Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 822 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

** And this is an invitation to come in with you, then?” ‘“If you wayt to; we'll make room for you. We are going to take the camp aud divide it among ourselves.” ‘* Well, that’s cool, I must say.” ‘*And we need cool men to carry it out; you seem to be that sort.”’ “Don’t you think it’s a pretty big under- taking?” ‘Yes, if if isn’t managed right.” ‘What do you call managing it right?” “Taking care of number one, after the thing is done.” — \ **Then you wouldn’t stay here and try to hold it?” ‘Well, hardly, All we want at first, you » ee, is to get a majority of the citizens on our side—” He stopped short. ** What’s the matter?” ‘*] think I’ve told you too much already.” ‘You are just getting me interested in your scheme, sir.” . ‘* Would you like to takeashare init? The more the merrier, and there is plenty to go around,” ‘**See here,” and the sport drew his chair nearer and spoke in lower tones, ‘I take it you are at the head of this business; are you not?” ‘*No, we have no head; it is every man for himself.” ‘Oh, I know better than that.’’ a ‘Well, what do you suspect, then?” By" ‘‘T don’t suspect, 1 know; there is some one at the head of the scheme.” | ‘“ And you think ’'m the man?” he. ** 1 only ask you if you are.” ‘‘Have youany objection to telling just who and what you are, Sport?” ‘* Not the least, sir; I am called Soapstone Sam, and sometimes I am called the Slip- zt pery Sport.” = ‘* Slippery Sport, eh? That’s not bad.” ‘a ‘* You see, when they think they have got me, that is the time they find they haven’t got me at all. Pm too slippery for them, + you see,” ‘ aly ‘* What do you mean?” a) ‘Well, since you have disclosed your hand pretty plainly I need not be afraid to do the same.” “ Assuredly not.” Bie | ‘| refer to the detectives, and such.” 4 ‘Ha! then you have had to do with them, —— . . =. ena . of. 4h ee have you?” es “Ever had this Deadwood Dick after ag you?” aa *‘T prefer not to talk about that, since I do +e not know you further than you have seen fit to reveal yourself to me.” b ‘“ Are you Deadwood Dick’s friend?” | ‘You ought to be able to judge of that, ie after what has passed between us. I have been his friend. and have also been his worst enemy.” ‘* And which are you now?” ** Both.” *“* You talk in riddles.” ew. ‘‘Maybe I do, but I cannot explain more see fully now.” , . ‘* Well, what do you say about going into ie this thing with us?” % ‘“‘T can’t say till I have a full understand- rn ing of the whole matter,” | : ‘“What do you, call a full understand- i ' ing?” eee ‘* Well, I must know who is at the head of oes. 3! the movement, and just what I will make ies out of it if [do go in.” ee ‘‘T see you are not opposed to it, if the , game is all straight and you are likely to come out safe. I will see about the matter and let you know later.” | * All right; and in the mean time be mum about it.” ~ Oh, of course.” , And with that they parted company for the time being. ey CT te —_— oe . i — —o ae. De ee en " er ) It was not ten minutes later when Billy Bucket entered the office of the mayor, Old Avalanche was there, and he was greatly excited over something that had taken place. ‘T wouldn’t’a’ thought et,” he cried. ‘Great hambone what raised dire calamity in ther camp of ther dozen tribes in ther days o' famine! But et’s past all belief, ter think ther sport is that sort.” ‘What sport?” demanded Billy, quickly. ‘* What sort?” “Why, Billy,” Carleton explained, ‘‘ we have just got a communication from Mr. bristol, and he tells us to arrest Soapstone Sam as a dangerous man.” ‘‘ And he’s right, too,”’ Billy cried. . ‘‘ He is a bad egg. I have just come to tell you that.” ‘* What do you know about him?” ‘‘T have just heard a talk between him and that rascal Stonecut.”’ ‘There is no doubt about it, that is sure, for this is Deadwood Dick’s writing plain enough. But, what did you hear?” ‘*Why, Soapstone Sam is about going over to their side, and they are going to capture the whole camp and divide it up to suit themselves, and he is to have his share in it.” ‘‘Then we'll nip his game in the bud, that is all.” ‘What does the boss say?” ‘‘ Here is his note.” Billy took the missive and read as follows: ** CARLETON: — ‘** You had better arrest Soapstone Sam at once as a dangerous man, and lock bim up for trial. Iam here, but for the present I will remain unknown to you. Take the man when off his guard, or he may give youtrouble. Have vour police and armed men where they can respond to a quick call at any hour to-night. Drapwoop Dick, Jr.” CHAPTER IX. OMINOUS SHADOWS. ‘*GREAT confisticated old hambone what made soup fer Jupe!” cried Old Avalanche, ‘‘but I would jest like ter know who my Dicky boy is. have puzzled this hyer old head of mine all day over ther question, and now I’m more puzzled than ever.” ‘¢Then you had an idea it was as Soapstone Sam he was masquerading?’ suggested Mayor Carleton. “Yes, Lown I did have a sneakin’ suspi- cion that ‘ar way,” the old man admitted. ‘But, Lor’ Jerusha! this hyer knocks that idee higher than a cocked hat. Great ham. bone what derailed ther juggernut o’ judge- ment! but T’ll be glad when this turrible strain is tooken off my mind.” ! ‘And it is our business, all together, from ther mayor down, ter take it off, too,” sug- gested Johnny Smile. ‘Yas, and we must be up and doin’ some- thin’,” the old man cried. ‘‘ Joe, you must see to ther perlice, and I'll ’tend to havin’ ther mine-boys on hand ter do duty, same as Dicky has said.” “You have taken the words out of my mouth, old fellow,” said the mayor. ‘‘I was just going to give directions to that effect, so you see we were both of one mind. Yes, see to that, you and Joe, and let each man be ready to do his part when the emergency comes. There may be trouble to-night, ac- cording to what Mr. Bristol has said.” Just then another man came into the office. He was one of the mayor’s aides, so to call him, and seemed to be excited. It could be seen that he had been running, for he was panting, and he appeared eager to state his errand, . ‘* Hillo!” the old scout greeted. ‘‘ What’s ther matter wi’ you?” ‘‘T have got a note here for the mayor,” the man panted, offering a paper to Carleton as he spoke. ‘* Whar did ye git et?” “That's ther queerest part of it, old man.” | ‘““Wull, tell us, Great hambone, don't Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Boom. keep us dyin’ wi’ any more mystery ‘n we’ve got a’ready.”’ ‘*Soon told, pard. A couple o’ men laid hold onto us in the dark behind the stables jest now, and one of ’em put this note into my hand and told me to bring et hyer, straight.” ‘*An’ who was they?” “T give et up. They didn’t do me no harm, but I was like a kid in their grip, ’m tellin’ ye.” ‘* Tt was Deadwood Dick again, | Carleton. ‘“Ther doose!”’ cried the old scout. ‘“Do ye know, I thought it. was,” declared the man who had brought the message. ‘‘ THe had the strength of a giant.” The mayor had read the missive, ahd so learned the truth of it. ‘* What does he say?” asked Billy Bucket, ‘‘He gives further directions,” the mayor answered. And then he read the note aloud, in a low tone, as follows: ** CARLETON: — ‘Caution the boys touse more care in their work, although I have but little fault to find with them, And the men must use more care. You must be more secret, allot you. Make the arrest of Soap- stone Sam at the Monte Carlo about the time the play is over, and at the same time make a prisoner of Captain Jack. These are two to be feared. Lock them in separate cells, * DEADWOOD Dick, JR.” “ 'That’s him. That’s ther ginooine Rich- ard o’ Deadwood!” cried the old scout. ‘‘] kin reckernize him by the tone of his handwrite. By ther great horniferated old hambone what greased ther griddle fer Joner in ther days o’ tribbyleshan! but I’m glad ter know fer sure that he has got his hand at the masheen. Now you kin jest bet on’t that somethin’ is goin’ ter be done.” ‘‘Yes, the beginning of the end is at hand, I feel it,” agreed the mayor. ‘‘I have had to acknowledge to myself my in- capacity for handling the situation, and I am glad Mr. Bristol is on hand. Now, for the plan for making these arrests, I think I'll have four of our best policemen do it, two to each man, and there will hardly be any chance for a failure.” ’announced ‘*That will be the way to do it,” approved | Joe Garry. ‘‘ Then, to make matters doubly sure, some of the rest of us kin be close at hand, ready to chip in our help if needed,” ‘Excellent; that will do finely. is all for the present. I will see that my men are on hand for the service.” There was further talk but presentiy the little band separated. By that time the Monte Carlo was being filled, and the time for the expected per- formance was drawing near. The other Deadwood Dick’s proprietorship in the camp, was for the time being less talked of than it had been; it appeared to be sleeping. When the hour for the performance came the saloon was filled. There wasa stage in the saloon, as has perhaps been explained in a previous story. To that stage was a curtain, with all necessary fixings that went to the making” up of a first-class little playhouse of the sort. ara, The audience was eager for the per- formance to begin, and when the time had gone a little over the hour announced there was great stamping and calling for the cur- tain to rise. Presently a little bell tapped, and the cur- tain rolled up to place. There were the Darcys, as an Irish lad and maiden, and they favored the audience with a very lively and taking song. | _ This was well received, .and they were called out again and again. : Then followed other songs, singly and in duets, and some dancing on the part of the man, dance. And each song and dance seemed to please even better than the preceding one, ‘ ett 3 < ~y = - ih - = ; DOO ; mn re te is ; \? +o * Geo ie - niw® : Ts | . >a 7 a en And, that. matter, the revolt against: The girl herself evidently did not | ~« ee ae Wi «Meds ae ; £) :* Vhs =: ™ 2 . . S om ; maf s ’ ° hd t Y m' mo Se & % , 4’ op * 4 es . : s vm! Sa : POT . ‘ oe J - Py Jo i Sa ‘6. ~ i + a ? : “= _ 1p, t . , £ % fr Aare Jo7+ > ~ - ~* Py 7 . m+ es wt ee, tg ‘ « % Lae Se = S al ' @ —_ .* > a _~ —