Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 42 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

The Phantom Miner. voi navere a whisper, yet loud enough for of bre. ‘*Man, thou hast burdened thy soul with crime— dyed mA hand deep in the blood of thy fellow-men. Retribution will be thine, God’s holy hand shall smite thee, Make what reparation thou canst, while life remains. Give up the papers thou hast stolen unto me, or the fire of ven ce shall shine in the ge os and a thunderbolt. shall plow the earth at eet,” he words sent a deeper horror into the heart of Cambre. He was positive that he was standing in the pres- ence of some supernatural being; he believed the words, and that, unless he posed, the penalty would be a sudden and frightful death. “T have not the popers here. They are locked up in my room, in Eureka!’’ he in terror. ‘Here is the key, or I will bring them to you!” ie them!’’ returned the Phantom, tersely. “Put them in thy purse, and we will meet again.”’ Then, to his great horror, the specter to rise slowly, and he saw it tloat up into the ess, and GeepDene from view. at mystery was this? t : mere things not earthly coming to populate this “God forbid that we ever meet again,” the terri- fied villain muttered, as he leaped into the gulch, and sped away. CHAPTER XI. ‘“‘He KIND OF A MAN I AM!"’—RED-HOT’S ADVENTURE AND ENCOUNTER WITH DICK NO. 2. Nor yet was it morning, when Cambre sighted the city, yet all the saloons, stores and gam - dens were in full blast. Cambre’s terror, owing to his long run, had some- what abated, by the time he reached the town, cor traces of Py sy still were visible upon his hy visage. e had never before experienced t such a 5 a et ,’ he muttered, biting prey! at his mustache, “how did it come to know that had on of the papers? By heaven! I would believe it was no ghost at all, only that I saw it float so m riously up toward the sky, with one hand stretched heavenward, as if pointing to its abode. Ourses I say I'll not surrender those pa- pers—never / Gray ord will soon die, then there will be no one to dispu ray. ht to this fortune. Let Deadwood Dick to evil!”’ ‘“*Oh! no; not to the devil yet, my larkie!” cried a sarcastic voice, and a horseman wheeled out of an alley directly in front of the ex-lieutenant, whose words had been spoken loud enough to be heard. ‘** Not to the devil, by any means. The devil wouldn’t disgrace his domains by taking in two such villains as you and I, Cambre. Our souls were scorched, i. . So you were going to let Deadwood Dick e devil, eh?’ And there was an ominous click! click of the re- volver the rpegrameny held in his hand. **Oh! no! no! I did not mean you—I meant the other Deadwood Dick—the real one!”’ **Ah! but I am the real one!”’ “The devil ohe—the coun . Sy Some That’s too sp y a rogue. You are playing two trum a deck, I’ve a notion to plug the cee right out of you!”’ And there was a jerk in speaker’s wsiee as a he meant to put the threat into execution. But Cambre put up hands. “Don’t shoot! don’t shoot!’ he cried, supplicat- ingly. ““T have been faithful to your interests, and t to capture the brat—” “ Y. fre heres oak I al escaped death!” es. xty men—TI alone **You ought to have gone with the rest. Why cian you steal the brat before the girl got out wn?’ “Because some unknown person warned them, and they fied before I had the opportunity.” g aee are all at the Bonanza mines, then, are t e ? ‘Yes, and it would require an army to dislodge em 7 “TI care not how many armies it takes. You must steal the brat, and fetch it to me, But, how will I know when on Be te Let me see. ere is a post-office in feure You ee hoon informing me that you have the child, and where to meet you. Address it to Slippery Sim.” _‘‘Very well, But, I see no way I can possibly get the he ig — ‘“Which makes no difference to me. You must get him, or on the twenty-sixth of November you die,” Deadwood Dick No. 2 said, . **Remem- ber. But a few days remain in which to accom- plish your work.” Then the black horseman turned his animal’s head, and rode. away, while Cambre kept on toward the center of the town. “Curse the luck! matters are pressing all around,” it were not that I this Graylford business, I'd pull up ey part.” In tlie meantime, while the two were engaged in conversation, a had glided by them and sought the "Man/ieap” saloon, which was crowded with drunken roughs and miners. The figure, when revealed under the flaring lam ht, was that of the boss poker. ayer from Vir of nia City, the co ood Dick, who Dae hivaalt Red-Hottiare oo -Fearlessly_he entered the saloon, and sauntered —— watching those around him with an eagle glance. ou say | Then I meant the other t now, you A yo man managed the shooting in the ab- dines. of Noisy Nell, and to him the gt oa baal finally went, see amusement. He tried a few shots, and missed the bull’s-eye every time; then turned away in disgust. a bre saw him, and, when general at- tention was called to a rough-and-tumble ee in another of the saloon, she glided to his side, ! you here again?’ she said, laying her hand u i. hie arm, ‘“‘I should * think you would dare.”’ ** Hello! what struck you, miss?’’ Red-Hot ejacu- lated, staring at the little and pretty face, in evident amazement. ‘I rather guess you’re barkin’ up the wrong tree.”’ “Oh! w! you can’t ea artha retorted, wi ough I look i 39 ull coarse wool over m alaugh. ‘I’m no foo ker-player said, perplex- edly. ‘“‘ Well, by Jove, there’s a screw loose some- where. Who are you?” “T am Martha Cambre, beer-slinger and detec- tive,’’ the deserted wife of Carlos Cambre replied, a merry twinkle in her eyes. “You are Deadwood Dick!’ The poker-player groaned audibly; then muttered a curse. ‘‘ By heaven! again is this confounded brother of mine thrown up in my face, I say, girl, supposing as you had a sister who was not as go she mig take Would you like it if people were to constantly “No. But ou for her?”’ : u are no brother of this Deadwood Dick. He told me so while here to-night. And now, who are you—Deadwood Dick, or his double? Itis a question I must know—and you can answer it.”’ arris whistled a few notes from a quaint moun- tared straight nt Martha, uiszicalty. ——— 8 s at y. “T am Red-Hot Harris,” he said, positively. ‘“‘If any one else knows better whol am than Ido, my- self, why l’ll drop the name, and apply to Congress for a new one.”’ € sated ard songs Des the eae: Rte pt rsis coolly. ‘‘Do you know w a nanza mine night?” ** How should I?’ with a blank look. ‘* Well, Carlos Cambre went up there with a band of men to attack the mines, and steal the baby from your wife, Leone!”’ Martha looked at the pokerist, just then, ex- pecting some sign of emotion. But the face of a carved statue was never more placid than that of Red-Hot Harris: Not a visible start betrayed that he was in the least interested. * Carlos Cambre went and Carlos came!” he with a smile. ‘‘He came alone. Sixty dead dying, didn’t further his aims,"’ “You speak in riddles. He got whipped, then?”’ a} Badly i" ** How do you know?” ‘*It makes no difference.”’ And the young gentleman turned away, as if the conversation was growing monotonous, He kept his eye upon one manin the room, and that man was Roxly, the Regulator, who was watch- him ag the hawk watches its prey. Puzzled was this knight of the Deadwood wor fying Sy almost positive that the man he wanted was - aguddenly th f the pokerist gleamed angrily udde e eyes of the eam . and he chhowes his wa chrdugh the crowd, a pal h clearing immediately when it was seen that he held a pair of six-shooters in his hands. traight up to the bar, and onto it leaped the youth, occupying the position he had once upon a peavious oceasion, though then he héld no weapons an ‘*Gentlemen!”’ hecried, his voice out clear- ly, ‘‘there is a little matter I wish to e, here in your presence. When first I came to Eureka, I ed a five hundred dollar reward paper upon these walls, meaning it should stay there. Some meddle- some loafer has insulted me by tearing it down. I want to see that chap, and bu'st his head—that’s the kind of a hairpin Jam!” Not a murmur came from the crowd, as the young bravo was speaking, but when he had finished Ol Roxly stepped forward, a grim, puckering expres- sion about mouth. “ You, was it?” Red-Hot exclaimed, a sternness in his that forcibly reminded. the Regulator of wood Dick. ‘“ Well, sir, I atm pod me that you, a pretended dabbler in es eam should be guilty of such a dirty mean act. I eve even a hog would hesitate to commit such an insult to the nation.” Roxly. ong sarcastically. ** Yes, I did it,’’ he replied, with a grin of triumph, ‘*“because I knowed it was only intended ter give us fellers ther dlind staggers. D’ye want anything o’ me, coeaker ?’ “Decidedly, yes. Please make a ring, feller-citi- zens, and we'll have this bizness through with.” : -Hot lea to. the floor, and jerked off his jacket, and belt, and laid them on the bar. ‘Hello! what d’ye intend to do?” Roxly demand- ed, “To fight you, and black both of your eyes, smash your nose, ram your teeth down your throat, polish off hin, and generally demolish ou,” replied - “Come! strip yourself.’ you. We'll try other weapons than a. the tor sneered. ‘I’m no prize-fighter.” “Nor I, but I ain’t ‘fraid totry youawhirl. That's the kind of aman Jam! If ledge your- our c ou acknow self a coward, don’t come and see me.”’ A shout of laughter echoed through the saloon, for even ro and ous were most of the crowd, they were the very ones to admire such @ evil character as was this Red-Hot Harris. 11 ““Hurra! bully fer ther lad!’’ yelled Cal Buckskin, enthusiastically. ‘‘Don’t ye see, geelorious pil- ims?