Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1003 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4. Crack! Crack-k-k-k! A flame of fire leaped from each pistol-barrel, and tie crowd cowere back again. Keen had by this time taken in the situation. and his men ranged themselves alongside of the Dutchman, **Now then, Dacy, we’ve got what we come fur, en’ with yo’r permission we'll retire,” he said, calmly, Dacy eyed him ominously. ‘* What d’ye mean by this, you—” ** Nefer yo’ mint v’at he means,” interrupted Joe. ‘I vant yo’ to listen to me.” ** Yo’ shet up,” roared Dacy. ‘* Yo’ danged sneekin’ little Dutchman, what’n blazes air yo’ doin’ here, any way?” Joe was prepared to answer this question sat- isfactorily, but was interrupted by Keen, ‘“*“Come out now, we've got what we want,” and he laid his hand on Jve’s shoulder, The party moved down-stairs and out of the house, while Dacy and his men set to work to clear up the scene of battle and care for their wounded conipanions, | Little Pete and three other Placer Ranch citizens who had been injured were carried to the ‘‘ Golden Garter” in a wagon, while the two dead men were placed in charge of the local undertaker. Kid Keen was at a loss to know how to treat German Joe, The young fellow had proved to , be an adept at shooting, and had practically saved the oe Bo Placer Ranch. Still he was i . * Joe found suspected of kidnapping the girl, and if would scarcely do to let him escape without investi- gating the evidence against him. Keen did not like to keep Joe a prisoner, but he explained the situation as plainly as possible, and the “ Flying Dutchman ” readily consented to accompany the party back to Placer Ranch and not to renew his efforts to escape. Joe told Keen on their way back of his ad- venture with Nick Goodloe the ors before, and of his finding the bandkerchicf bearing Grace Denmore’s name in the ‘* Badgers Nest.” ‘“*] don’t know noddings aboudt dodt knife mit my name on it v’ich t’ey found py t’e hammock, I nefer see t’e knife afore to- tay,” be concluded, ‘‘ Id must hef peen tropped t’ere pv some yon who vanted to lay it on me,” Kid Keen listened in silence to Jve’s story, and then heid out his hand, ‘tT don’t believe yo’ did it,” he said, frankly. ** And ef yo’ didn’t, we’ll cum pvoty near ketch- in’ ther right person, Whar do yo’ stop in Placer Ranch?” } ‘*T haf nodt got any place yet, budt I vhas = te bas to stay at Little Pete’s,” answered oe, ‘* Well, mebbe yo’d like to bunk with me, I've gota ty decent house down in the vil- lage, an’ ef yo’r’ willin’ I’d like ter hev you stop there,” : Joe accepted the invitation gladly, and when Placer Ranch was reached he accompanied Kid Keen to his home where he passed the rest of the day and the succeeding night. Quite early the next morning the two friends were in earnest consultation over their breakfast in Keen’s cabin. Joe was in favor of a direct at- tack upon the ‘‘ Badgers’ Nest,” and a forcible rescue of the girl from Dacy’s es but Keen thought it better to obtain her release, if possible, by other means. The latter’s counsel prevailed, and the new- made friends separated. Joe started out to find Wick Goodloe and follow him to the girl’s hiding-place, while Keen set out for Silverside to keep his eye on Dacy. ick with very little difficulty, and succeeded after a short time in getting into con- versation with bim, Nick was very angry over the accusations of some of the men beng who, in discussing the tragedy of the day before, openly referred to him asa coward in not returning with the re- inforcements he bad been sent after. The reader will doubtless surmise the cause of | ‘Wick’s neglect, but the others, in ignorance of the true reason, accused him ardice. In a short time, Nick left the and started hind oath gt ag Mere oiueaiion ve smattite dhecnce was not noted, and then mounted his own horse and set out after bim. Nick traveled it to the ** ’ Nest,” and Joe followed, ting w with istol-shot of the buil and tying his horse a ittle ways from ther in a small group of Here a wonderful transformation took place. Joe removed his long flaxen