Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 792 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

% - & 2 St ee fod . - Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Device. é ; > eo (whew 1Z Maybe it was the man who was killed las’ night who has been playing his part since he was drowned.” ‘* Heavens! what a thick head you have, sir!” the mayor cried. ‘It was only last night that the three robberies were committed at the camp. Where are your wits, if you ever had any?” At that Mr, Balaam rubbed his chin in a re- flective way. ° “Then I don’t understand it,” he confessed. “If he is in the lake yet, he surely must be drowned; and if he isn’t in the lake, then he must be a double being. Ha! have I not bit it? Is he not both dead and alive at the same time? Study on thet, my friends.” His extreme simplicity excited laughter, and he looked from face to face as if to discover what they were laughing about. He was a character, this same Balaam. We have said so before, And, there was something more about him than appeared on the surface, His manner of speech seemed to change with his every change of mood. * You had better pive up ther idee of be- comin’ a detective,” said one man. ‘I guess temperance fits you a good deal better, and even that is several sizes too big for ye,” ‘Ob! I don’t know,” remarked Mayor Han- croft, partly aside, ‘‘ there seems to be plenty of rvom vacant on the detective ladder, and not very high up, either. Don’t let them dis- suade you from 1t, my friend. There is always room for talent in every profession, Eh, Bris- ‘** Assuredly,” answered the detective, soberly, He appeared thoughtful, the detective, and nothing was said for some moments that might divert bis thoughts, Finally he came out of his reverie with a shake of the bead, and mounting bis horve he turned his back upon the lake and signified his readiness to return to the camp, ** Well, what bas the visit shaven you?” asked the mayor, ‘‘It has shown me that this case is deeper than I had any idea I should find it,” was the re- sponse. ** Ts it too deep for you, sir?” it may prove so, but I do not give it up ** What will be your next move?” **T shall now wait to hear from the Scorpions, in response to my demand,” The mayor smiled in an amused way, if not indeed in a half-pitying manner. His opinion of Deadwood Dick could be read iu his face. If the detective noticed aught of this he did not appear to do so, but rode back to camp in what appeared to be a thoughtful mood, It did not seem that he was doing anything wortby of his reputation here, Upon reaching the hotel he found a caller there awaiting bim. He was much surprised to see her, for it was no other than Tessie Weeds, the daughter of the _ banker. The girl seemed to be a little nervous in man- ner, but she was outspoken in what she bad to Say, as the detective soon discovered, to his TU want ta Pose ‘lib, you 1d peivite, M wan 8 with you in private, Mr. Bristol,” she announced, ~ ‘ ‘* Well, this sitting-reom is about as private a lace as [ can offer you,” she was answered, ‘If we talk in low tones we shall not be over- heard.” ‘*f want toask you if there is any hope that papa’s fortuue will be recovered, Do you think so? ‘*T will tell you privately, Miss Weeds, that I think there is strong hope just now,” was the uy pa would Mayor Hancroft have thought of at \ _‘*T am glad to hear you say it, sir, and I be- lieve in you. I will not ask you what your hopes are based on; I will take you at your word, Now, will you answer another question truthfully?” ‘* I will answer it truthfully or uot at all.” “Oh! I know I can trust you. Tell me, are you a married man?” The detective hesitated, and a puzzled ex- pression came upon his face. And little wonder, '. Why do you ask that?” he inquired. Fora very personal reason, sir,” was the re- spouse, Well, I promised to answer you truthfull or not atall, Iam not married, Miss Weeds, ‘‘T believe you, sir. Mr, Hancroft said you were, but I would not believe him on his oath, I mistrust him greatly.” ee ‘* Now, tell me why you are interested,” the detective requested. ‘‘Tam interested because I—because I—love you,” came the answer, and as the confession came from her lips her words sunk to a apg, i and her eyes sought the floor, while the hot blood mounted to her cheeks and made her pretty face rosy red. The detective was for a moment speechless. ** You lovs me?” be finally managed to utter. ** Yes, I love you.” She now raised ber earnest eyes to his, and he saw in their clear depths how thoroughly in earnest she was, Once before he had felt bis blood quicken at sight of this handsome child-woman, and now his | pulses tingle and his breath came as if by quick- ened gasps. p ‘* Let us sit down here,” he said, ‘‘ This mat- ter may be a serious one for both of us, and we must, at least, have it out here and now, We must bave a thorough understanding. I know roe are deeply in earnest in what you have said, . CHAPTER XIII. THE SECRET ENGAGEMENT, IT was a serious moment and an exciting one. The young girl’s firgers twitched nervously as she toyed with a corner of her neat jacket, and ‘the detective showed more nervousness than was to be looked for in Deadwood Dick, ‘¢ What has led you to make such a confession as this to me?” the detective asked, when they had taken seats, : ‘¢ My heart,” was the prompt response, * And, oh! Mr. Bristol, you can do me a great favor if you only will, whether you care for me in return or not. Will you do it?” ‘¢ What is the favor?” ‘* My papa is urging me to marry Mr. Han- croft, and I detest the man. Can’t you hurry up and restore papa’s money 80 there will no longer be that-reason why I should marry him?” “If you do marry him, will that restore what your father has lost?” ““Yes;I bave not told you about that, He has promised that if I will marry him he will make good all papa has lost, But, I cannot do it—I will not do it. You can help me if you will, [ know you can,” ‘* You seem to have great confidence in me.” ‘*Yes, 1 have. I am sure you know more about this thing than you let folks find out.” ‘*T am glad for your good opinion of me, any- how. But, it is impossible for me to restore the stolen money at once, I'll tell you what I could do, however.” ** What is that?’ ‘Jf you know how much your father’s loss is I can lend you the amount until the stolen money is recovered, Will that serve your pur- pose as well?” **J do not know about that,” was the frank re- sponse, ‘After the humiliating confession 1 have just made to you, Mr. Bristol, it would not be proper for me to accept it that way.” ‘It is, unfortunately, the only way I can help you atonce, But, Miss Weeds, let me hear your story. Seems to me you must have more W tell m ‘* What do you mean?” a Well, you have come to me with a wonder- fully strange confession for a girl to make, What has brought it about?” ‘Love at first sight, sir,” was the frank but blushing answer, ‘Well, well, but this is refreshing!” the. de- tective exclaimed, and he laughed lightly. ** Do not imagine for a moment that lam making fun,” be hastened to say; ‘the oddity of it strikes me, that is all.” ‘** It 7s unusual, isn’t it?” ** Well, it is, rather, How in the world came it about?” _“ I sball not answer till I have asked another question and had an answer to that, sir.” ‘* Very well, ask your question, then.” ** You have told me you are a single man,” ** So Tam; that is the truth.” ‘*And free to marry?” ** Certainly,” ‘Then, do you think you could love me a lit- tle, just enough to make me your wife and give me a chance to make you bappy?!” ‘Lbis fairly took away the voung man’s breath, and he rose and paced the floor, to keep his ex- citement within bounds. “This beats all I ever beard of,” he said, ‘* Miss Weeds, you are as frank and open as the broad daylight, and I cannot doubt your earnest- ness in this matter, I certainly hope you are in earnest, anyhow,” - . r ‘*Then you do—you think you can—” ett was trying to get at the question, eagerly,, gladly. ‘*] know I can,” was the assurance, ‘' The first sight I had of you my heart went out to you, and now I love you mally, This is the solemn truth, It has been, as you called it, love at first sight.” * Oh! I am so glad!” the girl cried, rising and taking his hand, “‘ 1 know we shall be happy. But, [ have dove more than my part,. and now I leave you to do the re-t. You: will think I am too awfully bold for auvthing,, won't you?” ‘*T believe you are as pure as the purest wild: flower that grows in this valley Tessie.” ** Ask my father, if you dou t it,” wus the re-- sponse. ‘Ask anybody and everybody who knows me, I defy them to say one word to my discredit, The worst I have ever been guilty of in my life is what I have been guilty of withim these few minutes,” “‘T believe you, Tessie, But, your story, You have one to tell, know. I never heard of a. girl’s taking the step you have taken, It is some- thing new, decidedly, is it not?” ‘‘ Perhaps so, and I suppose it is; but, why should not woman have the same right as man, where such vital matters are at stake?” — ‘*T see no reason, Tessie, except that it looks. out of place to see a woman making the first ad- vances in a love affair.” ‘Then you condemn me for what I have ‘* Decidedly not. You had more courage than I, it seems. It is only because it is so unusual, so surprising, that it claims notice, But, your story, your story; for you have hinted that. you have one to tell.” ‘*T will tell it now. It is only a simple one, but it will accoynt for all that may seem. strange and out of place in my conduct, In doing what I have done I was only following the advice of my dead mother, That sounds: very strange to you, no doubt.” ‘* Well, yes, it does.” ‘My motber was not happily married. She did not marry the man she loved. Papa was: good to her, they lived as bappy as married folks usually do, suppose, but my mother’s heart had been given to another, and she never’ saw the object of her affections but once, and then only for a moment, She did not know his. name,” ‘ “That is strange enough, truly. It sounds: like fiction—like tke unique plot of some love. romance,” ‘T believe there are stranger things in real life, Mr, Bristol, than were ever dreamed out by our story-tellers, But, let me go on, My mother always believed that her experience would some: day be mime; that is, that 1 should some time meet the man whom I would love madly at first. sight, and she always warned me not to let the opportunity passif the experience ever came, She warned me that it would haunt me all my days it I did.” ‘* And the experience has come?” ‘“Ags you know, I am going to be perfectly frank with you, Mr, Bristol, The moment my eyes met yours my whole soul went out to you, and I loved you madly, devotedly, Then, for the first time, I was able to appreciate the heart- bunger which my poor mother suffered all ber’ days, Mind, not a word of, all this so that papa can learn of it; he never knew—never could sus- ect,” ‘*T understand,” ‘‘ And thatis all, I have never felt the least: regard for any man, though I have been sought by many, until [ saw you. Then you know what happened, I have not disregarded "4 mother’s warning. Now, my future is wit you. What do you think of me anyhow?” / This wild flower’s innocence was charming, ‘‘T have already told a what I think of you,” was the response. ‘‘I love you, I think we understand each other fully, Tessie, You will marry me, of course, as soon as my business: hereisdone?” | ei ‘*s Whenever you desire it,” ‘¢ Was there ever a courtship go strange!” the: detective exclaimed, ‘‘ Little did [dream, when I came here, that here I should meet my fate,” “ “T only hope we are making no mistake,” said the child-woman, ‘‘ Now, that is all, and I will return to papa, But, Mr. Bristol, what. do you suppose Mr. Hancroft’s idea was in tell- ing papa and me you were married?” Y Perbape he foresaw that something like this: might happen.” ‘¢‘That must have been bis reason, I suppose. But, Dick—may I call you by that name!—I must: tell you that I am afraid of Hancroft, and I ;