Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 100 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 — oo where [I can reach it. But, are you not afraid ——- a ee Se ee ee =“ $$ er ee ‘‘Not until I know my fate, Margaret. I have to go out through the lonely way between here | come here to ask you once more to become m and Davy’s?” ‘* No, not a bit! route before, a dozen times, without getting hurt. I guess | won’t be, this time. A kiss, now, and [ will be off.” And after obeying her mother’s instructions, Jessie kissed her, and hurried out of the cabin. » The night was dimly lighted by the young | moon and stars, and she was enabled to see the route over the rough hill with its dottmgs of shanties, most of which were occupied as shaft houses or engine rooms. Taking a well-beaten path, she hastened swift- ly along untib— When she was midway between her own home and her destination, and in a lonel t, a half dozen men stepped suddenly out o the bushes, and seized her, smothering her cries quickly by throwing a blanket over her head. They then dragged her into the bushes, and into a sort of inner glade, where a score more of men were waiting with horses. Here Jessie’s arms were bound, and as soon _as the blanket was removed, a revolver was thrust against her temple as a warning of silence. All the men were masked, and armed to the teeth, as Jessie could see. “So you’ve got the girl, eh?” demanded a deep voice, and Captain Harriot Hawk emerged from further in the chaparral. ‘‘ Well, it’s lucky you caught her without trouble. You are to remain here, while I ride on and finish the job!” “You ruffian, do you mean to molest my poor mother?” Jessie cried, indignantly. ‘** No, little girl, I shall not harm her in the least!” Captain Hawk replied, with a low, bru- tal laugh, and vaulting into the saddle, he guid- ed his horse from the chaparral, and was soon heard galloping away. Poor Jessie! She was now in an agony of fear and suspense, for she believed that the ter- rible bandit meant murder. There was that in his tone which caused her to think so. In the meantime the bandit chief rode away toward the Heath cabin, at a gallop, a fierce ex- pression hovering about his mouth. When he came in sight of the cabin, he dismounted, and crept cautiously forward on foot, not wishing to be heard. On arriving close to the cabin, a peep in at the window revealed to him that Mrs. Heath was guarding the front door. But avother rear door offered him means of access, and by skillful maneuvering he finally succeeled in opening it, and gaining an en- trance to the cabin, without raising a noise. Step by step he crept forward toward Mrs, Heath, not-making the least sound to betray his presence, until at last he was near enough to reach forward and grasp the revolver. She uttered a shriek of alarm as he did this, and he then stepped around in front of her, with | ot there is money; and it was for this that Cap- a triumphant laugh. ‘‘Ha! ha! You see I was too sly for you, de- spite your vigilance!” he said, chuckling over his victory. ‘‘ There’s always two ways around a bush.” ‘‘Monster! Whoare you?” Mrs. Heath gasp- ed, pale with alarm. ‘‘ Why do you come here, sir? “To see you, Margaret Heath, and kill you when I go!” Captain Hawk replied, with sudden fierceness. ‘‘Do you know me, woman—does not some instinct tell you who I[ am?” ‘‘T do not know you, sir. You are no friend, and I want you to leave the house!” ‘*Pshaw! not affected in the least by what orders you may give. Here, I will remove my mask, and see if you know me then!” and true to his word, the bandit chieftain removed his mask. It was a dark, repulsive face that was re- vealed, and Mrs. Heath gave a cry of recogni- tion at sight of it—a face that was coarse and hairy, with a large sensual mouth, and eyes that were evil in their gaze. ‘Fred Harriot!” Mrs, Heath gasped, paling. “Ay, Fred Harriot, my dear—alias Captain Harriot Hawk, the b carry me and my name in your memory, Mar- garet!”’ I have been over the same | | argaret; don’t be foolish. I am | wife, and the queen of my castle. Ido not as you to love me; I simply ask you to become my wife. I have your daughter in my power, and bes can thus be near her. Refuse, and I will ill you and make her my slave.” ‘Marry you!” the woman exclaimed, in scorn—‘‘ never, Fred Harriot, even though you were to kill me a dozen times!” ‘What! not to save your child?” “No! not even to save her, would I marry you, you wretch!” “Then, by Heaven, you shall have the death you would court!” thé bandit cried, savagely, and drawing a knife, he sprung forward upon her, and forcing her back in the chair, plunged the gleaming blade to the hilt in her bosom re- peatedly. Then he arose and hurried from the cabin, a hard-set look upon his ugly face. Vaulting to the saddle, he struck the spurs fiercely into his horse, and galloped back to where he had left the men. They were already mounted, and without halting he waved his Sy and dashed on, they following in his rear. Away to the mountain eee d they went through the soft moonlight night. oor Jessie had long since fainted, as she pic- tured in her mind the murder of her mother and consequently she knew nothing of the wild ride of the bandits, until she was safe within Castle Hawk, far up in the mountains. Then, consciousness returned to her, and she found herself in a large stone room, lighted by large windows, and with a door looking out upon the plateau in front of the castle. The furniture was rude, but serviceable, and thé floors were laid with rugs of soft furry skins. Captain Hawk stood near by, sh ey her with a dark frown, when she aroused, and she shrunk away when she saw him. ‘Oh! ye needn’t be afeard!” he said, ‘‘for I sha’n’t harm ye. A man as would harm an or- phan would be mean enough to do anything!” ‘An orphan?” Jessie gasped, paling. ‘Ay, an orphan, for on my arrival at your cabin, Miss Jessie, I found that the assassin had been there ahead of me, and struck your mo- ther’s death-blow!” And turning with these words, the bandit strode from the room, pale himself, as a picture of his terrible crime arose before hiseyes. While he left behind him a white, motionless figure upon the floor, It was not the first crime of this Captain Har- riot Hawk. Many times before had he dyed his hand in human blood, in his Career of a brigand, which had begun in the heart of Mexi- | co, where dwelt the rich old rancheros on whom he preyed, until he had come to this mountain retreat, in order to be near Leadville and its _ hosts of people. For in unity there is strength, and in strength tain Harriot Hawk planned and schemed. From the presence of Jessie Heath he strode to the mess-room of the band, an immense apartment in the castle, where the outlaws were wont to congregate to drink, smoke and gamble when not out upon the trail. The room was full of brawny men as Captain Hawk entered—men with low brows, swarthy oe and evil gaze—a hard-looking set at the t. All greeted with a nod their chief, and sat awaiting orders. Instead of addressing them, however, Captain Hawk turned to his lieutenant, Marmosa. ‘* Are all the men in, lieutenant?” ‘‘No, sir chief. There are three divisions yet out upon the trail.” ‘‘Why have they not returned?” “That I do not know, chief. The stages may have been delayed.” “True, I hope they will bring in booty, for we must have it. Get the boys fed and ready for another ride. The posters. have thrown Leadville into an excitement, and as soon as it subsides, I shall attack the place, and burn it to andit. I see you still | theground, Was the wagon-train containing the coal oil captured?” ‘* Ay, chief, and fully five barrels secured and “Monster! Iloathe and detest you. Never | fetched here.” so much as now!” ‘¢ All that may be true, Margaret, but there was a time when I should have won you had it not been for Morris Heath, curse him.” ‘‘No! Fred Harriott, you would never have won me, because I regarded you with aversion and detestation. But, why talk over a subject of so little interest? i pray you take your de- parture.” ‘‘Good! Let the men prepare enough comr | bustible material to fire the town, for it shall be in ashes ere many nights, and the mines ours. Ha! who have we here?’ . For two men had entered, conducting between them a third party, whom they had evidently captured, for his hands were bound behind his back. ‘Release that man.. He is a friend of mine!” Deadwood Dick in Leadville. ee t— ee | said Captain Hawk, sternly. ‘‘ He has the free dom of my camp.” The man was Ralph Gardner! CHAPTER VIII. OUTWITTED—DEADWOOD DICK’S DEFIANCE. A CROWD had collected in front of the Ton- tine House—a mob of stern-faced men and yell- ing ruffians—a crowd who were armed to the teeth, and were desperate looking enough to have frightened any ordinary man into sub- mission. ‘‘ Deadwood Dick! Deadwood Dick, the out- law!” were the cries heard on either hand. ‘‘Haul him out, dead or alive, and we'll hang oe stiffest limb. Hooray for a reg’lar ynch! ‘‘Great comfluneral ham-bone thet masti- cated ther larnyx uv old Joner! Venerable old Moses in the bullrushes! w’at’s ther rip hyar! Step aside, ye greasy pilgarlics, and let in ther old boreal thunder-storm o’ demolition, till he teeto’lly demolishes a half o’ millyun o’ ye! Give me room, fer ther Annihilation has begun a new keereer, despite o’ rheumatism. ho sed Deadwood Dick—who mentioned that pet road-agent, I want ter know? Whar is he, sher galoot, until I cock my alphabetical eye at him?’ ‘‘ He’s in thar, old hoss,” a miner said, point- ing up into the second story of the Tontine. ‘‘ He war spotted out by Sime Kent, and we’re goin’ ter stretch ther kinks out o’ his neck beautifully, when we git our hands onter him.” ‘‘Ham-bone thet Joner eulogized! don’t talk thet way, beloved pilgrim. It makes my hair grow pale ter hear ye. Ye don’t know what in- stant annihilation threatens you, pilgrim. Ef ye war ter strain yer eyes for’a’d ye could see clean inter ther future, by thunder. Ketch thet angelic ’coon, my gay, festiverous Dickey? Never, sir, never! Hist’ry an’ belle-letters hev roved thet ther job can’t be did! Besides, ’U et two shots from a pop-gun thet Dickey ain’t up thar. Why, larst I heerd o’ him he war up in ther neighborhood o’ Deadwood!” ‘‘ Ken’t help thet, old hoss. Deadwood Dick’s come down into this region, an’ begun his devil- try, an’ now we’ve cornered him, and ar’ a-go- in’ ter yank him up, in good shape. He’ll find this ain’t no Deadwood, by along shot. Ye see he’s sorter been playin’ off on us in a disguise of Thoroughbred Tom, but Sime Kent, together wi’ mt ym Gardner and Sheriff Murphy, they spotted him last night. An’ a leetle while ago he sailed inter town, and now we’ve got ’im cornered, yonder in ther Tontine. So ef ye’ll wait, ye’ll hev an opperchunity ter witness a fust-class raisin’.” ‘* Yas, in ther eye uv a blind pig!’ Old Ava- lanche replied. ‘* Great ham-bone, pilgrim, ye couldn’t tech one side o’ thet ar’ Dickey! Fact, by gracious! Bet a jug o’ tarant’ler some galoot w’at goes cavortin’ too frisky around my Dickey ’ll get a gripe in ther stumick so soon he won’t know his alfybetty. _Know’d o’ sech a case, oncet, whar an Injun hed a curiosity ter embrace thet same Dickey, an’ he got it ker- slop right in the jaw, forninst. Etwas good-by Injun, ye can bet yer socks! Oh, yes; they'll rit my Dickey, no doubt! Why don’t they fetch him out, if they dare?” ‘“Ca’se how thar’s durned few who care ter go and tackle him. They say he sits up thar in Sir Noel Farnsworth’s room, wi’ a pair o’ revol- vers in his grip, an’ several pair more layin’ loose around, a watchin’ fer them as is goin’ ter take him. No one ain’t purtickler about feelin’ his pulse, jest yet, Pll allow!” Roary old ham-bone thet telefoned ter old Joner! thar’ll be fun an’ funerals, when they try ter take thet young war-colt, you bet! An’ I say, ef they try ter lynch him, I hope he’ll fill every man’s carcass full o’ bullet-holes, as tries ter take him!” ‘‘What is the matter, Alva? Why is all this crowd gathered here?” It was Calamity Jane who spoke, as she ap- proached and tapped the old Annibilator upon the shoulder _ ‘Why, Janie, gal, they’ve got Deadwood Dick lodged up thar, in thet hotel, an’ he won’t come out so thet they can hev ther pleasure o’ fittin’ his neck wi’ one o’ Lynch’s patent hemp cor lars!” ‘“What! Deadwood Dick here?’ Calamity gasped, a sudden anxiety in her tone. “I sup- posed him in Dakota!” “So did I, C’lamity, but et seems both our suppositions ar’ incorrect. Great a’riferous ham- bone! ef they evyer get Dicky out o’ thar, ye’ll see sum high old times!” 7 n’t want to see it,” Calamity replied | JOOKK Comic hr +