The Deadwood Dick Library: Denver Doll's Device — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

_- Snpyrrsed to know all things.” Denver Doll's Deviee. \ it aa. sometimes, you know. I will have you some- thing to eat soon.” : ; “1 nm so aware from encounters with several of the species!” Yankee replied. z He then arose, and with an effort found that he could walk slowly about the room, “Oh! FU be allright, svon!” he declared. “‘Have you no idea who could have shot you, sir?” Crystal asked, ‘* Not in the least, as I had noticed erery face present within bullet range of the dueling- ground, before the cireus began. I wonder how Verner the Valiant is feeling? Rather spicy, I dare say.” Na The breakfast of venison, toast and cuffee was soon ready, and Yankee partook of it heartily, after-which he slipped a twenty-dollar gold-piece into Crystal's hand, and took his hat. “There’s a partial recompense for your ser- vices to me!” he said, ‘‘ together with my heart- felt thanks, and if I can ever be of any service to you, pray do not besitate to command me,” *Oh, sir! Icould not think of accepting pay for so slight a favor. Please take your money back!” i. “By no means, Keep it, Some time I might be your enemy, but never as long as you keep that /” be said, with strange intensity. “How do you mean” she asked, looking up at Wert with a faint blush upon her cheeks, “(Oh! it’s a story of a lost love and a wrecked life, which I would not like to relate, as noth- ing but pain and regret can accompany the narration. You are the living image of one who is lost to me, I suppose, forever. But, good-day! I will stir about, and hunt me upa boarding-place,” He then took bis epee but by the time he had reached the “ Monaco” he was obliged to go in, and sit down awhile. ‘oe as be wasnabout tu leave, Denver Doll entered, and saw and approached him. “T am glad tosee you around so quick, but am afraid you area little too hasty,” she said. ““T trust you believe [ was not instrumental in causing your wound, Mr, Hisler?” “T must believe you are not, asI doubtif a thirty-two caliber bullet imbedded in a shot- gun wad, could haxdly bave hit so correctly, as Verner’s weapon was leveled at my heart.” “Tam of the opinion that some enemy took the chance to get in his workon you, wuen there Was 80 good an opportunity.” “Enemies, eh# I shall first have to look around and see if I have any!” “T can assure you/that you Have one at least and cannot one bire others? “You refer to Verner?” a Yes!” * How—thaf is, what do yow know of his en- mity towatd me?” “ Asrauch as yourself, perhaps.” “ But how—what?" “Ob! well, 1f it will satisfy you, I might re- mark that itis getting close enough to the 20th of November to cause Mr, Verner some bright anticipations—or rather his daughter.” Yankee started, violently. “Where did you get bold of this thing!” “Oh! accidentally, of course, Detectives are = ~ ea Yankee did not reply, but sat staring at the floor, an unnatural light in his eyes, Denver Doll noticed it, and retoarked: ‘Perhaps I should not tell you, under the present circumstances, but I will, She was foand that cold November night abuut one year ago!” CHAPTER VI. YANKEH ON THH WAR-PATH. ‘YANKEE started more violently than before at this. ‘She! shel—whom do you mean? For God’s sake speak!” ‘* Your wife, where you left her cold and stiff in death—murdered, mind you—with her little child freezing beside her.” “What! You tell me this with the insinuation that I did the job!” he cried, fiercely. ‘Have a care how you accuse me!” ‘* Well, the crime has to be shouldered by some one, and we do not at present know any one else to suspect!” “But the child! the child!” “Was brought to my camp and I adopted it. It was afterward kidnapped from me, since ise have never been able to find any trace of i ““Oh! God! This news is worse than the sus- Mi I have been ‘bearing, for I have been try- g to believe them both dead. God knows JI could never have done them any harm whom I loved so! Did you bury my wife? ‘No. She was discovered by one of my men. The child and what clews could be found, were first brought to this very camp, then, our camp, When we returned for the body, no trace of it could be found.” ‘Yankee's face was buried in his hands, and a tremor shook his figure, Deepest grief seemed his, which, for the time being forbade speech. Finally, however, he said: “Tt is a blow I have undergone, which would kill any ordinary man, 1, 1 must brace up and take comfort in the thought of revenge. For revenge I will have on the one who broke up my bome, if it is the last act of my life. Do you know who that man was? Here! I will ee you”—and he spoke the name in a low one. Denver Doll looked her surprise, ‘“ Will you tell me the circumstances of the case?” she asked. “No! not now. Iam not sufficiently nerved to bear up under the rehearsal at presont. Some other time will do, I must recover my child before the 20th of the month, or the Verners will triumph. Have you Gabriel Por- ter’s will?" * At my command.” ‘Tt is well, for there is no verbatim copy of it, and it is nob recorded—that is, I do not think itis. However, the Verners know the purport of tha will. Now, you are in possession of so many facts of the case, I want you to help me through with it, and you can command your price, Denver Doll gazed at him a moment, reflec- tively, asif reading his nature, his secrets, his Ned being, before giving ber answer, ““T take but precious little stock in men!” she PCIE ee hee esa i Bi eee