Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 443 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

ee ln | | | ery we Deadwood Dick Jr. from infancy; but, despite all her search, she has never since leaving school been able to get on track of the spinster up to date.” ‘Indeed! Has she no idea as to what has be- come of her?” ‘‘No more than that this spinster’s life, for years past, has been devoted to searching for a person who had disappeared years ago, and be- come lost to the identification of those who had formerly known bim.” ‘‘Ha! This person’s name?” : ‘* That I do not know, more than that he is the father of the girl, California Kit.” ge Hyatt sprung to his feet, greatly ex- cited. ‘‘ By Heaven! I have not been in error then, after all, for the impression that came upon me after those two young people were set adrift, bids fair to become realized. Speak! quick—do you know the name of this spinster, who was formerly California Kit’s chaperon?” ‘Yes. I never forgot it, after Kit once told me, for it struck me as being an odd one, or at least one not often met with. It was Phyllis Penrose!” David Hyatt reeled back, as if shot. ; ‘Phyllis Penrose?” he echoed, turning white with pallor. ‘Then, my God, I too am a suf- ferer by this accursed night’s work, for the girl upon the raft with your son, was my long-lost daughter! Tell me, did you ever see a birth- mark on her arm?” “Ay! I have been shown it many a time, t was a vividly plain crimson crescent!” Byron Bristol replied. CHAPTER XI. CAGING THE BIRD. Wuen Paul Potter and Frozen Bill, or Budd Bris- tol, went up-stairs to the former's room over the Daisy saloon, her held a consultation that lasted nearly an hour, in which time they plotted and counterplotted together, until they had pretty well perfected their villainous plans of operation, They had every reason to believe they were in a fair way of extorting large sums of money both from David Hyatt and his wife—from the latter, at least, by threats of exposure. en they came down-stairs David Hyatt had just left the saloon, accompanied by Byron Bristol, and the subject of the incidents of the preceding eW minutes was upon every tongue, for the miners as a rule regarded it as exceeding stfange that the mine-owner should have taken such an interest in the vagabond F _ Therefore, Potter and Budd Bristol were speedily in possession of the full particulars of what had assed, and the latter heard the news of his wronged rother’s arrival in the camp with a savage gleam in NS @yeg, ‘° Pots get out of here, where we can talk this matter over in safety!” he growled. ‘ Something must be done at once.’ ‘*YesT should say so!” Potter agreed. “This tramp is no doubt your brother, and he is more than likely the same vag who has been trampin’ around the country with California Kit, for she had some such a companion doggin’ her around when I heard of her being at Shaefer’s Flats,”’ “Just so. And he may know about the girl’s his- fory and eo it to Hyatt, which will knock our plans ln "he head.” ‘OF na, ag brother must be put out of the ‘ utcelay. This is demanded both for your individual and fcr our mutual interests. But how shall it be worked? Hyatt has got him in tow for the present, and we shall not be able to get at him, I’m afraid,’’” Budd Bristol did not immediately reply. They had left the saloon and were walking slowly along through the still warring elements of the drenching night, their footsteps taking them toward _ the tool-house where Deadwood Dick, Junior, had + i the, as he supposed, lifeless body of California _ ‘*T wish I knew if the boy was really drowned.” Bristol said, at last. ‘I’ve got a sort oF ‘<stote nei that he ain't, and will give me a dig in the back when vt expectin’it. He's a vengeful young whelp, and ain't none too good to do it.’ “Pshaw! You ain’t gittin’ cowardly, I hope?” Potter growled. “If you are, we might as well throw af the job an’ done wi’ it.”’ “No, I’m not gettin’ cowardly,” the other re- torted, ‘Only ’tain’t a very pleasant, thing—this not knowing what minute may be your last. Here, let’s turn into this tool-house out of the wet.” They did so, and groping about in the dense gloom, 500 fodind seats on some nail-kegs. ‘The boy's miles from here, floatin’ in the river, I'll guarantee!’ Potter allowed; ‘‘and the girl, too. without a doubt. It’s a cussed unfortunate thing She was not kept off the raft. If I'd been positive as to her identity, I'd ‘a’ kept her off, too. As it is, our only show is to work the money out o’ Henry Hollis on the strength of promises, if wecan. I’ve some doubts about the matter.” “IT haven't. He'd be crazy to get some tidings of the kid, and will dough over liberal in advance. or else he won't see the gal,” with a dry laugh. ‘Our lay-out is to work Alecia Anna, first, and make her e, which we can do without doubt. She is tainly n our power, and as she thinks so much of her new husband and his fortune, she won't be apt to - y give him Le just to save a little’sum of his collateral, you bet! You leave her to me, and I'll work what money away from her that’s worth working.”’ ** Sh! listen!’ Budd Bri_tol said, warningly. ** What for?” ‘*T thought I heard a groan!”’ “Pooh! It was only the wind. I believe you are getting to be a coward, after all.” ‘*Nonsense. I am sure I heard the moanof a human voice. Listen a few minutes anyhow.” Tney did so, Outside the storm still raged around the frail building, but the lightning and thunder had pretty nearly abated. ‘“*Ha! there—did you hear it?” Bristol exclaimed. a moment later. ** lt was a moan, and there is some one an ther shebang. Elev ye got a match?” “se oO “Never mind, for I’ve got one.” He felt around until he found a dry spot, for the shed was leaking badly, and then struck alight. Then simultaneous cries burst from the lips of the ruffians as they beheld California Kit lying upon a bench, in an apparent state of insensibility, al- though she showed some signs of recovering con- sciousness, ‘* The girl! the girl!’’ cried Paul Potter. “ True as thunder!”’ coincided Bristol. ‘ How in the name of common sense did she come to be here, though ?”’ ‘** No doubt she was rescued by Deadwood Dick, Jr., and brought here, either for dead or to recover con- sciousness. If such is the case, the young whelp may be back here at any minute, and it’s high time we were getting out.” ‘“*Ha! who's gettin’ cowardly now?”’ sneered Bris- tol. ‘‘I agree with you, however, that it might not be healthy for us to be found around here. But we must take the gal.”’ _ ‘Certainly! She is a prize too priceless to lose, now that she is in our power.” They groped their way forward until they reached the bench; then raising Kit’s limp form between them, they bore her from the tool-house, Outside, they paused and gazed cautiotsly about them, but, as well as they could discern, through the darkness, there was no other person in that vicinity, the camp proper being — a little distance away. ‘“Where shall we take her?’ Bristol demanded. ‘*She must be hidden, for the boy will search for her if it was he who rescued her.” Potter reflected a few minutes, ‘*There’s no safe hiding-place around here, except it isin Dutch Duff’s cellar, to which there is a back, outside door. You remain on guard, and don’t hesi- tate to use your pops if any one comes this way. I can bribe Duff to help us out, for a hundred dollars. Have you got that much?”’ “TIT s’pose so. Here it is; but, mind you, I’m to have half we make out o’ the girl?” “Of course. You'll find I’m always square with a al.”’ F so saying, the rascal hurried away, chuck- ling as he went. On his arrival at the Daisy, he called Dutch Duff to one side, and offered the Teuton the hundred dol- lars for the use of his cellar for a couple of days, Duff to know nothing what was Boing on below stairs, and to keep his tongue still from mentioning that the cellar was in use at all. A bargain was effected, for Duff could not with- stand the temptation of fingering the hundred dol- lars, no matter what his conscientious scruples might have been, and within ten minutes Potter and his pal had carried California Kit into the cellar, where, by the dim light of a lantern, they securely bound her, hand and foot, and also gagged her. The cellar was a small, dank place, under a rear portion of the saloon building, and no noise the pris- oner might make, could reach the ears of the ha- bitves of the barroom. When they had finished the binding process, the two villains left the cellar, and closed down the out- side trap-door, which opened at the rear of the build- ing. “Our birdis safely caged, now!” Paul Potter said, grimly, ‘‘and if we don’t bleed Dave Hyatt to a long meter tune, my name is not Potter!” CHAPTER XII. TRUE TO THE DEATH. THE dawning of the next morning saw David Hy- att and Byron Bristol early astir, and prepared to go in search of the victims of their unjust sentence. The mine-owner had prevailed upon Mr, Bristol that it would be useless to attempt a search during the night,so he had remained at thecabin, and the twain had talked until daybreek, each explaining to the other the peculiarities that had marked his career, in the past. As soon as it was fairly daybreak, the mine-owner provided two horses, which were mounted, and the anxious pair of parents rode out of the camp and down the stage-trail, in vain hope that they could find some trace of those who had been found, after many years, only to be lost again. So early was it when they left the camp, that there were few if any persons astir. The full dawn of day, however, in the camp, brought forth the miners from a: respective quar- ters, and then and there followed a discovery, that threw the camp into a fever of excitement. When the Daisy Saloon had closed its doors for the night, the body of Big-Mouth Mose had been left lying in under a table in the barroom, as no disposi- tion was to be made of it until the morrow. Now, however, when the first miner sought the Daisy, to get his first ‘*nip’’ before breakfast, he was treated to a startling