Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 515 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

- >- Be ce Deadwood Dick’s Protegee. — will scorn the humble offer of a poor but sting girl, who has neither home nor friends?” she demanded, ‘‘T do not scorn you, nor your offer, as you term it, neither can [ give you the least en- couragement. In fact, as I have told you, I have not the slightest idea of getting yoked in matrimonial harness again, and if I had, I dare say I should prefer to choose some one whowas not | so eager to push herself forward. I think, there- | fore, Miss Lamont, that is all that is necessary ts: be said!” and rising, Dick went over to a ¥Titing-table, and proceeded to examine some papers, by way of indicating that the interview was at an end. Miss Lamont’s face now wore a dark, revenge- ful expression, but which only faintly depicted the rage that burned within her bosom. ‘¢ Perhaps it is all that is necessary for you to say,” she hissed, advancing so clese to him .that her breath fanned his cheek, ‘‘ but I’ve yet to have my say, if you please, You, sir, have in- sulted and humiliated me, and after my back 1s turned, you will make fun of me. ‘Do so, but please remember the old adage, that he who laughs last laughs best. I am not one of your weak American girls, weak-minded, helpless, ard so timid as to be frightened out of their wits at sight of a mouse—oh! no! You have done me an irreparable injury, and I shall resent it. So look out for me, for, as sure as my name is Mabel Lamont, [ll make you bitterly repent the humiliation you have caused me!” Turning, then, she passed from the office with the carriage of a queen. Dick walked tothe door, and gazed after her for a few minutes, until she entered the Grand Pacific Hotel, a scowl darkening his usually tranquil brow. ‘‘ A queer character,” he muttered, ‘and none the less impudent than queer. Humph!” and with a shrug of disgust, he turned back into the office, to be greeted with a yeil of laughter from Johnny Smile, who could hold ip no longer. This outburst was the ‘straw)|that broke the camel’s back,’ and Dick turned upon Johnny, ¥ What is the matter with you?’ he demanded. ‘¢ What are you laughing at?” ‘‘Whoop-ee! Jerusalem! Who wouldn’t laugh,” snorted Johnny. ‘‘ Ef that wasn’t the rammest go of all, I'll eat my necktie, Tell ye what, boss, ye’r’ no good, as fur’s the gals go. Why didn’t ye send thet gab around to me ? 4 %’ made a mash,sure, fer ther gals did use ter say { was some on the mash?” ‘“¢Oh! dry up, you infant,” Dick growled, and sat down at his table, to attend to some letter- writing. He was not destined to remain long undis- turbed, however, for soon he had two more visitors, This time, however, as he thanked good for- tune, he was not to be afflicted by would-be Mrs. Bristols, His callers were none others than the old manand young girl who had ap- red and disappeared so mysteriously at Hotel tebe in Pretty Pass, the precens night. The old man’s steps were feeble, and the deathlike pallor upon his face indicated that be was not long for this world. The girl sup- ported him as best she could, and when he sunk gpon a chair, it was with a sigh of relief. A strangely mated pair they were, indeed. The old man was fully sixty years of age, if not more, and his form was bent, and joints stiffened, His face was yellowish, emaciated and lined with many a wrinkle; his eyes were back in their sockets; and his straggling hair and beard were snowy white. His cl thing was old and ragged, his shoes a mere wreck, and his hat had lost its shape, Rip Van Winkle-like in appearance, it was plain to see that he had not n slumbering ie twenty years, and had seen some pretty rough times. The girl was about sixteen years of age, rather short of stature, but still graceful and 8 etrical, and in face and feature one of the prettiest little maidens Dick had ever set eyes upon, be decided. The countenance was of refined and sweet ex- ression, combined with purity; her eyes were blue and brilliant; her mouth small, with tempt- ing, rosy lips, and her wealth of wavy hair which fell in ripples almost to her waist, was like a shimmering fall of golden sunshine, She, too, was very plainly clad, although her clothing was neat, clean, and untorn. A erengcly mated couple they were, and the stol Pocket wheeled around in his office chair, to get a better