Pluck And Luck (no. 91) (1900 02 28)
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Issued Weckiy—By Subscription $2. 50 per year. November 7, 1898. of Congress, Washington, D. C., No. oI. CHAPTER I. . THE DEAD MAN. “No, Jerry, I would not go near it.” “a 97? “Because the house I believe to be haunted.” . "Oh, nonsense! Don’t old Sol Barksdale live there?” pee “Well, what if he does? He’s a miser, as everybody says, and some believe he’s a wizard.” “A wizard! Why, Henry Larkmore! good one.” vA : > “Well, now, you can, just laugh as much as you please, but those who haye passed the house after dark have heard: un- earthly sounds and seen unearthly sights. The Red House is a place everybody in, the village avoids.” “Well, Henry, you people who live in this out-of-the-way, village have a deal more superstition than I gave you credit for.” _ “But, Jerry, suppose you ‘were passing a Tone red house on Ha! ha! ha! That’s a the bluff where nobody but this crooked old Sol lived; suppose | you were to hear yells that were ten times louder. than a hu- “man voice and see every window in the house lit up in a second by the whitest, clearest light you ever saw—just such a glare sometimes may be faintly seen above the graveyards, what the school teacher calls phosphorescence—and you could hear Baie blows of iron and curses that would make your d run cold, what would you do?” 5 Do! I’d walk right in and see Ike was the ro Mh, Well, ca guess Aes wouldn't.” Entered as Second Class Matter atthe New York, antered accordin ig to Act of Congress, in the year 1900, in the office of the by Frank Tousey, 24 Union Square, New York. NEW YORK, February The Mystery of Dead Man’s Bluff. — BY JAS. C. Complete Stories of Adventure. Yin T iiirion Post Office, 28, 1900. MERRITT. i cs { . They were on their way home and but a short distance from 5 what had always been known as the Red House on the Bluff. The Red House had long been a mystery to the good people of Millbrook. | The inhabitants hardly knew whether to term the place haunted or bewitched. Old Barksdale was a fair representative of Hertzoff, the necromancer of the Black Crook. He could very easily be imagined to be a wizard or one who dealt only with the dark and mysterious. He was reputed to be familiar, with the black art by the: more superstitious, but only supposed to be\a crabbed old miser by’ the more intelligent inhabitants of Millbrook. Bee Nick Blumer, a carpenter, who had made some repairs on the Red House, said that the walls were covered with the most | weird, most singular pictures mortal man ever beheld. There were pjetures there, Nick declared, with eyes so hu- | man you could see them sparkle. He said they smiled and grinned at him in a most hideous manner from the dark walls, but the moment he ie them they became only paintings on canvas. which had stood time out of mind on the bluff. It was made of a peculiar red granite indigenous to the neighborhood. Its present occupant was but little seen in the village and | was reputed to live alone. When he made rare visits to the village he never talked about himself or how he lived, He was supposed to Doseaee untold treasures in 5 hous on the bluff. The house was situated only about fifty feet from ee eae + |of the bluff, in the midst of a grave of poplar, cedar and fir _ytrees. } speakers | were two ‘outta of ve sears of age. Hach carried da game pouch slung about : the “river. : 2 arkmore lived in the village of Viet and Jerry had come out to pay him a visit. Jerry’ lived in great cities of the Hast, but had_ been wien: versit; jak be depen three. years. sf _ Whether these ‘trees had been planted or were a natura’ grow th, no one knew toa certainty. They had been there S gince the house had been built, and that was long before t oldest inhabitant of Millbrook was born. "There were but five acres of land connected with, ‘the | ed ‘House, and all of this was surrounded by a stone wall about four feet high, with an iron picket fence on top. | ; This wall ran on the edge of the bluff, one hun | above the river, which flowed below. © | The whole had about wu an oe Ya The The Red House was a very large old-fashioned structure, — k Sitionan waste fr Ly aa ai Shier Swe o nae tab i BS insane em
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Complete ‘Stories of Adventure. Issued els i y Subscription $2. 50 per year, November 7, 1898. _ of Congress, Washington, D. 0., No. 91. Entered as Second Class Matter at,the New York, N. Y., Untered according e Act of Congress, in the year 1900, in the office of the Librarian by Frank Tousey, 24 Union Bquare, New Kk. NEW YORK, February 28, 1900. Post Office, Yor Price 5 Cents. : i THE RED HOUSE; ¥ OR, ; } The Mystery of Dead [Man's Bluff. BY JAS. ©. MERRITT. CHAPTER I. THE DEAD MAN. ere a miser, as oversbody says, nry Larkmiore! Ha! ha! ‘ha! ‘That's a just Aaieh as much as you please, but | an Tne. passed the house after dark have heard: un- mds and seei unearthly sights. The Red House is} Fe ‘Henry, you people who live in this out-of-the-way, ; ave “a deal more superstition than I gave you credit ut, Jerry, suppose ‘you vere passing a ‘Tone red house on uff where nobody. but “eel vous a were S 1c uder than a hu- | of a peculiar r at | was rep ed to li es ‘old Sol lived; “suppose | i : Baker, They were on their ° way home and but a ahead distance trom what had always been known as the Red House on the Bluff. The Red House had long been a inystery to the: Boom peopl of Millbrook. — The inhabitants : ‘hardly knew whether to term the plac haunted or bewitched. Old Barksdale was a fair representative of Hertzoft, ‘th necromancer of the Black Crook. He could very easily imagined to be a wizard or one who dealt only wi the and mysterious. He was reputed to be’ familiar with’ the black art more superstitious, but only supposed to be\a crabbed miser by’the more intelligent inhabitants of Millbrook. Nick Blumer, a. earpenter, who had made some repa’ the Red House, said that the walls were covered with the most _ weird, most singular pictures mortal man ever beheld. There were pjctures there, Nick declared, with eyes So man you could see them sparkle. He said they smiled and grinned at him in a haat manner from the. dark ‘walls, but the moment. he app ‘them they became only paintings on canvas. =. > The Red House was a very large Peirce i which had si att time out of mind on the bluff. 1 ed granite indigenous to the coleiethee : ‘Its present “oooupant was but little seen in the villag ve r nade rare visits village he never talked about bim or how he lived, ‘He was supposed Se pee uni old ee in his age | on the bint. id ; igs k was born, of land connected \ded b
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THE = HOUSE. ee OS .Some care had been used by the occupant as to. the place. “He had the trees trimmed, he had the lawn mowed, but only once a year. _ The place usually. wore a deserted and somewhat neglected - appearance. How old Sol, as he was called, employed his time no one - knew. _ He was inside his house most of the time. The few curious \visitors who had ventured inside the lawn (the front gate was frequently left open) seldom saw him. Some-said that the interior of this house was a workshop; that he was always busy at a ‘forge or anvil,. doing no one knew what. i ' Some man, a wag Of the village, suggested that he was mak- ing flies under the employ and supervision of the arch enemy of man. All this was rumor, and no one put much confidence in it. It was just dusk when the two boys arrived at the place where ‘the two paths in the forest separated, one going direct _ to Millbrook and the other by the Red House on the bluff. “Let’s go by it,” said Jerry. . “What, the Red House?” asked Henry. Ven! . ' “Not much, this late.” : “Why, Henry, are you afraid?” — “Well, I don’t kuow what you might call it,” said Henry, with something very like a shudder, “but I don’t care about going near the Red House after dark.” “T tell you, I’ve a curiosity to see the place,” said Jerry. “Well, you’d better take daylight for it.” . “No. I’m going to see it by night.” i “Well, Jerry, you’ll have to g0 alone.” . “Why?” 5y “I'm going the direct road to Millbrook.” “Fa! ha! ha, Henry, ; declare 1 believe you are turning ‘coward.” Henry shrugged his anoles and after a ‘moment’s re- | flection answered: . “You can form your own opinion 0’ me, ors A don’t want to form the acquaintance o’ the proprietor o’ that branch of- fice of Hades after night. The fact is, I want to go home.” “Well, if you won't go with me, I'll go alone,” said Jerry, with a laugh, as he started down the dark, narrow path which ‘led by the famous Red House. fi Jerry whistled a merry tune, just as hoys do when they pass graveyards after night. He was not afraid, no, not he, yet he ‘quickened his step when he came near hi place and was pre- ‘pared to hurry by. - Henry, his companion, had gone on to the village and he alone. “Although: Jerry would not admit that he was in the least “his heart, as if it would break through its walls. ‘The ‘great Red House at last loomed up, surrounded by its dark stone walls and forest trees. The gables looked quaint and ghost-like, with a small light burning ineach, Suddenly the air was rent with a most terrific shriek. Traitor!” came a hissing voice, right either he the house lawn, Jerry could not tell which. ; (eel, Ty: help!” came a cry. rece Ms “ “Die! 8 “Oh, Goa!” ‘groaned Jerry, and the intettetied boy sank or. t seemed to him at this. moment. the Syitole place was | lighted up by a ae far more brilliant than the fercest rays of the RTS Laie a corewine in the rock. ‘composing. the stone fence Sate a glimpse of gigantic figures with horrid masks, and struggling about. : were long/flashing daggers in their hands and the : oe hey uttered were bloodeurdling. bie : ; cowering | em was seen running sbote Mad don!” came the wailing tones, and an old man white locks ae on his knees at the feet. of one of _| asked. } ‘| by an eager and excited group. but I concluded I’d come the straight road home.” | seen and heard. ‘save the man who was killed.” ; lage blacksmith. frightened, yet he could not account for the wild thumping of |. hi 3 ter a little,” answered the village squire, who, among ot! had been attracted to the tavern to hear the boy’s story. | looked into, but there is no need of any hurry about é beyond a doubt, some practical joke old Sol has been pl i constable. up there tonight; Pll insure you that all right in the morning, and when questioned concern! a freak, he will say that ther would rival the seven sleepers,” said Jerry. which the villagers were inclined to make sport of his terra House. me bluff near the house.” The Red House seemed just the same as usual. There was no change; it remained dark and glooiny. Jerry Waited for a few moments and then began to creep tf along the path which led past the house to the village. — ’ When opposite the gate he stuinbled over some object; stooping, he felt to his horror a dead body still warm and bleeding from numerous siabs. 4 With a cry of horror, the boy ran with all his strength to — the village, where he told (as soon as he recovered breath and courage to do so), that there was a dead man on the bluif, in front of the Red House, CHAPTER II. A HAUNTED HOUSE. The village of Millbrook was all excitement at the strange story Jerry Blackman had to iell. oul “Did ye say a murder had been | done there?” Nick Blumer “Ves.” tee “Who was killed?” Ee “T don’t know, but think it was the old man himself.” “Old Sol Barksdale?” Jerry nodded and trembled as he thought, of his late fers rible experience. raat “T don’t think old Nick kin spare him foe bald ci said Blumer. Ps The boy was in the barroom of the villag ge tavern, i dnebandea “Yhere’s no murder in it,” said Henry Larkmore, why had | now come up. “It’s jest the way things been goin’ on there + all the time.” i “Wasn't you with him, Henry?” asked the landlord. “No. ” “Why, I thought youttwo went out together?” “So we did. We've been hunting all day together, but when we came back J erry wanted to come round by the house, : “How did it all happen?” asked Nick Blumer of Jerry, who a was somewhat recovered. 7 Jerry then, in‘as few words as possible, stated what he ha “How many persons did you see about the Red House?” . “Five or six figures, though none of them looked like men ; “What were they, then?” 7 “Demons.” “They’re wraiths, hoatey goblins,” said Neil Otis, tidy “I don’t think anybody is killed,” said the landlord. | “Nevertheless, it would be well enough to look into the “Oh, of course, of course,” said Nick Blumer; “ht pi: “In the morning will be plenty et time,” said Patton ; “Oh, yes,” said Blumer, “nobody one be idiot enoug! ou will find of ‘was nothing of the kind.’ “1f he could sleep throug: such horrid sounds as Dh Ya The boy did not feel altogether pleasant ee the manner i He offered to head an expedition and ‘return to” the The dead man is there,” he cata “You will find his on ie, ‘As no one lives” ea ee old Sol, 2 said Nick, “and ldn’t be pulled out o ie house at ‘this hour wither T guess oa dead Beit will stay. there until mo ! d that at dawn the constable, squire an go up to —_ Red House ¢ on the blutt and see dese dozen: ee sina a long th at the tavern waiti
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=| Reauing streaked with the PRE and said she knew no reason for waiting longer. _ “Go ahead, then,” said Nick, nodding to Jerry. your corpse.” c Jerry started, followed by the others, who chaffed him all the . Way up the hill. The Red House was almost a mile from the village, and being rather out of the way, was seldom visited. There were those who lived in Millbrook who had never heard of the rumored wild orgies carried on almost nightly at the place. _ Millbrook River ran past the village and made a bend,’ leay- - ing the Red House on a kind of a promontory. Tt was still dark and the eyes of the men full of sleep as they began to climb the loug slope. “Show us Nick Blumer to Jerry. “Go ahead, my boy,” he said, “show us yer goblin and we'll - make mince-meat of him.” “You will see soon enough for your own nerves,” said Jerry. The great house, with ils quaint gables, now loomed up to view. How somber and gloomy in the cold gray twilight it looked. A chill seemed to come over every heart and each man in- voluntarily paused when the house burst into view. 5; For only a moment did they stand.and gaze in awe upon the great pile and then at a word from the squire they moved on. a “Now where is it?” asked Ni€k, in a whisper, as they reached fence. “There,” said Jerry, pointing along the path. .-. Every eye was turned in the direction indicated by the you h’s finger. Sure enough, there in the cold, gray. twilight, wet with dew, | lay an object. ; A dark, ghostly object. " or a moment the men.paused terror-stricken. Then the 7 who was the oldest, advanced toward it. is a man who lay just as he had evidently fallen upon \" = could haye done it?” t query. A may Btery: too deep to be fathomed in a ; theory was soon formed. Robbers had attacked the miser’s house and stabbed the old man just.as Jerry was pass- ine. Phat he, Possessed with a wild terror, had fled to the Fea to come. ae Leite around the dead ‘body and waited: until the ) aie Jerry and “Henry found the walls lined with pic- ures, as Nick Blumer had stated. a ‘The paintings were principally portraits containing the = usts ‘of men and Henry declared. that. he saw the eyes of one nk. But A on close inspection he could not but admit that g but a very neatly painted portrait, the house extended back to the bluff and the K opening out to the river was. raised. ; ere 7 was a rope fastened to a portion of the window and let quite ‘to ‘the water’ 8, edge. ds the’ squire. ning vai showed that the house hed: Buen ianaarel of every: | ; val but. no minthier trace of the Noes pene cone be) was held on the dead body an¢ cecatic’ by the dark and cree is the murder itself. — ad up. was Aacianioe iy a singular light burnir i ables. s tar and, feathers oe it mean?” CUM, BUD: MOURN. oe Ne re ee SRE el SEO ee ER Bt I SL eT Se TS eo te es The group was silent, save an occasional word spoken by: _ the crest of the hill and paused at one corner of the stone wall Without | ‘a doubt the ‘thurderers escaped by the window, Men | somewhat eagerly. is | and once more proposed to go for the landl ng to. pass | ' The house was haunted—he was sure of it, and, taking a few friends in his confidence, he told them what he had seen. Patton, the constable, and Otis, the blacksmith, agreed to. watch the haunted house with him. The next night they were | there, but nothing transpired. A second and third night passed without anything more than ordinary being discovered. But on the fourth night the house, from cellar to garret, was suddenly lit up with that awful unearthly glare, and oo so horrible as to aimost freeze their blood, filled the air. For a moment the trio stood petrified and then Nick Blumer drew his revolver. The others snatched their pistols also. Seized by a wild frenzy, the three men discharged each a shot into the house. “Charge,” shouted Nick,.and all three dashed pell mell for- ward in the darkness. The inysterious light had disappeared at the report of the first pistol and when the house was reached it was deserted and dark as a dungeon. Z . “The place is haunted,” said the constable. ‘“Let’s leave the accursed ground, for we are in the land of the immortal.” They lost no time in making tracks back toward the village, CHAPTER IIT. | LIVING PICTURES. The murder at the Red House, or the the mystery of Dead Man’s Bluff, as it was termed, drove the officers of the neigh- oe boring towns and cities almost frantic. : Be Harry Grinell was a young detective, who had already won | ; a considerable reputation. He was a’member of Allen Pinker- * “a | ton’s force and was despatched westward to solye the mystery © which was driving the good people of Millbrook wild. Harry was a daring young fellow, not to exceed twenty- -flve- or six years of age, but one who had had a world of experience in dealing with criminals. He could be relied on for courage and shrewdness and ham was no man on the force who had a clearer head than he, 43d Harry pretended to have come to Millbrook on entirely dit- ferent business from that which was his real object. He put up at the tavern and announced to the landlord that — he intended to stay a few days and look about. Villiage land- lords are not good at zeepine secrets and first-class at jumping ‘ | at conclusions. , : Almost instantly every villager knew that the young stranger was a speculator or a manufacturer, who had come to Mill- brook with the intention of starting some sort of a manufac: turing establishment. On the evening after his arrival he was standing on the porch of the tavern when the great stage coach rolled in. “There may be something here to Begin with,” thought the detective. “I will see.” The only person who alighted was a young lady strangely beautiful, with large dark-gray eyes, beautifully gg eye: brows and dark hair. — ‘She cast an eager look about and then came directly forward to where young Grinell Stood. : “l beg your pardon, sir,’ she said, in a voice whose sweet: music seemed to ihrill the soul of the. young detective. “Are you the landlord?” “No, miss, only a guest,” said the detective. Anxious to be of service, he added: “I will cali the har ata if you wish,’ str “This is Millbrook, is it not?” she asked. : “Yes, miss." ; “Oh, then I must be right; but he promised ‘ meet me he 'and why has he not come?” “Who are you expecting, miss?” asked the young detective “My—ny father,” she answer ed ‘gomew hat. hesitatingly. the’ been here?” “What is his name?—though, perhaps, you had better, sult with the landlord, as I am alinost a stranger.” si ‘Harry determined to know the nanie of this strange. gue d. “You may, if you please,” said the young girl, who geem be pausing between. two desires. One, to re-enter th ‘the other to remain at the tavern. : eet Loe as Harry turned to enter the ‘house for the. nd
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THR “Ti ig; Nathan Buits’.” “Are you Mr., Butts?” ~ baat § am. 2 |. _ “Then I guess I will Stay. He told me ‘to Hee here for him, if he did not meet me.’ -’ The keen’ eye of the shrewd detective had “observed strange glances passing between old Nathan Butts and his young guest, yet he paid but little attention to it at that time. ‘The jandlord showed the young lady to her room and then came out to tell the stage drivers there w as no one to go away Rae day. The stage rolled off up the hill and the landlord and our isto were jeft alone on the long porch in front of the tavern. “What large house is that up on the bluff?” Harry asked. xe ‘The landlord glanced at him keenly for a moment before an- swering. ‘There was something peculiar in that glance and Harry could not at the time understand it. bs ' The landlord recovered himself almost instantly and sdid: _ "That’s the Red House on Dead Man’s Bluff.” . “Why do you call it Dead Man’s Bluff?’ asked Harry, with i perfect innocence and unconcern in his manner. - » “Tt is because the owner of the house was killed there a few eaaiee ago.” 4 “Who lives there now?” “No one.” _ “Who killed the owner?” ; “That's a mystery, sir, we can't] none o’ us solve,” and the ~ Jandlord; who seemed somewhat reticent on the subject, re- tired in the house to attend to his affairs. Satie wandered about the village and see A dropped into a sa oon. ' There were a few customers at the bar and over their glasses ot oad were discussing the very wis which interested the de- tive most. “Ty tell ye, the ‘place is ha’ nted,” said one who, by his Aga ce/and watery eyes, was evidently half intoxicated. ; ‘Hanted? iow d’ye know?”. asked another, ; Cos I’ve come by there o’ nights and. I “heerd jest sich sereamin’ and yellin’ and seen siclt sights as never ‘mortal eyes beheld afore.” ~ f \ “Well, “now, warn’t them sights seen ane them sounds heerd bea tho ‘old Sol was: ‘killed?”” bs eR: ‘Didn’ t never anybody go in to see » what it was?” “No; Nick Blumer an’ some o’ ’em tried ‘to once, but it was | all ‘gone the minnit they started toward the house. 4 3 ‘ wry Grin he mystery of the Red House and ‘paused at the bar to “what the men were saying: They observed tHe pres- |, . Y ‘a i eg your pardon,” said the detective, carcleasty, “but I am ‘™my presence interrupt you.” ext 16 narrator | was still ‘silent and looked sor ewhat g oe uw not lave something, gentlemen?” said the detec ‘owd; hoping to win their favor. — e of the narrator brightened in a ‘moment. Chie ah ’ After treating a time or two, arabe had one ies by a shrewd, sure to dr Rind "ESS oe h | yell in. dist er. part: re t Bs t “ ED HOUSE. thought that he might gain some information } a stranger and became silent, perhaps out of Hespent: That’ interested, in this story you are baying? Do fir ee ae “Eyerybody? Did you ever see a man who had seen the in- terior of the house?” “T’ve. seen it myself.” “Will you give me a description of it?” r “Im course I will,” and then he proceeded to give as com: plete a description of the house as he could. Harry paid particular attention to what he said, storing up the knowledge for future use. The next day he set out for the Red House. ‘He never in- formed any one of his design, for Harry Grinell seldom told any one of his designs. On reaching the house, he found the gate closed, but not — 1 j ; locked. He paused a few moments and gazed up at the gloomy — , old building. It was certainly not prepossessing in appear- — ance. “Well, if there is a place on earth which is haunted, I would — say it was this spot,” said Harry, walking toward the rica front door. “I wonder if it is locked?” He tried the great hall deor and found it locked, but he had provided himself for such a contingency. Drawing some skele- ton keys, he was not long in finding one which fitted the lock. — Throwing back the bolt, he pushed the door open and en- tered. } There was a noise from within the building, like the scam pering of many feet. - : “Rats,” said the detective, o struck his cane upon ‘th floor to see if he could hear inet again. . : He passed down a long hall with reoms upon each side. “T wonder where the wonderful art gallery is?” he ‘said, as he stood gazing at the various doors. » He tried first one door and then another without effect. AN > were locked, but by the use of his skeleton keys he was en: abled to open them. He felt the close, bad air eee in his — face as he opened one after another. fe At last he came to a long room, and, on glancing: in, saw fi that its walls were covered with pictures, : There “were rare paintings and grand old portraits of by- “gone generals, states . men and celebrities. ; The room was dark and in order to get a better “hiss Harry stepped to a window and threw open a shutter. fet - A flood of light streamed in. 7. Bs i “Old $ol. must have had a mania for Pletures” said the young detective, as he gazed: in amazement on them. - He could not have been so much of a miser after all, for he has. a perfect wealth of pictures. He iste ae been ingen tg i 4a hermit instead ofa atmiser.’ feo 2 | lifelike as to completely pale im. : They were merely the heads and busts of: the men h ‘the shoulders and part of the arms. — “Wonderful, wonderful,” said the yor fore the portraits. | “Those. 2} must be the ‘wonder! “pictures I heardia ve, 1 thought I saw that eye sparkle. Can t be Sey ; | He seemed to. feel an. uneasiness about ‘him as he ‘gazed « on those pictures, “Great ewes he gasped, Ni tende ight\cocked revolvers were simultan
