Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 816 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

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That’s what he is, and nothin’ else. “ CP “> F rs fis = ney wr a, on ee > ope — att , . ! Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. ** We'll see what he has to say, before we decide further, You go and see him, and let him think he is going to get free, if the money is forthcoming. Let him think we are going to deal square with him.” 7 ‘“Well, ef you say go; but, et seems like ae myself for’d in your business, Dusky ick.” ‘“ No matter how it seems, you go.” ‘That was final, and Mr. Gripes obeyed. % CHAPTER VI. DISCARDING THEIR MASKS, In the mean time the fainted woman, who ; had been taken away by the old woman, had come to inthe cabin to which she had been borne. The old Jezebel had tied a rope about her prisoner’s waist, which was secured to one of the inner logs of the cabin, and her arms had been pinioned at the elbows, leaving them only limited freedom. The young woman gave a start as she opened her eyes. ‘“He! he! he!’ chuckled the consort of Gideon. ‘‘I have ye safe now, my wild- cat.” ‘“Where is he?” the young woman de- manded. | ‘Your dear Deadwood Dick? Wal, I wouldn’t wonder ef he’d stretched hemp by this time, my dear.” ‘““What do you mean? They have not - harmed him?” ‘No, not ef hangin’ won’t harm, I don’t reckon they have; I guess that’s ther Worst they’ve done ter him.” ‘““Then they have killed him? My God, why did they not hang me with him? Why have they left me? But, woman, tell me, 28 it true?—have they killed him?’ ‘‘T see ther story is straight; you don’t deny that he’s that detective hound?” “T paid no attention to what you said, Only tell me this—is he living or is he dead?” ‘Wal, he’s alive, yet, but I won’t promise how long he will be.” “Thank Heaven! .They must take my life if they are determined to kill some one, and let him go free. Yes, they must—they shald do that!” ‘Which I don’t reckon they will at all, my dear. Purty gals is at a premium hyer, ye see.” And again she chuckled at the anguish of her prisoner. ‘* But, what was it you called him?’ the iri Ta guess ye know well enough, gal.” ‘‘No, for I paid no attention to the name.” ‘“Wal, then, I called him Deadwood Dick.” ‘‘ What an odd name. But, there is a mis- take; this man was never known by that name.” ‘He! he! he!” the old tramp laughed. “* That is ther same dodge ther feller himself tried ter work, but'et wasn’t no use. He had ter own up at’ last. “He! he! he!” ‘‘T fail to understand you, old woman. Do you mean to tell me this man admitted his identity as Deadwood Dick?’ | ‘Ter be sure I do. He! he! he?” ‘* And who and what is Deadwood Dick, if there be such a personage? What did _ you mean by detective hound?” ‘7 meant jest that, gal, a detective hound. But, he has run on his last trail, I reckon, for he is in ther grip of Dusky Dick now.” ‘lt is impossible for me to understand. And you would make it to appear that I am his wife?” | : “‘ Don’t we know ye ar’?” | : ‘* No, you know nothing of the kind. My name, as I have told you repeatedly, is Kate ‘Rossetyr, and it is nothing else. Iam a sin- gle woman, And this man, whom you in- sist upon calling Deadwood Dick, is Mr. Richard VanDeyke.” resently asked, choking back her sobs, - of i ‘‘He! he! he! That’s purty good, J vum et is, miss, a purty good yarn. But, et’s no use, fer yer man has owned up, and you had better do ther same thing.” ‘You talk in riddles; I don’t understand.” “That is ter say, ye won't onderstand. Wal, I don’t blame ye, fer ye show that ye will stick to ther story ye shave agreed ter tell, an’ stick to et through thick an’ thin. All right; but et ain’t no use, as ye will find. When ye see yer man, ef ye ever do again, he will tell ye et ain’t no use longer.” ‘You puzzle me, old woman. You won’t take me to him now, so that Imay hear from his own lips what he has to say?” ‘*Can’t do that ’ar.” ** Why ?” ‘‘ Dusky Dick would kill me as he’d kill a dog. <A life more or less don’t make no difference ter him. He said bring ye here and see that ye didn’t get out again, and [ reckon Ill see to et that ye don’t. Ye won't play another trick on me, you bet.” ‘“‘It is pretty certain that [ will not, if you intend to keep me bound in this fashion.” ‘‘ And [ll do that, you bet. I’d do worse by you, if I dared; I’'d scratch that face of yours so that it would sp’ile your beauty, I tell ye I would!” “You have no love for me, that I know, but I cannot yet understand why it is in- sisted that I am other thanIam. I know not Deadwood Dick, though now I believe I have heard mention of his name some- whree.”’ ‘Oh, yes, of course ye have: he! he! he! By ’n’ by et will come back to ye that ye ar’ his wife, I reckon.” ‘* What is the object in such a story?”