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 now
enjoy the sweetest revenge; it will be like honey to my blistered
tongue. You've done your last shadowing of your betters. Dan'l,
husband, you shall be avenged before to-morrow's sun rises over
Chicago."
Lighting her lamp, the woman fiend bent down and peered through a
square opening in the floor to the depths below. It was too far down
for the rays of light to penetrate, but she could well imagine that a
mangled 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 Aunt
Madge yet."
Then replacing the trap, the woman left the place, and a little later
descended 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 of
her cunning, and began binding his limbs with a stout cord that she
had brought with her for the purpose.
In a little time the work was completed, and Mrs. Scarlet stood up
with her arms akimbo viewing her work, a satisfied smile playing about
the toothless lips.
"I'll peel you, so't there'll be no deception hereafter," muttered the
she fiend; and suiting actions to words, she tore the disguise from
the detective's head and face and flung it aside. "Thought to fool the
old woman, eh?"
A curdling laugh followed.
After gloating over the detective for some time, Madge Scarlet picked
up her lamp and turned away, a feeling of intense satisfaction in her
heart at the knowledge that she had her enemies so completely at her
mercy. It was satisfaction for one day at least.
The woman passed through two basement rooms, unlocking and locking
doors, until she at length stood in the presence of Nell Darrel. "I
ain't here with supper, madam," sneered the woman, as Nell started up
and approached her. "You're not to have a mouthful to eat jest at
present; 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 from
this place. I shall die here in a short time."
"Die then! Nothing would please me better than to witness your last
struggles," and Mrs. Scarlet emitted a laugh that was horrible to
hear.
Nell had much of the determined spirit of her daring brother in her
composition. She was not yet ready to give up all hope and fall
crushed in despair. Her right hand grasped the butt of the little
derringer she had been thoughtful enough to provide herself with
before leaving home.
"Will nothing move you, woman?"
"Nothing," sneered Mrs. Scarlet. "Your brother sent my husband to a
dungeon, 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_ will
show 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 to
this den of demons."
A cocked pistol was brought forward to emphasize the fair prisoner's
demand.
A sneering laugh answered the girl's demand. Madge Scarlet did not
seem to look upon the weapon as a dangerous one.
"Quick! I have no time to parley. Fling down the keys--toss them to
the door yonder, then take your place in yonder corner. Do you hear
me?"
So stern was the girl's voice, so full of intense meaning, as to amaze
the 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 step
toward me and I fire! I am in deadly earnest."
And the sneering Madge Scarlet realized that she was. It was a most
humiliating position. Once the woman thought of making a quick spring,
but a pressure of the trigger was all that was necessary to send a
bullet on an errand of death.
With reluctance the woman drew a bundle of keys from her pocket and
flung them to the floor behind her, and close to the door that stood
ajar.
"Don't be so spiteful. Now, then, go to that corner. Move quickly!"
The girl still threatened her keeper with the cocked derringer, and
she 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 and
lamp, passed into the next room, securing the door just as the hag
from within came against it with tremendous force, at the same time
uttering a series of the most ear-splitting yells.
The door failed to yield, and Nell now hastened to improve her
opportunity for escape that the carelessness of Mrs. Scarlet had given
her.