Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 321 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

, nor will I “T epolor for something I have not done!” Ger- d rb Sepet with a calmness that somewhat sur- you on, he has mone: so witbout first informing meto whom I am indebted, and if he has any me in os er ” “ But yer ey my Ps. zephyr, he won’t do n w'ot’s ‘opavin' ft fer gore, an’ I want it bad. tell yer, it’s my main livin’, is gore, an’ I can’t yt Tm goin’ ter do it, or cast up a lung ti Seo here, you bis loafer, if there’s any figbt- BE ace interposed re epee ge his feet and push- ruffian back as he was about to lay ea a fuss with any one, pick it with me. I’ve elped to a several such specimens as you, ‘Oh! ye hev! ” Swilltub roared, with a glare at his comparatively puny offender. ‘Now, fer ver tee audac 9 in darin’ ter address me, I should be tempted ter take yer across my week, Why, ther ijee of ary younker aspirin’ ter stan’ up afore old Swilltub, the royal striped Sonora! Why cully, me chip, I’m a slugger uv ther furst degree, an’ I can with ease chaw, missin’ my breakfast hour. Now, a move we let me git a chaw at ther Yankee, some vise you to move!” Dick retorted, squaring off. “If you are a slugger as you claim, slug away e doubt spile yer purty face!” Swilltub growled 1a doubling up his huge fists, until they looke In another minute, the two men had con- A crowd at once gathered, for Swilltub was known in the Flats as a ‘holy rror,” and it ous at one clip. PS pa. then, look out!” the giant howled, them. “Ther first act on ther pro- amme will be to knock your teeth duwn your BS eee ee ow nothing about you, sir Dick. ‘If that fellow, over yonder, set e against me, he can settle it by applying nothin’ of at all. I’m ther cha git along *thout it. Iam hyer to castigate ye, done, Vil answer for Mr, Gerald!” A upon ogee Easterner. ‘‘If you want to you wh d’ye jest lookee hyer, young feller, ef et warn’t , and spank ye till ye‘can’t sit down fer a hyena from Honduras—the snortin’? smasher o’ swaller an’ digest a couple “oe AS you, without ma make yer think ther ’arth has fer- aes re om ond in the moving business, but I'd ad- atme. I’m not a bad target!” reat balls of skin and bone. fronted each other. was expected that he would knock the ‘stranger out “ pone J out-his huge arms, as if to get the kinks tr » struck out, with a well-aimed blow, which Dick, however easily parried; then they sparred eral minutes. As Dick had imagined, the giant was no ea adversary to stents © ge for he was gifted wit brute strength, as well as with consider- of the Pt Serr ‘science of defense and at- but, th these acquirements, it di- “fees became evident that he had before him ao ‘‘ tenderfoot,” for Dick’ got in a stinger on the “ orful’s” neck, that staggered him. then followed with a left-hander between es, after which his right caught Swilltub —s jaw, raising bim clear off the floor, =u him out on his back. hae eer came from the crowd. like this sort- of pugilism ever had anon at the Flats, and nothing was ) than that Swilltub, who had | sragned, as supreme bully, ‘should 8O “irate fall 4 the giant lay for a moment, as stunned though bis eyes were open, e he lay thus Deadwood Dick bent for- on and stared at him stern! tough. then turned to Gerald with a quiet ere, my friend, I don’t thirk his terror- ship will trouble you any more, If he does, why, J just serve him as I do,” Dick advised. I am afraid that would not be for me to i. Gerald responded. “Tam not much on arc But, es here is the captain.” he ‘led D Dick to one side, where a man had st paused, to jook over the aasemblaze. ell, captain, how goes it?” Gerald asked. “Dia you succeed in orming a party for the “Not as yet,” Blye replied rather sourly. ae ears, from what I can learn, that this Black is a greatly-feared scoundrel, and no one appears anxious to join inaraid against im.” ‘“Yet here is a gentleman, captain, who has not only dared to encounter the brigand, but has dared to shoot him and rescue our Miss Mr. Harris this is Captain