locks, rep the with one of darker bue, and his a inside out, Then he took from his German Joe, the | saddle-bags a pair of black side-whiskers, which | were placed in position; an old coat stuffed be- tween the shoulders in imitation of a hump, and a crook-handled cane, Thus arrayed as a Jew peddler, he limped toward the ‘* Nest,” carrying in one hand a small sachel containing sarn:ples of cigars and tobacco manufactured by an Eastern firm, In the saloon a dozen men were gathered, busi- ly discussing yesterday’s battle, some of them bearing upon their person proofs of the good marksmanship of the Placer Ranch citizens, The supposed peddler was given a cordial greeting by the inmates. ‘Hallo, bumpy!” exclaimed one of them. ‘* What ar’ you sellin’ to-day?” ‘* Matches, cigars and tobacco,” replied Joe in a wheezing tone, ‘* Cigars—best domestic and imported, Pipes and smokers’ sundries of all kinds,” The crowd gathered about as he exhibited his wares, Dacy and Nick Goodloe among them, The latter was evidently very much disturbed about something, for after glancing disdainfully at Joe’s samples, he paced nervously up and down the room, keeping an eye on the stairway in the corner. He was soon joined by Dacy, and part of the conversation that ensued was overheard by the peddler. ‘*T tell you that I must see the girl,” said Nick earnestly. ‘‘It is very important that I should, for every hour now adds to our danger of dis- covery.’ ‘An’ I tell yo’,” replied Dacy, still more earnestly, ‘* that yo’ air in danger of your life as long ez yo’ stay hyer. These men know thet yo’ wuz in ther gang that cum fur us yisterday, and it’s more’n likely they’ll pick a muss with yo’ less’n yo’ git out, Cum here ina day or two, when ther storm’s kinder blowed ofer an’ git ther gurl, but don’t try to go up-stairs now.” Dacy’s soberness impressed Nick, and he glanced nervously about him, ** Allright,” he said at length. ‘‘ Mebbe ag right, but I don’t more’n half believe it. I'll be here late to-morrow night, and yo’ be sure’n hev things ready, Jl hev a minister, and, consent or not, thet gnrl ’ll be Mrs, Goodloe before I leave ther house.” Dacy nodded approvingly, and Nick, remount- ing his horse, returned to Placer Ranch. oe soon disposed of his stock of tobacco, and was watching for an opportunity of sneaking up the stairway, when an individual entered and in an offhand manner invited the men present to have a drink at bis expense, Joe glanced up at the new-comer, and as he did so his face paled visibly and his hand sought the butt of a revolver concealed in the breast of his coat, German Joe did not step to the bar at the stranger’s invitation, and by not doing so he aroused the ire of the proprietor. ‘* What do yo’ mean,” roared Dacy, ‘‘ by in- sultin’ my guests? D’ye think that such a little sawed-off son-of-a-gun like yo’ kin play me fura sucker? Yo’ come up here an’ drink, or I'll pull ther head off yez.” This terrible threat brought the trembling peddler to his feet, and in great trepidation he asked for a glass of soda-water. Dacy, now thoroughly enraged by Joe’s ap- parently intentional insults, rushed from behind Pi counter and seized the peddler by the shoul- er. ** See hyer, yo’ imp uv of Satan,” he cried, ‘‘ I don’t stand no nonsense from nobody, an’ ef yo’ want to hev sum fun at my expense, it’ll cost yo’ sumthin’,” Joe ag — angry man ay he ee meses no harm, but Dacy, only partly appeased, se him by the hair and started for the door, The black and whiskers of the peddler were left in Dacy’s hand, while their owner sprung back, drawing 4 revolver as he did so. The cause of all the whee gn after paying for the drinks, caught sight of Joe’s face just as Pp was torn off, and thrust his hand “Joe W ,” he hissed, bringing out a revolver and ng it in the ler’s face. **'You’ve tr me here, but now we'll part forever. I'll put a hole through that great brain of yours, and then maybe you will learn to mind in another world,” Joe had tried twice to shoot, but the hammer of his revolver on vacant cartridge- chambers and bis hand powerless to his os tetas Ge ous St eat was barrel of