Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 764 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Lone Hand. - if wk ¥ ) A , Fer je Ww Wee s . tant aN aie , py - ie jj wrathet 4 Deadwood Dick was amazed, Here was a falsehood right out of the whole cloth, W hat object had this stranger in lying to save his neck from the rope? He could not under- stand, 3 ‘‘ Nugget Nell, ar’ you tellin’ us ther gospel truth?” the mayor cried. ‘* Did you ever know me to deal in any other kind of truth?” the girl demanded, with spirit. ‘What do ye think on’t boyees?” asked the mayor. ‘‘ This hyer puts a new look onto ther case, I sh’u’d opine, don’t et?’ Said one man: ‘‘T am in favor of holdin’ this feller over,, anyhow, aud seein’ how he will pan, Thar’s no danger that he will escape, and maybe we'll be able ter make use of him.” This was one of the men to whom the girl had spoken in the saloon. ** Yas: and so be I,” cried another. matter of that, et hits me that we might goa leetie slow, anyhow, Hyar we ar’, a hull camp o’ men, ’gainst theso two, and et would bea howlin’ pity ef we couldn’t bold them prisozers,” And this speaker, too, was one to whom the girl bad spoken. It was clear sbe had intluence with them, And there was yet another who voiced the sume sentiment, while the crowd as a whole waited to see what the outcome was going to be, ‘* Let me chip in a word,” spoke up Dick, ‘* Waal, let’s bear from ye,” invited the mayor, ‘‘] don’t ask any favor of you that you can’t extend to Mr. Waterstone as well, He is a stranger to me, but during the few hours I have been in his company I have learned that be is a decent sort of fellow,” Nugget Nell frowned at this, Just here Bleezer Googin let his bazoo be heard, ‘Et ar’ jest as I told ye,” hecried, ‘' Et’s jest asI thort. These byar two fellers is in ca- hvots, and one is bound ter stand up fer t’otber. Mebby one ain’t Deadwood Dick, but they ar’ birds of a feather, and I’m fer seein’ ’em both Fer ther ' The woman’s order was obeyed promptly enough, for there was that in her tone which went to prove that it would be dangerous to dis- obey. | ‘* Lieutenant,” the woman ordered, immediate- | ly after, ‘‘ dismount and release this man, If any | one offers to binder or molest you, that one will die in his tracks,” | One of her men dismounted to obey the com- | mand, and did obey it, without delay and with- | out hindrance, | He was back again in his saddle in a moment, | and Carlo Waterstone was free. : To this time, a period of some seconds, no dne | had spoken, That is, no one in the crowd about | the tree, ‘‘Saay,” the mayor suddenly blurted oat, | ‘‘ who aire you, anyhow?” | Jam Captain Crimson,” was the prompt re- sponse, ‘* Bring that other prisoner of yours to tie front bere!” bd One of her weapons was covering the mayor, and the other now took a threatening survey in the direction of the men who were holding Deadwood Dick, It was not necessary for the captain to order, for these men brought Dick to the front at once, and let go of him, He was left still bound, bowever, but not for long. The woman in crimson ordered the mayor him- self to release him, and the mayor did not hesi- tate about obeying. The fact of the business was, the mayor and all bis men were too surprised to do anything else than obey. Whence bad come these mys- terious borsemen? What meant their presence? ‘* Now,” said the woman in crimson, further, ‘‘ restore their weapons to these men at once, or it will be the worse for all of you. Don’t delay, if you set any value on your lives, for if I order my men to fire they will shoot to kill.” ‘‘ What business hev you ter come byar and interfere with what don’t consarnu ye, is what I want ter know?’ cried the mayor, ‘+ Ask vo questions, but do as you are ordered, ‘‘ This one,” indicating Dick. ‘‘ Well, you cannot bave either, I know their lives are in danger here, and so shall take the men with me,” ‘‘ Have we no voice in that matter ourselves?” asked Dick, ‘*7T should think you would be only too glad to get away,” was the crimson woman’s response. ‘Not so. My life bas beerfspared, here, and I am going to remain. I do not