Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 802 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

“T half The cowards slunk back before him, and in | less than half a minute they were in two double lines the length of room, ** Now, hands up! every mother’s son of you!” Dick further ordered, ‘*‘ Hands up, weapons in plain sight! And the man who steps out of bis place in line dies!” ‘* He’s trapped us!” cried Jim-jamJoe, ‘‘ Now is our time ter wipe—” He sprung from, his place in line, as he spoke, and would have opened the battle, but a bullet from Dick’s revolver laid him low, The situation was a desperate one, and des- perate means had to be employed. It was a matter of life on death for the Big Six and their few friends, and there could be no trifling. ‘‘Next!” Dick grated. “If any other man wants it, let him step out!” No one accepted the invitation, however. Master of the situation, now, Deadwood Dick was prompt to act, He directe1 two of his men to pass along the lines and take away the weapons from the ruffianly crew, and the work was begun im- mediately. - Barely had it been begun, however, when some thoughtful rascal in the crowd whispered to his neighbor, word was quickly passed to the rear, and the moment it reached the last man, action was taken. ! The last men in the line turned suddenly, and making a dash for the doors, were out in a second, And after them went the others, in mad haste, and before the stampede could be checked fully & third of the rascals had made good their escape, It was checked, though, for the weapons of the detective spoke sharply and deadly, and the doorway was blocked with wounded men, It had to be a game of shoot, there was no avoiding it. “Hands up!” Deadwood Dick commanded again, and the cowed wretches obeyed, They were now speedily disarmed, and the doors were closed and secured against attack from without. he windows were fitted with heavy wooden shutters, and the few of these that were open were ae closed in, and so ended the trouble for 6 time, _ Those who had been disarmed were cowering in One corner of the room, under the guard of a couple of detectives clustered around Dead- wood Dick, ‘* You are well named the Prince of the West,” said Mason, offering his hand, ‘I thought we were in a death-trap that time, and so it would have Aes but for you.” Dick smiled. “‘It was pretty hot, that’s the fact,” be ad- mitted. ‘*‘ And, it is not done with yet, by a ood deal, Before we go another step, however, am determined to know one thiag. Lady,” re upon Fearless Fan, ‘‘ who and what are you For answer, the woman caught Dick’s right hand in both of hers, crying: S . ‘*Dick! Dear, brave, noble Dick! Did you a as ge me, ‘truly? It is I, Kate, your CHAPTER XV. , IN A DESPERATE FIX, , DEADWOOD Dick had) caught his wife to his breast before her words were ended. . “No, Kate, I did not know you,” he said, * suspected, but you disarmed my sus- picions, Truly, you are the Queen of Dis- guise,” “It was because you did not look for me, mainly,” Kodak Kate rejoined, ‘* You thought me at Bristol City, with our dear baby boy in my arms, Do you imagine 1 could remain there longer, and you facing such fearful dangers?” ** Not even for little Dick?” ‘*‘Not even for him! But, you may be sure I left him in good hands, It was my assumed change of voice that deceived you, together with this Carkened skin and this hideous scar across my face. You may be sure I took care with my make-up,” ee ugbed the merry laugh Dick knew so well. ‘* You deceived me, I admit it,” Dick confess- ed. ‘* Your pretended search for a man named Kennet, too, was a piece of work that disarmed me “Tt was done for that purpose. I wanted to test my disguise thoroughly, and so I came here ' with that story, where I could be face to face with you and so see if you would know me.” ‘You did well, Kate; but, dear, think of the he risk you haverun! I can never trust you alone again, * ‘You need not do so. My place is by your | side, and where you are, there will I be found, We «ill face dangers together,” ‘* Mason,” and Dick turned to his fellow de- tective, ‘‘ let me introduce you to the best, the bravest, the truest wife a man ever had, This is Kodak Kate of whom you have heard,” The introduction was acknowledged, suitably, and some minutes more were spent in conversa- tion, in which all took part, Dick soon came again to the business in hand, ‘‘We are in a dangerous trap here,” ho said, ‘* Weare not out of the woods by any means, We must look well to our safety.” ** Will we leave the saloon?” asked Mason, ** Not by any means. Some of us would sure- ly be shot down, and I will not allow my wife to take further risks—” ‘*See, I have hampered you already,” cried Kate, regretfully. ‘* Why will you not forget what [am to you, Dick, and look upon me as only your pard in danger? Iam willing—” ‘*T know you are, too willing, But, I would act the came in this instance, even were you not here. No; we must keep under the shelter of the saloon till daylight, at least, and then we will try in some manner to overcome these ras- cals and make good our escape.” All this time the handcuffed men, Keeler Armstrong, Sportive Sport and Wild Ward, had been talking together. Keeler now spoke to Dick. ** Deadwood Dick,” he said, ‘* you have got us dead to rights, and there is no way out of it for us. You have not got the money, however, and never can find it without our help. Let us go, and we will show you where it is.” ‘* Did you ever hear of Deadwood Dick sell- ing out like that?” Dick asked. ‘** But, you want the money.” ‘‘ And we know where to put our hands on it, too, New Jesse, Ha! you givea start because I know you? I might surprise. you more than that, I think.” ‘*T don’t see how,” The outlaw spoke with that cold daring for which he had become noted in so short a time. “Well, I will tell you, then: My by-play