Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 100 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

‘pull reins Over nothin’ but a ‘beast, at thet!” % _——— + i oe ee rete much at ease as when telling some abominable yarn in his genuine darky dialect. The Farnsworth party were bound for Lead- Ville, intending to make that their stopping- Deadwood | | lace while they were ‘‘ doing” the surround- | ing places of interest. ack Fargett kept his six-in-hand at a lively | ‘trot, and cracked his whip incessantly, while his keen eye roved ahead and around him. “Yas,” he said, in answer to a remark from Sir Noel—-‘‘ yas, et aire a purty day, but then, | ef ye’d bin over this yere trail as many times as They, ther scenery wouldn’t affect ye muchly. I opine instead o’ studyin’ out ther picturesque- ness uv every heap o’ rocks, ye’d better be feel- in’ in yer pocketbagks fer loose cash.” ‘For loose cash?” Sir Noel echoed. you mean?” “Oh! yell parseeve, directly, no doubt. S’pose ye’ve all read in ther hymn-books, hain’t ye, and sorter studied over yer kittenkizzems, occasionally ?” “Very likely we have; at least there are re- collections of my early days when stern Sir Roderick had me.imprisoned for hours in the ‘* How do Chandos reluctantly returned the whip, with a scowl, while Ladv Farnsworth shrugged her shoulders, and Sir Noel and Lady Belle laughed outright. It always pleased them to have Chandos fairly beaten, By this time the coach was surrounded by the road-agents, with Deadwood Dick at the front, He rode forward, politely tipping his hat to the ladies. “You did well, Fargett, to stop,” he said, with a nod to Jehu, ‘for you cannot run by me like Captain Hawk. Ladies and gentlemen, your money and jewelry, if you please.” “By what right do you make this demand?’ Sir Noel found spirit to ask. ‘“*‘ I was not aware that we had highwaymen at this day and age.” Dick replied, coolly, but courteously. nursery, because I couldn’t tell who was the | oldest man,” Sir Noel replied, laughing. ‘‘ Waal, mebbe ye’ve read, then, of a thorough- bred cuss called Deadwood Dick?” ‘‘ Deadwood Dick!” ** Thet’s w’at I sed, pilgrim.” ‘Then you were not well posted,” Deadwood ‘** These mountain districts are infested with ruffianly bands of road-agents and outlaws, who prey not only upon one another, but upon all who come within their reach, often resorting to the most fiendish torture to extort money. It does me youd to claim that Deadwood Dick and his Soiitiwers are inno way allied to such gangs, We are a band of free rovers, under a flag of ourown. ‘They call us road-agents, because we haunt every mountain trail, by night and by | care not. ‘Why, I think I’ve heard of the fellow. Some | notorious road-agent, eh?” 154 ‘Waal, ye’ve purty near hit it, stranger. Deadwood Dick’s one on themsame chaps, And as he’s at present takin’ toll on this yere route, I opine ’twould be healthy fer ye ter began to count up yer dudads, bein’ as Dick’s a fust-class sort o’ hoss and don’t keer o’ deprivin’ a galoot of his life, as long as he can git what toll he wants. An’ while I'm remarkin’, stranger, ved better keep sum o’ yer cash in reserve, fer Dick ain’t ther only galoot as is ta pa ee yere | trail, by a long shot. Captaip awk the ban- dit ginerally speaks in fer his share. Thar, now, begin ter shell out yer sand, fer as I’m a live hoss-driver, yonder comes Deadwood Dick and his crowd around ther bend. Whoa-a-a, thar! It’s no use 0’ runnin’ no gauntlet ag’in’ that cuss, narry a time!” CHAPTER IT. DEADWOOD DICK’S DEBUT—THOROUGHBRED TOM —A “‘ BRUSH ”—GONE! It was as Jack Fargett had said. A party of ten or a dozen horsemen were com- ing around a bend in the gulch stage-road, at a moderate trot, and at their head rode he whom they called Deadwood Dick, the road-agent—the same graceful equestrian—the same black-clad knight of the trau, of whom we have written so many times before. At the head of his band of masked followers he rode, as fearlessly as he had in the days of Deadwood’s excitement, and when the Black Hills was the Mecca of the fortune-seeker, as Leadville is to-day. ‘“Yas, thet’s Deadwood Dick,” Jack Fargett said, reining isi his six horses with a powerful day. Let the world regard us as it will—we We are a band, to a man, who hate the world and everything worldly. While we are called road-agents and robbers, we style ourselves the Rovers of the Rockies,” ‘* But, you are robbers, all the same?’ Sir Noel interrogated. ‘* By no means, sir!’ Deadwood Dick replied. ‘‘In a literal sense, we are guardians of the trail; and bankers. For instance, we pounce down upon you, relieve you of your valuables, and give you in exchange, a peculiar token, which you carry exposed upon your person, You go to Leadville, and walk about the streets, and, first you know, a packet is slipped into your hands, which prove to. be your valuables safely returned, minus a few dollars, which we keep to repay us for our trouble.” ‘* But, what is the object of this?’ “Our object is twofold—tirstly, to protect the traveling public from being robbed by Cap- tain Hawk and his bandits: secondly, to earn an honest. livelihood by our new banking sys- tem, and at the same time fight against these ruffians, in behalf of the State.” ** Do you do this of your own accord, or aided and abetted by the people?’ ‘* Of my own accord, and a desirerto do good for the evil past of my name, The people— _ well!” and a bitter laugh came from the Prince effort. of his muscular hands and arms—*‘ thet’s | him, an’ no mistake, an’ I ain’t agoin’ ter git my last_sickness by tryin’ ter run him down. So shell out yer V’s and yer X’s right liberal, ef ye keer ter git ter Leadville, to-night, my beau- ties. ‘‘ Why this is a blarsted houtrage!” Chandos grunted, angrily. ‘* Do you expect we are made of money, sit mule-driver? Go ahead!” “Waal, I should remark not,” Jack Fargett replied, stolidly. ‘‘ Ef ther old court re’lizes her exact condition, I opine we shall stay hyar. Mule-driver, eh?’ and Jack’s bushy face began to assume a ferocious look. ‘‘D’ye kno’, Mr. Englisher, thet I’ve swallered severial bigger men ’an you, fer a less insult? Thank ye, I don’t + “Hi! yi, dat’s de trufe!” assented Snowflake, rolling his eyes. SSS hoss, an’ a clear | ‘* Me an’ Jack Fargett be driv- | in’ dis yere coach, so you keep still, Marse Chan- dos.” ‘‘ Curse the nizger, I will chastise him for his impudence!” Chandos cried, hotly, reaching ever and jerking the long-lashed whip from Fargett’s hands. ‘‘ Now, you black rascal, ‘‘ Hold yer hosses, thar, ef ye please!” sudden- ly roared the stentorian voice of Fargett, and he shoved a huge revolver almost down in under the irate Englishman’s nose. “Ef ye know when ye’re liable ter be blowed up by a teetotal ’arthquake, cheese it, ter oncet. Thes nig’s all of the Road—‘ they would smite me down, were [to do them each and every one a blessing. They have a grudge against me which only my death can appease. And as for them, generally, I bear them no ill will.” ‘* Youw’re astrange fellow,” Sir Noel said. ‘I do not know what to make of you.” Dick in Leadville. 3 a ee ee ee eet a x — — — ———. - —- --= _— — ee ee natures to be forced to acquiesce to the demands _ of ‘a common robber,” as Chandos growled, When he had received all, Deadwood Dick gave an amused glance toward Snowflake, who, with his eyes widely distended was extending an old Peter Funk watch, and a bag of old cop- pers. ** No, you can keep your property, Pompey,” the Prince of the Road said, with a laugh. ly don’t believe Captain Hawk would even notice you, of a dark night.” Then turning to Sir Noel, he continued: “One thing more, my dear sir, which you forget to leave in my care.” “What?” Sir Noel demanded, in surprise. ‘The Farnsworth casket of jewels, which you have very rashly brought with you into this country, since they are worth many thousands of dollars!” Deadwood Dick replied, coolly. ‘*Good heavens, man, how did you find out so much?” the young baronet demanded, suspi- ciously. ‘‘I shall believe you leagued with the devil, fo Senvtiy Bb Deadwood Dick smiled under his mask. ‘* You compliment me,” he said, with a strange laugh. ‘‘ That credit has been given me before, As to my knowledge of your jewels, I saw the elder Lady Farnsworth displaying them to some ladies ata hotel in Trinidad a week ago. It occurred to me then, when I learned that your party were bound for Leadville, that I'd better intercept you and, secure your things from the clutches of Captain Hawk.” ‘If it is not asking too much, who is this Cap- tain Hawk, of whom you speak?” * Like all others of his evil nature he isa heartless