Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 534 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. **On horseback.” ‘* Did he say where he was going?” ‘*No. Iasked him where he was off for so early, and he told me it was none of my busi- vess, adding that he should probably be back here again, ‘ when the flowers bloomed in the spring time, tra-la-la!’ That settled me.” | ‘**Did you notice whether he went alone or not?’ ‘*He was accompanied by a vailed lady, é whom he registered as his daughter.” | ' Dick turned to the page where the arch vil- lain had registered, and there found the name of ** ABRAM DupLEY & DAUGHTER, San Francisco.” “Did you notice which route they took? Dick asked of the clerk. ‘No; I paid no further attention to ‘them, after they left the office, though it struck me they were in a mighty hurry to get off.” As there was nothing more to be learned of the clerk, Dick and Jolly went out on the piazza. It had been raining during the night, and the © darkness was intense, ‘** We can’t do any more till it’s lighter,” Dick Raid. leaving Red Dog, for we might be able to over- haul them before they got far.” ** You are satisfied, then, that Abram Audley is realiy Henry Hastings?” ‘** Beyond the shadow of a doubt.” ‘* But who is the vailed woman the clerk men- | tioned?” ‘A woman of mystery, who accompanies Hastings wherever he goes, She is known as Sylvan, and is, in some strange way, so firmly held in his power that she dares not break away from him!” “They were registered as from San Fran- cisco; perhaps they have started for there?” ‘Nix! They would be more likely to go in an O° posite direction, to throw me off scent!” Daylight at lastcame, and as goon as it did, the two man-hunters examined the ground in three trails branched off in different; directions. But, there were numerous horse-tracks lead- | ing in each direction, and there was no means of telling which way Audley had gone, As soon as he could find the hotel proprietor, Dick made known his profession, and a few of the particulars of his search for Audley, and re- quested permission to inspect the rooms the Audley party had occupied. This was grated, and Dick and Jolly pro- ceeded to examine the anartments, That which Sylvan had evidently occupied, Ag was neat and tidy, but not so with the other px. room, Everything was tumbled about in con- | fusion, and the floor was littered with scraps of paper, I _hese Dick submitted to a critical examina- : tion, but made nothing out of them. - While he was thus engaged, Jolly found a rudely sketched map of New Mexico and Ari- zona, With trails, towns, a few important camps and the railroad systems marked out by pencil. At Rada Dog, a star was made with a red encil, and at Yucea, on the Atlantic and | acific R. R., a trail in a somewhat zig-zag fash- ‘ ion, was outlined with red pencil, with figures | on either side as if denoting the distances. Dick studied this over for awhile, and then arose. ‘You were right!” he said.,. “How do you mean?” queried Jolly. “ \Why, in this respect. Our game had started from here for Yucca, on the A, & P. route. From there, without a doubt, they intend to strike for Frisco. No time must be lost. The 5) chase must now begin, with a vim!” > “Right you are!” Jolly declared, ‘The sooner we're off the better I will be suited rd a Before they could start, an outfit had to be procured, consisting of good horses, blankets, , trappings, rifles, ammunition and provender, | and so much time was consumed in perfecting | | these preparations, that it was high noon ere $ : | they were ready to start, as they were about to | do when the landlord handed Dick a letter, a - >» pat which had been left at the office, he stated, by a a “vn stranger, “AP Eagerly Dick opened it. ot lee was written in a masterly hand, and was si to the point, ce 1 It ran as follows: a eat ‘“‘Deapwoop Dick:—Your preparations to follow te the Hasfingses, have been watched, and I warn you ‘ ————s mot to attempt to do it. ~If you do, you will only ss fun yourselves into the jaws of death. . ae I det **iam one sho is in position to know, and give me -—- ¥ou this as a friendly warning. fais rye “ BLACKTHORN.” y aN ; ' : ' bi eb an tial . ‘ a rat Sap * 4 - : p \ wave hd - ne A . Yr ‘** I'd like to know what trail they took on | front of the Arizona