Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ee —— — as he comes fearlessly up. Well may he be bold and fearless, for no one dares to raise a hand st him, when the glistening barrels of twelve rifles pro- tru from each thicket that fringes the road threaten those within and without the e. Close up to the side of the coach rides the daring ——_ outlaw, his piercing orbs peering out from e eye-holes in his black mask, one hand clasping the bridle-reins the other a nickel-plated seven- shooter drawn back at full cock. “You do well to stop, Bill McGucken!” the road- agent, observes, reining in his steed. “I expected you hours ago, on time.” . “°"Twarn’t my fault, yer honor!” replies Jehu, meek as a lamb under the gaze of the other’s pop- gum. “Ye see, we brokefa pole this side o’ Custer ty, an’ that set us behind several p’ints o’ ther com a # What have you aboard to-night worth examin- i ?” , "F Nothin’, yer honor. Only a stageful uv passen- ars SLY trip.” 2 ! you are getting poor. the box, there!”’ The driver trembled, and hesitated. “Get down!” again commanded the road-a,<nt, leveling his revolver, ‘‘ before I drop you.”’ In terror McGucken made haste to scramble to the es where he stood with his teeth chattering and Get down from off ees knocking her in a manner pitiable to see. ** Ha, ha, ha!”’ wild laugh of Deadwood Dick’s made the welkin ring out a wierd chorus. “ Bill Mc- Gucken, you should join the regular army, you are so brave. Ha, ha, ha!’ And the laugh was taken up by the road- knights, concealed in the thicket, and swelled into a wild, boisterous shout. Poor McGucken trembled in his boots in abject —— while those inside the coach were pretty well “ Driver!’ said the Prince of the Road, coolly, afte the laugh, ** go you to the ers who thi rickety shebang and take up a collection. You needn't cum to me wi’ less’n five hundred ef ye don’t want me to salt ye!”’ Bowing humble obeisance, McGucken took off his and made for the stage door. “Gentlemen!” he plead, “there is need o’ yer dutchin’ out pa dudads right liberal ef ye’ve enn purtic’lar anticypation an’ desire ter git ter Dead- wood ter-night. Dick, the Road-Agent, are law an’ 1 heerabouts, I spec’late!”’ a “ Ltork !”’ growled one old fellow, ed a cent ‘Il loud enough to be heard. ‘“‘I ain't afeerd o’ all the robber Dicks from here ter Jerusalum.”’ But when he saw the muzzle of the ae Fg ol the window, he nt’s revolver gazing in through oa min and r 8S suddenly c his d, laid a plethoric pocketbook into McGucken’s already well-filled hat. The time occupied in making the collection was short, and in a few moments the Jehu handed up _ pemeres “plug” to the Prince of the Road for spection. lly Deadwood Dick went over the treasure, as if it were all rightful own; then he chucked hat and allinto one of his saddle-bags, after which he turned his attention toward the stage. As he did so he saw for the first time the two passengers on top, and as he gazed at them a gleam of fire shot into his eyes and his hands nervously griped at his wee. “ Alexander Filmore, you here!’’ he ejaculated, his voice betra his rise “Yes,” replied the elder ore, coldly—“ here to shoot you, you dastardly dog,” and quickly raising a pistol, he took rapid and deadly aim, and fred. CHAPTER VIII. NOT YET! Wits a groan Deadwood Dick fell to the ground, blood from a wound in his breast. The bullet of the elder Filmore had indeed struck home, Loud then were the cries of rage and vengeance, as a score of masked men ured out from the thickets, and surrounded the stage. “Shoot the accursed er!” cried one. “ He’s killed our leader, an’ by the saints in ther cal- endur he shall i A the penalty!”’ “No! no!” > ed another, “we'll do no such a thing. - He shall swing in mid-air!” “ Hey!” cried a third, rising from the side of the rostrate je ey ‘don’ ye be so fast, boys. The capt’in still lives. He is not seriously wounded, even!” A loud huzza went up from the score of throats, that caused a thousand echoing reverberations along the mountain side. capt’in say what we shall do wi’ ‘** Better let ther yon cuss 0’ creashun!’ one who oe bs parently a } spirit; “it’s Ais funeral, ain : “ Yas, yas, it’s funeral!” “Then let him do ther undertakin’.” Robber Dick was accordingly supported to a sit- ting posture, and the blood that flowed from his wound was stanched. In the operation his mask became loosened and slipped to the ground, but so quickly did he snatch it up and replace it, that no one caught even a glimpse of his face. In the meantime Clarence Filmore had disc every load in his two six-shooters into the air. He had an Se en ee this; he thought that the re- ports of ould reach Deadw which and arouse the military, who would come to ne rescue, was only a short mile distant, around the Dick’s wound dressed, he stood once more upon his f and glared at the two men on the box. ee reveal ed in the ghostly moon- and their features easily _ is trouble in the Deadwood Dic ** Alexander Filmore!” the yo road-agent said, a terrible depth of meaning in voice, that the cowering wretch could but understand. “‘ Alexander Filmore, you have at last come out and shown your true colors. What a treacherous, double-dyed villain you are! Better so; better that you should take the matter into your own hands and face the music, than to emplo , a8 you have done heretofore. can fight a dozen enemies face to face better than one or two lurking in the bushes.” The elder Filmore uttered a savage curse. * You triumph now!” he wled, biting his nether | lip in vexation; “‘ but it will not always be thus.”’ ‘Eh? think not? I think I shall have to adopt you for awhile. Boys, haul down the two, and bind them securely.” Accordingly, a rush was made upon the stage, and the two outside ngers. own they were hauled, head over heels, and quickly secured by strong cords about the wrists and ankles. This done, Deadwood Dick turned to Bill Mc- Gucken, who had ventured to clamber to the seat of the coach. “Drive on, you cowardly lout—drive on. We've done with you for the present. But, remember, not a word of this to the population of Deadwood, if ee intend to ever make another trip over this route. ow, go!” Je : needed not the second invitation. He never was tardy in getting out of the way of danger; so he picked up the reins, gave an extra hard crack of the long whip, and away rolled the jolting stage through the black canyon, disappearing a moment later around the bend, beyond which lay Deadwood —magic city of the wilderness. Then, out from the thicket the road-agents led their horses; the two prisoners were secured in the saddles in front of two brawny outlaws, and without delay the cavalcade moved down the gorge, weirdly illuminated by the mellow rays of the soaring moon. Clarence Filmore had hoped that the report of his pistol-shots would reach Deadwood. so, his wishes were fulfilled. The reports reached the bar- racks above Deadwood just as a horseman galloped up the hill—Major R——,, just in from a carouse down at the ‘* Met.”’ ‘*Halloo!” he shouted, loudly. ‘To horse! there gorge. The Sioux, under Sitting Bull, are upon us!’ As the “aa? word was law at the barracks, in very short order the garrison was aroused, and head- aa by the major in pine a cavalcade of sleepy sol- diers swept down the gorge toward the place whence had come the a Wildly around the abrupt bend they dashed with ells of anticipated victory; then there was a fright- ful collision between the incoming stage and the outgoi cavalry; the shrieks and screams of horses, the curses and yells of wounded men; and a general pandemonium ensued. The coach, ngers, horses and all was upset, and went rolling down a steep embankment. Major R—— was precipitated headlong over the embankment, and in his downward flight probabl saw more than one soaring comet. He struck head- first in a muddy run, and a sorrier-loo officer of the U. S. A. was never before seen in the Black Hills as he emerged from his bath, than the major. His ridiculous appearance went so far as to stay the general torreut of me re and turn it into a chan- nel of boisterous a r. No delay was made in putting things ship-sha n, and ere morning dawned Deadwood beheld the returned soldiers and wrecked stage with its sul- len ngers within its precincts. Diek and his men rode rapidly down the canyon, the two prisoners bringing up the rear under the és- cort of two masked gu These guards were brothers and Spanish-Mexicans at that. The elder Filmore, a keen student of character, was not long in making out these ards’ true character, nor did their greed rere toward his and his son's diamonds esca ‘ “We want to get free!” he at last whispet when none of those ahead were glancing back. ‘‘ You will each receive a cool five hundred apiece if you will set us at liberty.” The two road-agents exch glances. ‘ “It’s a ba 7 return one. Stop your orses, and let the others go on!” The main party were at this juncture riding swift- ly down a steep grade The four horses were etly reined in, and when the others were out of paving. their noses were turned back up the canyon in the direction of Dead- wood. “This will be an unhealthy job for us!’’ said one of the brothers, ‘‘ should we ever meet Dick again,” “Fear him not!” replied Alexander Filmore, with anoath, ‘If he ever crosses your path shoot him down like a dog, and I'll give you a thousand dollars ae Se Ati e sooner he dies the better I'll be He spoke in a tone of strongest hate—deepest ran- cor. CHAPTER IX. AT THE “MET.” A FEw nights subsequent to the events related in our last chapter, it becomes our duty to again visit the notdelons Metropolitan ” saloon of Deadwood, to see what is on there. As usual everything around the place and in it is literally “* red hot.” e bars are constantly crowd- the gaming-tables are never empty, and the Soe tn ws full of surging humanity that the dance, Neer ee sessilis esi 7 —? formenty a chief attraction, has necessarily been sus- pended. The