The Deadwood Dick Library: Denver Doll's Device — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘Denver Boll — ¢ _ ‘mife from his belt, he scraped away at the | edges of the box, industriously.{}There was evi- | dently more silver than alloy in the composition _ for the metal scaled off quite readily, until sud- _ denly there was a sharp click, and the lid of the tox flew open, a | The plating had béen done around the edges _ after the box was closed, thereby making it ap- pear solid, “Well done!” exclaimed Doll, ‘You're more cute than I gave you credit for being, Chug. Let me sec the ! ox. te She received it, and took therefrom a4 closely folded document, covered with writing in a Eee cramped hand, preading it out on the table, she read the contents aloud, bul in a low tone, just eudible to her compauions, It was as follows: x “Sacramento, Can., July 10, 1878. “To Whom It Mau Ooncers ;— “TI, Gabriel Porter, being of declining health but — soundin mind snd realizing that ] am nearing the end of my earthly career.do hereby make my last will and testament, for the cyanea of all my property,-both _ real and personal, with and subject to the following explanations: My earthly icin at the following date, so far ag eoncern the laws of inheritance, are asfollows: I _have one daughter living, who is married toa young Iman by the pame of Ofarles Hisler, my daughter's Maiden name having been Dora Porter, From their Ese | , “Tn addition to the above, I have living a brother- in-law, named Valentine Verner, and a niece, his child by union with my sister, sincs deceased, whose name is Isabel. Not haying favored the childish union of my | child with Hisler, I cannot conscientiously make her _ my heir direct. % But, agreeable to the stipulations hereinafter mentioned, I do make mydaughter’s daughter, Ethel _ HEisler. my sole and only heir to all my wealth, real and personal, without excepton—the stipul.ticn be- Birap chat acid Ethel Hisler shall be Living and enjoy- ing good health, andin the custody and charge of one or more ot her parents, on the 20th day or No- vember, A. D. 1880, at which period the executors and edministrutors her fter appointed by me, shall have all my property converted into money— aud pot out on interest, secured by bond and mort- gage the interest payable to the natural guardian of * e child for her support, and after her majority, to _ be placed at her command, ___ “* But, providing said Ethel Hisler be not living, on _ €he day and date above mentioned, or shall die upon that vate, by any cause, all my bequest as above _ mentioned, shall revert to Isabel Verner, without exception. = - _ “IN WITNESS WHEBREOF [ Hereunto do set my hand and seal, on the day and date first above written. é. - “GasRinb Porter.” : Then followed the names of the gentlemen _ Hamed as exccutor and administrator, which need not be mentioned here, Denver Doll folded the document and returned ‘it to the box. “That settles that,” she said. _ the trail at last, anda of the mystery is _ Solved in the beginning, But there will be more _ to be encountered before we yal through. Ib is ‘Plain now why Yankee and Verner are enemies, And itis also quite interesting to know where the child is and who murdered her mother, ‘This man Kisler may bea co! “We are on union has sprung a child, whose name is Ethel Eis- nsummate rascal too. | Jarvis and Then who was it shot him? Humph! there’s a number of poixts left in the compass yet, Pardes so geb your thinkers together. And you, Walt, take this box and paper, and see that you do not lose it, under penalty of your life, for the uke ee never haye been probated, as the law c ' When the wee sma’ liours of that night were ssing, and there were but few lights gleam- ng from the windows of the shanties of Shining Bar, a man, enveloped in a dark cloak, witha slouch hat pulled down over his eyes, ap- proached Sullinder’s grocery from the rear and tapped upon the back door, After a short pause he imitated the chirp of a cricket, then thd door was opened and he en- tered, closing it after him, At first all was as dark as the shades of Hgypt within the room, but gradually the light of 4 buil's-eye lantern was turned on at one side of the room, and revealed all objects with sharp, distinctness. The apartment was used for postal purposes, and was really a part of the poy store, the pigeon-holed partition across the room only run- ning half-way up to the eeiling. Between the postal-boxes and the rear wall was a large space, however, furnished with stools, and a long table used for distributing purposes, pon the stools around this table were seated half a dozen men, exclusive of the one who had turned on the ‘‘ glim.” They all wore cloaks similar to that of the new-comer, and also black vails over their faces, There were bottles and glasses upon-the table, and also a number of letters, as yet unopened. The new-comer was a mau of fine figure, dressed in gray beneath his cloak, with top-boots upon his feet, a well-equipped w eos -helt round his waist, and when his slouch raised, a full, attractive face, with sweeping mustache, black eyes and hair_.to match, was revealed. ‘ “The captain! broke in low tones from sev- eral; and this was introductory of the famous road-rider, McParland. ‘OSh! Is all well?’ he demanded, in a cool, business-like tone, “Alls well!” one of the men replied. ‘‘ The ebutters is up, and curtains down, hours ago, But I'm risking all by allowing the meetings bere!” i McParland laughed. “ One can afford to risk much, when he gets a finger in fortune bauls, every few nights Where's the secretary?” “He basn’t turned up. Heard he was sick.” “Bah! I don’t’ believe it, Still we can get along without him. How has the inspection aud reconnoissance turned out, that I ordered?” (Excellent, captain. Wells-Fargo's office has upward of three thousand on the next stage trip.” = # Good, But it must be secured from the officehere. There's a military company reported moving through the hills, in this direction—so it will be advisable to let the trail cool off for awhile, Kelly, I appoint you and Sullinder, ab was | orris to make the tap at Fargo’s. . EP RG oes ae eae Peale ae