Hotel, from which point | Dick laughed defiantly, as he tore the note into bits, and driving the spurs into their horses, he and Jolly rode away, bound for Yucca! CHAPTER V. | A QUIET CAPTURE. | SOME days later, after a rapid but tedious journey, we find our two friends in Yucca. | Yueea is an odd little place, on the Atlantic / and Pacific Railroad, and although for. the most | partits people are civilized, a great many who | lame about the camp are not civilized—half- _ breeds, lazy red-skins, and equally worthless white loafers. | Until the railroad went through, the camp did | not amount to a pinch of snuff; but, after that advent, the town soon became quite a sizable village, : When Dick and Jolly reached the place, they | put up at the most respectable-looking of the | town hotels, and being pretty well fagged out, | they first regaled themsalves with a substantial | dinner and pba took a nap, from which they awoke greatly refreshed, and prepared for busi- | ness, They first took a look over the town to “‘ size | up” itand its inhabitants, and the impression | formed, was not very favorable, for they were | eyed curiously by the loungers about the street, who all seemed to regard Dick and Jolly, who were well dressed, with genuine envy or dis- trust. ‘*{ reckon this is not the sort of camp Hank Hastings would care to stay in, for any length of time,” Dick remarked, as he and Jolly saun- tered back toward the hotel, ‘‘ These mugs lounging around the corners, are none too good todo any kind of mischief, you can bet, and they all stand in together!” ‘*Shouldn’t wonder if you were right,” Jolly assented, ‘‘I don’t think I should care to stop over night here, myself, with any amount of money about me.” : ** Well, we'll make inquiries of the hotel man, and if we can’t find out anything from him we'll tackle the station agent. It may be that | Hastings arrived here in time to catch a train, and did not seek a hotel, at all. ‘* And, if may be they did not come to Yucca at all!” Jolly suggested, dubiously. ‘I’ve felt we were on a wild goose chase, all along, but said nothing.” rfectly satisfied oe — — ee ‘*On the contrary, I am ‘that we are on the right trail,” Dick declared. | “Tt won’t take us long to find out, atall events.” | They first examined the hotel register, but | found no one registered answering to the descrip- i tion of father and daughter, or man and wife. | In fact, the two man-hunters were the only ' ones whose names had been entered upon the | books for several day». __ The hotel proprietor was next questioned, but he was gruff, and_ knew nothing of any parties having arived in Yucca, answering to the de- scription of Hastings or Sylvan. _ Then the friends visited the railway station, which they found in charge of a genial individ- ual, named Sykes, who, terrogation, responded : “Yes, sir; the parties you inquire for pur- chased tickets and left by the last train, which passed here at nine A, M,” | ‘Where did they purchase their tickets for?” Sykes hesitated a moment before answering, | “T don’t know that I have a right to answe | that question,” he said finally, ‘*since I was re- | quedes not Lo give any information on the mat- | | in answer to Dick’s in- er, ‘* Indeed? Well, sir, I shall have to demand a truthful answer,” Dick said, coolly, ‘* By what right do you make the demand?” Sykes asked, uneasily. ‘“ By this right!” Dick replied, exhibiting his detective-badge, *‘‘lam an officer of the law, and it is your duty to give me such information as you possess, These people were- fugitives from justice, and for you to try to cover their _ trail would make you as good as their accom- | plice.” ‘*Oh! certainly. JI understand that. The man bought four tickets, two of which were for Albuquerque, and two for ’Friseo,” ‘* He took the train for ’Frisco?” ‘Yes. The train does not stop here, except on signal, He paid me twenty dollars to signal the train, and fifty additional to say that, he and his companion had gone to Albuquerque!” ‘* What is the next principal stop to the west- ward?” . ‘* Barstow.” der to catch a train for Albuquerque?” | ‘Possibly. I am inclined to think, however, that they were headed for ’Frisco,” \ -* f r ‘“ é vee ne - oe yr ie set Oe ae ‘*“Might he not have stopped off there, in or- ey > 5 ‘When does the next west-bound train stop, or