Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 728 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

» Bas “J guess I am not a match for your But he bad a better bold than I intend to let him get again, We'll see how it will go this time. [I’m ready, sir, if you are.” | “Dm all ready an waitin’” was the response, “an’ ef you kin dump me oncet out of ther three, I'll treat ther house. I’m ther king pin of this hyer camp, on a try o’ musele, an’ et wull take a hefty lift ter upsot me, you bet. Now then, come for me, an’ let’s see what you kin do,” hel They sprung together again, and this time _ geemed to get locked on a more even footing. | There was apparently no advantage for one or the other, and for some seconds there was hard straining on both sides for the nv tog Suddenly something happened, [ron Ivan seemed to let himself out an extra notch or two, asit was expressed, and up went the Terrible with his heels higher than bis head, At this the crowd cheered again. Straight up, and still up, did Iron Ivan raise him, until he stood under him and had him wedged against the low ceiling. ‘‘T guess it’s my fall this time,” ke coolly observed, without any sign of effort. ‘‘ What shall I do with him? I don’t want to burt him, you know, so I'll have to handle bim gently.” ‘Dump him!” * Dump bim!” That was the cry from every side. ‘* Yes, dump me, ef yer is gajn’ ter,” the Ter- rible'requested. ‘‘ Etar’ no pleasant sitty wation ter be in.” “ All right, dumped you are, then,” and with that the man of iron brougbt his antagonist down and laid him out upon his back with as much ease as possible, -*T ber gol darn ef you ain’t wuss’n iron,” Thomas remarked, when he got up. ‘* You is steel, you is, an’ cold spring steel at that. How in ther dickens did yer do et, anyhow?” ‘* Well, I had a hold more to my liking, that time,” was the reply. ‘‘ 1am nota boaster, but I am not called the Man of Iron without reason, I can lift a pretty good weight, when I get at it in right sbape.” | ‘‘T should say so, an’ I don’t reckon et ar’ necessary ter try that other round, do you, fellers?” ‘‘ Yas, yas! Ther other, by all means!” ** But this one ought to offset two of ’em,” “Ft don’t matter~gwe must have ther other ne, an’ that settles it.” And the way the rough crowd clamored for it, proved that it must be put to the final test. again. captain here. The two men faced each other once more, and this time it could be seen that Thomas the Ter- rible fully meant to do the best he could. a And so he did. He was willing to see this | new-comer take his place as captain of the band, but he bad the human weakness of not wanting to see him excel himself in muscular strength. There was a pause, and again they caught F hold, This time, as at first, the Terrible seemed to et the better hold, but it was speedily made of jr Rittle use to him. Iron Ivan seemed to let out a wonderful show- ing of strength that he had been holding in re serve, and after a turn or two Terrible Thomas was standing on his bead, with nothing to sup- port him. . RS Y Half a second he balanced there, and then over ‘ * eg he went with a crash, but one that was scarcely heard amidst the shouting. ‘* That’s ther style!” cried the fellow who had proposed this thing. ‘‘That’s what I like ter see. Now you is capting of our band, Mister Lron lvan, an’ we is mighty proud of yer, too!” ‘* An’ et ar’ ther Turrible’s treat!” another re- . | minded, ‘*‘ We won’t fergit that part of et, hey, he dys? fellers?” ** W ull, we ruther reckons not.” ** Yas, et ar’ my treat, an’ lam willin’ ter do et,” Thomas said, as he gathered himself up, ‘“*T am beat, an’ I know et, better man nor me, an’ Il am proud ter own et, Nommynate yer p’izen, galoots.” This the “ galoots” did not hesitate todo, and for a time the lightning dispenser was kept busy, camp, now, and he took hold of matters with a ‘ business hand. Making Terrible Thomas second in command, he directed him to appoint suitable watches for day and night duty. That was quickly done, and the camp was to be guarded by reliable outposts, whose hours of duty were to be only four out of the twenty-four, “a, so that there could be no excuse for sleeping on Tron Ivan was admitted to be a man of iron, indeed, and the men felt his power from the moment of his taking hold as captain, Iron Ivan ar’ a a ne em ae ‘your fate, which is sure to fall. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. Finally he left the saloon, in company with | Thomas the Terrible, whose cabin he was to share, and the crowu was left todo their own pleasure, When they came to that cabin, however, and bad made a light, a surprise awaited them, There on the outlaw’s table, written in chalk, was this message: “To THE CAPTAIN OF THE Hosts AT Corrirn Camp, ** GREETING :— ‘Kno vy yc by these presents that I, Deadwood Dick, Jr., have been in your midst this night, and that you are doomed. Within ten days every moth- er’s son of you will be under arrest. Asfor lron Ivan, te)l him for me that his days are numbered. Iam after you, so look out forme, Make ready for This is no idle warning. You are doomed, as you deserve to be.” ‘What is this hyar?’ cried tbe Terrible, at sight of it, ** Just what I want to know,” responded Ivan. And he read it aloud, ‘Great stars!” exclaimed Thomas, ‘‘ hev thot ‘ar cuss been hyer? We'd better scour ther camp, an’ mebby w2’ll git him.” ' ‘* Little hope of it, If he bas been here, and this certainly proves it, he bas taken care to get away again. Butit will dono harm to try it, W hat did I tell you about taking care?” ‘* An’ this hyar proves thet you war right. We'll be onour guard night an’ day, an’ et will puzzle ’em ter git at us.” ‘‘So my days are numbered, are they, Dead- wood Dick? Well, IL suppose they are, but it will not be for you to make them Jonger or shorter. Your threats don’t scare Tron. Ivan greatly.” ‘* No, ner me uther,” boasted the Terrible, ‘* Let us oncet git our grip onter him, an’ ef we don’t put him whar we had his effygy, you kin put me thar. We’ll toast ther fat out of him, you kin bet,” They went out, and the alarm was given. Needless to say it stirred up the camp, and put a damper to further foolishness for that night, 7 A search was made, but to no effect, and when finally the camp retired, it was with a feeling of strange insecurity in each breast, Coffin Camp had been considered impregna- ble, and so it was, almost, with proper manage- ment, but on this occasion its denizens felt little comfort in that thought. But if it felt that way upon retiring, how was it next morning, when a far greater canse for uneasiness was discovered, Another find was made, that put the first to the blush. It was a startler. On the door of every cabin were chalked the names of the inmates, and each name was given a number, SA Ad Under the names were written the words— ** Soon to be gathered in, so take fair warning. ‘** DEaADWwoop Dick, JR.” The first discoverer raised the cry that brought other denizens out, and on finding that every zabin was similarly scored, there was a terrible scene. Some of the less brave were for leaving at once, and trying to make their escape while they might, but the majority laughed at this, saying they would stay and see it to the end. The guardsmen were called to account, but they declared that no one had passed their line, either in or out. ‘Kin et be possible that kivered ther other way?” So questioned one man. ‘What other way?’ demanded Iron Ivan, im- ther cuss hey dis- mediately. ‘* I thought there was only one way of getting here,” ‘We haven't told yer everything yet,” an- swered Thomas the Terrible. ‘We have an- other way o’ gettin’ in an’ out when et ar’ ne- cessary ter use it,” “The deuce you ‘have! Then you are all right.” : ** You bet. inch,” e shown it, Iron Ivan did not ask to He turned his attention to things that were more Tron [van was acknowledged captain of the |}: immediately important, ‘** Two men must be placed to guard that way, and that at once,” be declared, ‘If itis known to our enemy, it will be a good plan to lay a trap for him there, I should say.” “ Bet yer life!” agreed the Terrible. ‘I don’t see how he kin know that way, fer et ar’ one thet wouldn’t never be guessed, but et won’t be amiss ter bave it under our eye,” ‘* And there’s another thing,” Tron Ivan went on. ‘ We must prepare for an attack. There is no telling what minute one will be made, and we must have every weapon in the camp Et ain’t so handy as this way, but et wull do purty wellin a loaded and ready for use. We must see to this without delay.” eb, Pew ‘it shell be done, by mighty! D’yer hear; | galoots? Bring out every gun, pistol an’ sich that yer kin find, an’ clean ’em up fer busi- =|. = ness. An’ then bave ’em all in yer Cabins, =| ready fer instant use, right whar ye kin lay |. yer paws onto ’em, Thar’s a spot o’ blood on 4 ther