Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 764 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

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Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Lone Hand. 9 had come to this wild camp with the intention of playing a lone band, and it looked now as though he would have td play that way or not at all, since his chance ally had deserted bim, He congratulated himself again and again, in mind, upon the fact of his having left bis wife behind on setting out upon this campaign, A worse bole than Dixon's Deposit, was this, and there he had vowed that he uever would take her into another sucb place, Brave, bonny Kate had objected, of course, but, Dick’s mind made tp, nothing could turn him, and so be was able to think of her as safely lodged in a hotel in a civilized town during bis absence. ‘‘T don’t believe anything of the kind,” cried Nugget Nell, in retort to what Bleezer Googin had said, “If that were so, this man would have gone with them, that is plain, It is possi- ble that the other fellow and the woman in crim- son were known to each other,” ** Anyhow, | know what I’m goin’ ter do,” spoke the mayor.” *» And what’s that?” asked Nell. ‘Tm goin’ ter put down ther bars, and block- ade ther camp, Nary a galoot is goiv’ out or comin’ in till after ther next yaller cloud bas passed, Thar’s too much at stake.” Again mention of the ** yellow ” something, What did it mean? Dick was puzzled for au explanation, Naturally, his mind reverted to gold, since that was often spoken of in that way. ** A good idea,” said the gambler queen, ‘‘ Do you bear that, Mr, Douglas? You are to bea prisoner bere for some days at least,” ‘*I care nothing for tuat, so long as I have the freedom of the camp,” was the return, ** As I told you at first, L consider myself better off here than anywhere else, just now.” ‘*'Yas; but yer hasn’t told us why,” ‘*T beg your pardon, but I think I have ex- plained.” ‘‘ Jest do et again, then, ef yer please.” “| find that you are all against Deadwood Dick, for some reason or other, and 1 do not care to fallin with that gentleman.” ‘* That don’t go down,” cried Bleezer Googin. * And why not?” ‘Cause, from what we bevseen of ye, Dead- - svood Dick wouldn't bave no show in your hands, onless he’s ore’n human,” **That’s jest what I can’t get out of my crop,” declared the mayor, ‘‘ Et wassimply amazin’, ther way you did boost Bleezer hyar. Et war amazin’, and that’s what l’m shoutin’,” “And ther more so, When he allowed me to knock him about like he did at ther fu’st,” Bleezer reminded, ‘* You ought to bave had sense enough to leave him alone,” said Nugget Nell. “We ain’t talkin’ about that, not er tall,” cried Bleezer. ‘* Ec’s ther facts of ther case we’re considerin’,” “All simple enough, perhaps,” said Dick, speaking up. ‘J am rather strong, I admit, but strong men are not always well pcsted in the fistic art. I bad no desire to tackle you.” Hoofs were heard again, this time made by one horse aloue, The sound came from the direction in which me crimson woman and her men bad disappear- e 7 Every eye was turned in the direction of the sound, every eye except the mayor’s rear pair, and in a few seconds a borseman loomed up. A few strides more by bis panting borse, and be drew rein under the tree in the circle of light made byjthe torches, and the moment he stopped his eyes seemed to fix upon Dick. ‘‘Deadwood Dick, by all that’s great!” he cried. CHAPTER X. A SURPRISING CONFESSION, Drapwoop Dick glared at the new-comer. lt was a personage he had seen somewhere, some time. He was recognized, beyond a doubt, now, and his plans foiled. x oy! Just when events were playing into his bands nicely, this was rough. ' In an instant the crowd was in a wild up- roar, and Bleezer Googin was the wildest of them all, : But, to keep events in order. The new-comer bad been tbe first tospeak, for bis keen look at Deadwood Dick had foretold that he recognized the man, it was only a point of time, however, that the silence was maintained, “Tiger Bill!” exclaimed