Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 —— oe words had scarcely left his lips when a blow from the fist of Ned Harris reached him under the left eye, and he went sprawling on the ground in a heap. “Here! here!’ roared a stranger, rushing in yp ety the scene, and hurling the crowd aside with a dex- terity something wonderful. ‘‘ What is the m of all this?) Who knocked Cass Diamond down?”’ | voted a part of his time in a search for | but all to no avail. “T had that honor!” coolly remarked Ned Cbs, | Ww stepping Poy, up and confronting the Dead card-king, for it was the notorious Chet Diamond who had asked the question. ‘I smacked him in the gob, Chet Diamond, for calling me a liar, and am ready to accommodate a few more, if there are any who wish to prefer the same charge !”’ “Bully, Ned! and here’s what will back you!” cried Calamity Jane, leaping to the miner’s side, a cocked six in either white, shapely hand; “so sail in, pilgrims!” Diamond cowered back, and swore furiously. The wound in his breast was yet sore and rankling, and he knew he owed it to the cool and calculating young miner whose name was an omen of tefror among the “toughs *’ of Deadwood. ““Come on, you black-hearted ace thief!" shouted Calamity Jane, thrusting the muzzle of one of her plated revolvers forcibly under the gambler’s promi- nent nose—* come on! slide in if you are after squar’ up-an’-down fun. We'll greet you, bést we know how, an’ not charge you anything, either. See! I’ve got a couple full hands o’ sixes—every one’s a trump! in’t ye got no aces hid up yer sleeves?” The card sharp still cursed furiously, and backed away, He dare not reach for a weapon lest the dare- devil girl or young Harris (who now held a cocked Ry in each hand), “should salt him on a full ‘Ha! ha! ha!” and the la wildly through the great here's f go! Who wants to buy a Clipped-winged 8s b “Sold out right cheap!” added Ned, facetiously. “** Clear the track and we'll take him out and boost him to a limb.” At this juncture some half a dozen of the gambler’s gang came rush up, headed by Catamount Cass, who had recovered from the effects of the blow from Harris’ fist. “At them! at *em!” roared the “screechin’ catty- mount frum up nor’.” ‘“ ip, dig an’ gouge ‘em. Ho! ho! we'll see now who'll swing, we will! We'll Varn who'll display his ity in mid-air, we will. At ’em, b’yees, at ‘em. e'll hang em like they do hoss-thieves down at Cheyenne)!” Then followed a pitche battle in the bar-room of the *‘ Metropolitan’ saloon, such as probably never occurred there before, and never has since, Revolvers flashed. on every hand, knives clashed in deadly conflict; yells, wild, savage, and awful made a perfect demonium, to which was added a second edition in the shape of oaths, curses, and roans, Crack! whiz! bang! the bullets flew about 6 hailstones, and men fell to the reeking floor each terrible moment, The two friends were not alone in the affray. No sooner had Catamount Cass and his fans of “*toughs’’ showed fight, than a company of miners sprung to Harris’ side, and showed ir willingness to fight it out on the square line, Therefore, once the first shot was fired, it needed not a word to pitch the battle. Fiercely waged the contest—now hand to hand— and loud rose the savage yells on the still ht air. One by one men fell on either side, their life-blood crimso the floor, their dying groans unheeded in the fea melee. Still unharmed, and figh among the first, we see Ned Harris and his remarkable re tagecht Cal- amity Jane; both are black, and scarcely recogniz- able in the cloud of smoke that fills the bar-room. Harris is wounded in a dozen places and weak from loss of blood; yet he stands up bravely and fights mechanically. e Calamity Jane if she is wounded shows it not, but faces the music with as little apparent fear as any of those around her. On wages the battle, even as furiously as in its be- mings the last shot has been fired; it is now knife e, and face to face. Full as many of one side as the other have fallen, and lay strewn about under foot, unthought of, un- cared for in the excitement of the dcuparane moment, Gallons of blood have made the floor slippery and ree , So that it is dificult to retain one’s footing. At the head of the rufflans the Diamond brothers* still hold sway, fighting like madmen in their endea- vors to win a victory. They cannot do less, for to back off in this critical moment means sure death to the weakening party, But hark! what are these sounds? The thunder °f hoofs is heard outside; the rattle of musketry and sabers, and the next instant a com- of myowg headed by Major R—, ride str ght up into the saloon, firing right and left. “Come!” cried Calamity Jane, grasping Harris by the arm, and pulling him tow a side door, “ it’s re for us to slope now. It’s every man for him- And only under her gence was Ned able to es- cape, and save being killed and captured with the h of Calamity ru oon—** Ha! ha hat About hoon of the su day, two persons on horseback were coming along p north h lead- ing into Deadwood, at an easy canter. ey were the fearless t Boy, or as he is better known, earless and his lovely protege, Miss Terry. ‘They had been for a morning ride over to a