Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 700 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

his shining bones can be called a man any lon- er.” ae I stand corrected. But, say, who is the dam- sel who came by the stage to-night?” ‘711 never tell you. There is something of a mystery about her,”’ ‘In what way? I like mysteries.” ‘Well, no one has seen her face, that I am aware of, unless it’s the landlord’s gal.” ‘‘ Just what [ thought, the reason 1 asked.” ‘*Do you imagine she is anything to old Pil- brooke?” ‘‘ Don’t see bow she can be. Perhaps this Deadwood Dick of yours knows more about her than any one else.” ‘* No, [ happen to know that he does not.” * And how do you know that?” ‘Dick himself was interested to know this, ‘“ Because,” came the answer, “I saw Lim SS a look at her name on the register, after Baldy eo had put it down.” ‘“‘You are something of a detective, I see. But you have the weakness of taking every in- dication for proof. Perhaps he only looked to 4 see if the name had been entered correctly.” ‘‘ No, I don’t believe that. Besides, he’s too shrewd for that.” | w: ** Too shrewd for what?” r “* Why, if he knew her, but wanted to play off that he didn’t, he would never have been seen looking at her name on the register.” ** Now, there ae, go again, jumping right at a conclusion, hy not look at it the other way, that he did look at the register to,give an impression, just the impression you have : j ) | formed,” **Oh, well, it is too small a point to dwell upon, We won't talk about it any more, Let’s get back to the starting-point.” “Very well, just as you please.” But just there they were interrupted, and Deadwood Dick heard nothing more that was of any interest to him. ‘ There was a knock at a door, one of the voices gave an invitation for the person to enter, and some one entered the room, evidently a “oo ae - | pe who had no share in this kind of talk, if Thé conversation became general, for a few By \ minutes, and then the trio began playing cards, me a a during the progress of their game Dick fell asleep, When he awoke it was daylight. Springing up, he looked at his watch. 7 The one Captain Death relieved him of wasa 378 common silver affair, one he had provided: him- . self with for just such an emergency; this was 4" = his fine gold chronometer, 4 Finding that it must be about breakfast-time, he set about making ready to go down, and while he was thus engaged the breakfast-bell ) rung, calling the hungry to come and partake, | Dick was soon ready, and when he had taken up his bunk from the floor, and fixed the bed so as to give the impression that he had slept there, he left the room and went down. os That business of the morning was soon done : with, and when he left the table Dick had occa- sion to return to his room for something he had left there. While in the room, then, he thought about the ; _ eoffin, and looked under the bed to see if it were still there. ; To his surprise, and yet not - _ either, he found it was gone! When had it been taken? That was a question that came to him then, to his surprise ie Probably while be was at breakfast, but he oom i did not know it tobeso, It was just possible ty: Re that it had been taken away during the night. | ; Going down again, he sauntered out upon the &~ fe piazza, lighted a cigar, and sat down. The town was just beginning to stir itself for ’ the business of another day, but there was not | a quarter of the noise of the previous evening. i Vhile there seated, Austin Pilbrooke came out of the bar-room, CaN AS be a sind traveler,” he greeted, ‘are you ai waiting for the stage to go, to get away from > Te this modern Sodom?” Ja | y vai ‘‘- You think it’s a wicked place, then,” laugh- } . ed®Dick, pe ““The worst place I ever got into in my fon, A life!” Pilbrooke cried. ‘‘{’m sorry I can’t go Ae along with you.” mK _ “But I’m. not going on,” Dick informed. ~~ Im going to stop over for a day or so myself, . _ Lhave changed my mind since yesterday.” | os Tt can't be because you like the place, then, y | ae Tl be bound! Perhaps it is because you do not | ee Want to meet that death’s-head highwayman oA again. I don’t much blame you-if