Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 42 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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14 Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. out, not more’n a month ago? Ham-bone thet pre- pared ther obi uv old Joner! I spect ye wanter EEE oi" Cokes recite, eeullity grodiouil no!”’ re re . ng ously, as the saw the Annihilator Nad the drop on him. “I just chanced to recognize you, and wanted to ask you if you had seen Deadwood Dick, lately ?”’ *“Nixy; hain’t seen ther lad since the day we arriv’ in Eureka, But, ef ye wanter fight, et’s all right. Hayr’s what kin accommydate ye,”’ ‘Oh, no, thanks; my inclinations don’t run in that channel,” the ex-lieutenant replied, turning away. * as then, boyee, we've gotter keep our orbs on him!’’ Avalanche w to Coyle. ‘I bet he gits the baby afore midnight, unless we intercept it, w’ich we must try to do,” ** Yes, the pa are all here,’’ Bolton repeated, counting them over—‘‘ the marriage certificate, the birth certificate of Cathie’s child, and others of minor or ter importance.” d I am truly grateful to God for this success,’’ Mar- tha said, reverently; ‘‘ but come, let us hasten from this place, before my husband returns, or he will kill us. Ha! the negress has escaped—how negligent of True vente while Martha’s back had been turn- ed, the wenc glided to the door, softly unlocked it, and made her escape. ‘‘Ourse the black-and-tan,’’ Bolton exclaimed, an- erly. ‘It will not do for us to try and escape—”’ ** Very truly spoken!’’ interrupted a cool, sarcastic voice, and Carlos Cambre’s commanding form stood in the doorway, accusingly. ‘It will not do for you to try to escape with those papers in your on, as them, and you can depart in t, Td drop yom if I had the ‘drop’ on you!” the at- voEner ero ed. At this juncture Cambre’s gaze rested for the first on Martha. He reeled back with a frightful curse as if he had been dealt a hea blow, as he beheld er pees ce leveled at him, sternly. * ha re!’ he gasped, his face growing first white, and then flushed. ‘* Yes, Martha is here!” the deserted wife replied, scornfully; but in the second of Cambre’s rise, he had lowered his aim, and she quickly took advan- tage of this opportunity to cover him with her re- olvers—‘' here, but not to claim you for a husband. You are a dastardly wretch, even below my con- tempt. Step aside and let us pass. No; go down ahead of us, or I'll blow your brains out!”’ He growled not unlike some fierce wild beast when he saw where he had failed, in allowing them to gain a point. Ry won't go!’’ he declared, stubbornly. You will!” Martha assured, cig cee A and back came her revolver hammers, click! ek! to full-cock. ‘“‘ One! two—” Cambre uttered a fierce curse, and leaping along the passage to the head of the stairs, made a mighty ring. A flash from Martha’s revolver followed him: then they ran forward and found him lying on the landing below, with his right arm broken, and a bullet wound in his leg. But he clutched a pistol in his left hand, and there was a gleam of desperation in his eye, that foreboded evil. . t where you are!”’ he cried, leveling the wea- pon, ‘‘or Dll fire as long as there’s a cartridge left, if t costs my life.”’ **Oome!"’ Martha said, pulling Bolton back.. “ We will be tempting death in trying to pass him. We can better escape from a window.”’ They hurried into Cambre’s room, locked the door behind them, and found that the one window, over whose surface cobwebs had been allowed to collect, was neither shuttered nor barred. The sash was taken out; and several bed-quilts twisted and knot sogetaes furnished a mode of escape to the und, so that in a few minutes the two were on the soil below, and hurrying away through the ht'’s gloom. ‘Now to the of Truce to apprise Cathie of our good luck,” Bolton said, as they hurried along. **It will be cheer to the r woman.”’ “Well, I hope so,”’ ha replied. ‘‘I must re- turn to the -Trap, to resume my duties there. If you should be in need of my further services, do not hesitate to call upon me.”’ ** Certainly not,'’ he replied. They walked along until in front of the Flag of Truce, and there separa It was a painful subject to think upon for Dead- wood Dick — this puzzle how he was going to escape from the cave, and prevent the terrible tra- eran bend which woreot th e was is bonds, w were of thongs of buck-skin, and from which he saw no way of ex- tricating himself. All his weapons had been taken from him, and he was pin they the power of this desperate young woman—t girl whose love for him had utterly made her mad on the subject; for from the bottom of his heart, Dick believed she was uhfortunately become Hills. Then, no one would have temper of a fury was sweetly innocent confiding; now how she was c ed! Rough and passionate, with a tendency to she must be insane; indeed, it would be ra- ther a consoling reflection that she was, Dick thought, rather than that she was in the full posses- sion of her faculties. But he was aware that in either case she would do as c_ had promised—she was desperately in ear- n He laid a long while after she left him, turning the subject