Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 281 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

te err Ce ee ees oe. Tt struck the Detective Queen that it had be jonged to some beautiful young lady—perhaps some newly-made bride, to whom it had been given asa wedding-ring. ‘*Werme ther passengers killed?” one of the Black Gowns demanded as the captain ceased speaking. ‘The majority of them were killed, a good many were fatally wounded, and a few made their escape. The only wonder is that all were not killed outright. owever, the train went down on its broadside. Who is this girl you have here in boy’s ners. ‘Dunno her name, ss. Captured her a-flaggin’ the train over on the U. P. She kim ridin down the track like a streak of greased = from the direction of the Notch sta- on ‘*Oho! she’s the one, then, that some o’ the boys told of flrin’ at to-night? What is your same, young woman?’ ** None of your business,” Doll replied, inde- vendently, and with a promptness that was sharacteristic of her. ‘** Look out! none of your sauce to me, or [ll learn you better. I’m Captain Crime, of the Terrible Tribunal.” “I don’t care were you Satan himself,” was the plucky girl’s rejoinder. ‘‘ You can’t scare me one whit, because l’ve met such characters before. If you are very anxious to find out who I am, find out, that’s all!” Captain Crime uttered a growl of disapproval. “lve a good mind to knife you!” he said, fiercely. ‘ You’ve entirely too sharp a tongue for a small chiid.” “T’ve got ‘one sharp enough to talk for the right, you bet!” Doll retorted. ‘I can talk the lightning-rods off'n a court-house, too!” ‘Enough of this nonsense. Did you flag the express to-night?” *Reckon I did.” “ What did you do itfor?” ‘* Because I wanted to!” ‘“* Answer me better than that!” and the chief of the Terribles drew a pistol. ‘‘ Because I wanted to prevent the horrible massacre of innocents at Devil’s Curve. I rode from twelve miles the other side of Nugget Notch to prevent your crime.” ‘** But Crime triumphed in spite of you, you see. How did you find out anything about the proposed wreck of the train?” “None of your business again!” ‘You shall learn better. It has just dawned upon me who Fb are. You are a detective, and [I reckon | have heard of you. You are Denver Doll.” F Doll did not answer, but smiled scornfully. “You are Benver Doll, and I suppose you have come here to wage war on us, eh?’ the captain continued. ‘I’ve no reply to make to anything that you may surmise,” Doll retorted. “Think as you like, and do as you. like. I am simply your prisoner.” | ** T reckon it will be safest for the interests of the Tribunal to shoot you, Denver Doll, and get rid of you!” he said, drawing a revolver again. ‘* Dead men, or women, tell no tales. Five min- utes for prayers; so improve them!” “ Holdu ross-Bones! Techa hair of Doll’s head an’ [ll riddle ye like a Gatling!” The members of the Terrible Tribunal gazed around in great ment at the sound of the boyish voice, and beheld standing near a diminutive specimen of humanity whose age apparently could not have exceeded ten years, and his face not bis figure was what gave him the appearance of being that old. He was extremely ragged and dirty, and barefooted in the bargain, but his sturdy, reso- lute face, with its big mouth, pug nose, cunning black eyes, and fringe of unkempt hair made bim a curious character. He stood in a defiant, half-pompous attitude, facing the desperadoes, and each band leveled a cocked revolver of the “‘ bull-dog” brand, un- wavertngly. Captain Crime took a good look at the lad, and then burst into a loud laugh, ‘*Well, by the Rockies!” he ejaculated, ‘if that ain’t the cutest thing I’ve seen in a year. I say, bub, who are you?” , ‘Pm’ Bill Bethel, you_bet, and I’m sum on my muscle, too, Sally. So, if you don’t want to get slugged, jest you untie thet aire gal, and hand her over to my protection.” pr Crime looked at the boy again. ** What do you mean?” he demanded, ‘* Why I’ve a notion’to paralyze you where you stand!” Little Bill laughed. ‘** Large trées from little acorns grow, but I don’t scare worth