Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 534 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

\- i fe » “ar yi " cS le ll Is ge I gs le et eg is te eR Bat eet pan en he Bae ; ‘ “A . a. 2 8 into his pocket anc 4 i . Y a BP - in, on o¢ ° » =~ bd - } . : e “~ a of the nigger. If you learn anything worth BO OB. report to the Grand Pacific at supper ime, The pard detectives then separated, Dick turn- ing down a side street, towaid the harbor. Te first visited the offices of several Australian steamship lines, but learned that only one ship hed sailed, the day previous, that being bound for the port of Melbourne. The passenger list was placed at his disposal for inspection, and there he found registered, ** Doctor Jas. Dixey and daughter.” ‘That settles that!” he muttered. ‘* Hastings and Sylvan have gone to Australia, and again [ ain baffled. But, it won’t be for long!” In leaving the Australian piers, he found out by overhearing a conversation between two "longshoremen, that a steamer of the Pacific Mail Line had left ’Frisco for New York, the preced- day. his aroused the detective at once, and he rtp that office, and asked to see the passenger ist. Greatly to his surprise, he found registered there, the names as follows: ‘*H. Henry Hastings, Miss Letha La Verde, San Francisco,” “Ror New York.” “Well, that knocks my other calculations silly,” Dick mused. “I don't know what to makeof it. I have felt confident that the Doctor Dixey was my man. But, it appears not. Hum! hum! I must reflect over this matter.” By inquiry, he found that no steamer would start for New York for several days; so he went back to the hotel, toawait the result of Jolly Johnson’s investigations, Finally, as Johnson did not put in an appear- ance, Dick once more sought the hotel where ** Dixey and daughter” had been registered. Calling the landlord aside, and making known his profession, he requested a personal descrip- tion of Dixey and his companion. ‘Oh, they were ordinary-looking people,” was the reply, ‘‘ The only partiec’lar thing I noticed about ’em was that the gal was darna- tion good-looking, and the man had red whis- kers. lt rather struck me, however, that the whiskers didn’t sprout out of his own hide. But, of course, it wa’n’t none of my business, you know, and so I didn’t say nothin’,” Dick went back to the hotel in deep thought. ‘* Hastings aud Dixey were one and the same arty, without a doubt,” hedecided. ‘* But how is it that Hastings sailed for New York and Dixey for Australia? By Jove! there’s some crookedness here, after all, and I’m half in- clined to believe that thesa steamship registra- tions were a blind to throw me off the track, and that Hastings is still here in ‘Frisco. He could well afford to expend a couple of hundred dollars to send me on a false trail!” When he reached the hotel he was handed a telegram, which proved to be from Johnson, and read as follows: ** Have traced party to fine suburban residence, 0.—,-—— street. It appears he belongs there. ** JOLLY.” CHAPTER VIIL, TRAPPED. THERE was nothing in the telegram that im- pressed Deadwood Dick as being of any consid- erable importance, so he shoved it carelessly | lounged around the hotel, awaiting Jolly’s return. But the afternoon wore away, and no Jolly put in an appearance, After supper Dick grew really impatient. **Confound it, 1 wonder what is keeping him so long? Can it be he bas stumbled upon some important clew, and is seeking to run it out? If 80, ten to one he will get himself into a trap, for he hain’t cut out for much of a success in the Y detective line,” Remembering that they would most likely need some clever disguises, he concluded to make an evening shopping tour, trusting by the time he returned to find Johnson at the hotel, He was gone some tree hours, and in that time succeeded in making several excellent pur- chases of discuises., Among other things, he hired a room near the hotel, aud had these disguises taken there, so that he could there transmogripby himseif without any one being the wiser for it. He then returned to the hotel, quite satisfied with his evenimg’s work, but not satisfied to learn that Johnson had not put in an appear- ance, I: was already ten o’clock, and Dick could see re go > i - a4 as’ tg eee ° ad vot*f Deadwood Dick’s ——._._..n a cc i _ ° re bs / i. Pe var a ia +. . . > c og Weed, » Ce a a i