such is the a p= aa Y $7 we . P a has eo ed right in tne first instance, any- 5) aie how, d Dick, “It is because I don’t like ‘comet’ a hago ts } in , Ray "Se 7 Fi A é may ; yt ; ; PJ os Ae <4 . Oo ade? AS Bh ’ “¢ P vis ache a i pet. x phe a! 3 > re oe ve = ee i ee eee 2 eth, me ee ———————————— the place that 1 have made up my mind to stop over. As to the road-agent, I should like noth- ing better than to meet him again. I want to see what he is made of, since bullets of mine have no effect on him.” ** Do you mean that?” ‘** Of course I do,” ‘‘ See here, maybe you would like to take a hand in the work of running him to earth.” ‘“‘T might be induced to take a hand in the game,” ‘“'You know, perhaps, that Appleby, the manager of the Little Joker Mine here, has offered a reward of a thousand dollars for his capture.” ‘* Yes, I have seen his posted notice to that effect.” ‘‘ Well, ’'m going to put four thousand more to it and make it five.” ‘‘ That will be a respectable sum,” if And perbaps you will make a try for it, eh?” ‘‘ Tl] give you my opinion,” said Dick, ‘* and that is, the man who wins the reward will earn it.” ‘‘ Then you look upon it as a difficult matter to take this ghastly Jack Sheppard, eh?” ‘Tt will be no boy’s play, you can bet,” ‘‘ But, taken he shall be, if I have to raise the reward another five. Iam out of pocket a big ‘fortune already at his bands.” ‘‘You have an interest in the Little Joker Mine, I believe,” Dick recalled the conversation he had heard on the previous night. ‘‘T should say 1 have,” cried Pilbrooke. “I own half of the sbares, but for the past year I haven’t had a cent of returns, although the mine is paying big in the output. This band of rob- bers has gobbled everything.” ‘‘ Strange your manager here would allow the thing to goon so long.’ ‘ Just what I told him last night, and he wanted to know what he could do about it. Said he couldn’t biremen to tackle this Captain Death, as he’s called.” ‘‘-You haven’t any idea that the manager bim- self can have a finger in the pie, have you?” ‘Ob, no! Appleby is the sdul of honor!” “Tt was a chance idea that came to me, that was all, Such things have been heard of, you know. No need to speak of it.” ‘¢ Certainly not, certainly not.” ‘* By the way, 1 understand considerable bul- lion is to be shipped by the stage this morning.” ‘‘Hal how did you learn that?” ‘“‘ Well, no matter just how. What do you think the chances are for its getting through?” ‘¢T am at loss to understand how you could know this. It was a secret, we believed. But, it is so, and as to its getting through— Well, we are going to make a try for it, anyhow.” ‘* Yes, I understand you intend sending an armed escort, But, Mr. Pilbrooke, take a word of warning from me. You are in danger, in making war in person against this outlaw, and you want tolook out for yourself, And, in time of danger, a man bas to be as watchful of friends as of foes, It will pay you to be on your guard all the time.” CHAPTER VIIL. DICK PLAYS FOR POINTS, PILBROOKE looked at Dick keenly; he did not seem to ‘* catch on.” ‘‘See here, tell me in plain words just what you mean,” be demanded, ‘Can't very well use any plainer words than I have,” returned Dick. ‘‘ Keep your eye open for snags ahead,” “Yes, but how came you to know anything about this armed escori? Come, you seem to know as much about this business as Ido, And who are these friends your warning is intended to cover?” ‘‘T am not prepared to tell you anything more than 1 have,” Dick evaded. ‘*You_may heed my bint or not, just as you please, You ought | to know, though, that in coming here to break up this band you put yourself in danger, and you can’t tell bow or when Captain Death will strike.” ‘Oh, I see; it is only a warning in a general way againsthim, then, Isee. Much obliged to you of course.” , ** And you needn’t mention that I have said ee about it.” * All right, I won’t. Hail there is Appleby, and I want to see him, Tl talk with you again,” | ilbrooke turned away, then, going off with Appleby in the direction of the mine, and Dick went into the bar-room. Stepping to the bar, he began to turn over the Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Drop. a | ao —. , ™ TLR C0 GR SO ~ ; f pages of the register, as if merely toying with them; but, he had an object in view, as n scarcely be said. He wanted to learn who oc- cupied the room under bis own, and havin noted the number of it, the register ought to te him, ; And so it did. He found that room was occu- pied by Gerald Appleby, and be drew the con- clusion at once that this was a sun of the mine manager. ‘* 1t begins to come close to home,” be reflect- ed, as he turned away. ‘* There is some might crooked work going on here, and I think I'll take a hand in the game on Mr, Pilbrooke’s side, I rather like the man, and’ 1 think he is being sapped pretty badly.” e turned away from the register, and fell into conversation with Baldy Benscn, ** What about that aire coffin?’ Baldy asked. “* Nothing about it,” answered Dick, ** only it is gone,” ‘*Gone, do yer say?” the landlord exclaimed in surprise, ‘* When did et go?” ‘“T giveit up. I thought maybe you would know something about it. But, it is of little importance, I suppose it was taken out while I was at breakfast,’ ‘“Wull, I ber durn!” the landlord exclaimed, “This byer beats ther nick, et do. Ill have a watch set and see ef I can’t find out somethin’ about et. DVllhavenosich goin’s-on in my honse, not ef I krow et.” After a few further words, Dick turned away, going out again to the piazza. The stage had just come around from the stables, and was ready to set out again on its tiresome journey. ‘‘ Whoap, thar, Polly,” the Jebu was saying, ‘for Il takea leg offen yer. 1 won’t stand none 0’ your foolin’ ter-day, an’ ye wants ter mind et, Having got his animals quieted to suit him, Ribbon Johnny turned to the hotel and shouted: **Come, now, pilgrims, ther hearse ar’ ready pnd waitin’ fer ye, and we'll be movin’ erlong. Tumble right out hyer and bundle in, fer we've got a long trail ahead of us, and no time ter fool away.” All the passengers who were going were ready and waiting, and they Jost no lime about getting aboard, Tombstone Dan was among the number, He had had all he wanted of Satan’s Spring. and was ready to move along. He made a break for the stage, the first one, and took a place inside. “Curlin? smoke!” be exclaimed, ‘‘but yer don’t ketch me on top this time, I paid me fare, I did, and I don’t mean to work me passage by holdin’ on fer me life. I had enough of that yes- terday.” The others followed right on, and in a brief time the stage was about as ful! as it bad been the previons evening, though not with all of the same passengers. There were four who remained over, and these were Deadwood Dick, Austin Pilbrooke, Hubert Watkyns and the yourg woman, Jessie Worthington. In a little time the baggage bad been strapped on, and the driver climbed to his place and took up the lines, ‘* Ain’t yer goin’ on with me?” be suddenly called out to Deadwood Dick, seeing him stand- ing idly in the door, ‘No, ’m going to stop over and rest up,” was © the response, ‘* But, yer bas ‘*No matter, some other trip.” “All right, Hold fast, now, galoots on top. Gee-up, thar, Polly, and stopyer bitin’,orl’ma . aid yer fare through,” can finish the ride with you — ef I don’t snatch off yer top-knot! Gee- up > The long whip snatched and cracked, the >? mules bent their backs to the effort, and away went the stage, rolling and rocking as only your Western stage knows how to do with best effect, And as it went off, a head was thrust out at a window, a head with one of its eyes badly black- | ed and swollen, and a voice cried: ‘ ‘* Good-by, citizens; and gocd-by ter you, Mis- are ter Chain-lightnin’! Ef that aire High-hoss Noah wants any more of your kind of medicine, | x give et to him! Give him a good, strong dose, ite too, while ye’re about et!” | Pe This was said to Deadwood Dick, and it brought forth a shout of laughter, in the echoes of which the stage rolled out of the pocket and disappeared in the canyon. | ; Soon after the departure of the stage, horse- | men began to collect at the hotel. _ ee They came from different directions, andthere | were soon a dozen of them on band. . PAG ie Bristol rightly guessed that these were the aE ‘ep Acree, Sim 3 a cCbhooks.c . am, dai be