Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 321 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

+e ~ <= LL ee en ee —— + - . ee are ee oes . ~——— + a ne tee ee eee _ Deadarend Dicks Doaee a a ree ee - eee mw bnows of the existence of the mine, and is| During the day, a bard-fisted old miser, nam- secretly working it. gam saloon—for 1 presume you all con- clude that she is the backer of it — there is always a gang of fellows hanging about, who neither work, play, nor drink. Whenever sbe passes they bow low with respect, It stands to reason that they are in her service, and for whatever purpose could it be, except as miners? For two days pastI have been sizing up, and feeding with money, such characters as I thought I could depend on. And a liberal posting of copies of these pepers will fetch many citizens and roughs over to my side,” As he spoke, he unfolded two sheets of paper, and held them up forinspection. Each con- tained an important message, in pen print, and each message had its bearing upon the other, The one ran as follows:— “PROCLAMATION, “ To the People of Phantom Flats:~— * Be it known, that [. Deadwood Dick, who have oeen branded an out!aw, and publicly dishonored by being incarcerated in jail, when there was no just cause for such treatment, have this day sworn to be ent upon my oppressors. Warning is hereby given to all citizens, that I shall begin my revenge at once, by making funerals for such of them as have turned against me. The first day one shall die, the second day, two, and so forth in proportion, as the days pass i No use will there be of trying to capture me, asl am amply protected by Deadwood Dick’s Dozen. Defiance, hatred and destruction to iy enemies, shall henceforth be my motto, ” (Signed) Deapweop Dick,” The other was evidently intended as an an- swer to the first, and ran thus: “NOTICE TO THE PEOPLE. “The infamous outlaw and criminal, Deadwood Dick, having declared his defiance to all law and order, therefore be it— “ Pesolved, that some» prompt measure bo adopt- ed, whereby this dangerous character be summarily ' put out of the way. Therefore, several prominent citizens have organized themselves into a league the object of which is to secure the annihilation o Deadwood Dick, and of all characters of his class, and to bring order out of chaos for the benefit of the people of Phantom Flats. Only persons of known good repute, and reliability, will be admitted io the jeague. WILLIAM RoBerts, Cap/ain,"” Black Bob read both proclamations aloud. * But, what does this mean? Did Deadwood Dick issue the notice bearing his signature?” Biye asked. ‘Of course not. I did it myself. If objec- tionable people of Phantom Flats turn up their toes in the order named, it is plain to see that Dick will get the credit for the act, while we shall be constantly gaining in power, ‘‘ But, who is going to do this wholesoin slaughtering? Pll have nothing to do with mar- we “Nor I!” chimed in Shrimp. ‘You're a precious pair of rascals, I'll swear, and blood-spilling won’t be a novelty tu either of you! But then, Pil managethat. Hecs’s old Swilitub, who has taken ther contract vf raakin’ a at sive, coligrs Peg head and a aes ~ Wary a time!” the giant growle “it’s ten dollars or nothin’,” aie | cape em dollars it shall be then,” Blye said. You've ,£0t to do your work secretly and sure, however. “You bet I'll be keerful!” was the reply. “ Ef e wull only start an undertakin’ establishment, as furnish ye ther stiffs, an’ make it profitable er ye. The four rascals separated, and took different courses back to Phantom Fiats, The next day the notice purporting to be Deadwood Dick's manifesto, war foun posted ina minent place, and was read and re-read by the excited populace, and many were fhe Son ie heaped upon the head of the terrible c . Men who seldom manifested avy spirit of re- venge, were loud in their denunciations of the dashicg Sport. , en the excitement was fairly ablaze, the proclamations of Roberts was posted, and as no one knew him as being Black Bob, he at once became extremely popular, and his plan was received with much approval. All day long the schemers were working out the connecting links of their