Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-05-11
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helplessl y at the stern faced defective
rs be spoke the words.
Ridgely hadlcaped from the hogshead
ere Aylmer could recover from sur.
prise at the startling conformation,
and had slipped pair Of handouts
over the wrists of the smuggler. Then,
tying his ankles together with a rope,
he went to where the mule stood
He lifted the cover of one of the
baskets. 1t was empty. Without a
moments delay, he bodily lifted Ayl,
mer in his arms. placed him IN the
basket, and shut down the cover.
Opium in the other basket. I imag
inc, he said Well, you'll just about
weight it, Won't tell me here the
girl is, Ell? Insist on it that there is
no girl III the case? Well, I'll get Won
into safe hands. and before night have
a force here that will find Grace Day
ton if she is here. Remember! seek
to betray me, refuse to aid me as We
leave here, and will kill YOU Iou
are at my mercy
1t was a bold plan that Walter
Ridgely projected, but he placed it in
prompt execution. He started up the
mule with its living freight and pushed
open the cave door. To his delight.
no one was outside. He drove away
from the cabin, and congratulated
himself on his good fortune, when, di-
rectlv in his path, man with leveled
rifle confronted him, evidently one of
the smuggling band.
"Who are you?" came the fierce de
mand. A stranger
Ridgely was rs cool as ice
Put down Your rifle, my friend" he
said IT'S all right; Won know YOUR
captains voice? ?"
"Yes, do"
Walter Ridgely clicked the revolver
in his pocket, omiuously near to his
prisoner in the basket
Speak he ordered
Its all right, jones'" came. in
muffed tones from the basket. He's
acting on my orders"
Ridgely laughed. As the sentry
passed he could hear Aylmer gnash his
teeth with secret chagrin and rage.
Nearlly on plodded the mule-one
mile, two-snddenlH from the brush
came quick challenge:
"Rldgely
Hello" and the detective recog,
nlZed one OF his AIDS OF the early morn
ing. here's Dawson?
With the others.
w hat others
I'VE located YOU at the den, and |
went to the city for help. Dawson
and ten others have probably sur
rounded the place by this time. Hank !.
do you hear that
Ridgely bent his ear and listened.
From great distance the report OF
firearms echoed.
He told his companion OF the human
freight the basket contained. Then
both waited. An hour later four men
rode up ON horscback--men from the
a8ency--and Just from the smugglers'
haunt.
They had surrounded tn" place y
desperate fight had "msu"d. hnt the
smngglers and their SpoilN We're nov III
possession OF six officers.
Look out" suddenly shouted
Ridgclv's companion.
Ridgely glanced at the mule and the
baskets. From one of them q man had
sprung. In some dextrous way Avlner
had slipped mauacles and bonds. and
was dashing ior liberty.
Bang. bang! The desperate, UNI
needing the order to halt. fell ut the
second fire
wounded. as Ridgelv anxiouslv in
quired of the officers if any trace of a
Young girl had been found at the den.
The answer was in the negative.
where is Grace Davton?" he asked
of Aylmer. Speak. man, You have
courted vour own doom-better. per
haps. than the gallows, but make the
atonement Won can by confessing all. :"
The rnlfnn dled with Il ScoWl OF
nate ON ms banned f"ce' ana MS lips
sealed
Inc officers got ready to carry me
dead man to the next village ~.
mar Is IN the other basket, OPIUM
one OF them asked.
suppose So Gloomlly replied
hldgelY' completely disappointed at
ms failure 10 discover trace OF the
missing Gil.
He opened the cover as he spoke.
Welled from ms lips as he glanced
"llniil me haShct'