Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 471 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

_ _ _~— ——-ye - —- Avalanche briefly explained, whereat the horseman gave a prolonged whistle of sur- prise. He was a finely formed fellow of medium hight—evidently a young man—and attired in a dark suit, red flannel shirt, knee boots and slouch hat, while a belt about his waist con- tained a pair of self-cocking revolvers. Little of his face could be seen, except the mouth and chin, as the upper portion was con- cealed from view by a red cloth mask, through the eye-holes of which gleamed a pair of eyes of magnetic power. His horse and its trappings were A1, and alto- gether he was a dashing onkians personage, ‘So this is Dark Demming’s work, is it?’ he said, when Old Avalanche had finished his ex- planation. ‘¢ Yas, thet’s ther size of et.” ‘*‘ Was that the fellow I saw running away?” **You bet! My goat, Jeremiaher, had jest bin givin’ him fits!” and the old man gave an approving nod toward his pet. ‘What was the road-agent’s object in stopping you—plunder?” ‘Partly, I reckon, tho’, sence he tied me here, I ’spect he calculated to run off with Miss Earl, the young lady [’m ’scortin’ ter Big Brace.” Themasked horseman gave Janet an inquiring glance and tipped his hat respectfully. ‘* Well, it is fortunate you have got off so easily,” he said, turning once more to Ava- lanche,” for Dark Demming is a hard character, and something of a terror around these parts. I suppose you’ve no objections to being released?” ‘¢Great ham-bone, no. These ’ere cords aire cuttin’ inter me, like saws!” The stranger dismounted, drew a clasp-knife from his pocket, and Old Avalanche was at liberty. ‘‘Cuss my cats ef I ain't much obleeged ter ye, pard,” he said, putting forth his hand. ‘* Tho’ ye w’ar a mask, I reckon ye ain’t no road-agent cuss, an’ I’d like ter know yer handle.” ‘Though I wear this mask, I am not a road- agent, but a detective, was the reply. ‘My name is Deadwood Dick, Junior.” ** What ?” Old Avalanche looked astounded. ‘‘] said, sir, that my name was Deadwood Dick, Junior.” ‘* Great ham-bone that choked old Joner!” ‘‘ Why, you seem surprised, my friend?” “ Surprised! Waal, I should snicker at a snake! Say, tell me whar ye tuk thet name from?” ‘Certainly. I had a bitter wrong to avenge, not many months ago. I had often heard of the daring exploits of Deadwood Dick, and, late one afternoon, as I was escape my murdered mo- ther to some quiet place of burial, | came across the graves of Deadwood Dick and Calamity Jane. Then and there I took an oath to avenge my mother’s death, and assumed the name of Deadwood Dick, Junior, knowing that he had once struck for vengeance.” ‘Put ’er there, me boy, put ’er thar!” Old Avalanche cried, enthusiastically. ‘* Great smoke uv old Vesuvius! I’m glad ter meet«yer. I know’d Deadwood Dick from ther early days o’ his kareer, up in ther Black Hills, till a short time before he passed in his checks. any’s ther desprit adventur’ we’ve hed tergether, an’ nary a fallin’ out. An’, brave as Dicky war, Pll bet my hoss ag’in’ a hencoop, ye’r’ another cuss o’ ther same stamp!” . ‘* Thanks for the compliment, sir, and I hope it may be my good fortune to meet you and your fair companion, again!” Dick said, ‘‘ For the present, however, you must excuse me, for I must away in search of the outlaw, Dark Dem- ming, on whose head is a reward of five hun- dred dollars. So I trust you will excuse me.” ‘‘ And in doing so, we both thank you most sincerely, sir, for coming to our rescue,” spoke up Janet, who had in a measure recovered from her fright. ‘‘Thanks from one so fair as you, Miss Earl, is reward enough for more than I have done,” Dick gallantly replied. Then, he sprung into his saddle, and galloped away. ott all Western men are as polite as he, I know I shall like them,” Janet decided. ‘Great ham-bone! he’s an exception,” the Annihilator declared. , A little later, they continued on their way to- ward Big Brace. ve CHAPTER IL A TERROR’S TERROR. Bic Brace! One of the liveliest, roughest, wildest, most Bozeman Bill of Big Brace. $n agen oy mining-camps in Southwestern Ida- 