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Shae a a Pane ahh Gece Ae ep MOUSE. fac Cie | ae - “What shall I do?” he gasped, addressing the inquiry more _ to himself than to any one else. '. heard him, and again in concert answered: “Surrender without a struggle if you would live.” Behind the detective stood a large piece of statuary. He had glanced at it upon entering and duly observed that it ‘was life-size, or perhaps larger than life-size. Now, to his surprise and horror, the statue actually de- _ scended from the block of stone on which it had apparently stood for centuries and walked across the floor and disarmed him. ¢ “Great God! what horrid hole is this I am in,” groaned the is detective, “that paintings hold revolvers and statuary walks?” ‘He did not notice that the statuary was only a hard kind of paper, doubtless hollow, inside of which was a man. 3 Harry Grinell was brave as a lion, and had he been con- fronted by half 4 dozen ordinary mortals he would have sold his life dearly, and died berore he would have surrendered. But this was such an amazing surprise. To find oil paintings _ assume life-like appearance, to speak and threaten him with ‘death, was enough to confuse and unman the best. - Then that a piece of statuary, apparently solid stone, should become life-like and walk, no wonder he was unnerved. +. The hair upon the head of our friend seemed to start up on , ‘end. He was more amazed than frightened. Ms His limbs seemed powerless and he was as motionless as if we “he had suddenly become petrified. While standing thus a coil of rope, seeming to drop from ay ‘the ceiling, fell about his shoulders, pinioning his arms com- _ pletely at his side. The hand that threw the rope was invisible ms and he was a pinioned prisoner before he knew it. . By some strange movement of the cord thrown about him, his arms were drawn down close about his body, and he found th ‘ a them drawn behind mig and held ‘so firmly that he was im- | _ movable. “Then the arms which held the evden were slowly and earetully drawn back into the canvas. In fact, they seemed to| fade away until nothing but the canvas remained. BI _ Never were more harmless or natural portrait paintings seen than those upon the wall. The detective would have believed it all a dream had noi his hands been so firmly bound behind him, that he fully realized he was a Cire in reality. | paintings: and he could not see where those arms ding the deadly. revolvers’ came from. The eyes, which a moment before had sparkled with, life and hatred, were only ‘paintings. oe oe which had moved and spoken. such terrible lieve that he had seen it walk like a living being. as he stood wondering, looking, doubting and fearing, Hoar’ ‘began to sink beneath him. | slowly and surely it went down, down, one eerryine him | th t until he had sunk fully two feet, When he found him- spended. The floor glided away out of sight and he elt himself lowered down, down, ‘down, until the 1 with its wonderful living pictures and | statuary, ere Shite ‘ ject was to secure him without injury. What were the thoughts that surged the ‘mind of the ae: tive? We can only surmise, dear ‘reader, and leave you to t is beyond the powers of the pen to describe, s, with naught but blacknéss above and below, the ed impregnated with the presence. of ‘demons, til Pa _ Suspended by _the body, he was let down Then the ropes see: ; ove by. unseen hands. The floor above glid ; P was Lssietane el and But those living paintings ‘of the grotesque and ugly. i een eg was motionless as stone ant he could hardly. ver a dark pit beneath. There seemed no bottom to; e was in utter darkness. Down, down, town he oor ru ‘if falling, but slowly a carefully, as if the seemed to stand still, and as he swung suspended in|) he found that it was useless, when he} Soon his eyes saw a:light in the distance. One of those peculiar red lights, seen only in mines or underground tunnels. Then before him loomed up the form of a man. He was gi- gantic in size and wore a horrid mask on his face. It was the head of a lion, and, in fact, he seemed a lion standing erect. © In one paw-like hand he held a long spear, while on his head — was a burning lamp, used by miners, which is fastened in the hat. At his waist was a belt which bristled lth: revolvers. Another and another of these horrid sentries ‘was passed. Each was disguised and masked as some ferocious animal and each bore in his Hand the long spear and upon his head the Jamp.’ Day and night were the same im the cavern of eternal dark- ness. x “How will this end? ?’ the detective asked himself. It could end but one way and that in his death. Saat Suddenly the car stopped before a door. In the passage — where it stopped all was darkness, yet his eyes having become partially accustomed to it, he could make out the outlines of some figures near. The door was suddenly thrown open and the prisoner. felt himself pushed forward, feet foremost, into a room which was ablaze with light. For a few moments he was nial See to keep his eyes closed, so brilliant was the light. 4 “Lift him to his feet!” said a stern, deep voice. He telt himself raised to his feet. Fa As soon as he became accustomed to the light he eengeee bis a eyes and gazed about him. - ; He was shocked and ‘well he might be. | . Before him, standing or sitting about on peculiarly carved » chairs, were the most hideous forms he had ever seeh in ‘his life. No masquerade was ever gotten up on such a wondarraa dea") ue ar 3 There was nothing beautiful or gentle about any of the # characters assumed—all were ugly and ferocious, Two sentries with masks of tiger's heads and tiger skins upon their bodies were on guard at the door. tJ 43 A man reclining on a sort of a sofa was disguised as a tion, having. a lion skin upon his body. ty is Then came ieopards, panthers, vultures and crocodiles, ie Each was armed and a deadly fury seemed to burn from the grat eyes of every monster. ais “Well, sir,” said the man or creature upon the sofa, “what me have you to say?” * i _ Knowing the ausetion to be addressed to himself, the de ne tective answered: sa ot “Nothing.” ; (eae : er “Nothing?” : “No, sir; not a thing.” “Why are you here?” The few moments given the detective for oxtatdenekloie had not been wasted. He had in another instant recovered mie presence of mind and was himself again. Shrewd and keen, © the detective was under ordinary circumstances more than a) ‘5 atch for the most desperate criminal in America; but. now i - e was helpless: =. “I am not here at'my own desire,” said the detective, some- what disconsolately. aA “What brought you here?’ - , "gf! Lie “T do not know.”’ i haar 4 1 “You lie, you scoundrel!” cried the monstrosity, starting up. ( from the couch on which he reclined. if Reditig “T do not.” mh ; Wei “What brought you here?” West “Tt seemed to be ropes. and a. oar, but whether by the a agene of man or- devil I cannot say.” “You cannot, so we don’t. want, to know that. What zon Aigo be house}? Sy ik y } i spelled him to ‘come. ea “I came as a matter of curtdaley.” ha finally. said uy . “You.are lying again, oe Some other motive.” i had hie! the Red Housejwas haunted. ‘There ead Man’s, Bluff w! i I wanted t solve.’ hee But it makes no di ifference. . Yo ave and no ionk who enters it has Db i Mt
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‘THE RED HOUSE. “You’ll have to lay them aside. By Ned, she shall be mine!” CHAPTER VY. ° cried Jippy, his dark expressive eyes glistening with a ‘strange, 4 ; dangerous fire, MISS MARTHA’S LOVERS. The short, stout man with dark checked clothes, who sat All Millbrook, living in peaceful ignorance of the horrors ee per nee vee petrated within a mile of the village, seemed smiling and Still the man was silent DPY. appy. : “Why do you hesitate to say yes, Lem?” asked the lawyer. Mr. Jippy Jerkum, a young attorney of the place and brother “« of the judge, was all smiles as he walked down to his office on | I think you can be gratified and still Martha made to an- the morning after Harry Grinell had fallen into the hands of | garcia aie 5 those monsters at the Red House. Tet: Woked: caretulreabonr at al th hinge Mr. Jerkum was about thirty-four or five years of age ne Tipe soars a A hd eR pe arco eee dace though he claimed that he was only twenty-seven. He was | until a aie were almost at the lawyer's pally whispered! so softly that no one even at a few feet cou ave heard him, about five feet eight inches in height, with dark hair flecked | ‘Jet: alone being outside the room. with gray, dark brown eyes, reddish face, Roman nose and xt byown mustache and whiskers, very short, as though the soil |.) Ba bop pare Sie ee would be all right, but, by Ned, I want on which they grew was unproductive. He was constantly twirling his mustache and plucking at of te gies wat answer, but sat for some time gazing out - his whiskers. Jippy, as his brother the judge called him, was ; i a great favorite at Millbrook. He was regarded as being pre- | “ ip porean Spout eae ee as the young eminently smart and said to be making money hand over fist. | revel ae S It was a delightful morning and the dandy lawyer, with ’ short coat and tight pantaloons, and immense boots on im- Martha Daily was, in fact, creating quite a sensation at the ee - mense feet, walked leisurely to his office. village. = There was a smile on his red dish-shaped face and his eyes, “Have you seen her yet, Jerry? asked Henry Larkmore. _ reddened with stimulants, glistened like those of a boiled fish.| “Who? The beauty ay at old Butts’ tavern? . Mr. Jerkum was intensely satisfied with himself. He had Yes. n d f accomplished some wonderful scheme and was gloating over “You bet I have, Jerry Blackman es Benet | - his triumph, “She's a daisy. : = _. He reached his office, which he entered. 'The office had been |’ “Well, now, ain’t she sweet? - - swept and everything put in order by the colored man, long “She's lovely. : py before the aristocratic, dish-faced, beard-plucking attorney} “A darling. u - ‘entered it, The boys were in the room of Henry Larkmore at the house — ie “Well, I hope Daily will be here,” said the lawyer. “I kind | Of the latter’s father. a like the looks of that girl and, by Ned, I think ll make her| “I’m afraid we'll fall out over that girl and break the mine” long friendship between us,” said Henry. : ; At this moment the colored man who swept the office of the “Yes, but I don’t believe-it will do us any good.” Milibrook lawyer, entered and said: Why? = “Gemmen to see ye, mars’r.” “Jippy Jerkum is stuck there, too. ““Then Jet him in, you black scoundrel ” eried the favorite of} “He is?” ee * Millbrook, taking his feet from the desk and placing his hands| “Yes, head and ears in love with her.” | F behind his head. “I wish niggers were slaves yet,” he added, Well, if she knew that rascal as I do, said Henry, she'd alter the negro was gone. “It’s handy to have ’em to cuss.” _| #8 800m marry-a Cherokee Indian us him. > ne ‘In a few moments a man, rather past middle age, entered| “He seems to stand pretty high in this community? ae the office. “So did Bill Conkel and every other big thief.” } “Heilo, Lem Daily, glad, to’ see ye,” said the attorney, ex- “You seem bitter, Henry?” ~~ tending his hand lazily and grasping the stranger’s. “Be a 3 ‘ane when I know a thief I think it my ‘duty to point z eated.” . im ou _ “How’s everything runnin’? rsked Daily. | “Well, Jippy has diate of friends, but if he expects to stitial = “Oh, about so so.” girl he will find there is some one in his path. It will not be “Nuch business?” ; such easy sailing as he imagines.” eis “No, not a great deal.” } “Why, Jerry, I did not dream you were so _ great “S'pose you have a deal ready?” 5 earnest?” ‘Oh, yes,” said the attorney, with a strange smile and a| “I am.” wick Ny i ‘wink. “We have a large amount of goods on hand whenever “Well, r’'l let you two sail in. sad whichever on comes ut buyer calls for them. caries ahead shall be my rival.” “You mean here, of course?” said the visitor, with a laugh, “Ha, ha, ha! that’s fair, Henry; you are alwuyd fair in your — is he touched his forehead. dealings.” Or course,” and the lawyer laughed ‘4s. heartily as his! That evening Jerry. Blackman strated’ down the village — ‘yisitor, ~~ é =| street toward the tavern of old Nathan Butts. ‘Lem Daily was nearly, if not quite, fifty years of age. Tt seemed to him that old. Nathan bad no Hcular love. short, iron gray whiskers and a countenance not has him, but he hi bent on trying his powers to captivate t e nor ugly, yet possessing. something which would “cer- beautiful girl. s : called disagreeable. | oJSippy:/ Jerkum, the lawyer, ‘was there, ‘twisting his” af momen the two men sat and gazed into each other’ 3 usatbe and plucking the little whiskers at his chin. 8 doubt reading each other’s minds. The lawyer was upon the lawn, doubtless waiting for the; d the embed ei ete a moment’s si- pearance of wey beauty, She came at last and it was then that the lawyer peas rn Mare Jerry was to | be his rival, fp Ate ie thy: attorney sneered at the idea, but as he oe ; ‘laughed Sippy. I ever saw.” | much of a fancy for Taking in the ass, ver ind ining his small mustache. removed.” ig ‘Well, I have a tee res, and there" Racciph Re Ls | u saw what?’ es Be neg sta ne, ae : Rae A Ne ate now 's cheek sublime by Ned, Lem, I don’t want ee a : ©
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THE fee HOUSE. The ten minutes had, passed, time given to a man to choose— - whet? A mode by which his life might be spared? No; the mode of death he desired to die. And what decision had the detective come to?» Just the ' (same that any other man would.- He had come to no decision - at all. How could he? How can any man choose a means of violent death? _. The ten minutes had been passed in prayer for help and de- -yising.means of escape. “God in heayen have mercy upon me and grant to give me _ aid,” groaned the young detective, bitterly. It was terrible to die, and he so young, with so much of life before him. ‘But the doors opened and in stalked the eight gnome-like figures, with their horrid masks, all taking about the same positions as they had formeriy occupied. “Well, sir,” said the goblin in lion’ s skin, who seemed to be the leader of the infernal | band, ““what do you say?” “T have nothing to say; said the prisoner. “Have you no choice?” Fr - “T have.” 7 -“What is it?” “Liberty.” “Liberty! Do you suppose we will let you go after having ‘taken the trouble we have to capture you?” « “Why shouid you seek my life?”. “Why should you seek ours?” “T have not.” “Bow dare you lie, Harry Grinell?” The detective started. How did they know his name? “Ah! you start! and weil you may. -Do you think that we “do not know you?” : Harry hardly knew what course would be best to pursue. ie ‘His identity seemed to have been. discovered. There was really no help for him. ace “Perhaps, sir, you do not know that we know your business here?” ~~ «T do not know.” “Well, we do. - You are one of Pinkerton’s detectives.” “How do you know?” _ “We know, that is sufficient.” “Who are you?” - “We are the ghouls of the earth, the ghosts who haunt the » Red House, the mystery of Dead Man’ s Bluff.” _ “Heaven knows you have appropriate business.” ‘Never yet has a man who fell into the power of the ghouls the Red ‘House been known to escape.” — It was useless Yor the detective to longer attempt to conceal é dentity. fe had just as well admit the truth | and aie like an. t hen my fate is sealed?” Liguria “Do your worst!” "ahd y you “ean it?” "Yes." ene ‘Well, did, you expect us here?” be Ss { MES sot ; But you did not expect such a reception as this?” ti ected it if caught.” * one ha, my fine fellow. Wonderful pictures we have up; wonderful, wonderful “indeed.” ah 3 “Th detective was silent. y af “You are not in love with basic are ‘rather live” > oO. a posed ecm one of our: auanher ee Ws a hard number? What are you?” You. need ee pak: risa y Become, one of us your” on E oF Townes yy Socaes to en Then ames w “You were sent here to ferret out the murderers of old Sol Barksdale,” said the chiel of the gnome-iike beings. \. The: detective was silent. * “Tt is not necessary that we should know that, for it is too palpable to deny. We know it, so we shall not ask you any more questions. We won’t attempt to make you lie more. But, sir, you.can liye and retain your honor.” “How?” “By giving us a bit of information.” J ! “What is it?” I “Will you give it?” “Tt depends altogether as to what it is.” “You have risked your life to come here to ferret out what is'a mystery. These ignorant, simple people at the village would have let the mystery of old Sol Barksdale’s death die long ago, had you not left your city home to come here andj ferret it out. But you have failed. Now, we have a mystery, a secret we desire. Upon your giving us that information you shall be set at liberty.” — E “Immediately?” “Yes, or aS soon as we are convinced that’ the information given is true.” \ ee “What is it?” ane tt “Where is Jay Gormley?” ba The detective started. Well he might, for had a bomb ex- ploded at) his feet he could not have been more astounded. y Jay Gormley was a wonder. In fact, as much of a mystery ~~ to the evil-doers as was this mystery of Dead Man's’ Bluff to - the detectives. . None of them had ever seen him. He tiever made an arrest, __ though he was a detective. The other detectives seldom saw him. Bie Only a few were intrusted with the secret of his habitation, which was a hut in the forest among the boulders and rocks. . He alvays furnished the information for the capture of cul- ~ prits, either in the country ‘or town. When the information was all,furnished he was known no more. There was some motive, some deep motive, that the ghouls had for knowing the whereabouts of Jay BelaMey “Do you know where he is?” The detective was silent. “You do!” said the chief of the monsters, drawing the lion” skin closer about him and raising one paw-like hand. “You iF do and you shall tell.” cas The detective was still silent. He knew that if they got the 5 information from him they desired he would be speedily put ‘ to death. bie don’t ye speak?” roared the chief, with a horrible 0a “F can sneak, sir,#cried the detective, with some ‘spirit. “Do so, then. Will you give us the information?” “No!” 3 $: “You shall,” roared the lion king, as he was cutis, With another oath. itee “Release my hands, sir—they pain me,” cried the detective. “Give us the information and you shall be released.” “Why do you wish to know of Jay Gormley?” . aa “That is our business. Tell us at once.” © st “No, never!” “hen you shall die!” “Die it is—! am ready,” answered Harry, boldiy. say as much?” “We want none of your Methodist prayeriméetings® here. OX ‘You shall die a death that will make your bones shudder a_ ‘i ie a years hence, should it be mentioned where they ; bleac “Let your death be quick and horrible; I can endure at AY said the brave young detective. “No, no; you need not expect so easily to escape. shall die a slow, lingering death.” f “How?” Harry asked. It was Pat natural that he should, ki “By torture!” - So fiendish and determined ae the words spok shuddered. ‘Well he might. ~The awful mystery surrounding tim and ‘ne ‘?D people into’ whose hands he had fallen was enough» the very flesh ‘ereep upon his” bones. / and he had never heard “Can you sy _ You They were not robbers, they said, "The
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ine lion king, arising from his couch and summoning his men by a clap of his hands. They sprang to their feet, seized the helpless prisoner, and, taking him into the passage, bound him upon his back. A tin bueket was brought filled with water. A small hole was ‘punched in the bottom and the bucket suspended about five feet above the head of the helpless man. ; Spat, spat, spat came the drops of water, the last falling on ’ the detective’s forehead. The bucket was so suspended from the ceiling that each drop fell in the centre of Harry’s forehead. The first few that fell did not seem to hurt him, but anon each drop became as terrible as a blow from a sledge hammer. | Spat, spat, Spat they came. ‘ “Great God, have mercy on me!” he’ BrCaHC, as the torture momentarily increased, ' The fiends only laughed at his writhings and at last con- ‘sciousness began to fade away. CHAPTER VII. IN THE Woops. . Jerry Blackman seemed to improve his opportunity with the . belle who had so lately come to Millbrook. Jippy Jerkum was . growing more and more restless as he observed the continued "preference for the little upstart. _ Martha was evidently older by one or two years than Jerry, but what boy in love ever allowed a disparity of one or two years in ages to make any difference? _, “IIL come it over that humbug of a lawyer yet and make “him pluck his whiskers out by the roots,” said Jerry to his friend, Henry Larkmore. . “Don’t! put yourself in his power,” sajd Henry. Jerkum is terrible.” ‘on ay draw his teeth and clip his claws for him.” y“Well, you may come to grief from Jippy.” ia “Sippy! ha, ha, ha!” langhed Jerry, Lea a apne me well applied. “He is a BUDDY.” Aah “He calls youla puppy- 6 ‘Tittle do I care for his opinion,” said Jerry, boldly. ‘But you don’t know him?” — know eqouel of him to imow that he is a rascal and cow- Rig = / ‘here are some dark ints concerning this. lawyer. He is id to be in league with the, powers of darkness and capable the most wonderful mischief.” 4 What do you mean?” a ‘don’t know. i oe: to grief in some way, I can’t hig fe dupes ; i! who came to grief?” eg ¢ “why, there was Eugene Rayburn, who insulted him by ling him a puppy and slapping his face in public. | a ‘disappeared. ter a grinning skeleton was found in’ the enchanted [here was a bullet hole in the centre of his skull.” ow did the y know it was Rayburn?” asked Jerry. “Sippy Ls. & ry Larkmore. owe : ; Ty othing done about, it ang thing could be done. An lat they could do, is said Henry. not known. was. tri riumphant (i care a conti and as ae 0 ne ; -on m he dare f t he me to, ome devilish neromndin jecvomabaine) indeed,” "sai Jerry. the idea?” a THE RED HOUSE. just displayed the tips of her pear ly teeth. | for all he had suffered the moment before. But somehow | all dg ‘enemies of Jippy Jerk- y One day | He never was heard of, but a few|— ote finger joint being | off and a broken front tooth,” nquest was held eh that | “They knew it was | 1 ark ee iti ‘| permitted to take the beautiful by some strange magnetic influence, he wended his way to- ward the tavern where Miss Martha Daily was staying. ie I.em Daily, the father of the beauty, seemed engaged in some business, which took him from home a good portion of the — time. He was there frequently, remaining but a day or, two, © <a when he would disappear as suddenly as he came. ft “I wonder if Martha is at home?” said Jerry, recklessly, as he tilted back his hat, tried to look as tall as possible, and wished that he had a mustache on his face. As soon as a boy falls in love he begins to bestow care upon his mustache. Jerry had never thought of this necessary appendage to). manhood until he began to bask in the Smiles of Miss Daily. Then it was watching and praying. He shaved frequently and stood for hours before the glass’ brushing the soft little down upon his upper Jip. Now, boys, don’t laugh at Jerry—he is no sillier than many of you have been. Miss Daily was alone in her room and at his tap at the door She opened it. “Welcome—welcome!” she said, with a radiant Bares wDieh “Oh, Martha, alone? This is bliss,” said the boy. “Bliss? Indeed, you must be growing quite sentimental.” “T am, Martha, in your presence,” said the boy. “You are too young to become sentimental, Jerry.” f The words went like a knife to his heart. She had never bee nee hinted at his youth and he felt that it was get, to” m. 7 “Cannot the young ‘be sentimental, Miss Martha? Is bliss: ¥ a to be denied me because I am not old, gray and wrinkled?” : He had regained his self-possession almost instaxtly. aye} “Why, I should think not,” and the smile was so sweet, so radiant and full of tender emotion that Jerry felt fully repaid. “We must. be good erate anyway, Jerry, St you know I have no other friend _ ere,” : day = “You can. count on me always.” We ; ates “Always?” she said, with an arch smile and a deep meaning in cher question. “Always!” said the boy. “Through thick and thin; through adversity as well a& prosperity. REG * “Oh, no, Jerry,” she said, with a sad smile upon her sweet face. ‘‘Friends may prove true to us in prosperity, but ela 5 are dark hours which come when we are deserted by all.” ; “But Martha, do you Hoe Relieve ‘that I will prove true on, . such an occasion?” . 4 , ‘3 “You might.” fa ES SIN ra “Oh, Martha!” : 4 ; There was a momentary enesner then the boy whispered “TI love you!” “Hush, its the girl cried, tn ales turning: somewhat pale. 4 aes » “T do; I swear it.” fs roi to “You ‘know not what you say? “* “T do. I can speak my mind——’ “Ob, you cannot, you must not!” she Shak eae oatog ‘the boy from her. “You are too young.” He did not understand the fatal import of those word | terpreting them to cast some slur upon his youth, he cr “Ah, Martha, is it a crime to be young? Is it a si bi should atone byes all the misery and scorn you are ight simply because I am a boy?” ‘ “No, no, Jerry, you do not understand me. Yo my words, and I—I cannot, must not explain. ‘His visit. was anything but. satisfactory. ough e ‘oung woman in his ar her, it ‘was’ more like issing a bey Mpls than a: P wended Pee Eee