look at them. He saw at once that they were 3 the Pocket, and wondered why they had called | upon him; so he at once opened the conversa- | tion with a pleasant ‘‘ Good-morning,” adding: ‘*In what way can I be of service?” CHAPTER V. OLD ISHMAEL AND BABY BESS. THE old man, whose gaze had been fixed mo- mentarily upon the floor, now looked up, and, with an effort gave answer: ‘‘-You will excuse us, I pray, sir,” he said, ‘for intruding on your privavy, but we were directed here in our search for the mayor’s office.” “And you have found it,” Dick replied. ‘* What is it you wish?” ‘‘T wish to secure your assistance, sir, in mak- ing some provisions for my adopted child, here, my Baby Bess, asI callher. 1 some time age heard of you as a kind, respectable gentleman, and Icame herein hopes 1 could prevail upon you to lend me a little assistance—not pecuni- arily, but otherwise!” ““What sort of assistance is it you want?” Dick asked. ‘‘I seldom refuse to do a person a good turn, providing they do not want too much.” ‘So I have heard, and many whom I hear speak of Deadwood Dick, speak of him as brave and noble in the truest sense—a friend of the orphan, and a protector of the weak and wrong- ed. Itis the aid of such aman that I crave, hence I came to you. ‘‘T will try and explain the object of my visit, but must do so briefly, for 1 am not long for this world. I was shot at and wounded, last night, and have been filling up, inwardly, ever since, although the wound has not bled ex- ternally. For upwards of an hour past, I have felt death creeping over me, and it was only with the support of Baby Bess, that I was able to reach your office.” At this point, the old man paused fora mo- ment to regain strength, and then went on: ‘‘ My name is Ishmael Iverness, and 1 former- ly belonged in the shire of Sussex, England, where for years I was bailiff to the oid Sir Lionel Carleton, of the noble house of his name. At length Sir Lionel died, and the estate de- scended to his son, Sir Hubert, then a young unmarried man. In due time, however, Sir Hubert married his lodge-keeper’s daughter— an act that caused a great sensation at the time —and for the first time in many gyears, the house of Carleton had a mistres*. ‘* The new Lady Carleton was a charming but unsophisticated bit of humanity; but Sir Hubert loved her Gevotedly, and they were a very happy couple. Both were of rather retiring disposition, and went little into society. This was Sir Hubert’s express wish, for he could aot bear the thought of having his wife snubbed by blue-blooded society, simply because she was only a lodge-keeper’s daughter, ‘ At length, a child was born to them—a girl- baby, whom they named Beatrice, or Bessie for short. Well, raatters went along nicely for the first six years of their married life, and then came a dark day. ‘* A quarrel arose between Sir Hubert and his cousin, Lord Lindley, over an insult offered b the latter, and the result was a duel, in whic Sir Hubert was killed. It was but part of Lindley’s scheme to succeed to the Carleton heritage. ‘¢ But, the schemer failed. The Carleton estate not being entailed, Sir Hubert had made wise provisions so that in event of his death, the estate and other wealth would descend to his wife, and after her, to his daughter, Beatrice. After her, no phono were made; and in case of her death the estate would go to the next of kin, the house of Lindley. ‘“Well, as you may suppose, Lady Carleton was nearly distracted over the death of Sir Hubert, and so heavy was the blow upon her that she never fully recovered from the effects 0 it.’ She lived alone, with her child and her ser- vants, and seldom received visitors. Thus the years passed on, until Bessie was ten years old. ‘* At this time my lady’s health was very poor, and on the decline, and it seemed only a matter of time ere she must pass under the rod. One day she called me to her—for she had always made me her confidant from childhood up—and said: ‘ Iverness, the time has come at last when we must part!’ Though naturally astonished, I made no apswer, mest she went on: ‘ Yes, we { realize at last that I cannot live my plans for the must t. much longer, and must arrange future, accordingly. In event of my death, as you know, everything descends to e; but should I die, peneey we persecute her—ay! pat vader say alia order to gain possession of © estat ‘‘* He is an unscrupulous villain, and I could not die and leave Bessie within his reach. So, America, and so hide yourseives that Lord Lind- ley cannot find you, thus to re. ain until bessie is of age, when you can safely return to England and she can reclaim her own. Of course it will be hard for me to part with my child, but 1 wowid do it a hundred times.