Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 480 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

ol yaks , a - > 2 + ~~ Deadwood Dick’s Dust. 5 4 | ‘** Neider'vas I!”’ put in Jakie, *“You say your party wefe captured by rob- bers?” ** All except mesilf an’ Jakie, yer honor. We was ridin’ along through tue gulch, about tin miles from where we met yez, whin a band o’ tin masked horse- men suddintly surrounded us, an’ tuk tha leddies an’ Mister Tom, an’ rid off, They wouldn’t take us, be- eause they sed we were Civil a b:t 0’ good, an’ they told us ef we followed ’em they’d be afther blowin’ the top off tha towavus. So we didn’t follow.” ‘* Vell I should snigger!’’ assented Jakie. ** When did this happen?”’ ** This ’avenin’, yer honor, jist before dark.”’ “Did Mrs. Seybert have much money wita her?” ‘Faith, shure an’ she did, sur. She had dead ee av it, an’ jewelry, an’ the divil knows what all.’ ‘“ Where were you traveling to, when you met the robbers?” ‘-Divil a wan I kin tell con The misthress sed whin weleft Camp Clark, she was goin’ to Mari-ca- coopos, or some other place, where the stame cars ware,” Dick propounded but a few more questions, and, shortly afterward, he and Calamity withdrew to an- other part of the cavern. . What do you make of them?’’ Calamity asked, with some anxiety. ‘‘T’ve hardly settled upon an opinion,” Dick re- sponded. ‘*The Trishman tells a plausible story, and it may be true, but again, it may not be. These chaps may ‘be a cunning pair of rogues, who have some prime odject in following us here.” **\What do you propose to do?” ‘Keep a narrow watch upon them, and shoot them down, at the first evidence of treachery. They may be pals of the dwarf, or may have followed us with the hope that, by robbing us, they would get enough money to pay them for their pains.” ** One of us will have to keep awake then?” “Yes. I willsleep upon my saddle, with one eye open. If they really go to sleep, we will try to secure them against doing us eny barm.”’ ‘*Do you think men of Satan’s Snap have invaded your valley?” = ‘“-Yes, but we can tell better when it comes morn- Ben cy 99 * And, if they have taken possession—what then?” “Then itsball be warto the knife! Those who seek to make homes and fortunes in Lovely Layout will feel the iron grip of Deadwood Dick. It may be my last campaign, but lil not be driven from m rights, this time, without a bitter fight, which shall s:rik> terror to those who would oppose or wrong m”*.’ The words came from between his lips fiercely, and his eyes blazed with the spirit of old, Calamity knew that the threat was not an idle ‘boast—that they came from his heart. They went back to the firs, and preparations were made for a night’s rest; but, though Lick laid down he did not sleep. He was awake and watchful, an ‘before the night was half spent he accomplished his purpose. ‘ The hard breathing of the two strangers told that they were sound asleep, and noiselessly, and with- out in the least disturbing their slumbers, Dick securely bound them hand and foot. Thus, they were practically powerless to do any harm, which Dick knew was imperative. A bitter struggle was before him and it was necessary to anticipate any treachery that might betray him in- to the hands of his enemies. CHAPTER V. GROGVILLE. Just one month later. And a change of scene. The newly-developed Eldorado of Arizona. And the new “‘city ”’ of Grogville! In one of the most beautiful mountain-walled pockets of Arizona, nestled the new mining-camp— ‘city,’ it called itself—Grogville City; but, of course, it had few if any claims to being classed as a city, more than that it was a red-hot mining settlemen’, daily growing in population and importance,and like oll gold-fever places, was willing to bet that it was the fastest camp on the range, The ‘**pocket,’’ or locked valley, proper, com- rised several hundred acres, the slopes being grand- y adapted for grazing and agricultu’e, while the bottom was of a sandy formation, the ** wash” of a myriad of centuries no doubt. ; A mountain stream fell in a beautiful cascade at one side of this pocket, and running to near its center, ‘was absorbed by the earth, and Spenpely disappear- ed from view, idl egress, no doubt, bysome un- derground chinnel, Timber grew at one side of the pocket—in fact it was a most admirable “find,” surrounded by stu- pendous mountains that raised their cold gray spires toward the heavens. This pocket was what the reader had heard Dead- wood Dick mention, in preceding chapters, as Lovel Layout—then uninhabited, and without a single building of any sort. |. . Put now, after a month’s lapse of time, we behold a vast change—a transformation so great as to seem almost ineredible—more like some vivid dream than a reality. We behold the new city of CGrogville, the placer mining camp of the rance We behold new cabins, frame and slab shanties, and little Rae on speed about promiscuously— rhaps a hundred, perhaps more. RS9 P These are all tenanted, while other similar places of abode and business are being rapidly rushed u by a force of new-comers—all helping their friends or pards. There is the usual main street, which bustles with all the exciting varieties of Lusiness and life