over in his mind. e darkness in the cave was intense, the little fire on the sn! rears side illumining a radius of only a few feet. could see no of Edith or her tool, the man Corkus, and concluded that they had turned in for the night. “Now would be my time for escape, if ever,’ the risoner muttered, rolling off his bed of skins to the rocky floor. “ that I were only out of this! There is a land in this great wide West where I could settle down in quiet, without much fear of being molested on account of the bitter past. With my boy, I could weary through a life that thus far has presented a hundred-fold more of bitterness than pleasure. Leone? Ah! why do thoughts of her constantly arise before ge bye do they haunt me? Have not lI m her forever? Can it be forever? I sometimes think not. As God is my judge, I believe I would take her back were I sure she would come. But, would she come? Ah! I fear not. Love is not always enduring. After bein cast off as I cast her, very, very few women woul come back, even if on bended knee.”’ Yet he realized that he did not fully know Leone, He had learned some new characteristic of her each of the happy days that had followed their marriage, and yet knew eT little of her—only knew that she was the queen of his ’heart—the one fair vision at whose e he worshiped. And he knew now that he must escape to protect her life, and that of their babe — must was the word that best fitted the occasion. Failure meant death to her, and the same to the prospects of his future happiness. He had resolv now, to go back to her, and ask forgiveness, and if she still loved him—if even only a tenth part as much as he did her, she would grant the boon, for the sake of their baby boy. Edith eg suddenly upon him, in the midst of his thoughts, like some haunting shadow. “Oh! Dick!’ she cried, kn beside him, and thro her arms about his neck, with a passionate outburst of tears—‘‘I love you so; oh! do please take me to your heart, and let us from here, to some spot where we can live as man and wife, in the fullness of our love. For the love of God, do not again put me off, for I do not want to commit this awful crime I have threatened.” ““ Nor need you,” he replied, unable to restrain her from kissi m. “Idonot love you, and life with you would be a torture.”’ ** Ah! you love the other!” she cried, with almost ferocity, a terrible gleam reddening her eyes. “Yes, I love the other,” he replied, firmly, “ and always shall.” ‘* Then she shall die, and the brat, too.” “But their death will not make you any the bet- ter off," he reasoned. “I cannot marry you, in either case."’ “What! would you see them murdered before your eyes, rather than give 4 our future to me?” “Yes, rather than become a t, and promise devotion to a mad-woman!”’ ‘*A what?” she gasped, shrinking away from him. ‘*A mad-woman—a maniac, for you are no less. Were you in your right mind, Edith, you would never k of such a crime.” ‘*Mad! mad!” she repeated, s ering to her fee and pressing her hand to her forehead, as if it ach pare A ps I am —mad in love; but sane enough that no other woman shall ever possess you, my Prince. I will look to that with a perserverance that will some time astonish you.” wtih ee Your life will be only spent in mT “So it shall be then. You will know no that may in a measure appease my hunger for your love. I will haunt you day and night, like some ter- rible phantom. But, bah! why this y? I can still win you by love, without resorting to harsher measures. See! Iam going to free your limbs, un- til morning, that you may rest better. Do not try to escape, however, for Corkus stands yonder in the mouth of the cave with an Evans ae rifle, and can put twenty bullets into you in less time than it takes to count trem. So adieu.” With a long bc wie she cut the bonds about his feet, leaving his hands still confined. “Thank you,” he said. “Acts of kindness and confidence often produce great results.” ‘‘Bah!” she retorted, with a sarcastic laugh. “‘ Don't think me a fool, or that you can deceive me. Maybe, by some of the infernal pores you are said to Ag aces you can succeed in outwitting me. But I will follow you to“the very ends of the earth, A very tigress you will find me, if you try to play any games on me. Remember!’ Then she turned and swept away with the A get ousness of a queen. Deadwood Dick lay for several hours after her departure, Wolk snvins would be useless to emmys be escape, until Co grew sleepy, and relaxed his vigil. But he worked silen the bonds which confined his wrists. If he could but free his wrists, he had no fears but that he could escape. / “The suit of mail I wear beneath my clothing makes me bullet proof, unless the cuss should ha pen to aim at my visage, when I cannot say as to i qualities nst resi lead, though I’ve been called hater-cheekea” ani ‘brassy *!” he muttered, a grim smile playing over his features. iligently he worked away, first soaking the thongs in a little pool of water which ran at his feet, and then endeavoring to stretch them, It was a slow process, but eventually successful, for in a cone of hours he rejoiced in the freedom of both han “ Now, I guess it is a safe time to make