. ‘*See hyer, gal, et’s foolishness fer you ter keep this up, when et is all settled who an’ what ye ar’.” ‘‘ And you tell me Richard VanDeyke has admitted that he is Deadwood Dick.” ‘Yes, that’s what I tell ye.” 3 are he has said I am his wife?” ac “es. 3? ‘‘Tf you speak the truth, then I am bewil- dered. But I do not believe you; I think you must be lying to entrap me into some manner of admission, though I know not what, for I have told you the whole truth already.” The old pilgrim laughed again, rocking herself to and fro on the low stool upon which she was seated. A considerable time passed. Finally there came a rap upon the door. The Jezebel got up and opened the door, and there was Stuttering Stephen, the Singer. ‘“Wal, what do ye want, Singer?” she de- manded, ‘* Je-Je-Je-Je-Je-Je-Je-Je—” ‘ Jerusalem /” the old hag finished for him, in her own way. ‘‘ Why don’t ye jerk et out of ye?) What do ye want?” ‘Ther k-k-k-k-k-k-k-k-k—” ‘* Yes, ther captain; and what is et he wants? Sing, now, and no more of your je-je-jerkin’ and k-k-cacklin’,” ‘* Ther—captain—he—wants—you— ter — bring—ther—gal—and—come—to—ther—sa- loon—at—oncet; sing—ri—ti—taddy, de— do—dum.” ‘ ‘Wants me ter fetch ther prisoner to ther saloon? What does he want that fer? But don’t stop ter tell me, but jest lend a hand. and we'll take her there in no time.” ‘Where is it you would take me?’ the girl asked, in fright. *‘ To ther captain’s office, my daisy.” ‘“No, no, do not do that, but rather let him come here to me.” : ‘‘Wal, that’s cool, too. -Guess et will have ter be as Ae says, my fine lady. I only wish et ‘was as I'd say, you bet va take ye thar in style!” — : The objections of the prisoner were not heeded, but she was set free from the rope around her waist, and then, held by the old LO rc cS | you. ' hag and Stuttering Steve, was taken to the saloon, Entering there, it was found that Dusky Dick and all his band were assembled, ex- cept those on guard and those who were out. of: camp on other duties. And, too, there were old Gideon Gripes and his family, and the prisoner who had admitted his identity as Deadwood Dick. It may be mentioned just here that the outlaw chief’s band consisted of about sixty men, all told, of whom about half were now in the camp. When the three entered the room, Dead- wood Dick was the first to speak. ‘““ Kate,” he said, ‘‘it is of no use carrying on the deception further. I have admitted my identity, and you may do the same. Ef have told these rascals that 1 am Deadwood Dick, and that you are my wife.” The young woman looked at him blankest fmazement. “Dick,” she gasped, ‘‘ I—I hardly under- stand.” ‘‘It is plain enough,” answered the other prisoner, smiling sadly. ‘‘ We simply admit that we are Dick Bristol and wife; or, Dead- wood Dick, as J am better known, and you, as Kodak Kate.” ‘Have you gone out of your mind, Dick?” | ‘* Not in the least. We are in a trap, and, admitting oir identity, there is a possibility of our getting out of it again, I am going to buy our liberty.” As he said this, he looked straight into the woman's eyes, putting all possible earnest~ ness into his words. She cast her eyes upon the floor. ‘* Well, lL admit it, since you do,” she said,. in low tone. 2 “That is right; it is the only way open te us, Kate. No need to carry the deception further. You are no ‘longer Kate Rossetyr,. but Kate Bristol, my wife; or, in other words,, Mrs. Deadwood Dick. y Now, men of Bank Garden, be satisfied.” -* What did I tell ye?” cried Gideon Gripes. ‘< Et took me ter deal with him, an’ 1 won him over, Ther case is a plain one, as any- body kin see.” Gideon, by the way, had spent half an hour or more with Deadwood Dick in the cabin in which he had been imprisoned, and on coming out had brought the prisoner with him to the saloon, when Kate had been sent for. ‘“That is all we want of the woman,” declared Dusky Dick, ‘‘ Take her back again, Jezebel, and see to it that she does not get eee But harm her not, for she is the most valuable prisoner we ever had yet.” ** Yes, see well to it that no harm comes to her,” added Deadwood Dick. ‘‘If it hap- pens, woe to this camp when I get free, that’s all!” | ‘*T’1l take keer of her, I'll take keer of her, never fear,” chuckled the old Fury. ‘‘Come on with me, Stutterin’ Steve, and help me get her safe back again. Jlletake keer of her, cap’n.”’ » ‘* See that you do.” ‘* Be of good courage, Kate,” the prisoner called out, as she was taken away. ‘‘ The way of deliverance is about to open for us. No need to carry on the deception further; admit freely that you.are my wife.” ‘“T will do that,” the girl called back, ‘‘though I do not understand. It is enough for me that I have had it from your own — lips. Itrust all to you, Dick; I trust all to | God help us that we may get out of — the power of these devils in human guise.” CHAPTER VII. ou ty ANOTHER PRISONER MADE. ~ Tue brigand chief looked after the woman for a moment without speaking, or until she was no longer in sight from where he sat. im “ That is rather strang language,” hethen — quietly remarked,