Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 534 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

’ , a0 ale no doubt, manage to untie one or the other’s bonds. W ¥ but trudge along the railroad until we are over- and if they don’t stop, why, we’ll have to tramp on until we strike sorae other station, where we - can get a ticket for to-morrow’s train!” ee ee em “Bah! What do we care for your curse!” replied Green. ‘‘ Et’s like chaff on the wind, If yow’ve got any prayers ter ask, or any mes- sages ter leave, yer’d better be quick about et, for I shall give the boys ther signal to pull, ina couple of minutes!” Dick had turned to Jolly, who had grown very pale. ** Cheer up, pard,” he said, ‘‘ I reckon it’s all up wi’ us; but remember how game your poor old father was, and don’t let it be said that his son broke the record!” Jolly nodded, slowly, but made no reply. Dick then turned fiercely upon Harry Suy- dam, who stood near at band, ‘As for you, you inhuman, lying wretch!” he cried, ‘‘ you are a fit associate for the man you work for, and I suppose it will be a source of great gratification to you to see two innocent victims of your diabolical lies meet an untimely and unnatural death. But, you shall see us die like men, without an outcry!” Suydam shrugged his shoulders, and smiled, disagreeably, but made no reply. He turned, however, and said something to Green, in an undertone. The latter at once drew his knife, and severed the bonds that confined the prisoners’ feet. Thar!” he said, witha grim chuckle. ‘ Ef ye won't squeal, Pll guarantee you'll show us what ye kin do, in the kicking line!” Then turning to his ruflianly companions, he said; ‘**Get ready, boys! they go!” There was an iustant of breathless silence, then— ** One!” | A brief pause, followed by— “Two! Both Dick and young Johnson were very pale, but upon either face was an expression of great firmness and undying resolve, ‘* THREE !’ A wild yell burst from the lips of the ruffians, and the two prisoners were drawn up into mid- air, suspended and dangling by their necks. Shall we draw the curtain? No! for the scene is not yet ended. Hark! There is a roaring of rifle-shots, a whizzing of bullets, and the ropes suspending the prisoners are severed just above their heads, and they drop upon their feet, while several of the rut- fians fall, mortally wounded. On dropping upon their feet, Dick and Jolly seemed moved by one thought, for realizing that their feet were free, they fled, of one accord into the darkness. _ For them, it had indeed been a narrow escape! CHAPTER VII. IN ’FRISCO—PICKING UP THE TRAIL, IDE by side the escaped man-bunters ran, until at least two miles separated them from the village of Yucca, when they slackened up toa walk, for both were pretty well winded, They had taken the railroad track as their route, and having a solid footing underneath them, had been able to cover the distance, in a comparatsvely short space of time. Neither spoke a word, until they slackened their speed, when Jolly Johnson drew a long breath of relief. ‘‘ By gee-whittaker! but that was a narrow escape from death!” he exclaimed. ‘Youre a-shoutin’, now!” Dick assented, with a shrug of the shoulders, ‘T thought my- self that we were ticketed through for the next world! That fellow, Booze Bill, was as good as his word, anyhow, and the sacrifice of our horses, to him, was the means of saving our lives.” ‘* Yes, I guess youareright. But, what are eto do, now? How are we to get our hands free?” _“ By turning our backs to each other, we can, When I count three, up e can try it, at all events!” The plan was put into execution, and worked admirably, for in a brief time the friends had the use of their hands, once more. **I suppose there is nothing left for us to do taken by the midnight train, which can’t be far away, now!” Dick said, as they resumed their journey. ‘It’s lucky they did not rob us of our money, and concealed weapons.” * You're rigat. Do you think the train will stop for us?” “I don’t know, I shall signal it, at all events, ie Deadwood Dick’s Death H ee ee