Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 480 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

a a Se ee “Yes, captain—every mother’s son of ’em has gone. our order to tap the Camp Clark stage was hailed with delight, for the boys have been chafing under the restraint of camp-life.”’ ‘*Sol presume. I should have come before, only T was not quite ready to make a disposal of the pris- oners, nor an I now. However, I will see them.” “You did not hear from the lady’s husband, then?” Mormon Bill Jauched dryly. ‘She has none that would own her, although she ‘bas committed bigamy s:veral times. I merely wrote you that I intended to try to get ransom of her New York dupe, so as to allay her suspicions that she had ‘allen intothe hands of her most dead- ly enemy. Come! we will see if she recognizes me!” They then went forward, and entered the ** Fort,”’ the door of which was not now guarded, as on our previous visit. Within, a bright fire burned near the center of the room, and lying in half reclining positions around it, were the few members of Mrs. Seybert’s party, in- eluding the lady, herself. They were prisoners, for thcir feet were bound with cords, As Lieutenant Lily and Mormon Bill drew near the fire, the prisoners looked up, eagerly. Then, as their gaze rested upon the face of the outlaw chieftain, all grow white with terror, and Mrs. Seybert uttered a suppressed scream. ‘* William Winthrop!’’ she cried, gaspingly, a shudder agitating her frame. ** Exactly—alias Mormon Bill!’ was the grim re- sponse. ‘'I see you have not forgotten me, and evi- dently you did not suspect that you had fallen into the power of your bitterest enemy!”’ **Good God! no. I believed you dead.” ** Maybe so, but I doubt even that, you guilty she- devil. If you had really believed that, [doubt if you would have spent your time and money in dodging from point to point, to escape my vengeance. No! no! For five years, your life and that of your ac- cursed hanglings, here, has been one constant dread, that no power or pleasure could deaden. You have fled from point tv point, like he guilty wretch- es you are. For you well knew that Bill Winthrop was not booked to die, until he had avenged the de- monish wrong you did.”’ Mrs. Seybert buried her face in her hands, and trembled violently, as did Miss Granville, Thomas Seybert regarded the outlaw, however, with a stolid expression of countenance, that bor- dered upon insolence. Winthrop went on: ‘*T knew you were dodging me, and I let you dodge. I kept track of you. believing sooner or later you would run into my power, and, sure enough, you did. I had all my plans well laid, and with my band of rangers, I located in this deserted edifice of some past and gone age, a few weeks before you turned upcé Camp Clark, as Mrs, Seybert and party of New ork. “Then, her name is not Mrs, Seybert?’”’ Lieuten- ant Lily ventured to ask. ‘‘No. That is one of her numberless fictions. Would you like to hear the story?” **T would indeed, captain, for you knowI am one of your most sincere friends.” ‘'So I believe, Lily, so I believe, and you shall hear the story. It is not a pleasant one to tell, nor a fairy tale, but 1 will tell it.”’ PR a hank you, captain, I shall be most glad to hear Mormon Bill folded his arms, cast a withering look of hatred at the prisoners, and began: “This woman’s maiden name, as far as I can learn, was once Sally Sloan, but she has long since lost identity with it through a dozen bigamous mar- riages, her original! first husband being, to-day alive. Anyhow, you behold in her one of the most success- ful female hellions the world ever produced. It would be a sacrilege to call her an adventuress. There is not a profession in the criminal calendar but what she has had a hand in—murder, robbery, abduction, sneak thieving, forgery, arson and so forth, while one of her no hes sper has been to marry rich men, and skip off with their wealth; and still another of her operations has been blackmail- ing and the wanton destruction of others’ happiness and homes. ‘Of late years her son and yonder adventuress, who es as her niece, have been her accomplices, vec the old woman has always been king-pin of the ness. ‘Six years ago, a bachelor and one of the wealthy men of San Francisco, I retired from business, to settle down for the rest of my life in peace and plenty, as a benedict. I had been much over the wor and was cortent to rest, - Thad long hed my choice picked out—a poor but pretty maiden, nam: d Iris Glenroy—a girl of un- questionable purity, of attractive nature and of fine attainments, ““ We were married, moved into our elegant home, and, for a year, lived a life of uninterrupted happi- ness. “Tn our neighborhood this so-called Mrs. Seybert, but then known as Madam Merton, ran one of the most high-toned gaming places in the city, to which only the first men of the city were admissi- ble. She kept a bevy of female gamesters around her, and yonder young woman was one of them. “Outside her own den the madam was known as a Christian and ec):aritable woman, and found ad- mission to many aristocratic homes. “She once individually invited me to a poker- party at her house, but, as I knew much of her pinee, I flatly refused, and gave her to