Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 618 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

Deadwood Dick Jr. in Cincinnati. ‘Ah! Bristol! Bristol!” and the captain | the cab which Dick had chartered, and en route, scratched his head, thoughtfully. ‘‘1t occurs to me I’ve heard of you before, in connection with some Western work—at Denver, I’ve an idea.” ‘Yes, [ worked up a job there, within the present year,” Dick replied, “Yes, yes! Well r. Bristol, I am right glad to meet you. Of what service can I be to rou?” ’ ‘‘Tam at work on a very important case!” Dick explained. ‘*‘Do you happen to have a couple of private detectives I can employ for night-watchers men who can be implicitly re- lied upon to attend to the duty assigned them? Their pay will be satisfactory, and they can go off duty at seven in the morning. My partner and I will look after the day work.” ‘* What is the nature of the job?” the captain asked. ‘‘Of course we are, in a measure, in duty bound to accommoda e you, but we always hke to know something of a case when we place our men.” ‘Nothing more natural, The case is this: At one of your principal hotels two adroit scoun- drels are stopping, who will attempt to escape frcm the city at first opportunity, when they | think they will not be liable to be nabbed. They are assoviates in a heinous scheme concerning oae of your well-snown citizens and his daugh- ter. ‘* Tt is not our purpose to arrest them just yet, but itis imperative that when they leave that hotel, their every movement be shadowed, be it for a day, a week, or a year. Their move- ments, actions, and associations must be known. The gentleman in whose employ I am will foot all the bills, he being several times over a mil+ lionaire.” The captain elevated his eyebrows. ‘* And who may your employer be, if the case is of such magnitude?” he queried, ‘* Mr, Jabez Clincher, ou probably know of him?” The captain whistled. ‘* Well, I should say so! quaintance of mine,” ‘Well, he is the backer,” ‘** Then that settles that. You shali have the men, I know the pay will be allright. We've furnished Clincher with men before, but they were not successful on the work. And so you have got hold of the case?” ‘* Yes,” ** Do you expect to win?’ ‘*T do. I have for a number of years been re- markably successful.” ‘* But you'll find this a tough one.” ‘“Maybe—maybe not. I have tosay I never lost a case yet!” ‘‘Then you are phenomenon. Who are those men?’ ‘* One is Moore, the other a scamp of the same caliber.” ‘* W hat hotel are they at?’ ‘‘The Palace. Of course that don’t cast any reflection on the place, as they are there under assumed names,” “Oh, of course! men?” ** At once,” ‘You are sure that those men are at the hotel?” ‘* Positive. I have seen them both.” ‘“ Why not arrest them, and have done with the matter at once?” ‘* Because they must be shadowed until they disclose the whereabouts of Clara Clincher, if she oe living, and of her son, whom I have proof is iving. The captain shrugged his great broad shoul- He is a personal,ac- When do you want your ers. ‘‘T’m of the opinion that you have tackled a tough job,” he said. ‘“‘ However, that’s none of my business. I wish you all success in the world. Here, Jerry!” This to the office messenger, who was fast asleep, ' Jerry arose, with a yawn, rubbed his eyes, and shuffled to the desk. ** Go order Stinson and Blackman to report imediately for duty,” the captain ordered. Tell them it’s important. Hurry, now!” Jerry left the office with but a little more- alacrity than a snail, and during his absence, Dick and the captain bad a smoke and a chat, The detectives arrived in about half an bour. They were shrewd, wide-awake looking fellows, and after being introduced to Deadwood Dick, the police captain briefly but clearly explained what they were wanted for. They agreed to enter Dick’s employ at a mod- erate stipulated amount per diem, and Dick at once clinched the bargain with a retainer. Then they left for Fifth and Vine streets, in : ’ “§ an) wy: ‘ > oc ’ 77) 4% 4 CAO 8 é Bo PON. oy ‘AX a ‘ be ee ' ° : 4 . Pe ee : a ‘ ‘ a aa c 2 ~? “ Ww wide Se... rc be gave the detectives a description of Moore and King, ‘*Ohb! PU know Moore, when I see him,” Stin- son remarked. ‘‘I had adeal with him, some years ago, and got soaked, and I’m not afther fergitten his mug, bad luck to bim!” When they reached Fifth and Vine streets, the Bull-dog was still doing duty, with the pertina- city of the canine from whom he had taken his most extraordinary nickname, ‘* Any news?” Dick queried, as he and hiscom- panions alighted from the conveyance, ‘* N. thin’ more than thet King waltzed down stairs, got a bottle filled, and waltzed back ag’in. | Reckon they’re corraled safe enuff, fer the | night.” ‘** Tt may be, but it won’t do to take any rocky | chances, you see. They may try totake a sneak in the morning’s early hours.” He then issued instructions to the local detec- tives, and entering the cab, he and the Bull-dog were driven to Mount Auburn, where they were soon in sound repose, in the latter’s room. Dick was so much fatigued, thro :gh his ex- ertions of the previous day, that ne slept like a. burgomaster. And the chances are big that he would have slept until noon, bad he not been awakened at daybreak, by young Clincher rude- ly shaking him. ** Get up! get up!” the Bull-dog cried. ‘““Why, what’s the matter?” Dick sleepily de- manded. ‘*Matter? Why, darn it, there’s