mercenary plot, Black Bob being the leading spirit to whom the others looked for orders. He had plenty of money, and it was used without stint in convert- ing strictly reliable rougbs to the interest of bis diabolical scheme, and by the latter part of the day ie had a force of backers that must have made even Deadwood Dick hesitate in confront- ing them, ' re ow wn ee ee ee 00 ee ee ee TC SSS. lls sss ee EEE You notice that at her | ed Randolph, was found murdered at the out- ae the town, and robbed of his personal ects, The blow that had killed him had been in- flicted by a club or some other blunt instrument, which had crusaed in his skull, This only served to increase the excitement, and to add to Black Bob’s list of recruits, Late in the afternoon the stage arrived, and brought with it, as usual, a load of strangers, most of whom were miners. There was one, bowever, who evidently came not to Phantom Flats to toil with pick and shovel—a lady clad in deepest black and closely vailed, and yet apparently young and passably pretty. With her came a large number of trunks sachels and bundles, which were transported to the hotel, whither the lady at once repaired, and engaged accommodations, Upon the register she indited her name and business with a few artistic strokes of the pen: “NEVADA NELL, Agent for Doctor Delano’s Magic Oil, Free Concerts in Front of Hotel, AFTERNOON AND EVENINGS!” She bired the best room in the hotel, and paid for her accommodations a week in advance, after which she was not seen until about dusk. In the meantime her agent, a dapper little in- dividual, had circulated handbills freely about, announcing an open-air concert at eight, A rough platform of boards on several dry-goods boxes served forastage, This was erected op- pews the great gambling saloon which many elieved to belong to Poker Kate, About dusk the Female Fakir (as she was called) made her appearance upon the stand, and her coming was the signal for the gathering of a crowd, In apparel her appearance had undergone a great change, although her face was still closely vailed, Her costume was that of a boy, and was com- posed of pink and blue satin of neat fit. Small patent-leather slippers and silk-woven stockings adorned ber lower extremities: a lavish display of jewelry and diamonds, and a jaunty snow- white sombrero upon her head completed her a unless we mention the revolvers in her belt, Her appearance was dasbing, to say the least, and the crowd that surged around her stand were alive with curiosity. She gave a sweeping glance over the crowd through her vail, and thea began arranging her furniture and stock in trade, which consisted of a small stand filled with small bottles, and a couple of chairs, hen everything was fixed apparently to her suiting she advanced closer to the edge of the platform and spoke: “ Fellow-citizens, gentle guzzlers, and glorious gvloots! Behold standing before you the great- est doctress and wonder-worker in the world! lam Nevada Nell, I want ye to know, and I take the whole bakery, let alone the cake, in the matter of curing diseases and ailments of a com- ‘plicated nature. Iam a wizard and a seer; by the aid of Dr. Delano’s Magic Oil, and the mys- tic power I possess, I can positively cure any disease instantly, with which the human race is afflicted, Show ma a man : cannot relieve, and 1 will give the tester a hundred dollars for each case I fail to fetch to time. Ah! a man with a stiffarm. That’s the checker!” A middle-aged man was pushed forward and ascended the platform, His left and right hand were terribly drawn and distorted by rheuma- tism, so that they were of no use to him. ‘* Are you able to cure me?” he asked. with something like a sneer. ‘‘ Ef ve be Ill give you fifty dollars, spot cash. Thar’s a beap o’ doctors as hev tried me, but all agreed I war a case,” ‘* Judging by the blossoms on your nose, you must be a copper distillery-vat!” Nevada Nell retorted. ‘‘ Nevertheless, I fancy I can cure you quicker than the jerk of a lamb’s tail. Take a seat on that chair.” The cripple obeyed. Nevada Nell then so adjusted her vail that the lower part of her faee was covered while the eyes and forehead were exposed to