Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 684 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

** One,” the master of ceremonies counted, in a loud tone. The men at the rope drew it tight, and braced themselves for the pull. “Two,” was called out in like manner, and everything was ready for the final signal, Instead of that signal, though, came the ring- ing order: *Howp!” Every eye turned, to behold Deadwood Dick with two gold-flashidg revolvers in band, cover- ing them all. he sudden presence of tue stranger, and his superb bearing and magnificent appearance, sent athrill of fear and admiration through the crowd, It was a sight to rivet the attention of any one, and to win the admiration of even the most blunted intellect. Horse and rider made a pic- ture, in the white radiance of the moonlight, that any salon might envy. ; For several seconds no one moved or spoke, Deadwood Dick was the first t} break the silence. ‘‘ Drop that rope,” he ordered, sternly. The rope was drop instantly, and it was done condhanticnily, he rascals who had it in hand recognized a master-spirit in the man who uttered the command. But now the spell was broken, and a hum be- n to vibrate the night air as every man ques- ioned his neighbor, in an undertone, as to who the stranger could be. No one there had ever seen him before. ** Look ’e hyar,” cried the ea-master of cere- monies, glaring at Dick with as terrible express- ion as be could bring upon his homely face, ‘who be ye? What right hev yer ter interfere in what don’t concarn ye?” Tbis man was one Lambert Cobbletree, popu- larly known as “‘Lanky Lam.” He was a sort of Jocal chief, and the ringleader of the worst element in the town’s social make-up. He had the reputation, too, of being a decidedly ‘** bad” The prisoner, too, had turned with the rest, and Dick saw that he was a good-looking young man of noble appearance and bearing. ‘*You make a big mistake,” the redoubtable Richard promptly returned. ‘* This matter does concern me, and for that reason I chip in. Take that rope from around your prisoner’s neck, and do it quick.” ‘‘ Great monnymint o’ Patience!” Mr. Cobble- tree,s reamed, ‘* be you a-talkin’ ter me—me ?” “Yes, I’m talking to you,” Dick assured. “T}l give you just five seconds to obey, tool If you don’t, then I'll ballast you with lead, Come, get a gait on you, or down you go.” There was a ring to the order that brooked no delay. lanky Lam lost no time in doing as he had been told, and the rope was removed and dropped. ‘‘Thar,” he stormed, “thar et aire, seein’ as you hold thé joker this hand. I warn yer that ther game ain’t ended, though; no, not by a mighty sight it ain’t! Ef I don’t miss my guess, — come in fer a halter if ye tarry long in ese parts,” ‘s Plenty of time to talk about that,” Dick ob- served. ‘*In the present instance you can fur- ther oblige me by freeing your prisoner's hands and allowing him togo. Iam in no mood to trifled with, I warn you.” ‘*No—I ber everlastin’ly consarned ef we does!” Lanky Lam howled in protest. ‘‘In course we won't,” supported the crowd, ‘He's killed a man, an’ he’s got ter swing fer ” ‘‘That’s what’s ther matter!” yelled Lanky. “Who be you, anyhow, you dandy jacka- * napes? What right have yer got ter clip in hyar? Git holt o’ thet rope ag’in, fellers, an’ we'll show—” “Let any man touch that rope,” Deadwood Dick warned, cool as an iceberg, ‘‘and he is as good as dead already. Keep your hands away from your weapons, too, every one of you, or you will hear a blast from the bugle of the angel of roll-call that will waft you hence before you can wink. Once more, you, sir, release that prisoner, or die!” This was addressed to Lanky Lam, and one of Dick’s revolvers covered his heart as the com- mand was given. The big bullwbacker turned pale, and with muttered curses proceeded to follow instruc- tions. In a moment Esmond Earle was free, so far as concerned the use of arms and legs. ‘¢ Now, Mr. Earle,” the rescuer invited, ‘* step out here, if you please, and we'll see what they’re going to do abott it.” - The young man did so, no one offering to op- Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Da