Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 544 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

- = — vx. 2 “A 2 _—_— “ z == = al = ‘ < & eee ' , ~< d - a , ~ « - ee — <— = —— TD ow ed al : ott é ~<r . “ Lig ‘s* in” Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidocq. i 2 : —_ ing you are afflicted with a humor for wearing “plug” hats or * b’iled” shirts. or as you approach the town, through a winding gulch, you are sure to encounter this sign, which should be sufficient warning to cause you to take the back trail without delay: * NOTI'S!! **No dudes Tolerated in Sockdolazer citty, Plug hats an’ b’iled shurts sot down on, immegetly. ‘** By order of ‘*EXE@OTIVE CoMMITTY.”’ This spoke for itself. The men of Sockdolager, a thriving young camp were, with a few exceptions, hard-working veterans, with no pretensions tuo style or “fine fixin’s,” and from the day the camp was started, a joint resolution was unanimously passed, to a a % o> ‘2 * * « . at 5 ‘ . ‘ . « eae q B ° A : a et +. . se ee oat : af 5 ‘ : - ".< . ¥ - « a? in hight, with short cae legs, an enormous chest and breadth of shoulders, with long mus- cular arms, that seemed greatly out of propor- tion with the rest of his physique, the fists being of prodigious size. is visage was as dark and swarthy as an Italian’s, with a bristling short beard, a large mouth, hooked nose and great owl-like eyes, that seemed to lessen his appearance of being a buman being. In fact, what with his shabby attire and general appearance, he was a most repulsive-looking object to gaze upon, and sin- ister enough to alarm almost any timid person, When the passengers left the stage they nat- urally bolted for the hotel, as 1f vying with each other to secure the best accommodations. It so happened that the three persons we have keep the town free of dudes and manikins of ! described were the last to leave the stage, and fashion, and the wearing of plug hats or white shirts was one of the things not to be tolerated. Accordingly the above notice was posted in a conspicuous place, where any one coming to the town must see it; and furthermore, old Hair- Lip Hank, who drove the ‘‘ hearse” which plied between Sockdolager and adjacent points, made it a point when he was bringing any of the be- fore-mentioned objectionable class of mortals into town, to slow up at the sign-board, and i his passengers to read the notice for them- selves, On one occasion a young New Yorker, who was bound to see Sockdatheee or ‘‘ bu’st,” made a change of shirt and head-gear, while in the coach between the sign-board and the town giving a miner a five-dollar note for a dirty old red shirt and a bullet-riddled slouch hat. Of course, accordingly, when he reached town he was right in with the ‘‘ boys,” while a com- anion voyager, who wore a ‘‘dicer,” and ignored the warning, had the mortification of seeing his glossy tile used as a football by a party of rollicking miners, and was told if he didn’t divest himself of hisimmaculate ‘* b’iled,” instanter, he’d have to ‘‘ shoot the town,” which was meant, of course, that he would have to ‘treat up and get” for other parts. tt is scarcely necessary to add that the man lost no time in donning the regulation garb, Like the vey majority of mining towns, Sockdolager City had its inevitable complement of toughs and tigers, gamblers and guzzlers, and its saloons, dance-houses, concert-halls, gaming-dens and other catchpenny affairs. It was a sort of Elysian field for fakirs and wit- workers, and, all in all, it could not be said that it was not a ** pretty fly town.” One day, rather late in the afternoon, the stage rolled down into Sockdolager City, well laden with passengers, and drew up with a flourish before Sandy Bar Hotel, where de- barkation took place. The Sandy Bar was the most pretentious lace in the town, and although a great barn- ike edifice, it frequently had to turn guests away thro lack of accommodations for the incoming tide of population. Among the motley crowd who got off and_out of the stage were several to whom our attention is specially called. One was en Old gent of goodly proportions, with a fat, ruddy countenunce, whose every ap- earance tended to indicate that he hailed from he rural districts of ‘*’ way back.” His hair was white, as was the fringe of whisk- ers unller his chin; while his eyes were shaded by a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. | ‘He