Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 728 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

—— i “a ~% ° ‘ rr * - : A * yr } - .* ' ‘ - ae ra —.. ° vaaeeee . vo 4° a + 7. ha J , person was near it. | ~ sembled before the saloon door. ee Pag? yt Tp Aas ‘ : au wa me, . *, a *< ~~, P » pe, i Yrs a , x : ee x. re a: my ~~ « . * © “4 : The great crowd was as- There on the *‘ playground” was made up a ) seat for Judge Lynch, after the usual style, and | around that the crowd .was ranged, keeping : ‘» ee 4 Ss ’ - ~ low ye, Pm TER ‘We happens ter know thet he are in this part of ther one é, | ‘* Well, Now let me ask if my coming here had anything about it that would make you think me a spy? “That’s ther wu’st _ ~H't ~ erbout ez et would be out, when the stranger appeared. 4 ‘ “Hal ha! ha!? thestr é a , of 1 . . ‘tae, only a narrow opening from the saloon door to the front of the judge’ t. “And all seemed to be waiting in patient Silence, ‘‘ Hullo, thar ye be, hey?” the Terrible called ‘* Amble ri on out hya¥, an’ we'll try your case with as much soonness a8 we kin., You'll git a fair hear ‘but it willbe a trial wi'out any frills an’ trimmin’s an’ sich. Come right on an’ face ther music, mister,” ; re But the s horse, prt . Where is my horse?” he demanded. ‘ It ems to me he has disappeared, if my eyes don’t ger was looking around for his ; j . oe deceive me.” ' ; eo Oy ull; rag he hev been tooken keer of,” he 0’ hosses hyar, atief so happens thet you is found guilty an’ warned ut, or wuss, we takes, was informed anes we is none tod flush ther critter fer dame a pretty cute gate, ‘dar u fellows, the more I. hat? It would make me proiid to be at the head of just such a band as you would make up. But, I suppose youre waiting for me, and ji won't detain you any longer.” — a hts saying, be stepped out rhe faa through me if it isn’t. 6 opeding in the crowd to the front. ** Wull, stranger,” Thomas ,the Terrible then spoke, *‘ hyar you is, an’ now we wull perceed with ther biz in hand, You is on trial, fu’st, ter see whether you is or is not Deadwood Dick, Then in ther second place, ter see if you is a proper sort o’ critter ter be ‘lowed ter remain hyar an be one of us.” “ All right: [ guess I can stand that, sir.” ‘©Ther bull crowd will be yer jury,” the judge went on, “*so you kin count on havin’ ther fairest sort of a’ hearin’, I reckon’s yer will plead yer own case, seein’ as yer has no liar ter talk fer ye,” p: ‘** Ob, yes, I'll talk for myself,” was the easy response, ‘‘Let her slide, now, and the best side to win,” = »»‘¢Wull, then answer to ther fu’st count. Be wood Dick, or be younot? — at grounds do you charge that I am you Dead ull, on ther grounds o’ general ‘spicion, » bat is pretty wide, that’s certain. retort. ‘‘ You kim sailin’ in hyar onder full steam, an’ when you seen what-we was up to, you chipped in on our side ter oncet,” i- ‘¢ Well, bless your hearts, citizens, what would you expect me todo? Would I come in here with a whoop anda yell and try to clean you out? I rather think not, if I had any regard for my health: and most assuredly not when I came here to go out of sight.” . “Jest et ergain, pilgrim. You have acted expected Deadwood Dick would act. We have heard of his caperin’s up north hyar a ways, whar he passed himself off for one of our kind; got into one of the best bands that ever rode ther trail an’ then finally scooped ’em allin. We ain’t takin’ none o’ that in,ours, not if we know it,” “And I can’t blame you, either. But how — you going to prove that [am theman you claim : “ We ain’t goin! ter try ter prove ét, anyhow not very hard. Et ar’ fer you ter prove thet ‘ou ain’t him, an’ ef ye can’t do that— Wull, will be bad fer ye, that’s all.” ** Have any of you ever seen this Deadwood Dick?” ** Nary one of us,” “Then that’s bad for me, to begin with. Sorry you haven’t some here who have seen him, for that would clear me.” This remark seemed to have the right ef- fect, as. the keen eyes of this “Iron Ivan” dis- werered, as he looked around at the faces about m. , ‘* Would yer be willin’ ter stand that test?” asked the mayor. : “TI wouldn't ask for anything better,” was the Tesponse, ‘ That would settle it, right quick, if you could take the word of the man to whom ee the matter. It’s rough on me, and that’s / \ rT Le : 4* 3 rs s ; #9 t ‘ » a bd . . > s€ » > , « . jj f < , « — W. 4 43 + @ . “Sheu at ee . ne * > deads ~- - 8 oo a Se + — i = |} then some loose money. _pockets were investigated. Came then a bhand- At 8’ ful of rings, earrings, etc. of you, do you kiow aod t “ Wull, say, look ’e hyar, stranger, be you — a — Ka «<r Geeta. « a — -_ = , q = — ~ ; — ~ #2 EDL Gn a ~ Deadwood. «ck, Jr.’s, Disguise. i ar ewe willin’ ter hev us s’arch ye, an’ see what yer has | aboard, and we’ll go out to the trail and take got erbout yer clothes?” | toll. After that I don’t think there will be an ‘Perfectly willing,” was the ready answer, | question of doubt in your mind, What do you *“Let.one man come forward and go through me, have somebody-go through me.” ae right, then, let’s have yer weepin’s, an’ we’}|— ‘‘Ob, come, now!” the stranger protested; | i j ' say to the proposition? It will be somethin’ new io my line, ter | you?” How does it strike ‘“‘That’s jest ther cheese!” cried the Terrible, | ** You do that ’ar, an’ we won’t ax fer nothin’ furder in ther way o° proof,” ‘It’s a bargain, then, “I'll show you how ‘it was bad enough to be taken for Deadwood | Iron Ivan does the ‘ hold up’ act.” Dick, but I hope you won’t take me for a gilly besides. I will keep hold of my pops, if it’s all the same to you. 1 make it a rule never to part with therpeynder any circumstances,” <a mer don’t show a heap o’ confidence in us.7 «foe “ As foogas your own in me.” ‘“Wull, mebby you is right, anyhow. Step bse onab, an’ see what ther gent has got | a | ut him.” One. of the rascally crew stepped to the fore : and proceeded with the business in hand, Iron Ivan offering no objection, First appeared a watch, then a pocketbook, After that other ‘*My last baul,” the stranger carelessly re- marked. “It didn’t pan very heavy, you see, _ You'll find some more here in this pocket, Mr, Jonah. Don’t miss any of ’em, for I’m perfectly willing to show up.” ° Some more jewelry was forthcoming, then a couple of watches, a woman’s pocketbook, and other trifling articles. The next and last pocket, so far as the searcher knew, brought to light something that was a surprise to thenrall.. At first it had the appear- ‘ance of being simply a little roll of black silk, tied with a string. Such it was, Of a truth, but it was more eee % for inspection. It was'a loose silk cloak, evidently intended to cover the upper part of the wearer as he sat on his horse, and was, as said, black, This was enough Of itself to occasion a showing of in- terest; but there was something more yet. Upon | po the front of this cloak, in letters worked in white, was the name: “TRON IVAN,” The prisoner, if ,risoner he was, looked smilingly on. ‘““Wull, I ber durn!” the judge ejaculated. “ What does yer think of et, boyees?” ded to the judge, as all the other articles n. The other object was then spread out | trick with us on this — | wull be death to yer, an CHAPTER II, COFFIN CAMP, PAST AND PRESENT, THIS seemed to end the trail, and settled the matter for the time being at any rate. The crowd greeted the arrangement with shouts of approval, and the stranger was asin received, For a time his band was in eager demand for shaking. Thomas the Terrible, however, had not left his seat, and pretty soon he onee more pounded with his beel upon the box upon which bis chair rested, calling the crowd to order. Iron Ivan gave him attention immediately, and the others followed bis lead. ‘*Et ar’ all right, an’ et ar’ all understood,” the judge spoke, ‘‘ but thar is some } ints ter which I want ter call your attention, caloots., An’ ther fu’st on ther docket ar’ this, ter wit: We don’t accept this byar stranger as our cap- ting—not by a neck full we don’t, not yet.” ‘* No, in course not,” was agreed. **T am ther leader, an’ no feller is goin’ ter take my spurs onless 1 say so, Stranger, you hear what I’m chirpin’?” | ‘*You are quite correct,” was the ready, response. “In fact, 1 wouldn’t. want to take your place, for maybe you are a better man thanlam. If you find ]’m of any use to you, ‘e be- | make me lieutenant, or something of that sort.” ic Upon opening it, a silken mask fell out nd Ines, to the ground. This was picked up | now, hyar is ther second p’iut on ther docket, ‘* Waal, we'll talk about that later on; but namely, ter wit: on any planned, et ick ez Fa Ar Ef yer goes ter tr e kin wink yer rr; so don’ 