Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 764 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 doirig—that was, he understood her, that he make her bis wife, . That was simply impossible, He could not do anything of that sort, ncr could he promise apy- thing of the kind. And yet bis life, it seemed, hung in the balance. He knew not what to do for the best. “You will agree,” he remarked, ‘‘that I ought to know all about you before I come to any agreement with you. Also that I must un- derstand fully just what you mean. Do not hesitate about speaking rigbt out plainly, since ‘you seem so much in earnest,” “That is what I mean to do—speak plainly. I bave told you that | have long admired you as my hero, for your name has long been known tome. And now having met youl love you fondly and dearly. I am taking the right to speak my mind boldly. Will you make me your* wife?” ‘‘That is asking a good deal, Nugget Nell.” ‘*T know it is, butLam willing to give you my love and life.” ‘* How do you know that I am worthy of so much, every other consideration aside in the matter?” ‘* Because you are Deadwood Dick.” ‘‘ You seem to think that is everything to be considered.” ‘*it is enough for me, I ask nothing, only that you will let me be with you, your slave if you will,” ** The wife of Deadwood Dick could be nothing but bis equal, Nugget Nell. You had better take more time to consider about this. Wait till you know me better,” ‘*] know you well enough. I must bave your answer this hour, or it will be too late forever. Can you not see and believe that I am true and earnest in what I propose? But, you would know more about me.” *“*T must know all about you.” ‘**T will tell you, holding nothing back, I will lay the truth before you, and then await your decision.” ‘*Go abead. I do not pledge myself to any- hing, bowever, so if yoy have anything to with- old, do not speak it.” ** Would [ keep anything back, after the great request I have made? Could I bold anything untold? Would it be right todo so?’ ** You are the best judge of that, perhaps,” ‘*' Yes: Iam the best judge of that. My name is Nellie Fenton, and I was born and reared at a village in Washington. Of my early life there is nothing to tell. I am of good family, and my parents are respected people. At the age of sev- enteen I loved—loved too well, and bave suffered the penalty. But {have bave had my revenge, for I hunted down my destroyer and killed him in a duel, Before that time, and since that time, no reproach can be laid against me, You bave heard all.” For a moment Dick was silent, mee woman’s story, so evideutly true, touched im, ** Nugget Nell,” he presently spoke, ‘‘ your sad story reminds me of what One has said,—some- thing about the man without guilt tbrowing the firststone. Itisnot for metv condemn you, I am sorry for you, and were I free to love and wed, your story should be nothing in the way, provided it is true in every particular.” ‘* And true it is, I swear it.” Will you take a word of advice from me?” ‘What is it?” ‘Give up this wild lifeand return to your home,” The young woman laughed in a hollow, scorn- ful way. **Do you think I would creep back to the arents who thrust me from them like some foul eper? NotI! Nugget Nell bas more spirit than that.” ** The poor fools!” Dick grated, ‘‘ It woulddo me good to read them a lecture. But, have you takeu in what I said? If I were free tolove and wed— Do you not comprehend—” ‘* Heavens! Then you are not free?” “Tam not. Listen, and if you are a true woman you will respect mein what I say, and accept the situation,” The girl’s face became hard in it’s lines. ‘*Tell me,” she said, ‘* Well, let me ask, first, what is your inten- tion if I tell you what you propose is impos- sible?” **'You have told me thatalready. I have told you that I love you, andl meanit. If 2 cannot have your love, no other woman shall,” ‘‘Then you will leave me here, to be dealt with according to the pleasure of my foes? I cannot believe that you would take my life with your own hand, for that would be poor satisfaction.” oreo ; ** We will die together, Deadwood Dick.” Dick read in her eyes that she meant it, and also that her mind was not right, Whatever her trouble bad been, and it was | with all the force of my nature. evidently just as she had explained, 1t had turned her brain, ‘* How much time will you give me to decide?” he asked, “Five minutes,” was the answer, ‘‘ You can decide one way or the other in that time.” ‘* Will you not give metwenty-four hours?” “That would be too late, They will hang you at daylight, if you are here and alive then,” **Then, by accepting your offer, proving false to myself and to everything else in the world, you would save my life?” ‘*T would—I will,” was the answer, ‘‘ We will get away from here together, and no one here wil] ever hear of us agaiv. We live to- gether, Dick, or together we die,” ‘* But, can you not understand from what | have said that it is impossible for me to make you my wife ?” ‘*Then you have a wife?” ‘*T have.” “That settles it. Icould be nothing to you, if not your lawful wife, so we must die together, 1 will not allow another to possess you.” ‘** Listen, Nell: Deadwood Dick is no coward, and bas faced death too many times to be afraid of it now, I bave the best, the truest wife man ever had, and under no consideration would | be faise to her, not even to save my life. On the other band, I am not so mean acur as to gain my freedom by making false promises to you. What you bave proposed is simply impos- sible. Do you not see that it is?” The young woman’s fair head had dropped forward upou her breast, and she was for a mo- ment silent. When she looked up, tears were in her eyes, and she said: ‘as i see that it is impossible, I am done with ife, CHAPTER XIV, DICK’S TIMELY DELIVERANCE. DEADWOOD Dick was in an unpleasant situa- tion, truly. Not only was he powerless to prevent the girl from doing the rash actshe contemplated, but his own life was in danger, Even