Beadle's Half-Dime Library No. 109 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

2 ee ee ee ——- + —— Ss a I tee ———_— —— ont _ _——_—— =«- <= —— — oe -- --— we 6 me and the minister. It will not take long to tie the *not. and when we return to your sister, we shall be yoan and wife. **Come, I beg of you. ‘Barry Mereprra.” This was all, and the schemer read it with evident satisfaction. “That is a clever decoy, and 1 think will have # direct bearing on the case. Ha! ha! I curse u in return, Edith Yates, and defy you, too. ce more I get your sister in my power, you #hall never look upon my face or hers, in this ae again, unless—” | —— ew ee ee eee, a eee <a On oe ses —— = ——s a Wes awooa D | | | [t was a cool voice, stern in its tone, yet withal, pleasant, and Edith obeyed more out of respect for the order than from actual fear of the man. She wus a brave and plucky little thing, and had ever made it a point not to be alarmed until she had reason to be. The man was tall, wiry, graceful in figure, but looked odd in a suit of black knee-boots, black slouched hat, and a black mask upon his face, hiding all tho features, except a firm mouth, a jetty mustache, and a chin that bore re of character. e was armed with another revolver besides immy Flynn entered at this juncture, and , the one he held in his hand, and a lasso was the schemer looked at him, inquiringly. “Well, my lad, what did you find out?’ “Sure, an’ fot the divil did you expect? I Sound out where Edith Yates lives.” “You fool, is that all?” ‘‘ Bedad, no. Be aisy, an’ Pll tell yez. be a small room forninst the rear av the sthore, an, thare be a woman in it, ‘mit von baby,’ as the Dutch sez.” “‘Good. That is the identical woman,” Mere- ‘ith cried, hay ‘Ts there any way you ean get a letter to her, without the knowledge ef the shopkeeper?” ‘There be a side door, yer Honor, but it be’s mesilf as wants to know fct kind av a racket Ms up to, afore [ carry anither letther, bedac. ebbe I ain’t into criminal biz, if the loikes of me knows it.” ‘Bah! there’s nothing criminal about this,” Meredith said, assuringly. ‘‘ It is simply a case ef love and jealousy. I Jove the shc_ .-cman’s sister, and the shopwoman is jealous, and won’. let me come to see my betrothed. Therefore, as all’s fair in love or war, I smuggle off a let- ter to my darling, telling her to meet me by moonlight alone, and so forth. Do you under- stand?” ‘*Pivil a bit do I git sech actions thru me head!” Jimmy replied, doubtingly; ‘* but, sure ‘mebbe it’s all right. Give me the paper and rl a it, an’ if it’s a sin, faith, it'll be on yer own “Don’t fear! I'll take all the consequences,” Weredith replied, with a laugh. ‘‘ Here is the gote, and a five-dollar note for your trouble, mow begone.” Jimmy obeyed, and was soon maria awa im the direction of the candy-shop o Raith Yates. ‘fhe shanty in which the shop was located #ood alone ky itself, not being immediately «eanected with any other shop. A door opened ‘om the invalid’s room into the vacant space amone side of the na Yo this door Jimmy Flynn crept, when he moticed that Edith was engaged in waiting upon w customer in the store. The door was open, and he had no difficulty im attracting the attention of the invalid by a gesture of his hand, and silencing her would-be eries by another motion, and a ‘‘’Sh!” The invalid was not alarmed, evidently, but sarprised, and it was little less than a miracle @hat she kept still. But the sight of the letter was what did ‘the job, and the assuvance of Jimmy Flynn’s tongue; at least she did not . : There | “ fastened to his hip. “Thank you!” he said, gratefully, as Edith closed the door. ‘‘Maybe that act will throw the bloodhounds off my track.” ) ‘Who are you?’ Edith asked, suspiciously. Why are the Vigilantes chasing you?’ ‘‘Because they want the doubtful pleasure of stringing me up to the hancliest tree they come to,” the stranger replied quietly. ‘“‘My name is Deadwood Dick, they say—perhaps you may have heard of me?” ** Yes, sir, I have read of you in the papers and you have my sympathy,” Edith said, frank- ly. ‘I believe if they would let you alone, you would be a better man.” “Very true, miss. And so long as they crcewd me along after the usual fashion, God help nae, I will return blow for blow!” the Prince of the Road said, bitterly. ‘Where did the Vigilantes find you?’ Edith asked, listening to the clatter of horses’ feet and the yelling, out in the gulch. ‘*Where did they find me?’ Deadwood Dick replied, warmly. ‘‘Up here in the gulch, | reckon, where 1 was working in a quartz mine. I got a suspicion that they were aiter me, and therefore, I slid out. Ha! the devils are halt- ing. Can it be that they saw me enter here?” *T donot think so. Here is a trap door into my cellar. Drop down there, and I will en- deavor to throw them off the trail,” Edith said, quickly raising the trap to admit his descent. With a grateful glance the chief i pg down out of sight, and Edith carefully closed the trap after him, and skipped back behind the counter. Not a moment too soon, either, for the next the door opened, and three stalwart men enter- ed the candy-shop with heavy tread, and frown- ing. mien, ne was the burly constable of Rough Shod’s little city, Jim Holloway, by name; another was the mayor of the little town, Honorable Clancy Adair, while the third was a brawny ruffian who attended to the little Rough Shod jail, or ‘‘ hencoop,” as it was familiarly known. ‘*Good-evenin’, mum!” Holloway said, ad- vancing to the counter, while Honorable Clancy and the jailer lingered near the door. ‘‘ Sorry ter distarb ye, but ye see as how thar’s a galoot named Harris, alias Deadwood Dick, slid out o’ our sight, som’eres ’ereabouts, and | kinder tuk a notion he might be in here.” “Well, you perceive that you are mistaken, don't you?” Edith replied, coolly, busying her- self in emptying ber cash drawer, and trans- ive the alarm, and was soon in possession of | ferring the receipts of the day into a small iron e note, while with six dollars in his pocket Jimmy had hied himeelf to a restaurant to watisfy the cravings of his inner man. The time occupied ‘ the events last narrated netted nearly two hours, and brought ten «bleck at night to hand. So that Barry Mere- ‘tit hardly expected to meet the invalid girl until the next night. Nor was he particular] wnsious to visit the confines of the lonely palch at 9 late an hour, for the trail had been the _g@eoene of many violent deeds done under the eover of darkness, and was also said to be in- tested by road agents. Leaving his hotel, he accordingly visited a garnbling-saloon, and amused himself at a game 6! cards with the first man he came across, who ehanced to be none other than Carroll Holly. But no incident occurred worthy of mention and he finally quitted the saloon and returned tw his hotel for the night. ; Ydith was about closing up her store for the nizht, when sounds of a great tumult came ivexa further up the gulch street. Going to the door, she was quite surprised to see that # great band of wito tae town, at full tilt. As Edith gazed on ii astonishment, a man suddenly darted past her into the little shop. “Come in and close the door!” he said, au- thoritatively, drawing a revolver and cocking %. ‘‘Do not be alarmed—I do not mean you a ee —_ horsemen were tearing down | to rule me—you may | | harm. TP’m pursued_by those yelling Vigilantes, | aud you must hide me!’ ts ** Well, et don’t look much as if I was goin’ to find the cuss,” the constable remarked, doubt- fully. ‘‘ What do you say about it, mayor?’ ‘“T believe the notorious outlaw is in this shanty,” the Honorable Clancy said, with a bold glance at the little shopkeeper. ‘‘ I believe Miss Yates can tell you just where to find the fellow.” ‘‘ Perhaps she can, and perhaps she cannot,” Edith said, flashing him a giance of defiance. ‘* At least, you can depend on it you won't learn any thing to your satisfaction from me.” ** Well, well, we shall see about this, my pert in gel Adair said, coloring, angrily. ‘Per bs you are not aware who I am.” ‘‘ No, I am not, nor do I care!” Edith replied, with spirit. ‘‘ You are no better than any one else, no matter who you are.” ‘But Pll let you know I am!” his Honor ex- claimed, savagely. ‘‘ My name is Adair, and I a the ruler of this town and all the people in i ‘‘T beg to differ with you. You may be able able to exercise your power over helpless women or a pack of fools who do not know enough to resist, but I can name one you can’t rule, worth a cent!” ‘Who may that be?” ‘* His name is Deadwood