Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 129 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

‘‘Perhaps not. Anyhow, we'll not harm her unless forced to doso. I am going to write some notices and have them sent to the chief of the gang, and see what he will have to say.” About noon Slippery Sal shouldered her rifle, and was about to leave the fort, when Montague hailed her. Bal AF ican are not going to leave us?’ he interrogated, ‘Tl allow I am, fer a time!” was the reply. “Got any objections?” “No, only that we would like to have you stay, as we may need heip.” “Oh! when ye need me, ye’ll find me in this immeget vicinity,” was the rep'y, aud then, witha wild laugh she strode away, along the westward trail. | Not long afterward the Kansan, Lew Lyons, followed in her tracks. He was armed to the teeth and had dec.ared his intention of going in search of game. But, judging from the cunningly evil expres- sion upon his sinister face, the game he sought was the Girl Sport. The way in which he followed her trail, also showed that he was ‘‘ no slouch” of a trailer or plainsman. Looking neither oe nor left, he continued on, following closely the trail of Shi pery Sal. It led out of the gulch basin, through the northern gap into the country that rolled away beyond—mountainous, gulch-riven, and rocky in the extreme. He finally paused—he had need to ge no further, if he was in search of Slippery Sal, for she stood before him! She had step suddenly from a clump of bushes, and confronted him, a cocked revolver in her hand, and a sei glitter in her eye. ‘* Halt!” she cried. ‘‘I was anticipating thet ye wanted ter hev a set-to wi’ me, sol jest waited, ye see, Squar’ yerself, now, ef thar’s any bizness in ye, an’ ye want ter face a catta- mount.” ‘¢ That’s ther very kind o’ a beast I wanter en- counter?’ Lyons assured, with a leer. ‘‘ You lipped in a little too much, down at ther fort, and sence eso free wi’ yer chin musick, I thort I'd foller ye an’ test yer capacity. I don’t ginerally allow no galoot ner even a galootess to adulter- ate my say, and when sich party do chip in, I allus scoop ’em up an’ scatter ’em at furst oppur- tunity.” “Korect! I never was in a more co-opera- tive mood than now. Ef ye want to sample my muscle sail right in, an’ lll receive ye. Ef ye want knives, [ll make my best sculptorial at- tempt at carvin’ ye, or, ef ye want pistolic preference, I'll salivate ye in ther latest ap- proved manner!” ‘‘P’ll choose revolvers, at thirty paces, for me!” the villain said, with a triumphant glitter in his eye. ‘All right—jest as ye please. Pace off,” Slippery Sal said; ‘‘an’ by the way, afore ye get ter wake, jest nominate the t whar I shall plant ye, after ve sent ye off!” “Most any place’ll do for me,” Lyons gritted, as he paced the distance, up the gulch, “an’ ef ye knuckle I'll bury ye in ther mudhole.” Then with weapons ready they took their places, convenient CHAPTER VIII. AN ODD ENCOUNTER. Boru parties were apparently cool and self- reliant—especially pa ppt? S She seemed to have no dread of the uncertain result, for there was a twinkle of triumph in her eye, and a faint smile hovering about her lips. Lyons, too, seemed calm, although there was a perceptible tremor to his arm, as he raised and cocked his weapon. ; ‘Cum! ain’t ye nevyer goin’ ter git reddy?” Sal demanded. ‘‘I’min a hurry ter decide my futur’ course o’ proceedin’s, an’ ef it don’t make go difference ter you, I’d motion thet ye be sum’at livelier—jest to make the thing interest- ing. : ie ‘I’m reddy,” Lyons said. ‘‘How we goin ber get ther start oft?” f ‘‘T'll tell ye a plan thet’s jest as fair fer one as tis fer ’tother, ner thar ain’t a goose’s ounce y shinnanigan about et. We'll both nf flat ‘pon ther ground, on our backs, wi’ our heads g-techin’, Then, when I yell ‘keno,’ ther first who kin ge inter a position fer a shot is ire mu eller, an’ scoops ther deck, What © SA “Tm agreeable. I’ve seen et tried before.” “Then drop!” —_—- —- Serer re ~~ ae te ce = — swiohaand Deadvrood Dick's Double. ee ——— iin their backs, with their arms stretched out, and their heads touching. ‘“Thet’s ther kind,” Slippery Sal declared, from her position. ‘‘ Ye know ther shape ye'll lay in yer coffin now, pilgrim. How d’ye feel, jest about this time?’ ‘*The same as before,” Lyons growled. ‘*An’ ye wanter become my last earthly ail- ment, eh?” ‘* 111 kill you at sight,” was the assurance, “Then, git reddy. Mebbe ye'll disregulate my system wi’ yer cuds o’ affeckshun, an’ meb- | be, ag’in, ye won’t. Mebbe I ain’t an iron-clad, 'and mebbe Tam. One! git ready. Two! Say | yer prayers an’ yer kittenchisms,an’ ask parding. Three! balance yerself fer ther final send-off, an’ prepare to cross Jordan afoot; and lastly— ‘keno !’” That was the signal—the fatal word that was tostart the duel, and decide the fates of the two concerned, And they were ready—waiting for it, that they might triumph. Lyons made a lightning effort to raise him- self, and succeeded, but before he could face around to get a shot, Slippery Sal had i over upon her face—a move the man from Kan- sas had not thought of—and the next instant her revolver spoke out spitefully. With a groan Lyons dropped back, the blood spurting from a hole in his side. ‘*Curse you!” he gasped; “‘ finish the job, and put me out of my misery.”’ ‘*No! I won’t do ennything like it,” Sal re- ae ‘*My name’s Sal Slocum, no slouch, an’ ain’t no Injine ter scalp a cuss after I’ve lamed him, an’ don’t ye ferget it. Dm a-goin’ ter leave ye heer, an’ ef ye want ter kick ther bucket, kick away. Ef ye conclude to recover, it’s yer blessed privelege. But, let me tell ye, ther next time ye wanter impose on an inner- cent, vartuous, maidenly female, jest select sum one w’at don’t w’ar the breeches, ner ain’t got no red-hot in her eye, or in all probability yell get planted!” And then with a cool laugh the eccentric girl turned away, leaving Lyons where he had fallen. At the fort the day passed without any par- ticular incident, except when on the arrival of the southward-bound stage a sufficient purse was raised to send to Leadville for a small sup- ply of flour, salt and beef. About sunset, however, several of the out- laws were discovered in the edge of the forest, and Judge Elliott sent Fred St. Celton witha flag of truce and a message to Deadwood Dick to ascertain if a confab could be arranged. Half-way between the fort and the forest the colonist went, and then paused to see if a truce would be sent out from the other side, In a few minutes a man rode forth, upon horseback, with a handkerchief tied to his rifle barrel, and approached the spot where Fred had halted. He was masked, and clad in black, and armed with a liberal supply of belt wea- ns. When he had arrived within hailing distance, he reined in his horse, and bowed, waiting, evidently, for St. Celton to speak. Which he was not afraid to do. **Do I behold in you, Deadwood Dick, the rival claimant for this valley?’ he demanded, te | ‘*'You do!” was the reply, in a hoarse tone. “And likewise the author of the ghastl crimes committed against three of our colony?” ‘*The same,” the outlaw replied. ‘You are a heartless wretch, then,” St. Cel- ton cried, fiercely, ‘‘and hanging is too good a death for you to die. Do you propose to con- tinue your villainous persecutions? “Tdo, This gulch isrightfullymine. Icame here and staked it out,and in this region we allow that he who gets first possession is owner. You came here, evidently swindled by some sharper, and took possession without any right whatever. I ordered you off, and you refused to go—defied me. Consequently, you have reaped some of the consequences, but not all, for if you i in remaining in the gulch, you shall all die— every one of you!” ‘*Then we will die!’ Fred St. Celton cried, hotly. ‘‘ We won’t be bulldozed out of our rights by a fellow of your lawless stamp. This is not what I came to say, however. f have here a paper from our leader, Judge Elliott, which will, I think, explain itself.” He extended the document in his hand, and Deadwood Dick’s Double rode forward, and re- ceived it. He then rode off at a proper distance and perused it. It seemed to give him considerable surprise, ‘hey did drop, both fiat upon the ground, on ' for he went over it a second time. _- ere a ee s- QO moe = ee oer ae o Seer See = +) Oe OO er eee _—.