Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 268 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

tha ae a ee ee in the evening was now os into a heavy fal: but the two enemies strode on. Soon they turned off the main trail and be- gan to clamber up the forest-covered mountain, the branches of trees somewhat sheltering them from the storm. Beneath this cover it was so dark that it was hardly possible for Dick to see his man, but be kept close beside him, resolved not to let him escape if it were in his power to prevent it. W Buta surprise was sprung upon him when he was least of allexpecting anything of the kind. Tney gained a sort of table-land on the moun- tain plateau, and were tramping along through the leaves and darkness, when Dick suddenly found himself go crashing downward through leaves and sticks, and knew that he had been led directly onto a dead-fall, such as is usually nag? Tig to catch grizzlies in. hile from above Carker uttered a wild, re- vengeful laugh—the laugh of a demon. Down! down! went Deadwood Dick full twenty feet, when he succeeded in landing upon his feet in the bottom of the pit. ‘Hello! How do you like it down there?” vried the triumphant voice of Carker, from above. “Got the boy, didn’t you? Purty smart man, you are, Dickey, but I kin see ye an’ go ye one better, allee samee! Was goin’ to juggle me right off into the next world, wasn’t yout but you got handsomely left on that, l've got you, now, just where I can use you tosuit my own convenience. Curse you, it will be good-by for you now. l’m going to shed a lot of stones and mash you into a jelly! With these words Dick heard the ruffian walk away. What should be done? He had no doubt that Carker was brute enough to do all he had promised; so something must be done at once. It would be useless to think of climbing out of the pit. Groping about he soon found a shallow hole that had been dug in the side, at a level with the bottom. Drawing his knife he soon had a primitive cavern excavated of sufficient dimensions to ad- _ anit. of bis stowing himself snugly away in it. Lucky it was, too, for he was barely fixed, when he heard Carker above. ‘Well, hello!” he cried. ‘*How d’ye feel down thar? Ready ter shuffle off yer coil?” ‘Ob! don’t! don’t kill me, [ beg of you, good Mr. Carker!” Diek whined, in piteous accents. ** Please don’t throw stones down here. I cave, and ‘ll do anything in the world for you, if you'll only let up on me!” *Can’t do it!’ Carker declared. ‘‘ You’d kill me, ef ye got ther chance, and I'll be shot ef I don’t make pummice of you. So say yer prayers!” ‘* Fire away!” Dick cried, fiercely. And the next minute a heavy stone was hurled down into the pit, at which Dick gave vent to a terrible groan, after which he kept mum, and allowed Carker to fire the stones down into the pit to suit his convenience. Fully ten minutes were occupied in this in- teresting ceremony; then the rocks ceased to descend. ‘Deadwood Dick has had the dead wood come on him this time, for sure,” Dick heard the villain mutter as he leaned over and glared down into the hole. “Ill git the boy, now, I reckon, and take him back nearer to town, where he’ll be handier, when I want touse him.” Soon after Dick heard the ruffian’ tramp away. Nothing was left for the man-bunter but to remain where he was, until daylight should en- ,able him to determine the best way to get out of his predicament. It was not long until morning, and Dick ‘was not sorry, for daylight brought to him a di-covery which he did not hesitate to improve. A single strong grape-vine dangled down into the pit. Trying this Dick found that it would hold his Sveigiit, and made baste to climb up out of the ole ‘*Now, for Leadville!” he gritted. “Ill go back there: andif I don’t make it warm for that rascal Carker, my name is not Deadwood Dick. I almost fancy that it will take me but a few days to close my interest in this case— then I'll away to rejoin my bonny Calamity in our valley home, never again, I trust, to go upon the trail!” CHAPTER XIV. PLAYING HER CARDS. BELIEVI! G he had ery disposed of his greatest en my, Carker was in the best of spirits Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail. Nee _— — — when he appeared upon the streets of Leadville the next morning. To him there was not the shadow of a doubt that Deadwood Dick was numbered among the dead; consequently, hav- ing no particular fear of any one else, he laid — his disguise, and appeared as his natural self. The excitement over the murder had mate- rially diminished; still the vicinity of the jail was yet thronged, and lynching formed a theme of general conversation, The authorities, therefore, considering the existing state of feeling, had determined to put off any hearing of the case until matters had quieted down, which was a great relief to Chan- dos when he heard of it, although be stil! feared that the people might uprise and lyncb him, in spite of the law. During the day following his arrest, Marie was brought to the grated door of his cell, and the warden called through: ‘ Frisoner, is this your wife, as she states to us?’ Chandos took the cue, as a drowning man might clutch at a straw. ‘* Yes, she’s my wife,” he answered, gruffly. The warden then unlocked the door, and ad- mitted Marie, after which he closed it, saying: ‘*Remember—only ten minutes; so make the most of it.” He then marched away. Marie went over and sat down on the iron bed beside Chandos. ** Well, you’ve cut a fine caper for a noble- man, haven’t you?” she said, with sarcasm. *““l’m not aware that you are concerned in the matter, madam!” he retorted, with a frown. ‘Ob! you needn’t be so independent,” Marie retorted, ** because I’m the only one you have to look to for help now. If you come to terms, it won’t take long to get you free. If you stay bere another night, you'll ba seen dangling toa tree, before morning. If you could hear the sentiments expressed on the outside you’d trem- ble in your boots.” “What do you think they will do with me anyhow?” he asked, doubtfully. ‘Hang you, of course,” Marie said, decid- edly. ‘It the law don’t do it, the enraged people will. I understand that Lady Beatrice and Sir Ferrol, who are more constantly to- gether than before, are using their utmcst efforts—quietly of course—to have you taken from jail and lynched.” Chandos, of course, grew furious at this. ‘*Curses be on them!” he said. ‘* Would that I bad made no mistake in the matter. What do you want, Marie?” ‘““] want you!” she replied, emphatically. “‘T love you—always have loved you—always shall. There isnow no reason why we should not marry, since your wife has proved false. Marry me, and [ will release you, restore to you the little boy, and we will go at once to Castle Chandos.”