Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

» be z - an ig = ™ 7 ee LLL LLL Tt CL i Senedd Dandy Dutch. ‘“‘ How many sech hey you got up thar, any- | at a projecting rock as the only possible wea- how, Johnny?” | pon within his reach. “Only two, Dandy Dutch, as he calls him- | Solemn Saul thrust out a long leg, his toe self, an’ a woman,” | striking that bony wrist and paralyzing it for ; " Py aa 2 ene oe . “ Ee et PE EES US Se th fame aden 23 Sunday, his tones faint and trembling, render- ed even less distinct by the covering through which they had topass. ‘‘Gitme— Ow-wow !/” Anotber spasm of. pain seemed to take pos- ‘“ Mebbe you know that woman’s name, John- | the time being, coolly saying in his own natural ’ ‘*She’s the Oasis woman, call her.” ** An’ you ketched all two both at the same clatter, mebbe?” The fellow nodded assent, but as that’ knife flashed before his eyes, he hastened to add: “True, fer sure, boss! We ketched ’em both La Masque, they nes: ‘*Tetch ’em ligutly, Timotheus, an’ you ain’t nigh so apt fer to burn your fingers! The time’s comin’ when you'll want to grab a root, but rocks is barred out o’ this game, Stiddy, Timmy!” Deftly twisting the arms of the trembling Bat behind his back, Solemn Saul renewed his in a heap, but the boss sent her’long’ithacouple bonds, rendering the fellow perfectly helpless o boys right to the Den. a mighty crooked trail, to mix his idees all up, | reckon.’ Solenm Saul drew back a little until the gloom covered his changing countenance, for this was far from being what he had anticipa- ted. Could it be that La Masque was not a traitor, after all? Could it be that Dandy Dutch had hit the truth, in one of his surmises? Was La Masque really a woman, an adventu- ress of that class so often to be found in mining- towns, or other places where gambling 1s car- ried on without cloak or shame? Or was she indeed the man for whom he and his partner had come so far, and had that cap- ture been made without the road-agents dis- - covering that the seeming woman was a member of the opposite sex? Either way, why had the captives been separ- ated as soon as taken? ing in partnership! Because he wanted to rig up some other trap, and dared not, or could not, | arrange it right in company with Dandy!” men- tally concluded Saul, dismissing the perplexing matter for future consideration as he once more turned to his trembling prisoner. ‘‘ Johnny—I say, what is your name, any- way?” ‘*Tim Pincher, boss.” “* That’s the handle your feller Bats knows ye best by, is it?” ‘*Tt’s the only one I ever hed, boss,” with an earnestness which dispelled all doubts on Sun- day’s side. ‘* We jest don’t use any names when we're doin’ night work, Then it’s pard, or sech like. I'm Tim Pincher, an’ all the gang knows me that way.” ‘They might know a heap uglier gent, Tim- my,” chuckled Saul, his gaze dwelling on that tallform. ‘* You’re a pictur’ 0’ grace, an’ orna- mental ’nough fer to play bean-pole inside a shirt to dry! An’ come to run you over an’ sum ye all up, ef you hed a cleaner face onto ye, an’ didn’t squint quite so bad, an’ was more of a dandy sport an’ high-roller all to onct—waal, it'd make my hovey sweetness rub her pritty peepers twice over to make dead sure it wasn’t me! ‘‘'Yes, your Honor,” shivered the outlaw, frightened more by this grim jesting than he had been by those savage threats, “Pity you wasn’t as cleun an’ honest as you is good fer figger, Timotheus,” added Solemn Saul, picking up the temporarily discarded gag and motioning his captive to open his jaws for its insertion. ‘‘ But mebbe when the new hide grows out all over ye, it’ll change matters fer the better. While I'm gittin’ ready to skin ye, try to hope that much, won’t ye?” He secured the gag, then removed the bonds by which the arms of Pincher were rendered helpless, bidding him slip off his coat and shirt, menacing him with that ugly blade while thus occupied, ; “You kin keep yer britches, Timothy, fer them I’ve got on is pritty much the same color. An’ ef you’]l shet yer peepers fer a breath or two, Pillet yesee how it feels fer a man to look at his own ghost! Dollars to cents you’d feel like scratchin’ *ny ear ef yours eetched!” CHAPTER XXIX. SOLEMN SAUL IN A NEW ROLE. THE gaunt detective slipped off his own outer garments, replacing them by the ones recently worn by Tim Pineber, who was obediently sit- ting with his eyes closed so tightly that it gave his thin face all the appearance of a badly frost- bitten crab-apple. Supplementing these by the flour-sack which he had’ brought with his prisoner, Solemn Saul stood forth a veritable bat in outward sem- blance, the effect by no means lessened as he pee sd appropriated the voice of his captive as well: “ Critter, ef they’s ary mortial disease or the like in your family race an’ gineration that ’d be like fer to disagree with the good health of a Christian Bat when he come to taste the blood 0’ ye, own up right wharye be, an’ save yerself a mighty heap o’ trouble when them cramps an’ retches begin fer to ketch—ow-wow !’ > _ Solemn Saul doubled up like the proverbial jack-knife, clasping both hands across his mid- dle, his tall figure undergoing some of the most | nerve _ entrance to the Den, He tuck the feller by | unless outside aid should come to his relief. ‘* An’ that’s right why you want to do mighty | heap hopin’ that Ja won’t none o’ your feller _ blood-suckers - tumble to my little racket, Tim- othy,” gravely added the disguised detective, still using the tones and manner of bis captive, ** That’s jest wih you want to shoot your pray- ers an’ good wishes an’ the like high up as you _ know how with the clapper o’ ye tied fast. Fer ef anythin’ was to hender my comin’ back this way on the own two legs 0’ me—waal, mebbe lightnin’ "ll strike close enough ‘round here to keep ye from starvin’ to death!” Grim consolation! But "Timothy Pincher | could only sink his teeth deeper into that stout gag, and almost choke himself in the vain effort to sound a plea for mercy. Solemn Saul concealed his own pistols under his loose garments, substituting the tools for- 'merly carried by Pincher, first assuring himself ‘‘ Because it’s Silky Steele, and they're play- working order. ‘“*More fer your sake than my n, mind ye, critter,” he generously explained. ‘‘’Tain’t noways likely your pard’s "ll look so mighty close that they’d notice the difference in guns, but ef they do think that much o’ ye, it'd be a pity fer to give ’em an oneasy start,” With a final test of bis captive’s bonds, Sol- emn Saul left Tim Pincher to his own uneasy company, silently passing from the hill down to the pass, then making bis way toward the secret entrance to the Den occupied by the Bats of Gert Vampire. that they were very fair articles, t in good Ww 6 well knew that discovery of his real char- , acter would mean almost certain death, but that knowledge only seemed to lend him increased and he never once faltered in the line he had blocked out for himself. He could not be sure that Tim Pincher had : not laid a trap for his destruction, despite his apparent terror. There might bea password, without which no true Bat would attempt an If so, and he failed to ut- ter the open sesame, he might be shot down without having the ghost of a chance to defend himself, ‘*That’s the odds I’m playing against,” he grimly reflected, as he began toiling up that steep and winding trail, guided alone by the notes he had taken before the night cast all into gloom, ‘* Butif they give me even the shadow of a show, Captain Vampire will need to eés- tablish a recruiting station before he works any more rackets!” watched the outlaws vanish from sight, the dis- guised detective began groaning and moaning, pausing al every second step to double up, hands clasping his middle like one suffering untold agonies with the colic. ‘* Hello, thar!” came an ugly, menacing voice from the bushes which screened the cave en- trance. ‘* Who's howlin’ like a sick coyote? What in— That you, Pinch?” ‘* What's left—ow-wow!” and Solemn Saul onee more bent double and squirmed like one suffering the tortures of the damned, but secret- ly with his hands each gripping a pistol-butt, ready to draw and fight for his life the instant suspicion should merge into discovery. “ Ef I ever live—whisky, pard, ef you don’t—holy smoke!” ‘** Bin hookin’ green apples, ain’t ye?” laughed the Bat, showing himself through the bushes, seemingly enjoying the ridiculous agony of his mate, ‘' Boys will be boys, but whar you ketched a eae out in this wooden kentry, gits me, bad.” ‘* Wf it only would git—you!” gasped the dis- guised detective, once more doubling over and frantically stamping bis feet. “It’s p’izen— ie that’s what! An”ef—gimme drink, or ‘11 ha’nt you from death to all eternity !" He staggered forward and steadied himself by a fierce clutch on the shoulder of the still laugh- ing outlaw. But the fellow lent him a hand through the bushes, never once suspecting the startling truth. Groaning faintly, but apparently granted a brief respite from his cramping pains, Solemn Saul trusted all to his guide, though he took careful note of each point as they proceeded to the cavern proper. He might have to beat a hasty nded e pas- sage, ‘*How did it ketch ye, pard?’ asked his un- retreat at any moment, when his life de on his knowing each crook and turn in session of his entire being, and he writhed out of the grasp of his guide, staggering blindly to one side, sinking in a shivering heap against the rock wall. The Bat followed him, grave enough now, and fearing