Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 822 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

A AAO OLCOTT a ¥ ra ' 3A J eae Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Boom. It was declared to be about as good a per- formance of the kind as Bristol City had ever witnessed. ‘ What do you think of it?” asked Captain Jack of Soapstone Sam. The two were seated together, about in the center of the hall, near the middle aisle as the seats were arranged. ‘*It is about as good as you Can see any- where,” was the response, ‘‘Yes, I think so myself. And the crowd seems determined to have more of it, even though that was the last_piece.” * You are right; they seem loth to let O. > Some men were slowly making their way fowvard to where the two men sat. hie applause was so loud and so long, that the couple had to appear on the stage once more, and the woman held up her hand to enjoin silence, : : ‘he uproar ceased at once, ** Gentlemen,” she said, pleasantly, ‘‘ I be. lieve you would tire us out completely, were you to have your way. We are glad, of course, to be so warmly received, and we certainly want to please you. To give you the fudl worth of your money, I will give an exhibition of my powers of segond sight, so to call it, and that must suffice you for this evening.” A cheer greeted her words. With a bow, then, the girl retired from the stage, while her brother procecded to arrange it for the further performance. He brought forth a tripod, upon the top of which was a glossy black bowl of consider- able size, under which he lighted a pan of alcoho’, which blazed up with a ghostly glare. That done, he motioned for the lady to re- appear. he came forth, completely covered with a robe of dull, heavy black, nothing of her person being visible save the eyes, the flash of which could be occasionally caught through the holes in the head-piece of the funeral-like attire, and took her position be- hind the tripod. 3 This performance, gentlemen,” spoke the brother, then, ‘‘is one which never fails to create intense interest. You must under- stand, at the start, that we are not to be held responsibie for any disclosures that may be made. You will ask questions, and my sis- ter will read the answers as they appear to her in the magic bowl. You are now free to ask what you will, or you may leave it to,the seer to reveal whatever the magic bowl may show her ” Many showed by their actions that they were eager for such a performance, but there were others who showed as plainly they were not so eager “ There was silence- for a few moments, when Jackson Stonecut spoke up. - * Let the lady say whether or not Dead- wood Dick is in this camp at this time,” he requested. The young woman made some passes over the bow) with her cloaked arms, after which she stood silent, gazing down into it with earnest attention. ‘* Yes, Deadwood Dick is in this place to- night,” she finally spoke. ~ ‘Ts he in this room?’ Stonecut further asked. _ ** Yes, he is in this room, sir.” “That is very good. Now, can you tell us who he is?” ‘*He is—is—is— It is impossible for me to answer that, sir. <A stronger will than mine is brought to bear, and the picture answer the question. Will youask another? Any one is at liberty to speak out.” ‘By ther great old rustycated hambone what gorged ther gullick of Joner in ther seven fat years!” cried Old Avalanche, ‘‘ I'll try my hand at askin’ a poser of ther purty posey. Gal, kin ye tell me who is ther head of this hyer ornery uprisin’ ’g’inst Deadwood Dicky?” Passes were made over the bow] again, and the answer was quickly given. ‘“The manis one Burk Dorris, sir.” ‘* Lor’ Jerusha!” cried Avalanche, ‘‘ but that was done quick! I wonder ef she could do et again like that?” ’ ‘‘Might I be permitted to ask a question?” here spoke up Hyde Lester, the gambler sport. - ‘Any one is at liberty to do so,” he was told. ‘Well, [ have come to this camp with the intention of playing against some of your best card-sharps. Now, will the lady kindly tell me whether I am to make or break here? Perhaps her reply will deter- mine my staying or not.” More passes were made over the bowl, slowly, and after some moments the reply was made, ‘Fortune is against the gentleman,” was the answer of the seer. ‘‘If he ventures he is sure to lose. He had better drop his game and go awayas he came. Further, L see danger ahead for him here, if he remains A blow is about to fall under which many will be crushed.”’ ‘That looks like a straight tip,” the gambler sport remarked, smiling, ‘*T see danger—danger ahead!” the young woman went on, excitedly. ‘‘I see here a pretty girl; she hasa lover. But, their hap- piness is resting upon a treacherous volcano, A rival is against the lover, and the lad must flee from danger, throwing herself upon the care of tried and true. friends. There is danger for her this night. A dark plot is at work. Her friends must rally to her protection. Save her, men of Bristol City; save—” ‘‘See hyer,” interrupted Old Avalanche, “who is that ’ar gal?” “The name I see, sir, is Claudia Stey- ger.’ CHAPTER X., THE NIGHT OF DREAD. Wuat more the woman might heve re- vealed would never be known, for just then something happened to draw all attention away from the stage. The men who had been making their way forward to where Soapstone Sam and Cap. tain Jack were seated had now reached them, and were about making the arrest—or an effort in that direction. “What means this?” Sam, leaping to lfis fect. ‘‘It means that you two are our prison- ers,” was the grim answer, ‘‘and that you are dead men if you resist!” ‘* Your prisoners?” echoed Captain Jack, ‘*Yes, our prisoners. Hands up, or death to you both!"’ “But, what is the charge?” asked the Slippery Sport, calmly, as he obeyed the command, “The charge is, that you are at the bot- tom of this unlawful uprising against the cried Soapstone Joyal citizens of this city, and we are going to put you where you can’t do any more harm than you have done already.” ‘Where is your proof?” demanded Stone- cut. the stage, the curtain had been run down and the performance there was done. There was nothing to divide the attention of the crowd, ‘What are you going to do with us?” asked Soapstone Sam. 4 We are going to lock you up in the ail.” ‘“You are, eh? Well, I'll bet you don’t keep me there long, unless it is a tighter box than I take it to be,” ‘You will find it tight enough, I guess.” ‘‘T am called the Slippery Sport, and you will discover that Iam pretty hard to hold. You have the best of me just now, however, as I have to admit.” ‘* We will hold you, I think.” To this time the crowd had taken no part in the matter. The prisoners had been secured, their hands being tied in front of them, and the police were ready to take them out. Now, however, the crowd took action, or a part of it did, for the Little Brown Jugg shouted: ‘‘See hyer, feller cits, ar’ we going ter see this ’rest made right hyer under our noses?” ‘“No! No!” came from a dozen different parts of the room. ‘“Great hambone what discombobberated ther diaframm of Joner!” shouted Old Avalanche, who, with a dozen or more of Deadwood Dick’s allies, was near the police- men and the prisoners; ‘‘I reckon as how thar is two sides to this hyar question, ther same as tharis to every other one, Hyer’s ther relick of a oncet tremenjus tornader of devastatin’ demolishun what says et 7s goin’ ter be allowed!” + ’ You shut up, you old fossil!” ‘Lor’ Jerusha! You tell me to shut up? By ther rip-roarin’ cyclone of devastatin’ calamities! you will find that I’m a tough snag ter run up ’gainst, even ef lam old and withered. I say et goes, and I guess thar’s enough loyal men left in ther camp ter see that et does go. By ther great ham- bone what disj’inted ther gullick of Joner! ther first man what interferes with these p'lice in the ’charge of their dooty will hear somethin’ drop, and don’t ye forget that /” : ‘Better go slow, boys,” warned Joe Garry. ‘‘ There will be blood on the floor if any man starts a fight here,” “The man who begins trouble will be put under arrest,” warned Mayor Carleton, boldly. i “ What ar’ we comin’ to?” cried the Little Brown Jugg. ‘‘ Il want to know how long Deadwood Dick has been the Seezer o Rushy! Have we got ter bow ther Knee to him, an’ take off our hats when his name is mentioned?” “You are talking through your hat, old man,” cried Billy Bucket. ‘ You have never been asked to do anything of the kind, have you? Deadwood Dick is the whitest sport that ever stood in two boots, and don’t you forget it. Jt will bea sorry day for a good many here if he sells out his rights.” ‘You bet it will,” added Johnny Smile. The policemen were moving toward the doors with their prisoners all the time, and it looked as if they would get away with them. My THe Little Brown Jugg tried to excite the rough element to a fight for their release, but the judgment of the level-headed ones prevailed, and the prisoners were taken safe- ly out. | Proof enough that the devil detective “Umebe >: 28 here!” cried out the Little Brown Jugg. SS Bes, His mind is ther strongest in ther camp, oe)” 1m bettin’.” + irs pi ribet? mt; ne You are very likely right,”’ said the ) young man on the stage. “Anyhow, some one controls my sister so that she cannot a> ‘The proof will probably be forthcoming: at your trial to-morrow,” the chief of the four gave answer, Meantime their hands had been ordered up, as shown; an order obeyed, since there did not appear to be any chance for the two men to resist successfuly, All attention having been removed from Just outside the door a dozen policemen and deputies were in waiting, and the prisoners were speedily locked in the jail, in separate cells, | " It was a hard blow against the little re-_ bellion, for there was no acknowledged leader among them, tinless it fell to the Lit- tle Brown Jugg. TNT Se rhe .