Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 263 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee eee eee ro te ee ee me me a f@cret concerning the place, or he could not stay here. Y wonder what kind of a reception I'll meet with if go up there?. Beit good, bad or indifferent, I’m going to try it.” She puled her boat close to the rocky wall and fastened it to a little spur of rock with a ro Rteociue out, then, she cautiously ascended the narrow pathway, and was soon at the top, where, to her surprise, she found herself facing a pocket, which the sloping formation of land made a most perfect bowl or caldron in natare’s mold. There were only a few shrubs to be seen, while at the bottom were two shanties and some tents of considerable size. Digging into the sides of the basin were some half a dozen red-shirted men, evidently mining for gold. te was noting everything when a hand seized her shoulder and a man’s voice exclaimed: ‘* Young lady, you are my prisoner!” CHAPTER XIII. THES MASTER OF THEM ALL! THE two prominent men of Doomsday were now undisputably Wild Walt the Tiger and Maguire, the deputy—that is, as far as strength was concerned, while Bum the Bummer was by me means to be unconsidered as regards popu- arity. The Tiger, however, bad no fancy for the Gove ‘nment official, who had so obtruded him- self into the field in the capacity of boss. Nor did Maguire seem to fall particularly in love with the bruiser, who seemed to desire a quarrel with the marshal. During the forenoon of the day following Calamity’s arrest, Maguire spent the most of his time in the Big Bonanza, endeavering to make himself popular by treating nearly every one who entered the room; butin this liberality he purposely omitted to invite the Tiger to par- ticipate; and therefore, after standing it as long as his palate and temper would admit, the rough made bold to range himself up alongside oe var and was not bashful in calling for whisky. aide ‘Vel, vou vil have to oxkushe me, Misder Valter!” Solomons said, ‘but you see id vas against mine rules to ledt you haff anodder shmile until you vas pay me dot seven dollar vot you haff on der shlate.” “Get out, you old limberger!” the Tiger ex- claimed, with ferocious mien. “I’m drinking wi’ my friend heer, ther deputy. Scratch it on his list.” “And, seizing the bottle from the Jew’s hands, he proceeded to insert the nozzle be- tween his lips, and help bimself‘in a liberal way. But he had not absorbed enough to do him any harm bafore the bottle was struck by the iron fist of Maguire and dashed into atoms. Whereupon the Tiger turned upon him witha drawn revolver. But it chanced that the deputy had one drawn also, and the two men s glaring with any- thing but friendly expressions of countenance. ““T xeckon you are a little mistaken in your opinion as to who pays your whisky bills!” was aguire’s reminder, ‘‘When | want you to drink with me I will give you a personal invi- tation!” ““Ye didn’t invite me, then?’ Wild Walt sneered, savagely. ~ Weil, I reckon not! I generally am partic- ular as to whom I drink with.” ‘Then ye meant ter slight me when ye war settin’ em up fer ther rest o’ ther boys?” “Well. yes, ef yo like et so—thoughb [ did not think you of enough importance to notice.” ‘“ Waal, you'll just about find out how much importance I am!” the Tiger returned, flaming with rage. ‘I’m the boss of this hyar hamlet, Iam, an’ when a feller insults me he might as well take his choice 0’ two things—get down on his knees and apologize, or commit suicide, fer I'll grind him into bone-dust ef he don’t. Any one as knows me will tell ye as how I’m terrific bad. The deputy marshal may have thought s0, too, but he mustered up courage enough to force a derisive laugh. “T guess you won't burt many blind cats!” he retorted, scornfully. ‘‘ The best thing you can %0 is to go home and g0 to bed!” , \ Abhiellish gleam shot from tho eyes of Wild Walt, and, with a panther-like leap, he sprung upon the deputy, his lips emitting a hiss like that of some venomous serpent. Tbe next instant the two men were clinehed and rolling upon the floor, snarling and grow!l- ynn like a pair of fighting dogs. EEE — ee eee nn ne OO