Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 812 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

| | ; No matter ow he gained the object, he want- circumstances,” ** Yes, remain by all means, I will set out to- morrow morning, and will return were as early as possible.” ‘* And that seems to settle the business for the time being,” observed Woodworth, do anything more, Mr, Hardy?” ** Nothing more, so far as I can see now,” the detective answered. ‘‘I would advise keeping this matter as secret as possible, however, till we are done with it, for new developments may crop out ere we get through.” So, after some further remarks, the conference ended. CHAPTER XV, AFTER AN INTERVAL, On the following morning the detective took his departure. He left behind him something of a general eek of great disappointment in the public mind, They had looked for something—they hardly knew what; but, for one thing, they had ex- ted Deadwood Dick himself; and acccrd- ingly, hud expected one of his famous denou- ments, Still, looking the matter squarely in the face, they did not see how the detective could have done anything more than he had, even though it had been the great Priuce of the West in person instead of only a deputy. Thecase was one that would require time. Roundabout went on in the even tenor of its wa + On the day following the daparture of the de- tective, Mr. Murtagh called at the shanty of Little Maggie. She opened the door for him and greeted bim pleasantly, At sight of her face his hopes rose, and he took the offered chair in high spirits, ‘Well, I have mended your garments, Mr. Murtagh,” the girl said. ‘“*I did not find very much work to do upon them,” ‘*No, | know they were not badly in need of your art, Maggie, but they gave me the excuse for co‘ning here, and so they served me well, What is the bill?” ‘Oh! it is hardly worth anything at all—” ‘*Don’t say that; [ won’t have it so, here’s five dollars—” ‘*No! No, sir! I cannot accept it, Mr. Mar- tagh. Just pay me a quarter; that is all I will take for the service, and it is not worth that.” “Well, well, you shall have your own way about it, dear. And now what about the im- rtant matter? Have you taken time to think te well over? [f not, do not answer in haste.” “There was something I wanted to ask you, Mr. Murtagh.” ‘* What is that, dear?” “*T have heard it said around that you gave my father a promise that you would wed me, and so protect me.” “ Well, well! how did that reach your pretty ears? I would have kept that from you, for wanted to win you on my own merit, if I could, I didn’t want you to feelin any way bound to accept me,” It was said so frankly that she could bardly doubt his sincerity. ‘**T believe you said so, and I wanted to know whether it is true or not. You must tell me.” ** Well, I cannot deny it; it is true, Said your father to me: ‘Edmund, take my child and make her your wife, and 80 prove your friend- ship for me, She will not refuse you.’ ” ‘* My father said that?” “Yes. You see, I would not have told you, for that would make it appear as though I wanted to force myself upon you anyhow, That is not the case, As I told you, I loved you at sight, before i knew who you were,” ‘Yes, that is 80; and, you told me, too, that you meant to make me your wife, if possible, no matter who [ was; and that was before you had learned anything about my father’s child. Sup- pose [had not been she, would you then have disregarded your promise?” It was a question that made the wily rascal pause a moment before be made reply to it. ‘“‘ Now, you are roughon me,” hesaid, ‘ You force me to confess @ weakness, I tell you candidly it would have been a severe struggle, Maggie, for your sweet face captivated me, It would have been a severe struggle, and I must admit it,” He was playing a bold stroke. Here, ‘*Can we | time to consider, Mr. Murtagh. ‘*[ feel it to be more my duty, under the sad _ ed this girl for his wife, and he sought to win her | regard above all other argument, ‘it is honorable of you to confess it, anyhow,” she said, her eyes seeking the floor as she spoke, ‘* T can only confess the truth,” he declared, ‘* Well, I hope you will give mea little more I do not want to answer you till 1 have weighed the matter fully.’ ‘*Certainly, certainly; take all the time you want, How long till you will give me the final answer? Don’t let me hurry you, you know, “py you must know I am anxious, loving you as Oo. ‘* Well, I will give you the answer in two weeks from to-day, on one condition, which 1 will name,” ‘That is a good while, Maggie. I hoped it might be in a day or two, But, I gave you leave to make it any time you pleased, and so be it. What is the condition, however?” ‘* That you remain away from me during all that time.” ‘* Ha! that is rough, and no mistake,” ‘‘ But, you will agree to it, will you no‘? Your coming here again mig! t create a talk, you know,” ‘¢ Well, since I cannot help myself, I agres to it. I would agree to anything 9 es ou. It is understood, though, that at the end of the time named you will not disappoint me,” ‘*T will notdisappoint you; you shall have the answer then, at latest, If before, you will be notified,” ‘*Ha! then you give me a hope that it may not be two weeks! ith that hope I will now take my departure. Make your answer favor- able if you can, Maggie, dear.” With that he took his leave, When be had been gone a few moments the door of an adjoining apartment opened and Fly Fan ences forth, ** Wall, how did I do it?” asked Little Maggie. ‘*Splendidly!” was the approving word, *“You did it even better than I hoped you could,” ‘But, how I hated to play the part before him! I hate the very sight of bim, andit was all I could do to hold back my anger when he ad- dressed me as he did.” “It was the better way, however, for now we have him safe for the time you have limited, and before that is up the detective will be back again with all the proofs needed,” They talked for a little time, and Fly Han then took her leave, going out by the rear way. The days sped swiftly by. Our present romance might easily be made a