Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 545 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

8 ES a YS ¢ *s 3 Sot? ha?” Hustler Harry, the Cowboy Sport. @ fully. “If I am to call you Pearl, you must | door was opened, the man passed in so swiftly call me Eric.” She laughed a little, and said: ‘Tt shall be Eric and Pear! then,” ‘¢Those names sound well together,” he as- serted. Then he felt a little alarmed for fear that he had said too much, The girl made no response, and Eric added: that Shark did not get a fair view of him, and once more the door was closed, ‘‘ Well, there,” muttered the detective. “If 1 am not mistaken, ‘have holed my badger! I shall stop right around the mouth of the orifice till he comes forth again.” At that moment the light seemed to suddenly ‘You are indebted for your escape wholly to | vanish from the window. that strange cowboy. tion, the kidnapper might have got away. not claim any honor for the fortunate ending of your very exciting adventure.” ‘“*T am certain that you are too generous, Mr. Craddoc—Eric. Of course I was unable to see what happened. stifling cloth was removed i found myself in your arms,” They soon reached the house, and, as Pearl was still weak from her recent excitement, Eric entered with her. still sitting at bis desk, The mine-owner leaped to his feet as his eyes | fell upon Eric Craddoc. ‘* W hat—what does tliis mean?” he stammered. I do | All I know is that when the | They found Martel Molina | But for his prompt ac- | | As swiftly as possible, Pearl told him what | had happened, not failing to give Eric a fair share of credit for her rescue. Molina was amazed. At first he could hardly credit the story, but his daughter’s earnestness soon convinced him that it was true. ‘*The dastardly ruffian!” cried the alarmed and angered mine-owner, ‘* He shall be cap- tured and punished, [ will offer a reward for his apprehension.” Then in a cold, formal way he thanked Eric for what he had done, and bade him good-night. The young man was quite chilled by Molina’s manner and at onve took his departure. He was cheered however by a parting word, a smile | and a soft hand-pressure from Pearl, CHAPTER VIII ‘ THE CABIN AGAINST THE CLIFF. WHEN. Hustler Harry shot out the lights of the saloon, Old Shark, the Shadow, lay upon his back on tne floor. Ere he could hur! aside the table and regain his feet the place was in dark- ness. ‘“‘He will make a break for the door to es- cape before the place is lighted again,” thought the detective. ‘*Am [ to be baffled at the very moment when I should be putting the irons on the fellow?” This was a natural conclusion, but, Dan Shark misjudged his man. Carefully avoiding those who were rushing | around in the darkness, the detective made his | way toward the door. By the light of the red | “What's up?’ Shark asked himself, with some curiosity. ‘“*1 will go forward and in- vestigate.” But, even as he started forward, he could not repress a slight shiver as he thought that it was »0ssible he had been detected by the man he ad followed. Perhaps the fellow was laying behind those walls, peering forth from a loop- hole with 4 rifle at his shoulder, ready to send a ball through his tracker when the right time came, Cautiously Old Shark crept forward. When he came nearer to the cabin, he discovered that the light within bad not been extinguished, but that a heavy curtain had been drawn across the | little window. He drew a breath of relief as he noted this, Soon he reached the cabin. With a revolver in his hand he crouched near the door and lis- tened. He heard a crooning sound as of some person singing softly. ‘“*T would give something to peer into this hut,” declared the detective, to himself, ‘I wonder if there is not anotber window?’ He passed around one corner and examined the wall, but found nothing to reward him for his trouble, ‘* Well, [ will examine tbe other side,” He cautiously retraced his steps, taking care not to be observed skulking around the place, lt was well that he did so, for as he peered | through the darkness toward the camp, he fan- cied he caught the outlines of an approaching form. Quickly be skurried around the corner and. crouched close to the ground, gazing keenly through the darkness. He was not deceived. Some one was, indeed, approaching. The tread of beavy feet came to Old Shark’s ears, and soon he plainly saw the dark form of aman. The unknown advanced straight to the dvor of the cabin. Listening, the detective heard the same pe- culiar knock given by the other man, at first. Then a voice, evidently that