acent,” he answered, unflinch- a a ingly. “If I badn’t the drop on you and the When Denver Doll and Little Bill arrived in Denver Doll's. Victory. on ww a power to watch it and nurse it, I'd stand no show. But I’ve got an eye that says that these ’ere two death-dispensers is lookin’ at every ga- loot in the gang?” Even though he laughed before he spoke, his speech was stern and meaning, and that of a man instead of a boy. That he meant business, no one could doubt, and even Captain Crime, steeped as he was in the vice from which he took his name, could do no better than hesitate and consider. Seven men stood at bay, and one slender but determined boy held them there. It seemed foolish to acknowledge him the victor, but rather than get the contents of his revolvers, every man felt like weakening. Little Bill evidently knew it, for he said: ‘** Business is business. The old lady brought me up on pistols, and Billiam is a deadshot from Deadshotville. I’m a nervy little cuss, too, and when I say a thing, you can bet I’m going to throw myself to do it.” ‘Tf you don’t get out of here mighty quick, YH bave you skinned, alive!” Crime growled, savagely. ‘ We ain't oe so green as to aliow ourselves to be backed down by a boy.” ; ‘* But you are, all the same, and I’m jest the sort of a rooster what wus brought up to keep my eve peeled for such sharps. Release the gal and turn her over to me, before I count three, or I'll let drive at you! One!” And up came the pom to bear moge fully, and the flash in the little black eyes of the stranger might have been regarded as exceed- ingly dangerous. Captain Crime saw it, and so di! his men, and of one accord, they shrunk back in dread of being shot. ‘Let up!” Crime called out. ‘ Yon've got the drop, youngster, and durned if you ain’t the pluckiest kid ‘I ever met. Therefore, you shall have the girl, and your liberty, But, beware, both of you! The third time after re- ceiving the notice of the skull and cross-bones, your doom is sealed. So be prepared!” He stepped forward and severed the bonds that held Doll to the sapling, and motioned for her to depart, Sbe walked over to the sidecf Little Bill, and together they backed down the gorgé, Bill maintaining his cover with the pistols, until they were safe away from the outlaws’ camp. It was then Denver Doll seized Bill by the hand, and thanked him warmly, ‘* You are a brave boy,” she said, ‘and you will always have a friend inme. Whoare you, and where do you belong?’ “Oh! I'm Kate’s kid—Kate’s my old woman, you know. She cum down to a place called Deathly Ditch, or sum sech a place, bereabouts, an’ left me up in the mountings a-grubbin’ at a roor claim, with pick and pan. Sed she had *portant bigness, over heer, but I got lonesum, an’ so jest buckled on my armor, and drop- ped eek after ber, to see what the old gal u ‘**Won’t you get scolded?” ‘Pooh! no! Kate knows better’n to tan my jacket, bet you, fer I’m all the protection and s’port she’s got. We gets along famuss, but she sorter ’pears to have give me the slip, this trip. Know of sech a place as Muggin’s Notch, Death Di'ch, or sum sech a name, up in this section?” ‘You mean Nugget Notch, I guess. I’m bound for there, myself.” “Then, I’m with ye. I wanter find Kate, as soon as possible, for thar’s no tellin’ now’days, what these fall into, in the way o’ danger, if oeey ain’t got a purtecter, like me.” Doll could but laugh at the boy’s remarkable self-conceit, though it was evident that be was ven fool, in he way of worldly wisdom, Their journey to Nugget Notch occupied the best share of the day, as they were obliged to go on foot; and then, too, their ,route was rug- ged and tortuous. : At last, however, the place was reached—a wild, rough mining-camp, like which a bun- ata could be found seattered through the moun- ins, , There were the usual irregular clusters of shanties, cabins and tents, here and there heing one more pretentious than the rest. Then there was tho inevitable grocery store, several saloons, dance-houses,and gaming-dens, a shanty post-office, a theater, and a bank. The theater was a long one-story shed, which would