as she spoke, Nell took a revolver frem a pocket in a fold of ber dress and toved with it, cocking it and rubbing her band along its st.ooth and polished barrel, Dick did not long delay speaking, If possible, he must dissuade the girl from the deed she intended doing, ‘* Before you put an end to things, Nellie,” he said, ** let us consider the matter further. After you shoot it will be too late.” She was seated on the ground beside him, and at this she laid down the weapon and leaned for- ward as if hoping that her threat bad led him to chanee bis mind, or as if a new hope had been orn. ‘What bave you to say?” she sedly asked, ‘T have always held,” Dick made response, ‘*that the person who commits suicide does both a foolish thing, and a cowardly act,” ‘*On that point we do not agree, Whatif the future has no hope in it, isit worth while to live on in dark despair? I think not,” **The future,” rejoined Dick, “is something that we cannot see, Persons bave, in a dark hour, killed themselves, when, bad they lived a day longer—in some cases even an hour longer —everytbing would have been bright again in their lives,” ‘They could, not worry about what they never knew, that is certaip.” **Nor could they recall the rash ect, no mat- ter bow necessary it might be for them to do so were it possible,” ‘** But, what reason have J to live longer?” asked the girl, ‘*For the very reason,” answered Dick, “that you do not know what the future has for you,” vg Cav you see anything bright in the pros- ct? ‘I cannot see one way or the other, A day may bring you more happiness than you have ever dreamed of.” **My dream of happiness ends. here, Dead- wood Dick. I have loved you long, and had long hoped to meet you and win your love in return, Now that we have met, it is to learn that you bave a wife,” **That dream is folly,” said Dick, ‘ You will soon forget me in the love of some more $$$ —_— _— —— — EE EE EEE EEO worthy man, Nugget Nell. However, and be the outcome what it may, I must be true to the woman who is my wife, and whom I love You would be—” Dick saw a shadowy form creeping toward them, the form of a woman, Not'a sound did the moving figure make, but came on like a shadow in fact, and straight to- ward Nugget Nell. ““T would be—what?” the girl asked. “You would he foolish to kill yourself for so hopeless a cause,” ‘ Because it is hopeless is the strongest rea- son why I should kill myself,” was the ar- sument, ‘'I sball only change my mind in one particular.” | ‘* And in what is that?” ‘** 1 shall let you live, I loved you.” ‘*'You love me, and yet would leave me here bound and helpless, to be hanged to-morrow? A strange love that is,” ‘‘T dare not free you, for I know you would balk my purpose. But, stay; I wiil free your feet, and you will be able to help yourself more then. I must not delay.” ‘‘[ wanted to talk with you further, Nell,” Dick still parleyed, to gain time, The woman was stealing nearer and nearer, step by step, and Dick was moving about rest- lessly, in order to disguise any noise she might make, He knew not who she was, but she had lifted her finger in warning to him, and he believed that her intention was to rescue the misguided young woman before she could do herself harm, ‘What more would you say to me?” the girl asked, ‘* I wanted to question you about this camp of Corduroy Crossing.” ‘** There would be littie use in that, for I would not disclose the secrets of the island to you.” ‘Not even had I been able to grant your wish?” ‘* In that case I would bave done your bidding no matter what the risk or eost, Dick.” ‘* What was meavt by what Tiger Bill said to- night, about the coming of tue yellow? What did he refer to that he called the * yellow’” ‘‘T cannot tell you. You will never know, for by the time you get out of bere the cloud, as they called it, will have passed, But, enough, for wy mind is fally nade up? Think.of me as one—’’ Sbe had taken up the revolver, and was turn- ing it toward herself, when the woman behind ber sprung forward and seized her, The weapon was discharged, but the bullet did no harm, aud the next moment Nugget Neil was lying on her back with the other woman holding her there by sheer force. At the same time beavy steps were heard run- ning toward the spot. In a moment a rough-looking man, evidently aminer, was on hand, and Nugget Nell was quickly bound, _ That done, Dick’s rescuers, as they may be called, and certainly the rescuers of the infatu- ated girl, rose to their feet and looked at Dick. Dick was now able to geta good view of them, ie That will be proof that . : : and he took them to be a miver and bis wife, The reader, of course, will guess who they were, hy this impression they made upon Dick, “Et do look ez ef you was in somethin’ of a fix, friend,” the woman spoke, in a cracked voice, ‘* That’s what et do, fer dust,” agreed the man, ‘*T opine we'll have ter help ye out of et, won’t we? Seems like we was jest in time, too.” ‘Yuu were just in time to cheat me out of a happy ending to a miserable existence,” cried Nugget Nell, ‘* Free me, just for one moment, and Jet me finish my career here and now,” ‘No; it must not be!” said Dick, sternly. “Tf you are friends, release me, and we will care for this misguided girl. Whoare you, any- how 9”? ' “ Wull, I hail to ther name of Ben West,” an- swered the man, ‘“‘and this byar is my better half, Bet-y Jane. Sheisa whooper-tp, is Betsy Jane, and you owe this rescue to her,’ ai J est like you ter say 50, Benjamin,” the wo- man modestly retorted, both of you, anyhow,” said Dick. “Will you free me?” ‘‘ Sartainly,” answered the man, He made no delay about it, but severed Dick’s bonds at once, and the Prince of the West was once more upon bis feet and ready for action, ‘* [rm greatly obliged to you,” hejsaid, ‘* Now, will you take care of this young woman and see that she does not come to any harm? You must , MiG : A : | : : - , \- , - : \ ¢ - “Well, allow me to extend a vote of thanks to 7 VJOOKS:- COM sD > . : > of uw