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“Yes,” was the abrupt answer. te “Well, now can’t you praise her charms some to-day? You ) are nearly always ready with a good word for her.” “JT don’t think of anything more to add,” ee apes with a - Smile. “Nothing more to add? What, paid a visit to wee sweet- heart and returned without discovering some new tharm?” » Jerry blushed as only a boy can and then said: “New charms are ever to be discovered in one so lovely as _ She, but I care not to discuss them. It is a subject too sacred.” *Did you see Jippy?” “No. ” 1 “Well, he saw you, I’d swear.” “Why?” _ “He was looking at you as you entered the tavern and then He he took up d position beneath Miss Martha’s window, where le remained until you came out.” ‘Why did he do that?” “J don’t know.” “He is an eavesdropper and I shall tell him so.” “Do not enrage him more, Jerry, for he was white with rage and I saw him eyeing you from his office window as we ‘started away.” -.. “Hark! what was that?” et iat was the sound of footsteps, as if some animal was leaping away. ARCA deer, a deer,” whispered Jerry, grasping his rifle in his hands and creeping forward through the thicket. ‘sh Henry followed him at a respectful distance to let his friend get the aeee shot at the game. t CHAPTER VII. ‘ A CURIOUS FIGHT. Sheds stealthily forward, with his rifle cocked and part- g the thick bushes with his hands, Jerry at last came to a mall bottom covered with rich green grass and surrounded th thick hazels. Eig hl the bottom lands, not a hundred yards away, was a deer, feeding upon the soft, tender press which grew beneath the oY ¥ A ; thought of his Jove for Miss Da and all dread and Dit vest eae in e alLabsorbing’ desire Tifle ‘to his ie: ue took a “aeliberate aim and pulled the trigger, e air. | , had aimed just behind the fore shoulde of the deer, ig always: been told that it was the most vital part. wn came the deer upon its feet again, seeming for a mo- | nt stunned and confused, and then recovering itself it Ee 1 experienced | hunter will always take, he ‘dashed | bush after the wounded deer, aused at the first clump oF bushes where. it alighted, es great leap, and, seal blood upon the ground and wu uttered a besphes tation an id hollows. Great trees and st ‘thick that one could scarcel ore. yaaa i heey ae THE RED HOUSE, the boy asked himself. was enraged when he he sharp report rang out and the animal bounded high oe leap, “Ege over a bunch of bushes out | ne aoa to ¢ come up, and without. pausing to reload, a pre- ign tarted, as fast as he eh i Pea: 4 He ae j pone place where there was quite a puddle of blood, as if the deer had stopped to rest, and the red life curs ~ rent had flown from him as he stood. ; “It is certainly growing weaker and weaker every moment,” _ sdid Jerry. “I will come on it soon.’ i * He raised his voice and shouted for Henry. : ‘ : Only the hollow echoes came back to him. a “Is it possible that he has got so far behind that he is lost?” — “Well, I can’t: wait for him. [ must have that deer, be the cost what it may.” He ran on. The sun went down. . t It was the first intimation he had of the approach of night. “Oh, if I could only find it before night comes,” said the boy. “T will lose it if night should come. And to lose it now, after’ all I have done, would be too bad.” 1 He discovered through the tree tops lighted by the last ex f piring rays of the setting sun, a small, meadow-like land or morass, covered partly with grass and partly with water. ? - He hurried forward, hoping to see the object of his hunt, near it. i a Sure enough there it stood. peat hs He: brought his rifle to his shoulder, bea tity to. give it's ak ie final shot. ak Taking a careful aim at the body he ‘pulled the trigger. Click went the gun. “Confound it!” said the vexed boy, somewhat, pest ea ; forgot to load my rifle.” ’ He poured out a charge of powder, put it in his gun and ae then rammed home a ball. 4 e trembled so with excitement and haste that his nerves” ue were all unsettled. © « et But finally he managed to put on a cap and once more raised his weapon. in He still trembled and it was growing so late that the light ff was rather uncertain. ef He took down his gun and advanced a few paces on ‘the right, where, behind a small tree, he could get a ‘better aim, The forests around the great morass were growing ‘darker and darker as the sun sank to rest in the west. ae Taking a rest from the tree, the boy once more drew a Bead’ £ on the deer. Srleare: A flash of fire issued from a thicket only a few rods on his right and the report of a gun rang out on the air. . es ir 2 He was Sperone more than thunderstruck, for he saw his deer sink down eget ihe: strange marksman’s ig) “That’s Henry’s trick, 99 said Jerry to erie a angrily, ' a I don’t think any better of him for it.’ ‘ To his astonishment a strange, tall, gaunt woman, arsaiea’ in rude homespun, with a rifle in her hands, prnereed tr the thicket and advanced toward the deer. | a ‘ “T guess ole Kill-nigger brought ‘in? ® ‘she said, will | chuckle, as she drew from her girdle a knife... “Hold there, madam, that’s my deer!” cried Jerry. i The woman paused a thoment at the side of the erage mal and turned her great gray eyes upon the boy. BED A About her head was a woolen. shawl, showing. in front: the tangled and matted hair. i a : “Who be ye?” she cried, holding her fife in one hand &n Ha he ae in the other as PHS Logit ion aK: who oe appro ohn er. * ey " one fs: a deer. ie cea mi ne, 4 hoar an sculine. » ," whe a ant) ee eet hes i Celt you, madam, a¢8 ae deer. en Ps: - “Look and see j ¥ bullet “How dy know 3 yer buee a anybody Bi re kn Paeageettd es i
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10 xe ‘THE RED HOUSE. : oe tz ae with a woman, but I am just determined to Ha@e that which is justly mine,’ ing out its bright rays into the forest. “Well, take it.” “Well, that’s some comfort,” said the young hunter. “I will The boy set his rifle down against a small bush and the | have some light and maybe I can find my way back home.” woman did the same with ‘her gun. He waited until the moon was well up in the sky. Then, / AS our young hunter advanced to take up the deer the | finding the path, he started toward Millbrook as fast as he wonian, with a savage growl, seized him. could go. “bet go!” cried Jerry. His limbs were stiff and sore from the long chase, but by -“T- won't.” exercise he got warmed up and moved more rapidly. “Cll make you.” _ Suddenly he paused and gazed at an object standing beneath “ “T'll slap ye if ye do.” a large tree upon a small hillock. He tripped ber and she in turn gave the boy a rousing slap| It was an old man with long white hair and beard, leaning with her great, broad hand. upon a staff. “Good golly!” cried the enraged boy. The boy started back and took his rifle from his shoulder, r The air seemed radiant with stars, but the old man seeing his movement, said: He clenched her and a curious tight begun. Up and down, “My son, where do you wander?” round and round they struggled, while the deer, which had| © The voice denoted feebleness and age and the personifica- only been stunned by the last shot, raised its head curiously | tion of kindness, yet beneuth that smooth exterior there was ‘and gazed about on the scene. something to dread. What that something was the boy could ; not say, but it was there. ; In a voice as free from astonishment as he could at the mo- ment command, Jerry Blackman answered: “T am on my way to the village.” “What village, son?” “Millbrook.” “To Millbrook?” KR “Yes, sir.” P “You are on the wrong road. me “Ts that so?” “Tt certainly is.” “And how far am I from Millbrook?” “You are fully ten miies, my boy, and will soon be traveling __ through the enchanted forest.” y Jerry had heard of the enchanted forest. The ignorant vil lagers: supposed this forest to be inhabited by gobling and demons, who enticed the traveler to their lonely wilds, and there either turned him to some inferior animal, or to stone, as the humor suited them. . Nowhere in the world is the belief in witches, goblins and — evil spirits stronger than among the ignorant pioneers. The author has known houses and even large plantations or scopes of woud to be deserted for years, no one daring to go’ i near them. So strong is their superstitious terror that they ~ would as soon think of jumping into a burning crater as to enter this enchanted wood. \ X Of course Jerry Blackman, the enlightened student, did not believe any of these stories. He had smiled at them when he heard them. pint “You would not go near the enchanted aed’ would your” “I have no fears of it, I can assure you,” he answered. tev Et I would much rather go home to-night.” “Do you mean to say, boy, that the enchanted forest has no terrors for you?” . The old man took a step nearer and the moonbeams; falling ‘upon his bare head and long white beard, gave him the appear z ance of a goblin. At last the moon began to peep over the eastern hills, throw- { CHAPTER IX. A STRANGE GOBLIN. Up and down, round-and round, Jerry Blackman and the strange woman struggled. He was tripping her at each mo- ment, and she belaboring him with blows that made him see - stars; i Suddenly she broke away. Jerry tripped her, struck her uy with his fist and she fell against the deer. 4 ‘The animal now having somewhat recovered, sprang to its eet. 'The Amazonian realized that the prize for which she was bioitanaanes was about to escape and clasped her arms about its neck. . | Away went the deer, tearing and crashing through the ~ pushes and woods, kicking at every pid but the deter mined - huntress hung on. ‘ _ Jerry laughed in spite of himself. The sight was so comical that any one would have been goreetieg to laugh, even if it owas his last moment on earth. The deer was kicking and struggling with might and main “to get away and the woman was holding on to it with a de- terminafion eyually as great as the deer’s. / *Ha, ha, ha!” laughed Jerry, “I will lose my deer, that is * ‘certain, but then the fun of seeing that old hag dragged away in such style amply repays me.’ He heard them crashing and thrashing iscieh the brush. pao fh guess she will’ see as many stars as she made me see with dy infernal boxes. But it will not. do for me to rémain | “here longer. Night is coming on and unless [ expect to pass ene night in the forest I had better be moving away.” ; | He took up his rifle and started through the wood. ie “Where on earth is Henry? Can’t be tae I have lost him. } “T do not believe that the forest is enchanted, + Pies “You do not?” Mee the cae 23) “No, sir.” , a so “Beware, my boy, for many a young man who uttered the same words has paid the forfeit with his life.” - “How?” : ae, “The goblins which inhabit the forest turned them to eee You can see them lying about you everywhere when you enter — a the forest. Should you, in passing through it, look either to” the right or left, or behind you, you would add one more to abe fe: round stones which lie at the roadside.” “Ha, ha, hat” laughed the boy. “I have certainly got peek : Jinto the land of the Arablan Nights. I would like to. see ‘this | enchanted forest.” pe : “Would you be equal to the ordeal?” ei Pits eon “Yes.” . an “Young man, bows if you ‘talter or turn aside, you % will instantly follow : “f am willing to take all the tisks.” --“Then follow. me. Your road home leads through he night in? the. woods, why not pass: 4 enchanted forest.” : Lead on; I will follow you.” Te ant for a. boy. to. spend a night in the dark | The old man started along, ee hee on his sia - so. tired that he almost felt. contented to do " A Tene! Nee eet psp” he "yelled, prolonging ach separate sound in the word. Only the echo “H--e—n—r—-y” came in response. y Ned, if the echoes of this wood will pardon me for sing one— ‘of that contemptible puppy’s phrases, I believe I stand a good show for passing the night in the woods.” — ite had now grown so dark that he could not follow his path. [ oa not. risen st ‘and he concluded manent to wait di le. sce h nie on the tog with his’ ‘back ae a “tree Y halt siose nis eyes. ; he was very near exhausted. His: run had been ; e id he felt that he needed rest.. He leaned back bod which grew at the side of the ‘log, and closed ay
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sca RED HOUSE. The boy followed and did not more than notice these strange | eries were drawing nearer and nearer to him. “Now, young man,” said the gray-haired guide, “we are ‘about to enter the enchanted woods. Another rod and we will have crossed the line. Beware! Do not look to right, left or behind you. It makes no difference what noise you hear, even though some one should shout to you. go on; if you falter you will perish.” He started along the path indicated by the old man and _ had gone but a dozen rods when there came a sharp cry in his rear, 2 cry so wild and shrill as to almost unnerve him. He wheeled about, his rifle cocked. He started and cried: ‘My God!” Before him was a monster goblin, fully seven feet high, with a form part man, part serpent and part animal, “with great bat-like wings at his shoulders. His eyes were blaze seemed to issue from the goblin’s mouth. ceived a crushing blow on the head and became unconscious. CHAPTER X. AN ANGEL OF MERCY. How long Harry Grinell, the detective, was unconscious un- der the torture of the dropping water he had no means of _ knowing. ee When he recovered he felt as if some one had been ponding | _ his head with a hammer, but those beating leaden drops had _. ceased to fall. What could it mean? The strange white light had gone out, and ‘yet there was i by those horrid monsters who had been ‘torturing him. — _ He did not see their blazing eyes, but far down in the tunnel could be seen a feeble jamp. - Above him hung the tin bucket, but the water had run out. ‘He understood now why the torture had ceased. . The fiends believed him dead and had left him. His arms and legs were still so firmly bound as to be stiff and painful. | He at first could not remember what had happened, but 8 wily by degrees the dreadful recollection returned to him. “Oh, God, this is horrible,” he groaned. “Am I in the hands: of human beings or in the regions of the infernal?” Well might he ask that question, for of all the means of tor- ture of which he had ever read, this was the most terrible. ee e Spanish Inquisition, with all its infernal BRACES SEY could ‘nothing conipared to this. ; tne wild, weird aspect and er otesque masks seeméd- i add to the natural horror. Then those lights so strangely appear- ing and disappearing without any apparent human agency, e@ enough to inspire any one with a tests superstitious * There ee a light footfall along ee corridor. lthily forward. if Tt wore no. aa or “horrible ‘mask, but. e taatanit a heavy r which almost concealed. the face. The form was the form of a woman, | and from the move- ete: m ides and light, airy, stacetut, ey, he ‘would judge it to be) _ the formofagirl | SS Wibistly zt _ Faintly upon the air came tie warning, 5 ‘Tt was too low to ‘tel : eard with any certainty, and for a ‘moment the poor prisoner confined there upon his back thought he must be mistaken. it no, he was not. Again, still louder came B the warning: hist!’ ? é leaven heip me!” ejaculated the. st oe finish the work so horribly begun? 3 aa one be If you would live, blazing coals of fire, and, uttering a hiss, a blue brimstone | Plucky to the last, the boy half raised his rifle, when he re- i) snadeth to discern that the tunnel in which he lay was deserted t Tt came | om “Come on,’ he murmured feebly. “I will hail you as an | angel of mercy if you will but free me from this awful impris- onment by taking my life. Plunge your dagger into my heart, and plunge it deep; let there be no time for ceremony.” “Whist!” : Again came that faintly-uttered warning. : “What do you mean?” he asked, in a whisper. } “Do you want to live?” - ; “Ves.” > “Then keep quiet.” f “Who are you?” P “Never mind.” “Can you befriend me?” "Ves. ” “Then for God’ $s sake remove these infernal bonds from my hands and feet.” ; “Keep quiet for a moment, until I see if the coast is clear.” The voice was that of aewoman, and though she spoke in a - whisper, there was an infinite sweetness about her tones. : “Are you going away?” he asked, the most intense agony expressed in his manner. “Yes, for a moment.” # “Oh, for God’s sake relieve me before you do so.” “S “No, no; keep DETLOCUy quiet if you would have your life spared.” “Heavens! I cannot. I suffer as if I were placed on living aa coals of fire; relief.or death will soon come to me.’ 4 “You must submit to it a moment, or it will be death,” she - | whispered as he glided past the prostrate form. 6 | She was gone, and he lay groaning and lamenting his fate, “She only came to mock my misery, to see if I was dead. — Oh, devils that you are, if I but had you in my hands, you: © / Should more than pay for every groan you have wrung from ~~ ‘me. Each groan should Be rewarded with an ounce of blood.” — | His voice was faint. | He felt himself rapidly sinking and hoped, nay, knew, that | this was into the eternal sleep of death. He was murmuring a prayer which was to be his last on — | earth, when the same sweet voice, like some deceitful hope, - é | sounded in his ear. f “Whist!” > “Go away; let me die in peace!” “Nay, the coast is clear for the present.” bangle ty. ‘Then his faint, chill senses seemed to realize that some one a was bending over him. : Whether his bopds were cut or untied he did not know, put he was released. Ses His head was raised from the stone floor upon Which it rested, and he was supported by arms soft and tender, and his head pillowed upon a breast: which seemed possessed of ene ee ness. A tender hand was pressed { was poured down his throat. Consciousness and strength were rapidly returning, and in ha a few moments he realized that he was growing better. , He was still too weak to rise or stand upon his feet. His | ankles and wrists were greatly swollen and sore, while ae: brain whirled wildly. “Can you not walk?” his deliverer asked; in her sweet, gent ee 2 ae “Ws a ) bis aching brow, and cordial MG Ca voice. “No. ” s “We must get away from here soon.” — “{ don’t believe ay swollen limbs will bear ‘the weight of my body.” ‘Tf they return. and find you released it might —” The fair speaker hesitated. “Might what?” asked Harry. “Tt would prove the death of poth of us.” “But I cannot go.” = “Take anotber drink abies this areas it may tea you. mentary strength.” She handed him ae felt the 2 a ing his stiffen H fe try oe crawl,” bh - “Go on, and ‘on my ales I may be ena’ led to follow | you. t for. some tim i Mas followed eke mpelled to move: , being rou. pee
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2 THE RED HOUSE. | he : cansing keen smarting pains as they came, in contact with ' anything. \ He was occasionally compelled to pause and rest. _ At last the strange rescuer opened a door which seemed to pass into the walls, but which the struggling, suffering man ~ found entered a snialler, narrower and almost unused passage. . . When they were once inside of it she closed the door, and put up some heavy cross-bars and bolts, as if to prevent any in- trusion. The door was evidently of thick iron, and though the dark- ness was so intense that one could scarcely see anything, our hero was convined that this was a secret passage. _ The woman stooped over the man, who had fallen prostrate ' upon the floor, and in a voice whose rippling music sounded like the gush of water over some tiny cascade, said: “Try now, sir; try torise. I will aid you allI can. You can ; ean on mhe, and we will soon be in a place of temporary safety.” After several efforts he,got upon his feet, and was enabled by the assistance of his strange deliverers to walk along the corridor. J _ They came at last to an apartment which was lighted by two tallow candles, It was ibe with an ie to luxury Zi noon comfort. Upon the walls hung many paintings, the most of which > were portraits in large heavy frames. _. There was a couch in the apartment, on which the young de- tegtive sank completely exhausted. CHAPTER XI. arias ED TO STONE. as chanted forest, he had suddenly been struck senseless. ‘been warned that it he cast a glance behind him or er side that he would be turned to stone, and having orm. of most horrid kind, and then instantly become ous, a mind less superstitious might well have be- that the warning was true. - ! en the feeble senses of the youth permitted his eyes to glance about him he found himself in some strange nean apartment. His mind was working feebly, and seemed to him a blank, 4 horrible blank. — wa dim light, which might have come from some suspended. from the ceiling, ds it might have been the horescent. light from a tomb. - He did not know or care We ie seemed to have no ambition to stir. He did not know her he was comfortable or not, and did not care. nean a ited it. did no or pee it was” something. else. It might bea a log d no Set d : such a feeble recollection. as to create a most sin- ‘mind and he might ‘not. dl being, why was he there? ‘think. | “really ¢ a tore: ] a incott he care where he e- peg a log would ‘| Tt was bad enough to be a stone and lie out in the sunshin it was so with ie Blackman. rhapepie trough the en- here was no ambitious desire to get up and survey the sub-} apartment bs te ‘of what it was in isd and who not know | to a certainty whether it was himself who ‘prominent, sharp ¢ and almost touching. i and large but life-like wings upon his shoulders, tion. of having lived in the past, or. if he a ao 1” thought the stone. and found that he could not wit his own nfirm ie stone or og shears But it he man a ebaah how sittouiene ae was for for. I will give a few moments’ tga at spee This is the question always asked by people-when they re- i cover from a fit of fainting, especially if the faint be a sham aa faint or played upon the stage. It is very natural for people to want to know where they are and though some don’t always seem choice of their locality, still they want to be able to take their bearings, But then is it not natural for a stone to want to know where it is, or to care? Well, as none of us were ever stones we can’t tell.. Stones may have a special choice of places, but the mason never re- gards their feelings. Jerry Blackman, or what was once Jerry Blackman, be he stone, man or log, seemed to have but very little choice. If he possesed any mind at all it was a very feeble mind. One thing was certain to him, he saw a lamp. He knew it was a lamp, though exactly how to know it he did not know. He did not know that he had ever seen or heard ofa lamp bes fore, but this was a lamp, and it gave forth a light. : It was an oil lamp, the nozzle end shaped somewhat like the’ REE bow of a schooner and was what is by some people called a “jay bird lamp.” Yes, he knew that much. peer Then. he knew more, that he was in an underground apart: ment walled within a stone, and that he seemed stuck into, or was a part of the wall. This confirmed the stone theory. He was a stohe and “apt sik a log. Bt 2p Then if a stone he must be a part of the wall. His head, if he had a head, was resting on something very much like a dry ii mortar bed, and he could only look about a small portion of the apartment. er ; He observed that his companions, the other stones, were arge. He was only about, five feet up in the wall, then what a tre- mendous weight must be on him! He would very much have liked to turn over, but — could not. He either did not possess the power or ae the: great weight upon him ‘held him fast. ies ‘Well, he was there in this wall, a stone and part of ‘it. was. doomed to stay there perhaps for ceaseless ages. He Ath th where he could hear the birds sing and brooks bubble, an an sometimes feel the refreshing dews and gentle rains, but to lie here forever in this hidden underground vault, it was hor rible. ; “T wish I could think, but then a stone cart think, te ‘he thought. He did not try to speak, for he supposed his tongue | was powerless. : He observed some horrible grinning skeletons hanging upon ertiae the wall, and shuddered and grew Btetas: ifa stone can sant ae der and grow afraid. ¥ One was near him, and, the long, mehita bones, hung silent ; ‘and awful down the stone wall. : ‘The door of the apartment opened and some one entered. - He was lying so he could © see that heavy iron door as ‘it. swung open. It was massive, and Jerry Blackman, ‘as we. shall still call him, be he: co into stone or not, would a! suppose that door to weigh tons. Lg But the being who entered was the greatest puzzle to. gnats stone, if a ‘stone can be puzzled. i ; He was tall and slender, with sharp features; nose and chin | YL if ‘There was a peculiar, horrible-looking crown upon his head — % A tail swung ‘from the body to the ground, ‘on the. end of which was a. spear. One foot was cloven and hee other nat oa ura’ I, 1a ou @ right! !” said this. strange, grotesqu figure n’a voice ‘so. hollow ‘and deep, so awful as to jake all the compan- ion stones groan and cry out. “You are right,” continued - is satanic majesty. “And do you know who you peta o not id in 3 Ck 4 ven you,” and’ the th oi ‘face of the
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ae 3 inn ae THE RED HOUSE. > 535 et eC “Very. simply —yes: but a moment more. Do you remember Ji ippy Jerkum?” “Ves. ” “And Martha Daily whom you loved?” “T do.” » “While you are here a stone, turned to such by your own stubbornness, he will be making love to her and win.’ “Demon, you lie!” “Ha! ha! We shall see.” Then it was that Jerry Blackman struggled with might and main to free himself. He remembered it all, and knew ‘it was 3 only some infernal trick played upon him by demons in human form. r These,” said the strange goblin, pointing to the large stones fh which composed the wall, “were like you once—-men—young, reckless, careless men, who, against all warning, entered the enchanted forest and suffered as you have. Some have been e here for years, and some but a few weeks. They have paid ' the penalty of their rashness, and so will you.” ’ Then by a/superhuman eftort Jerry glanced down at what | by ‘ghould be the lower part of His body, and saw only a large pe- culiar, oblong stone. bees a" a a a ee ee ‘Was it all real, and was he transformed into stone? aH Jerry felt a sense of horror at his situation, indescribable, md one he had never experienced or known before. -) The denion, whose eyes were now glaring like coals of fire, said: : 7 i “Your t time for talking is past. Henceforth, forever, you are but a silent, sens¢less stone, and’a part of this wall.” ; ‘He moved a dark flag near the wall and Jerry, or the stone, a niaiover you choose to call him, felt a peculiar: sinking sen- ‘sation, and all became a blank. ; ‘CHAPTER XII. ‘AN a ees TO ESCAPE, ry Grinell, the dstadtins, awoke from what seemed to be hing sleep. He found that his ankles and wrists, so tiff and sore from the cruel bonds which had bound them, had pines with har ll liniments, and ead was great y refreshed, and re ras . no one in the Geis: at “this Rigen dat He the Red House on Dead Man’ s Bluff. had done. Could ‘those eyes painted in the canvas gleam ing and nt eae and hold upon him a ‘deadly. re- “Bluff which is too he a. ‘mystery about Dead Man’s ioe me to fathom,” said the detecti bed his eyes and gazed about the apartment. | ‘He started up and began tq walk about. w long haye I been unconscious?” urs or days?” "elbows wer ‘still riage and sor » which eon- he asked himset, * only | of the tise rate not b : sabes fe ‘these ; tr oct oe a or Bor rel, pss ricks a ently solid ne mason prised. to ‘acovar th @ soreness. and | walls of masonry.” it wee ‘he: ea ew kina of ‘a eit iss asked hice: al upon the pictures, almost the ‘same which chad caping now?” ked upon them he wondered if they could speak, aS} present.” e to himself, as he tures than’he ever dreamed of before? — _, Did he not doubt her? He certainly did. While he was yet making his investigations the door opened, and the same strange being: who had released him ore en- tered. i “T am glad to see you so riod better,” she said in a voice: ier which was the sweetest music that had ever ravished the hu- ap man ear. a “T am better, in fact almost myself again, thanks to your kindness and generosity,” he answered. “I owe to you one of * the deepest debts of gratitude.” he “You.owe me nothing, sir,” said. the woman, seating herself ei upon a cushioned chair, without attempting to remove the veil which covered her face. “I have but done my duty toa hue man being.” \ “But so few do their auty in this cold, selfish world, that ~_ when we find one we almost feel inclined to worship them, sae “Speak not of that, Mr. Grinell,” she said. He started’ at hearing this mysterious woman pronounce his name so easily and familiarly. “We have no time to talk of sentimentinow. .. ~) Are you satisfied with your apartment?” : ‘ + He looked at her in surprise. “Why did you ask this?” : ; tea “Because I desire to know if you are comfortable.” wt “IT am at least as comfortable as any one might be under | ae like circumstances. What I desire is to know if I am to have... my freedom.” } RT Fao Inge o. “Such is my intention.” rie ee ee “At once?” BN i iNo, that cannot be.” i; a “What have you to exact from me?” asked the detective, “If. it is the whereabouts of that mysterious personage, Jay Gorm- bie ley, the man who is calculated to uproot all this villainy,4 tell 9 ‘| you now, you might as well have killed me at first. I will re-~ veal nothing.” “I have nothing to exact,” the mysterious women said. “Then why not release me at once?” — i baa “Because it cannot be thought Diz : AS Ds “Can you not give me some reason?” { “Let: it suffice that the means of your escape ‘are not Bt pared yet.” wees Me oe “Give me my good revolver and I will find the means.” pa The girl laughed. “Little good your revolver would: do against these solid P “Are there not doors here Sait which ip ean escape?” | “Can you not trust: me?” Hatta “Yes. oo) a roa | ea 3 % ; “Then why question ‘me? You eannot escape now. You must not think of it,” said the woman! | “But why can you not give me the. reasons for ae not s-” or “There are reasons which I think best not to impart | 2 For a few moments he sat aflant and still, his eyes fixed up the strange being’ before him. There were. a thousan' 4 flicting thoughts whirling through his mind. a new device to add to his torture? ‘Was his life only preserved that he cht suffer greater pies He had said that he could trust this strange woman w. voice Was sweet and tender, but whose face he had seen. But had he really spoken the truth? might ‘be gentle and. generous, but where and understand all, we doubt.) «> Ae Net The skeptic who ‘does not truly. know G God, Ww. : the warmth of His love in his ‘own heart, cannot help dou ing. He cannot reason ‘religion into Bie heart—it must) be ex: perienced. ) ; It is so with erenyth 4 nderstand we Sore elp d at te we Ao hot thorou Ay e asked.” ; at relation do you. hae ip ite or “ait af under, the Red Hot
