Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 764 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

ee Oe a a as _ Pe. a ** Yes,” *““Wull, that was her. She’s a prime angel, she is, but she kin play kyards in a way ter make yer hair curl, She’s a stunner at kyards, and runs a game over at ther Howler saloon,” ‘*Ha! that is the situation, is it?” Dick rernembered bis conversation with the young woman, and what her parting words had been, ‘*That’s jest et,” he was assured, pass on now, fer I guess ye are all right. Ef ye ain’t, ther boyees at ther camp will see to ye, that’s all.” ** By the way,” asked Dick, ‘‘ what is all the howling about over in the direction of your camp? It seems there is something on the docket to-day, to make the citizens whoop it up so,” The shouting, alluded to before, was still go- ing on, at intervals, | ‘*Wull, yas, thar is a leetle bit of ’citement at ther camp ter-day, that’s so. And et’s all owin’ to a leetle mistake I made yesterday.” ‘‘Owing to a mistake you made yes.erday? ‘What do you mean by that?’ ‘* Wull, yer see, I allowed a feller ter pass hyar, a feller what I had a leetle s’picion of anyhow, and when he gut to ther camp ther boyees c’luded that he wasa durn Government spy; and, [ guess they’re goin’ ter hang him. hat’s ther reason why I was so p’tic’lar with you. See?” ‘Yes; I see, So, you don’t allow Govern- ment men here, eh? That is all tbe better for honest men, who are tryiug to work out an hon- en im 2 Well, bave I your permission to ride on ‘** Yes; yer kin go on an’ be darn to ye.” ‘* Thank you, sir.” The rifle was lowered, and after making an inquiry or two concerning the way, Dick rode leisurely on. ‘So, it’s a guarded island, is it?’ he mused. ** And they are death to Government men, eh? A delightful place, truly! Iam glad that I was firm in my decision agaiust Kate’s accompany- ing me here. But, that shouting is getting louder and more business-like, and I think I will press forward and see what is going on. Perhaps I shall have to take a hand in the pro- pa. ol Touching his horse, he hastened forward, and ere long came out upon the camp, which was on the sloping side of the island and facing the lake, The corduroy road was extended across another ant! of marsk on the left, and disap- peared finally in a wood maypnd. The trail, as it emerged from the ravine, bent toward the camp to tne right, and from the camp it took another new start across the other marsh, There was no direct travel across the island that did not make the camp a sort of half- way stop as it were, as the trail plainly proved, Dick had taken this in ata glance before he had come fully out into sight of the houses, As soon as he did come out where the whole camp was to be seen, other things claimed bis atten- tion. He took in the whole piace with a single sweep of bis keen eyes, but in the foregound was a picture that claimed his interest as of first im- portance, Under a spreading tree was a great crowd of men, around One who was standing upon a box with a rope around his neck all ready to be jJaunched off into the great Hence, Without a moment’s hesitation Dick gave bis horse a cut and dashed forward toward the scene, He was heard, of course, before he reached the spot, and the crowd gave him their attention. ‘“‘ Hello!” cried Dick, as he drew rein, ** what is the meaning of this, folkses?” He had dashed right into the assembled mob, and stopped a few feet from the prisoner on the box, who stood facing him, Dick noted at a glance that be was a band- some, daring-looking fellow, and that his dan- gerous situation had not made him quail, ‘**It means that I am in a pretty bac fix,” the prisoner answered for himself, in easy and calm tones. ‘“‘Itis a case of mistaken identity, for which I must suffer.” ** That’s what’s the difficulty, eb?” cried Dick, ‘* What have you got to say about it, citizens? This man seems to know what he ig. talkin about, and you don’t seem to bave frighten him worth a cent, Come, now, give him a show for his life, for he is a man, all through, that I can swear to!” There was a general growl of disapproval at a and one man in the crowd pushed to the O 7 ‘*What darn business is it o’ yourn?” he de- manded, ‘* Who be you, anyhow? Ef ye