Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 347 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

; } r Deadwood Dick’s Ducats. 1Z He bit his lip with vexation. ** Well, what of it?’ he demanded. ‘ Hasn’t & person a right to wear a false beard, in lieu of his own, if so be chooses?” “To be sure. Did I say he hadn’t? As long as society allows masquerade parties, [ presume there can be noobjection to individual masque- rading, only that it don’t give an impression of good character and purpose.” She spoke too significant/y for any one to mis- understand. He turned away impatiently, and walked to- ward his room, followed by laughter from Ruth’s cherry lips that fairly exasperated bim. Ruth did not see him again that night. Darkness fell like a somber shroud over Dev- il’s Diggings, with the rain still pouring steadily down, The water of the creek was constantly in- creasing in volume and velocity, and its roar was audible within the Argyle. Some of the veteran miners prophesied that tbe gulch bot- tom would be entirely overflowed by day- break; accordingly a patrol was organized to keep watch, and give warning iu case of im- minent danger. About nine o'clock, Roaring Ruth donned a rubber, hard-weather coat, and went out of doors, ostensibly to look at the creek, but in re- ality to visit the place where she had left the remains of Deadwood Dick. lt was no considerable distance up the moun- tain, but she calculated she could get back to the Diggings ere suspicion would be aroused at her absence. She was beginning to seriously doubt whether the famous ex-road agent was dead, as she had believed. The peculiar letter she had received—the banged up appearance of McBride and Masked Mose, and something else—all tended to favor the suspicion. The something else was the discovery of Jef- ferson Jackson’s wonderful riding proclivities, and the fact that his beard and hair were false! She hurried away swiftly and untiringly up the mountain, paying little heed to the rain that beat in her face, and pelted ber outer gar- ments. The way was rugged, and in places dangerous, and the dense gloom prevented the jtrail being easily followed, even after the eyes became ac- customed to if. In due time, however, Roaring Ruth step- — upon the rocky shelf where she had left eadwood Dick’s body reposing ‘neath the great overhanging ledge. ‘ Having provided herself with ber dark lan- tern, she soon had a light, and was able to ob- serve her surroundings. {n the place where she had left the body ly- ing, it did not lay. n fact, it was gone altogether! ‘* As I expected!” Ruth muttered, in disgust. “He did not die at all. Was he kidding me, then? No, that ain’t likely, for it turns out there is something in his claim about a gold mine, and buried treasure.” She peered about for a last time. ** Ah!” Bhe stepped forward, and picked up a piece of memorandum paper, which she bad not be- fore observed, » It contained writing in pencil. The contents were ag follows; ** Whoever left the body of Deadwood Dick here.to be devoured by the wolves, must have been brought up where education was very limited, and ex- cluded all manner of human Sympathy from its lessons.”’ That was all. There was no signature, and the writing was in a cramped, irregular hand, Roaring Ruth read it over and over, with dilating eyes. Then she sat down upon a bowlder, with the lamp in her hand, and pe- rused it again, What did it mean? Did it signify that Dead- wood Dick really was dead. and that some per- s0n bad run across his remains, and given them interment, leaviog this missive behind to rebuke the person who previous!y left the body lying on the ledge? It would seem so, and yet— How did the author of this missive know that any person had been with the deceased at the time of bis death? It Was a poser! ii do not believe Deadwood Dick is dead at all! Ruth Said, unconsciously speaking aloud. And if he is alive, he, it must have been, who wrote this mean letter. Pshaw! I don’t be- lieve he did that—I formed a better opinion of him. If he had lived, I almost believe I—” The loneliness of her situation seemed sud- denly to dawn upon her, and she glanced ner- vously around her. She uttered a low cry of genuine horror. Below her, and not a dozen feet from her, she saw a tall, white object; which looked decidedly like the traditional ghost. She turned off the light of her lantern, and the apparition became much plainer to view. It stood there motionless, with one outstretched arm pointing toward her. In horrible fascination it held her gaze, and she was powerless to resist it. Then it suddenly turned, and the white arm pointed down toward Devil’s Diggings. Roaring Ruth understood the meaning thus conveyed, She was admonished to leave the mountain, and return to the mining-camp. Fearing to disobey, she left the ledge, and hurried away. CHAPTER XII. A GRAND COURT. THE next morning dawned over Devil’s Dig- gings as rainy and dismal as had been its prede- cessor. Ceaselessly and heavily the deluge came down, soaking the earth, and adding to the fury of the mountain streams. Fortunately, the situation at the diggings was not yet so dangerous as to warrant the miners in fleeing to higher ground for safety, although the bottom of the gulch was overflowed almost all around the Argyle, which had been built upon a slight elevation, The feeling of gloom, however, among the miners still existed, for thc ve was no telling exactly when the rain or flo.