Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 686 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

j ; ; ' : . ebeack ter Kansas; an’ } os atl ; > Ss —— —— —_— - - Se —— farmhouse i + ¢ af "> _ with Slater? g - o— é ofattire. ' * How do you do?” - and extending his han e ne * Let me give youatip, old man. Don’t come any bluff game on me, . ! I have so \ Th ee Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. 13 “Yes; and I will put ten to it,” added Dick. Reed was evidently in want of money. He juniped at the opportunity. ‘it’s a bargain,” hereplied, ‘‘I will do my best to find him, Now, gentlemen, I haven’t much money, so, if you will invite me to take a drink, and then order a hack, we will set sail for Union Hill. I am pretty sure that is where Slater has gone, and, if such is the case, the chances are there is where we shall find Mr, Penn’s son,” ‘* Drinks!” echoed Mr, Penn, promptly ; “ why, darn me! you shall have a bar’]!” So they adjourned to the nearest saloon, and there Mr. Reed had a couple of cocktails, Then a hack was called. a party bundled inand started for Union ill, Old Penn was in aan spirits. ‘* Just wait,” he said, ‘till I get my ds on that air Slater! If 1 don’t mate bic dance ‘Juba, put me aboard a»cattle car an’ sénd me . Sat a label on the car No Good!’ marked ‘ By the time I get to por, b \Xansas, I reckon they’ll acknowledge that 1 am an old muttouhead, and that old Penn’s visit ter New York was prolific of learnin’ him a lesson that he will never forget!” The hack rumbled along and, in due time, reached the vicinity of Union Hill. ‘‘ Better let me get out now, and go alead,” Reed suggested. | ‘* What do you propose 40 do?” asked Dick. “Well,” responded d, ‘‘ I had better go on to the house, and Slater, not knowing that [ am in your confidence, will admit me. You go around the bouse into the next street and wait here. I will go on and have a chin with Slater, and draw out from him all thatis possible. If I find any indication that young Penn is there, I will, after excusing myself, withdraw and re- turn here, Then we can invoke the aid of the police, secure a warrant and pull the house. Ee motliiag seems to tell me that we shall find r, Penn a prisoner here, even though we do not find Slater, I know the old man tbat runs the place, and he knows me, If he has any in- formation to impart, I shall obtain it,” This plan being agreed upon, Reed alighted, j thén the vehicle proceeded up a side street waited there, - — ” > walter leaving the hack, Reed walked on until he finally brought up at a little, old-fashioned farmhouse, This farmhouse was owned by a truck ardener, who had a few acres from which eg ve he derived a living. His name was Silas Sweet. Mr weet was a very shrewd man. » He hoed his corn and weeded his beds. He atteuded church regularly, and was generally sed to be an exemplary Christian. His was a little old wooden structure which, from appearances, might have been built during the timeofthe Revolution. The paint bad all disappeared from the exterior; the roof was sunken in; the fence was broken down, and, altogether, the place presented an ayn dilapidated appearance. _ Silas Sweet stood on the door-step as Reed ap- br hed, He was a grizzled old man of about ty years, forbidding 1n appearance and dirty greaten Reed, advancing _ * Well,” returned Sweet, ‘* f{ do pretty well as I darned please, Who are you?” he added, _“Obt you don’t appear to recognize me. Don’t you remember when I called here once _ * Slater!” said ee Ont th twill Il th a that will do to tell the marines,” replied Reed. “* You recognize me, and you faa was here, And I know that Slater is here pers ) because it eles Mot | me valuable information for r. Slater, and [ wish to see him. You will find it to your interest to tell him that lam here. @OS ph is my name,” _ Sweet looked the visitor over critically. © _ “ Well, wait; I must speak with Slater. But kon he won’t see you,” * Be sure and tell him,” said Reed, “‘it’s a case of importance, I must see him,” _ The old man entered the house, taking care to ock the door after him, __ He was absent for fully a quarter of an hour, during which time f was left standing on e doorstep, where he waited with dogged de- y old Sweet returned, al ’ the old man; “ why, £ don’t. | : Slater will see you,” he announced. ‘‘ Come | pee | get out of here! Wonder if old Sweet wi 7 . . Tet. eas) “1 . ale ‘ A: a * aT. A. + alt ‘} . 