Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 129 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

Not a very cheering prospect was it, to say the feast, with a howling wilderness surrounding them. Judge Elliott and Ethel stood in the door of the Casino, conversing with the man, Myers, when hoof-strokes were heard coming down the trail, and a horseman soon dashed up at a gallop, and drew rein near the camp-fires, ‘* Ah! as Lexpected,” old Bill grunted. ‘ Et’s Chris Carleton, one o’ Deadwood Dict’s fellers, an’ as tough acuss as evyer sipped lik’er. An’ Pil now he’s come down ter tell ye ter get up an’ git, ‘‘ He shall have his answer, then, as soon as he asks for it,” Judge Elliott, replied, decidedly. ‘‘Be he as fierce as an African lion, he cannot scare me!” ‘“‘Nor me, papa!” Ethel said, with a merry laugh. ‘‘Il can be as brave as a soldier, you know.” The horseman evidently made inquiries of those about the camp-fires, for he soon turned and galloped toward the tavern. He drew rein as he beheld the Judge and his daughter, “‘[’m searchin’ fer ther man thet heads this colony!” he said. ‘ Ef you're ther galoot, why you’re ther one I want.’ ‘* Well, sir, J am undoubtedly the party you seek,” the Judge said, stiffly. CHAPTER II. THE WARNING. * AnD, if you want to snag yourself against a small-sized hurricane, for instance, here’s me!” Ethel exclaimed, a t The ruffian uttered a low cry of admiration and amazement, as he saw her. He was a man of medium stature, clad from head to foot in black-dyed buckskin, and armed to the teeth—an evil-looking personage, with swarthy skin, bead-like black eyes, and hair and mustache and imperial to match. While hover- ing upon his face was an expression so evil and sinister as to need no other proof that he was a thoroughbred villain. Out in those far Western tracts of gold and mee a man is never judged so critically by his eeds as by the expression of his countenance. It is by this that the character of the ‘‘ beast ” is taken, and the mode rarely, if ever, fails to be correct in determining the nature of the party in question. No second glance, therefore, had a person to e to assure himself Chris Carleton was a man of evil inclinations, to say the least. Judge Elliot knew it at once, but did not tréngite. y a rough and lawless character had he encountered during his life, but never had he been over-matched. ““T am Judson. Elliott, the leader of the colony,” he repeated, folding his arms across his breast, ‘‘ and if co have anything to say to me, why say it, and be gone !” ‘*Oho! don’t git quite so authoritative, now!” Carleton acme?, fiercely. ‘* Ef ther old court knows herself, we gi nance cum an’ go when we ease. And, as I remarked before, ef you’re udson Elliott, leader o’ these squatters, you’re ther very galoot we want ter see. My name’s Carleton—Chris Carleton, fer long, an’ I’m sort 0’ lieutenant to Capt’in Deadwood Dick, who owns these lands in these hyar surroundings, a cum down ter warn ye ter git up an gl ‘Then you have put yourself to considerable trouble for nothing, as we flatly refuse to git!” the Judge answered, positively. ‘Asa colony, we have purchased and paid for the lands in this valley, and we intend to hold our own, no matter what claims others may have.” Carleton uttered an oath. | You'll mighty quick change yer mind on that,” he said, ye hn ‘*Heer’s a leetle dockyment frum Capt’in Dicky, tellin’ ye what ye kin expect, ef ye don’t cpidescheo 7 And as he spoke, the lieutenant drew an en- velope from his pocket, and tossed it toward the Judge, who, ‘n turn, caught and opened it. ithin was a Sheet of paper, written over in a straggling hand, the contents of which was substantially as follows: To all whom it may concern : “ Know oy by these presents, that I, Deadwood Dick, alias tdward Harris, road-agent and outlaw- at-large, do claim right of possession and absolute ownership of the tract of land in Cat City Basin, having duly surveyed it and staked it out as my claim, from the Government. Know ye, also, that said tract of territory being mine, I will not tolerate intrusion, or usurpation in any way or manner what- ever. Parties who squat upon the tract will be duly 7 { 4 . = ’ OS e — warned by such a document as this, to vacate, within ten hours after its receipt. If they