Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 263 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

Ridding her of Wild Walt, the stranger turned to Kate Laurel and lipped bis hat. “ iixcuse mune, lady,” he said, in a deep, pleas- -aot tone. ‘‘I trust I was not interrupting a lover’s meeting when I upset yonder fellow.’ **Oh, no, sir! 1 thank you very much for coming to my assistance, That ruffian was bent on kissing me, which, thanks to your time- ly arrival, he did not succeed in doing. I wish you had thrown him into the lake!” **T have but to receive your orders, and in he goes,” the stranger announced, with a smile, Wild Walt had succeeded in regaining his feet, his garments looking somewhat the worse for the tumble he had taken. His expression was something ferocious as he glanced down upon the new-comer. ‘** Who are you?” he demanded, with an oth, laying bold of a pistol in his belt. ‘* None of your business,”’ the cavalier replied, with provoking pleasantness. ‘‘Saw you for- getting yourself, and thought I’d just bring you to your senses.” ‘*Cuss you, I'll show you that Pm not to be insulted thus,” Wild Walt cried, drawing his revolver and firing. Kate Laurel uttered a scream of alarm. The next instant the Sport laughed triumphantly, after plucking a bullet from between his teeth, and holding it up to view, his other hand at the same instant drawing and cocking one of his own revolvers. * You aimed well, young fellow,” he said, coolly, ‘‘ but you see l was too quick for you. djet you gone now, at ones, or l’ll blow your brains out! Go!” The weapon was leveled full at the Tiger, and fhe command was uttered in a stern, ringing fone, Wild Wait well knew that it meant death for him to disobey; so be uttered a savage oath and strod+ away. ) ‘* Never mind! Pll have your life for this!” he shouved back, flercely. ‘‘ Beware that you do not lose your own!” ‘warned the stranger, after which he turned to Kate. ‘There, ma’au, I guess you won’t be troubled with the-fellow’s attentions again to- night. If he bothers you let me know, and | will underta‘e to give him a thrashing that he will remember.” ** You are very kind,” Kate declared, frank- ly. *‘ Will you tell me who you are, so that I hall know whom to thank?” . * Well, I suppose I shall have to accommodate you with the desired information,” he answered, @miling. “I am one of that class of mortals known as moving Bohemians, who live by their wits, and mix up matters a little occasionally by doing both good and bad. The last place i wtruck there chanced to be more aces in my hand than there ought to have been, and I was invited to slope. I sloped at once, for I have a great terror of patent tight-fitting collars manu- factured by Lynch & Co. As for name, they senerally dub me Captain Poker.” ‘““Whata funny same!” Kate cried, merrily, ** Oh! you men are deceivers!” 2 EE me - -—<- ° ome wee ee “It serves me very nicely,” the captain admitted, gracefully. ‘A name is but a name, anyuow, whether good or bad. By the way, it is growing dusk, and I must see if I cannot get the old ferryman to take me over the lake yet to-night, as 1 must be wellon toward Panther ‘Gulch by to-morrow’s sunrise,” ‘You are doomed to disappointment then, for, to my personal knowledge, you could not hire old Dan to ferry you across at this late hour. [ve known him to refuse large amounts of money.” “Indeed! It is a serious disappointment to me then,” the captain said. ‘‘If | could hire a small skiff, [ could ferry over myself.” ‘*There is but one on the lake, and that belongs to me,” Kate answered. ‘‘ I have never been upon the lake at this hour, and should hardly care to go with a stranger.” “But you could not believe any danger of simply ferrying me across, could you? Surely, you could not be safer here at home than in my eompany.”’ He spoke so earnestly that a thrill of interest and confidence entered the girl’s heart, - “You seem like a gentleman—I don’t know as I ought to be afraid. I will see in a minute.” She rose and entered the shanty, but soon returned with a pair of oars, her bead orna- ‘mented with a jaunty chip bat, trimmed with a blue ribbon. She looked so decidedly charming and pretty, that Captain r involuntarily uttered an .axclamation of admiration, | ** Allow me to carry the oars, wy dear young wer ee eee eteereee . a ee pet ee ee Ne Or EES © <0 wt ~ = ees * lady,” he said, * for I would not have the bands of one so charming—” ‘‘ Bah! do not try flattery on me, as I am not in the least susceptible,” Kate said, candidly. “T am one of the most matter-of-fact persons you ever met. Come!” She led the way down to the lake shore, where a small skiff was drawn up on the beach. They were about to enter, when a dozen men, headed by Wild Walt, came rushing down to the water’s edge. ‘Hold up, beer! This won’t wash!” the Tiger cried, authoritatively. ‘‘ Whar ye goin’, my dandy ducks?’ ‘If it concerns you to know, I am going to ferry this gentleman across the lake!” Kate replied, coolly. ‘*Bet ye a dollar ye won't!” the Tiger declared, fiercely. ‘‘This hyar lake ain’t no ee ter go courtin’ on, an’ you can’t have no au, byar in Doomsday, ’ceptin’ me! Besides, this hyar sandy sucker’s got business on shore yet awhile, ef ther court knows herself!” ‘‘T have only my own business to mind, and I mind it except when it becomes necessary to mind some one else’s, What do you want, Mister Rough?” Poker demanded. ‘* Get out of that boat, and you shall find eut!” Wild Walt cried, savagely. ‘Ye insulted me, an’ ldemand satisfaction. Either ye shall spile mv beauty or Ill spile yours.” ‘* Man, you are a foo] !” Poker warned, stern- ly. ‘* You do not know whom you're chal- lenging. Why, I could use you up so quick that you wouldn’t know where you stood. Be sensi- ble and go your way like a gentleman, instead of a ruffian!” . ‘*l’m a perfect gentleman, and as such [ de- mand satisfaction. If you are toocowardly to give it, [ll shoot you where you stand!” Captain Poker laughed. ‘*‘T’ll show you bow much of a coward I am!” he cried. ‘Where do you want to settle your fate, and how?” ‘Right up here in the street,” was the reply. ‘‘ Revolvers shall be the weapons, at forty paces!” Captain Poker turned to Kase, then, who stood by the boat. ‘*T guess I shall have to oblige this fellow, miss, before ferrying across, as he seems de- termined on having his brains blown out,” be announced, ‘‘If I should be the unlucky man, please see that this is delivered to the one ad- dressed.” He then handed her a sealed envelope, and turned to the Tiger. ‘*{ am ready. Pace off your ground!” he ordered. They went tp the street, from the lake, to where the ground was ‘evel, and forty paces were measured off, by Pony Quantrel, one of the Tiger’s right-hand men. 3 Captain Poker then assumed a position nearest the lake, and Wild Walt furtber up the street. ‘* Let’s know the rules of this affair!” the cap- tain demanded, ‘‘Are we to fire until one or the other falls?” ‘‘ Exactly! Commence at the word three, and allow time to draw one breath, betwecn each shot. Ef you've got any bequests to make, or word to leave, now’s yer chance!” the Tiger replied, maliciously. ‘*Many thanks for your interest, but my ledger is all squared up!” Poker retorted. ‘If I were allowed to remark, however, | should in- sinuate that it would be advisable for you to rovide yourself with a Babeock fire protector, alee you begin your duel. They are quite a useful article, sometimes.” The Tiger uttered a harsh grating laugh, and turned to his associate, Quantrel. ‘*Count one. two, three, Pony. If the loafer attempts shenannigan, plug him on the spot!” Both men drew their revolvers, cocked them, and took aim! Both seemed perfectly self-possessed, although the Tiger’s face was distorted with an ugly ex- pression, while the captain’s was most pleasant. ‘**One!” counted Quantrel. x / “Two ** Get ready!” : ‘* Three!” Bang! The weapons of the duelists spoke simul- taneously. The Tiger clapped his hand to the side of his head with a howl of rage. His ear was shaved off almost as neatly as a knife could have done it. ' Poker stood unharmed! ‘*Ready! One! two! three!” eried Pony Quantrel. | in the weapons cracked, and a yell af ex- ae