Deadwood Dick’s Divide, meee ee eee es tere. - ee ee *1’ll murder you!” the deputy roared, furi- ously, struggling to get free. | ‘When ve do your beauty will -be gone, like mine is!” the Tiger eried, he having the top and endeavoring to get a hold on his enemy’s nose with his teeth. Nor was it long ere he succeeded in doing so and off came the Better part of Maguire’s nasal appendage, to be spat out upon the floor, Vociferous cheers went up on either hand, for the average class of the Aabditues of the Bonanza were in their element, when any entertainment of such thrilling integest occurred. Maguire howled with actual horror, both on account of the pain and at the disgrace of part- ing with his ‘‘smeller,” and his struggles to get free were terrible. But the Tiger held him “ert down, and succeeded in drawing his rnife. ‘Now, then,” he cried, fiercely, ‘I’ve got yer life and death right in my hands, and ye now it, so jest quiet down an’ be sensible, or Pil jab you straignt through the beart.” And Maguire did quiet down almost instant- ly, as it was evideut he did not feel prepared to part with his earthly hopes and aspirations on so short notice. A malicious grin distorted the Tiger’s ugly visage when he saw his enemy succumbed. ‘*Thort ye’d acknowledge me boss,” he grin- ned, ‘‘when ye saw my prowess. Now, d’ye know what I’m goin’ ter do with you?” The officer did not answer, but there was a look in his eyes that told better than words that he did not expect much mercy. | ‘“ Won’t answer, eh?’ Wild Walt growled. ‘* Well, I kin tell ye, jest the same, e cin’t help but listen. You’ve got to promise to never again raise your hand against me, or [ll cut yer heart out right whar youlay! Speak! Vl give you but one instant to answer!” **l’ll answer for you—no/’’a stern, ringing voice cried, ant simultaneously a man lea through the crowd, and dealt the Tiger a blow with the butt of a revolver that tumbled him senseless to the floor. The new-comer was Deadwood Dick! Nothing was there ghostly about him now, for he was dressed in garments of black, and looked every bit as natural as when he had made himself famous by his exploits in the Biack Hills and other parts of the Far West. Maguire gave a gasp when he saw him, and sprung to his feet. ‘‘Hurrah! Here is Deadwood Dick! [ll pay a thousand dollars for his capture, alive!” It was a big sum; the crowd hesitated but a second, and then rushed upon the noted hills rover with yells of victory. But they recked not the cost of capturing a man of Dick’s caliber. ** Back! back, you hounds!” he cried. “If ycu Jon't, V’ll teach you a lesson you'll not soon forget!” CHAPTER XIV. A WATER SURROUND. THE warning uttered by the Prince of the Road, however, had no effect, for they rushed with all determination to capture the man and thus secure the coveted reward. Bang! bang! bang! The revolvers of Dead- wood Dick spoke spitefully until the last cham- ber had been emptied, with telling effect; then, clubbing bis weapons, the desperate man struck right and left, and forced his way toward a window, through which he dashed, carrying sash and glass with him. Headed by Maguire, who in the excitement had forgotten all about his lost nose, the crowd followed suit with loud yells but to no purpose, for too fleet of foot was the Prince of Border Bravoes to be overtaken, and long ere bis pur- suers struck bis trail and reached tbe water’s edge, he was skimming over the lake beyond rifle range. Having no craft except the heavy ferry-boat to give pursuit in, the deputy and his backers could only stand on shore, and howl forth their curses after him, as a few minutes later they saw him glide out of sight into the cover of the swamp forest, with a mocking shout of de- fiance Maguire fairly howled himself hoarse with rage at his defeat. ‘* Some one set to work and make some boats. Ill give a hundred dollars apiece for them!” he cried. ‘*The cuss lives somewhere in that swamp, and we'll root bim out, if it costs us a hundred lives, Willi you stand by me, men?’ There was an affirmative shout from many, which spoke of the attraction the reward was to them, irrespective of any interest they might have in him personally. | ae ee ee ee ee 7 ” == == —_ ae eqn sem = ee 20 — A canvas of the crowd was made, e&! an old hunter agreed to furnish some dug-outs for the lake, for the price offered by the deputy, and at. once set out into the mountains to select suitable trees. By the middle of the afternoon half a dozen rough dug-outs, capable of holding three men. each, were ready and launcbed into the lake, and Maguire bad to “ fork over,” which he did with bad grace. , Selecting a dozen and five rough but thorough frontiersmen, besides himself, and placing apother squad to guard the jail, the dug-outs were entered, and the rude paddles manned. _ Maguire’s craft then took the lead, pulling for the timbered portion of the lake. Soon the forest overhead shut out their view of the sky, but they kept on cautiously, Maguire directing the movements of the expedition and keeping a watch ahead, By following nearly the same route that Kate Laurel had, they in due tame came in front of the island, where a balt was made by five of the canoes, While the sixth under Maguire made a circuit of the island for observations. He then rejoined his comrades, with grim satisfaction at his success, ‘Yes, this is the place!” he said, ‘and a better natural fortress it will be hard to find. There are, no doubt, guards at the top, so that. it will be a difficult job to effecta capture in that direction, even though I have discovered where a narrow path leads up!” ; ‘‘What’s to be done then?” one of the men demanded, | ‘‘There is only one way I can see—that is, take to the trees, and see if we cannot get a peep upon top of the island, If we can, we can also most likely form an ambuscade about the island, and pick off the inhabitants thereof, at our leisure. Away, now, and form a circle. Then one man from each beat take to the trees, the others remaining below, ready for fight or fight, in case of a surprise. After makin observations, come down from the trees, an meet bere, to compare notes, whereupon we wil! form future plans f action,” Accordingly, the boats dispersed to different positions around the island. The Tiger, Wild Walt, recovered shortly after Deadwood Dick's flight from Doomsday, but took good care to keep himself out of pistol range of Maguire, whom he had reason to expect would seek a terrible revenge for the loss of his nasal appendage, which had forever spoiled his beauty. But after Maguire’s expedition had started out upon the lake, the Tiger once more crept forth from his lair, and ‘‘made himself pro- miscuous” again. When he learned who it was to whom he was indebted for his pair of black eyes, he did not say much, but inquired into the object of ‘oguivele expedition, an evil gleam in his eyes. hen it came toward night, he purchased a allon of whisky from Solomons, and set out for . eS nora where he remained until it was quite ark, He then set out, still Carrying: the demijohn with him, and made his way to the jail, in front of which half a dozen roughs were standin guard—though, by the way, they were no standing, but reclining, The Tiger’s advent was hailed with a grunt of’ approval, especially when they saw the dem- jjohn. ‘‘Hello! What ye got thar? Snaky Sol cried. ‘Ef it’s p’izen, jest pass it this way, fer I’m drier than a salted codfish out 0’ water.” ‘The ‘Tiger never forgets the poor and needy,” Wild Walt replied, with a pretended drunken Jurch and biccough. ‘‘I’m ther best feller in Doomsday; an’ I don’t keer a cent whether ye side wi’ the cuss, Maguire, or not; heer’s ther b’hoy w’ot ain’t afeared to treat!” And be passed the jug to Snaky. : This hit the guards in a tender spot, amd they all manifested their approval by sundry com- plimentary ejaculations. Each man took a long pull, and a strong pul! at the demijohn, and when the jug lett the hands of the sixth man, there was not enough ‘family disturbance’ in it to drown a fly, w a quiet gleam of satisfaction lurked in the eyes of the earless Tiger! ‘* Drink long and wejl, my hearties,” he mut- hie ‘“‘and lll wish you all manners of good uc It was not long ey guards ceased to talk, “rwhile the Ties ee ee patient] e the r lit a waited, iinet paced capa all over hie villainous countenance. com OOo) cS € (E(0)