Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 700 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

5 1 5 er es ee ee ee — tetas ee oO. ew ewe em te ee ~~ Se Sk ee tye <a Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Drop. Finding a chair, he settled himself in it com- fortably, put bis feet up on the rail, and proceed- = to get a little enjoyment out of the evening our. The air was beginning to grow refreshing, after the heat of the day, and Dick soon felt at peace with himself and all the world, as he sat -and smoked, watching the periodical ebullitions of the spring in the Plaza. The evening was by no means quiet, and as the bour advanced it became less and less so, The saloons all around the Square were doing a thriv- ing business, and from many of them strains of music, if it could be called music, floated out upon the evening air, Shouting and singing were heard on every hand, and now and then a little set-to between some would-be champions of the local gladiato- rial arena, would break the monotony of things and cause a ripple of excitement while the ‘‘scrimmage ” lasted, which was generally not very long. Un that side of the Square on Dick’s right, was the largest of the saloons, and there the most of the ‘“‘ fun” seemed to be going on. A big trans- rent sign over the doors set forth its name in etters a foot high—‘‘ TIGER’S JUNGLE.” By and by out from this place rushed a man, who, judging by his appearance and actions, might well be taken for the “tiger” of the ** jungle” bimself. e was a big man, deep of chest and broad of shoulder, with a tangle of red hair and beard all over his head and face, He was bareheaded and in his shirt-sleeves, and he came out with a wild yawp and a flourish of his arms. ‘* Hyer I come!” he screamed, “‘ ther untame't hyena of the tiger’s jungle fer a fact! Make room fer me, boyees, or by the ragin’ old yarth- quake what swollered ther moon efI don't jest everlastin’ly ernihilate a dozen or two of ye! Out of my way, I’m shoutin’, or somebody will git hurt! I’m lookin’ fer fight, I be, and don’t ye fergit it! Whoop-ee !/” nd so exclaiming as he advanced, he made straight for the Grand Union, a big crowd fol- lowing at his heels. This individual was one Noah High, by name roper, but far better known as ‘“ High-hoss Noah,” a name that was expressive of his char- acter to a degree, e was generally on a “high horse” when- ever he had a little of the fiery element aboard, and as he was seldom without that, his mount was usually considerably elevated. On he came, at a run and a jump, as playfully as a frisky lambkin but as belligerous as a war- ring ram. ‘“ Yas, hyer I be,” he repeated, as he squared himself in front of the hotel porch, ‘‘ ther great old corkscrew whirlwind what devastated ther land of Yejupt! Ther ugly old cattymount what clawed out ther eyes of forty-seven tigers ‘all ter oncet in a fair fight! Hear me scream— Waugghhh! Don’t et jest curdle yer blood? Come right out hyer, now, any galoot what thinks he’s got fight in bim, an’ see how quick 1 kin fnock ther consate out of him,” It was a generous invitation, but no one seemed inclined to accept it. ** Don’t git skart afore ye git hurt,” the fellow shouted. ‘‘ Don’t cry afore ye git spanked, leetle cheeldren. But, ef thar is ary galoot amongst ye what wants a leetle touchin’ up, jest let him amble right out: hyer and see bow quick his uncle kin doit fer him, I’m cock of ther walk byer at Satan’s Spring, I be, and thar ain’t ary citi- zen what kindo me up, Thinkin’ that mebby some fighter hev come in by ther stage, though, I’m hyer ter challenge him fer ther spurs, Ob! DPma Ey old-style rooster of ther barnyard breed, I be, Come, somebody, and git a purty pictur’ painted on yer eye!” Still no one offered to lend his person for this giant’s amusement. Deadwood Dick paid no attention to him what- ever, further than to smile in an amused way at his Doastings. He kept bis seat and smoked calmly on, and had neither desire nor intention of getting into trouble with anybody that evening. Tombstone Dan was on the porch, too, and finally the eyes of the fighting man of te town fell upon him and he gave voice toa personal challenge. ‘“You feller theer,” he sung out, pointing at Tombstone Dan, “ you cuss witb ther big nose, _ prance out hyer and let me bu’st yer bugle on yo! You look as if you kin fight a