CHAPTER XX.
OVERMATCHED BY A GIRL.
A low chuckle fell from the lips of Madge Scarlet.
"I reckon you've met your match this time, Dyke Darrel. I will nowenjoy the sweetest revenge; it will be like honey to my blisteredtongue. You've done your last shadowing of your betters. Dan'l,husband, you shall be avenged before to-morrow's sun rises overChicago."
Lighting her lamp, the woman fiend bent down and peered through asquare opening in the floor to the depths below. It was too far downfor the rays of light to penetrate, but she could well imagine that amangled form lay directly below on the stone floor.
A faint groan reached her ears.
"Ha! he's coming to his senses. I must see that he don't outwit AuntMadge yet."
Then replacing the trap, the woman left the place, and a little laterdescended a narrow stairs and entered the room beneath the trap.
There on the stone floor lay the pretended old man, gasping in pain,yet not able to help himself.
Quickly Madge Scarlet bent over the prostrate and helpless victim ofher cunning, and began binding his limbs with a stout cord that shehad brought with her for the purpose.
In a little time the work was completed, and Mrs. Scarlet stood upwith her arms akimbo viewing her work, a satisfied smile playing aboutthe toothless lips.
"I'll peel you, so't there'll be no deception hereafter," muttered theshe fiend; and suiting actions to words, she tore the disguise fromthe detective's head and face and flung it aside. "Thought to fool theold woman, eh?"
A curdling laugh followed.
After gloating over the detective for some time, Madge Scarlet pickedup her lamp and turned away, a feeling of intense satisfaction in herheart at the knowledge that she had her enemies so completely at hermercy. It was satisfaction for one day at least.
The woman passed through two basement rooms, unlocking and lockingdoors, until she at length stood in the presence of Nell Darrel. "Iain't here with supper, madam," sneered the woman, as Nell started upand approached her. "You're not to have a mouthful to eat jest atpresent; that's the compliments your husband sends."
But Nell did not seem to appreciate the gross wit of her keeper.
"I am not hungry, woman, but I appeal to you to permit me to go fromthis place. I shall die here in a short time."
"Die then! Nothing would please me better than to witness your laststruggles," and Mrs. Scarlet emitted a laugh that was horrible tohear.
Nell had much of the determined spirit of her daring brother in hercomposition. She was not yet ready to give up all hope and fallcrushed in despair. Her right hand grasped the butt of the littlederringer she had been thoughtful enough to provide herself withbefore leaving home.
"Will nothing move you, woman?"
"Nothing," sneered Mrs. Scarlet. "Your brother sent my husband to adungeon, and to his death, and for that and other wicked work of his,I mean to be avenged. I shall cause him to suffer through his sister.You imagine the handsome Elliston a monster, I reckon, but _I_ willshow you that he is but a child compared to Madge Scarlet."
"Stop; I do not care to listen to you. Please hand over the keys tothis den of demons."
A cocked pistol was brought forward to emphasize the fair prisoner'sdemand.
A sneering laugh answered the girl's demand. Madge Scarlet did notseem to look upon the weapon as a dangerous one.
"Quick! I have no time to parley. Fling down the keys--toss them tothe door yonder, then take your place in yonder corner. Do you hearme?"
So stern was the girl's voice, so full of intense meaning, as to amazethe infamous woman who confronted her.
"This is all a joke----."
"It will prove a dear joke to you if you don't obey. Stop. One steptoward me and I fire! I am in deadly earnest."
And the sneering Madge Scarlet realized that she was. It was a mosthumiliating position. Once the woman thought of making a quick spring,but a pressure of the trigger was all that was necessary to send abullet on an errand of death.
With reluctance the woman drew a bundle of keys from her pocket andflung them to the floor behind her, and close to the door that stoodajar.
"Don't be so spiteful. Now, then, go to that corner. Move quickly!"
The girl still threatened her keeper with the cocked derringer, andshe crossed the floor with a growl that was not pleasant to hear.
"There, that is about right."
Then Nell Darrel backed to the door, snatched up the bunch of keys andlamp, passed into the next room, securing the door just as the hagfrom within came against it with tremendous force, at the same timeuttering a series of the most ear-splitting yells.
The door failed to yield, and Nell now hastened to improve heropportunity for escape that the carelessness of Mrs. Scarlet had givenher.