Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 496 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

© ye in less’n a jerked jiffy. Come! aire ye goin’ ter perduce the throat-wet, or ain’t ye?” A bottle was placed upon the bar. and the An- nihilator placed it to his lips and took a short Sip. i Bad stuff!” he said, with a dubious shake of the head. ‘* Why, that aire stuff would kill an Injun at forty rods.” ‘*No better in Colorado penser, : ' * VY» another! Mebbe I ain’t much of a judge myself, ’cause I never drank more’n forty bar’). article just as well as any revenue detective. Hyar, Jeremiaher, jest pass yer lucid opinion on ther vartues of this’ere p’izen,” and thrusting the nozzle of the bottle into the goat’s mouth, AWalanche allowed some of the liquor to run down his throat. No sooner done, than Jerry stamped one foot angrily, and uttered a discordant “* baa-a-a!” “Thar, didn’t I tell ye? By ther great ham- bone, Jerry knows good from bad, every day in a week. Heer, you Prudence Cordelia, you kin hev the rest, ye ommannerly beast.” _ And, to the amusement of the crowd, the old man poured the contents of the bottle down the animal's throat, at which Prudence nodded her head and frisked her tai’, as much as to say, ‘that’s the proper caper!” In the mean time, the antics of Avalanche and his pets had not attracted the attention of Mellique and Doc Keegan from their game, of which Deadwood Dick, Jr., was an interested spectator, as were several others. The doctor was an expert player, but evi- Jently no match for the Svaniard, for he lost steadily. Mellique’s chips already called for several thousand dollars, besides an equal amount he had cashed, Keegan’s usually bland countenance was be- ginning to assume anything but a pleasant ex- pression; while, as for Mellique, he played with a cool indifference, and manifested no particu- lar satisfaction at his run of good luck. The game was played on the square, neither man showing a lisposition to cheat. Finally on losing a big “ pot” Keegan uttered a growl of rage. ‘Curse your infernal luck!” he cried, * are you cheating, or how is it you are continually winning?” ‘**T should presume you are old enough a card- player, to detect me, if I had been cheating,” was the quiet reply. ‘* I'm not so sure about that!” was the retort. ¢¢Some players are so clever at cheating, that others cannot detect them.” ‘Then, do you accuse me of cheating?” Melli- que demanded, flushing dark with anger. * TJ did not say so. e will play the lest game, and Ill stake my last two thousand on winning. If I lose, 1’m broke, anid you’re in ten thousand dollars.’ “Very well.” Four thousand dollars were put into the pot. Then a new pack of cards was procured, shuf- fled and dealt. et ‘“T call you!” Keegan said instantly, after looking over his cards, and laid down four jacks, with a smile of triumph. ‘That don’ scare me!” replied the other, *T have four aces!” And he raked in the pot! Keegan instantly leaped to his feet, and lev- eled a cocked revolver at his opponent. ‘You have robbed me!” he cried, fiercely. «7 demand back the money you have won from @!” “You will not getit!” Don Jose retorted, also ing to bis feet. ep Then, die like the Greaser dog you are!” the other velled, and the next instant he fired. With a groan the Don staggered backward, and fell heavily to the floor, The next instant there was another pistol re- port, and Doc Keegan took an unceremonious tumble, blood pouring from a wound in his forehead, Then, followed a scene of wildest confusion, but no one appeared to know who had shot Keegan' CHAPTER III. DICK’S INHERITANCE, DgADWoop Dick was quickly beside Don Jose, and kneeling, examined his wound, It “be a bad’one, and liable to prove fatal, but the Don was still conscious. hispered. T'm !” declared the dis- “It’s as 1 expected,” he w done for. Take me to my room. ‘Do you recognize me?’ Dick asked, for he still wore bis Jew ** Yes,” was the wey “ Tknew you wh-n you i | —a eee Monte Cristo, I Yr. firstentered. Don’t waste any time. Get some one to help you.” Dick found no difficulity in procuring assist- ance, and the Don was lifted from the floor and carried to the room that had been assigned him at the hotel, The lawyer was there, as ap- pointed. Here the Don was deposited upon a bed, and a doctor called in; but, when he had made an examination, be told the wounded man there was no hope for his recovery. ee Eg eT a Ot LLL _ yanked out afore mornin’ an’ strung u oe > wm a gin me a cart, = ‘ ~> hm “tar, a — er eee oy — ae Ladip ena nea - = ter the limb of a tree. We fellers heer in Del Norte don't “low no cold-blooded murderin’ a-goin’ on ‘round this town, not by a jugful.” ‘* Why, who shot the gambler?” Dick inquired, for really, he had no idea himself. ‘* Why, et war thet old chap, over at the bar as was tryin’ to make bisself funny by stuffin’ bug-juice down his mule’s threat. Old Ava- _lanche, be called himself, an’ he allowed he could clean out the hull town, but we jugged Every one was then dismissed from the room | But I’ve got some one as kin tell a good | except the lawyer, who answered to the name of Sykes. He and the Spaniard were then closeted, for some time, after which Deadwood Dick was recalled. He approached the bed, and at once saw that | Mellique was failing rapidly. ‘“*My friend,” the Spaniard said, ‘‘ I am not much longer for this world, The worst has been done, emd now, will you carry out my wishes, as you promised?” **T will,” Dick replied, gravely. ‘‘I never make a promise that [ do not intend to keep.” ‘Very well. I ought not to have questioned your word, sir, for { know you to be true. But, now listen: When I am no more, box up my re- | mains and accompany them to Santa Fe. Goto my brother, Pedro Meilique, and explain the circumstances of my death, and show him the diamond ring, and he will make you thrice wel- | come. ‘* Here are two papers, One is a private letter to my brother, the other is my will. Give both to Pedro, and he will make known to you their contents. ‘*Of the money you will find on my person, | use sufficient to defray the expenses to Santa Fe, and give me a decent burial. Of the bal- ance, you are to see the Donna Nola, in private, and give her one-half, The remaining half you are to retain as a present from’ me. Sykes, | here, will accompany you to Santa Fe, to assist | in the proving of the will. | ** Now, then, two more things: Are you mar- | ried, sir?” ‘No, I have been, but my wife is dead.” “Then it is my dying hope that you meet Donna Nola, and find such favor in her eyes that ' it will eventually terminate in your marriage, and that you will be the means of solving the | mystery that overhangs her life. ‘* And now last, but not least, let me give you a warning: When you arrive in Santa Fe, and it is known how I have left my property, no matter where you go, or what you do, beware of Juan Mellique! He will be your bitter enemy, ing the old chap in Del Oo vlumbago, and, as an enemy, Juan is a subtle, dangerous | man!” ** But, Ido not understand, sir. he be my enemy?’ ‘** Because, by making this will, I have disin- herited him of my almost princely estate, known as The Turrets—a property he has always hoped and schemed to possess.” Ph But, what has that'to do with his enmity for me ?" ‘This much: that | have made you my heir, Why should i Te and he will hate you with all the rancorous spite | of bis evil nature!” * You have made me your heir, sir?” Dick ex- claimed his surprise knowing no bounds, ** Ay! even so.” ** But, for what cause? [ am naught to you but a stranger, and others have stronger claims upon you!” “No. I have seen fit to make you my heir in | _ key in one of his pockets. preference to all others. The Turrets is yours, and no one can rightfully wrest the property from you, Above all, do not allow them to do | SO, ‘* Now, here. Take the money and the papers | and put them away on your person. Then, leave me until I'send for you, as I have some- | thing else to say to the lawyer.” Dick followed the instructions and retired, wondering what would be the next experience to mark his already eventful career. Strange indeed had been the life