that he was acting with even too much realism, Solemn Saul gave a mighty breath of relief, sitting erect as he faintly said: ‘*That was a killer! But—ef you'll jest swing me a bottle this way, pard, mebbe I kin drown’d it out.” ‘Bet ye kin,” laughed the outlaw, meaning- ly. ‘It’s a new wrinkle, Pincher, an’ I'll store it up fer playin’ on the Rang my own self when the drouth gits too mighty bad,” ** Play—ef I could only see ye playin’ it the same way I’ve got to, | do reckon I could kick the bucket a-shoutin’ glory to—” aca a the Bat turned away, to speedily return with a bottle of the longed-for remedy, and his suspicions must have faded as he saw what a mighty draught of the fiery poison the sufferer sent where it might ‘‘do the most ‘Thanks, pard,” gas Solemn Saul as he returned the flask, ‘‘ May ye never want it as bad asI did jest— Durn the thing!” with a faint laugh as bis hands sought his middle with quick pressure. “1 thought she was comin’ back ag’in, double tides!” **Tetch o’ the colic, I reckon,” nodded _ his new-made friend, taking a liberal sample of the medicine himself, possibly as a preventive. ‘A rip-snortin’ old tetch!” groaned Solemn Saul, leaning back against the rocks, seemingly worn out, but in reality making the best possi- ble use of his eyes. ‘‘A tetch big enough to kiver me all over like a sheet ’d kiver a baby bedbug! But— The boss isn’t lookin’, pard- ner?” ‘* He’s back in the parlor, sparkin’ up the gay gal we ketched ‘long o’ that sport, | reckon,” laughed the outlaw in subdued tones as he cast a quick glance around them. ‘“ What makes ye ax, Pinch?” ** Waal, he set me on watch, you know, an’— Is they any more wet left in that bit o’ glass, ard?” almost beseechingly, as he held out a and, ‘*’Pears like Ll feel them p’izen cramps comin’ on an’— I jest knowed it!” Once more, though in a more modest fashion, that internal warfare was renewed, and Solemn Saul played his part so well that the Bat at once thrust the whisky flask into his hands. Sunday made a fair show of imbibing more medicine, but he simply moistened his lips, bis shaking hands causing the contents to gurgle and cluck in a natural manner. He had al- ready swallowed as much of the vile stuff as he dared, “Til lay it up agin’ ye, pard,” he said, earnestly, as he once more resigned the flask in- to its owner’s hands, ‘“ Aw I’m hopin’ the time ish be long comin’ ontel I kin do as much fer you!” **T kin wait,” was the laughing response, as the outlaw rose to his feet. ‘‘Shell I tell the boss you’ve jot ’em too bad fer to keep watch?” * Don’t ye do it, pard!” with sudden eager- ness, “I’m mighty sight better a’ready, an’ I'll soon be able fer to crawl back thar to stick it out ontel my time’s up.” ‘* All right,” nodded theother, ‘* Keep quiet, an’ the boss’ll never know the differ’ atwixt you an’ any o’ the rest, long’s you keep the kiver over your mug.” Solemn Saul made no reply, and the un- suspecting Bat moved away. Already the keen-eyed detective had taken in all points about him, Among them he noticed a human figure seated in a little recess, apparent- ly bound to a point of rock projecting from the wall, and though he could obtain but a partial view from where he sat, Solemn Saul believed this to be bis partner, Dandy Dutch. There were several of the Bats lounging about in the spacious Den, but none of them appeared to have noticed his actions. And trusting that this indifference might continue, Sunday pres- ently ventured to rise to his feet and walk to- ward the prisoner. He quickly saw that his guess was correct, and while leaning against the wall not far from the captive, Saul guardediy spoke: ** Ropes or irons, pard?” Dandy Dutch turned his head swiftly, but made no other sign as he recognized that fa- miliar voice. ‘“Ropes. But you oughtn’t to be here,. mate!” **fam, just the same. Ill free your hands, then leave youa knife to do the rest, Keep ies for a break when I kick up a row, “Don’t think of it!” swiftly, earnestly utter- ed Dandy Dutch. ‘‘ lm safe enough. And [I believe ve got hold of the right end at last! remarkable contortions imaginable. AllT ask is a little more time, and you must | As he drew closer to the point where he had Tim Pincher, who had opened his eyes with a | suspecting guide, as they entered the cavern "hee out just as soon as you can without show- hy start as he heard his own voice addressing him | where the ruddy light of the torches fell across ng you hand.” ; ; from another’s lips, shrunk away as far as his | their rude disguises. ‘Better you come, too!” bonds would permit, one band tugging sharply ** All over, in a turrible hurry,” mumbled ‘““’m going to stick it out, make or break.” | Vm Se m we re ee ee aoe Ah ae Ghooks-com | ong et ih iiaieaaiiio thease dei eae es eee ee “rae , iS 2 a