Deadwood Dick's Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

DEADWOOD DICK. at soon as he appeared on the streets. After a stroll in the fresh air, he sauntered into the Palace, whose exterior did anything but resemble what the mame represented it to be. Inside, however, all was different, for both cleanness and taste were there displayed. There were two apartments, the first being a bar-room, well fitted up and stocked, the glittering array of de- /canters, glasses, mirrors and pictures reminding St. Cecil is drinking “parlors” he had seen in the East. A number of roughs who were drinking at the bar severely scrutinized the receiver as he entered and passed on into the next room, which was a large, brilliantly- lightéd room, or saloon, with matting upon the floor and blue cloth hangings upon the wail and ceilings, while the furniture was, for that region, costly. -Card-tables, faro-tables, keno and roulette lay-outs, billiard and pool tables, and a wheel of fortune were among the “attractions” offered to tempt the unwary and the wary alike. This saloon was well filled, and every game had its devotees, a sprinkling of those present being well-dressed and probably men of means, while the remainder were made up of miners, bullwhackers, bummers, cowboys and roughs in general. A swift glance apprised St. Cecil that the proprietress of this temple of chance was not present, the faro game being dealt by men, all of them evident professionals. At one of these tables sat three men, one of whom in- 3 stantly attracted St. Cecil’s attention. He was a veteran, © . ‘evidently, for his long hair and stubby beard were white as snow, while his face, red and good-natured, was covered ; With the scars of much rough usage. : One foticeable peculiarity about him—he had no ears! i They had been shorn off close to his head. ! He was clad in buckskin, slouch hat and moccasins, and wore pistols in his belt. Upon a chair beside him, seated in dog-fashion, was a vicious-looking billy-goat, who, to all intents, was watch- ing the game with as much interest as the others. - ‘The man upon the other side of this veteran was a well- ‘formed fellow, with dark hair, eyes and mustache, and a rather disagreeable expression of countenance, even ree Mtns bs Comilcbooks: com — — te