leetle bi5, ou do, so jest trot out byer and take a lesson er dad! I'll bet my old hat again’ your Oia Satin Giant I kin show yer some tricks what yer never heard of] Come, what d’ye say?” / rae and me name aire High-hoss Noah, ° Now it happeued that this same Tombstone Dan was something of a fighter; but, on this occasion he had no desire to engage in a “‘cir- cus.” He was too far used up by the long, hard journey he had come. ‘‘No, thank yer; not this evenin’,” he re- sponded. ‘‘Some other evenin’, mebby. I’m too tired i now, ter stand up, let alune fight. Besides, have no idee but what you kin do me up. ‘‘Some other evenin’, eh?’ cried High-hoss Noab. ‘I takes that fer a mean way of sneak- in’ out of a hole, I does. If you kin fight me some other evenin’, mister, yer kin fight me now. Come-right down off o’ that aire porch, now, or I'll come up thar and pitch yer off! You hear me yaup? I[’m ther great old blizzard from ther nor’west, I be; ther glitterin’ old war-boss from ther regions beyanst! Come, don’t yer bear me call? lll give ye jest two seconds, and ef yer ain’t byer then, 1’]] come up thar and boot yer! Yaaaa-aa-aahh !” Now this sort of talk made Mr, Tombstone Dan feel inclined to test the matter. He was a fellow of about the same ilk at home, and this was a little more than he was inclined to stand, tamely, ‘* Curlin’ smoke!” he cried, ‘‘ef yer is bound ter force et on ter me, I s’pose I might as well oblige ye. Mebby you kin pick me up and sot down on me, mister, and mebby ye can’t. saya if ye’re bound ter have et, here goes er ye! ith that Tombstone Dan flung off bat and coat and jumped to the ground, High-bhoss Noah was ready to receive him, and at it they went, like a pair of Kilkenny cats. T'he loud-mouthed boasting of the bullwhacker had attracted attention, and now there wasa big crowd on hand to witness the mill, This was just the sort of fun that suited the majority of the citizens, too. CHAPTER IV, DICK TAKES A HAND. TOMBSTONE DAN soon proved that he was no boy or tenderfoot. He succeeded in depositing one of his fists against the cheek of High-boss with telling effect, at which Noah uttered a bel- low that might have been heard a mile, and went into the business of the moment with vim. ‘‘Got in one on me, did yer!” he cried, ‘“ Hit me one clip, did yer! Yer can’t do et again, not fer ther dudads yer can’t! Hyer I am, ther ee old bippoppottymous from yan- er! | ‘¢ Curlin’ smoke!” exclaimed Tombstone, as he got a feeler in return, ‘‘butI bet I'll pay that aire back wi’ interest, me screamin’ coyote! Ef I don’t twist ye up an’ tie ye inter a double-bow knot, then ye kin take my head fer a cabbage! Mind yer eye, now, fer hyer I come on ther fu’st bounce!” And now they were going into it, tooth and nail, and ina way that was calculated to make the fur fly. Tombstone Dan was a good man, in a fight of this sort, where there was no particular amount of science on either side, but, in a little while it began to be seen that High-hoss Noah was a bet- ter, and only a little time lacer Dan gota clean knock-out, straight. . ‘*‘ Whoop-ee!” cried High-boss, jumping up and cracking his heels togetker, ‘‘ ye see how et war done; jest a simple twist of ther wrist and a flip of ther thumb, and his name war Dennis! Come, me warblin’ kioodle, git up on yer pins till I do et fer ye again. Ob, but this hyer ar’ ther most fun I hev had in a dog’s age, et ar’! Come ter time, me hearty, and let me finish ther good work I hev begun.” Tombstone Dan was coming; one knock-out was not enough to cool bis ardor. He gathered himself together as soon as he could, and once more lent himself for the amuse- ment of the crowd. ‘Ef yer kin do that ergain,” he cried, “Tl holler *nuff! But I'll bet yer can’t! I’m Tomb- stone Dan from Tombstone, | am, and I most en’ly eat a man or two ter sharpen me appetite er breakfast every mornin’, Come fer me, ‘| now, and see ef yer kin do thet aire purty trick jest oncet more fer luck.” Once more the two fellows sprung together, and into the thing they plunged, regardless of everything. anit , They gave each other some terrible blows, for a few moments, but Tombstone’s were far the weaker, now, and pretty soon he received a stun- ner that sent him spinning end over end and laid him out kicking. , “‘ Hooray !” screamed the victorious High-hoss, as he jumped up and cracked bis heels ther