Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 630 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 a ee oe “Well, I forget now, the other alias, Let me see if I can recall it.” ‘‘Is your.mind wandering again?” ‘* Jackson’s mind is allright now. Ah! I have it now. The name is Thornton— Thornton, alias Pryer, alias Nick Bray! The latter is his realname. He is the man who caused my daughter to be stolen from me. Take me to him, I want to confront him!” ‘‘Nonsense. You stay where you are. I will find your detective if he is in Beaver, and we will work out the case. Maybe l am your daughter, and maybe again, 1 am not! All the same, my blind friend, I will take ood care of you, until J find your detective riend. Keep quiet as you are, and, after the struggle, I will return to you!” ‘‘ After the struggle? What struggle?” ‘‘Between the two gladiators—Golconda and Deadwood Dick?’ *‘Deadwood Dick?” ejaculated Jackson. ‘*Why, He is my detective—Bristol.” ‘* Tf he’s the man he is here!” ‘‘'Then I must see the contest. You must accompany me, and act as my reporter.” “Allright. So it shall be,” she said. CHAPTER VIII. IN THE ARENA. It was two o’clock, in the afternoon, when the contest extraordinary was to begin, and long before that hour the town of Beaver City presented a holiday appearaace. Extra stages had been run from all availa- points, and brought loads of men even from sections outside of No-Man’s Land. Men from Kansas, men from Texas, reds from Indian Territory—in fact the whole surrounding country had its representation, outside and within The Strip. Golconda, it appeared, was known far and wide, and his advertising of the contest had been done judiciously. The big tent. wherein the test and strug- gle were to occur, was crowded, long before the contest was to take place, and seats sold at a premium. It was evident that by sacrificing the sis- ter, Golconda and Old Rocks would profit largely. Among the odd population of Beaver City, there were a few musical spirits, who had formed themselves into an apology for a brass band, and these musicians essayed to enliven the occasion with some horribly mangled ‘notes; but, it served the urpose, perhaps, of making the long wait ess tedious. In the mean time, programmes were circulated among the audience—for there was a printing establishment in No-Man’s Land, and nothing had been left undone to make the tournament a success. Here is a verbatim copy of the pro- gramme: “GRAND GLADIATORIAL TOURNAMENT, ** Under the Management and Auspices of “GOLCONDA THE GLADIATOR. *“*The prize will be the sole and undisputed pos- session of the beautiful young Indian girl, known as Singing Bird. To win her, the lucky man must de- feat Golconda at each and every one of his special- ties, viz: ‘**ist. Collar-and-elbow, best two out of three **2d. Best standing jump. **3d. Best time, four times race around the ring. “4th. First knock-down, with hard gloves, **5th. Most bull’s-eyes out of ten, at thirty paces, with revolver. “6th. Sword contest, in which the victor must win by disarming his adversary. “Nore:—If any one of the contestants fails to de- feat Golconda in any one of his specialties, as above, he is barred out of further participation in the tournament, or claim upon the prize, “The following are the entries: “First. John Bailey, of Santa Fe. **Seoond. Dan Lacy, of Colorado. “Third. Thede Brooks, of Arizona. **Fourth, Deadwood Dick, Junior.” Such was the programme. | By two o'clock the tent was so packed, that no one else could gain admission. Then, after the band had screeched out a parting tune, Golconda advanced into the arena, leading the Singing Bird by the hand. She was plainly dressed in black, and wore no ornaments whatever. Her wealth of hair hung down in flossy waves over her shoulders, her eyes sparkled, and she was certainly a charming creature to look upon. Her appearance was a signal for tremend- ous applause. Golconda was attired in pink tights, which set off his splendid figure to great advan- tage. ig Ladies and gertlemen!”’ he said, ‘‘ I have the honor to introduce to you my sister, Singing Bird, who has freely and without undue influence, consented to become the prize offered at this tournament. If there is one among my contestants who succeeds in besting, he wins her, and wins a jewel. Understand, it is no compulsion that causes Singing Bird to offer herself as the prize, nor is it essentially a money-making scheme on my part. There are other and more potent reasons. The tourney will now be- in!” : Then the band struck up, and Singing Bird ran back to his tent. sensing 4 afterward Golconda’s first adversary, John Bailey, made his entree into the arena, accompanied by Jim Lane, who was to act as referee. Bailey was a black- bearded fellow, every bit as big as Golconda, with as evil and ugly a face on him as one would seldom run across. He was all bone and muscle, however, and being stripped to the belt, he appeared a most formidable antagonist. To dwell upon the minute details of each