Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 776 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ee ——— ' wz) 5 as. © ‘ ~ Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Resurrection. ‘* Is the answer correct?” asked the man from Frozen Flats, ‘That is certainly a fair enough answer to what I had in mind to ask,” Stacey admitted. “Tf that isso, perhaps the lady can tell us more.” ‘*Would you have me answer an unspoken question for you, sir?” the Gypsy queen asked, ‘* If you can,” the man of ice invited, “Well, I think I can, The man known as Deadwood Dick, Junior, is dead. So, since you have set about ping. the mystery, there is nothing left for you to do but to avenge,” Ivicle Isaac looked at the woman searchingly. For a moment came into his face again the same expression that had appeared there a few minutes before on the piazza, lt quickly passed, however, and he shook his head. This act was expressive of a puzzled mind, and might have been either inadvertent or intentional, “This is too deep for me,” he declared. “That is certainly an answer to the inquiry I would have made,” “Then, since | have proven to you something of my power, shall I tell you more? You have only to cross my palm witb gold,” Icicle Isaac took a half-eagle from his pocket and laid it in ber hand. ‘* Tell me,” he demanded, ‘' where: this out- law, Red Roy, is to be found, and who he is, Do that, and you will have done a great service to those who have been wronged by him. What say you?’ ‘*Take back your gold,” the queen retorted, tossing it to him. ‘‘ There are things which even a seer may not disclose, It were dan- gerous to stand on any other than neutral ground. Then, besides, what honor would it be to you, in the resolve you have taken, to have cr game placed in your hands by a women? dare not disclose,” CHAPTER VII. ICICLE ISAAC’S STILL HUNT. THE two men looked at the woman, and then at each other, with emotions not easy to define. The Gypsy queen had said, in effect, that she knew who Red Roy was, but dare not tell, Why? Her own safety depended on her silence upon that point. Then, too, she must know where he was, if ber response was to be taken as an answer in full to what the man of ice had asked. ‘* What do you think of it?” Handsome Harry was first to ask, “I think the woman could give us impor- tant information, if she would,” Icicle Isaac responded, “Which she will not do,” the Gypsy queen spoke up. ‘‘I would be unwise to endanger my life in a cause in which I have notbing at stake.” ‘**'You might be made to tell,” hinted Harry. “Do not try that; ycu would only have your trouble for nothing, sir.” “Suppose we promise you the protection a hundred man can give, how then?” suggested the man of ice, “Still I would not tell, A hundred men would be no protection against Red Roy. whose knife would surely find my hea: t were I to ex- pose him, No; I dare not think of it,” “I believe she is right,” Handsome Harry now agreed, ‘Red Roy would kill her as surely as she lives this minute,” ** Well, since we cannot learn what we most desire to know,” said Icicle Isaac, ‘‘ we may as well go back again, Queen Heloise, since you seem to know everything you must know we are disappointed.” ‘‘I am sorry,” was the soft-spoken response, **but I cannot help it, I think it will be useless for either of you to come to me again, unless upon other business. I might be able to tell you things in other lines,” ‘** We may have occasion to call on you,” said the gamblersport. ‘* You certainly have shown us something of your power, We will not, however, urge you to disclose anything that would certainly be at the risk of your life. For the present, adieu,” With that, the sport, and the man of ice enreed away and retraced their steps toward the ote’, ‘*‘ A mysterious svoman,” Harry remarked, “She certainly is,” agreed bis companion, “I don’t know what to make of her, By the way, what of this Queen of Hearts you were tell- ing me about? When am to have the pleasure of meeting her?” _ '* We may find, ber at the Palace now, She is seldom around