rather, pass here?” ** At midnight.” “Very well. Thank you, for your informa- tion,” and Dick and Jolly went back to the hotel and seated themselves upon the piazza, ‘** Well, we’re distanced, so far,” Dick con- fessed. ‘‘Our game will reach ’Frisco a long time ahead of us, that’s sure, All we can do, at present, is to sit and suck our thumbs,” . ** Yes. Hastings holds the winning hand, so far,” Jolly assented. ‘I bave my doubtsif we ever overtake the cuss,” ‘*Pshaw! Never give up that way. We've only fairly begun the chase, Wait till we get q to Frisco, and we will have a better opportu- nity to play our cards,” ‘“[T hope so. I baven’t much relish for stay- ing in this place, till midnight,. even, It’s a ‘ tough gang of citizens we are strrounded by,” | ‘*No doubt about that, but if we mind our 4 P’s and Q’s, and have nothing to say to them, I allow we will come out all right.” The remainder of the day dragged away slowly, and at last the shades of night enveloped the town, During the afternoon Dick made some in- ‘ quiries of the hotel proprietor in regard to who constituted the ruling woment of the town, and t was informed that there were two factions, so | far as the “* tough” element was concerned—one "4 being headed by Booze Bill, and the other by Ginger Green, ‘ He also learned that Booze Bill’s gang was much the superior in numbers and fighting qualifications, having “licked” the opposition crowd several times, A‘quiet idea bad struck the ingenious detec- tive, and he proceeded to put it into execution, aie He had Booge Bill pointed out, and leaving Jolly, walked over to where/ William was lean- ing against the side of a cabin. ‘““How d’ye dof’ ventured the stranger. ‘Are you the illustrious chaw-’em-up, whom they call Booze Bill, around these parts?” . ‘Waal, I allow thet’s jest who I am!” was the reply. ‘‘ Who are you, an’ what d’ye want wi’? me—fight ?” ge ‘* Nixee fight!” Dick replied, quickly. ‘DoI look like a pilgrim as could stand up before a : modern slug-master like you? Well, I guess not; excuse me. I am a stanch friend and admirer of men of your physical prowess, how- ever, and I thought I'd come over and see if ‘you didwt want to buy a couple of horses, cheap? Me and my pardner take to the rail- 4 é road, from here, and as we can’t take our horses aiong, I wanted to see if I couldn’t sell em.” ie ‘*Can’t sell ’em to me!” William growled, oe ‘*T haven’t even got the price of a drink,” R ‘Sho! you don’t say! Why, come up to the : hotel, and we'll have a smile, I ain’t very well heeled, myself, but can’t see a feller go hungry iw for a drink.” | . As a matter of course, Booze Bill made no ob- jections to this invitation, and be and Dick ae away toward the hotel. **Reckon you'll have a mighty hard time o° disposin’ uv_yer hosses, in this camp,” Bill ob- served. ‘‘Money’s about es skeerce here as ¢ gold-eagles on a dead man’s eyes!” ‘So I should judge. 1 suppose you could find | use for the horses, tho’, if you had ’em?” ‘* Waal, [ reckon, I could supply the rail- road with ties, and make a good livin’!” “Jest so, Well, Il tell you what Plldo, I don’t like the looks of that other gang of fellers, | headed by Ginger Green, and bein’s we're stran- 4 gers, I suspect they’re planning some mischief against us. I don’t want to get into trouble, ; and if you and your gang will stand in solid for us, we'll give you our horses, free gratis!” _ ‘By thunder, it’s a bargain!” Booze Bill de- ry clared, heartily, at the same time thrusting eet forth his horny hand. ‘‘I see you're the clear quill, and ef thet Green gang attempts to molest you, we'll fo into ee ed grok ‘em feel. mighty sick, you can bet! en © purpose to Fake the train?” Se ‘* At midnight, to-night!” "i “Allright! We'll see that ye git a good send- rs off, me boyee!” sia Dick accordingly ‘‘ set ’em up ” for the ruffian 2 leader, several times, after which that worthy hurried away to the bosom of his gang, witha quart bottle of whisky under each arm, toace | quaint them of his new equine acquisitions. : ‘I think IT have obviated all danger for the epg Dick said when he had communicated is arrangements to young Johnson. ‘ Booze pes Bill and his gang will stand m with us, in case ror the other faction makes any attempt to molest : us. | ‘ Shortly after, they sought the room that had hi, @ Bb . on ‘ + .* @