Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1005 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

go," = Ode #, ee ee eee | ie Pasa B + 14 the funds to ’Frisco, but Captain Joaquin got wind of it and held up the train and scooped the pile. Not only that, but it is believed that he murdered a detective about the same time.” “A detective? ” , “Yes; a chap they called Deadwood i Dick.” wae The man’s face had grown paler, and | he was eyeing the caller sharply. | “Well, all that is nothing to me,” he AF declared. “I will go with you to-morrow | r morning, start at eight o’clock.” ) ay “And then I’ll show you the richest ta thing you ever saw in your life, if Cap- tee tain Joaquin don’t gobble it mean time ehh and get away with et— Why, what’s the BS * ' Matter?” mee Nt The banker’s face was deathly. a “ Nothing,” he answered. “I am not jaa exactly well to-day. Come in the morn- Regt” ing, and I will be prepared to go with 2," you. Then, when I have had the property az passed upon by experts, your loan will be advanced. You must excuse me, but I am very busy to-day— Great heavens!” CHAPTER XVI. THE FIRST BLOW STRUCK. The caller had suddenly torn the beard from his face and flung it to the floor. It was the face of Deadwoof Dick, handsome, grim, and he looked the quail- ing banker in the eyes as he shane be- p fore him. _ “Do you know me, Joaquin Escala? ” rhe demanded. ; s “N—no, I do not know you. And you _ all me by a name not my own. Leave “+ .my office.” “You fail to recognize me, Captain Joaquin? Then I must show you a proof of identity that you cannot fail to rec- . Ognize. Behold!” Deadwood Dick tore open his shirt and exposed the brand of a horseshoe. “a There it was, never to be effaced, the i % brand of a horseshoe that had seared ~~. jtself into the living flesh. _ .. The man at the desk started to rise, ‘but could not do so; he was like one partly paralyzed and partly bereft of reason. He could only stare. “Well, I see you recognize me now, 1 | --gaid Dick. “J deny it,” was the gasped response. | “You are a crazy man. You are a luna- =, tic. Leave my office, or I will not be _. responsible for your life—” — “Hold! If you reach for a gun, or at- + tempt to call assistance, it will signal : ES, your instant death, Red Rover. You and TIT have a little account to settle and we Se must have a chat.” . Bis. “I tell you you are mistaken.” “JT know that I am not. Let us not - - dwell upon that, but come right to the point. You cannot hope to make me doubt what I know to be a fact. Now,’ | What vengeance do you suppose I will _ take upon you for this?” | ~~ .“T tell you you are making a mis—” — .. “J made one mistake once with you, Hy Py. ‘but will not make another. You left me | We as ‘for dead, but Providence was not done with me ‘yet—nor with you.” Perspiration was standing out upon the man’s orehead. — 4 Sei “How can I convince you—” — re « That you are not Captain Joaquin? "ts z Ree st “Yes, yes.” - “Bare your right arm, and if it con- h ey no scar, around from the shoulder . - and diagonally to the elbow, then you are not Captain tity sag | Nae ha ena t was Susana told you wv Hs a tag ee, we can come to busi- —_— ~ a ae Me i: we wn ' aah , Pa aay dismay, and his face turned even more | just yet. Johnson, disarm him.” jee 7 Tin Be Siva sel Titled AS : * + ness. I will sit down, and you will ob- Serve silence and keep your hands in Plain sight on your desk.” Dick ‘had a gun in hand, and was ready to use it instantly. ‘We must come to terms,” said the banker. “And those terms will be mine,” said Dick, “Name them, then.” “Give me, in funds, the amount that was taken from the express train that day.” ‘Good heavens! it is more than I have got at my command on short notice like this. I could not do it if my life depended on it.” “Your life does depend on it.” “Il must thave time.” “You have just time to produce it, no more.” There was a steely glitter in Deadwood Dick’s eyes. This ex-outlaw quailed before him, and Dick saw that he would yield to the de- mand. ‘I must speak to my cashier,” he said. “ Not necessary,” said Dick. “Otherwise I cannot procure the funds—” “Tt will not go down, sir. I will step with you into the other room, and there you will open the safe and hand out the amount.” . A look of relief came suddenly into the entrapped outlaw’s eyes. . Deadwood Dick read his thought. A smile curled his lips as he thought of the further surprise in store for the rascal if he acted upon the idea that had come into his mind. — “I will do that,” said the outlaw. “Very well, get up and precede me.” The man rose from his chair, taking care not to let it appear that he had any thought of reaching for a weapon. 