0. How it gained its odd name we do not care; it is of scenes and events that occurred within its environs we have to deal. The ‘‘ city,” as its people termed it, was situ- ate in the bottom of a rugged gulch of consider- able width, and numbered probably seventy- five places of abode and business at the time of which we write, including cabins, tents and shanties. And even these were inadequate to give any- thing like decent accommodations to the throngs of people who daily rushed into the camp, owing to its reported great mineral wealth—a report that, as in most instances, greatly exag- gerated the facts. Big Brace had a general supply store, an ore mill, several saloons, dance-houses and gambling establishments combined, and a hotel that was little more of a building than the dance-houses and saloons—a two-story wood structure, and quite roomy. ; As a rule, the population was made up of the roughest and worst class of people, what respec- table element there was being largely in the minority. ‘ On the evening of the day following that which witnessed the events phnanicie’ in the peace chapter, the ‘“*’Tallyho,” as the hotel ad been christened, was the scene of life and revelry. : The hotel was named the Tallyho because it ae the halting-place for the stage from Pierce ity. It was a long, two-story affair, of very rough appearance, the lodging-rooms being up-stairs, and the saloon, dining-room and kitchen down- stairs, For a lodger who was up-stairs to reach the dining-room, it was necessary to pass directly through the combined office, saloon and gaming- room, as the stairway descended directly into this latter apartment; but, as the ‘‘ hotel” had but few lady guests, this was a matter of. no consequence. The saloon itself was a large room, fitted up with chairs, tables, mirrors, sporting pictures and a long bar, back of which were shelves fit- a up with decanters, bottles, glasses and cigar OXES. The office proper was near the foot of the stairway, ot: was usually presided over by the boss of the establishment, who boasted of tho name Colonel Corker. The bar was manned by a burly, muscular individual named Sullivan, who report said had once been a gp although probably he was no relative of the Boston bruiser and brag- gart. At the close of the day of which we write, the employees of the Hinton Mine, which was the largest in Big Brace, had received their pay, and the majority of them, and they were not a few, straightway proceeded to ‘‘make Rome howl,” so to speak. The Tallyho was the most popular place in the camp, for the reason that a fair game was dealt there, and the “ p’izen” was above the average. Hence, by early Jamplight the place was well filled, and a mye assemblage it was, too. Perhaps a hun denizens were there con- gregated, and still no two visages alike, while the difference in nationalities was also marked. As awhole, they were a rough, villainous- looking set. Of course there were some not quite as rough- looking as others, but these were mostly the pro- fessional card-sharps, who presided at the tables. The aforesaid sharps did not seem likely to reap a big harvest, to-night, however. The bar was the magnet which caught the eye of the average pilgrim, and the *‘ bug-juice” flowed fast and furious, while boisterous talk, and baccahnalian song awoke the echoes of the night. The conviviality was waxing exceeding warm, when there sauntered into the saloon, a rson who had never before been seen in Big race. There was nothing so strange in the fact, as a multitude of strangers were in the camp; but this particular one attracted general attention. He was of medium stature, but athletic build. His face was a handsome one, the features being round and perfect, and lit up by a pair of mag- netic brown eyes. A graceful blonde mustache adorned his lip, while hair of the same sunny hue rippled in gentle waves, down over his | shoulders—hair almost as fine and glossy as a woman’s, As regards his attire, his appearance was decidedly dandified. : He was clad in a full suit of spotless white duck, wore a ‘‘ boiled” shirt with white collar — and white silk scarf, aca shoes, and a snowy