Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 268 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 Deadwood Dick's Death Trail. nance tugging at his heart, to see her kneeling there in abject humiliation, before him.. “Realizing that you have been discovered, and that, too, at the risk of your situation, you have concluded to make a clean breast of it andthus get time and opportunity for making sure of your job, next time, eh?” ‘“‘No! no! I realize what sin I have been peed of, and all I want is a chance to do tter, and to prove that my intention is good.” ‘‘T suppose your intentions were commend- able, when you poisoned Lady Chandos, and tried to break my neck!” Marie turned still whiter, subsided. ~ ** You know that?” she gasped. ** About the poisoning—yes! You thought ee cunning and sharp, but you are a I and her sobs ungler at the best. Rise to your feet, woman. shall watch for any more of your charming little acts, and curb your playfulness, if I see any more of the devil cropping out of you. Go!” By the next morning Marie had quite re- covered from her grief and looked as saucy and wo ra as ever. ady Chandos, however, was feeling worse again, and so Dick announced his mtention of alloping on to Leadville, leaving them to follow in the stage, as soon as her ladyship felt able. So leaving her to the careful charge of Lady Clare and Nollie Dean, the ex-Prince of the Road mounted his horse and set forth. The route between the Curve and Leadville was one of the wildest sort, the trail alternately ascending and descending, and being for much of the way lined on either side by forests, Although well mounted and well armed, Dick anticipated trouble before reaching the mountain metropolis, wherein the early days of the town, he had associated his name with rob- bery, reckless daring and sport; so he kepta yt lookout, and put his horse toa spirited allop. He had half completed the journey, and was crossing a treeless plateau, when he heard the peculiar whirring sound of the lasso, Quickly slipping to the side of his horse, In- dian fashion, he just escaped the noose which had been sent with precision; at the same time he gave a yell that sent his horse flying across the plateau. Lucky for him that he remained at the side of bis horse, for soon after another lasso drop- ped across the animal’s back, then disappeared again, as the horse flew on. Taking a squint in the direction from whence had come the attack, he saw the heads of men popping up above the tops of rocks. Quickly reseating himself on the flying horse Deadwood Dick’s vengeful repeating rifle almost immediately spoke, and for each shot came back a wild yell, which proved the deadly aim of the ever-ready man. Into the forest again the faithful horse bore him at break-neck speed; but now satisfied that the danger was over, Dick reined in the @nimal, and rode on, glad to have escaped so luckily. ‘** T don’t doubt that I owe this little serenade to his honor Jeremiah Carker,” he muttered, as he rode along, nearing Leadville. **Oh! my great and noble rascal, sooner or later T’ll show you that retribution is bound to overtake you; sooner or later [ll teach you that to murder a white-haired old man is one of the greatest of unpardonable offenses, and you sball suffer for your crime!” He reached Leadville about the middle of the afternoon, ie. sh disguised in a brown wig aud full beard and mustache, together with an entire ogi, of clothing. Stabling his horse, and Sra hotel, he ordered dinner, a out for a stroll. Although the place had grown much since he was there before, he still knew where there were several resorts of the sort Carker usually fre- quented, and accordingly he paid them a visit. But no Carker was to be found. If in the city, it looked very probable that he was lying in hiding until he should find a good opportunity to escape; so Dick went back to the hotel, and on entering his room found that a note had been shoved under the door during his absence. With some curiosity he picked it up and read: *Deapwoop Dick—This is to inform you that I will never be taken alive, no matter where you fol- low. The scheme I had afoot for the boy is bu’sted, for I got tired of the brat, and knoc his brains eut morning. for you, you'll do well te stop a you are, for if you don't I'll show y