7 He believed—he knew that would sig- nal his instant death, after the treacher- ous manner in which he had dealt with Deadwood Dick on the former occasion, and he could not risk it. Going to the door, he opened it, and tbe instant it was opened he leaped out, shouting: “A robber! Shoot ‘him! be A woman was before him. Strange men were in possession of the bank. Each of them had a badge on his breast, Captain Joaquin looked around him in deathly pale than ever, if possible. The woman was Susana. | She was pale, but her face was de- termined. | With a quick movement the rascal reached for a pistol, but Deadwood Dick was upon him instantly. “No you don’t,” he cried. . “ Whether you meant to shoot her or yourself, is all the same. Neither life can be spared One of the deputies stepped rowers and did so. . The clerks in the bank looked on with open-mouthed amazement. And as each of them had a man over him with a gun, they believed it to be a robbery. As soon as relieved of his weapons, the fellow was allowed to go, and Dick again ordered him to produce the money from the safe, or order his cashier to do. so in his stead, He refused to obey.. ““Then we must help darpalves” said ck. “Bryce, you were express-agent that time, and know the sum that was pres from the Castleville bank that day. ‘Take res same sum from this safe now.” } oer, = Rt a . ( Deadwood Dick, fe r., “erandad. ‘but so, he declared, the robber chief had— Ms 3 og | . ot} + . “~ 7 - = - Another of the deputies stepped ape A EE ward and entered the safe for the pur- | etn eibaet Bie Can He brought forth bundle after bundle of the funds, until he had the required amount in a pile on the nearest table. i am “Is that right?” asked Dick. “ Yes, according to the markings.” | > And that is no doubt correct. Pack ' it up for transportation.” : This the man proceeded to do, with the utmost care and security, and at last it Ww as done and they were ready to depart. “ Now, Mr. Brown,” said Deadwood Dick, then, ‘we will take our leave, You know the justice of this visit, and why we have withdrawn by force a certain deposit that was in your hands.” “Curse you!” “We can go further, but the time is not ripe. This is only the beginning of your retribution.” F “ You are robbers! This is only a trick . ; to serve your purpose! I will have a f posse after you within ten minutes after your departure!” ese “Will you?” | SOR “T swear it!” aka “ Then perhaps we had better end the —_.. business now. Shall I arrest you, make known your true name here, and let the citizens of this camp deal with you ag you deserve? ”’ “Go, and make the best of what you have got. We will meet again some day, a. and then—” . “And then,” said Dick, grimly. He gave his men a signal and they left the room, then Susana, and last of all, | At the door he stopped for a last word x with the outlaw, upon whom had fallen the first blow of a just vengeance. ‘This is but the beginning,” Dick said. “ You know what to expect at my hands. I ‘have drawn a cordon around you that vA you cannot hope to escape, and it is only eB oe Siting a matter of time.” i hase “Ha! I know you now!” was the last desperate ruse. “ You are Captain Joa- quin, the outlaw!” “ Perhaps I am,” said Dick. ey He withdrew, and went down the | street. Susana was with him. The others, somehow, had disappeared — ‘f already, and after these two turned a’ corner, they, too, were seen no more. It was as if the very earth had opened and taken them in. And when, a little later, the hue and cry of a daylight rob-— bery was raised, not a Yee of the robbers could be found. CHAPTER a Sie ak THE SECOND BLOW FALLS, Powder Pocket was all.excitement, . ay La ee © Banker Brown declared it was Ca . Joaquin who had made the raid, ink at a Not that he knew that worthy by sight, | admitted in private. The clerks could not dispute this, a i though their impression had been that | i the persons who made the raid were reg- | ular officers of the law, and their side of the story got out. This, the banker averred, had been buts a clever trick, in case of discovery by _ eS Saher citizens during the time they were in the ¥ ye Te ae bank. It had been one of the most re markable bank robberies on record. The — bank, however, could standit,Mr. Brown it declared, and w 4 gu not close its doors. — eee 2: he About a mont rior to this time there had come to "Powder Pocket a man, wR called himself Card-Sharp Cale, — t Who he was, more than yee no one A knew. sorte salt