7 hig 5? . . . = a7 rea ” Seer ¥ a ‘S ' ; 4 Reed was then ushered into the front sitting- room, where Slater was puffing at a cigar, “ Ah, Reed, is that you? What brings you here?” was the greeting. ** Bad news,” replied Reed. are after you red-hot!” ‘* What ones?’ demanded Slater “That man Bristol and his kid couple of Byrnes’s men included,” At this Slater uttered a savage exclamation. ‘* Curse those fellows!” he cried, ‘* How do you know they are after me?” ‘* Because I traced them to this neighborhood, and they are not far off now.” _ ‘‘ What is to be done about it?’ Slater de- manded, dubiously. ‘“‘It won’t do for me to show up, if they are around tbe neighborhood, for I should be almost sure to be nabbed.” — ** Well,” advised d, “‘I tell you what | should do, if IT were you. Firstof all, I would set young Penn at liberty!” At this Slater laughed mockingly. * What good would that do me?” he demand- ed, with derision. ‘In the first place, how do you know that I know anything about young Penn?” ‘*That don’t matter,” replied Reed, ‘TI kuow it, and you cannot deny the fact, The best thing you can do, to save yourself from State’s Prison, is to set Penn at liberty, for these detectives are bound to have you, or, rather, to haye young Penn, if it takes from now to next winter, You will be shown a blamed sight more leniency by setting him at Jiberty,” ‘* How do they know where I am?” demanded Slater. ‘‘Curse you! if I thought you had given me away, Reed, ’d murder you!” ‘* What in blazes would _be my object in giv- ing you away?’ returned Reed. ‘* Do you sup- pose I would be fool enough to journey away out here to warn you, if I intended to give you away? Not much!” ‘* | don’t know about that,” responded Slater. ‘*Tam decidedly suspicious of you. Ip case J should give young Penn up, what surety would I have that | should not be arrested then?” ‘*Tcan arrange that partof it allright. I know of a snug little place only a short distance from here, where you can lie low until this mat- ter blows over. As soon as young Penn is re- stored to his old man they will,in all probabili- ty, g0-back.to. Kansas, and fihere the matter will end.” | , ‘*T don’t think so,” replied Slater. ‘“ It was Byrnes who sent for this detective, Bristol, for the purpose of hunting us down,” ‘‘T thought Bristol was occupied exclusively with the Penn case.” _ ‘Tt is more by accident than anything else ** The detectives sharply. a ith a that Bristol came into contact with old man | Penn, and became enlisted in his employ. Therefore, should I release young Penn, it would not benefit me any.” | ‘‘ Well,” declared Reed, * you can suit your- self, but, if you take my advice, you will get young Penn off your hands. I have taken the pains tocome here and warn you, and now, if you get pulled in, it’s not my fault,” Slater reflected a moment, but was not in- clined to be advised by a man whom he had by his own cunning forced into hisemploy. He knew that Reed cordially hated him, and was as liable to- betray him as otherwise, Should he give young Penn up? he asked himself, It was rather a weighty question. Finally he an- swered: , **No, Reed, I will not give bim up! If the ‘worst comes to the worst, why, Ill fight them.” _‘* Well, you are about the biggest idiot I know of. What can you do fighting five men?” ‘* But then, you will stand by me in the scrap, and so will old Sweet.” ‘‘Not much, I!” retorted Reed. “I shall take a quiet skip,” At this Slater grew pale with anger. | “Oh! you will, eh?” he exclaimed. ‘ You cursed traitor! we will see about that, You will not get out of this house alive, if that is your game!” With that he pulled a revolver from his hip- pocket and, taking quick aim, fired at Reed. Poor Reed tumbled to the floor with a groan, and lay unconscious, He had been wounded in the head; not fatally, but sufficiently to de- prive him of his senses, | “There, you devil! You will go back ona pal, will ye?’ hissed Slater, standing over his victim, with the still smoking revolver in his grasp. ‘‘So