Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 515 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

i PO eg =. —— i SS hn SF bP a ¥ . “4 He e _ ree df) swe tm * ~~. ‘ * ~ » 94 * we ~ “, ~ sities 2 12 *“Why, Deadwood Dick is missing, too, «can’t find hide ner hair of him!” an’ I overheard the conversation in the stamp-milil, and what had passed between and Jerry. Floy listened, her eyes flashing with indigna- | was the retort. tion. ‘**Then Jerry Justice has indeed proven him- self a villain,” she declared. ‘LL had hoped that I would be able to bring him back to me, and that we would be happy to- gether once more. But if, as you say, he has gone over to this Mabel Lamcnt, my only hope is gone, and I shall hate and despise him. That he should turn upon the man who has so kindly befriended him, only goes to prove what a wretch heis, Johnny, this newsarouses me to a sense of duty—arouses all the tiger in my nature. If Deadwood Dick is in trowble, we must get him out of it!” ** Ye’r’ a-shoutin’ sense now |” declared Johnny, with enthusiasm, ‘‘Ef any one’s bin goin’ fer my boss, we'll go fer him, an’ don’t you ferget it. But, how ’bout Baby Bess?” ** No doubt if Deadwood Dick has been cap- tured and placed in confinement, the same par- ties who captured him alse captured Bessie, Johnny, there is more about this matter than either of us understand. We must disguise our- selves as miners, and work together carefully, If we were to make a stir, ten to one it would not benefit us, for it would only put these rebels on guard and hasten them to action, when the camp was withou a commander.” **Durned ef you ain’t right, You'd make @ fu’st-class gineral, you would.’ So I'll ’p’int ‘you commander, an’ I'll be private!” “Very well. Our plan must be to join the rebels in our disguises, and in that way endeavor ta find out the whereabouts of Deadwood Dick and Baby Bess, At the same time we will be able to keep posted on the rebel’s plots, and foil them |” ‘Good idea. But where are ‘the disguises to come from?” ‘*T have aplenty at my house. I will get them during the forenoon!” They conversed for perhaps an hour longer; then Johnny announced his intention of making one more all-around canvas in search of Dead- wood Dick before they entered more fully into the plans they had formed. Johnny was about to take his departure, when ‘hes ‘suddenly made a discovery that caused him to clutch Floy by the arm. “* Look!” he cried, pointing down the street. “* There comes the boss, now!” And Deadwood Dick it apperen hy was whom ‘they saw approaching, for Jack Jasper looked every inch like the Mayor of Pistol Pocket, as he came striding along. Johnny awaited his master’s coming with groat eagerness, but the expression upon Floy’s face was not so joyful. ‘* Johnny,” she said, when the pseudo-Richara was close at hand, *‘ do not betray any surprise, but act perfectly natural, so as not to appear suspicious. That man is not Deadwood Dick !” Johnny stared. “Git out!’ he said. ‘‘ What yer'givin’ us? Don’t yer s’pose I kncw my boss when I see him?” ‘*No! you don’t! There is another man in camp who very much resembles Deadwood Dick, | and this is he. It may be that he intends to palm himself off in your master’s stead, and if so, that will account for Deadwood Dick’s disa pearance. Keep a close tongue in your head, till you see ma again, and do not let this man suspect that you are in any way suspicious of the fraud!” With these directions, she turned and re entered the shanty, while Johnny met Jack Jasper at the office door, Without appearing to Mo so, Johnny gave the features of the ex-convict a swift, sharp scru- tiny, and, as a result, came to the immediate conclusion that Floy Justice was right. Just above the right eyebrow, on Dick’s face, was a small mole, which, when he was excited or vexed over anything, assumed a scarlet color, : There was no such a mark on the face of Jack Jas a fact that immediately attracted Johnny’s attention. Then, too, Jasper approached the office at a swaggering gait that was very unlike Deadwood Dick’s easy, graceful stride, ‘Well, boy, why haven’t you got the office open and swept out?’ Jasper demanded, prufily & manner hard at contrast with Dick’s usua | t ‘* good-morning.” “* Because 1 swept the office out last night, and | > «* 4 —— a Deadwood Dick’s Protege. | co wasn’t around this morning to attend to | biz!” Johnny promptly returned. Johnny then went on to explain how he had | nice one to go off, of a night, an’ leave a feller | in the office, tellin’ him that you'd be back right Mabel Lamont | away!” | ‘* It?s none of your business how long I stay!” ‘* Open the door.” Johnny opened the door, as directed, and they entered the office, Jasper sat down ata table, and proceeded to examine some letters, which he had evidently obtained at the post-office. Saying nothing, but keeping up an awful thinking, Johnny began his morning’s work of dusting and regulating things. While the two were thus occupied a miner en- tered. ‘* Good-morning, boss,” he saluted. ‘*Good-morning,” Jasper replied, ‘* What’s the matter; ain’t you working to-day?” ‘** Not yet, boss, None o’ the boys hasn’t gone to work yet, ‘cause Jerry hasn’t show’d up. They hain’t got no orders, an’ don’t know what to make of it!” the miner replied. ‘Tell them to go to work at what they were at yesterday, and you take charge of them for the present!” Jasper ordered. ‘‘Jerry has se- ceded from our ranks, and I shall have to louvk up a new superintendent!” ‘* What did Jerry quit for?” the miner asked curiously. ‘*Ob! | understand he’s separated from his wife,” Jasper replied, carelessly, ‘‘and claims that I am the cause of the separation, which is a lie, As soon as I get through, here, I will come to the mine, and endeavor to straighten out matters!” The miner left, apparently satisfied. When he had finished reading the letters Jas- per turned to Johnny Smile. ‘*Come here, boy!” he sharply commanded, Johnny obeyed, and Jasper handed him two ten-dollar notes. ‘*There!” he said, ‘‘ take that, and go!” **Go where?” Johnny demanded. ‘To the devil, for all I care!” was the gruff reply. ** 1 don’t want you any more,” ‘But, what have I done, to merit discharge, sir?” Johnny asked. **Oh! nothing, particularly, only I shall have no further need of vour services,” ‘All right, boss!’ Johnny said, flinging the dustiug-brush into the corner, ‘I hain’t werry purtic’ter bout workin’ for a skin like you, any- how!” and putting on his cap, the youth walked from the office with the mdependent air of a king. ? CHAPTER XVI. A BRUTE IN BONDS. FULLY satisfied that English Eph had forever disposed of Baby Bess, Lord Lindiey was greatly elated, in the belief that victory was his, His plan of action was now clear, Under the cover of nightfall, he would forever leave Pistol Pocket, and hasten to New York. There he was acquainted with an expert shys- ter lawyer, whom he would employ to forge cer- tificates of the death and burial of Bessie Carle- ton. Then, he would go back to England, and there would be nothing to. prevent bis laying claim to the Carleton fortune, During the forenoon, the arch schemer pur- chased a horse, and stocked his saddle-bags with enough provisions for the Overland trip to Skin- ner’s Bend, from whence he could journey by stage to a station on the Southern Pacific Rail- road, The remainder of the day dragged slowly away,each hour seeming to him double its usual length, so anxious was he to get away. He was sitting upon th> hotel piazza, smoking a cigar, toward sunset, when a servant came out and announced that a lady wanted to see him in the parlor, ‘*I wonder who it can be,” he muttered. ‘“Can it be that Eph did not make away with the girl, andthat she has come to accuse me of my complicity in the matter?” A. savage scowl darkened his brow, and a wicked gleam entered his fishy eyes as he threw away his cigar and went to answer the sum- mons. On entering the parlor, he found but one per- son there—a woman, tastefully attired, decidedly good-looking, and young in years. It was Mabel Lamont, Lord Lindley started back, with an oath, at sight of her. ‘* You here!” he ejaculated, with evident as- tonishment. ** As you see,’ she replied, with a ripple of musical laughter. ‘ Are you not glad to see me, my lord?” En ey SR ee ‘* You're a ~ ‘“No! Iam not!” he growled. ‘* What in the world ever brought you to this country ?” ‘* A Guion-line steamer, and a purpose more honorable than that which brought you. I grew tired of being a lord’s wife, and living in a D- don tenement, and so, learning that you were about to set out fur j;America, in search of the lost heiress of Carleton House, I came on ahead of you!’ ‘To make your fortune, I suppose?’ with a sneer. ‘Well, partly for that purpose, and partly for another,” was the cool reply. ‘‘ You see, Lind- ley, I have grown tired of being put off, and not being recognized in my rightful position. So, knowing your errand to America was to find Beatrice and put her out of your way, I came on, With a view to foremg you to do the right thing by me. I am your legally wedded wife, and intend to be recognized as such before the world. No more tenement-house obscurity on my plate, if you please!” indley grew livid with rage at this. ‘** Curse you!” he hissed. *‘ We'll see whether you'll blackmail me, or not. ‘You'll find you've undertaken the biggest job of your life. ‘You’re not my wife, nor can you prove that you are!” “Téan!” Mabel cried. ‘The papers to prove it are already in my possession, or rather, in the hands of my lawyer, in London. If you do not make me Lady Lindley before the world—” ‘‘ What will you do?” ‘*T’ll have you arrested for the murder of Beatrice Carleton, and hung by the neck, until you are dead, Nay! do not seek to interrupt me, for it is useless. You hired English Eph to kill Beatrice Carleton, or Baby Bess, as she is called, and he bas done it, and is willing to turn State’s evidence against you. I have him in my power, and you are at my mercy. Now, you will fully understand why 1 have come to Amer- ica. You would not give me myrights in Eng- land, but you must give me them here!” **Oh, must I?’ ** Yes, vou must, There is nothing else for me to do but force you to come to terms. You are a lord—why shouldn’t I, your wife, be a lady? You are a murderer, and a word from me will place you on the gallows. Now then, will you take me back. to England with you, share the Carleton fortune with me, or wil] you not?” ‘*T will not!” Lindley said, decidedly. ‘*T defy you to do your worst. -In England, if you dare to follow me there, I will have you arrested for the murder of your husband, Mark Mon- trose, whom you killed, because, adventuress that you are, you imagined you had me in your net, and in your power. But you made x grand mistake. The marriage ceremony, which you supposed made you and I one, was a mere farce, and you are no more my wife than the veriest stranger. So you have no claim upon me, and { dare you todo your worst, If you ever set your foot on English soil, it will be your doom, Mrs. Montrose, a—la— Lamont!” ‘¢‘T shall take care that I do not set foot on English soil until I have either forced you to re- marry me, or caused you to pay the penalty of your crime. Now, which will you do? Will you marry me, or will youhang? Suit yourself. In either. case I shall come into possession of the Carleton fortune, asI can prove that I was your wife before the death of either Baby Bess or yourself!” Posh ** ll never give In to you. AsI told you be- ** Suit fore, I defy you!” ‘* Very well,” Mabel said, rising. yourself. The town is already excited over the disappearance of Baby Bess, who has won a warm place in the hearts of the people, and I have but to betray your complicity in the awful erime, and you will be strung up to the limb of the most convenient tree in true Western fash- ion, Good-day, my lord.” She moved quickly toward the door, but befora she could reach it he sprung upon her, and clutching her by the throat, he bore her back upon the sofa, where she bad been sitting, In vain she sought to release bis terrible grasp upon her slender throat. Rare) There was a fierce gleam of desperation in his ugly eyes; there was murder in bis heart, now that he knew he would never be safe while she lived, Snmmoning all his strength, he tightened his crip, nor did he relinquish it until long after she had ceased to struggle, and he knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that ske was dead, Then he arose, and gazed at the white, distort ed face with a shudder, ‘Well, it’s done, and can’t be undone)” he muttered. ‘t Now i must conceal the body and put as many miles as possible between me and this town before the murder is discovered.” eee