Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 515 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

= a . Ste ’ - ? 9 as —_~ - ~~ . pe" » 4 ae ° Ceprmet peso - =D Gace fl te er ae wi, aro - . . ; % j - . ~— ie te -@graveyard at mi present wages. ‘amusement of ifs " o44 “ Pel . “y : / as & te } NG “ re ; Ve ® e - ‘ Were 4 Le 7 ~ af. ret > aA Mee , ~ Mi = - oS ® “J ae Tes» “> ~' iy - ® 4 : , “ 8 P Na Fs = ' oe . a . ay wal iP ‘ 7 i. . : * “but such a suspicion occurred tome. I know that Jerry loves me truly, and some men, if they see any one else paying the slightest atten- tion to their wives, get insanely jealous.” ‘‘ Yes, I suppose so; but I never took Jerry Justice for that sort ofa man. However, when I come to think of it, [have been in the habit ef pausing at the gate quite frequently, and in tae future will be more circumspect. Good- raorning.” +) d-morning, Mr. Bristol. I hope you will not feel offended?” ‘¢ Bless you, no. I am only too glad you in- formed me of your suspicion.” ‘And you will try to find out concerning Jerry?” sé will.” ° ‘‘Then, if you learn anything of interest to me, meet me in the rear of the stamp-mill at eight to-night. Jerry will be in town then, and there will be no danger of any one seeing us.” ‘Very well,” Dick replied, and walked away toward the mouth of the shaft, a rather serious expression upon his handsome face. ‘This isa thunderin’ nice kettle of fish!” he muttered. ‘‘ Undoubtedly Floy is right. Jerry has treated me barely civilly, when I come to think of it, and on two occasions I know he has seen me standing at the gate, conversing with his wife. But, if he is really jealous, I can but believe that some one has been poisoning his mind. Ha! I have it! That French adven- turess, Mabel Lamont. Hang it, I am so pro- voked that I scarce know whether to laugh or swear!” As a choice between the two, he did neither, but, quickening his steps, hurried on toward the mine. He fo Jerry Justice, stalwart and hand- some, even though roughly dressed, engaged in overseeing the work of the miners, but the same loomy expression rested upon his massive, beard face. esimply nodded to Dick as the latter ap- proached him, and then gave some directions to a miner, to obviate the necessity of speaking to his employer. “Jerry,” Dick. said, as soon as oi aonb afforded, ‘‘ what appears to be the matter wit you the past few Srp ss You look as gloomy as ight. Are you not feeling well?” - . ‘Oh, yes, as weu as usual, bodily, though I am troubled with headache a great deal:” ‘‘ Perhaps you are too closely confined to business. You need more open air than you get down here,” Dick suggested, anxiously. ‘I dare say it can be arranged so that you can take a few days’ vacation.” ‘‘Maybe I will be glad to take advantage of the opportunity!” Justice replied, and then turned abruptly away. Dick fancied he detected irony in the superin- tendent’s tone, and he turned and left the mine, with a clouded brow. ‘¢T don’t half like this,” he muttered. ‘‘ There’s ag brewing. I must be prepared to meet t! He went direct to his office, When the miners emerged from work, at the call of the noonday whistle, a placard greeted their vision; containing the following announce- ment: **On and after date, the employees of Deadwood Dick, will receive a ten per cent. advance upon their Deapwoop Dick.”’ As may be surmised, this announcement cre- ated pp surprise among the miners, and they united in giving a rousing cheer for their em- Per erry Justice was the last man to leave the mine that noon, and when he did so, he was met ie Be woman, and that woman none other than bel Lamont. ~ “ Well?’ Justice demanded, rather surlily. *¢ As [ told you!” she replied, triumphantly. “Thave not been deceiving you. He saw her to-day, and they meet again to-night, in the rear of the mary sey Meet me here at half- past seven, and I will prove it to-you!” CHAPTER VII. LORD LINDLEY ARRIVES, ' Since Deadwood Dick’s new regime as ruler of Pistol Pocket, the Grand Pacific, under the able management of Joe Garry, had blossomed out as a hotel second to none, in point of excel- — lence, of any in the Territory. : It had been enlarged and refurnished, and possessed, aside from the excellent table, varied advantages and vipers 3) se for the comfort and uests, ard and pool was ab parlor, a well Deadwood Dick’s Protegee, stocked bar, a faro and poker room, and a large combined office and reading-room, where an Italian string band nightly gave concerts. The extensive piazza at the front of the house was furnished with comfortable chairs, and, in fact, the Grand Pacific surpassed any similar resort in Arizona, Toward afternoon of the same day, witness- ing the events last chronicled, two men stood upon the hotel piazza, chatting together, while they leisurely puffed away at their cigars. One was a man of at least forty years, while the other did not look to be over five-and- twenty. The elder wasa trifle under medium hight, but coarsely corpulent. His eyes were cold and “fishy,” his mouth thick-lipped, and his hair quite gray. Taking his dress and general appearance into consideration, it was easy to see that he was an Englishman of wealth, and mayhap of station. The younger man was a dashing-appearing, well-dressed fellow, of the go-as-you-please type, and, singular as it might seem, was the very counterpart of Deadwood Dick, in almost every particular. Two human beings could hardly have been more alike in face and figure; the eyes, mouth, hair and mustache, as well as the facial expres- sion of the stranger, tallied almost exactly with that of the Mayor of Pistol Pocket. In fact, the only marked difference in appear- ance between the two was their clothing. The elder man had arrived by the evening stage a short time before his introduction to the reader; the younger man had been in Pistol Pocket several days, but had kept himself closely confined to the hotel. The two evidentiy hrd met before, judging by their conversation. ‘*T hardly expected you so soon, Lord Lind- ley,” the younger man said, ‘I was on the point of writing you a letter, when I saw you alight from the stage.” “T got restless and uneasy, waiting to hear from you,” his lordship said, ‘‘ and so I thought I would come on and see you. Have you made any discovery yet, Jack?” Jack chuckled, softly: ‘Well, you can just bet I have,” he declared, triumphantly, “‘and I am ready to claim the money you offered me.” ‘‘What! have you really found them?” the Englishman demanded, excitedly. ‘Yes. The girl is here in Pistol Pocket!” ‘‘By Jove! this is good news, indeed! And, old Ishmael Iverness?”’ ‘* He’s dead!” ‘‘Good! So much the better! But come, sit down. I want to hear all the particulars!” They sought an obscure end of the piazza, and became seated, after which Lord Lindley pro- duced some choice cigars. ‘‘Now, then, I want to hear all about it,” his lordship said. ‘‘ If you’ve really run down the game, Jasper, I'll make you rich,” ‘Well, I have run it down,” Jack geplied, smilingly, ‘‘and am quite ready to claim my re- ward, As tothe particulars, they are not ex- tensive. I searched through the various mining- camps of Arizona, until I obtained tidings of an old man and a young girl answering to the de- scription of the parties I was looking for. Then fixing at Sey up with the wig I now wear, I took up the trail in dead earnest. ‘From camp to camp I dogged them, but al- ways arrived at a given point just after they had left for some other place. Thissort of thing lasted for some time, but gradually I gained round on them, and at last arrived at Big Pine — two days after their departure for this place. | ‘‘T at once sent you word that I was on the trail, and after a brief rest I came on here, to find that ola Ishmael and Beatrice had indeed come here, but that the old man had died almost ma eng | after his arrival. ‘t Before he died, it appears, he appomted the mayor of the camp, a fellow known by the pans of Deadwood Dick, as guardian over the rl. . ‘* The deuce!” ‘* Since then, this guardian has built Bessie a shanty of her own, and presented her witha placer claim, where she works during the day, and they say she pans out quite a snug amount of the auriferous, too.” ‘* Have you seen her?” “ At a distance—yes.' But I have made no attempt to approach her, as a sign upon her claim warns all pas