of an old woman, demanded: ‘* Who is there?” The man crouching beside the cabin took note of the reply. It was four distinct raps. The door creaked a little as it swung open, and lobe without he saw several forms dash out | the woman’s voice said: into the street, One of them he felt sure was his man, Ere he passed out beneath that red light he | ‘*Ainter, Number Four!” ‘* Well, this is beginnin ing,” softly observed the detective. to become interest- ‘*T am real- paused an instant, instinctively, What if Jack , ly beginning to enjoy it.” Tackaloo was out there in the darkness waiting for him to appear—waiting witb a revolver in his hand? ‘*The wretch will shoot to kill,” he confessed; ‘but I must take my chances. This is a chance game, anyway, but I’ve pulled through so far, I have pulled down many men fully as desper- ate as this Tackaloo,” With his own hand on a revolver, he hurried out. He did not pause within the circle of light, but hastened onward into the darkness. A light shone from a little shop window some distance down the street, and revealed to the detective a passing form, ‘‘“My game!” breathed Shark, exultantly. ““T was right,” But be had been deceived by a general re- semblance, Like a shadow, indeed, the famous detective glided along, following the dark form ahead. . “He is p eying right into my hand,” mut- tered Shark. “If Iam not mistaken he has friends in this camp, although he pretends to be a stranger. He may have been living here in this place for some time asacommon miner, only to suddenly doff that disguise and assume the character of a cowboy,” Onward went the detective, keeping that dark form in view. The: man ahead seemed to avoid the shanty lights as much as possible. Out beyond the thickest of the slab buildings went the two men. Toward the cut that led out of the pocket at the south they moved, The detective saw the light which shone from the window of the cabin at the foot of the cliff and noticed that the man he was following seemed to be aiming straight for that point. Several times the man in advance glanced around in a suspicious manner, and had not Old Shark been keenly on the alert, he would surely have been detected, Each time the experienced shadower sunk silently to the ground. Tbe detective began to feel a strange curi- | He arose to bis feet and looked for the win- dow. He found it with little difficulty, but to his disappointment, it was closely curtained like the other. Suddenly back in the camp he heard excited voices, then two wild yells, followed a moment later by two pistol-shots, with a brief interval between them. ‘* Something bas broken loose there,” thought Old Shark, as he again crouched close to the ground and listened, A few moments later the sound of a swiftly galloping horse came to bis ears, ‘The animai is coming this way,” muttered the man beside the cabin. He was right, Dcwu the street came the fly- ing horse, and a few seconds later Old Shark saw the animal as it swept past and disappeared into the black darkness of the cut. lt was riderless! ‘+ A runaway,” was the detective’s mental de- cision, He little dreamed that a few seconds before Hustler Harry had bestrode that very horse, After listenmg a few moments more, Old Shark began to search for a crack or knot-bole through which he could obtain a view of the in- terior of the cabin. To his satisfaction, he soon discovered a tiny crack well down toward the ground, A small ray of light shone out through this rent, causing Old Shark to breathe an ex- clamation of pleasure. An instant later he was peering into the room. t pee The shanty was divided by a partition and the front room contained the light. To the detec- tive’s surprise, neither of the two men who had entered the place were in thatroom, An old woman was there moving about in a manner pate soon convinced the spy that she was ind, While Old Shark was peering through the | erack there came another knock on the door, | osity in the movements of the man he was pur- | suing. He hardly knew whether to close in with him and attempt his capture or not. While he was in doubt, the fellow reached the cabin door. Once more he looked back toward the camp, then he turned and rapped softly on the door in a peculiar manner. There was &@ moment’s pause, then the man rapped again, but differently than at first. The | } | With outstretched hands the woman advauced to the door and demanded: ** Who is there?” Listening, the detective heard eight distinct raps, The woman opened the door and @ man _ step- ped into the room. When she closed and fas- tened the door, he