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14 THE RED HOUSE. = “But suppose he did revive and escaped?” “Well, he would be hiding somewhere among the thousand vaults about this place.” “Couldn’t he get out?” “Wor “Why?” . “A mouse couldn’t get out o’ these underground vaults and dungeons without help. Somebody ’d have to go along with keys and unlock the doors for it.” “But might he not have skeleton keys?” “Well; hardly likely. Even if he did have such ines none ‘would fit the great outer lock.” “Then it’s your opinion that the fellow is somewhere in here?” See is. ” “Well, suppose we find him, what then?” “Why, it'll git Dawson in a fix. He will have*to die.” “Then of course Dawson will do everything he can to keep us from finding him.” ‘s¥eg,*t The men had been walking slowly by during this short dialogue, and were now so far away that our hero could not — hear what more they had to say. He trembled violently as they came near him, so near that he could have reached out his hand and touched them. He held his breath, for to have spoken or breathed aloud would have insured his discovery, and discovery would have been - death.’ He started from the niche as soon as the goblins—he could. scarcely call them men—had passed. “I wish I could have heard all they said,” thought Hairy - “Would it not be just as prudent and as safe to follow them — as to go any other course? By their conversation I might get some information which would prove of infinite value to me.” To think was to act with Harry. The two strange individuals were already some distance, down the great passage, and he started after them swiftly, and with footsteps as light and noiseless as a cat’s. 4 + What was his surprise and astonishment to see them sud denly disappear!: How and where they had gone he did not know, nor could he even guess. They just seemed to either sink into the ground or vanish into air. ; “Tt won’t do to follow them any farther,” said Harry. Where now should he go? Alas! he knew not. Death and destruction seemed to envirdn him on eyery side, He was liable at any moment to stagger upon some of these underground demons, and they would not hesitate to drag him at once to a terrible death. It would have been better to trust the strange veiled /woman than to brave the dangers of these catacombs. ; j There seemed hae” of vaults, passages and underground ps apartments. é He found some of them Canty lighted by small tom Ss or the faint glow of that strange white light. At last he came to an apartment. A feeble lamp. was vinden ing within it. He saw that the door was ajar, and he crept noiselessly forward and listened to see if he could hear ae voices within. ; No; all was silent as the grave. Could any one be within He must know to a certainty before he ventured +o look | i Listening until he was fully satisfied that ao on was there, as he could not even hear any breathing, he sentured tu pull the door open and take a peep into the apartment. One glance and an involuntary cry of horror escaped: his lips. Well it might. The sight which there met his oyed beggar description. Never had he seen anything so horrible. §, The floor of the apartment was flagstones laid loosely d the walls made of large round stones of a ‘strange uni: size. The ae was so and from the centre of it gen large Iron hook. bread, cakes and fruit upon a tray. This she sat before him upon a small table, and left without exchanging a word. Two or three days passed, and she paid him regular visits, bringing at each time some provisions. The mind of the prisoner began to conjure up every possible idea. He even distorted things so as to believe he was in the power of some cannibals who were fattening him for a feast. This horror, this suspense and this inactivity he could no longer endure. “T must and will break out of here,” he finally declared, “‘if I have to dig my way with my bare hands through the solid rock to the river of Millbrook.” | The Red House, he remembered, stood on the bahks of the " river, and he supposed that they were directly under that strange building. He waited until after the third visit of the veiled woman, during the time he supposed to be day, when he made his | arrangements for escape. A There were in the room several tallow candles, and, taking one with him and stuffing two more in his pockets, he went to the door, which he found locked. The detective had studied the art of Jock-picking carefully, - for it frequently became essential in his business. He had concealed upon: his person a set of burglars’ tools. Fortunately for his plan, these had not been discovered, and, producing them, he quickly had the door open. Harry was good at devices. He took some pasteboard which _-he found in his prison, and very soon he made a dark lantern. This he carried in his hand, having the rays all directed = downward so it could not be seen at any great distance. od Passing out of the door, he closed it carefully and relocked it. He was now in a long, narrow, crooked passage, along which he crept with all the care and caution he could com- SF mand. ; He reached the great iron door at the end of the passage, which was a complete net-work of great iron bars and springs. ’ After some difficulty he opened the door and passed out into ‘@ wider passage. : Along this he crept for a great distance, his heart beating _ wildly, for he knew not where he was going. ¥ He heard footsteps approaching, and looked about for some means of hiding. There was a small niche in the wall which - would contain him, and he sprang into this. For fear that his light would betray him he extinguished it. On came the footsteps nearer and nearer. They had to pass - within a foot of him and would Dee be discovered? : } CHAPTER XIII. . WANDERING IN THE DARK. nd acre Grinell seareely breathed as he heard those footsteps 3 Paaventine. There was more than one, he was satisfied from _ the first, and soon: they were near enough for him to hear the low murmur of voices. - “There are but two of them,” the detective said to himself; “and before f will be taken I will die.” He had no weapons of defense save those nature had given 3 him, ut then a strong determined man is an adversary to fear, even if he is wholly unarmed. — ; The young detective, however; kept close in the niche and : listened with all the powers of hearing he possessed. “I don’t believe it,” said one.voice, evidently in answer -to thing his companion had said. Those voices sounded natural enough; fe the concealed man could see by the aid of a ‘small lamp one of the men carried that they's were masked and costumed most hideously. ; _. “Why?” asked the companion of the man who had declared e didn’t believe it. | : seek ony ‘said it to get out of a serape hishiselt. se aa: his throat cut almost from ear to ear. The upper part of his aS was naked, showing a thousanc ounds and bruises, the result of some horrible torture icted before his throat had been\cut and death result The sight could not have been more ghastly. | flowed down the sides of the neck and breast l| gaping wound; the mouth was open, and ne, amount of harnipe! as was a up blood had run in small streams a dried, wh ¢ ; had “determined from this vy to aad out some-| the abi : knows all our | , and when we! pete serape? | I should think you “outa know. eee be in terrible fix if it became known that he had stood ov sr the a until it was dead or had revived.” Bee when tte fefeny was vies
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yi tS “THE RED: HOUSE. Strangely fascinated by this horrible sight, he once more| and if I possessed the means of opening the doors, . would | turned his eyes upon it. Oh, horrible—horrible indeed! certainly get lost and perish before I reached them. Better, Long he stood there looking—looking at the terrible thing, | far better, would it have been to trust the veiled woman. his blood seeming to freeze and clot as the blood of the victim | God knows I could-not have been worse off there ‘than, I am before him. here.” The head had dropped upon one side of the body as it hung} He was yet to learn a great deal more of the horrors of the and there seemed a horrible grin upon that gaping mouth,} place in which he was lost. That was the most wonderful while those dead, staring eyes seemed to be living coals of fire.| cavern or caverns ever discovered in the history of the world. At last he tore himself away, and, with another horrible yell, As he was going along a passage he saw a lamp away*in the he ran down the dark passage. Whither he was going he/ distance. This did not alarm him, for he had come to learn knew not, nor did he care, so that he got away from that hor-| the fact that lamps were put about in various places to light up © rible sight. the passages. He turned again and again into some winding passage, and When he came to the lamp he crouched close to the wall an’. at last dashed past a door which was closed: Through a peep-| glided by as quickly as possible to bury himself in the dark- hole in the door came a faint stream of light, and he heard |ness beyond. His greatest safety lay in keeping in the dark voices within as if they were engaged in an animated dis-| ness. ; cussion. He hurried on, going he knew not whither, but feeling only A shout arose within as his flying footsteps were heard. that nervous impulse to fly. ot “There is dunger now,” gasped Harry, and he ran forward Suddenly he heard footsteps ahead of him. Some one was i along the dark passage as fast as he could, turned abruptly | coming directly toward him. 5 to the left into the next, and then a few minutes later into the} He paused and pressed himself as close as he possibly could right, and ran on thus until exhausted, confused and bewil-| against the wall. dered, he stumbled and fell into a small shallow pit at one “Oal,” said the voice of one of the first men he nad: en- - side of the passage. countered after his escape. - He was stunned, but not insensible, and in an instant had “Whist!” answered his companion. ~ regained his presence of mind. “He is somewhere close,” The pit, although shallow, was dark, and a few loose boards] “Yes.” ‘ had been thrown over the top. “Pd swear it.” . ; 5 He had just raised himself to a sitting posture and was| “go would I.” : - -rubbing the side of his head which had come in contact with a --rock, when/he heard footsteps approaching rapidly, and saw the rays of a Jantern dance along the walls of a passage. --“Come on, come on,” cried a voice. . *Oh, it- was nothin’,” said another, evidently a Sai poe in the rear. - “Toswear it was. I heard him running, whoever it was.” “So did I,” said.a third voice. “They war a-goin’ like thun- | 7 der.”” 4 “They ran right down here.” “Who was it?” - “Don’t know.” _~ “Tt must a-been one o’ our own guards.” _ “Well, what was he runnin’ so fast for? I tell you it warn't.” “Well, “what was it, then?” “One o’ them things heerd so much 0’ late.” _ “Bosh! yer gittin’ superstitious, Jake. us nf ted Mop Tain te “Why are ye always ater? about strange sights and scenes?” “Because they are seen and heard and if there is one spot on earth, or under it, which from its pepnoese deserves to He haunted, it’s this underground hole.” «» I knew he’d have to come down this way, and it was a good idea to watch that lamp.” a “TH was. ” Seat “TJ saw him, and it was the fellow we thought killed. We if must get him and cut Dawson’s throat. It will serve him right for not guarding his prisoner better.” 2 “Well, he’s here; be careful now. You feel on that side and cae I'll go along this wall. ahs eee Detection, arrest and death now seemed inevitable tothe . | fugitive. es “Good and kind Heavenly Father,” he mentally ejaculated, ~ % “Thou who dost never desert Thy children, aid me now. Zt Cad two do nothing without Thy aid.” Hers It was too dark for the detectives to see each othef, or any | object two paces away. a The lamp about two hundred paces down the corridor seemed ears | to blind them rather than give them any light. © nee Our hero now nerved himself for one of the most ‘trying adventures of his life. .He seemed to instinctively feel the’ presence of his enemies and would-be destroyers. He had heard their carefully arranged plan. ; _ The goblins had supposed, and ‘very reasonably, too, that the fugitive would crouch close to the wall, which he certainly y would have done had he not overheard their plans of search. — He advanced into the middle of the Dasseee and lay down on the hard floor. The two men went groping aldng in the darkness, feclitiz cc evérywhere. Now they are on each side of the motionless se who lies Seine ie rigid, as if he had been hewn out of stone. They felt all along the wall, and even passed their ende directly over Harry, within five of six inches of his body, nt. “i not touching him. ‘ They went on, and he, waiting until they were a few pades: away, softly arose with that wonderful nerve he possessed, 5) | crept noiselessly away. ; The farther away he got the faster he went. 4 He had wandered. about among the catacombs for an hour, ee 3 when he came to a door opening into an apartment. | Es | This. door, like the other, was ajar, but peeping in, he’ did at Well, he may be.” : | not discover any such horrors as had met his eyes before. “He is not; I know it. He couldn’t have got in there by any This had its horrors, witho a a doubt. There were. ps. It was. simply impossible,” t : dences of them all along the walls. ; % hy not?” aut ie te There hung grinning, ghastly skeletons, but no fresh a cause he’s not had time. He was. ee running: 0) 2} ery could be discovered. f ettaing the Jast. seen of him. He wa a taki ‘He entered the apartment, closing the _. |to his joy, finding a large cross- rbar inside, | bolt it securely. * st here,” he gaid. (yeas ‘ Sree mien. startled him. | fe seemed to CHAPTER XIV. THE Sree yearn S concealed detective trembled with fear and horror. fear and horror are sufficient to make a detective of Harry Grinell’ $s experience tremble it. must be terrible. gene But. the: sights he had seen, the experiences he had pee were enough to make the bravest shuddet. ke “Stop!” said one of the men Ayarite up. Why?” asked an other. = “Let's examine thisApie Pe ASN Gis “No, he’s notin there.” Babee La) 4 Ams Le ) escape, un oone ite
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THE RED D HOUSE, Agaip the groan came from the wall, 80 hollow, so terrible, ‘as to almost freeze his blood. ~ x He now began to inspect it.: a He had not gone far on his rounds before he started back -with horror. There, transfixed in the wall, stuck into it, as it were, was -) a young man or boy. - Only His head was visible, and he looked as if he had been built right into the wall with it. Fi Upon a closer examination he recognized the features of the ‘lad as one whom he had met at the village of Millbrook. He ~ was inclosed, as it were, in a stone case, a case perhaps made Of cement and plaster paris, * No part of him was visible save the head: The rest was “ completely inclosed in the stone case. _. The iad was almost insensible, and had evidently. been suf- fering the most excruciating pain. \ This boy was none other than our friend Jerry Blackman, ‘who was captured as we have seen. Upon a stiil closer exam- ination Harry Grinell discovered that the case wHich fat ees him was only laid up in a niche in the wall. ‘ “Do you know me?” he asked, placing his hand on Sener - face) belt Jerry opened his eyes feebly, and said: “Tio not expect me to talk. I have been turned to-stone.” 4 “No, you are not.” i , “Yes, 1 am. i was going through the enchanted forest and looked behind me against strict instructions not to do so, and was instantly turned to stone.” “Well, I can disenchant you.” ; he, do!” ? f “Would you like to be a boy again—a human being?” e8, yes, yes!” Ty lifted him down from the niche in the wall; and, seiz- large stone, cracked, the casing as a boy would a nut, and Blackman rolled out of it, just as the kernel of a nut % ims Jerry would fall out of the shell. ‘What does this ali mean?” Jerry said, rubbing his head and trying to: collect his seattered faculties. : “Do you feel better?” ; / Yes,” : you not almost yourself again?” t I begin to realize now that the fienas perpetrated ees trick upon me. There was chloroform and mes- in ; zi) feel their effects yet. But we aré free now, are € \ ot free?” Jerry asked. iy we have now more show for life ae eer hy a we _ {only die. | tortures ra of fits “ati n : stupefied, co: Hand Ser his hes mie : eae We . | Harry at the conclusion. aid Harry, “we are ‘still, prisoners; ‘but, {here Reine ‘the utmost. confidence | in her. spirits. “You would certainly confer a great favor upon me by tell- a ing me.’ “You are a young man whom I remember meeting at Mill- brook.” “Yes, that is familiar. the Village of Millbrook.” “Tt, is near the Red House.” “Ah, yes,” le cried, “I know of the Red Hodes. mystery there.” “True, sir, and we are in the grasp and Desig of that mys: tery.” There is a be in a very feeble condition indeed.” “T think [ heard. you called Jerry.” “Oh, yes, Jerry Blackman. I remember it now. Millbrook, visiting my friend, Henry Larkmore.” —— “T can’t say what was your business there, for I am almost a total stranger in Millbrook.” “Yes, yes,’ Jerry went on, as the past gradually burst intd view upon the tablets of his memory. “Henry and I went on a hunt. I shot a deer, pursued it, was cheated out of it by an old woman whom we met in the forest. On my way back, pass- ing through the enchanted forest, I looked back, and was turned to stone.” i - Harry laughed. , “You cannot believe anything so absurd and ridiculous?” he is said. “A young man like you, with your education, should know that the powers to enchant and turn men to stone only | dwell in the imagination of some author, and not in reality. ae “Yes, I: know.” —. “Then why don’t you give it up? ” “Oh, sir, it was so much like a reality that I could hardly be- Heve it was not real. “But it was not.” “J am glad, for I do know it was ‘only a trick—and yet it was a well-performed trick?! “J hope you will soon be able to go. - Quiside this room you would feel better,” i Jerry still looked powdered, picige Fixing his eyes upon our hero ‘nl a strange way, Ns said: ie “Tell. me where we are, and how you came here?” Harry ‘proceeded in as) few words as possible. to relate his Fie ‘own experience at the Red House ae since he had been. among the catacombs Jbeneath. +. They then discussed the situation ‘be. length, and both came. to the conclusion that it was critical. “T only wish that we could find the veiled woman, Si ‘bells “T once doubted her, but now I hav: She could. ea ea ide of this dilemma; but as it is our case if bad.” f . roaned. Miter ee be: scouraged,’ id , said BS A to revive is ] “We ean but if the worst comes.” “Oh, sir,’ ““T haye no fears of death be taken captive, # "Sr } ‘re they not masked?” asked Jerry. a S s, each wears some mask ‘horribly grotesque, i ome. animal, bird or Bi doa ee at ecount I remember something now about . “But my name, I have actually PEED ie it. My mind must I was at. ce
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a) ee ne wan’ SE Ca Weal ie Jor cow (© ney, ee | ~ Pia th, eR Pe ee. yg - NS i ee A AR EV a Peas AR at eR aa Ca % fase ik tm i ., ! . yn Ss Pel 6 SER ORMD CaUBE yo ea) aa 8 fb ‘Then Harry closed the door and fastened it with his skele-| Harry examined the boy’s wound and found that the bullet - ton key. had only just grazed his temple. ' “Tt will not be long,” said Jerry, “until they discover my es-} ‘No, no, Jerry, you are not seriously hurt, only stunned.” = ** cape.” “J began to have a stony feeling again,” said Jerry, who by “Tt may be,” said our hero. “There are apartments here | the aid of Harry had got upon his feet. “But what has become which I am satisfied have not been visited for years. | of the sentry?” “Then they evidently left me here to die?” | “There he lies.” “Yes,” \ “Dead ?” wish to take my life?” ' “Good. The way to life and liberty is clear.’ he “Por your money.” ; “Yes.” ane “TJ had no money when captured.” “Then let's go, for Heaven only knows how anxious I am to 4 “Perhaps you knew some of their secrets.” breathe pure air once more.” — : p Anes i “No, I did not. I never knew anything about them.” “Let's dispose of this sentry first.” fi i _ “Then your case is indeed a mysterious one. You must have.| “What will we do with him?” | ; - been made some of them enemies.” - “Drop him in the sink.” “don’t know any of them.” “All right.” u “How do you know? They .were always masked, were they “But we will keep his arms.” : Ree a not?” On the sentry they found four revolvers and a dagger. . _&es: 5 : They took two revolvers each, and Harry Grinell, being the . _, “Have you no enemies? elder and stronger, took the dagger. ~ “None,” said Jerry, “not one in all the world—unless,” he E added, “anless it be Jippy Jerkum.” - The two men paused a moment and gazed at each other in Bh the darkness. 2 _ There was a world of meaning in that glance. ,It was gone, and they glided down the long corridor. They found the _ whole ground, or great stone, as it were, cut up with passages ‘ ‘and cross passages and apartments. ‘ hh ‘They came at last upon one dark pit, apparently bottomless, “By the holy poker, if ever I get. my foot on the NS ey crust Poeneer yore AN, My Shey Could eae the rush of waters be-| of this mundane sphere I'll not stop this side of/Philadelpbia.” neath. ty ; “Let’s put this man out of sight,” said our h TO; ‘af will in Sef “This must be the sink,” said Harry, as they drew back in ; crease our chances.” Mig come awe, from the dark abyss. % “All right; but I think we can consider durselves equal toa | “is “Let us move around it and go on,” said Jerry. dozen of these miserable mock-turtles,” said Jerry, grasping — They started around the sink, ee had come out into another | the legs of the dead sentry, Jerry having taken the shoulders. “We will be pretty well heeled,” said Jerry, somewhat in his old reckless manner, as he examinted his pistols. “Yes indeed we will,” answered Harry. “But woe to these ground hogs if we come on them now.” “We must avoid them, Jerry,” said Harry. “That is why I want to drop this dead man in the sink. If he should be dis- covered here they would know we had eseaped, and might get a hold on us, even after we got to the world above.” “The monsters!” said Jerry with a shudder, “why did they “As a herring.” | | corridor. t P j Bt anette to a dozen gehen they had seen, save there ha tenner | pap 8 a lamp a short distance ahead. “Yes, an armor. Don’t you feel one on this fellow?” here was a sentry near the lamp, and just a little in ad-| “Well, I thought him most doggoned heavy.” a vance of the sentry was a flight of steps uate to a world| t¢ hag an armor on, and so have all the others. This ar. bove. : mor may be so thick that it willturn a bullet.” , ~ REAL said Harry, in a whisper. ag ' “The cowards,” growled Jerry, “but I think that I can find Well? rf ’ i '}some vulnerable point about them, which my bullet will ‘be “you see that stairway?” aN ATi able to reach.” — yen?) 3 They carried the de try back t tti “Tt leads up to liberty and life. Will you follow ime and| him over it, ed the dead sentry back o the sink, and, getting ke one grand, one bold stroke for life and liberty?” _ There was a faint splash below, and those waters invisible. s, Harry, anywhere you lead I will follow. |in the depth and darkness, rushed on. The first man of that — ere is an armed sentry in the way. We must dispose desperate band, who were Com mystery of Dead Man’s Ee had fallen. The two who had consigned him sto his watery — odded, and the two began to crawl forward. grave hoped from the bottom of their hearts that this was i ‘make little noise, but nis goblin sentry has quick ears | truth and in reality the beginning of the end of those monsters. arp eyes. “Now, Harry,” said Jerry Blackman, as familiarly as if they; pe them when a few feet ate: and, snatching: a pistol, | had known each other for years, “let's make our way to lil. ‘The ball grazed our hero’s cheek. erty.” wl? he shouted, and, hurling their stones against the 1 “First, Jerry, let us examine our ‘weapons: and see if armor, ‘those, desperate men sai: themselves at are all in good order.” - “That would be almost impossible in this. dieneae “Do it by the sénse of feeling, Jerry; we can not affor pause long enough near one Bete Sig a to says an amination of them. a Jerry ‘was about to make: a. ‘reply. c ma Nearig Sh eT ees ‘seized by his companion and dragged back to the wall. | Harry’s hand was on his mouth so as to prevent any : > Jor outcry. To say, that the ‘boy ished | the sentry ‘on de tame g his’.
