Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 630 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Deadwood Dick Jr. in No-Man’s Land. not kickin’, ef he are willin’ to put up with the grub. He seems to like the juice, and maybe we can fix him up ou fodder.” ‘‘It would bea grear favor to get accom- modations in this neighborhood!” remarked Dick, ‘‘and probably I can add somewhat to our fortune. Some of the plot for my town shall probably buy from you, and in case we can come to an agreement, I’ll guarantee that you shall have the sole wholesale liquor interest in the place. After deciding on my plans, I think I can have a hundred colonists here within a month, the foundation of the town I propose to start! More will follow, and you, the only liquor man allowed in the town, will be all the richer for the mo- nopoly.” Old Heep’s eyes fairly sparkled with the excitement of greed. ' ' ‘‘The gentleman can have accommodations here, to be sure!” the venerable sinner as- sured, blandly, and at the nominal expense of fifty cents a day, all he wants to drink in- cluded. If he starts a town here, Ill give him mighty good figures, for then my busi- ness will be good. Old woman, give us some out o’ that barl of four-year-old. Don’t take any yourself, for 1 allow you hev been knockin’ off the profits of late. Yer nose is gitten as red as the midnight sun, what we read about!” ‘Look at yer own!” fired back Mrs. Heep. ‘‘You have nothing to brag of. Yer nose are like a peony in full bloom, you old bummer!” ‘“Well, Mr. Heep, I will accept of your terms,” Dick said, ‘‘and go you fifty cents better. .[ don’t want accommodations for nothing. Boys,” turning to Oaks and Gol- conda, ‘“‘I shall remain here. Come around and see me in the morning.” ‘¢We will!” Oaks declared. Then they arose and ieft. Dick was now alone with the Heeps. And a ‘‘ heap o’ trouble” was before him! o--- -::e eo CHAPTER XVI. TROUBLE—SERIOUS TROUBLE. Tue three talked late, Dick essaying to obtain some clew or information to aid in his adventurous search, but very little informa- tion was forthcoming. Finally the old woman had fallen off ae and the old man was beginning to nod. sa of the men had yet come from the still. **My opportunity will soon be at hand,” thought Dick. But, he was mistaken; the old man soon aroused. ‘* What time is it?” he demanded. ‘* Bleven o’clock!” ‘¢ We'll have a drink,’ And they had it. Then, the old man dropped off into what was apparently another doze, but, Dick was now suspicious; Mr. Heep was not the sort of a man to go to sleep if he was guarding a secret, And that was what he was doing, to the - best of Dick’s belief. As the minutes flew by things began to grow exceedingly monotonous, so Dick arse and paced the floor. Turning sharply, once, he caught Heep watching him, steadfastly. As soon as the old chap saw that he was discovered, he yawned, ahd apparently went to sleep again. “Hal I thought so!” muttered Dick; ‘‘I am suspected of being a spy!” Old Heep was not asleep, but Mrs. Heep was. There could be little doubt of that, for she was snoring most vigorously. In his tour about the room, Dick made a discovery. A bottle of laudanum on a little shelf, among other medicines. % . = oer —- ee **Ha!l now I'll fix him!” the adventurer muttered—and he did. Watching his chance, he poured some of it into old Heep’s glass and filled the glass up with whisky, after which he aroused the sleeper. ‘* Let's have another drink,” he said. ** K-rect!”’ And drink they did. ‘‘Good whisky?” Heep declared. ‘* Bully, sir. Never tasted better!” Then the old sinner passed off into another apparently sound sleep. While Dick waited patiently, and while waiting for the drug to take effect, the detec- tive resumed his walk-around., There were three doors opening off the kitchen—one leading out of doors, the others into another part of the house. These latter he tried, but found that they were locked. An hour passed, ‘‘T wonder if old Heep is asleep?” Dick queried, now thoroughly impatient. So he went and shook Heep. ‘‘What d’ye want?’ was the drowsy de- mand. ‘‘T thought maybe you was asleep.” ** Nix!” ‘¢Want more whisky?” “ee Oa. Dick had the laudanum handy. This time he put a full teaspoonful of the ‘drug into the liquor, which Heep swallowed at a guip. , ‘‘That will put him to sleep, unless he has got a cast-iron stomach!” thought Dick. But he was wrong; the laudanum seemed to have no more effect on Heep than so much water; rather, it seemed to liven him up, although -it was evident his mind was not quite clear. . ‘*Old woman!” he said directly, but with eyes closed. ‘‘Well?” Dick responded. ‘*‘ What d’ye want?” ‘* Whisky!”’ ‘‘ Haven’t you had enough?” ‘‘Nevef git enuff—never! Mine is (hic) the best in the country, ain’t it?” ‘Old man, you’re drunk!” said Dick, in as near imitation of Mrs. Heep’s voice as possible. “ Who’s drunk, you old fool?” ‘« You are!” ‘‘ Well, what ef I am? Et’s my drunk, ain’t et? Gimme some more whisky.” ‘Tf I don’t settle you this time, I'll fix you in another way!” decided Dick. It was now after twelve o’clock! The boarder now put at least a tablespoon- ful of the laudanum into the glass, and then the whisky. ‘‘ Now, drink that and go to bed,” he said. Heep swallowed the charge without open- ing his eyes. Then, after a bit. he asked: ‘ Where's the feller?” “What feller?” é' “The cuss that’s goin’ ter build a town!” **Oh! he’s gone.” “Gone where?” ‘To bed, you old fool) Where d’ye sup- pose?” This to all appearances settled him, for he soon began to snore like a soldier. Still, Dick was not fully satisfied that he was asleep, until he saw him fall forward on his face, on the floor. As this did not arouse Mr. Heep, it was evident. that he was ‘‘ knocked out,” So taking a look at the old woman the de- tective proceeded to make his investiga- tions. The first and most important thing was to get the two doors open. | . A search of the pockets of the Heeps, failed to disclose any keys. The doors were fastened with a peculiar kind of locks and were very strong. Not knowing what time the men from the 1i still, might ariive, Dick had to work very cautiously and quickly. | The outside door was without a lock; when fastened, it was barred on the inside. Dick adjusted the bar; then seizing a poker, he proceeded to pry out the staples in the casing of one of the inner doors. It was not an easy job, for they were strong and well driven in, but he succeeded finally, however, in opening one door, Just as he did this there came a terrific knock at the outside door. What was to be done? There was no place to hide, for the door he had opened only disclosed a blank wall. It was a moment for action, if ever. In one corner stood aclub. To seize this and advance to the door was the work of an instant. ‘‘Who’s there?” he demanded, seemingly in Mrs. Heep’s voice. ‘*"Me!” : ‘Who are you?” “You ought to know my voice, mom!” ‘Youre not Tom!” replied Dick, who distinctly remembered Tom's squeaky voice. ‘‘No, [am not Tom. I’m Thornton.” ‘‘What d’ye want, at this hour o’ night?” ‘We want to come in!” “Who d'ye mean by we?” ‘‘Tom Thornton and the Vigilantes.” ‘‘What d’'ye want? The gal’s all secure.’” ‘*Not sure of that. Besides, you’ve got a es 7a we want to have business connection with!’ “ Well, we're to bed. Come in the morn- in’! ‘*Nix! Open the door or we'll open it devilish soon, you can bet on that!” Dick drew his revolvers, but concluded to continue the parley. > ‘*Who is with you?” he demanded. ‘“No matter. If you don’t open the door we will open it for you,” was the answer. ‘*Open the door, then, if you dare!’ Dick cried, ‘‘ Whoever pokes his nose in here, to-night dies!” The windows of Puerto were high, and al- most impossible to reach, and too small for either egress or ingress of a man’s body. CHAPTER XVII. ON THE INSIDE, For awhile there was a silence outside, and apparently there was a consultation, for soon there was another rap. ‘Open that door!” was the peremptory demand. om Not an open!” was the retort from in- side, ‘‘Then we wil] break in! So here goes!” and then came a crash that seemed to shake the house. ‘‘There} Again, boys!” cried Thornton’s voice. ‘‘Come ahead!” cried Dick, now thorough- ly aroused, “Then we will, you cur!” cried Thorn- ton. ‘ You'll not get out of there alive, no fear!” He had evidently recognized Dick’s voice, for, in fact, he knew that Dick was there. Then came another crash, and the door began to give. “Tl fix you!” muttered Dick, and putting his revolver against the upper panel he fired, and had the satisfaction of hearing a yell outside. ‘Now try her again!” shouted Thorn- ton, Then another crash, at which one of the hinges perceptibly loosened. | ‘The erisis is coming now,” thought Dick, ‘‘ but there will‘be more than one to drop, if I am forced to it.” All the racket had not served to disturb the Heeps. Another crash and the door flew open. — Dick was standing at one side of the case- ment. oe ‘‘Come on!” he cried. ‘* The first one who cChooks.c« Gom