Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 104 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

oo Deadwood, I asked her to become my wife and —she refused. I wonder if she would do it now? She seems to hover around wherever I go, a sort of guardian angel—though some would laugh were they to hear me call her an angel. A wild, strange character she is—vir- tuous, and true as steel, beyond peradventure, yet so wild and strange as to seem a part of the wilderness through which she roams. Has she aheart? If so, itis buried deep under a cloud of past obscurity. And Stella Howell—I almost faney that I care for her, as a husband should care for his bride.” The day after the street fight between Beauti- ful Bill and the Sport, Pacific Pratt, Major Howell left his mansion and rode out of town, down into the classic shades of timbered Stra Horse Gulch. He was not dressed with bis customary neatness, and a handkerchief tied across his forehead gave him the appearance of having been on a drunk, and he had bandaged his head to keep off the headache. But such was not the case. The speculator wore the cloth to hide the terrible sign of the double cross, which Deadwood Dick had stamped on his forehead. In vain had he attempted to wash and scrub off the stain, but it proved in- delibly planted in the very flesh, and the more he washed it the more distinct became the marks. So, rather than to appear a marked man, he had done the next best thing—covered the strange device from sight. In no pleasant m was the major, evident- ly, this morning, for there was a savage expres- m6 about his mouth, and a gleam in his eye that boded evil for some one. Who that one was, we shall soon learn. Guiding his horse through the wild canyon- trail, at a rapid pace, he at last came to a glade or opening among the pines. In this s a sort of tumble-down hut, con- structed of logs and stones, and having but one door and no windows. It was a desolate-look- ing place, at the best, with rank weeds and briers growing up around it, which showed that the tenant was in no way inclined to agricul- tural pursuits, or husbandry. Over the door upon a planed board, was the rather startling if not unique inscription, ‘“*BEAUTIFUL BILL, ** PROFESSIONAL CUTTHROAT.” ‘This must be the place!” the major mutter- ed, reading the sign, with a grim smile. ‘The fellow is no sneak of a rascal, anyhow, for he boldly advertises his business. I wonder if he is at home?” Dismounting before the Pty fe door, he knock-, ed upon it, sharply, and then listened. Several minutes ela ; fish there were steps, the door : ee Beautiful Bill stood upon the old. No longer could he justly be classed among men of beauty, however, for his appearance was quite the reverse. His forehead bore the sign of the double cross, and his nose was all smashed out of shape, the wreck being ornamented by a huge plaster. These features, in addition to his naturally ugly ra ag gave him an appearance at once g. wl escaped his still swollen lips as he saw the major. Evident it was that the Pet Elephant was in no mood to receive visitors. ‘“Waal, what d’ye want?’ he grunted, sus- piciously. “T want to see you on emg Bon major said. ‘Let me come in, and we'll have a glass of Kentucky from my private bottle, and I will explain the nature of my errand.” Waal, I s’pose ye can come,” the giant re opening the door, “ tho’ this ain’t my ay fer receivin’ visitors. Got my nose smash- ed last night, ye see, an’ am sorter In mournin’.” ‘Yes, Lknow. I witnessed your fight with Deadwood Dick. I marvel you did not do for him. Beautiful Bill chuckled, audibly. “T was a fool—that’s how I got salivated!” he said, feeling dolefully of the plaster on his nose. ‘‘I might ’a’ knowed I’d get blistered. Deadwood Dick never met ther galoot thet ked lick him, nohow ye ken fix it.” ‘What! do you, with all your brag, ac- knowledge that the road-agent can lick you?” ‘‘T do—I acknowledged the corn, long ere this. Didn’t he cook my goose—didn’t he lam- baste me for all I was worth, now? You’d be willin’ ter sw’ar thet ye see’d him do it, and so would the crowd, while as fer me, ther great Pet Elephant o’ ther Leadville trail, I acknow- ledge ther corn. I ain’t no Christyun, by along shot, nur no leetle George Wasbingtun wi’ a Deadwood Dick’s Device. hatchet, but I do reckon et’s my privelege ter tell when