Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 770 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Since I have told others [ ma _- — : ~ a 9 | Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Defeat. ristol, the detective, are you not? I have been 4. &tn,” ** And you are knuwn as Deadwood Dick?” ** Dead wood Dick, Junior,” »*“T have beard of you, and I want to see if you will belp me in amatter that has brought | me to this place.” | ‘* To be frank with you, madam, I do not feel | like taking hold of any case at present,” was | Dick’s answer. ‘* You must have heard of the | trouble that has come upon me,” ‘*No; I have not heard, sir, I have made no | friends here, and have not spoken to any one F told so,” | further than necessary. It was not your wife who so wysteriously disappeared just before | came here, was it? I have heard that talked about at table,” ‘* Yes, it was my wife.” ‘Oh! Lam, sorry for you, that | can be of use to you in your search for her,” sé You?” ** Yes; I meant to speak to you abouta certain thing respecting that matter, after stating my own case,” ‘* Heavens!” cried Dick, ‘‘If you can puta wafer in my hands that will lead to the recovery “of my wife, Miss Parson, you will have done me a favor that can never be repaid,” ** Weil, are you willing to hear what I wanted of you?” ‘* Yes; and if I find it possible to remain here, and can do anything for you, believe me I will do it. “To begin with, then, my name is not | Parson, Iam speaking to you as toa friend now. My true nameis Almah Parmiter. Icame hereesin search of a sister, and notso much to find her either, as to find my promised busband, whom she has lured away from me.” ** Will you permit me to see your face?” Dick asked, ** 1 will, sir.” Looking around to make sure they were alone, she lifted her vail, It was the face of the Queen of Hearts, the woman who managed the Palace Saloon. ‘* Your sister and you are twins, are you not?” asked Dick. ‘We are; but, how did you guess that? You have seen her, then, Where is she, sir, if you know?” ** A. woman the very likeness of vou is proprie- tor. of the great saloon here, the Palace, Since you tell me you have a twin sister, it must be sue, though | would swear that you and Queen of Hearts are one and the same.” But, it is possible ‘* Tt is she, no doubt of it.” * Well, what do you want me to do, then?” ‘**T want to find Mr, Gregory Mayham—” “Gregory Mayham!” ** Yes; do you know him?” “‘He is the person [I am in quest of myself, as well tell ayham that I you. It was to find Gregor; came here.” The woman’s face had grown pale. “You do not mean that—that be is a criminal, that you are after him?” she gasped. **Oh, no:” Dick assured, ‘**Then why are you after bim?” “You think Deadwood Dick can have but one motive in wanting to find a person, I see,” “Your name naturally suggested the fear that seized me, I will tell you, sir, that it is Gregory Maybam who is my promised hus- band,” — Have you seen him since you came here?” ie Lhbave not, The truth is, I am afraid to be seen,” ** And why afraid to be seen? You must tell me everything, if I am to be of use to you,” /give me for saying s0, but she is a devil, and would not hesitate to do me harm,” ** And why should she do you harm?” ‘“* Do you not see? If she loves Gregory May- ham as—as J do, she would kill me rather than lose him,” ‘** Have you reason to believe he loves her more pen you?” Dick asked, He was trying to get own to bottom facts in the case, *“No, I have not,” was the answer. “TI be. lieve he loves me, and me only, but he is being deceived, He thinks Ariel is 1, and for that rea- son has followed ber bere.” “I see, But, yon told me you bad not seen him here, How do you kuow he is here?” “TIT do not know it; I only know he followed t.my sister away, and I followed ber to this place, ‘i, You have told me positively she is here; he must Ape here also,” 4 “* Did he not know you had a twin sister?” T - ’ + » . . ’ 4 4 ae ; , . : e Ti Well, I am afraid of my sister. Heaven for- ‘** He did not. him.” ‘How came the deception to be played on him? Ido not understand that clearly.” “To tell you that, sir, I must tell you the whole story of myself and sister. Do you want to hear that? It may not prove of interest,” ‘*! want to learn more about the matter, now that you have interested me, and particularly since I am interested in this Gregory Mayham, Besides, and must important of all to me, you have said you might be able to give me a clew to the finding of my wife.” CHAPTER XII. DICK’S ONLY COURSE, THERE was a moment of silence, after which the young woman began her story, having again dropped her vail over her face, Whether she bad spoken the truth or not, it was evident enough that she did not care to be seen. ‘*My sister and I,” she began, *“‘ have never been like sisters at all, We are as unlike in everything save appearance as day is unlike night, Many times I bave made great sacrifices for her sake, always to be repaid in slights, meanhess, and actual injustice]ind treachery, and worse. Our fatber died a few years ago, leaving us each an equal share of bis property. I[t was sold, and the money divided between us. A short time later my sister disappeared, taking her mouey and mine with her, leaving me to get a living as best I could. : ** Well, it was while she was absent that I be- came acquainted with Mr,.Maybam, Hoping, almost, that I would never see her again, I never told him I had a sister, I bad heard ill reports of her, and was ashamed of her, Since you have seen sometbing of her, you may be able to judge concerning the trutb of what I am telling you. The truth itis, Ariel Parmiter is a—devil. And, just here, I will tell you of the suspicion | have, If there is a person here who knows any- thing concerning your wife, it is she. You smile; but, think it over, You have heard of Red Roy, who is spoken of in connection witb your missing wife, If that villain bas an ally here, Ariel Parmiter is evil enough to be the rson, At tuis Dick was suddenly thoughtful. Here was something he had not thought of be- fore, because there bad been nothing to lead his suspicion that way. Now that his attention was drawn toward the Queen of Hearts, new thoughts crowded into nis mind, But there was nothing yet upon which he could fasten, This woman to whose story he was listening was a stranger to him, and be could not be sure she was telling him the truth, thongh there was some evidence to sup- port it, There was no question about the fact of the relationship between the two, ‘* Have you more to tell?’ Dick asked, the wo- man having paused, ** Yes, there is more to tell. Shortly after I had become engaged to Mr. Mayham, my sister came home. I was not at home at the time, having gone away for a day or taro, Gregory Maybam saw her, and her treatment of him was something he could not understand. He thought it was I, of course, He went to ber and demanded an explanation, and by that means she learned who be was, and all about it. She halbyy her part well, and lured him away efter er, ‘‘ That was a cool proceeding.” ‘It was nothing for ber, She did it to cheat me of his love. She may even be base enough to lead him to marry her, if he is not made aware of the imposture, He loved me, I know, and may be willing to overlook everything he finds evil in her and marry her.” ‘* And what do you desire me to do?” ‘Tl wish you, would find him, give him some idea of the truth, and then let him come here and see me,” _ ‘*T will do that. What do you know about this man?” ‘Very little; but, I do know he is honest, though poor, and that I love him, 1 care for nothing else,” ** You know he is an Englishman, of course?” ** He has told me that.” ° ** Well, [ could tell you more about bim, buf will leave that for bim to disclose himself,” *‘ lt is nothing to his discredit, is it?” ‘** No; positively not. After »hat you have told me, I must make it my business to see him, though [ am in no frame of mind for business just now, Still, he must be warned of his dan- ger.” _“* Yes; be must be warned. He may not be- lieve you, but ask him if be sees much in this Queen of Hearts that is hke what be knew io Ashamed of, her, i never told me. He cannot but acknowledge the great dif- ference, That admitted, tell him lam ‘ere .nd send him tome, Perhaps be will forgive me tor keeping the secret from him,” ‘*T will do as you request. And if your sister is really the desperate person you say, perbaps you had better remain unknown for the pres- ent.’ ‘** Yes; that is my intention.” Dick took leave, and on entering the bar- room, the first person he fell in with was Harry Stacey, ‘* Handsome Harry,” ** Well,” Stacey asked, ‘‘ what is the word? Have you been able to learn anything further? W hat are you going todo! I wish I could belp you.” ‘““ Yes, [ wish you could,” Dick responded, taking the last observation first. ‘* No, I have learned nothing furtber,and I havemade up my mind that I mnst give up and accopt whatever terms I can get.” ** You don’t mean it!” ‘*‘What else can I do? I must do anything that bolds out a promise for the safety of my wife—that before all else.” ‘Well, that is so; but it is rather rough on you,” ‘*'Yes,so it is. If it were only my own life that is threatened, then I would defy the rascal: bat as it is, 1 am helpless, and Kate’s life is dearer to me than my own,” ‘* How are you going to proceed?” ‘**] have been thinking 2 good deal about that. I did think I would put up a notice of surrender; but on farther consideration I \.ill not de that.” ** What then?’ ‘Why, I am going to post up a notice here requesting another interview witb the red gentle- man, when I will come to some sort of terms with him, I see nothing else I can do,” ‘* Well, that is so, considering the advantage he has over you, But, do you think he will see the notice?” ‘*T believe he bas allies here, even if not here himself in some dixguise or otrer.” ‘You think so! Well, if that is the case, of course he will see your notice, and may give you another interview. You want to take care it does not prove worse than the first, however,” ‘*T will take care of that. For my wife’s sake I dare not risk another fight with him. I was mad todoso before, for even Mad I killed him the secret of her biding place migbt have perished with him. That would have made matters worse than they are now,” ‘*T have toagree with youin that. Itis too bad there is not some other way out of it, But, you will bave him on the hip anyhow.” ‘*T fail to see how.” ‘‘ Why, agreeing to bis terms, you can get your wife safely out of bis hand’, and after that you can go for him like a Nemesis,” Dick smiled sadly. ‘You do not know me,” he said, once given, I do not break it,” ‘That is all right, with friends; but with an | outlaw it is different. No one would expect you to keep your word with bim,” ‘*Our views differ on that point, If be keeps faith with me, and restores my wife to me un- barmed, I shal] ke«p my part of the compact to the letter. That is toe kind of man [ am.” ‘Well, [ admire the s ptiment, but It is going to be rough on Deadwood Dick, What if you are called on to run this Red Roy down?” ‘**T shall have to.decline, that is jl.” **Tt will stamp you a coward,” ** No, I guess not; my record is too well made for that. The worst it can do is to mark my defeat,” ‘Well, well, it is your business, and were I in your place I might do the same thing. As you say, your wife’s safety comes before everything elge,’ Dick changed the subject. ‘‘ Have you seen Walt Thornton?” he asked. “isaw him not long ago. He was at the Palace then.” ‘*Then I will drop around there and see him, after I have put up my notice for the benefit of Red Roy.” ‘* By the way, you told me about the business that brought you bere. Have you found your man Mayham yet?» But, then, 1 suppose you have not looked for him,” ‘‘T have not looked, true, but I have found him.” , ‘‘ Perhaps be and this fellow Thornron are one and the same,” ** You guess it, they are,” “Well, ’'m glad you bave bad no trouble in locating him. It will no doubt be welcome news to him to learn of his good fortune,” ‘‘Undcubtedly it will. By the way, say noth- ‘=