Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 776 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

iit ne a ny ni Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Resurrection. 5 See moved on to the place, a good many from the crowd following to satisfy their curiosity fur- ther. The rest dispersed, some going one way and others another. Handsome Harry and Icicle Isaac went back into the Palace to continue their conversa- tion, ‘*l am going to give voice to a suspicion that has forced itself upon me, Mr, Isaac,” re- marked the sport, as soon as they had resumed their seats. ‘* Very well, Mr, Stacey, what is it?’ the man of ice asked. “It is this, and pardon me if I offend: Owing to your dark skin, the thougbt has come to me that you belong to this company of Gypsies. Perhaps you are the husband of Queen Heloise?” ‘*T cannot blame you for the suspicion,” was the calm response, ‘“‘but you are mistaken. I am hothing to them, nor they to me, I never saw tnem before in my life, and know no more about them than youdo, You have not offend- ed; and now I hope I shall not offend in giving you a pointer.” ** What is it?” ‘You have several times called me Mr. Isaac. That is not my name, and I prefer to be called by my sobriquet, As [ have already told you, I am, for good reasons, sojourning incog.” ** All right; I will try to heed the request. As you did not give me any name by which to call you, however, l am hardly willing to admit the fault was mine. I considered it too familiar to call you Icicle Isaac every time I spoke to you, [| ‘will do so now, however.” ** Yes, call me that. And now, Handsome Harry, see here: We are both men of sense, and if is no use for us to try to play sharp with each other. I have noticed your covert plans to draw me into disclosing my nationality and name, but it will not work. Don’t be offended; one of us can see as far into a mill- stone as the other. Let us have an end of such by-play.” The gambler sport was just a little confused at this. “tT have to admit that I was fishing,” he owned, ‘‘ You can’t blame me for it, I am sure,” ** Well, no, [ don’t blame you. And now, to have an end of it for good and all, I will tell you as much about myself as I care to have known by any one, Further than that you will learn nothing.” **T do not ask it, I am satisfied—” No matter; hear what 1 havetosay. Iam a man who has suffered a great wrong. I have taken oath to be avenged. Even nowI am in search of my foe, and prudence demands my hiding of my name, While I am continuing my search, I take a hand in any side issue that bap- pens to fallin my way. That is the reason I am interesting myself in this Deadwood Dick mat- ter. ‘**T see how it is, I understand.” “Then no need to say anything further about it. I have told you more than [ have told any one else, and I must pledge you to secrecy re- garding it. I would not have told you, only that we are into this thing together and you have some rizht to know as much about me asI can tell any one. That is all, I will assure you, however, that I am an honest man, and that justice is on my side in the matter at which I have hinted. We now understand each other, I trust, so we will let the matter drop for good and all, as I said befvre,” ‘‘I am satisfied,” Handsome Harry agreed. “*T will not hide from you that I was suspicious of you; that is, that you were not giving me a square deal all around; but now you have set everything straight. Well, what can we do re- garding this mystery? How are we going to take hold of it? To tell you the truth, I do not see any way to go about it? We citizens have taken aboutevery step in the affair that could be taken, you know, and with no result. What became of Deadwood Dick and the man Mayham is more than any one has been able to guess, Dick’s wife was, we know, in the power of Red Roy; but where she is now, who can say?” ‘*Have you ever baited a \trap for this out- law?” ‘Yes; several times, Once a great ado was made here, on the quiet, over a big shipment of money that was expected in by a special stage, ‘The stage came ahead of the regular, with six men inside armed to the teeth. It was not noticed, but the regular, only ten minutes be- hind it, was held up, and Red Roy sent his compliments to our mayor, telling him to try again.” “Well, that was cool, anyhow. It reveals something, however.” ‘* That Red Roy has alliesin thiscamp. Yes, we have kuown that all along; but, who are they?” ‘* We must discover, if possible.” ‘* Easier said than done, I think you will find,” ‘* Suppose we post up a defiance, or challenge, and see what it will bring.” ‘**There is one the mayor has had up for a month and more, but it amounts to nothing.” He pointed to a placard on the side-wall, which was like this: ‘*DECKLURASHUN OF WAR! “This is to proclame war against the outlaw known as Red Roy, and he is by this noticed that he had better gir up and git! We, the pe »ple of Basalt Butte, mean biz. and if he is ketched he has fair warnin’ that a rope and a lim will be his fate. * By all the power in me vested, ‘** ARCHIBALD Growm, Mayor.” **'Yes, I have read that,” the man of ice said, ‘That, however, is old now, and something new and fresh might bring about some result.” ** Just 9s you please, then. Since I have gone into this thing with you Iam willing to take any step that promises success, no matter what itis, What will you put up?” For answer, the mao from Frozen Flats got up and stepped to the bar, where he called for writing materials, and when they had been fur- nished, spent some minutes in pen-printing the following, which he posted up as soon as it was done: “ CHALLENGE! ‘*Red Roy, the Oregon Outlaw, is hereby notified that the war against him is to be begun anew A new foeman is in the fieid, The subscriber, backed by the whole camp of Basalt Butte. intends to hunt him down and avenge the death of Deadwood Dick. No quarter will be asked or given! War to the bitter end! “ IcICLE ISAAC OF FROZEN Fats.” CHAPTER V. LAYING PLANS—THE CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, ‘*THERE,” the man of ice demanded, turn- ing