said: ‘* Where are my brothers?” The woman replied: ? Many of them are within the council-cham- r ? Then the man crossed the floor, opened the door which was set in the partition between the oat rooms, passed on and the door closed behind im, . ‘‘ Well, the interest deepens,’ was the watcher’s softly whispered observation. ‘I have struck a full-grown mystery here, and f am going to sift it to the bottom as sure as my name is Dan Shark. ‘‘ Where have those fellows gone? Are they within that small back room, or have they gone further? Lam willing to beta little that they have gone further. If I am right, then this cabin must conceal an opening—tbe mouth of a cave—in the face of the cliff. ‘* Who are they and why do they meet here? I have been in Cimarron City less than forty- eight hours, yet I have heard of a strange secret league called the Brothers of the Red Heart. If Iam not greatly mistaken, I bave discovered the entrance to the secret retreat of this brother- hood, which is said to be composed of many of the prominent men of the camp. The Brothers of the Red Heart make the laws of Cimarron and run things pretty much as they choose, ** Jack Tackaloo entered this cabin. Then he must belong to this league. I may find my hands full in attempting to take bim in out of the wet.” ~ Another knock sounded on the door, and after the usual inquiry and response, the mun was admitted. Old Shark observed that after the woman’s question: ‘‘ Who is there?” the fellow rapped five times, ‘“T see the idea,” thought the spy. ‘“ Hach man is numbered and raps bis number.” He crept forward to the corner of tbe cabin, and lay close to the ground in such a position that he could see every dark form that entered, His mind was busy, and he almost spoke aloud a sudden question that came to him, ‘*Ts there connection between that mark on Jack Tackaloo’s arm and this strangely-named league? Why not? Tbe Brothers of the Red Heart. There isa crimson heart-shaped birth- mark on Tackaloo’s left wrist. To me it seems significant.” . Anotber dark form appeared and wrapped on the door, Then came the usual question follow- ed by two raps. ‘‘There muss be special business on band to call them in,” thought Shark. ‘Still they come.” Another appeared and was admitted after rapping eleven times. For nearly an hour they continued to come at irregular intervals, The detective made a mental note of every number rapped and found that eleven men had entered the @abin, using the numbers up to thirteen, with the exception of nine and twelve. Although he waited for a long time neither of these num- bers were rapped upon the door, Old Stark made a sudden resolution, ‘Tam going to attempt to go in there!” he declared, decisively. ‘*1 will use one of the numbers that I have not heard. I may fail, for the men bearing those numbers may entered ere I followed Jack Tackaloo to this spot. lf Iam lucky, I think I can deceive that old blind woman,” He wasted no time in hestation, but advanced boldly upon the door and rapped upon it. CHAPTER IX. THE BROTHERS OF THE RED HEART, Ir was a bold move, indeed, and one which no common man would have dared to make. But Dan Sbark was nota common man. With him action swiftly followed thought, and he seldom regretted his moves, When he rapped on the door, he imitated the knock which he had heard each man give. A moment later the old woman demanded: ** Who is there?” Then Old Shark rapped nine times. Almost immediately the the door swung open and the woman said in a low tone: ‘Enter, Number Nine.” The detective did not hesitate to obey, and the woman closed the door behind him. When this wus done, she turned and seemed to stare in- Sa at him. Despite the fact that Old bark was quite positive that the woman was blind, he could not repress a slight start as she seemed to peer at bim in that sharp, inquiring way. He realized that he must say something, and so, clearing bis throat, repeated the ques- tion that be had heard the others ask, disguis- ing his voice: ‘* Where are my brothers?” The old woman’s sightless eyes seemed to sean him still more closely, and for a moment the detective almost fancied that she could see, Finally she said: i ‘Your voice is very hoarse to-night, Number Nine.” Old Shark gave utterance to an impatient growl and strvde across the floor to the door of the back room. Instead of exciting the old woman’s suspicion, this act seemed to allay it, In fact, the detective bad acted his part bet- ter than he knew, for ‘‘ Number Nine” was an impatient, surly fellow. have © "Eom S, Ehooksxe ) , i : - :* ’ » > . - be /