neighbor- and were just returning. * Living characters. _ gulch—no other than our youn Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. Since their arrival in Deadwood. the youn lmd de- ce’s father None of the citizens of Deadwood or its surroundings had ever heard of such a person as Captain Walter Terry. The young couple had become fast friends from their association, and Alice was improving in looks every day she stayed in the mountains, “I feel hu ,” observed along. ‘* This life in the hills tite. How is it with you, lad “The same as with you, I guess, as * comes a& pomepingn toward us!” éttoas wi was even so, orseman was gallo up the friend, Ned Harris. As the two parties approach, the faces of each of the youths grow deadly pale; there comes into their eyes an ominous glitter; their hands each clasp the butt of a revolver, and the ually draw rein, That they are enemies of old—that the fire of ran- cor burns in their hearts, and that this meeting is un- a ante is plain to see. ow, that they have met, probably for the first time in months or years, it remains not to be doubt- ves me a keen appe- Frank, as they rode | | trailed and tracked me with the determination of a os bloodhound, and I have evaded you, not that I was at all afraid of you, but because I did not wish to make you a murderer. I have come across your goth at last; here let us settle, as you have said. |! I fold my arms across my breast. Take out pas pistol, aim steadily, and fire twice at my breast. have heard enough concerning your ll as a marksman to feel confident that you can kill me in | two shots!”’ Butlook! Yon- | Ned Harris flushed, angrily. He was surprised at the cool indifference and recklessness of the youth; he was angered that McKenzie should think him mean enough to take such a eae gn ab advantage: ‘You are a fool!” he sneered, biting his lip with vexation. ‘‘Do you calculate I am a murderer?” “T have no B es that you are or that you are not!” replied Fearless Frank, consenes his temper by a master effort. “‘ You remember I have not kept _a watch upon your actions,” “Be that as it may, I would be an accursed d | to take advantage of your insulting proposal. You | must fight me the same as I shall fig | ed but a settlement must come between them—that | their hate must result in satisfaction, whether in blood or not. — CHAPTER X. THE DUEL AND ITS RESULT. BELLIGERENT were the glances exchanged between the two, as they sat there facing each other, h _ with a hand closed over the butt of a pistol; Sack dn an motionless as a carved statue, Alice Terry had grown pele too. She saw that | e friend and protector and the stranger were enemies, —that this meeting though pure Y accidental was not to end without trouble. Her lips grew set, her es flashed, and she reined her horse closer to that of the Scarlet Boy. Ned Harris let a faint smile, of nage and pity poe rang come into relief on his lips, as action. he thought; but, then, women must not stand in the way, now, No! nothing must block the path inter- vening between enmity and vengeance. but, after all, why should he not be? He had spent several years in society that seemed callous to fear, | Life is but a blank; better she had died ere e saw this | tter ten male enemies than one female, me t you!”’ ‘No, Ned Harris, I do nothing of the kind. It is * .ho have wron you and yours; Bh must take the offensive; I will play a silent hand.” ** You refuse to fight me?”’ “I de refuse to fight you, but do not refuse to give ou satisfaction for what wrong you have suffered. ake my life, if you choose; itis yours, Take it, or forever after this consider our debt of hatred can- celed, and let Ws be—”’ | “Friends? Never, Justin McKenzie, never’ You forget the stain dyed by your hand that will never wash out!” ‘““No! no! God knows I do not forget!” and the outh’s voice was hoarse with anguish. ‘Could it undone, I would gladly undo the deed: But, tell me, Harris, about her. Does she still live?” * Live? We-l-l, yes, if you can call paving See e ever <> met you!” 4 You speak truly; better she had died ere she met Unconsciously the two had ridden closer to each other; had they forgotten themselves in _ the past? was, if anything, the coolest of the three; — —that knew not what it was to be a Christian; where | the utmost coolness was nece tion of life; where bravery was all, and education a dead letter. Fearless nk, too, had seen all phases of rough western life, Proneay; but his tem- perament was more nervous and excitable, his pas- sions tenfold harder to restrain. Still, he m to exercise a cool exterior now, that equaled that of his opposite—his hated enemy. Mystery, as habitually called the girl, did not offer to conceal her feelings. It was but natural that she should side to the preserva- with him to whom she owed her life, and the glances | of scorn and indignation she shot at the you might have driven another man than him in treat. Fearless Frank made no motion toward speech; he was determined that the young miner should open the quarrel, :f a quarrel it was to be. But beneath his firm-set lips were clenched two rows of teeth, tightly, fiercely; while every nerve in the youth’s begy was drawn to its utmost tension. arris was wonderfully calm and at ease; only a ray pallor on his handsome face and a menacing fire = piercing eyes told that he was in the leas * Justin McKenzie!”’ a a Fog by wore on Pye clear sn gc ; 1 Harris spoken, and the j or deepened on his eountenunsee while the fire ee cor burned with stronger gleam in his eagle eye. The effect on the scarlet coon was scarce ticeable, more than that the lips grew more rigi comp anc. the right hand clutched the butt more tightly. But no answer to theo summons. ‘Justin McKenzie!’ again said the young miner, calmly, ‘‘do you recognize me?” The Scarlet Boy bows his head slowly, his ores watchful lest the other shall catch the drop on him. ** Justin McKenzie, you do recognize me, even after the elapse of two oe w years, during which I have sought for you f thfully but failed to find you until this hour. We have at last met, and the e for settlement between you and me, Justin Mc- Kenzie, Ae ATE is! Here dan ol ibe Bey git ) we settle the grudge Iho ainst you— vn Sell see who shall live and who shall die ”’ Alice Terry uttered a terrified we ‘Oh! no! no! you must not fight—you must not. It is bad—oh! so awful wicked!” . , but you will have no voice in e miner’s tone grew a trifle more severe. “Knew you the bitter wrong done me by this young devil with the smooth face and oily ge you knew what a righteous cause I have to defend, you would say ‘let the battle proceed.’ I am not one to thirst for the blood of my fellow-men but I am one that is ever ready to raise my hand and strike in the defense of women!” 5 Alice hee secretly admired the stalwart young miner for this gallant h. Fearless , his face peer than before, an ex- ppeemon of remorse comb witb anguish about countenance, and moisture + amy =e either eye, assumed his quasi-erect attitude as he answered: “Edward Harris, if you will listen, I will say all I have to say in a very few words. You hate me be- cause of a wrong I did you and yours, and you want my life for the forfeit. I shall not hinder you lon- ger in your purpose. For two long years you have miner a re- no- and stol- er’s ‘* She lives—-may live on her lonely life for years to come,” Harris resumed, thoughtfully, ‘‘ but her life will be merely endurance.”’ “* Will you tell me where—where I can gO in a and take but one look at her? If you will do this, will +. ae to meet you and give you your chance for satis—"’ ‘‘No!"’ thundered Harris, growing suddenly furi- ous, ‘‘no/ a thousand times! I'd sooner see her in the burning depths of the bottomless pit than have you get hin a hundred miles of her with your contaminating presence. She is safely hidden away, and that forever, from the companionship of ow sex. So let her be till death claims her!”’ **'You are too hard on her!” ‘And not hard enough on te base villain that your are! Whois this young lady you have in you barge (BF samme g of your victims?” “ Hold! Edward Harris; enough of your vile in- sinuations, This lady is one whom I rescued from Sitting Bull, the Sioux, and I am helping her to hunt a father who she says is somewhere in the Black Hills. Your language should at least be respectful!’ The rebuke stung young Harris to the quick, but he reined in his passion in a moment, and doffed his ‘*Pardon me, miss, manly for me to on me, It was ungentle as I did, but I was surprised at seeing one of your sex in company with this ac complished scamp, Justin McKenzie.”’ “My presence with him is, as he said, for the pur se of finding my father. He rescued me from the ndians, and has volunteered his services, for whicb I am very thankful. So far, sir, he has acted in a courteous and gentlemanly manner toward me!” said Alice Terry. ‘“* What he may have been hereto- fore concerns me not, as you must know.” ‘* He is alwa iakr—amogth tongnet, usta he has lured his victim to ruin!” reto ed ey ‘* Beware of him, lady, for he isa rattlesnake in the disguise of ab ht-winged butterfly.” earless Frank grew livid at this last thrust. F bearance is virtue, some but not always. his case the Scarlet Boy felt that he could . bear the taunts of the miner no longer. ‘* You are a liar and a dastard!”’ he cried, fiercely. ‘*Come on if you wish satisfaction, and I'll give it ou!” / “Tam ready, always, sir. I challenged you first; you have the choice!” retorted Ned, as cool as ever, while his enemy was all trembling with excitement, ‘* Pistols, at yards; to be fired until one or the other is dead!’ was the prompt decision. “Good! Young veer, & you will n have to act as second for both of us. If I drop, leave my body where I fall, and it will be picked up by friends. If he falls, I will ride an 89 Deadwood, and send you guessed out help to carry Without delay the distance was and each of the young men rode to position. Miss the gulch, mid > be oo ee pe ane side ot e ch, way een the an an vine all was in ess she counted: ‘ ne 7 The _ hands of the two youths were raised on a level, and the gleaming barrel of a pistol shone cryen each . “ o!’’ There was a sharp click! click! as the hammers of the weapons were pulled back at full cock. Each click meant danger or death. was very white; so was Fearless Frank, but not so much so as the young woman who was to give the signal. Som | | YY EV'OOKS: rr