Beadle's Half-Dime Library No. 109 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

\ mag. the ‘* Champion } vas, as a rule 2 —— rae ~~ —————EEee ~~ + Deadwood Dick AS DETECTIVE. A Story of The Great Carbonate Region. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, “@MUTHOR OF Nos. 1, 20, 26, 28, 32, 35, 39, 42, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 69, 73, 77, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, or BEADLE’S HALF-DIME LIBRARY. CHAPTER I. THE TRAP LAID. Four and one-half miles north-west of Lead- ‘wiile, Colorado, as the crow flies, is a little gathering of houses down in the classic shades “ef California guich—a small city, as it were sprung into existence in a single night, and uaemned by as hard a crew of citizens, generally speaking, as ever hove-to in a western city. 4A stranger approaching the town could count “the cabins, and make them out just a hundred sand one, including the tavern, which was the and arriving point for the daily stages. _A. few stores, a barber-shop, laundry, post-office sand smitlry comprised the business stands; and sone main street along the gulch bottom was all ‘the ‘town boasted of. But that street was ever <eroewded by comers and goers, and by such oruffians and loafers as usually haunted the town. The name of this town had ever been a matter ‘tof dispute, and was yet, to some extent. After “the town had realized its existence and its worth, several of its wiseacres had put their “heads together for a name. Asa result, John iity was decided on; but some galoot said that #he name was too “toney” for a ‘‘rough-shod”’ : ores ei since then Rough Shod had been the ‘mevitable nickname of tho little metropolis in ‘the bottom of California gulch. ‘& red-hot place was Rough Shod, despite its amall size. Its mines were the best in the whole vearbon region; its population was the most hardy and rec ae ny laws were the most id, and stalwart Ben Johnson, the king of igilantes, held the helm in his fists, and things gs to justice literally had to hum. © "No compassion for horse-thieves, no softening sympathy for road-agerts, no love for light- > gents, had its citizens, taken as a whole, ‘albeit many in their midst belonged to the same ‘profession. As a mining town, Rough Shod had a few @hings to bo proud of: firstly, of her extensive carbon mines that were drifted into the walls of ‘the canyon, and the famous Duncan mine which ‘was owned by a woman whom no one knew; gecondly, the muscular and fighting proclivities ef the masses; and thirdly, the fact that money ; y changed hands, and when one pilgrim his fill he stepp2d out on the first stage, and ‘w2ade room for some fellow galoot, who had -%em. less lucky. ‘No slouch of a place did its citizens esteem it; were they, and vain of their little rough- a city among the mountains. ‘One of the most important places in the town ’s Roost,” kept by a big, nm ah pany fruut Virginia City, it being a . tion of uote ao, gambling-den, ang @portin theater. n first entering you foun ‘Somes! in the bar-room of the esta lishment, Which was low and not too cleanly looking, ““gith the bar at one side, and chairs and deal- “tales scattered around for the accommodation ~ efloungers. Hore it was that Captain Sal Savage dispens- ted his foul decoctions at a round price per glass <r quart. A big, overgrown, ruffianly looking individ- seal he was, with a repulsive countenance, and Ableared eyes, and stubbly hair and beard, which ‘~g@fided to the roughness of his appearance. Directly in the rear of the saloon was another ‘uilding, some twenty feet high from floor to eeiting, and eighty feet square, built after the pattern of one of the ancient bull-pits in Spain. «A space or pit some ten feet wide was left in the center of the building, from which the seats ‘vanged upward in tiers like those in a circus ‘tent. This place was known as Captain Sally’s ‘ ng Theater, and when opened, was liber- patronized by the rougher class of Rough m s citizens. The hotel was over the saloon, ‘amd as there was but one other in the place, it packed with people who had ‘ogme to view Rough Shod’s famous city, and ‘sample Rough Shod’s famous carbonates. One evening in the month of June the bar- woom of the “ Roost” was not filled, as usual, wut only Capts! : Sally and