5 aiiteeiaan that,” ge A a 2 “That is all right, and I’m willing. If you catch me up to any business that isn’t square, me over, that’s all, You can’t ask any- thing fairer, I’m sure. Now is there ahything further that you want to have inserted in the agreement? Any further cli stick in? If there is, don mentioning it. Then when you are done, I want to say a word or two for my side,” 3 ‘bout all,” the Terrible ‘* No, I reckon that’s erbe replied. ‘‘ On this piece of work, howsumdeer, ** Et do look ez ef ther critter hev guv et to us | [’ll mention that we will give you ther lead, so’s _| straight,” asserted Jonah, ‘int of all,” was the |) “Et do that, fer a candid fact,” agreed the | An’ at ther same time Terrible, ‘ But et won't do ter be too hasty paeay someone ter him, offer. “Take plenty of time about it, entiemen,” spoke Iron Ivan. ‘‘1don’t want to force myself | that’s ther test we’ upon you if you don’t want me, but I would like to cast anchor here with you for a little while, | me done to a turn: for my own good.” ‘“* That's fair talk, but et, ar’ nothin’ only taik, an’ talk is ther cheapest thing on ther market, yer know. We hasn’t proved thet you ain’t that cussed Deadwood Dick,an' you *t proved that yer is what yer claim. What is goin’ ter be did erbout et?” _ “That is for yon to say, Mr. Mayor. Look at the thing square and fair, and then make up your mind, I didn’t come here and yank out this disguise of cloak and mask, trying to force it upon you that Iam what I claim to be. If I had, you might have said Deadwood Dick would be likely to do just.that sort of trick.” ‘*’Yas, [ opine we w’u’d, stranger; an’ all that ain’t sayin’ that he wouldn’t act et out ject as you ar’ doin’.” : ** Exactly; and I see I shall have to give you further and better proof of whatI am, I don’t blame = for being cautious, not a bit; I rath- er like to see it; it will be all the better for me if you do allow me to come in with you. Now, suppose I can put you onto a rich lay, where you can rake in a pile as easy as rolling off a log, how will that hit you?” | | ‘‘ Ef yer does thet ar’,” answered the Terrible ‘we won’t ask nothin’ else of yer, onless it a ter lead us in ther business an’in that way prove what ver claims. That will be ther stuff, hey, fellers?” ‘* That’s what et wull!” was the ready shout. ° ‘* Then it’s a bargain,” the new-comer agreed. “*T happen to know that there is a special stage coming down to Pond Lily this very afternoon, with a lot of the stockholders of the Lily Miue That’s what J bas ter we kin see what sort 0’ stuff you is made of. 1 be whar I kincovery with a pop. lf yer means us fair, yer can’t offer no kick ter that, r will find that we is up ter snuff, an’ that yer can’t fool us, nary a time, Ther proof of ther puddin’ is ther eatin’, an’ l give yer.” ‘Eating me, eh? Well, eat away; you'll find and as full of plums as any pudding you ever helped devour. But, jokin aside, keep your eye on me, as I have said a ready, and if you find me up to any piece of business that isn’t right to the line, plug me, And now for what I bave to say. When we go into this thing ilpefternoon, {am to be at the head of the band for the time. That’s under- stood. I want you to pick nine of your best men for the job, and let every man have a rifle, There’s notbing so full of persua: as a grim e. | “Haw! baw! haw! You is right, every time. Et shall be jest ez you say. We kinsee thet you has been thar before.” “Very well, Now, there is a certain narrow spot in the canyon through which the stage must pass. We will be there to hold it up.. There’s a lace where there is only room for a wacon to get through, and then the canyon suddenly widens to forty feet or more. That’s the spot for us. We'll let the stage get just through the choke, and then we'll hold it up and go through it in the latest approved style. And right here is the one point that I want well understood: There is to be no killing unless we are forced in- to it to defend our lives, Iron Ivan has been called the ‘gentleman road-agent,’ and I can’t allow my reputation to be sullied, you know, Ha! ha! ba!” ‘* An’ I don’t see ez we kin offer no kick ter them tarms,” averred the Terrible. ‘‘ Et looks ez if yer means ter give us a fair deal all around.” . ‘*AndsoIdo, But I’m not doing it for noth- ing, mind you. When I have given you the \