The Deadwood Dick Library: Denver Doll's Device — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

Denver Doll’s Device. _ heard another cry—but be was all attention at’ _ the time, and consequently gained a more ac- curate bearing. In half an hour be had gained a sort of trans- _ verse ravine, several hundred feet above the eevel of their camp, and at some distance from le t. | Here his search ended, in-the face of s specta- cle that caused him to dart back aghast, Taine upon the rocky earth, her tattered mefta partly whitened by the falling snow-flakes, was a young woman—one who hadrecently pos- sessed great beauty, but whose face was now | white and pinched, the probable effect of priva- _ tion. Upon the ground, from a wound in her side, was a clotted pool of blood—and she was so aed and still that Walt was satisfied she was dea Near her, upon the ground, bundled in a shawl, sat a little girl of about four years of age, sobbirig as if her heart would hreak, her tearful eyes fixed upon the lifeless body of the _ “nurdered woman, _ ‘The white in Walt’s eyes enlarged very con- siderably, as be took in the scene, but where terror would have taken hold of many of his race, pity seized upon his kind heart, -and be stepped forward to do whatever he could, “Yar, boney, jes’ done gone cry no more,” he said, kneeling beside the child, and noting that it was a remarkably pretty one, ‘“‘I'se je’ - gwine to take de best ob careob you, I is, Is ye cold, honey?” “Me so told—me so hungry!” moaned the lit- tle one, “ Mamma gone to sleep, an’ I tan’t wake her up!” Tears entered the negrou’s eyes, and he seized the ebild in his arms. Come! well jes done gone an’ get warm an’ _ somethin’ to eat, honey, and den dis yar chile will come back after yer mammy.” ‘ Tbe prospect of warmth and food caused the _ jittle one to look up gratefully into Walt’s ebony face, and ber tears 1mmediately subsided. ___ Before leaving the scene of the ghastly crime, Walt perceived that one hand of the woman clutched a tiny ajlver box, while the other con- tained a crumpled paper. ' Realizing the necessity of obtaining all possi- _ ble clew to the crime, the darky secured both _ box and paper and thrust them into his pocket; _ and, with the child in his arms, he set out for the camp. Se Denver Doll had arrived in camp, during a boat. a | To state that she was asplendid specimen of { Few were they who had met her, who could _ not candidly say she was queen among young Of just 9 trifle above the medium hight of _ Women, aid cast in nature’s happiest mold, - would attract admiration in any crowd, for its " “Her face was fair and expressive, with a : power to change from presanhy, to sternness _ Walt's absence, coming from over the river, in Zoune womenhood, would be drawing it mild. - ‘Women. _ her figure inits neat-fitting suit of male attire _ symmetry and grace, an instant, and though ly wearing a | ded ‘* bled ” shirt, collar. happy look, there lurked an expression about the Prilhant -black eyes, and the marble fore- head, that told of some past trouble, which would not be forgotten. Her rich brown hair fell in rippling waves half-way to her waist. A plumed slouch hat of snowy white; an elegant suit of gray, and patent-leather top-boots, with a diamond-stud- and a sash about her waist beneath the coat, made up her costume}. and gave her an appearance at once dashing, and characteristic of the wild roving existence she led. For_she was a ‘‘character,” a stzange one, too. Where she belonged, no one knew, for she was here, there, and everywhere; what was her early history, no one could say. It was no secret that she was a detective; it was no secret that she was a terror to, and hated by, the ruffian and outlaw element of the mountains and mines; it was no secret that she knew her own business, was a keen, nervy, dis- cerning, but respectable woman of the world. Nor waz it a secret that she had sworm to break up the notorious road-agent gang of John McParland, who, in their u own mountain fastness, had for months bidden defiance to law aad order, to say nothing of the scores of bold robberies they had committed. McParland and bis men had also sworn dire vengeance upon the brave girl from Denver, and it seemed only a matter of time when the bitter enemies must triumph, one over the other. So that it was little wonder that the Detec tive Queen’s eyes lt up with a victorious glitter, | when she walked into her camp, and saw one of es a right-band men imprisoned to a stake, . : ** Jarvis!” she exclaimed, pausing near him, and leaning upon her rifle, ‘‘I would sooner have pec a visit from McParland, himself. Where'd ye blow him in, Yakie” The Teuton glanced around him before he snswered, ‘Vel, I dells yov how id vas!” he said, rising, and swelling with bravado, “T found dat veller sneakin’ mit der outside off der camp around, und dells him he be(ter surrender right avay quick or I plow his prains in—und dat vas all der vas of it. He obey ma yoost like a leedle shackass mule,” “ Muchee big lie!" Chug commented. ‘'’Melica Dutch no ketchee man.” *Of course he didn't! Jarvis chimed in. ‘T was led into camp by the ear, by that cursed nigger of yours. e caught me napping, and waltzed me in, wi’ a six-time-slugger under my “eft norstril!” : ‘“You vasa pig tief—you vas liars!” Yakie cried, enraged that he could not for once steal the thunder of the occasion, ‘I placks your eyes mit pluing quicker ash dunder,” He undoubtedly would have wreaked some sort. of vengeance upon the young cutlaw, had not Denver Doll pushed him tack, sternly. At this juncture there was a clatter cf horse's hoofs on the rocky bettom ef the gulch, the sound coming from the depths of the gulch, as #% tan back into the mountains, Denver Doll and_ her two companions seized their rifles and stood on the defensive, expecting