Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 471 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Bozeman Bill of Big Brace. rascal, and when you least expect it, he will turn on you,and get youintotrouble. It he does, eon have no one to blame but yourself.” ‘Oh! of course not, sir. Good-day!” — And rising, Bozeman Bill sauntered leisurely away down the room, apparently not in the least concerned at what had taken place. Not so with Horace Hinton. His face grew or with passion, and his hand clinched tight- ly. ‘* Curses seizé the fellow!” he hissed. ‘‘I was not mistaken in my estimate of him, Heisa cool, determined and dangerous enemy to our interests. I must see Alecia again, and then something must be done to get rid of this shadow on our path.” CHAPTER VIII. WHOLESALE SCHEMING, __ FOLLOWING up the resolution he had formed, Horace Hinton straightway sought the pres- ence of the widow, and found her seated in her parlor reading. Horace was just behind her, and looking over her shoulder, ere she discerned his pres- ence, ** Aha! so you are making yourself acquaint- ed with the peculiar mysteries of your future place of residence, are you?” he said, with a grim laugh. The book was Dante’s ‘*‘ Inferno!” ‘Why not?’ she replied. ‘*‘ When we travel, to-day, we naturally seek to become acquaint- ed with the route, through the medium of a rail- way guide, This vision of Dante, prepares us for the future, and advises us of all the popular Summer resorts!” ‘I should prefer not to anticipate the future, dear Alecia,” Horace replied. ‘* We shall likely get enough of it, when the time comes! But, Jisten, now, for I have something of impor- tance to tell you.” She signified her willingness to hear, where- upon he related to her all about overhearing the interview between Deadw Dick, Junior and Janet Earl, and subsequéntly, how he hac interviewed the young detective, in his disguise of Bozeman Bill. The widow listened without interruption, but it was plain to see that she was ill-at-ease. ** Well?” she asked when he had done, *‘ what’s ‘to be done now? I thought you were going to attend to the matter, independent of me?” ‘*T could not resist the temptation of keeping you posted as to how things were working,” he replied. ‘You will see that some action must be taken, and that, too, without delay. This Bozeman Bill, alias Deadwood Dick Junior, and alias the devil-only-knows-who-else, intends to make an effort to feat the present will that makes you owner of the estate, and in doing so he is work- ing for the mutual interests of Janetand Harry. T believe he will try and have them meet and co-operate to defeat us. They are both young and of @ susceptible age, and should such a thing happen that they should fall in love, their interests would then be mutual, and they could fight us all the stronger, which would be bad in _ the extreme.” ‘‘ But what have they to work upon? Nothing except the girls letter and Harry’s suspicion, f am sure!” : ‘Even s0, that is lots to begin on. Give one of these sleuth-hounds of the Jaw the least clew to begin on, and they’ll figure around until nine times out of ten they will unravel the whole ‘scheme, and catch the plotters, Not that I say that either you or I are plotters, but it is best to avoid having any suspicion thrown upon us,” “Well, such being the case, what’s to be done?” ; “One of the first and most important things is to get rid of this devil, Bozeman Bij] 66 That ought to be easy enough,” “‘ Basy enough to say, but not so easy done, by any means. He» has got the Strength of a ancovie. and the endurance and tenacity of an Indian; he is, I judge, an Dap Mm the use of weapons, and literally fears nobody or nothing. ‘Such a man as that certainly is dangerous £5 attack, single-handed, and it will pe necessary to call strategy into T equisition. Just how | shall manage it I have not concluded yet, but : : f putting him out of the wa may give the job of pu eae vay into the hands of Jake Jug and Sneaky Smith, ‘who both hate pagt os a : em “ beaks pth I’ve trusted them before and can do so again. All they want Is i Sufficient to ‘them well supplied wi they will do anything J tell them. ; ( i r Aa ao ee Well, do as you think best, but it would proxe disastrous should they turn around and tray us,” ‘* Don’t fear for that. Jug owes the detective no good will, and he will be ripe for a chance to Bet square with him, And as for Sneaky Smith, e does just what Jake orders.” ‘They are two ruffians, at best, and I should say it would be best to fee them well for their work, would it not?” ‘* Well, yes. But Vllattend to all that, First of all, Pve got another capital scheme to per- fect, which, it strikes me, will have the desired effect. Let me have writing materials, and the copy you made of Joln Jones’s letter to Janet.” Mrs. Hinton pointed to the writing-table which contained the articles he needed, and then handed him the desired copy. Horace gave ita careful scrutiny, his brows knitting in perplexity, because he was sorely puzzled. ; ‘Td give a deal to know who wrote this!” he growled. ‘‘ You said this was a good Jac-simile of the original?” ‘* As nearly so as an expert could make it.” ‘Strange! strange! Who could have sent for the girl, unless they were acquainted with the circumstances of her meeting with my _bro- ther, and proposed to set her up as a candidate for the inheritance? But if such is the case, why don’t the party who sent for her come for- ward and claim her?” ** Perhaps Harry sent for her?” ‘** Pshaw, no! hey haye not met yet, and do not know each other.” **Maybe you sent for her?’ the widow sug- gested, gazing at him keenly. Hinton flushed, indignantly. ** How foolish of you!” he returned in ill-hu- mor. ‘* Do you doubt my allegiance to you? If so, say so, and I will withdraw!” ‘I didn’t say or mean anything of the kind, as you well know!” Mrs. Hinton spoke up, quickly. ‘‘It was merely a suggestion to see what you would say.” ‘** Well, be careful not to make any sugges- tioms of the kind, for I do not like them. fter working as zealously in your interests as I have done I should be the last one to be suspected.” ‘Of course! Of course. I’d be foolish not to trust you implicitly. Have your suspicions never turned toward Phineas