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ig THE RED HOUSE. of 7 A moment’s silence, and then a voice in the faintest whisper says: “What is it?” “Didn’t you hear nothing?” “No; did you?” “Yes.” “What did it sound like?” “Some one breathing.” “Oh, nonsense.” “Well, there might be some one around here.” “What if there was?” “Tt would be the very one we are after.” “Who?” “Who? why, that infernal detective, of course.” “Ha, ha, ha! have you got that wild nightmare, too?” “What do you mean?” ‘““Do you still believe that Harry Grinell, the detective, es- But when morning and the next morning came and still the youth did not return, there was considerable alarm. “It’s just what becomes of everybody who crosses Jippy Jerkum,” said Henry Larkmore. “They always have some- thing happen them strangely.” “Hush, Henry,” said his father. “Go in the house, and re, main there until you learn to use your tongue with more dis- cretion.” They were in the carpenter shop of Nick Blumer. It was early morning, and the carpenter sat in his shirt sleeves on his bench conversing with Neil Otis, when Henry and his father entered. Neil’s blacksmith shop was a next-door neighbor to Blumer’s carpenter shop, and, being good friends, they fre- quently met before going to work to discuss the news of the day. “I don’t know. but what the boy’s about right,” said Otis, a flash of defiance in his dark eyes. ‘ ‘caped? ne “Well, all I know,” said the carpenter, taking up a plane and ; “Yes, of course I do; and so do at least two-thirds of our | laying it on its back, feeling the edge with his forefinger; “all nd.” I know, I repeat, is that there are some strange things goin’ on in this world.” “Where did Henry last see Jerry? Otis asked of Mr. Lark- more. x “He last saw him in the forest. He had shot at a deer and was pursuing it.” ; “Well, I'll bet——” began Otis. “What?” asked both Mr. Larkmore and Blumer. : “Tl bet he started back through that enchanted forest, and if he did it’s the end o’ him.” “There is no more enchantment abort that forest than any other,” said Mr. Larkmore. oS : “Well, mebbe there ain’t, but ye wouldn’t catch me goin’ near it fur nothin’ in the world, day or night,” said Otis. “I must confess,” said the carpenter, “that I have no special anxiety to brave the power of those monsters, be they men — or devils, who inhabit the enchanted forest.” ; ; “Well, will nothin’ be done to find the boy?” said Obs Ee ce “Yes, * said Mr. Larkmore. “I am going to raise a part at once, and scour the woods far and near for him and find him.” “Have ye writ to his people about itz” a: “No, I don’t want to alarm his parents needlessly. It may be he will be found all right yet, and then if they did know of his absence they could not get here in eae to do any good.” “That’s so.” La" “If the lad’s dead, he’s dead. If he is alive we will find — him.” ji foes “Glory in yer spunk,” said both mechanics. pi ; “T came to see if you two men could not be induced to join us. ” is, “In course,” said Nick Neer! “We'll do. anevada but make another search in that infernal Red House.” “By the way,” said Mr. Larkmore, “is not this the secon strange disappearance from Millbrook?” - “Who else?” asked Otis. “That strange young man, who came here and boarded at old : ‘| Butts’ tavern about the time of Miss Daily’s arrival here.” — “The last seen of him he was cr, toward the Red Hous “Then at least two-thirds of our band are crazy. Don’t you know Dawson swears he dropped the body in the sink?” “Yes, but if the prisoner escaped through Dawson’s negli- ' gence he would be put to death, and he could manufacture such a story very readily to save his own life.” - “Not probable, but possible.” “Well, suppose the prisoner is alive, what then?” “why, he is somewhere among: these catacombs hiding. . /Some are satisfied that they have seen him.” a a “Bosh! that was only the nightmare.” “Well, come on, then, I shall keep a good lookout: ei At this moment there came the ringing of bells in the dis- _ tance, ° They were evidently small bells worked by electricity. “Hello, what’s that?” said the first speaker. : “The alarm signal.” — “Where is it?” ; - } “Everywhere.” ace fet Aad what does it mean?” . “Tt means for every one to get to meats. and guard them as “goon as possible.” . The masked scoundrels were gone, and our friends could only wonder and tremble. _\ “We’re in a bad box,” said Jerry. “Yes, and not so bad as either one of us has been in. The cause of this alarm may be the discovery of your escape.” “That's so. I hope it’s no more serious, but those rascals _ have gone direct to the spot where the sentry stood. If he Mer should be missed—— “They can conjecture a thousand reasons, ” said Harry. ? “Come and let’s make our way to the stairway and get out or te. 7): __ The two young, determined men, with a pistol in each hand, set out toward the door. There were warning shouts on every side, heard faintly rom afar, while the constant ringing of bells could be heard. ; rye said Harty. S, sir. io on Dead Man’s Bluff,” said Blumer : “Then, blast it, he ought never to be heard from again. Any man who’s got no more sense than that ought never to be, heard of.” “Be ready at one 0 ‘clock sharp,” said Mr. Larkmore.. ; Both the mechanics assented, and began at once a hunt u their rifles and pistols. 3 “Tf some livin’ deyil’s got. anything to do with. was, why hide watch ’em. Bf it’s a dead one, why lead’ W not hurt ’ em ad.” _ Henry Larkmore did not go in the house as his father had directed him, but instead wandered down the street. eee “Jippy Jerkum is some way at the bottom of this,” he to himself. “It’s no use any one Wenying it. ‘All his ene disappear so mysteriously. bey i | At this moment he saw the dandy-looking lawyer | down the street, twisting his short, stubby mustache. wore a soft. felt hat in a sort.of a rakish manner, a short {away coat, tight pantaloons, and large heavy hoots, the lof which were very thick and ‘broad. : - | Jippy paused at the foot of the stairway which led up | office, and stood with his head bowed as if in deep thor ht : Bs suppose he does not see me, the scoundrel,” said Her r 0 1 ‘im: without speaking to the scoundrel Hd m, sir.” Something of consequence has Bavhosaba They meaaid not vais ce a fuss as this on any ordinary affair.” lamps oud be ‘seen . burning. oy every one. ‘of these é heard the ringing of bells. ast they reached the large dome-shaped place where they t and the sentry, and Harry by a gesture stopped his com- d ere forward to reconnoiter. i eet CHAPTER ° XVII. 3 ; “SEARCH FOR THE MIssING yourn.
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“Yes, sir,” said Henry, pausing and turning his face upon him. Jippy Jerkum did not shrink. He could be as bold and de- fiant as the most righteous, upright man on the face of we globe, and it was no use to try to look him out of countenance. “What is all this 1 hear about your friend Jerry Blackman : ‘being lost?” “He is lost, sir.” “How?” j 1 “Tn the woods. come back.” The lawyer was twirling his mustache and clearing his throat by little ahems. “Do you have no idea what became of him?” “No. wn” 7 “Well, that’s a little strange.” “Yes, sir; a great many strange things happen nowadays,” said Henry, and he walked on. _ He fancied he saw a gleam of triumph in the wicked eye of the man who stood on the doorstep twirling his mustache. . _ “Why not watch him?” said Henry. “I know that hg knows | what the fate of Jerry Blackman was, and if one was to kéep an eye on him he might even yet find out.” That evening Mr. Larkmore with a dozen men and Henry set out into the forest to hunt for the missing youth, They were all armed with guns and pistols, for there had been some bold robberies perpetrated in the torest. There was a superstitious horror among some of the vil- lagers of being caught out in that portion of the forest, said to e haunted or enchanted, during the night. - §$trange sights and sounds had been seen and heard there, ‘and no.one among the ignorant portion of the village could be argued out of the idea of there~ being something supernatural “about it. | - “T’d rather be sleepin’ around a ereyeyarey said a tall fel- low named Chet Arthur. - “Why, Chet?” asked Nick Bienen. “Cause it’s chuck full o’ ghosts.” “T believe ye.” “They had come to the: spot where Jerry Blackman had shot the deer. .. “Right here,” said Henry Larkmore, “ig the last place I saw ~ him. ” “Which way did he go?” “That way,” said Henry, pointing across the small bottom- land. “The deer stood just in the edge of those bushes; when he fired it sprang right up in the air and started torun. Jerry took after it.” “You never heard any more of him?” He and I went hunting, and Jerry has not + after the deer, but I never saw him again.” “Then our best show is to get on the trail of that wounded deer. and follow it up,” said Mr. Larkmore. ” ; “Now, who among you are best at following the trail?” the Hall, and the others followed close after them. It was very, easy to follow. The drops of blood were a sure ~ gnide, and they proceeded without difficulty until they came _to the art where J erry pcauiey had encountered the arenes flstrap, eta: had oe Fe oie saw where the deer. | gone on, dragging some person or thing after it. fe called to the others to follow him, and plunged into the woods. ' - “Come on, boys, she’s gittin’ broader and broader,” cried the hw ter. “Ye kin jest bet the deer hez gored him to death.” — réathl or silence. me out on the banks of a small creek. Here was t pool of blood which had run into and ‘discolored the clear er, but no dead animal or human being was in sight. Here it ended,” said the hunter named Gilstrap. “Here the judgin’ by his track he war a bie one—ended_ his refuliy’ examined the banks of. the ‘creck and’ otsteps had ear to = water’ igs and w followed hem, and, the alt | mile a ) ° THE Tye ee “Oh, yes I did; I heard him away a mile or more, running} Subjects, a huge turtle-formed man. - Two hunters named Simmons and Gilstrap were put upon The companions of the hunter followed him in almost, ‘mile they tore through the thick pais and at} ak f “mask, speaking in 19 i f “Stop there, an’ tell a body where ye are goin’!” she cried, so sharp and shrill that every man paused. CHAPTER XVIII. THE MYSTIC WOMAN UNVEILED. “What is it?” asked Jerry Blackman, cocking his revolver. “Be careful, very careful,” said Harry, laying his hand on the arm of the impulsive youth. “Are we not discovered?” “No, | hope not.” ; “What then did you say?” f “We are balked.” “By that, do you mean——” “T mean,” interrupted Harry, “that at least half a dozen men are now in the place from where we removed the sentry.” “Haif a dozen—what are they to two desperate, determined men like ourselves?” ° 3 “Hold, Jerry, do not be rash,” said the detective, coolly. “They might not be much, they might be only a handful to us, | but heaven knows how many more of these infernal demons — may be laying in wait about here for us. This underground | pit of the infernal was not prepared by a few men. Whoever — constructed it, even if it was once a natural cavern. Was a ~ host in himself.”” “Suppose,” began Jerry, in a whisper, but he stopped. There arose a shout around the corner of the subterranean passage and an angry voice could be heard, saying: A “You lie, Dawson; you have deceived us. Some one is loose _ in our catacomb, and it could be none other than Harry Grinell, the detective, whom you say you threw into the pit.” “I swear——” “Swear not at all, you perjured dog. You lie, lie most furi- ously. Now die——’ ye _ “Hold, king of beasts!” cried another, and, bosibe around © from their hiding-place at the weird-looking goblins, Harry and Jerry saw a strangely-attired, monstrous-looking personage — enter. He wore a leopard’s skin and had the head of a leopard. “What is it?” the king demanded. Noy “The youth confined in the stone casement and put on the C5 niche in the wall has escaped.” : “The deuce!” roared the lion. ; “Tis true, king. The casing about him is eracked, crushed “y and broken and he gone.” “Who did it?” + ; “There are no traitors among us, king,” said one of his loyal ‘ ‘ + “No, no traitors,” said the man in lion’s skin, called the 7 king. “No traitors and yet there is a man escaped most mya: teriously. Could he have done it without help?” “Certainly not,” answered he who had brought the news ot the escape. i “Then who aided him?’ All were silent. “I will tell you who it was,” roared the Ane, becoming mo: and more enraged every moment. Dawson, who wore the mask and costume of a huge owl, became terribly frightened. _ He trembled like a leaf. “It was that infernal detective whom we were made to believe was dead and thrown in the. sin Men and animals as yous are, what shall, be he, fate of | him wh 2 failed to do his duty?” “Death!” was the answer in a terrible roar, “Then, Dawson, come-——” She ‘There was a rush of footsteps. and our friends, who? peering from behind the great corner of stone, saw aman d guised as an owl, running. “Ho! stop Bie. stop him!” cried a dozen voices. Crack! Crack! — Crack! Shots rang out vay ‘filling those vast subterranean ages with hundreds of echoes. > - But the flying man ran on. ; \ “Down him!” cried the eon dressed in the lion's skin mes almost as hoarse and dee ‘imal he ‘represe ti on’t let him get away se ages; he eS roa uatpat there for years xian? v aS ages; |
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20 THE RED HOUSE. —— Then, whipping out his revolver, he turned about and fired. One of his pursuers was.seen to leap into the air and fall dead upon the floor. i “Good!” said the detective, “that was an excellent shot. By Jove, I like the fellow’s grit.” “He’s coming this way,” cried Jerry. It was an alarming discovery. The fugitive was flying di- rectly toward them. They drew a pistol in each hand and waited, hardly haouine what to do. “We could make a good defense if he would join us,’ Henry, eager for a fight. _ “You are entirely: too reckless, Henry,” said our hero. “We must not risk a fight-here. We don’t know how much backing _ they may have.” “That’s so.” “We might wait until that fellow comes up and then give | ’em/a volley. It will check them somewhat.” The man was coming on a dead run, holding a pistol in each hand. ‘Soon he was abreast of the detective, who, in a quick, Glear whisper, said: “Stop, we are friends, about face, and let’s give them a vol-. ley and retreat in good order.” Poor Dawson was willing to accept anybody as a comrade ' now. v He wheeled about and the three men, with six deadly pistols, waited until their ie Vad were within thirty paces, when _ Harry Grinell cried: x “Mire! ” '. There was a iene crash of firearms, which aanaaa like a continuous engagement among the oft-repeated echoes of the ~ cavern. There were cries of rage, pain and astonishment and our _ two friends had the satisfaction of seeing two or three of their foes fall either dead or badly wounded. “Away, away,” whispered Dawson. “Hide yourselves in some of the grottoes or you will be lost.” _ He ran and they followed him. " “Jerry?” whispered Harry. yi Mes; einai 7 “We are pursued, ‘a 4 “Yes, ” } “Keep close to me, we shall die yopeiiey: That ativan fellow 3 can go jeer he chooses. ae ' : ‘Twill?’ ; igen | ’ said Chey turned abruptly to the right and were running along: 1 very narrow passage, when a voice suddenly said: Wire Wy : $a sweet, calm voise, sbinding as cloar and distinct as a silver bell, a voice which thrilled our hero when he heard it. heaped upon him. ; It was th strange veiled Wonien. Pt é Hi rry Ghinell had really doubted her, he doubted her. F His late terrible experience since’ his escape from he secret chamber had convinced him beyond a doubt that, she was true and Seats f ne this way!” she whispered. e detective did not hesitate to follow Her, aa seat. know- | FA herever his" companion went was safety, ick slight form’ hurried along béforé’them, tripping aolee: all her life. | found eineelves in ap and so dark they could s : Ww sa in tone rate a then removed the veil from her face. Both Harry Griziell and Jerry Blackman started back in surprise. CHAPTER XIX. THE SYRANGE WOMAN OF THE FOREST. Mr. Larkmore and his party were completely astounded at | sight of this warlike Amazon. Her yoice was masculine and | she seemed as strong as a lion. Her eyes, great, strange, mild orbs, seemed to pierce every man. “Who are you?” she demanded, fixing her eyes on Mr. Lark-' more. “Tam Alexander Larkmore, of Millbrook,” he answered, very politely, for he did not care to excite the ire of this vixen. “Who are these with you?” “Friends and neighbors,” was the mild, almost submissive, answer. “Well, what are ye doin’ out here in the woods?” “We are hunting for a.young man.’ “A young man lost?” she asked, as she turned her fierce eyes */ on the ground. “Yes, madam, a young man lost.” “Almost a hoy, was he not?” “That is so,’ said Mr. Larkmore. “He was just ehtenine the. stage of manhood, even if he could be called a man. Have you ‘ seen him?” Vit “VY 6s, ” { “When?” “On the evening when he was lost.” “Where was he?” “We had shot a deer, but I killed it. the deer, and it having been, only stunned by my shot, tried to run off, but J caught it and dragged it away off to the ite Where I cut its throat.” he very same voice he had heard before, when strapped | Y gi upon the stone floor, and all the tortures Renda: could in- ‘pulsive person | said. ough the dark corridors, ae she had she paeauer oe pee never see him after that?” $s 1 “Have you any idea of what became of. him?” “No—yes—that is, stranger, I don’t know anything about it.” We had a tussle for ees. > And then this mysterious huntress thrust’ her hand‘into an : fe | old greasy pocket, and, drawing out a plug of “pig-tail” to- — ; bacco, took a “chaw” in a most masculine manner and handed the plug to Mr. Larkmore. ; ! f “Hey a chaw,” she said: Mr. Larkmore thanked her. He did not use the ts 2) Some of the men did and she seemed’ to regard it as the ndians do smoking the ‘pipe of peace. Then, sitting down on the log in a masculine manner, she be ‘gan t ‘chew and e occupied and depend d upon its energy for the causes wit which her jaws moved. | Mr... ‘Larkmore i had h a eee of this before, but this*was rst time he knew she was a r ‘That the strange being kne mething of the missing boy he had no doubt, but whether it was direct or formulated | knowledge he was not clear. “You say you know nothing about Jerry Blackman?” he “Yes, sir, T said I didn’t ‘know nothin’ about him. SB: ‘Have you any idea or suspicion as to his fate?” ; ‘Suspicions don’t amount t to nothin’, growled the hontress, holding her rifle between her knees. ae But if you had any. suspicions ay might Beh) some effe Be alien and sullen. you ae: ee . if - of th Tt. was evident that she si any eidtles of of enchantment which might be aflo ectorate vigorously as if her mind was” :
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F : THE RED HOUSE. “There ain’t no doubt on it, stranger,” said the woman, ex-| Down into the earth Tiger Jane hastened, having first as- . pectorating in a most masculine manner. sured herself that she was not seen. Then the great flat stone Her tone, and manner was now one of earnestness. descended and lay upon the earth and the bullet again ap- “Do you live all alone in the woods?” Mr, Larkmore asked. | peared, half buried in the wood of the old dead tree. “Mostly.” Had any person come there a moment after the descent of the “Where is your house?” ne strange huntress, they would only have seen the great rock “Oh, I’ve got several.” ; lying upon the ground by the side of the tree and a search of a “Do you build them yourself?” thousand years might not have revealed the hiding place. 3 “Yes.” An-hour later and the stone again rises. | “Qut of logs?” This time it is a man who appears, _He wears a singular : “No, principally sticks an’ the bark from trees.” hunter’s cap made of foxskin on his head, with the front ar- “Then you are a huntress?” ranged so as to have the head and mouth of the animal as if “Yer bet.” : alive. se “May I ask your name?” He is dressed in hunter’s costume of tanned deerskin and Ne “Oh, y-a-s, ye kin ax me anything ye want to an’ I’ll answer] wears a belt about his waist which suppor ts a pair of large ag _ jest sich as I please.” calibre revolvers. ) She looked up at the speaker with a grin which displayed her No sooner has this hunter emerged from ‘the earth than the - great fang-like teeth. stone closes up and he leans his long rifle against a bush near “Will you tell me your name?” him, ‘while he tugs away with his fingers to straighten out his: ee Oh, I have got several; the one I like best.is Tiger Jane, the | matted beard. ee ; o’ the forest.” ; His hair and whiskers, of a brownish-red, don’t look as if | eg “That is only a sobriquet, I presume.” they had ever been combed, i I don’t know what ye mean by a sou-bree-ka. I never saw! “Guess Ill git on the trail and see if I kin trace anything x f ; down,” he muttered. i “A nickname, I suppose it is—only a nickname.” : Taking up his rifle, he started off at what hunters call a - pee “Y-e-s, ye kin call it that if we want to.” “lope,” and moved at a wonderful speed through the forest. aes “How. long do you intend to stay here?” It was now late in the day; the sun was almost setting. whe : “Don’t know, stranger,” she answered, somewhat’ fares Having gone in a circuitous route, the hunter was returning, “sin’t got no lease or nothin’.” when he suddenly heard voices and footsteps approaching him. “How do you live out here alone?” ; He dropped behind a leafy bush, while he cocked his rifle and — “On wittals principally.” held it at ready. - "You ‘are tauher a shrewd person, Jane—did you know it?” There were a dozen or more men approaching him ue they Pr asNG.!” seemed to be debating some question. : 5 Well, you are. You are no fool, either.” “T tell ye I’m in fur goin’ home,” said one of the men who ‘Oh, ye must be mistaken, stranger,” and again that pe-| was approaching. tao culiar sneer flickered over her face. “Yer , gittin’ . terrible squeamish, ” said another. “Nick — “T don’t believe you had anything to. do with the strange dis- | Blumer, I believe ye’ re afraid o’ yer own shadder.” ; appearance of Jerry Biackman, however——” “Well, I’m not goin’ near them infernal woods tonight eae “Thank ye, sir.” ye can a drive me to ‘em,’ * returned Nick. ‘ean ‘And I would like to get you to assist us in his recovery.” SWhig 2! : I'll do all I kin now, ye bet.” “Because I won’t.” ill -you_go with us?” Tet sais Va Fath . “Because ye won’t is no reason at all.” _ a : ' “Tt’s reason enough to a: man as knows me.” uy “why?” “Well, as we don’t ail know ye, what is it?” : f se et we all go together huntin’ fur him it'll be the} “It means that when I says 1 Tiana ‘by the rod o’ Moses, [ man, while ef we scatter out we kin ee over lots 0’ |} won't.” : hort time,” “Well, now ye might tell us Te skeered ye, Nick?” Wed ou are right, Jane.” : ¢ “That's none o’ your infernal business, es j ; x rse Tam; I’m allers right. fd “Tt ain’t, eh®” cried the other, angrily. : alt ou find him, dead or alive, bring him to Millbrook.” ys NO} and I’ve had about all yer jaw I’m a-goin’ to hee ; : “Hush, hush, boys,” said another voice, which was Mr. Lark- ere was nothing now to do but for our party to resume|more’s. “‘We can do nothing if we commence quarreling. Re- search, which they regarded as almost useless. member that a human being is lost and it is our duty to try if, ‘< gathered up their guns, and, retracing their ‘steps, re-| possible to find him.” ' a he creek and started on ‘tite back track in hopes that} “Well, I want none o’ his jaw,” said Nick, ae it d get on the return trail of the youth. — “T think we had better camp somewhere near here and ‘be. o sooner were they out of sight than a strange look came} ready to resume that hunt early in the morning. e face of the huntress. _ “Now, Mr. Larkmore, ye talk sense.” - . Dies nowing smile and she ‘ahutiered to herself: “This is as good a place as any.” yan TEES w what became of the youth. He has gone the| “Yes, here’s a spring and it’s the best.” aa /many have gone. Devils, who disgrace the form of “Youll stay, won’t you, Nick?” cs ve been at work.” pais \ “Yes, jest bet, so ye don’t take me dlose to pitas ‘enchant i: e arose from her seat, muttering as she dia ee: woods. oe Wie [ was foolish not to have followed the boy. In my blind} “Well, we'll camp here and think about it ‘until. morning, pens ermination to get the deer I failed to watch as I should| Boys, gather up some dry sticks to make a fire’ me But they shall hear from Tiger Jane; yes, rn know “They” re goin’ to camp, eh?” said, the strange bunter, (eo the fate of Jerry hemes et em ; was crouched within a few feet of ag “Guess: at in ntro- Mi ut, the chew of tobacco sh had ot dew 0 mouth, thrust duce myself. Gites j ‘ once in the old: greasy pockse ste out ae. Pigtail | a fresh chew. © Tm | ed up and ready for fanbase! 8 sh (eee eater Bae } eee ‘ ering her rifle, she started off through the woo Ls Sahat CHAPTER XX. ene ie as. ‘perfectly. surprising. ‘She took peudenide 4 wrote lass : : ISR tri and bounded dyer ‘logs, stooped under | ae CY one a pe ER Mystic DpAUTY. ett , ig hither and thithe er, W: Tit: a ee 1a e credit to an Indian warrior. ‘the creek and at last she came od . At the root P Ele 254 — “Grinell nor Jerry. iw when oh was |
