Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 100 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

te ——_ ons — _ Deadwood Dick As to her identity our Half-Dime audience | needs no explanation, as the Girl Sport is well- known to them; while to those within the ‘*¢ Leadville Casino,” she seemed to be equally recognizable. For nowhere along the Rocky Mountain mines can you go where the name of Calamity Jane has not been heard. She was attired in a costume consisting of fancifully ornamented buckskin breeches, and a hunting-fro*k reaching nearly to the tops of a pair of patent-leather knee boots. A jaunty slouch hat boasting of a wild eagle’s feather she wore back upon her head; a beit upon her waist contained a pair of handsome revolvers, These were the og items of her make- up, except that she was even more handsome than when we saw her last, with her eyes grown brighter, her cheeks more tinted, and her form just a trifle more robust, In the hight of her womanly beauty she look- ed, as she stood upon the floor beneath the light of a chandelier, and watched the game between Ralph Gardner and Cordova. She knew the gambler Cordova to be a straight and honest player; for several times she had met him up in the Animas mines, near Silver- on, Of Ralph Gardner she was not so sure. He was just the sort of a man she most disliked, with his cynical, overbearing ways, and the sinister glitter in his eyes. The old man who stood near by was an un- couth old veteran, whose appearance indicated that he had followed many a trail. His hair and stubby beard were grizzly with age, his form was bent and hecarried a hard, gnarled stick as a staff to walk with. One peculiarity was noticeable in him, aside from the fact that he was attired in buckskin—his ears had, some day, in an eventful past, been shorn off close to his head. This old ‘man, as well as Calamity Jane, seemed to be recognized, for several spoke his name, it was Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator. He and none other. The battle-scarred veteran had at last found himself down at Leadville, in company with Calamity, to see this new Mecca of the mines, ‘‘Great antediluvian ham-bone that bu’sted the Chinese bill! ef these don’t seem like real Deadwood days, over ag’in!” the Annihilator runted, as he gazed around, ‘Ef Deadwood ick war only around these parts to kick up a condemned breeze—a teetotall Norweejan hur- vicane 0’ demolition, we shed be all right, ‘* Eb! Jinny, gal?—hain’t them yer concise an’ comperhensive ijees 0’ ther matter? Old Moses who cavorted through ther bullrushes! but thet Dick war a cuss, an’ no discount ter ther trade. Ef I warn’t gettin’ so blamed old, an’ my bones an’ jints warn’t so contorted by ther rheumat- ics, Da jest like ter grapple thet Dickey by ther clutch, and shake him blue. Hello! great mor- tuary 0’ which Joner war a shinin’ light—w’at’s this? A gameo’eucher. Lordy! ye jest orter see my old mare Prudence Cordeliar, pilgrims, wat’s now dead, but once constitooted one o’ ther j’ints an’ cog-wheels o’ ther Great Boreal Avalanche Extirpation Consarn. She war a <nowin’ anymile, war thet same Prudence, an’ don’t ye fergit it. Why, it’s an actooal fact thet she could tell every card in a pack, and comprehended a game as much an’ more so than the ginerality o’ pilgrims. Fer illustration o’ ther wonderfnl sagacity o’ thet jint of ther great annihilation, ye 8 ied hev see’d ther hand she tuk one night ina quiet game, I war play- in’ wi’a heethun Chinee, oncet, an’ my Prudence war browsin’ cluss by, wi’ one eye upon thet pig-tail—Lordy! what an orful grudge she had agin’ ther race! Wal, she sot her eye onter thet pig-tail, an’ we played severial games, I losin’ Aer time. ‘ Suddenly she gave a screech, and she danced up ter thet John Chinaman, an’ grabbled him and held him upside down by her teeth. An’ pilgrim, may I never be etarnally plagued wi’ a mother-in-law, ef she didn’t shake a hull trick o’ cards out o’ thet pig-tail’s sleeves. Waal, now I shed remark. Great pentenshal ham- ther many other exploits my jints used ter ”? A loud laugh was elicited by the old Annihi- lator’s story, and he was at once a prime favo- rite. But, although all dared gazo at her, none had the courage to speak to the eccentric Ca- lamity Jane, for