Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 57 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

- || & in ther atmosfere, wi’ a tight eord around his neck.” “Well, if there ain’t sumthin about that feller concealed from us, [ll eat a fat Greaser,” replied Belmont, and the Virginian meant it, too, for he had a keen me for observation and reading character, that rarely everled him wrong. But, as if innocent of all these suspicions against him, Elijah Swain continued faithfully on around d Bar, making his proposals, and, strange to say really taking a few contracts, or some were there among the miners who be- lieved they were going to be eternally made famous by this modern solicitor and historian, whose per- suasive argument led them to believe and invest. That night was a hot one for early spring, with a clear and hazy sky, and very little air stirring. Af- ter the cessation of all labor, the miners might have been seen strewn about the Bar and along the tented creek shore, engaged in cleaning their weapons, smoking their pipes, or washing outa clean shirt, for, as yet, the almond-eyed Chinaman had not made his advent at the Bar, and consequently every miner who had no family was his own laundryman. Avalanche, Belmont, Miaco and Squirrel Sam were ing in front of the latter’s tent, watching with erent curiosity the tide of humanity about them, when Belmont spoke up, excitedly: “Listen! listen! What woman on the Bar has such a voice? Even Miss Lucille Desmond cannot equal it!” ‘It is perhaps she,”’ suggested Miaco, as all hands listened eagerly, “ fer she aire the best singer I know of, at the Bar, now.”’ ‘No, it’s not her,’ replied Belmont, ‘“‘ Hear? it comes from the direction of the Black Cabin!” His words were true. Floating toward them from the direction of the mysterious Black Cabin, came the melodious strains, varied and wild in tone, the voice being as pure and unwavering as a lark’s note or the trill of a flute. The words of the song could not be heard, but the song itself was exquisite. Weirdly beautiful rung the peculiar throbbing vibrations of the well-cultured voice, and then, when nearly the whole of Flood Bar, as it were, was spell-bound by the enti melody, it died out in a strange, wild, mournf shriek, blood-curdling and demoniac. The Four Pards exchanged glances. “Thar’s something wrong,’’ declared Belmont, scratching his head, thoughtfully, “ an’ I’m wonder- in’ what. ’Pears to me like asef they’ve got a crazy person penned up in thet cabin.” ‘*Or sum wild beast,” suggested Miaco. “ Great ham-bone w’'at performed old Joner’s last president's message, no!’’ replied Old Avalanche, in disgust. *“‘Ye don’t suppose a wild annymal kin sing, do ye?”’ ’ atis your opinion then, old man?’ demanded Belmont. “Ihave been watching you, and see that you have formed one.” “ Eh? w’at aire thes great destructive eppydemic’s opinion, d’ye ask? Waal, I hev jest rented et out, an’ kin't tell ye. Thes heer old cavortin’ disease aire goin’ ter know ther secrets o’ thet cabin, or slip an eccentric, sure pop. Old religious an’ antediluvian ham-bone w’at w’ar ther last sickness uv old Joner! Ef thar’s humans in thet Noaher’s Ark, this notori- ous snow-flake aire goin’ ter find et out, an’ make ‘em pull down their blinds.” No more of the singing shrieks were heard in the cabin, however, that night, and Flood Bar’s people’s minds again were quieted into repose. But something occurred on the following night, which threw the little town into a turmoil of excite- ment, for on awakening in the morning, it was found that the Bar and its inhabitants had been robbed / Yes, robbed of all the gold or currency upon their persons—not only one but all—every mau in the mines! In the dead of nighi the robbery had been silently performed, while slumber held the people in its deep trance. Cleaned out of thousands of dollars’ worth of pre- cious gold and greenbacks was the little town on uirrel Creek, and as there were no pretensions of igion there, of course the profanity among a cer- tain class was b greet Deadwood Dick, agreed