peculiar to every mining town, Two rival shanty hotels glare across the street at each other—barn-like structures, capable of holding a great number of patrons, and each eager to cap- ture the lion’sshare of the trade, Then there are stores, shooting-galleries, gaming- rooms, dance-houses, a bank, or, more properly, a ** mining exchange,”’ and saloons, a dozen at least— henc? the name, Grogville, suggested by the fore- most and wealthiest citizen, the Honorable Ferdin- and French, otherwi.e French Fred, formerly of Sautan’s Snap. Much of the building material now in Grogville | City recently belonged to Satan’s Snap, of which ——_ of the best the market afforded, and smoked only first-class cigars. Liquor he did not touch—at least, in public. His philanthropy became gradually a matter of comment, Ifa om landed in the town, dead-broke, and wanted a meal, a drink, ortools to go to work with, he was generally sent to Mr. Benjamin Butterfly, and invariably got the “‘lift’’to start him in the world egain, on an humble scale though it might e . ‘ Therefore, while he practically sought no u- larity, Butterfly Ben, as he was known, gradually made friends, who could be counted on as stand-bys soould he ever need their assistance, And as Butterfly Den appeared to have no occu- pation he was voted a gentleman of leisure, and it was natural to suvpose that he was well ** heeled.”® Gener«l Galusha Grab was only an important citi- a-month-ago camp scarcely a vestige now re- ; zenof the town, fromthe fact that he was genial, mained. There are women, too, in Grogville, some of them | miners’ Wives or daughters, but for the most part adventuresses, drawn hither by the reputed present and future wealth of the camp. There are no crushers and smelting Spraraivs, be- cause there is no Caper need for such, Prospect- ing has developed that all the gold in the vicinity is in the lands and sands of the pocket, in dust or nug- get condition. Hence, beginning at the southern and only known entrance to the placer, the camp follows the slopes to the right and left, and the bottom is left for min- ing or sluicing operations. In the bottom miners toil day by day, in the sands, with pick, pan and shovel; there are innumerable ee ae and conduits, and cradles, for washing, leading from the pathway of ‘hecrystal stream that ours down from a ledge fifty feet above the town into the valley, ; And here, where Deadwood Dick claimed suprem- acy, by right of discovery, was this bustling town of Grogville, which everybody voted had a future be- fore it such as no other placer town ever had, Every stage brought in a load of people, and others came in trains and sively. che only way, so far as these mortals knew, of reaching the town, was by following up-stream from the big guich; but, fortunately, the bottom of the creek had been worn so level that vehicles found no difficulty in reaching the loeate. And having said so much for the town, let us, be- fore proceeding further, take a brief glance at the dramatis persone ; for it is here occurred the princi- pal events upon which ‘his romance is founded, As we have said, Ferdinand French was one of the foremost eevee eae in the camp. It was he who had led the first party into the pocket, and made the initiatory steps toward start- ing the camp. He had staked out the bottom into lots, and then, ina very few days, arranged for the mizration and a boom, Satisfied as fo the richness of the deposit, he had not, as many another man would have done, sold off the lots, but had offered them for rent, or a percent- age. It was generally conceded that the dozen odd men who had originally accompanied him into the pocket, in search of Deadwood Dick, were his part- ners, but this was not known to bea fact. French had money, and had supplied it liberally to transport the material of Satan's Snap to the new diggings, and to encourage the growth and enter- prise of the new camp; hence he was looked upon as its founder and most impor’ ant citizen. Said those who ought to know, he derived a cer- tain profitable revenue from nearly every business cogupation in the camp, and was growing rapidly rich. He owned one of the two hotels, known as the Casino; also the mining exchange, and hada finger in almost every pie, so to speak. It was no secret that French Ferd had many ene- mies in the mining towns of the West, and that he really stood in fear of being shot at any moment. Hence, he had surrounded himself with a kind of body-guard, who kept an eye oo his movements, and were always near to fight in his defense, if necessary, and who also k‘ pt an eye on every pew arrival in the camp, and reported every suspicious personage to French himself. This body-guard had for its captain no less a per- sonage than Purty Pet», the ugly dwarf, who now had become French Ferd’s right-hand man, Next to French Ferd, the other notable citizens were Mr. Benjamin Butterfly, gentleman cf leisure; General Galusha Grab. the proprietor of the Blazing Brand Hotel, and Big Boots, the most irrepressible bummer and ‘N. G.’ character in the new city—an extraordinary liar, braggart and noisy individual, who had a nack of being here, there and every- where, when anything was going on, and who seemed