Before afternoon, being up so late every night. She bas to have her beauty sleep, you know, And speaking of sleep, I must hole away this afternoon and get some myself, for I was up late and out before light.” They went to the saloon and entered. As it happened, they were not disappointed, for the Queen of Hearts was there seeing that everything was in order, Handsome Harry conducted Icicle Isaac for- ward to greet ber, and introduced bim, ‘*T have been somewbat desirous of meeting you, sir,” the woman declared, ‘‘J saw your challenge, and felt no little curiosity to see the man who dared to make it.” ** Thank you,” returned the man of ice. ‘*‘ You see, also, that it has been accepted, and that blood is the symbol the dagger has brought. How do you interpret it? What am I to under- stand by so terrible a communization?” “Why, [ think you understand it aright, sir,” was the smiling answer to the inquiry, ‘I think it is to let you know your cballenge is ac- cepted, and that it is agreed that only blood can settle the feud, The dagger suggests the means, and the blood signifies death.” ‘‘I think we bave the full meaning now, Mr. Stacey,” the man of ice observed, turning to the sport, “Yes, I think so, The Queen of Hearts is seldom far wrong in her ideas, If you will ex- cuse me, now, | will leave you to get better ac- quainted with the lady.’ Handsome Harry took his leave, going to the hotsl and to his room, while Icicle Isaac settled down to have a quiet tete-a-tete with his new aegoerones. heir lengthy talk has no interest for us, save where if touched upon the interests of our story, ‘Then you fully believe Deadwood Dick is dead, do you?” the woman asked, when some- thing led to it in the course of conversation. ‘| have no doubtof it,” the man of ice assured. ‘*From what I have beard of the man, he is not the one to remain idle, were he alive. Besides, the Gypsy queen bas just now confirmed my conviction.” “The Gypsy queen? Ha! then you are a be- liever in fortune-tellers, are you? I took you to be a man of too hard a head for that sort of thing.” ‘**T have been converted,” the man of ice con- fessed, smiling, ‘Mr, Stacey and I paid ber a visit a little while ago, and she answered ques- tions we had in mind even before we asked them.” ‘* Wonderful!” ‘*T sbould say so. You ought to go and see her. She told me Deadwood Dick is dead, and told Mr. Stacey she knew Red Roy and where he was; but that she would not disclose.” ‘© And why not?” ‘* Afraid to do so. You see, the name this Red Roy has made for himself has made him the terror of this country, so to say.” ‘‘ A pity he cannot be hunted out and hanged as he deserves to be, Bv the way, have you any clew to his hiding-place?” ‘*T am witbout a clew of any kind,” was the answer, ‘‘] think the challenge I have posted will prove entirely barmless to the rascal, if he is as wary as he is said to be. - Besides, what can I hope to accomplish where such a man as Dead- wood Dick failed? I say this to you privately, of course,” ‘* Oh, certainly; I understand that. Well, I don’t know but you areright. I can see you are in it for the excitement of the thing. You are fond of adventure, and this promises some- thing in that way, hope you won’t come to grief in your venture, for that would be rather more than you are counting on, would it not?” But, that was about all worth quoting. After a considerable while Icicle Isaac took his leave and sauntered back to the hotel. [t was the sleepy hour of the day at the camp, and as it happened there was no one in the bar- room but the landlord. ‘** Well, mine host, business does not seem to be particularly rushing,” the man of ice greeted as he entered, ‘* Perhaps I have disturbed an intended nap,” ‘* No, et ain't crowdin’ me very bard jest now, and that’s the fact,” the landlord responded, ‘‘ I’m glad ter have somebody comein. Things —_ begin ter liven up fer a couple o’ hours yet. “Then you have plenty of time for a little chat?’ ** Lots of et, sir; and glad of ther chance ter wag my chin a little,” ay Then I’m glad I came: in. cigar, awhile, “By the way,” the man of ice remarked, when they had lighted and made ready, ‘‘ you bave of course heard what I bave undertaken,” n. Here, take a and we'll smoke while we chat for : * Ter bunt down Red Roy?” é Yes.” ‘You bet! And good-luck to ye, too, says I; but I have my doubts about your gettin’ holt v’ him,” ‘* Well, 30 have I myself; but then, some one ought to try to solve the mystery of Deadwvod Dick, and I thought I would take a hack at it. W bat can you tell me about the affair, anyhow?” ‘‘ Nothin’ that ye baven’t heard a’ready, [f don’t opine.” ‘‘Let me lock at your register, will you? Maybe that will tell something.” ‘Hyer et is; help yourself toet, Wait, and I'l) find ther place for ye. It was a month ago— yes, hyer it is, right byer. Thar’s the name jest as he writit. Thar ye have et.” : Icicle Isaac drew the register to him and ex~ amined it carefully. ‘‘ Who is this man Whipple?’ he inquired, looking at that name, ‘Is be the man who was found dead here this morning?” ‘‘ Ther same, sir.” ‘“ And this woman, Anne Parson, Who and what was she? I believe 1 have not heard her name mentioned,” ‘*She’s a gal that came hyer about ther same time, too. She wore a veiland didn’t let ber face be seen very much, Nobody found out much about ber.” ‘‘ She was nothing to Deadwood Dick, eh?” ‘* Well, the pair of ’em nad some business to- gether, but, what et was I don’t know. She | asked after Dick a good many times after he had disappeared,” ** What became of her?” ‘‘Darn me ef I know, now. She settled up, and that was the lasuI seenof her, I reckon she must ’a’ gone off by ther stage.” ‘““ Well, it doesn't matter, of course, I don’t suppose there was any mystery about her going, as in the case of Deadwood Dick and the young man, Walt Thornton.” : ‘* No; leastways nobody bas thought anytbin about et, I guess. No;she went in ther usua way, or she wouldn’t ’a’ paid her bill afore she left. Ye see, when a person pays up, that’s as good as a bill o’ leave.” ‘Yes, I suppose so. Had she any other callers, cr friends, besides Deadwood Dick?’ ‘* Not that I know of.” **Get any letters?” ‘‘ That’s so, come ter think of it; one was left hyer for her the day before she went off.” ‘* Don’t know who left it, I suppose?” ‘* No; couldn’t tell now, anyhow,” ‘‘ How soon after the disappearance of Dead- wood Dick was that?” ‘““Et was only a day or two after, ef my memory don’t failme, Et was about ther time of ther trial.” ‘* What trial?” ‘‘ Why, that man Whipple, Ye know they had him jugged, holdin’ him on s’picion he was Red Roy.” ‘Yes, so they did tell me, Well, I guess L am going to learn nothing from your regi-ter, Now, what can you tell me yourself? Anything that may throw more light upon the matter!” ‘* Nothin’, Nothin’ at all. Et’s + case that stumps me entirely, sir.” ‘*You bave no private idea as to who Red Roy is, eb?” ** Not even a ghost of one, sir.” ‘* Well, it seems that I am not likely to get hold of aclew atall. So farI bave not managed toscare up anything. Like the rest of you, I think I'l) have to give it up.” But, would he? We shall see! CHAPTER VIII, GREATER EXCITEMENT—THE MAYOR’S MOVE, Ir the morning opened with excitement at Basalt Butte, what is to be said of the late af- ternoon when the daily stage arrived? A “ten- derfoot ” was driving, and on top, riddled with bullets, were the dead bodies of the regular driver and two of his passengers, All that can be said is, that the excitement of the morning dwindled to nothing in the presence of this new and terrible revelation. ** Great storm-king a-ragin’!” cried the mayor of the camp, as he took in the situatien when the stage drew up. ‘“‘ What is ther meanin’ of this hyer? What bas happened?” This was the beginning of it. Tha mayor’s words drew the attention of everybody, and immediately a howl went up. And chief among the howlers, so to say, was Colonel Amos Moss- ler, manager of the First Strike Mine, And the burden of their howlings was—‘t Red Roy, the Outlaw!” | ‘*T knew it!” stormed tbe colonel. ‘‘ I knew just how it would be! I felt it in my bones!” Cc exofe)