Deadwood Dick's Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

DEADWOOD DICK. 13 bull’s-eye of fact with accuracy. I go to Right Bower literally strapped.” “An’ I say it would be worse than madness to do that. You'll need money there, as you never needed it before. Now listen: when I shuffle off this mortal coil, I leave behind no person who has any claim upon me as a friead or relative except you.” “Except me?” “Exactly—you. You do not know me, perhaps never heard of me; but I know you. Now having made my pile, I propose tc make you my heir. Here”—and he took from his side-pocket a great leathern wallet that was fat to say the least—“is my first bequest. It is ten thousand dollars —all honestly earned by my own hands, and mine to do with as I please. I hereby give it to you as your own, on conditions. Will you take it?” The astonishment of Cleveland St. Cecil was now genuine. It beamed from his eyes, and was expressed upon his countenance. : “Why, man, what do I want of your money? I never Saw_you before that I know of. You must surely be out of your head. Why should you wish to bestow your wealth on me?” “Because you are every inch a man; because you know no fear of man or beast; because once given, your word is as a bank.” “Admitting all your laudatory reasons, there are others more in need of money than I—the poor——” _ “Bah! I am no philanthropist. I’m business! I give you my money, but I first must have your promise that ~ you will earn it.” “Explain yourself!” : “I will. You see the grave indicated on the map? We ' there’s none there now, but there will be to-morrow morn- ' ing. My remains will be in it, too. Satisfy yourself on that point. Do you know how you car do it? “By disinterring you, likely.” “Yes—or, I will make it easy. A wooden box-shaped tube will protrude from my grave—to let out the bad smell, when I decompose, Any time you want to see me, look down that tube, and if you’ve any talent for the dector trade, you can pick up a heap o” ideas "bout de- somposin” stiffs. Ext, I’m off the p’int again. D’ye ‘ _ conmichoouks.cohn ‘a -_ h *