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THE RED HOUSE. vities Pe an —— beautiful face and form, were enough to drive any young man, the least inclined to be romantic, crazy. Fixing her eyes upon our hero a moment, she said: “Have you uo confidence in me?” s “All in the world,” Harry answered. “hen why. did you desert me? Why did you leave the apartment where I had placed you?” ¢ Marte shang s his head in shame. man, or boy, you came near proving the ruin of us the pretty girl, her face beautiful but reproving. T did wrong.” rou go so?” tell.” teearaaaes we ae did hare You did not trust me.” I——” stammered the young detective. “You thought your own shrewdness and judgment preferable to the word, of a woman whose face you had never seen, is it not so?” : Harry bowed his head, but was silent. “Well, h shows you my face,” she said, her silvery voice having a reproying ring in it; “now, can you trust me? Is it not honest? Po I look like a ‘murderess?” } _- “No—no; heaven knows you do not—=-" began Harry © Grinell. “Then can you trust°me?” Vi “Yes, ¥ with my Hfe. Forgive mé for ever having doubted you. “T have forgiven you or I would not have risked my life to » sane you.” \ “Risked your. life?” “Vos, risked: ny life.” “Would these flends put you to death if you were dis- “covered?” ; me hey would.” .. “Who are you?” asked erry, f She fixed her large dark eyes upon him a few moments in a look of stern reproval and then said: “Do not begin to propound questions, for when you begin ‘to question, you begin to doubt.” “But you promised me once to reveal to me all this mystery.” “Tf did, but can you nét wait? Man has long sneered at the curiosity of women, pointing to ive as a sample. Her curi- -osity, they say, led her to taste the forbidden fruit; but are not men inqusitive? Are not men curious? They say women ‘earnot keep a secret. I will, by my conduct, give the lie to that assertion.” ~ “But it is nota desire’ to prove the falsity of that assertion which prevents you telling me?” -. “You are a shrewd one, Mr. Grinell,” said the beautiful girl. its “There is some strange mystery about you and you are too $ humane to retain a secret locked up in your heart which, by revealing, would bring these villains to justice. You do not intend to screen them?” “No, no! Heaven knows I would not spare one of them. ‘They shall all in good time be brought to justice, but not now. No; all is not in readiness yet.” “How: long have you lived here?” “You shall know ih good time.” ~ She sat down in a cushioned chair and the young men be- tired with their great exertions and mental pitain, fol- I owed her example. os E “Oh, how hard indeed is our lot!” said Jerry Blackman. “To think we were so near life and liberty and doomed to be hurled back to imprisonment.” j “When ean you near/life and liberty?” asked the beautiful “we were 80 near the ‘gtirtieray: ” oO rs Seelg ese “could never have made your escape.” catacomb ‘are not ee you. Tifere were sen- | i ag ae you back to death and torture.” : "shuddered. at ; Whe might aid us, but there are secrets which feats abs be. kept unt is “ ‘Had you reached it, had you succeeded even in rarsitig the | : | free to aid some way in the destruction of these scou Id either have killed you. outright or, seiz- | i Jerry was awed into silence by the grave bebe ctw from those large beautiful eyes. Harry, who had been gazing on the beautiful girl as muck as a charmed schoolboy at his sweetheart, said: “Will you please tell us your name?” : “Call me Nellie,” she said. “Nellie who?” ‘ “Just Nellie for the present; that will be sufficient.” E “Pardon me, Nellie, for asking some more questions, and ges think I will doubt you, even if you refuse to answer — them.” “What would you know?” “Can I not even know who you are and why you are in this dungeon of all dungeons ou or under earth?” “You can at the proper time, Mr. Grineli.” ag “No; call me Harry,if you will not reveal your name to me.. If you are to be Nellie [ am to be Harry.” pes “Let it be so then,” she said, gravely, without the least pers! © ceptible tinge on her cheek. ‘‘Now, I wish to intrust you with » some secrets of this room and defense, first exacting a promi: from you that you will not use them unless attacked an i forced to do so.” The promise was given and then she said: “The doors opening into this apartment, you will see, are guarded each by a small cannon,” and she pointed to the tw Bis swivels. “hese two cannons are both loaded with bullets and _ ot.. They are intended to clear the passage beyond the door, should there be an attack and it be filled up with enemies. There are lanyards there ready fixed and all you have todois — to give them a sharp jerk.” = “Would these walls stand the explosion of a cannon?” asked Harry Grinell. “That has to be tested,” said Nellie, as we shall call the : strange, beautiful girl. “It is far better to tear down t the he stones upon your own head—thus ‘seek your own destruction — s and that of your enemies—-than to fall in their hands. Here is” a case of weapons,” she said, going to what seemed to be a es large clothes press, in which hung Tifles, pistols, revolvers, swords and daggers. “Take none of these unless conppete’ t ‘defend yourselves.” pate “That is a fine assortment - of weapons,” said Harry. “Why not arm ourselves now?” z “Because you haye promised not to do 502” os “But why exact such a promise from us? elias “Do not go to questioning,” said Nellie, sternly. “To. nee tion is to doubt, to doubt is to distrust and leads to ruin.” “There are some gs I van ask without doubting,” said Mi er: Harry. b : “Then such questions you may ask, but f reserve the ime to * answer only such as I see fit.” fy “The first question I need hardly ask, for I could answer myself.” waeye “What is it?” = f Sita “You are not alone in thig secret?” : ‘What do you mean?” she asked, looking ‘4 him sharply. ; “T mean that you are making a grand move to encompass the ruin of these desperadoes who inhabit the catacombs of the Y Red House and that you are not alone in that move.” “Well, sir, how do you know this?” “AML the arrangements show the hand’ o aman ‘in shad «Well, ‘what if they do?” / “That question, then, is answered. I don't know how AE, you have aiding you in your enterprise. I am engaged in. myself and it I could be of any service I would glad! you.” “You ean,” she said. “There are some things in whi the proper time.” ; “TT care nothing for individual secrets. All I desire is t For a moment the beautiful girl was silent. At last s “T am see under eee and can reveal: nothing
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THE RED HOUSE. Pe ; ~e R: . Z « 3 —— SS 0 0OOoOoOoOoOoOoOoeeeeeeeeeeoe CHAPTER XXI. Till > ele ew we SOUNDS BROUGHT BY TELEPHONE. i Harry Grinell was startled at the noises he heard and Jerry Blackman had drawn his revolver. ; The strange sound seemed to proceed direct from the solid = wall. “Hush!” cried the my Stie Nellie. “Do not speak or breathe aloud. I am going to uncap the telephones and we can hear what is the matter.’ _ She took the leather covering off of three or four bell-shaped telephones, then those wild cries assumed distinct utterances. “Look out!” came a warning shout. “There he goes round the corner.” Bang! “Who fired that shot?” es begidy’ F “Tg that you, Cal?” . x “Veg. “What has Dawson done?” “Let that detective get away and shot three or four of our men. ie ' “Turned waitor?” DE OB..” j 3 “Then kill him.” “That's what we are trying 6 do.” “Where is the villain?” “Dodging around the corner.” Bang! “Qh—oh—oh!” “Who's hit?” , “Tam killed.” ae “who fired that shot?” “Dawson; look out, he’s mad.” “kill him; he’s’ just behind that rock.” Crack! | “Crack!” “There, he’s hit.” § ' “Be careful.” “No, he’s hit.” - 2 “No, he isn’t.” i é “But I saw him go down.” 4 * “Who—Dawson?” : 4 + ; ey a 4 ¥ Dee ‘ec eo “He's only playin’ ‘nadanind: 2 “Crack! ! A yell followed. ‘There, I told ye so.” “Who shot?” awson.” “Who did he hit?” e “Bill, Carr.” : - All the above gounés were heard as plainly from that solid ‘sto e wall as if the speakers were but a few paces away. They must be right on us,” said Jerry Blackman. dn a moment Nellie clapped the caps on the telephones sid ae i “DO not utter a word while these” are on or you will be eard.” ; ‘Her voice was sharp and reproving, while a frown of im- patience and anxiety was on her brow. Jerry Blackman was Scarcely more than a boy, with all a boy’s curiosity and im- pati jence, while this young girl, thoroughly Segpainted with ¢ band of the Red House, was cool. not know,” said Jerry, “they could hear us.” | : hue NG Well, may not their hearing be as acute as ours?” “es but those sounds seem to proceed out of the solid rock.” me Sage ES the rock wall and are eo here b: | ae Pel to know how those me tees een sounds Bo Beant els It was Bor ce inly a ‘ing old Sol, as he hurried away along a passage and followed : into one of these that he disappeared. 2 - “Yes, but what if he should have had a confederate?” — rse they can. Can we not hear every word ers say?” | Y | for them, him, her or it to get out and in, to overlook our work, 23 Nellie quickly jerked off the caps from the telephone and i upon their ears came a confused noise, which at first was very , difficult to make out. After a few moments, however, they made it out to be the clatter of men's feet running about in the : large stone corridors. f There was also a confused murmur of voices and an occa- sional word could be heard distinctly, usually an oath. “Can’t you tell?” was heard plainly. “What——,” began Jerry, but a warning hand was raised by Nellie and the boy, remembering his promise to keep quiet, re- frained from further questioning. “There it is again,’ came back a voice. “I tell you the cursed den is haunted. Voices are heard, the rock walls speak, and it’s time to leave.” “Bosh! Lem Daily, you are crazy.” ¥ “Lem Daily!” said Jerry in a deep drawn whisper. rs “There it is again,” | “What?” “he voice, fool.” “What did it say?” “Repeated my name in a whisper.” “It was but the echo of my own.” “T don’t believe it.’ ; “You will be in a mad house if you keep on allowing your imagination to get away with you.’ Fa “The place is haunted; I tell you stone walls can’t speak of themselves.” ; “But they can give back echoes, which are almost the same __ as speech.” ay This seemed to somewhat mollify the man, who had been greatly annoyed by the whisperings of the telephone, They evidently went off to another par: of the cavern. There had been a low murmuring at one of the other tele- phones and Harry Grinell put his ear to it to hear what was. eing said. . “I have my idea about it,” said a voice which sounded almost — at his ear, evidently spoken in a low tone. What could it mean? The detective placed his ear close to it, the better to gather in the sounds, and held up his forefinger to enjoin si- lence upon the others in the apartment. ; “What is your theory?” he heard a voice ask, evidently in e response to the first assertion he had heard. : 2 ee “We are watched and beset by somebody.” “Well, who can that somebody be?” : _ “Jasper Wood said that there were secrets about this cavern © which he would never give 2 away. That one time he was watch- s_- him as he turned. He says that Sol disappeared ‘so mysteri- — ously and quickly that he never could understand it. He — must have gone right into the stone wall.” oe “Well, is your theory that he did?” “Yes.” “How could he aol that?” “There is a secret passage or passages somewhere about — here, which we don’t any of us know anything about, and it eS : ~ “Well, what of that?” p “Why, there are secret passages here then. that we done si know anything about.” “Suppose there are, Sol is ‘dead; we killed him and threw him out.” : “A confederate?” “Yes, a confederate.”. : “Tmpossible.” ~ re ; : SNop leas net? - * : A aaa ~-T tell you it is\” “Just think for a moment. Now suppose that old Sol ha really had a confederate and suppose there are secret doors : and chambers here about which we know absolutely nothing. Suppose that this confederate of old Sol’s did and lived in them with a means to get out unknown to us, would it not be eas: co) | and, at the right moment, gobble us up?” “Yes, I see it now, and if all your supposes should be true, . we are in a very bad fix Pare ; , “They are just as apt to be true as not.” ; “T can see very well how they might all be true” bet “LT think it was a bad moye.” am eee oe of 2 “afoue and not ad pie t -murderin’, we’ ne et
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THE Ue BOUSHS j2 5 nor “pes ura errr te ving » because he wouldn’t go in it, he was voted to be Bai “That’s so, and since the Red House had a dead man found . about it things haven’t gone smooth. It don’t stand to reason that Daily’s plans are good for this part of the country, There’s not enough people with money; it’s too far west.” ek “He hoped to catch some big mines.” a) “Yes, may be one a year. But while we were. issuin’ the ‘queer’ by the thousands o’ dollars a year-—yes, by the millions —-and scatterin’ it all over the United States, we were per- fectly safe,” There was then a silence. The two men had evidently moved away. Our hero put the cap on the Lol unone and sat down with his head between his hands. “Tam getting at a part of this mystery,” he said to himself, “Thig girl could give me full light into it, but at present I pre- sume she does not care to; I will yet ferret out the scoundrels. ut <4 ; They are a cruel set of fiends, who live by murdering and | plundering pcople.” He looked up and saw that Nellie had placed the caps on all the telephones. , Bverything had Byidenthy: been heard which would be of any advantage to them. | _ “They are going off to some other part of the cavern,” said ' Nellie, placing a sort of a speaking tube to her ear. “I must watch them.” 44 “ “Must you leave us?” asked our. aie — . “Yes, for the present.” “Can we not go si you?” “No.” He looked downcast, but-the girl was busy and did not notice him. z '. Jerry had thrown himself ‘upon, the sofa, having made up his maind to enjoy his confinement as. well as he could, and, taking up a book, began to peruse its pages. ‘Harry had again bowed his head in his hands ant was, buried in the deepest, most intense thought. iy light touch on his arm caused him to start up. a¥ “By his side stood the’ mysterious Nellie, her sweet face | graye and calm. BA ~ “I’m going,” said she. «So Soon?” geNta : sj “Yes. baa 1 hall “Where will you go?” 7 i = “y cannot say.” “How long will you stay.” Bee 34 Ree os not know.” —, ; ) arose from the seat on which he had rently sitting. ‘The inting to a cupboard panes seemed to be cut into the soli A, said: Mieka’ iat there | you will find a large 8 ply. of provisions. iY Be A opened rae: her beautiful dark eves and gave. him ‘an ng look. ou are going out inta. Wanner are you not?” he. asked. re may be danger where I g0,” she : said, calmly. en do not expose yourself and leavé me here in safety. low me es 80 with you, to be ever as to defend you head aad ill be safer lor both of us if you ig here. Do unless compelled to.” And she touched a secret le great stone opened and she passed out. 4 ack in*his chair and buried his face in his a perhaps longer. | could cheat his wife out of a few days of his society’ to. '|away upon a strange woman. er ideo as we ee, Not only the party which went ie ‘mibsing | ‘| hold her. -| eyes and accidentally met the gaze of the stranger. wo i children at home arose to his mind, but he banished them, de- She sabened at first to take it pretty hard, kept herself shut. up in her room at her hotel, and refused to see any one save © her father, But in a few days she was out again and seen upon the street with Jippy Jerkum. i] His face was red, his nose glowing like the door of a hot Se furnace, and he tortured and pulled his little mustache to a : wonderful extent. Jippy seemed happy; he was now in his glory. The dan- gerous rival was removed, and he had the beautiful girl all to. himself. : Miss Martha smiled on. him archly and turned his poor little head. * “It’s a shame,” said Mrs. Knowall to Mrs, Yellall. “Tt? think just how the horrid creature did take on over that poor boy, pretending as if he was all the world to her, and that she would always be all the world to’ him.” eRe T “Yes, and now she’s runnin’ about with that Jippy.” eae Wy “Dhey do say that Jippy is not much.” y “No, and if it wasn’t for a brother he has, who is judge, he’ a “if never amount to nothin’.” 13 “T don’t think she’ll have him. 4 ; os “T believe she will,” “Well, time’ll show.” It did not take a very long time to show, for in three ‘or four days a rich miner came to the village. He was on his (a way to the Hast, his former home, where his family still re sided. He was detained a few days at Millbrook, and stopped at the. only tavern, kept by old Nathan Butts.’ Here he met the dazzling beauty, Miss Martha Daily. Their meeting was quite natural, and to all appearances accidental. There was but one eesti Seca in Butts’ hotel, and, in fact, but two tables. Ladies and gentlemen sat at hath gomewhat promiscuously, eet ,, it was the first day at noon that he met her at the table, where he sat opposite her. : ats, Mr. Duncan, the miner, was a married man, yet a great ad- " mirer of beauty. No sooner did he meet this fresh, beautiful face than’ he felt a thrill of: ‘pleasure. \It was pleasure to be- ‘He almost wished himself young and unmarried, But such thoughts were checked almost as goon as born’ in his mind. The thought was dangerous. is Yes, and the glance of those eyes was dangerous, but nen love danger where there is beauty with it. Martha raised her et a aes Be ee \ Instantly they drooped and’a flush suffused her cheeks. Mr. Duncan was a man, of the world, and he determined know this lovely being. artfully dropped her handisorebief, and ‘the Men miner, sprar to her side a moment after with: the delicate, little #B} br in his hand. “y bez your pardon, but you dgebpadt this,” he ata. She at first almost screamed, but recovered ante thank him, and looked etnbarrassed. Gait Een es ‘How he contrived. to meet. ‘her and introduce himself, Ho they came to be familiar and, to walk. ahout the village LOn gether would not interest the reader. Mr. Duncan knew he was doing — ‘wrong, but then he declared, as men of the do, that there was no harm in having a little sport. ‘Sometimes the vision of his little ‘pale-faced wife a termined to have a good time. | He thanked fortune that he had heen detained ai lage, and determined to lengthen his' stay two wee His business was in a good conditior Jippy Jerkum was furious at this new turn of atten alked the streets like an. enraged tiger, raved and swore eance, pi One Mvenkae Mr. ‘tuily « came suddenly into the went directly to the | attorney’s office There sy tk a ae ve age Panera Mr. D
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THE RED’ HOUSE. ne “The scenery was picturesque, if not grand, and the village { Jay like a miniature city beneath them. “What large bpildifig is that upon the hill?” Mr. Duncan asked. - ‘With a smile that was sweetness itself she answered: “That is the Red House.” : “The Red House?” © ie OR ALT, “Why is it called that? Oh, I suppose, though, the color of the stones out of which it is built,” “JT suppose that is the reason.” _ Who lives there?” _ “No one.” . “Strange; it’s a valuable pr oper ty, and not a mile from town either.” 5 x pBui, sr———7 ~ “What, Martha?” + “Oh, don’t call me Martha,” she said, blushing; “you are too ' familiar. Call me Miss Daily. i He laughed and said Martha was a sweet name, and he ‘liked to call a sweet girl by it. Again she blushed and hung her head... cs : “What were you going to say about the Rea House?” | “Tt’s haunted.” be ~ “Qh—is that 'so?” ; ; “Reports say so.” ; ; “Do you believe it?” ; i “Yes; why not?” i thought so,” said Mr. Duncan, laughing. —fWhy do you laugh?’ | f “Because young girls are always ready to bellage everything they hear, especially about ghosts. i “Well, some men are, too.” igs *T do not.” By inate t i if “I will venture to say you dare not go to the Red House.” “Who—me?” it’s from 3 yillage they say it’s more tien one’s life is worth to near it.” ell, I will £0. a will wager you you won’t.” zi “what will you wager?” sap ie he paused as if studying up dieey trint et which she could Pad up as a wager, when a bold thought entered the mind of rking ‘ Ee & ell you what T’ll_ wager,” he said, laughing, laying ngor and thumb on a gold watch-charm studded with | “T will. wager this ‘against a kiss our lips, that I Mare go to this Red House and ists it lar to garret.” ish suffused the fair face of the ee, girl, and she 2 ace the wager. oR, shall I Bore he said, as if he was her. slave. who will’ go silo the compact?” to) see that I pahtaeata my e reflected a moment, and said: a will ¢ gO myself.” : 4, f That, you dare the ghosts. f the Red House?” j to protect me.” \ The last was said in as g, trusting manner, which € med to increase, He hunger of John Duncan for the prom: ae a i over r the rough place , and once or twice his stole about her waist. She Fess ly put pease and they | eit way to the Red Ho use. ° iF t door was still. ajar, and ne entered owith- found the house, deserted, E g de t : nity. They creas r out é mie. front door as ae. lero sioueiee ‘Mr. Eat ae “th ere “go 08 ; battles? | upon his own strength and ingenuity to ‘escape. started at once up Rives green ‘hillside cape the Reddy jand yawned. | “This is. a bore,” ae boo ghosts and witches from the time of the witch of Endor to the present day.” ft “Do you think you would?” she askéd, while a cold sneering smile came on that beautiful face. “J would.” ‘ “You would think quite different if put to the test.” “No, I would not; but, come, I am impatient for my kiss. Give it me now,” and he held out his arms as if to clasp her in them, “No, you have not earned it yet,” she answered, drawing back. It would be folly to say that John Duncan was in his sober. senses. True, he had not been drinking, but there is other intoxication besides that produced by king alcohol. ‘ “Why have I not earned it?” he asked, his face betraying his 2 deep anxiety. , “Because,” she answered, with a cruel smile which made her seem more beautiful than ever, “you were to search the house from cellar to attic.” eae “T will do it,” he eried, his face burning with passion, “I would go through Hades to purchase one kiss from those lips.” “Come on, then,” she answered with a smile which would, have betrayed the fiend in her to one less infatuated; “earn it and you shall have it.” They reached the hall where the pictures hung and paused a moment to gaze on them, when suddenly Mr. Duncan felt —, himself sinking through the floor. He screamed and tried to - _ spring from the platform on which he stood, but ‘some one he- — low held him fast. He cast one look upward, and saw the painted faces on the canvas starting out, and the busts had arms which pointed deadly revolvers at him as he descended. Then, on the brink of the trapdoor, cold, cruel, yet more beautiful than ever, stood | — Martha Daily, a sweet, fiendish smile upon her triumphant — face. The poor victim uttered a cry for mercy, but he was | dragged down, down, down to those mysterious qepihs beset: neath. < y ae cy: CHAPTER XXIII. ON THE ROAD OUT. , t , The feeling of Harry Grinell can better be imagined than de- scribed. There was a sort of pride about him which made the idea somewhat repulsive that he should be dependent sea a | woman, and she a young girl. af He did not the less admire the beautiful Nellie, Who was hazarding her ‘life for’ them. He aimieSt loved ret if not quite. - ; But, then, why should he be fordad: ‘to remain fdaotive while | another, and above all, a girl, had gone forth to fight: his — “J am a coward,” he ‘said arene his clenched ‘teeth, “A. miserable, contemptible coward. I remain here while she has — | gone, perhaps never to return.” Again he felt that wild impulse to sally forth and depend “But no, I have been. commanded to stay here, and promised to obey. I who came here determined to ferret out the | mur- derers of old Sol Barksdale and ee ‘scoundre terfeiting, but cy lo pelled to lie on a cus ed so do the work. I ought to wear a - ‘We never feel so bad as wh ‘significance. I sometimes th himself than anybody else wou own mind ane Teadttol ) aM ea en has gene out to— ae coat.’ og |
