Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 816 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

a= he ‘. o —_— i a ee eS eS ot > od oa Se t: ~~ > So ha = o.t 7 > ~~ Fb I me ee te —- a" oe re ' Y) = +s oe nae —— ee | _— — f 2 a a — 12 | Deadwoo se* onseen voice that has often got me out 0’ fixes.” to put it forth ina ge ed e the spring of a tiger he hurled himself upon “Well, what are you going to do about |@he old man and tried to bear him backward it?” The demand was in as cool a tone as a man could use, and the keen eyes of the brigand ‘ chief showed no fear. ‘ ** First, pardner, | want ter know what et means,” ‘“{t means nothing, Gideon; what do you fake me for?” ‘“*T know what ye ar’, Dusky Dick.” ‘* What am I, then?” *'Ther blackest-hearted wretch .on the face of God’s earth this minute.” ‘Thank you. And what are you?” ** Not much behind ye, I reckon, ’cordin’ to ther reports ye hev read about me in ther papers from whar ’m knowed best. Thar’s a pair of us.” | “Then why do you think’ I would play you false?” ‘Why? Didn’t ther voice jest say so?” “* And you believe in that fodlishness?” “You bet I do, pard. When that ’ar voice speaks, then I’m goin’ ter take heed teret. I reckon ye took notice thet I wasn’t a big heap offwhile gettin’ ther drop on ye.” ** You did it pretty soon,” I admit.” ‘And I’m goin’ ter keep et thar purty hard, too, you bet. Now, what ar’ you goin’ ter do about et?” ““ What do you think I'll do about it?, I can’t do anything. You have got me ina fix, just now, and the more fool you. Come, put up your gun, and we'll talk it oyer like men of sense aS we go on.” ‘That's jest what | claim ter be, Dusky Dick, a man of hoss sense, and ther hardest kind of hoss sense at that, tdo., Do ye think Td let you git ther drop on me, now, and det ye do fer me what ye have jest done fer that old woman and that poor devil of a guardsman? Nary.” “Then what ae \you going to do about it?” : “T’m goin’ ter keep on top, whar I am now. Up with yer hands, doom, I'll bore ye!” They had spoken in low tones, and’ this command, too, was in an undertone. “ ‘Why, ‘you old fool, you have gone crazy.” The face of the brigand chief was now de-. cidedly ashy,.and his voice a little shaky. ‘**] guess et,” the old man declared; ‘‘ ?m jest crazy enough ter believe that ’ar voice what we both heard, and now I give ye one second ter lift yer paws. I don’t mean.ter harm ye ef ye do that.” The order was so stern, the tone so grim, that the chief obeyed. “Thar, now ye hev showed yer hoss sense,” Gideon said, ina more friendly,tone than before, ‘‘Tll jest disarm ye, fer my own safety, while we walk on together, and mebby we kin come ter some sort of understandin’ in this hyer matter. 1 hope we kin.” , He took the outlaw chief’s weapons from him while he was speaking, thrusting them in the legs of his boots. | ;“* Well, this is the first time I ever got held up in my life,” Dusky Dick then said, with a light laugh. ‘ Kt’s likewise ther first time ye ever bucked up ergainst old Gideon Gripes,” was the rejoinder. | ‘“And what have I done to you now, old man?” “That is what [ want ter know, pard. ‘Ther voice said you had treachery in yer heart, and I want ter have et out with ye.” ». “That voice is a liar,” ‘* Et yuster tell me ther truth, Dusky Dick. Et never lied to me before.” : ‘‘ Well, it has done so this time, and I ‘want you to take my word forit, Come, give me back my weapons.” : ° The brigand chief lifted a hand—for he had been allowed, to lower his arms—as if to the ground. CHAPTER XIII. THE NEW DEAL. THEY were some distance away from the center of the camp, and unless one or the other called out, they were not likely to be heard. As a silent struggle it began, and as such | it continued. The dirst force of the attack carried the old man backward a little, but quickly his strong muscles came into play. Dusky Dick quickly found that he had found his match. : . ‘“Curse you!” he hissed, ‘‘ I'll grind you to powder!” * Not ef I kin help et, boy,” the invincible Gideon responded. is “Tl have your life!” “ “Not ef, I know et. You hev bucked up ergainst Gideon Gripes from Texas, me son.” The brigand chief exerted his strength to the utmost, but strength was met by strength, and soon his force slackened. “That ther best ye could do?” inquired Gideon, coolly, holding him with a clutch of steel. ‘‘ Ef et is, ye ar’ not a match fer yer dad yet, not by no means ye ain’t.” ‘“Curse you, what are you made of any- how? There is nota manin my band can stand against me.” e “Yes tharis, too, cap’n, and hyer he is— Gideon Gripes.” ‘Well, I give up.” - It was a forced surrender, for the chief could do nothing against this man who op- posed him. ** Satisfied that ye can’t do et, hey?” ‘* Yes; let up.” ‘‘ And let you kill me at ther first chance?” “IT won't do it, Gideon. I know your value too weil, now.” : “And I know your treachery, fer