-rather than leave her at the mercy of Lester Lindley.’ “Well, this was my lady’s edict, and of course, after long years of service and kind treatment, I felt in duty bound to do as sbe wished. So ar- rangements were put in motion, and in due time evervthing was in readiness for our departure, "*The day before we were to leave, my lady sent for Clyde Carleton, the sixteen-year-old heir and scion of another noble house but entirely different race of Carletons, and placing Bessie’s hand in that of Clyde, betrothed them, in the hope that when they grew Up, they would marry, and thus perpetuate the name of Carle- n. ‘‘ Well, Baby Bess and I came to America, six ears ago, and being supplied with money, tray- eled West. We were robbed and cheated at every turn, at first, but after a couple of years of this sort of thing we became able to bold our own, and though we’ve had some tough experi- ences, we’ve been able to weather the storm, un- til now, when our associations must soon end.” Tears sprung into the eyes of Baby Bess, at this, and flinging her arms about old Ishmael’s neck, she hid her face upon his shoulder and es > : frer a momentary pause, the old man went on: ‘‘ Well, about a month ago, we received a no- tice of Lady Carleton’s death, and by the same mail came a letter from her, previously written, in which she stated that death was hourly ex-- pected: and that Lord Lindley had started for America. That it was in search of Bessie, ske had no doubt, and cautioned me to be on tke alert, and keep out of his way. death was near, | conceived the idea of coming here, and seeing if I could not put myself under your protection, having heard so much about ou. But last night 1 was shot, and shall] not be ere long to trouble you. All { want you, now, is to become the guardian and protector of my little Bess until she becomes of age. You need not contribute a penny toward her support—only watch over and protect her, after I am gone, as you would a sister. Promise me you will, kind sir, and I will tell you a plan I have in view, but I must do so briefly, for [ feel that my strength is leaving me fast, and I cannot talk much longer.” Before answering, Dick arose and went into an inner office, soon returning with a glass of wine. ‘“Drink this, my friend!” he said. “It will brace up your strength.” fatinacl. uaffed the beverage eagerly. ‘/Thanks!” hesaid. ‘* Tkat’s the first liquor of any kind that has passed my ot for years. But, sir, you bave not yet answered me?” Dick reseated himself, and ran his fingers thoughtfully through his hair. ‘True, I have not,” he said; ‘‘and, more than that. I scarcely know how to answer you. You see, lam a single man, and were I to take charge of the young lady it might create a talk that would be unpleasant to her. Otherwise, I don’t know that I should have any occasion for re- fusing to accept the trust.” “Then you need have no hesitation,” Baby Bess ke up, in a sweetly modula voice. “T make it a point to pay no attention to idle gossip, and what others say neither troubles nor concerns me.” we “ Well, that shows a brave, reliant spirit, and 1 am inclined to act as your champion, I can build you a shanty adjoining my Own, and so have you always within calling distance.” “Thank you! thank you!” old Ishmael spoke up. ‘‘ You have taken a lord off my mind. And, now, I will tell you what I want you todo. Pes- sie wishes to be independent, as far as earning her own living is concerned, and she is not a bit afraid to work, either. You have good placer- mining land in the bottom, haven't you?” “Oh, yes, there’s some pretty fair pay dirt,” Dick. replied, *‘ but hardly enough to make it an obiect for me to bother with it.” ‘So I presumed, and yet, one person would be able to pan out enough to earn a livelihood, by steady labor, not?” “Yes, I think so.” “Then I will tell you what 1 propose, Bessie is desirous Of obtaining her own living, and, moreover, she is really a practical miner, Now Iverness, you must take Hessie and leave tor ‘* My health rapidly stig OF knowing thet '