Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1064 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

‘scarcely, He met this at the hands of Devil | Duval,” ' ‘**Thac ‘aris a mighty fancy name ther cuss is \sailin’? under now, by durn if it ain’t,” cried |Hard-pan Smith. ‘‘ When J knowed him last -he was plain Hugh Dogan, an’ nothin’ else.” At this the dying man—for dying he¢ertainly was—turned his eyes quickly upon Hard-pan } Smith, and a light of recognition shone in them, | “Ob, it ar’ me, sure enough,” Hard-pan as- | sured, ‘I’m ther same cuss what yer robbed | ther night yer slunk off after bein’ my pard fer | months, an’ me nussin’ you out of a spello’ fever, It looks as if ther fowls hev come home ter roost,” | “‘It’s too bad the man’s tongue has been cut out,” spoke Dunbarge. ‘‘ He might tell us some- { re That has been done with a purpose,” «a Yer kin bet it hev,” agreed Hard-pan. | ** Free bis hands, though, and let him write. He kin write like a greased streak, Hugh Dogan D; I’ve seen him do 1t lots o’ times,” “Just the thought!” cried the czar. m and bring him into the house,” he fellow’s hands were freed, and he was car- ried into the bar-room and put on a chair at one |-Of the tables, and paper and pencil were put ‘before bim, @ was too weak to sit alone, so had to be held ‘up. He took the pencil, with seemitg eager haste, and with great effort proceeded to write, /4n a rapid, running but staggering hand, “ It is true,” he wrote, “‘that my name is Dogan 88 Smith says. It is all up with me, and I’m fixe a8 maybe I deserved. I’m dying, Smith, and if you Will forgive me, doit, I don’t deserve it, I know.” The pencil dropped from his fingers, and bad be recovered, He was in terrible agony, and Was growing weaker each moment, “You had better be brief, and right to the point,” advised Dunbarge, ** Will try to,’ the pencil worded. ‘“ Much to tell. To McDonald— I was your enemy. C.arges all false. I have been a devil. I odie Myra’s body from the grave, brought it t» Cheyenne Crossing and set it adrift on the creek, Hed no idea she was ve. Seems like hand Providence.” Again did the pencil drop. “I was head of band outlaws—Too hot—Came Cheyenne—Played game to win high--Failed—Fell ‘* Free in with Devil Du— Pencil droppad, **—Duval—Joined forces with—” _ . The pencil fell for the Jast time, and the arm dropped heavily, It was useless to expect more from the nerveless fingers, With a groan the wretch sunk back in his chair, and whatever more he might have told _ Was sealed forever. Ina few minutes more he | “was dead, A solemn hush was over all, and McDonald was the first to break the silence. P May God forgive him, as I do!” he spoke. Too bad he couldn’t lived to tell us more,” remarked Dunbarge, Do son cate Sone; his secret dies with bim. 1 uv w as his note Sel bee, al has really gone away, AY ast I believe he has, It was too hot for eae pe have been, and be no doubt him aie we shall not be troubled with he. body was laid out, and later on was | Rey buried, There was no mourner, though ard-pan Smith followed to the grave the man who had once been his partner and companion. 3 He told all he could about the fellow. He had been educated, but had committed some crime in the Kast that had forced him to seek refuge in the wilds of the West, He was a bad | Character generally, and the more soas he could | “pe the honest gentleman at will. But, his career was ended, and the world was well rid of him, and so ends th at of our ro- | ™ance in which he was cami se CHAPTER XXI, f A MARVELOUS RESCUE. , TIME passed, Nothing further w heard of the out i alii taberaot: ed that they had gone. it was taken for grant- aR weeks went’ by, without working any changes at the camp. Strangers came and ‘went, as ever, and the place ran along in the even tenor of its way as it bad done before the oxpiting the by recorded, randt Comingway and his statue in buttons was still at the Mountain Mansion, and cd 4 i Kaen ) oo» * . Be hd / re) a " re > anu = “ we “iv mee 4 . f ~ 7 y a ot . > Ss 22 hia <4 lee _— a . “¢ “ . < : 7 a Ae ’ ar i Fla - > i or , Dandy Dick Decoyed. seemed likely to remain for an indefinite period. His lordship was looking his eyes sore