Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 28 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

The storm slacked up.as day began to dawn; a breeze laden with the perfume of mountain flowers wafted in through the barred aperture called a win- dow. Nothing could be heard of the sentinels outside. Probably they were either asleep, or had deserted their post during the night’s wild tempest. The lat- ter was the most probable theory, considering the escape of Deadwood Dick. “We'll soon have company,” remarked Buffalo Ben, pacing to and fro—*“ all Deadwood will be down topay us a morning visit. There! listen—some one is approaching now.” Footsteps were indeed heard drawing near, and it was evident that quite a multitude was coming. As they came closer to the cabin there was considerable commotion—an angry hum of voices—shouts and oaths; then the key was heard to turn quickly in the lock and the door swung open. But, no sooner was an opening made, than the road-agents, with Cambre at their head, made a pre- cipitate rush out of doors, agen down the Regu- lators and springing nimbly over them. Then away they dashed up the guich and into the dense forest that flanked the mountain side, followed by a harmless volley of bullets from the weapons of those of the Regulators who had not been prostrated. Instant pursuit was given, peg | man joining in thus leaving the cabin u rded, for it was supposed that all the prisoners had effected their escape. But, theré was one who had not joined in the stampede, and that one was Buffalo Ben. He came to the door after the Regulators were some distance off, and chuckled to himself as he stepped forth into the air of freedom, and sauntered leisurely toward the busy town. ‘**Bout as lucky an escape as a feller could ask for,’’ was his comment, as he walked along. ‘* Don’t reckon I'll be troubled on this score again, unless I war recognized last night. Hope them cusses es- caped, for they seemed right polly sort o’ dogs.” As he entered the town Ben steppes at a sluice where a couple of miners were washing sand indus- triously—early birds they were, who came to the hills to make money. ‘**Mornin’, pardner!”’ saluted one, looking up his pan. “Terrible storm we hed, Lookin job?” from fer a Ben shook his head with a grimace. n’ ferme. D’ye make it pay?” ‘Purty fair—yes. Starm tuk away a gude bit 0’ a top layer; sum left, still, tho’.”’ t this juncture two persons, evidently out for morning exercise, galloped along on a couple of handsome bays—a man with Burnsides, and attired in army uniform, and a young maiden in elegant riding-habit, very pretty of face and form. Evidently Ben recognized them both, for he raised his cap to the maiden; the man he scarcely deigned a glance, Perhaps the slight was conducive to anger in the officer, for he wheeled his horse down toward the sluice, and jerked him back upon his haunches, ‘You young jacknapes!” he cried, furiously, rais- ing his riding-whip as though to strike, ‘‘how dare you have the impudence to insult this young voted in my company by saluting her? Ill learn you be ter manners!” And the whip came down with a vicious swish across the scout’s shoulders. Of course it was but a mere toy, and the blow was scarcely felt; yet it caused a flame of anger to go ep ty Peta d uffalo Bon’s face. He stepped back a pace, eyes gleam- ing ye porte ; “You cowardly dog!” he cried, “* you shall pay for this, mark my word. I am slightly acquainted with Miss Stella, your companion, and I deem it no dis- honor to her if 1 bow as she passes. You, sir, have insulted. me by striking me, and you are a coward.”’ At this the two miners, who had stopped their work, laughed loudly, and the officer, who was no other than Major Fawdon, grew red in the face, “I’m a coward, eh?” he cried, hotly; “you cursed imp, ll show you how much of a coward Iam, _ Be- fore these men, I challenge you to fight, if you dare, and give me a chance to obtain satisfaction and wipe out my grudge against you.” “ Which l agree to wi’ the hugest kind of delight!" Ben replied, coolly. ‘*Meet me here an hour hence, if you please. The weapons will be revolvers—my choice.” ; Just then the major saw that he had lost by here 3 too fast. He should have P aiive the scout eno provocation to insure a challenge from him; he, the oe would then have had the choice of weapons, which would have been the sword, with which he could have hacked his enemy into bits. But with the revolver he was nowhere. The die was cast, however; to retreat was ignominy, disgrace; to go ahead was death, without doubt, for young Jerome had a notoriety second to none as a revolver shot. “Very well!” he was forced to say, though he could not feel that it was to end very well for him. ‘*T will be on hand.” Then he wheeled and rode away to join the young woman, who was waiting, some ance off. ‘*Do you know that insolent puppy?” he demand- ed, with a frown, as they galloped along together, “T do,” the girl replied, apparently not in the least disconeerted by his passion-—‘‘have known him a week, Why?” “Then I want you to cease knowing him, and that at once. He is no one for you to notice or associ- ate with.” ‘Indeed! but 1 am the best judge of that. Heis at least a gentleman.” “God pity the rest of us, if he is a specimen of what you call a gentleman. Come, let’s return to ' the hotel; I have some business to attend to.” “What business?” she asked, watching him. Buffalo Ben. A A A a - pi is pepe ay * : ok fight.” “No, itis not. You aré going to . “What of it?” ‘* You will get killed, or he will. Don’t, George,”’ clutching his arm, as they rode side by side. ‘** Bah!” shaking off ner hand, ‘“‘ you need have no fear. Ican ily wing him.”’ ‘* But that would be terrible, all the same, Please ” don’t fight, George! ‘** But I must, sis—Stella, I mean. They'd call me a me if I were to back out, and I the chal- lenger. No, 1 must fight; but-don’t fear; [ll come out all right,”’ They reached the hotel and dismounted, The ma- jor hg up to his room, Stella remained on the ve- randa. “They will fight and one or the other will get killed,” she murmured, thoughtfully. ‘‘l hope it will not be Mr. Jerome—or George, either for that matter,” A little later she saw Buffalo Ben come up the street and enter an ammunition store across the way. He had gone to purchase ei fom the Regu- lators having taken his at the time of his capture. Fs sage he came out, she ran over and waylaid im, “Oh! Mr, Jerome, you ar’n't going to fight!’ she pleadingly. ‘* Don’t for my sake.” “T's purty hard ter tackle a fellow in that way, Miss Stella. There’s few things I wouldn't do for your sweet sake, but I can’t give in this time. It’s live or die, for me or Fawdon—die for him, I reckon, for he is no pistol shot,” “ Then you won't do me this favor?’’ the girl said, pone: ‘*No; [ll have to refuse you, this time, Stella. He struck me, and I called him a coward, and he challenged me. So we’re bound to fight.” ‘* Why did you call him that?” ‘* Hard to tell, dear. When a feller gets r’iled he ain’t most always the master o’ his tongue—at least in'’t 9 ‘Well, if you must fight, you must, 1 suppose. But why need you kill him?—just wound him for in- stance.” ‘Might do that, it’s true. But, mebbe he might blunder and ping. it to me;—I wouldn't want to go down withou ivatin’ him!” “Oh! he'll not hit you, never fear. He fired six times at_a buzzard, once, and then missedit. You won't kill him, then?’ ** No, not if you don’t wish me to.” “All right; see that you keep your word, Now, good-by,”* and away she flitted back to the hotel, fol- lowed Ben's admirin . he muttered, as he strolled * That gal's a trump! on. ‘* Pretty, intelligent, refined and good-hearted; not much like her rascally brother, durn him!” Major Fawdon came out of the hotel just as Stella So up the steps, her cheeks all aglow and eyes spark- ng. “You've been out in the street talking with that young ruffian, and publicly disgracing me!” he cried, savagely. ' ’ 3 v4 ‘* Some business, I said!’ he retorted, sharply. | who chanced to be present, “thet was Deadwood Dick’s laugh, boys, sure’s I’m a livin’ man.”’ rg me ter a mulberry tree ef it wasn’t!’ as- sented another; and it was generally agreed that the laugh came from the lips of Deadwood Dick. But no one had taken any notice from whence it came. Buffalo Ben was now seen approaching, and a tance he had al- cheer went up, for on short acq ready. become a prime favorite among the miners who seen around Deadwood. He came upina ing, easy gait, and ran his eyes over the crowd until he singled out the major. “Well!” was his salutation, “‘you’re on hand, I see. Hour’s up, ain't it?” “Yes,” Fawdon replied, glancing at his gold watch. “ Are you ready?” Psy reckon I am, all except choosing a sec- ond.”’ ““Hyer’s yer Thomas K. Cat!’’ declared the man from Potato Gulch—‘‘I’m yer man, pilgri durn my aid sow’s last litter of pigs, ef I ain't! ‘You'll do as well as any, perhaps,” Ben agreed; ‘all you've to do is ter see fair play done.”’ The major chose a gambler by the name of Reese; then the ground was paced off—twenty yards being the measure. Then the two took their places, facing each other; the seconds, and a counter, who was no less a per- sonage than old Jack Fergueson, formed in line to one side, with drawn weapons. The crowd also as- sumed side positions, and most of them had drawn their weapons to enforce fair play. At the word: ** One!” The weapons of the duelists were cocked and lev- eled. Both were handsome revolvers. * Two!” cried Fergueson, grimly. “*Oh! Eliza, my primrose!" whispered the Rattler, —**now’'s yer time!” And then there was a breathless silence, awaiting the fatal 7'hree/ CHAPTER VIII. ‘On! 7 Gant, please a rt! Oh! help hel “On! mercy, don’t, please don’t! ! I for the love of God!” - In a wild, gi Soa, Paice of d run words, emanating from one of a hundred -cabins that dotted the steep hillside above Deadwood. Then came a sound of a descending ee and more piteous screams followed, in a purely feminine voice. A young man climbing up the hillside, without an apparent object, except to get a view of the sur- rounding country, heard the screams, and stopped. “A woman in difficulty!” he muttered, scanning the different abodes above and around him. ‘Ha me if I know whether I'd better interfe Don’t like to hear a feller-mortal screech fer help, without givin’ ’em a lift, but who knows but what I might git my fingers burnt fer ag el e listened again, and heard the sound of heavy blows, and repetition of the pitiful screams—screams of some woman in most excruciating agony. “*Durned if I can stand any more of thet music,”’ the listener said, moving rapidly toward a cab out these or not, ‘‘He’s no more of a ruffian than you are, sir!” | from which he was tive came the so “Ti flashed Stella, with spirit. ‘‘ You might be g if | make it hot work for somebody, or my e ain't you Ba one woe ve good as he, coe an 28 Weg Walt a ‘*Humph!"’ the or’s sneer t up to the door ion of the scout, better than word = kn t nity it ote ee eens ** He's a young ruffian, and a blacklez. I’ve warn- No screams fiow came from the inside, but he ed you to keep away from him; you'll mind, here- | could hear low, moaning ans, which he knew after, or I'll lock you in yourroom. Where did you | came from the victim of the punishment. There meet him, girl? . were, however, sounds of voices in stealthy conver- None of your business, sir. If you came here to | sation; then the demand was given, in a coarse, gruff scold, you may talk to some one else than to me!” | tone, yet undeniably a woman’s voice: And with the imperious eg of a queen the girl ‘*'Who’s thar?” moved into the hotel, leaving the major to himself, “You just hurry up and open the door, an’ you'll With a muttered oath, he sauntered down to the out,’’ returned the wrestler, authoritatively. claim where he had given Buffalo Ben the challenge. Quite a crowd had collected here, for the news of the coming duel had spread rapidly. Some were nk gary gee and others the escape of Deadwood Dick and men. It seems, that when Old Rox! and his men had come down to the old cabin, they had found the rds lying upon the ground, bound and gagged. urmises were made that some of Deadwood Dick’s uncaptured band had done this work, and then had been frightened off before they could effect the escape of those insidew Prominent among those gatheréd’at the duel- grounes was that uncouth and eccentric individual See, Potato Gulch, who called himself Old Rattle- snake. In his element was he, now, and he capered about — a frisky dog, overjoyed at the wetanret its mas- ‘‘Hayr cums the red-nosed galoot w’at sa lick Buffalo Ben-jam-in!” the miner orig ing general attention to the major, as he approach- ed. “Oh! Eliza, my blushing primrose, ee art thou, now? Luck at thet ossifer, will ye, pilgrims; obsarve what a dangerous-lookin’ galoo Luck at thet ar’ pistle—oh! "Lizy! hain ous pistle, now? An’ he’s ther coon w’at they say kin salivate my boyee—my bashful cherub, Ben-jam- ‘Is Buffalo Ben here, yet?” the major demanded sweeping the group with his piercing 5 gaze. “ yes vag choy eee = e Rattler, with a ace; er boyee hain’t hay ilgrim, but he'll be hayr in tine ter make minéeuies out o* sech an ornery-lookin’ specimen o’ a bull-whacker as be you—bet yer four-buttoned kids on that.” The crowd laughed heartily.at the miner's speech and pigny distinguishable from cheir voicés came another laugh—a wild, blood-curdling shriek of vay er, that made the surrounding rocks echo and re-echo. “By heavens!” cried Old Roxly, the Regulator, he can direct- he be! tthet a pom : . y lad eck find y d p- B * Don’t be a month o’ Sundays about it, neither!” ** ‘Who be ye an’ what d’ye want?’ was again - ed, after more inaudible conversation on the inside, ** You'll see when you open up.” To his surprise, the bars were shot back, and a moment later Silver Sal stood upon the threshold. She uttered an oath as she saw the wrestler: she mec Seg \ ee oes yeaah by chance, at the Metro- olitan. e wou ave re ted, only Drayton’ lavciver covered her heart. Pe aly rece * Hold mont ma’am!” the wrestler said, coolly. sit a Et a ittle diag nee ter transact wi’ you, so on n a hurry. oO were you pounding, you bloated she-wretch?” ea? : Silver Sal gave vent to a forced laugh. “Oh! I see,” she said, understandingly; “you have made a mistake. Them screeches cum m next door, whar old Yansley’s bin lickin’ his wife. ”’ Just then groans were heard inside the room, “There! what d'ye say to (hat *”’ the wrestler de- manded, triumphantly, ‘Tell me that cum from Yansley’s, will ye?” ** No, I won't lie,” the woman answered “I despise a liar above all else. Mr, St, you come here, a minnit?”’ In answer the worthy in eee made his appear- ance at the door, beside the coarse figure of the oss Gal. He would doubtless have drawn a pistol, only that Wrest Walt warned him to desist, with a shake of his head. ; “Let your shootin’-iron alone, Saint!’ he sai you in the latest approv coolly, “or I'll ventilate style. Don’t imagine I can’t do it, fer my revolver is gazin’ at both of you.” Curse you!” St. Elmo hissed, biting at his black —— fiercely, " yi) “Curse me as much as you please,” t repli with a grin of ne be for thet’s all ye're able = do at present. I know that Be an’ this greasy wretch ar’ inter sum kind o’ villainy, an’ I’m goin’ ter know what. Ef you've been lickin’ sum poor devoutly, Elmo, will EOMmichboo (e S) co