Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 129 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

-_—--- ene ae eee — to see that they were also in the habit of com- bining the profitable pursuit of prospecting with the pleasure of hunting. ‘* Let them go,” Judge Elliott said, in answer to a question from Montague. ‘If they dis- nates gold in this valley, they cannot hold the m. And so it was decided to put no restrictions upon the movements of the new-comers, who gave their names as Jones, Alien and Gray. They lounged around the tavern during the day and drank freely, and spent their money witha freehand. Toward nicht Jones, a brawny six-footer, walked over to the fort and offered the judge a hundred dollars for a building lot alongside the stage road, but was refused, at which he did not appear very much pleased, and stalked away, swearing mildly. That night they filled up chock full of Myers’s ‘liquid paralysis,” and howled around the tav- ern in high revelry until sunrise, when they made their appearance, armed with their wea- pons and mining implements. “What do you propose doing, gentlemen?” St. Celton, the elder, asked, as they were about to set off down into the heart of the basin. “Oh, we’re goin’ ter dig fer grubs ter go a-fishin’ wi’,” Jones replied, with a leer, at which the others laughed, eae rey After they had gone, St. Celton, Sr., shook his head, doubtingly. **T don’t quite like this business,” he said. *‘ It looks to me as if this was a little game of Dead- wood Dick’s origin, to get his men into the val- ley without our knowledge, so that he will be better prepared to fight us.” ‘True! it does savor that way,” Judge Elliott assented, ‘‘ and when those fellows return, we’d best order them away.” ‘* But what if they refuse to go?” ‘Then, we'll take charge of them.” Nothing more was seen of them, however, until noon, when the man, Allen, came from the woods and departed on the northward stage, An hour later, when the southward stage passe, the giant, Jones, was seen to emerge from the woods and board it. That left in the valley, out of the three, only Gray, a sharp-eyed little Missourian. The colonists had watched the movements not a little anxiously, for they felt that something was brooding of importance, ‘‘Look out for an invasion, now,” Alf Mon- tazue warned, as he saw Jones depart. ‘* Those fellows have discovered gold in this valley, mark my word for it, and they mean to bring back a gang of roughs with them big enough in numbers to take and bold the land!” ‘* We shall see about that,” Fred St. Celton said, a little fiercely. ‘‘ Perhaps it is just possi- ble that two can play at that game!” CHAPTER V. A VILLAINOUS PROPOSAL. ‘“WHAT do you mean?’ Montague asked. ‘*T will show you,” Fred replied, ps wir up his belt. ‘‘ Fetch me a horse, some one; an I will ride to the nearest town, and bring back a gang of miners, who will fight for us /” ‘That won’t do,” Judge Elliot replied—‘“ not if we can avoid it. We would simply have to ive up our lands in either case. There is, I be- ve, a better plan for us topursue. Myers has been telling me that this Deadwood Dick lives upon the stage trail, about ten miles from here, and that he has a pretty wife, of whom ho is ionately fond. Now, if we could capture oer, and bring her here, as a prisoner, [ fancy that we could manage Mr. Deadwood Dick, just about as we pleased.” ‘‘Tt’s a capital idea,” Montague assented, eagerly. ‘‘ Deadwood Dick’s wife once in our wer, we will have him boiled down fine—that if he cares anything for her.” ‘‘Myers avers that he does care very much for her, and rather than that she should suffer, he would, undoubtedly, suspend hostilities.” “ But, surely, papa, you would not think of harming her?’ Ethel interrogated, anxiously. ‘That depends somehat upon circumstances,” the Virginian ee, a little sternly. “If the road-agent devi rsist in arinosiatie and killing our men, either her life or his must pay the forfeit.” “Who will volunteer to go and fetch the woman?’ Montague asked. ‘‘The sooner we can get her here, the better, as, I imagine to- morrow will see a change in the situation of affairs.” “{ will go, for one,” Fred St. Celton respond- ed. ‘I only want a couple of others to accom- y me, as three can handle a woman better than a dozen.” i * <8 “3 / ’ ne +4 Pa : a rs onble. ——— ————$—_—__— —— teered to go, and it was decided to start at once, as night was drawing on, and it would be safer traveling. The swiftest horses were according- ly selected, and their feet muffled: then vaulting Into the saddles, the three colonists were off. After they had gone, the remaining colonists made preparations for another night’s watch. About sunset Chris Carleton rode into the valley and dismounted before the Casino, with as much coolness as though he were not an out- law and a member of Deadwood Dick’s band. Entering the tavern, he drank deeply of Myers’s whisky, when he left the place, and mounting, rode over to the fort. Judge Bliott and Montague were standing in the doorway as he rode up watching his move- ments, for they were resolved, if necessary, to eons the interests of the colony by shooting im. ‘“?Hivenin’,” Carleton grunted, as he yanked his horse to a standstill. ‘* Bina fine day, ain’t it?” **' The day has been pleasant,” the Judge re- plied stiffly, resolved to keep his temper and wrath in abeyance as long as possible, despite the great loss he had suffered. ‘*How d’ye make it jibe?” the outlaw de- manded, coolly twisting the ends of his mus- tache. ‘‘ Gettin’ most reddy ter vamoose?” “By no means, sir. If you came here to test us, you can go away knowing that we will fight for this valley as long as we have a grain of Aart an ounce of lead, or a drop of life- “Waal, that ain’t percisely what I cum fer,” the ruffian replied, with a peculiar grin. ‘' Ye see et kinder ‘peared ter me like as ef ye hed ther best side o’ this question fer a pistolic de- bate, an’ [ cum down ter see ef we couldn’t strike a bargain.” ‘“*T do not know about that, sir. There is none of us that owes you any good will, and consequently we should advise you to keep away. m Well, ef ye’d ruther hev my enmity then my friendship, jest say so, an’ ye ken have dead loads of et.” ‘* We crave for neither, sir—simply for peace- ful possession,” the Judge said, deci oe ‘*Neow, that’s ther very thing wot I want, too,” Carleton assured, ‘I tell ye what, ef ye don’t make terms wi’ me, ye’re losin’ yer last chance 0’ winnin’ the game. Before sunset ter- morrer, thar’ll be over a hundred men, wimmen an’ children here in this valley who’d obey Deadwood Dick’s very beck an’ nod. Then ye ken’t say yer soul’s yer own. Yer only hope hops inter view jest now. Ef ye make terms, I hev ther arate 2 ter check the stampede into this valley. Ef not, thar’ll be lively times heer, an’ ther in will fill wi? spilt blood!” ‘ ** Do your worst, we fear not,” Montague cried. ‘‘Carry the word back to your chief that we defy him.” ‘* But, hold! First let us hear this fellow’s terms,” Judge Elliot said. ‘‘ Perhaps they will be such that we may accept them.” ‘*Now ye tork bizness,” Carleton averred. ‘** 1 ain’t no swine, an’ I allow I know w’at’s er fair shake as well as ther next one. An’ so ef ye'll dig ther wax outer yer ears, an’ listen, l’ll tell ye wot Pildo. Et depends muchly on me whether ye hold this valley or not. I kin stop the influx o’ Deadwood Dick’s men, or I kin in- crease ’em, a hundred fold. My terms are that you will each give me ten acres off o’ yer farms, where they corner in the middle o’ this basin— give ’em to me as my own, rightful property an’ thet you, Jedge, shell give me over the darter o’ yours, ter fill my shanty as Mrs. Chris Carleton!” “ By heaven! I’d see you at the further end of the earth, first, so far as giving you my smn Judge Elliott cried, wieredy ‘and I am equally sure that none of us would part with any of our lands for the sake of securing the good will of a man of your type.” “Then ye refuse ter cum ter terms?” ** Absolutely!” “*Cuss yel ye’ve sealed yer fate then. I will not hinder the vengeful work o’ Deadwood Dick, an’ he’ll massacre every mother’s son o’ ye. An,’ asfer thet pretty female posey thar wi'in the fort, ’'ll pursess her yet, an’ don’t ye fergit it, ef I hev ter wade in blood over my boot-teps ter git her. [ve sworn ter et, an’ ye’ll find me true ter my oath.” Then shaking his fist at them, the ruffian wheeled his horse and spurred away. With an exclamation Montague whipped