Blye.” ‘two men bowed, rather formally, it ap- Deadwood Dick’s Dozen. tong o if neither of them were anxious to orm a friendship for the other. ‘‘Indeed! Where is my daughter, Mr. Har- ris?’ the captain asked. “T left her outside of town, sir, there to wait until I should be able to find you.” ‘‘Oh! I see! You want a little reward for your work!” Blye said, with a significant sneer. Dick flushed. “T had not ery og of such a thing, but now, since on speak of it, I don’t know but I might as well take hard cash, as I would not be likely to be overloaded with gratitude from you!” was his retort. ‘ ‘‘Name your price, sir, and conduct me to my daughter, Since you have taken the trou- ble to come all the way here from your strong- hold ro collect the ransom, you deserve it.” ‘Thank you for the thrust, sir, but allow me to inform you that lam in no way connected with any person in rescuing your daaghte r, nor with Black Bob’s gang, as you hinted,” Dick re- torted, with flashing eyes. ‘‘Bah! don’t think Iam foolish enough to be- lieve that. It matters not, however, who or what you are. I will order my horse, and we can doubtless arrange a satisfactory price while en route,” Very probably,” Dick replied. Blye then quitted the saloon, while Dick tumiied to Gerald with a faint smile. ‘That’s Captain Blye,” he said. ‘‘He’s as grateful as a primrose, and since he is so I shall make terms with him or not yet relinquish the custody of Miss Blye, Something seems to whisper to me that Blye isn’t the father of the yours lady, anyhow. Has it ever occurred to Gerald Jooked startled. “Whatever made you imagine such a thing, sir?” he asked, ‘““T scarcely know—nothing more than a sus- picion, perhaps.” ‘“‘Ah! bere comes the captain now. der who that is with him?” Dick’s hand dropped to his revolver, by a foree of habit, and he looked in the direction of the door. Blye had re-entered and was accompanied by a man dressed in citizen’s clothes. As neither appeared prepared to precipitate an attack, Dick did not draw his weapon, but let his hand remain conveniently near it, for he was not yet satisfied but that Blye meant him evil. — two men approached rather slowly. a wa; looking sullen. r. Harris,” he a as they drew near, ‘‘I am informed by this gent leman Deputy-Marshal Farren, that it ig unlawful to yield the de- mands of one person who holds. another person in custody for ransom. Therefore you must surrender my daughter without ransom, or sub- mit to arrest as being an agent of Black Bob, the bandit. It is to ask which you will do that we are now here!” ‘‘] will do neither, sir!” Dick 2 ihe 7 sae ‘‘T do not propose to yield that youn g! BF I do not, on more mature consideration, deem yon worthy of having charge of her, As for eing a member of Black Bob’s gang, I deny the charge emphatically !” ‘* Denials will not avail you, sir!” the deputy said, pompously, “T know you and enough of your past to warrant mein arresting you. You are Deadwood Dick, and andy ou are my prisoner!” CHAPTER V. JAILED THe sensation created by the declaration of Dick’s identity was great. Many a miner present had heard of him and his deeds of daring, and at mention of his name they pressed forward to get a good look at him. wo revolvers had the Sport quickly drawn, and with a resolute expression upon his face, he placed his back to the wall and faced his ene- utes in defiance. ‘‘T am not your prisoner yet!” he cried, ‘‘ nor do L intend to surrender. Deadwood Dick Tam, but there are no causes for my arrest in this territory at present, nor do I know of any re- wards offered for my arrest, nor, may I add, do I think there is any man in the room who can take me single-handed. If you resort to con- solidating forces you might effect your purpose ; but, remember, I warn you off, and acting in self-defense I cannot be held ‘responsible for vhat loss of life may occur!” ‘Tf you make any resistance you'll be strung up without mercy!” Farren declared, sternly. “T am not a man to be trifled with. and you'll find i mean pers every time. Will you sur- render