ain’t Se ee " ‘ - . = * oearh > hh oS - a _ . . : -—s es * ent po elk, eae te we fe > at $4 tear # | mighty keerful ye may find yerself in ther same fix. When we need any outsi ie help ter run our | business hyer, we’ll send fer et.” | “Yor kin | a LT “Well, there’s no need to get your back up over it,” respondep Dick, coolly. ‘' I am not go- ing to interfere with your little party. I only called your attention to the fact that your pris- over is taking it like a brave fellow, and since he says it is a case of mistaken identity, don't you tbink there is just a possible doubt in the matter?” ‘“‘That’s jest what ther matter is,” cried the spokesman for the crowd, ‘‘H9 is jest so durn brave, as you Call it, that we Anow thar ain’t no mistake, We has got him dead to rights, and he is goin’ ter swing, Now, I am mayor of this hyar camp, and if you don’t want ter git inter trouble yerself, ye had jest better keep yer lip out of our business, We knows this hyar galoot is Deadwood Dick, Junior, ther Government de- tective, an’—” ‘“ Deadwood Dick, Junior?’ in genuine sur- prise exclaimed the horseman, ‘Yas, Deadwood Dick, Junior; aad all his denyin’ won’t save his neck.” Dick gave a light laugh, and drew around to face the crowd in front, his horse drawing closer to the prisoner as he did so. ‘‘Why, gentlemen!” he cried, ‘‘you are making the biggest mistake you ever made in your lives, This man is not Deadwood Dick! I have seen Deadwood Dick and am not mis- taken.” ‘*What? What’s that yer say?” *“T say this man is not Deadwood Dick, Junior.” ‘* Just what I have been trying to impress upon their minds, sir,” observed the prisoner, He was perfectly cool, in spite of the fact that the rope was around his neck, and that he had been close to death, ‘** Do yer mean ter say that’s ther truth?” de- manded the mayor of the camp, in muck amaze- ment, pow, ** 1] can swear toit,” was Dick’s confident assur- ance. ‘‘I have seen Deadwood Dick more than once, and bave good reason to remember him, This man is not he. If you were going to ban him on that account, let him go, by al means, if you are not willing to bang an inno- cent man, ‘** But see how durn coul he is!” the mayor call- ed attention. ‘‘ From what we have heard tell of Deadwood Dick be’s the coolest cuss on earth. That’s what this byar chap kin lay claim to, I allow.” *“*Pshaw! Deadwood Dick may be a cool one, as they say be is; but, that does not prove that there are not other men just as cool as be, You have got the wrong pig ,this time, pards—that I can swear to!” The mayor looked around at the crowd, and as he did so Dick discovered a wonderful and startling peculiarity about bim, He had two faces—another face where the back part of his head appeared to be! It was startliog at first, but a second glance KRY it, he man was bald, as destitute of hair asa cabbage, and the back of his head was pricked with India ink in close likeness to his face on the other side, It had been done with considerable of artistic merit, and at a little distance further away the effect would no doubt have been puzzling. As it was, Dick could not repress a smile. The mayor had ‘turned to look over the faces of his subjects, to gather an impression of what the general mind was upon the matter under de- bate, and as be turned back he saw -Dick’s smile and knew at once what had caused it, ‘‘Wull, blast ye,” he cried, ‘ye have seen suthin’, have ye? Strikes ye as bein’ funny, does et? Wull, et ain’t funny, not a bit et ain’t, Ef you was fixed that way, and had ter carry et around with ye, yer life would be a burden to ye, I’m bettin’ on et,” ‘‘ It certainly does strike me as funny,” Dick admitted. ‘If I smile it is because I never saw anything of the sort before.” f CHAPTER IIi. A TREAT IN LIEU OF A HANGING, Two things were very evident, One, that the man was not responsible for his strange tattooings; the other, that he was very sensitive about it. ‘*Wulli,” the man growled, ‘‘ef ye never seen et afore, ye now see it behind. Yekin take one good look at et, and then I don’t want ter ketch ye payin’ no more ’tention to et.” ‘*That’s it, eh? Well, I will try not to annoy ' Pe My RR os » = - oe |) eh om Deadwood Dick Jr.’s, Lone Hand. ————— eC OC SS oe Oi you by looking at your