Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 684 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

- rT aay - eee Cw ge — ‘ P ae ~<a? —— +» vt asthma Die be laa th & er “re... he a ; “7... — —s » > at —- ‘ s “= se -n 5 * Se . - . —e< oo oe «= a wh " ae . ee: a ~~ — — = ae me?” 8 They entered, and found comfortable seats at a table in an out-of-the-way corner. ‘* Now,” said Earle, ‘‘I will give you my story. My name vou know, aud it is my true name. I am in search of a lost sister, If living, she is about twenty-five years of age now, but i have no hope that she is living. The last I heard of her she was at St, Louis, with inten- tions of going further west in a short time. And that was five years ago. But I am run- ning ahead too fast, You will want the par- ticulars.” ‘Yes, while you are about it you may as well give it tome in straight order,” Dick agreed, ‘*T willdoso. Six vears ago the misguided gir) eloped from a boarding-school with a young man whose acquaintance she bad made, and nothing was heard from her for a year, Then, as | said, I heard from her at St. Louis. She and | were alone in the world, and owing to a foolish quarrel, were not on good terms at the time of her elopement, aud hence her si- lence. When she wrote, finally, she told me she was married, and that her busband’s name was Paul Lynton, She did not state his business, She said they were about starting further West, and would probably go to California or Mexico, She would write agatn, she promised, but I have never heard a word from her since.” ‘* And what clew is it that brings you here?” Dick asked, ** When some months had passed, and I heard no more from her, I went to St. Louis, and there began my search, lwent to every hotel in the city, almost, hunting for some trace of them, and at last | found the one where they had been living. Then I began to inquire about Lynton, aud soon Satisfied myself that be was a profes- sional gambler. By rare good tuck I got on their track, and followed them to T xas, From there I followed them to Mexico, but failed to find them there, I lost track of them, and itis only within a few months that I have heard again of Lynton, He was at Prescott, then, and alone. I am hunting for him now, but with little hope of finding him.” ‘* Yes, for if he has learned that you are upon his track, he is no doubt sailing under an as- sumed name, But, have you reason to believe that he is here, the cause of your remaining?” ‘‘No, It is the face of Edma Rulford that holds me here,” ‘Ha! Isee. It islove that now rules,” **T admit that it is.” ‘* And you know little or nothing about her,” * Little or nothing. Thereisa reserve about her, as [ said, that I cannot overcome. I do cherish a hope, however, that she cares for me.” Esmond Earle was speaking ina frank, man- ly way, as to a nearest friend, ‘*Why don’t you put the matter to the test, and know your tate?” Dick asked. ‘** You ought to see,” was the response. “Hor reserve of manner could be overcome, if you made the effort.” ‘* It is not altogether that. Jt is the question as to whether she is the Nemesis, If so, the dream must end.” ‘* You are in a sort of delicate dilemma, I can see,” Dick observed. ‘* What you are after is to learn the truth concerning her.” * That is it. Itold you thatIlam tryingto play detective here. And so I am, First, I want to find trace of that fellow, Paul Lynton; but mainly, now, | want to find out the truth concerning Edma Rulford,” ‘*T can understand and appreciate the state of mind you are in,” ‘** But, what is more important, can you help ‘** Perhaps I may be able to do so,” ‘* Promise me that you will,” ** Well, J promise.” ‘6 Enough.” F “Have we anything further to discuss at present?” Dick asked, * There is nothing further I can tell you,” an- swered Earle. ‘‘ There is nothing more to be pete ~ You know all about me nd my business ere,’ ‘*A reminder that)I have not given you much of an introduction to myself,” Dick remarked, ** You