heaps the matter. The old man’s been salivated!” What?” ‘* T'rue as acorns grows on oaks!” ‘You don’t mean killed? Impossible!” *' Waal, no, he hain’t dead, but ;: loot | > , Pettgarbane Aig. darn part | those tough old Yankee hickory-nuts that is hard to crack. hes carved him up purty much, Guess he ain’t dangerous off, but he aire ruther carved up, an’ y@ kin bet on et!” “This is Boggs’s work,” Dick decided, as he leaped out of bed, and began to dress himself, ‘an’ that devil, King, hired him to do it!” CHAPTER IX. A COWARDLY ASSAULT—ESCAPED. It did not take the detective long to dress, and then he followed the Bull-dog hastily down-stairs—for Mr, Clincher occupied a suite of rooms on the first floor, just off the parlor. Here a terrible sight awaited Dick’s gaze. In the parlor, instead of in his own apart- ments, the elder Clincher lay, outstretched upon the floor, unable to arise, from weak- ness through loss of blood, with which the moquette carpet was literally saturated. He was liberally slashed up, about the face, with a knife, and, as Dick found, on exam- ination, had two shots in the left breast. nounced. “‘ Hello!” ‘*Is that you, captain?” ** Yes. Who are you?” ‘* Bristol, detective.” ‘‘ What do you want?” ** Have the force keep a sharp lookout for a man called Boggs—a tough—and arrest him at sight!” ‘Allright. What for?” ‘* Attempted murder.” ‘Allright. Good-by.” ‘* Good-by!” Jing-arling-a jing! When Dick got back to the parlor the Bull-dog had returned. ‘‘Sis will be down in aminnit!” he an- ‘*She’s got grit, sis has, by blazes]! She tuk the matter calmer than I thort she would, lynch me ef she didn't! She’s clear Clincher, frum hoof to horns, an’ don’t ye fergit that!” Dick made no reply, but set to work. Ex- perience now stood him in well, for it had made him a capital impromptu surgeon. As soon as Cora came down, pale, but more composed than Dick had thought she would be under the circumstances, he or- 'dered brandy and bandages, and soon was dressing Clincher’s wounds, with delicate and skillful touch. ‘‘Is he dangerously hurt?” Cora asked, with much concern. ‘‘I should say not,” he replied. ‘* He'll no doubt be sore for a time, but he is one af We'll be having him talking of pork in a few days, never fear.” The impromptu surgeon at length had old Clincher patched up so that he might have been mistaken for an Egyptian mummy of huge size. Brandy was then urged down his throat, and had the effect to restore him to con- sciousness. | He opened his eyes, stared around him a moment confusedly, then, with a snort, sat bolt upright. ‘‘Thunder ’n’ Mars! What’s the matter?” he demanded, feeling of his face. ‘* You ought to know best,” Dick replied. ‘‘’'You were found here on the parlor floor, taking aswimin your own blood, and I’ve been trying to put you together as best I could. How do you feel?” = ‘* Like as if ’'d been chawed up by a pas- sel of condemned hogs, what hadn’t had no But they were not deep, nor of sucha) corn fer a month. Give me some brandy. character as to cause alarm. Mr. Clincher was unconscious. ‘‘Is the old man a goner?”’ whispered the Bull-dog. I feel as weak as a stuck shoat!”’ “‘T don’t wonder. You’ve lost enough gore to make an elephant stagger,” Dick re- plied, as he administered the drink. ‘* You've ‘‘Nothing of the sort!” Dick replied. | had a tough time of it, but if you keep quiet ‘“He’s better than a graveyard full o’ dead | for a fewdays you will come out all right.” men, yet. Where's your sister?” “In bed.” “Go call ber. I want bandages!” ‘I’m afraid tew, pard. Ye know gals ain't got as strong narves as—” ‘* Nonsense!” retorted Dick, sharply. ‘* I'll | bet Miss Cora has more nerve than you have, in a crisis of this sort. Go do my bidding, and then hurry back. D’ye hear?” The Butte City Bull-dog stared. He was not used to being bossed about in this style, Swallowing the brandy, Clincher sat fora few minutes in silence, staring at the blood- soaked carpet. ‘‘ Looks as ef I had been in the soup,” he muttered. ! Then, rising, he walked to the pier-glass and took a survey of himself. ‘‘Huh!” he commented. ‘‘ Pork is down, sure. Am I dangerously wounded?” ‘*Not necessarily so,’ Dick replied. ‘‘ The most you need is quiet—perfect rest and evidently; but, catching the determined glit- | freedom from excitement.” ter in Deadwood Dick’s ‘eyes, he left the | room and ambled off up-stairs, in search of his sister. ; It was barely daybreak, and Dick pre- sumed the official with whom he had con- off duty; so he sought the telephone, one of which instruments graced the Clincher li- brary, and cailed up the Central Office. ‘Hello! that you, Central?” * Correct ”’ ‘*Give me Police Headquarters,” ‘All right. Good-by.” | “ Good-by.” ] Jing-a-ling-a jing! ** Hello!” ) grimly: dog, enthusiastically. sulted the previous evening would not yet be | the old stock, and I’ll go ten to one that ther had gone to roost, an’ I ’woke up ‘bout three ‘Oh, I’m not dead yet,” the old man said, ‘‘The Clinchers, of Clincherville, ie hard.” “You bet they do!” chimed in the Bull- ‘““They sprout from vld man could lick his weight in wildcats this very minnit!” ‘‘T’d like ter have the skunk here that frescoed me, and I’d show ye!” Clincher, Sr., averred. . ‘*Do you remember the particulars of the assault, Mr. Clincher?” Dick inquired, some- what amused. ‘* Yas, some of ’em!” was the answer. ‘I ’ ‘oo 7 7 ~ @] O07 O16 é | : | 4 7 ee ¥ 2 — ‘ ces wa - ‘ae. ye eos, | [ *