Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 606 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

By this time the howling mob had reached the daouse, and there came a loud knock. Dick at once opened the door, and was con- fronted bya brawny, six-foot individual, with startling red whiskers, ‘* [’m the sheriff!” this mountain of muscle vand bone announced, ‘* and we’re lookin’ fer Ben Brice, the murderer! Is be here?” ‘* Ben Brice!” echoed Dick, in well-assumed astonishment, ‘* What d’ye take us for? D’ye suppose we give shelter to sech cattle as him?” ‘** I didn’t know but what he might hev beg- ged fer purtection, an’ ye give et to him!” the official] declared. ** Being, myself, a United States cetective, I ‘would be in fine feather, harboring criminals of Ben Brice’s stamp, wouldn’t I?” Dick retorted, with biting sarcasm, ‘‘ However, here’s the house, You're at liberty to search it, if you have got the time to spare. Probably if Brice ds fleeing from you, he’d like nothing better than to have you tarry here awhile, and let Shim get a lead on you.” The sheriff stared at Dick a moment, asif be was at at a loss what to make of him; then turn- ing abruptly, he cried: ‘** By thunder, boys, that’s so! The cuss ain’t heer, and we're lettin’ precious time slip by us. ‘Come on! ‘come on! we'll catch him yet!” and away the officer plunged into the inky night, followed by the howling mob, some of whom carried torches and lanterns, while Dick closed the door with a sense of relief. “‘T didn’t believe the bluff would work!” he ‘mused, ‘‘ but it seems it did. Maybe I didn’t do just right in screening Brice, but I at. least saved a buman life, That infuriated mob would have torn him to pieces. Now, he must get, while there is time,” At this juncture, Mrs. Sheldon and Susie en- ‘tered the room, pale and agitated. “Oh! Mr. Bristol, are they gone?” the widow gasped. ‘* We were so frightened!” “* They are gone!” Dick replied. ** And that terrible man isn’t here? Oh, I am soglad! I knew he could not be here, when you gave the sheriff the privilege of searching the house.” ** On the contrary, Ben Brice is here!” Dick declared. ‘* 1 took the liberty of hiding him. I am human, and I would not see a fellow buman ‘torn to pieces by a vengeful mob!” ‘Ben Brice is here!” that individual said, Shepp oe inside the room—and a sorry looking sight he was—‘‘ but only for a minute. Dead- wood Dick, king among men, I owe you my life, and will lay it down any time to shield you from barm. The risk you took in protecting ‘me from that mob, has made a new man of me. Henceforth, Ben Brice, the ruffian is no more, Dut a different and a better man will supersede him. I cannot tarry longer and endanger the dives of these ladies, To-morrow, or next day, ‘at furthest, [ will send for you, and keep my promise, as regards the Cohen matter. Good-by!” ““Good-by!” Dick replied, shaking the out- stretched hand. Then the door was opened, and Brice bolted out into darkness and was gone. Dick closed and locked the door. ‘*Mr, Bristol, I am astonished that you, of all “men should act the part of a humanitarian. I Should have thought you would have put him under arrest, He is an awful wretch.” ‘“* [ firmly believe that, after to-night, no one ‘will have just cause to call him that!” Dick re- ‘plied. “If you will be kind trie to retire, I wish to prepare for an evening call,” ‘ “But the mob! They will come back!” gasp- ed the widow, paling. ‘“‘They are coming now!” cried Susie. ‘ Lis- ten |” Sure enough. A suppressed roar of voices “was approaching, It was the mob returning, They passed the cottage without halting, how- vever, and the sound of voices and trample of ‘feet soon died out. ‘There! you'll have no more bother to-night,” Dick announced, glancing at his watch, The mother and daughter took the hint at this -and, bidding him good-night, retired to their own room, Dick then proceeded to make up his disguise -of Colonel Jim Cushing, which was by no means an easy task, While be was thus busied, Billy Bucket ar- rived and stated that nothing out of the