Fritz to the Front, or, the Ventriloquist Scamp-Hunter

  CHAPTER XII.

  A PITIFUL END.

  The situation of Fritz was to him a decidedly gloomy one, as, owing tothe impenetrable darkness his eyesight was of no use whatever. He didnot know either, if it was safe to stir, as there might be anothertrap which he would fall into, and go headlong down into some otherpit.

  But he resolved to test the matter, and feel out the boundaries of hisnew prison at once.

  Groping about, inch by inch, and trying the floor in front of himbefore trusting the weight of his body upon it, he soon came to aplastered wall, and concluded by that, that he still remained in thebuilding, having probably only fallen to the first floor.

  "Vel, dot don'd vas so pad ash I first expected," he muttered, feelinga little more assured. "I t'ought I vas goin' vay down to der blacevere dey manufacture fire-crackers. Der next question, ish der anyoutlet to dis brison, I vonder?"

  Keeping his hands upon the wall, he walked several times around thedark apartment without pausing.

  "Der ish not von door or vinder, nor hole of any kind!" he finallymuttered. "I would not haff such a house for a gift."

  The room indeed appeared to be barren of those accessories, as far ashe was able to learn by the sense of feeling, and it would seem thatit was thus purposely prepared for a prison.

  "Vel, I guess I might as vel prepare to imitate der example off DoctorTanner, und go vidout somedings to eat for forty years or so!" Fritzmuttered, feeling of his stomach dolefully, for the apples had farfrom satisfied his appetite. "But, if possible, I must get oud offhere, somehow, before Fox und der boys get here."

  Just how he was to do it furnished him a serious subject to ponder on.

  * * * * *

  "Curse the girl! she's fainted!" the smuggler chief cried, pausing inhis horrible work.

  "Perhaps she is playing off, to escape punishment," the countesssuggested, with a malicious smile. "The American mademoiselle is verydeceitful!"

  "Faint or no faint, she shall get all that her stubborn resistancedemands!" Greyville growled, mercilessly, and he raised the whip andstruck her another stinging blow.

  "Stop! Strike that girl again and I'll kill you!" a voice cried, notfar in their rear, and turning, they beheld a stranger rushing up, apair of cocked revolvers in hand.

  "Furies!" Greyville gasped, turning pale.

  "_Mon Dieu!_ what's to pay? Let's fly!" from the countess.

  "No! we will stand our ground!" the smuggler hissed.

  The new-comer soon stood before them, with stern, accusing gaze, and aface flushed from his run.

  "Devils!" he cried, "what is the meaning of this brutal scene? Explaininstantly."

  It was the Leadville speculator, Thornton, who spoke, and there wasgrim business expressed in his tone.

  "What right have you to intrude in what is none of your business?"Greyville demanded, sourly.

  "Eh! I'll show you, you brutal puppy! Don't give me any of your lip,or I'll blow your brains out. Why, cuss my boots, you're as bad as theDog Injuns on the frontier!"

  "I presume I've a right to chastise my own child, sir, when herconduct deserves it!"

  "That's not your child, Garry Gregg! I know you. You are the wretch Ihave been longing to meet these ten years!"

  "You know me?" the smuggler cried, in amazement.

  "Ay! I know you!" the Westerner cried. "You are the worthless devilwho trapped Minnie Gray into a secret marriage years ago, and afterliving with her a couple of years, and abusing her, left her inpoverty, to live with a woman you had previously married."

  "And incurred your enmity by winning your sweetheart away from you!"Gregg sneered, mockingly.

  "Be that as it may, you are responsible for a good woman's death, andyou shall answer for it. Tell me, sir--is this poor child you havebeen beating, the daughter of Minnie Gray?"

  "If you like, yes."

  "Then, curse you, leave this spot at once, if you don't want me toshoot you down. I'll take care you never strike her again! Go! I say,or I'll kill you without hesitation!"

  There was a stern glare in the speculator's eyes that betokeneddanger, and, accompanied by the countess and Grogan, the smugglerchief hurried away.

  As soon as they had gone, Mr. Thornton cut the bonds that held SillySue to the post, and laid her tenderly down upon the soft grass.

  Hurrying down to the beach, he procured some water in his hat, andreturning, dashed it in her face.

  But although he did this, and chafed her hands and wrists, she did notopen her eyes. Her breath came in stifled gasps, and her heart beatslowly.