was rigged out in a plain, homesp.n suit, heavy boots, a high hat of the ancient Quaker type, while though the weather was warm, he wore a heavy old gray overcoat, that plainly had seen Jong service. An old sachel, and a gnarled cane made up the other particulars of his outfit. | The second noticeable personage was what Western men characterize as a *' Jim-dandy,” or *‘sport”—a graceful, athletic young man, with a shrewd, handsome countenance, keen discerning eyes of brown, a graceful curling mustache, and close-cut hair. ; We was attired in a light-colored cheviot suit, and white flannel shirt with turn-back collar; patent-leather knee-boots incased his feet, and a jaunty slouch sombrero with gold cord and tassel, sat upon his head, He wore no display of weapons; no jewelry, except a single ring upon his right hand. A jaunty, reckless something about his ap- earance seemed to give one to understand that Be was able to look out for Number One, in any crowd, or under any circumstances,. The third person calculated to attract more than ordinary attention, was a curio, so to s eee? Ho wae a dwarf but little more than four feet, HS ' i * ’ ‘ we 7 eee. ine 3 Gates Ares a we Hotes SEA Mn 4 Ps | ' Md ‘ <A “ yt 2 oe ; CES A og eS SATO a ere HE 3 r ont aA. Daly allie otis . ; > - PA * ej = a ? Y 7 % , Ls ve Se ah , os hi : WE a ~ > | oe Y on FI Ie *, [Pe a*% Pad i) : = 4 G4 us a .~ 4 consequently the last to get a chance to register, The old gentleman from ‘‘’way back,” put down his autograph, in a straggling hand, viz.: Uscix Sr SLoat, Perkins’s Cross-Roads, Vt. The “ Jim-dandy ” sport was next given the pen, and with an ease characteristic of a West- erner inscribed himself: VALENTINE VIDOCQ, Gov’t Detective. Resid-nce;—Nowhere ! The dwarf next registered: Hero Hicks, The Hustler from Hawkeye. Verily, here were three registrations of more than ordinary novelty. The man from Perkins’s Cross Roads had watched the others indite their signatures, and turned to Vidocq, and surveyed him from bead to foot, inquiringly. . ‘* Waal!” he observed, adjusting his glasses, **so you’re one o’ them detective fellers, hey ?” ‘*] believe I have that honor,” was the reply, as the sport lit a cigar. ‘Ye don’t say! Waal, young man, I’m all- fired glad to see ye;” and here the Vermonter thrust out his horny hand, ‘'I’mfzom Perkins’s Cross Roads, ’way up in Vermont, an’ my name is old Si Sloat, S’pect you may bave heerd of me, fer besides runnin’ the best farm in the State, Tve sot on grand jury nigh a dozen different times.” ‘*T don’t think I have ever had the honor of knowing you,” Vidocg replied. ‘*'Waal, mebbe not. Don’t make much differ- ence, anyhow. Ef you're a detective, you're jest my Hubbard squash, right from the word go, an’ don’t ye fergit it! .I want jest sech a chap as you to take hold of a case of mine, an’ I don’t care a pickayune what the taxes aire as long as ye do the job up right.” ‘* Very well, sir; I can undoubtedly.place my- self at your service,” Vidorq sentvedk ‘but if your case is of any importance, you had better not discuss it in a public place like this, you know!” | This was said with a suspicious glance over his shoulder toward Hero Hicks, who evidently had been listening to what they had said. ‘*All right, my friend,” Sloat declared. ‘‘ Ar- ter supper we'll talk matters over. Tell ye what, ’m as blamed hungry as a hoss without fodder. S’pose [ll find you around here, after supper?” ‘*Oh! yes, I shall be about,” Vidocq replied. Then they separated. ‘Tl wonder what sort of a case the old fellow wants me to undertake?” the detective mused, as he wandered out upon the piazza. ‘‘ Hope it will be something worth bothering one’s time with. So far, I have seen no one I knew, and the chances are that my identity as Deadwood Dick, Jr., will not be discovered, I hope not, at any rate. I’ve won enough notoriety under that title, to last me for awhile.” 3 The supper-bell socn rung, but, as he had not finished his cigar, Vidocq was in no hurry to visit the dining-room. With several otbers, he contented himself with sitting upon the piazza, and enjoying the cool breeze which floated down from the pine-stadded mountains. While he sat there, a little child came upon the piazza, carrying a basket, and selling tastily arranged bouquets of wild flowers, She was petite of figure, and evidently not more than six or seven years of age, With a sweet face, pevtey blue eyes, and sunny hair, She was neatly attired in a pink gingham dress, with white apron, and a jaunty little sun- hat upon her head, and was certainly a very lit- tle fairy, in appearance. ; 7 *. 