Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 268 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

een «on etme ee ge eerste tthe eg eee PER NE Si BIN aes + i hal mea as oe ne oe ree + oe ee eee er Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail. 4) ———. rn ee a ee Then she was gone, leaving the two English ladies in anything but an enviable frame of mind, while Nellie was but little concerned at the threat, ‘* Marie will go to Leadville, no doubt,” she said, ‘“‘ to have a conference with Carker, and I am going like a sleuth - hound on her track. { may in the same trip capture both, before Deadwood Dick can. You will not be afraid to come on in the stage to-morrow?” **Not afraid, dear, but I am afraid to have you make such a rash venture,” Lady Chandos ‘said, anxiously. ‘Never fear for me! I have had just enough hard experiences in the West to make me wide awake!” Nellie said, earnestly. ‘‘I know, be- fore I go!” As soon as she could complete the necessary arrangements, she ordered one of their best sad- dle horses and mounted. She had learned that Marie bad left some minutes before, so she set cff at a good gallo rh open track or road which led to Lead- ville. Her one desire seemed to be near tke hand- some knight of the West—Deadwood Dick—her mind was ever on him; some irresistible spell of human magnetism seemed to draw her toward him, She knew it was wrong that she should allow herself to let the feeling grow upon her, but she—she could not help it, was her consoling thougbt, when she allowed herself to consider. But as she rode on, and ker mind’s eye was gazing at the handsome face and figure of Dead- wood Dick, her reverie was rudely interrupted by a harsb grating voice exclaiming: ‘Halt, girl, Advance another yard and I'll make you feel the vengeance Marie promised you! Nellie Dean looked up from her reverie to be- hold the wily Frenchwoman sitting upon her horse, a few mg ahead, a light sporting rifle held leveled for instant use. “What do you mean?” Nellie demanded, quietly. ‘‘ Didn’t I tell you I should have revenge, you hussy?” she cried. “I’m going to have it, too. Something told me you would follow me, so I just waited here for tie sole purpose of waylay- ing you. Now that I’ve got you right where I want you, Pll show you that it were better to betray the devil than a fierce-tempered French- woman. Do you know what I am going to do with you?’ “T haven’t the slightest idea, 1 am sure,” Nellie replied, with apparent composure. “Well!” Marie said, significantly, “I am going to rob you of your beauty. That is worse than death, to one with any claim to good looks, , I shall cut off your hair, disfigure your face ahd—” ‘I beg your pardon, my royal queen of viciousness, you will do nothing of the kind!” a deep, thrilling voice exclaimed, and an elderly gentleman stepped from a thicket near to where the wom:n were halted, followed by a younger ** You have laid a most villainous plot, which you can hardly expect to carry out. So you had better go!” Marie uttered ascream at sight of the speaker, and turned very white. ‘* You!” she gasped—‘* my God! you 2?” ** As you see,” the man replied, calmly. “One would infer that you had seen a ghost.’ Marie did not reply, but wheeling her horse ut spurs to him and dashed away toward eadville as fast as she could go. ; The elder man then turned to Nellie, He was, in truth, noble looking, with a kindly-ex- ressioned, full-bearded face, and a form of tnanly beauty, while his dress and his habitual hearing bespoke a person of more than ordinary culture, The younger man was almost a fac-simile of the elder, for the resemblance between them was very striking, though the younger man wore no beard, se ee a mustache. ‘* My dear young lady, it was opportune that we were near, or that vixen might have done you harm,” the elder gentleman said. ‘‘T am very glad, sir, you were near,” Nellie said, simply, “‘for she is avery bad woman, and has sworn to kill me. But you mustexcuse me, asI wish to follow her. Is it far to Lead- ; ’ ville? Ma a good half aday’sride. You cannot reach it until after dark, and I would advise you not to attempt to go without an escort.” “Oh, ’m not afraid. VPI be more careful, during the remainder of the journey.” _ bidding them good-by, she gallo away in pursuit of Marie, Pheedtied te to give up, until she had trailed the French ba Np hartge inte the hands of Deadwood Dick, at least, ** ve lost my heart, uncle!” the younger man said to his companion, when the girl was are ‘‘In that girl, you’ve seen the future dy Cecil Falconer |” ‘‘Fudge!” the elder retorted. ‘‘Tll cut you off without a penny if you ever mention it again.” It was in the early morning when Marie finally arrived in Leadville. She appeared very much exhausted, but stabled her horse; then made a tour of the better class of hotels and examined their registers, evidently looking for some one, and a disappointed look came over her face at every failure to find the name she sought. Finally she entered the Clarendon, and as she did so uttered a gasp of delight as she saw a man ascending the stairs. She quickly fol- lowed him, and entered his room immediately behind him. “ Marie!” he exclaimed, at sight of her, her sudden appearance giving him a start. = Les, Terie ” she cried, seizing his jeweled hand, and covering it with passionate kisses, “your faithful Marie—the only woman who has ever proven true to you.” ‘Then you have the evidence to confirm my convictions, eh?” he demanded, his eyes fairly blazing. ‘* Mon dieu, Lord Chandos, I sincerely wish I could say no; but I have not that weicome news to bear you. WhenlI left England, em- ployed to spy upon Lady Chandos, by you, Lt could have sworn to her purity and love for your noble self. But it has, alas! proved as you feared, Her trip to America was but to escape the vigilance of your watchful eye, that she might bask in the smiles of her first love!” Lord Chandos paced the floor more after the frenzied style of a madman, than like a sane person, ** You tell me all this!” he hissed. ‘Oh! God! why cannot I get my hand at her throat! Ugh! [am going mad, I