Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1005 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

: . ™ 7 There's something in that, I guess.” ~ “Now, what I propose is this: We will count up to ten, in unison, keeping per- ~ feet time; hands straight down at the sides, and at the word ten we will fire.” “JT can’t find any fault with that.” “Tt is as fair as we can make it. Are your weapons in order?” “Yes; and yours?” “The same. Place yourself in posi- tion.” The outlaw had laid his Winchester on the ground, and with a revolver in each hand, he stood erect, hands at his sides. Deadwood Dick was already in that po- sition, for the agreement had so far _ progressed that it seemed useless for him to hold the Red Rover under cover when the end was so near. ‘“Now,” said Dick, “count with me, and by the time we reach six or seven it will sound as one voice. Remember, neither is to lift an arm until ten is heard; then you may shoot just as quick as you can. Are you all ready to begin? I don’t want to hurry you.” “T am all ready; let her go.’ “All right, begin: One, two, three, four,’ they started, and by the time four was spoken they were in time and uni- - gon, and it sounded as Dick had said, as one voice. ‘Five, six, seven—” Crack! . The report of a rifle rang out upon the still air. Py. - man, and a young woman made her ap-. dah ES i Deadwood Dick gave a start, partly raised his right hand, and fell forward on his face. Captain Joaquin looked around in greatest surprise, and hesitated only a moment before he sprang to the cover of'a huge boulder that lay near at hand. ‘Evidently he did not want a dose of the same medicine. A laugh rang out, the laugh of a wo- pearance from the point where the rifle had been fired. She was fair-looking, clad in a bright - jacket, short skirt and a sombrero, her feet incased in stout shoes and leggings. ‘She had a rifle in her hands. | At sight of her Captain Joaquin leaped from cover. “Susana!” *““As you see, my love!” “But what have you done? why did you do this?” “Why did I do it? Why, but to save thé 'iife of him I love!” * “ But, it was a fair fight; I had no right to any advantage; he was giving me a tf ‘4 chanee for my life.” And your Susana gave you a. better chance; ha, ha, ha! But, who was he? ' Some hateful sheriff, I suppose, who ee would not let you mind your own busi- ness your own way.” “No, it was Deadwood Dick, pata ee Heavens! ” The young woman started and paled. “Did you not suspect that it was he, - Susana?” ‘ ae a “She We : oe PK eal “Not for a moment. Had I, I would have missed him with nervousness, sure.” Bee Well, the deed is done, and we will not ery over it now. A kiss, my pet, and _ then I will show you treasure that will _ make your eyes sparkle.” The young woman dropped the rifle “and threw herself into the man’s em- ¥ ig Bh: _ brace, and their lips met. He caressed - her for a moment, then let her go and she ae her weapon. “So, you would not take the chances, eh?” said Captain Joaquin. _ “How could I, seeing how cool] and de- ermined he looked, and imagining you he. lling forward with a ees in your te rt Heavens, nol” . SIFF8 Poadwoor Dick, ‘Jr, Branded. | “And yet it was a square eat" squarest I ever got in my life, Susana. If he had killed me, it would have been a fair game, and I could not have made a kick when I found myself suddenly’ transported.” The young.woman laughed. “You are not dying yet, though, if l can prevent,” she said. “Come, we must see about that treasure.” . “We must first see if you killed your man,” “ Killed him? He is so dead he will never move again in this world, Joa- quin.” “And he can well be spared, for he has been a terror to gentlemen of my call- ing all his life. Your name will be ex- alted, my pet. There will be a big price on your head.” “And my Joaquin will defend me.’ “To the last drop of blood, you are right.” They were walking to where Deadwood Dick lay while talking thus. As they came near they heard a slight groan, and the young woman gave a start and turned pale. ‘Your shot was not so fatal, after all,” Said the Red Rovev. “He must be dying,” said the young woman. “I aimed carefully at his head.” “And succeeded finely in stunning him. See there, you made a neat little crease just over the temple. You will have to finish the job.” “ Heavens, no!” “Why. not?” “TI could not do it now, since you are out of danger; besides, he is down and cannot help himself.” Captain Joaquin drew a pistol cocked it. “No, no!” cried the woman, catching his arm. ‘ You must not, you must not!” “Tt must be his life or mine,” said the