Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 129 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

£ -- = a - — + ewe —— - os ‘No need for me to remain longer, Editi, dear, when you have so brave a defender. Take care of yourself, now, and if you see any one approaching the cabin, close and bar the door, A kiss, pet, and then I am off to trail my Double.” ith vouchsafed the token of affection cheer- fully, and then after holding her for a moment in his arms, Deadwood Dick left the cabin. His horse was waiting him at the door, and he vaulted into the saddle with the same ease as when, a few years before, he had held full sway as Prince of the Deadwood Trail. ** By-by, darling!” he cried, waving his hand; “do not fear for me, nor for yourself, for I do not think any one will seek to disturb you.” ‘‘T hope not. By-by!” Edith returned, and then he galloped away across the glade, and was soon lost to view in the woods below. ‘Poor Dick,” the little wife murmured. * Wil his life ever be freo from peril? It would gzeem not. Hardly does he cast aside one ob- struction or danger, before another menaces him. But, brave as the bravest, he battles on. ae Dick. Ilove him more and more every ! * And cast your affection upon a worthless, roving vagabond,” a cool voice exclaimed, and a man stepped from around one corner of the eabin with a low laugh. Edith stepped back with a little cry of alarm, for she recognized the sinister face as that be- longing to one of the most notorious ruffians in the region—and tbat man Chris Carleton—the - lieutenant of Deadwood Dick’s Double. CHAPTER ITI. THE FIRST BLOW. Bureut and early in the morning of the day succeeding their arrival at Cat City, the colon- ists were up, and to work, witha will. The ring of the ax and the echo of the ham- mer, t-..ether with the zum-zum of the saw and the shouts of stentorian voices, were heard in the valley. Men were hurrying to and fro; others were felling the great pines; others still wore dragging them forth from the forest, with the aid of horses. Everywhere were bustle and activity, and sigus that civilization had struck Cat City and Gorgon Gulch. Before noon the unmistakable shape and forma- tion of a stanch log fortress began to loom up, not over a score of rods distant from the Casino, and by early sunset, through the united efforts of the plucky colonists, a two-story structure sixty by a hundred feet, with a thatched and slab roof, stood frowning down 7 the stage trail, ready for sp oe To be sure there was no floor in it, and but a rude chimney, and the cracks and crevices had not been artistically plastered; but for all these deficiencies it offered a protective shelter to the colonists. And they proceeded to take possession of it forthwith. The wagons were unpacked of the effects that had been brought alopg—each containing a few pieces of furniture, bedding, and housekeeping’ ossentials—and said effects were moved into the toxt, to be distributed around by busy feminine hands, while men corraled the wagons in the rear of the fort, and secured the horses for tho night in oneend of the long structure, which had been divided off for their accommodation. Wiens all was arranged to general satisfac- tion, “ye colonists gathered before the door of their fort, and sent up three loud long cheers that awoke a thousand startled echoes through- out toe valley. “ Hurrah!” Alf Montague cried, enthusias- tically. ‘‘Send along your Deadwood Dick, now, if he wants to fight. We'll guarantee to give him ail he wants, too. By the way, boys, what are we going to name our fort? A name she must have, or we shall not be lucky. What shall it be?’ ‘* Name her FYort Ethel,” Fred St. Celton said, **in honor of our gallant leader’s daughter.” “Ay! ay! that’s the talk—Fort Ethel it is,” the colonists agreed, with one exception, and he the dark-faced fellow who had joined the colony in Kansas—Lew Lyons. . **T don’t see it!” he ted. ‘‘ Thet ain’ta high-sonndin’ title enough fer a fort. Give et aha big name, like Fort Fortune or Fire ran.’ : “See here,” Royce Elliot cried, ‘‘ what do you mean? Do you cast a slur at my sister, you iat If that’s your game, I'll break every ein your body.” It had been observable that Lyons had been paying considerable attentiou.. to Ethel in the t few days, and having become unpleasantly twice repulsed i familiar, she had , since ee eee ee —_— + ee - EE eee ee <4 Deadwood Dick’s Double. ee eee Ce- er - = — --- -- e+ te ewe + re eee oe eee ee se - - - -_---— oe ee ee ee ee a ae ~ —_ . -—- -— ——- ee when he had been moody and silent—a black | out for the spot, and, on arriving there, found shadow, as it were, in the cheerful party. Royce Elliott, ever watchful, had noted the state of affairs, and had kept an eye upon the man, Lyons, resolved to ‘‘ thrash” him, should he overstep his bounds. Lyons flushed now at the words of the other, a gleam of hatred coming into his eyes. ‘You can name your cussed fort what you please, for all | care,” he growled, turning away. = Port Ethel it shall be, then,’”’ Alf Montague cried, ‘*‘in honor of the captain’s daughter. By the way, boys, I do not like the looks of that Lew Lyons. It appears to me he’s just one of the kind of fellows who would stab you when our back is turned.” ‘*Exactly my opinion,” Charley St. Celton agreed. ‘ He got ‘snake’ written in his eyes plain as the nose on old Bill Myers’s face.” This created a general laugh, for the nose of the Casino’s illiterate host had been the butt of ee / jokes since the arrival of the colonists. ‘*] dare say that Lyons is no prime favorite with any of us,” Judge Elliott said, gravely, “ but it isn’t advisable for us to incur his enmi- ty. Id rather have the love than the hatred of such a man as he, any time. He might be able rg us no perenne ae ee ‘Papa is right!” Ethel cried, er rogu- ish face out of the door. ‘ Bon't came ais more enemies than possible, for we shall have enough as it is.” As the sun went down there was a perceptibly anxious expression upon the faces of the colo- nists, many glances were turned toward the surrounding mountain-tops. They were looking for, ane e ted to see the fires that wood Dick had promised should appear. Nor were they disappointed. About nine o’clock in the evening, fires v9 peared, one by one, upon the neighboring cliffs and peaks, and burn brightly. From the door of the fort the little band of colonists watched them, with the dawning realization that they were the si for the ag: of a bitter struggle for the possession of the little ch valley. Old Bill a and Sing Song came over from the Casino, and stood ab ee the illu- mination grimly, as they smoked their clay Per reckion thet means bizness, Jedge,” Myers observ with a strange chuckle. ‘‘ Them ar’s Deadwood Dick’s last warnin’s fer ye ter git up and git.” ‘*The avail nothing,” Judge Elliott re- ae will fight for the session of his valley as long as we draw the breath of e life. “You bet we will,” Alf Montague assented, decidedly. ‘We'll hold the fort as long as we've hands left to fight with.” The fires soon burned down, and were not re- kindled. At Judge Elliott’s suggestion two of the St. Celtons were detailed for guard, to keep watch in the neighborhood of the cabin during the a, en the others of the party turned in. Morning dawned, without any important event transpiring. Nothing of the enemy had been seen by the St. Celton boys, and the light of day revealed no suspicious movement in the valley. os Perhaps we shall not have much trouble, after all?’ Judge Elliott said, as he dropped in at the Casino for acigar. ‘‘The note and the fires may have been ventured to scare us away.” ** Meb , and mebbe not,” old Bill replied, grufily. “T opine ye’ll heer from Deadwood ick yet.” Judge Elliott was not so sure of this. He be- lieved that the rival claimant would hardly dare attempt an open attack, when he saw how strongly the colonists had rooted themselves by building the fort. After breakfast, Royce and Montague shoul- dered their rifles, and set off to explore the wooded portions of the gulch, where the farm- se tracts of the colony were to be located. hey soon became separated, however, and when, at noon, Montague returned to the fort, he sp that Royce Elliott had not yet ar- rived. No particular attention was paid to this fact, until young n went for a bucket of water, to the spring in the woods, He soon came running back to the