believe these citizens will try further violence with me,” ‘ You do not know them, You are risking your head in the lion’s mouth by remaining here another hour.” ‘ But, I do not know you,” ‘‘TIs it not enough that L tell you we are your friends?” ‘That is not so,” Dick declared. ‘I have no friends within miles of this section of country,” ‘You mistake, sir. Captaia Crimson and ber men are your friends—the friends of any worthy person whom they may find in trouble as they found you,” ‘* Well, I will take your word for it, then, Still, you do not know that I am a worthy per- son, Not to impose upon you, [ want to tell you just what 1 am. Iam a gambler, and perbaps worse,” ‘‘ Novertheless, you are a man in danger bere, and I am offering to get you safely away.” ‘‘On the other hand,” spoke up Nugget Nell, ‘‘T think I am able to promise him safety if he remains, Wbat do you say, mayor?” ° ‘‘ Br hits me bard that ther galcot hev showed his true colors all along,” was tbe mayor’s com- ment, ** And you'll promise him his life if be desires to stay here?’ ‘‘ Yas; I promise him his life, darn et.” It was, to say the least, a strange complication of matters, Dick was thoughtful for a’ few seconds, He was trying to decide wbat to do in the case, He had come to the camp with a fixed purpose in view. To go away would be to leave that : ) ‘ a eee COW * ee af stringed yp jest as high as we kin b’ist ’em,” and be quick, too,” was the further command, purpose unaccomplished, He was free and arm- } ‘* That’s ther talk!” immediatly cried his fol- The weapons were handed over, and Dead- | ed again, and had faced worse dangers, he be- x lowers, wood Dick and Carlo Waterstone were,once more | lieved, than what threatened bim here, :y Waterstone was next to make bis voice heard, | free and armed, though still in the midst ofa ‘‘What about you?” he asked, turning to Y,* _*T don’t want any favors at all,” he declared. | howling mob hungry for their lives. Waterstone. } ‘Tf you are willing tolet Mr, Douglas be held —_—— “Tam going to take my chances by going t over, do it, and let me furnish amusement for CHAPTER IX, away with this woman and her men,” was the you on this occasion. One dead man ought DEADWOOD DICK RECOGNIZED, reply. | to satisfy you pretty well for one pight’s work, DEADWOOD DIcK was puzzled, ‘Which shows your good sense,” the woman ‘ anyhow, boys,” Events bad crowded upon events since bis | in crimson observed, This was said witb all firmness and boldness, coming to the camp, ‘‘ Perhaps,” the man added, ‘‘How came ‘*That’s about an even way ter fix et up, I Who was this woman in crimson? What her | you to arrive here at so opportune a moment?”. opine,” observed the mayor, seeming avxious to | interest finthim and the man who had come so | be demanded, por all parties concerned. ‘‘ That’s ther way | near to hanging? ‘*Only by mere chance,” was the reply. order et. Take this byar feller and lock him If he was puzzled, no less so was everybody ‘‘Then what brought ye here, anyhow?” the up fer keepin’, and lift this other one right up to | else in the crowd, Nugget Nell, whobad turned | mayor wished to know. ther limb. No more palaver about et,” back when the horsemen rode up, looked the ‘* Curiosity, sir,” was the answer to that, “ We ‘*T object!” cried Dick, ‘* Make it both or | surprise she felt. followed the trail, and it led us bere,” | neither!” There!” said the woman in crimson, when ‘‘ Waal, et’s a darn good ways from nowhere to ‘Make et both and be darn to Nugget Nell!” | her orders had been carried out to the full, | be led by chance, that’s all 1 have got ter say,” cried Bleezer Googin. ‘now my business with you is done for the | the mayor commented, . ‘* You hold your tongue, Bleezer,” ordered the | present, men of Corduroy Crossing. It is well By this time the shock of surprise the coming 7.2 spirited girl, as she took aim at him, ‘If you | that you have obeyed me.” of the horsemen had occasioned, was beginnin ; p chip in again Ili drop you out of the race,” ‘‘ But who in blazes are ye?” demanded the | to wear off, and the crowd was pressing forwar : This, for the moment, silenced