Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 764 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

. es 2 ooo ————— There were two signs, in ‘act, standing one above the other, They were painted on boards, the upper one being about two feet long by six inches in width and the under one, of the same length, about a foot in width. On the upper sign were these words: ‘* CornpuRoy CRossiING.” That was bad enough; but the one under it was even worse, being like this: ‘‘Iy yu TAKE THE LEFT, YuL BE RITE, BUT in yu TAKE THE RITE Yul BE LEFT, suRE,” ‘* Well, this is peculiar, apyhow,” Deadwood Dick mused, ‘“*Seems tome I have seen some- thing on the same age before. If I take the left I'}} be right, will I? Ill take the left, then, for it is the right I am after, every time; 1 don’t want to be left.” After looking at thesign for some moments, and studying the surroundings, be drew his horse to the left and continued on his way. ‘*] must be nearing my destination, I take it,” he reflected, as he rodeon. ‘* Corduroy Cross- ing can’t be a great distanceaway. Well, [ am not sorry, for Lam getting ratbertired of the saddle for one day. I bope [ won’t fall into any exciting experiences till | have rested up @ little, though it will be remarkable if I don’t.” The trail lay through a woodland here, and it was pleasant and refreshing compared to what it had been further back, There was a gradual descent into a broad, wooded valley, and occasionally a eee of water in the distance was to be bad through openings among the trees here and there, Further back had been stretches of hot sand and dreary mountain passes, for many miles, wild, rugged and barren. The change was a welcome one to the traveler, and he seemed to a preciate it, for he removed his hat as he rode along and enjoyed the cool air, ‘* Yes; I must be nearly there,” he said to himself again, ‘* This is about as it was de- scribed to me; besides, the sign back there is proof of it, I shall no doubt soon strike the corduroy road, and then the camp will be at hand shortly afterward, It must bea nt place, I should say—that is to say, the location; the piace, if report is true, is a littl— Whoa, January !” A charming personage had suddenly stepped out upon the trail in front of him, with hands uplifted as if commanding him to stop. Breaking off in what he was saying, Dick drew rein and brougbt his horse to a stop at once, making a bow to the woman who thus blocked his way so authoritatively. ‘* Are you going to Corduroy Crossing, sir?” she asked, She was young, not more than twenty at most, and handsome of face and form, On her head was a soft felt bat, a coat of rather mas- culine cut was buttoned across her breast with a single top button, and beneath that was a neat- fitting bodice of cloth, of the same dark mate- rial as her skirt; the latter falling to a point balf-way between knee and ankle, Her feet were incased in a pair of serviceable shoes, over which were a pair of closely but- toned leggings. In her hand she held a thin and pliable black cane, one that bad every ap- pearance of having a loaded ment, and that would be a weapon of no insignificant nature at close qaarters, This was beld idly in the left hand, it being the right band she had raised to signify ber wish for the traveler to stop, ‘* Yes, miss; that is my destination,” Dick answered. ‘* Do not go there, sir, if you value your life.” Dick laughed lightly. **Who could possibly want to take my life?” he asked, ‘I have no foes at Corduroy that I am aware of,” ' ‘** Perbaps not; but you are a stranger.” ‘‘ All men are strangers in a strange place, pretty lady.” A frown came upon the fair faceimmediately, ** Do not force me to regret that I stopped you to warn you,” shesaid, ‘' You will do so if you speak that wayagain.” ‘Calling you pretty lady? I spoke but the truth. But, let it pass; I will not offend again. Will you tell me wherein lies the danger if I persist in going on to the camp.” “The danger lies in the fact of your being a stranger.” “That is peculiar, truly. I take it, then, that strangers are not welcomed at the camp,” _ “They are not, Tbhecamp of Corduroy Cross- ing wants no strangers, as you will be informed if you persist in going on your way,” ; Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Lone Hand. | ** Well, I shall persist in that direction, for I am going there, I thank you for the warning you have given me, and trust that I shall profit by it. I think I can take care of Number One,” A troubled look came upon the girl’s face. She had ere this lowered ber lifted hand, and now she stepped forward to the rider’s side, ‘* Thope you will heed my warning,” she urged. ‘*T heard you coming and I stepped aside here in the bushes to wait till you passed, but wben I saw your face I could not allow you to go on unwarned, Will you not heed me and turn back? I know of what I speak.” ‘Tf anything in the world would change my purpose, miss, it would be you; but I seldom pay heed to warnings. I have blundered along through the world upvtil now keeping to my own willful way, and so far have come out with a whole neck, Besides, there is no reason why any one at Corduroy Crossing should go for me, so far as I can see,” ** Then my warning has been in vain?” ** Yes; so far as sending me back; but it may serve me a good turn since it has put me on my guard, so to say.” ‘*[T can read in your eyes that you have a strong will, sir. I hope no harm comes to you. I have done my duty, anybow, and will detain you no longer.” She stepped hack, makiug a slight bow as she indicated that he snould go on, Dick, however, was not in any hurry. He wanted to know something about this young woman before they parted. ** Pardon me, miss,” he said, ‘‘ but the little ou have told makes me curious to learn more, 3 it going too far if I inquire who you are?” ‘*My name, sir, is Nellie Mason,” was the re- sponse, in ber rich, full tone of voice, ‘*‘I am better known as Nugget Nell. Yon can dono less, now, than to tell me who you are.” There was frankness about her, but nothing ** You are right,” Dick agreed, ‘I can dono less, My nameis Smith Douglas, and I am a gamble: ie I make no bones