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26 THE RED HOUSE. | me aoe “Miss Martha Daily, at Millbrook.” “The young lady at Butts’ tavern?” “The same.’ “Yes, I noticed. her when there. tiful.” “Yes, you bet she is, and she’s sweet on me.” “She must be several years older than you.” “Oh, not enough to hurt,” “There is something in her face I do not like.” “Oh, well, that’s because you were jealous. I tell you, dere. are not many such girls in this country.” “Had you no rivals?” “Rivals?. Yes, red hot.” “Who were they?” “Jippy Jerkum.” “The lawyer?” “Yes, and he’s a scamp.’”” ' “T know that. Jippy is a bad man. hs pretends to be hon: _ orable, upright and all that, when in reality ne is a perfect Nk ave,” : “Well, Jippy couldn’t touch bottom when I was around.” “That may have been all assumed. “Wiiy, I guess I know,” cried Jerry, a little hotly. “You may think you do. Young fellows in love. don’t know much,” answered the young detective, coolly. “You had better be careful what you say, Bary Grinell. I guess I know what I’m talking about.” “T am afraid you don’t.” “Well, what do you mean?” “1 mean you had better let Martha Daily alone.” “Do you dare breathe one word against her?” Se “No more than to advise you to have nothing whatever to do oe Lor OT. : “What is it your business?” cried Jerry hotly, springing to his feet and confronting Harry, who sat eaeuly before the en- raged youth. ' “Nothing save that I have your, welfare in ie: i “Never mind my welfare,” said Jerry; “I can take care of - myself.” } ; “Not under the present excitement. Were I as rash and} foolish as you, we would have a fight right here. What I have a said is for your*own good. The girl can be nothing to you, must never be anything. Let her go; that’s what you will in the end be compelled to do.” Jerry, with blazing eyes and flushed cheeks, confronted the young detective. Could he stand and thus tamely submit to his insinuations? Was it not his duty to engage in a brawl then and there? With a voice hoarse with passion the boy said: © + B “Harry Grinell, do you intend to reflect in the least upon _ Miss Daily’s character?” Sep don’ t wish to reflect on anybody’s character. There may be reasons why you should avoid this woman, and neither of - them be a reflection on her. She may not be of a proper age _ for you, and she may be a confirmed coquette.” Jerry was now considerably cooled down; he did not know why he had flown into such a passion. with the. companion. of his perils. ‘ “Don’t be uneasy, Harry?” said the boy, at last, gone yet.” ' “T hope not,” Harry answered. ‘ ct ane moment the mysterious being known as Nellie en- I think she is very beau- ‘z ir. “T am pee Get ready to go at once, ” she said. “Out of here?” asked Harry. “Ts the way open to get ate asked Harry Grinell, as he put s hat and ican the belt bie held his pistols an nut | raist. : 3 / q * sme “Are they einer”, ‘ ge nage not know where they are, rf think by. using due care are ready.” was Tined ‘the ei ‘of & kind of seoretary, ARS inside of fight as he would have been for a frolic on the play-ground about the school-house. “I must exact a promise from both of you,” said Nellie. “What is it?” asked Harry. “That you will under all. circumstances be controlled by “We agree to that,” they answered. “Do not become so impulsive. Don’t be so quick to be- come excited, and so rash in attacking——” a “In other words,” Jerry interrupted, with a merry twinkle _ in his eye, “you mean not to fly off the handle.” 2 A smile came over the sweet face, as the girl responded: “That expression may convey my meaning to you. I hope ° it does. At any rate, be cool and patient.” “We understand,” said Harry. “Lead on.” “Follow.” She went to a door which opened by the aid of a spring. They glided out noiselessly, and passed down a long corridor, where they came to one of those peculiarly constructed doors. , Nellie carried in her hand a small dark-lantern. She first placed her ear close to the wall and listened. There was no ~ sound whatever. \ Then she withdrew the cap of a small. telephone and lis- tened. It was a most powerful instrument, and she could have heard any one breathing had they been in the outside passage. Convinced at last that the coast was clear, she touched the spring and let the great stone door glide away. y “Come,” she whispered, and the trio passed into a large cor- ridor. at She led them some distance along it, when suddenly she : /paused to listen. haat “Some one is coming,” she whispered. “This way, quick.” | Seizing an arm of each, she drew them with her intoasmall grotto leading from the main subterranean passage. de Here they waited for some moments, when they heard the footsteps of a man go cautiously by. asia! When he was gone, Nellie and her companions issued from their hiding-place and resumed their journey. uk After numerous windings and turns, passing a hundred ne small grottoes and corridors, they came to a peculiar flight of _ stone steps, leading to a cavern above. They ascended these, and were seemingly in a vault. From here they climbed still. further above, by means of au Indian ladder. ; “A moment more, and you will be free,” whispered their beautiful guide, leading the boy’ hastily along, holding to the hands of each. 3 ey she told them to stop, ‘and erept forward to. recon- Pe noiter. Was it possible that some new danger would yet arise to thwart their prospects for liberty? The prisoners were now ,well convinced that had their e cape depended on themselves they would not have succeeded A few moments’ anxious waiting and then their fair guide came back to them. The way was clear, she said, and they followed her to where a small ladder went up out of the earth. | “The trapdoor is removed,” the girl whispered. out.” Harry went first, holding a cocked pistol. ' Soon he saw the stars shining in the heavens; ices they were not out yet. “Go on ih Vlas me CHAPTER XXIV. / THE NIGHT ATTACK. In Biaoick sitnaroet we left. Mr. Larkmore’ Ss party, who aes set out to find the missing boy encamped and 4 strange per- sonage about to introduce himself toe them. ri This strange personage, whom the reader has before see 5 as Tiger Jane, is now in niale attire, and looks not a little like a backwoods hunter. : i Arising slowly from the. crouching position he had asst with his rifle-barrel in the hollow of his left arm, he saic “Yes, V1 introduce myself. It may be they’ll need my 1 afore they get out o’ these woods.” Going cautiously forward /until he was within a fe mp-fire, which was now blazing brightly, b men about. the fire ona be tang aD
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THE RED ‘HOUSE. - : a “eshove him,” said ‘a deep voice, and half a dozen pairs of hands grasped the wretched man. “Oh, don’t, don’t, don’t!” he cried, with all the pathos a hu- man voice can contain when life is at stake. “Spare, oh, spare my life!” “Hush up, you cowardly fool,” said a deep, grim voice. “T will not, unless you promise me my life. Take all I have, but spare my life.” “Yell if you want to. We frequently silence men by thrust- ing a gag of red-hot iron down their throats.” “Oh, what have I done to you?” Mr. Duncan began. “Nothing,” answered the deep, guttuval voice at his side, “and if you are wise you will do nothing.” ; “But why am I brought here?” “You will know,” was the answer, by the same command- ing voice. “Bring him on.” The man had been lifted from the platform to a sort of car ~ and the trapdoor shot back in its place. Mr. Duncan Was now in almost total darkness, The car on which he was placed seemed to have several other persons be- ao himself on it. Doubtless the guard which had him in charge. It moved away down by some wonderful unseen engine and | seemed rolling through a tunnel. Suddenly a light could be seen. As they approached it it proved to be two lamps which two grotesque figures held. They were masked and disguised as devils, and as they stood there so awful with the full red glare of the lamps falling upon them he could well believe them demons. Their lamps lit up the five figures on the car with him, and he found them as grotesque and terrible as those sentries in the dark passage. The car rolled on, on and on, evidently drawn by some unseen power, and the soul of the prisoner was filled with horror. At last it paused and he was removed from it. “What shall we do with him, King?” asked one. . “Put him in the stone cell,” was the answer. oa There was a pale, whitish light about them—a kind of phos- i phorescent glow or halo, which always surrounds the ghastly. t. Suddenly the light became brilliant, seeming to burst out from two glass balls suspended aboye them. The poor man was trembling like an aspen. ‘ One of his grotesque guards motioned him te ve aa - of his rifle, while his active jaws plied rapidly on the huge cud ‘of tobacco in his mouth. Mr. Larkmore, perhaps the most cool of any of the others, took one step forward, and‘ said: “Who are you?” “Waal, stranger, I swow ye put ’em purty straightforad,” said the hunter. “But I likes to see things come straight- forad ’ceptin’ Injun arrers——” “But you are not answering my question,” said Mr. Lark- more. “Who are you?” 4 “Oh, well, as to that, I mought be a dozen, persons, but I _ain’t but one now, leastways.” ' “Well, who is that one, sir?” “Tm ‘sometimes called Wildcat Tom. I kinder like that handle, and if it’s agreeable to ye, would jest as soon be lifted around by it as not.” ' “Are we near what’s called the enchanted forest?” asked _ Nick Blumer. “Right at the edge:o’ it.” “By thunder, let’s move off,” said Nick. ' “No, I reckin ye’re safe here,” said the hunter. _ “Where are you going to-night?” asked Mr. Larkmore. Pa tees | swow, stranger, I don’t know exactly. Nowhere in par- ; tiewlar.” ; “Can you be persuaded to stay with us?” “Waal, now, I mought, an’ then, ag’in, perhaps I moughtn’t. - It all depends upon the sperit in which ye ax me to stay.” ‘aVell, sir, we do not know what sort of a spirit will induce you to stay; if we did, we wotld try to work ourselves up to it,” began Mr. Larkmore. ‘ “ “That'll do, stranger, ye needn’t ax any more. Tm goin’ to stay wi’ ye, cos it’s not allus nice, ye know, eo sleep out by yerself.” At supper their strange guest insisted on rarigivide himself. “e Supper over, in reply to anxious questions, the mysterious hunter suggested that guards be appointed, as there might be danger from “Injuns’—with a peculiar accent on the word. . This was done, but Wildcat Tom was himself on the qui| vive. ; - It was near: midnight, and the sleepy sentry had squatted ‘down at the root of the tree, where he sat dozing. He did not hear the faint rustle of the leaves in the distance and see ot autious approach of several objects. ‘But one did. “Crack!” out and shrill on the night air rang out the rifle shot. - In an instant every man was on his feet. “Tree, tree, or ye’re a dead nigger, * eried the voige of Wild- but he stood as if he had suddenly been turned to stone ain and again was he motioned to move on, pur he seemed immoy- able, Mr. Duncan was dragged, pushed and kicked forward until. he was at the door of a cell, into which he was forced. — ; Here everything was of stone. The walls, the flooring, the. ceiling overhead, and’‘all was stone, just as if this rape ait ge had been cut out of a solid rock. wiehas There was a rude bench of stone running around the side of the apartment, on which was some straw and a buffalo robe, This was to furnish him a chair, a bed and table. “Oh, Heaven help me!” ejaculated. Mr. Duncan, as he threw himself upon this strange couch. “When, how and where 7 % all this to end?” rea He lay there for many hours, harassed. with doubts and. tor ond tured with fears. His brain was racked and his conscience =~ kept pricking him as if it were a sharp-pointed needle. % “T have brought my own fate upon my head. Heaven grant that my family may never know ho I a done it. Ashame-: J _ ful death awaits me, ruin and disg 2, He tossed about on his rude fee be BIE ei hours, and — finally fell asleep, How long he had slept he did not know. It might have been hours, and then it might wand have been a few momenis. Bree He was awakened by some one rudely shaking ‘his shoulder. : “You must come with me.” He now saw that the figure had a miner’s Jamp in his hat, which only lent a’ horror to his grotesque disguise. ‘ ‘T-I—I'll go—y-y-y-es, I’ll go,” stammered Mr. Duncan. The man in leopard-skin- coat, with a leopard’s headon ig ‘a mask, was truly a frightful object. ; Tat 3 “Do not hesitate, man,” said the terrible guard; “follow me 1 if you do not wish to die a horrible death.” The frightened miner accompanied the goblin guard into apartment, where he was stripped to the waist. — S ‘Then he was conducted to another room, which was s bril- matt liantly lighted. Saf t in some | Upon a dais or raised platfofm sat the man disguised ag s king ( He held a trident for a scepter in his hand, while him, standing, r clining, sitting or squatti 10st pnt ei his. ihe ha j A volley of rifle shots and a eae of yells answered. One of their party sprang to his feet to be pierced by a bullet, and to rise no more. What does it mean?” cried Mr. Larkmore, dragging the bewildered and stupefied Henry behind a tree. e crack of rifles and pistols now rang out lively, and Wild- } om threw some dead bushes on the fire. It blazed up, re- _-vealing flitting forms not far away. : “Dad gast ‘em, I knew it,” he cried. “But they shall hev ugh 0’ it.” } CHAPTER XXV. MR. DUNOAN’S FATE. Like some beautiful demon Martha Daily stood on the verge the trap down which the rich millionaire was descending. “Her face, sweet as an angel’s, yet possessed that bitter sweet- “Ress known to the most deadly poisons. . mocking laugh went out on the air as he ‘sank down, wn, down from the world above to & aoe of horror, misery death beneath. AML was ‘darkness and despair around ail below him. eaven have mercy upon me!” he groaned, | now saw his folly, as all men do; saw it when too inte, ught of his home, his wife and children, (the fortune he | 1 amassed for them. : ike an angel seemed the face of his wife when com- the beautiful demon who had bropent ruin eetd death d ‘that his feet and legs had been caugh retting, which held them fast vator to which he ) js
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THE RED HOUSE. and one eoeeibie turtle-faced demon; all were armed with | Indians in that part of the country, or nearer than a hundred ~ i! spears, battle-axes, swords and revolvers. Some were dis-| miles, yet it was possible that the hostile foes might make a guised as knights and some as demons and fabulous mon-| forced march through the woods, dodging the towns, settle- sters. ‘ Mr. Duncan groaned. \ “Place him in the seat!” roared this strange king of beasts. The wealthy miner was placed in an armchair facing the King. “Who are you?” asked the chief, as a secretary or clerk at his side opened a large book. “John Duncan.” x “We will have no lying now, sir?’ “T understand,” said Mr. Duncan. “Is John Duncan your real name?” eV es"2 ‘ “What is your business?” “A miner.” “A miner—day workman or speculator?” - “Speculator—a mine owner.” -. ... “That’s well for you; see now that you. tell the see all the -way through.” ,“T-am telling the truth.” i “How much money have you with you?” “About four hundred dollars.” ‘ “How much are you worth?” “T do not exactly know.” “Approximate then?” _ “Well, fifty thousand.” | _ “Where is your nearest bank?” E “Denver. ‘i y “Good. How much have you there?” “About fifteen thousand dollars.” There was a moment’s silence, during ‘which the clerk _ seemed to be writing. “Come forward.” sure y ~The trembling man arose ‘agi advanced. eM “Sien this,” and a cake for fifteen thousand dollars was laid before him. ts “Die it is, hen) i: know my life would not be worth | a mo- z. _ment’s: purchase if I did sign it.” ‘ ete sir. I say sign!” cried the vis esbomes: outlaw. useless. ois | ‘feet were burnt with “hot irons, a red: eo thrust _ in his mouth, and. his tongue parched and ae a him off to the whipping: -post,” cried die chief. hour later Mr. Duncan ary brought back just alive from. , he was one of those persons whom a ee approach to ath only makes the more stoical. ill you sign?” asked the chief. aie He shook his he i hall have life and liberty at once. is mY n Db Peart were Harry ‘enna c ae ha se c “himself upon the ground and wormed his way along a haze playin’ Injun about me.” ‘fired at them. into the bushes. xe aha age : . @ | boughs: of the trees; only the groan of one of their 0 | did not know, and at a time when they did ments and forts to attack this out-of-the-way village or party i of hunters. th At the ery of Indians the men once more became calm, They an were accustomed to fighting the redskins, and at once settled themselves down to business. " “Give ‘em thunder!” roared Nick Blumer, firing at a top- © knot about forty yards away and knocking a piece of bark» off the side of the tree where it had been. “Lay low, and take it easy!” shouted Wildcat Tom. Crack! went his rifle, and there was a death-cry not the least : fy. like an Indian, and a body sprang up from the hazels and — fell, Crack! creck! crack! sounded the shots on the night air, — keeping the woods almost ablaze with fire and shots. But few of them took effect, save upon the trees and bushes, og which were getting pretty well shattered. ach. There were several lulls in the attack, and’ our friends thought the enemy had. gone off, but they had only Aeted another plan or stratagem. Mr. Larkmore shook his head. a They were not Indians. Indians would be more impulsive, ng would not hang on so long or fight so stubbornly. oi Their enemies had a few of the peculiar characteristics of ae Indians, but not.many. They yelled less and exposed them- selves less often than even the most experienced br. aves would have done. So far two of their own men were either killed or oe fire. Two or three of the attacking party had fallen. F The lion of the fight was Wildcat Tom. He had throwr thicket until he came up against a stump. : “Now, dot rot yer fool souls!” he yelled, as he drew a bead’: on the side of the head of a painted demon, “ye, needn't bi He pulled the trigger and the. man dropped. It became | evident to the attacking party that. they wel having more of a fight than they. had. bargained for. m In a few minutes they began to be more wary in. their men ner of attack, and at last they ceased, to respond ‘to the ‘sho 8 hot as there was nothing to nina 43) Not a soul was in sight, and Mr. Laverton ordered his headed men to quit firing, They waited and listened. There caine a peculiar whistle, and then a moment aster fi one and then another of those mLraneG foes who had fall ithe fight began’ gliding away.’ This was certainly unaccountably steangel They pint oe ater the tending hardly comprehend it at first; but a few moments more keen-eyed of the defenders saw long lariats from a neck of. one, a foot oh another and the arm These were doubtless the? instruments which were tak ng them off. They could only -wateh this process, which was ‘ tainly eat aN Ah Slowly inch by inch the dead were worked away nto. forest, and finally disappeared altogether. on i An hour passed and all was silent. “Not a leaf ru a poor fellow shot through the body—broke the To these men who little anticipated a fight, it >} of horror. In times of peace to be attacked by ae of foes pvtretie enough to uti : Tr “Tam going to see h Mr Larkmore steppit d
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J - padeet bia | hoe + = | Fs a ! | THE REN HOUSE. Os geen ' fe at . —o ee -gaere,” said Mr. Larkmore. “Had he not warned us, we would | it has béen spent altogether in a school or college. What you _ all have been asleep.” $ learn there fits you for the world, but the great lessons of life “Where is Wildeat Tom?” asked another. are to be learned from the world itself. Young fellows fall “Tom, Tom, Wildcat Tom!” called one, but there was no|in love with girls younger or older than themselves as the ‘response. whim may be. They know little or hothing about themselves, | ; “Well,” said Mr. Larkmore at last, “there is no need to dis-| and sometimes in less than a month are more anxious to tum- cuss that question any longer. He is gone.” ble out of love than they ever were to fall in.” “What are we goin’ to do?” asked Nick Blumer. No longer superstitious himself: concerning the horrors of Nick had a bullet wound on the cheek, which had knocked} the Red House, Jerry had to admit that it would require but ' him down, and at first made him think he was killed. It was] little aid of the imagination to clothe the demons with all the - only a flesh wound, however, and he knew he would soon be| supernatural terror which was given them by the sot citizens ‘over its , round about Millbrook. “We must try. and get Tom to Millbrook if possible,” said They courted the idea of superstition. There was no doubt Mr, Larkmore. but these monsters, when deprived of their masks, came above “But, by jemany, who kin find the way in this darkness?” ground and associated with the good citizens of Millbrook. Simmons, one of their scouts, had been killed. Had the people of Millbrook known who they were they would . A bullet had struck him in the centre of the forehead, and| beyond doubt have been astonished to know that they were he died instantly. ; some of them their own neighbors. ' Gilstrap, the remaining scout, was but» very little ac- The fugitives had been moving through the woods with the - quainted with the country. utmost care. There were fallen trees to fall over, there were By. He had a pistol shot in his arm, but was not wholly dis- seeete stones to stumble against and ee ego pits in the abled. eart: % It was a serious ication about finding their way back to As near as they could estimate from a reasonable stand- ‘Millbrook on this dark night. point, they had been above ground about four hours, though - “Come, fix up litters, and let us be going,” said Mr. Lark-| Jerry Blackman said he was willing to take his “Bible oath” ‘more. “We must carry these wounded men by. turns.” it was ten, when they heard the sound of footsteps in advance They soon had two rude stretchers made with poles and | of them, bark, and started through the woods in the direction aes sup-}| Soon they were near enough for our friends to see that one posed Millbrook to lie. of the men in advance carried a torch. They were running di- - The dead scout Simmons could have told them, had he been | rectly toward the concealed men.. alive, whether they were on the right path or not; but he could “Harry,” said Jerry, quickly, “I’ll be hanged if that ain’t not direct them now. His tongue was silent forever, and his| Nellie, our girl, who is leading that party.” ; “body nearing its last. resting- -place. ; When the party of hunters, guided by the mysterious Nellie,. iN They had traveled three or four miles when they halted. came opposite our friends, a form sprang out behind them “Tt am afraid’ we are lost,” said Mr. Larkmore. “Do any of| with a ery of joy, and they were confronted by the missing ou know where our town lies?” 5 man for. whom they had searched so long. Some said it was in one direction and some in another. It ; s evident that all were at fault. ao Ti “Come this way, gentlemen, I will be your guide to Mill- : Gt IE { rook, ” said a sweet, clear voice, and the next moment, to their z ! ; ; astonishment, a young girl, dressed in fine, though strong CHAPTER XXVIII. goods, with thick-soled shoes, stepped out from the bushes. eee are you?” asked My. Larkmore, astounded. ats m to, be your ee to Millbrook, and I will ae you | ely, too.” ‘ a DESCENDING. “Jerry—Jerry Blackman,” cried Henry Larkmore in wild’). 7 «i , ‘ surprise. shine M re } The little, party halted with the dead fate wounded brought! ik ao Dian) from the lafe fight. WEY : : Spas ined “Come on, come on,” urged the\ fair and mysterious guide. e} CHAPTER XXVII. \ But no one heard her, or hearing, heeded her request. All " j _ | were too much absorbed in what Jerry had to say.of his adven- i be eee THE MISSING MAN. _ | tures. ; . Did you git through ’em alive, Jerry?” Nick Blumer asked. Grinell was almost at the opening when he paused,} “No; I was turned toa stone. A great oblong stone. I was” iarry, ave said in a former chapter. Already the dark sky | a stone a long time, I don’ t exactly know how long, but moss — raving: tree-tops were visible. began. to grow out over me.’ i erry Blackman was but a few feet below him, and Wa had “But, Jerry, how did ye git back to flesh and blood?” sagt urned to. see if their deliverer would follow tye carats baaa he | Nick Blumer. | caught her \ arning: | “Come on, come on, if you Paine your lives,” ania ‘Nellie. | ; det up quick and run for your lives! You are desvenea, But they were now absorbed with Jerry, and paid no heed to Loo) Av when you get above, for the woods are fen of those | the frantic entreaties of their beautiful guide. t i $ | \“This man,” said Jerry, pointing to Harty Grinell, “he broke | 4 hn not coming?” aN SE Ay Sens wg Ah the spell of enchantment and freed me from the stone Seart f , no; go on.” which I was turned. gills ig thus urged the OR climbed. fintnoe up until they came }, ‘Henry Larkmore, who thought Jerry. daly. Joking, s in an ‘old well standing in the woods, “Well, Jerry, what kind of a stone di nowing where they were the young ‘men’ waited for “Well, as near as I can remem > said Jerry, “from. ti Bs abe med to them hours. A warning ery they once heard | partial view I had of myself, I.was a ki of a brown stone. peated, but ar woURe certainly hear the faint | looked rather new, you know, at first, but I expect I ootfalls. have been moss-grown if I had waited ; enough. ry Grinell arose to his feet and listened. Jerry| Nellie now went to ‘Harry, and, g at his sl All was still, save th nes aay ai he ee him aside. f ‘ a eaT Ean e night was very dark. “You are a detective?” ‘she (ae ‘ _ “Yes,” was his: answer. | ‘pi “And you came here to arrest ounterteiters, and the ' /derer of old Solomon Barksdale?” ie “That | is my business, miss, as I have told you.” 3 grea ! ‘ | “Do you want to do that work at once?” say that, Harry,” Ty, a few] “Of le mrse—the § sooner the fiends are under lock a . “She is as. pretty. the f sy S ie ge 2 eee deep as phil exalted ao eae about that girl, ‘too. |