again, ‘“That’s ther way 1 do et when I gits ( a me handsin! Did anybody count ther turns he made? Ef he’ll only come ter time oncet more, [ll send him over like a pin-whee!. Whoop-eef Anybody else want some? Now I’ve got me hand in, and I kin tackle any two of ye that has a mind ter step up. Look byer, me gallus dude, mebby you would like ter come and board wi” yer uncle fer a leetle while!” Deadwood Dick bad been smoking peacefully during the melee, and had not taken bis feet: down from the rail. This fight was nothing to him, and if the two fellows wanted to pound each other for the fun of it, he was willing they should enjoy them- selves, } But now, and all of a sudden, too, the course of events took a sudden and unexpected turn, and Deadwood Dick found himself in a position that was by no means agreeable to a man of his temperament. As the “ fighter of ” the town uttered his clos- ing remark, he sprung suddenly forward, laid hold of Dick’s feet as they rested on the rail, and before Dick could make a move toward saving bimself he was toppled over backward, landing in a very ungraceful heap on the floor. ‘‘ Haw! haw! haw!” laughed the bearded giant, throwing back his head and giving outa jackass: bray that was like a small foghorn out of tune, ‘* but wasn’t thet aire done neat?” And the crowd joined in the laugh at Dick’s expense, as he proceeded to get up leisurely from his undesirable position, ‘* We don’t want no dudes ’round hyer,” the big, ruffian cried. ‘‘ You was takin’ things too easy ter suit our ideas of ther fitness of things hyer, yer was, and I thort [d let ye take adrop to. yerself. Haw! haw! haw! but he did drop, did- n’t he, me boyees!” The town tough was a head taller than Dick, and larger in proportion, and he had no idea that any trouble would follow his playful trick. But he reckoned without his host, as he pre- sently came to know, Dick got up, leisurely, as said, and brushed the dust from his clothes as though the matter was to end. ‘** Anybody else want a taste of ther pie?’ the bullwhacker shouted. ‘‘Ef any of you galoots wants ter try yer luck, jest step right up to ther office. Hyer I be, the screamin’ cattymount. from ther rollin’ prearies, ready ter lick twicet me weight in cat, dog or man! Whoop-eef Who'll be ther next ter trya sample? 1’ll tackle ary two or three of yer that wants ter wade in. Oh! [’'m ther—” ‘“* Don’t get any more contracts on your hands, my friend, till you are done with tbis one.” t was Deadwood Dick who spoke, and the big bully turning round, saw that his ‘‘dude” was facing him, And he saw that be wasready for business, too, a thing that evidently surprised him not a little. He had not looked for this. But, putting a bold face on the matter, he broke out: “Haw! haw! haw! Why, sonny, what d’ye want o’ me? Do yer want me ter turn ye up and spank yer? That’s what I'll have ter do, ef ou don’t run into ther house like a good leetle oy, and go ter bed, Come, et ar’ time leetle boyees war all in their leetle beds,” he crowd laugbed more heartily than ever. Here was fun enough for the whole town. More fun than they had had in a week before. ‘“‘ What did you take hold of my feet and push me over for?’ Dick inquired, in his cool way. ‘‘What did I do et fer? Wull, now, sonny, thet aire ar’ a fine question ter be askin’ of a man o’ my size and years. I done et fer fun, _though, ef yer want ter know right bad.” ‘* You did it for fun, eh?” _ . ‘Yas, ter be sure. Must be doin’ somethin’ ter keep ther blood movin’, when tirnes is dull,” “Then you are troubled with stagnation of, the blood, are you?” ‘“Wull, yas, to a sartain degree, But, say, what ar’ you goin’ ter do about et?” ‘“‘T shall proceed to show you, sir, immediate- ly,” Dick assured, grimly, ‘If your blood wants stirring up, Vil see if I can’t make it move for you. Come, now, square yourself,” ‘“Yer don’t mean et!” the fellow gasped, in- credulously. ‘* Yer don’t mean ter say thet you want ter fight me!” ‘¢ Of course I mean it,” Dick impressed. “If you don’t want to fight, after what you have done spring there, head and heels.” _ The High-hoss could not believe that he heard arta ‘Throw me inter ther spring!” he repeated, slowly, as though trying to grasp it; “why, sonny, yer couldn’t throw my old hat inter ther : : ' comicboo T’ll take you and throw you into that ~Sao> of ; So. ee ~ = ~ $$$ ee ee ge —— ’ ~ - =