ee r Shortly after midnight they heard the Express *€ Well, do you see that, over yonder?” and he train approaching, and with a lighted torch made out of an old newspaper, Dick made a frantic endeavor to signal the train; but his sig- nals were unheeded, and the engine and cars shot past,and the roar of the wheels upon the iron rails soon died away in the distance, ‘‘ Well, that’s mean, I’m blamed if it ain’t!” Dick growled. ‘‘ All there is for us to do, is to travel by shank’s team.” The prospect was not encotiraging, to say the best. The stations on the railroad, were few and far ‘between, and there was no telling when they would strike a place were trains stopped, regu- larly. It was late the next afternoon, when they ar- rived at Powell’s Station, to learn that only the forenoon train, (which had passed them) stop- ped at that point, They were also informed they would have to go on to the Needles, where westward trains stopped for meals, if they wished to get through tickets for ’Frisco, So, after a brief rest, they purchased a couple of Indian ponies, and set out for The Needles. We will pass over the tedious journey, as it was unattended by any incident worthy of special mention. Kurly the next morning, they reached the wild forest town known as The Needles, and, just in time, ton, to catch the morning train for Barstow, whence they ran straight through to San Francisco, When they arrived in the city of the Golden Gates, they were,as may be surmised, pretty well tired out, but, despite this fact, they took no time for rest, but began an immediate and systematic canvass of the hotel registers of the city, In only one instance did they find an entry upon the registers that attracted their special notice, This was at a second-rate hotel, on Bush street, where ** Doctor Jas. Dixey and daughter,” were registered, nquiry, however, revealed the fact that Dixey and daughter had only remained over one night, and had taken their departure the following morning. The two detectives then tried the banks, and inquired if Henry Hastings was known at any of them, Yes, several of the banks were acquainted with Mr. Hastings, but not recently, nor could they tell whether he was in the city or not, The last bank visited, panned out better than the rest, although Dick had to show his badge before he could obtain any courtesy or informa- tion. ‘“Yes, we are acquainted with Mr. Hastings, and have been fora number of years,” one of the directors said. ‘** Has he been here, lately?” Dick asked, ‘Yes. He dropped in as soon as the bank was open, yesterday, and drew out the balance of his account with us, saying that bis health was poor, and that he intended to travel.” ** Did he say whither he was bound?” ‘tT believe he mentioned something about vis- iting Australia!” ‘* How much money did he draw on you for?” ** Some ten thousand dollars.” ‘Was there a woman with him, when he came?” ‘‘]T think not, although he may have had a companion, waiting in the hack, outside,” Doce Hastings own any property, here, in San Francisco?” ‘*T think not, at present.” ‘Do you think he is in town, yet, or could you direct me to amy one who would be able to give me more definite data concerning bis move- ments?” ‘Well, no, I don’t know of any one who could give you better information than [ have given you. Providing he had nothing to delay him, should presume he sailed on the steamer that started yesterday for Melbourne!” | So, as there was nothing more to learn in that direction, Dick and Jolly left the bank, ‘We're not off the trail by any means, yet!” Dick declared. ‘It they’ve gone to Australia, why, we will follow them by the next boat.” hey were sauntering along one of the prin- cival streets, discussing plans for the future, when Dick stopped stock-still, and uttered an exclamation! “Why, what’s the matter?” queried Jolly. ‘* Matter! Why you’ve heard me speak of Nick, the negro, who was with your father and e, at Sylvan Lake??? ~- ‘ Yes.” unt, es pointed across the street, where a dudishly- attired colored man was walking along some dis- tance in advance of