Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 57 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 hops in under canvas tents; gamblers came to ply their vocation, and last but not least, report wafted into Flood Bar upon one morning’s breeze, a name, well known in every part of the country of gold— = name the mention of which was a harbinger of excitement and peril— Deapwoop Dick! CHAPTER IV. DEADWOOD DICK’S BULLETIN. Wuen the name of the great road-agent of the Black Hills became whispered about in Flood Bar, there was an unprecedented excitement. For acon- siderable period the Black Hill-ites had suffered no molestation from Dick’s men, This was while Dick was up in Idaho, and down at Del Norte, as related in Halt-Dime Library No. 49. But it seemed that the das Prince of the Road was back again, and people close to their pocket-books, and regarded their neighbor more sharply, lest suddenly he should dissolve into @ road-agent. A crowd of miners were sitting in Old Buzzard’s tent, one t, when a comrade digger of gold rushed in with a flushed face, and panting breath. He was greatly excited, and related his ‘“‘say ”’ in gas ough we give it plainly for the reader’s beret” “I war coming in from. the Musquekang valley whar I’ve been on bizness!”’ spoke miner, Jer Judson, by name, “when I hed an adventur’. war coinin’ thru ther dasted lonely woods, just be- yond ther bluffs, an’ et war zettin’ d lik when I[ heerd a clatter o’ hoofs, an’ lookin’ ahind me ns eee? a dozen horsemen comin’ after me, at “Natterly, I war ruther narvus, an’ knowin’ thet "twas no use ter run, | dodged inter a clump of man- zintas, an’ squatted "bout as low as I know’d how. On cum ther horsemen, rippyty scoot, and a whol- lopin’ their hats inter ther air, an’ yellin as ef Bed- Jam war let loose. I war beginnin’ ter breathe a notch easier, when I thort they war goin’ ter ape but they didn’t—nary a bit! ey jest yanked their hosses out ter ther side o’ ther road, an’ nailin’ up a big bulletin-board, w’ich four on ’em hed ed between ‘em, ter a tree, they pasted an advertise- ment onter it, then mounted an’ galloped away, whence they hed cum. Gentlemen, one o’ them eusses war him—ther reckless road-agent devil— Deadwood Dick !”’ “Great interlectual ham—I mean, jaws o’ ther ater thet swollered old Neptune!” ejaculated Old Buzzard; ‘‘ ye don’t say so—ye don’t aver on yer religyus honner, thet ye see’d ther great original Dicky—ther pet galoot o’ ther 19th century?” “T jest do, bet yer OE on that!’’ declared Judson. ‘An’ I purpose thet a party on us go back an’ see w’at thet notice on the bulletin-board says.” “T second ther perpetual moshun system |!’’ assent- Buz. Accordingly a dozen men were picked out, includ- ing the three pards, Belmont, Buzzard and Miaco, = eee out to inspect Deadwood Dick’s bulletin- uirrel Sam eo absent from camp, of course eould not be includ The weather had now settled into mild, gentle g, and the nights were growing warm and Seana ul. A floodof moonlight lit the path for the parts, eausing them to look strangely white and weird, as ar tramped over the rugged bluffs. The scent of wild fragrant flowers, and newly-budding trees, was borne deliciously upon the evening breeze. * Don’t know as I ever saw this Deadwood Dick!”’ Belmont remarked, as they trudged along, for as the distance was but a matter of a couple of miles, they bad taken no horses. “You'll never want to see him the second time, if fe once gits a grudge against you,” Miaco suggested, “though he ain’t half so desprit a cuss as fo’kes make him. Leetle by leetke a small lie gathers = and credence, until it finally becomes a monstrosity and an undisputed fact among the peo- > In due time the party arrived in the woods which Judson had mentioned as being the place where he had seen the road-agents. It was a gloomy pine forest, through which a tolerable stage tr ad been worked through to the Musquekang valley, be- ond. And just such a place it was as might suit the rs of a full-fledged road-agent, for a place of oper- on, “Tt war in hayr, up a ways furder!’’ explained Judson, casting his eyes around him in rather a doubtful manner. “ Hope ter gracious ther pesky galoote won't be layin’ fer us. ‘Spect they went inter ther Musquekang.”’ “Deadwood Dick wouldn't tech sich a sorry-look- in’ passel o’ pilgrims as we, anyhow,” declared Old Buzzard, ‘‘onless he war purty sure thet we hed more chips than we know'd what to do with. Oh! he’s game an’ astraight caliber chap is eh te ef I , do say et. Great ham—I mean Tanans hat! I’ve 4 known thet boy ter do things w'‘at knoeked ther seven wonders uv ther world inter a cocked six-shooter. Once see’d him stop a mad bull w’at war chasin’ a pn ig across a perary, jest wi’ ther power o’ his ewe er he’s a mesmerist, is Dickey! But, hayr’s xer bill-board, now!’ “Yas, this is the place,” assented Judson, as they all paused befoge a bulletin-board, which had been nailed up to a pine tree by the roadside. _ Upon the board was pasted a bill, which had been executed by a prin shige and which Jud- gon had seen Deadwood Dick’s road-agents post there. Jree men, once more. Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. ‘Brack Hruus, May 3d, ** To all whom it may concern : “T have come back to the Black Hills, after ar absence of several months. I have not come back to rob and plunder honest and hard working, deserving men, but as Deadwood Dick, the Road-Agent, to wage a warfare against crime and ruffianism, and the advocates thereof. The Black Hills needs a thorough purging and cleansing of the murderous wretches and ruffians who swarm within its haunts and J/’m the one to do the job, with the assistance of my men, and all I ask is the good will of the honest part of the population, and their occasional co-opera- tion. That of the Government I am sure of. “The friendship or good will of my future foes, I neither crave nor expect. As they have dealt with others, so shall they be dealt with. By the decree of the law we are ye outlaws, and road-agents, ‘Before the end of our campaign, we hope to be That is what we’re working for. ‘**So, look out for us, ye evil doers, and stand not in our path, ye Doubters, for we shall recognize all friends as foes who stand up before us in opposition, ** SIGNED: Dgeapwoop Dick AND HIS EAGLEs. ‘““N, B. My menare all among you, many in number. bound to me and each other by solemn oath an therefore invincible, though invisible. * A case of wrong against honest men by any one of my men, reported to me, will receive prompt atten- tion, and punishment to the offender. We war only inst evil-doers. Deapwoop Dick.” s was what the miners of Flood Bar read, and if they were amazed it is little wonder. Deadwood Dick was again on the trail as both Road-Agent and Regulator, and that things were going to livel again within the scope of the Black 8, they well knew. Whether the good the dashing Road Prince would do would offset the bad, and the enemies he would create, was a question for time to answer, not for the men of Flood Bar to decide. In a large majority of cases they had known, or had had experience with Deadwood Dick, and while many of the miners sided with the reckless Road- Agent, more cursed him, and swore dire vengeance upon his head, should he ever give them an o tunity to pay him an ill turn; so that it look for Deadwood Dick in his Bae campaign against the ruffian element—as if he would have as many honest men to fight as of the pe ete All over the Black Hills were these bulletins posted at the entrance to every town or e, and often the daring dozen rode straight into a town to do their work, distributing their heralds broadcastin the very faces of their enemies. One of the principal resorts of Flood Bar, was a large circus-shaped tent kept by two enterprising men from Denver, who had dri here with the human tide. The place was floored and well-light- ed, inside, and bore the name of the Inter-Ocean Saloon, although besides the saloon, it was a concert hall or pavilion and a gambling den, where all sorts of games were run, night and day. As there was no similar place in Flood Bar, of course the Inter-Ocean received the general share of the patronage, and, with good order, a part of the time, and Deadwood City prices, the proprietors were reaping a rich harvest. The concert every evenin the proprietors, Messrs. H fei cage | down *‘stars’’ from Denver to cater to the tastes of the dirty, rough miners. On such occasions many of the females of the Bar came in to listen to the music, quickly departing after the concert was over, for it was a poor place for respectable women. One evening, a short time after the posted declara- tion of Deadwood Dick, we will look in upon the In- ter-Ocean for a few moments. Inside all was a bustle and excitement. A large crowd is gathered, and while waiting for the “ star” of the evening to appear, the gamblers offer their greatest inducements to attract the wary an dun- wary to their fold for the purpose of fleecing them. A large gang of roughs were, under the effects of fiery beverage, growing noisy and boisterous, and Messrs Hallowton and Miles tried several times to quiet them down. Their efforts, were, however, un- availing. There was half a hundred of the gang, and under the leadership of one of the roughest cus- tomers in all the Black Hills—Big H Hagen was this man’s name, and he had, on coming to Flood Bar, at once asserted his rights as * champ- ion” “boss” and “bully ;” and as no one had ever had either the courage or muscle to dispute his asser- tion, it became a settled fact in the mind of the peo- ple, that Big Hank with his rough, devil-dis kers, could lick the town, if he chose, which gave the burly bully double assurance in his power and prowess, and made him naturally more bold. And as, with him, boldness was but the precursor of brutality, he became a pompous, bragging nuisance to the town. The card upon the concert boards to-night was Miss Lucille Desmond, who p rted to be a New York opera-singer, but, if she did hail from further away than Denver that dirty crowd was mistaken in its guess. The impression was that she was a Dead- wood “high-kicker”’ or a stage-struck Hoosier gal, whom Messrs Hallowton and Miles hoped to reap a harvest from, Wherefore the surprise of the audience, when the singer stepped before the curtain. Ata glance she was anything but a can-can dancer or a Hoosier girl, was a great attraction, owton and Miles, often | this fair, intellectual girl, with her creamy Der ex- | ion, her dazzling bright lue eyes, and long auburn And the following is what the miners from Flood | hair, and a form that rivaled the shape of Venus in Bar read, with not only