these miners, was the rob- ber—Deadwood Dick who had declared himself the friend of the honest man, and the enemy of outlawry and ruffianism. Who else could the aring act be attributed to? **Don’t b’lieve nothin’ o’ ther kind!”’ was the sole Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. ET TE response of old Avalanche, when he was questioned | eoncerning his views of the case; ‘‘ *twarn'’t Dickey at all, no more’n t’war President Hayes, or sum other high-toned offis-holder. No sir-ee, I'll bet ther st tooth in my old jaws thet et warn’t Dick. Great unsophisticated ham-bone w’at equilibriated “. gold Joner! thet same cavortin’ pestifferous Dick 7. ouldn’t no more steal yer honest earnin’s, than he'd ‘st his inderwidual b‘iler!”’ ‘ But these Flood Bar-ites were not all of the veteran Annihii: vor’s opinion, and fierce and vindictive was the spirit against Deadwood Dick. Large rewards were offered for the dashing out- law, and the Vigilantes were on the alert. The great Lucille was booked for another concert, that night, and it was expected the dare-devil road- agent would be present. Therefore, the Vigilantes were on hand, in disguise, ready to nab the dashin prince upon his appearance. But they were destine to be disappvinted. Neither Deadwood Dick nor any one resembling him was seen in the great mass of humanity, and Lucille sung on to-night without mo- lestation, for Big Hank Hagen, though present, was too badly used up to show his prowess again, when he found thatt he songstress had at least one friend int’ ing camp. Buf with all the ruffianly des- pe m7) ature, the Flood Bar ee bully now equally loved and hated the fair singer— loved her as well as he was capable of loving any one “ed anything, and hating her because of her terror of m, And knowing that she feared him, he yearned for greater triumph over her—yearned to possess her and crush her proud spirit as the Texan horse-tamer SS. coon ang the young wild horse into submission to is will. _ Hagen sat in an obscure corner of the saloon, dur- ing the concert, and watched with evilin his blood- shot eyes, a peculiar vindictive smile lurking about his coarse mouth, When she appeared for the last time, he arose and ghded from the tent, a crafty expression upon his Sinister countenance. He still had the use of his left arm, and springing upon a horse that was standing at the door of the saloon, he shook the reins, and alloped along the creek shore to the ford to the ar, just below the rising eastward bluffs. Here he dismounted, and concealed his animal be- hind a thicket of firs, while he himself crouched in hiding, and waited. Below him and across the waters of the creek gleamed the lights from ascore of miners’ tents that were located upon the Bar, while further on, upon the opposite shore, were more of these canvas habi- tations, saloons and stores, similar to those which had been erected upon the eastern shore, along which ran the trail leading into the upper canyon, where several paying quartz lodes had been discovered. Big Hank had not long to wait; he expected the eat Lucille to soon come along, and pass over the ong foot-bridge to the Bar, where she procured boarding and lodging with a miner’s wife, and oon he heard rapid footsteps approaching. But they were clearly not those of a lady—too heavy, quick and elastic for such. A man was com- ing to cross the ford—who? CHAPTER VIL. THE ENTRANCED ANNIHILATOR, ‘Curse the girl, why don’t she come?” the bully muttered, impatiently, ‘and who is this cuss coming along to skeer m bird away? Blast him, I’m a notion to salivate him through ther pate an chuck him in the creek.” But on the new-comer’s closer approach, Hagen concluded not to adopt his proposal, for the man was the silent member of the Pards of Flood-Bar—Squir- rel Sam. Handsome and manly looked the young miner, as he strode along with head erect, and eyes glancing around, and Hagen secretly envied him his ood looks. But, Squirrel Sam was not molested, as e stepped upon the long shaky suspension foot- bridge, and passed over on the Bar. “The next will be the gal!’’ Hagen muttered, as he continued to crouch in his concealment, and listen to the sounds upon the still night. ‘* Ef I kin only git my clutches upon her, onc’t, never fear but she’s mine, safe enuff. These Black Hills hes got plenty o’ safe nooks ter hide a gal in, an’ I'll be ther owner uv as purty a piece o’—”’ He stopped and listened. Footsteps were again approaching, and this time they were light and rapid, which indicated to the scheming villain that the fair songstress of the Inter-Ocean establishment was at hand. And crouching like a panther in his lair Hagen waited—waited until the footfalls sounded just in front of him—ihen he leaped to his feet and out from his cover, with a yell of great triumph. But that yell turned to a growling curse, as he beheld, instead of the sen Sty te Lucille, no less a person than Deadwood Dick standing facing him. Yes, Deadwood Dick, who had punished the bully of the Bar, a few nights before, and for whom the miners of Flood Bar now offered large sums. If Hagen was astonished, Dick was probably not less so; yet he was instantly upon his guard, with a revolver in his hand, ready for use. ‘**Hello! what do you mean? Have you turned roe led robber?” the Prince asked, his tone tinged with sarcasm. ‘I expected to find your carcass lying in some hole, hereabouts, depending upon the Spaaity of some Hagens oa soul to bury it.” “Oh! did. ye?’ sneered Hagen, recovering his composure, somewhat, although he could not but feel uneasy when Deadwood Dick had the drop on him. “ Waal, I ain’t dead yet, ef ye did accidentall carve me sum, Didn’t take me for a weak calf, hope? Ef ye did, thar’s whar ye make a mistake, fer, Mr. Deadwood Dick, or w'atever-yer-name-is, you aire my prisoner.” “Your prisoner? By what authority?” Dick de- manded, coolly. ‘None 0° yer danged bizness—’cept thet I want ye tex surrender, or I'll bu’st yer jug fer ye, in style, an’ give ye ter the Vigilantes.” **Oh! don’t—please don’t!’ mocked the road- agent. “I know ye wouldn’t harm a poor innocent little thing like me?!” Big Hank did not reply except with a curse, as he leaped forward to seize his enemy; but there was a howl of rage, and a sharp flash and a report, under which Hagen went to the ground. “There, you brute, I guess maybe you'll keep qui- et, now, for a spell!”’ Bick muttered, spurning the body with his foot. Then he turned away, and crossed the foot-bridge onto the bar, moving with exceeding caution, for be caught napping by the now indignant Flood Bar- rn aces battle, and a hundred chances to one, of eath. He had not been gone ten moments when the songstress came along in company with Messrs. Miles, of the Inter-Ocean establishment. They saw the dead bully lying by the roadside, and Miles gave a breath of relief. 4 “One good riddance, thank God!" he ams devoutly. ‘‘Some one’s made a funeral for one o the worst ruffians in the territory. Flood Bar, I'm sure, will feel relieved.”’ Old Avalanche, Belmont, Miaco and Sam were sit- ting in the dwarf’s tent, later that same evening, smoking and spinning yarns, as was their vont, when there were no fights or excitement outside, to attract their attention. oa ‘*Ketch Deadwood Dick!’ the Great Annihilator was saying, in contempt at some previous remark; ‘no, sir-ee! nary a ketch of a feller who sicns the eend o’ his luv letters wi’ thet sa:ne notorious hame.” “ Well, if Deadwood Dick much longer evades the law and justice, it'll be far beyond my expectations,” said Belmont. ‘‘ Why, every other man in the Bar, nearly, has now joined the Vigilantes, and sworn death to the dare-devil road-agent.” “I don’t care a durn ‘ef every uther galoot, an’ every other galoot’s next door neighbor hes j’ined the Vigilantes; thet hain’t signicafistic thet they’re hea ter sift their fingers through Dickey’s beauti- ful hair. Great Centennial ham-bone thet perplexed old Joner! et aire my solemn wish thet ef they don’t let ther boy alone, w’en he’s offered ‘em fa’r induce- ments, thet he'll pitch inter ‘em, an’ lick ’em like thunderation. Grasshoppers an’ religyus buzzards! Ef Dick