Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 728 — 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, Disguise. ranged along the rocky wallasif backing 1p _ be quite a select circle; against it to stand defiantly at bay, was Coffin Camp, with its broad ‘* playground ” in front, ' I like the appearance of you, and if you conelude to back me up, I can augh defiance at the law and all its jackals, And it was there on that “ playground ”—as | But don’t let me try to influence you one bit, it was locally called, that the awful scene was | I'll go and feed, and you just think the matter being enacted, over, giving me the benefit of the doubt, if any The borseman had beard loud shouting, even | comes up.” befure be rounded the point of rocks, and had | hastened forward to learn the cause, with the result shown, prive bim of power of action. First to catcb his eye had been a huge fire, and then, round the fire, the citizens dancing like so many wild Indians, or worse, shouting and screaming with all the power of their lungs. And banging over the fire, supported by three poles joined at the top, was a human form! ‘* Tne demons!” the horseman gasped. ‘* What can they be up to? I must take e.hand in this thing. If that poor devil isn’t already roasted, he soon will be, Ill see what is going on here.” And with that be put spurs to his horse and dashed across the open toward the camp, with the speed of the wind. He had revolvers in hand now, and by the de- termined expression of his face it was plain that he would not hesitate to use them, if necessity compelled, Ere he bad gone half the distance across, how- ever, the grim expression of bis face faded into a smile, his purpose changed with the expression, and on coming up to the fire he circled around | and around it, emptying bis weapons into the , «\ figure on the poles, shouting and yelling with \ the loudest, 4 ’ When half-way from the point of rocks to the fire, the horseman had made a discovery, It was not a human, but a figure in effigy; and, “when he had come nearer still, on the breast ‘was seen a card, and on that card, in letters bold \nd black, the name: “ DEADWOOD DICK.” ~~ That's the stuff!” the horseman shouted, when he bad emptied his revolvers into the figure, and he drew rein. ‘'[ wondered what in all crea- tion you could be up to, but when I caught sight of that uame, that explained it all, If there is a man On the face of the earth who deserves just this, that @@n is Meadwnod Dick! . And sooner f later he is botind jo Come to it; tock” All the Shouting hail now ceased, and the rough, villainous-looking men were gaping at the pew-comer, some with hands on their wea- ons, ee An’ whoin thunder mought you be, stran- ger?” one ferocious-looking fellow demanded. **T am Iron Ivan,” was the response; ‘‘ some- times called Ivan, the Man of Iron.” “Don’t reckon as we ever heerd of yer, mister,” . ** Maybe not, gentlemen, and that’s your loss, Now let me inquire if I am at the place called Coffin Camp?” ** That’s whar you be, mister,” the ferocious- looking individual assured, ‘ An’ seein’ as you ar’,” he added, ‘‘ what’s yer business hyar?” The horseman had been quietly reloading his revolvers while he put the question and received answer, and now thrusting the weapons into his peltce slipped from the saddle and extended his and. He of the ferocious appearance gave his own —the offer was so hearty and uureserved, and the stranger shook it warmly, at the same time making reply. *T’m here in search of kindred spirits,” he deciared, ‘‘l have heard of Coffin Camp as the toughest. spot on earth, and I think it will suit metoaT. Besides, I have got to keep out of the grip of the law, and it has hit me that this is about the best sort of a camp for me to locate in, That is, provided you are willing to harbor me, What do you say?” There was a good deal of low growling around and many dark looks were cast upon the stran- er. ‘* Et wull hev ter be as ther boys say,” he of the ferocious looks returned. «We wull have ter debate on ther question afore we gives yer a cided answer,” ‘All right, go into a committee of the whole and talk it over; and at the same time,if you can give me somethingito eat, 1’!