the mayor and others, Deadwood Dick knew him now. A merci- less rascal who had once evaded his grip, and who was ‘** wanted.” “Yas, Tiger Dill, you bet)!” the fellow ac- knowledged, ‘*What did I tell yer?” cried Bleezer Goo- gin. ‘*Didn’t I say it was Deadwood Dick? Whoop! Now we has got him, and now fer a bapgin’!” And then it was his followers whooped it up for all they were worth, to put it in that home- ly way, and that the crowd fairly let itself loose. Dick was in danger again. Leaping upon the box, Dick brought his re- volvers into play, and shouted: ‘**Keep your shirts on, gentlemen; don’t get crazy! I am not going to fly away. What proof does this man offer for what he charges?” ‘* What proof!” cried Bleezer. ‘‘ He don’t need no proof, he don’t; we all know Tiger Bill, I reckon,” ‘* That’s the fact,” approved the mayor, ** Deadwood Dick, the jig is up.” ‘You bet your life it’s up!” cried the new- comer, ‘*I know ye, Dickey, and you know me, too. [Tve got yeina4 trap this time, and if ye git out it won’t be any fault o’ mine,” **Hang him! Hang bim right here and now!” shouted Bleezer. ‘* That’s ther talk!” echoed the crowd, ‘* We don’t want no blamed detectives around hyar!” ** And jest vow least of all,” Tiger Bill put in, ‘*'Thar’s a yaller cloud comin’ this way, aud iv] be hyar before midnight, or orter be,” Again mention of that mysterious— What? ‘** Hang bim!” cried the crowd, * Yank him!” * String bim right up!” Nugget Nell sprung upon the box beside Dick. She, too, had a brace of fivers in her shapely hands, and her expression of face was grim and determined, “Go _a little slow with this funeral!” she ordered, coolly. ‘‘ You have got to keep your word, men of Corduroy, or Nugget Nell throws up the sponge and drops out of your game,” ‘* But, durn et, gal, we has ther proof, now!” urged Bleezer, ‘*And ye know what Deadwood Dick’s pres- enc3 hyar means, don’t ye?’ demanded the mayor, ** It will probably mean death to the first man who attempts to lay a hand on him, the way he is armed and ready for business,” the girl re- winded, ‘*And do you mean ter stand up fer him, Nugget Nell?” cried Tiger Bill. ‘* | intend to be as good as my word,” was the curt response, ‘‘ And what was yer word, then?” “T have promised him that his life shall be spared, and so has the mayor, and we are going to stick to it.” **You’re a fool, and the mayor is anotber! Double-face, is this your say-so, too? Are ye sech a fool as ter Jet a man like Deadwocd Dick git out of yer bands when ye hey got him?” ‘*No, et ain’t my say-so at all!” avowed the mayor, ‘*When I promised Nell that he shouldn’t be harmed, I had made up my mind that he couldn’t be Deadwood Dick; but now we have got it straight from you that he is.” ** And will ye let him break up our game here? T tell ye ther yaller is comin’ right soon, and he re Le put out of ther way afore ther cloud gits yar, ** Nell, ye see how et ar’,”the mayor urged. ‘* I can see just how it is,” was the response. **] have given this man my word that he shall not be hanged to-night, and I’m going to stick to it, If this camp can’t hold him prisoner for one night, you had better close shop and go out of business, thet is all about that,” ‘* Besides,” remarked Dick, ‘* before you can do any hanging, there will be a terrible ruction here, and just about ten good men will bite the dust, Here are ten pills, and each one is good for a life, Think twice before you act. Besides, there may be danger from other quarters,” ‘* What do ye mean by that?” ** Well, you hold that 1 am Deadwood Dick, Suppose I am; can you imagine that Deadwood Dick would come here to play a Jone hand against a whole camp? Wouldn’t it be more reasonable to suppose that he would come with plenty of backin,?” , ‘‘Just chew on that for a second, and make up your minds,” adied Nell. “I am either with you or against you, just as you will have ‘* D’ye hear that?” cried Bleezer Googin. ‘* He ’mits that be is Deadwood Dick now, an’ he earosy defies us, Ar’ we goin’ ter stand that? ae I should surrender my gall ef J think so / “ But, et