not pay to bother with a ‘ whall stay here ns Caer oe a aud then move on. | J. CaRKgr.” up a6 a good ter which he started ‘All right, Mr. Carker; if you will only be so accommodating as to remain here in Lead- ville I will be much obliged, as it will save me the trouble of searching. That lie about the boy, though, however much it might strike other folks, does not affect me in the least, as I know you think too much of your prize to yield it upin that way. ITll watch out for youdike a hawk.” He went down-stairs, then into the gaming- room that was attached to the hotel proper, and run under one management. The place was pretty well filled, and drink- ing was still going on merrily. One man appeared to be somewhat ‘ elevated.’ He was elegantly dressed and yet vulgarly loud, wore plenty of expensive jewelry, and was overbearing and obtrusive. He wore a lux- uriant full beard, and his hair was parted in the middle, as was revealed by bis hat being cocked back upon his head. At Dick’s entrance, he rose from the table where he was sitting, and slapped the ex-Prince of the Road familiarly upon the shoulder, Dick surveyed him, coolly, for a moment. ‘* Well, sir! what do you want?” The man gave vent to a drunken snicker, and endeavored to take Richard’s hands, but failed, as Dick refused to ‘‘sbake,” ‘‘ Is that the way you address a nobleman?” the ‘‘ genteel” ruffian demanded, evidently ripe for arow. ‘‘That’s the way I address every one who ets too fresh, no matter who or what he is!” ick responded, with a grim smile. ‘* Maybe. you don’t know who I am since you are so impudent?’ ‘*I don’t care who you are, no more than if ou were the most insignificant thing on the ace of the earth!” was the retort. ‘* You made yourself exceedingly fresh, and I asked you what you wanted!” ‘Well, I want you to know that I’m a gentle- man and a lord—the son and heir of an earl— and if I choose to slap a man on the shoulder, it’s condescending in me to do so. I feel highly insulted at your rudeness, and I—” “ Spit it out if, you want to fight, and don’t be a coward!” Dick cried. ‘‘That’s what you want, evidently.” “You're a liar!” his lordship fired back, ‘‘ and I—” but he suddenly stop talking, for out went the right iron-fist of Deadwood Dick, and the Englishman went down like a stricken ox. The sympathizing barkeeper came forward, then, dashed water into the Briton’s face, and dragged him into the side room, there leavin him to recover at leisure, while Dick walk leisurely away to another part of the room, to smoke and meditate. This individual was an English lord, he said, but, judging by appearances, he was a sorry representative of the aristocracy. ady Chandos’s husband was a lord, too, and as Dick had from time to time learned from Lady Clare, was, as she expressed it, ‘‘ an over- bearing man whom no one could bear—wild, reckless, and intensely jealous of his wife.” Might not this same individual be the same noble Briton, following her in her travels? An amused smile came over the sport’s dis- guised face at the thought of the thing. “One thing is certain. Her ladyship and husband do not particularly admire each other, nor do they live happily together. I have often noticed a pained, disheartened expression upon her face, when speaking of her husband, Lord Chandos. If this is the style of a man she has Bot, [ don’t wonder she feels bad sometimes. f the fellow comes around like a gentleman, Pll work him up and see what there is in him.” It was not long ere the Briton recovered; then he arose and arranged his soiled costume as best he could, and inquired for the “insolent puppy who had knocked bim down.” eadwood Dick was pointed out, and he ap- proached the sport looking somewhat the worse for wear, but full of fight or bluster. Walking up to Deadwood Dick, he glared down at him a moment over his nose, which was swollen three times its ordinary size, then spat direct into the sport’s face. ‘*'There!” he cried, savagely. ‘That is an insult, and if you want satisfaction, as gentle- men get it, come outside!” Dick arose, and wiped his face, apparently very calm; but any one acquainted with him could have told by the gleam in his eyes that all the tiger in his nature was aroused. A at had almest instantly gathered, with rest. t was a moment before Dick could compose himself