for an ex- pected remittance which thus far bad failed to materialize, and could not go further until it came, The woman barber was still at the Come Over Here, and was reaping a golden harvest, but had announced that in anotber week she would move on tu some other camp. She gave no rea- son. And the old fortune-teller was still hang- ing on, though her services were no longer in demand, except occasionally. And Bad-man, too, was still there, enjoying his two sbaves every day, and going around looking like a branded monkey. One forenoon, about this time, Flora Dun- barge paid a visit to the tent of the old fortune- teller, She was welcomed by the old hag, who de- clared she could tell her what busimess had brought ber there again, and Flora challenged her to do so, ‘** You bave come to have me tell you what to do regarding Mr, Danewood,” the old woman as- serted positively. ‘* He has asked for your hand, your father has given his consent, but your heart is in doubt.” ‘*Tbat is it, in few words,” the girl had to confess. ‘It is true; and there should be notb- ing but obedience on my part, but my heart is full of fears,” ‘‘And your heart is right,” the old woman piped. ‘ Take my warning, fair lady, and do pot marry Richmond Danewood, even though he appear an angel in your eyes and lay the wealth of the world at your feet!” The young woman drew back struck with horror, ‘* What do you mean?” she demanded, “Step into my tent,” was the answer, “‘ and let me tell you a long story. Then you will un- derstand,” The old kag rose and went into ber small tent, and Flora, greatly impressed, followed after her. Little did she dream of the revelation to be made there, When, at the end of an hour, the young lady came out and went away, ber face was pale and drawn, and she looked greatly troubled, yet seemed fired with firm resolution. That evening Danewood called to see her, and finally put the great question—the question to which she had promised an answer on this occa- sion. She acted strangely unlike her usual self, as he bad noticed, but sbe had given as an excuse that she was not feeling well. ‘Taw not quite ready yet,” she said in re- sponse. ‘* You shall have my answer at sun- rise, however,” ‘* At sunrise!” exclaimed Danewood, filled with wonder. ‘‘ That is an early bour, Flora.” ‘* Yes, I know; but the fairest hour. Meet me at Flat Rock, exactly at sunrise, and there I will give you my answer,” The girl would give no reason for pe freak, nor « ould she change the decision, so Danewood had to accept the proposition, Flat Rock was a small plateau, jutting cut from the bold face of the mountain, out of sight from the camp, and the only known approach to which was a narrow and rugged trail, Above this rock was a stretch of bare wall, hundreds of feet high, Below was a sbeer descent into @ yawning gorge. It was a favorite spot for visitors to the camp to ascend to, to witness the mountain sunrise, so after all it was nothing more than strikingly romantic, perhaps, that the young lady had chosen it. Next morning, when the sun peeped above the distant peaks and cast its first ray on Flat Rock, Richmond Danewood was near the place of meeting. In a moment more he stepped out upon the rock, eager to see whether the young woman was there ahead of him cr not, when, what was his amazement to see there, with bisarms folded and gazing away at the sun, Lord Brandt Coming way! ‘‘ Hello! you here, sah?” he demanded, ‘¢ Aw, beg pawdon,” responded the Britisher, looking around witb astart. ‘*‘ Hi bam hout to see the sunrise this morning.” ** So I see; and it gl bag an unexpected meet- ing, sah, Didn’t know you were in the habit of coming up here, sab. ou know a good thing when you see it,” ** Fi "ave been ’ere once before,” was explain- ed, **hand Hi hadmire the hawful grandeur hof the place, What ha ’orrible place hit would be to fight ba duel to the death. Something caused Danewood to give a start, And, in the same instant. another voice rung out sbarp and clear; | / 15 ‘‘ Up wid yer hands there, ye murtherin’ scum av the earth, or it is riddlin’ ye wid buckshot Oil] be doin’!” Danewood turned deathly pale,and glanced over bis shoulder. There stood the English- man’s