his was in line with the trigger. peddler’s heart he t. — A MYSTERIOUS CRIME, WE must now exercise the rather remarkable prerogative of a novelist and transfer the reader from the piains of Colorado to the civilized life and society of New York City. A New York paper about a month before the events narrated in the previous chapters, contained the following account of a mysterious murder: ‘Joseph Schlerger, was cruelly assassinated yesterday morning at his residence on Fifth avenue, Mrs, Schlerger was the first to find the dead body of her husband, but the shock has so unnerved her that she can give no coherent account of the discovery, ‘‘Mr, Dunning, & man of about thirty, who acted as private secretary and confidential clerk to Mr. Schlerger, was awakened by his wife about four o’clock in theafternoon, She said hat something dreadful had happened to Mrs. . who lay in a dead faint down-stairs, ** There is absolutely no clew to the murder— the purpose of which was mude clear by the dis- covery that nearly $50,000 in cash and bonds had been taken from the small iron safe, the key of which Mr, Schlerger always carried in his pocket,” The day following this notice appeared: ‘*The jury reached the usual verdict—death inflicted by some person or persons unknown— and the case has gone into tie hands of [Inspector Byrnes, Mr. Dunning expects to go West ina few days.” These and many other accounts of a similar nature were published in the morning papers and for nearly a week the public was kept posted on the latest phases of the great mystery. Then other sensations followed and it passed into the background, forgotten by all but those greatly interested in it, either from curiosity or sympa- thy for the afflicted family. hen the case was placed in the hands of Inspector Byrnes, he immediately put a dozen of his best men on it, one to chase to the end each seerringclew. Oneof these men wasa detective, uite well-known to criminal society in New York, by the name of Joe Winthrop. He had been detailed to follow John Dunning and see if there was anything in the secretary’s actions to connect him with the murder, This Joe had done faithfully and well, He had clung to Dunning’s heels during the lon journey from New York to Denver, alshoudt an unfortunate incident at Chicago had revealed his identity to the latter and from there on he was compelled to travel diszuised. It is almost unnecessary now, in returning to Silverside and the *‘ Badgers’ Nest’ to introduce to the reader the hump-backed peddler, whom we left in imminent danger of his life, and the mar who stood over him with a smoking revolver in his hand was John Dunning. When Joe had tracked the man to Silverside he had assumed the ré/e of the ‘‘ Flying Dutch- man,” and when asked his name in the ‘* Golden Garter’? had given that of the murdered man— the only ove he could think of at the moment, He had! gone to the *' Nest” disguised as a peddier, hoping thereby to get an opportunity of rescuing Grace Denmore, His meeting with Dunning, therefore, was as unexpected as it was unpleasant. ‘* Curse you,” cried the man, again cocking his revolver and aiming it this time straight in Jce’s face. ” The first bullet had bounded harmlessly from the peddler’s breast. But before Dunning could pull the trigger the second time, Joe threw his useless revolver with all bis strength, straight into the face of thea man. It wasabout his last chance for life and he took advantage of it, , Partially stunned and blinded by the blood that trickled into his eyes from a deep cut in bis forehead, Dunning staggered k nst the bar, and when he recovered sufficiently to Jook about for the peddler, that individual wag not ia t. ‘** Where’s that man!” he yelled, dashing the blood from his face and running to the opeD Behe, ‘“Why didn’t some of you men stop ‘We thought yo’ wuz able to take keer uf him alone,” said Dacy apologetically, ‘+ Ther skunk is ndicher'n chained lightnin’, anywa He's a detective,” said Dunning, dij his handkerchief into a basin of water and ing ing icbooks oi er stew ~ I might have known you'd have armor, ois he, © —— on ~ re