or not?” I won- “T will not. If you want me, why, Seats aaa dca na Tikka GW hawt tae ee a hee ae got to take me! And mind, if [ am attacked, ptain Boston Blye, it will ‘be the losing to you of Coe peng | woman, and aléo your deatb-war- ran ‘‘ Bah! I'll take all the risks!” pre in ‘* Because you believe that, once I am out of the way, a dangerous obstacle will be removed from your path!” Dick smiled. “ Right you would be in such a case, but I am not yet out of the way. I have advised Mr. Gerald what kind of a rascal you are, and your proposed victim Mr. Jewel, alias your own brother, is repared for y our coming. As for the Virginia ity mat- ter—” ‘‘ Seize that man—kill him!” roared the cap- tain, growing livid with rage. ‘‘ Five hundred dollars for his capture, dead or alive!” The offer seemed to be an incentive, for ful half a dozen mén, including the’ deputy, leaped toward the Sport. Bang! bang! Two revolvers spoke—one belonging to Dead- wood Dick and the other to George Gerald—and the deputy and a miner fell, never to rise again. The whole assemblage now sprung forward with vengeful yells, and although the two de- fenders fought like mad, and dropped a number of their assailants, they were finally overpow- ered and bound hand and foot. ‘*Out with em! Lynch’em witbout eT b was the cry that then went up; but be it sai their credit, the people of Phantom Flats were not all inbuman roughs, and a major number of voices shouted back: ‘‘No! no! take them to jail. They’re goin’ to nev a fair trial!” And the two prisopers were borne off to the jail. It was a newly built structure, designed for the accommodation of offenders of the law, and its massive stone walls and iron-barred windows offered little apparent possible hope of a man’s making escape, without outside assistance. When they were locked within the one main room of the prison, and left alone, with only a lone guard outside, Dick rolled over on bis side and looked at young Gerald. ‘You did wrong, my friend,” be said. ** You should bave kept yourself out of trouble by let- ting me fight my own battles.” ‘*Not much! You showeda friendly front to + ome and you can bet I never go back on » iend ‘6 Well spoken! But your case was different You are a man of unruffled reputation, and this will be apt to do your name no good, even if rom are lucky enough to get o with your ‘*However matters turn, I cannot regret standing up for you, sir. Do you expect they will try us?” ‘Oh! we'll perchance get a sham hearing to- morrow, if we here, I don’t, as a usual thing, take any stock in trials, and generally hie myself away before it is time for a trial.” ‘Indeed! How do youmanage to do this?” “Oh! in various ways. I've been in a num- ber of these freezers in my time! Sometimes I break out myself—at others I have received outside assistance,” ‘‘Such you would have to have now, if you were to a Mt pea escape ‘“*So But let u us not despair, I have a dozen oben not far away, who, sbould they hear of my capture, woul contrive to get us out: If it comes to the trial, I doubt not my guiding-star will be in the ascendant, and we will not get entirely left,” “T hope so, Miss Blye may become anxious and try to reach the camp, and get lost.” Dick looked sober. “I hope not,” he said. ‘I trust that she will remaia in the cave until I seek her. I do not want her to fall into the hands of Boston Blye, for I do not believe she is his daughter, and, then, too, I might as well tell you that he and a man named Sbrimp, are the identical ones who came here to me ier arrest for robbing the broker at Virginia ‘‘Great Heaven! It isn't true!” ‘As the gospel. I should have gobbled up the captain to-day, only that I wanted to cap- ture his confederate too, whom I believe to be here in disguise “Well! well! This is all a great surprise to ” - “Undoubtedly; and, now that I come to think of it, I believe the chap who set on the giant rough, is Shrimp in disguise, If such is the case, you can bet be and Blye are egy) against you, although Blye may eppear to friendly.” | e€om Cs) (GE O00) co