Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 28 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

Ce etiettiindinmediineenl -_-— - -_———— =e — ~ - _ c . He seldom came to me, after my father drove me from my home, and I took refuge in a neighboring village, and when he did come, it was yey ex curse me, and abuse me and my darlings. At last his conduct became so brutal that 'w des- rate, and told him thatif he did not publicly ac- owledge me as his wife, dnd make me the mistress of his home,I would take the law into my own hands. Then ne became worse than ever, and tried to kill me and my babes. ** He hated me, he said, and swore that neither I nor my children should ever inherit or enjoy a farth- ing of his millions; he became so violent that I was afraid of him. I dared hardly stir out of the doors for fear he would murder me. ‘‘T at last made up my mind to take my children and fly—I knew not, cared not, where, only to es- cape from his devilish persecutions. But, he heard of my resolve, and forbade me to Bie threatening to send agents after me, who would murder me and my babes, too. ‘This frightened me more than ever, and one night 1 took them, and fled forever from the home of my youth, I would have gone to my father, but he had forbidden my ever showing my face at his door, after the birth of my children and his discov- ery that I was the wife of his bitterest living enemy. Thus it was that I was cast adrift wpon the cruel, pitiless world, ‘‘T had money—money which I had saved out of what he had first recklessly squandered n me, and with this I paid my p e to New York, where I endeavored to hide myself in the great city. But not a week had passed before I became aware tha I was being hunted down, **My cruel husband had set upon my track one of the most notorious ruffians of the county we lived in—a desperate, cunning villain, who stopped at nothing to achieve his own ends. ‘This man, Bill Burk by name, had rallied around him a gang of kindred its, and they were on my trail, nosing me out, with murderous intent; learn- ing which, Lleft New York for Chicago. ‘But, like the bloodhounds they were, they fol- lowed me thither, and again necessity compelled me to flee before them, to escape death at their hands. I went to St. Louis, to Denver, to Salt Lake City, and to many small towns in the West, but all to no purpose. Like sleuth demons they followed in my wake. ‘*At last Iam here, in the home of an old hunter named Ransom, far in an isolated wilderness, but they will surely come. I feel it in my heart, And I can go no further, Myfunds are nearly exhaust- ed; besides, I have despaired of ever escaping them. I am writing this and shall leave it where it will be found after I am dead. My babes—oh! , | can- not bear to think of them, My only hope is that they may escape, and inherit the fortune which is rightfully theirs, and which their fiend father would defraud thena of, **T leave this, in hopes that they may escape, and that the finder of this will hunt them up, and avenge my death, which I feel will be but a matter of a few hours, My children are named Benjamin and Mabel Wadsborth. On their arms above the elbow you will find their names indelibly tattooed. I had it done in Aaron’s presence, the second, week after my dar- lings’ birth, I also leave rolled up with this docu- ment a certificate of my marriage, and also one of my babes’ birth, which will be ail that is required, to blish their rights as heirs of J. Aaron Wads- worth, their fiendish father, ‘* Should this fall into the hands of Luke Ransom, whose father is now sheltering me beneath his hospitable roof, I pray and beg that said Luke will earnestly endeavor to discover whether 0: not my babes are dead; and if so, that he will go east and give this matter into the hands of the law; if not, t he will find my children, and see them to a proper age, at- which time they can push their la 7 Nears of agg is pe 7 “And may not o my heirs, but may Almighty God reward him for his services in their behalf. ‘* And now I feel that my mission is as nearly com- plete as I can make it. / “Signed, Evyvrra L. WaAbsworta.”’ Silence ae throughout the a ent, as Lightning Luke concluded ing; eyes were ceneres upon the guilty man of millions, accus- y. “Rnd this is Aaron Wadsworth, the man whose hands are stained with the life-blood of our mother!” cried Buffalo Ben, his voice rising cl despite his deat weakness— ‘the inhuman hus- band and father, of whom we have just heard?”’ “The same!’’ dec Ransom, “Yer father, my boyee an’ girl, who would even now murder you, were it in his power, w’ich et ain’t. By his agency died my old father—one o’ the best trappers on the frontier; and by his son’s hand shall die Yoke Ransom’s murderer—for this is the man who is the real murderer. ‘* But I hev a leetle more to add. I found thet-aire docyment, an’ learnt w’at I’ve told ye. Nowhete could I found a de’d babby; so I concluded they war alive. I traced ’em inter an Injun camp, an’ seen ’em sold ter an old fur-trader, named Jesse Jerome, I knew him well, an’ knew they'd hev a good hum. So I went off, satisfied on thet subject, A short time after, I tried ter find where Jerome lived, but he had vamoosed his ranch, an’ penetrated further inter the wilderness; tharfore I war discomflummixed! “*T searched for him, off ’n’ on, fer all time sence, an’ less’n a year ago found him up nigh ther British line, But ter my bitter disappointment, I learned thet the gal hed turned up missin’, sev’ral months before, an’ thet ther boyee hed gone in search o’ her. **T hev been looking for them ever since, For ten | : eae ee —_ —_ back I've hed a watch put on this Aaron Wads- worth, in his home at the East, an’ w’en I found he was comin’ ter Deadwood, I camealso. And I found him; and in Buffalo Ben and his sister I have found the children of the murdered Elvira, which nearly ends my mission. **Here, Ben, are the certificates and testimony; they insure a a fortune, and, I hope, a pleasant future life. For my services in your behalf, I crave only one favor.” **And what is that, Luke?” **That you turn over ter me this base villain—your father!’’ ‘Ha!’ this was something unexpected, “T am surprised. What d’ye want o’ him? **[ want to use him,”’ was the hunter’s grim reply. “Is he mine?” “Yes: take him forever from my sight, lest I kill him myself, and thus avenge my mother’s death. Begone, now, but come back, presently, fer 1 would see you again!” cried Buffalo Ben. htning Luke bowed, and then turned to Aaron Wadsworth, who, white as a sheet, stood trembling- ly by. - ome!” he said, sternly; “you're mine, now. Your life depends on yer obedience,” Then he left the shanty, the millionaire following him like a whipped cur. The young scout’s strength now returned so rap- idly, that when the following noon came he was able to leave his couch, wey tad on the arm of Wrestling Walt, who was as deyoted as a brother. Stella and Belle were fast friends, but, even in their joy, all felt an uneasiness; even Masked Maude was not without apprehension, for they momentarily wees an attack from the Regulators, nd, sure enough, about sunset, a band of thirty or more, headed by Old Roxly, were seen approach- ing from up the guich. All were armed with re- peating rifles and pistols. From holes in the shanty wall, the inmates watch- ed the approach. ‘I’m afraid thar ‘Il hev ter be more blood spilt than ever!’ said Drayton. ‘‘ Major Fawdon has sent ’em hyer fer Buffalo Ben, but, they shan't take him while | can pull a trigger."’ ‘** Bravo!"’ cried ked Mande, with enthusiasm. “But, your attention a moment, my friends, while I make a disclosure that will doubtless astonish you. People call me Masked Maude, the fortune-teller. It isbecause they know me not. I assumed this dis guise, and also, at different times, that of O/d Rattle- snake—the ‘‘me-c-owin’ Thomas Cat,” to enable mé to be in Deadwood, without being recognized; but, now, to you few assembled here, I unmask and you behold meas I am—Deadwood Dick, the road-agent.”’ And, tearing off the mask, and touching a spring in the of the dress, the Prince of the disrobed of his feminine garb, but still in his suit of jetty black—handsome, fearless, dare-devil De wood Dick, indeed, A general cry. of SeaEeW nat we conned tion ee young outlaw, and q this revela- uiet laugh reas- t . ‘This is a surprise, eh? but we have no time to talk itover, now. Business is at hand, and business pane Pa before (oe ee wha an We ow meet these = one as they deserve; an punish ‘em, too!” sags “ Quickly he ran to the center of the floor, and pull- ed up a trap door that opened into a cellar, below: then up into the room, to the further amazement o all, poured ¢wo score of masked men, all of them road-agents, without doubt. - ** Every man to his loop-hole!”’ chief's order, and as many rifles as there were men, were leveled at the approaching Regulators. Then Deadwood Dick 7 open the door, and come upon the threshold, fearless of danger or ea ‘Regulators of Deadwood!” he cried, and his tones were stern and cold, * you have at last made a blunder that places you in my power. In this — ae Se aioand -- road-agents are ee rated—fo and by ranging your eyes alon the walls, you will perceive that as rtiany ities a5 bearing upon you, with deadly aim. One word from me, and you are, for a most —, dead men. Now, wishing no further warfare, lask you, will you re- treat and allow me and mine to quietly take our de- rture from Deadwood, or will you come on, and orce us to fight our way out?” ‘* We will come on, and we'll take ye, or die in the attempt!’ yelled Roxly, springing forward, and fir- ing at the breast of the young road-agent. ut it was his last shot. Loudly rung the rifle-reports of the road-agents, and down went two-thirds of the Regulators, either dead or dying. The rest turned and fled back to the Metropolitan, whereupon a body of several hundred Deadwoodites sallied forth to attack the shanty. But to their astonishment they saw the Prince of the Road and his band ig away up the gulch, mounted upon their swift s that had been con- — in a shed at the back of Masked Maude’s shanty. It was no use to follow in pursuit. Experience had gone to show that on horse the darine knights of the road could not be taken. So they v are allow- ed to go, and Deadwood's population breached easier, when they had vanished from view. With them went Buffalo Ben, Wrest Walt, Belle, Stella—who was resolved to link her fortunes with Ben—and Calamity Jane. Nothing was seen of Lightning Luke; so he was left behind. On the trail was encountered Leone, Deadwood Dick's beauteous wife, and this made the little band complete. ~~ the young : ontebaiee — os To the outlaw pinongned on the meuntain top, in a depth of the Hills, they went, and there we leave m, After leaving the fortune-teller’s shanty, Lightning Luke went with Wadsworth directly to the Jatter’s oar in the Centennial Hotel, the door of which he ook care to lock, while the key he slipped into his pocket. “There!” he said, an ominous glitter in his eyes; ‘*‘ we're now free from interruption!”’ “Yes,” the millionaire replied, hoarsely, “‘we are alone. And what do you propose to do?” “I will show you,” the hunter said; then he left the room, locking the door after him. He, however, — “ nsaipic ot bringing with him a pair of dueling pistols, First, he cut loose the millionaire’s bonds, and then handed him a pistol. ‘** Aaron Wadsworth,” he spoke, his tones cold and stern, *‘ we'll now come ter a settlement. You are responsible fer the death of my father, an’ I want yer life. If you can take mine, however, all right. See! ther clock on yonder mantel is about to strike. At the first stroke, we will fire!”’ Then up came the pistols, and the two men wait- ** One!’ chimed the clock, and the flash of two pistols followed. Without a groan, Aaron Wads- worth fell to the floor—dead! Then Lightning Luke turned away. His mission was fulfilled. What shall we say in conclusion? After a week's rest at the stronghold of Deadwood Dick, during which time Ben fully recovered, he and Stella and Wrestling Walt and Belle, set out for Bozeman, which post they reached in safety, and there bade adieu to the Prince of the Road and his followers. At Bozeman there occurred two marriages, and the reader need. not take long to guess who were the happy brides and bridegrooms. rom Bozeman the newly-wedded quartette came East, and now our Buffalo Ben is engaged in prose- cuting his own and Mabel’s claims for inheritance; which, when they are duly recognized, will make them among the wealthiest of their State. May they ever live happy and enjoy that which an evil father tried to cheat them out of! THE END. The New York Library. 1 A Harp Crown. By Philip S. Warne.......... 1c. ® Tae Dare-Devr. By Col. P. Ingraham...... 10c. 3 Kir Carson, Jr. By Buckskin Sam.......... 10c. 4 Tur Kipnaprer. By Philip 8S. Warne........ 10c. 5 Tue Frre Frenps. By A, P. 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