refuse, 1 shall forthwith declare war against them, by causing bon- fires to be built on the surrounding mountain tops, after which they need look for no mercy from my band. Cat City belongs to Deadwood Dick, and not to you, and, therefore, if you value your lives and your liberty, you will ask up youreffects and fold your tents and steal away, ‘*Remember! Your lives shall pay the sacrifice, if you remain ten hours in the valle , after the re- ception of this, and you shall know that Deadwood Dick never commands but to be obeyed, or the of- fender punished. ‘* (Signed :) Drapwoop Dick.” Word for word the Judge read the warning; then handed it to Ethel, while he turned to the courier: ‘* You may go, sir, as soon as you choose, and tell this Deadwood Dick that we will not va- cate!” he said, sternly. “I have no desire to incur his enmity—neither am I afraid of him. We have the deeds for the four hundred acres of land in this valley, and weshall hold them at the muzzle of our rifles. Go, tell him this, and tell him, also, that he had better think twice be- fore he attacks us, This is all I have to say, in behalf of the colonists.” ‘‘Keerect! Ther Capt’in shall know yer re- ply,” Carleton replied, with a sinister leer, ‘* An’, by ther way, ye’d better get out yer hymn- books o’ glory, fer we don’t ginerally allow much time for camp-meetin’ when we light down ona gang. ° And with a brutal laugh the avant courier dug his spurs savagely into the sides of his horse, and dashed away over the northward trail, The colonists had by this time mostly gather- ed by the tavern door, and at a request Judge Elliott read the warning of the noted moun outlaw. There was a murmur of indignation in the crowd, when he had finished. ‘This is about the cheekiest thing I’ve heard of yet,” Alf Montague declared, ‘* You colo- nists gave up your homes in exchange for this tract, and you are fools if you don’t fight for it. That’s my say; and I can back it to the muzzle, If Deadwood Dick wants war he can have dead loads of it, so far as Il am concerned, Eh! boys— what do you say?” ‘‘ Ay! ay!” was the hearty response from a dozen throats. ‘‘ If Deadwood Dick wants war, we'll give him his fill!” ‘‘Yes, we will!” Judge Elliott assented, ap- proving y. “Il am not generally in favor of pitehed battles, but right is right, and in fight- ing for the possession of this gulch, I candidly believe we are but doing right. There are four- teen men of us, strong and rugged, and I trust that we can give the rival claimant all hé wants. To-morrow we will build a block-house, or fort, where we can better protect ourselves,” Ten miles up Gorgon’s Gulch, to the north of Cat City, a simple and unpretentious cabin stood in a little clearing on the mountain side. The clearing was planted with garden vegetables, with here and there a bed of cultivated flowers. A little vine-wrvathed porch shaded the single door; a little path led through the wood to the stage trail a score of rods below; a bubbling mountain brook gurgled down across the elear- ing through its pebbly channel, with musical vehemence, It was a cosey, pretty spot for a home—a lace where two loving, contented hearts might well and dwell, and never know the pains or cares of a bustling, restless world. Upon the bright sunny morning of the day following the colonists’ arrival at Cat City, a young woman of peste face and form stood in he doorway of the isolated cabin, in a listening attitude, ‘ That she was expecting some one was evi- dent, for she fasted forward with a little joy- ous cry as a horseman suddenly dashed from the woods and across the clearing to the door, where he drew rein and leaped from the saddle, to receive her into his arms. : A handsome fellow he was, ata glance, with a smooth face and dusky eyes, which corre- nded in color with his garments, which were black, from the top-boots upon his feet, to the jaunty slouch hat upon his head. ‘* Dick, Dick! Iam so glad you came, to-day, for I was getting so lonesome, with no one to talk to,” the little woman said, returning his ‘Tell me, did you succeed in ‘‘Of course, ma petite Edith,” the new-comer replied, leading the way into the cabin. “ Did you ever know Phineas Porter to lose a case he undertook? The missing money had been stolen by a step-son, who of course a woman