Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 816 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

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Pe a} ; 'd _ 7 is Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. a -—- perry amen es : y PRE GL OE T might make it lighter for you.” “ Will you let me go free, if little | do know about it?” It was enough to chill the blood of ay ‘Wel, there is no use my telling yon a man, these words from so heartless a wretch fie out and out, sor the game isn’t worth it. | as Dusky Dick. No, I won’t let you go.” That his name had become a terror need “Then there is one other thing I would | not be wondered at; yet these little sugges- ~The prisoner was seen to tremble, in spite tell you the | of himself. ask,” tions we have dropped were as nothing com- 9 b J . “« Ask it. pared to what he really was in character. “Will you bring Deadwood Dick out here and let me fight him, man to man?” ** Yes, by Harry, I’ll do that.” A great shout of approval went up from the crowd. “What!” cried Gideon Gripes. ‘* You mean ter ruin ther chances fer that ’ar quar- ter million?” “IT don’t see a big hope of getting it, Gideon, with this unknown enemy in the camp fighting against us. We are likely to have Deadwood Dick dead on our hands, the same as the spirit said.” ‘““Nary a time we won't! Ain’t we able ter guard him ’gainst that?” ‘“We might be, if we knew what the foe 9) ‘‘ Well, I don’t know that it will be of any use for me to keep it back, now,” the prison- er yielded. ‘“[ don’t see how it can be. Tell me all about it.” ‘“‘ There is little to tell. I suddenly found & man with me in the cabin, and in the dim light I saw that he was masked. He freed my. hands and feet, and told me to steal out at the rear door when I heard a whistle without, and go at once and take my revenge upon my foe.” . ‘That all you know?” ‘That is all. He went like a shadow, and I don’t know where or how he disap- peared,” ‘It is mighty strange, and I’m half in- clined to think you lie—” ‘No, I speak the truth, [ swear it.” —— eee LT is “Then make this man tell what he knows, whether he will or not.” | ** Your word has been passed, captain,” ‘And you followed his advice, and found reminded the prisoner. ‘‘ Free me, and then | the way open for you, by the rear door, so let that man come out here and face me. It | that you could escape without the know- shall be his death or mine, and I little care | ledge of the guard?” which.” “ Yes, I opened it silently, on hearing the ‘Et wull be yer own doom,” declared | signal, and seeing no one, stepped softly out Gideon. ;and went forth at once on my mission of ‘‘ How do you know that, old man?” vengeance, thinking -that perhaps the way ‘ Because, ef all is true that ther captain | had been opened for me by the same mysteri- hyer has told me ’bout this Deadwood Dick, | ous hand,” he never misses his man.” ‘“<'That’s why [ am willing to see the fun,” the brigand chief declared. ‘‘ You need have littie fear, for Deadwood Dick, old fel- low. Let’s bring him out and let them fight CHAPTER XII. THE WARNING VOICE. Dusky Dick turned in a towering age from the prisoner to the guardsman. “What!” he thundered. ‘‘No man on guard at the rear of that cabin? Who was he, and where was he at that time?” No one spoke, P ‘Who was he?’ the Dark Dread cried again, fiercely. ‘‘Speak his name, some man, and then let him come here and face me. I'll have it known that Dusky Dick is to be feared and obeyed!” “It was—was Freckles,” one man spoke out, weakly, | “Freckles! Then let him come here, or the worse for him. Come, you coward, and show yourself,” | One of the brigand chieftain’s band came forth, in a slouching manner, a fellow noted for nothing in particular, so far as appear- ance went, unless for his freckled face. ‘Why were you off your post?” the cap- tain demanded. ‘* Captain, hev ye furgot our talk?” Gideon demanded. ‘* Not at all, old man; there’s no danger.” ** But, thar’s a resk ter be run.” ** What’s all the trouble out there?’ called | a voice from the cabin, =~ it was tlat of the prisoner within. *“ Why, this hyer foe of yours wants ter fight ye, Deadwood,” answered the old man, “* What do ye say about et?’ ‘‘ He is no foe of mine,” came back the an- swer. ‘He mistakes me for another, and there is no reason why I should fight him. I don’t want his blood’ on my hands, Take him and lock him up again.” “Then you won't fight?” asked ‘Dusky Dick.” | “* Not a fight.” ‘ ‘¢ That settles it, boy. If he won’t meet you, then I won’t make him do it, for it would only be your death to do so. But, ‘‘I—I—only went around ter git a chaw you have not told me about that person, or | of terbacky, cap’n,” the poor fellow said spirit, or whatever it was, that aided you to escape.” ; | aks What's more, I won’t, now that you have broken your word with me. And the humbly. ‘You wanted something to chew on, did you? Well, chew on ¢his, and let it satisfy you for all time! The rest of you take warning by his fate.” . ‘With his words he lifted his hand and sent a bullet through the man’s heart, drop- ping him dead in his tracks. The next moment came the voice from the alr again; saying: ‘Dusky Dick, terrible thy fate when the you as he is doing. I swear to_you he is not Deadwood Dick, but one Dick Van-, Deyke. He is closing your eyes beautifully, for some reason,” . ‘That is nonsense, man,” disputed Dusky Dick. ‘‘ Haven’t we the confession of his write a long letter to his manager at Bristol ‘‘ By’ ther day o’ doom!” cried Gideon You talk like a fool.” Gripes, “ but that ar’ was rough, cap’n, I be : hinged ef et wasn’t.” | ds not Dick VanDeyke.” — | “You attend to «Then you refuse to tell what you know the reckless murderer, ‘‘or the same fate may be yours. Iam in no mood to be trifled with, 1 warn you. Away with that prisoner, before I drop him.” | . The men hurried the prisoner away, afraid for their lives. 7 ““Wull, I don’t want ter cross ye now, cap’n,” Gideon said, without any show of “Remember, it is Dusky Dick, the Dark My dagger is It may take | 7 VN ' Sy 7 : . ‘ at “= « yieet.” ~~ r'¢ ah? :— oy eee = ee by : Sy e8 & aki APee us Wise? om - ‘ ~ “4 y ; ¢ ue tat Pe, EFA ae? we +e the ek 5 P ba fares y*! - eet, : . , ota Tae dete: sr as Pi eh en a A vig EL Fas tn Om aire 2 hfe Me afta ed ‘ v¢ =}; 4 ~~ ‘} ao? , 4 . +? = ‘ >< j a \ , di . % ‘ ° ~ yi 2 —_ Lom , + foe ae Be bibs Mf BAN, ek che tail ine he LB aA cad peal aa bl , » we ' ae our own business,” cried fear in his tone, ‘‘but I do want ter warn ye ter pay heed ter that voice, fer I hev never yet knowed et ter tell a lie. You heard what. et jest said.” “Yes, | heard; what of it?” ‘““T take et that et means we had _ better take ther best kind o’ care that no loophole o’ danger is left open in this hyer camp.” ‘We have taken care of that.” “You hev jest fixed out one of yer mem fer bein’ off his post o’ duty, ain’t ye?” ‘* What of it? He deserved it.” “That is one less to back ye, that is all, ‘cap’n. No, that ain’t quite all, either.” 7 ‘* What more, then?’ ‘Tow do we know what ther other guards- men.ar’ doin’?” ‘By Harry, that’s so!” *« Ye see, cap’n, my neck is in danger hyer as wellas yours, and these things can’t be looked after too keerfully.” ‘Well, what do you propose?” ‘““T p’pose that you an’ me together takes: a walk out ter both posts, and see fer our. selves jest wWhat’s goin’ on.” Tl do it!” ‘And that will give us a good chance ter talk.” “We'll go. Boys, bury this fellow along with Jezebel, and every one of you take warning by their fate. Come on, Gideon.” “« K-K-K-K—” | Stuttering Steve had stepped up to the chief, and hat in hand humbly, began to cackle before him. ‘Well, what do you want?” Dusky Dick. demanded, breaking in upon him and so sav- ing him the trouble of getting out that word, at least. ‘« T)-d-d-d-don’t f-f-f-f-fergit t-t-t-t-to p-p- p-p-pay M-m-m-me_ th-th-rth-th-that ,hu-hu- hu-hundred d-d-d-d—” Dusky Dick ‘broke into a laugh, and for — the time being his passion was over and men’s lives were safe... ‘* All right, Singer” he said, ‘‘ 1 won't for- get it, for you did a good piece of work, if what you say is all true. You are quicker with your weapons than with your tongue.” “Tf I. w-w-w-w-wasn’'t, re-re-reckom. t-t=t-t-t’other fe-fe-fe-feller would ‘a’ g-g-g-g- got ther d-d-d-d—” “'The drop on you?” the chief finished. ‘Yes; he would have had you dead and buried, Steve.” | The others laughed, and Dusky Dick and Gideon set out upon their mission, ‘‘T tell ye, cap’n, ye take a big resk,” | -Gideon remarked. ‘Why, how is that, Gideon?” the Dark Dread asked. ‘* Don’t ye see—” Before the old man could finish what he had started to say there came an interrup tion. It was again the voice from the clouds. ‘* Gideon?” it called, ** Hello, what’s up now, I wonder?” Gid- eon exclaimed, stopping. Then he responded: - ‘*Wull, old guide, whoever ye ar’, what's wanted o’ Gideon?” Then came the rejoinder, in words too— plain and too distinct to fail of being under- stood: | “ Gideon, beware; there is treachery in the heart beside thee!” ° ? Quicker than the lightning’s flash the old man had whipped out a glittering revolver, and its cold tube was pointed straight at the nose of Dusky Dick. ‘Did ye hear that ar?” the old fellow cried. ‘‘ Did ye hear ~vhat ther voice said ter me? Thar’s only one heart here besides this old thumper o’ mine, and that other is yours,” ae, ‘‘ You're a fool!” cried Dusky Dick, coolly, though he was slightly pale in spite of his dark visage. : ‘‘ Mebby I am, pardner,” said the old man, grimly, ‘but I'm not fool enough ter nob take a hint when it’s‘dropped by thatar ad it . a * =. 2