Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 104 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

i cl 8 ———— $$ _$_$__ — ———______—_ ean _ lun-ec was coolly mei, and the giant driven back, beneath the shower of blows precisely directed. It soon became evident to the crowd that Pacific Pratt was a pugilist extraordinary, and that he was mercly playing with the giant. and worrying him ta greater rage, for the Sport did not appear to use much exertion to kee him off, and a smile constantly lingered beneat his blonds mustache. Whatever was his intention, he was each mo- ment ancenesing in arousing Beautiful Bill to a greater p teh of fury, the culminating point of which did not seem to be reached—not until the ruffian was stretched out, insensible upon the ground. Boiling with terrible rage did he seem to be. ‘* Great ham-bone thet hed ther pugilistic en- counter with old Joner!” roared the familiar voice of the Annihilator, ‘‘ jest luk at thet Sport olish off ther proboscis uv thet bullwhacker. ordy! L wouldn’t be in Beauchiful Bill’s place fer a mint o’ money. Oh! magoozzlem Marier! Ol Mose w’at cavorted thru ther scriptural bull- rushes. See ther Pacific cuss punch et to him! Hooray! bet my old head ag’in’ a drink o’ tar- antler thet William goes ter grass, less’n a thou- san’ wiggles o’ a lamb’s tail. Thet ar’ beauchi- ful fisticular demonstration o’ ther Sport yander, but et don’t hold a sarcumstance ter w’at I’ve seen. Fer instance thar war my old Billy goat, Florence Night-in-a-gale—a famuss anamile war thet same Florence, you bet. She’d jest poise her head, wiggle her stub, and pitch inter a bat- tle hot an’ heavy, would she. Hev actooly known her ter lny out her level score o’ Injuns ina day, an’ :hen gambol away ter court u ther Widder Briggses pet cat—an’ et warn’t much 0’ a day fer Injuns, nuther. Then thar war my old mare, Prudence Cordeliar w’at I s’pect is now ornamented wi’ wings, an’ be a- sailin’ around among the saintly cherubims up in hoss heaven. She war a great mare, war Pru lence—know’d more’n one minute than an ordixary hoss knows all his life. Fact, by gra- cious! Hev actooally known thet hoss ter stretch out ber hind huff so quick thet a shoe’d glide off an’ skip around ag’in’ ther skull o’ ther ’tarnal red heathen, until et salivated an’ give ther death grip ter more neradozen. An’ yet thet ain’t a sarcumstance dun up in a brown , ter what ther Annihilation ter do when all ter- gether, an’ I tell ye w’at ther men ain’t so brave as they used ter be, tho’ thet Pacific Pratt ar’ an exception ter ther rule.” ‘‘ Ha! just look at that!” Calamity said, excit- edly. i ‘Tf that wasn’t a beauty, 1 don’t want a cent! For the Sport had dealt the giant a tremen- dous ‘‘ stem-winder,” upon the nose, which seem- ed to completely flatten that member to the ruffiin’s face. Nor, now that he had seemingly got his hand in, did the Sport stop, for one blow after another did he deposit on the same spot in rapid succession, in the meantime coolly ward- ing off the giant’s lunges. Spat! spat! spat, and the nose of Beautiful Bill grew flatter than ever, while bellows of pain esca his lips, and his fac» was bathed in oozing blood. At last came the climax. The Sport dealt the giant a terrible blow upon the forehead—a left-handed one, at that. Down went the bullwhacker upon the und, insensible and quivering; while “| is hat, coat and whip, Pacific Pratt. burri y strode away. The crowd stared and wondered. What was the cause of this strange action, on the part of the Sport? Was he afraid to wait until Beautiful Bill should have returned to consciousness? Tis would not seem possible, and he such a master of arms. Yet, go he did, and soon dis- app ared among the crowd, far down the street. Then it was that all eyes were considerate- ly turned upon Beautiful Bill, who was leisure- ly measuring his length in the dusty street, mgr eens his bhepng' a ap? one of Lead- ville’s electric city was a thing of the ; And when all eyes fested, upon Pin there came a unanimous ejaculation of surprise, resulting upon a discovery, and that discovery was that upon the forehead of the giant were strange, bloody gashes of crimson, formed in the shape of the double cross ! This much was seen, then the words: ‘ Deadwood Dick's device !” passed from lip to lip. All eyes turned intuitively in the direction