Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 672 — 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 Durango. ‘‘There is no certainty about that. They are liable to be home at any time,” said Scott. ‘*T don’t think there is much fear of their being home, now,” opined Dick. ‘‘Do you know the Chinese servant?” ‘‘T’ve seen him. I’m not fond of the galoots, so I never made his acquaintance.” “Well, come along. Il go through that place if it costs me a fight. am well satis- fied that Ethel Bly never left that house after she received the report from the lottery. I am furthermore satisfied that Wyndham ap- ropriated her fortune, and if-he has not illed her, outright, that he has shut her up until he can get rid of her secretly.” ‘‘ Well, I am with you,” declared Scott. “‘l rather kitten to you, for you seem to be a& purty square sort of a feller. I'd like to find out what’s become of the gal, as well as ou. But, it is purty early yet. Wyndham is not an early riser, Hadn't we better go back into town, and wait till a little later?” “‘Maybe you are right,” Dick assented. ** We will go back and wait awhile,” CHAPTER VIII. THE VAIN SEARCH. So they left old Hannah’s, and walked back into town—Dick proceeding to his room, where he sat and pondered, for some time. Then he was aroused by a rap at the door. Dick arose and opened it. ‘‘Mr. Walter Wyndham wants to know if he can see you, sir,” said a servant, ‘‘Show him up!” replied Dick. ‘‘T wonder what the scalawag wants of me,” he mused. ‘‘If he wants a fuss I will five him all the chance he can wish—with a ittle to spare!” Young Wyndham entered. The dark, sullen look was on his face, and he had the same haughty bearing as when the detective first saw him. ‘‘T presume you are somewhat puzzled, at my call?” he remarked, ‘‘ considering that we are strangers.” ‘‘TIt would be but natural that I should be,” Dick replied. Wyndham helped himself to a seat. ‘‘]’m an abrupt sort of a fellow,” he went on—‘‘ perhaps too much so. I would like to know what brought you to Durango?” ‘* A horse,” replied Dick. ‘‘T mean what was your object in coming here?” ‘TI came here in search of a young lady, who was in your father’s employ, as a do- mestic.” ‘* Have you found her?” ‘* No.” ‘* Well, you find her, and I will give you a hundred dollars.” “You will?” “*T will.” ** Are you interested in the girl, so particu- Jarly?” It was a case Of love at first sight. The affection was mutual, and honorable.” ‘‘ Well,” assumed the detective, ‘‘it seems to me you ought to know something about ‘what became of her.” ‘*But I don’t. She disappeared immedi- ately after she got the news of her luck in the lottery.” ‘Your father had the ticket?” “Yes, he got it cashed, I reckon, and put the money in his own pocket.” ‘* That's py idea.” *‘The old man is a rascal, if I do have to gay it, and is liable to do almost ery Une. ate you think he has got Ethel locked u Re Not in the house, for I have searched that high and low. It beats me where she can be. You are a detective?” “Yes.” “T thought so, Now, you go to work and find Ethel, and I will be your friend for ~ life. I will give you any assistance in my power, and pay you well besides.” ‘‘To find the girl is what I’m here for,” Dick admitted. ‘‘I shall try to find her. I take it for granted that you and your father are not on the best of terms.” ‘‘Well, no!” Walt replied, with a shrug of the shoulders. ** Where is the old man now?” ‘*] don’t know. If he has left the house, I reckon he is around the town some- wheres.” ‘Go and take a little skirmish,” suggested Dick, ‘‘ and see if you can locate him. If he is not at home, want to examine the house.” “You will find nothing.” ‘That may be, but, again, it may not be. I may find a clew where you would least ex- pect one.” ‘* All right. left the room. ‘‘I was somewhat mistaken in that fel- low,” muttered Dick. ‘‘ He pans out better than 1 had any idea he would, Maybe he will prove a useful accessory after all,” It was nearly an hour ere Walter returned. ‘It is all right!” he announced. ‘The old man has gone out to the mines, and won’t be back for a number of hours, as he has to pay off the men to-day; so now is your chance to go through the house.” “Then let us go,” urged Dick. ‘ There will be no trouble with the Chinese servant?” ‘‘ Not the least. He and I stand on pretty good terms.” They at once set forth for the Wyndham residence, ‘*T don’t think you will find much out of this,” said Walt. | “If Ethel Bly is about the premises I am going to find her.” ‘But, man, I know she is not in the house!” ‘* Maybe not. Jar?” ‘*No she ain’tin the cellar. I’ve given the whole premises a good search, and found not the slightest trace of her. She has van- ished completely.” Walter had a pass-key and was therefore able to gain