Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 443 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 — — Local Vigilance Committee, and, as soon as order could be brought out of chaos, a search of the camp Md ra pe , in hopes of finding the daring junior Richard. There were two men who did not join in this search, but who looked on with grim silence, except when they consulted between themselves. They were Budd Bristol. and his associate, Paul Pot‘ er. ‘* This is bad business!"’ Bristol said, *‘ and had we not kept ourselves shady during the night, no doubt we'd have got branded in the same way. ‘The boy is lying around somewhere in hiding, and if we don’t look out he will single us out as his first victims.” ‘The outlook ain’t quite so pleasant as it was, )’ll admit,’ Potter growled. ‘opine we'd better close up our business as soon as we Can, and get out of the place.”’ : ’, * But what can we do before Hollis and Byron Bristol return from their down-the-river search?”’ ‘We can go see his wife. It’s our best chance.” ‘*But, if we leave the vicinity of the saloon, the Vigilantes may stumble onto the whereabouts of the girl, or Dutch Duff may betray our secret.”’ ‘* Not much danger of that, I guess. Duff can be «lepended upon to hold his tongue, for I have found him out to be more discreet than you would sup- pose. If we want to work Alecia for any money, now is the very time, while her husband is away.” ‘*Well, maybe you're right, but if the gal gets away, our goose is cooked. Anyhow, steer ahead, and we'll try the job.” ‘Accordingly, Paul Potter led the way toward the Hyatt cabin, and Budd Bristol followed close beside ar Pr _ give you a chance. him. The morning had not far advanced, but there was a stir about the mine-owner’s abode, which showed that the occupants were up. In answer to Potter’s rap upon the door, a Chinese man-servant made his appearance. ‘*Is your mistress in?’’ Potter asked. ‘* Missee in de plarler,’’ John assented, with a grin. Without ceremony, Potter pushed the servant ‘de and entered, followed by Bristol. is once before mentioned. the mine-owner’s abode s one of the largest in the 0 : “he front door opened into a hallway extending ‘ough to the rear. Jn one side, to the left, was the comfortably- ‘nished parlor, off which was a spare bedroom, ’ Hyatt often invited strangers in the camp to 'take of his aig imei \cross the hall was a living-room, with a bedroom ning off of it, while in the rear, at the end of the \|, was a frame shed used for kitchen purposes. ?otter knew which was the parlor, and opening the or, he pushed Bristol in ahead of him, then en- ine himself, closed the door behind him. airs. Hyatt was seated near a window, attired in a etty morning wrapper, and engaged in reading. ase quickly arose, however, with paling counte- ance, as the two villains entered. ‘*Sirl” she cried, * what is the meaning of this in- irusion?” ‘*Tt means!”’ Potter replied, coolly, *‘that if you at‘empt to raise a noise, I'll blow a brains out. We are here on business, and took the opportunity to call, when your beloved David was away, and no Ds was in the immediate vicinity. Sit down, Ale- cia!”’ Mrs. Hyatt did not obey. She drew her figure haughtily erect, and gazed at the conspirators defl- antly. . What do you want?’’ was her stern demand, ‘‘Money!’’ Potter said, significantly. “*Do you know this man, Alecia?” | “IT donot. I bid you both leave my presence, or I will scream for help.” : “Do not try it, if you value your life for, as sure as vou do, I'll blow your brains out. Iam not to be trifled with, to-day, nor is my companion. We are here on the make, and intend to win. You say you do not know this man, but I know you do. Do you not remember your first husband, Budd Bristol, alias Joe Ferris? Ah! Isee by your start that yan do. Well, this man is your first husband, and has the papers to prove it. I also married you, years ago, and I too have the essential document to prove it. And, now, you are, without ever being divorced, married to Hyatt, alias Henry Hollis, whose child your first husband stole, and you and he kept secreted, until you separated, when you put the child in the poor-house. Quite a string of coinci- dences, eh?” ‘* Mrs. Hyatt grew as white as death, and with a gasp sunk back upon her chair, * [It is false!’’ she gasped—‘it is utterly false. ** Nonsense!’’ Potter interrupted. * You are guilt of bigamy, twice over, and we can prove it. And, now, if you want tosave yourself. we have come to We must get out of this camp, in double quick order, but we don’t propose to go without money.’’ ‘“Nary the time!’ coincided Budd Bristol. ‘* You've led a crooked life, Alecia, but we’re both willin’ to fergive ye, an’ let Hollis hev you, ef you come down witha boodle of decent size. Ef ye - don't, we sball expose your hull career to Hank ae, i : : ‘ - ® v4 wey €) v Sie” | e* 5 “ wt - 4 es a phy ian. "5 4 Pe C.4d s* - - « w a . or ‘ a ooh “war * of he 4 a a P 2 . v ; . ie tes -- >, 7 < : 4 pe wr * plea Hollis, an’ he'll give the grand shake.”’ ‘Yes, an’ we won’t only do that,’ added Potter, ** but we'll produce the gal you stole from him, and the proofs that ye put it in the poor-house! There! now. Ye might as well come to time. fer we’ve got the dead wood on you, and there ain’t no salvation fer ye, but to pony up!” aa rs. Hyatt’s face had lost none of its pallor, but the gleam in her se told that she was not disposed to be browbeaten by the pair of arrant knaves who now stood before her. ~ . ‘ Phe . ; . ‘ ae * ° : » | ¥ — ae Ty Dem Sey i. . rs hs ~ eee eae eee 4 Deadwood Dick Jr. *“You have come here on a fool’s errand, if you expected to frighten money out of me!”’ she said, coldly. ‘I have not a dollar in money in my pos- session, and if 1 had, you would not get it.” ‘‘Henry Hollis has money concealed somewhere, and you know where it is!’’ Potter growled. 4 “He may have a million, for all my knowing where it is, sir.” “Bah! That won’t work on us, You ain’t that sort of a woman, Alecia, to not find where the money is. Why, you used to even go through m pocket, when I slept, to see how much money I had, an’ et don’t stand to reason you don’t know where your hubby has got his boodle stored. Come, now— don’t try to play off on us, for it won’t pay you.”’ *I tell you, sir, [know nothing about where my husband keeps his money, and if I did, ’d not con- fide the secret to a pair of wretches like you.”’ ‘** Wretches, eh?’ * Yes, wretches—villainous wretches!” | **So you will risk exposure rather than pay us for keeping your secret?”’ ‘Ay! a hundred times!”’ ae Humph! I thought you told me you loved your avy ?”’ ‘| love my husband, but not even to save being turned out upon the world would I dishonor myself by doing a wrong act against him.” ‘* You're gettin’ deuced conscientious, it strikes me, I demoend Hank Hollis‘s money! D’ye hear, I demand it!” “Tt matters not! You'll not get a penny of it!” ‘** You defy me, curse you?” “Ay! Idefy you both!” “Then, curses seize you, die!’’ Potter cried, thor- oughly infuriated, and at the same instant, raising his revolver, he fired at Mrs. Hyatt’s heart. : She gave a shriek, staggered forward, and seized Potter firmly by both arms; then she tottered and fell, dragging him with her to the floor. At the same instant a man’s figure leaped from ee bedroom adjoining the parlor, with a vengeful shout. It was Deadwood Dick Junior. In either hand he clutched a cocked six-shooter. Budd Buaistol saw him, and, with lightning quick- ness made a bound, and dashed through the win- ee nearest at hand, carrying sash and all with im. Potter struggled to free himself, but without avail. The death-grip of his victim could not be broken, and he was held down, while Deadwood Dick Jr. = threateningly over him like an avenging emesis! CHAPIER XIII. THE VOW FULFILLED! ‘*Mercy! mercy!” Paul Potter begged, as he tried to loosen himself from the death-grip of the dying woman, ‘For God’s sake, spare me, young man!” For he saw ata glance that Deadwood Dick Junior had taken deliberate aim at him. * You beg for mercy !’’ Dick demanded, contempt- uously. ‘* You beg for mercy, you inhuman wretch? Bah! Did you show me mercy when you sent me and California Kit down Reese river?” ‘‘No! no! I did not, but I was in liquor then, and knew not what I was doing!”’ “‘Indeed! T suppose you will say you did not know what you were doing when you murdered this woman?” ‘Mercy, sir; I ! I beg! It was under great provocation that I shot her—”’ ‘* Because she would not become a traitor to the man who believes her his lawful wife. Oh! I under- stand the whole story, Pav! Potter, and know that the man who lea from the window was my most hated enemy. e thinks to escape me, but he will not. My vengeance will as surely overtake him as the sun ree be day. As for you, you are one of those who would lave consigned me to a watery grave, and you shall not escape me! ‘*Merecy! mercy! Spare me, young man, and I will be your devoted slave for life. I will tell you where California Kit is concealed, and—”’ ‘*Bah! Do you suppose I do not know where she is? You are a fool, as well as a craven. I knew when you placed her in Dutch Duff's cellar. Before that 1 overheard all you told Budd Bristol in the ep: Saloon bar-room. So you see I know Kit's entity. ' ‘You are not the only one, on whom I intend to visit vengeance. So, as I have no time to spare, say your prayers, if you have any to say, for you need expect no mercy. When I leave you, you will be the second man in Bummer’s Bar who bears the sig of the Crimson Crescent !”’ 1 ‘*Mercy! oh! bave mercy!” ‘You had no merey. One!”’ Potter groaned aloud, and writhed and twisted in a vain attempt to break loose. “Two!” By an almost superhuman effort the wretch suc- ceeded in freeing himself from the death-grip, and leaped to his feet, with a bitter curse. “Three!” counted Dick; then there was a flasb, a sharp report, and Potter threw up his hands with a wild yell, and fell backward, ded. ' The young Avenger bent over him without an ex- pression of regret at the awful deed. Restoring his weapons to bis belt, he then drew two articles from bis ket. . One was a piece 0 1S aint other a sort of hand stamp, crescent shaped upon the face, and carved out of wood. , Passing the sponge over the face of the stamp, the Avenger then pressed the stamp firmly to the fore- head of the ruffian. a eee ee eee dered her. | me ——— When he removed it, the sign of the Crimson Cres- cent was plainly branded upon the skin. Restoring the articles to his pocket, Dick next coolly sat down at a table and wrote the following upon a sheet:— “This man, Paul Potter, the undivorced husband of Mrs. Hyatt, tried in company with Frozen Bill, alias Budd Bristol, to force Mrs. Hyatt to give up David Hyatt’s money. She refused, and Potter mur- But, he immediately afterward met his death at the hands of **DEADWOOD Dick Jr,”’ This the young Avenger placed upon Potter's now lifeless remains; then, turning away be leaped out of the window through which Budd Bristol had plunged, and was gone. David Hyatt and Byron Bristol did not return from their fruitless search, until near noon. They proceeded at once to the mine-owner’s cabin, where they made the discovery of the two dead bodies, in the parlor, the servant being nowhere about the premises. At first, Mr. Hyatt—or, Henry Hollis, as we shall hereafter call him—was nearly beside himself with grief, but when he read Deadwood Dick’s message, and considered how he had been deceived, his grief became somewhat assuaged. The excitement of that day, in Bummer’s Bar, beggars description, for when news got abroad of the double tragedy at the cabin, the rough denizens of the camp grew fairly wild both with excitement and consternation. Reward cards were posted along the approaches to the camp, offering extraordinary sums for the capture of Deadwood Dick Jr., but Henry Hollis took no part in contributing to the fund, which the min- ers were making up. He had strong hopes, that through Dick, he would es get tidings of California Kit, and he con- sidered that Dick bad also déne a service in killing the wretch, Paul Potter. As may be euppares, Byron Bristol was overjoyed to learn that Dick was still alive. The miners, however, were bitter in their denun- ciation of the aoe man, and most capeeeny so those who had been branded with the Crimson Crescent, and had been warned that they were doomed. ’ The taking off of Paul Potter but increased their consternation. Dutch Duff, in particular, was wild with terror. ‘Mein Gott, povs, ve shall all murdered py dis veller vot stamp us on der foreheadts!’’ he groaned, as he endeavored to brace himself up by frequent swigs from his private bottle. “Ve all go deadt, und de® ve go—vere der Se ve £0, anyhow? Oh! how I vish I vas pack in Yermany, vere der vas no Deadwood Dicks, nor none cff dis murderin’ pizness!"’ And, it is safe to say that those who listened to the Teuton’s bewailings, wished themselves in some similar place. All day long the excitement waged hot and strong, and scouting parties searched high and low for Deadwood Dick, the junior; but no trace of him was to be found. When night came on the search was discontinued, and a motley crowd congregated once more within the Daisy Saloon. — But, Budd Bristol was not among the number. He had not been seen about the camp, since early in the day. - At the vitnerowrler's cabin, a spirit of gloom pre- vailed. The body of Paul Potter bad been removed, while that of Mrs. Hollis had been laid out, preparatory for burial, in the parlor. In the sitting-room, across the hall, ‘{‘ens* folie —. and Byron Bristol kept a silent vigil. Outside, another storm was raging, even fiercer than on the night preceding, the wiad blowing a very gale, and dashirg the rain in to: rents against the window-panes. ! It was during the evening, when it seemed the storm must be at the hight of its beg £ that there came a rapon the cabin door which brought both men to their feet. It was atimid knock, such as might have been made by a woman “T wonder who it can be?” Hollis said, staring at his companion. ‘California Kit, perhaps,’’ Byron Bristol replied. The hope that it might, indeed, be Kittie caused the mine-owner to hasten to the door, and throw it wide open. A vat of wind and rain swept into the hall, and with it came a tall, angular woman, with a sharp hard visage, and hair that was thickly threaded with gray, and combed smoothly back. She was attired in a large figured elaine dress, with a shawl thrown about her shoulders, and wore a flaring poke bonnet. of the ancient style, which was gayly ornamented with rosettes and ribbons, “Shut the door,’ she said peremptorily, after entering. ‘Ugh! it is a terrible night! “Who are you?” the mine-owner demanded. after obeying her command and leading the way to the sitting-room, where he handed her a chair. ‘You do not recognize me then. Henry Hollis?” “What! It cannot be possible that you are—” “ Phyllis Penrose, a former purse in your family, sir, whom you discharged before your daughter was lost.’ . “Tene! true! Lsee the resemblance now, Believe me, Phyllis, Iam glad to see you, for I have recently learne find t me and restore to me my child ‘*T have traveled far and wide, Henry Hollis,” the spinster replied soberly, *‘and it was only recently ¢ « = => twee - ~~ of your devotion to the task of trying t O a SCS ae -_ ree we” > « S¢ , a»