  "By Heaven! I believe they have killed her!" Mr. Thornton muttered,feelings of terrible rage swelling within him. "The equal of thisbrutality is seldom, even among the red devils on the frontier. Ah!Garry Gregg, if this poor child dies, you shall pay bitterly for herlife, or my name is not Thornton!"

  He continued faithfully in his endeavors to bring her back toconsciousness, but all to no avail.

  While he was thus engaged there came sounds of rapid footsteps, andHal Hartly dashed up, flushed and excited.

  "Great Heaven! what is the matter with Susie?" he demanded, on seeingher lying on the ground, so cold and white.

  "I fear she is dying, young man," Mr. Thornton replied, solemnly. "Ican not restore her to consciousness. Was she anything to you, sir?"

  "Indeed, yes; she was all the world to me, poor child, and we were tobe married, one of these days!" Hartly replied, kneeling beside her,with tears in his eyes. "Susie! oh! Susie, my little waif, can't youlook up and speak to me?"

  The girl slowly opened her eyes, and gazed up at him, with a lovingsmile.

  "Yes, Hal, I know. I am dying, Hal. Where is Fritz?"

  "I don't know, darling. I have not seen him since morning."

  "Well, when you see him, tell him I sent the message, and got ananswer that the detectives would come."

  "The detectives?"

  "Yes. I went for him, to telegraph for them, and he gave me fivedollars. It is in my pocket, Hal--you can have it, to get me a little,plain stone for my grave."

  "But, Susie, you can't be dying--tell me what is the matter?"

  "She has been cruelly beaten. I came here a few moments ago and droveoff the devils, but I fear I came too late!" Mr. Thornton explained,sadly.

  "It was papa, you know!" Sue added, as Hartly uttered a cry ofastonishment. "He discovered the errand I had done, and had a bigIrishman capture me and bring me here. Then he and the countess came,and I was tied to a stake and whipped till I fainted. They have killedme, I guess. I feel as if I am filling up inside, and something tellsme I shall soon die. I hate to leave you, Hal, but I am not afraid todie. I have always said my prayers, loved the Lord, and been honest,and I know He will receive me."

  The girl's childish faith and simplicity touched Mr. Thornton as wellas young Hartly, and tears flowed freely.

  The little outcast soon closed her eyes again, her arms about Hartly'sneck, as she rested in his embrace, and a peaceful expression ofcontentment upon her face.

  About sunset she spoke, without opening her eyes.

  "Hal!" she said, softly.

  "Yes, Susie," he replied; "what do you wish?"

  "Not much. After I am gone burn the old house yonder, and break up thesmugglers."

  "Yes, Susie."

  "And you'll be a good man, Hal, all your life, so you will join me inheaven?"

  "I will try, dearest."

  "Then kiss me good-by."

  Convulsed with sobs, the grief-stricken lover obeyed, and, just as thelast rays of sunset began to fade, Susie breathed her last, expiringwithout the least appearance of pain, and a faint, peaceful smile uponher lips.

  For some moments after her death neither Hartly nor Mr. Thorntonspoke, but finally the latter said:

  "She has gone where she will know no more suffering or sorrow and itis perhaps better so. Is your home near by?"

  "I live in a sort of hut back in the woods, and if you will lend
ahand we will take her there."

  The speculator assented, and Hartly procured a wide board, and laidthe limp form upon it. Then raising the primitive litter between them,they left the bluff and took to the lonely country road, which theyfollowed until they came to a rude shanty, standing in the edge ofthe woods. They bore their burden into the only room and deposited itupon a couple of stools.

  Hartly then turned to Mr. Thornton.

  "You are a stranger to us, sir," he said, "but would you kindly remainhere until I can go to a neighboring town and make arrangements forher burial?"

  "Certainly, my boy."

  "Then I will go and send the undertakers at once to take charge of theremains. If I do not return with the undertakers, let them remove thebody, and I will see you later, perhaps."

  He then kissed the lips and forehead of the dead girl, and took hisdeparture.

  Once outside, his whole demeanor underwent a change.

  His face became stern and hard in its expression, and his eyes gleamedwith a wild light that could hardly have been pronounced sane.

  "First the house!" he muttered, between his clinched teeth; "then Iwill see to the burial. After that revenge!"--words uttered with apower of feeling, which bespoke grim resolution.