Fink?” ‘“Pshaw! no. He’d never attempt anything of this kind, for he knows too well that his nest is well feathered, as the attorney for the estate. And, besides, this writing is utterly unlike his, as you must be aware.” **Well, I am sure, I don’t know what to think about it. The whole matter seems en- veloped in impenetrable mystery, ahd, as you ay active and immediate measures must be taken to avoid an explosion, What are you go- ing to do with the writing materials?” ‘* Pll show you, when I am through,” Horace replied, as he seated himself at the writing-table, and began to carefully write a letter, referring to the copy in front of him, every word he wrote, When he was done he gave what he had writ- ten to the widow. It read as follows: * NEAR Bra BRACE: To-DAY ‘* Miss JANET EARL: — ‘“*T have just learned of your arrival in town, but circumstances will not permit that | should come there, to see you—circumstances that I will explain, wally sn: 3 we er i a am located at a deserted cabin three miles u the gulch, where you will find me, if you come a once, and alone, which it is imperativa you should do, as Mrs. Hinton has illegal possession of the es- tate, and we may have hard work to dispossess her. Do not fail to answer this at once, in person, You cannot miss the appointed place of meeting, as it is directly alongside the upper trail, Yours respectfully, * JoBN JONES.” ‘You mean to have this letter reach Janet, and decoy her to this cabin?” Mrs. Hinton asked. ‘* Yes, just that.” ‘What then?” ‘Tl shut her up there until she promises to return East, and never come meddling around here any more.” ‘‘T don’t believe you can extort such a prom- ise from her, She’s got pluck and temper, more than you would suppose.” ‘‘Bah! I don’t give a fig for that. Ill break her in or break her neck.” ‘‘But is there no danger of her being found there, and rescued? That would make matters all the worse.” ‘*Pshaw, no! There’s a little cellar under the Cabin, Once she is shut up there, there is no danger of her being heard, even if she yells her throat sore,” ** But Harry or this Bozeman Bill might make a search for her,” the woman persisted, urged on by her fears, ‘* Let them search! The trap entrance to the cellar is so well concealed that they would never suspect its existence; besides that, Ill ornare to Tip them in hot water before I tackle the girl!’ Horace Hinton took his departure, feeling sure that he would soon have matters fixed to suit his liking. | CHAPTER IX, OLD AVALANCHE’S FIND, AFTER his interview with Horace Hinton, Bozeman Bill lounged around the hotel for some time, hoping to see either Old Avalanche or Harry; but several hours glided by, and neither pat in an appearance, and growing impatient, e finally once more set forth upon the street. In fact, he had not got a glimpse of the Old Annihilator or his goat since the previous even- ing, and he had about concluded that the vet- eran had become disgusted with the camp, and taken his departure. But had he known Avalanche better would have made no such inference. The lier the town, the more was the Great Anni- hilator in his element, and sure to stay. Strolling about the gulch until he wearied of it, he threw himself upon the grass, in the shade of a tree, and gave himself up to cogitation, and was thus preoccupied when he heard footsteps, and looking up, beheld a ragged urchin standing before him, ‘Well, youngster, what do you want?” be asked, as he noted that the boy’s manner was hesitating. ' ** [—I—be you the feller what this is fer?” and coming near, the boy handed the detective a sealed envelope. Glancing at the superscription, Bill saw it was as follows: ‘*To DEADWOOD Dick, JR.” Greatly surprised, he tossed a coin to the lad, and then proceeded to tear away the wrapper, and peruse the contents of the missive within. The following was what he read: ** DEADWOOD Dick JuNIOR:— ‘“Srr:—It having come to my notice that you were sent hither for the purpose of hunting me down and capturing me, I take the first opportunity of inform- ing you that ' don’t propose to be captured at all— most especially not by one of your craft. *“ And while conveying to you this intelligence, I wish to furthermore apprise you that you have rash- ly ventured on an undertaking that promists to bring you into dire trouble, unless you heed the f£ol- owing ** WARNING! ‘* Whereas it has come to my notice that you are a detective, apromntes by the law to come to these arts and meddle with my professional calling. I, ark Demming, King of the West, do hereby warn you, fairly, once and for one time only, that, unless you leave Big Brace and this neighborhood at once, | you will be billed. So beware! , .“*DarK DemMInG, Kina oF THE West.” ‘Well, if that isn’t cool!” he mused, as he went over the missive a second time. ‘It a pears from this that Mr, Dark Demming is het- ter acquainted with me than I am with him, though [ll be blamed if I know him except by reputation, and from getting a brief glim of him when I rescued Old Avalanche and Janet. Wonder where he got his information from as to my identity? Can it be—?” He paused, and scratched his head a moment, meditatively. id ‘‘ By George! I wonder if it can be possible that he got it from Horace Hinton? Such a thing might easily be, for I am satisfied that the superintendent is my enemy, and a bitter one, too Then, again, this same Hinton and Dark Demming may be one and the eB aniesige though if Hinton is superintendent of mine, it hardly looks probable that he would have much time to go skylarking around as a road- agent. Hang it, the more a fellow tries to fig- ure in this case the deeper I wonder where tbe boy is?” hearing. Bozeman Bill at once set out in search of him, for he presumed that another coin would induce the Jad ~ beecktie confidential, and dese! a th party who gave him the money; but an hour’s search failed to discover the boy's, whereabouts, and growing disgusted, Bill was about to return to the hotel, when he espied Old Avalanche and the goat, Jeremiah, coming down the trail. On came the weather-beaten veteran of many | a battle, looking grim and uncommunicative — ‘aS be e« 3 he live- grows the mystery. | But bub had skurried away out of sight and , : ee * et ae r P, é ri. A > Ath? wir : Dey Gh + +. 4