perish all traitors, from now to the end of the world!” Then a fuller realization of the enormity of the crime seemed to dawn upon him, , “By heavens! this is bad business! I must help ~ 4 ng a ’ - ’ r4 U2 ited me? Byrnes’s men may be bere at any min- ute! He darted out into the kitchen, where Silas Sweet was leisurely smoking his grimy old clay ripe. if he had heard the pistol-shot, he appeared entirely indifferent to the fact, ‘‘ Well, what now?’ he demanded, noticing Slater’s agitation. ‘* Detectives are onto us, and we, or, at least I, must get away from here!” This rather startled even the old man. Should detectives pounce down on him he would be practically defenseless, ‘““ Who told you this?” Sweet demanded. ** Joe Reed.” “The chap who came awhile ago?” ‘* The same,” ‘* Well, what’s to be done?” ‘You must help me to get away from here; then come back and release the prisoner. It won’t do to keep him ane longer.” ‘* Et won’t hey! Well, where’s my pay for keepin’ him as long as I have? 1 want it!” ‘*When you hitch ue to your covered market wagon, and get me outof this neighborhood, I wi pay you,” Mr, Silas Sweet shook his head, and took a loug whiff at bis pipe. ‘* Kain’t do et,” he said. ‘I must have my money first. Idon’t keep a free lodgin’ house, not by a jugful! Plank down the money, and then Ill help you out o’ yer scrape, but not before,” ‘* 1] haven’t the right amount, but will get it as soon as you carry me down to Hoboken,” Slater replied. oe r. Sweet shook his head disapprov- ingly. ‘It won’t work. I must have my money; spot cash an’ none of the queer, either!” ‘‘ If you don't get me away from here, we shall both be arrested !” ** Can’t help that, and so it makes but little difference; it might well be for a lion as for a lamb!” Just then there came a loud rap on the rear door. ‘*That’s the detective!” cried Slater, turning white, ‘‘ For mercy’s sake, hide me, Sweet!” Believing he had murdered Reed, he was na- turally terror-stricken. _ *Kain't: do et!” returned Sweet, with im- perturbabje gravity. “ Ef it’s the detectives, why, they’ll bave to take you. I won’t interfere no- how!” There was a crash, and the rear door flew open. CHAPTER XVII, CONCLUSION, Into the room sprung Deadwood Dick, old man Penn and Billy Bucket, ‘Ab! Mr. Sawdust Sam, now we have you dead to rights! Will you surrender? Or shall we have to take you by main force?’ demanded Bristol. ‘* ll never surrender alive!” was the reply, with fierce defiance, “If you want me, come and take me, curse you!” and with this Slater drew his revolver, but, ere he could use the wea- on, old Sweet sprung upon him, and, wrench- fig the weapon from bis hand, threw it to the further side of the room, and instantly dealt Slater a stunning blow that brought him to the floor. ‘“Thar! I won’t get my money, hey? Then, by thunder, you'll get my revenge!” ' Dick sprung upon Slater, and snapped the bracelets around the rascal’s wrists, while Billy, with alacrity, buckled a leg-strap abovt his ankles, ‘* There, now! quoth old Penn. Slater made no answer, — ‘*On course he'll give in,” echoed Billy Bucket; “cause not bavin’ the use o’ his bands ter give anything out Dick turned his piercing gaze on old Sweet, ‘*' Well,” he demanded, “ bave you anything to say for yourself ?” Sweet came to the front bravely, although he was evidently trembling in his big stogy boots, . ‘* Well,” he admitted, “* I might as well make a clean breast of it, and I s’pose hb will think the better of me for it. If, by a clear confession I can secure clemency from Mr, Penn, I w make it!” vaua> ‘* Go ahead,” Dick directed. ‘‘ We are look- ing for Mr. | believe he is in this house.” ’ ‘** He is,” confessed Sweet, ‘* This scouxdrel, Slater, came ter me an’ off me a reward ter Jook after the man. The reward was so big, an’ I was so much in need of money, an’so much I expect to be, anyhow, as Guess you will give in now!” ‘ee gor ¥ > ' > 4" J we ‘ Py 4 - * 9 . a i Py “mas a > iT i, ee . 4? oe ’ oo © oi | t ny! b wil? aw foe SST RAN a1 a 5 Yale! 7) B ip ‘ yet “= oe a r PHOS eatin: 2} eatin VARY So» Denia Po ee, ' if a wre i he’s a poor, mis’able critter now.” | James Penn, and we have reason to 2 le - tay wT i. A a vt ae 4. : vt etl ae .) iq » % ; Q