Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 496 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Monte Cristo, Jr. 13 can settle up now, better’n after your wedding trip, no doubt.” ‘**Oh! well, I dare say it makes but little dif- ference, so far as that is concerned. How mucb do you want?” ‘* The full amount of what you owe me.” ‘““Indeed! And how much is that? I do not know that any speciai price has been set.” ‘* No, for I allow I’m the one to set the price.” ‘*Set it, then. I’ve notime to parley over small matters like that!” ‘Yes, He war one o’ the gang as went to the aa Ich below ‘The Turrets,’ ” the dwarf explained. | . | house. The Don done all the killin’.” ‘Should you return this way, all you have todo is to creep into the hole, push against the rock, and it will admit you. Now, go, and may you | succeed in defeating Juan Mellique and aveng- | ing me!” | got out immediately. ot without sincere regret at leaving the | is in town?” dwarf to die in that dismal solitude, Dick bade; ‘* No; don’t know just where the beast is.” him farewell, first counseling him to pray tothe | ‘*‘ Well, never mind. Mention nothing of an intended arrest lest some harm come to the girl. We'll nab the devil at ‘The Turrets’ to-night!” ‘* Where is the fellow?” _“*T can get him in a jiffy.” ‘* Then fetch him atonce. A warrant shall be Do you know if the Don Then he crept from the vault, and in five min- | good Father of all for mercy. | utes was mounted and speeding away toward Santa Fe, —_——— CHAPTER XV. SILENCING A WITNESS. Ir was scarcely mid-forenoon, when Deadwood Dick, Junior, arrived in the vicinity of the city, the next day. He did not ride immediately into the place, but toa chaparral in the neighborhood, where he had securely cached a variety of disguises, Here he spent an hour or more; then he had undergone a great change, for he was attired in a fine broadcloth suit, with a silk hat, and had the appearance of a gentlemun of leisure, He wore an isang wig, and a stunning pair of side-whiskers and mustache of the same shading, and, altogether, there was something 8) decidedly foreign about his make-up that he could easily have n mistaken for a well-to-do nabob from across the Atlantic. Certain it was, no one would have recognized him as Deadwood Dick. He went straight to the Planter’s Hotel, add finding Proprietor Jim Burns at liberty, sought and secured an interview with him. Then, much to the hotel-keeper’s astonishment, he made known bis identity, and narrated all about what bad happened in the past six weeks, and what was about to happen that night. ‘* Well, that beats a novel all holler!” Burns declared. ‘‘Qn course ye’r’ goin’ ter try to stop ther weddin’?” ‘* Most assuredly, tion.” ‘All right! nail!” ‘*Good. You’re the right man, in the right lace. Now, who is deputy-sheriff, here, in Ranta Fe?” And I want your co-opera- Pm with ye, tooth an’ toe- Burns took his pipe from his mouth, with an air of vast importance, — ‘Waal, ef ther Circuit Court knows anythin about herself, and she rather think she do, happen ter be thet same indevidual,” ‘Indeed? Then, better yet. I want you to be at ‘The Turrets,’ to-night, with a posse of men who are not afraid to fight if it comes to fight. I can get you into the house all right and at a given signal, you are to rush in and arrest Melliqge.” ‘Allright! I’m ready to do all I can to fetch the cuss to Limerick. An’ thar’s a man yonder as I kin count on fer one!” and he pointed out of the window to where a man Was passing along the street. Dick was on his feet in an instant. ‘‘ Old Avalanche!” he ejaculated. ‘* Just so. He’s been around here quite awhile, a-lookin’ fer a feller about your size. Been a- scoutin’ up around ‘The Turrets,’ fer about a month, tryin’ ter get inter the shebang, but hain’t succeeded. Guess the old chap’s "bout gi’n out in disgust.” “Not he! But, call him in, and quiz him. Something worth knowing may be learned, Mention ane of my presence.” Burns obeyed, and the Annihilator was soon seated in the parlor. “Well, scout, what’s the best word?’ Burns queried. ‘ Any success?” “Hevn’t hed much, but 1 allow thar’s some prospect ahead. Can’t-say’s we'll find Dickey, Q’", fer I've gut an achin’ in me bones thet he’s ‘Oh! pshaw! You mustn’t git down fin the mouth, On what is your prospect of success “ars: my old friend?” i , ye see I’ve got one o ther Spaniard’s esen ter consent to turn evidence ag’in’ him, an’ as soon as we kin capture the Cuss, inter the jug he He’s guilty of two murders, an’ even ef I ken’t find Dickey, 1’l] make the Don hump!” ** Two murders, you say?!” “Yas, The Don hev got Donna Nola shut up, at ‘The Turrets.’. He stole her away from the minister’s family, where sho was stayin’, killed the minister and wife wi’ his own hands, and then had the housé fired to hide ther crime.” ‘* Will the fellow swear to this?” Avalanche took his departure, and then Burns turned to Dick. ** ‘Well, what do you propose to do, pard?” ‘*Pve hit upon the very plan,” Dick replied. ‘* How many men will you take with you? *¢ Right.” ‘‘ Very well. Here is my plan. The party must start from here, so as to arrive in the gulch at dusk, I will show you how to gain en- trance to ‘The Turrets’ by way of the under- ground vaults, Then, with one of your party, I will leave you.” ** What to do?” ‘‘'We will ride to the main entrance to ‘The Turrets,’ and I will send in a card, requesting an interview with the Don, representing myself to be a lawyer who has come to see him in re- gard to a fortune that has been left to a former member of his uncle’s family, named Nola Nor- ris, information of whose whereabouts I seek. Avaricious scoundrel, he will bite at the bait, and I'll get the interview. Then I'll play my cards so well, that Ill get an invitation to re- main at the wedding. See?” ‘Good! You’ve got a level head!” ‘At eight o’clock the ceremony is to take place. You are to be within easy hearing dis- tance of three sharp whistles. When you hear them, you are to rush into the parlor and nab your man,” The plan was so promising that it was at once adopted, and preparations were quietly and rapidly made for the denouement which that night was destined to witness, lozer, the man who was to stand evidence against the Don, was produced, and his affidavit taken, and on the strength of it warrants were issued for Juan’s arrest, and placed in the hands of Deputy Burns. Other necessary arrangements were perfected, and by noon all was in readiness for a start for ‘*The Turrets.” In the mean time there is another scene of our story we must not omit, Don Juan had arrived in Santa Fe early that morning, and in a couple hours’ time had started off a posse of caterers fur ‘*The Turrets,” equipped with everything needed for a grand ‘‘spread-out” after the marriage ceremony. After this was arranged he proceeded to the Mellique residence, and busied himself for a couple of hours in packing up his and Nola’s personal effects, for it was his intention to take a bridal tour East on the morrow. He had only just finished, when the door- bell rung, and Simeon Sykes was shown in. ‘* Ah! going away?” the scoundrel confederate asked, on seeing the trunks. ‘* Yes, on a two weeks’ bridaltour. Nola be- comes mine, to-night.” ‘* Ah! then, all’s well, I infer.” ‘‘ Well, yes—that is in one sense. In another, allis not well. Sykes, 1 was robbed of those valuable papers, last night. I caught Wolf- raven in my roona, at ‘The Turrets.’ He had broken open a drawer, and secured the docu- ments. Il shot him, but he leaped from a win- dow and escaped. Sykes, you must go to ' The Turrets,’ take charge of my men, and scour the country in search of that accursed dwarf. He must be found, and the papers recovered, if it costs a fortune, I think I mortally wounded the cuss, and it may not be a hard matter to find him. So take charge of the case during my absence, and if you recover the papers it will be another feather in your nest.” ‘And if I don’t? Sykes asked, seating him- self on a trunk, and 1i hting a cigar. A Why, Pll pay you for your work, of course.” _‘‘Humph! Well, you see, it’s this way, Mel- lique: I’m getting sore tired of taking promises for pay, and that sort of business won’t work any longer.” ‘‘ What do you mean?’ ‘‘ Well, I mean that Ive been playing in with you long enough without receiving any pay, and I’ve come here, to-day, to settle up accounts to date.” ‘“‘Tndeed? It strikes me you’re getting rather ahead of yourself ain’t you? “Not a bit of it! It takes money to buy honey, and my appetite for honey, ay, is un- usually sharp. You've got plenty of cash, and we," ‘*Correct. I want, for what I’ve already done, a round ten thousand dollars,” ‘* What?” Don Juan looked thunderstruck, for a moment; then he burst imto a harsh laugh, ‘** You're a ,ool, Sykes.” ‘‘T’ve named my price,and I intend te have it!” was the grim reply. ‘* Have you gone mad, man?” ** Not at all, [ mean business!” ‘Then, you'd better go tosome one else, to talk your business with. You 'lllive to be as old as Methuselah before you do any of that sort of business with me.” “Will? We'll see. I want ten!” ** You'll never get a tenth part of it!” ‘* Then, look out for me!” ‘* What do you mean” ‘** Business! No wedding at ‘The Turrets’ to- night!” Don Juan’s eyes gleamed dangerously at this. Se ge will prevent it?” he hissed, venom- ously, ‘“*T will,” Sykes replied, coolly. ‘‘If my de- mand for the ten thousand dollars is not imme- diately satisfied, I will go to the proper author- ities, expose all your criminal acts, and have you locked up within the hour.” The Don uttered a fearful oath. ** You hell-hound, you dare not turn traitor!” he cried. ‘*But I dare, though,” Sykes declared. ‘‘So decide at once. Shall I have my price?’ ‘** Never! I will see you in Tophet first.” ‘‘Very well. If I meet you there, you'll know me. I must be going pow, so good- morning!” and rising, he strode toward the door. The moment his back was turned, a pistol gleamed in the Don’s grasp. Conscious of his peril, Sykes made a quick leap to get out of the room, but just too late: there was a flash, a sharp report, and with a wild yell the lawyer reeled and went crashing to the floor. An instant later, Don Juan was bending over him, ‘Dead, sure enough!” he muttered: “and now, I alone hold my secrets. I must secrete his body, and away from here ere more intru- ders come. To-morrow I will mortgage every- thing for whatever 1 can get, and flee with my bride to parts of the country where the name of. Juan Mellique is unknown!’ CHAPTER XVI. A STARTLING DENOUEMENT, Just as the dusky shadows were beginning te settle over the landscape that evening, two horse- men rode up to the main entrance to The Tur- rets and drew rein, One was Deadwood Dick, Junior, in his dis- guise of an aristocratic-appearing foreigner; the other was a roughly-dressed chap, who was well known in Santa Fe as an able guide. The sentinel, who patrolled to and fro in front. of the entrance to The Turrets, at once advanced to meet the new arrivals. ‘* Who are you, and what’s your business?” he demanded gruffiy, holding his rifle in a ready attitude. ‘‘T am a gentleman from the East who has called to see Don Juan on a matter of business,” Dick explained. “The Don will not receive visitors to-night,” the sentinel replied. ‘* You will have to call an- other time.” . _ “ That will be impossible, sir. My business is important, and I must see him now. Here, I will give you my card. Be kind enough to see that it reaches him.” Dick drew from his pocket an ordinary busi- ness card, on one side of which was printed: “HENRY GIBSON, “ Counselor at Law, Caicaao,” On the back of this Dick wrote, in penci!= **Don MELLIQUE:— ‘*Srr:—l! have called to see you in reference to @ fortune left to one Nola Norris, a fermer resident of Santa Fe. “ H. GrBson. * ~-comicboo!l