must pardon me, Earle, but [ have a role to play here that makes it very necessary for mé to keep my identity unknown,” ‘* My words were not intended as such a re- minder, Golconda, I am not seeking to know any more than you have already told me. Enough that lowe my life to you and that I regard you as a friend.” * Pshaw!” Dick exclaimed, ‘' I will take you into my confidence. I had no intention of mak- ing myself known to a soul here, but circum- / Deadw stances have thrown us together, and since you have tnade a confidant of me I will—” ‘*No, I do not ask it,” Earle interrupted, ‘‘Say no more, Let us go back to the hotel and see if any new excitement prevails.” ‘*You shall know who and what I am, first,” said Dick. ‘Wait, at any rate, till your work here is done, or business accomplished, or whatever it is, that has brought you bere, incognito, has been carried out, and then you will be free—” * Yes, and that will be a poor time to show confidence in you. I will tell you now, but pledging you to secrecy,” ‘On my word of honor you may trust me,” ‘* My name is Richard Bristol.” ‘* Bristol? That name sounds familiar.” ‘‘T am better known as Deadwood Dick,” ‘“ What!” Earle exclaimed, ‘* Not the famous Deadwood Dick, the detective!” They were talkiag in low tones, so that no one | could possibly overhear their words, The redoubtable Richard smiled, ‘‘T don’t lay any claim to being famous,” he remarked, modestly, ‘‘ but lam Deadwood Dick, | Mind that you do not let the secret out.” ‘* Trust me for that. I was sure that you must be a detective, from’ the way you talked and reasoned. IT am glad to know you, Mr, Bristol, and hope that our friendship may be lasting.” ‘‘T hope so,” Dick responded. ‘‘Of my busi- ness here I wili say nothing now. You will know that in good time. Let’s be going.” ‘All right, Mr, Golconda,” in a slightly louder tone. They went out of the place, and retraced their steps to the hotel. On arriving there, they found that a new ex- citement prevailed. On the breast of the dead man had been found a slip of paper, bearing the following terribly significant score: XXX XXXXXITTIL” CHAPTER IX. DICK AT THE MINE. ‘‘ How came this here?” So demanded Deadwood Dick. ‘*Et war thar wi’out comin’,” one man aver- red, ‘* Nonsense!” cried Dick. there, that is certain,” ‘* Like the ghost in Hamlet,” offered Maxi- milian MacDuff, ‘it simply appeared; but whenea it came no mortal knows.” 6 1 ‘‘Do you mean to say it was put there while you all stood around, and no one saw it laid there?” ‘‘Thet aire ar’ about ther size of et,” the first speaker affirmed. The fu’st we knowed about et, thar et war. I tell the boyees thet the Nemmysus aire a sure-nuff ghost, an’ no mistook.” ‘* How long since it was discovered?” ‘* Not more’n a minute or two, at ther most,” Deadwood Dick aud Esmond Earle exchang- ed a glance, and together they walked off out of the crowd, The eyes of the crowd followed them, and many comments were made concerning them both, and especially concerning the magnificent stranger. Said one man: ‘‘Them fellers has cottoned pooty quick, fer strangers, an’ thet aire dr’ frozen fact from top ter bottom,” ‘* Right you aire,” another agreed, ‘ Ef Gol- conder ther Gorgy an’ Esmond Earle ain’t met afore, then I miss my guess.” ‘*Mebby poor Lanky Lam wasn’t so fur off ther truth, after all,” hinted yet another. ‘‘ Mebby ther two fellers is in cahoots, an’ thet Earle is ther Nemmysus, after all said an’ done.” “Ef thet aire ar’ ther case, it’s a pity he wasn’t stringed up last night, as the boyees started ter do,” ° ‘‘ You never said nuthin’ straightér ror that, an’ I’m sayin’ so, hard as ever I kin say it.” So the fire of comment ran, but Dick and his companion were entirely ignorant of it all. *‘ What do you think of it now?” Earle asked, as the two walked off. ‘‘Tt puzzles me to know what to think of it,” was Dick’s reply. ‘*Somebody put that paper there.” ‘* Why, of course, was that somebody ?” ‘““There you’ve got me. the