I got fairly licked!” **Well—well, admitting that through some weakness and indisposition on your part, the Sport did whip you—he couldn’t doit again, in all probability ; perhaps—” ‘“ Whoa up thar! I jest don’t keer fer him ter try. TIain’t no hog, and know when I’ve got enough. Jest luk at this nose, will ye? Et lucks as ef it hed been thru a base-ball season in Chi- cago; then cast yer optics at my pretty fore- head, and note what a beautiful motto is en- ved thar. Fight ag’in wi’ Deadwood Dick? 0, sir-ee, bob-tail hoss! You don’t ketch ther Pet Elephant gd used up ag’in, like he war yesterday. Thet Deadwood Dick’s a leetle vol- caner, pilgrim, an’ ef ye ain’t purtic’lar about attendin’ yer own funeral, ye’d better steer shy o’ his nibses, an’ don’t ye fergit it!” “He served you rough, Bill,” the major said, consolingly, ‘Sand I don’t blame you for not wanting to tackle him alone. Here, take a suck from my bottle, and it will stiffen up your spirits. Now, you of course meditate revenge on this devilish road-agent, Bill?’ ‘** Revenge?” the Pet Elephant said, seizing the major’s half-pint flask, and eying it grimly after which he raised it to his lips and drained “Revenge, itina 2 gs of long, strong pulls. did yesay? Waal, I opine no, pilgrim. A won- derful change hes come over me, since thet ga- loot smashed my nose beyond all its resemblance ter Appoller—a wonderful change. I tell ye he jest knocked ther fight all cl’ar outen me, an’ Dre resolved ter haul in my sign out thar, an’ shut up shop. When sech fellars as Deadwood Dick ar’ about, I opine Pet Elephants don’t quite sagaciate in this climate. ‘Ye see thet. book, yander? Waal, thet’s a Bible, w’at I bought fer three set~’em-ups, up in town, an’ I’m goin’ ter study thet til I can preech a fair shake o’ a sermon, an’ b’ild me a church, hyar in Leadville, whar I can convert sech sin- ners as [have been. Oh! you bet yer boots Vu me Seven a , ‘Then you positively refuse to reven our- self upon Deadwood Dick, for the il’ he has done you?” the major demanded, rising, with regret in his tone—for he had made calculation upon enlisting Beautiful Bill in his service. “=e itively refuse!” Beautiful Bill return- ed. ‘*When I have a desire to ram myself agin’ an ’arthquake, next time, Ill s’arch fer one /o’ different register, an’ don’ ye ferget et. As fer thet Deadwood Dick, I admire him, I do, from ther soles 0’ my stogy boots. Any leetle cuss like him who can stand up an’ lick ther great Pet Elephant o’ ther Leadville trail, fust wi’ a gad an’ then wi’ knuckles, deserves a seat in ther presydental cheer. Why, he did lam- baste me beautiful, an’ did a fust-class job, or I shed never hey fergiv’ him. Thar’s stripes on my back like on a hyenaor a zebra, and swaller me fer a watermelon, ef I ain’t proud uv ’em!” ‘““You are a consummate ass!” the major growled. ‘‘ Any man but an idiot would seek revenge. See! I too have the sign of the double cross stamped upon my forehead, but Dead- wood Dick shall pay dearly for his cursed work mark my word for that. I have a hundred men who will follow me to his retreat, and help to kill him and his gang!” ‘Planets of Venus and Jupiter! Ef ye don’t it ther wu’st licked you ever war, I’m asucker, at’s all!” the giant replied, as the major took his departure. ‘‘ When ye git ther beauty o’ yer proboscis altered inter a pig’s-fut jelly, jest cum erround, an’ I'll shake hands wi’ ye.’ The major rode away with a curse upon his lips, while Beautiful Bill re-enterd his hut, thoughtfully, and donned his belt of weapons. There was a peculiar twinkle in his bloodshot eye, not often there, and an expression about his mouth that was inexpressibly ludicrous. ““T'll bet ther major git’s lambasted like thun- der—that is, if Beautiful Bill knows his P’s and (’s,” he mused. Arming himself to his satisfaction, he sat down to a table, and wrote with pen and ink the following message, in a clear, legible and stylish hand, which bespoke that some tifne in the past he had been the recipient of education in Ape gs at least, wh ch was more than could be said of half the ruffians of his ilk who infested the mines. ‘““LEADVILLE, May—, 187—. “Mr. DEADWoop Dick: ‘**T allow ye'll be sum’at surprised when ye git this, but ye can bet yer boots it’s all on ther squar’. Since ye licked me, I don’t cherish fer ye no enmity, nary a time, an’ ef ye