Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 80 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

_ they should not be crowded upon! ©’ language fixed in my mind so thet I ked read. In ther early cultyvation o’ my beauty, my sire fergot ter add in readin’ an’ spellin’ wiy my accomplish- ments!” ‘* Listen, then!’ the girl said, as she gazed at the writing upon the poster. ‘* Here is w’at the galoot sez: ““* Deapwoop, July —, 187-. *** To ali whom it may concern: ‘** Whereas, the authorities of Deadwood and the surrounding districts have branded Nugget Ned and his knights as road-agents, they had best look out that innocent men are not drawn into a life of out- lawry, which would terminate disastrously for those who would be the oppressors. The knights aim to harm none but those who would harm them, but *** NuGGET NEp.’” Bel Helene, after leaving the saloon where she had so successfully inveigled Ralph Lamont into her plans, hurried through the street, until she came to a place where the buildings were few and scatter- her on, the mansion of Munro Malvern stood, almost isolated from neighbors, and looking impos- ing compared with the rude shanties which made up the popular mining town or city. : . vt Stopping in the shadow of an unoccupied building, the Pistol Queen glanced about her to see that she was not observed, after which she et narrowly at the mansion of the man she hated with an intense, deadly rancor. “There is no light!” she muttered, cautiously. ‘Perhaps he is not at home; oris he in bed? Ha! ha! it would be a capital place to surprise him. Curse him! how I hate him! How I yearn to do what I swore to do in retaliation! Murder! ugh! I shudder at the sound of the word; yet he did not hesitate to murder the father, or worse than murder the daughter. Why should I hesitate to avenge my wrongs? I will not hesitate! My game that I have hunted so long shall not now escape me—I swear it!’’ She glided forward, with a strange fury glowing in her eyes—an expression upon her features that it is not good to see upon the face of a woman or girl. That portion of the ch street was dese as the main populace had long since concentrated fur- ther down the guich, where the stores, saloons and dens were located. She approached the house like one upon some dark mission, ss sharply about as if expecting a surprise from some hidden foe. Softly she a up the steps, and fitted the night- key into the latch. en she listened ! All was silent within. It was near the midnight hour; probably the inmates were asleep. She waited a moment, then unlocked the door and —came face to face with Munro Malvern / She started back with a little scream, and her hand flew into the folds of her dress, But the mine-owner was too savage oath he cocked a pistol which he held in his he and tired full into her breast. She threw up her arms with a gasp, and would have fallen, but he sprung forward—caught her— dragged her out into the street. “ God! another murder upon Malvern!” the gvilty man gasped, in a horrified whisper, as he saw the blood spurt from the wound, when he dropped the body upon the und, ‘And her, too? Bah! Why shudder? She was coming to murder me, and I simply was lucky enough to get my hand in first. She swore she would trail me, and she was true to her promise. Poor girl! She is out of her pore and I have one foe less. Hark! I hear a footstep—I must get back into the house and—” Without completing his sentence the murderer dropped the weapon with which he had committed the crime, and slunk back into the mansion, closing the door softly after him. as A few seconds later a man came striding along, whistling merrily, and he nearly stumbled over the body, which was lying in the center of the road, ‘Hello! the Dickens! here’s somebody down— either dead or dead drunk, A woman, too! Hal here is blood! She is dead. Who could have done this job?” And Rosebud Rob, the Sport—for it was he—shud- dered, as he gazed at the er spectacle lying in the silvery flood of moonlight, ‘‘Ha! by Heaven! it is the same young woman that I saw at the Jardin Mabille, whom they called Bel Helene! This is a bit of foul play—and directly in front of the mansion of Munro Malvern! Could he have done it? No! his house is dark. Ah! here is a revolver which the assassin has left behind him! ying the weapon the Sport picked it up out of the dust, and wiping it off, sroodacil to examine it in the moonlight which flooded over into the gulch from the mountain-tops, where tall naked pines stood like ghostly witnesses to the crime which had just been co tted. Failing to find anything pe- culiar about the pon except that it was hand- somely finished, Rosebud Rob once more bent over the murdered girl. q “She is quite dead!” he muttered, awed by the ghastly sight—‘‘ dead, never more to return to life!” ‘* And, sir murderer, you are my prisoner /” cried a voice close at hand, and seve nds were laid heavil upon the Sport. “ What/"’ he gasped, wheeling out of their grasp with a lightning movement, You accuse me of this dastardly crime? Stand back! The man who moves an inch will cause me to do murder in ear- nest!” 3 our soul, Munro - i LE LL uick for her. Witha | Rosebud Rob. And the Sport’s hands held a pair of cocked re- volvers, which he had drawn and leveled at his accusers, who comprised the sheriff, George Shelby, and a half dozen ot ers, who had been attracted the spot by the pistol report. So rapid had been the Sport’s move that he was upon the defensive seemingly in an instant. “Do you deny that you killed this woman?” Shelby demanded, incredulously—for he was a man who believed in giving every dog a chance, before punishing him. *‘Do you deny that you fired the ohos f. Why, we found you with the revolver in your and !”’ ‘*Exactly! I came along, a few seconds after the work had been done, and nearly stumbled over the body. Noticing the revolver tying in the road, I naturally picked it up—just before you came upon me to accuse me of the crime,’ Rosebud Rob re- plied, calmly. ‘That story, though plausible, will hardly prove satisfactory, sir, and we are in duty bound to arrest you!” Shelby replied, sternly. ‘** You do so, at the peril of your lives then!’ Rose- bud Rob cried, keeping his revolvers leveled upon them. ‘I did notdo the deed; I'll fight before I'll suffer arrest!” “*Ha! what means this parleying over the arrest of a murderer, Sheriff Shelby?” cried an authorita- tive voice, and Munro Malvern, attired only in his pantaloons and shirt, stepped out of his mansion into the street. “‘He is a murderer and shall be hung for his crime. Arrest him, I say, at once!”’ ** But, he denies the crime, sir!’ the sheriff replied, scarcely knowing what to do, with the pair of re- volvers in Rosebud Rob’s hands leveled at him. ‘*Denies it?’ cried the mine-owner, with a cool, eynicallaugh. ‘‘ Why, I was looking out of the win- dow, and saw him shoot the woman.” “ Sir, ‘*That settles it,’’ Shelby decided, sternly. will Ae surrender, or must we fake you?”’ ‘*T will surrender!’’ Rosebud Rob said, grimly. * This man, Munro Malvern, is the bitterest enemy I have in the wide world, and he has taken this oppor- tunity tostrike me this blow. I thank you, Munro vern, for manifesting such an interest in my welfare. You laugh now, but he laughs best who laughs last. That will be Il. Though you have put a crime upon my shoulders, which no doubt was commited Ey yourself, you will find me game to the last. a!ha! Do you remember that little story I related to you about the good Samaritan of my younger days? Well, go you into your home, and ponder over it, and turn over in your mind the name of Carrolton—Leslie and Lotta Carrollton! Ha! ha! ha! Mr. Sheriff, lam yours truly!” And throwing down his revolvers, the Sport allow- pa the officer to handcuff and hurry him away to the jail. While Munro Malvern turned and re-entered the mansion, like one just recovering from a blow, ‘Ten thousand furies take the Dandy Sport!"’ he gasped, hurrying to the library, and gul ing downa glass of brandy. ‘‘How much does he know about the Carrolton affair? Has he any proofs, curse him? If so, he can put my neck in a noose. I must find out. Ha! the devil! the revolver that bears the name of Munro Malvern, upon the belt, was the one I used, and carelessly hurled down, where some passer-by should pick it up. Curse me for an idiot! ninat re- gain possession of it, or the heir to the Big Bullion mine is a free man, and I am doomed!” Pulling on his boots and coat, he once more de- scended into the street, to search for the weapon. At the time of his entering the mansion, a crowd had been gathering about the body of the Pistol en out of curiosity, and the report that the andy, Rosebud Rob, had shot her, created no little sensation, ““T don’t believe a word of it!’ Baltimore Bess said, as she pushed forward, and gazed at the dead re ““an’ hayr’s what don’t keer who knows it. hat Sport warn’t one o’° ther kind ter war ag’in’ wimmin, an’ don’t ye fergit it!” _ “ Et’s adratted shame!” allowed Colonel Bill, limp- ing forward. ‘Tl sell out ther hull o’ my beauty ef I don’t b’l’eve thar’s shennanigun here—that’s me, Bill Stokes, attorney and counselor-at-law!”’ ** Pick up ther galan’ fetch her tomy cabin!” a miner said, “She can’t lay here in the street.” Accordingly the lifeless was raised and borne down the gulch, followed by the curious crowd. One man lingered behind the oe enough to See up the hitherto unnoticed revolvers of Rosebud b, and the one that had been the cxecutioner of Bel Helene. “These may be of use!’ he muttered, then he joined the crowd and was lost from view. that when,a few moments later, Munro Mal- vern descended into the gulch street, he failed to find the tell-tale token of his crime. Curses on my idiotic head!” he swore, when a careful search revealed not the weapon. “Some wretch has picked it up and carried it off. Doubt- less some thieving rough whose only idea was in securing the weapon for its value. By heaven! I hope *tis nO worse. The net of complications in vil- ae py Nae around me. I must sit down and reflec | . Returning to his library, he poured out and swal- lowed another brimming glass of brandy, after which he threw himself into a chair. ‘“The business demands consideration from all op he muttered, ‘Here are two heirs to the ig Bullion mine, whom I may regard as strictl dangerous—the girl, Jessie Mapleton, and the Spor Rosebud Rob. Both are undeniably the children o Robert Mapleton, whom I decoyed and—but, never mind what I did with him. The Sport is in prison, for murder. That is good. How easily I put the crime off upon him! And he must swing if I’ve mo- o a ometieentnninnetiiniiend ney enough to bribe witnesses, and I think I Lave! For instance, I must post the darkey servant, Brass, with what fe is to do, for he has served me many a turn, and I can trust him!”’ And acting upon the resolve, he touched a call- i and the colored man-servant entered, with a Ww He was astrapping fellow, with a round fat face as black as jet, and eyes, the whites of which were hy gierA addicted to rolling. But, in his suit of lue, and brass buttons, he made a genteel looking servitor. ** You call me, Mister Malvern?” “Yes, Brass. Come here and sit down. Have a cigar, and a glass of brandy.”’ rass, alias Cesar Ulysses Skeyter, made haste to accept. It was not often he was invited to share such honors. He made a dive at the brandy, first, and glued the mouth of the bottle to his lips, after which there was a suspicious gureling. **Hold on, Brass,” the mine-owner said, seizing him by the arm. “ Leave a little for Charity!” “Who's Charity? Brass demanded, reluctantly setting down the bottle. ‘‘Fo’ sure, dat’s bad whis- “Very bad, Brass! But, sit down. I wanted to speak with you. Did you hear or see anything of what happened, to-night ?”’ _“*Guess'o!”? was the reply from behind a cloud of cigar smoke. ‘You saw me shoot the girl?” ‘** Guess so!” : ‘* And palm off the crime upon the Sport who has been here several times?”’ ** Guess I did.” ** Well, that man is my enemy, and must die. He will have a trial, and you must swear that you heard a shriek, and looked out of your window just in time to see the prisoner shoot the girl. Do you hear?’ ** Guess so!” . “Brass, how much do I pay ro for serving me? Twelve dollars a month, is it not?” ** Guess dem's the perzac’ figgers, sah!” ** Well, now listen. If you will swear asI have di- rected, Il will increase your pay to twenty-five dol- larsa month. Do you understand?” ‘**Guess so!” “Very well. Take that bottle of brandy, you ras- cal, and clear out of my sight!”’ With a grin of delight the servant obeyed. ‘**Ha! ha!’’ the scheming villain laughed. ‘There is one man I can depend on. That darky is as sh as a razor, and as true as steel to myinterests. I’ stake my life on him!” In the lower hall, as he was skurrying along, Brass was suddenly seized by the shoulder and whirled around to confront a stranger, in whose hand was a cocked revolver—a man att in black, with a mask upon his face, and a hat slouched down over his forehead, “ Hist!” he cautioned, as the darky suddenly be- to quake and tremble; “‘not a word, or you're a ead nigger. Listen! There is a devilish plot afoot to destroy Rosebud Rob. I just overheard your romises to your master. You must not kee them ‘ll cut your black heart out before you shall. You must swear that you saw Munro Malvern shoot the girl. Here is a purse of money, and remember, if = do not swear for Rosebud Rob, you shall not ve a day after you leave the court-room. I swear it, as sure as my name is Nugget Ned!” Then, suddenly throwing a handful of pepper in the astonished negro’s eyes, the Knight of the Gulch softly raised a window in a neighboring room, and dexterously dropped out into the night. In ten minutes he was far from the location of the house of Munro Malvern. CHAPTER VIII. ARRESTED—SHELBY GOES BAIL. Hickory Hank, the border ruffian, did not always attend to his business punctually, but generally had a drunk of it while his money lasted, when he would S 6 for * some other job to replenish his wallet. ‘Therefore, he did not attend to the case given into his charge by Munro Malvern, until the morning after the midnight arrest of Rosebud Rob. — Pretty Jessie Mapleton, the proprietress of the | Acme Laundry—of which she was also the acting worker—was just finishing an earl she heard a hum of voices outside the next minute Sheriff Shelby Hank and his g, burst into the little kitchen. ‘Hooray!’ Grim ejaculated, as his greedy, wolfish eyes rested upon the startled maiden; “‘thar’s the gal, “ne very indentercal galwe want. Ha! a 3 Trained to do his bidding, the ruffian’s pals also laughed, ‘Hold on!” Shelby said, pushing Grim back. * You let me m this matter, please. I am the sheriff, not you. e young lady cannot be arrested until we prove that she has the money in her posses- sion,”’ ; “The money !”” gasped Jessie, ste back, her face wu at do you mean 3 od “We mean, my purty, thet we’ve cum fer the money _ stole from Mister Malvern, a few da ago!’’ Hickory Hank leered, triumphantly. “Yo needn't on any airs, ner play any gum games, fer ‘taint no use. Me an’ my s heer see’d ye stupefy ther guv'nor with drink, and then s a an’ we on a 0” sc vy 5s PRewllabap E, at epi 5 PRs ““My God! what vile conspiracy is this! the astounded girl gasped, sinking - a chair, her face now colorless. “Is this the way my foe has taken to strike me?” “You will excuse me, ma’am,’’ Shelby said, hurl- ironing, when er shanty, and followed by Hickory JOO (E(@) MALE Ss). GO