ruffian,” Deadwood Dick replied. “‘ He is also a bandit, who stops at no crime to further his success. His crimes would fill a large vol- ume. Everything passing oy the trails to Leadville that is not too strong Yor him, he halts and plunders, often killing the victims. Since Deadwood Dick’s Rovers patrol the mountain trails, however, his spoils are lessened, and like- wise his good opinions of me.” ‘** You demand the jewel casket, then?” ‘** For y: ur own sake, I do.” Without a word Sir Noel unlocked 4 valise at his feet, and teok therefrom a small barrel- shaped casket, hooped with bands of pure gold, and handed it to Deadwood Dick, who received it with a bow. ‘*That will do,” he said, courteously. ‘* You may now go on your journey. But—hold! I have not yet given you the check. Here it is— a gold coin, valued at twenty dollars, bearing the ‘D, D. R.’—i. e., Deadwood Dick’s Rovers. If you bave that in sight, while in Leadville, your valuables will be returned to you. If you lose it, I can not be responsible for them. Ibid you a pleasant good-day!” And tossing the coin to Sir Noel, he wheeled his horse and galloped up the gulch in the diree- tion whence he had come, followed by his men. Jack Fargett then cracked his whip, dnd the coach rolled on, ‘“Yecan stack yer trick on him every time, | you bet!” Jack Fargett said. ‘‘Tll go his se- curity frum one dollar ter a milyun, every day in a week.” ‘*T do not ask you to trust me!” Deadwood Dick said. ‘‘I make my demands for your valuables the same as any road-agent, and I believe. you are wise enough to see that resist- ance is useless. A few miles up the road you will meet Captain Hawk, and his gang. Once they get hold of your jewels and money, you may whistle before you get them again.” ‘You demand our valuables then, with a promise pf speedy return?” ‘*No! I promise nothing. You have heard me speak of our custom.” ‘** And if we refuse to yield them up?” “Then. Jack Fargett and his stage goes on to Leadville without you. Come! my time will pie permit me to stand and parley with you all ay ! ‘ll not give the thief a sou!” growled Chan- dos, angrily. ‘‘ Shoot him, somebody!” ‘* You had better keep still or he may shoot you,” Lady Belle whispered. ‘* As resistance seems useless, we may as well art with our jewels and cash, and trust to the ionesty of this outlaw banker. If he returns us what we give him, my faith in road-agents will be somewhat strengthened,” and Sir Noel took out his huge wallet, and laia it into Dead- wood Dick’s hands, while there followed it his handsome watch and chain, diamond rings and studs. Pretty Lady Belle then handed over a watch and purse, and a few plain ornaments, and eee erf? “Oh! wasn’t that a delightful adventure!” Lady Belle exclaimed, laughingly. “ I really enjoyed it; and that Deadwood Dick—wasn't he perfectly handsome?” ‘Why, Belle, my dear, how can you!” Lady Farnsworth exclaimed, putting up her hands in horror. ‘‘I am shocked at you.” ‘Pshaw! you’re always shocked at a straw, mamma, dear. I do think that road-agent was a real love of a man, and so does Noel, while you and Chandos sat as prim and stiff as if fee were monarchs upon your thrones, instead of two ofa party traveling for fun and excite- ment.” ‘Dear! dear! what fun could you see in that horrid man, and his villainously masked follow- Chandos, I should have thought you at least would have resisted!” ‘How could I when they had me covered with their revolvers?’ was the reply. ‘ Each one of the accursed highwaymen had a pistol level, an’ w’en ye go ter tech him aboard my ship | Lady Farnsworth and Chandos sullenly did like- , Pinyfo re, ye’re clean off yer groove!” wise, It was gall and wormwood to their proud leveled at my heart!” ‘Pshaw! you’re a coward, Chandos!” Lady Belle exclaimed, with a merry laugh “I am not afraid. Just think; Deadwood Dick did not hurt me, and he had his eyes leveled at my heart!” ‘‘ And at mine, too, fo’ suah!” put in Snow- flake. ‘‘My heart was jes’ in one perpetual flitter-flutter, and I feel like a school-gal of fifteen.” The day, though beautiful, was not nearlv so beautiful as before, in the eyes of the travelers, for the reason that they were momentarily ex- pesnd an attack from the road-agent, Captain Tawk. Nor were they disappointed. From a mountain dugway the vehicle rolled Gomichbooks com *