pain followed! Deadwood Dick’s Divide. _ -+- —~ - ewer ne oe ee ee Oe Ce ere oe mew + tee | ee ee ee OOO ey ne es eee _ trip. 5 ee CHAPTER V. CALAMITY SANE ON DECK! Ir was not Captain Poker who uttered the yell, although the Tiger’s bullet had grezed hi» shoulder, cutting through bis white duck coat. Wild Walt was the author of the signal of distress, for Le had again been hit by the uner ring bullet of the blonde Sport. is time it was the right ear which had beev Ow wage f dropped d, and ith weapons drop upon the groun his hands clapped to either side of bis head, the Tiger began to prance around and how! ag though he was upon a hot gridiron, ** Ob! curses on you!” he roared, ‘* You have killed me—yot\ bave spoiled my beauty forever! May the devils seize you!” ‘I believe it was a part of the understanding that we should spoil each other's good looks as much as possible,” the captain remarked, dryly, as he put his weapon in his belt, but at the same time retained hold upen it, ‘I could hav killed you as easy as to have maimed you, bute preferred to show you how small you are in the sight of others.” **You shall pay for if with your life,” the Tiger yelled, mtg ‘Tl have my revenge on you if it takes a lifetime.” He turned, then, and wore Dae toward the tavern, literally covered with blood that gushed from bis wounds. The crowd followed, and Poker returned to the skiff. **Oh! sir, were you hurt?’ asked Kate, anx- iously, as the former approached the boat, “Not atall, A bullet just kissed my shoulder —that’s all. I could have killed the fellow, but am averse to doing sucb an act, except when ft becomes vitally necessary in self-defense. Are you ready to give me a ride in your pretty craft?” ‘Yes. But wo shall have to buyry, or it wil] be piteb-dark ere I can get back kome, | The lake is haunted, yon know,” * Or at least its ‘orders are, by a pack of ruf- fians,” Poker declared, with a light hugh. ‘You see, I don’t bave much faith in super- natural visitations myself.” He pushed the boat off into the water and sprung lightly in as it moved away, Kate had the oars, and at once pulled out into - lake with a stroke that showed ber to be an adept. They had gore but a little ways, however, when a shout from the shore caused them te look around. A young woman, clad in male attire, was run- n'ng down the beach toward the water’s edge and motioning them to ceme back, her slou sombrero in her hand and her wealth of hair blown back by the breege. “Dick! Dick!” she cried; “it’s me, Dick; come back! Oh! come back!” Kate Laurel turned ber surprised face toward Captain Poker. ‘* What does it mean!” she asked. “Bball I pull back?” ‘* By no means,” the captain replied, qui ; “The wcman—if such she is--is evidently mented, or mistaken. Pull on and pay no at- tention to her!” Kate obeyed, but not without feelings of great curiosity. Who was the woman on the beach? and was. this blonde Sport anytbing to her? Or was she, as he suggested, wrong in her mind, or mistaken in the person? If so, bis a Sa as ea rode along, did not confirm the supposition, for he was silerd, and looked sober and troubled. At least so thought bonny Kate. Under Kate’s able stroke, it did not take lomg for the boat to resch the opposite shore, where she pulled up close to the sandy beach, and allowed Poker to get out. ‘Your kindness will not soon be forgotten,” he said, looking down on her, with kindly ex- pression. ‘*As a token of my esteem, allow — me to make you a present of this, Au revoig/” He took from his pocket a handsome den nugget, and tossed it into her lap; then, turned — quickly and disappeared within the fringe af trees that bordered the lake. “Ob! isn’t that a beauty!” Kate oxelnats in real enthusiastic admiration, as she hand] it over andover. ‘‘That must be worth a good deal of money, atid amply repays me for the Now, if I can get back safe, I shall be tn luek; and too, I want to fiud out who that strange woman is, if woman she be.” She turned the little skiffand bending te the oars with a will, fairly made it fy over , water. | In a few minutes she grounded it upoma a com OOKS, Gom