lets Pe ne ieee Set <a tee “ . D4 M : a a a? see ee OO rr ee no ADC 6 ok eer Brees FEE Bis * " : 2°? . aw : 1 Pa a 14 P, : 7 S| ~ a. ron Fy a Be 7, es / ~'e a i ‘ss i no reason why his partner should not have re- turned long hefore, Eleven o’clock came, and then twelve! But no Jolly. Dick was seriously alarmed by this time, and hiring a cab, he directed the driver to drive him to No, —, street, to drive slowly past the place, and then turn around and fetch ‘him back to the city. ( This was done, . When the cab, after passing through many beautiful streets, neared its destination, the driver called Dick’s attention to the house he wished to see. It proved to be a large modern villa set down upon a beautiful, liberally-shaded, sloping lawn, surrounded by a fine hedge. In the rear were stables and other outbuildings, and a glance showed that it was the home of a man who possessed good taste, combined with wealth, The house was dark and silent, the occupants probably being in bed. Two large dogs lounging upon the piazza were the only signs of life about the premises, The presence of the dogs alone satisfied Dick that Joly was not lounging around the prem- ises, so he ordered the cabby to drive him back to the hotel. He scarcely expected that he would find young Johnson there, and consequently was not disap- pointed when he did not. As little could be done before morning, ha finally retired for the remainder of the night; but his brain was too active for sleep, and as soon as it came daylight he arose and dressed. After breakfast he set about forming plans, and concluded to pay another visit to the vicini- ty of the villa, where Jolty seemed to have mys- teriously disappeared, ‘* For,” Dick concluded, ‘*Iam certain that Jolly’s visit to the vicinity of that house has had something to do with the disappearance.” According he went to the room he had en- gaged, and very effectively ‘‘made up” for a new character. When he reappeared upon the street, he was clad ina red shirt, dirty blue overalls, and bro- gans, Witha ragged felt hat upon his head. He also wore a readish wig, and a pair of whiskers to match, of the *‘ Galway sluggers” order, and these, together with his mustache cropped close, and a few dextrous touches of a penciling brush, gave him the appearance of a genuine ‘* Mike,’ just over. Another thing in his favor—he was a guod mimic of the various dialects, He started for the suburbs at once, carrying a pick.and shovel upon his shoulder, and no one would have suspected but what he was an ordi- nary day laborer. e In due time he came in sight of his destina- ion, The villa and its grounds looked doubly at- tractive by daylight, and it was indeed a beau- tiful home, one of many such iu the far-away estern metropolis, A stone sidewalk ran along the outside of the hedge, leading to an archway, where there were two iron gates. When he reached this point he found a hired man fastening a silver-plated name-plate to the gate, while an old man, ou the inside, was look- a Nip and superintending the job. tngraved upon the plate, was the name: ‘Dr. D. James.”’ The man on the other side of the gate pos- sessed rather a large figure, but was, evidently over sixty years of age, His face was bearded nearly to bis eyes, and both his hair and beard, were snowy white. He was (dressed in an old-fashion broadcloth suit, with a plug hat to match, and supported himself with the aid of a hook-top cane. As he reached the gate, Dick stopped and watched the labors of the hired man with what was meant to represent idle curiosity, at the sane time whistling a few notes of an Irish ig. | au Well, sir, what do you want?” inquired the old man, in a deep, resonant voice, which, it oc- curred to Dick, was ill befitting to his age. ‘*Phat do I want, is it?” returned Dick. “ Faith, it’s nothin’ I want, cept it be wurruk, whisky, an’ money. I was jist afther watchin’ the mon, there, that’s all.” © ‘** Do you work around here, sir?” ‘* Howly mothers, no. It’s jist arrived from Australia lam, an’ sthartin’ for the counthry in search of wurruk!” ‘* Well, it is commendable that you are am- bitious to get work, instead of loafing aroun the city, in idleness.” J ' » ) “te . 2 a | . ’ : \ i\ 7 *-< 4 ¢ * i ,% ih he 6 . . Vin TER ”. Death Hunt, : \ - “i! = a S) > F | ht > A le a ol ti lA tla tt pill itll ti ns = r ro - -— + pe een See ens aig Gal SERS ae . ° th “4 > - be + Rwe = = eager . . ee = > " wee ee = t ’ . - + A » .