usual routine of business had occurred during the day at the pawn-shop. At last Dick’s disguise was arranged to his ‘satisfaction, and bidding his young partuer good- night, he set out to make his evening call upon the Crawfords, in bopes that he would there meet the Widow Redfern. , LLL LLL LLL LC Ct ai $$$ —_ eS CHAPTER XIII, THE REFUGEE, It was full nine o’clock when Dick rapped upon the door of the Crawford cottage, and pretty Ella came to answer the summons. *“Why, Colonel Cushing!” she cried, giving Dick a cursory glance, ‘is it you? Come right in. Iam sure we are very glad to see you.” Then, as she closed the door, she gave him a nudge and whispered: ** She’s bere!” She led the way into the parlor, where Mrs, Crawford and Mrs, Redfern were seated. ‘Why, Colonel Cushing, I axa delighted to see you, tam sure!” Mrs. Crawford said, rising and extending her hand. ‘You are quite a stranger. When did you arrive in town? “Oh, a few days ago, but being a stranger here, I had some difficulty in finding you,” Dick replied, handing her his hat. ‘*Mr, Cushing, allow me to introduce you to Mrs, Redfern. Mrs, Redfcrn, Mr, Cushing, a friend of ours.” | The introduction was courteously acknowl- edged, but by no word or action did Dick or the Redfern woman betray that they had ever met before, After the little party had chatted for a while, Mrs. Crawford said: ‘*We were about to engageina cher when you came, colonel. Wi us?’ ame of eu- ‘“With pleasure!” the colonel replied, ‘al- | though it is a long time since I engaged in a game with a Chinaman, who tore me out, bad!” The cards were produced, and several games were played, but Mr, Cushing did not get more than two or three points each game. ‘Why, you are in bad luck, Mr. Cushing!” Mrs, Crawford averred. ‘*1’m bound to be; there’s no help for it, when Deadwood Dick’s Leadville Lay. | I hold a certain unlucky card, nearly every | hand.” “An unlucky card? Why, I didn’t know there was one card more unlucky than the rest. ‘** But, there ir, and it is even a fatal card to whoever it follows so persistently.” **To which card do you refer!” ‘To the ace of diamonds, There’s blood upon that card! Itis an omen of death, to win with it. Hence, when I[ hold it, I always discard it or lose it at first opportunity.” ‘*That’s very strange!” Mrs. Crawford re- marked, ‘Shall we have another game?” ‘* No, I think not,” Mrs. Redfern demurred, ‘*It is nearly eleven o’clock, and I have quite a little ways to go, and it is so very dark—~<o I guess I’d better be going.” ‘Perhaps you might prevail upon Colonel Cushing to act as your escort,” Mrs, Crawford suggested, with a sly glance at ber caller. ‘*It would be great pleasure to me to be of that service,” Dick assented, bowing, ‘If it will not be too much trouble,” Mrs, Redfern simpered, Bidding the Crawfords good-night, the twain took their departure, En route, through the inky darkness, Dick asked: ‘‘ Have you lived long in Leadville, Mrs, Red- fern?” ‘* A trifle over a year.” ‘*’'You are, [ understand, a widow?” ** Alas! yes.” ‘ ‘It must be very lonely for you in that big house. Did your laté husband build it?” “Ob! no. That house has a history, It was built by Jerry Price, the highwayman, who was known here in Leadville as Timothy Green, the miser. He speculated some in stocks, but was never much of a success, and, as he continued to amass wealth, where others failed, it became a matter of public curiosity as to what source he owed his prosperity. “It was not until on his death-hed that he revealed that he was the notorious Jerry Price, who had, for a long time, succeeded in making rich hauls from stages and Express companies, Yes,” the widow added, in conclusion, “ it is very lonely in the big house, with only one ser- vant for company.” And she heaved a long sigh. ‘* T suppose,” oirvoed Dick idea of marrying again?” “Ob! I might, if I was suited, I should want aman, however, with means to support me. I[ am wealthy, in a way, but my wealth is not con- vertible into ready cash.” ‘“‘Tsee, Well, I cannot blame you for wish- ing to be provided for,” Dick