surprise but wonderment: symmetrical grace; anda a wild hoarse cheer went up from the motley assemblage beneath the t pa- vilion, which nearly frightened her out of her com- posure. But, she soon regained her confidence, and stepping forward with a gentle courtesy, burst out into such a grand strain of exquisite song, that the attention of every person beneath the canvas was enchained as by a spell. ws othing like it ever had been heard in the Black 8. Her voice was as pure as the tone of a silver-bell, and as sweet as the voice of a bird. ute-like in their intensity, her wild, peculiar notes reached far beyond the tent, even, into the black, stormy night, without. And her audience listened, spell-bound, +a they had, for the most part, never heard anything ike it. She sung once, and was about to retire, but a per- fect pandemonium of yells called her back, when a shower of wild mountain flower-bouquets fell at her feet—pouches of gold and silver were hurled in upon the stage without number, and the night rung loud with cheers and encores. For these rude and often- times ruffianly western miners, have a great heart Meg them. I never yet met 4 miser in the far est. Loudest in the encores was the bullying rough, Big Hank Hagen. The man’s eyes had n fasten- ed open the gy Fem all through her sing- ing, as if he longed to devour her like some raven- ous wild beast. “ Hurra! hoop! hoop—hurra!” he bellowed, swing- ing his hat above his head as he stood mounted upon a deal-table. “More song, me lady—more song, or we'll bu’st ther ranch!” A Pale and scared, for she was not used to such de- monstrative audiences, Lucille again nded, and again and again, until se aint and giddy she turned to leave the stage. But with tiie agility of a anther, Big Hank leaped from his ,erch the deal- fable across onto the stage, besi:!c the terrified girl, with a yell that would have dwu'.e credit to a Com- anche warrior. “Hold up, my sweet gal—don’t be so fast ter g0 ontil ye've sold me a kiss frum yer purty lips!’’ the bully cried, throwing his brawny arms about her waist, with a triumphant leer, **Help! help!" screamed Lucille, in horror, while she struggled frantically to free herself. But no one pe have the assurance, if they had the disposition, to help her, for Big Hank and his men were present in force to-night, and inter- ference meant a free fight. So no one stirred to help the poor girl—all stood and gazed upon the scene without offering assistance. ‘Help! help!” she again cried, as Hagen’s whisky: scented breath flamed her cheek. “Are there 1% men among you, who will help me?”’ ““Ay! ay!” cried a stern, ringing voice, “ Dea wood Dick is with you!” ; CHAPTER V. THE DEVIL’S HOLE.—DEADWOOD DICK BEGINS BIS CAM PAIGN. We left Flying Flood about leaping the yawning abyss—a distance of many feet to the continuation of the hog-back beyond. But what man could ever hope to leap over that ap ce ty , With such a burden in his arms as the dusky girl whom the brave lieutenant carried. Floyd knew that positive death lurked behind him, and that there was promise of it in front. Yet he hesitated not, for he had often been face to face with the orn monster, and had grown, as it were, some- what reckless of the consequences, On—on he bounded, at the top of his spe The ilf lay just ahead, a great gap in nature's furrowed Race: across it he musi? leap in safety or—die! Death must surely follow a fall into that black abyss. Nearer and nearer he bounded toward the brink, and when a its ror edge he gathered his strength and made the fearful leap, while a yell of combined indignation, incredulity and horror went up from the pursuing outlaws. They had not for a moment ima- gined that the daring road-agent would ever contem- late such a thing as trying to leap the abyss; they haa proposed to corner and capture him. Up into the air and gracefully forward like a rocket shot the lieutenant, with his prize clasped in his arms; with dilated eyes and bated breath the out- laws watched him, in wonder at the power in his limbs which impelled him so swiftly through mid-air. But, alas! only too soon he began to sink, far short of the goal he had aimed to reach, and down! down! down! he sunk into the black misty depths, out of the sight or ptm J of man. With cries of conster- nation Big John Wolf rushed forward to the brink of the precipice, and gazed over, down into the blackness. But nothing could they see. A dense fog a their seeing twenty feet below the rink. *Reckon et’s good-by Flyin’ Floyd and ther ga) too!’ growled Big John, angrily. ‘ We war darned fools we didn’t shoot the cuss, an’ git back ther gal. As et ar’, thar’ll be red devils to pay w'en Red Lark comes back an’ finds ther gal pone. He'll rip an’ sw’ar like a suck-tornader, an’ ef some 0’ you fellers don’t get broken skulls, I’m mistaken! Then the outlaws turned and filed back along the hog-back, to the plateau from whence their pursuit of Flying Floyd had called them. Where were the lieutenant and his eeny charge? In the few seconds he was flying through the air toward the ge side, he had ample time to per- ceive that he had miscalculated his powers—that he was going to fall far short of the brink, and be ] into the awful abyss, whose depth might be Pthomless. It was a oO Eh eouent borne to both Floyd and his charge at the same time; but S Gomicbooks, Go