statue in buttons, covering him with a terrible-looking musket. Andin the same in- stant the Britisher whipped a pair of revolvers from under bis coat, leveled them at Danewood, and cried: rs. ‘‘ Craig Morgan, we meet again, and this time is the last! Oneor the other of us will never leave this rock alive. You are trapped, and I need not tell you who I am.” an Fe “‘ Dick Darrel!” the scoundrel cried,perspiration standing out upon his forehead. ‘Then it was a trick, and that girl was your tool. Curse her! I will get even with her for this!” ‘‘No you won't,” said Dick, grimly. “ You will settle your account with me, here and now! You tricked and trapped me neatly, but Provi- dence aided my escape, and I have paid you back in your own coin, It is your life or mine, Craig Morgan, and you have got to fight me or die like a cur,’ ‘Bet yer loife on it!” cried Barney O’Linn, the statue in buttons, with his big gun well to the front. ‘‘Thry to escape this way, an’ be hivving it’s hash Oi will make av ye instanter, so Oi will.” . The first shock of surprise over, the afch knave’s courage was returning to him, and be cried: ‘‘ Well, so be it, then; for I havea score to set- tle with you for killing my brave littte woman the night you escaped from me,” : “IT am not guilty of anything of the kind,” de- clared Dick. ‘‘I have heard all about it, how- ever,and could point out the guilty one if I would, I am not a murderer, like yourself.” ‘‘Curse you! you lie!” ‘You know better, for you know Dick Darrel is no liar.” “Then tell me who did kill her, It was that gambler queen, then, Lady Tiger—as she was called, who set you free that night.” ‘‘No; it was not she, either, nor did she set me frie, as you will know if you stop to think. That Mexican lady was the Lady Tiger, and she was in the hotel long before I was freed.” “Curse it, that’s so! Then, who was it? Come, I demand to know that much before we fight.” ar And I refuse to tell you. Prepare yourself now, Drop your revolvers and grip your knife, if you have gut one; if not, take this.” andy Dick threw a knife to the outlaw it landing at his feet, and baving cautioned Barney to keep the drop on him and to shoot him at the first sign, proceeded to take off His false hair and beard, and to lay aside coat and vest. That long-wished-for hour was his at last, and it did not seem that there could be any possible escape thistime, It mustbea fight, and a fight to the finish. Only one. and very likely neither, would leave that narrow rock alive, Perbaps both would be plunged into the gorge below. _ Presently Craig Morgan, be too having dis- carded his disguise and all superfluous clothing, picked up bis knife and faced his foe—the man whom he had wronged so terribly. His face was pale, but his jaws were firmly set and his resolution was read In bis burning eyes, It was the same with Dick Darrel. At last they were face to face, and the time of vergeance was at band! As on previous occasions, it would be death to the outlaw in any event, and be knew it, His one purpose was to have the final satisfaction of killing Darrel in the figbt. Even then, he knew that the young Irishman would certainly shoot him, but be did not men~ tion that, since it would be useless. As he had lived, so would be die. It would be useless to seek any terms, and he would not condescend to ask any. Face to face, now, with nerves and muscles tightened for the ehcounter, and each taking a last full breath while Barney was countin three, when they were to spring upon each other, But, suddenly, everything was changed, Something shot out through tbe alr, with a whirring sound, and a lasso coiled around the outlaw’s body. ; The next instant, and before Dick or Barney could act, phe man tha pens a “exe went toppling over the edge of the p “My !” cried Dandy Dick, ‘‘ I am cheated again!” Then, realizing that he was an open target, he oS St Bie Tre'vsek he had discarded, withg@ word to Barney, and as soon as they bad gather~ — sprung for the . - ”" J Co bd @ : ? ” A x . > ar. a ‘wn oe © . -.- i ; pret . ™ =) a) = = bis feet, and . a . ’ , - sf - o7 vw hre-4 eee hs.’ . ° v +? > ae vo s - - . s ae ~ ee ” - =e) a >! ~ air di - gs vr “ > . ee Rua =