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. 30. - Ee a rt ROE ES up to action. Lead them on to battle. number to the outlaws, and we can effect a most complete sur- prise.” “Oh, yes; I will do so,” said Harry. Then going to where the excited inhabitants of Millbrook stood conversing in a most excited manner, he said: “Gentlemen, give me your attention a moment, please,” He spoke in a tone somewhat superior, and so commanding that the hubbub almost instantly ceased, and the men gave him their respectful attention, “Gentlemen and lawful citizéns of Millbrook, I have a few words to say to you, and then to request you as lawful citi- zens to aid us in crushing out of existence one of the most ter- rible dens of infamy we have ever known. “T will state to you in the beginning that the Red House is not haunted, as many of you believe, neither is the forest enchanted; but both are made dangerous by a gang of bandits who have long been a curse, not so much to this community as to the entire West. This has been their receptacle for stolen ‘goods, and their mints are here, where they coin base money. We can break up that den in one short hour. Will you do it?” - All agreed to do so. ‘ ; “Come on, I will lead you,” said Nellie. “Then lead on!” cried Nick Blumer, slapping his rifle with his hand. “I’ll be danged if I can’t go anywhere bie a woman’ll lead!” “There will be danger,” said Nellie, with her sweet, wayatix voice. “Those who follow me need not expect a path of roses. Blood will flow.” The whole manner of the girl was changed; she seemed totally different from her former self, at least so she appeared to: Harry. aa There was less of caution, less of care. What did it mean? _ Why was she advarcing through the forest with that burning torch? Suddenly there loomed. up before them a form. | It was the form of a man. Harry grasped his revolver and had cocked it when the fair guide said: — nee “Do not be alarmed; it’s a friend.” The tall, dark form of a man stood perfectly erect and held * g rifle in his hand, while at his waist was a belt bristling with revolvers. “Wildcat Tom,” said. Nick, Blumer, as thé light from the - torch ell upon his face. , “Jay Gormley,” said Harry Grinell. _ “But I’ll be hanged if it ain’t that old woman I had a fight with. over the deer,” put in Jerry Blackman. “Pollow as quickly as you’can,” said Gormley, and he de- e thelr e ye the earth at the spot were our friends had made E eir exit. : é Ac. a ‘CHAPTER XXIX. THE DEMONS SURPRISED, ( Since Martha Daily had led Mr. Duncan, the okt miner, to, ig ruin she had been without a lover—if we except the ego- 41 little lawyer who occasionally paid his addresses to | en she saw fitto see him. __ , on the night in which the events occurred as related last chapter, dressed in his. best and made his way to el of Nathan Butts. r Martha was very agreeable to the lawyer on this even- -country girl once said, “If she couldn’t get biscuit | take cornb: ead,” we a a oo Libnsd gone, and the young Jawyer. The evenin ly being before him, the door being entered. jan Ssrwior, } ie THE RED HOUSE. They are equal in assed. off quite emote ie the young folks in| ‘home, and had half made up his mind to. s @ man eae’ and are grouped about in the strangely-lighted apart- men < Some recline en couches, some on sofas and some Bit in chairs. There is a dark form lying on a cot. The heavy breathing : tells that the dark life within is ebbing away. A dead hush is about the apartment, broken only by the heavy breathing and an occasional groan. In the corner, lying side by side, are three stark, stiff forms. The masks are still upon their faces, but their stiffness and ghastly appearance indicate that they are dead. The remaining members of that mysterious band—who, in their strange war-paint, half Indian costume and half demon attire, look more grotesque than ever—are gathered about like frightened children. The dark form on the cot has on the mask of a lion. He is their king, the centre figure of their great organization for the perpetration of crimes too heinous to be recorded. He is dying. One of the men mounted the rostrum in front of the chair and said: : ; “Our king is now expiring. It is the last of him, and our organization is in disorder. The tiger is, next to the lion, king of beasts; let him come forward to the chair.” The tiger-man did so, then waved his hands above his head and said: Ree “Friends and comrades, it has become my duty, under the most painful circumstances, to assume control of our organ- ization——” ee ' The door burst open, and Martha Daily and Jippy Jerkum 5 entered. “Where is he—oh, Heaven, where is he?’ cried Martha < Daily. Ae Her instinct and natural affection guided her to the spot Bie where the man lay groaning and bleeding his life away. ee “There is one amidst us whose face ig not covered,” said the man with the dog’s face. Nits “Lead him forth and let him mask, ” said he of the tiger rae head.’ ae Two men instantly seized Jippy and'led him ‘from the ~ apartment. In a few minutes those two men who had gone out with Jippy returned, acconipanied by a man disguised as. a hyena. ot In the meanwhile the beautiful Martha Daily had been” wringing her hands and weeping violently over the prostrat =i form of the dying lion. ; The man was sinking rapidly, and if he recognized her at all he was unable to speak. “Oh, take off this horrid mask,” the girl cried. “et m look at the face of my father before it has DECOIRG: cold 6s i death.” “No, no, maiden, 4c said the tiger. “Do you not enone tha no face can be unmasked ih these underground apartments? “Mather, father, father!” and she fell upon her knees” by 1 2 side of the prostrate man. “He is dying, oh, he is dying, and without a-hope. Father, father, our lives have been wicked, and we cannot | ASPs for anything good in the future,” s id Martha. She dared not rewtte the name of God or His precio abode—Heaven. Such names were too pure and sacred to be ‘spoken by such ‘polluted lips. _ pe The tiger-man turned his great blazing eyes aEeP her, and said: ae expressions are improper. Let us hear no more them At this moment the sentry uttered a wild ery. “What was it?” cried one of the demons. “Aye, go and see,” said the chief. A man sprang 0 the door, when it was burst open eee we have known Tiger Jane and Wildcat T¢ was in reality none other than the detective Jay ‘sprang in, followed by mies Grinell, Jerry Blac As f vee Bo aes CONCLUSION. —
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THE RED HOUSE. a . Suddenly the man with the tiger’s face sprang from his seat on the dais, and cried: ; “Let us die with the harness on. All is up now, ae it is either hang, be shot or cut our way through.” He fired his pistol at Gormley as he spoke, and led the charge at the front door. ; Gormley fired his pistol and the man with a tiger’s face fell. The demons fired a volley of shots and Jerry Blackman and Harry Larkmore were both wounded, and Neil Otis and an- - other man killed. , : “Give ‘em thunder,” shouted Gormley, and the deadly guns and pistols belched forth their contents among the enemy in “front of them. : The stone floor was strewn with writhing and struggling _ wretches. ‘ ‘One cowardly rascal, disguised in a hyena’s mask, a mask which well became him, was on his knees in a corner of the ‘apartment imploring mercy. : But no mercy was given; he was shot through and lay kick- Sat ing, writhing and struggling upon the ground, ; _ The fight was soon over. The masked brotherhood of bandits fought until all were killed. The apartment. was filled with smoke, and when it finally 4 —trept out at the open doors, Harry Grinell was shocked to see » @ young woman lying across the body of one of the masked men, : - He uttered a ery of horror and raised her up. Sa She was dead. A bullet had found a lodgment in her heart. hs Yet in her face the features of the cold, wicked Martha Daily "8 “were plainly. visible. ‘The shot which killed her was evidently fired by one of the - masked men, who wished their secrets to die with them. ~ i * “Now,” said Jay Gormley, “we have cleared up the mystery of the Red House and of Dead Man’s Bluff, or about done it, : let us unmask the dead, and then I want you all to hear a story 2 connected with this mystery.” First the mask was removed from, the lion, and’ underneath At was seen the features of Mr, Lem Daily. No one was very uch astonished at this, put there were surprises in store for ) ter. known as Phil Marks. tiheva were demons, goblins and : sters, some of which were strange and some of which were ‘When they had exposed all the villains, Jay Gormley had a ard placed over the dead, and told the others to follow him, > conducted them to a neat apartment where the woynded ergoing treatment by the village ‘doctor, whom they Bec to see there, He was assisted sole that strange d as. they. entered. w find seats,” said the datestiva: taking. a seat near the f the room. “We have just broken up one of the worst. urderers, ever known, and about whom there was a itting or standing Shout were awed and stupefied. you may think it is I who have done this, may ae it was this ae oint ¢ The cat proved to be a car- ry are always in print. from any newsdealer, send the oe a mieney, i ae postage stamps, by mail, to ae of horror and mystery, is this young girl,” and he pointed to Nellie. None of the villagers had ever seen her before. At the urgent request of Jay Gormley, she gave the following ac- count of herself and her relation to the robbers: “eMry name is Nellie Oakland, and my parents have been dead for years. My former home was in Chillicothe, Ohio. My grandfather was Solomon Barksdale, former proprietor of this house and these lands, and my mother’s father. About a year and a half ago he came to Chillicothe for me. I did not know that my grandfather was engaged in the unlawful business of counterfeiting until I came here. He brought me to this house in the night, and I saw ‘no one and no one saw me. Then he told me that he had an organized band of counterfeiters under him, and feared they would kill him. He said they wanted to add murder and robbery to their business, but he refused, There was great danger of their taking his life. He told me all about this red house. Jt had been erected over this natural cavern or caverns many years before, when people hid from the Indians in the catacombs beneath. He used a part of the lower grottoes for molding money. The men al- ways wore masks of animals or demons, so as not to see each other’s faces, and one could not testify to another.” “My grandfather always haying an impression that his band would betray him, had secret doors, grottoes, passages and apartments, which the others did not know. He was a scientist and mechanic. He arranged these white lights out - of electricity, and constructed telephones, so that he might hear his men in conversation. All of this he informed me. I tried to get him to quit violating the law, and he had con- sented when he was killed by his men because he would not make a murderers’ den out of the place. The men knew noth- ing of me. I started to fly, and in the woods met this man, dressed as a woman, and told him all. hen he laid the plans; I assisted in the execution, and all have been brought to justice. I am not strong enough to tell all the horrors I have witnessed wei a part of uae you. know. Ca * * * * o « Reader, aie need we. Bet the story? The mystery is. cleared up. Jerry and Henry both recovered, and ‘are in col- lege, fast friends. Both are engaged to beautiful ladies, and will be married on their return. As for Jay Gromley, he is still a detective, and the wonder of the West. _ Harry Grinell is out of the business. He married Nellie Oakland, as everybody has supposed he would, and she ob- jected to one she loved following such a dangerous calling, and he is now a dry goods merchant, and a happy sitchen gis f father. The village of Millbrook is prosperous and happy, and giad that there is no more dread attached to the Red House, and that the mystery of Dead Man’s Bluff has’ been cleared up. ee THE END, Read “THE DISCARDED SON; OR, THE CURSE OF DRINK,” which will be bo next number (92) of | es and Luck.” 4 ‘ t SPECIAL NOTICE—AIl back res of this libra= If you cannot obtain them Neo kes TOUSEY, Publisher). eae New York Cit | \ ‘ Paes rat Ne
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oe BO rs, ie A aa, Say Hi x ; +e “4 Pac | : reer Baur ae AL LAUGH EVERY CHpPTER! THIS IS THE LATEST! te ‘SNAPS’ ze ee secs deste The Only Library of Funny Stories Published | in the World. “SNAPS” will be issued weekly and will contain the cream o: *. | humorous stories, written Ny such well known writers of Comi Stories as PETER PAD, TOM TEASER, SAM SMILEY dit ‘Others. aereny. number will consist of 32 BARGE PAGES, printed If you enjoy a Menon Seg you anduia: certainly place your der 1 my mond the Family Mischief, 2 Tommy Bounce At School; or, The Family Mischief At Work and Play, | by Peter Pad wo Dandies of New, York; or, The Fnnny Side of Ev ing, by Tom Teaser horty; or, "Kicked inté Good ‘Luck, _by Peter Pad horty on the State; or, Having all Sorts of Luck, \ by Peter Pad n y te ‘Boy From Chicago; on, fakes ae Too | fim ; y Sam Smiley n Peddie er, yeas ke Tom ‘Teaser r the Road; or, worth: tor Pun and Trade, ! . by bis Teaser i Dick and ie or, Schooldays in ait a fe Peter Pad by. Tom Teaser Two. R Mike wien; or, The Troubles of by Peter Pad with your newsdealer for a copy of “ SNAPS i every week, 12 ee Academy; ‘or, hove ee EA tg Be A by Sam 13 “Muildoon, the Solid ‘Man 14 The Troubles of Terrence Muldoon, __ by 15 Dick Quack, the Doctor’s Boy; or, A Hard Pill” Swallow by Tom. “Tease 16 One of sé Baye: of New York; or, The Adventures of _ Tommy Bounce, by Be a Young Bounce. in Business; or, Getting to Work Fair, “by. Pe 18 The Muleahey Twins, ! 19 Corkey; or, The ealeke and Travels of a at, i) 20 out With a Star: Scenes, 5 at rate ia or, Pun Before and B TE oe hs ctae A ba Bor | with the Big Mouth, we
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THE, Oe vows Fe 5 | : tot ed 0 ot fa me ies aie — bats, fe : IRDS see ae leauaes pees and Ble ng ng birds. | j giviz ‘a tions jas ELECTRIC N HOW TO. 2 AND ‘svn cnt AND tae p eLmorurorry ae ip te information as ner g sing, a | iste je foe moka itn ap ae iat neh nsfor mak cous eked Tagg et ac ELBCERIGAT MACHINYS—Con-! "0" MISCELLANEOUS, . TO. BECOME ‘A. SULENTIST.AGA hae th A I (opel barman zatheatics, i ity, a ae vg fireworks, coloved fires, and gas balloot: of ODO BLOT. Te g : Sidns,/ “By A. eat MEO fat MAKE CANDY. say pe let ee ENTERTAINMENT, i ae me on a ups, essence ete. ate. a BECOME: A VY!) ns ME s+ "Phis wonderful oa p¥e me. 0 moud ret given away. Sis aa ; 1 life. : se aati tee fue te jmote and weal a ella oe | punt of fun: : men/of the pr age, aes ag ‘nN example is in itself guid : iblished, we ee Sesriem ne ud money.” ‘the book will give yam Y f Gi PARTY pendin: vSsny's (ON AN hs sT Is Se ig ebcoations, “Here suita ie | pe ell pec. es hii enterta inert It aoateing moré forthe iad vere GAMES) A: iste and useful lit ae in the petal < Shree oe GND As ioe ss get pit one 4 OW ost com ad. ae ae Lyn. ONUNDRUMS,—Containing ait aertat Soke conbatnie mae and practical arava tion ia tbe amusing eee catches | treatinent. of» ordinary al pd ailments comimon every | Hap the pace? i" ) oe ‘7 ‘Abounding in in’ useful and eactive recipes for weneral Com ndy ere ; Q OF NEW YOR af Jes at ao eas vt for ior piasing Bue ibe vee, OF Cri eat Ross Gi New 20K END Mes $ jORM : Bours and o amatear Ininstrels is coniplete yw = Other popular gam ca i Pee tt} odes, ae oe ae | onto eae. Pian " STAMDS AND. GDINS. He aly sala "Anderson, | tai fc i aeatir rn ge uber On rere ene thie, Mi ing and en ‘ETIQUETTE, ; ren ee BE A goons tte VEo Kink ; ne HO. iT: OR, BOOK or dene ns tb pecan ted ‘te pate ee ive. Tn which nie By o oe Fay me onc that Paha young man desires ti know on peunihis idea cla be ad also “LO: eRRITA) Pei ‘Coat ining te rules /and mag bo, ete BOOM octet cx cat vis ocietyiand the easiest and oe Ee re motions ng Useful jatar apes ee Ca ae fea waaeem fo work 369)! | ‘i ih to e } 1 ra ibe tape dt nartios, 8 bu eave Agic: ee shod, other little |. moles, #andsomely iNustiated. Captain DECLAMATIO ON. ee 2. HOW TO PECOMB) A WHS POINT MILETARS y ane oi BOOK OF macro | 4 i Pee si: ee how Meg asliaiitanees | ” hag tions Im /Use, prisiu, #00) yt J jous: Posy: pier ener Intiong: 4 es aud alla: boy Shows Comte spnihie ero Jombiiee and ee hy iy ene: es & uy eas = No: 68, OW. Ny To pndoMe SAN Ae ee Also eoutanin ioe Bel aan Pe apn petty, arranged jn a4 naan buliding Vijstorical 5
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THE HANDSOMES PLUCK »* LUG CONTAINS ALL SORTS OF STORIES. EVERY STORY COMPLETE. weet T PUBLISHED! 32 PAGES. BEAUTIFULLY COLORED COVERS. PRICE 5 CENT! ‘ 1 Dick Decker, the Brave Young Fireman, 49 by Ex-Fire Chief Warden The Two Boy Brokers; or, From Messenger res to Mil- 50 lionaires, by A Retired Banker Little Lou, the Pride of the Continental Army. A story of 51 the American Revolution, by General Jas. A. Gordon Railroad Ralph, the Boy Hngineer, by Jas. C. Merritt) 52 The Boy Pilot of Lake Michigan, by Capt. Thos. H. Wilson Joe Wiley, the Young Temperance Lecturer, by Jno. B. Dowd ).53 The Little Swamp Fox. A Tale of ae Marion and His Men, by General Jas. A. Gordon | 54 Young Grizzly Adams, the Wild Beast Tamer. A True Story of Circus Life, by Hal Standish | 55 North Pole Nat; or, The Secret of the Frozen Deep, by Capt. Thos. H. Wilson \56 Little Deadshot, the Pride of the Trappers, by an Old Scout Liberty Hose; or, The Pride of Plattsville, 57 by Ex-Fire Chief Warden 12 BPngineer Steve, the Prince of the Rail, by Jas. C. Merritt\58 Whistling Walt, the Champion Spy. A Story of the Ameri- can Revolution, by General Jas. A. Gordon™59 14 Lost in the Air; or, Over Land and Sea, by Allyn Draper | 60 15 The Little Demon; or, Plotting Against the Czar, by Howard Austin 61 16 Fred Farrell, the Barkeeper’s Son, by Jno. B. Dowds.62 17 Slippery Steve, the Cunning Spy of the Revolution, by General Jas. A. Gordon™. 63 18 Fred Flame, the Hero of Greystone No. 1, by Bx-Fire Chief Warden | 64 ™19 Harry Dare; or, A New York Boy in the Navy, by Col. Ralph Fenton -65 20 Jack Quick, the Boy Mngineer, by Jas. C. Merritt | ~~21 Doublequick, the King Harpooner; or, The Wonder of the 66 Whalers, by Capt. Thos. A. Wilson}: G7 22 Rattling Rube, the Jolly Scout and Spy. <A Story of the Revolution, by General Jas. A. Gordon | G8 ~~ 22 In the Ozar’s Service; or, Dick Sherman in Russia, by Howard Austin | 69 ~e24 Ben o’ the Bowl; or, The Road to Ruin, by Jno. B. Dowd 25 Kit Carson, the King of the Scouts, by an Old Scout} 70 mn 2G a pees Boy Wxplorers; or, Among the Ruins of Yuca- by Howard Austin} 71 27 The “Wide Awakes; or, Burke Halliday, the Pride of the Volunteers, by Ex-Fire Chief Warden) 72 *-28 The Frozea Deep; or, Two Years in the ie, 4 by Capt. Thos. H. Wilson '! 78 29 The pone? Rats; or, The Boys Who Fought for. Washing- tor by General Jas. A. Gordon 30 rece the World on Cheek, by Howard Austin f oO ASR Co ris BSD © = wo 31 Bushwhacker Ben; or, The Union Boys of Tennessee, TD by Col. Ralph Fenton | 76 ~~ 82 The Rival Roads; or, From Engineer to President, ria by Jas. ©. Merritt | 78 ~83 The Boy Volunteers; or, The Boss a Company of the 79 Tow y Wx-Fire Chief Warden’| 80 34 From Bootbiack to Senator ; or, Boung’ to AES. us Way, F a Mee rier apa 81 35 Ha Rake the Daring S A Story of the Great Rebel- Men: ee by y General Jas. A. Gordon 83 36 Bob the Waif. A Story of Life in New York, by Howard Austin | 84 “87 Two Years on a Raft y Capt. Thos. H. Wilson | 85. -.88 Always Ready ; or, The Best peas oh the deed, by, Jas. ©. Merritt | 86 89 Out ee Buffalo Bill; or, Six New York Boys in the Wild Wes by An Old Scout | 8&7 ~ 40 The Choate of Black Cliff Hall, by Hal Standish” 41 The Island King; or, ‘The Realms of the Sea, by Berton Bertrew | 89 42 Rory of the Hills; or, The thea of Tippéfary, by Corporal Morgan Rattler) 90 43 Columbia; or, The Young Firemen of Glendale, YQl by Ex-Fire Chief Warden 44 Across the Continent in the Air, by Allyn Draper }92 ~ 45 The Wolf Hunters of Minnesota, by Jas. ©, Merritt ™46 Larry Lee, the Young Lighthouse Keeper, by Capt. Thomas H. Wilson ~47 The White World; or, The Slaves of Giberia, by Howard Austin 48 Headlight Tom, the Boy Mngineer, by Jas. C. Merritt’ For Sale by All Newsdealers, or will be Sent to Any Address on Receipt of Price, ' Cents per Copy, by MAAN BK ROU SH 4 Publisher, 24 Union Square, Ml b The White Boy Chief; or, The Terror of the Moxthy Platte, ; by An Old ‘Se’ The Phantom Fireman; or, The a of Mark Hew-. land’s Life, by ix-Fire Chief W. anf) \ The Magic Mountain. A Story of BPxciting Adventure, by Howard Aust, , The Lost Treasure Ship; or, In Search of a Million in Gol |, + § by Capt. Thos. HL. Wits” The Red Caps; or, The Fire Boys of Boy Iston, by Ix-IWire Chief W. ar, « A Scout at 16; or, A Boy’s Wild Life on the F route An Old See Ollie, the Office Boy; or, The Struggles of a Poor Wait, ig y Allyn’ Dray’ 4 On Board the School-Ship St. Mary’s; igh; The Pinky Wight of a Boy Orphan, by Capt. Thos. J1. Wil Fighting With Woshington; or, The Boy Regiment of the , Revolution, by General Jas. A.of*ow Hy Dashing Dick, t young Cadet; or, Four Years at West Wild Point, by Howard A’ 4." Stanley’s Boy Mus cian; or, Lost in Africa, by Jas. C. Mer)| ; 2 as Boy Mail Carrier; or, Government Service in Minne- } by An Old Sec odes, ‘the Call Boy; or, Born to Be an Actor, by Gus Willia A Fireman at Sixteen; or, Through Mlame and Smoke, one by Ix- call Chief War‘ * Lost at the South Pole; or, he Kingdom of I hey by Gapt, “Thos. H. Wi! a A Poor Irish Boy; or, Fighting His Own Way, i by Corporal Morgan Ratt (i Monte Cristo, Jr.; or, The Diamonds of the Borgias, try by Howard ie Robinson Crusoe, Jr., by Jas. C. Mex Jack Jordan of New York; or, A Nervy Young America: ia eI by Lloward AY © The Block House Boys; or, The Young Pioneer me Grea |. ro Lakes, An Old) ~ Fr re, Bootblack to Broker; or, The Luck of a Rat Strect 49 by A Retired B. | - i Bighterh Diamond yes; or, The Nine-Headed Idol of Cey- i lor by_ Berton Berti; Phil, he Boy Fireman; or, Through Flame to Victory, | « . by lx-Fire Chief Wai The Boy Silver King; or, The Mystery of Two Lives, by, Allyw Dre \4& The Floating School; or, Dr. Bircham’s Bad Boys’ Academy, % by Howard Au Frank air in Congress; or, A Boy Among Our ewan res ¥ by Hal Stam). Dunning & Co., the Boy Brokers, by A Retired Br-_ rs The Rocket ; or, Adventures in the Air, by Allyn Dr we The First Glass ; or, the Woes of Maret by Jno B. L + sith) Will, the Whaler, by Capt. Thos. H. W - 4 The Demon of the Desert, by Jas. O. Mc A Captain Lucifer; or, The Secret of the Slave Ship, A, by Howard Ahi! Nat o’ the Night, by Berton Bert j The Search for the Sunken Ship, by Capt. Thos. H. Wil\, Dick Duncan; or, The Blight of the Bowl, y Jno. B. De » Daring Dan, the Pride of the Pedee, by General Jas. A. he ral The Iron Spirit; or, The Mysteries of the Se Rolly Rock; or, Chasing the Mountain ‘Bandits, : by Jas. C 6 ue t Five Years in the Grassy Sea, by Capt, Thos, H. Wi bf be The Mysterious Cave, by Allyn Dr’. - The Fly-by-Nights; or, The Mysterious Riders of the Reyo- | lution, by by Berton hay sh The Golden Idol, Ww: Ast The Red House; or, The Mystery of Dead Mans Bluff, $hi by Jas. ©. Merri! ! . by Jno. B. Dow The-Disearded Son; or, The Curse of Drink,