Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 129 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

al ne —— He finally, by crawling upor his stomach, gained theprotection of this cover, which was precisely what he most desired; he then crept on, upon his hands and knees, until he gained a sition among the foothills, directly opposite he fort, across the basin. Here he paused once more, to make observa- tions. Without being seen he could see down into the valley, but could see no signs of life. All was silent except the trees that were occasion- ally fanned by the breeze. **By Jove! [ believe there are persons in the depths of that forest yet, and I’m going to sat- isfy myself on the p’int, if I have to run the risk of my iife.” He accordingly crept down from the footin toward the heart of the valley, which was thick- ly timbered with pine and spruce evergreens. With the stealth and caution of a _ skilled trailer he moved on until he had arrived near the center of the forest, where he paused. Before him lay a little glade that hoe had never seen before, across which ran a little stream of glistening water. Near this was built a rude hut of limbs and brush, thatched over with moss, leaves and grasses—a hastily arranged affair at the best. Montague paused in the edge of the glade as motionless as a phantom—paused and gazed and listened, to ascertain if any person was within the rude hut. But his penance finally became exhausted, for no signs of human life was he able to discover. The grim pines sighed and soughed, as they were wont to do, in the embrace of the breeze; the little creek babbled noisily over its gravelly bed; the insects of the forest droned and chirped as usual and the birds sung musically, but nota sound or sight of human presence greeted the watcher. “ T’ve half a notion to go forward and take a peep into that shebang, anyhow,” he muttered. ‘I shan’t more than get salivated, as they say, for my cheek, and the satisfaction of one’s curi- osity ought to compensate for the pangs of one bullet. I guess I’m mistaken about there being invaders in the gulch, if this hut has any sig- nificance. It was probably built by that Gray, Jones and Allen.” “Yer darned right thar, pardner,” a cool voice exclaimed, and wheeling around Monta- gue found the little Missourian, Gray, standing close behind with a pair of formidable six- shooters in his grasp, already cocked. ‘* Yer darned right thar, old hoss, an’ sence ye’ve cum down ter visit us, I opine I shall oblige yer ter accept my nee ary, ontil ther rest o’ ther g arrives. name’s Gil Gray, an’ ’!m a oroughbred. rop yer weepons, or Tl puncturate ye!” CHAPTER VI. SLIPPERY SAL APPEARS. MONTAGUE clearly saw that he had run him- ot into a fix, but did not propose to cry about it. He was the coolest, always, when danger page and the best prepared to cope with S. He perceived that the little Missourian had him ‘‘ covered” by his weapons, and that resist- ance was, for the time being, utterly useless. Still, he resolved to hold parley for awhile im hopes, Micawberlike, that something woul “turn up” to relieve him from his dilemma. ‘You don’t mean to take me a prisoner?” he demanded, as if in great surprise. “‘ What have I done to you?” ** Waal, | opine thet ain’t my say. Bob Jones he be my right bower, an’ I act accordink to bis instructions. He sed latch onter ye, ef ye poked yer nose down this way, an’ you bet I mind like a angel.” ‘*IT perceive you do. But I don’t see what your pardner can want of me.” “Oh! Ye’ll find thet out when he comes along wi’ ther Capt’in an’ ther rest o’ ther gang.” “Then you belong to Deadwood Dick’s in- fernal crew, do you?” Montague demanded. “It does me proud to announce that I do,” Gray declared, with a chuckle. **'Then you’re the precise galoot I’m anxious ter tackle!” a strange voice cried, and to the surprise of both, a new-comer stepped in upon the scene, and ‘‘ covered” the Missourian with a cocked revolver fully as dangerous-looking as his own. Not a man, mind you, but a woman, young and comely—a strange creature, attired in a semi-male hunting suit, consisting of fringed breeches, top boots, long hunting-shirt, and a jaunty straw hat upon ber head. Deadwood Dick’s Double. In face she was handsome of feature, and fair of complexion, although it was easily per- ceptible that she had acquired and adopted the