Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 684 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

- 2 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dazzle. horseman was riding northward, atan easy walk, the reins loosely held in his left hand, while his right rested upon his hip in a graceful way. The horseman seemed to be in a thoughtful mood, paying Jittle or no @ttention to bis sur- roundings. ‘The animal he rode was coal-black, and only a glance was needed to learn that it was high mettled. Its mountings were elegant, and glinted and flashed in the moonlight with every movement, But our interest is with the rider. He wasa man of medium size, good-looking, with piercing black eyes and a graceful mustache, At first glance there is something familiar about his features, and we are on the point of speaking bis name, but looking again, we hesitate. Can it be he? we question, It is his peculiar attire that baffles us. He wears a hat of finest white felt, the brim of which is caught up in front and held with a cluster of diamonds. From his shoulders hangs a black cape of some light ma- terial, enveloping his form to thesaddle. Below that his legs and feet are to be seen, the latter incased in boots of finest patent-leather, while a flashing gold line marks the outside seam of his trowsers. Deadwood Dick, Jr., was the name that was upon our lips, but we had to pause in much doubt, The face and features were his, certain- ly, but was it—could it be he? Ha! he looks up! es, he it is—the redoubtable Richard Bristol— he, and none other. ‘What a lovely night!” he ejaculated in ad- miration, as he looked about him. Drawing a handsome watch from under his cape, or cloak, be noted the hour. **Ten o’clock,” he mused. ‘I must be getting near there. No doubt that line of hills marks the location of the town, Another hour, old fellow, and we'll be there; but we must move faster than this.” He touched the horse as he put away his watch, and it bounded forward in a long, easy gallop. Gradually the line of hills drew near, as it seemed, and finally the trail led into a wild can- —an where the shadows hovered deep and ac Here the black horse dropped again into a walk, to whieh the rider offered no objection, and in that manner they started to thread their way through the narrow mountain defile. They had proceeded half a mile, perhaps, when cow dl came toa branching canyon, where the broader opening overhead’ wed the moon ta cast her beams to the rocky floor, lighting up a ag of several yards’ extent. he black steed was about to cross this circle of light, when suddenly it stopped, with fore- feet braced, and laid its ears forward. Bristol looked 2 nacre up to learn the cause of this unexpected halt, and a rather startling sight met his gaze. , ust across the circle of light, at a point of rock where the two canyons joined, a polished rifle-barrel gleamed in the moonli,.t, and be- hind it appeared the head and shoulders of a m an. The rest of the man was hid bebind a big bowlder that had somewhat the appearance of a preacher’s pulpit, and which appearance, by the way, had won for the spot the name of “ ] Corner.” What of him was visible, however, was enough to establish his character, for¢he was a decidedly hard-looking customer. ** He, haw, haw!” the fellow broke out laugh- ing, “thet aire hoss o’ yourn, mister, hev evi- dently bin thar afore, ef appearances count fer anything. He comes ter time like he bad larnt ther trick in ther days of yore.” ** Yes, my horse is a knowing animal,” Dick responded, coolly. ‘“‘He has a great dislike to carrion, and hates to pass a point where he gets : whiff of it. I reckon that is what’s the trouble ere, ‘““Wull, dass yer pictur’, anyhow!” the man behind the rifle cried, angrily. ‘‘ Ef ye wasn’t so durn good-lookin’, 'd bore ye oncet fer luck, be gum! Whew! but you be a sparkler, and no mistook!” Dick was just in the moonlight, where the fellow had a good look at him, and he ge soo did make a noble picture against the blac background. First, his white bat, with the brim pinned u in front with the cluster of diamonds; benea that, his handsome face, with the flashing black eyes and glossy mustache; then the black cape, or cloak, open in front just enough to let the light disclose