Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 618 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 ‘Dunno! He’s taken care ter padlock the door, on the outside.” ‘Well, what’s to be done?” ‘‘ First, answer me a question. Zeb got a wife?” Has old ‘*No. She’s dead, years ago.” ‘‘Good! There’s no danger, then. What we must do, is ter waltz right over ter that ‘cabin, force an entrance through one o’ the windows, and have a look around.”’ ‘‘ Dangerous!” Parsons said, with a shake ~Of his head. **Mebbe it is, but we aire armed, and if wu'st comes to wu'st we can fight. We can’t ‘ford to go away from here ’thout havin’a look at the insides o’ that aire cabin,” knowing ‘‘ just what ¢sv’t thar.” “Well, go ahead and we'll follow.” The Bull-dog led off, Parsons and Pepper following him, and in due time the cabin was reached, baving been approached from the rear. There was but one window on this side. This soon yielded to the combined efforts of the two men to raise it and the trio were soon inside. It was very dark, but the Montanan struck a match, and soon found a tallow candle, by which they were enabled to see their sur- roundings. This cabin of Zeb King, unlike most log cabins, was divided off into several compart- ments, the largest one of which was the bar- room, a dirty, foul-smelling place with a rough counter, and a shelf behind it contain- ing a few whisky bottles and glasses, Leaving Pepper at the cabin door, to givé an alarm, in case old Zeb or his colleagues were heard returning, the two men proceeded to investigate the place. ‘The first room ex- amined, after the bar-room, was a bedroom —evidently where old Zeb had slept, judging by the disordered state of things. The next was asort of combined kitchen and store-room; at the last room they came to, it was discovered that the door was lock- ed, with a padlock. “By Jingo! Ill bet my boots we've struck somethin’, at last!” So, he pounded on the door, and cried. ‘* Hello! any one in there?” ‘Who is it?” a faint voice replied. ‘‘Et’s Bill Clincher, the howling Bull- dorg from Butte City, Montana, an’ a friend 9’ his’n ‘*Thank God! I am Clara Clincher and am a prisoner here. For God’s sake release me!”’ ‘‘You bet we will! Jest hold yer hosses for a few minutes, and we'll have you out in great shape.” They soon found an ax, with which the fastenings of the door were demolished, and, a moment later, William Clincher and his sister Clara were clasped in each other’s seembrace, Clara was a comely looking little woman, ‘though her pallid features bespoke priva- ‘tion and suffering. ‘“*Oh! William,” she cried, ‘‘I am so glad—so glad. I thought you were dead!”’ “And that’s what we’ve been thinkin’ about you, Clara! Where’s yer babby—yer boy?” ‘* Why, he has been dead quite a while,” ‘‘Then thet cuss, Moore, was tryin’. to palm off some other kid onter my old man, sayin’ thet the kid was yourn, and you were dead. Hedidn’t succeed, however. Where is Moore and the rest of the gang, now?” ‘‘T don’t know—maybe at old Zeb’s still. Oh! let’s hurry and get away from this awful place, where I have been a pris- oner so long! If old Zeb and the gang ‘should come back, and find you here, all would be lost.” ‘‘There’d be likely to be some blood lost, Til agree to that!” the Bull-dog declared, grimly. ‘‘But, there’s another matter to attend to before we leave heer D’ye know Deadwood Dick Jr. in Cincinnati. whether ,there is another prisoner about the premises—a detective?” ‘‘Some one is confined in the cellar for I’ve heard him groan, but I don’t know who it is.” ‘It’s the detective, I'll bet my boots!” the Bull-dog ejaculated. ‘’ You stay here with Parsons, sis, an’ ’ll go and investi- ate.” And, lighting another candle, he set about hunting the way to the cellar. He was not long in finding it—a trap door in the floor, behind the bar. Lifting this he clambered down a steep flight of stairs into the cellar, which was long, nar- row and deep, and was littered with bar- rels, boxes, and rubbish. The walls were for the most part solid rock, and this was of soft limestone formation. After a brief search, Clincher came to where a dungeon had been chipped out of the rock, and the entrance to this was guarded by a stout oken door, which was barred on the.outside, Removing the bars, the Bull-dog threw the door wide open, and flashed his light into the rock room, Then he sprung for- ward, with a cry of exultation, for there, lying upon a’bed of dry weeds and leaves, was indeed Deadwood Dick! He was pale and considerably emaciated, and his beard had grown a couple of inches long. He arose, feebly, when he saw the Bull- dog, and welerthed his hand. “Tam glad you have come,” he said. ““T was just wondering if I were ever to get out of this den alive. Have you found your sister, yet?” ‘Yes, and set her at liberty. been sick?” ‘Yes. I came near peggin’ out from ex- posure, and a wound I got. But, ’m get- tin’ stronger, now. Sothe bootblack came back to Cincinnati and told you, eh?” ‘Yes. He’s a brick!” ‘You're right; he is. Where’s