and Mr, Earle to go peacefully to pose his going, and when he had gained Dick’s side, and faced around, Dick demanded: ‘Now, my jolly hollyhocks, what are you going to do about it?” ‘‘ Yer is likely ter find out afore yer is ten minnits older,” growled Lanky Lam, ‘“ You'll Yarn thet no galoot kin come ter Nutmeg an’ run ther bull burg ter suit hisself, You kain’t hold ther drop on us all night, an’soon’s ye lose it, down ye goes.” ‘** Let us reason the matter a little,” Dick pro- posed, ‘‘I know this man to be innocent of the crime with which he is charged, and that is why I mean to see fair play in the matter.” ‘* How d’yer know et?” demanded some one, ‘‘ That’s ther idee!” exclaimed Lanky. ‘‘ How do yer know et? Ef ye aire so mighty sartain on ther p’int, mebby you had a hand in ther murder.” ‘*T will tell you how I know it,” said Dick. ‘*As I was coming through the canyon I was stopped by a ghost, or something in that line. The specter warned me, or rather apprised me of what was going on bere, Further, the ghost- ly personage declared most positively that Es- mond Earle is innocent of the murder, and that Joe Gables fell by the hand of the Nemesis of Nutmeg. There you have the whole thing in a nut-shell, and now allow me to inquire once more—W hat are you going to do about it?” He awaited an answer, still holding the crowd covered with his glittering five-shooters. He held the best band, by a grand majority. CHAPTER lV. APPLYING THE BALM, No one in the crowd seemed willing to take upon himself the responsibility of offering a so- lution to the problem, Dick waited some seconds, patiently, and find- ing that no one was going to take the necessary step, took it in hand himself to dispose of, * Too many for you is it citizens?” he interro- ated. ‘* Well, I’li make a proposition to you. ou don’t seem to be near so eager for a hang- ing-bee as you were a little while ago, so su e yuu adjourn, for the present, and give Mr, Earle the trial he bas asked for, to-morrow.” Some few voices in the crowd assented to this but the greater part grumbled in disapproval of the plan. ‘* And in the mean time,” Dick went on, ** we will allow Mr. Earle to go upon his own recog- nizance—” Ee ‘“‘Not by er merry sight!” cried Lanky Lam, “We ain’t goin’ ter let him out o’ our sight, an’ that aire sot on, flat.” “Pardon me, sir,” opposed Dick, ‘* but J am running the mill at present. I say Mr, Karle is to be allowed his freedom, upon his promise that be will appear for trial. hat say you, Mr, Earle?” | ** T have no intention of going away,” was the respons. ‘* I will appear for trial when I am wanted.” Good enough. ‘You are at liberty for the pres- ent, There, there, citizens, don’t howl sc, for it won’t do you any good. WhenlI takea mat- ter of this sort in hand, I generally carry it out to suit my own ideas of the fitness of things. Now, one question further: Will hy allow me the hotel?” ‘*Nary a time we won’t!” bellowed Mr. Lanky Lam. ‘“ We're goin’ ter bave our priz’ner, and that’s what’s ther matter wi’ Hanner, You kin go on, ef yer wants ter, but not thet’ar red- handed cuss, You hear me chirp!” ‘*Oh, yes, I hear your chirp,” Dick assured. ‘* And now,” he added, ‘*‘ you just lend your at- tention to mine. Right about face, every one of you, and forward, march! I mean business, and I’ve got both fists full of bullets to back it up. Come, face around, every man, or I’]] make it hot for you! There, that’s it; now amble right along, and not a peep out of any of you, There were a hundred men in the crowd, at the very least, But they had found their master in Dead- wood Dick, the hero of a hundred deadly en- counters, and they obeyed his order with more of humility than a flock of sheep could have naanifested, . Forward they went, not one in the whole mob venturing to look around, and after them fol- lowed Deadwood Dick and the man he had res- cued from so great a danger. Dick had his weapons still in hand, and was narrowly watching the men, in order not to allow any one a chance to try a shot at him, “You have done me a great service,” spoke Esmond Earle, as he walked beac