do evyer git his back up, ag’in, I tell ye things’ll smoke, an’ ye kin bet yer constitoochin on’t, Why, sar, ef ye war let heer uv sum o’ ther wonder- ful exploits Dick’s did, yer hair’d fly up on end so uick thet et’d jerk yer scalp off—fact, by gracious! nce know’d uv a similar sarcumstance, up in Mon- tana. After ye heer et ye ken’t doubt my word in sayin’ thet *twar wonderful. Ther case war sumthin like this: A feller hed lost his first wife an’ married a second. But he still luved ther fust, an’ used ter go set on ther top o’ her stun every as an’ whittle up pieces o’ rails as offerings sacrificial ter her speerit. One day while sittin’ thar, he felt a cold clammy hand lain onter his cheek, an’ his hair stuck upon end so quick thet ther electricity uv_ther mo- ment vie eg Ms off his scalp, jerked his neck out o° j'int, an’ dislocated his back-bone. They buried ther poor galoot next day, an’ his ashes aire now soaked inter lye, deep down in Terrance Firma, or ye kin call me a liar!” ‘* Avalanche,” broke in Miaco, ‘*I do solemnly be- lieve, meaning no ’fense, 0’ course, thet ye aire ther wust liar in existence. I once knew a feller who told a lie a minnit ev’ry day fer —! years, an’ then con- tinued ter work dubble time ther next forty; but, darn me ef I don’t b’lieve ye kin beat thet.” “*Hain’t goin’ ter try, Liliput. Great forsaken ham-bone, no! I ain’t one side o’ a buffler bull ter ye, w’ich aire useless. Ha!—”" The old man here started, and ey he ey in his speech—became rigid and motionless, his face as pray as granite rock. Not a muscle moved in his ly, and his breath came very slowly. In silent wonder his three companions looked on, Inno manner could they account for the strange change that had so suddenly come over the old man. But a voice, seeming to come from among them, soon spoke, and the words produced full as much mystery as the Annihilator’s antics. ‘Lay down, Avalanche!” the voice commanded, sternly, and to the astonishment and amused mysti- fication of the three spectators, the veteran scout got carefully upon his hands and knees, and rolled over on his back, with a disapproving snort. “None of your growling, Alva!’’ cautioned the voice of the unseen speaker, from another portion of the tent. “I won't have it. Shut your fly-trap, and your eyes, and tell me what you taste?” “Tarantler juice, by ther great ham-bone!” wag the quick response, ‘* And, what do you smell, Alva?” “ Fricasseed mud-turtle and clam salad!’’ was the ly. F An two very rare dishes, old man, which is con- clusive that you have seen better days. Now, ther, raise ourselt to a sitting posture, and cast your eyes about you, and tell me what you see,” said the same cool, stern voice, which now seemed to come down the smoke-hole of the tent. Accordingly the Great Annihilator rose to a sitting posture, and gazed on every side, with apparent sharp scrutiny, although the three miners noticed that eyes had a vacant, plazed look, “Well! well! what do you see?” again demanded the mysterious voice, comiig uireetly from in under Belmont’s chair, and causing (he Virginian to spring to his feet in consternation and ourpriees “TI see th-the Black Cabin!’ was the response of Avalanche, slowly. Belmont, Miaco and Squirrel Sam now pricked ux their Leg Nova the dialogue was growing more inter, est them. “Can you see inside of the cabin, old man?” ‘Great ham-bone, yes.” There is a mystery you must solve mie? ou he ae ok ~) 0 amen om de you see inside the a ‘A man—an ornery-lookin’ galoot, too.”’ “Indeed! describe him. ‘“‘ Antediluvian ham-bone, yes. Guess I recky thet figzer-head, now. Seen him down ter sou” B cuss, wi’ dark bazzoo, black eyes ,and black mus- tache. Dressed in ther toggery 0’ a herder frum “Moses in ther bullrushes, yes. More’n fifty-lev- en hoels in ther side o’ ther wall, heart high, wi’ ther snoots o’ rifles an’ revolvers stickin’ inter ‘em. Asides, thar’s a bull arsenal 0’ tools in his belt.’ “Ts this all you see ?”’ * Atl, pard, ‘cepting ther furnitur’.”’ ‘Be careful, Alva, don’t lie to me lest I knock you (EO) (E(0) JOO cS in (C