high feminine art of painting and powdering. Her eyes were dark and penetrating, and a great abundance of yellow hair was frizzed and puffed upon her head and forehead, and fell in waves upon her shoulders. She was armed with weapons of the latest improved patterns—a rifle slung behind her back, a revolver and knife in her belt, and the revolver in her grasp. In her left hand, she carried a small leather sachel. Steadily did she level her weapon at the heart of the Missourian, and in a way that meant business. ‘*You jest drap them patent perforaters o’ yours, ef ye don’t want me ter plug ye wi’ a slug frum my krupp gun, heer!” she advised, coolly. ‘*‘Thes hyar high-handed leetle game o’ yourn don’t work wuth a Canadian copper; an’ as I’m a Regulator an’ Adjuster on my own hook, I opine ef ye don’t mind right peart, V’ll prepare ye fer a leetle hole in ther ground.” ‘“Who the devil are you?’ the Missourian growled, flinching before the magnetic deadly gaze of the strange girl—for she was little else, apparently—and allowing his weapons to drop from a level with Montague’s heart. ‘‘ You hain’t got no bizness ter lip in, an’ stick yer paw in my puddin’!” ** Mebbe not, but when [ hain’t got no liberty I allus manufacter a supply, ye see. Ef ye want my cog, et’s Slippery Sal Slocum, an’ don’t ye fergitit. Ever heer o’ me? [ma hull circus, an’ part o’a pernaggerie when ye get me waked up, sure. Come! sling away them weepons, I say!” ‘‘Mebbe I will, an’ mebbe I won’t,” Gray snarled. ‘What do you intend to do with me?” ‘Hang you, on course,” Slippery Sal assured. ‘*'Yowll lend a hand won’t you, pilgrim?” turn- ing to Montague. ‘I don’t know,” the colonist replied, rather dubiously. ‘ Theart of hanging has never been one 0’ my accomplishments.” ‘* Bah! thet don’t make no difference. Ye ken’t learn any pig. ak an’ ef ye ’re goin’ ter squat around ther diggins, ye ken’t put yer waste time ter better purpose than practicin’ on sech ornery skunks as this. After ye git yer hand in, it’s fun. Remember poor Royce Elhott and don’t crawfish fer a few compunkshuns, nohow.” ‘** Bet a burro ye won't hang me,” the Missou- rian growled, ‘‘ Listen! some o’ ther boys are comin’ !”’ ‘Then, that settles your fate, you cussed ruf- fian!” Slippery Sal cried, with sudden griin- ness, and the next instant her weapon twice spoke forth its fury. Gray uttered an exclamation of pain and rage and dropped—not dead, but mortally wounded, At the same time there were a dozen rifle re- Phage: the sound of vindictive yells, and a vol- ey of bullets whistled through the glade. ontague uttered a faint groan. Slippery Sal looked, saw him him fall, and knew that he was wounded, The outlaw companions of the Missourian now burst into the valley, a score or more, with ogee yells and oaths. ippery Sal uttered a strange, wild, almost devilish laugh, and bounding forward in the face of the oncoming ruffians, seized Montague and raising him from the ground, across her shoulders, she sprung on, away into the deeper forest, with the fleetness of a fawn. Uttering discordant yells of vengeance the outlaws dashedaway in hot pursuit, but although strong and stout, and unincumbered, they were no match for this strange female Hercules. An accustomed runner, evidently, was she, for she kept on with rapid bounds, despite her burden, the heft of which caused the roses to spring vieny into her fair cheeks. AEOUED e forest she went bounding and gnning. ike a hunted fox—over fallen trees, em briers and bushes, bravely bearing the wounded colonist out of danger. At last she burst from the forest, and a few bounds brought her to the fort, the door of which was open to receive ber with her burden. Just as she entered the fort, the outlaws burst from the timber, but on seeing that she had escaped them, they beat a hasty retreat, out of sight. af Oh! what has happened to Alf?’ Ethel Elliott demanded, in tates: as Slippery Sal Reon unloaded Montague from her shoulder, and laid him upon a couch of straw. ‘Is he dead—killed? Oh! Alf! Alf!” —— ee ‘** No, he ain’t dead, nor killed, 1 reckon,” the eccentric girl replied, with a little laugh, ‘‘ but I’ll allow he’d a-got hashed-up purty lively by them toughs, ef et hedn’t been for agal o’ about. my statter an’ amiability. My name’s Sal Slocum, leddies an’ gentlemen, ef ye wanter know—Slippery Sal, fer short, an’ I’m allus on my muscle, ready fer a skewrup. Heerd ye | needed recruits, down heer, and thort ’d cum down an’ show my hand. Got anything toeat?” ‘Of course we have, and you shall have a!) you want of such as we have, because you saved Alf!” Ethel declared. And the rest of the colonists warmly wel comed the odd stranger, who had risked her own. life to save that of Montague, who was not:eri- ously wounded—a bullet in either leg being hie. oS, disabling hurts, ippery Sal soon proved that she knew how to make herself at home, and that she was nota. | bit bashful. Moreover she was tonguey and witty, and her presence was the means of in _ a measure cheering the colonists out of the — gloomy state they were gradually settling into. | Though bold and eccentric, her actions vers. not censurable, and she soon was respected and | admired by all within the fort, but was equally - a puzzle to them. she could sing, or dance, or joke, upon an in-.~ stant’s warning, and yet, at times a sudden wave. of thoughtfulness would seem to steal over her, and thus she would remain until the cloud litt | ed, a few minutes later. . Fred St. Celton’s band had not yet returned with the wife of Deadwood Dick, and considcr- . able anxiety was felt lest they had been en~ trapped or ambushed by the outlaws, andeithem. taken prisoners or massacred. When asked her opinion about the matter,, » after an explanation had been made to her, - | Slip ry Sal shook her head. ‘Don’t allow they’ve see’d any trouble frome ther gang, ’case they’ve bin byar in the valley* » since last midnight, or at least a sheer o’’em. | What aire we goin’ ter fetch Deadwood Dick’s» | wife here for?” “She is to be our prisoner. We are going te | use her to protect ourselves with. Ei his, | Deadwood Dick must withdraw his claim fren, . the valley and cease his hostilities, or we shal) |) Le compelled to hold his wife as a hostage.” a “The plan won’t work,” Slippery said. = |} ‘‘When you deal with the genuine Deadwood | Dick, you deal with a gentleman of honor, and |) aman who fears neither feller-man nor devil.” — | ‘‘One would infer that you do not believe our» — | proeect enemy to be the genuine Deadwood. | ick,” the Judge said, in some surprise i ‘‘Thet’s about the size of et, yes. I’ve beerdt’ hh tell on ther real Deadwood Dick, an’ T’ll allow’ ‘| he don’t head a gang o’ cutthroats, now. This. | feller who’s claimin’ the gulch ain’t the gen. = |, uins. af “fT cannot believe that. Deadwood Dick has &.. — hard reputation, and it is said, never lets hue | man life stand in the way of his ambition.” “<a Slippery Sal turned away, . ‘* Mebbe not,” she said. ‘ Night drew on and began to close in over ther _ gulch basin. With its approach camp-fires be- — gan to gleam here and there on the edge of the. _ eastern forest. H Montague, supported by a pair of hastily- | or pees Tee ss oa >. ~~ — = me o's i i kd - ew oe STs - oe oll * s é 7 - oa . - ao i ae i ane ee ee ee Pp a * a j : 2. . ‘ formed crutches, watched them from the door _ of the fort, in company with the Judge, andy | Ethel, and several others among whom Slippery _ Sal was prominent. tg ‘‘T don’t believe but what we'll see trouble. |, to-night,” the young colonist replied, in answer |) to an inquiry for his opinion. ‘‘Thedevilshaye. | got possession of the timber, and can worry — us if they try.” ie ‘““ Yes, they’ve got ther dead wood on ye, but, that ain’t no reason why they shed lick, if ye | play er keerds sharp,” was Sal’s opinion, | . How do you mean?” “ibed “Oh! I kent tell ye, jest yet, ye know, but — take my word fer et, thar’ll be a red-hot chanee. .. ‘in’? them invaders by and by.” ) his was all that was said hei then, for . ‘General ” Elliott, as Sal had christened him, — gave orders for closing the fort. It was decided not post a guard upon the, outside of the building, owing to the tragic fate. _ of the two St. Celton boys. | Slippery Sal and Tudes Elliott volunteered _ to keep a watch within the fort, and give the. exe, should any suspicious sights or sounds be» ; ) ‘ f as ee s -_ eS Sees eee ‘ a PFs Sa el ww aa ee Ce ee i ee eard. The Girl Sport, as she characterized herself, . ‘. was a person of keen sense and judgment, de- spite her strangeness of word and manner, and = | gave little bits of advice, occasionally, in re j/ gard to different things, that showed that sher | ° —— alee ee ~ « / GComicbooks.cor — ——