7 | . ; - ” : ‘¢ Buy my flowers, sir? Buy a bouquet, sir?” Plaintive and sweet was the voice of the child, as she mingled among those who were as sembled on the piazza—men of several differ. ent nationalities, and varied types of character. The miners, as a rule, took kindly to her, and the detective was so much pleased with her appearance that he motioned her to approach. ‘‘How much do you ask for your flowers, little one?” he asked, in a kindly tone. ‘** Five cents a bunch, please, sir; three bunches for ten.” ‘* Indeed? They are cheap, and pretty, like yourself. Now, Ill tell you what. Vlldo. Tell me what your name is, and [J] buy ten bouquets and give you ten cents a bunch for each,” The child’s eyes fairly blazed at this mag- nanimous offer, but she shook her head, and said: ‘*T can’t do it, sir. I have only ten left, an that man yonder wants one.” And she pointed to Hicks, the dwarf, who was seated near by and motioning to her. ‘‘Oh, don’t mind him!” Vidocg said. ‘* Give me the flowers, and here is your dollar, and Ill buy some flowers from you every day.” The sight of the bright new silver dollar had the effect-of changing the child’s mind, for she pac to pile the flowers into the detective’s ap. ue But, see here!” Vidocq said, When she had finished the task. ‘‘ You haven’t told me what your name is, yet.” ‘* My name is Fern, sir.” ‘Kern? That’s an odd name. Fern what?” ‘© T don’t know, sir. Mamma calls me Fern.” ‘* Who is your mamma?” “You don’t know her, sir,” And with. this pipet? child turned and walked away, firs ceived her dollar. To levve the piazza she had to pass close to where Hicks, the dwarf, was sitting, and as she answer, the t baving re- a we st was about to pass him he reached out and’caught ber by the arm. ‘* Hold up, you little brat!” he cried; ‘‘ don’t be so fast. What did you sell adi them posies fer, when you know’d I wanted some of ’em?” ‘¢ Please, sir, because the gentleman wanted to buy them all! Oh, sir, please let go my arm! You are hurting me!” » “ Hurtin’ ye,am I? Well, Pll burt ye worse than that, blame ye! Ill teach ye some man- ners, if your folks don’t know how!” And with this, the brute raised his big hand and slapped the child cn the side of her face. Of course little Fern began to cry, while those > who had witnessed the act sprung to their feet with cries of indignation, One leap brought Deadwood Dick (or, as we shall know him in this narrative, Val Vidocq) to the rescue, and he clutched the dwarf by the throat with a vise-like grip. ‘‘ You infernal ruffian!” he hissed; ‘ let go that child’s wrist, or Pll strangle you!” Taken wholly by surprise, Hicks lost no time in obeying the order, and little Fern ran away, erving as she went. Hicks was then jerked to his feet, and beld at arm’s length by the Jim-dandy detective, ‘* Now, sir,” cried Vidocg, “* explain your con- duct toward that child!” ‘*She wouldn’t sell me no flowers,” sullenly growled the ruffisn. ‘* Because she had none to sell you; then you up and slapped her!” ‘‘ Only boxed her ears for her sass tome. Ef she war my young ’un, I'd teach her better. manners!” “You would, hey?’ a fierce fire burning in the dandy’s eyes, ‘* Then, by Jerusalem! I'll learn you some manners. Take that, and that!” And releasing the dwarf for an instant, the detective struck him two terrible blows in the face, in rapid succession. One blow hit the wretch full in the mouth, while the other caught him over the right eye, knocking him clear off the piazza, into an un- savory mud-puddle, which had formed from a recent rain. A big crowd had by this time collected, and — sent up roars as the, Hustler from Hawkeye gathered himself up cut of the mud, and, with- out any show of returning hostilities, started — away toward the creek, to wash off blood and While, as a matter of course, Val Vidoeq was thereafter the lion of the evening, His debut in Sockdolager City, was an un- deniable success, for it appeared, from all re- — pa ie port, that Hicks had the name of beingadese | | perado who had created a rien of terror in ney "= : jacent mining-camps, until Vigilantes driven him out, ‘ r . her, . 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