* ° : . ' ‘nals * > « ap? ¥ ne ‘ Tae > § | r= \l a os) | f Wy ; o . ‘ ‘ » a a * i ¢ A ©) { | ) 4| { ( (9) } 7 — ad " P72 é - — . ” « <-> 2 - « ey 7. , ~ i @ * i, y ’ - be . ” * ii a * 7 os ‘ ” : ee, ‘** It’s not so much the ambition phat’s trou- blin’ me, scr, as the imptiness ov my stoomick, Bedad, ye wouldn’t b’lave it, at all, but it’s been, twice twinty-four hours, since I had a bite to eat! ‘*Indeed? Well, that’s bad. name, and what can you do, sir?” ‘* What is my name? Well, sor, I reckon it’s Dennis O’Killegin, at yer sarvice; an’ as fer ‘phat can L dof bedad, I kin ate, sleep an’ drink !” ‘* No doubt, no doubt of that, sir. But, you look like an able-bodied fellow, capable of work, if you are only watched. I want a good fellow to mind the lawn and garden, and perhaps you would fill the bill. How much do you expect a day, sir?” - “Two dollars a day, sir, wid conditions, yer honor.” ‘Two dollars a day? Nonsense! <A dollar is all I can pay!” ‘“ Allright! Shure, V’d jist as lief worruk for a dollar a day, as for two, providin’ the condi- tions are all right.” ‘‘ What conditions do you refer to?” ‘* Well, sor, in the first place, where do I ate, in the dinin’-room, wid de family, or with tha cook?” ‘* In the kitchen, of course!” ‘* An’ who be the cook—-a Sweed, a nagur, or a Eyetalian?” ‘¢ Neither! She is Irish, like yourself! ‘‘ Arrah! that’s the kind! VlIl have a mash forninst her, the first day, before breakfast. An’ where do I slape, sor?” ‘* With my negro valet!” **Phat! me shlape wid the loikes av a nagur? Niver, sor, niver! Yezkin kape your job, sor. T don’t moind sleepin’ wid the pigs, sor, on a pinch, but wid a nagur cr an Eyetalian—niver! niver |” ‘*Oh! well, then you can sleep on a blanket in the hay loft, over the stable. How will that suit you?” ‘*Shure, that’ll do.” F “Come in, then, and [’ll show you what to Oo. Dick obeyed, and was conducted to the rear of the villa, where he was set to work hoeing in the garden. ‘* Remember, you are not to approach the house without you’re summoned,” were amon the last orders given him, as the old man turne and hobbled away. And Dick went to work; but it was odd busi- ness to him, being the first time he had wielded an agricultural implement in many years. **] don’t think ll farm it more than the day out,” he muttered. ‘‘Somehow, it’s a little out of my line, and I can’t see as I’m goin’ to find pe anything about Jolly while ’'m working ere. The carriage and horse-barn were only a little way off, and in the doorway, during the entire day, sat an ill-favored looking fellow, who was probably either coachman or stable- man. He was dark-complexioned, with black eyes hair and mustache, and an ugly expression of countenance that added to his unfavorable ap- pearance. All day long he sat upon a stool in the door- way, and watched ‘** Dennis” at bis labors, ex- cept’ on several occasions when Doctor James came out and conversed with him. That their conversation was relative to him- self, Dick felt certain, and it caused many strange thoughts to enter his mind, ‘‘Tt’s possible that the old man is Hastings in disguise,” he muttered, ‘‘ but, if he is, his dis- guise is most perfect, and be is an admirable actor. On the whole, I’m not inclined ts believe that he is Hastings. It don’t seem to me the rascal, with so many crimes on his head, would dare settle down here in ’Frisco. But, what bothers me is. what has become of Jolly?” Before leaving the hotel he had left a note there for Jolly, so that he would get it, in case he should return during Dick’s absence, and know where Dick had gone, At noon the cook brought Dick out a bow] of What is your bread and milk, and informed him that that was lacteal fluid, all he would get until supper-time. There being over @ quart of the however, and a plentiful supply of bread, Dennis O’Killegin bad no fault to find. By five in the afternoon he had the entire gar- den boed over in good shape. Then the stable hand motioned for him to ap- proach, . ‘* Well, Pat, you’ve done well,” he said, in & cordial tone, *‘ and you needn’t do any more to- day, except I want you to help me get some Oats out the bin pretty soon. Pretty tired, eh?” \ ‘ “ 5. Pg, CPS Sik a : SS — ee =e . -— Seem ’ ~~ + ‘4 a Pe ; at, "— — —- Pe -<cOl ee > a en) vi : * oa * | “4 — — Te Ko ee - = —