you / or by ther day 0’:| would ’a’ killed me hyer and now, ef ye could.” — ‘¢] was in a rage.” ‘‘No, ye wur cool enough, and ye meant cool murder, too.” ‘‘ Well, what are you going to do about it? One call from me will bring my men, and a word will send you to your fate.” ‘‘ You try et on an’ see who will die first. You open that trap o’ yourn fer a single yaup, and see ef yer candle ain’t snuffed ‘fore ye kin say peep.” ‘What! you mean to kill me?” ‘“ Nary; won't harm one hair of yer head, not—” ‘Then what do you mean to do?” ‘‘T mean ter protect my own life, that’s what., That’s only nat’ral, ye know. I hev been warned, and Gideon Gripes den’t need but one warnin’ from that source.” ‘Well, let’s go back, and you and your band had better get out so there will be no further trouble between us. You have downed me, and I own it, and as it is the first time I’m willing to take water.” ‘* Et can’t be done that way.” “Why?” ‘‘Can’t trust ye. I hev seen. enough of er work this night to prove all the bad I’ve ene of ye, and more, and I know my life won't be safe a minute ef I let up on ye.” “Well, call one: or two of my men, then—” | 4 ‘‘No use, I reckon I kin take keer of ye without any help, and ef I can’t I'll have ter take ther wu’st of et.” “4 With a sudden effort the chief tried to tear himself out of the grasp of his captor. But, it? was the same as before, and he soon had to submit. Gideon was ready for him, then, and as soon as the strength of the chief was relaxe ‘ d Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. way, but with | | have ’em filed off'n ye. a —— Backward the terrible Dusky Dick was forced, and in a moment he ‘ay on the ground, flat upon his back, with his victori- ous antagonist astride of him, holding him there. ‘ ‘* I see gasped. ’ ‘* Kt’s about time ye had a notion of et, pardner,” the easy response. “You think to put me out of the way, usurp my place, and then handle Dead- wood Dick to your own profit.” ‘You hev hit et, pardner.” As he made that reply to the brigand’s guess, he pulled his arms together .closely and a pair of handcuffs were clasped upon his wrists. ‘* Handcuffs!” the man gasped. ‘Yes, pard, and ef I can’t find ther key when et’s wanted, reckon ye will have ter But, ye won’t want ‘em’ off right away, fer that won’t do.” Having done that, Gideon next gagged the man and tied his feet, and that done, lifted him as though with no effort and bore him away. FoHowing out upon the trail that led from the camp northward, he proceeded for some distance with his burden, and then he turned from the trail wend .clambered off among the rocks. Finally he stopped, laid the helpless man down, and said: “Thar, cap’n, jest rest easy now till I come baek ergain. [ll be back in less’n a day or two, ef [ come at all, and then we'll see what’s ter be done wi’ ye. Take et easy, and don’t git yerself in a fret about yer AX? With that the old fellow turned and re- traced his steps, having deposited his man in such a position between’ the two rocks that it would beimpossible for him to get out and away without help. | When he came out again upon the main trail he did not return to the camp, but went your game, now,” the Dark Dread on in the direction of where the guardsmen — were stationed. He could hear them talking, as he drew near, and knew they were awake at any rate. , When he came up he was promptly chal- lenged: “Who ar’ you, thar?” . ** Gideon, of Gideon’s band.” ‘* What’s wanted, old hoss?” . ‘‘T hev come out ter see ef everything’s ‘all right,” ¥ ‘* Yas, everything’s lovely hyer.” ‘You must keep an eye out fer a s’prise. We ar’ afraid) Deadwood Dick’s men ar’ — ef ye will keep yer yaup-trap closed. Ef | around somewhere, an’ they may drop in ~ onter us when we least look fer’em. Keep — ‘e.”” ‘‘ No sleepin’ hyer, you bet.” “ All right.” The old fellow turned away, but stopped before he had gone a dozen paces. “Say,” he called out, ‘‘I think you will be called in early, and ef ye ar’, we may have news fer ye when ye come in, so don’t delay about gettin’ thar.” ‘* What’s cat wide awake, or ther captain will do fer — v eo <' rt vu 4 \ dts “ss ““Can’t tell ye nothin’ now; wait an’ see,.”’ Seti i So. He went on, then, and made his way to a the outpost in the other branch of the can- © There he had about the same talk with the men,* and leaving them, returned to the camp, where all was now quiet, sth i He entered the saloon. She The men there looked up immediately to yA see who it was, and seeing him alone, they demanded: ‘* Whar’s ther cap’n?” ‘“‘T have laid him b awhile,” was the grim answer. © What yer mean, old man?” on ther shelf fer a” > : P ’ © j . Dt vip 7 cet re P 7 7 Vy Z ’ a = ”* ‘, *f "y ’ Par A , fi é hats Ohas oe 4a" } . Set *; 4 “43 © 5 SG St ve i’ "} brig ie ~ a ' or as . ky y) Se +s. gt ATH ‘ “Sere & Sora geh tee 8A Pw dee ie PiuiRitad Sense ae ROD tp tq pase pore s * C = OLO,e u