against trespassin thereon, and Deadwood Dick has given ou word that he will shoot whoever dares to in- trude there, a ES “You see, Deadwood Dick owns this osmp’ and nearly all that’s in it, and two-thirds of the ulation are in his employ, so that his word is law and his Spee very great. Considering these facts, I did not feel warranted in feo to make her acquaintance, She’s a fine girl, how~ ever, and the picture uf Lady Carleton.” Lord Lindley shrugged his shoulders. ‘‘T presume so, But that shall make no dif- ference!” he gritted. ‘Be she as beautiful as an houri, she shall no longer stand between me: and the Carleton fortune! ’and he threw away his half-smoked cigar. ‘‘Il have schemed for ears to achieve this end, and now that success. is attainable, I do not mean to be defeated. What sort of a man is this Deadwood Dick?” ‘‘ They say he’s a pretty tough customer when he is riled. He’s a dead-sbot, and equally ac- complished in other phases of warfare. Every- body takes good care not to cross him, for it was by literally wadin through blood that he won possession of this Pocket.’ ‘You haven’t any idea that he will refuse to give up the girl?” ‘But [ have, you know! He appears to take a deep interest in her, and no doubt will insist that he is her rdian.” ‘‘Bah! I will knock his claim in the head by showing him papers purporting to have been signed by Lady Carleton, before her death,, which makes me the girl’s legal guardian!” Jack Jasper smiled disagreeably. ‘‘That’s about as much as bE thought you knew!” he said, with a shrug. “‘ You must re- member that you are in America now, and our forged English papers ain’t worth a fig. esides, in this country a girl can choose her own guardian, if she is without a protector. So, if my young Lady Beatrice were to choose Deadwood Dick. the Jaw would uphold him in keeping her, in spite of you.” Lord Lindley scowled. ‘We'll see about that,” he said. ‘‘ I'll brook no interference from any Yankee dog in this matter—not I! If he refuses to give up the girl on demand, Pll see that harsher measures are taken.” ‘‘ And there’s just the man here in camp to take them,” Jasper said. ‘* How do you mean?” “Why, if you should want this Deadwood. Dick removed, there’s a man in camp who could » be hired to do the job.” ‘* Who is he?” ‘They call him Mountain Mose, hereabouts.. Once upon a time he was known in London as English Eph!” ‘“What! English Eph, the cracksman?” ‘* Exactly—the same chap who was packed off to Van Dieman’s Land,” ** And he is here in Pistol Pocket?” ** Just so.” *¢ Where?” ‘‘Oh, skulking around somewhere in disguise. There’s a reward upon his head, and he is laying low for awhile.” ‘*T should like to see him, for he is the very man I may want to use.” ‘*No doubt you will see him soon enough, when he finds out you are here. Ah! here he comes now!” ‘* 'Who—Eph?” ‘“No. The Mayor of Pistol Pocket—Dead- wood Dick!” CHAPTER VIII. LORD LINDLEY RUNS AGAINS® A SNAG. JACK JASPER’S announcement caused Lord Lindley considerable curiosity, and be leaned forward to get a better view of the mayor as ee hpi: striding leisurely along toward the otel. When his lordsbip’s curiosity was in a meas- are satisfied, he turned abruptly to Jasper, and surveyed him critically. “Why, you two are as alike as two peas!® he ejaculated, in surprise. ‘* But for your dress, no one would know you apart.” ‘Just so. I was as much surprised as you when I saw the resemblance. I little thought, when I assumed the disguise, that I was making myself the exact counterpart of another, whom. — meet. If this Deadwood Dick I was soon t were to suddenly disappear, I could step into his | ‘ re shoes and no one would ever be the wiser =. for it.” Blo {you could! So you could! That's @ happy thought, by Jove! In that way, while e feathering your own nest, you could at the same time assist me in getting con- } ou would trol of the girl.” ‘Yes, I reckon I could.” | ‘‘ Well, we must see about this peg I will first make a demand for the girl of this Dead- 1 \ c ; rh & : ae ‘ + ~ ‘ . = q ‘S Hy ba - ‘a Aa 08 9g ; ; URE OUR Sd >. ¢ a! . Sina COMICDOOKS. 7 A - x, f 7 ,, at Des’ CO’ —-— ome - ~~ es — ~- ~ - a 2 hy i, Ls m