Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 496 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

~~. ,e 3 hy t ae ee , * af j ‘ ~ * a . ‘ ; waa ee ° ‘ av ¥ me a a. ; me > wi “Tn the morning, at sunrise.” * Any particular place?” ‘‘There is a little grove half a mile out of town, where such things take place—on the south trail ” **Oh! well, that will do. choice of weapons?” “Tt believe’ it is customary to give the chal- lenged party the choice.” ** Yes, invariably. I will choose revolvers, at thirty paces. Tell the Don I will be on deck, and give him all the satisfaction he may de- sire.” ‘* Have you a second, Mr. Bristol?” ** Not as yet.” “Well, I am going to act for Don Juan, and I brought this gentleman along, thinking perhaps that you, being a stranger here, might want to accept his services.” ‘‘Thank your But I prefer to make my own selection.” ‘Very well. Good-night!” ** Good-night!” The challenge-bearers then left the hotel, while Dick sought his room. “So they’re hot after me, are they?” he mut- tered. ‘* Well, let’em come! Ill clean out the whole crowd. Doubtless Don Pedro has told Juan ebout my heritage, and the latter thinks it will better his chances to get me out of the way. Let him keep on thinking so. ‘We shall see,’ said the blind man!” After cleaning up one of his pistols, which was best for dueling purposes, Dick went to bed and slept soundly until daybreak. The thought of the impending duel did not disturb his slumbers im the least After a hearty breakfast, he had his horse brought around from the stable, saddled and ready for the trail. ‘ Where now, Cap?” asked Jim Burns, the jolly young proprietor of The Planter’s. ‘* Off to fight a duel,” Dick replied vaulting into the saddle. ‘ ‘The thumder you say! Whoare you goin’ to I suppose I have the fight?’ ‘*Don Juan Mellique.” “Ye don’t say! Why, that cuss can’t fight!” ‘“‘That’s none of my mince-meat. He chal- lenged me.” “Did, eh? Where’s yer second?” ‘* Haven't got one.” “Sho! Why, I wouldn’t think of fightin that treacherous cuss, without a second, He’ do you, sure. Say, what d’ye say ter me?” “Should be glad to have your assistance, sir.” “Then, just wait til | git my horse, an’ [’m yer dusenberry. An’ if there’s any monkey-biz- ness, I’ll be thar! I kin jest shoot the freckles off ther moon, an’ don’t ye fergit it.” And Burns darted away toward the stable, at a hop-skip- and-a-jump. Dick was not sorry of the chance to have a ood second, although he would not have hesi- ted to enter the battle without one, Fle and Burns were soon riding away together, and reached the dueling ground, shortly after sunrise. None of the Mellique party had yet arrived, and it was full an hour, ere they rode upon the t. Don Juan was attired with scrupulous neat- hess; a sneering expression was upon his sinister face. ‘** [ suppose you thought you’d get off, eh?” he said, as = dismounted near where Dick was standing. ** Well, yes, I thought I’d dismount, not know- ing you wished to fight on horseback,” was Dick’s rejoinder, given with sarcasm. ‘Oh, you needn’t be so funny!” Juan growled. “Tt won't avail you anything. I’m going to kill you. No one ever crossed Juan Meilique and lived to brag of it!” ‘*No? Well, that’s jolly! So you're going to do me up real brown, are you? That’s nice! When I do get done up I want it brown.” Juan made no reply. His second and Don Pedro had accompanied No time was lost in getting down to business, The thirty paces were staked off, and the two men took thei: positions at the goals. Burns and the other secon i ge places half the distance between the two either side of the line over which the bullets were to pass, Don Pedro, for some unexplainable reason had taken up a position a little behind, and a few feet to the right of Deadwood Dick. Whether it was to keep out of the range of Dick’s revolver or not, is hard to say. uelists, on ee SS Monte Cristo, Jr. ** Now, gents,” said Burns, pulling out his re- volver, ‘* this has got ter be a squar’, bona-fide funeral, an’ no monkey-bizness, Ther feller as don’t go accordin’ ter ther rules o’ Hoyle, will catch somethin’ thet sounds somewhat like Hoyle an’ ther same will come right out o’ this funeral- dispenser of mine. So take heed an’ don’t be heedless. ‘* Aire this ter be to ther death, or to a sort of a wheel-barrow funeral?’ ‘Tt is to the death!” Don Juan cried, fiercely. ‘*And yonder stands the scoundrel who goes down.” ‘* Don’t be too sure, sonny,” Burns suggested ; ‘fer ye ken’t tell how hard a cro’bar can hit, til ye git basted with one. The order of the hour is to continue to fire until one or t’other sucks in his last whiff of oxygen?” ‘* Not much!” quickly cried Juan. ‘ But one shot is to be fired, apiece. If I don’t kill my man in one, the duel is over.” “ Allright! Git ready, an’ when I yell three, let er go, Smith!” The opponents raised their weapons, and took deliberate aim. The face of each man wore a determined ex- pression. ** One!” counted Burns. “Two!” “Three !” Bang! bang! Two yells went up; yells of human agony. One from Don Juan, who staggered but did not fall: the other from Don Pedro, who fell to the ground, shot through the heart by his own nephew’s bullet! As for Deadwood Dick, he stood unharmed! os CHAPTER VIII. SYKES THE TRAITOR, YxEs, the shot fired by Don Juan, and intend- ed for Deadwood Dick, Jr., had gone wide enough of its mark to strike Don Pedro, and send him to toe earth. He never moved after falling; the bullet had done its work most effectually. Pedro Mellique was dead ere the others of the dueling scene could reach his side. Juan Mellique’s right arm hung limp and use- less by his side, and his face was very pale, as he gazed down at the man he had killed. ‘Waal, sir,” said Jim Burns, rising from be- side the body, ‘‘ ye said you’d kill yer man with one bullet, Juan Mellique, an’ you’ve did it, but you killed the wrong man, though. You area murderer!” ‘*T am no murderer!” Juan replied, haughtily. ‘It was pure accident that my bullet struck my uncle. here must bea flaw in the barrel of my revolver, which is a new one I[ purchased this morning. Of course | am deeply grieved to know that lam the cause of my eels death, but, as 1 did not shoot bim intentionally, I can- not see as [ am to blame.” * Waal, it’s yer own mutton, not mine. Dun- no how the folks at Sante Fe will look at it, though. Hev ye got enough satisfaction?” ‘1 have,” the Don replied; then turning to Deadwood Dick, ‘‘and as ‘for you, sir, permit me to offer you an apology, and to assure you that it is my bope that in the future we be not enemies.” ‘* Very well,” Dick returned, with a bow; then, putting up his revolver, he turned to Burns, ‘‘We might as well be going, had we not?’ **T reckon,” the landlord replied. And so they mounted and rode away, leaving Juan and his second to look after the dead Don. ** Waal, ye come out without a scratch,” Burns said, with a chuckle. ‘I generally do,” Dick declared, with a smile. ‘* ve been in a good many scrapes, but always managed to get out whole.’ ‘* What did ye think o’ the Don’s shot?” Dick shrugged his shoulders. ‘‘It might have been an accident, and it might not,” he replied. ‘‘Don Pedro was quite rich, I believe, and Juan seemed to be quite a favorite of his. There are many strange things happen nowadays, especially where there’s any e ain’t right thar. money at stake. ‘‘ Darn my skin ef An’ what d’ye think of the Don’s apology to ye?” ‘* Bah! that was merely a blind, intended to put me off my guard. For certain reasons, be hates me with a deadly hatred, and would try to murder me openly, if he dared. He is a treach- erous snake, and [ have not a doubt but that he will seek to put me out of the way. But let him try it. Dll be on my guard. If I should turn up missing, you can safely lay my disappearance to Don Juan Mellique!” * j , ) v3 b *32j' 7 othe % Ju® “a ae f° 4 \ vied “yy 9 ‘ ¥ oa LEAL ae Pa sor ass a 2 ‘, Ti ; md <b $2 ~oe ow rs \ "wee - Aalge ee a. iY i ‘All