Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 561: Deadwood Dick — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

make it felt when the right time arrives. You have money and you have diamonds, Those diamonds shall be mine, as sure as my name is Moses Mumb! andas much of the money as I can grip. Iam not playing this game for noth- ing, and although [am an honest man, I mean to win in this race.” Avarice seemed to have changed the char- acter of this man, completely, in a day. From the Moses Mumb who was friend and confidant of Calvin Cool, the fact that Cool was dead ap- parently rendered him oblivious of all bis obli- gations to Cool’s memory and to the daughter whose ca ick Bristol had so honorably es- poused,. The greed for gain was now his guide and the step once taken we shail see him pursue the baser part to the end—of course greatly to Dick’s astonishment and anger. Within an hour Mrs, Glenroy and a rough- looking customer were seated tete-a-tete, in the former’s parlor. Gertrude bad been sent out on an errand, and the two were alone. The rough-looking customer was a man forty- five, powerful of frame, and evidently possessed of prodigious strength. Ais face was a study. It was massive, coarse and brutal of aspect. He had evidentiy run against a shoulder-hitter at some previous period, for his nose had been broken. His eyes were small and glittering, and upon his left cheek was an oblong scar, upon which beard re- fused to grow. ‘* Well, Mag, what is it your wantin’, now?” he was saying, with singular familiarity. ‘* ve got a job for you, Jack,” was the reply, “and ,,bhere is money in it, if you do it up right. ack shrugged his shoulders. ‘* Yes, that’s what you said once before, my queenly sister, but, after the job was done, it was devilish little money I could squeeze out of ‘* Didn’t I pay you what I promised?” ‘* Well, yes, but you see, l ought to have had more, considerin’ the job!” “Oh, no! I meet my promises, and that’s all that can be expected of me. Where is the Italian?” ** OfF on a drunk, I guess, I haven’t seen him since yesterday, when he pinched a man’s pocket to the tune of several thousand dollars. He divied up, and that’s the last ve seen of him. "When he gets money he gets drunk,” “Jack!” and Mrs. Glenroy bent near her brother, “ have you been out there since that night ?” ** Well, notif I know myself!” was the an- swer, ‘‘I ain’t so fond of courtin’ stiffs as all that comes to, you bet!” **Then you really think he is dead?” ‘“‘Of course he is. lf the blow over the head didn’t kill him, he’s starved to death ere this. No man could go nearly four weeks without food or water. Besides, the place is literally alive with rats, and they’re particularly fond of man-meat,” and the villain chuckled hideously, while Mrs. Glenroy shuddered, and grew a shade paler. ** Well, what’s the job you wére speakin’ about?’ Jack Brady demanded. Mrs. Glenroy proceeded to enlighten him in regard to all that Moses Mumb had told her. rady heard her through, without interrup- tion, and then said: ‘*T don’t take much stock in this Jew! The whole race are a pack of cheats,” he declared. ‘Still, there must be some foundation to his story, for what would he have known about my st and present personal affairs?” ‘** Well, [ don’t say there ain’t anything in it; but you want to look out for the pawnbroker. He'll probably try to melt you for more money. Now, what is it you want done?” “First of all, l want you to find this man Bristol, and put him out of the way, at the same time ascertaining how many confederates he has. Jt must be done! When you have fixed him, I will give your further orders!” “Oh, you will, eh? Better settle for this one first. How much do you expect it is going to cost you to have this job done?’ ‘** Pll give you two hundred dollars when you bring me proof that you have put this de- tective out. of the way,” was the business-like retort. | **Not enough!” Brady replied, curtly. ‘ I can do better than that by ‘ bucking without staining my hands with blood. I’m tired of that!” ‘Very well. That’s my best figure. If it don’t. suit yous Pll hire ‘Italy.’ He'll do it for that price. **Go ahead and hire him, if you like, If you do, it will cost you more than five hun the tiger,’ hood Deadwood Dick in Boston. dollars, you can bet on that!” Brady declared, significantly. ‘ ‘* Mag,” as he had called her, fairly glared at im. ‘* What do you mean?” she fiercely demanded. “Would you betray me?” ‘““With the greatest of pleasure, providing you hired the [talian!” was the reply. ‘*‘ If there is any money to be made, [m going to make it. No foreigners need apply. For five hundred dollars I'll put this Bristol where he’ll never trouble you nor any one else, You can guess where!” ** Jack, I did not think you’d be so extortion- ate with your only sister. You ought to be ashamed of yourself—indeed you had,”’ ‘*Nary shame!” was the retort. ‘‘Shame is an article that applies only to youn ple. I’m long past that age, Come! what do you say? I’ve no time to dilly dally.” irs. Glenroy hesitated a moment, and then answered: ‘* Well, Il give you your price on two con- ditions!” ‘* Name them.” ‘The first is that you will put this man Bris- tol out of the way. The second is, that you will visit the hut, and ascertain the true state of affairs there, 1 must know, for 1 can’t rest easy until I know that all possible danger in that direction is over!” ‘*Why don’t you go yoursalf?”? Brady de- manded, with a lugubrious expression of his re- pulsive countenance!” ‘Ugh! I wouldn’t for the world!” Mrs, Glenroy declared, with a shudder. ‘‘I’d be afraid bis ghost would rise up, and smite me!” ‘* Bah!” and Jack laughed. ‘‘ You’r’ a fool, like all other women, Give me half the money in advance and I’m your man!” Mrs, Glenroy reluctantly complied with this demand, and the tough then took his departure. CHAPTER VIL. DICK INTERCEPTS A LETTER. DEADWOOD Dick put in a good night's rest at the hotel, and it was quite late when he went down-stairs to the office, where he glanced over the register to learn the names of the recent ar- rivals. He was soon greeted by a hearty slap on the shoulder and the qiiutation of: ‘‘ Ah, there, boss!” and the yo New York apprentice, ** Rats ”—not Rats, the ragged newsboy, but Rats, the juvenile ferret, well-dressed, and look- ing as bright as you can imagine stood before bim., ‘‘ Ah! it’s you, Rats, is it?’ Dick cried, grasp- ing him by the hand, ‘‘Got my telegram, dic ou?” . ue Yes. Had just retired to my boudoir for the night, when a messenger fetched it. The way I did make for the Grand Central Depot was a caution, an’ I got there just in the nick of time, too.” ** Well, [am glad you came, and glad to see you looking so well. Come, we will go into breakfast.” They entered the elegant dining-room, and while they ate, Dick gave his young assistant an insight into the case he was working on. ‘Your ‘lay’ in the matter will be to shadow a certain party whom you will be shown to- day,” the detective announced. ‘‘ Boston is a pretty crooked place to get around in, but I guess you will be equal to the emergency.” ‘‘T reckon. I kin ginerally find my way "bout a pint, without askin’ every policeman that I meet. Bet a marble ’g’in a muleI kin make my way around New York blindfolded.” ‘*T am not prepared to doubt that. But New York and Boston are two entirely different places you must know.” ‘*Huh! Beautown may be good enuff, but she can’t bold a candle along New York. Where's her Statter of Luberty, an’ where’s her elewated roads, an’ where’s her boodle aldermen? I tell ye old Yorrick beats the world for commodities, hey?” a Well, I guess you are not far from right, but the Hub can discount New York on pretty irls, ‘hus chatting, they finished their breakfast, and then took a short walk about the neighbor- On their return, Dick found Silly Jake outside the hotel in waiting. ‘* Ah! you’re punctual,” was Dick’s greeting, glancing at his watch. ‘‘ Are you ready to help me hunt up Jack Brady and the Italian?” ; , sir, ‘“Very well. Then lead ahead, and we will follow. If you see either of them, don’t do any- thing to attract their attention, or let them know that we are looking