Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 816 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

» _ = ~_ me . _ } , : asm be a mistake it wouldn’t help you any; or we'd give you ‘the benefit of the doubt and bang you anyhow.” ‘* He can bet his life we would!—beggin’ your Res cap’n, fer stickin’ in my lip,” cried tideon Gripes. ‘‘Thar’s war to ther knife tween us and you, Deader-than-wood Richard, and that war will be ended right byer, you bet.” ‘You needn’t beg pardon of me for talking that way, pard,” the brigand chief waived, ‘* But, I tell you you do mistake,” urged the prisoner. ‘‘ Search me, if you will, and see if you find anything on me to prove what you charge.” ‘‘ What's ther use?” cried Rooster Rube. ‘* We wouldn't expect ter find ye comin’ hyer with yer Dame branded on ye.” ‘yits *That’s what’s ther matter!” cried another of the crowd, ‘Et ain’t no use,” ‘*What is your name, then, since you deny acai ommeed as Deadwood Dick?” asked the rea ” ‘ ‘* My name is Philip Phillips,” ‘* Philip Phillips lies like sin,” cried Rooster Rube. ‘ Confound it, what is ther use o’ your holdin’ out when so many of us knows ye?” ‘* What ar’ Pg going to do with him, though, Captain Dick?” inquired old Gideon, ‘‘ A new idee has jest popped inter my mind, the reason I ask, a really mean ter yank him?” ** Certai I mean it! hat else do you think I would do with him? But, what is your idea” The old man was about to respond, whena woman’s scream was heard. All looked in the direction whence the sound had come, and beheld a woman running toward them, arms outstretched. ‘a Save him!” she cried. ‘‘Save him! oh! save im! ‘¢*Thunder!” cried Dusky Dick, and his face grew darker than ever. ‘* How has she managed to escape?” . Even as he questioned, a hideous old hag was seen running after the woman, and as she ran she called out loudly to the crowd: “Ketch thet she wildcat! Ketch her! Tl bet I'll sear ber purty face fer her, fer the trick she played on me! Don’t let her ’scape, and don’t let her git no weepon!” On the woman came, apparently seeing noth- ing but the prisoner, and she pushed her way to- ward him till roughly stopped by Dusky Dick. ‘* Here, what means this?” he demanded, — ‘Richard! Richard!” the woman — rather girl—cried, *‘ why did you venture here? They airs oped the i sped, as if intended ‘My ” the prisoner ga as if In to be unheard, “ Kate—” But be cut himself short at that, and at the same instant the crowd broke out witha wild whoop. ““ Ain’t that ther proof?” they yelled. ‘‘ She has called him Richard; what more d’ye want ’n’ that? Let’s string him right up, Dusky Dick; mee oe ther fun right now while we all feel ee **No! no! no!” the young woman cried, wildly. ‘Spare him, im! Take my life, if you will, but spare him!” ‘*Ob, yes, we are full of that, you bet!” laugb- ed Dusky Dick, detaining ber by force. ‘‘ We refer beauty to the beast, every time, my little tiger cat. Don’t hurt yourself struggling 80,” he young woman could not be more than twenty-two years of:age, and was decidedly comely, though it could plainly be seen that her toilets had not had proper attention for many days. She fought likea tiger indeed, to herself from the unwelcome restraint. ‘‘Let mé go, monster!” she cried, ‘* Let me o! If you will kill him, show me the mercy to et me die with him.” The man had tried to force himself to be calm, but impossible. He now tugged at his bonds till the veins stood on wc his fuce like ridges raised by the blows of a whip. ‘‘Free me,” he hissed, ‘‘and Pll fight the whole of you! Free me, and more than one of you shall bite the dust before you deal death to me, Free me, just long enongh to rob you of— ‘* Well, hardly,” drawled the brigand chief. ‘* We'll take care of you, and then we'll see that the lady is well cared for after that. Leave all that to us, and there will be nothing for you to worry about. Sorry not to oblige you, but it can’t—” “‘Curse you! I'll have—” The desperate struggling of the prisoner had loosened his feet, which had been tied together underneath bis horse, and he