| fortify myself within. I’m as hungry as a famisbed coyote,” “Yer kin git all yer wants, sich as et ar’, right over thar at ther Bob-tail Flush,” indicat- ing a miserable saloon, the best the camp afford- ed. ‘‘Go ahead, an’ we wull take your case on- der ’sideration an’ see what’s ter be done about et. Weis mighty ’tic’lar ’bout our sasiety hyar, as you kin bet.” “Yes, I can well believe that,” with a look around at the villainous crew. “You seem to | A With that he turned away in the direction of | the saloon, leading his horse, the whole crowd For the moment it seemed to de- | gazing after him. And just here a word or two about this Coffia Camp. It was the one dark spot in the county in which we find it, a place into which no officer had ever yet ventured and come out alive, Its denizens, almost to a man, were bad, and it made its boast that no honest man was allowed to stay there. Such, when they strayed into the place, were robbed and turned away with a warning—that was generally heeded—not to come again, Let such strangers once fall under suspicion as being Offivers or detectives, bowever, and the chances were about nine to one against their ever getting away. Coffin Camp closed over them, in a way known only to itself, and that was the last of them, And there had been more than one or two such instances, too, The mayor, so-called, of the camp, was one ‘** Terrible Thomas,” the same ferocious-looking customer who has been casually introduced. He was head of the bad gang, now thata greater than he, one ‘‘Guerril'a Jake,” had ** passed in his chips” aud “ shuffled off the scene. And this same ** Thomas the Terrible” was scarcely second to what his predecessor had been. ‘‘ What do yer think of ther cuss?’ the Ter- rible Thomas inquired. ‘* Et bits me hard ino ther stummik!” answer- ed one man, “ thet he ar’ a durn spy, that’s how et hits me.” ‘* Bet yer life on’t!” echoed many more, ‘* Never heerd o’ no Ivan o’ Iron, or whatever et war thet be called hisself, in me life,” one added, ‘*T "gree with yer,” declared the Terrible. “* We hev got ter size him up well, boyees, afore we let’s him git a foothold byar, an’ that’s what's ther matter, you bet,” “You bevetar!” | By this time the heatjhad caused the effigy to take fire, and seeing it, the wiid denizens of tue camp began again tu whoop and yell,’resuming their dance, ** Dance, you gentle kittens, dance!” scream- ed Terrible Thomas, ‘‘Go inter et, heel an’ toe! Git down on one fut and up on t’other so quick thet yer won’t tech ther ground more’n three times out o’ five! Go inter et, I say! Whoop! Whoo-00-00p! Yow-ow-ouw-wow !” And into it they went, with all the energy they could muster into their moving legs, whooping, yelling, swearing, and firing their weapons at the fast consuming effigy on the es, “‘Go inter et! Go inter et!” screamed the mayor. “* This don’t begin ter ’spress ther fun et wull be if we git our grip onter ther_real Deadwood Richard! No! No! Nary! We'll tie him up by his toes, stick bim full o’ pine splinters, an’ then tetch bim off like ary torch! Oh! we’)l make,bim sick of ther job be done fer poor Jake, or I’m a liar!” And the echoing shout made the: air tremble with its vibrations, The effigy dropped from the poles into the flames, was soon consumed, and the crowd turn- ed away toward the Bob-tail Flush. In the mean time the lone horseman had en- tered that establishment, leaving his borse just outside, and made inquiry of the proprietor con- te some satisfying filling for his imner self, He was welcomed, and in a brief time the best of the house was before bim—‘* such as it was,” as the mayor had said. The proprietor, as villainous looking as any of the rest, inquired of the stranger who he was and what had brought him there, and the an- swer was the same as had been given the others. ‘* By the way,” the stranger presently inquired in turn, ‘“ what is all the uproar about out there? ‘What has that accursed Deadwood Dick been doing to your good citizens, that makes them get up on their hind legs and how) like this? What has he been ae to?” “If ther boyees git their grip onter him oncet,” was the response, ‘‘ he will most likely find out. They’ll