Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 100 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

a ee OE —— err Se oe ea ae ee eo any means. ‘rowds were soon organized, ready far fight, with orders to shoot down any roughs who showed sign of treachery, for that was proof enough that they were of Hawk’s gang. Posters were got out by Sheriff Jo Murphy, and tacked up on every approach to the town, and in all the saloons. There were two differents kinds. One read as follows: “$5000 Rewarp! Five thousand dollars reward will be paid by me, for the capture, alive, of the no- torious bandit chief, Captain Hawk, or any dozen of his men, and deliverance of the same into ge ee ad at Leadville. Jo Murpay, rif.” The other poster contained the following: ‘* Whereas, we the Adjusters and Regulators of Leadville, have judged and found guilty of the mis- demeanor, road-agentry, we do hereby offer $100 reward for the arrest and deliverance of Deadwood Dick—result of said decision being against him. ‘Signed RaLpa GARDNER, See’y.”’ CHAPTER VI. RALPH GARDNER’S SCHEMING-—DEADWUOD DICK’S RETURN—CASTLE HAWK. On the following morning, or the same on which Captain Hawk’s posters were found stuck up around the town, Ralph Gardner made it his business to visit the vicinity of the Tontime hotel. Of course he was there for a purpose, and that purpose was one of great importance to hin. The time wore away, without evident satis- faction to him, and he was at last about turning’ away in disgust, when, leaning upon his cane, Chandos Farnsworth limped from the hotel, out upon the covered veranda, in front. Gardner’s eyes assumed a triumphant gleam as he saw him, and writing upon a card, he ap- ‘oached and handed it to Chandos, with a bow. ‘Perhaps you may not have recognized me, if you have seen me!” he said, with a cynical little laugh. ‘‘I thought I would drop around and renew your acquaintance, since you had come so far to meet me.” Chandos turned from reading the card, and gazed the young mine-owner over with a sharp, criticising glance. “Tf it is indeed you,” he said, indifferently, ‘‘T am glad to see you looking so well. Isup- posed you in Van—” ‘Hush! you need not mention the place aloud!” Gardner finished, nervously, with a glance about. ‘‘I want to talk with you, so come to my office down at the Specter Mine, and have a little chat over old times.” “Really, Ican’t. It would exhaust me too much!” Chandos replied, sinking into a chair. “Tf you had a carriage—” “Hang the carriage! You're no better to walk than I. Come along, and cast aside those imagined afflictions of yours.” At last persuaded, Chandos accompanied Gardner down the street, and then over onto Fryer Hill. Here, in a large grove of pines, overlooking the town, stood a couple of build- ings, one a cabin, and the other a small, white shanty, bearing upon a sign over the door the word— “OFFICE.” Into this Ralph Gardner conducted the young Englishman, and the two were soon seated by a table, in a snug little room, with a bottle of straight whisky and a box of cigars between them. Then it was that Gardner was moreat his ease. ‘Now, first of all, what ever brought you to this wilderness, away from the turmoil and social honor of London?’ he asked, curiously. “Tt was not my fault!’ Chandos replied, growlingly. ‘Sir Noel and Belle were the instigators of the expedition. ‘Through the operation I’ve been wounded by road-agents, to say nothing of jolting about - through an execrable country. I wish I'd staid in Chicago, where people are at least more civilized! ‘‘ Where is Belle?” ‘“'The devil only knows. She was jerked out of the wagon back here, when we were running a gantlet, through a road-agent attack, and that’s the last we have seen of her.’¥ ‘‘Sho’! Captured by road-agents, eh? By which celebrity—Captain Hawk, or the notori- ous Deadwood Dick?’ ‘*‘ By the former.” recover her?” “T scarcely know; I have been so much more interested in nursing my arm than in inquiring ao act her, that I have not posted myself.” —— _ een ial Dead ee ee Not to be scared out, were they, however, by ——LS SSS sles ‘¢ What effort is Sir Noel making to find and | -- Raliph Gardner laughed. ‘Tnen Il am to infer that you are not in mourning over the loss of our sister, eh?” ‘‘You may infer what you please,” Chandos grunted, tossing off the second glass of whisky. “You doubtless know that I never was so much in love with or attached to my family, as some people might expect. It was never an ingredient in my nature to be so.” ‘Then you can call yourself my brother, for those were ever my exactsentiments. Families consisting of brothers, sisters or mothers, are all well enough in their proper places, but when they get out of their places, and into one’s way, they are not desirable. Is that not your opinion of matters?’ ‘*To some extent, yes.” ‘‘Good. I believe we shall get along capi- tally together. You do not like to see Sir Noel commanding Farnsworth Heath, and I do not either.” “ But that’s all the good it does. He is heir by big disinheritance, and can hold the estate and all the wealth.” ‘““‘To be sure. But if death were accidentally to overtake him here in this wild country, he would not be heir. Oh! no! the estate would then revert to the line of entailment, and I, Sir Roy Farnsworth, baronet, would become its rig tful owner.” ‘Lam afraid not,’ Chandos answered, with evident satisfaction. ‘Sir Roy Farnsworth dare not show himself in London, or in England again, for fear of being apprehended, and sent back to Van Dieman’s Land.” ‘Curse it, you are right. But for that I might as well be heir of Farnsworth as well as not, instead of being simply a mine-owner in this rude city of Leadville.” ‘‘Therefore, after Sir Noel’s death, the estate will come to me,” Chandos added, triumphant- ly. ‘I stepin ahead of you, because of your criminal record.” ‘* Well, I don’t see as anything particularly can be realized by having Sir Noel die at pres- ent,” Ralph Gardner declared, reflectively. ‘* But ere he leaves the place, he shall feel my hand, although I do not show it.” ‘* How do you mean?” “That, I cannot tell, precisely. But it is enough to say that I bear him no good will, although he is my brother. He could have saved me that trip to the penal colonies, but he chose to let me go, and suffer the punishment of every murderer, rather than to help me out. I swore then that I would do him an ill turn, before I died, and I mean to do it!” Chandos was silent, but puffed leisurely at his cigar. ‘ Whatever you do,” he said, at length, ‘* don’ spoil his finances, for | have to depend upon him for my cash. You know I never soil my hands with manual labor, and were his bank to fail, I should be in a deuce of a fix.” ‘ ‘‘Never fear. All I get out of him, I shall share equally with you, my dear brother. For I may need to use you yet. A few more ques- tions I have to ask of you, and then you may ro. How much money or other wealth has Sir oel in his possession now?” ‘Very little. Deadwood Dick took posses- sion of all we had, as we were coming here.” ** Deadwood Dick?’ ‘¢ Ay—the road-agent. He pounced down on us, and demanded all our valuables, promising to return them as soon as we arrived in Lead- ville. He claimed that he was a protective- agent for the 5 aare and took this plan to thwart the bandit, Captain Hawk.” ‘¢A clever lie, no doubt. He may, however, return the money and jewels, as they say he isa man of his word. ow much did he take in all?” _* About two thousand dollars from Sir Noel, a hundred from me, and some odd change from the women, including the Farnsworth jewels.” ‘‘They are worth fifty thousand dollars, are they not?” ‘*Probably, for there are many rare old jewels.” ‘*Then, if they should be returned, you tell me. Those jewels and the money shall be ours —ours, understand you, equally divided. You may gonow. Don’t mention meeting with me, lest Six Noel should trouble me with too much of his brotherly affection. A possible twenty- eo thirty thousand apiece would not be bad, e€ ‘* Indeed, no!” Chandos replied, his eyes spar ling. “I shall not decline to accept a share, you may rest assured.” Sir Noel was standing upon the steps of the | Tontine, that morning, when a ragged urchin wood Dick in Leadville a “ a a ae ae anes _ a AD LLL ELE — * —-+ owes - ee ea ae - -_- — - ~ - - Oa -_———_ gee —_———_——« approached him, carrying a compact little bun- die, wrapped in heavy wrapping-paper. ‘*Can you tell me where I) find Sir Noel Farnsworth, boss?’ he demanded, stopping in front of Sir Noel, and eying him, sharply. ‘** Be you him?” ‘‘T should say I was, if I were truthfully in- clined, my lad,” Sir Noel replied. ‘‘ What do you want of me?” ‘‘ Hayr’s apackage for you,I[ reckon. A chap sed as how he’d give me a quarter to fetch it to you,’ and the urchin handed the bundle to Sir Noel. ‘Very well. What sort of a looking man it to you?” ou can’t prove it by me,sir. I wasn’t toan- swer no questions,” and doffing his hat, respect- fully, the lad hurried away. Sur Noel went to his room at once, and ea- erly untied the package. When untied, he be- eld his wallet, together with those taken from the ladies Farnsworth and Chandos—also, a smaller package containing watches, and jew- elry, and the handsome casket of the family jewels. All were inclosed, according to Deadwood. Dick’s promise. Examination of the pocketbooks revealed all inthem intact with the exception that a hundred dollar note had been extracted from Sir Noel’s wallet. In its place, however, was a piece of paper, bearing the following message, in a round, fair hand: ‘*DEADWOOD Dick’s CAMP, “Mr. FARNSWORTH, DEAR SIR: * Enclosed you will find all of your valuables, with the exception of $100 dollars, which I deduct for my time and trouble in your behalf. Let me advise you to look out for enemies. They are thick around you, Also, to deposit your valuables, especiall your jewels, in the hands of Levi, the Jew. He is trusty, and will keep them safely for you, while, if you keep them about you, you are liable to be robbed at any moment. Truly, ete, * DEADWOOD Dicx.”’ ‘He is honest, at least!” Sir Noel muttered, thoughtfully, ‘‘and, road-agent as he is, he at least has my friendship, henceforth, and my aid, if he needs it. Why would he not be the right man to set in search of Lady Belle? I would that I could see him and enlist him fur- ther in my service!” Lady Belle Farnsworth, in the meanwhile, had been spirited away to the retreat of Cap- tain Hawk. In the attack of the banditti upon the pre- - vious night, a pair of strong arms had reached into the wagon and drawn her out. The realization that she was in the power of the ruffians caused her to faint; consequently she knew no more until again restored to con- sciousness. Then it was that she found herself helplessl bound, and held in the arms of a bewhiskere masked man, who, mounted upon a powerful horse, was pushing through a heavy pine forest. Nor was he alone, for behind him galloped a score or more of men, similarly attired and masked, and armed with rifles. The animals seemed to know the way, for they proceeded with a loose rein, Although conscious, Lady Belle was careful not to betray her consciousness, lest she should be subjected to more indignities than though she kept quiet, and feigned insensibility. And so, in this manner, she rode, keeping her eyes open when practicable, and listening as she was carried away, At last they began to ascend the mountains, and the horses were reined down to aslow walk. For hours, it seemed, they wound around through gaps and fissures, in their upward flight, until they came out on a natural ledge or plateau, comprising about a half-dozen acres, hemmed in on three sides by perpendicular walls of solid rock, which even a chipmunk could not have scaled, so high they were. The fourth side overlooked a yawning cule with the narrow path worming its way onto the mountain as the only place where footing could be held. It was a frightful ascent, and not one in a hundred not knowing of the plateau would have guessed its existence. Here it was that the bandits drew rein and dismounted. The man who carried Lady Belle descended from his saddle, and turning, addressed a tall, thinish individual, who had also dismounted. ‘See that the horses and men are fed well, Marmosa, for there ismore work before us soon, If I am wanted for anything important, you will find me in the castle.” So saying, he strede away, carrying Lady ~ Corr + ; : JOOKS"com