crowd.” ‘* Tt is very likely, and if so—” ‘‘Tf so,” Dick finished, ‘‘ then the Nemesis is not Miss Rulford, unless she has a helper in the work,” *‘ Somebody put it But the question is, Who No doubt he was in d no one see it put there?” Dick demanded, ——— Ve rr ST | ‘* And I honestly hope it is not she, I hate to ' think of her as doing such work, Her hands are too small and shapely to have the stain of blood on them,” | ‘* from what you heard her say to the fellow | | you heard the ghost warn, that is, what yon heard the ghost say, it would seem that the cause is a just one, and the vendetta only a just retri- bution.” ‘* But it is not she, I cannot, will not, believe it! She is too young and fair to be engaged at | such awful business.” ‘* Well, I hope you are right, but it is certain- ly some one.” ‘There is no doubting that,” Suddenly Deadwood Dick stopped short. ‘‘T am forgetting my own business,” he re- marked, glancing at his handsome watch, ‘It _is after nine, and ] must call at the office of the 'tmine. Will you direct me to it, if you know where it is?” ‘‘ Everybody knows where it is. Go around the corner by the post-office, and follow on till | you come to it,” . ‘*Good enough; and now if you will excuse me, I’ll go around there,” ‘Tl do that, certainly, Sorry [ve detained you as I have,” ‘* You did nothing of the sort. Well, look out for yourself till we meet again, which will be soon, if you remain around,” They parted, and Dick crossed the street and headed toward the post-office, “This is a queer business,” he mused, as be went along. ‘* I don’t know what to make of it all, But, perhaps it will be sifted out soon. I must try to make the acquaintance of Miss Rulford, and see if there is anything in her voles or manner to make me think as Earle did,” In that strain his thoughts went, and he turned the corner by the post-office, and set off down that street. But it could not be called by so dignified a name, for there were only three or four build- ings on it, and in a little distance it merged into a path that led up the side of the gulch to the rocky ledge. The end of the path was at the mine, and the buildings were in plain sight as soon as the cor- ner was turned, door of the office, He opened it and went in. Pingal McKaddin was there alone, perched ae a high stool at a desk behind the outer railing. ** Well, I see you are here,” Dick observed. ‘‘T am that same,” was the hearty response. ‘¢ Come right in and find a seat. sir, The bosses are not around yet, though Mr. Barnthal was here quite early.’ ‘*It is allthe same,” Dick returned, ‘I will wait till they come, I suppose this mine is pretty rich, is it not?” He helped himself to a chair as he put the uestion, ‘* You are shouting the truth when you say that,” Fingal déesred: ‘** Royally rich it is, and work would I do.” ‘Do you think the owners would sel! an in- terest in it?” ‘* 1 don’t believe they would,” ‘* Have they ever had an offer?” ‘* Not that I know of.” ‘*] understand they own pretty much the whole place,” ‘And so they do, It was a lucky find for them. Wish I could strike it as rich, But, that is the way of the world.” ‘*Yes, the favors of Dame Fortune are not evenly bestowed, By the way, I suppose I can ask you a few questions witbout your repeating the matter,” ‘You can, sir. Show me the man that has got a tighter mouth than Fingal McFaddin, elt show you one that can’t open his mouth at all, ‘Good enovgh. Well, did you ever hear men- tion here of such names as Temple and Noland?” ‘Temple and Noland, is it? I don’t believe I ever did,” ‘* Never heurd Barnthal or Crapps speak of them, eh?” ‘‘T don’t remember ever hearing the nemes before,” Tag ‘ Very well, you needn’t say anything about it. | ** Never a word will I say, sir.” ‘All right, iNow, what sort of men are Barutbal and Crapps!” | ‘Gentlemen, both of them,” was the prompt i Pe egy Dick went up, and in a little time was at the if 1 owned one-fifth of it, never another bit of . > theese