  Hurrying back to the bluff he entered the building, and from thepantry brought an oil-can and poured oil about in a number ofdifferent places, applying a lighted match to each.

  As a result, bright sheets of flame sprung up, and, in less timealmost than it takes to tell it, the interior of the old rookery wason fire in several places.

  Then, with a wild laugh, he turned and fled from the building, anddisappeared from the vicinity of the bluff.

  The old house was doomed.

  And in the doorless, windowless trap-room, where he had sounexpectedly become imprisoned, was Fritz, in the most unenviablesituation one could well conceive.

  * * * * *

  Captain Gregg, as we shall henceforth call him, learned of Silly Sue'sdeath shortly after it occurred through the Irishman, who, whilepretending to leave the spot, had scouted around, and lurked in thevicinity until Hartly and Mr. Thornton had departed with the body.

  Gregg was both alarmed and surprised when he heard the news, andimmediately sought the countess for consultation.

  He had no idea he had done the girl any fatal bodily injury. If shewas dead, and the cause of her death came to be known, he well knewthat he would be called upon to answer to the law.

  The countess listened to his recital of Grogan's report, the lines inher thin face growing even harder than were their wont.

  "I feared zis," she said. "You were ver' mooch savage!"

  "What do you advise?"

  "Zat we remain where we be for ze present. You say zis stranger be anold enemy of yours?"

  "Yes. Doubly so now, from a fact that he is the father of Grif'sprisoner, that's locked up in the dungeon."

  "Humph! zis is bad! Vare be ze Dutchman?"

  "There is no telling. Perhaps Griffith will know when he comes."

  But Griffith did not come.

  It was nearly dark in the outer world when he recovered from theterrible blow he had got from Fritz's pistol in the cave, andstaggered to the inner cavern.

  The moment he entered it a smell of burning timbers greeted hisnostrils.

  "By Heaven! the house above is burning up, I believe!" he cried,rushing to the rope ladder and beginning to climb it rapidly.

  But he had only got a few feet up when it gave way, and he fell to theground, considerably bruised.

  "The devil's to pay now!" he muttered, angrily. "A fellow will smotherdown here."

  For a moment the young villain stood irresolute--then he approachedthe door of Madge Thornton's cell.

  "Madge!" he called.

  There was no answer.

  "Madge!" he shouted, in a louder tone, at the same time rattling thedoor, savagely.

  "Well, what do you want?" she demanded, rising from her cot.

  "I want to know if you want to escape from this place alive?"

  "Why, what is the matter?"

  "Matter enough! The old house above is burning down, and if you don'twant to suffocate you must leave this place at once, with me."

  "Well, why don't you open the door, then?"

  He was unlocking the great padlock even as he spoke.

  "I am perfectly willing to do so, and when you reveal to me thehiding-place of your father's money, which you had, when you leftLeadville, you are free to go," he said, standing the doorway.

  "Are you foolish enough to suppose for one moment, that I will revealthat?"

  "If you don't do it, curse you, I will leave you here to suffocate!"

  "Do so! I would cheerfully pay that penalty of my folly in ever havinganything to do with you, a hundred times, rather than submit to yourdemands."

  "Then--but no! I'll release you if you'll give me half of the sum."

  "Not a cent, you detestable wretch."

  "Curses on your obstinacy! You have refused to do what is right, andyou shall take the the consequences."

  Stepping back he reclosed the door angrily, and hastily relocked thepadlock; then he left the main chamber, for the outer one, and jumpedinto the boat.

  The tide was now on the ebb, and the water was now down so that hecould row out of the hole into the ocean.

  As soon as he got out a grand sight met his gaze.

  The old house on top of the bluff was in a sheet of lurid flame,lighting up the early evening, which otherwise was quite dark.

  Showers of sparks ascended toward the heavens, and the crackling ofthe dancing blaze made weird music.

  Pulling in to shore, Griffith Gregg leaped from the boat, andclambered up the side of the bluff.

  The first man he met was Thornton of Leadville, who had fastened upthe hut, and hurried to the scene of the conflagration, as soon as hehad discovered the light.

  The recognition was mutual, and each uttered a cry.

  "At last!" the speculator cried, and he bounded forward, and seizedhis enemy by the throat. Gregg clinched with him, and the two menrolled to the ground, in a fierce struggle, the lurid light of theburning building lighting up the scene like unto the colored fire tosome wild exciting drama.