Mr. Googin, mayor. ‘* What right have ye to chip in hyar with familiar curiosity. It was plain enough that Nugget Nell had | where nothin’ consarns ye? It will be bealthy “Keep your distance, men!” the woman in ‘ power over these rough rascals. fer ye to git out of byar; thatis what I tell yeas | crimson suddenly ordered, ‘* You are quite near And turning immediately to Deadwood Dick, | a gentle hint. You bad better git right up and enough as it is, For the last time, stranger,” the gambler queen added, in a tone that meant | git, You ar’ not wanted byar,” to Dick, “ will you accompany us?” business: “It makes little difference whether I am| ‘To tell you the truth,” answered Dick, “T ‘* And you, sir, if you bave got any hoss-sense | wanted or not,” was the retort, ‘‘ I come and feel a good deal safer bere than I should feel in that good-looking head of yours, take the | go as I please. Now, I am going to take your with you. The citizens here are beginning to chance that’s offered you.. Nugget Nell has no | prisoners from®you, citizens, and the less kick- know me for what [ am, and I prefer tor emain, ; more to say.” ing there is about it, the better for you. It will | Thanking you for your favor, nevertheless, With that she sprung down from the box, and | mean death for the man who interferes, you ‘You have the promise of Nugget Nell that Carlo Waterstone was speedily put upon it, iu | may depend on it,” he shall not be harmed,” the gambler queen the same dangerous fix he had been in once be- ‘And what do you intend doing witb us?” spoke up. fore. It looked now as though the end was at | queried Dick, The woman in crimson favored the gambler hand, ‘We may be going from bad to worse, in ac- | queen with a hard stare; then she suddenly drew Dead wood Dick was burried away a few yards | companying you,” declared Waterstone, her horse around and was ready to go, by the men who bad him in keeping, and the ‘*'You can fare no worse than you would have ‘‘ Mount, you, bebind one of my men,” she or- ; rope removed from his neck. fared bere, but for the arrival of myself and my | dered Waterstove. “* And you,” to Nugget Nell, , he other rope, that to which Waterstone | men,” was the woman’s response, see to itthat your word is kept. If you fail, a was looped, was at the same time cast over a “A word witu you, masked woman,” spoke up | your death will follow.” ; limb. Nogget Nell, advancing fearlessly. Lifting ber hana, then, she dashed away, and : Just then was heard the thunder of horses’ ‘We'll bear you ” was the response, her men after her at full gallop, all soon to be 1a oofs, “Tt is to you alove; I have nothing to say | swallowed up by the darkness, ia , Everybody looked in the direction from which | to your mep.” “By the carnel goshness, ef I ain’t jiggered!” ‘ % the sounds came, and several animals, with ‘‘No matter, it is all the same. Speak out, | exclaimed the mayor. . et | riders, were seen speeding toward the treé, or not at all,” “Can't yer see through et?” cried Bleezer | Before anything could be said or done they ‘* What are these prisoners to you?” Googin, ‘ They is all in cahoots, that’s what’s — , “Dy were at band, and the leader, a masked woman ‘‘/T found them in trouble and have belped | ther matter, and they’re all pizer death on this in crimsony had the crowd covered with a pair | themfout, Isn’t that sufticient answer? I might | byar camp, or I’m a liar, and you bear me.” ey of revolvers, and her voice rung out\in com- | ask what they are to you?” * And another lot of ther yaller expected at iia mand, ‘And I must answer the same, You say | a’most any time, too,” put in the fellow who had ‘ » ** Hands off that rope!” she ordered. you are going to take them with you, I de- | spoken about that thing before, pe Immediately behind her were several horse- | mand the right to object to that regarding one | Deadwood Dick wondered what was meant by ; ih ae men, each wearing a crimson hat, and each with | of them.” that odd expression, | on ibang. '( WORpOms to the fore, | ‘Do you, indeed! May I inquire which one?” | He meant to know, if life was spared him, He a Jey ‘ . Nhe n | 4 \ ; Pv