Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 480 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

® a SE "A 14 Deadwood Dick’s Dust. _—_——) need a new gerloot ter legislate things. Ef I'll do, jst spit et out. Lain’t much fer gud looks, some say, but I kin run a town ter aT, an’ don’t yer fer- git et! An’ef ye proclaim me boss o’ this hyer camp, thar won’t be no more monkey work ’bout ihem prisoners in the jail. We'll take ‘em out an’ lynch ’em this hyer very night, an’ ther Casino bar shall set out free bug-juice from now till mornin’!” A shout went up from the throats of the miners that fairly made the building tremble. ** Hurrab for Purty Pete for mayor!” cried a min- ot and death to Deadwood Dick and all his al- ies!’ And this cry was taken up by nearly every man in the crowd and yelled over and over again. ‘**Feller-citerzens, I'm proud ter be yer supeeryer officer,”’ Purty Pete continued, as soon as he could make himself heard; ‘‘an’ yer kin bet everything ‘shall go as I’ve said, I'll nowtell ye the order of festivities:, * First, five rounds 0’ bug-juice, ter make us feel merry; **Second, march to ther jail, four abreast, each man wi’ torch; “ Third, fetchin’ prisoners out, an’ readin’ o’ their death-warrant by ther Honorable Purty Pete; “*Fourth, march ter ther big tree, upper end o’ ae) ‘Fifth, adjustin’ o’ ther nooses, an’ preparin’ fer ther fina! send-off; ** Sixth, all hands on ther ropes; “Seventh, address ter ther prisoner, by ther Hon- orable Purty Pete, Esquire, reflectin’ on ther folly o’ wickedness, an’ what comes 0’ et; ** Eighth, signal to pull; ** Ninth, a slow pull, and a sure pull: an’ ther song of ‘Up In A Balloon, Boys,’ by all hands; “Tenth return ter ther Casino, an’ a geelorious old drunk. Hurra! boys, what d’yer say ter Purty Pete fer a high hoss mayor?”’ The answer was certainly reassuring to the hide- ous dwarf, for, for over five minutes the crowd yelled and screeched their approval, and danced and knocked each other around in a manner that would have put an asylum of maniacs to utter shame. Then, a rush was made for the bar, to perform the first act in: the een eke pouring down five rounds of the rot known to them as whisky. It is unnecessary to add that, numerous though applicants for the beverage were, it did not con- sume more than half an hour’s time to dispose of the prescribed five rounds, and as every man took a orimming glass of the poison, each time, it was but # natura! consequence that all hands were beginning to feel hilarious by the time the fifth round was down, and in ripe humor for the *‘sport”’ ahead. The next act on the programme was to preenre torches and light them, after which the howlin mob was marshaled into line by Purty Pete, an bore down upon the jail. When the jail was reached, the door was opened and the prisoners were dragged forth ’neath the glaring light of the torches. ' The cords were removed from their feet, but those |, lik about their wrists were tightened, and they were in the grasp of a dozen pair of hands, so there was no possibility of their escaping. The faces of both Calamity Jane and Mormon Bill, were stern and composed, and it appeared evi- dent that they knew why they were brought from the jail, and were prepared to meet their fates bravely. “Calamity Jane, an’ Butterfly Ben!” cried Purty Pete, confronting the prisoners, “‘ et aire ther ver- dict o’ ther people o’ Grogville, that you shall die fer ther crimes you’ve committed, and that, too, without any more monkeyin’ about it. ithin twenty minutes you will be strung up by ther neck, ter hang ‘til ye’r’ dead. So, while ye’r’ marchin’ to yer own funeral, ye’d better be doin’ what prayin’ ye wanter do in this world!”’ Neither of the prisoners vouchsafed a reply, and so Calamity Jans and her companion were wheeled into line, arid the death march began toward the other end of the camp, where was a large tree, with outstretching branches, ' The crowd brought up the rear, with hideous yells and hoots, and the eee of the torches made the procession a most weird spectacle. Hn roule, as they were marched along—Winthrop said to Calamity, in a low ‘one: ** I fear there’s no pope: Calamity !”” “None!”’ she replied. ‘I’ve given up all hope, and shall meet my fate the same as I have lived— fearlessly. I have a presentiment that Deadwood Dick will not be long in following me.” ‘*Bravely spoken!” said her companion, warmly; *“‘and even as you meet your end so will I meet mine. We can die but once, and there shall be no scene for these devils to gloat over, so far as I am concerned.”’ Calamity nodded her approval, and they marched on. At last the scene of the proposed lynching was reached, and the doomed couple st beneath a un outreaching limb that was to be their gal- Two long, strong lariats were thrown over the limb, and the nooses placed securely around the throats of the pair. The crowd then divided into two parties, and seized the “ pull-ends ’’ of the lariats, ready at the pias a Purty Pete to launch the prisoners into When these preparations were complete, Purty Pete once more confronted the prisoners. **In a few minutes ye die!” he said; *“‘an' I ho this ‘ere will be an example to ill-doers in ther fu- ture, an’ ess aire mean goods ter dab- ble in, an’ one’s misdeeds ginerally fall back on him. On course et aire nasty bizness ter lynch anybod ; but in yer case et aire a duty ter ther law-abidin public. Hey ye any last requests ter make ’fore oe a Nick gripes his fingers round yer wind- pipes?’ There was no answer, A trifle pale, but with features resolutely compos- ed, Mormon Bill stood speechless and defiant, his gaze directed toward the lights of the camp. ‘*Oho! So yer won’t answer, hey? Ye’r’ goin’ ter pass in yer checks as cool an’ independent like as ef ye were goin’ ter fetch all the cash back in the bank, are ye? Waal, neow, I admire your spunk, but that won't do ye nogcod. And, asther honorable may- or o’ this hyer camp, and liable some day ter be President o’ these United States, an’ Territories, I can’t allow no monkey bisness ner mockin’-bird mercy ‘bout a maiter like this. Once more—hev ye any remarks ter make on this funeral occasion, for grim death freezes ter ye wuss than frost ter an Arec- tic mcoveqipe !” Again there was no response; but the prisoners’ lips became conneremee a little tighter. ‘* Nuff said!’ Purty Pete growled. ‘* When I say three. boys, up they go a-hummin’,”’ “One! Two! Three!” At the signal of three— Half an hour later, two lifeless and stiffenin bodies swung from the limb of the tree, near whic no living person stood. Mormon Bill and Calamity Jane were dead! Later, in the wee small hours, toward morning, a number of dusky figures might have been seen _— vicinity, but they were not citizens of Grog- ville. They, were over at the Casino, making the night noisy with drunken hilarity and ribald song. They were celebrating a great and glorious occa- sion—a crowning event, as Honorable Purty Pete put it. Little they dreamed of what was yet to come—the last act in the terrible dram2! CHAPTER XVII. THE LAST ACT IN THE DRAMA, Or course. there was no sleep in Grogville that nicht and consequently no man could brag of being out of bed first, for the crgies within the Casino were yet unabated, at broad daylight. It however remained for the first man sober enough to get out of doors, to meke two discover- ies, and that man was none other than Purty Pete, himself, He was a man who could stand a powerful amount of strong drink, without losing his seuses or locomo- tive power, and hence, when morning came, he was feeling but little the worse for the night’s carousal. The first discovery he made, was one that caused him to utter a startled ejaculation. Upon the door of the Casino, and likewise upon all the doors in the neighborhood, huge placards were tacked, containing notices written in a bold hand, in crimson ink, or blood—the latter most ely. The notice on the door of the Casino, was as fol- lows: “ WARNING! “Take Notice Every MAN WomAN AND CHILD IN GROGVILLE: “The unjust and unwarranted execution of Mor- mon Bill and Calamity Jane, has brought down the curse of Deadwood Dick upon this camp, and the curse of Lone Hand, Mormon Bill’s wife, and this camp is doomed, as are all who hereafter seek to dwell in this pocket, **A last warning is hereby given you that an at- tack will be made on this id to-night, by our for- midable forces, and none will be spared, who come within the scope of our fury—not one—nor will sun- rise, to-morrow, see a tenantable structure in this camp. . Therefore, if you would escape our vengeance, fly while you have time—to-day, between sunrise and sunset. “Those who remain behind, believing they can fight, and save the town, will lose their lives. and have only themselves to |! lame, as this warning is given so that you can escape before the blow falls. So stay who will—zgo who will. Death! and ven- geance for the deaths of Calamity Jane and Mormon Bill, to those who dare defy this warning. ** Doubly Signed: : ** DeapWoop DICK, and Tue Longe HAnp.”’ Purty Pete read the notice over and over; then, he read thos» on the neighboring doors. All were alike! The dwarf then walked to a see the lynching tree, and made the discove the bodies of Calamity Jane and Mormon B no longer dangling from the limb. . They had been removed, through the night— doubtless. by Deadwood Dick. Purty Pete then went back to the Casino, and an- nounced his discoveries, There were a few, like himself, capable of under- standing the situation, but others were so hopelessly drunk that fully two hours were consumed befor » Shey could be aroused to a sense of the impending anger. : en they were aroused, they were Oy and ill- natured, and willing to swear they could lick a whole regiment of men. The placards were read and re-read, and when the popnce came to a full understanding of the threat of Deadwood Dick and Lone Hand, the excitement grew greater and greater By noon, such miners as had families, had made int where he could that were me arations to leave camp, and a number of others ad announced their intention of pulling up stakes and vamosing. On the other hand, Purty Pete did his utmost to urge all hands to cling to their possessions, denounc- ing the placards to be a scare got up by Deadwood Dick in order to gain a foothold. ‘* Why, ye’r’ a durned pack o’ fools!’