view. She then advanced toward the patient with a peculiar, stealthy tread, her eyes fixedly resting upon his, until his gaze responded to hers, when a slight shudder thrilled his frame. She waved her hand a couple of times above his head, then turned to the audience and smiled; . ees eS Lee OO Oo eee nn 8B _ __—_ ee | 9 ‘‘ Now, gentle galoots, you perceive the mir- acle I have accomplished, A moment ago this man could not straighten out his arms; now he can doit without the least trouble. B!ossom- nose, you will oblige by exercising your bread- wielders!” ; She made asudden quick motion at him and, as if by magic, a violent shiver or quaking came over the man and he could use. armé and hauds as freely as any person in the crowd, He arose with an exultant yell, and struck out into air right and left in true pugilistic style, to illustrate that ne was cured, merry twinkle came into Nevada Nell’s eves as she noted the pilgrim’s huge satisfac- on. ‘* Hurrah! hurrah!” he yelled, dancing abont the platform, ‘I’m simet of the cussed crit- ter an’ ’tain’t cost mea cent. Walk up, rm an’ git cured fer nothin’ like old Sam kis jest now has done!” ‘“'You forget!” Nevada Nell said, tapping him on the shoulder, ‘‘ You promised to give me fifty dollars if I cured ore did you not?” “Git out, sa0 ony! gall .D’ye s’pose I am sich a fool? Bet yer life l never let a woman get the best of me /” ‘* Then, if you're that sort of a rooster, may- be your arms better get stiff again,” Well re- marked, with a wave of her band, Instantly his hands closed shut, hisarms drew up in their old rigid state, while a moan of pain was wrung from his lips at the shock of the tg 8 ‘Stop! Let up! for heaven’s sake don’t!” he yelled in terror. ‘Take me out of t ma’am! Pleasedo! I'll pay you like a little manif you do! Isw’ar to that—deed and God knows I will!” ‘* Fork over your cash then, my man, Cas’) talks with me every day ina week, you be: | Just. roll out your ducats, and I'll fetch you. arms out 0’ tangle,” “ T hain’t got it to-night, but will have it to- morrow, ma’am,” ‘* That settles it. My golden rule is positively no trust to any one.” , | ‘‘ See hyer, gal, you're too flip, altogether!” a coarse, blatant voice cried, avd old Swilltub, the giant, came forward, ‘‘ Dll jest bet ye a cool hundred dollars against a cent that ye can’t do wees ye claim—limber up thet feller’s arms: again. “Taken! Put up, or sbut up!” Nevada Nell cried, drawing a cent from her pocket. “1 om always taking such snaps as that.” | The overgrown bullwhacker fished out two fifty-dollar bills and placed them in the hands of a bystander, in whose hands Nevada Nell also placed the cent, ; ‘‘ Now, then, go ahead,” the bullwhacker ordered. ‘‘ Ef ye win my money, I’ll give ye another test. I know yer scoop, daiay-sprairm, a mesmerist,” 7 A faint chuckle escaped Nevada Nell’s lips; then she bent her piercing gaze upon old tub, and for several minutes seemed rigidly spellbound. + ‘Lie down!” she commanded momeut later, There was no reply from the giant, ‘* Lie down!” sbe repeated. He shuddered slightly, and obeyed, s!retching” himself out at full length. eee The oar of laughter that escaped the crowd seemed to pass his hearing, for he made no show ob Peron inenty, fe a sone ‘You perceive, gents, that even a nt size sometimes has to succumb to the —_ . the mind!” the fair Fakir said, triumphantly, . ‘*Stand on yous head, sir!” , CHAPTER VIII. 4 THE FAKIR AT WORK. hy A snort of disgust escaped the giant, and be shook bis head in defiance to Nevada Nell’s oraer, - ‘Obey me!” she cried, sternly, ‘*Stand on your head, sir!” ” ‘No. TU be gol-durned ef I dot” Swilltub cried, “Ye ain’t so smart as ye thort, me galt I’m up to yer little racket, an’ ye can’t make no laughing-stock out of me, by a Jong shot.” A glitter came into Nevada Nell’s eyes, and the forefinger of her right hand pointe at bim, threateningly, ) ** Will you obey me?” she cried again, ; He stared at her vacantly for a moment; then another shudder seemed to creep over bim, and a ts a gasp oe . Tike | ‘Yas! yas! let up! Ill do jest as ye say, m: purty,” he wainadi, ; pate it my And the overgrowa bullwhacker did get down sternly, a com Ebooks.com