out his revolver, but the Judge laid his hand upon his arm, ge sails “Stay! not shoot him, and hasten the trouble upon us. We are ill prepared for battle \" J LL I tt tata, Se ee ee en — ——_— = each carried a pick, pan and shovel, it was easy Young Hanson and Warwick finally volun- | even with our full force, and three are absent. Wait! There will be fighting enough to do, hereafter.” ‘“You are right,” the young man replied. ‘* Let the rascal go. A just fate will soon over- take him.” And so Chris Carleton was permitted to ride out of the basin guich unmolested, which was « kindness he did not deserve, to say the least. No other incident of importance occurred that day, and night settled her somber shadows once more over the land. Two of the younger St. Celton boys volun- | teered to do guard duty, and accordingly were permitted to do so, while the remainder of the colonists turned in for the night, as the ab- peeone vere not expected before morning, or ater. it was just early dawn when Montague was aroused by the howl of a coyote near the door of the fort—a mournful, snarling sound that chilled him. He partly arose, and touched the senior War- wick, who lay near by. ‘ ‘*Did you hear that?’ he demanded, in a low O ne. ‘* Yes,” was the reply. ‘‘It was some wild animal.” ‘** Exactly, and its presence here has a signifi- cance. There is trouble, and you and I must make an investigation. ‘Sh! don’t make a noise !”’ Both men softly arose, and stole toward the door. Montague lifted the bars, and flung it open, at the same time drawing his revolvers. The next instant both he and Warwick leaped back with startled yells. The sight that stared them in the face was too horrible for belief at first sight. Just in front of the door, not more than fifty feet distant, two poles had been planted into the ground, leaving about ten feet above-ground. on the top of these poles were stuck the bodiless heads of George and Charlie St. Celton ! The heads had been cleanly severed from the body, and thus perched as a ghastly warning to the colonists, for upon the forehead of each was slashed the letters ‘‘ D. D.”—signifying ‘‘ Dead- wood Dick!” The bodies of the unfortunate young men were nowhere in sight. The startled yells of Montague and Warwick Hee brought the rest of the colonists from their slumber to gaze transfixed with horror upon the awful sight. How can we picture the terrible grief of those colonists, especially the father, mother, sister and brothers of the murdered youths? Indeed, it would be a task not pleasant to undertake, and therefore we pass over the scene of bitter mourning and lamentation that followed, as briefly as possible. The two ghastly heads were taken down and buried in a box near the fort, being the second solemn occasion of the kind since the eolonists arrived in Cat City valley. The sun rose bright on this day, but the pioneers could see no signs of hostile presence in the valley, although by Judge Elliott’s orders, no one had ventured beyond gun-shot range from the fort. Unanimously chosen as commander of the little fort, the Judge determined to execute his duties to the best of his ability. About noon the stages arrived from ths North and South, but neither unloaded any human ace in front of the Casino. at was the meaning? Had the plan of invading the Gulch been aban- doned, or had Deadwood Dick stolen in and taken possession during the night? It was a puzzling problem to solve, but Alf Montague decided to tackle it. It was nec to make a scout to ascertain the “lay of the land,” and arming himself well, he decided to go alone. Accordingly, early in the afternoon he set forth, promising to come back as soon as pos- sible, for Fred St. Celton and his party had not “i returned, which left but seven es at the ort. Taking the road going south, he followed it until he had entirely left the valley. This wasa maneuver to outwit any of the enemy (if there were anv such in the basin) and make them be- lieve he was going to Leadville. He then dropped upon all-fours and crept care- fully back to the edge of the basin, where he paused. A skirting fringe of bushes ran from the mouth, around the eastern side of the mountain’s base, to the northern continuation of the guleh, comicbooks (E(0}