Red Rover, grimly. “ Better now, while he is unconscious. Out of the way a moment, Susana.” “No, no! You must not—you shall not! Did you not tell me that it was a fair fight, that he was giving you the fairest show you ever had in your life? For shame!” Captain Joaquin flushed, and thrust his revolver back into its holster spite- fully. He recalled the chance that Dead- wood Dick had given him for his life, and was for the moment abashed, under the scornful gaze of this woman who loved him, The next moment opened his eyes, and Deadwood = Dick / CHAPTER VII. CAPTAIN JOAQUIN’'S RETREAT. Dick was dazed. It was a moment before he could RTE; what had passed. When he did so, he realized that the situation had greatly changed, and could not tell whether minutes or hours had passed. But his mind quickly cleared, as a magic drop will clear a glass of clouded water, and he took in the situation and the new-comer upon the ground, and guessed the rest. He remembered that a and his foe had not counted up to the number that was to have been the signal for them to fire, and hence some one else had taken a hand in the game. That Captain Joa- | quin had not fired the treacherous shot he was well aware. The Red Rover stood motionless the last Dick remembered of him. All this passed through Dick’s mind in the few brief smecpnge before He spoke. ae ated ¥ + es | the | “So, you are alive, are you?” said Captain Joaquin. “It was a close call: fer you, Deadwood Dick.” “Who shot me?” asked Dick, of his hurt. “No matter who,” was the reply. “It was not I, nor was it done by any order or consent of mine. I had no thought or intention of giving you anything but a fair fight.” “Tam willing to believe that. have been some friend of yours, some one who feared for your Jife.- Well, such is the fortune of war, and it appears that the tables have been turned. You now hold the joker, and I am in your power.” “ There is no denying that.” “And what am I to expect?” feeling “ You will have to dance to my tune, - now, seeing that the tables have turned, aS you say, and I am now the fiddler. : Save you warning of that,” ‘And I remember that I reminded you that should this thing occur, you would be honor bound to deal as honorably with me as I dealt with you, which you prom- ised you would do.” “And he will keep his promise, sir,” spoke up the young woman. She looked at Captain Joaquin. “Yes; of course,” Captain Joaquin snarled. .“‘ At the same time, you must admit that self-preservation is the first law of nature. I must treat you as I would a rattlesnake, which, if-I let it g0, would turn and bite me.” ‘Is your former proposition open?” asked Dick. s “What was that?” “To join you.” “No, that is closed.” Dick smiled. ‘“ T was not wrong, then, in my estimate of your earnestness when you made it, even if I did give you the benefit of the still doubt,” he said, + That is a past question,’ said the Red Rover. “You have since assured me that nothing could tempt you to join: me, but on the other hand that you in- tend to crush me,” ‘“* Let it pass,’’ Dick waived. Feeling by this time able to do so, he got upon his feet, but he had to lean against a boulder for support. His head ached and was dizzy, and the. Shot had given him an indescribable numb feeling throughout his entire body. It had been about as close a call as ne: had ever experienced, “You are now my prisoner,” said the outlaw. ‘Susana, you secure his Wweap- ons—there they lie on the ground—and I~ will handcuff him again. I will put on that other pair, I think, seeing that you had the choice of selection before,” to Dick. “You have it all your own way, just now,” said Dick. “I am not in it, 80 to say. 5s “You are right in it,” ” the aati dig- puted, “ Well, no matter. if you are going to. handcuff me, though, I hope you will dress the wound I have received,” The young woman opened her lips to. Say something, but withheld her words and looked to Captain Joaquin for the re- ae sponse. Dick believed that he had a friend in her. . His first thought had been that it was” ae she who had fired at him. He was now 4 Ke ‘ in doubt on that point. “Yes, we'll tie it bcd snapped. - the outlaw Revolver in hand, he ‘eapbaa Lomeatan ‘3 oi | and felt in Dick’s jacket pocket for the a inde : remaining pair of handcuffs. ‘ They were there ready to his | ‘| and he Decne them, “gion and snap ) ‘ bd : 7 ad . 4 — op ; . : at, hie : 7 . a - is : 7 ‘¥ %, _ ° e | a Fa oie Lees. ey ; Peta ey rue Jatt By ti rik bh, R a “ei i fe ted It must | = rai, one ~ - ae * < > ‘~ am ‘- -e ‘ ° ee Ot er Se le lt a al A a fe cages : a “comic books. com