an td to quit this place,” he muttered, tightening his belt, and around into the gloom to see if his move- ments had n observed. But ap ntly they had not. The intense black- ness that reigned supreme within the cave had pre- vented his be seen, The fire had died out, and the — light was a faint leaden glow in the direc- tion which marked the cave’s entrance. “I wonder if the villainous guard is asleep?” Dick queried, hesitating before starting. “I hope it don’t come to a tussle, lest he should crush me in a hug, for he is as stout as a cinnamon bear. If I can only enchain his gaze for a moment, I am almost certain ey mesmerize him; though he is strong He stepped cautiously toward the entrance, his footfalls softer than those of acat. His fists were doubled on the defensive, in the absence of other weapon; every nerve was teas” a muscle drawn - 4 his whole mind devo to the work before m. Nearer and nearer he approached the entrance, his magnetic black orbs piercing the gloom as in search of something; his lips set firmly, a wrinkle in his forehead. He expected to hear the report of the guard's rifle, each moment; was pre to meet death in this venture, hardly expecting anything else. Closer and closer he moved, until he caught sight of the shadowy outline of the sentinel, standing sta- tionary in the entrance, grim and silent as some rock-carved statue, His head was turned the other way, but Dick cared not for this. He stopped in his tracks, and threw the whole force of his mind into his gaze, which he directed at the guard, And not long had he to wait for the effect. Soon the man shuddered, and turned around, his bloodshot eyes coming instantly in contact with the eerie orbs of wood Dick. His gaze became It was no use for him to resist. He could not break the spell that came over him, from the’pecu- liar influence of the road-agent’s all-powerful gaze. Like a statue he was rooted to the spot, immov- able, of his own will, and powerless to k, ‘Ha! ha!” Dick laughed, in a low voice, “this is another victory.. Now, the next act on the sche- dule is to get out of this, find Leone and my boy, ang then forever quit this place. I know of one spot in this great, fair earth, where even the hounds of the law scent not, and there I will go with mine own wife and child, and begin life anew!” CHAPTER XVI. PRIZE UPON PRIZE. OLD AVALANCHE and Little Alf were not far away at the time when Bolton and Martha left the big lodging-house. They had seen Cambre enter, and were crouching in the bushes, not far away, waiting for the men to come with the babe, as they calcu- lated they eventually would. “Great ham-bone thet deceived old Joner!"’ the Annihilator exclaimed, as first they heard the pistol- shot, and later saw the man and woman descend the bed-quilt ladder to the ground and h away. “Old Moses thet perambulated through the bull- rushes! Reckon thar’s bin a tussle in thet aire dor- mitory, an’ Careless Cucumber hes got his crop full. Thet ain't enny o’ our hash, tho’, er pe in- derviduals we're wantin’, at present time, aire them two ts, one 0’ whom hes got a bag slung over his shoulder. Shouldn't be surprised ef they’d be slong afore a great while.”’ “Likely,” assented Coyle, nibb away at the end of a piece of plug tobacco, reflectively. ‘‘ But I argue that we had better our larkies thar than out hayr in ther guich, whar there’s chance fer bullets ter skip arround so free.”’ Accordingly they crossed the gulch, and entered the lodging-house, which was dark and gloomy. landing they found Carlos Cambre lying, groaning and cursing alternately, over his ina- bility to move on account of the ess of his wounded leg and broken arm. ** Hello! heer’s a sojer dying on ther deserted bat- tle-ground,’’ the tor cried, bending over the villain. ‘“‘By ther great allegorical ham-bone, it’s Careless Cucumber, sure’s there’s condoocement ter reason in ther mentive enduvamule. tell ye, et takes old Prudence Cordelia ter persuade a feller thet she’s tickleish in her hind hoofs. Lord! she’s scattered more gory brains over ther peraries 0’ thes liar lattytude, than all ther extinct Injun-fight- ers uv ther age. Many’s ther time's she’s slung a soe off a-reachin’ out wi’ them hindmost tenpins o’ ern. “Hello! what are you doin’ here, pilgrim?” Little Alf demanded, of Cambre. “ Seem ter be kinder out of tune, j * frum yer music.” ‘I’ve been blown full of holes by a pair of knaves —a man and a woman!” the ex-road-agent replied, with a fresh torrent of blasphemy. ‘They’re up- stairs, somewhere, now. I'll give you a thousand dollars, if you will go and capture them, and get me back the peers they have stolen.” « “Oh, will ye? Sorry ter say yer pigeons hev fled, my us coon—esca d 0’ a bed-quilt lad- der, an’ flown away,”’ the old man said. “ Wouldye like us ter assist ye ter yer palatial domicile?” “Yes, help me somewhere to a bed, and send for a doctor,’’ Cambre groaned. “I’ve more’n forty chunks o’ lead in my . “Pooh! substract thirty-nine frum ther sum given, an’ ye hev ther right figgers, ter a dot. ever Sata A ye er way, grea t in the , Thar aga a Hogg in ther hull collection 0” Ho thet ked tell a falsehood ef they were ter try, ’ca’se Gomicdooks