double phiz. But, if you are sO migbty sore in that spot why don’t you grow some buir and cover it over? Or you might keep your Hat pulled down behind, Better still, get some one to take it out for you,” ‘‘ See here,” cried the mayor, taking a stride forward, *‘do you want me to yank ye down off’n that ar’ hoss and wipe up ther ground with ye? Vl do et,in jest one brief minnit, ef ye don’t mind. Idon’c take no guff from nobody, I don’t. An’ byar’s one thing more: I don’t allow nobody ter star-gaze at my face behind, as ther boyees will tell ye, an’ ef 1 ketch you a- doin’ it ll bring ye to ’count, sure.” ‘¢ No,” responded Dick, self-possessed as ever; ‘*T don’t want to be yanked off my horse, and made a duster of, so please don’t do it. We'll let it drop, if you are willing, and I'll try not to trespass upon the forbidden ground—as it were, Still any one of the suggestions I have dropped is well worth being followed, especially that of raising a crop of hair and covering your decora- tions. There; I won’t mention it again, What about the prisoner?” The crowd had this, evidently wit some trouble, ? For the moment, in his rage, the mayor had seemed to forget the prisoner, and Dick’s re- iven silent attention to all the expectation of seeing mark brought his mind back to the business of the hour, ‘*Sure enough,” be cried, wheeling around, ** Ain’t be swingin’ clear yet, my lads? Up with him, amd make short work of it, too, Et Ne be one suspected character ther less, any- ow. Those who had hold upon the rope drew it tight and prepared to pull, but with a wary eye upon Deadwood Dick the real, as if expect- ing some interference from bim; and they were not mistaken, either, Dick took a hand in the matter, as be bad predicted he should bave to do. ‘* Just go a little slow with that business, if you please!” be cried, raising his hand. ‘I am going to have a word to say about it, You are banging this man because you suspect him of being Deadwood Dick, Junior. I tell you he is not that man, because I have seen Deadwood Dick too often to be missaken, If that is the only reason you have for sending him off, don’t,do it. Me is not the man,” ‘‘ But, he’s a stranger, anyhow!” growled the mayor. “ Whatif heis? Do you makea practice of hanging strangers here? If so, it will bea first rate place for me to get out of, seeing that lam a stranger myself,” “Ther best thing ye kin do,” declared the mayor, sullenly. ‘Strangers is not wanted hyar anyhow. Yer room is worth more than yer company. Who ar’ ye, anyhow, an’ what has brought ye here?” ‘*Questions that I do not mind answering,” responded Dick. ‘“‘My name is Smith Douglas, as I bad to explain to your guardsman back there, and I am a gambler. I have come here for the purpose of skinning your crack players, or of dropping my pile with you, just as it happens.” **Wull, ye ar’ honest about et, anyhow. You say ye kin swear that this galoot ain’t Dead- wood Dick, do ye?” ‘* Yes; positively. No chance for a mistake, I’]] stake my life on it,” ‘** Have ye ever seen ther prisoner before?” ‘ Never, sir.” ‘‘ Ts it not as I tried to convince you?” the pris- oner remarked, ‘‘It is lucky for me you bhap- pened along, Mr. Douglas, or I might now be swinging.” ‘lt seems they would have hanged you for Deadwood Dick. You must bave a grudge against that gentleman, mayor. It wouldn’t be a healthy place for him to visit, I take it.” ‘You kin jest bet yer left et wouldn’t!” assert- ed the mayor. ‘¢ And, by the same token, it is just the place for me to hang up my hat foratime. 1 bave no desire to fallin with Deadwood Dick just now.” ‘* How kin we swear that ye ar’ tellin’ us ther plain truth?’ demanded the mayor. ‘‘ Mebby you two ar’ in cahoots, an’ you ar’ lyin’ fer yer pard. Mebby it’s a put-up game all around,” ‘‘It came near to being a string-up game for me,” spoke the prisoner. “If your suspicion were correct it would show that we made a poor mess of it, wouldn’t it? Does it look like the work of Deadwood Dick? I argue not.” ‘You have made your mistake this time, mayor,” declared Dick, decisively. ‘‘ This man, as I have asserted, is not Deadwood Dick, Jun- ior, If you know anything about Dick and his methods, you ougbt to be aware that he general- | bool (E es er ee ome ee ee