other diamonds, and buttons of, gold; in front of all the shapely head of the orse, with its glittering ornaments. Little wonder the man uttered the exclamation. “Well, what is your pleasure?” Dick in- quired, ‘You seem to have it all your own way. ‘*Thet aire about ther size of it, mister, I opine myself,” was the response. ‘‘I am hyar on business, you kin gamble bigh on that. I’m a warbler when I sing, too, and [’m a-singin’ now. By ther way, jest elevate yer fins so that yer won’t be tempted ter try drawin’a popper, i don’t want ter see ye commit susancide, but I warn ye that’s what it would be, sooner than quick.” Dick held up his hands, ‘**T like to observe these finer points of eti- quette,” he remarked, cheerfully. ‘I believe it is customary, ont here, when such a request is made, backed by a Colt or Winchester, for the ‘other feller’ to come right to time, Have you any further directions to give?” ‘** You hev got hoss sense, anyhow,” observed the man behind the rock. ‘‘ Et aire one of ther safest things in ther world ter do, when ther business-end of a pop is p’inted your way. Now, jest hold yer fins where they be, an’ I’ll amble around thar an’ relieve you of some of yer sooperfloois wealth,” ‘*Let me put in a word right here,” Dick blandly requested. “Say your say,” the man granted leave, ‘buat don’t be too long about it. Timeis money ter me.” ‘*1'm afraid it won’t be much money in this instance,” Dick ventured to prophesy. ‘‘ You are likely to feteh up against a snag, the first thing you know. You can’t keep me covered and go through me at the same time, and I warn you if you lose your drop on me for one second [ll toss a bit of lead in your direction,” “Ef et comes ter that,” was the grim re- onse, ‘‘ I kin go through ye first, with a ounce o’ ther metal you mention, and then I opine et won’t be much trouble ter go through ye ther other way.” ** Possibly not, if you make a good job of it. You want to draw a fine bead, however, and let your first shot do the business up brown. If you leave a squirm in me, it may prove detri- mental to your good health.” **Wulll ber durn!” the would-be toll-taker exclaimed, admiringly, ‘* but you has got narve! Say, who be ye, anyhow? har is yer goin’? Whar d’ye hail from?” ‘* ‘You want to know a good deal, and all at once, too,” remarked Dick, ‘‘bui I guess I can afford to enlighten you on the several points named, Iam called Golconda the Gorgeous, I am headed for the°town of Nutmeg Bonanza, and had some a a of getting there before you popped up. here I came from does not matter,” ‘*Golconder ther Gorgeous, hey? Thet aire ar’ a bighfalutin’ handle, and no mistook about that p’int. And you atre gorgeous, too, be gum! You’re a sparkler, as I said afore, and you is ’most too pooty ter die,” ‘** Well, come, what are * oe going to do about it?’ Dick demanded. ‘lf you mean to shoot me, go ahead. If not, let me ride on.” “You is a cool one, sure, and I[’d hate like smoke ter kill yer, fer ye wouldn’t be near as pooty dead as yeaire alive, Dead yer will be, none ther less, ef ye make one move out of yer present pozish. eep yer eyes fixed on ther muzzle 0’? my gun, now, and I'll come around thar and oversee ther job while ye onload,” The fellow had been ree eaning over the rock, to this time. Now he rose erect, still keeping the rifle at his shoulder, and was about to step out from behind the bowlder when an- other actor appeared upon the scene, Dick’s horse sno and sprung back, asa form in white glided into the moonlit circle from the deep shadows of the branching canyon at the right, It was that of a woman, and in the moonlight her white garments took on a ghostly weird- ness. On her head was a lengthened white hood, so that nothing of her person was to be seen save one hand. The right hand was raised, and the index fin- ger pointed at the fellow behind the rock, At the sudden eos of this personage, the man allowed the butt of his rifle to fall from his shoulder, and consequently lost the ‘‘ drop” he had so far carefully maintained, with the re- sult to give the alert Dick the one precious mo- ment in which to make himself master of the a pean ly to the h t, h peaking sharply 6 horse to quiet it, he urged him’ forward again to the lace he had occupied, and with a gold-mounted