Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 104 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

“Lt ——_—_— of course threw the town into a commotion of wae Sr and profound wonderment. is is what it said: ‘DEADWOOD DICK AGAIN. ‘“‘Those who witnessed the execution of this notable criminal, will no doubt be astonished to learn that he is still alive, and was in town last evening, a free man, for, having been hanged ‘by the neck once, until pronounced dead, there is no law that can touch him for past offenses. How he ever came to life isa mystery nobody can. solve, unless he was resuscitated by the no- torious female, known as Calamity Jane. Our new sheriff, Lieutenant France, has been medi- tating upon a plan of arresting Sir Dick, but has not arrived at a definite conclusion. It is to be hoped, however, that the people will take the law into their own hands, and give the notorious Richard another boost!” The result of this piece of information was to set the town literally on “edge,” and every man and his neighbor kept an eye out for the ex-road- agent, while hands were ready to give him the second h’ist suggested by Leadville’s flourishing representative newspaper, the News. he sentiments of public and paper seemed identical. That evening saw a large crowd assembled at the Coliseum, which is, or was then, the princi- yal theater of the town, and the a one giving a decent varie'y performance. usiness for several weeks previous had been falling off, but the new announcements for the week, such as the Fontainbleau Children, Miss Coral De Vere, Fanny Farron, and a few others, served to pack the rude little theater. The crowd was largely composed of men, although a few miners had brought their fam- ilies along, to witness the sport, seeing no harm in it—there being none in reality, except for the fact that the patrons were generally a rough, lawless set, and that liquor was served among the audience. The performance was made up of several negro farces, the Fontainbleaus in pantomimes and dances, Coral De Vere in athletic feats, and Miss Fanny Farron, the star of the evening, in fancy pistol practice, and later, in serio- comic songs, after which the stock company ap- peared in a blood-curdling drama, the hero of which was billed as Wildcat Jack. To Fanny Farron, however, was bestowed the lion’s share of the applause by the rough audi- ence, for being an adept in the art of pistol ractice, she easily won her way into their rude but strangely enthusiastic admiration. She was in one sense a beautiful woman. But nineteen or twenty years had passed over her head; she was spirited and rosy; her form was an admirable embodiment of elegant woman- hood and perfect grace of movement, while her face was of nature’s happiest mold, the fea- tures all pleasing and gifted with sweetness of expression, that in turn shone from her dusky blue eyes. Her complexion was light, and a wealth of hair of corresponding color fell in a flossy wave over her plump shoulders. Taken at a glance she was a charming and beautiful creature—at least, she so appeared, as viewed from the auditorium of the theater. During her pistol practice the man, Wildcat Jack, who was to act in drama, served her in the capacity of assistant, and he seemed to mark the triumphs with an envious eye. He was a dark, swarthy-looking fellow, with a brigandish mustache, and the general air of a lawless character, which he was to impersonate in the drama. But he was after the t of his audience, and was of course admired by them. _- Back of the pit, in the auditorium, was an elevated platform, on a level with the stage, or higher, where a bar was kept, and where late comers who could not find seats, were permitted to stand. To-night it was occupied by several loungers, prominent gr whom were several who are to play parts in this romance of the King City of the Colorado. Calamity Jane stood leaning weap a pillar that supported the gallery, watching the per- formance with indifferent interest. Old Avalanche stood near by, and another rsonage who was none other than Deadwood ick, was seated near the edge of the platform smoking a cigar. The stormy applause which had followed the conclusion of Fanny Farron’s pistol practice, had not yet died out, when a pistol-shot rung through the theater, and the bullet cut abet | the feather p.ume that ornamented the ex- agent’s hat. ' _ At the same time a half-dozen men sprung Deadwood Dick’s Device. from their seats in the auditorium, and made a rush toward the spot where Deadwood Dick had now gained his feet, a cocked revolver in either hand. ‘‘Hurrah! fifty dollars to the man who captures the outlaw, Deadwood Dick! Yon- der he stands, my hearties. Take him!” cried a voice, and the new sheriff, Lieutenant France, leaped to the front. ‘* Halt! stand back there! If you come a step further, I'll fill you so full of cold lead that you won’t be able to swim fer a month. Stand back, you cowardly dogs, if you don’t want to bite the dust!” It was Calamity Jane who gave the last com- mand, ina Jag voice, and a leap oe her beside N arris, who coolly stood his ground, The tools of the sheriff hesitated. Enough of the prowess of the Girl Sport had they seen, since her coming to Leadville, to believe that she would shoot, did be disobey ; and then, Deadwood Dick stood ready for the battle, with Old Avalanche on his left, thus forming a dangerous trio. The whole audience had arisen to their feet, and knives and revolvers were promiscuously displayed, while a silence, almost painfully in- tense, seemed for a moment to reign. “Surrender!” Sheriff France said, sternly. ‘‘ ‘Tis no use for you to resist, sir outlaw!” **T will not surrender!” Deadwood Dick re- plied, coolly. ‘‘ Neither am I an outlaw. By ging, [ expiated my crimes, and having been brought back to life, 1 am lawfully a free man! ‘‘The hanging was but a farce, and you’ve got to swing in!” France shouted, angrily. ‘At him, boys! He’s your game, if you havea mit Halt!” Deadwood. Dick cried again, sharpl Ps t!” Deadw ick cried again, sharply, and the men obeyed his command. “If you come a step further, you come at your peril. As a free man, I have a right to protect myself. If you make a move to lay a hand on me, your life shall pay the forfeit, and the crime will rest upon your own heads. Three we are, to be sure, but you will learn that self-defenders can oye as straight and true as the pangs of eath. ‘** Bet yer boots on that!” Calamity added, a sparkle of enthusiasm in her eyes. ‘ Thar’ll any. a pilgrim kiss terra firma, before Dead- Ww Dick again stretches hemp!’ ‘‘ Great ham-bone, yes. Kerwhoop! Come on, ye infernal galoots, ef ye want to snag yer- selves ag’in’ a consarned cyclone—a ragin’ bull- storm o’ boreal annihilation, imported right down from ther northern lattytudes and longy- toads! Come on, I tell ye, if ye want ter find ther straight and undeviatin’ trail ter Brimstun Lake! e’re ther b’yes an’ gal as kin steer yer cumpuss, wi’ lead purgatory pel- lets!” But the gang hesitated; certain death stared him in the face who made the initiatory step; consequently none there were eager to court the grim King of Terrors. Thus the situation was, when the curtain sud- denly rung up, and Fanny Farron stepped for- ward to the footlights, clad in a dashing costume the skirt being short, and the arms bare, bu richly bejeweled. The orchestra struck up, and played the ac- compainments to a popular song; then the voice of a star burst forth in a fascinating song, the words and the music being sin ly sweet and entrancing. One by one the crowd turned and resumed their seats, until but a half a dozen composed the tableau upon the auditorum, By the magic influence of her voice and her wondrous presence, the songstress had won over the crowd! Only the few remained, and seeing that they took no notice of her, the young woman made a motion to the orchestra and they struck upa piece of jig music. Then, seizing a rope that was tossed to her she began the skipping-rope dance, her small feet playing in perfect fime with the music. This was the act that moved the rough audi- ence to a wild tumult of clamorous applause, which continued so long as the little foot-like fairy continued to dance. Even Sheriff France and his men were forced to turn and admire and applaud! And durin this juncture Calamity Jane touched Deadw Dick upon the arm.. ‘‘ Now’s yer time!” she whispered. ‘‘ There’s a door behind you; back out!” “Never!” Dick replied. ‘‘ This thing may as well be settled here as anywhere else, and I’m going to see it out if it costs my life.” — ——_——— ao CHAPTER IIL. THE BATTLE—DEADWOOD DICK’S WARNING. ‘THEN I’m with you to the death!” Calami said, sternly. ‘‘ But don’t put too much confi- dence in that woman, yonder. She is a viper— a she-devil, gifted with a pleasant face and at- tractive form. Look out for her!” ‘What do you know about her?’ Deadwood Dick demanded, ina low, surprised tone. ‘‘ When did you ever know her?” ‘Never at all, but Iam _ nota student of hu- man nature for nothing. Mark my words, she isa fraud.” The fairy of the footlights now ceased her dancing amid a tremendous tumult of applause, Lye ere of retiring, she advanced to the foot- ights. ‘““My audience!” she said, in a clear, ringing voice, that had in it a subtle pewer of attraction ‘*] thank you kindly for your appreciation, and I feel that I have already warmed your roug rude natures toward me. This is just what want. I want you all to be my friends, and to all come here and hear me sing. But, there is one thing I must ask of you—that you will lay no hand of harm upon Deadwood Dick. If you do, I have sung for you the last time.” Then she turned and tripped behind the scen while the crowds in the auditorium hoo an applauded until grown hoarse. Death to Deadwood Dick!” shouted Sheriff France at the top of his voice. “‘A hundred dollars to the man that captures the road-agent, dead or alive.” This offer put a new aspect on affairs. A score of men sprung toward the platform, with drawn revolvers. ‘“‘Surrender!” ordered France. “’Tis useless to resist!” “No, ’tis not useless!” Deadwood Dick cried. ae take me at all, it shall be dead—never alive And raising a cocked revolver in either hand, he shot down two of the foremost men quicker than a flash. Then, in concert with Calamity Jane and Old Avalanche, he poured in a deadly fire, every bullet counting a death-yell. The theater was a pandemonium of wild, strange sounds; on every hand rung the deadly report of revolvers, while a panic-stricken crowd ws wy frantically to find egress from the building. Bullets flew like scattered hail; wild yells and screams of victory or agony played a weird ac- companiment to the revolver’s crack. One by one the lamps were fanned out by the flying bullets, until darkness reigned complete within the theater. But upon the platform Deadwood Dick still stood his ground, while Calamity Jane and Old Avalanche were at his side, fighting determined- ly, knowing that life and death depended upon the issue. Below the platform the pkg mob still surged, firing constantly, but not often coming within a foot of either of the defending trio. Yet so great were their numbers that they were inevitably bound to wipe out the brave defend- ers, unless help reached them. eadwood Dick realized this, but he was bound not to surrender alive. “Back! back, you rey or every galoot’s life shall answer for this fig §!” he crie , in a ring- ing voice. t this juncture Fanny Farron and a half- dozen men reached the atform by way of a side hallway from the tages and fined. their forces with Deadwood Dick and his crowd, their weapons but adding to the horrible din. The effect of the reinforcement was visibl felt by the attacking mob, for they flinch and finally broke in wild confusion, each man struggling to force his way out of the theater. The result was that the whole audience were soon fighting among themselves. ‘*Come!” SDead wood Dick now said, when He saw this, touching Calamity on the shoulder. ‘Fetch Avalanche and let’s hunt a way out of here. We've given ’em enough taste for one night what with the scrimmage they’re now en- in. “Here! you must come with me!” Fann Farron said, touching him upon the arm. oF will show you to a place of safety, until you can escape from the town!” And seizing him by the coat-sleeve, she led the way back through the side hall to the co4. behind the curtain, Calamity and Old Avalanche bringing up the rear. Behind the curtain the lamps were still lit, and they were enabled to see each other. Fanny Farron was still clad in her dress, with a heavy waterproof thrown about her shoulders, and a closer examination reveal- <€om GHDOCGKS