Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 672 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

i | grassy slopes to the left; over all, the golden | ar sunlight was gently streaming. There was a a dreamy haze upon the eastern horizon; a breath of perfumed air drifted down the aerial nest, and seemed to make straight for a white-capped cloud that was sailing across the heavens. were grazing—W yndham’s, Dick presumed, since he was the biggest cattle-raiser in the Sepia. n vain did the detective endeavor to get PAGH his thoughts concentrated on the work before him, so when less than two miles from town he dismounted, turned his horse loose to graze, and threw himself upon the grass, and lay there, pondering, for several hours. Tee | “One Ethel Bly, of Denver,’’ he mused, > | ‘invested five dollars in a lottery. Circum- a stances forced her to come here to work for / + old Wyndham. The ticket’ 10240 drew ten i thousand dollars. Ethel disappeared imme- ) diately after the news of her luck arrived. _ “$o far so good. Wyndham was ’to assist her in cashing the prize. If I am not mis- taken, he has assisted in her disappearance, but pocketed the whole boodle, for the ticket was cashed to his order in New Orleans.”’ “Then you can bet he’s got the boodle, sure as fate.” | ae | Dick looked around with a start. Just behind him stood no less a personage than Calamiiy Jane, Junior. § ~ ‘* You here!” Dick ejaculated. “Well, yes, I sorter appear to be,” was the reply. self, so I thought I’d float down and see What you was up toanyhow. Are you re- hearsing a Shakespearian drama, or practic- ing for the grand opera, may I ask?” ‘Well, neither,” replied Dick. ‘‘I am not particularly theatrically inclined. But, what are you doing here?” ‘‘Stylarking, as usual, and laying fora corpse!” ‘*A corpse?” echoed Dick. ** Yes, or rather for achance to make one,” - was the reply. “Ah! I see. eh?” ‘Yes, I am/” exclaimed Calamity, grim- ly, as she seated herself on the grass near the sport detective. ‘‘l’ve taken my oath to kill every man who had anytning to do with the a lynching of my. father. I ‘know them all, eis he and have got them marked, It may take , & me some little time to fetch 'them all, but, _, one by oneI shall gather them in.” , — \ ** Look out that you do not get gathered in first,” warned Richard. ‘If, you fall . into the power of the Vigilantes now, they -____-will make short work of you.” Calamity laughed. ‘‘They haven’t got me yet, nor are they likely to. Be I cattle queen or cattle-thief? - ‘Cm ten per cent. too fly for any of the cum- mon herd that hangs out around Durango, and don’t you forget it!” ao i owe — ee - « ae ~ You are on the war-path, 3 Hi i ‘‘T believe you there,” Dick had to admit. 4 NEY “How is the feeling toward me in the Nees’ town?” ; Lay Dick was about to reply, when the report Of a rifle rung out sharp and clear. Dick immediately put his hand to his back. I’m shot!” he exclaimed in a low voice. /) CHAPTER VI. BRANDON SHOWS HIS TEETH. i . Drox’s announcement that he was shot, } _. caused Calamity to spring to her feet. _ _. The shot evidently came from the belt of 5; | a ae | __- woodland, directly back of where they were & _ sitting. | | __ Dick was on his feet nearly as quick as yy e _ she was, y oa “Tes nothing serious, I think,” he de- | elared. ‘*The builet only grazed the fleshy | portion of my side!” — ‘ate es _ **['d like to know who fired that shot!” SF - Pet A'S r, < mune cn a —* +. = Reo Pt / a 4. _~ as? "> ‘y = tl gn Ri ee : te ey) > wepeeane’s 2 mountain-side; an eagle soared out from. its | ‘‘T heard you mumbling to your- c: Huge mountains to the right, rugged but said Calamity. “I'd very quick fix him, so that he wouldn’t fire another,” ** T reckon I can guess!” ‘* Who?” Py ‘Your lover,” + .. Calamity laughed heartily. ‘* My lover!” she echoed. own such anarticle.” ‘Oh yes you do, and his name is Ned “Why, I don’t Far away down the slope herds of cattle | Brandon.” ‘* Well, if eis my lover, it’s the first I knew of it. What put such an idea into your head?” : ‘* Because he has so told me, and has like- wise warned me to keep away from you.” “‘Well, I must say he has got lots of as- surance. Because | picked him up, a tramp, and gave him a lift,in the world, I suppose he thinks he owns me.” ‘“‘He has given me piainly to understand that he is going to marry you, and he don’t propose to permit. any outside interference!” replied Dick, with a laugh. ‘‘It takes two to make a bargain like that,” remarked Calamity. ‘‘ Wait ’til I see my gentle chappie, and I will endeayor to convince him that he has made a mistake. Let’s make a search in the timber.” Which they did, ahd a thorough search it was, but they failed to discover the person who.fired the shot. Just as they were leaving the wood, Ca- lamity stopped short, and gazed down at the ground—at a spot where there was no grass, and the soil was damp. Here was a footprint—that of a man’s boot, with large round-headed nails in the bottom of it. ‘‘Humph!” she said, ‘‘I reckon I recog- nize that track!” **'W hose is it?” ‘‘Ned Brandon’s. It was indeed he who shot at you, as you suspected.” ‘7 was right, then?’ “Yes. I bought the boots for Brandon, and saw him drive the tacks into the soles and heels.. He has been here, and that, too, recently, for that footprint is newly made.” “It looks so. Failing to kill me with the first shot, he probably took to his heels and skipped.” ‘‘ That’s about the size of it. Thecoward- ly scoundrel! I never suspected him of be- ing such a villain as this, or I never would have done what I have for him. Just wait, till I get hold of him, and I'll make him think the Fourth of July is Christmas.” “Yes, and wait till J get hold of him,” Dick added, grimly. ‘‘I’ll make him think worse than that. I reckon I'll meander back to Durango now, where I have some business to attend to.” ‘‘Well, so long. Good luck to you. If any of the Durango devils try to impose on you, why, knock ’em on the head—and I reckon you’re the sport whocan doit, And if any one inquires after the state of my health, tell ’em I’m lovely, and flourishing like a sunflower.” ‘All right; I will. you again?” ‘* Yes, and probably when least expected.” They separated, Dick mounting his horse, and riding away toward Durango. Calamity, however, did not immediately leave the vicinity, but threw herself on the rass, in a half-reclining position, and gazed own into the valley, where the herds were peacefully grazing. ‘* What strange fatality has thrown me in contact with this stranger?” she murmured, ‘“‘and what will be the result? He is a de- tective andl aman outlaw. Before he came, Ned Brandon looked fair to my gaze, but he pales into insignificance compared with this dashing stranger. “Then, too, Brandon’s ‘cowardly act for- ever sets me against him!” “It does, hey?” And lo and behold, Ned Brandon before her! I suppose I will see stepped Deadwood, Dick b r, Durango. | | cause: When you came here, a tramp, and I TF ee In one hand he carried a rifle. ‘*Yes, it does,” cried Calamity, not mov- ing. ‘‘ You have forfeited all respect I ever had fur you, by your cowardly act!” ‘“ What act?’ - “Attempting to shoot Deadwood Dick, when his back was turned to you.” ‘* You surprise me!” Oh, do 1?” “Yes; [I have not shot at him, or at any one or at anything, to-day.” ‘You lie!’ cried Calamity. ‘‘ It was vou who shot at Deadwood Dick. You need not deny it, for 1 Anow it. You need not be jealous of him, either, for you are nothing to me! Nor more is he, Don’t think be- helped you out, that I’m in love with you for lam not/ ‘You had the nerve to tell Deadwood Dick that you were going to marry me. Before you do, I reckon I| will have something to say about that!” “Calamity, you do me great injustice. You know I love you truly, and would be your very siave, to possess you. Ihavecome here to lay my heart at your feet—” ‘*Don’t!” replied the strange woman, ‘‘for my feet are sore now!” ‘“Ah! you ridicule my affections, do you? Well, so be it! You will regret it when too late. You have enemies enough now. I ef shouldn’t think you would want to make any more.” - ‘A fig for my enemies!” replied the girl. ‘‘ Who are they? Nothing but a lot of ruf- fians. I'll clean the whole of them out be- fore i'm through with them, and don’t you forget it.” : And rising, she walked away, ri Brandon made no attempt to follow her. | CHAPTER VII. UNCOILING THE ROPE THAT WAS TO HANG WYNDHAM. Tue residence of Wesley Wyndham was one of the handsomest in Durango. It was built of stone, in modern style, and had several ‘‘ L’s ” and wings.. It backed square up against a towerin : bluff, which overlooked it, and it command- K ed an uninterrupted view of the town, | A spacious lawn sloped down in front, and there were garden patches on either side. Within, the hand of good workmanship was visible everywhere. The woodwork, the painting and the paper- Fe, reflected good taste. Nhs he carpets were of the best quality, and aM the furniture of the newest designs. In fact, it was like the home of a man of liberal means, : , ae Rare pictures, costly brie-a-brac, elegant aay rugs—everything that a person could wish *e for was here, . It was night. ‘Wyndham sat in his easy- chair before the fire in the parlor, <A roare ing fire blazed in the fireplace, so no lamp had been lit. : | Walt Wyndham his son lay upon the sofa stretched out at full length reading a novel. _ ee, Not a word passed between father and « “7-2 son, | ty A strange pair were they, surely. Net The door opened, and the Chinaman © brought in a glass of wine to the elder Wyndham. ‘You can bring meinadrink, too, John,” » said Walt Wyndham, ‘‘only make mine @ bottle. I’m out of sorts, to-night.” For the first time, maybe, in a year years, the elder Wyndham spoke up. _. “Were you ever im sorts?” he demanded, = growlingly. UC ‘Well, I don’t distinctly remember,” the young man replied, with a yawn. ‘‘Possibly not, as it does not run in the breed.” ei Mp ‘How is it you are hometo-night?” __- | “That's a silly question for you to ask? ¢ ‘ . or oP ‘‘“Why so?” ut ‘‘Because you know I never trouble you with my presence when I’ve got money _ a> §$ se - ees