understand a ittle of her acquaintance was a good deal. ‘* Of course I never dreamed that the human she Se ee eee a et ee a a aE TS ae ST I | I LT ae SS ee ee ———————————————— Lh | Deadwood Dick’s Dust. myens would seek to destroy my home, but she did, Sh e called on my wife, unknown to me. What in- fluence she exerted over her I do not know, but, at the end of the first year of my married life, I was privately informed that Mrs. Winthrop had been seen as one of the devoted players at Madam Mer- ton's faro-table, and that, on two occasions, during my temporary absence, she had been seen driving with Tom Mertcn, the madam’s son, * You can oever balf imagine the terrible shock the news gave me. I would not believe it until con- vinced by my own sight. Lodge nightsI never got home until Jate; it was about the only times I was away from home for more than a couple of hours at a time, ‘**So one night, iv disruise, I accompanied a friend to the madam’s. There, sure enough, was_ Iris, gayly dressed, and an enthusiastic devotee of the rame of faro. I saw ber at the faro-table—I saw her sit beside Tom Merton on the sofa, and drink wine, It maddened me, and, to avoid ascene, 1 left the house. ‘* When my wife came to my door, not long after, T met her, accused her, and cursed her, and bade her never let me see her face again. And she went. What happened for the next week I was ignorant of, until I recovered from a delirious fever, Then I learned that Iris had drawn on my bank account to its full extent, on a forged check, and had disap- peared. **Madam Merton and niece had disappeared also, ** Well, for a time, I think I wason the verge of in- sanity, but finally recovered. I sold off my real cs- state, and set out a wanderer on the face of the earth, I took an oath to hunt the destroyer of m home and eee down to death—a fearful oath that must be kept, or forfeit my hope of mercy in the hereafter. ‘““A year afterward I heard of a famous female gambler, answering to the Merton woman’s descrip- tion, running things high-banded in New Mexico, and I went there. My prey had been there, but had fled, after a shocking crime. ‘The madam and Iris had been running a gaming house there, and in dull hours, had fallen to gaming among themsclves. One night not long before my arrival, they had had a quarrel, a result of which was that each wagered her entire money on a game of cards, Then the game was played and there was a dispute. Iris claimed the stakes, and reached forward to take them, with her right han‘. ‘in afrenzy of fury, the madam quickly drew a heavy knife and brought it down across Iris’s wrist with a force that actually severed hand and wrist completely from the arm! At the same instant, Tom Merton shot the misguided woman through the breast. Then the money was seized, and the mo- ther, son and nicce fled from the den, “The game was played late at night, and the only other witness to the tragedy, was the half re. bar- tender. He raised the body of Iris, and laid it upon a table, and then rushed forth to get a doctor and raise an alarm. To do this, in the dead of night, re- quired several minutes and by the time the first ones got to the den, the body had been spirited away ut the hand remained upon the table, where it had been cut off. ‘*A search was made, but allto no use, The mur- derers had made good their escape. The only clew ever found to the body was that a man had seen the body of a woman floating in the river, below the town, the next day, but having no boat, was unable Fhe I arrived Shy irate en I arrived in the place, I recovered the hand that had once been that of my wife. It was in the possession of a naturalist, who had caused it to be artificially solidified or petrified, and had at- tached to the wrist a silver chain, at one end of which was a handsome stiletto. I bought the hand, and ever after carried it with me, on my travels, un- til some weeks ago, I lost it from my saddle-bag, in the mountains. ‘* Well, little remains to be told, I had not yet ac- complished my vengeance, so 1 set forth. “T finally got on a shadowy trail of my victims, and never left it—never lost track of it entirely. But, like Dickens's ‘‘Artful Dodger,” they dodged me from time to time until 1 became satisfied they were working toward me. I then organized my band, and being penniless, was forced to resort to highway business for means, Until they ran into my trap. They came at owed as you see, and here they are, at the mercy of the man whose life they blighted !”’ Mormon Bill’s concluding words were uttered in a stern, ringing tone, that caused the prisoners to shudder, and shrink from beneath his blazing gaze. “T don’t wonder you are revengeful, enptain!” Lily said. ‘* Wil! you seek vengeance to-night?” ‘'No!l’ was the flerce response; “I am not quite peasy - Your duty is to stay here and guard these devil's imps until I have perfected my arrangements. Let them not escape at the peril of your life! There “a a thing yet to be done, Then—vengeance shall mine!’ He did not mention what yet remained to be done, but turning abruptly, strode from the rendezvous, across the plateau, and down the mountain-side. Lily did not call after him, He did not dare to. But, he nodded his head significantly as he gazed at the cowering wretches at his feet, and thought. ‘‘Ha! ha! I’d not lik» to be in your berth. You seared the wrong tree when you blasted Mormon Bill’s happiness!” CHAPTER X. A TERRIBLE FIGHT FOR LIF Wuen Mormon Bill got back to Gro * E. é, it lacked i i rr 9 an hour of daydawn, and he calculated he would bo able to slip into the Blazing Brand Hotel, which was an all-night house, without attracting attention. When he arrived at the point where the posersep ete into the pocket, he was halted by the guard, who, at the muzzle of a ritle, demanded to know his name, ‘‘lam Benjamin Butterfly!’ was the prompt an- swer, * Who?” ‘*Benjamin Butterfly, of the Blazing Brand Hotel.’” ‘“*Hol ho! and what were you aotig out o’ ther camp at night?” ‘* None of your business, sir. I go and come as I please, | reckon.”’ ‘Oh! ye do, eb? Well, not ter go skulking aroun this, yer know.” ‘Why not?” ‘** Because ther mayor wouldn't like it,”’ “To the devil with the mayor!’’ growled Mormon Bill, and passed on. Several miners were lounging about the entrance of the Blazing Brand when he reached it, who eyed him curiously, but he scarcely deigned them a glance, and passed on up to his room, The next couple of hours he improved in sleep, and when he awoke, the sun was shining brightly. While he was making his toilet, he heard a hubbub of voices ia the street below, and looking out of the window, saw that a considerable crowd of citizens had collected, who were excited over something, early as was the hour. It never occurred to the Avenger that he was the cause of the commotion, and he went on, complet- ing his toilet quite leisurely. hen he had finished, he put on his hat and saun- tered down-stairs. When he entered the bar-room, he saw that it was well filled with miners and the toughest citizens, French Ferd heading the list. Bill instantly became the target for many pairs of eyes, and the glances leveled at him were not par- ticularly of a friendly nature. He observed this, but walked composedly up to the bar and asked the bartender to fix him upa cocktail, something he had not been known to do since comin to Grogville. The crowd looked on amazed, and some of them were displeased that they were not invited to par- take of a morning nerve-bracer. When Mormon Bill bad ‘*downed”’ his “‘ medi- cine,’ he turned from the bar to find himself eon- fronted by bis honor, the mayor, who looked even more disagreeable than was his usual wont. ‘*Good-morning!”’ he said, gruffly. ‘I suppose ou have taken note of ther crowd that’s assembled ere, sir? D’ye know what et means?”’ “TIT don't know that I have t ken the trouble to make any surmises on the matter,’’ Bill replied, with a cool stare at the new ruler of the camp. ‘* Well, then, I'll have to inform you that we have voted you to be a suspicious character, who, like as not, is in partnership with Deadwood Dic, an’ et becomes our duty to take you in,” ‘*Pshaw! you don’t say so!”’ ‘‘ Yes, I say so, and am right here, while I’m say- in’ it, as you will nerceive,” “Wellf well! How strange. So you're going to take me in?”’ * We are, in peace.”’ . ““Indeed! But od man, may be you forgit that it occasionally es twice one make a bar- gain. For instance you might get taken in, your- self. instead of me.”’ ‘*No danger of that. Iam the on fees this natal and I have ordered your arrest, and the people w stand by me.” ‘Ah! Well, on what grounds have you ordered my arrest?’ : ; * You're a suspicious character, an’ we don’t pur- pose to allow no sech in this camp!”’ “How do you make out that I am a suspicious character may I inquire?” Mormon Bi!l was perfectly composed, apparently, put there was a gleam in his eyes that told of rising assion. arr Well, in the first piece. yer loafin’ "bout the camp, doin’ notbin’ and tryin’ to play. off gentleman which don’t look quite straight, hen, again, a number o’ the miners have seen a pigeon fly in an’ out o’ yer room, what carried messages. en, ter cap the climax, you were absent from ther camp, somewhere in the mountains, all last night. Where ass on, but I’d advise you too mach at night after was you, now?” “ That, sir, is emphatically no one’s business, but own. ‘Oh! of course—sure, certain! We expected ye ter say that!’ French Ferd sneered, ‘*It wouldn’t be policy for ye ter tell where you was, ‘cause you'd be givin’ yourself dead away. But, ye see, we hap- n ter know where ye was. You was upin ther mountains, plottin’ mischief with Deadwood Dick, curse you!’ * You’re a liar to your face!’’ Mormon Bill cried, fiercely. ‘*I know no more of Deadwood Dick’s whereabouts than you do yourself.” ‘* Bah! you can’t stuff that down us, You'll have to surrender, and stand yer trial!” ‘Tt will,eh? Well, Lrather guess not. I'll not sur- render; and, more than thar, I'll kill every man who attempts to lay a hand on me!” and as he spoke, he drew from his pocket, or somewhere about his per- son, a six-inch, keen-bladed knife, that looked mure derous enough to appall the bravest heart. French Ferd stepped back, with an oath. ‘** At him, boys, fn a rush, and overpower him, but don’t hurt him!” he velled. ‘ After his trial ye shall hev the fun o’ seein’ him do a jig in mid-air—the furst hangin’ hooray in Grogville CS ..Ci (E ‘EOMICHOO