- —- Cae ei TrO4 Rh ORR. ~ ' * ~* ’ | -- ——— wr a = . > > x — eo It ran as follows: ‘*Drapwoop Dick: Str—Inasmuch as you have de- clared yourself our enemy, and have foully dealt with three of our party, when they had harmed you not, we have been compelled to adopt stringent measures in order to protect ourselves against you, Therefore, we have captured and taken prisoner your wife, Edith by name, and unless you come for- ward, and swear by all your hopes of future salvation that you will cease your hostilities toward us, re- move your men, and yield Cat City Guich to us, now and forever henceforth, I will order your wife shot, | until she is dead, in front of this fort on the morning of the 20th instant, at sunrise. To-day is the 16th. Remember! This is final. “ (Signed), Jupson ELLIoTr “* Commanding Fort Ethel.” After perusing the notice the second time, the outlaw turned to St. Celton. a will gare the paeeeny 2 of this,” he said, gravely. ‘‘ Incase | agree, 1 suppose m wife will ie teed over to me?” 3 F ‘Exactly. When you have sworn to the ful- fillment of the things specified in that document, Edith Harris shall be turned over into your pene and you shall be given ten minutes get out of range of our rifles.” ‘*Very well. I will reflect, and report at my convenience!” the outlaw re lied, as he wheeled his horse, and galloped back toward the tim- r. Fred St. Celton returned to the fort, and re- rted the result of the interview. ‘“‘[ think he will come to terms,” Judge Elliott declared. ‘‘ But if he don’t, he shall we shall carry out our threat to the letter,” Edith had ceived it without a word; but when she learned from Montague that there was a likelihood of her being given over to the outlaw, a frightened expression came into her eyes. ‘For Heaven’s sake, sir, do not give me over to that murderous wretch, whoever he may be!” she cried, piteously. ‘‘ Kill me outright, rather than that, for he is not my husband, and my fate in his power would make a hundred deaths preferable to me.” ‘That would not help us, Mrs. Harris, to kill you, when there is a possibility of securing peace by giving you over. I pity and sympa- thize with you, secretly, but have no power to act in your behalf. All the others, except Ethel, second the Judge’s plan, and the majori of course rules, in such a case as this.” ‘“Then you would not see me thus made the subject of a bargain, but for the others—a hor- rible trade—the sacrifice of a weak woman to an unholy ruffian, to secure peace?” Edith said, tears standing in her eyes. ‘* Indeed I would not. If the outlaw is really not your husband it is an inhuman outrage to tra Pie into his power, even to secure peace. I would fight against such a thing with my last breath!” “Thank you! thank you! Your words show that you, at least, have a heart. Never mind. Let them barter me, if they will. Perhaps I can escape from the other captor easier.” ‘“‘T trust and hope you can,” Montague said, earnestly. He and Ethel alone were in favor of gi Deadwood gale aig! gy freedom, but, o course, could carry little argument a ree the rest, who, smarting under the blows of the gulch outlaw, were prejudiced against her whom they fully believed to be his wife. Night drew on, and spread her mantle over all objects within the mountain-locked land; still no sign was seen from the forest, of the return of Deadwood Dick. A fierce storm was brooding along the eastern horizon, and gradually spread its black vail over the great dome above, the fierce roll of the thunder, and the spiteful lightning predicting that it was to be no mild affair, Myers and the Chinaman, who had kept pretty closely housed since the advent of the outlaws into the valley, came over to the fort, just at dusk, and asked permission to stay there, over night, and were not refused, as the Cali- fornian Af aed friendly, and as yet had shown no sign of treachery. Fred St. Celton volunteered to go upon guard duty alone, and was so allowed. About ten o’clock in the evening, all turned in for the night, and he was left to look after the safoty of the fort. As the storm had not yet burst he remained out of doors, and kept watch lest prowlers should get near, for he was troubled with a fear es an attack would be made by the out- aws. But the hours ed by untilit was after midnight, yet no attack, and as it was beginning to sprinkle he turned to enter the fort, when d that — en apprised of the plan, and re- | . t 1 é e : ‘ «J , ' . : - od |» S ™ . e “ ™ - = “aa se ee A eR ss +m =? * = “ oF Er PPE See a os Nw 2 aa eo ES ST Z . bas is = s - ’ ? “A - x e Re Se Lae ss eee Eo 2 *E€omicbooks.c os we oe Pa TEP Tee. ae a J * ™ ) V5 es <, ) 6 ‘ 4 ; = | OE Pe Coe ee tae jon . w ——s