—thar’s a leak in Roxly’s constitoochin, w’at’s et all ther sand run out!” “* Craw-fish!’’ yelled another. ‘‘ He caves!”” repeated a third. **Bulldoze him!” came from a fourth, and thus it ran around through the crowd, until growing desper- ate, the Regulator ped into the , without re- moving his coat or belt. “No 8 ing, now!’’ warned Red-Hot, as he spat on hishands. ‘If you try to use of those implements in your belt, I'll take your life, instead of some of the conceit out of you. One, two, three, now, and here you come, like a full-grown African lion after me!’’ Both men sprung forward, and toed the mark, and then began a bout of parry ing and thrusting, inter- ee, both to the spectators and the parties con- cerned. Roxly, it soon became evident, was no slouch at the business, for he was wary defensive, and agile as acat. But he was no match for Red-Hot Harris, the ‘‘ boss ’’ from Virginia City, which soon became assured from the battered appearance of his en- emy’s countenance, Both of Roxly’s eyes were soon nearly swollen shut, and his nose mashed out of shape. But he grew desperate the more he was pun- ished, and sprung forward to ch in a death-hug. Foolish was this enensnt however, for Red-Hot rene rained a shower of blows down into his bat- tered f. which s him back. Still he was undaun and rushed forward, but a terrible blow from Harris’s clenched white fist, hurled him back t the bar, in a heap. ith a curse he drew a revolver, and despite the fact that he had been warned that such an action would be his death-warrant, he sent a bullet, well- aimed, toward the pecs s heart. A cry of indignation came from the crowd, at this uncture But Red-Hot only Mngned contemptuously, and placed his hand upon his heart. **My heart is too hard for such leaden pellets to penetrate, gentlemen; and as for you, you cow- ard,’ turning to Roxly, who had remained hie f —_ life shall pay the forfeit.”’ e leaped — the the floor, and in another moment the revolver was yermmed to the temple, and there came a report. ounded was Roxly, but not dead! Then Red-Hot sp to his feet, and swung the still smoking weapon above his head. “Does 5 ae want to say I didn’t do it fair?’ b r, and bore him to he cried, eyes blazing. Speak out, and I'll show ye the kind of aman J am{’ . A rent the ‘““Hurra! ther boy did it fair—jes’ ’s fair as ary man ken do!” came the response from a dozen ‘“‘Hurra fer Red-Hot!”’ , A general good-will toward the young pokerist sermed manifest, and drinks were ordered all around, Harris did not imbibe, but ganning his poe ee betook himself from the oon into the It was just then the darkest hour before th dawn of the coming day. It was intensely black, | Very few were now abroad; one horseman was riding leisurely hen. the gulch, and at him Red- Hot gave only a glance as he hurried toward the Bonanza mines, or in the direction in which they were located. His mind was too busied with other Tt a to notice that he was followed, and that, too, by the lone horseman. eé was not aware of the fact until he saw a noose settle over him, and draw taut above his waist, pin- poo Myo arms to his side, and jerking him to the groun The next moment he felt a revolver-muzzle pressed be temple, and a full-masked face bending over “Hal ha!” cried a voice, evid a disguised one, “so this is aay pan is it? -morning, Deadwood Dick Num one! Sorry to see you such a plight, but there was no other way to get at yt me _to introduce myself—your double, eadwood Dick Number two!”’ . A curse escaped Red-Hot’s lips. “What means this foolery?”’ he dc manded, an- grily. “Ti means,”’ replied Number 2, with a chuckle, *‘that you are my prisoner. I have been awaiting the opportunity to capture you for a long while.” CHAPTER XIII. RED-HOT IN DURANCE—A BOLD PLAN, THE announcement caused a flame of deeper er to flush the cheek of Red-Hot Harris. He saw he was wholly in the power of Deadwood Dick No, 2, whoever he t wien aside from his hands pinioned to his sides by the lariat, the cocked revolver stared him threa ly in the face, He was no coward, but he saw that for the present attempted resistance would be worse than useless— would insure his speedy death. “Yes, you are my prisoner,” No, 2 repeated, tri- um’ . . “You do not know me now, but you ere long, and will be Sabautiinedl I have a cave and there we will Perhaps ou may remain there some time; so if there is any- thing you would have done here below, first, name it and I will attend to it, to the best of my ability, for “No, thank you. I am not a business man, and therefore not 5 oS cares that devolve upon such,” Red-Hot replied. ‘But, see here; if you hold me a prlecnes with the idea that you are olding Deadw Dick, you are grea nh error. Deadwood Dick, the road agent, perished nearly @ JOO Geom (E <S=EO