about accusing the cook at the hotel of the mur- der of Banton and Moxley was all a farce, as you can now understand. It was done to add strength to my assumed character. I coulc have laid my land on the actual murderer at that time,” The man had grown more pale than before, ‘*T don’t believe it,” he aid. ‘* Don’t you? Well, that murderer was your- self, You—” * You hie!” fiercely. ‘“‘[ speak the truth. Banton and Hokley were both concerned with you in this great ge and by putting them out of the way you wou d have all the more for your ownshare, In fact, it was your plan to have it all.” ‘You lie! You lie!” “Oh, no; I have the facts straight enough, It was your intention to do away with Arm- strong and Bordell in the same fashion—” “What!” cried provatrcngs ‘* Had you that thought in your mind, Tom Horsehead? ‘Tom Horsehead ?” exclaimed Dick. “ By heavens, Mason, we have made a richer haul than we thought!” ‘* You are rigbt, Mr. Armstrong, if that is your name, and I very much doubt it now, you have the thanks of the Government, through me, ‘* And if this is Horsehead, were not the other two, Banton and Hokley, his confederates—Bill Radlay and Hank Mander? This is growing in- teresting, truly.” ‘‘'Yes, that’s just who they were,” declared Armstrong. ‘‘ Give me a chance, and I'll peach on them all, that is, all that’s left of the gang. I'll fix you, Horsehead, for your intention to murder me!” ** We'll think about that,” said Dick, ‘For the present, enough. We havesomething else to think about.” The handcuffed prisofiers were then given seats in a corner, and Dick turned to the horde of men in the other corner, ‘You fellows need not huddle together there like sheep,” he said. ‘There is the bar: go in and help yourper cee to what you want. ll treat you hetter than you would have treated me ‘** Hooray!” yelled one man. ‘I'll be ther barkeeper, an’ I’ll drink with ye every time, pards! Come on!” - They made a mad rush for the bar, and in an- other moment were filling themselves with the poisens there on tap, ' Headwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diamond Dice. ee ee Se rr EE ‘ io] 13 ‘‘ Are you not afraid of that move?” asked Mason, rather apprehensively,. ‘* Why?” asked Dick. : “They may give us trouble when they get crazy,” “*1 expect they will, but they are disarmed, and wecan quell them. After they pass that stage they will sleep like logs.” ‘* That’s true; but it’s an unpleasant place for your wife,” ‘*T admit it, but thereisno help forit, Better to have somany the less to deal with,” “Think not of me,” Kate spoke up. ‘* Con- duct the case just as you would were [ aman and a fellow detective with you. I can bear my part, never fear,” ‘* We have no fear on that score, Mrs, Bristol.’” Dick then held a whispered consultation with his men aud their allies, The result of it was, that Detectives Coke, means and Cooley left the saloon by the rear oor. Outside, in front of the saloon, was now am angry, bowling mob, and trouble from that quarter was momentarily expected, Dick had hoped that this trouble might be averted long enough for the rascals within to drink themselves stupid, but in that be was dis- appointed. Barely had the detectives gone out by the rear way, when there came a crash against the front doors, ‘* Now we are in for it,” Dick cried, ‘* A few more blows like that,” said Mason, “and they will be in upon us,” ‘“*The door will be blocked again with their bodies, if they do break in,” was Dick’s grim rejoinder, ‘And this end of the room will be strewn with ours,” - Dick looked at his wife. There she was, as fearless as himself, with her weapons ready, The crowd at the bar had stopped their drinking for the moment, and were talking to- gether, ‘*The man who makes @& move to open that. door, dies,” Dick warned. ‘* We ain’t goin’ ter do that,” was the response from one man, ‘ We aiu’t got no more of this hyer stuff than we want ourselves,” Dick caught at the straw. ‘““Then you will have to defend it,” he cried. “Lay hold upon that bar, every man who can, and place it before the door, If you don t they'll have it away from you in no time! It was enough. With only that single idea in their addled minds, they barricaded the door in haste, and for the time being the danger was held off. ‘**T must speak to them,” cried Dick. ‘Ill do it from the loft. Hold the fort till we see what. effect that will have on them, I will be back. again in a few minutes,” ‘** May I go with you, Dick?” asked Kate, ‘* No; remain here.” The answer was kindly yet authoritative, ‘** But, + San will not expose yourself, Dick?” ‘*No, 1 promise you that. I will safely re- turn,” The Sarcophagus was a one-story building, with a false front. A rude stairs led from with- in to thadloft overhead, the space left vacant by the incline of the roof, and which had been used as sleeping quarters, At the front end of the loft, and also at the rear, was a window. Dick sprung vp the ladder, and was soon at the front window, where be could see the crowd in the street below, ‘ Hello, out there!” he called. ‘‘Ther same ter you!” came back the re- nse, Pe W hat are be going todo? it will be death to you to break in bere,” ‘ ‘¢ We are goin’ ter burn ye out, that’s what!” ** You will burn half a hundred of your own men if you do that. We have that many prisoners.” . ‘Let ’em burn! That will be all ther less ter divide ther boodle ’mongst! We ar’ goin’ ter roast ye alive, cuss yer!” ‘That's all right, but you will burn the money at the same time, for it is herein the saloon with us. Now, lam going to makea proposition to you,” Just then there was another crash against the door below, ‘‘ We don’t want ter hear et! We know what we ar’ about, you bet! You stay in thar an’ roast, fer we know ye can’t git out, We don’t believe ther gold is thar, an’ we'll take chances!” Dick withdrew at once, knowing it was useless. 00 Gom (E