run fer presydent alongside o Grant or any other galoot, hayr’s w’at’ll vote fer ye, an’ don’t ye fergit it. But this ain’t w’at I write this ‘pistol fer ter remark. This morning ther pilgrim, 9 ’ — Major Howell, cum ter me, an’ wanted ter draft me inter a Soe gi ag’in’ ye, but I wouldn’t go. He sed as how he war a-goin ter lay fer ye, wi’ a hun- dred men, an’ lick out yer hull crew. I allowed ter him thet he couldn't tech one side 0’ you, an’ I'll allow I orter know. So I tho’t I'd write an’ warn Ng ter luck out fer ther major. Ef ye want any help, don’t be afeard ter call on yourstruly. Ye didafair job Py me, an’ I luv ye fer it, an’ tharfore, wi’ a smashed nose, an’ a cross-marked forehead, I remain, . rete: yours, ‘** BEAUTIFUL BILL. “Pp. §. Icave. You're entitled ter boss ther town, an’ I'll take er back seat. I ain’t no swine, an’ know when I've got enough. p> Bb.” With this document safely stored in his pock- et, the giant then left the hut, and trudged toward Leadville. The very first man he met in front of the Tontine restaurant, was the famous Annihilator Old Avalanche, and up to him the Pet Elephant pranced, forthwith. ““ Lookee hyar,” he said, in a tragic whisper ‘be you a friend ter thet daisy, Deadw Dick? ‘*Great ham-bone! yes,” Avalanche replied; “but what of et?” ‘Waal, just lend me yer ear. I’m a friend o’ the lectle cuss, too, since he lambasted me, down hyar in ther street, an’ I want him ter get this ye’re docyment.” Avalanche received the message from the giant, and read it, a puzzled expression coming upon his grizzled features. ‘**Great aristocratic ham-bone! did ye write this, William?’ he demanded, suspiciously eying the eo ‘*] did, an’ don’t ye fergit it,” the Pet Elephant replied, proudly. “I am a changed man, now, pilgrim, an’ ef ye don’t find et out I'ma ra e. A Christyun am I, Beautiful Bill, clean from the soles of my stogy boots, ter my sky parlor!” CHAPTER VIL. A RETURNED MOTHER—AT DEAD PINE TRACT. THE first person Fanny Farron met after her return to Leadville, from Deadwood Dick’s vil- lage, was Jacques Frouch, the actor at the Col- a FE ] the grass he ed e was lounging upon the at the ) of the town—had evident! been watching for es) coming—and rose to his feet as she came ong. The expression upon her face told very well of the defeat of her plans, and a gleam of satis- faction was in his eyes as he saw it. **Ze ma belle Fanny did not meet with ze suc- cess she expected?” he said, with his sarcastic broken French, which he knew annoyed her. ‘* She did not find ze road-agent of ze same opin- ion of herself, eh?” ‘** No, curse him!” the actress hissed, between her white teeth, her eyes flas venomously, ‘he refused me, and now he shall feel my ven- geance. I'll fight him and kill that girl he has taken to protect, before I leave Leadville.” Frouch smiled serenely. ‘Your spirit is admirable, my lady,” he said, with a sort of triumphantchuckle. ‘ Your act- ing comes to you natural. But, I fear you will have a serious task, combating inst a man so powerful and shrewd as the notorious road- agent, Deadwood Dick. He is bad medicine.” “*I do not intend to work alone,” was the re- ply. ‘‘ You must help me, Jack—you who have the will and the ingenuity of a devil in your “TI, my lady? Why should I mix up in your lover’s quarrels, pray ?” ** Because I want you to. You once told me had learned the drug and chemist trade in rance, and could compound a slow lingerin poison, which would cause the patient the caont excruciating agony, and at the same time refuse to be ameliorated by any counter drug. Now, this is the very article 1 want administered to that doll-faced ward of Deadwood Dick’s, and you must do the job!” Jacques Frouch shuddered a little, the er smile on his face dying out. “‘T am surprised at you,” he said, after a mo- ment’s survey of her. ‘‘ That is a terrible way of getting rid of an enemy.” ‘‘A sure_way, however,” the actress replied, coolly. ‘‘ You must do the job.” “Not bya big sight!” the Frenchman said. **T ain’t in that business,” “‘Then, if you refuse, your hopes of ever win- ning me are blasted.” ‘“‘Bah! have they not always been blasted? Have you not always refused me?” ‘Yes, but if you will serve me in this way Pll reward you, and promise to become yours. GOnniGDOOKS "=== eo » 2 PS SS eae aera Ss — le a ! | | | C— = —. - em ee ee ee —-— — = — i com