Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 822 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

““Wull, as to that, I can’t say fer sure. Some think he is hyer, and some ar’ of mind he ain’t.” “ How is that?” ‘** Nobody is sure about et. If he is hyer, he is in disguise, and when Deadwood | Dick takes on a disguise in earnest it Bs puzzles his own wife ter know him ‘That’s as ther way et is.” x ‘‘ Well, I wanted to see him, that was all, fry and hoped I should find him at home on my ie fi he: arrival, Ki » till he comes.’ With that he walked leisurely to the hotel and entered. hips ¢. The man who had previously entered with Wet et) the woman supposedly his wife, was just in ie the act of registering. He set down the names of himself and * companion thus: Py ‘‘ Henry Darcy, 5 > “Darsy Darcy, | Denver, ‘* You say you want two rooms?” asked Jim, the clerk. ‘‘ Ain’t you man and wife, then?” i eh Oe oe ee aint - Pe See, — é _ - -* - . . > +, 7 - ‘ . rT s r ‘Yes, two rooms. We are brother and sister.” P “Oh! I see,’ The matter was speedily arranged, and as the couple stepped back from the desk the gambler sport took up the pen. He asked some questions about the rates for a few weeks, and having been satisfied, put down his name as— “Hype Lester, Chicago.” ‘*T was making some inquiries outside about Deadwood Dick,” he said as he laid down his pen. ‘‘ Can you tell me anything about him?” ‘* According to what you want to know,” the clerk answered, ‘“‘ Well, I want to know where he is now.” “ That is uncertain,” ‘*’Then he is not in town?” ‘‘TIt is thought he is, but no one is sure about it.”’ ‘What reason could he have for being here, in his own stronghold, in a disguise?” Thereupon Jim gave the man a brief ac- count of the trouble the camp was experi- encing just at that time. ‘Well, that makes it look a little different; still one would think a man of Deadwood Dick’s caliber would face the music openly.” ‘* Don't make any mistake about him,” the clerk defended. ‘‘If he is here in disguise he has some plan to carry out, and sooner or later there will be a disclosure that will wake us all up.” ‘Lor’ Jerusha, yes!” chimed in Old Ava- - lanche, who was standing near. ‘* That is the sort o’ critter Deadwood Dicky is, every - ae ya a eS ~ ios . : . a ' ae -< Se “o> fe 2 < : o 2? ~*~ = = o~ “a ~ Pie S te zt a 2 SK aA 3 ~~ . a -_ -~ - pe. Nuns © 4 = tke > aa 2 =~ , . -_— ne he ee ee bs . > oe gh — ad fi a. i —_— sol < “<< " SEG AS 4 a SSO AS al ¢ - as 7's <_. ae? TS - - ~~ Tein a pm = — a ae* - + om Mm time. Great hambone 0’ demoralizin de- oi molishun! He is a terror on ten wheels, ie t. 2 when ye wake him up, is Dicky; and I Hebb reckon he ain’t asleep now ’ ‘‘May I inquire who yow are, sir?” the new-comer asked, looking at the old man in a measure of amazement. ‘“T don’t know of nothin’ ter forbid et,” was the response. ‘‘I am best knowed as Old Avalanche, and I was ther guardian angel of ther first Deadwood Dick, ther same as I'm ther modern mascot to ther second. ' Y’m all that’s left of the oncet famous Tri- angle of tremenjus Injun disaster—ther only remainin’ corner. With Prudence Cordeliar, ae my mule, and Florence Night-in-a gale, my A ct I was a reg’lar devastatin’ Injun eppy- ae aye mmick!? ‘*T believe I have heard of you So, you are still with Deadwood Dick, eh?” “Yes; but now I’m helpless. on his bounty, 4} Be toa close, I guess,” Caan ‘* Nonsense!” cried the ele. ‘* And, you had better not let Deadwood Dick hear you | seme for it.” Bes iy “That's so, Jimme, that’s eo but, ; great : : a - * Veer A } - ry 4 - Saree a at A sen But, it does not matter; I can wait | - cL SE |p suet for my day 0’ usefulness has about drawed 0) say that, either, or he will cail you to ac- | 4 . aa 2 - ’ . m “a? ‘ . Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Boom. hambone what proved devastatin’ destruc- tion to ther Danites in ther days o' des- pairatatin’ devouratashun in Egypt, ain’t et SO 7 9?) The clerk laughed, and the stranger sur- veyed the old man critically and turned away. | “Will ye jest "low me a word wi’ you, mister?’ spoke a voice. The gambler sport turned to face the speaker, “who was none other than Brownlow us ry g. * Certainly, my man,” the gambler sport gave permit. ‘* But, first, who and what are you? You area stranger to me.’ ‘Jim, interdoose me, will ye?” the Little Brown J ugg requested. The clerk complied, and the new- comer laughed heartily. “Pardon my laughing, Mr. Jugg,” he apologized, *‘ but I could not help | it. I was struck by that nickname of yours.’ “Oh, that’s all right, kin stand et; but, did I hear you askin’ bout. Deadwood Dick?” “It is quite likely that you did sir. Do you know where he is?” ‘‘ You bet, Come right hyer to ther door an’ I’ll show him to ye. The gambler sport stepped to the door, and the Little Brown J ugg pointed out Law- er Burr, who was standing before the onte Carlo, ‘*How do you know it is he?” Mr. Jugg told what had taken place be- tween himself and Mr. Burr, and said fur- ther that he had been watching the move- ments of the lawyer since, and “felt sure of his ground of “Well, I'll go and speak to him, anyhow,” said Lester, and leaving Mr. Juge t ere he strolled over to where. the seedy lawyer stood. “Do I mistake, sir, in taking you to be Deadwood Dick?” he asked. ‘“You do, sir; you make the biggest mis- take of your life, ” was the easy answer. ‘* But you have just been pointed out to me as Deadwood Dick.” ‘By that Jack there on the hotel piazza?” ell, yes. ‘*T doubled him up on the floor last night, for his mistake, and I may have to do it again.” | ‘‘And you insist that you are not Dead- wood Dick, do ait ‘Yes, sir, I “Then who ae you?” “* Who are you, first?” ‘* Tam ya Lester, of Chicago,” “ Well, 1 am Barrington Burr, a lawyer. That is to say, I was a lawyer, but now I’m nothing in particular, and not particular what lam. I live only to drink, and if you have got the price of a drink about you now, and want to talk to me, you wil have to wet my whistle. See?” ‘*One question, first.” ** Well, what is it?” ‘Did you ever hear of Burk Dorris?” The question was asked in a iow tone, and | the man looked keenly into the eyes of the ae lawyer as he put it. never did, sir,’ was the answer. . ‘Well, you are either telling the truth, or you are Deadwood Dick for a tat, as nervy as ever,” ‘‘T have told you the truth.” mike you swear that you are not Deadwood C 9 Le “Yes, Pll take my oath to it, if that will do. I'm getting tired of this joke.” ‘ Well,then,can you point Deadwood Dick out to me?’ | ‘‘Tean’t, sir; never saw him in my life, to know him.” ‘And this ehiskex. I suppose, is all your own. 18 it not?” As he me that inquiry he laid bold upon the seedy rere 2 Ses whiskers, to put them. | ? ras fas ie Peg oe ee Ne uit 5 A elaar ary ays The lawyer gave a yell that drew attention, and the next moment had laid hiold upon the sleek sport and Janded him half-way across the road. CHAPTER Vil. THE SLIPPERY SPORT'S NIP. ‘* THERE!” the seedy lawyer yelled, ** Take that, you confounded black sheep of Satan’s flock, you! Iam not Deadwood Dick, but | by the immortal shades of Blackstone I think at) F -l’m man enough for you!” The spectators laughed and cheered. ‘“Curse you!” the sleck gambler sport. cried, as he gathered himself up out of the dust. ‘I will fix you for that, whoever you are!” He reached for a pistol, as he got upon his feet, but just then another actor appeared upon the scene to take part in the play, which was getting lively for a small performance. The new player was Soapstone Sam, the Slippery Sport, who came out of the saloon just in time to step between the seedy lawyer: a and his enraged antagonist, and as he did so he presented él revolver, ordering the gam- ie bler sport to desist. me] The latter obeyed the command, pale with ey { rage, The seedy lawyer gazed upon his cham- | —- +e" « . ~—_ae “eZ _s a. ~~ = _- ~~ pion with a look of keenest satisfaction on his face. ‘“Do you mean to take this thing: up?” | Lester demanded, i 3 ‘* Not at all, sir,” Soapstone Sam made an- mas § swer. ‘‘ But, I will not see this man shot psios down in cold blood.” 2 “I can fight my own battles, good friend,” ie, ao spoke up the lawyer, ‘‘if itis with nature’s nt f weapons; but, you have done me a good turn, for Iam not armed.” } Th thought you were rather slow about , getting out your gun, if you were, so I chip- ae: ped in for you. And, now that I’m in it, TL ho Soe see you through. That is Soapstone Sam’s KC ag way.” URS gst Quite a crowd had gathered around them cara | now, and conspicuous in it were Captain f Jack and the Little Brown J ugg. ‘For which T’m greatly “obliged, ” the seedy lawyer gratefully acknow ledge ect, “Are you satisfied, sir,” to Lester, “that I am not Deadwood Dick?” ‘*On the contrary, I am all the more con- vinced that you ave he. Whatisthe use of your denying it? Noone but Dick Bristol could have tossed me in the way you did. That was proof enough.” “'That’s what we all say,’ cried Mr. Jugg. “‘TIt seems folly to deny your identity. longer,” added Stonecut. ‘* You are wrong, all wrong,” insisted Mr. Burr. ‘‘l only wish the real Deadwood Dick would come and relieve me of this — burden,” ‘It looksto me as though there might be Ray a grain of fear in this,” spoke upanew voice. = The speaker was Lucius Blackwall.” ie ae ‘What do you mean?” asked Mr. Barr, 22a “That you are afraid toappearinyour true colors just at this time, and so are ty- Pay ing to bluff these men down.” Oe a “Which proves how little youknowabout Deadwood Dick,” another new voice op- — osed, | : The second speaker was Huber Stempler. OFA “And perhaps you do,” Blackwall hotly retorted. 7 ‘Tclaim to know him well enough by sight, sir, to feel sure this lawyer is not he,” — the younger man fired back. ‘Sir, give me your hand,” cried Mr. ee, sy | reaching out and taking it anyhow. ‘You. if ie et are the first man who has displayed any horse sense in the matter yet, and I ea a ra: —e 7. ° . ~~ = — 2 » x - 7 * md ’ = - - % =. od * = — , r- ae - ~ Pa Saal ~ fs -* << = ns i= Cron owe? Ree ELF, ~ aol me ns oe — - Lf. * = Ml aa i LS — : > = z >. . mal 4 . -— 2. ie Vial - - . “ —_ ra a a ation tl — . wy Fp oa a honor you.’ | a Be Aft ‘Then I demand to know who you arc, me eee me. cried the gambler sport, trying to nemoyy the! NS dust from his garments. a Ka ud Bn ‘* And which I have told a hundred times," asseverated the lawyer. r. *) rks ay on Ly « 4 ~s « ae ‘ Tar ae 1 . ; ’ \ ent / Fi . ‘ “ ‘ws ‘ : ~~) x . * a ; C . od ay ris i | . Sse"