ain’t only ther galoot now,” remind- ed the mayor; ‘‘ hyar’s Nugget Nell backin’ bim. Say, Nell, what bas come over ye? Don’t ye know that ther safety of this camp ’pends on ther death of Deadwood Dick?” ‘* Don’t it look rather as though the safety of a good many of you depends 9n his life?” Nell demanded, ‘* But, why ar’ you backin’ him, that’s what J want ter know.” ‘* And you do know, Double-face; because I have given my word, and Nugget Nell’s word is her bond, every time.” ‘““Wull, what’s ther odds?” cried Tiger Bill, “ Hyar’s yer hull camp ter keep him prisoner, and et would bea howlin’ pity ef you couldn’t hold onto one man, even ef 3t is Deadwood Dick, Lock him up, and so save a fuss,” ‘¢) think I'll have something to say about that myself,” spoke up Dick. ‘*I don’t propose to be either banged or locked up. What are you going to do about it?” ‘* PD’ ye hear that?” cried Bleezer. what he’s sayin’ to us?” ‘* Perbaps you would like to take bim in hand and teach him a lesson,” suggested Nugget Nell, ‘‘ Not any, ef yer pletise, Miss Nelly.” ‘‘Then don’t be shooting off your mouth so much, Ill propose something to you, boys,” ‘‘Wull, what ar’ et?” inquired the puzzled mayor, ‘* You know what we have promised the nan, that he shall not be banged.” sé Yes,” ‘* Well, there’s nothing against our holding him prisoner In the camp. You can puta guard so strong that he can’t get away, and let him have the freedom of the island,” ‘“You may safely do thst, gentlemen,” said Dick, in bis quiet way. ‘‘I assure you that I bave no inteation of going away. What is more, you may appoint a committee of ten or a dozen to wateb me. If | am Deadwood Dick, as this fellow bas declared, you will have me here just as safely as though ycu were to lock me >) ‘*P’ye hear ‘‘ Bf ye ar’ Deadwood Dick!” cried Tiger Bill, ‘* Thar’s no ef about et; et’sa dead sure thing. I know ye, me nolle Richard, Ef ye git away from byar et won’t be no fault o’ mine,” ‘* ‘What do ye say, boyees?” asked the mayor, ‘* Ef et wasn’t fer Nell, we know what we'd do, mighty qaick; but as et ar’—” ** Does “Hf gal forget that ther yaller is com- in’?’ cried Tiger Bill. ‘*T forget nothing,” said the « ‘nbler queen, ‘‘ Before we let bim go we can pn abe nim swear not to reveal what he knows. Deadwood Dick is not the man to break a pledge, if what we have heard of bim is true.” ‘All right,” the new-comer agreed, ‘* I’m satisfied with et that way ef ther mayor is, We'll take keer that he don’t git away with no s-crets, anyhow; leastways I will meself.” With tbat be turned his horse in the direction of the Howler Saloon avd went cff, This act on his part decided the matter, and weapons were pu® away and the crowd began to disperse. ‘* This hyar settles et fer ther time bein’,” said the mayor. ‘“‘]’m goin’ ter keep an eye on you, though, stranger, and you don’t want ter try no trick.” ‘*That’s what I would call a clean bluff,” cried Nugget Nell, as she sprung lightly down from the box. ‘Come on to the Howler, pard, and I'll see to it that this.crowd don’t harm rou,” ‘“Much obliged for your interest and help,” acknowledged Dick, ‘* but I would have madea lively circus for them,’even if you badn’t backed me, Well, now it seems settled that I am Dead- wood Dick. All rigbt: since they have torced the title upon me I will play in that role.”, ‘“‘ Then you do admit it?” low recognized me?” ‘* Well, no: but then it’s something further to bear it from your own lips. Do you mean it?’ ‘‘T mean it in the way I indicated, It is forced upon me; I accept it, and will strive to do justice to Deadwood Dick’s repu all. You hear what I say, men of Corduroy,” The crowd was moving off, but enough bad man admitted his identity. witb the queen, ‘‘Considerable, I can well imagine,” was ‘Have you any doubt about it, after that fel- _ ion, that’s — heard his words to spread it around that the Dick walked toward the saloon in company ~ “Do you know what I have risked in bee friending you to the last?’ the young woman asked, in low tones, ~ rs Ae ae & hs, Dick’s answer. ave oat Sl ~ o- com a ‘ 4 ' %