? ‘“You haven’t got the boy,” the murderer protested, warily. ‘I’m satisfied on that.” ‘** 1 know | haven’t got bim, but I can easily get him. Carker has got him, and it will be an easy matter for me to get him from him.” *“IT don’t know about that. He is a low vil- Jain and not under your control at all.” / ‘‘Tam not mistaken. I am playing my cards carefully. If I cannot win in one direction, I will inanother. While lam working you up, Carker is doing the same with Lady Chandos. The long and short of it is, the one who pays the most gets the boy, providing you want your liberty.” Lord Chandos was silent, some minutes, He was considering the ca-e as it appeared to him. On one hand was the law of the Western coun- try which he knew to be less merciful than the Kast. On the other hand, theidea of marrying Marie was decidedly repugnant; but could it be any more disgusting to marry her than it would be terrible to be hung? Marie finally grew impatient at his delay in answering. ‘*“Come!” she said. sharply. ‘I have only five minutes more. Decide at once, or never.” “You are in a hurry to tread the halls of Castle Chandos, eh?’ he replied. ‘* Well, Ill tell you what I'll do, and it is all I will do, I swear. Go you and put Lady Chandos and Falconer out of the way, first of all, so that in marrying you I can doso legally. Next, get reeeigee of the boy, and then procure my re- ease from this jail, and my escape to a place of safety. On these conditions only will I wed ne and give you a marriage present of ten housand pounds.” | Marie’s little French eyes sparkled venom- usly. | THs a bargain!” she cried, resolutely. ‘‘I ae eS ee - sS es a ne _ —--- - = a | will set to work at once, and bave you out dur. ing the coming night, without fail. Mind! there’s to be no trifliag about this matter.” ‘* My word is good!” he replied. ‘*Very well. Here comes the keeper. You be very quiet and all will be well.” Marie went from the jail with triumph gleam- ing in her eyes. hortly after she had gone Lord Chandos called the warden, and said: ‘‘If my other wife should make application to see me, positively refuse to admit her, as I do not care to see her at all.” ‘What! have you two wives ‘“Yes. Please remember what I say. Ido not want to receive Number Two.” “Well! well!” the warden muttered, as he strode away. Later in the day Lady Chandos approached the jail, where the warden was standing upon the steps. ‘‘If you please, sir, 1 would like to see my husband, Lord Chandos, who has been arrested for murder,” she said. ‘* Sorry, ma’am; but I cannot gratify your wish,” the official replied. ‘‘ His lordship’s first wife has been to see him, and be requested me not to admit any other that came.” ‘*'What, sir? My busband has no wife but me!” Lady Chandos cried, in great astonish- ment. ‘*Can’t belp it, mum, if he hain’t got any. Them’s his orders, and they’re bound to be obeyed.” ** Then you will not admit me?’ easy ** But, Pll appeal to the authorities!” ‘* Appeul to the divil, for all 1 cares, I runs this hyar place, I does, an’ I won’t allow no second-wives to bother his lordship. So, bounce!” Shocked beyond expression, ey Beatrice wended her way slowly back to the hotel. She was beginning to see through it all. CHAPTER XV. A RED REVELATION. On his return to Leadville, Deadwood Dick made his way by an wufrequented route to the hotel where he had left bis disguises, and after paying his bill, took his package, and once more made his way out of town toaclump of timber which lay on the stage trail to Oro City. Here he made a careful and complete ehange of disguise, the result making him a typical swell of the genuine nabob pattern. After inspecting himself in a pocket mirror, he was satisfied that he would pass muster, and accordingly secreted his bundle and returned to town. Almost the first person be met was Nellia Dean, who was coming out of a dry goods store, and upon whose face was an expression of anx- iety. Was she anxious about him? Dick wondered. Something prompted him to test the girl, for in his present disguise he looked really ‘* too ut- ter for anything,” so to speak, with bis luxuriant blonde side whiskers, mustache and curly hair, to say nothing about a suit of ‘‘ darling” clothes that fitted him most elegantly, and a chapeau that was the latest rage; and bis eyes, too, were sbad«d by nobby glasses. Doffing his «hapeau as he met Miss Dean, he paused and said: ‘** Aw! excuse me, my pretty miss, but could you direct a bewildered stranger to the Claren- on? ‘* Indeed, sir, I am a stranger myself, and could not inform you,” Nellie replied, civilly, but by no means preosantly. ‘* Aw! bow fortunate I have met one a stran- ger like myself. They say misery likes com- panionship. Might I have the pleasure of your further acquaintance, divine cieature? It would be one great pleasure to form social acquaint- ance with some congenial spirit.” ‘‘If you area gentleman, allow me to pass, sir!” Nellie retorted, coldly. ‘ If you want ac- quaintances, go where they are plenty for the asking.” She endeavored to pass him then, but he blocked the way. ‘ Nellie!” he said. in his usual vofee. She gave a quick start, and a look of glad surprise came over her face. ‘Is it you, Mister Dick? I was never more surprised. I have been greatly worried about you, and I had a terrible dream last night which I cannot shake off, and I am sure some- ang terrible is about to happen to Lady Chan- OR, She then related how Carker had attempted to rob the lady, and how the real Sir Ferrol had com SE AT eA ~<a A A A A ON es a JOOKSTEOMmM