Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 684 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 — < —— —_ - Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dazzle, — - —— oe — - ome ‘* Verily, my cup runneth over with he wine of delight, ‘*Let her run,” Dick encouraged. ‘‘Set to work and pick out your men, and I will pay them two dollars a day as long as they want to serve. Pick out your play, and go to rehearsing at once.” ** Tt shall be done, me lord, it shall be done!” And with a great scrape and bow and much ado, the stranded actor took himself off, leaving Dick and Earle smiling broadly. Just then Miss Rulford was seen upon the other end of the piazza, and Earle bowed to her as she gave him a smile of recognition. CHAPTER XI, ANOTHER CALL COMES, EpMA RULFORD was truly a charming girl. Deadwood Dick could not but admire her grace and beauty. *‘She doesn’t look much like an avenging Nemesis, I'll be hanged,” Dick observed. ‘** No, she looks more like an angel of peace, I should say,” responded Earle, ‘ It cannot be possible that she is the Nemesis.” “*T would like to be introduced to her, if possi- ble,” Dick remarked. ‘‘I wonder if she would object. I should like to hear her talk. What * do you think about it?” ** Hasy enough to find out. I willspeak to her about it, if you want me to. I am anxious, too, for you to have a chance to hear her speak. You had more time to study the ghost’s voice than I did,’ ** Yes, I suppose I did, Well, 1 will go into the house, in a few moments, and while I am gone you can ask the lady.” ‘*T will do it, with pleasure.” Presently Dick rose and stepped into the bar- room, and Earle went forward to where Miss Rulford stood. The young lady greeted him cordially, and they fell into conversation. ‘* Pardon me,” she presently observed, ‘ but who is that gentleman with whom you were talking?” ‘*’‘You know he is the man who saved my life last night,” Earle replied. ** Yes, I know, but I mean what is his name? hee tg is he from and what do you know about him?’ ‘* His name is Golconda, Heseems to be froma everywhere, You can’t mention a place but what he bas been there,” **Ts be a gambler?” ** Not by profession.” **T thought he might be,” ‘* He seems to be a gentleman in every way.” “His manner is certainly such. But, bow oddly he dresses, He is indeed, as the landlord says, a dazzler.” ‘By the way, Miss Rulford, he would like to make your acquaintance, Will youallow me to introduce him?” ** Yes, you may do so.” ** Very well, I will.” They talked on, and in a little time Dick made his appearance again, He looked around for Earle, and when he saw him Earle motioned him to come forward, Dick did so, and was introduced, A light and easy talk followed, during which Miss Rulford showed that she was educated, and able to hold her own against them both, ‘There is something about your voice that makes me think I must have heard it before,” Dick remarked, when the opportunity came round, But it was not so, He could not find that it was like the voice of the ghost he had encount- ered in the canyon, He was merely testing the point Earle had raised. *“Where do you imagine you have heard it?” the young woman asked. . “That is not so easy tosay. Still, it was not long ago— Ha! [haveit. But, perhaps I had better not speak of it. If I do so it must be with an apology first for making such a com- parison.” “Indeed! Iam all the more eager to know, now. Tell me, please,” ‘* Well, [ recall the voice of the ghost I met in the canyon last night—” Miss Rulford laughed merrily, interrupting, “T had no idea that there is anything ghostly about my voice,” she said, _ “ And T humbly offer my apology,” Dick has- tenel to amend, ‘* There is certainly nothing ghostly about that merry laugh of yours.” With a few words more the matter was dropped. But an impression had been made upon Dick’s mind. Whether it was so or not, he thought he had detected a slight start when he mentioned the ghost and drew the comparison. Finally Dick took his leave and did not meet Earle again until after dinner. ‘*T want to ask you something,” Earle imme- diately said. ** Out with it,” Dick invited. ** Did Miss Kulford’s voice remind you of the ghost?” **No, sir; I said what 1 did to see how she would take it.” ‘* And what is your opinion now?” ‘*T don’t know what tothink. It is hard to believe that she is the Nemesis.” ‘* Well, there is more mystery in it, somehow,” ** What is it now?” ** She did not talk in exactly her natural voice when you was talking with her.” **Is that so?” - ; ** Yes, it isso. I could notice it.” ‘That is strange, certainly. I don’t know what to make of that.” **Nor dol. But we may be able to get at the bottom of the mystery, hope that you will be able to find the Nemesis, and that it will prove not to be she,” ‘*T hope so, for your sake,” Dick responded. They were on the hotel piazza at this time, and while they were talking the landlord came out of the bar-room and joined them, ‘* Jimminy!” be exclaimed, ‘‘ butis it true thet you has bought ther new buildin’ over there?” addressing Dick, ‘You have got it right,” Dick assured, ‘‘Jimminy!” again, “but you és a dazzler. Ther boyees say you paid twenty-five thousand fer it, solid rocks,” ‘Then the boys have got it straight. That was the price,” ‘*Jimminy!” yet again, “ but et do beat all. What be you goin’ ter do with et?” “Tam going to turn it intoatheater, There, that reminds me that I must set carpenters at work. Are there any in your town, landlord?” ‘Yas, but not wery many on ’em, They is all workin’, though, so you won't be wery likely ter git ’em.” ‘* We shall see about that, do they get?” ‘** Not more’n four dollars, I don’t opine,” ‘Good enough. Have you got paper and ink handy ?” ** Plenty of it, right in ther bar-room.” * Pll step in and put up a notice, Iguess, Will you come along, Earle?’ “Yes, of course.” They went in, and when the landlord had fur- nished the materials in demand, Dick proceeded to write out this notice: “WANTED! ““Good carpenters wanted, and plenty of them. Wages will be six dollars a day. Apply to-morrow morning at the Bumblebee’s Nest. Come ready for work, GOLCONDA THE GORGEOUS.” “There, how will that do?” Dick questioned, as he read it aloud. **That will bring ’em,” mine host declared. ** You'll git every one of ’em.” ‘** Any objections to my tacking it on the cor- ner post of the piazza?” ‘‘Nary. Put it anywhere yer wants to,” In a few minutes it was posted up in the place named, aud it drew the attention of every one who passed, Dick and Earle resumed their conversation, and while they were talking a small body of men moved up the street, carrying something a} “Hello! What is that?” Dick questioned, ‘*T guess it’s a funeral procession,” Earle sug- ested. ‘* Funeral of the late Mr. Cobbletree?” ‘* Yes, and of Blossom Bob, too. He has been carried in, and they are to be buried together,” ‘Two of a kind, eh?” ** Yes, two of a kind, and most of their mourn- ers are about of the same stamp.” ‘“* They look it, but they are not mourning to any great extent. Instead, they seem to be quite Fay ¥." And this was true, No tears were being dropped, so far as could beseen, But, then, it is not the style in the wild and woolly West, on an occasion of that sort and under like circum- stances, The little company came on, and started to turn the corner by the post-office, the way that led to the mine. ‘‘ Where is your planting-ground?’ Dick in- quired. , ** It is down the gulch, in the bottom,” Dick was about to ask something else, when a startling thing happened. About what pay me a eigen a e al The little cortege was just rounding the cor- ner, when one of the number suddenly threw up his hands and fell to the ground without a groan. Instantly the others stopped, and consterna- tion reigned immediately, As soon as they saw what had happened, they dropped the dead men they had been carrying and ran for cover. ‘*The Nemesis again!” exclaimed Earle. And that was the cry the others were raising. ‘* Tt looks like it,” Diek agreed, ** And no sound was heard,” ‘* Nor has there been before,” ‘* Perbaps it is natural death this time,” ‘* Possibly, but I doubt it. By the way Ought to find out where Miss Rulford is at minute.” ‘True enough! How shall— is, The Nemesis is not she!” The young woman in question just at that moment stepped out upon the piazza, as hand- some as ever, and without a trace of excitement on her face. Deadwood Dick looked puzzled, She glanced at him and Earle, nodded, and then she noticed the excitement over at the cor- ner, “What has happened?’ she inquired, in her musical tones, ‘* It looks like another victim of the Nemesis of Nutmeg,” Dick informed. ‘* Is it possible!” she exclaimed. ‘“Who_ is the fellow that dropped?’ Dick asked of Earle, ‘* He is called Mouthy Mose,” was the reply, ‘* Let’s step over and take a look at him. “Very well, ’m with you.” . Quite a crowd was gathering, but no one had yet ventured to go to the fallen man. When they reached him, Dick and Earl turned him over, and found that he was dead, and that there was a pool of blood under him. Dick looked for the wound, and found that the bullet had entered the back, behind the left shoulder-blade, and bad pierced thé heart. Death had been sure and sudden to the fellow. “It is a puzzle,” Dick owned, “ That bullet came from our side of the street, and from about the direction of the botel,” ‘“And yet we know that the young lady did not fire it,” observed Earle. . Dick did not respond, but was thoughtful. , we this Ha, there she CHAPTER XII. _ PREPARING FOR—WHAT? _ WHEN the shock was over, the funeral went on. Mouthy Mose was a low, drunken villain, and no time wasgwasted with him. He was picked up and carried along with the other two, and all three were put in one grave, The afternoon passed without further, excite- ment, except that occasioned by the events al- ready recorded, which were talked over wher- ever two or three came together, either by chance or design. The notice posted by Golconda the Gorgeous created quite a stir, too, Every man who was a carpenter, and many others who claimed to be, resolved way that they would be on hand for the em- ployment offered. Information concerning this notice finally reached the office of the Nutmeg Bonanza, Said Stephen Barnthal; ‘““Crapps, that fellow is bound to have our men away from us, I mean our carpenters, W hat are we going to do about it?” * We'll have to raise their pay higher than he offers, I s’pose,” Crapps made answer, As he did so, he looked furtively about, as though to see if a ghost or goblin were near, i Tas I'll be hanged if we do!” cried Barn- thal. % ‘Then I reckon theyll go,” said Crapps, logically, ‘‘ And what'll we do then?” “We'll have to get on without them till wo can get them back. He won’t want them many days at that rate,” “ T don’t know about that, Oe hasgot slathers eo wealth, to judge by what we have seen of his e, ‘Well, it is one thing or the other, We will have to come up to his offer, or let then go,” “Then we will Jet them go, that’s all. But, wo will give them a scare. We'll tell them they need not come back to us if they leave us now, in this way. Steady work at our pay is better than a few days’ work at higher,” ‘‘That may work. May as well notify them at once, [ suppose.’ ** You're right. McFaddin, go and tell the in a quiet |