* he said, as he addressed the crowd from the piazza of the Casino. *‘Heer we air, ther owners 0’ as peart a claim as ther aire in Arizona, an’ yet some 0’ ye say ye’r’ osters! Bah! go ef ye want. Ther rest 0’ us what’s eft kin clean up Deadwood Dick and his crowd, an‘ we'll own what we defend, you bet!”’ By such persuasion and threat, he got a number of men to promise to remain and help ght it out, Shortly after noon, the first delegation of over a dozen stampeders took their departure, some on foot, others on horseback, and a few in wagons. This was but the signal for others to leave, and soon a constant stream of people were straggling out of the doomed en The stage arrived with one passenger, but as soon as Jehu heard the news, he turned around and took out of the pocket a load of passengers that tested the capacity of his vehicle. At three o’clock in the afternoon, the exodus prac- tically ceased. But, with what result? There was found to be, actual count, only fifty men left in the camp. These bad signified their intention of staying and roe Purty Pete to fight it out. Pete looked the men over, rather grimly. °4 bmonsr boys, ef this aire all that’s left o’ us, we'll hev ter do some big fightin’, no doubt, to save the camp, an’ that we wil do, you bet! We've plenty 0’ weapons an’ ammunition, and when ther sun rises ter-morrer, I allow we'll still hold the camp. Ef we don’t, we’ll be buzzari food. Them’s facts, ~ * I allow you'll all fight ther best ye know ow?’ ‘‘ You bet we will!’’ was the response, Work was at once begun, preparing for defense, All the weapons were got together and loaded, and copvered into the Blazing Brand hotel, which, al- though it was a frame structure, had no rear or side doors or windows, and was therefore an admir- able place to defend an attack. As soon as it came dark, Purty Pete and his men shut themselves within the hotel and waited. The hours dragged slowly by. It was nearly midnight when the first intimation was received that the avengers were in the pocket. This was when it was discovered that the Casino was on fire in the rear. Soon the neighboring dwel'ings and stores were also on fire, and next, the smell of smoke warned the defenders that the Blazing Brand was on fireintherear, — As if toaid the conflagration. a strong breese had sprung up, and it seemed to blow down into the valley from all directions. The surroundings of the two hotels soon became a seething vortex of flames, and at last Purty Pete and his men were forced to flee from their refuge into the street, for fear of smothering. As they did so, two bodies of horsemen dashed down upon them, from either direction, and they were completely hemmed in, Then and there ensued a desperate fight of half an hour’s duration—until the mounted party was eee A by the intense heat of the conflagration to retreat, Then, the handful of men belonging to Purty Pete made good their escape. When the morning sun arose, Grogville was a mass of smoking ruins. Down in the valley, a number of men were busy interring those of both parties who had been killed. Upon a grassy slope, ay Deadwood Dick. His eyes were closed; there was a deathly pallor on his cheek, It was evident that he was dying. Lieutenant Lily and Iris Winthrop knelt beside him, with tearful eyes. Just as the first ray of sunlight dwelt upon the fallen chieftain’s face, he opened his ere “It will all be over, soon,” he said, faintly, “‘ and I'll not be sorry, either. lt has been a long came pe rn, this life cf mine, and its endis, now. Calami- y is gone, but T'll not be long behind her. Our adopted boy, Rex, will be in good hands, and those who have him will have power to use my means to support him, A last request. Bury me and Calamé ty in some peaceful valley where we may lie undis» turbed—for-ev-er—ah /” . That was the last, He never spoke again, The famous Deadwood Dick’s last campaign was indeed at an end, In a quiet valley *mid the mountains, where birds sing and flowers loom the year around, there are four mounds. Each bears a headstone, One reads ‘“‘ Calamity Jane. Frank fearless of foes.”” Another reads, ‘‘ Wi Win- throp,” and still another ‘Iris Winthrop.” The fourth stone is_a large one and_bears this inscrip- tion: ‘*Here Lies Deadwou it Dick, brave. honor- able and kind, in peace; cool, fearless and daring in war. A mile down the valley, dwells a prosperous farm: er and ranchman, His name is Lloyd Lily. And he keeps those graves green, . THE END, with friends William ; COMING oin’ ter skin out, just on account o’ them. = = a ee ~—— re se i ? —— ——— ane - a ~ ——- - ~~ 900k ’ ‘ ed at > - | ' | | = — is - - a —_ “ - * ~~ Ee Matin la iy 2 meaeinaeealage ata, = ng ie a OO oe eee - : c . » . « ~ ? - > So