«| would abate. There was a little break io the monotony, however. It was the day fov the trial ‘of Kid Karl for the murder of Deadwood Dick, and preparations were early begun, for this was certainly the most auspicious event of legal form that had occurred in the history of Devil’s Diggings. Judge Tamarack Splinter, of course, was about, and literally as lively asa flea. He was attired in his Sunday best, bad combed bis fringe of hair for the first time in weeks, and his nose shone with a brilliancy supposed to be in keep- ing with his judicial wit. _He was theimportant man oftheday. He, in his legal pore was to represent the ‘‘com- monwealth ” of Devil’s Diggings, and he proudly asserted that bis crushing argument would ter- rify the prisoner into a full confession; while, as for Kid Kar], there seemed little probability that he would have any defense, except what his own statement could offer. Early in the morning McBride and Masked Mose were admitted to the room of the prisoner, 4 found him lounging upon the bed, smoking is pipe. He did not seem in the least uncomfortable in his new quarters, and regarded his visitors with cool defiance, “Well, I see ye’r’ heer, yet,” Masked Mose sneered, closing the door behind them. *‘ How d’ye feel by this time?” ‘*As usual, I believe,” Kid Karl answered, pean ea “I trust you didn’t expect to see me erying?’ t Well, no—that is, not exactly. You’ve got ge stuff in you, Leclede, and it’s a pity fora ellow like you to stretch hemp. Ye orter bave surrendered—then, possibly, things would ’a’ went lighter wi’ ye,’ ‘*It makes little difference. The fools were warned of the penalty if they didn’t keep off, and so I don’t hold myself responsible for what happened. What do you two knaves want here ?” “ Well, sir, we cum to notify ye that yer trial comes off to-day.” ‘You have then imposed upon yourselves a thankless task. I was aware of the fact, sir.” _ Indeed! I thought ye might have forgotten it. But see here—you! We cum to offer yea chance to escape!” a A chance to escape—what ?” ‘Yer trial—and yer sure sartain execution arterwards,” ‘Impossible! I do not propose to become a fugitive from justice, 1 shall meet my trial, and —go forth a free man!” ‘Ha! ba! Yer confidence is amusing in the face of the circumstances, If ye stand trial ye will be convicted and strung up—that’s flat! There’s no two ways about it, If ye agree to what I propose there’s a chance for a bright future for you. Listen to what I have to say and you'll agree that I am right. You are Harry Leclede. There is no sort of use of your attempting to deny it, for I know. We—Mc- Bride and {—have discovered the Deadwood Dick mine, and obtained possession of it, after a struggle. We three, here together, are the only ones now possessing any knowledge of the whereabouts of the mine. To us three, there- fore, it rightfully belongs, providing you are with us, Fou know where that sixty thousand dollars is secreted. Take us to the spot, we will divide it equally together, and as a trio work the Deadwood Dick mine!” and Mose, in his earnestness, dropped the rude language of the mines and spoke with perfect propriety. Kid Karl smiled as he listened. ‘‘ A right clever plan, ain’t it,” he said, when Mose had finished. ‘‘ But, I am forced to in- form you that I bave no knowledge whatever of the alleged buried treasure of Deadwood Dick, nor would I become a party to a compact to cheat Deadwood Dick or this Harty Leclede, whoever he may be, out of what justly belongs to them, You have heard me, and my answer is final. So go!” ‘Very well! You have chosen between life and death, and selected the latter. I will see to it that you get a full measure of it!” Masked Mose hissed, He and McBride then left the room, and the door was locked after them, Their scheme had failed in this direction. and they were doubly determined that Kid Karl should never leave the Diggings alive. Jn the mean time Roaring Ruth was not idle. On the preceding night, after returning from the mountain, she recalled the fact of the ap- proaching trial of Kid Karl, and realized that some preparations must be made for his de- fense, The first thing she did was to seek a confiden- tial interview with Jonas Argyle, during which the latter said: ‘‘Do so! doso! You know why I am so in- terested in the young man, Spare no pains to secure his vindication, and, my girl, ye shall not go unrewarded!” Accordingly she at once dispatched ber com. panion, Dutch Dave, to Pineville, to make in- quiries in regard to Kid Karl’s having been there, the day of the murder, and in case he had, to obtain substantial proof of the fact. On the favorable results of his report were based her strongest hopes of clearing the prisoner. Dutch Dave did not arrive back until morn- ing, and at a glimpse of him Ruth knew that his errand had failed to ‘*‘ pan out” well. ‘‘Vel, I vent there!” he growled, ‘‘und got me soaked all over, und dot vas all. Der pe no such veller as Kid Karl dere, nor no yon vot look like him. He defis lies—dot’s all!” ‘*You are sure? You made energetic in- quiries?” ‘‘Enersheticg! Vy, py sbimminy, I axed effery son-off-a-gun in der camp, unt dey all shook deir heads, vink von eye, und dells me nia |” ‘*Then Kid Karl lied'’ Ruth muttered, dis- appointedlv. ‘*‘lam not so sure now but what he may be Leclede.” Preparations for the trial went on, and by ten o'clock everything was in readiness, Seats had been provided for every one, and when ten o’clock arrived all were occupied, Kid Karl was then brought forth by the two guards, Judge Tamarack Splinter, in all his judicial glory, and and looking as wise, stern and im- posing as a Philadelpbia police magistrate, occupied a drygoods box, with a smaller one in front of him, as a desk, The jury, which, be it said to his credit, the judge had selected from the most disinterested cilizens, were seated just in front of the judicial throne. Kid Karl was placed opposite the judge, where be came witbin the full glare of the ju- dicial eye. : Such witnesses as proposed to testify were in- vited to be seated at the right. The citizens were at the left. When all was in readiness, his Honor arose, with magisterial dignity, and glared severely over the assemblage, as if to awe and impress them. from the start, with the magnitude of his position, ; ‘‘ Feller-citizens!” he began with ministerial gravity, ‘‘it becomes my duty, in behalf of the Commonwealth of Devil’s Diggings, and as judge and only legal representative thereof, to- try the prisoner at the bar, for murder in the first degree, The crime charged, viz:—The peo- ple vs. Kid Karl, alias Harry Leclede, for the murder of his partner, one Deadwood Dick, a 4 . { 7? es cCchooks.com ae ae Mike