Nanco, his ill-favor- '* Deadwood Dick as Detective. oe ae ne ts Se ed spouse, presided behind the bar, waiting for an occasional new-comer, whose appetite for beverage should lead him into the den, Nance, as she was familiarly known, was not nearly so handsome as her amiable husband, for the reason that one eye was out, her mouth drawn slightly askew by paralysis, and all but two of her front teeth gone, to say nothing of eyes of greenish hue, and a nose that was red as a cherry, upon the end. No ange! was Nance, either, when her temper was aroused, as was generally the rule, nor were her expressions, at such times, confined to the strict limits of the proprieties. A hard pair were the Savages adjudged, and the prevailing opinion was not so far from being correet. But we shall note as we go on. The evening was wet and nasty without, yet this did not prevent the entrance of one visitor to the bar-room of the ‘ Roost,” just as the wheezy clock tolled nine. Nance and Sally exchanged glances at sight of their guest—glances in which was wonder, mystification., An elderly gentleman was the new-comer, of corpulent proportions, and rather haughty carriage—a man with full brown beard of great length, dark eyes and hair to match. He was enveloped from boots to chin in a heavy rubber coat, with a hat to match, upon his head. ‘‘ A wet evenin’, sir,” Captain Sally ventured, from behind the bar, as the man paused to shake off the rain-drops that had collected upon his hat. ‘A werry wet evenin’, I allow.” ‘‘Ves, wet and disagreeable; but just the night for dark deeds,” the man_ returned, set- tling into a chair by a table. ‘‘ You may fetch me a mint julep, Savage, and, by the way, I want a few minutes’ chat with you on business matters.” Captain Sally bastened to obey, for his visit- or, the Honorable Clancy Adair, was esteemed a great man in Rough Shod. A sort of sover- eign or ruling-power was he in the place, for every body looked up to him, and he was esteem- ed mayor, judge and jury. He owned shares in several mines, had a cabin and a Chinaman up the gulch, on the outskirts, and was generally regarded as the prime factor of the ‘‘ infant city.” When he made a law, a hundred were there, ready and willing to enforce it, so that he li er- ally held the management of things in his cw» grasp. Captain Savage therefore hastened to prepare the beverage, which the Honorable Clancy ac- cepted and quaffed, daintily, in the meantime motioning the captain to a seat, ‘‘The stage has not arrived to-night, I take it?” he observed, at last, setting down his glass, and lighting a fresh cheroot. ‘No; et ain’t in. Due, purty nigh, too.” ‘Well, in that case, I must come to business. In that stage, to-night, 7 expect an enemy—a young fellow in the character o: < sportsman. 6 will come here, no doubt, and apply for lodging. If he does, 1 want you to take care of him—do you understand? I want you to take care of him.” Captain Sally exchanged glances with Nance, who was behind the bar emptying a bottle. “D’ye heer what the guv’nor sez, Nance? D’ye know what he means?” ‘On course I do, youold fule. I ain’t deff.” ‘No, on course you ain’t, Nance. An angel, ou are, ivery inch o’ you. Tell him we ain’t in the bizness, eh?’ ‘*You needn’t fabricate to make matters any the more plausible,” Adair interrupted, grimly. “lve your pedigree all marked down, and you'd better talk sensible.” ‘‘On course we hed, pilgrim,” Nance assented, bringing her fist down upon the bar solidly. “Thar ain’t no use o’ coverin’ an’ old sore wi’ court-plaster, ef it’s chronic. Don’t ye mind thet Sal Savage, fer he ain’t wuth a row uv ins. I’m boss heer, I allow, an’ ef ye’ve any usiness to transact, jest hitch onter me.” ‘No, ye ain’t boss, nuther,” Captain Sally erowled, defiantly. ‘‘This be my Roost, an’ this be my say. Goahead, guv’nor. Ill ’tend ter ther galoot. I calculate ye want his disap- arance permanently established, don’t ye—so e’ll be done fer, fer good?” . d “ Knee I want him summarily disposed af, so that he won’t come back again. I am not rticular just how, but any way s0 that he is no further bother to me.” ‘All right, Pll see ter the job myself!” said Nance, from behind the bar. ‘‘Tll ’tend ter ther case, an’ then cum an’ tell ye. W’at’s ther galoot’s name?” ‘Carroll Holly.” “ Phow! dandified, Pll bet a snifter.” ‘Yes, you areright. He is dandified, in one sense of the word. I car depend upon you, hen? ‘Yas, I'll do ther job!” Captain Sally replied, promptly. ‘*You shet Oe won’t do nothin’ o’ the kind!” vociferated Nance. ‘Tl bark your nose ef ye go to meddlin’ with my bizness, Sal Savage!” ““Cuss ye, I'll knife ye, ef ye mouth to me!’ the captain swore, roundly, “What, goin’ to leave us, guv’nor?” “Yes, [ must needs go before the stage ar- rives, and my enemy discovers me here,” Adair replied, rising. . ‘But, you've fergot one thing—ther root of all evil,” Nance suggested, grimly. ‘‘Money makes the mare go, you see.” ‘* Yes, that’s true. Well, here are two fifty- dollar bills—one for each of you; s0 you can consolidate and make the matter easier.” ‘You'll never be troubled wi’ yer enemy ag’in, you bet,” Savage assured, with a heartless chuckle, as he followed the Honorable Clancy Adair to the door and ushered him out into the night. ‘He'll git a slice of cold steel in his gizzard afore morning, and I’!] bet on’t.” The mayor of Rough Shod did not reply, but hurried away, just as the rumble of the stage- jase wheels came echoing down the canyon- Not desirous was he to be seen by any person within the incoming coach, no matter if the man were Carroll Holly, or not. A man of great depth at scheming, was the mayor, but withal a coward, and he believed in keeping on the safe side. The stage-coach soon came tearing down into the little mountain town, drawn by four spirited horses, and came to a halt in front of the ‘coat, assengers, ally’s bar- while from it disembarked several and sought the shelter of Captain room to get out of the soaking rain. From behind the bar Captain Sally watched each*man write his name upon the register, with great eagerness to learn who, out of the passengers, was the part?’ Clancy Adair had condemned to death. Tbe first man to register was a tali, dJark- facec wnan of possibly eight aud twenty years, whose .uiet manner betokened tho experienced traveler. (We was dressed well; wore a mus- tache and imperial, and was well armed. He eeized the pen with a hand that was evidently practiced in penmanship, and wrote his name: ‘* BARRY MEREDITH, Tourist.” “Thet ain’t our game,” Captain Sally mut- tered beneath his breath. ‘I allow as how the mayor sed it wae Carroll Holler, or Holloa, or Holly—or sumthin’ o t+he kind,” The next to register was Joseph Rainbolt, a notabie vifle-shot. Following him came a Mr. Josh Page, from New York, Oswald Yates, of Chicago, and Phineas Porter, detective, from New York. The latter was a medium-sized individual, wno locked as if he might have been a muscular ealesiity in his youth. His shoulders were now bent, however, and he walked with a cane. His face was fringed with hair and beard that were snowy white, and his eyes were concealed be- hind a pair of green goggles. Dressed in citi- ven’s garb, and apparently unarmed, he was so different from any one in Rough Shod, as to at once attract considerable attention. The last man to register was the one Cap- tain Savage was watching for—Carroll Holly. A handsome fellow was the young man— the handsomest, aaa in all Roug Shod. Barely four-and-twenty was he, with a form that was the embodiment of perfect develop- ment and grace, and a fair, sunny face, with leasant mouth and eyes of laughing blue, and air as pretty as a ripple of summer sunshine, Really feminine he looked, yet was manly, vig- orous, elastic. . Too handsome a man to die such a death as had been prepared for him by the Honorable Clancy Adair. He was attired in coarse but serviceable white duck, with a light wool hat n his head, and knee-boots of the Gaintiest size anc pattern upon his feet. He wore no jewelry, nor weapons, apparentiy, nor did he appear In the least put out by his rude surroundings. ‘‘Perhaps I had better inquire if I'd bettor stay, ere I register,” he said with a pleasant smile, ‘“‘or if I can stay? I once registered in Yreka, and they wouldn’t let me stay, because J sported a biled shirt.” / “On course you kin stay, an’ hev ther best ther house affords!” Captain Sally grunted. a3 graciously as he knew how. ‘ on you pe sun)’at ot a stranger around these varts, eh? * Eomicbooks (E(0) | + — x tise son mow ns I —_—_————_—_—_—_—— ——- ——_—_— el —— \