Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 822 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

r * - 7 - 1S sn Bees —< ty Se dee! ae a ae ae nS —-: ——o ih req » en Ot UE bee am i age 6 , ti, a -- te ER eS — a re 2 RE ee aR ‘“Wouldn’t somebody else have done it, if he hadn’t?” ‘Very likely; and, supposing it had been you, Put yourself in his place now, and say how you would like it to have the people rise up and try to oust fat from your claim. You know you would not like it. You would fall back upon the Government to protect you in your rights,if need be, and the Government would be bound to do it. So, while this is nothing to me, I must say you fellows are taking a very foolish stand in’ the matter. CHAPTER IV. BEHOLD, A STRANGER. JoE GARRY had been a quiet listener to this. He repented that he had been so hasty to judge the sport, for now it appeared that he was clearly on Dick’s side. His argument had carried conviction to a certain extent, for the loud boasts and threats were done with for the time being, and men were talking among themselves in groups. About that time a stranger walked into the room—a seedy-looking individual, in a long coat and battered high hat that had seen better days. Thrusting the fingers of his right hand under the lap of his coat at the second but- ton, he raised the left, and in a deep voice called out: ‘* Hail! citizens of Bristol City!’ He had the attention of the room imme- diately. ull, manded. “A pilgrim and a stranger here,” was the ie onse. ‘‘My name is Barrington Burr, I was once a lawyer. Now ‘I'm a con- aenied drunkard and bummer in general, a fellow that would paralyze a whole Keeley institution at one fell stroke.” And he looked it. ‘Then what ar’ e doin’ hyer?” demanded his questioner. his hyer is jest ther next thing to a temperance town.” Vhat! Good heavens, you alarm me! who ar’ you?” one man de- . oon mean to say I can’t get a drink here? If t t is the case, provide my coflin and dig my grave, for lam as good as dead,” “Oh, et ain’teas bad as that; but, it’s no camp for a bummer to hang out in, we'll tell you that right at the start.” “Ah! what a load you have removed. Just tell me, can I get a drink here ?” ‘* Yes, if you have got the collat!” “Which haven't, I haven't. But, voice or my legal lore is at your evden and I'll sing a song or give advice for the price of a horn,” * ‘Are you up on Jaw?” asked Captain ack “The time was, sir, when I did not take a back scat for any man.’ ‘Well, if you will give us the law on a point that puzzles us a little, I will set up a drink for you,” ‘State your case, sir, and make all haste in doing it, TU give you Chitty and Black- stone, straight from the shoulder. What is the int? Give me the leading facts.” ell, the case is this: I came here to this camp and bought a building, for which I put up the Mags cash. That. building is mine, of cou : . Ciiainty: sir, certain! , always provid- ing i it was owned by t e party who sold it to “ nd it was; there is no question on that int.’ “ Your building, then. Go on.” ‘But, that house’stands on another man’s ground, for which the first owner of the building entered into lease relations with its owner, — 7 . “oe oe a we omy ; “That is wh ane your house; but, you: assume the lease on thé ground. You hold it the same as the man before you held it: Change of hands ee no change in the : situation.” . i ,. : ’ ‘< 7 ins co re. & * br i fj * a, ( te PEAR xO. gee Te Ete) ee ene Ree Deadwood Dick, Jt a Ss, Boom. — ‘“ But, you admit that I own the building, | and can do with it as I please?” ‘You can, sir, so long as you obey the law of the land and the regulations of this camp, and live up to the requirements of that lease. Is that all? If it is, make haste with that drink.” ‘“'That’s straight law, is it?” Tthispeir, it is,” ‘Then my goose is cooked, so far as open- ing a saloon here is concerned. It is dead against me, that’s sure. Now, if you will give your opinion on still another case, Pil give you the money for a double drink.” ‘“* State the case.) Practice seems to open up lively here.” ‘* Well, it is a matter in which I have no interest myself, but in which I am interested as a looker on.” And with that he told the story of the bolt some of the citizens had made, ‘* Plain case,” the lawyer decided. ‘‘ Bris- tol is in the ri cht, and he can force his claim. Better look w ell to the terms of your leases, citizens, and see what will happen if you don’t come down with the rent,” Soapstone Sam then tossed a coin to the man behind the bar, and the seedy lawyer proceeded to irrigate the full money’s worth. Here, for the present, was another clincher against the rascally clique. ‘‘Ha! now I am aman again!” cried the seedy lawyer, as he turned | away from the bar, wiping his mouth. “ Again life’s fire burns within, and Iam happy.” Aman who had been edging toward him now laid a hand upon his shoulder, wt ig ty y well played, Deadwood Dick,” he remarked, “‘ purty well played; but, you can't fool us any longer. Might jest as well own up to ther corn, i The seedy individual drew back a step, surveying the man ina wondering way, as if thinking him crazy. This man was one Brownlow Jugg, who, from the fact that he was rather under the average in size, had been nicknamed ‘‘ Little Brown Jugg.” His charge caused excitement in the room, and it was suddenly believed that he had hit upon the truth, ‘‘Sir, I fail to catch your meaning,” the lawyer made response to im. ‘Et aint no use,” Mr, Jugg insisted. “We know you, now, and you may jest as well throw off ther disguise and stand out fer jest who ye an’.” ‘‘ But, [am in no disguise, good sir; Tam just what I am, nothing more or anything ess,’ ‘* And wood Dic ‘* Assuredly.”’ ‘*'Then 7 mean ter say you ar’ a most ’fer- nal liar, that is all,” cried Jugg. He, too, was one of the rebellious ones, and as much a leader as Stonecut, though neither was the prime mover of the up- rising. He was something of a fighter, in his way, and had more than once made his boast that he would not be afraid to tackle the renowned Richard, spite of his great reputation. he secret of his delusion was, that he had come to the amp in peaceful time and had never had the opportunity of seeing Dick on his muscle. He had only seen him as the calm, cool, quiet and gentlemanly sport. “That is a pretty strong word to apply to a stranger,” said the lawyer, in a quiet manner, | ‘It’s jest the word I mean,” was the de- fiance. ‘‘But, you make a mistake, sir.’ “ Bah! ‘don’t you suppose I ee you? Haven't I seen you here many atime? I tllus said I’d know ye, spite of disguises, though yer have ther mane of bein’ a good one at that biz.” eos mean fer say you ain't Dead- i * Ld Peres i oo -- er ee ‘“May as well own to the corn, Dick,” sung’ out another voice. “But, gentlemen, | insist that you are making a mistake,” the seetly lawyer pro- tested in much earnest. ‘‘My name is Bar rington Burr, as I have told you, and [ have never had any other and never expect t» have. Sir, you are mistaken, bi idly, and | must ask you to take back your words.” “Take back nothin’! You ar’ Deadwoc« Dick, and we all know et.” Old Avalanche was there to take a hanc£ in it, ‘‘Great hambone o’ antedelushunary de molishun!” he eried. ‘‘Ef et is you, my Dicky boy, knock ther sassy cuss clear ovcr into ther middle o’ next week, Don’t take sech slack from him.” “But, [Im nobod lawyer r insisted. else than I am!” the have not aright to the honor you would heap uponme. Still, Iam not going to stand here tamely and be called a liar tomy teeth, and if you don't take that back, sir, by the immortal shades of brilliant. Blackstone if I don’t give you cause to repent it.” CHAPTER VY. THE LAWYER A FIGHTER. Tuts bold stand on the part of the lawyer was the cause of excitement anew. It was now strongly believed that he was: indeed Deadwood Dick, in one of his clever disguises, “Great hambone!” exclaimed Old Ava lanche, speaking to Joe Garry. ‘' Et must. be ther noble Richard, sure ’nuff! What do ye think "bout et, Josey’ 5h 4 Hang «me if I don’t half believe you are right,” Joe agreed, ‘‘If it is him, though, it is the best disguise he ever got on in his life. _ That ain't Dick’s nose, I be hanged if it is.” ‘Lor’ Jerusha! ye don’t want ter bet om Dicky when he is in a make-up, fer he is jest as likely ter be somebody else as not. Can’t swear to him, and that’s ther howlin’ truth. But, let’ 8 see W hat the Little Browrm Jugg will do wi’ him,” ‘* Yes, that may prove the case.’ This had been said rapidly, even aaa the seedy lawyer was yet speaking. What?” cried Mr. Jugg. ‘‘ You mean ter say you ar’ goin’ ter make me take it back?” ‘‘If you don’t, sir, [ shall make an honest, effort to cram it down your neck *08. you, was the cool and easy rejoinder he ‘*Then you have ther chance ter 4 se fer I tuke nothin’ back. You are Deadwood Dick, and I know et. I have allus said I believed I could lick ye, and now I’m goin’ ter try et on,” ‘Wade in, then, and begin.” The seedy stranger put up his fists ina businass way. ‘‘T am in prime order,” he added, ‘‘ after the three drinks I have had, and I'll make it hvely for you, you bet!” ‘* But, et’s your fight,’ ’ Mr. Juge reminded. ms thought it was yours.’ “See him trying to craw out of et,” cried: Jugg. ‘‘ Didn’t lallus say it was more his name ’n anything else?” “Tam not trying to get out of it,” de~ clared the lawyer, ‘‘ but I do insist that you are mistaken in regard to my being other than just what I claim to be. Now, what. are you going to do?” ‘Haw! haw! haw!” laughed the tickled ( Jugg. ‘‘Didn’t he say he was goin’ to. cram it down my neck fer callin’ him a liar? An’ now he wants ter know. what J’m goin’ to do about et. Wull, that’s purty ear hang me ef et ain’t!” : ‘‘Oh! you are waiting for me, eh?” the lawyer cried, seeming to grasp the situation in another light. i. | ‘* Why, cert, old man!” “Then you need not. wait ‘atte ‘Take : that as a beginner.” * : ow Fy ‘hte 4 ¥ 1 = aa * 4 o . a? —_ = | y ¥ *| ) } q > "| le \ \ _» 4 > » os | Sa! =! 1 % ae * 2” . - - ba . 4 Pt Re — « _ te Sow. - Nise | oa iy »~ ~, - ‘ar? ? , ~ eo .. oor e e yl Wi «<9 .2 - . e + om < ‘ ee ; —_ i .. -_ , + —. «a0 4a - : ~ wise + i ® ~ rs, a | : > mot ew) * M “s * é a - ~ ; > ‘ en ok ~ te a 3° oe’ -\ i. “& me » %o r ae a to ,