Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 480 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Per ae ay asin ction aa a et ‘ © Fem Deadwood Dick’s Dust. ee — — - . _ ee There was @ general s ¢ .thered about the cam . ‘*T am glad to hear this,”’ Dick declared. ‘‘ How many, men can you scare up within an hour, Mr. Lil Siwenty-one, sir; but the twenty-first man would have to remain here on guard-duty. I have iecruited several of these men to-day, but I feel sure they can be relied upon.”’ * You bet we can!” of several voices. ‘‘ We'll et’s to rescue the captain.”’ : “It may be, gentlemen,’? Deadwood Dick cried, “that when we get back to Grogville the citizens will already have executed Mormon Bill and Calam- ity Jane! Then—” ‘** Vengeance! We'll sack the aecursed camp |” It was Lieutenant Lily who uttered this threat, and it was received with vociferous cheers by his co es. ‘““Yes, we'll have revenge!” Lily continued, when he could be heard. ‘‘ This gentleman, boys, is the famous Deadwood Dick, of whom you have all heard, no doubt, and he is to be our leader, per m wish, and the request of Mormon Bill. If his wife is exeeuted, I need not tell you he will make usa leader such as no other could be.” ‘Yes, gentlemen, we go to Grogville, to rescue those who are our friends!’’ Dick added. ‘ The site of that camp belongs to me, and if we cannot rescue eur friends, we can clean that camp out, if it takes a year to do it, and when we get possession of it, it is ours—yours and mine, Are you with me, then?” “ Hurrah! hurrah for Deadwood Dick!” yelled the crowd. And of one accord the men arose, and extended their hands to their new commander, and there was a hearty shaking. Then Dick urged the necessity of setting out for Grogville at once, and preparations were hastily completed. The prisoners of the fortress were left in charge of the guard who had challenged Dick and who were confined in a dark part of the inclosure. Dick being eo ed with a fresh horse, he and his twenty armed followers rode down the mountain- side, and away toward Grogville, on their mission of rescue, romptly responded a chorus ollow whar we're led, ef ~¢) CHAPTER XV." IRIS WINTHROP’S VENGEANCE, Wuen French Ferd reached Big Gulch, he paused and gazed inquiringly up and down the mountain thoroughfare, In the gulch all was dark and quiet, for there was gsearcely enough air stirring to disturb a leaf. Fully ten minutes the murderer stood as erect and immovable as a statue; then, he started off down the gureh, in another direction than that lead- ing to Fort Freeze-Out. or over a mile he continued on, until he came to a long fringe of bushes which grew at one siJe of the gulch, Here he paused and looked sharply around him, and then plunged into the thicket. When he came out he carried a stick about five feet long and six inches in circumference, and with nea pa er eae to pry up a heavy bowlder, near at After some exertion, he succeeded in moving it far enough aside to disclose a cavity underneath. Thrusting his arm into this, he drew out a strong canvas bag, which was well filled, ‘* Ha! ha! my fortune is safe!” French Ferd cried aloud, ‘‘In this bag is money and gold enough to keep me like a gentleman for years to come. For a int I’ve played’ my conten ke A Ak Yes, won! and who can say I’m not cock-o’-the-walk! Hip, Pid a voice, an e ne ns Ferd rece'ved a blow beside the head tha aeeed him flat A ops 6 gk gta and he cold rise he was pounced upon by two men, who quickly pi “ ed his ~ re hands. 193 % 7_ Pinion An ese two were none others than D Dennis and Limburger Jakie, oe iam * Arrah! an’ phat a pic-nic we’ve bin afther strik- in’!’’ cried Dennis, as he and Jakie arose and sur- veyed their captive. By meé soul, it’s his honor, thur Mare av Grogville!” “Wel, I should snigger!”’ coincided Jakie. “He haf vone fordunes in dot bag, und he vas goin’ der skib der fol-der-rol-loo, or vatever you calls him,”’ an’ that’s jist phat he was goin’ to do, but we nipped his poyeey little skame in the bud, eh! Mr. Frinchy Ferd? “Ten thousand curses on you! Release me, or Ill cut your hearts out, you bums! D’ye hear?” roared French Ferd, his rage know!ng no bounds when he saw, beyond doubt. that the two rufflans were to confiscate his ill-gotten treasure, For the space of five minutes French Ferd strug- oc to get free, and almost made the air blue with asphemy, all of which Dennis and Jakie seemed to enjoy. At last Ferd sto from sheer want of breath, ‘*Goot!”’ Jakie pron clapping his hands. ‘You do sblendid, Mishter Frenchy. Vid a leedle more vindt, you make der sdars fall oud deir sockets,” ‘Faith, an’ he would!” assented Dennis. __ “Come, now!” Ferd finally said, changing his tone, Tet me free and I'll whac up with you.” _ ; * Bad luck to yez, phat for we be afther doin’ that whin we have the whole betwane us alread ? Nixey, Misther Frinchy! We're satisfied. eZ fooled us on thim counterfeit greenbacks, but this rits us aven wid yes We saw a wolf back here a it, an’ no doubt he'll be sniffin’ at yez. Good-by, Misther Frinchy—good-by. We're off for Mormon Bill’s den, now, to make another raise, an’ then we ~ a approval from those | go Aiste, an’ sthart a bank. Oh! it’s a fly pair o’ fowls we be! Arrah! grab the bag, Jakie! Good- by!’ ’Good-py, Frinchmons!” added Jaxie. ‘Take _e mit yourself dot der musgeeter don’d vas bite you!”’ And, bearing the bag between them. they trudged off up the gulch, followed by French Ferd’s furious curses. ‘The footsteps of the two oddly-mated roughs died out in the distance, and French Ferd was alone, at the mercy of any beast of the mountains that might stroil tuat way. But only for a few minutes was he alone. He heard a light footstep, and saw through the ray gloom, to which his eyes had become accus- omed, a woman standing before him. **So you did not escape with your stolen fortune after all, did you, Ferdinand French!” she said. ‘**Ha! ha! [I thought you wouldn't, and meant that you shouldn’t! I knew who robbed the bank, and should have intercepted you had not the two rene- gades done so,” * Who are you?” French Ferd gasped, in added tremor. “I am Iris Glenroy, the Avenger!” she replied, in a cold, pitiless tone. ‘I have set out to-night, to seek vengeance for the wrongs done me, and to one whom I worsbip, next to my God, All whowar against him, war against me—hence you are my first victim!” You are mad, woman. I have never injured you in any manner whatever!” ‘*Have vou not? Is not Mormon Bill confined in the Grogville jail, condemned to death by you? Of course he is! and but for your fear of Weadwood Dick, you would have remained in the camp to superintend the execution. Oh! you see I know you, and shali not spare you. See that!” She held out her left arm. French Ferd saw, with no little surprise, that the hand was wholly missing! “T cannot strike with that, you see!’* she went on, fiercely, ‘‘but I can with my right. So take that! Itis blow number one.” A knife flashed through the air, and French Ferd uttered a fearful froan. With a suppressed shriek, Iris Winthrop—for this was indeed William Winthrop’s wife of former days, turned and epee off up the gulch, as if to hasten from the deed she had done, She was evidently accustomed to the hardships of the trail, and was fatigue proof, for she continued sad on, on, her course being toward Fort Freeze- ut. As she was going up the mountain, she was forced to hastily conceal herse:f to avoid being seen by a cavalcade of horsemen coming down, which was none others than Deadwood Dick and his party, en route for Grogville. When they had passed, she came out of her hiding, and gazed after them. “That was Deadwood Dick in the lead,”’ she mur- mured, ‘‘and if I mistake not. he is going to Grog- ville to attempt to rescue his wife and my husband. He will have big odds to contend with, and I must be quick with my errand, and get back to fulfill m urpose, Of which no one is yet aware. Even if eadwood Dick does not make it so, I will see that no such town as Grogville exists ere many more days are past!” She continued on up the mountain-side, and when she reached the summit plateau, was surprised to find the guard lying dead, near the edge, his skull crushed in by a heavy blow. As soon as she saw this the woman Avenger crouched out of sight. Ste knew not but what Dennis or Jakie might be doing guard duty in the entrance to the “ fort,”’ for it appeared to her quite evident that they had already reached the mountain- top, and after the departure of the men under Deadwood Dick’s command, had killed the guard, She resolved to run her chances, and crept stealthily toward the building. te She reached the entrance, and peered in. The fire was burning dimly, and _ within its light lay the prisoners, with Jakie and Dennis stancing over them. “ Mercy! mercy!” Mrs. Seybert was aot ie “We know nothing of the outlaws’ treasure, and have no valuables, for they robbed us of them. Lieutenant Lily has them all about his person, I think, Oh! sirs, you betrayed us into this trouble—help us to escape, I pray of you! If you will but do sg, you will be richly paid for it.” i ‘How you pay us ven you have noddings to pay mit?” Tale demanded. ‘Oh! easy enough: once we get home, in San Fran- cisco, I have a bank account there, and will reward you liberally.” ‘“Vot you giff off we release you, und acgompany you to San Vranfisco?” Jakic demanded, “TI will give you each five thousand dollars!” : ous pargin!’? Jakie declared. ‘ Vot you say r s ” “I’m not kickin’ a bit, me boy. Shall we release the drs at once?” ‘* Yaw!” They started to perform that operation, but never accomplished it. There came a sharp pistol-report from the dark- ness; Dennis utte an unearthly yell, and fell forward on his face, where he struggled but once or twice. Jakie, with a bellow of alarm, essayed to run from the *‘ fort,” but before he could reach the door, there was another yearn, Sag» and he, too, took a drop, on life wae out as “ 2. nite ra hese two shots, and their deadly results, eaused the prisonem to blawat with terror. k=) re ee ———e “Good Heaven! we shall all be murdered in cold sib os shrieked Mrs, Seybert. ‘Oh! what shad we do?’ ‘*Meet the death you deserve, without quailing!’” cried a woman’s voice, and the next i.stant Lris, the Avenger, glided into the firelight. A chorus of startled shrieks burst from the two captive women, at sight of her, while Tom Seybert uttered a furious curse, “Hal ha! ha!” laughed Iris, mockingly, “‘ you were not expecting me, eh? You thought me dead, and that you had no one to fear, except my wrong~ ed husband, who visited you, last night! But, you didn't reckon aright. Do you doubt that Iam Irs Winthrop whom you ruined-—do you doubt it you fiends in human shape? If so, look at that!’ And as if to increase their already great terror,, she held out the dismembered arm. ‘My God! it is Iris!’’ Mrs. Seybert moaned. ‘* Yes, itis }, Madam Merton!’ was the bitter re- ply, ‘* and here is the hand!” She drew from under her shaw] the petrified hand with its chain and stiletto attachments, and thrust it before their gaze. ‘“‘There’s the hand you brutally severed from my arm, Madam Merton! You thought I was dead, when you fled, guilty wretches that you were, I es- caped from the room, and, eee for vengeance I traveled miles that night. I need not tell you tha I have been searching for you ever since, And, now, at last, my turn has come,”’ ‘Spare us! spare us, I beg of you!’’ Mrs, Merton leaded, piteously. * We will lead better lives in the uture, and do all in our power to atone for the wrong we have dove you!” ‘*Bah! There can be no atonement for such as you! It was you, unscrupulous wretch, who tempt- ed me to your gambling den; it was you who gave me the first taste of wine, and poisoned ~~ mind against my husband; you who led me down the path of temptation, until 1 became a thief, and had no other course than to follow where you led, Can you expect mercy from me f—Never! You die, with my curse upon you!”’ She drew a revolver, and cocked it, a glare of un-- dying determination in her wild eyes—an expres- he of unappeasable hatred upon her once fair ace. ‘Mercy! mercy !’’ screamed Madam Merton. “T am only toomerciful in killirg you in a hu- mane way,’’ was the unpitying response. ‘‘Thomas Merton, after your mother caused my temporal ruin, you sought to make it more c lete, but. never succeeded. You also shot me, You, then, are my first victim, your cousin second, an mother last. The nee can go free. “You have until [count one hundred to make eace with your Maker, who, with His forgiving na- tore, may overlook your misdeeds; lt cannot!" She said no more, but stood with her weapon ready to fulfill the threatened execution of her ven- geance, the og d the prisoners felt the advisability of e following her directions, for they remained mute and with bowed heads. Half an hour later Iris Winthrop left Fort Freeze- Out. Her face was dark and moody, but her eyes: gleamed less vengefully. ‘*It’s all over!’ she muttered, ‘and I’m not sorry.. I had sworn to do it, and when poor Bill knows it. rhaps -— — oe and take me back. If not care not to live any longer.” She went on down the mountain-sice, and _ hurried away towar’| Grogville, little suspecting the sur- prise that would await her there. CHAPTER XVI. GAME TO THE LAST. Frencu Frerp had not been gone from Grogville any hour when a suspicion entered. Purty Pete's mind that it was somewhat queer that his master (as he recognized the new mayor) was not to be seen any- where about the camp. It occurred next to the dwarf that it might not be amiss to take a look at Giles Goff, who had been reported asin a drunkem e . Si ien he entered Ferd’s private room he found Goff tumbled in ° heap on the floor, his limbs and face contorted and swollen. | “Tt tank but a glance to satisfy Pete that he was dead, and he was quick in inferring that French Ferd had quitted the town. After some deliberation he formed a pers which: caused his wolfish eyes to gleam with exultation, Procuring the large hotel dinner-bell, he went out. on the piazza of the Casino, and began to ring with all his might and main. The result was that, in a few minutes, the whole pulace was massed in front of the building, or upon its piazza, many of whom were armed with torches or lanterns, owing to the darkness, Then Purty Pete mounted a box, and shouted: “Gentlemen, I’m hecr ter make er disclosure: that'll s’prise ye wuss’n thunder, Ther mayor, French Ferd, hev shuk ther dust o’ ther town off'n his feet, because he war ‘feard Deadwood Dick would make mince-meat out 0’ him!” A great yell of surprise went up. “Silence!” roared Purty Pete, drawing his re- volvers. ‘‘Muzzle yer mugs ‘til I git thru, or Vil make a bigger score than Mormon Bill did. I ~ French Ferd he’s sloped. How do I know e ? ’Caise he’s bin gone an hour, an’ in his room Giles Goff lays deader'n a door-nail, My ‘pinion is, ga- loots, thet Goff an’ French robbed ther bank them- selves, an’ Ferd’s killed Goff and monkeyed awa wi’ ther boodle. Mebbe I ain't right tho’—that only er suppersition. “What I wanter say is, ye’ve lost yer mayor, an” your: | EGOMIGE : 4 : . ' * e _ 5 Pa a Z (@) V | 200k