to Harry when he had affixed the paper to the wall, ‘‘ what do you think of that? Do you suppose that will lead him to show his kand? I hope it will, anyhow.” Upon the face of Handsome Harry bad ap- peared a certain expression of grimness which the man from Frozen Flats was quick to notice. And there was, too, just a suggestion of paleness with it, **T think it is going to bring the war upon us with a vengeance,” was his response, “If Red Roy is around, or his ally, he will let us bear from bim without much delay now.” ** Well, that is what we want. You know what the man is better than I do, and from what you have said of him I take it this is about the sort of thing to stir him up. Let him show his hand, now, and we’) go for him.” ** Yes, since we are in for it, we'll make a go of it; but you must not forget thatit is likely to be a desperate struggle, and that we holi our livesas nothing in the undertaking, You say I know the man better than you, and I know enough of bim to fear him,” ‘“*Psbaw! that isa word you want to strike out of your list, Mr. Stacey. But, you do not mean in that way, [ know. You bave no more fear of him than I have myself, I am sure, and IT have none. A fellow can’t die but once, and if we are called thistime it will be over and done with that’s all, That challenge stands\” His last words were uttered with force, and with bis rigbt arm he pointed at the notice he had posted, Just as he was saying this, Mayor Grimm came into the room, *Hillo!” he saluted. ‘‘ What’s this hyer [ hear?” ““T have just posted a challenge to your out- law,” Icicle Isaac explained. The mayor read it. ‘* And we'll do et, too, by ther livin’ Jupiter we will!” he asseverated. ‘‘ We’ll be hyer to back ye, you bet!” _ * And from all accounts we'll need your back- ing—Stacey and I are into this thing together, you know,” responded the man of ice. ‘Ye shall have et! I’m mayor of this hyer burg, and what I say goes has got ter go. 0 have been waitin’ fer Red Roy ter move, and now I hope he will, We have a ’count ter settle with bim,” Just then another personage entered, It was a man of middle age, and one who had a rather soldierly bearing, “‘T saw you ceming this way, Grimm, and I followed you,” he called out. ‘‘I want to talk with you a little.” ** All right, Colonel Mossler,” the mayor re- sponded, ‘‘bhyer lam. Come hyer and let me show ye somethin’, first, though.” The man was advancing, and on coming up ke stopped and looked where the mayor pointed, and read the notice that had just been posted, ** Who is Icicle Isaac?” he inquired. “This gentleman, sir,” spoke up Handsome Harry. “Icicle Isaac, allow me to introduce vou to Colonel Amos Mossler, manager of the First Strike Mine here at Basalt,” ‘‘So, you are the man, eh?” the colonel ob- served, taking a survey of the man of ice, ‘*‘T am the man who makes that challenge, if you mean that,” was the return. ‘* And what interest have you in it all?” ** Merely a passing fancy to take a band in it, sir, to avenge the death of a man of whom I have often beard,” ** Well, I wish you success, but you have taken a big contract, as you are likely to find out be- fore you are done with it, I am afraid, sir.” ‘We are two against one, anyhow, and per- baps that will count for something,” the man from Frozen Flats rejoined. ec Two?’ *“Yes; Mr, Stacey here and I have made a compact to run him down and bring him to ac- count,” ‘*Ha! So, you are in it, too, are you, Harry” ** Yes; the camp must have one representative, and I’m the man.” ‘* Well, good for you; and, since that is the way it stands I can talk my business openly. Sit down.” The colonel himself set the example, and the others took seats, ‘*T bave an idea,” the colorel opened, ‘* that this outlaw bas been lying back in wait to catch another shipment from,.the mines bere, and you know, mayor, it is now four mouths since one was made,” ** And be gobbled that.” ‘*Yes, curse him! Well, the amount on hand is enormous, now, and yesterday I received orders to start it in, under guard, for which ser- vice’*the company will pay. lam almost afraid to send it, however, and wanted tu consult with you as to what I had better do?” ‘** Send a guard big enough ter p’tect et,” said the mayor, ‘*T know; but suppose the outlaw has gathered around bim a force as big, or bigger, what then?” ‘* Let ’em fight et out,” ‘* Exactly; and that’s where the doubt is. If our men get the worst of it, then the bullion is ost. ‘* Well, that’s so, too.” **T have been thinking perhaps we might work a blind, somebow, and lead the rascal off on a false scent, 1f he is in waiting for the stuff.” ‘* How would ye work et?” ** Well, bere is one thought I had: Let pre- parations be begun for a heavy sbipment to- morrow morning, and a strong guard posted to watch the wagon all night. 5 soon 3s it is dark, then load the stuff on another wagon, and start it out by the south trail, under guard, of course. Then at daylight let the false wagon start, well guarded, and make the trip to the next camp. By that time tbe first will have reached the railroad,” “That isn’t a bad plan, sir,” spoke up Icicle Isaac, ‘**I don’t see only one thing ’gainst et,” ob- served the mayor. ** And what is that?” ** Wull, we bev allus been purty well satisfied that Red Roy has a spy in this camp, and ef pie so, ther plao is likely to miscarry, that’s all, ‘“‘T agree with you there,” asserted Handsome at G ‘* Then it’s best to stick to the straight plan, and send along a guard strong enough to facea small army, eh?’ the colonel questioned. ‘**T think so,” Harry answered. ‘* Are you willing to listen to a proposal from me?” asked Icicle Isaac, —' ‘Pll be only too glad to do so,” the colonel cried. “If you can show me the way out of the difficulty ll be obliged to you.” ‘* Well, what wagons were those that went out of the camp after the inquest? I took them to be farmers’ rigs,” | ** Such they were,” Harry affirmed, ** Very well. Now, Colonel Mossler, my idea is this: Let your double scheme be laid out just as you have planned, but let both wagons go (col anikel xoxo) — = C A y y f so fS ol