Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 321 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

- bebalf. Th _ twice stopped, and there I will leave you until [ -—- ee ey breathe the pure air oo? iis nountain wilderness, Bob; the very foliage where you go will become blighted. I swore to avengs the murder of tho Laveriil family, and i will do it. 1am going to kill you! Not yet, though. Who is this young lady?” ‘* None of your business,” the ruffian sullenly sxrowled, watching a chance to draw a weapon uod gain an advantage. , R , ** Miss, your name, please?” Dick said, briefly. ' “* Agnes Blye, sir.’ ‘* Where from?” “ “Virginia City.” ‘Where bound?’ “We were bound for Phantom intc, aig, My father has gone on for help,” ‘Humph! i. this man any thing so you or your father?’ “T do not know him, sir, Oh! Heaven! ‘ook out!” Too late} Black Bob ‘ad, with lightning snatched. a x volver from his belt an the mountain cieuth, His haste, however, had spoiled his aim, for the bulleé ua only grazed his intended vietim’s shoulder. ‘A tooth Yor a tooth!” eseaped Deadwood Dick's lips, ‘The law can’t have you, Blaek Bob!” The samo instant the sport fired. With a groan the bandit staggered back a few paces, reeled and fell heavily, when he lay like a deac. man. : ‘Como, miss,” the Sport said, ‘I will seo you safely to the Flats.” ‘* But, my companion—” “She escaped the red-skin and fled into the gulch below. There’s no use trying to find her now. Yourown safety must be looked for.” In sex sinutes they were far on their jour- ney. * uickness, fired at -_—._ o-oo CHAPTER II. BOSTON BLYE MEETS SHRIMP. Drapwoop Dick had mounted his protegee upon one of the outlaw’s fastest horses, and after reaching the canyon they were able to make good progress, Miss Blye proving to be a col rider, Tbe storm, too, had abated, and the night had grown lighter, After an hour’s ride, during which not a word wg spoken, Deadwood Dick drew rein and sig- naled Agnes to do likewise, ‘: Miss Blye,” he said, ‘‘I have a word to say “Oo you, before going further, Have you lived lone in the West?” ‘* Some time, yes, sir,” “Chen you Dornan know something of tho » nute of Deadwood Dick?” ‘*T have often heard of you, sir—stories both rood and bad.” + Your frankness I like. It’s a fact I am pos- sossed of a rather dark reputation, and haye led », rough-and-tumble life; hence, until I fight myself into favor ina town, I generally am in hot water, and most infallibly find some old anemy in each new locality, who takes pleasure 11 introducing me to the citizens, who as Invari- ably consider it an honor to try and assiet me to sbufile off this mortal coil, The Flats is a new camp to me, and if I were to boldly enter it in your company, it might possibly not be pleasant for either of u ially you. It therefore is my plan to leave you for a few hours in a safe placo while I goon tothe town, bunt up your fa5uov, aud quietly conduct. him here to take sheago of you. That will save all danger, and el! will be right.” * Oh! sir, but you are venturing. into pen OR «7 account. Pray do not do that. L would .@chex accompany you, and thus share therisk,” “Lady, you are.wrong. You are not.one to rave when I, whose very life is. made up ok per ri and adventure, am able toaet in your ere is a cave near, where I have an see your parent, promising you that no arm will come to you. ‘If you deem best, sir, you can rest assured I vil wait your return, vou have already done a9 2 great service in rescuing m°.” * Don’t mention it, Come!” They soon reached the caye, a small but. com- srtable plaee, where Dick kindled a little fire 1d left her bis blanket to lie upon. * ~ilL not set any certain hour for my re- urn,’ pe said, when ready to depart, ‘‘ but, will gocaretully at work in your behalf, and brio ou your father as soon as Ican, without por 40 us both, [ll now bid you good-by,” The stage containing the Blye party had been ee re ee Deadwood Dick’= Dozen. stopped in the Jatter part of the ailernoon some six miles from «hantom Plats; conseguently ib was not dark when the captain and bis prospec- tive son-in-law, George Gerald, arrived in tho new mining-camp. ‘* Say nothing of our loss?’ Blye had cautioned both Gerald and the Jehu, “1 mean to goat the matter cautiously and secretly, and so can do better work.” Of course Gerald assented, and a ten-dollar note—for the passengers had not been robbed of money—secured the silence of the driver. Captain Boston Blye was a man of five-and- forty years, thick-set and short in stature, with a full face, dark eyes, and jetty hair and mus- tache, whiéh gave him something of a stern as- pect; then, too, the habitual expression of his countenance was more disagreeable than pleas- ant, by far. George Gerald was a well-bnilt, handsome- looking fellow of four-and-twenty, with light complexion, hair and mustache; he was an easy- going, habitually-lazy New Yorker, of good family, but alone in tae world, rich as a prince, and on a tour of travel and adventure. He had met Agnes, the two had fallen in love, and, although there was no engagement, it was as goed as understood that they would soon wed. After finding who Gerald was, and the state of bis finances, omgees Blye bad helped along the matter to the best of his ability, and never missed a chance to, privately, urge bis daughter to hasten matters to a climax. Blye had been a heavy speculator ia stocks, and was @ very silent man as to his business successes and reverses, but up in his own dis- trict, those who ought to have been able to form a fair opinion, were wont to doubt that Blye was very well * heeled.” A few weeks before Blye’s departure from Virginia City, a large rubbery had taken place, a broker being the chief victim, although several who had left moneys with bim for safe keeping had alse suffered, Blye losing a thousand dol- lars while Gerald bad lost five thousand, The same night, a city rowe, named Leon Shrimp, had disappeared, and the crime was charged upon him, A reward was offered for his capture, and detectives were set to work up the case, Shrimp had onée been a clerk for Blye, and a suitor for the hand of Agnes; but, after Gerald’s arrival, he suddenly ceased to move in ‘society and became low spirited and dissipated, After this much necessary explanation, we will proceed with our story. As soon as they arrived at the Flats, the captain at ones secured a room for himself and Gerald, at the barn-like hotel, and ordered sup- per brought up to them, While it was in waiting, the captain, slipped out to find the post-office, and get a drink. Phantom Flats was not a large settlement, although its increase in population was daily noticeable; so that Biye soon found the post- office, Pit hogemen with the telegraph office was situated within the then only saloon an gaming resort in the camp—a one-story affair, that floored over half an acre, and was supplied with a bar, lunch-counter, ch»irs, and tables, a big orchestrion, and the many different devices for gambling. This place was run by aman named Picard, and was known as the * Fort, It was well filled, considering its size; when Blye entered, but paying no attention to the crowd, ho hurried direct to the postal window, A woman attended bebind the delivery,—a woman dressed in costly silk, with diamonds liberally displayed upon her person—a woman with fair hands, but strangely enough, her face was securely bidden bebind a vail, and no trace of it could be seen, not even the eyes. ‘Ts there mail bere for Captain Blye?”’ the speculator asked, after a surprised stare at her. ‘‘No. letters—no paper einh telegram,” her muffled voice replied, as she shoved it toward him, ‘' Twenty-five cents extra, please.” Blye paid the charge, and sat down at a vacant table near by, and ordered liquor, after which, he slowly tore open the envelope, bis face the scene of some emotion. Itgrew whiter, however, when he read the message. __ It ran thus, and was from Virginia City: “B. B.:—Watch sharp and catch a ‘fish.’ He’s well built, handsome, a dare-devil; has long, flow- mg amr, a mustache, both vark; is a dead-shot, has a hundred aliases, but is the noted outlaw, Dead- wood Dick. There are several rewards for him; besides, it’s to your interest to t him. Generally dresses in black, More by m U. Know. Captain Boston Blye did not seem highly pleased at what he had read. ‘ —_——_—— — “Wbouc tae devil can it meanf’ he hoarsel muttered, after drinking his liquor. ‘Can it be that—” ‘* You bet it can, captain!” A low, significant voice sounded these words in Blye’s ear, and he teuped to his feet with curse, and wheeled about, He then sunk back, white as death, It was not a bona jide ghost that he saw; dt: the human who caused his surprise, evidently could not have increased the eect, if he had been poe Sars other werers ‘Leon Shrimp!” the captain gasped. God! I thought you dead.” ‘**So I presume,” the other replied, he being « young man, with a full beard, sbrewd, darw Co and a general expression of cunning abous 1m. . His beard was evidently false; but that was of little moment, as there were a dozen others in the place whose hirsute adornment was not o% their own growth, “So I presume,” Shrimp repeated, with w sneer; ‘‘ buf you see yourmistake, I’m as lively asa cricket, Where shall we adjourn to, cap- tain, to have a little private conversation? Anh} yonder’s a quiet corner., Come along.” Pale and nervous, the speculator hasnt to atable ina then vu- © room, and orderec +, ‘* Grea: Seine led the wa tenanted corner of bottle of liquer. When it came, he paid for it, and said; ‘‘Help yourself, Biye. Bless:your heart, yon look like a stiff. I hope my appearance bhasn’* frightened tke wits out o’ you!” nd he laughed, in a steely whe ** Probabiy not,” Blye growled. ‘ What «a. you want?” ‘A chat. Why, you ain’t inclined to be bit sociable.” “Not with you, sir. Your palaver don’t de- ceive me atall. What you have to say; say in a few words. You think you have me foul, let’s know your prograibme,” _ * Well, there’s no sensible use of hurrying into a Derepiranas Tall the truth now, Blye. we're two shrewd men, whom church people anc t e like might call) villains—but tell the truth, you’re rather ashamed of yourself, ain’t you!” ‘‘What for? I don’t see it,” ‘You don’t? I thought you’d own up. Was have I always been to ycu, Boston Blye—a tool? Exactly, er worse still, a dashed fool, Admit it.” ) “Goon. I hope you'll wind out soon,” ‘Tm not easily winded. I served you, did your villainous work, and helped to fatten your coffers, until the cussed Easterner came, not only shoved me then, but told me I could never have your Agnes, whom you had faith- fully promised to me.” ‘* Bah! I nevef promised her to you.” ‘You lie! Bunt it matters not. Let it pass now. I knew my time would come—that you couldn’t get aleng without me, Ha! ha! was I wrong? No! Your finances got in a bad shape Your cheek was bard; but yow had borrowe (f.Gerald until roy. comes try again. Money you must have, You oalled on me, I refused to be seen. I told you to write, You did so—~ wanted to bire me. Letter by letter | drew out of you, until before me lay pour whole plan and time for robbing Schuler, the broker.” ‘For God’s sake, hush!” Blye gasped, gianc- ing around. ‘ Walls have ears!” ** Bah! not saloon walls of one thickness cf 3s To go on; you hired me to belp you. I was to get one-third, and do nothing but pick the safe lock, I did it, You then picked me, with a loaded cane, and left me outside, todie, while you got the funds. “I didn’t die, Oh! no. Tough cocoa, mine! I gathered your letters, folded my tent and stole away, having previ- ously caught a report that you pro»osed to bie this way. ) ‘* Well?” Blye seemed too used up tospeak, more than in brief words, He knew he was in the hands of is own tool, whom be had given just cause iv ‘x Jig bitterest enemy. It was useless to deny the fact; he could but await the man’s own time and purpose, . ** Well,” Shrimp went ou. ‘I see you are expecting a friend from Virginia City—a mer- maid—a fish, for you to catch, if you don’t want to get nibbled at yourself. Do you know this Deadwood Dick?” ‘** 7 have heard of him!’ ** Ob! he’s a streak of lightning—a detective, by nature. I’d rather have a bloodbound on my scent. How, do you suppose, am honorable ann like you sho have been suspicioued, ye (E| OOo) com cS (E()