double-number, by setting forth all that took place, but that must not be, The rival camys kept up their rivalry, and in the next issues of the local papers went for each other hot and strong, and the fighting poet was in it, as before, in favor of Roundabout. The circulation of the Rustler had doubled since he had been on the staff, nearly all of Hustleville buying the paper in spite of all the home sheet could say in opposition, and his dov- gerel jingles had in some instances been set to tune and become popular songs. He, the poet, bad had one or two little fracases with tough customers from the rival camp, in which he had come off more than the victor, and his name had not suffered in con- sequence, He was popular and well liked, in spite of his long coat and solemn mien, but, he was not always solemn, for he could un- “8 to suit tho occasion and be as jolly as any- ody. Fiy Fan was still there, and it was whispered aroyee that Manager Woodworth was struck on er, Certain it was that he lost no opportunity of being in her company, bat she beld him at a cer- tain distance in spite of himself and all that publie opinion might say or think. By this time it had become well enough estab- lished as a fact that Fly Fan was as true as gold, and that she was a woman who would stand no nonsense of any kind. She wasa mystery, and no one knew any more about ber than bad been known at first, That she had keen able to make a companion of Littl Maggie was all the cre- dential ber character needed, : There had, too, been one fire in the camp, and the fire-engine had been tested in actual practice, The fire, which might have proved a bad one, was nipped in the bud, as it was said, and even the citizens of Hustleville had to ac- knowledge that the engine filled a positive want grandly. And Haustleville, in order to come up with its rival again, was quietly making arrange- Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Flead-off. LD DDL LL LL LLL, LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL, a en eS 1%: ~~ ments for an electric Jight plant, with which they hoped to eclipse and dazzle their neighbor» m st effectually. So, as Said, to recount all these things in detail} would make our story of double lengtb; but, let us keep to the main facts of intere-t. Finally, one day, a letter was received from Detective Hardy, stating that he bad finished the business and announcing when he would re- turn, This, naturally, raised a good deal of interest: in the camp, and on the night when he was look- ed for the whole city and half of Hustleville were on hand to meet the stage. They were not disappointed. When the stage drew up the detective sprung out, and was greeted heartily by Mayor Gad- zooks and others, The crowd was impatient, and could not wait. quietly ti!l the business was made kr own to them after it had been privately made known to the leaders, 80 One man in the crowd sung out: ‘* What ’bout ther head, Mr, Deputy Detective?” Did ye find out anythipg ’bout who done ther deed? ‘“‘T have found outall about it, gentlemen,” wasthe reply. ‘If your mayor is in favor of” calling a public meeting, 1 will tell my story so that all may bear it,” That proposition was greeted with a perfect’ storm of applause, and it was immediately ap- parent that the crowd was bound the maycr~ should order that very thing, It was just what. they wanted. ‘* What d’ye say, mayor?” they urged at once... ‘* We'll put up ther platform byer while ther detective gent eats bis supper!” ‘That's what’s ther matter! That’s what we want, ma’r! You might jest as well say yes an’” be done witb et.’ ** All right, boys, that’s what we'll bave, then,” the mayor agreed, ‘* You set ter work and put up ther old platform, and after supper we'll hear ther story ; that is, if ther gentleman don’t bjeck to tellin’ et that way.” ‘* That will just suit me,” said Hardy, “ It will satisfy your people better than anything else, and I promise you that I have something to say that will interest them. Go ahead, boys, and build up your stage, and as scon as I have filled up the inner man I'll be with you. I’m aa. bungry as a bear,” CHAPTER XVI. eer THE UNMASKING, / NEVER worked the citizens of Roundabout with more viny and enthusiasm than on that. oceasicn, Kvery man of them put his shoulder to the” wheel, and by the time the detective had fir— ished bis meal, the platform was ready. It was the same one, by the way, that bad’ been used on the occasion of the great demon-. stration in honor of the new fire-engine, and. was calculated to hold a number of p»rsons,. Mr. Murtagh bad followed the detective to the» dining-room, eager, as he admitted, to learn what had been accemplished, but he did not. make out very well. The detective told him the: dead man had heen taken up, and that it had: been found that his head was missing, Farther than that, however, he put the ques-- tioner off, saying it would be far easier for him the det« ceive, to make one job of it when he told. tine 47 to the public, So, Mr. Murtagh had to be content, eager as he was, and his eagerness was not to be con- cealed from the close observer, Supper dene with, the deputy detective made. his appearance, and he was greeted with a cheer, and invite! to get up on the platform and get. down to business at once, With » smile the detective bowed his willing- ness, ard inaking his way through the crowd, mounted the steps to the platform, wtere he looked upon the sea of eager faces that sur- rounded him, remaining for a moment silent, Then he said: ‘Citizens of Roundabout, this looks rather lonesome for me, here on this pletform all alone: I want company. Mayor Gadzooks, you and some of ad friends come up here with me And, furtber, I would like to have Migs Mead- way present, if she will come, one who will bring her?” ‘Yes; T will,” spoke up Fly Fan from her place in the crowd, ‘Very well; do so; and then ‘bear her com- pany on the platform as well, if you please, You—Mr, Woodworth, Mr. Prestle , Mr, Mur- tagh—all come up and take seats, Tavite whom you please, mayor, while we wait for the young lady.” : | 2 Is there any