Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1005 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

j . . “Branded, ‘Peadeosa Dick. J Yr. He ‘was very. dark of skin, almost as “And you will not spare me?” CHAPTER XVIII. - ‘gwarthy as an Ethiopian, had long hair| “How can I, and why should I?” Ste eA ee S,' moe a Heard of aieatonival length. “ As one man to another, you should.”’ aR eee eee ot eRe NAA him was a younger man, his “ And see my own business ruined. No, Deadwood Dick was as inexorable as eB thir brother, of similar complexion, some | no; that is not business, as business goes. | fate. a * years the junior of the other and beard- | I must have what is due me; and, be- This the rascal knew, and he did not We Jess, save for a slender mustache that] sides my deposit I have been accepting dare lift his head to ask further mercy. = , became him well. papers of yours, believing them to be “ Well what shall it be?” asked Bris- rate These two had opened a gaming estab- | perfectly good, and they will make up a} tol. “ Will you sign all over to me, or lishment. nice sum.” shall the expose be made here and now? art It was a place where faro ruled, and Brown wiped the perspiration from his | I give you the choice.” | > their bank was declared to be practically | face. “ You will give me a chance?” rfp limitless. “What can I do?” the asked. “I give you that choice. I intend to After a consultation with Banker “There is only one thing you can do.” | crush you by degrees.” . 2 es Brown, on coming to Powder Pocket, this “And that is—” “ And if I do as you say—” > ae Card-Sharp Cale had _ deposited fifty “Convey your property here to me for “I will give you a respite of twelve ae thousand dollars in Brown’s bank, sub- | security.” | hours.” | A ject to order. “And go forth a beggar?” ‘I will do it. Cashier, tell that man See It had been no uncommon thing for “Can I help that?” the bank has to suspend. Put up a no- ; checks’ of from five to twenty thousand “Be merciful.” tice to close the doors.” . to be presented there of a morning, but} “Do you show mercy?” “Yes, sir!” ‘ 4 the deposits, as a rule, had been greater “T would, were our positions changed.” “And say nothing about what you a than the withdrawals, and so, at the time “What about that loan made to Hiram | have seen in this room.” | of the robbery, Card-Sharp Cale had| Smith which you foreclosed only a few “Yes, sir!” _ about-a hundred thousand dollars on de- | days ago?” | “And say to him, further, that he — ma, \ posit. ‘He is a beat; he never meant to pay.” must return his check to the man who . On the morning after the robbery he “T do not believe that. Had I known | 4rew it,” supplemented Card-Sharp Cale, ‘Ss | dropped in at the bank. of it in time I would have saved him. For The cashier withdrew. ) i a “How is your concern after your] a few paltry hundreds you scooped in his ‘Now, ee. remarked Dick to Su- ce 2") loss?”’ he made inquiry, when greetings | property worth thousands.” sana, for dt was she, of course. “Go and te had been exchanged. “That was business; he could not pay, | Dring here two lawyers. Be as quick as ea: “Tt is all right,” was the answer. “I | and—” you can, and. this business shall be done me have plenty of funds on hand yet that! “Ah! you see where you are, don’t | ‘2 proper fashion.” a eae the devils did not find. They took only | you? This is business, as I said. It is The girl withdrew, and Dick and his teal ad et what was in sight.” your own kind of business. Can you | 4’ch enemy were alone together, tae RE I understand they demanded a cer- | square accounts with me, Mr. Brown, if Captain Joaquin was silent. \ oe Eh Oe tain sum.” I give you an hour? ” “When these lawyers come,” explained rect Sate Naf “Yes, so they did. They thought that “ Impossible.” the Dead-Set Detective, “ you will be al- owe | Ache was my pile. That, by the way, was the “Then I must take possession here, lowed to transfer your property by the rie name in which you hold it. Your real capital I started with, and they must | and will send at once for the proper au- hame need not yet appear. As I said, I os eee _. have heard of it in some manner. But I | thorities.” have doubled it since, to say nothing of | “you will take charge? By «what | 8!ve you a respite.” Abe She your big deposit, and others.” right?” , % And my liberty during that respite? ” ie: Bit Me “Then you are ready to meet big “ By the right of might.” ¥ Yes,” . es checks?” “You cannot trust me, then, an hour?” | -. It is all I ask.” a ». ¥es, we are all right.” “Not a minute. Practically, you are And it is a great deal more than you anit 23 Lor lea ra Because, as I was going to say, luck | my prisoner.” deserve.” ie _ In due time the lawyers were ushered in, and both greeted Banker Brown ser- vilely. “ Gentlemen,” remarked the. banker, “Tam caught in a trap, and am obliged to wind up my affairs at once. I must transfer my possessions to this gentle- man and—” bers. “Ahem!” interrupted one of the law- yers. “Forced to suspend, eh? You want a receiver, that is all;,let him take your ~~ affairs and straighten them out as best oe he can, Or, declare yourself bankrupt, ~ | and let your creditors get what they ~— can—”’ a “Probably Mr. Beowi will do the busi- © ness in his own way,” suggested Dead- wood Dick. Rie “ Certainly, certainly!” “The bulk of my obligation 1 is to this — gentleman—” ) “All of it, I think,” from Dick. “I have gathered up every scrap of your pa- | per. ” ‘ Anyhow, I intend to deed over to | eh tao against me last night and my bank The ex-outlaw flushed, and his hand ent broke.” sought his hip, but he was covered in a | “the Bean paled., ary, trice by a brace of guns. 4 40U don't mean it? “No you don’t!” was the cry. “ Bring of eps eh ab are out to the tune} that hand up from tkere, and bring it - Rithewt ae ousand dollars. up empty, too! Call in your chief clerk aten at your own game.| ang tell him to close the bank and put ~ This is serious; I must find out just what up a notice!” we have got on hand at once.” ‘ ee ane He went re the outer room, and his} y q cam Mea the people will mob me if Monee ler smiled fter |" “at he ited th ; i Aa “thar smile now that Card-Sharp Cale Fiasco tae eect dhe taking in the situ eA oe was alone, a A ch fo irt r When the banker returned his face} gj,1” gay r th y thousand dollars, wey a we an “ey aii © “Tt is yours,” said Brown, turning ap- 3 i am in a hole,” he declared. “A pealingly to Card-Sharp Cale. irty-four ousand, and there is not « five. thousand left on hand.” e Bie meee iy hold it back wm side tee ( " og Mal saci Mr. Brown. I have} «not a minute. You have my money y ance, or I'shall have demand; meet my pape take th : a6 slose my game to-night for want of stiaouneamae y paper or take the Bry. | \ Shae unds, You must gather in all you can Pa ys _* "and make me whdle.” But, the robbery: ‘“ “Your loss, not mine.” What ts your balance, leas this check “T could kill you, curse you!” apr: 07 f fit vibe ‘Si I speak of? doubt of it; “The sum of fifty thousand dollars, ‘eau “Tt must be fifty thousand.” Not a doubt o you have tried that | interrupted Bristol. “ All the rest of your ae “T can’t do it, on short notice; you will | Pefere-” : hie. have to give me time. Will you force me ‘Instantly the man was upon his feet, Bi si to the wall?” | — and his visitor removed his long, curling eG “You can pay or you cannot pay, a beard. '._ in the latter case you are at the wall al-| Lo! it was Dick Bristol again! No mis- ready. There is nothing for me to do in| taking that face, even though ‘stained, _ the matter; I must have what is due me.” | as we have described. He smiled, and his | tie.“ Give me. a week.” revolvers covered the rascal’s heart. — i ee ; fits “Impossible! Think of the loss to me.” | The cashier might have tried to inter- | _ “Then give me three days—two days, | fere, but at that moment into the room Mea! 2 i one! I tell you I am unable to meet your slipped Card-Sharp Cale’s brother, “ Joe,” * Ley ie demand.” bil ee , | be was called, and he, too, had a pair of ie Nee “You must close your doors, then. guns in hand. And Joaquin Escale, ut- Mies y, ee _ “And that will ruin me. ce terly gS: (sank cowering upon his é 4 s You are ruined already.” ‘ ekair, property, real and personal, you will | transfer to Susana Maxton, without Te serve—” ct oe _ “He will do nothing of the kind! ae att ra serted one of the lawyers. ‘“ There isa | law in the land, sir, and—” | “ And he will do as he hyaene eh? Ra tas “Tt is forced.” (a “ Ask him if itis.” — | ae “Tt is my will,” avowed the cutthros ma “You will draw up papers aooeeny 1 ee my dictation, gentlemen.” “ Net" ee - That settled the point. a) pe were duly drawn and signed and ttest- ed, and the rt ponte vs, Rai eat =e Sass — “2 Lu : ) at oe a ee ba S SE 2 Ap: a al aa COE BOOKS. com