Dick. Smarter men than you have tried to cope with him but failed utterly.” : “You shall see how J will noé fail!” the ES OD —e ick as Detective, | rr a see as oon mayor growled. ‘‘Come! I have no time ta ar dg with you, young woman. I want to ow where you have concealed the outlaw, and that at once.” ‘Then all I have to say is that you must find him as best you can. am not at present en- ged in ers g up road-agents, as you proba ly know, and I do not orem to enter the profession so late in life. If you have any idea that Deadwvod Dick is in my shanty, you are at liberty to search it!” ‘Then go on, boys, and search the place, and don’t be too particular about handbng things with care. The law recognizes no obligations to anybody, you know,” the Honorable Clancy said, with a brutal laugh. Accordingly, Holloway and the jailer, Mc- Adams, set briskly about searching the shanty, and adhering to the principles held up by the mayor of the town, they took particular pains to upset and overturn everything that came in their way. Edith stood behind her counter, with pale face and flashing eyes, her indignation too great for utterance. Everything that could have contained a mus- keto was examined, and then the searchers invaded the next room, which was occupied by the invalid sister of the little shopkeeper, and was used by both as a sleeping apartment. ' Hello!” Holloway exclaimed, in amazement, as he saw Minnie sitting bolstered up in her chair, with her babe asleep in her arms. ‘‘Hyar’s another gal, mayor.” “The deuce you say,” the Hovevrable Clancy asped, taking a peep into the room. ‘‘ Who is it, anyhow?” ‘That is my sister, you villain. an“ if you or vour men dare to disturb her, I shall be unde the dire necessity of blowing your brains out!” Ea:th said, coolly taking a revolver from her pocket and cocking it. ‘‘Leaye the gal alone, bcys,” the Honorable Clancy said, believing that Edith meant busi: ness. ‘‘ But search everything else.” The bedroom was literally turned upside down, and also a small kitchen in the rear of it, but no sign of Deadwood Dick was found. “You see, now, don’t you?’ Edith said, with triumph. ‘* You’ve had all your trouble for your pains. Now, then, [shel be much obligeé to you, if you will go to work aid replace things just as you found them.” “Oh! you would!” the mayor growled. ‘Here, boys, you haven’t examined the cella yet, and more than likely you’ll find him down in there.” Accordingly, the trap was torn open, and with their lanterns, Holloway and McAdams descended out of sight. Poor Edith now held her breath, in anxiety, for she expected a discovery, and was wel) aware that it would result in a bloody combat. for Deadwood Dick was not the man to tamely submit if he could fight his way out. Some time passed—a painful suspense it was to Edith—and then the constable and his aid rere from the cellar, without Deadwood ick. ‘‘He ain’t there!” Holloway grunted, in a4 rage. ‘Il reckon we’ve hed all our trouble fer nothing.” ‘* Ves; all fer nothin’,”’ McAdams growled. ‘‘'Ten thousand furies!” Adair swore, in rage. ‘‘T believe this accursed woman aided the out- law to escape!” ‘*- You are at liberty to think what you please,” Edith said, defiantly. ‘You must fix things that you have disturbed, as they were when you came in, and then you can go.” “Tll allow we won’t do nothin’ o’ the sort, mum,” Holloway said, insolently. ‘‘ Ef you run this caboose, as it seme ties i pra ye do, why ye can set things ter rights jist whenever ye git reddy. We wash our hands o’ the job— eh, mayor?” | ‘‘Most assuredly, we do!” the Henorabla Clancy said, with a chuckle. ‘“‘ When we go ta housekeeping, my pert miss, just let us know, Adieu, fair lady!” ‘‘Halt! you will be so kind as to respect the lady’s wishes, if you please!” In a clear, commanding voice came this order, from the neighborhood of the door, and gazing around, the astonished trio of outlaw-seekera beheld a tall, well-dressed stranger standing in the doorway, surveying them critically with the aid of a pair of jetty black eyes, and a brace of cocked revolvers. The eyes were spectacled; the form of the individual was slightly bent; his hair and mus- tache were snowy white—in fact the individual was no less a personage than Phineas Porter, the detective. com (G books. com