Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 480 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

- , Se, - Lae —— $e — ‘ “They’re an Irishman, an’ er Dutchman, an’ they say they wanter see ye on ’portant bizness.”’ “Bah! to the blazes with ‘em! They’re only a pair o’ fellers wid no muney!”’ Ferd growled. ** Send ém away, an’ tell ’em the mayor can’t lielp ‘em.”’ The dwarf started to leave the room, but as he did so, the door opened, and two men stalked in. Lo! and behold, they were none other than Danc- ing Dennis, and Limburger Jakie, whom we last saw as prisoners in Deadwood Dick’s cave. ; “Arrah! good-mornin’ to yez!" Dennis_ cried, striding forward and putting out his hand to French Ferd. *‘*Do I hev the exquisite honor av sphakin’ wid the right honorable mayor av this place?” * Yus, I’m the mayor. What d’ye want?” French Ferd demanded, in thunderous tones. _ ‘‘Och! now, phy you sphake so su ‘dint, likes yez w’u’d skeer wan’s wits ontirely outof him. Le aisy, sur, be aisy, fer it’s a mather of biggest importance we'd be doin’ wid yes—eh, Jakie?”’ “Yaw, dot vas drue,” Jake agreed. ‘Ve haff eae dings to dells you, vot you giff pig pile money or ” “Oh! that’s your racket is it? Well, go ahead, and let’s hear what you have to reveal,” and with a wave of his hand the mayor dismissed Purty Pete from the room, at the same time motioning the visitors to be seated. ‘‘Now, go ahead” he said. “If you have any- thing to say that’s worth listening to, say it.” ‘* Well, ye see, sur,’’ Dennis began, * over a month ago, me an’ me pard, whose name is Limburger Jakie, we was taken captive by the loikes av a spal- peen called Deadwood Dick.” ‘*Ha! Deadwood Dick, you say?” ‘“Yis, sur. We was taken prisoners, an’ since thin, it’s shet up we've bin. in a cave in the moun- t’ins, wid Deadwood Dick’s wife as a guard over us, whin tie divil hisself wasn’t about.” “ Deadwood Dick’s wife?’ * Yis, sur—a foine-lukin’ woman, fot weurs briches, the same as auyitherman, Yez see, sur, tha while we was kipt prisouers, we had a chance ter pick up a bit o’ news, an’ we learned, sur, thet Deadwood Dick claimed these moines, an’ was goin’ to raise the divil wid yer ducks fer workin’ ’em, an’ thet you had offered a reward fer him,”’ ‘* Well?” ** Well, mesilf an’ Jakie were anxious ter escape, as Vez ig belave, sur, an’ we worked at our bonds, little by little, ontil finally, we not only hed ’em loosened, sur, but hed our plans formed for the makin’ av a penry, sur. e knew that ye’d be purty near as glad of gi'tin’ Deadwood Dick’s wife, sur, as yez w'u’d the captain himse’f, an’ so, this mawrnin’, yer honor, we broke loose, tuk Calamity vane ae pris’ner, an’ heer we are, fer ter nego- a And, having delivered himself of this information, Dancing Dennis Jeaned complacently back in his chair, and looked at Grogville’s newly-indorsed mayor. French Ferd had idly listened, Syyereney taking little or no interest in what the Irishman was say- Sana so you have captured this alleged wife of Deadwood Dic‘ ?"’ be finally asked. ‘*Shure, an’ we have, sur!” “What do you propose to do with her?” ‘* Sell her, yer honor.”’ *'To whom?”’ **Bedad, an’ who else to but yersilf, sur? Phy, hat’s bitin’ ye, sur? Didn’t yez offer a reward for ee Dick or any av them connicted wid him, pur?’ “I did. What price do on set on this prize of yours, delivered immediately into my hands?” Dennis exchanged glances with Jakie, and scratch- ed his brick-red head. ‘*Phat d’ye say, Jakie? Shall we’z be afther let- tin’ her go so chape, as we first proposed?” ‘* Yaw w!”’ assented Jakie. ‘ V’y for you stand mit drifles on leedle piznesh madders like dot? We vant money, and ve make no monopolies.” “ Paith, an’ ye’r’ right. We'll not be so mane as to staud for a few cints. . Yer honor, we'll let yez hev tha girrul, in good order, for fifty thousand dollars.’ French Ferd burst into a hoarse guffaw. “Why, you ignorant coyotes!” he cried. ‘* What do you take me for, anyhow?” “For a rich, honorable, an’ distinguished gintle- man. sur,” avowed Dennis, tlatteringly. “Yaw! you looks yoost like der Union Bercific Railroadts!”’ complimented Jakie, ; ‘But you'll likely find out I am neither!” Ferd assured. “ Uf you have Deadwood Dick’s woman, as you claim, I’ll tell you what I'll do. Bring her here at once, and if J] am convinced that she ix the arty she is claimed to be, I'll give you a thousand Raticaieatbe same reward offered for ther outlaw pepseit. If that’s not satisfactory to you, why— tj” ‘ Dennis and Jakie once more looked at each other with inquiring and disappointed expressions of countenance. Evidently the new mayor's offer had fallen far short of their expectation, ‘Taith. an’ that is a bast ly low offer, is it not Jakie?” Dennis asked, with a deprecatory shake o the head. ; * Dot’s vov’s der matter!’ Jakie assented. ‘* Vot for der shendlemon dake us \or—a pair of shack- asses? I say no! Sgalamity Shane she haff money someveres, und she bay mere ash der mayor, ere baal s , ‘* Jist my idea, ivery bit, Calamity Jane five us more to get free than we would be afther gittin’ here. Coome! Let’s be thravelin’. Time is mon- yrs ’ Ms Und money vas visky,” Jakie allowed, with a Vot - | | i bi el ot Deadwood Dick’s Dust. ’ grin. visky.’ “Shure vour head is the liveliest av thim all, me darlint,. Come,”’ “Stop!” French Ferd cried. ‘‘ Fetch the woman here and [ll give you five thousand, between you. That’s my best offer. I'll not give you half a cent more,”’ Jakie and Dennis had by this time reached the door, but they paused and held a Jow-toned confer- ence, Which was ended by Dennis finally exclaim- ing: * All roight, Misther Mayor. We'll bring the gir- rul in half an hour,”’ and they took their departure. When they were gone, French Ferd chuckled soft- ly to himself, ‘*If this be true, that these fellows have really got Deadwood Dick’s wife, it will indeed be quite an ac- quisition to secure her. To maintain the foothold I have got here among the people, I must needs make to-morrow’s event <s breezy and suggestive of my influence as possible. The addition of Calamity Jane would be a decided hit, ‘* As for paying these chaps, I happen to have just the r quired amount in counterfeit money, and they’re too deuced dumb to detect the difference between it and the true stuff.” ‘ He left his room and went out upon the hotel pi- azza to await the return of Dennis and Jakie, which he was s mewhat doubtful about; but within the half-hour he saw them coming down the street, leading a male-attired young woman between them, whose hands were tied behind her back. It was indeed Calamity Jane who had fallen ifto their power. However, she walked with as firm a ten 4 and as haughty a carriage as though she were at liberty, and the defiant gleam in her eyes showed that she was far from conquered, even if she was a captive. By the time the trio had reached the veranda or piazza of the Casino a considerable crowd had col- lected, curious to know who the fair prisoner was. Calamity was conducted in front of French Ferd, and then Dancing Dennis said: ‘* Yer honor. we have brought yez the girrul: this is Calamity Jane, the wife of Deadwood Dick, Now, sir, it’s the money we're after wantin’.”’ ‘Wait, and you'll git it,’ French Ferd growled. ‘*Young woman, are you the wife of Deadwood Dick, the outlaw?” ‘‘T am the wife of Deadwood Dick!’’ Calamity replied, coolly. ‘Ah! Did I not see you once before—in Satan’s Snap?”’ ‘** You did.”’ teh registered as Hazel Halstead, didn’t ye?” s ( 3 ‘*Well, what have ye got to say fer yourself?” ‘‘ Nothing in particular, more than that if Iam not released, the people of this camp will suffer.” ‘*‘Humph! You kinder take to threatening, do ou? That won't do ve any good. You are an out- aw as much as your husband, and liable to the pen- alty. Therefore, you will be executed at sunrise to- morrow, unless ye come to terms,”’ ‘** Terms?” ‘“*Yes. There is but one condition by which you can secure your liberty.”’ ‘* What is that?” | ‘* By giving me such information as will lead to the immediate capture of Deadwood Dick!” Calamity burst into a scornful laugh, ‘Do you think me crazy?”’ she demanded—“ that I would give up my husband simply to save myself? If you do you make a grand mistake,” ‘Then off to jail jo go, and to-morrow you die along with another of your accursed confederates— Butterfly Ben!’ French Ferd cried, savagely. ‘*There’s goin’ to be no monkeyin’ about ¢h.s mat- ter.” Then, turning to the crowd, he added; ‘*Feller-citizens, ye see I’m sparin’ no pains to give yea rousin’ entertainment, to-morrow. At a cost of five thousand dollars, out of my own pocket, I have secured another prize, in the person of Ca- lamity Jane, Deadwood Dick’s wife!” A soging cheer went up, during Which was heard —*‘ Long life to French Ferd!” : ‘Take the woman to jail, Pete!” the mayor or- dered, as soon as the cheering somewhat subsided, ‘and tell the feller, Bia Boots, he needn’t stay on guard duty, any longer.”’ * Hold on. sur!’ spoke up. Dennis. ‘' Refore yez take tha girrul away we be afther wantin’ our money, sur.”’ % “Go ahead with the girl!”’ re-ordered French. ‘‘As for the money, me noble dnkes, walk into my arlor, said the spider to the fly, and you shall have ! » | That settled it. Purty Pete, and one of his associates, marched Calamity off toward the jail, while the mayor con- ducted Dennis and Jakie into the hotel, to his pri- vate room. where he proposed to satisfy their greed for gain with five thousend dollars in bogus money. Behind Calamity Jane and her two captors, fol- lowed the howling mob, whose yells reached the jail. and gave Deadwood Dick and Mormon Bill con- siderable uneasiness. ‘Calamity Jane!’’ yelled the mob, ‘Hooray! Kerlamity Jane!” ‘Shout, brothers, shout! We'll hev a reg’lar pic- nic, when ther sun begins ter rise!” Such and other cries rent the air, neared the jail. Calamity walked with the same firm step as of Ing’ nothing in her coolly handsome face betoken- , Der more money vot we got, der more as the crowd alarm, he was ouvly too well aware that the prospects ahead were not of a reassuring nature, but it made sci CS: LLL LLL LL LOL LLL eS OO 11 no difference; she had never flinched, yet, no mat- ter how deadly her peril, and argued, sensibly, that. it was too late in the day to do so, now. If Dick was not a prisoner, which was evident, Se ing by French Ferd’s offer of compromise, Ca- amity had faith that the Western Detective Prince would not allow these denizens of the mines to visit. their spite upon her. The jail was reached, the door unlocked, and Purty Pete and his 4 ar led the fair prisoner inside, the crowd being kept at bay. * Hillo! Who hev ye thar?” Big Roots demanded, as the trio entered—* enuther pris’ner?’’ * Yes, enuther pris’ner!"' the dwarf growled, ‘* an’ the capt’in sed yer needn't stay in here, no longer, as 'twa’n’t no use.” ‘“Durned ef I ain’t glad!’ Big Boots averred— ‘*powerful glad. ‘Tain’t no snap, I tell yer! Who's ther pris’ner?”’ ‘*Kerlamity Jane, w'ot aire Deadwood Dick’s wife!’ the dwarf assured. ‘‘She’s goin’ ter git sali- vated along wi’ his butterfly nibs, to-morrow.”’ ‘*Hooray! Won't et be a reg’ler old Waterloo, tho’?”’ Big Boots cried. ‘* Thar’ll be blud on ther moon, ter-morrer, or my name ain’t Big Butes, ther banker’s daughter! Come on! Sence I’m relieved from duty, |’m jest goin’ ter do ther moist act, by settio’ up ther whisky fer all hands,” and giving ‘alamity Jane but a cursory glance, the pseudo bullwhacker left the jail, followed by the dwarf and his assistant, As might be ney ee it did not take long for the crowd to find out that Big Boots proposed to “set ’em up,” and of oae accord they followed him to the Biazing Brand Hotel, where the drinks were or- dered and set forth. As they entered the Blazing Brand,three men stood upon the piazza of the Casino, across the street, They were French Ferd, Dancing Dennis, and Limburger Jakie, the latter two having just received their pay for delivering up Calamity Jane. ‘* Hi! d’yez see tha feller, yander, wid the big brogans?” Dennis suddenly cried. ‘‘By me soul, thet’s him, himsilf is it not, Jakie?’’ ‘“ Who?” suddenly demanded French Ferd. ‘*Phy! Deadwood Dick to be sure!” was the ro sponse. Pe You pig fool!” growled Jakie. “Vy for a don'd vas sell oud for somedings, mitoud giffin" everyt’ing avay vor free lunch? You ought to haff you neck doslogated!”’ CHAPTER XII. A NOVEL ESCAPE. Tur announcement of Dancing Dennis, that Dead- wood Dick was in Grogville, masquerading as B Boots, caused a cry of exultance from the aps French Ferd, and, after procuring a drink of liquor at bis own bar, he left the Casino, and crossed over to the Blazing ‘Brand, intent on capturing or killing “ee man of all men, whom of late he had grown to ear, Just why be should fear Deadwood Dick, individu- ally, he could hardly have told, except that he sur- mised, should Dick strike, he would most likely aim at the ruler of the camp, first. So, over to the Bla ng Brand the new mayor strode, feeling sure that he had his man, at last, beyond the shadow of a doubt, 7 When he entered the hotel, he saw the crowd all ranged at the bar, or as near to it as was possible, and in their midst was Big Boots, at whose expense the treat was being had. He saw French Ferd, as he strode into the room, but appeared to entertain no suspicion in regard to. his errand—indeed, scarcely gave him the second glance, ; French Ferd did not immediately approach ithe: rma for a Me ony fully made wp just ow to procee capture him. The fearful axample left by Mormon Dill, in the efore, Was a bey 5 4 same room, not many hovrs ei it mt ac A jer prove dangerous to attac eadwoo ck, openly. To be sure, he could be shot down— instantly killed, for that matter, but, that was not what the new mayor desired. It would be a much greater tri- umph, he argued, to take Deadwood Dick a prisoner, and publicly execute him, than to shcot him down, without warping. : So rench Ferd began to lay bis plans for such a capture, and it did not take him long to decide upon one that promised to work well, Lounging up to the bar, he cried out: * Hello! who’s doing this, anyhow?” “Bie Boots! Big Boots!’’ cried several of the miners, who, as usual, were enthusisstic ever their luck at getting another free drink. ' * Big Boots aire ther chap what's doin’ et = “Then, Signor Big Boots, allow me the honor of drinking your health!” French Ferd cried, pouring out a brimming glass. ‘Go ahead!” Big Boots grunted. “ Big snakes to you! I ain’t so durned stingy wi’ my likker, as you be, an’ ye’r’ perfectly welcome ter pickle yerself in it, ef ye wanter.”’ : “T’'m not stingy with my liquor, nor with my money !? was the gruff response, ‘! To prove that, I’m ready to stand treat to all the crowd can drink, on a bet!” **On a bet?” **That’s what I said.” ** What kind of a bet?” “Why. I'll bet you I can do something that you can’t, namely, make a standing jump from the floor into a flour barrel, I'll do the act, and am ready to. bet that you can’t,” *T'll have ter g0 ye on that, Mister Mare. What, d’ye wanter bet?” re » ’ J / iy Be se mer Be | aaa "EGOMIEDOOKS. Fitey ?. a” ' - ye it ae ye wild 1° panto. —— " ee ee = .