admission without ringing up the servant. They entered, and Walter guided the detective all through it, from top to bot- tom, but, no clew to the whereabouts of Ethel Bly was obtained. The room she had occupied was vacant, the bed neatly made. “Did she have any luggage, when she came here?” Dick asked. ‘‘T think no trunk,” replied Walt. ‘‘ She was evidently pretty hard up. The old man wouldn’t have taken her only that he got her cheap.” ** You seem to have no high opinion of his good qualities.” “‘Just so. Wehave been enemies, strange to say, since I was a youth, for he has not one lovable quality.” ‘‘Enemies? That is singular. How did that break occur?” ‘‘T was my mother’s boy and for that he seemed to dislike and mistrust me, so I re- sented his usage and always shall.”’ ‘*Let’s take a look into the cellar,” Dick now further suggested. “You won't find anything there,” Walter assured; but to the cellar they went, and Lung Sing, now on hand, followed with a lamp. The cellar was a large one, covering the space of the whole floor area. There was nothing in it in particular, ex- cept a few barrels and boxes that had been there for some time. ‘Well, [don’t see that there is anything to be gained here,” Dick conceded, ‘“‘I told you so,” replied Walt. ‘‘ What- ever has become of Ethel, she certainly is not around these premises.” ‘‘] don’t and won't believe it!” replied I will go and see!” and Walt Perhaps she is in the cel- Dick. ‘‘She must be here somewhere, be- cause she was never seen to leave the place.” ** Who told you this?” ‘Scott, the old miner.” ‘ Well, he ought to know, for ke was here at the time of her disappearance.” Nothing came of the search, so they went back into town, and dropped in at the White Elephant. here was great excitement. A man named Morgan had just been brought in from the street, dead—stabbed through the heart. He was one of those who had assisted in the lynching of old Brennan. When found, a paper was fastened to his coat, containing the following manifesto: ** Notice:—This is Case Number One. The others who had a hand in the lynching of my father will follow, one by one, until they are all gathered in, Such will be the vengeance of Belle Brennan, a/tas, * CALAMITY JANE, JR."’ As may be imagined, this set every one in a fever of excitement. Morgan had been one of the deputies of Jim Jackson, the sheriff, and was quite, popu- lar among the rougher element, being a clever sie oe and a successful gambler. hen in luck, he was free with his money, and all the bummers who frequented the White Elephant, were welcome to drink at his expense. ‘ll give five hundred dollars reward, out of my own pocket, for the conte of that girl!” announced Mayor Mike Murphy. ‘* She’s been a curse to our blooming com- munity long enough.” ‘*So say I!” cried Jim Jackson. ‘‘ Here lies one of our worthy citizens, cut down in the prime of his life, with a family de- pendent on him for their daily bread. Now, by that power vested in me as sheriff of this county, | offer a reward of five hundred dol- lars more, for the capture of this bold and audacious girl:” , “I reckon you had better keep your five hundred!” spoke up Deadwood Dick, “‘ for you won't catch her. She’s altogether too fly for you. I have seen her and had a talk with her, and she means business!”’ ‘* How, business?” “Every man who had anything to do with the lynching of old Brennan, is doomed.” ‘Bah! Who are you, that you know so much?” demanded Jackson. ‘“‘It don’t matter wholam. I am simply apprisiag you of the fact that, if you had any- thing to do with the lynching of Brennan, you had better make your will. Every man is marked.”’ ‘* You'll get marked if you don’t look out,” Jackson thundered. ‘I allow itis my duty as a guardian of the peace, to demand to know what brings you to this town, any- how ?” ‘“That is none of your business, in the least, sir. If you have any objections to my staying here, make them manifest and t will hold them under consideration. You are a county officer, and a fine specimen. You might take a prize, providing it was not a good year for the boss pumpkin. I am a United States officer, and I propose to stay in Durango as long as 1 have reason to. If you'd like, examine my badge, and satisfy yourself that it is not always advisable to buck your head against a hard rock. You are liable to hurt your head.” Jackson examined the badge. ‘‘ Well, I guess that is all right,” he said, ‘But, you were so fresh that I didn’t know what to make of you. Some hard characters wander into this town, and, as a guardian of the peace, I have to be constantly on the watch for them.” “You are a healthy old guardian of the peace!’’ retorted Dick. ‘« Why not—what d’ye mean?” ‘It’s a nice guardian of the peace that will lynch a helpless old cripple!” elere) COME