it was reported that she had salivated many a pilgrim for a less offense than looking at or speaking to her. Ralph Gardner’s sinister gaze rested upon fer | p@easionally. but even uo was not desirous of . Abe, iO!', in Leadville. At last the game was over, and the last card planked. Cordova had lost! Every lire in his posses- sion had he consigned to the keeping of Ralph Gardner. He leaned back in his chair, pale and faint, his black eyes glowing like coals of fire. ‘* Satan seize you he gritted, allin a tremor. ‘You are in league with the devil, Senor Ralph Gardner!” ‘* Be that as it may, I’ve cleaned you out!” the dandy mine-owner replied, with a cool laugh. ‘‘When you want to see me again, Senor Cordova, you will find me at home. av- ing played enough for to-night, lll bid youa pleasant good-evening!” ‘* Hold on—you must play more!” the Span- iard cried, excitedly. ‘*' You shall not carry away my money—you must let me win back enough to get my lodging and a start!” ‘“Pshaw! Here, I'll give you ten dollars, ra- ther than sleep through another game!” Gard- ner said, thrusting his hand into his pocket with a yawn, and drawing out a handful of gold pieces. No! no!” Cordova gaid, hastily, ‘I not take your money, I am a gentleman—lI receive no favors from an opponent!” * Well, what are you chinning about then?” Gardner demanded. ‘‘ How can you play?” ‘Pil tell you!” Cordova explained, a crafty smile lighting up his swarthy features. ‘“ I will wager my head against a hundred dollars, on the result of one more little game. If you win, you cut my head off in the presence of these people. If I win, I take my hundred dollars!” A low murmur of wonder ran through the room. Here was a novelty not often occurring in the latter days of mining life. A man had risked his head on-a game! The word Sean from lip to lip, and a crowd instantly collected. Gardner resumed his seat at the table,a strange smile upon his face. ““T will play, if it is your wish!” he said, grimly, ‘* but if [ win, I shall claim your head!” ‘You shall have it if you win it!” Carlos Cordova replied. ‘‘ Let some disinterested party cut and deal the cards!” A stranger was selected from the crowd for this work. ‘*Great ham-bone thet accompanied old Joner to the Antipodes!” Old Avalanche cried, *‘ thet Spaniard’s a cuss, pilgrims, an’ don’t ye fergit it. But, Holy Moses o’ bullrush fame! heads must be cheap down in this section, Thar war a time when heads fetched a big sum, wi’ a road- agent’s carkusses attacked to’em. But, them days aire over, since Deadwood Dick’s gone. Great ham-bone! thar war my nannygoat, Flor- ence Night-in-a-gale—she did hev a head, while yere talkin’, stranger—a regular old sledge- hammer uv a head, an’ don’t you fergit it. See’d her take after a tramp, up in Dakota, oncet, an’ she struck him whar the pantaloons fitted ther tightest. Lordy! ther two met wi’ a shock like a consarned ’arthquake, an’ thet tramp jest actooally exploded, An’ ther next day ther papers spoke about a lot o’ loose flesh bein’ found on ther perary, supposed ter hev fallen durin’ ashower! Ham-bone thet agitated ther larynx uv old Joner! but that warn’ta sar- cumstance ter some o’ ther exploits uv ther Great Annihilation !” The cards were shuffled, and dealt. Then the game began, Every spectator stood watching in breathless suspense, The Spaniard played an honest game, but the fates seemed against him, for he lost / Ralph Gardner rose from his seat, and drew a long, sharp-edged knife from his bootleg, with a chuckle. _ “T have won, Sir Spaniard!” he said, triumph in his tones, ‘‘and I now claim my dues—your wager, which was your head, Lay it down here, and I will cut it off!” CHAPTER IV. CALAMITY SHOWS HER HAND — GARDNER’S THREAT, ‘* PLL bet you five dollars to a continental red cent that ye won’t do nothing of the kind!” Clearly rung these words through the room and everybody stared wonderingly. for they had come from the Girl Sport, Calamity Jane, and in her, hands she held a pair of already cocked revolvers, which she had leveled toward Ralph Gardner, threateningly, He shrunk back with a curse, for he had no Aoubt but that Jane meant business. ‘is this your affair?” he demanded, savagely. *Von’d better not n fie 7 7 , > _ | . i(MaSliiCsds U4 LILI, . ; ge } ‘ | "Eomic _—__- —- —-- — —— ee eC ‘Hal ha! you are welcome to that ee if you regard it asa health-giving task!” Jane replied, with utmost coolness. ‘As to that Spaniard’s head, it is his own, You cheated him at the game, and | saw you!” ** You lie! you lie like—” Gardner began, but he suddenly paused, for the muzzle of Calamity’s revolvers raised ; she was about to fire. ‘*T do not lie!” she said, menacingly. ‘* That is a thing, I am proud to say, I never do, I saw you sli oping cards out of your sleeve, or else I sho never have interfered. Come now! pony up and refund Cordova every cent you have won from him, or I'll salivate you just so sure’s ’m Calamity Jane.” ‘You to thunder!” Gardner growled, savage- ly. ‘Pl not give back acent. I won it fairly, and I’m goin’ to keep my winnings, you bet” ‘* And Pll bet you ain’t!” Calamity said firm- ly. ‘‘ Avalanche, are you with me! ‘*Great pestiverous ham-bone thet discom- bobborated ther composure of old Joner, yes /” I’m wi’ ye cl’ar ter ther teeth, C’lamity, gal!’ the Great Annihilator replied, hobbling for- ward. ‘Ef it warn’t fer these blarsted rheu- matics, I ked lick ther crowd, old’s Iam, Them war palmy days, howsumdever, when ther jints o’ ther Great Committee on Extirpation war all tergether, in workin’ order—thet war me, and my old mare, Prudence Cordeliar, and my he-goat, Florence Night-in-a-gale. Oh! but I tell ye we tore things, them times, as we cavorted like a harricane o’ demolition thru ther boreal lattytudes aud longytoads!” ‘** Come!” Calamity said, turning upon Gard- ner, impatiently, ‘Pll give you just two min- utes by yonder clock to drop Cordova’s wealth on the table. If you don’t come to time, there'll be a funeral in Leadville, to-morrow!” ‘You dare not shoot me, I have the law on my side!” ‘“* Hang the law! I have the Adjusters and Regulators on mine. You probably know theiy terms, to those who cheat at cards. Come! one minute has gone!” Ralph Gardner uttered a frightful curse, as he pulled a buckskin pouch from inside lis hunting-shirt, and emptied the contents tpon the table. Never before, in all his experience had he thus knuckled under to a woman, an that woman scarcely more than a girl. “Never mind!” he said, in a rage, as he shook his fist, first at Cordova, and then at Calamity— ‘‘never mind, curse you. I'll get even with ox both, ere long, in a way you won’t relish, temember!” And with a scowl he strode to the bar for a drink of liquor, after which he took his depar- ture from the ‘*‘ Casino,” Calamity Jane uttered a low laugh as he dis- appeared, and turned to the Spaniard, who was engaged in gathering up the money from the table, ‘*You’d best make yourself scarce around these parts, Carlos Cordova. It won’t be par- ticularly healthy for you, should your opponent catch you sleeping.” ‘Thanks, lady; I shall hasten to obey your suggestion,” the Spaniard replied. “ Let me thank you for so kindly interfering. And should I ever have the opportunity I shall surely try to repay you.” are all cate You look to yourself and you lave enough to do!” Calamity with a reckless laugh, sanuly eee Then turning to Old Avalanche, she said in a low tone: ‘Come! it isno use for us to remain here, I am going to my hotel. If anything occurs that © 1am needed, you Will find me at the Tontine,” ‘* Kerect C’lamity—kerect!” the Annihilator replied. ‘* Go an’ get rest, gal, fer we ken’t tell wat minnit we’re goin’ ter be called on ter quell some disturbance. Great ham-bone! I feel bet. ter already, since I’ve got down here whar thar’s plenty goin’ on. My bones hain’t half so rheumatic as they war, an’ ef we ked only get inter one scrimmage wi’ fust class red-skins or ruffians, I opine ther great Annihilation would } be once more in workin’ trim, Ido, by ther etar- nal shadder of old Bullrush Moses!’ Ralph Gardner left the “ Casino ” ina terrible passion, and strode down Chestnut street, ap- parently noticing none of the many persons he passed, to whom he was accustomed to speak at other times, His soul was burning with a fiery thirst for revenge upon the Girl Sport for her triumph over him. He In: ’ her not, excepb by béarsay, but it was his belief that in her be had an enemy. ‘** Curse her!” he Prowloed. ag ihe strod. ’ i} | As » v) S| along. ver harmed her, Wit : , ee” ' IOOKS- GO <S