contest would require too much space, so we will epitomize them as far as practicable. The wrestling bout was won by Bailey, amid great enthusiasm, he succeeding in gaining two successive falls—first and third. This was a blage, for wrestling had always been one of Golconda’s chief specialties. It now became noised around that Bailey was the man whom Thornton had put up, to win for him the Singing Bird, for it was well known that he had made his boasts that he would possess her. The second round was also won by Bailey, he jumping six inches further than the Gla- diator. Likewise the third, Bailey beating Golconda in the race by one lap. It now began to look as if the man from Santa Fe was in a fair way of carrying off the prize. Golconda, on his part, began to show signs of chagrin. The fourth contest, the slugging match, was the most determined, both men pound- ing each other without mercy, until their faces were literally raw. But, as in the other contests, Bailey won, by knocking Golconda clear off his pins. The excitement now became intense, and, leaping to his feet, Thornton shouted that he would bet ten to three that Bailey would win. He found only a few takers, however, and the bets were small. Golconda got up rather ‘‘ groggy,” but still game. He looked like accomplishing very little in the revolver contest, but, to the surprise of everybody, came to time with nine bull’s- eyes out of ten shots. Bailey only scored four, and retired from the arena. Dan Lacy was next on the list, and when he came forward he proved to be a stalwart young fellow of about twenty, but, vlainly no match for the Gladiator, for, inside of two minutes Golconda had him flat upon his back, which ended his chances in the tour- nament, and he, too, retired from the ring. Thede Brooks, who had a good reputation Deadwood Dick Jr. in No-Man’s Land. reat surprise to the assem- |. in Arizona as an all-around athlete, next came forward in fine form, and tackled the Gladiator; but Golconda was tuo much for him, for, in the slugging contest, he knocked Brooks senseless, and he had to be carried from the ring. ‘‘Now trot forward the last man!” cried Golconda, triumphantly. ‘‘ Trot him for- ward, I say. He’s the man I want to meet— the famous Deadwod Dick, whom report says no man ever overcame! Watch me, and see me do him in two jiffys, and then Sing- ing Bird is still mine, and goes to the high- est bidder.” ‘‘Whoever wins, I challenge the winner!” shouted Jim Oaks. ‘For how much?” demanded Golconda. | “The girl, and a thousand dollars,” was the reply. ‘*Bah! where’s your backing?’ demanded Golconda. ‘* Money is what talks!” ‘““The money is already in my hands!” announced Jim Lane. ‘‘So you need have no fear.” ‘Very well!” was the reply. ‘‘So be it. But, set your heart on one thing, Oaks: the Singing Bird shall never fall into your clutches. Ill fight the devil, first!” ‘‘Maybe you'll meet one of his right-hand men, when you meet me!” was the grim reply. At this minute, Deadwood Dick in black tights, entered the arena. A murmur of surprise went up from the audience, when they saw the disparity in the size of the two men, Golconda was so much taller, broader, more muscular, and bigger in every way, that it seemed simply f \”? olly for a man of Dick’s physique to enter the arena against him. But, the plucky detective hesitated not in the least, no more than though he were to meet a man of his own size and weight. ‘‘Tam ready!” he said. ‘‘Are you?” ‘6 I am.”’ The next minute they clinched. The contest between the big giant and the little giant had begun. CHAPTER IX. DICK WINS AND LOSES. Ir is safe to say that there was not one among the audience, who did not expect to see Dick thrown immediately upon his back by the young Gladiator; but their expecta- tions were not fulfilled, for, minute after minute passed, and neither man had gained a fall, although they struggled hard for the throw. The excitement became intense, and many of the spectators arose from their seats and cheered lustily. To see a giant like Golconda unable to land a much smaller man, was a treat in- deed, ) To the much greater surprise of all, Dick. succeeded in landing his opponent on his back, three times in succession, after a strug- gle of a quarter of an hour. The betting now became more lively, and the stakes were larger. Deadwood Dick was slightly the favorite. In the second contest he won by about an inch, according to Referee Jim Lane. That ‘Thornton, as we shall still continue | to know him, had plenty of money, seemed certain, for he made his way to and fro among the audience, laying his wagers on Golconda ten to one. The race was easily won by Dick, he be- ing the lighter and mere agile of the two. fle won by three yards. Next came the pugilistic contest. Now, said the audience, the little fellow will be sure to get knocked out. — But, again they reckoned without their host. The two men sparred for several minutes, without either scoring a hit; then, with one tremendous blow, Dick caught Golconda un- ) ee