right. Jim Burns is the chap as won't: forget that aire fact. An’ there’ll be ructions raised in Santa Fe, if you ain’t found.” When they arrived in the city, Dick stabled his horse, and then made his way toward the Mellique residence. When he drew near the place, he watched a favorable opportunity, and entered the grounds by a rear gate, and making his way to where he had catek the tin box, he dug itup, which done, he hastened to leave the grounds, but before he could do so, he came suddenly face to face with Myra Mellique, the Don’s daughter. A pretty girl was Myra, of the brunette type, and she was as charming of manner as she was peg ‘Why, good-morning, Mr. Bristol!” she said, cordially, at the same time putting out her hand. ‘* It is an unexpected pleasure to meet you here. Were you at the house?” ‘‘No. Iwas just looking for a letter I lost,” fibbed Dick, not knowing what else to say. “Oh! And can’t you find it?” ‘‘No. I don’t think on the whole I lost it here.” ‘*Mr. Bristol, what was the matter between you and papa, that caused you to leave the ouse?” ‘*Oh! nothing serious. He accused me of being concerned in the disappearance of Donna Nola, and not liking that very much, I ccn- cluded to change quarters.” ‘** Do you know where Nola is?” ‘**T prefer not to answer that question, Donna.” ‘Oh! it don’t matter. Iam not particularly concerned, more than that ’'d just as iief have her i eep away.” ‘Indeed? Why is that?” ‘I should then have a better chance to win Juan for nvyself!” ‘‘Ah! then you want Juan, eh?” ‘* Well—yes.” ‘Then, set your heart at rest that Nola won't trouble you. If you can win Juan, go in and do it. Rest assured that Nola will not interrupt your wooing.” “Thank you for that assurance!” * Not at all. Good-morning!” ‘*Good-morning. Call and see me, some time.” ‘** Perhaps I will.” Then Dick took his departure. He had refrained from telling the Donna of of her father’s death, for he knew a hysterical scene would follow, and he had no particular wish, just then, for such a scene. He made his way back to the hotel, and there met Simeon Sykes, the Del Norte lawyer. This Sykes was a little, withered-up, spindle- shanked individual, with a homely phiz, little peering eyes, and yellowish hair. ‘‘ Ah! that you, Sykes? You're just the man I want to see,” Dick said, shaking him by the hand. ‘* When did you return?” ‘Only a little while ago, How are things?” ‘Oh! fair. I’m ready, now and, we will go at once and prove the will, and have it recorded. Then you will be at liberty to return to Del Norte as soon as you like.” ‘*T don’t think I shall return there,” Sykes replied. ‘I rather like this place, and if you pay me a fair price for my services, I shall, without doubt, locate here.” | ‘* Very well. Let’s go, now, and attend to the will. After that is done, I intend to take a trip to The Turrets, and see what sort of a placemy castle is.” ‘* You will not go alone?” ‘* Yes, unJess you desire to accompany me.” ‘‘'That I should like to do, sir. for I have heard so much about the place that, really, I am curious to see it,” ‘‘ Very well. I will be glad of your company,” They sought the register’s office, and likewise the surrogate’s but found that both of those gen- tlemen were out of town, and nothing could be done toward legalizing the will until their return on the morrow, Dick, however, left the will at the surrogate’s office until the proper time should come for pe ages it, He then returned to the hotel, for it was not his intention to start for The Turrets until after dinner. Early in the forenoon, the dead body of Pedro ellique was brought back to town. Then the story of the duel leaked out, and the excitement became intense, As imall cases, there were two sides to the story ; but it chanced that Jim Burns of the Planter’s was popular all over Santa Fe, and he spared no pains to have it un- derstood that Dick was in no wise to blame for the shooting, and that Juan Mellique was. Many and significant were the expressions of