revolver in his right hand, ‘‘ Richard was himself again.” The change in the situation, all around, ha taken place in less time than it takes to write the words describing it. « * There remained a moment of silence, in which the three persons lent themselves to making a’ striking tableau. The silence was broken by the apparition, In a thrilling tone the word was uttered: ‘* Doomed!” Then the lifted right arm slowly fell, and the snecter, if such it was, glided noiselessly out of the circle of light and vanished, seeming to melt away in the silence of the shadows beyond, The would-be toll-taker stood as though unable to move or speak. His eyes were wide open and filled with an expression of commingled horror and astonishment, ‘Ha, ba, ha!” laughed Dick, struck with the ludicrousness of the situation. “‘ Rouse up, there, my noble road-agent, and get yourself to- gether. That charming ghost seems to have knocked you clear out of time. If you look close you will see that the tables are turned now, and that Jam boss of the circus, Just bend your- self and lay that rifle on the ground, and don’t wait. Iam ina hurry, now!” Dick’s voice had the effect to arouse the fel- low, for he turned quickly to find himself covy- ered by that glittering five-shooter. Without demur he laid his rifle down, ‘‘ And now your revolver, too,” Dick further directed. The man obeyed, with little concern. ‘‘Et don’t make no difference now,” he said, = and ef ye want ter bofe me, do it. My jig is up! Mi Why, how is that?” Dick inquired. ‘Yar heard ther sentence, didn’t ye? Within twenty-four hours I'll be a dead man, Thet ar’ specter aire ther Nemesis o’ Nutmeg!” CHAPTER II. A PECULIAR PLEDGE, Tre wide-awake detective was now himself the subject of interest and surprise, ‘And who is this Nemesis of Nutmeg?” he quickly asked. ‘“Yer knows as much about her as I does,” was the answer. ‘‘Her ghost allus appears afore her agent strikes.” “Her agent? Whois her agent? Come, m man, you have got me interested in the matter,” Dick urged. ‘‘I have had dealings with ghosts before, but they have always turned out to be Alesh and blood.” ‘This one ain’t, though. Couldn’t yer tell that by ber awful voice? It was a ghost, and one that allus appears just afore th’ Nemesis does his deadly work. i’m as good as dead and buried.” S 8S eke —~ ** Nonsense! All you have got to do is to shake the dust of this neighborhood off your boots and get out—that is, if I allow you to do so. Lought to take you to the town and turn you over to the jailer, if there’s one there.” ‘“ Which there ain’t. No, et wouldn’t be no use. I’d meet my fate anybow. Et wur what Bull-neck Mike tried ter do, after he seen th’ ghost. He lit right out, but he wur found dead on ther trail next day, forty miles from town. No; I’m.in fer it, so what is ther use o’ kickin’?” ‘* But this Nemesis—te!! me all about the matter. At first you said the ghost was the Nemesis, but now you say it is some one else, What reason have you to fear the avenging hand? What have you done, to i the fate to which P Noe have been sentenced? As I am oing to Nutmeg Bonanza, it may be well to Gow something about this mysterious person- age. lanswered your questions when you held the better hand, and it is your turn now to an- swer mine,” ‘*Wull, Pil doit. Iam called, and there is no use 0’ my tryin’ ter dodge it. Ther ghost never warns but oncet, and then ther blow follers swift an’ sure. I don’t expect ter see ther sun git up ter-morrer mornin’. Yer see, this hyar aveng is p’izen death on all sorts 0’ evil, an’ in that line my hands ain’t none too clean. Kt hev been a long time comin’, but et hev got byar jest ther same, an’ afore ter-morrer night you willhear o’ Blossom Bob’s suddint takin’ off. ‘Tf that is the case, Blossom Robert,” Dick observed, ‘* you have had timely warning, and ought to profit by it. Vlllet you go, and you may do what you can toward making ready ‘for your fate, But, can’t you tellme more? How many victims have fallen by thisavenger’s hand, to date?” “T reckon I’m ther seventh,” answered Blos- som Bob, speaking of himself as already dis- d of, P%* And within how short a time? Dick in- uired, me I reckon it’s nigh a year since GrowJin’ Hank got his dose, an’ he was the fu’st on the ther » list.” ” +A’ > A =" |