The Deadwood Dick Library: Denver Doll's Device — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

o an attack; but, to their surprise, they beheld, ouly Walt Christie emerge from the gloom, earrying a child in his arms, S “Clar de track dar, chilren!” he cried; ‘thyat we’se a-comin’to de goldinz weddin’, Briog out de ’freshments an’ de nussin’ bottle, for dar’s a new citizeng added tew de populating ob Shinin’ Bar, fo' suah!” Later, a search was made for the body of the Mourdered woman; but, although the pool of blood wus discovered, the body was not to be found! é It was one night’s mystery! CHAPTER II, SHINING BAR UNDER A NEW LIGHT, A YAR later we will look down on Shining Bar—uot now the same lonely camp whereln we opened our story, but the same location trans- | formed into a prosperous mining-camp. The bar or neck of land that projected into the river was thickly built up with shanties and tents, but they were irregular as far as streets were concerned, there being but one street hav- ing any pretensions thereto, and on this was located the few business places of which Shining Bar boasted. E One general store supplied the wants of the camp so fur as edibles aud cloth were concerned, in addition to being the post-office. Thea, there wero the saloons where a pilgrim could fll his being with “ eoffin-nail,” get robbed either by pickpockets or gamblers. Alsoa the- ater, playing the acknowledged reigning suc- cesses of the season; a smithy, and a mammoth ore-mill, which did the crushing and smelting for several mining districts besides Shining Bar —so that the Bar bowed gracefully to the fact that she was a placa of cr nsiderable importance, Her population, both floating and permanent, was a heterogeneous mixture, in which the rough element prevailed to a large extent, A Vigilance Committee bad been organized, however, and under Harry Burke’s efficient capteincy-hadin a measure established order, although the laws were all home-made, In such a state we find Shining Bar, on looking dowu upon it a year from the opening night of our story—a far pleasauter night, however, with less chill, and no snow. ; A crowd had vollected outside the post-office, to await tha coming of the evening stage from Glander’s Gulch, which was unaccountably late, being overdus by three hours at the least, In the Hast, such a fact would scarcely have elicited an inquiry; but the fact that John Mc- Parland still made things lively for mountain es and travelers, gave cause for uneasiness in Shining Bar. For the daring desperado hud been more than ever bold of late, since Denver Doll was no more seen in the mining-towns, and the report had gone forth that she had met her death. “Tell ye ther thing looks squally fer ther stage, boys!” ohgerved Markward, one of the Bar’s rising young citizens, ‘I'd hardly take chances bettin’ that McParland hasn’t stopped the hearse to-night,” ‘ cs Injins an’ alligators, no—nutber would I!” chimed in Old Pap Mount, stroking his long white beard, ‘‘ By ther eye-tooth uv old J ter, b’yees, ef seems miter cur’ous as bow we can’t hev some one among us as ain’t afeard ter sail in aw clean out thet outlaw gang, root an’ | branch. Ef I war as young a boyee as I uster be—great horned ace uv Taos—I’d undertake the hull job myself!” = | “ What's this! what’s this!” a dapper individ- ual demanded, pushing forward. with a note-— book and pencil fn handy ‘is there an accident? | —has anything happened?—was any one hurt, and bow many! Do tell me! I’m a reporter, gentlemen—yes, sirs, a newspaper correspondent. Lrepresent tha Oavortin? Cyelone, published in | Cheyenne, and ’pon ’onor, if I do say it, Pm counted one o’ the finest! Jones is my name— Chawles P, Jines. P stands fr Pygmalion, in- stead of Pat or Peter, as some vulgarly suppose, Abem!” Si The advent of Mr. Pygmalion Jones, while it did not create any decided sensation, served to | momentarily check the conversation of the © crowd, ms : He was a new arrival at the Bar, and new — urrivals were invariably regarded with sus picion, ; As this was the first time Jones had mad known his business, a laugh followed his intr ductory, Old Pap Mount being the only sobe: visaged individual in the crowd. * Pilorim!” he said, with solemnity becomin; a full-fledged monk, ‘‘ d’ye feel averse tew chaw in’ down a leetle piece uv advice, tendered by an old nugget from Pike’s Peak?” “ Advice? Aha! ‘tis a great blessing to re ceive it from the aged, and to profit by it, P; ceed, venerable father; I listen with eagerness! Joneg responded dramatically. ; : ‘“Injins an’ alligators! Thort ye’dnot gobac on_an old landmark like yer uncle!” Pap granted ‘Dye see the knoll up ther gulch thar, an’ tha slab stickin’ up?” ‘tT sae it, sir—the memento of some past and gone enterprise, I take it,” “ Jes’ so, pilgrim:-— ‘* A feller came a paper to start, At ther shanty on ther knoll, He claimed he was most orful smart? Most wond’rons news he tole: But he hadn't fairly cot o start, ‘Fore we chucked ‘im in a hole, ** A thunderin’ lie one day he told, About old Slaughter Stave, Who w'ars his pistos in his boots, An's bad, ye may believe:— He said as how old Slaughter hid Five aces up his sleeve, “ Six bullets did ther job fer him; His Heralé tailed to bloom: We burnt ther shanty over thar, An’ it’s served him fera tomb; §o ef you don't git up an’ dust, Fer you thar’s graveyard room!" A grim silence reigned as Pap concluded; & host of ominous visages were turned toward the reporter of the Cavortin’ Cyclone, with looks that were not calculated to inspire him with — feelings of animation over his prospects as a journalist in Shining Bar; so with a deep @ turned and walked mechanically away,