moon,” These directions were carried out without de- lay, Iron Ivan lending a helping hand, and he was really the busiest man of them all, In a couple of bours all was made ready, | and the outlaws rested upon their oars; so to "| say. ¢ ‘ => Now let ’em come,” said the Terrible,in a — satisfied way. ‘‘ An’ ef they do, ef we don’t give ’em ther, wuss dose they have ever got,” ~ ‘* You can say that,” supported Iron Ivan, **T feel as safe bere as though we had a fort to de- fend ourselves in, Let them come if they are spoiling for a fracas. I guess we can show — os Dead wood Dick a thing or two.” wee > “I should smile like ary kangaroo ef we DS be couldn’t.” So matters rested for the time being. Another excitement was in store, however, | About an hour later the outposts came running —_ j in excited and out of breath, declaring that all Ne Pond Lily was coming to wipe them out. bet, yt That there was a furore then goes without _ saying. Iron Ivan took things in hand, hustled the men into the cabins that were to be used | the defense, and in less than twerty-.mitiutes ™. 4 everything was in readiness to receive their - Lae enemies, Nota scul was in sight on the * play- ground,” and the camp meee be supposed — Oe . Bs ie either dead, asleep or deser ‘3 \ : . : ss + ” % ; P| ; \s 4 ve sf ’ THE CHILFTAINS EXCHANGE GaeIEENCS. peti. PH THIS was the outccme of the turn affairsat t. Pond Lily bad taken. D3 Pe: i th oa a The more Howland Kentway bad thoughtof.- —_} it, the more enraged he bad béccme, untilfinally ~ he “ sware in his wrath” that Cc flin Camp must be cleaned out, | Yad pS Tt er ata: fi And ‘counted wil to this fixed dete ination, 6. HN he took counsel with Deadwood Dick as to the — eis best means of getting at ube oot bated at length in one way and another, There was no getting around the fact: that Coffin Camp was ina positien to defend itself, and that it couldnet-be, taken, by open> ~-) except at great cost to the party attackivgeHor —{ that reason if was decided to blockade the camp ane and try once more tostarveitout. = 9 —_ +h could it. And if was de- : . ‘ ; 4 This tithe, it was argued, a better be kept at home, and if the outlaws tried their former trick, they could be caught, And this © | | seemed reasonable enovgh, it was defers mined upon, and at an early bour the following Waa ee morning a force of forty men set oubunder =|. command of the wounded detective, ; J And this foree it was that caused such con- sternation at C: fin Camp when tkeir approach was made known, WG ag yO eeeG It was not their intention now to make an at- — tack, but simply to block the valley. Sane} Hence, a8 time passed, and the expected — | charge was not made, the cutlaws began y vestion what could be the matter, ‘di ae tate ‘* Et can’t be that they don’t mean ter go fer =... us, after all, kin et?’ questioned Thomas the | Terrible. ‘‘They ain’tso foolish as ter try ter blockade us ergain, be they?” 4 “Tt looks that way, surely,” declared Ivan. “Jf they meant figbt, they would come right on and opened.on us, 1 should t They are wasting time this way, and | given us ample opportunity to spy them outa prepare for them,” "hia | EIN eND Mane ‘That's what’s ther matter, Ido believe. But = =—s_ || et do seem funny that they’d try ter starve us = cut ergain, if that be theirgame, They know = | _ well enough that we kin git out anotber Ways, | Et looks ter me like fool work, an’.if this byar =~ Deadwood Dick er’ at ther head ofet,I don’t =, go a beap on bis geveralship.” | Heh alle “Tf he is at the head of it," declared Iron Ivan, ‘‘vou can be sure that be has gotsome echeme on foot, And when he moves, a » Pig look out for a surprise, that is certain, +. ry ae enue about the man to pare rn thathe on’t work in ordinary ways, always. = claim to be any emathen Gian other folks, has ways of bis own that are sometimes pece™ to sav the least.” : pate aaic Es ‘Waal, that ar’ all right, but ef we git our — fins onter him, he will be in a pecooliar fix ont you kin tell yer neighbors that I say so. Ww he roast him, jest ex eure as ther sun st es, Cracky! but et would do me good ter have my grip onte \/ him, an’ avenge ther death of Gorrilly ‘ - en § Wh or) ne ; : , : b> ty wy rd ae Aa i « Fy tie : . : - : rt .* ait a) a’. A 7 : bist - Pa? - , wy i) ate eu ’ ' é : . ; e : , ay ; net 49 " sm — ered -- “ye | *”. > ee mae Be oo as : p é fey - ’ >* Py ee ¥ ie . ang ~" i ae ~ a | - . “ay ~“COMnirc mM