cut bim up piecemeal an’ feed him to ther cats,” ‘‘ But, what has he done?” the stranger per sisted. “Done! What ain’t be done, you'd better ask! He hev been ther death o’ ther best man this camp ever knowed, that’s what. Guerrilly Jake fell by his band, an’ ther boyees means ter syuare ther ’couot with bim,” ‘* That's the idea, is it? ThenI am just in time for the ball, Jam against this Deadwood Dick, tooth and nail, and if your people will take me in with them, ll make every effort I can to- ward giving them all the revenge they can ask for. And it will do me good to see that fellow in their hands, too. Pll mention it to your mayor, I guess,” ‘* But they won't listen to et,” the proprietor of the ‘‘ shebang” prophesied. ‘* They is mighty s’picious of strangers. You will have ter prove who you'be, anyhow, afore they’ll’low ye ter stay byar.” ** Is that so?” “You bet et ar’! But, byar they comes straight fer ther shebang, an’ by ther looks Q things I reckons they is comin’ ter see yu,” ‘All right; let’em come. I don’t @sk any favor of them, only that they’ll let me finish my meal, I don’t suppose they are rough on astran- ger, are they? At any rate not so rough as that, hope,” The crowd was drawing near, and the loud murmur of voices could be plainly heard. The war-dance they bad been executing had worked them into an almost frenzy, and woe to this stranger if their suspicion fell upon him. Nearer they came, atarapid walk, and into the saloon bounded Thomas the Terrible, others pressing at his back, And in m one hand gleamed weapons, They all glared around, and seeing where the stranger was, advanced toward him. ‘* Stranger, look byar,” the Terrible thunder- ‘‘ All right; ’'m looking,” was the quiet re- sponse, ‘“Tben hearken ter what [ hev got. ter say: You wanted us ter go inter a ’mittee of ther whole, or words to them effect, an’ give you tet" ~ benefit of ther doubt, ez you called et. Now, that’s what we hev done, an’ ther general opine seems ter be that you is a cussed spy; an’, what’s more, that youis Deadwood Dick! What has yer got ter say ter that ar’?” There was a wicked gleam in the eyes of the questioner, and his men stood by, grim an& silent, weapons drawn, CHAP?EK LIL. A DARING PROPOSITION. THE accused man laughed heartily, and wWiiu the utmost freedom. ‘That is the richest joke yet,” he declared. ‘‘ What in all creation ever put it into your heads that J am Deadwood Dick? This beats anything I ever expected to run up against. Ha! ba! ba!” ‘Oh, yer kin laugh,” he was told, “but et ain’t no durn joke, you kin bet on that, Kin you prove thet you ain’t Deadwood Dick?” “Can you prove that | am? My question ig about as fair as yours, I guess,” He spoke with easy carelessness. ‘“Et ain’t no matter o’ proof wi’ us,” was the retort, “S’picion is enough fer us, an’ ef that a cl away, then we does somethin’ else, , ‘‘But you promised to give me the benefit of the doubt. How is it that you come bere and a) on me so quick? Ycu don’t give a fel- ow half a show for bis money. How about itm ted the benefit of ‘‘That’s jest it. You wan ther doubt, an’ yer has got it. We bas a doubt, an’ a mighty hefty one, too, that you ain't jest what yer claims ter be, eu you is goin’ ter git ther benefit of it, you bet. ‘Well, that’s a new deal, anyhow, Let me get away with this grub, however, gentlemen, and then I’ll talk to you.” He bad kept right on eating, and his Cool. hess seemed to puzzle them, ; | “All right, fill yer locker,” the ringlead® gave permission, ‘‘and then amble out to th: front, whar you'll find ther court assembled.’** With that, Thomas the Terrible wheeled A made hia way out, the others following bim uti til onl mained. “ What did I tell yer?” the proprietor ob- served. ** You seemed to hit it about right,” the stran. ger, responded. ‘But, you can’t blame them for being careful. I don’t anyhow.” ; He went on with bis eating, coolly, taking no pains to burry himself, and when be had finally done, went to the door with easy quite-at-home. ness, picking bis teeth, One glance without was enough to show him that everything had changed. The fire somy distance off was now burning low, and not , 900 Mr the proprietor and the stramger re-