Pacific Pratt had gone, but he was nowhere in sight. His haste to depart was now explained. Cleverly disguised as the Sport, Deadwood Dick had been among them, andhad gone again, leaving |»ehind him his terrible device. Excitement for a while raged intense, but Deadwood Dick’s Device. —_—_-_- —- — subdued when it was ascertained that the Road Prince had made good his escape from the town. ‘‘The money is mine!” Calamity Jane said with a chuckle, ‘and you, Mr. Alf Howell, will learn to bet next time on the winning card.” The gambler uttered an oath of rage. ‘The money was not fairly won!’ he growl ed, allowing his hand to drop below his belt, ‘fan’ Pll be cussed ef ye shall have it!” **Look out! Don’t draw weapons around here!” Fanny Farron cried, sharply, ‘‘or Pll let you have the contents of this, unreservedly!’ And she held her pistol on a level with his heart. ‘‘Get out, now, before I accidentally pull the trigger!” Vith a frightful malediction, the speculator’s son obeyed, and the actress followed him until she came to a cross-street, when she set out for her hotel, Calamity Jane then received the result of her bet from the Annihilator, and they separated, each taking a different course, the Girl Sport going to her boarding-place. After leaving the scene of the fight, the Sport, Pacific Pratt hurried north through Chestnut street and out of the town. Soon he came to a chaparral or thicket of evergreen oaks, from which he led a handsome coal-black horse,and mounted. He then rode rapidly away, and in due time entered the Dead Pine Tract. Riding to the door of the large cabin, he dis- mounted, and giving the horse into charge of the Chinaman, he entered, and ascended the stairs to the second floor. In passing the door of Stella Howard’s room he glaneed into the room, to find her engaged at a book, several choice volumes having by his forethought been prepared for her entertain- ment. ‘‘So I find you pleasantly occupied, eh?” he said, smiling. ‘‘I am glad that you find some- thing to kill time.” ‘““T am not hard to please,” Stella replied oe up, a pleased look in her eyes. “ft generally find some mode of killing time.” ‘‘ Which is fortunate. I often wish that I had not been born of a restless and roving dis- position. I was afraid you might find it dull and lonely here.” ‘Oh! no, indeed! Dead Pine Tract oy nly it my home so a that I like it here. seems lonely without papa.” And tears rose in the eyes of the beautiful maiden, for beautiful she was—petite but well- rounded of form, with a fair, prettily chiseled face, a sweet mouth, and expressive blue eyes, that had the power of being sparkling in mirth, and handsome in sorrow; while soft luxuriant masses of chestnut hair fell over her pretty shoulders. No ravishing beauty was this ward of Deadwood Dick’s, but a simply et and dignified beauty, whom it was easy for one to admire and love. ‘** True, you must miss your parent, my dear lady, but I shall try to make my eee S yourself ly leasant, and render you chee content,” Mick said, respectfully. ‘‘ And when you are in need of anything, or some one to converse with, you have to send to me to in- sure instant attention.” “Thank you,” Stella answered. ‘“‘ As my rotector, I shall of course consider you my riend, and shall, as such, not be backward in making known amy needs.’ Then Deadw Dick went on to his own rooms, where he threw himself down upon the parlor sofa to rest. But, ere he was permitted to greet mppnens, one of the men entered, and handed him a card Upon this neatly engraven, was the name: - ‘Miss FANNY FARRON.” CHAPTER VI. THE ACTRESS PROPOSES—BEAUTIFUL BILL’S CHANGE * Miss Fanny Farron,” Dick echoed in amazement, as he saw the inscription on the card. ‘ What in the world can bring her here? How did she get past the pickets, Cotrelly?”’ ‘‘T know not, your honor. I met her wan- dering about, near the stronghold, and she re- quested me to fetch this card,” the road-agent replied.” . ‘Very well. Since she has taken the pains to come here, show her in, and I will see what she wants. Give the lieutenant my orders that he allow no person to hereafter the lines without giving the countersign. is is impera- tive. The aid bowed, and departed, to show in the little actress from the Leadville Coliseum. Ere she came, Deadwood Dick hurriedly removed ! edge of a razor... A the blonde hair and beard that had given him character as the Sport, and stored them in his closet, while, smooth-faced and as handsome as ever, he awaited the coming of Miss Farron. She was shown in directly, and advanced to- ward him with outstretched hand, her face assuming one of the archly bewitching smiles she had been taught to master, as a part of the secret of her stage success. ‘‘Oh! Mr. Harris, Iam so glad I have found you at last!” she gasped, as if out of breath. ‘Having heard that this was your home, I ven- tured to come right on, as soon as your duel was over with the bullwhacker, to thank you for prokecting me from public insult.” ‘**T ask no thanks, lady,” Deadwood Dick re- plied, a trifle severe; “‘ in fact, I ask no odds of anybody. It was a pleasure to assist a Jady in distress, but that was all, and you need feel under no obligations to me,” ‘Yet I do,” the actress replied, warmly, crossing suddenly over and dropping upon her knees in front of him—‘ I do owe you a deeper debt of gratitude, than I can ever repay you, unless you will accept the boundless wealth of affection I offer you, and make me your wife. Do not start, or be surprised, Mr. Harris, for this isn spontaneous outburst from an impul- sive imagination, but a strong, faithful love on my part for you, which sprung to life when I first met you. I know it is not the customary thing for us women to do the wooing, but I am a strange girl, they say, in more than one way, and one of my peculiarities is, that I do not be- lieve in ceremony. Free thoughts, and laws of aes | te suit myself, are the golden rules I shall continue to abide by!” ‘But, my dear Miss Farron, you do wrong in loving such a man as I, if you do, as you say!” Deadwood Dick repli , in great rise. ‘‘T certainly have no affection for you of the kind ou mention—indeed, as a total stranger, almost, have never given ou the second thought.” “That don’t e any difference, t me stay here at the stronghold a week, and if you do not love me enough to marry me, I’ll go away ain. ‘‘Impossible, Miss Farron. I am not desirous of trying any love experiments, just now. Did I care to marry, I should prefer to select m wife, and to do the courting. One faithless wife has not left behind her in my heart a desire to risk another.” ‘Then, you refuse to listen to me—refuse even to let me remain here until I can win your affec- tion?’ the beautiful actress cried, rising to her feet, her face red with anger and mortification at her defeat. ‘* Yes, Miss Farron; I must, for my own sake, and for your sake. It would not be the proper thing for you to remain here, even were I in-. clined to listen to your plea, which I am not, I am sorry, for your sake, to say.” “Bah! You dare to keep another girl here and see no impropriety in that?” . ‘‘ Miss Howell is my ward, lady, or she would not be here. She was left in my charge by the will of her father, and Iam responsible as her guardian.” Miss Fanny Farron bit her lip in vexation. Such a crushing defeat to her matured plans she had not dreamed of, and consequently she keenly felt vo cut be as Ppa a ery well. you will not let me remain here, I will go back to Leadville, Mr. Ned Harris, but I go not as I came, your warm friend. A broken heart I shall with me—a heart that is ranking with hatred toward you. Look out for me, for I shall stab you unawares, even though it may not besoon. Ishall watch until I see an opportunity to torture you, then I shall appl myself to the task!” ‘But, why this anger, Miss Farron?’ Dead- wood Dick asked, earnestly. ‘‘ I see no need for it. If you love me, your love can not be a true one, to canker so soon with enmity,” ‘““You shall see!” the actress replied, almost savagely. ‘“‘Iam alone in the world, I know, but not entirely friendless.” Then she turned abruptly and quitted the’ After she was gone, Deadwood Dick sat mus- ing upon the strange occurrence, his brows knotted perplexedly. ‘Calamity Jane was right,” he muttered, ‘‘when she said that the actress was a devil, or words to that effect. I would not believe then that a creature so fair of face and artless of manner could be the r of such a fiery temper. But, such is life. I wonder if m ward will turn out the same? No! I will not believe that, even should Calamity tell me so— Calamity whose perception is as keen as the ew years ago, up near com S (Gs O00) vad ; **,. ed ero