Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 515 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

© and he had not reclined on the bench ten min- utes, ere he was asleep. How long he had slept, he had no means of Imowing, when he suddenly awakened, with a start, and sat up. The interior of the mill was still wra in darkness, and he knew that his cronies had not yet come, or else had come an: gone. Listening a moment, however, he heard voices at tne further end of the mill, and distinguished one voice as being cecidedly feminine. ‘** That ain’t the boys,” he mused, ‘‘ for that’s @ woman’s voice. Wonder who itcan be. Ha! T have it. Maybe my boss has got a match on some purty al, an’ they’ve come here to do their courtin’. Hanged if I don’t investigate!” Johnny Smile would miss a good square meal any time, for sake of having some fun, and al- though there was no meal in the perspective, at present, he proposed to satisfy his curiosity in regard to the feminine voice. oiselessly he threaded his way among the ponderous machinery, and soon gained a posi- tion behind a pile of boxes, close in the vicinity of the persons whose voices he had heard, From this covert he could see, without being seen, and he was not long in making out who the talkers were. They were Jerry Justice, and Mabel Lamont, and the latter was speaking. ‘‘ Well, you are satisfied of your wife’s falsity?” she said, interrogatively. ‘‘Yes, I am!” was the hoarse reply. ‘I didn’t take much stock in your reports, at first, but when, with my own eyes, I saw her, to- night, wi.h her arms around the neck of Dead- wood Dick, I needed no further proof to con- vince me,” ‘You didn’t believe Deadwood Dick’s ex- planation, then?” ‘*Bah! no! I’m not such a fool as to believe that sort of palaver!” ‘Will you try to get your wife back?” “Well, I guess not!” and Jerry laughed, grimly. ‘'She’s made her bed, and she can lay init. Henceforth, she is no more to me than the veriest stranger. She has disgraced me, and been the means of breaking up our home, and now she can go. My future life shall be devoted to but one object, and that object is revenge!” , *““On whom?—your wife?” “No! On that infernal scoundre!, who caused the estrangement—Deadwood Dick!” ‘*T cannot blame you, Mr. Justice, for I too hate that man, and if I can be of any assistance to you you can command me. How do you pro- pose to strike?” ‘*T have not really formed any plans, as yet. To be sure, I could have killed the scamp, out- right, to-night, but I do not want the crime of murder on my head. My revenge can best be accomplished, by torturing him. IfI1 could de- throne him from the power he now holds, it would be the hight of my ambition!” “Then, Ican help you!” the Frenchwoman said, eagerly. ‘‘ Promise to keep secret what I tell you, and I will explain how I mean.” ‘*| promise. You have already proven your- self a friend to me, and, rest assured, I shall not gh Se your confidence.” “Very well. In thefirst place, you are aware that there are a large number of men in camp who have no employment, simply because they will not submit to the rule of this would-be mon- arch, Deadwood Dick!” ** Yes, I am cognizant of the fact!” ‘A good share of these men are in poor cir- cumstances,” pursued Miss Lamont. “and are growing desperate. Perbapsit will surprise you, when I tell you that these same men have been systematically. organized into an oath-bound body, which is daily growing numerically stronger, and are ready for arevolt at a mo- ment’s notice!” é ‘*T have received intimation that secret meet- ings were being held,” Justice replied, ‘* but did not know anything definite.” — ‘Probably not, for everything has been man- aged » ahd I have taken great care not to let any of our plans leak out!” * You?” ** Yes, I, for Iam the organizer and captain ofthe band. It was I who projecte the scheme, and I have enrolled the men, and prepared them for the work ahead! Assoonas we are strong enough in numbers, we intend to drive Dead- wood Dick from Pistol Pocket, and take posses- sion of the mines, which will be run on the com- munistic plan, each and every member of my band to share and share alike in the gross earn- ‘*Indeed! Well, it appears that you are quite a