sunday could scarcely he expected to unravel such a tangled trail. Dandy Dutch made no attempt to regain the use of his eyes, knowing that he was closely watched, and contented himself with summing up the many errors he had meade since first gaz- ing into the dark eyes of Lua Masque. What if Solemn Saul’s pretended love-making should prove equally disastrous? At length the party came to a halt, and Dandy Dutch was cut loose from the saddle, two men holding his arms and guiding his steps up a winding trail, to enter a cavern, as he knew from the change in the sound of their footsteps. He was bound in a sitting posture to some firm object, then the sack was removed from his head and face. He could scarely restrain the cry that leaped to bis lips, for only a few yards away La Masque was bound in a similar manner, her face full exposed to the red glare of the torches, her left. cheek toward bim. CHAPTER XXVIII. SHADOWING A PARTNER. ““WeLL, [ wonder! Is it a final let-up, or just stopped for a fresh breath? Hope 1 may never see San Saba again if I wasn’t just om the point of turning tail and about-face for Prospect, to publish the sensational elopement in every paper—good enough !” Saul Sunday nodded his head emphatically as he saw La Masque slip from her saddle to the ground, and he welcomed the sight as a token that his trailing would be broken at least long enough for a fair breath, even though so con- siderable a stretch of ground lay between the pair and his present position. In following the Eagle’s Nest trail, the gaunt. detective was acting solely on his own responsi- bility, and without having any complete under- standing with his partner, Andre Deutsch, Indeed, it was not until Dandy Dutch was fairly in the saddle that Soleinn Saul concluded to play spy, but the more he dwelt on the too- easily won Fanny Black, the more he doubted the wisdom of Dandy’s keeping that semi-ap- pointment. Partly by following the trail itself, partly by keeping in a generally parallel course, cutting off each bend in the trail when practicable, Sun- day had gained a point no great distance from where Dandy Dutch lay in ambush to follow om after La Masque passed him by. Satisfied that he no longer had occasion to fear detection by either his partner or the wo- man, Saul Sunday took less precaution to cover is advance, trying his best to keep within trailing distance of the twain. . i i es ae feed = . 7 disguise, he felt morally certain that La Masque | ‘‘ Wrapped her up in cotton wool as such a| It was while cutting off a portion of the bend e~ was acting as a friend and ally to the criminal precious jewel deserves, what else?’ came the | around the first corner of which La Masque le a he was hunting. mocking retort, then the tall outJaw fell back to | in wait for her pursuer, as already detailed, fe One fair look at her left cheek he knew would | his former position as the trail wound its way | that the friendly spy met his most serious ob- , settle all further doubts as to her being “‘ Silky | through a narrow defile. . stacle. He found his further progress cut off / Steele,” and now that the test lay fairly within | Dandy Dutch bowed his head, just then pre- | by an impassuble gulch, the extent of which he “4 his reach, he knelt before La Musque, eager to | ferring to think rather than talk. And that he | had no means of ascertaining. learn the truth. ; had ample food for reflection, may readily be After a hasty debate in his own mind, Hf And when La Masque uttered that wild cry, | seen. Solemn Sau! turned back to be on the safe side. 2 flinging herself upon bim as though in an ex- Of course it had all been a snare, just as Saul | He knew that the regular trail could be follow- A cess of fright, his body was bent backward, | Sunday feared, even though he still held to his | ed, and much as this move would throw him f his legs doubled beneath him, his arms pinned | first belief that La Masque was none other than | bebind his friend, to try and round the gulch at ai to his side by that frantic embrace, ‘* Silky Steele” masquerading as one of the op- | the other end might prove still worse. if With all his power he strove to fling La | posite sex, either to throw the bloodhounds off He made all the haste apr but when am Masque over his head and thus gain a chance the track, or to perfect another bit of rascality | once more near the trail, he could see nothing | Y es wd es micbooks. Gor Oe co a a . - ad : a ae 2