slipped over and would have toppled off had it not been for old 3 a ’ a. tk Mes ee Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. Gideon, who sprung forward and caught him in his arms, and together they fell to the ground, the old man having stumbled over a stone. ** No, ye don’t!” he cried aloud, the next mo- ment. ‘‘ No, ye don’t, me noble Dicky Dead- wood! Not while Gideon Gripes is around ter take a hand in things) Whar’s that ar’ rope ye ar’ goin’ ter use, cap’n?” With a wild scream, at that, the woman faint- ed, and Dusky Dick gave her into the arms of the old hag, saying: ‘* Here, Jezebel, take her back; and mind, you do not harm one hair of her head, if you value your witbered old life. Bring a rope, boys, and short work shall be made of Deadwood Dick, Bring him to his feet, Gideon, and we’ll show rn how we do such business here at Bank Gar- en.” , CHAPTER IV. ANOTHER PLAN ADOPTED, GIDEON GRIPES, showing the strength of a Hercules almost, lifted the prisoner upon his feet and held him firmly. ‘‘Hyer he is!” he cried. ‘‘ Bring ther rope, and I’ll show ye how Gideon kin tie a necktie.” A rope was being brought with all haste. ‘‘ Hyer is yer rope, and a good one,” sung out Red Mike, captain of the guardsman Gideon bad captured so neatly. ‘‘ Hook et onto him, and : we'll have him danglin’ in air in no time.” ‘* What! you hyer yet?” Old Gideon looked’at the man in some sur- prise, ‘“‘Hyer yet ? What do ye mean by that ‘ar?” ‘‘ What do I mean by et? Dusky Dick, is et possible that yer camp is onguarded at this time?” ° ‘¢ Zounds!” and the brigand chief brought out a favorite Spanish exclamation in English with full force, ‘‘I did not think of that. Back to your posts, all of you, and see that you keep your eyes open.” "otis a disappointed air the inen turned to obey. They wanted to see this hanging of their very vor foe, which they had looked to us a rare treat. ‘‘ Mought I be allowed to make a suggestion, cap’n ?? asked old Gideon. ‘Certainly, old man.” ‘** Et ain’t that I want ter meddle, ye onder- stand, but with my own neck in danger, sume “#8 ther rest of ye, I have some ivterest in things ‘¢ Certainly, certainly; what is it?” ‘¢ Well, seein’ that we have got hold o’ Dead- wood Dick, ain’t et likely that he has got men some’rs around? He wouldn’t coms here all | alone, 1 wouldn’t think, would you?” ‘* Of course he wouldn’t. He must kave men near at hand.” ‘Then, I should say, double ther guard at each place, and so make double sure that his men don’t steal a march on us us,” __ 3 ‘That is a rattling good idea, oia man, and Pll do it,” Dusky Dick cried. ‘* You have got something in that hairy old head of yours, that is sure, And, while I'm at it, I'll send out new men altogether,” As it was then within an hour of the time for changing the guards, the chief sent out two. other captains in p of Red Mike and Rooster Rube, giving them twelve men each with which to hold the Bo peat to the camp against any foe that might make the attenipt to get in. his business occupied a little time, and when it was finally done the passion for the hanging had slightly cooled. ‘‘Now fer ther hangin’,” said Gideon, as he proceeded to make a noose in the end of the rope, ‘*T want toask you something first, old man,” spoke the chief. ‘¢ All right: what is et?” : The old fellow stopped in what he was doing and looked up. “Why, just atthe time when that woman came out here yelling so, you had said you had & new idea in mind, hat was it?” ‘“‘That’s so, by ther day 0’ doom!” the old fellow exclaimed. ‘*She yooved et up so that she knocked et cleau out of my thinker, Why, I was goin’ ter ask “be ef ye knowed much about this Deadwood Dick.” | ‘*T know he is the devil himself at detective business, and if he bad half achance he would bring me ae my men to trouble, the same as he has done for many another man, and I had made up my mind that if he ever got into my power I’d make short work of him.” _ ‘‘That’s a good idea, I allow, and I ’prove of et; but, my idee was that it was a grand chance fer you ter make a big haul.” sé How ? ‘How! Don’t ye know that Deadwood Dick is worth a million dollars at the least?” ‘“No! Is that so?” **T told ye me and my band kem through his place on our way out byer, and thar they tell that: he’s a reg’lar Crushus, fer wealth, Owns the hull city, and bas a bar’! o’ money besides,” ** And your idea was to hold him for ran- som?” ** Jest so,” ‘*That’s a risky piece of work, with such @ man. The whole Goverment would come to his: rescue,” ‘* Not a bit more ’n et will come, anyhow, ef ye hang him, fer you can bet he never kem hyer alone, But, they, would find us tough ter git, here in this pocket. We could defy ’em.” “ll be hanged if I don’t see something in what you say. I’ve a notion to try the scheme.” ‘*Try et by all means,” urged Gideon, and he threw the rope away from him and far over the heads of the crowd. ‘‘7’ll think about it, anyhow,” decided the brigand chief, ‘* By the way, prisoner, do you still deny that you are Deadwood Dick?” The prisoner smiled. ‘*) find it’s no use denying it further,” he made answer, ‘‘ You have got me dead to rights, and I might as well own up and try to make | the best of it. “Yes, I am Deadwood c « ‘* That’s ther tune!” cried old Gideon, joyfully. ‘*That was what brought him to time, Dusky ick. Heseesa chance for his life, now, and he ain’t goin’ ter let. et slip ef he knows ety Life is worth more’n money, every time!” ‘‘That’s et,” cried the crowd. ‘‘ We'll hold him fer ther kerdoodleum,” ‘‘ What price are you going to value me at?” the apa inquired. *¢ How much do you think your life is worth to you?” Dusky Dick asked. ‘‘ Well, about ton thousand dollar’, maybe.” ‘‘Pshaw! that would not pay us for our trouble. Why, that’s the price I have set on the head of that gal that came tearing out here— By the way, how is it she is acquainted witb ‘‘Mebby et’s his wife,” suggested Gideon, ‘*So it strikes me,” agreed the chief, ‘¢ No,” the prisoner denied, ‘‘sbe is not my wife, or indeed anything tome. She has niis- taken me for some one else. She called me. Richard, that I admit, but Richard is a common name, I never saw her before, aud know noth- ing about her.” ; ‘How was et, then,” one man demanded, ‘that you called her Kate? I heerd ye call her that, wi’ my own ears.” ‘If you heard ié at all it must have been wit your own ears, that is sure,” the prisoner said, smiling. “But, you are mistaken, I think. You have understood something nso. ‘““That won't do,” declared the chief, ‘‘ Now that it is brought to my mind, I remember your muttering that name half aloud. You had bet- ter ewn up, if yon expect to get this chance for your life. ‘What do you say “ Well, I kave to admit it, then.” | rs Then you are Deadwood Dick and his wife?” es, “What oily liars you are, the pair of you; for she gave me the straightest kind of a story about herself, and you began by telling another, or commencing one,” ) The prisoner smiled again. ‘¢ All is fair in love and war,” he remarked, ‘‘ Now ye have got ’em down fine,” insisted Gideon, ‘‘and ye want to sock et right to ’em. Make et just a quarter of a million fer the pair, and narry a cent discount, either.” ‘*Hooray! Hooray!” So yelled the excited horde. ‘‘ You make the figure a pretty stiff one, old men,” the prisoner observed, ‘* Et ain’t none too stiff, though, fer I ktiow ye kin stand et; I have seen that city ye own, and I know how Ph are heeled. What do you say, Dusky Dick?” ‘*Gideon, you are a whooper!” the brigand chief complimented.. “‘ That is the figure we'll make it, but T’ll be hanged if I see our way an for getting the money. Think we can do i ‘‘Wekin make a try fer et, anyhow, cap’n. I don’t brag of my head, but if thar’s anything in et that will help on ther skeem apy, you ar’ bere diagg af k Mrs. Gripes,’ * ‘est ister,” spoke up Mrs, pes, *‘ you jes trust Gideon, ef thar’s any divilment ter be hatched. I know Gideon, and he’s jest a terror, heis, Great—” “You nett he jaw, old woman,” Gideon ~ sharply ordered. bp ASO a re ee | — —— ~ ae ‘ ae *) , ’ - ; ital 7% ~ : * - . : i ea 7 r 4 _ i. |. ; | Sa . . in : rN tu a re -« — g = a —_