the gang?” ‘Give it up. Theshebang was locked up when wecame. Isuspect they’re at old Zeb’s still. Anyhow, the sooner we get away from here, the better.” ‘IT guess you are right. But, after I’m stronger I don’t mean to leave here ’til I’ve jugged every one of the gang, or laid ’em out!” They left the cellar, and went up-stairs, Dick making the ascent with difficulty. Here he was presented to Clara. ‘‘Sis, this is Deadwood Dick, the detec- tive, who hunted ye out, an’ nigh got the gizzard blowed out o’ him, a-tryin’ ter rescue you!” the Bull-dog announced. ‘‘He’s a Jim-dandy, you bet! andif it hadn’t been for him, you'd ’a’ never been found!” Just then, the bootblack was heard shout- ing from the bar-room. ‘“‘Hyer they come, like a pack o’ howlin’ hyenas. We've been diskivered, and ther enemy aire goin’ to warm our jackets!” CHAPTER XVI. IN A TIGHT PLACE—PEPPER’S HEROISM. Tue startling cry of Peter Pepper caused the others to rush for the bar-room, in great haste. Peter had already closed and*bolted the strong wooden shutters, and barred the door on the inside with the heavy oaken bars, designed for that purpose. ‘*Now, then, you go close t’other shut- ters, and bolt ’em good!” he ordered of Bob Parsons, with authority of one born to command, and Bob hastened to obey. Meanwhile, Dick and the Bull-dog were peering through loop-holes, several of which perforated the sides of the cabin. Coming across the glade were full twenty men, all brandishing torches and yelling and gesticulating like a pack of Comanches on the war-path. That they had discovered the presence of Have you their enemies in the mountain tavern, seemed more than probable. Dick turned to Pepper, and ‘said: ‘These fellers haven't got rifles. Have you discovered any guns about the place?” Pepper nodded: ‘‘The closet yonder, is full of ’em,”’ he said, ‘‘an’ all of ‘em aire loaded repeaters.” ‘“Fetch ’em out!” Dick ordered, ‘‘ and don’t be slow about it. One shot may tem- porarily check the cusses, but ef we let ’em git near the cabin, they’ll make it warm for us.” Peter at once brought forth two loaded Winchester repeating rifles, and gave cone each to Dick and the Bull-dog. He then provided himself with one, and thus the whole party were equipped, Parsons having his own weapon. ‘‘Now, then,’ Dick said, to Clincher, ‘when I say ‘Go!’ pick out your man, and drop him. It’s our only chance for galya- tion.” Both men took aim through the loop-holes, and, at the signal, fired. Two of the leaders fell, when the party came to a halt and beld a few seconds’ con- sultation, and then picking up their com. rades, they retreated out of range of bullets, and held a protracted confab, evidently. ‘They are indulging in a council of war,” Dick decided. ‘‘ They feel rather doubtful. If you were tracked here from Rockwood, they may fear you’ve got more men with you than they'd care to tackle.” “They fear nothing, them chaps don’t,” declared Bob Parsons. ‘‘I know ’em of old, and they’re as fearless a lot as ever smelt powder. They’re figgerin’ to see how they can get at us with the least danger to themselves. We must keep watch of their every movement or we will get left, sure.” The consultation of the roughs, lasted for several minutes, and, although those in the house could not hear what was said, they knew by the excitement and. cries of ven- geance, that hot work was coming. ‘‘T wouder if Moore and Cap King are among the gang?” Dick asked. ‘*Tf they are, I reckon they will take jolly good care to keep as far in the rear as pos- sible,” the Bull-dog replied. ‘*‘ They both know that I’ve got in for ’em, and they don’t care to hear me howl!” It soon became evident that the gang ‘meant to approach the cabin in four sections, and on four sides, and begin the siege, simul- taneously, ‘We shall have to each one of us take a side,” Dick thereupon announced, ‘and fight for our lives. No mercy is to beshown us. Petey, do you think you can hold one end of the building?” ‘‘Shouldn’t wonder ef [I could, boss. Leastwise, I kin try. Never hed much ex- perience shutin’ men, but I’ve shot a good bit in shutin’ galleries, so I understand how to pull trigger,”’ ‘‘Good. You go to the south end 0’ the cabin, you, Bull-dorg to the rear, and Par- sons to the north. I'llLlook after the front. Don't let the cusses get nearer the cabin than you can help!” Then the detective took another peep through the loop-hole. ‘* Bad luck to us!” he muttered. ‘‘ What’s the matter?”” demanded Parsons. ‘Why, the devils have got a reinforcement of ten men!” « And are likely to have fifty more!” the Bull-dog added. ‘‘ Ah! why so?” AS use there’s a little settlement, beyond that belt o’ timber, an’ the land an’ most o’ ther houses are mortgaged to old Zeb King. So when he calls, the settlers are boumd ter cum ter time, ye see.” ‘If you will give me a rifle,” Clara said. ‘*T will help Peter defend the southera end. I know how to handle a rifle, better than you may suppose,” comic ‘s > ' t bh oa oe Jas Nee . oe a) /} . ‘ N wees i. » , 7 . we : a). oo Sree ee YS