them—strutting along as ria aaa as though he were some great mon- arch. e Yes, I see him!” Jolly assented. ‘* What of ] ¢ ‘‘ That is the same chap who was with us on Sylvan Island, and who escaped the dogs,” ‘Indeed! Why don’t you go speak to him?” «& Come! we will. I wonder what he’s doing here in ’Krisco in all those gaudy togs? Looks as if he’d struck it rich quite recently.” They crossed the street, and hurrying for- ward, soon overhauled the colored gent, where- upon Dick clapped his hand familiarly upon his shoulder, ** Hello, Nick, old boy!” he cried. ‘* What in the world brings you out here in ’Frisco?” Nicodemus Noodle, for it was indeed he, wheeled abruptly and surveyed the two man- hunters, with a haughty stare. He was dressed in an elegant suit of clothes, with silk hat and patent-leather shoes to corre- spond, in addition to which be wore a costly dia- mond ring and scarf-pin, and carried a mas-ive gold-Readed cane. In fact, though decidedly homely in face, he was a stylish a looking ‘“*coon” as one could wish to see. But not the slightest trace of recognition was expressed upon his black face as he faced the man-hunters, ‘* Beg parding, sab, but [ guess you hab made a mistake!” he+said in answer to Dick’s hearty salutation. ** Well, I guess not /” Dick declared. ‘‘ What sort ofa game are you trying to give us, any- how? Yow re Nicodemus Noodle, who was with me and Old Job Johnson over in Oregon at Sylvan Lake.” ‘Deed, sab, but you’re pow’ful in de wrong, sah. Nebber in Oregon in all my life, sah, nor my name ain’t Nicodemus Noodle, either,” ‘‘ What in thunder is your name, then?” ‘* My name is Charles Augustus Rufus Sukey, sah, at your service. I am a gentleman of leisure.” ‘* Yes, vou look it!” Dick replied. ‘* But it so ‘happens, Mr. Sukey, that you can’t shut my eye Pd know you if I was to meet you at the equator. Come, now, tell the truth and shame the devil. You're Nick Noodle.” ‘*No, sah, You’re dead wrong, fo’ shuah.” ‘* But, Tsay no! All your protestations can- not convince me to the contrary. Why, look at that half decapitated ear of yours. The island bloodhounds did that the night you es- caped from the Owls. Oh! you know me, Nick, me boy, and there’s no use of your denying it.” ‘T don’t kno’ no sicha thing. Dat is a un- trufe,sah. I don’t kno’ nuffin’ bout no blood- hounds, nor no nuffin’ ’bout you. Nebber see’d youb befoh in my life. Howebber, you’se spishus characters, an’ ef you don’ up, for a cent. gong off, an’ luff dis colored gentleman alone, he'll call a policeman, and hab you both arrested,” Then, turning, Nicodemus strode haughtily away, leaving the two man-hunters staring after him, ** Well, may I be kicked to death with mules if that don’t take the cake!” Dick ejaculated, scratching his head, and both looking and feel- ing decidedly nonplused, ‘Guess you made a mistake, didn’t you?’ Jolly inquired. “Certainly not!” was the quick response. “That black chap is the same coon who,was with your father and me at Sylvan Lake, No power on earth could convince me to the cons trary, so positive I am!” “Then, why the denial?” “That’s a question. There is certainly some reason for it.” ‘‘Perhaps he doesn’t want to recognize you, because he’s togged UD. £0 gay. Some of these darks are mighty big feeling when they’ve got good clothes on their backs!” * Yes, but_vonder nigger has a stronger reason than that. His being bere and his stubborn de- nial, arouses a Py pe in my mind that he is some way connected with our Hastings case.” ‘* Pshaw!” : ‘‘Oli! I may be wrong, but it behooves us to investigate every clew, thoroughly, for you know we’ve got a shrewd fish to angle after. Now, I'll go down along the harbor front, and find what steamships have left here recently, and who were their passengers, In the mean time you were to dog the footsteps of yonder coon and see where he goes to, Here is a set of false whiskers, Put them on assoon as you have an opportunity, and above all, don’t lose sight : Ts . “+ | ¢ . a of x A ely 4 : 4) : \ . 4 : 1 * = | s by ~ ; : “y A A . (o} i i A oe { : Cee ™ ; +o ? . Pe * ny “ Me .