white broad-brim sombrero, In addi- tion, a diamond pin of unusual size glittered in his scarf, and a massive gold chain ornamented his vest front. If he was armed at all his weapons were not exposed to view. | Certainly he was the most sportive-looking in- dividual who had ever struck the town of "Bi Brace, and judging by appearances, he was no much over twenty years of age. Entering the Tallyho saloon, as stated, he at- tracted general attention, the drinkers at the bar, even, pausing,glassin band, to stare at him. Such a dandy many of them bad never before seen. But nothwithstanding all eyes were leveled at him, the stranger did not appear in the least disconcerted. He sauntered about a few min- utes, evidently ‘* sizing up” the place, and then stepped to the office and registered. | ‘‘ BoZEMAN BILL” was the name he inscribed in the little account book which Colonel Corker blandly assured bim was the register. Inditing his signature, in a bold dashing style of chirography, Mr. Bozeman William seated himself at an unoccupied table, lit a cigar, and puffed leisurely away. One by one the more curious ones of the crowd sidled over to the office counter, and took a peep at the register, to find who the stranger was. Then they would go back to the. bar, and circu- late their information, so that, within a quarter- hour after Bozeman Bill’s arrival, every one in the room was cognizant of his name. But he paid little attention to the curiosity of the crowd, and seemed buried in deep thought as he watched the smoke float upward frcm his cigar. ike "most every other a Big Brace bad its bully and ‘ terror ”’—its blatant, blustering end would-be conquering ruffian, who set himself up as “* the boss” over all the popu- lace, and endeavored to establish his supremacy by brute force. In the present instance, Jake Jug was this ter- ror—a brawny, lumbering ruffian, with limbs and muscles of ae ia size, coarse of fea- ture, and villainously brutal of aspect. It was Jacob’s bie brag that he hailed from Taos, where he bad been brought up on a nurs- ing bottle filled with whisky instead of milk; and, furthermore, that he had frequentiy knock- ed down a Texan steer with a single blow of his huge fist. 7 that as it may, certain it was that the peo- ple of Big Brace, as a rule, stcod in awe of him, and took good care not to incur bis enmity. A pel of Jug’s, was a detestable customer, who ‘rejoiced in the name of Sneaky Smith. While, in most instances, Jake Jug was pos- sessed of a sort of bull-dog bravery, Sneaky was exactly the contrary, being sly, treacherous and untrustworthy, and yet was an arrant coward, who clung to Jug for protection, as a child would to its parent. That Jug could have anything to do with such aman was due tothe fact that he frequently utilized Sneaky in a manner that brcught either shekels or drinks to his individual benefit. When a stranger of respectable appearance arrived in Big Brace, it was Jug’s special de- light to pick a quarrel with him, which general- ly resulted in a row, in which the giant had in- variably come out best man; kence from the moment Bozeman Bill entered the Tallyho, he became a target for Jug’s evil gaze, and r the giant had piled in several ‘‘ hummers,” and felt in prime fighting trim, he strode over to where the sport was seated. : Toy 8 Pausing a few feet from the man in white, in a half-crouching position, with arms kimbo, he leered at the sport, in a most provoking man- ner. “ Haow dye do, stranger?” he said, in a coarse, insolent way. . é Bozeman Bill removed the cigar from his mouth, and coolly scrutinized the giant from head to foot. : ‘* Haow d’ye do?” repeated Jug, with a more villainous leer. For a moment the sport seemed to hesitate to make a reply, but only for a moment, for, sud- denly rising, he planted the toe of his right shoe squarely in under Jacob’s bearded chin. — ‘* That’s the how I do, sir!” he responded, and then coolly reseated himself, as though nothing had happened, while Jug toppled back to the floor, and with both hands clasped to. rolled over and over, howling with pain, 5 ¢ ’ a > = or = comicbooks — 7?) “ae 2 2 7 rae t - ww EN 4 0 @