influx of *‘ pilgrims” into the Black Hills for the last few days has been something more than wonderful, every stage coming in overcharged with feverish engers, and from two to a dozen trains arriving nog Se Of course wood receives a larger share of all this immigration—not is more natural, for the ee eae of the is the miner’s rendez- vous, being in the center of the best yiel locates. Every person in Deadwood can tell you where the ‘*Met ’’ is, as it is general head-quarters. ; We mount the mud-splashed y= and disap ear | behind the screen that stands in nt of the door. Then the merry clink of glasses, snatches of ribald song, and loud curses from the polluted lips of some wretch who has lost heavily at the gaming-table, reach our hearing, while our e wanders over as . a crowd as it has ever been our fortune to be- re) Men from the States—lawyers, doctors, specula- tors, adventurers, ean and dead-beats; men from the western side of the Missouri; grisly miners from Colorado; hunters and pots a from Idaho and bint card sharps from Denver and Fr’isco; pickpockets from St. Joe and bummers from Omaha —all are here, each one a of a strange and on the whole a very undesirable community. Although the dance has been suspended, that does not necessitate the discharge of the brazen-faced girls, and they may yet be seen here with the rest, wo! freely among the crowd. Seated at a table in a somewhat retired corner, were two persons en at . One was a beardless youth attired in buck-skin, and armed with knife and pistols; the other a big, burly tough from the upper chain—grisly, bloa and repulsive. He, too, was nothing short of a walking arsenal, and it was plain to see that he was a desperate char- acter. The game was poker. The youth had won three straight games and now laid down the cards that ended the fourth in his favor. “You're flaxed be Be pardner!”’ he said, with a light laugh, as he raked in the stakes. “This takes your all, eh?”’ “Every darned bit!” said the “‘ Cattymount ”’—for it was he—with an oath. ‘‘ You’ve peeled me to ther hide, an’ no mistake. Salivated me’ way out o’ time, sure’s thar ar’ modesty in a bar-girl’s tongue!” The youth laughed. “ You are notin luck to-night. Maybe your luck will return, if you keep on. Haven’t you another V?”’ ** Nary another!” Cn ape your pard, that got salted the other *Who—Chet Diamond? Wal, hee’s around heer, sum’ars, but I can’t borry none off o’ him. No; I’ve gotter oo —_. off.” **T'li lend you ten to on,”’ said the youth, and he laid an X in the n’s hands, ‘“* There, now, go ahead with your funeral. It’s your deal.” The cards were dealt, and the game played, result- ing in the favor of the *‘ Cattymount.”’ Another and another was Fe he and the tough won every time. Still the youth kept on, a Sse smile resting on his —— features, a twinkle in his coal-black eye. e youth, dear reader, you have met before. He is not he, but instead—Calamity Jane, On — the game, the burly “tough ” all the ime, his pile of tens steadily increasing in hight. “Talk about Joner an’ the ark, an’ Noar an’ ther whale!’ he cries, — another X onto the pile n with t enthusiasm; “Theda grate, grate muth- er-in-law w’at — keerds wi’ Noar inside o’ thet eyedentical w ale’s stummick—played poker wi’ w’alebones fer pokers. They were sherward landed at Plymouth rock, or sum uther big rock, an’ fit to- gether, side by side, in the rebellyuns.”’ “Indeed !"—with an amused laugh—“ then you must have descended from a long line of respected rs. “ Auntsisters? Waal, I jest about reckonIdo. I hev got ther blood o’ and Abel in my veins, boyee, an’ ef I ken’t raise the biggest kind o’ Cane ‘tean’t ae I ain’t able—oh! no. Pace anuther- “I reckon. How much have ye got piled up thar in that heap!” ‘*Squar’ ninety tens, my huckleberry, an’ all won fa’r, you bet.” “Then it’s the first time you ever won anysning air, Diamond!"’ exclaimed a voice close a a and the et oe a up to see Ned Har- standing near by, clasped across his breast. “ Calamity Jane nodded, indifferently. She had seen the young miner on several occasions; once she had been rendered an invaluable service when he rescued her from a brawl in which a dozen toughs had attacked her. * Ca ount”’ Cass, brother of Chet Diamon the Deadwood card- , , an with an oath, sprung to his feet. “By all the Celestyals!” he ejaculated, jerking forth a six-shooter—“by all the roarin’, screechin shriekin’, yowlin’, squawkin,’ ring-tailed, flat-futted cattymounts thet’ ever did ther forest aisles o’ old Alaska traverse! you here, ye infernal smooth-faced ee I wher et yo all ye’ve did ~¢ them a cittyzens 0’ w r rebellyun, ye e pig- minian deputy uv ther devil? Hurra! facrat boys; let’s string him up ter ther nearest sapling!” “Ha! ha!” laughed Harris, coolly, “ hear the cow- ard squeal for his pard’s assistance. Dassen't stand on his own leather fer fear of gettin’ salted fer all he’s : “You're a liar!” the “ ” spreading himself about sromiecucusiy, bea Gaenee JOO <€om cS com