enough to —then he said: “*T shall be happy to meet the British baboon SG RE a a at once. Weapons, revolvers. Lead ahead! Ill try and make a gorilla of him before Pm through with him,” ‘* You'll have to take te the outskirts of the town, gents, as ther day of street scrimmages is over, here, en atécount @ ther perlice. re’s Skin Sullivan—he’l show yea right peart spot to die,” the barkeeper said, sententiously. ‘‘ He’s a good slugger, too, is Sully, an’ a class second in any skewrup.” ‘Mr. Sullivan will act for me!” the lord said. ‘‘And I'll act for the gamey chap, I wi.i,”a deep gruff voice exclaimed, belonging to a man clad in a suit of overalls, stagy boots, and greasy sombrero. He wore bushy black hair, and an immense beard and mustache to match, and was about as brigandish looking a buman as one would care to meet of a dark night, with his belt full of weapons as they were now. Dick surveyed him, and nodded. It could not matter much to him who was his second. ‘All right. Lead ahead!” he said. ‘* Let's get down to business as quick as possible!” They left the saloon, and struck for the city limits, followed by one of the biggest crowds that ever witnessed a fight in Leadville. The sun was near to setting when the dueling ground was reached, and no time was lost in marking off the space, which the Englishman insisted should be fifty paces. ‘*He evidently wishes to make the distance long enough so that he will not be dangerously wounded!” was Dick’s thought, ‘* but r reckon I’ve got the beauty that will tickle him!” He took a case from his coat pocket, and therefrom extracted a weapon—a field revolver. There was a unanimous exclamation of admi- ration from the crowd at sight of the deadly tube, and they involuntarily rushed forward to get a closer view of the weapon, the equal of which, for beauty, they bad never seen. CHAPTER I\4. A DESPERATE WOMAN'S DESPERATE GAME. ON leaving the Curve, it had been Dick’s last request to Nellie not to mention anything to Lady Chandos about the poisoning, and very likely she would have acted according to his wishes Lut for the woman Marie, who, on every occasion took pleasure in casting some slur at Nellie, which she believed might annoy her, Several words passed between them, until finally Marie expressed an insinuation that fired all the temper the pretty orphan girl possessed, and under the impulse of the moment she wens’ to the ladies’ room, and revealed to Lady Chan- dos and Lady Clare all that was known relative to the poisoning. To say that both were astounded would be expressing it mildly, for their astonishment knew no bounds. ‘‘T am loth to believe this criminal charge against Marie!” Lady Chandos said, soberly; ‘* still, I have never quite put implicit confidence in her.” She then ordered Lady Clare to go and fetch the Prenchwoman. Marie soon made her appearence, her face somewhat pale, and her manner nervous, ‘‘ Marie!” Lady Chandos said, ‘‘do you think you could find your way back to your home in vre? “I fear not, Jady. Iam very little traveled, you know. Why do you ask, my lady?” ‘* Because it becomes my duty to dischar you. We need not necessarily dwell upon the whys and wherefores, but suffice it to say that vou know full well the cause why you are dis- charged, and will I hope feel grateful toward me for allowing you to escape merited punish- ment so easily. Say nothing, but gu. You were paid up your full yor yesterday.” Whiter than before was the treacherous wo- man, now, and she turned upon Nellie with a pee, one of her hands partly concealed behind 1er. ‘*Do I owe this to you?” she kissed, her eyes burning with an unnatural fire, ‘‘ Tf you mean the telling of the truth, yes, I was ordered by Deadwood Dick, to make no disclosures until he perfected plans for the eapture of Carker. But when you insulted me by assailing the only gift I have left that I value most—bonor—forbearance ceased to be a virtue! Take care! I see you have a stiletto ready todo murderous work with, but I eon- sider this much easier, quicker, and more ef- fective;” and the resolute girl produced a little revolver and cocked it. **Curse you! curse you all! You have not outwitted or done for me yet. I will have re- venge, mark you, and it shall be such a revenge that you will prezer the torments of hell to it!” (G0) ff IOOKS_ECOImM