assured her. bey soon came to the Redfern residence, **'Won’t you come in, and have a glass of wine?” the widow asked, “ that you have no ——— ** No, not to-night, as the hour is late. With your permission, perhaps, [ll call to-morrow evening.” “*Do so. I shall be glad to have you!” the scheming widow gushingly declared, They then shook hands, bade each other good- night, and Dick turned his steps homeward, ‘To-morrow night!” he mused, “I'll have a look at the Cohen diamonds, and wind up the case maybe,” He returned to the Sheldon cottage, removed sp disguise, and turned in for a good night’s sleep. The-next day, he remained at the cottage, presuming that, if he received any message at all, from Ben Brice, it would be sent there. The morning also brought the news that Ben Brice was probably not the murderer of the man at the south end, as a chain of circum- stances had been unearthed that pointed to- wort another desperado, who had been ar- rested, The forenoon passed, and, by noonday, Dick ee about given up all hope of hearing from rice. ‘‘He has probably skipped for st a un- known,” the detective concluded. ‘‘ Well, so be it! I won’t bother my head about bim.” But, just after dinner, a little half-breed boy made his appearance at the cottage, with a note you join | for Mr, Richard Bristol.” It was simply a strip of brown paper, on which was written: “EF How the boy. He will bring you. B. B.” Donning his coat, he followed the lead of the dusky lad, and had all he could do to keep up with him, for the young red-skin was as fleet of foot as a fawn. In due time, after a toilsome climb up the mountain-side, they entered the mouth ofan abandoned tunnel, or, as it is known in mining parlance—a drift. Advancing into this a short distance, they came to a little fire, and there Brice was, lying upon the ground. With an effort, he arose to ‘his feet, and ex- tended his hand. He was very pale, and had washed most of the blood from his face and hands, ‘* Welcome, my good friend! I felt sure you would come, Take a seat on the ground—for, you see, my stock of furniture is not very ex- tensive,” **'You louk pale!” Dick observed. wounded?” ‘Only a flesh wound, and that’s stopped bleeding, now.. ’m purty weak, but I guess Pll pull through all right, How’s things in town?” ‘| bear that another man has been arrested, and it is now thought probable that you did not commit the murder.” “Thank God for that! Bad as I have been, there is no stain of blood upon my hand! And, now, 1 suppose, you want to know about the stage robbery?” ss Yes,” ‘I presume you have suspected me of having a hand in it?” ‘It don’t matter. You can give me your version of the affair, and I will make my own deductions from your statement,” ‘Well, at the time of the stage rebbery, and the murder of old Cohen, I was sick—flat on my back, with the delirium tremens. I never knew anything about the affair, until a week after- ward, and never suspected who the robbers were until some time after that.” | ‘* How did you find out, then?” ‘Well, you see, Ray Redfern—maybe you've heard o’ him—and myself, were chums; sort of bosom companions as it were. When he got broke, at playing bank, he’d come to me fora ‘lift,’ and when I got broke, ’'d go to him; so, we were sorter like brothers to one another. ‘* Well, one night when we had been soakin’ in the bug-juice pretty stiff, Redfern got over- confidential, and told me all about the stage coach business, ‘* It seems the whole thing had been planned out, before the robbery, Mrs. Redfern, who had just come from the South, had known the Cohens were about to start for Leadville. She had hastened on in advance, posted Ray, and together they concocted a scheme for robbery, ‘They were in Pueblo when the Cohens arrived, and learned of the bargain the Jew made to be brought on to Leadville by stage. ‘‘ Thoroughly equipped in borse-flesh, and dis- ** Are you guised, they took a short cut, and reached the — point where the robbery occurred, in advance o the stage. r ‘* What then and there occurred, has probably —— ee a eee . . . < a oe ~~ a s