diplomat!” Jerry said ae i Deadwood Dick’s Protegee, ** Rather!” Miss Lamont replied, with a light laugh. ‘‘ And, now, I have a proposition to make to you. You are no longer in Deadwood Dick’s employ, and consequently no longer iden- tified with his interests. Join my band, which I have named the Lion Legion, and I will make you commander, in my stead. The men will welcome you as their leader, and your influence over the employes of Deadwood Dick will draw a number of them over to our side, no doubt, and thereby swell. our ranks! By doing this, when we are ready to strike, you will get your desired revenge!” ** You are right!” Justice said, slowly. ‘‘ I will gladly accept your proposition.” ‘Very well. There will be a meeting of the Legion at this a two hours before daydawn, and you must be present. Rap upon the door, and when asked to give the password, simply say ‘ Kismet,’ and you wi!l be admitted.” ‘Very well, You can depend upon it; I will be here,” Justice replied; and soon afterward, ie a “egg Lamont took their departure from the mill. CHAPTER XII, A PLOT AND A COUNTERPLOT, AT about the same time, that evening, that witnessed the meeting between Deadwood Dick and Jerry Justice,in the rear of the stamp- mill, three men were seated at a table, in one of the upper rooms of the Grand Pacific, engaged In conversation. They were provided with wine and cigars, and several empty bottles proved that their thirst had not gone unquenched. The party consisted of Lord Lester Lindley, Jack Jasper and Mountain Mose, the ex-toll- gate keeper. The ruffian’s hair was closely cut, and face smoothly shaven, however, and taking into con- sideration the fact that he was sprucely dressed, no one, not even his most intimate acquain- tances, would have recognized him as the terror of Pretty Pass. - The change in his appearance had indeed been most wonderful, and he looked more than ten years younger. Lord Lindley was about the worst looking ob- ject imaginable. He had managed to clean the dirt from his clothes, but his fsce was swollen and patched with court-plaster, and one eye was entirely shut, as if bis lorship had recently par- ticipated in a prize-figcht. e was indeed a ludicrous lvoking noble- man. ‘*'Yes!” he was saying, ‘‘ this chap must be removed, and that, too, immediately. Curses seize him. I would kill him myself, only that I do not_ want the burden of a murder on my soul. He deserves killinc, but I don’t want to be responsible for his life!” ‘*Nor I!” declared Jack Jasper. ‘* What I want is to have him out of the way until I can get a firm footing in the gulch, and then I can snap my fingers at him!” ‘*No! no! That woun’t do!” his lordship de- clared. ‘for if he ever got free he’d make me trouble. He must die, and so must the girl. Then, and only then, Jasper, will we be safe.” **T don’t know but what you are right, there!” Jasper returned, thoughtfully, ‘“‘But I don’t want blood on my hands!” Mountain Mose, otherwise English Eph, who had been listening to the conversation, while be puffed vigorously at his pipe, now broke in. “ Ye’r’ mighty scrupulous about your souls!” he said, with a coarse Jaugh, ‘‘ Why, yer might as well commit a cvime as to think or plan one, fer et don’t make a durned bit o’ dif- ference to Old St. Peter. He’ll tell ye to skip down ther stair-case, just the same, But, seein’ as ye’r’ so chicken-hearted, ef ye’r’ both afeard to do ther job, I’m open fer engagement, providin’ thar’s plenty oO’ the filthy in ther perspective, Lucre is what [’'m lookin’ fur, an’ I ain’t so pur- tic’ler what ther job is, neither!” There was a brief silence, during whieh Lind- ley and Jasper gazed at each other, inquiringly. ‘© So you'll do the job, and guarantee to do it erfectly?” his lordship demanded, of the ruf- an. “Oh! you ,bet, when I feel the palm of my right duke tickled with a wad of legal tenders. Bizness is bizness, you bet, and the mare won't budge an inch withowt proper fodder !” ‘* How much do you want, to do the job?” “That depends. You want this gal, Baby Bess, and ther feller, Deadwood Dick, forever silenced?” Yes.” ** When?” ‘* The sooner the better—to-night, if you can arrange it.” + ‘ > i — % : as vy, > YO te a . » eet Foie MO Da Ra ree aoe al. F | | renee ——— et OE LL Sr sates ee _ _ English Eph remained for several minutes in deep meditation, before speaking again. ‘It’s a durned risky job,’’ he said, finally. ** Deadwood Dick is a cuss on wheeis, and if a fellow was to make a miss or a bungle, he’d bea dead-goner in the jerk of a lamb’s tail. Reckon I’m enough for him, however, so I'll agree to do the job up brown ’twixt now and sunrise for twe thousand dollars, spot cash, in advance, and guarantee you'll never see the pair again ’til Judgment Day. Ef that ain’t cheap enough, ye kin do the job yerself, or get some one else to do it! “Tl give you one thousand down, and the other thousand when I’m satisfied you’ve done the job!” his lordship said, warily. ‘‘Nixee!” Eph replied. ‘*‘ When I give my word [Dll do the job, that’s enough, and so won’t touch the biz until I get the money!” After a moment’s reflection, Lindley arose from the table, and motioning Jasper to follow, they went out into the hall, where the two held a whispered conversation. When they re-entered the room, Lindley said: ‘* Well, old man, I will accept your terms, but you must first promise me faithfully that you will do the job sure, and do it to-night.” ‘* And promise you I do, by all I hold sacred!” Eph declared, holding one hand aloft. ‘* Dead- _ wood Dick and Baby Bess shall see the last of earth before morning. I swear it! And their remains shall be secreted in a place known only to me, and my lips shall be sealed for- ever!’ This declaration appeared to satisfy Lindley, for he reseated himself at the table, and taking out a large wallet, extracted a roll of. bills, counted out two thousand dollars in hundred- egg notes, and shoved them over to English <pb. “ There you are!” he said. ‘‘My part of the bargain is settled—now settle yours between this bour and sunrise. If you fail me, Pll spend ten times that sum to have you killed. I mean it— every word of it—and you will do well to bear it in mind!” Eph took the money, rolled it up, and thrust itinto his pants pocket, the expression ofbis sinister face betraying that he was highly elated, ‘** You can bet yer life you'll never be troubled by either the gal or the mayor ag’in!” he de- clared. ‘‘I ain’t much of a gospel believer, an’ don’t expect to get much.fun out 0’ any world cept this, an’ so when I kin rake in a couple o’ thousan’ yards o’ comfort, fer only a few min- utes’ work, I’m goin’ to do it ev’ry time!” English Eph took his departure, Jack Jasper soon following his example, while Lindley re- tired for the night. In the bar-roem below, Jasper and English Eph met soon after. ‘* Well, what do you want?’ the latter de- manded. ‘‘1 know’d you meant for me to wait down here, when you stepped on my toe in under the table!” ‘‘I want to see you,” Jasper said. ‘‘Come outside into the Pocket, where we will be out of earshot,” They left the hotel, and were soon out in the Pocket, where there were no buildings, and there was no danger of their being overheard by eaves- droppers. ‘* Now. then!” said Jasper, when they came to a halt, “I want to put a straight question to you. Do you want tu earn a fortune—say a hun- dred thousand dollars, for instance?” English Eph started. ie hundred thousand dollars!” be ejaculated. ‘ Tes,’ ‘Waal, I don’t know but what I'd like to freeze onto a sum like that. But, what aire ye drivin’ at, anyhow?” “T will tell you,” Jasper continued: ‘“ This Deadwood Dick and Baby Bess must not be killed, but you must take them alive, and shut them up where they will be safe, and cannot escape. Lindley, mind you, is to be assured that both are dead and buried. Understand?” “Yes. Goon!” ‘‘ Well, you see, when Lindley is satisfied of the girl’s*death, he will go back to England, and lay claim to the vast Carleton escate, and deem’ himself secure. When he is installed in his new possessions, I will rescue Bessie from captivity, and woo and wed her, which will be an matter, as I shall play the role of Deadwood Dick. Then, the three of us will set out for England, and bleed Lindley, who will disgo handsomely, ratber than risk an exposure of b vil!ainv, aud have to yield up the estate to the real heir. See?” ‘** You bet!” English Eph responded, with en- thusiasm. ‘‘ You’re a brick, Jasper, and P’m