he had led, | since the time be had first assumed the name of Deadwood Dick, Junior; and was he now on the | verge of one stranger and moremomentous than all others? After leaving the Don’s room, he went down- stairs, left the hotel, and sought the San Carlos gaming-hall, for his curiosity was great to learn | if Doctor Keegan had been killed. ——_ oe —-- Arriving at tbe ball, he learned that Keegan : had been removed to his home, under a doctor’s | cov care; and that it was not likely he would re- | bim just the same!” And with this information the speaker turned importantly away. ick whistled softly to himself. ** Avalanche in jail, eh?’ he mused, “ Well, th:s isa bad go! I certainly had no idea of see- Norte to-night. He turns up everywhere. Something must be done to get him out of this scrape. But what?’ That was a question, and one, too, that in- volved considerable perplexity. If Mellique died,it was Dick’s intention to leave for Santa Fe on the morirw; but now this was not to be thought of, unless he could free the Annihilator. Avalanche must be liberated by all means, But how ? By casual inquiry Dick ascertained the loca- tion of the jail, and quitted the San Carles, Outside the night was dark as Stygia—so in- tensely black that one could scarcely see his hand before his face. The jail was some distance away, but Dick soon neared it. As he did so, a voice called out: ‘* Halt! who comes there?” “Then there was the audible click of a rifle- lock. ** Humph! outside,” Dick muttered. ‘+ It’s me—Smith!” “* What Smith?’ ** Jack Smith!” “Waal, Jack. Smith, you just git up and hump yerself on ther back trail, or [ll fill ye full Don’t allow no one’round hyer to-night. Now git!” **You bet,” responded Dick, and be beat a hasty retreat. ‘* When out of earshot, however, he paused, ‘** Now, see here, my fine fellow,” he mused, ‘‘vou’re just my mutton. Till approach you on another tack, and lay you out. Ef you're out- side, it stands to reason there ain’t no guard on the inside. I'll get your keys, release Old Ava- lanche, and no one will ever be the wiser as to how he escaped. So look out for me, sentinel.” Equipping himself with a stout club, which he happened to run across, be made a wide detour around the jail. Then, with the stealth of a cat, he crept near to the guard, whose tramp! tramp! tramp he could hear. Closer and closer he drew, until he could al- most touch the fellow with his stick. The guard was standing directly in front of the door of the jail, which was a small concern, wy of stone. He was whistling softly to him- self, A little nearer drew Dick, then hauling off, he struck the guard a heavy blow over the head with the club, Down went the fellow like a log, and did not attempt to arise. A good reason, too, for he was knocked senseless as a log. Kneeling beside him, Dick quickly found the To unlock and open the door was but the work of a moment. “Avalanche! Avalanche!” he cried. ** Hello!” was the reply. ‘* Who's callin*!” ‘“‘A friend. Come, the door’s open. Hurry The calaboose is guarded on the Then aloud he cried: , out!” The scout needed no second invitation, but was out in the open air in a jiffy. ‘“* Great ham-bone, who aire.ye?” he demand- ed, porne into Dick’s face. ‘** Deadwood Dick, of course! But, there's ne time to chin. Fly for your hfe, while you have time. I’m going to Santa Fe. Meet me there, Now, git!” CHAPTER TV, CANCELING A WEDDING, Two months later. The next scene of our story takes place in the capital and most important city in New Mexiee, namely, Santa Fe. ; It is rather an attractive lace, and full of life and bustle. Upon one of the most aristocratic “But, we ketched ther cuss as salivated him,” | thoroughfares of the city, lined with spacious added Dick’s informant, “‘an’ lodged him in residences, stands one of pretentious appear- jail, an’ he kin consider hisself lucky ef he ain’t ' ance. : | ; “tow Ae i > 4? : : ’ ; ; r y " ~ a4 ' BF" > < Pye om va oe EQMmicbooks al = i Sd Se ~_ > Se : c 4 —= “a i . 4 5: : —e a sg . —_ ~ Oo “ / ' ad 5. ee i 4 * — ; ~s 4 red, o %, Me — - ¥ —_ | | a i ws