about telling, you see. Lam going to Corduroy Crossing for the one purpose of skinning everyloly I can. soe my inelegant way of expressing my- self. The young woman smiled, but in a half sad way and made respon-e to what he bad siid, ** If that is your business, I have less fear for your safety,” she remarked, ‘I will add, also, tbat I have been deceived in your appearance, You may find some at Corduroy Crossing who are your equals, if not superiors, at the various games Of chance, and instead of skinning the camp, you may come away shorn yourself, I will detain you no longer, sir.” With a sligbt bow again, she turned away and walked off up the trail in the direction from which Dick had come. The prince of Western detectives looked after her for some moments before going on himself, and as he looked, he exclaimed in thought: ** A trump, by great!” The young woman did not once look back, and in a minute or so, a bend in the trail carried her out of sight, ‘Yes, a trump,” Dick muttered, half aloud, as he started forward on his way, ‘‘ So, she thinks there are so ne at the camp who are my betters at handling the wicked pasteboards, does she? Well, sbe may be right; I do not claim to be invincible, But, what did she mean by saying she was deceived in my appearance? I guess Ido not rightly catch on to that, Per- Bs it will all come out, for I have an idea that I sball see more of Nugget Nell,” A little furtber on and the trail came abruptly to a marsh, where a corduroy road led the way to what seemed to be an island about a third of mile distant, Beyond the island, at one end, could be seen the flashing waters ofalake. At the other end the trees of the island seemed to merge with those of the mainland at a distance of a mile or 80, The island, from this side, appeared to be rugged, and it was covered witha wood. Be- yond the lake, at the only point where it was visible, was another wood at least two miles distant across the water. The marsh seemed to bound the island on one side and end, the lake the opposite, Deadwood Dick observed all this quickly as he drew rein at the beginning of the corduroy road across the marsh. ' He next gave his attention to the condition of the road, and observed that where it ended at the island the trail was resumed through what seemed to be a dark ravine, While be stood there, fixing the lay of the land upon his mind, be heard asound as of many voices shouting, which seemed to be borne to his ears from the distantside of the island, lit was like the howling of an excited mob, There was evidently excitement of some sort at Cordurvy Crossing. ‘*] wonder what’s the rumpus?” Dick ques- tioned, as he listened. ‘The citizens must be enjoying a jolly drunk, or else perhaps it’s a necktie party. Maybe it is something gotten up for my especial benefit, for it would be re- markable if I were to enter thecamp and not get mixed up in some sort of local walk-around. Well, we'll soon see,” Touching his horse, be started forward across the log crossing that led to the delectable town of the same name, It was a disagreeable ride, for the horse picked its way carefully at every step, evicently in fear of slipping, though the rough road seemed well made and safe, Finally it was crossed, and the horse gave a whinny Of satisfaction as it set boof firmly upon solid ground once more, Barely had the cross- ing been left bebind, however, when a challenge was heard, ‘*Whoap!” sung out a voice, hands, Mister Man!” And with the command a man stepped out from the shadows of the ravine With a rifle at his shoulder. ‘ He bad the “drop,”. his gun covering Dead- wood Dick’s heart, and the redoubtable Richard had to comply with the modest request that had been made, Coming entirely unexpected, the order took Dick by surprise, and there was no time for bim to offer resistance, The man with the gun held the best band, and Dick had no choice in the matter. ‘*Up with yer CHAPTER ILI. THE TIMELY ARRIVAL. ‘“ WELL, what’s the reason?” Dick asked, cool- ly. ~ «This byar gun o’ mine is ther reason, and ther cause, too,” was the reply. And with his words, the individual took & squint along the barrel of his weapon in a dan- erous way. ‘¢ Well, 1 don’t know but that you are right,” Dick agreed. ‘‘The gun is the cause; this is the effect, You have got the bulge on me this time.” ae ‘Yer kin jest bet yer life on’t, traveler, an’ I’m goin’ ter keep et on ye, too, I want ter know who ye ar’, what yer busivess is, an’ whar ye ar’ goin’, That’s what I’m byar for.” The man was a rough fellow, with a bearded, evil face, and was clad in a manner becoming bis rascally looks, ** Toat’s what you are lLere for, eh?” **'You bet!” ‘Well, now, you see that I am peaceable enough, just suppose you point that old gun an- other way. I have no desire to have it aimed at me without reason, Just turn it off a point or two and we'll talk the matter over.” ‘“T prefer ter keep et right whar et is now,” was the response to that, ‘‘ Yer needn’t be afeerd of it’s goin’ off uuless I mean et. Now, jest hurry up and say yer say, and l’ll peqabont fettin’ ye go past, If i don’t think well of e will bave ter turn tail to and go back ther way e kem,.” | ‘Oh, that’s the idea, is it?” tai ‘That's jest it, Come, now, exbibit health, and fool no more time aboutit." ‘Well, fire in your questions, one at a time.” ‘* Fu’st on ther count, then, who are ye? ‘* My name is Smith Douglas.” ‘“Mebby et ar’, I won’t swear toet, Next, what’s yer business?” i ‘‘T am a gambler and sport,” was the prompt answer to that, ee ““Ob-bo! Wull, whar are ye goin’? “1% bound for Corduroy Crossing, with the intention of skinning the camp at cards, if I can do it.” e or I ber darn Mi , ef I let ye go on ary little: aengh for a starter, | guess,” “Wull, I reckons ye kin pass. Ther camp don’t miss no chances like this byar, and if you don't git skinned yerself it will be a wonder to me. 1 think ye will find Nugget Nell ready ter put up fer what yer pile is worth, if you want ter lose et.” ‘Nugget Nell?” — ‘‘That’s what I said.” ‘‘ Who is Nugget Nell?” ‘‘ Didn’t ye meot a gal over on t’other side?” yer bill o’ ’ Have ye got money ter t,ye . cae Se i ie atl alle ee ~ a tele