Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1005 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

a2 ats Deadwood Dick, Jr., Branded. “They ecitatadt drew back, and then awed into the cars again as if it were raining bullets without, and dauntless Dick Bristol was left entirely alone and unsupported. Hearing the outlaws yell, Dick looked back and realized his position. Without turning to look the other way ‘again, for that would have been to lose a fraction of a second of opportunity, he dropped to the ground and almost the fhe cried, same instant came the sharp crack of three or four rifles. For a moment there he lay; then his ree volvers cracked, bringing out at least one cry of pain. Again he was on his feet, dashing for the nearest car. Once more he dropped, not because ‘he saw any one aiming at him, but because he knew they had had just time to do so. Very true guess, for the rifles spoke out, and again he had escaped their bul- lets. Upon the instant, another leap car- ried him to ‘the platform, and for the time being he was safe. “Curse you for the cowards you are!” facing his fellow-passengers. .“Why did you not back me up as you ‘promised? We had them dead to rights tthen, had you but done your part!” 3 And they would now have us dead,” argued one of the timid ones, ‘“ the same as that poor fellow they did drop.” ar And whose death counts for nothing, because you did not take advantage ol the moment,” retorted Dick, hotly. Dick Bristol was disgusted. Outside the cars, now, at a sufficient distance to command a good view, men were watching for the appearance of a head. The same trick could not be repeated; . the advantage once lost was lost for good | and all, and Fighting Dick’s chagrin was great to think that he had risked so much and gained so little. “And for whose death you are respon- sible,” rejoined the one who ‘had spoken - before. “ Not so much as are you,” cried Dick. “Tt was not I who led the foolhardy at- : - tack, ” the retort. > |e es | ‘Si us “You mean I shad too much good a 5 Bee 1.2 in ee | hs * are mht +? f ik ls Bie ee ay 2 EG ye 4 ea © ah, es ‘? a ‘ } i oh ve ; | Wp PM aS We are all well aware of that,” _ sneered Dick. “ You were too much «a coward even to follow.” gense.”’ “JT mean what I said.” ND. “Then you lie!” — Smack! B - That man was stretched his full ‘tigi the same instant. ny. Hees A little too much, that, when I risked my life to lead you to an attack that would have been a success if you had pny supported me. There is no good rea- why those fellows should not be our ir this minute!” eh ae No one else ventured to dispute the . and went muttering to a seat and sat i int, and the fellow Dick had floored slowly up, nursing an injured eye, ‘the aisle, like a caged tiger. For a leader , While Dick paced up and a 3 intrepid, the defeat was crushing. ie et In the mean time the looting of ithe ex- rey, aetna shad been successfully accom- Ny ished. — ae The ona was a strong one, built with- R Bt MM nha 1é ea’. ir vt nei ¥ ; re ee A ies , and calculated to with- ens ind ‘a severe seige, but it was not, of se, proof against dynamite. Pgs he attered the side door and made a huge fat aying Pe. been ik 3 oh gs _ The messenger had made a good de- | out the leader. | ense, but, after the explosion, which | this time; I am after the chap who led led by a piece of “Served him right!” cried Captain Joaquin. ‘If the had opened the door in the first place we wouldn’t ’a’ harmed him.” “They will never learn sense,” from one of his men, “He never will; that’s certain,” They bounded into the car, a sledgdé was used to open the safe, and therein was found the treasure they were after. There were several packages of bills, each marked $10,000, and each securely tied and sealed. These Captain Joaquin seized upon immediatély, and crammed into a bag which hung by a strap from his shoulder, “Is that all?” asked his men. “Don’t see anything more, do you?” he demanded. “Not here; but the passengers may pan out well if we run ’em through the mill.” “To Hades with the passengers! What do we want with them after this rich haul? But, hold on! There is one of them that I want and must have.’ “You want a particular passenger? ” demanded one of the men, in amaze. “Yes, I want but one particular per- son.”’ “Which. one? ” “The fellow who killed Charlie and Bill, and almost stampeded the train. I know him, and he shall pay dearly for it. Besides, he is a chap that we want out of our way, anyhow.” “Why, who is he, captain? ” “Only Deadwood Dick, Junior, is all.” “Deadwood Dick!” The little that could be seen of their faces, beneath their masks, proved that more than one of them went pale on hearing that name spoken. “ Nobody else, and he is our mutton now, and we'll make him the sickest man in seven counties before we get done with him. He thas been after us long enough; now we’ll hunt the man-hunter to his doom.” . | “ Hurrah! that.is the talk, captain!” The captain leaped out of the car, the’ others after him, and Captain Joaquin shouted to the men on the engine: “ Hold those two fellows under strict cover, boys, until I give you the word; then get down and let them go. I'll be done in a minute, now; soon as I get a man.” “ All right, captain!” “Come on, boys!” | _ The leader ran in the direction of the smoker, the others at his heels, save those who were standing guard around the train, and leaping up the steps he boldly entered. Deadwood Dick was sitting sullenly in his seat, having deposited his valuables in the legs of his boots, and would not lift a finger to defend the passengers who had failed to support him at the critical moment. — He did not know what was coming, élse he could have picked Captain Joa- quin off easily as ihe entered the door. ‘aHands up!” shouted the captain. His own revolver and half a dozen more over his shoulders covered the whole company. Up went their hands, Dead wood Dick’s among the rest, and all expected the usual course of proceedings to follow; but in that they were mistaken. “Don’t be alarmed, gentlemen,” called “JT don’t want your tin the insurrection in this car awhile ago. Deadwood Dick, Junior, rise up and sur- render, or we will fill you full of lead where you a Take your choice,” CHAPTER III. CAPTAIN JOAQUIN’S CAPTURE. “Deadwood Dick, Junior!” The name was upon the lips of all che passengers, instantly. ~ They looked in Dick’s direction, as he rose up as ordered, and the look on their faces would be hard to describe. “Here I am!” responded Dick, in his firm manner. “If these passengers are willing to let you take me,’so be it; I Shall not kick. Better that I should surrender than that any one should get hurt, I suppose.” “Some one would get hurt if you didn’t surrender, that is a certainty,’ Captain Joaquin declared. The passengers were pale, and no one offered to defend the gallant Richard of the Lion Heart. “Well, here I am.” Dick was as cool as Captain Joaquin himself, and stood awaiting the pleas- ure of that notorious outlaw. “Do you happen to have a pair of handcuffs with you?” “Yes, a couple of pairs.” ? One will answer the purpose. Let’s have ’em, and one of my men will see | how they will fit you.” “Just a word first.” “What is it?” “What do you intend doing with me?” “That is something you will learn all in good time. Come! the handcuffs! ” “If it is your intention to kill me, I may as well die right here as anywhere; if you intend to give me a chance for my life, all right.” “Don’t shoot here!” called out a mild passenger. “It would be a good thing to do a ljttle of it for, your especial benefit, 4 Dick declared ironically, | “No, don’t resist, but go with ‘em, peaceably,” the passenger urged. “It is better that one should make a sacri- fice than that all should come to grief,” he argued. Dick and Captain Joaquin laughed. “T intend to give you a show,” said the latter. ‘‘Come, there is no time to fool away!” Dick Bristol saw that there was only one chance for him. He knew that to hesitate ten seconds would mean his death. He was in a death-trap, and the dead-fall. was ready to be sprung at a touch. “All right; here you are!” he said, lowering his left hand, and thrusting it into his jacket pocket, he produced the required article. “Shall I put ’em on myself, or will you come and attend to that? ” “Put ’em on,” said the captain, | after that.” All right.” There was a Click, and Deadwood Dick stood handcuffed. If only that car had contained half a ze dozen such men as he often had around ; him as allies! As it was there was not a saving Ses a hand—not a single spirit brave enough as well, for had there been one such, he would have been, unsupported; it Beri would have been A needless sacrifice of a i Orin brave man. undertake to see that they are secure + = + - . ° ae . ed rs ets Gane —— : ‘ ~~ at | to attempt his defense; and it was just ; ie - ” €« ee te c - a Ds - .« %. =p Sree * — 2 = S>i™ -y oo To + ee >. - s~ yh ie < ~_* y ™e 1h ag. ae t PT “a. . <—" vi. a? . hae -“ we 2 “oe, ui . a ( al a »*h ha ‘x v “Now, then, come this. way!” Cap- page OS tain Joaquin ordered. any baggage aboard?” “Not an ounce.” | | “All the better.” — | Dick advanced, as practen) and i was made for him to pv out, the « out he i al wely 4 -m AF . ae : P 5 a yt rt i ~ x He se BT “bat i. 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