in the case.” - Y . Deadwood Dick’s Double. eee a ee ‘* And now, you will stay at home with me ever so long, before you go away again, won't you,’ Edith said, coaxingly. ‘“‘lf you but ew how lonely it is when you’re gone you'd not go away.” ‘‘] daresay it is, dear, and I would be with you ever, were it not for my calling.” ‘*Give up that calling, then. There are others, in plenty, to fill your place.” “Perhaps so, but | do not think you under- stand my nature, even yet, darling. I could not exist without excitement. It has been the one demand of my past life as it must be of the future. When I have plenty of excitement I am at home; when excitement flags, I am dull and stupid. Since I left road-agency, though firmly resolved to quiet down, I have found it a tough struggle, and were it not for what little I do in the detective line, I should expire, I fear. This is not because I do not love you— indeed no, for you are the sweetest treasure of my life, Edith: But you know I have been wild and untamed so long that restlessness hag grown to be a second nature to me.” ro suppose you are right, my husband, but —but—” and here the little girl-wife broke down, and sobbed as if her heart would break. “There! there, pet, don’t cry, please don’t,” Deadwood Dick said, gathering her to his breast. “T have but one more case—then, if you say so, I will not leave you again,” “Oh! Dick! will you really, truly? I should be so much happier,” and Edith’s pretty eyes brightened, wonderfully. ‘‘ What other case ia this of which you speak?” ‘“‘One in which the knife and revolver will have to take the place of the cunning and craft of the detective, I fear,” Deadwood Dick replied, grimly. ‘‘l just got news, aé Turkey Canyon, this morning, to look out for myself. Some rascal thirsting for notoriety, has hitched onto my title, and under the name of Deadwood Dick, is committing numerous depredations, of a criminal character, thereby imperiling my own gui gt “Oh! Dick! What will become of you? The people will think it is you, instead of the double of yours, and your safety will be gone.” “Perhaps, yes. But, when they catch the Old Original napping, it will be time to fear. This Double, as you have appropriately termed him, is the very man I must seek, and induce to relinquish the use of my title. I will hunt him down as 1 would a bear, and any him if he re- fuses to exonerate me from all blame. No doubt there will be need for me to lie low, as T am pretty generally known as Deadwood Dick, and an effort may be madeto take me, You have nothing to fear, however,as no one will disturb you, and you need not fear but what I can take care of myself. You are not afraid to remain here, alone, for a few days, are ou? “No, Dick—not if it is necessary that I should doso. Old Daggers will stay with me, and I shall not be afraid,” “True, Daggers is a faithful, noble dog, and worth his weight in gold. Where is the old fellow?” and putting his fingers to his lips, Deadwood Dick gave vent to a shrill whistle. A moment later a great shaggy mastiff af unusual size came bounding into the room. At sight of Deadwood Dick he gave a joyful bark, and rising upon his hind feet he walked for- ward, and placed his front paws affectionately about the ex-chief’s neck, and rubbed his nose ainst his master’s head. t was an act of almost human affection, and tears sprung into Dick’s eyes, as he patted the noble animal softly. ‘* Noble fellow!” he murmured, ‘you are in- deed a true friend. With two such loving pets as you and Edith any man might well be happy. But I must not nog? d longer. I must away to bunt down my Double. Be he a giant or a devil, he must drop my name, and repair the injury he is doing me—or die!” ‘Bravo! husband; your words I enthusi- astically echo. As Deadwood Dick you are a free man, and therefore let no one stain your name again.” “Nor will I. Here, Daggers, my boy; do you see your mistress yonder?” | : The sagacious mastiff wagged his tail in as- sent. ‘Well, now, I am going away, to be gone some time. What will you do when I am away, old fellow?” Leaving Dick’s side, the dog went over to where Edith was standing, and seated himself upon his haunches in front of her, showing his jong pearly teeth, and uttering a deep growl as 8 did | Deadwood Dick rose with a smile. Comicboo Sj