for them.” ‘‘ Allright. I know enough for that, if I am a fool;” was the sharp reply and Silly Jake start- ed off at a gait that forced his followers to ex- ert themselves to keep up with him: Down Tremont street they went, and in a sbort time turned into Federal street, and made their way along the water front. Here Jake slackened his gait somewhat, and allowed Dick and Rats to come up to him. ‘*Tf they’re down around here, we’re liable to run ag’in’ ‘em ’most any minute!” he announced. ‘You don’t pay any attention to me, and I won’t notice you.” ‘* Very good. Go ahead!” Dick ordered. Through the busy thoroughfare they strolled, leisurely, but Jake gave no intimation that he had seen anything of the men tbey were in quest of. They were destined not to go far, however, without running foul of an adventure, At a corner of the street wasa lager beer saloon, and lounging about in frout of it, wasa group of young men, four in number, all of whom were flashily dressed, as most of the bet- ter class of corner loafers usually are. Just as the trio were passing the corner, one of the loafers cried out: ‘* Hello! boys, there goes Glenrvy’s fool!” At which the others roared with laughter. The remark fired Deadwood Dick with indig- nation, in an instant, and stepping forward he confronted the speaker, with blazing eyes. ‘*What do you mean by grossly insulting that young man? Have you no sense of honor or shame in you?” ‘* What the deuce is the matter of you ?” the other cried, bristling up, belligerently. ‘* You’d better mind your own business, or you'll get your head punched. That fellow is my brother!” ‘‘So much more the reason why you should be ashamed for insulting him!” . ‘*Go to thunder! What’s it your business? He’s an idiot, an’ you can’t insult an idiot. If you take his part you’re an idiot, too. So you’d better take a quiet sneak if you don’t wan’t a good licking!” ‘* Tm not one of the sneaking sort, and if you don’t retract your insulting words, lll teach you a lesson you won’t soon forget!” “Tl retract nothing!” was the retort. “If I can’t do ye alone, my chum will help me, anc don’t you forget it!” Dick did not doubt this, and he knew that if he attacked young Glenroy, there would bea general row, which would be undesirable, inas- much as there were a couple of stalwart police- men standing on the neighboring corner; so he was forced to curb his anger, for the time be- ing! ° Never mind; ’m not afraid of the four of you so far as that is concerned. But as I don’t care to engage in a street brawl, with two policemen in sight, Tl let you off this time, But, remember; I'll meet you, yet, where there will be no danger of interference, and then, if you don’t apologize to me and your brother Pll break your head for you!” And Dick strode away. ‘‘Coward! coward!” cried the gang on the corner. ef But though he gritted his teeth with rage, he strode on, without looking around. “Tf I get a chance, when the policemen are not about, I'll give him the worst thrashing he ever had in his life!” he muttered, ‘‘ What do you think of my brother?’ Jake grtined, wnen Dick caught up to him and ts ‘* He’s a loafer!” Dick replied, “‘ and if I geta chance, when the cops ain’t around, Ill fix him. I only wish I had him out West for about five minutes—that’s what would amuse me,” ‘* Better let Gil alone,” Jake warned, advis- ingly. ‘*He’s a slugger, an’ so’s all them gillies that travels with him. More’n that, Gil carries |” ‘‘Humph! I wouldn’t be afraid of a dozen like him,” was Dick’s contemptuous retort. They continued a couple of blocks; then Jake motioned his companions to halt, which they did, while he went on a little further, and en- tered a beer saloon. He was gone five minutes, when he came out again, motioned Dick and Rats to follow, and led them around the corner. ‘‘He’s in the saloon,” Jake said. ‘* You can oinand buy a glass of beer, and you will see im. You'll know him by the scar on his cheek, Ignatius is there, talking with him. I must leave yer, now, for I have a note to deliver.” “ A note to deliver? Who gave it to you?” * 7 - £04 “Se - y ae aed .