Dick's horse, zZzle, ‘and one that I shall never forget. You have saved my life, and though you are a stranger to me, I can assure you of my friendsbip.” ‘“ And friendship is a mighty good thing to have a supply of,” responded Dick. “It is sometimes a scarce article, when a fellow is down in hard luck, I always accept all that is offered.” ‘‘ Well, you have mine, for you have done me a big service. But, how are you going to escape this angry crowd? They will howl for your life, now, as well as mine.” ‘“Ob, I consider them as _ good as disposed of now,” was Dick’s reply. ‘* Their ardor has cool- ed considerably, and when we reach the hotel, Ill give them atreat. Ten to one that four- fifths of them will forget everything else the moment I mention it,” ‘*Perhaps you are right, I hope you are, at any rate. By the way, you have the advantage of me, knowing my name.” ‘*‘[ am Golconda the Gorgeous, so called,” Dick informed, ‘Further than that, I do not eare to disclose my identity at present, Per- haps I will further enlighten you later on,” “Your appellation is certainlyunique. Par- don my asking so bluntly. I will addressyyou as Golconda, then, if agreeable,” “Certainly, that being my name.” Diak’s eyes had not for a second left the ps ng and now he had occasion to give a new order, ‘‘ Hey, my fine fellows,” he cried, ‘‘I see too many of you are inclined to get your hands on your weapons, Inorder to obviate the necessity of shooting any of you, just put up your hands, every one. There, that is better; and now keep them so till I tell you to lower them,” The mandate was obeyed promptly by every man, and in that manner the baffled disciples of Judge Lynch marched into the town they had so recently left like so many bloodthirsty and untamable tigers. Like roaring lions they had gone forth; they were returning with the meekness of shorn lambs, The hour was not far short of midnight, but the town was still awake. ; | In point of fact, it had been in an uproar since n, The street was ea tt and the hotel and saloon were ablaze with lights, as though the evening were yet young. When the proposition had been first made to | lypale Earle, it had met strong opposition from e better class of citizens. But the id k hold upon the more disorderly elem tof t € town’s populace, and in the course of an hour,a howling mob was on the street, The better class being greatly in the minority, nothing could be done, as none of them felt will- | ing torisk their lives in the young stranger's behalf, and so he was left to his fate, And only for the timely coming of Deadwood Dick, it is hag to be seen what that fate would have been. ut, now the tables were turned, and one man held the entire rabble in band, ? As they marched into town, hands up, a de- cided sensation was created, and every eye was eager to discern the ruling cause of so strange a spectacle, That cause was speedily discovered, and the citizens of Nutmeg Bonanza looked upon the elegant horseman with awe and admiration, ‘Who can he be?’ was the question that fell from every oe No one could give the answer. Dick had asked his companion to point out the hotel, when they should come to it, and when they came opposite to it the redoubtable Richard called a half, ‘¢Now, my fine fellows,” he sung out, “ we will have peace or war, just as you feel most inclined. If peace, then you are all cordially invited to step into the hotel and wet your whis- tles at my expense, What say you?” There was immediately 4 sizable *‘ howl” for ace, it © had dawned upon mostof the men that they were in a decidedly awkward fix, and this easy and honorable way out Of it touched them in just the right spot. | “We're fer peace every time ther clock strikes!” sung out one. | ‘Yas, and all ther way atween hours, too,” another supplemented. ‘“You bas won ther trick, Mister Sparkler,” still another put in, ‘an’ so we is ready ter come ter tarms, an’ them tarms you mention is jest to our likin’.” “Yas! Yas! That’s ther stuff!” This Jast was the general cry, with ht variations, and the crowd made a move in the direction of the hotel. ' in rT Pua ted, Mm ¢_f gal. ted bdo ted OR heeds