believe.” He was violent for a few minutes, then quieted down suddenly, and said: ‘* You have seen them together?” ‘Yes, on more than one occasion. I met Sir Falconer last night, en route to see her,” 5 Does she receive him with evident pleas- ure? ‘Judging by some of their romantic Shakes- perian scenes, I should suppose that she con- siders him every inch her Romeo, The fact is she is no longer a wife to you, and I have heard her declare, with an oath, when under the influence of liquor, that she would never live with you again!” “Nor shall she. Ill end the disgrace, while here in this lawless country, by killing them both, and then go back to London a wiser man,’ “But you must first fulfill your promise to me, please to remember, Lord Chandos,” " What do you mean, woman?” ‘‘ Bah! do not be so innocent! You promised me thatif I would spy on Lady Chandos, and prove her unfaithful to you, you would fill her place with me.” ‘Bosh! Nonsense! Do you take me for an idiot? The idea—marrya menial! Ha! ha! the idea!” Marie’s eyes flashed. ** You'll find out you can’t put me off. If you don’t marry meat once, when you go back to London, I go too, and I'll make things lively for you, you may rest assured. know too much for your peace of mind, so make the best of a trying situation,” is lordship winced. ** Deuce take you!” he growled. ‘If you want money say so, and don’t take such a round- about way of getting at the matter.” ‘Pooh! I don’t want money! I want a home, anda husband, I want you, because you can ee EE OHAPTER X. ‘aN OLD OFFENDER” ANNOUNCED. BmavutTIFUL revolvers had often flashed in Leadville’s sunlight, and killed their — bus noth rz, so magnificent as that he Deadenad ck had ever been seen by an the admirers of aganet Ae 5 ' xhe steel was plated with gold, the handle was of pearl and a dozen diamonds of medium size were set in its aides, to say nothing of the mos@ superb solitaire which gleamed in the butt. ‘Take care, gents! It’s danger to too near a costly weapon like this!” Dick warned, dryly. re Order!” cried Dick’s black-bearded second. ‘*fhis hyar pic-nic must proceed, as both gents are anxious to get into one another. My name is Bolivar, I yer, and I’ see this thing ker- ried on on the square.” “So’ll I,” announced Sully, as he was called among his associates. ‘‘Git all ready gents! When [ say three, blaze away at each other fer all you’re good for. Vl hev a pine box fixed up long enuff so yer knees won’t get humped when we chuck ye in.” The antagonists took their positions, facing each other, and deliberately cocked their weapons. it was easily to be seen that neither paused to consider the results that were liable to follow. “‘Are you ready, sir cur?” his lordship cried, impatiently. ee **Ready, sir baboon,” was Dick’s taunting answer, ‘Then get ready!” the ‘slugger ” cried, 10ud- ly. ‘One! two! Lanse ed Bang! bang! bang! There were three pistol reports, instead of two. The Englishman (ell to the ground, wounded very slightly in the lefe sice, Deadwood Dick stood unhurt, although he had heard two weapons speak besides his own, and had heard two bullets whiz unpleasantly close to his hea’, : Looking quickly around he caught sight of his second ruoning toward a conveniené shed, with all his might and main, _ It was he, then, who had fired the third shot! If so, it needed no more to inform Dick that he had been within arm’s reach of the man he wanted—Jvrry Carker! Again hud the villain attempted the Sport’s life and esvaped—for he was now too far off to easily pick off with a revolver, as Dick per- ceived; but with a fierce exclamation he sprung away in hot pursuit, le.ring the crowd to at- tend to the wants of the lerd, who really had urposely fallen, on bet.g wounded, to avoid urther punishment. A fleet runner was Deadwood Dick, but the desperado had the advantage in getting behind the shed, so that no bullet could bit him. In this way be succeeded in gaining some place of safety by the time Dick had reached the shed, and the Sport was baffled for the time being. “Pil have him, if he is in this town, how- ever!” he gritted. ‘‘It was a bold move on his part, coming forward to play my second, and more’s the wonder he didn’t salivate me for good.” He went back to the dueling ground, and found that the Englishman had gone back to the hotel. After some little trouble Dick succeeded in enlisting half a dozen men in his service, whcm he posted about the city with a purpose ot keeping a close watch for the villain Carker. It seemed only a matter of time ere the cap-~ ture must be mude. Nellie Dean arrived in town during the fore- noon, and found Dick, to whom she communi- cated what is already known to the reader. Dick listened, but did not chide her, as she was afraid he would. ‘* Well,” he said, “* we shall have to look to put me where I can shine above those who look | her movements here, and may in that way see down on me, now,” The other laughed, wickedly. “Tf you don’t clear out, I’ll put you where you'll shine for eternity,” be said. ‘Pll never marry you, so settle on that. If you want a Carker. That he is lying low, somewhere about town, I am certain, but so far I am not able te locate him, nor are my men.” Dick then related his experience with the Englishman, whom he believed to be Lord thousand pounds to clear out to France and | Chandos; after which he conducted her to a keep your mouth shut, you can have it—other- wise not.” “I will choose the not!” she retorted, sav- agely. ‘‘I will show you that it is not profit- anie to tamper with a woman’s affections, did not mention to you that your son, Cava- naugh, has been stolen from Lad Chandos, and Ialone hold the ra gs e of his whereabouts. Good-day, sir,” an she left the room, I | where Dick took care to hotel several blocks from the Clarendon, and she retired to her room to get a few hours’ rest. Lady Chandos and Lady Clare arrived that afternoon, and were taken to the same hotel, ter them und assumed names, and warn them to kee within doors, as he did | want them to know Lord Chandos’s presence, nor he of Her ladyship was feelin "com theirs. : & greatly improved | DOOKS. com