fort, then, with the announcement that Royce Elliott was lying insensible in the woods, near the spring. A half-dozen of the eolonists, headed by Judge Elliott and Alf Montague, instantly set : / w L We > nut ~*& > Oe = cA ‘4 LLL LLL LL, LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL RD LL LLL LL LLL LT tt young Hanson’s report confirmed. Royce was lying stretched out upon the ground, insensible, not a dozen feet from the spring. His face and body appeared to be bloated, and a hasty examination resulted in the discovery that he was dead ! He was taken up and carried to the fort, aad a more careful examination was made of his erson. No wound or bruise of any kind could se found upon his body, yet he was dead be, yond cB pomp corre there being no warmth in the body or beating of the heart. In some inexplicable manner he had been stricken down in his prime. Judge Elliott and Ethel were nearly distract- ed over their sad loss, and the rest of the col- ovists shared with them their grief. Royce had been a prime favorite with all, and his sudden death was a shock not easily to be put aside. lf Montague and Lyons were the coolest men of ae lot. jane Ate ontague was deeply grieve ut his was the grief that found acectien: in grave silence. Lyons did not appear to be in the least af- fected, but satin a retired corner and cleaned his rifle, while the others were weeping over the cold remains. Old Bill Myers and his celestial companion came over from the Casino and viewed the co ; OYe can set et down as ther furst blow o’ thet cuss, Deadwood Dick,” he said, to Monta- gue, in an undertone. ‘“ Ken ye find how he was tuk off?” “No. There is no signs of wounds or vio- lence to be found upon his person.” ‘* Mighty queer about thet. Found him cluss to the spring, did ye?” ‘* Yes—not a dozen feet from it.” ‘* Have any of ye drunk water frum it since ye a him?” ‘No ‘*Then don’t ye, jest yet. Mebbe thet ar’ water has been pizened.”’ ‘** Poisoned ?” Montague aneec “Yas, pizened. I’ve heerd o’ sech things bein’ done afore now, an’ I reckon Deadwood Dick ain’t purtickler how he gits rid o’ ye.” ‘‘By Heaven! a you are right. This thing must be investigated before there are any more victims.” The young colonist BY ena communicated the suspicion of old Bill Myers to the others, who were of course surprised, and yet saw a likelihood in the suggestion. Young Hanson was immediately sent for some of the water of the spring, in order that it might be analyzed. Fred St. Celton was a chemist, and declared that he could soon tell whether the water had been poisoned or not. In the meantime, while Montague and Tom St. Celton were removing the body of poor Royce to a bed, a paper dropped from his pocket, which was the key to the mystery. aah it, in letters of blood, were written the words: ‘*Poison!—my First Blow—tremble for the see- ond! EADWOOD Dick!” That was all, but it explained the cause of Royce’s death, in accordance with Myers’s sus- picion. We must needs return to the day before, when we left Edith, the wife of the original Deadwood Dick, confronted by the an, Chris Carleton. She was not frightened—only startled by his sudden appearance. ‘What do you mean by this intrusion, sir? she demanded, bravely, for although she knew him by name, she could form no idea of what errand could have brought him hence, ‘What do I mean?” Carleton demanded, pausing and thrusting bis hands in his breeches pockets, with a leer upon his evil visage. ‘‘ Well, now, if to izness to ye while Deadwood Dick’s away. Ye see, l’ve had several glimpses of ye 0’ late, when I’ve been prowlin’ around, and I’ve gone dead sot on ye, fera fact. So I come down here, ter day, ter get ye ter onhitch from Dick, as it war, an’ hitch onto me.” “Sir! do you mean to insult me?’ Edith cried, flushing angrily. ‘‘ Begone, sir, or I will _ for my husband. It is not too late to make im hear! | ‘¢Ye can yell as much as ye please,” Carleton assured, grimly. ‘‘I don’t care a cussed conti- nental about yer lovey-dovey Dicky, you bet. Yure ther stool-pigeon ('m after, an’ Ill make et plain ter ye thet I’m all fair an’ squar’. I don’t mean ter insult ye, but purpose ter hev e really want to know, I’ve cum down | comicbooks tg