surprise. Dutch Duff’s place had not yet been opened up; \ 7 13 nevertheless, sitting outside the door, and propped up against it, was the corpse of the-defunct local bruiser. E His eyes were wide open, and stared glassily into vacancy; the lower jaw had dropped open, and the arms were placed akimbo, giving the corpse a most | horrible appearance. Tbis was not all, however. Mose wore his hair closely clipped, and had a broad bigh forehead. Upon bis forehead now was a crimson-hued cres- cent! It had not been cut into the skin, but appeared rather to have been wrought there by some cres- cent-shaped stamp, which had left its crimson-hued impression. he crescent could easily have been covered by a silver dollar. Nor was this all. Attached to the ecorpse’s shirt-front was a sheet of note-paper, which contained the following words in a bold, round style of chirography: ‘*BEHOLD! ‘*Men of Bummer’s Bar, the Sign of the Crimson Crescent, and tremtle, for more of ye shall wear this mark, and those who do will realize that it is the advance courier, warning them of their ap- proaching doom. Marked for life are ve who need expect no mercy from Deapwoop Dick, Jr.” As the first man who discovered the body outside the saloon chanced to be one of the = who had found Dick guilty, it may naturally be se eeeggas that he felt considerably startled and alarmed. His name was Flynn, and he had acted as foreman of the jury, hence the discovery of the Sign of the Crimson Crescent apprised him that Dick was still alive, and likely to carry out his threat of ven- geance. | Flynn was not a brave man. Indeed there were few men in the camp who were greater actual cowards than he, or to whom the fear of death had greater terrors. So, no sooner did he discover the spectacle in front of the Daisy Saloon, and read the warning message of the Avenger, thar he began to yell at the top of his voice, to arouse those miners and citi- zens who lived in the plaza circle. His efforts in this respect met with speedy success, and the town was soon aroused, and all collected in front of the Daisy Saloon. ‘Look! look!’’ Flynn cried. as one after another came up. ‘*The Crimson Crescent—the sign that Deadwood Dick is not drowned, but is back in the camp.”’ : Big Mose ain't ther only one as bears the mark,’” a miner said. ‘* Why, yer forehead is stamped, the same as Mose's is, Flynn!”’ . ‘*Good God! you do not mean it—you’re trying to fool me!” nn gasped, quaking witb tegror, as he felt of his forehead. ‘I feel nothing!” ™ ‘*Can’t help that!” was the reply. marked, same like Mose. Leave it to the you ain't.”’ “Yas, he’s marked jest like Mose!” cried a num- ber of voices. With a howl of horror. Flynn rushed into the sa- loon, which Dutch Duff, alarmed by the commotion, had just opened. A glance into the mirror —— Mr. Flynn that he was indeed marked upon the forehead with the startling s'gn of the crimson crescent. Uttering a curse, he rushed from the saloon to the river’s edge. and tried to wash off the Avenger’s mark, but all to no avail. The vivid stain, if any- thing, grew even brighter, as he was assured by several miners who had watched the bathing opera- tion. His terror knowing no bounds. Fie nn went back to the saloon, where the greatest excitement an consternation were raging. - The eleven other jurors had, by this time put in an appearance, and ar the forehead of each was the ei a and indelible brand of the Crimson Cres- cent Dutch Duff was likewise similarly branded! All this work had been accomplished between midnight and morning, but how? Each of the jurors claimed that his respective abode had been securely closed. How, then, had Deadwood Dick Jr. succeeded in gaining entrance? It was certainly a mystery of the most baffling description, and all Bummer’s Bar was wild with ex- citement of the most intense character. When a rigid inquiry was instituted, it was learned that each of the twelve jurors had found his door unfastened in the morning, on rising. and a rear door of the Daisy Saloon was also unlocked; never- theless, each of the branded men was willing to swear on a stack of Bibles that their respective — _ been fastened when they had retired for the night. However, as the jurymen, as well as Duff himself, had been drinking hard during the preceding even- ing, up to the time the saloon closed. there were plenty who stood ready to believe that not one of emg had fastened their doors on retiring for the | nicht. ok, However it might be, Deadwood Dick Jr. had evi- dently got in his work effectually, for thirteen m:n in Bummer’s Bar were evidently marked for life— for all their efforts to remove the crescent brand with the aid of soap and water proved unavailing. Hence, the —_ of the marked men. and the con- sternation of the other denizens of the camp, was something unprecedented. As yet, the young Avenger had not struck to kill, but he had warned all that he would do so. and there was ro telling what minute he might strike Several of the branded men were members of the crowd if © sé Ye ure = JOO