bave been much more appropriate as a barn than for its presentcalling, =~ However, it was the popular resort of the camp, for *' fun,” and more than once had pis- tol therein awakened the echoes and a to the regular performance,. lcm | 3 SL TT | = the town, bowever, the theater bad no attrac- tions, for the denizens, who filled the gulch street, in knots, were engaged in the discussion of some important topic, which proved to be concerning the train disaster. Every one was terribly excited, and the threats hn the perpetrators of the crime, were not few, nor by any means friénd- ly. Frenzy seemed to possess the majority, The deputy bad already arrived, and was institut: ing inquiries, in hopes of getting track of some of the ringleaders, who were supposed to belong in Nugget Noteb, which camp had the reputa- tion of containing more rogues.and rascals, than uby otber in the territory. Denver Doll’s appearance in the town at- tracted considerable attention, but no ofie ef+ fered to molest her, nor her ragged companion, Bill Bethel. 1 9s! After about an hour’s search, she found Yakie Strauss, her Teutonic comrade. He was com- fortably stowed away in one corner of a saloon complacently making a meal on cheese cand crackers, and a mug of whisky;for which latter article, he bad an inordinate fondness. © 4). He looked up, with a comical expression, aa Doll approached, as much as to say “ Ilyas al righbt—how you vas?” Do)l looked carefully around her to sée that she was not watched, then said: * Well, what news:” **Loads!” Yakie grunted, ‘Train run off drack—shmasb all mit dunder.”) 5 9) “Solem aware, 1 missed warning them; though | brougbt the train to a stop.” | © 2» Sbe then explained all about her adventare, which narration caused Yakie to open his eyes in wonder. . of ‘“Sbemminy blazes! dot vas noddinks. 1 haff swi’ times er adventure ash dot,” « &. *\Indeed! Let's hear abgut it.” AL “Vell, I deils you. Afder you skin ond und leaf me alone mit mineself, I don’d vas come straighd to dis blace, but takes a valse ofer toa blace vere I could vateh der Duyfel’s: Curve. Purdy soon, pyme py, along comes der exbress train, und tumbles off into der gorgey yoost like rollin’ off a log. Den der vas screechin’ how lin’, und, shimminy gracious! reat Fag und his imps dey vas skootin’ aroundt, like t tellers.» Den, ¥ quick ra disappear, unded goes down mit der wreck. 1 finds von you mans, mit a hole im his bead, mind be isayedio- git? me ein t’ousan’ dollars if I bide bimeveresno- pody kould find him, So I put him» ofer «iine shoulder, und pring bim ‘someveres,: t’ousan’, und eome right avay here!» « 0» “But where did you leave thes young man, Yakie?’ Doll asked, with curiosity @s. © 4 “Dot ish omy secret,” the Teuton: with a broad grin. *‘ Yoneund «lev weed but you bave your little seerets, u £0 _ he “Never mind, just leave it» to and I’]] unwind the ball Yarn for you,” Litto Bill now remarked, with a wink, ‘bwery t around “Vas? you can, hey?” ustered, dignantly. “You vasa shmall fry!’ 9. ‘But you can’t cook me, tho ’ William “ma thorough pret pare baw tes Kate’s skip me, I’ve hitched up w oll. ~ sag wy » Pveog ttle im- paces usiness ut. ee yo ater. Cucoo!’ anew verve Ynaid iaaiillx And away the youngster s with a pompous swagger as. dgnided at least the Detective Dats pi ins rane him ete gazed after : ¢ ec! ot bev saw of} She also turned away, lea his luneh; for she hardly kne his action concerning the man he to have concealed.» @ beeacell otew dee? af Ei She bad never before had. any reaso oubt him, as, with exception of a few eccentricities, his actions bad always beemloyal to her. ever so." sho tmused, a3 she left the plees, and case,” she m as she he ia ‘The is as sauntered down the street. ‘ sbarp as a weasel, and would work up into»a ratt detective, Lfancy. He is as: as a steel-trap concerning Kate, whom he claims to be hunting for. There are many in life, and there’s one here, I'll wager.” . Half a block down the street, she met a well- cremad Ten, mh vet sha laberayota biockade ’ ? O DOR ys eer / NE Ete m0 he said. “ Apecrou not Denver - hd ¢ y : > ‘h EONMIEL MOOS (Elo)