Deadwood Dick's Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

4 DEADWOOD DICK. 77, one trick in the game,” Dick said finally. Raymond gave a whistle like a bird, and immediately six stalwart mountain roughs marched into the cave, each gtasping a repeating-rifle that was cocked and ready for use, j “You sce,” Raymond chuckled, when they came to a jhalt, “them’s my kings in the game—four kings and an ace, with a jack to spare. How do you like the hand?” 4 “A possible winning hand, no doubt, in a skin game. 7 May I inquire what you propose to do?” “Why, invite you to partake of my hospitality for awhile “*—uwuntil it gets light enough to lynch you in the morning. You may as well surrendef the child, and let it go to bed.” “Never!” Dick gritted, standing at bay. “The child is mine; it shall never leave me again while I have a strong right arm to defend it!” “Pshaw! You talk wild) My will is law here. Put down the child, before I have the men riddle you with cold lead.” - “Let ’em riddle. I can do some ridd/ing myself!” For he now held a si::-shooter in the grasp of his right hand teady for use. He well knew Raymond would not give the order to fire, for fear little Dick would be killed, and he was pre- pared to make a desperate resistance in case they tried to overpower him by force of numbers. “Then you'll] not put down the child?” “Certainly not; and if you try to take it from me, I'll _ start a cemetery in this place.” Raymond was too shrewd to doubt the Sport’s word. He had heard much of the past history of the Prince of the Road, and knew that at any time he wasa—i—*™*S man to tackle, even with large odds against him. ye Therefore, to set his handful of men upon him was likel to be the means of losing part if not all of them, which he was not ready to do when he needed BE comlchoutacone