to believe that the town couldn't well get along without him. Work, he declared, was too menial for him; he wasset down upon this earth for a fixed purpose. which would gradually unfold. Big Boots was regarded as being a harmless mortal, and therefore no one particularly bothered themselves to quarrel with him; consequently he had more “rope,”’ and could commit more didoes than any other man in the camp, without being called to account for it. As for Mr. Benjamin Butterfly, he was something of anenigma He?had come to the new locate with the crowd, and had remained, although he ap- peared to have no particular motive in doing So, He did not do astroke of work, nor invest in any business; he did not make a multitude of acquain- tances, as far as familiarity was concerned, al- though he spoke when spoken to. He had the bestroom at the Blazing Brand, ate rotund, a jolly host, and one, too, who knew how te runa hotel, and who was just as fond of a red-hot | bar-room fracas or a street jamboree as the next one. The day on which we introcuce the reader into Grogville City and its heterogeneous society, was the thirty-first day since I'rench Ferd had planted his foot in the golden poe et and avowed his pur- peer of She acamp on his own hook, and this ay had been generally voted as an appropriate one for selecting some capable person to govern the af- fairs of the place. Owing to the constant increase of enterprise and population, it was deemed advisable to have a **mayor,” The necessity had been discassed for a number of days, and it was agreed that ‘“*something orter be did’ about the matter on this 2th day of Septem- ber—a balmy, beautiful day, radiant with meljow sunlight, a bine any and gentle breezes, which brought down from the mountains the bracing aro- ma of the pines, As yet, but two men had been considered as be- ing just O. K. for the mayoralty, and these were French Ferd and Lede nee pa Butterfly, No canvass in particular had been made by the citizens, and the preferred men had remained mute as to whether they would accept nomination for of- fice or not. It was an open fact that French Ferd and Butter- fly Bendid not regard each other with any too much favor, although just why, was a question. They had never quarreled—indeed, they had never been seen to speak since the first night that Butter- fly made his appearance in Satan's Snap. This fact no doubt generated the belief in the mae of the people that the two men were ene- mies. Toward noon of the day of which we write, Ben- jamin ppd" was seated in the combined office and saloon of the Blazing Brand Hotel, at an open window, gazing thoughtfully out upon the busy ey street, where such a motley throng moved to and fro, Mr. Butterfly was leisurel smoking one of bis fine-flavored cigars, which @ appeared to thor- ong pig 5 : t the bar French Ferd was treating a crowd of his admirers, and this was something new, too, for him to patronize the rival hotel; but then, it was toe be supposed that he desired to make himself as pop- mM. Butt Fig paid xig atieldiSas to i party at th r. Buttertly no atfention to the a ° bar, so ahaorhad was he in thought, nor did he no- tice a body of men, some fifty odd, in number, enter the hotel, and draw near where he was seated, with a tl hly-dressed min ey were mostly roug ressed miners and heavy-bearded, with a “wear” of storm and sun upon their faces, and the callouses of hard to Upon their pends. 4b ey were headed by no less a personage than the redoubtable Big Boots, heretofore mentioned, who, albeit he was rough, uncouth, and bibulous, every: body was willing to admit was nobody’s fool. é was quick-tongued, had, some time in his life, been in good society and bad an exhaustless amount of “chin.” He had been accredited with makin some sharp and sensible speeches, too, when he di not allow waggery to get ahead of good sense, And, this Big Boots! , He was a man of medium hight, rather broad- shouldered, seemingly large of trunk and limb—the amount of clothing he wore making his real propor- tions a matter of guess. At least five suits of clothing was he burdened with, and if the outside suit was any criterion of what he wore underneath, he was literally a walk- ing reg bag. hen questioned as to why he burdened himself with so much raiment, he had answered: “I allers collars onter a suit, yer see, and lays it by fer a cold day, fer ther sartainties 0’ life, nowadays, aire se unsartain, thet a galoot don’t know one minpit whether he'll hev a shirt ter his back or not ther pert pe he don’t keep his eye peeled fer emergen- cies, Aside from his clothing, Big Boots wore a shirt that had at some previous period been * b'iled,” a bettered stove-pipe hat, and a p:ir of heavy long- legged boots, the size of which must have been No. 14’s, at least, In face and feature he was not ticularly notice- able, except that the most of his face wa cover @ with a thick yellowish beard, with like-colored hair upon his head. His nose was red, and eyes bright, and waggish in their express'on, __ His hands were small, shapely, and did not look ag if they had ever done much work—a that he espec prided bimself upon, GOomiG book —- —— =—— otineetnll- tee ——, a ar ——- = 2 o —_— eee Oe - 2 -—~