Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 840 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

- ete = = —a, ra F : tr . oe Se 7 _ an =-> Fe = ——_ " —_ 2. aa <= = > a _ _—- — ~ 4 = =¥e - ~ * —s7 . , A ae ™~ oe ' i. dee f..2 her into a confession of it, or anything of | he don’t, he and I can’t dwell in the same _ Bponse. 10 CHAPTER IX, COMSTOCK JONES OF DENVER. AFTER the return of the party to the camp, Wat Cooper repaired with the mayor to the oftice of the latter. **You can bet your life, mayor,” Cooper sail tenet declared, as they took seats to rest, ‘‘that I have paid my last visit to that :confounded place.” ‘ **Can’t blame you ‘for that, Wat,” the ‘mayor responded. ‘‘It came pretty near to being the last visit you would pay any- where.” ‘You are right. That was a shot to kill, I'd almost give my right hand to know who Captain Crusher is.” ** And so would I, too, for it’s getting in- teresting.” ‘*What do you think of that girl?” “1 give it up.” ‘“‘She’s cooler than ice, and a heap deeper than one would think at first sight. And she’s as keen as a razor, too,” ‘ld like to see the photographs she got of Dismal Canyon, from the cliff there. hat do you suppose tempted her to try that ex- periment?” ‘*She had something in mind, sure. And, the looking- glass trick, too—who would have thought of such a thing as that? And she was prepared for it, you see, as if it wasn’t the first time.” ‘“'That’s so.” ‘‘Do you know, mayor, I have half a sus- picion.”’ ‘** And what’s that?” at or ane this lady is the wife of Deadwood ick,” ‘“Whew! You don’t think so, do you? What gives you that notion?” ‘** Well, see how she defended him. And then, too, his wife has been called Photo- prapn Somethin See aie no, that’s not t; she is called Kodak Kate, That’s the name of the machine she uses, you know.” ‘‘Yes, now I remember it, I thought you were getting off the track, for that was the name we read in the papers about the time of a raid this Deadwood Dick made on some outlaws down there in the southwest- ern pet of the Territory.” ** Exactly. Now, do you think this can be she?” “That’s a question, I wouldn’t be sur- prised, now that you bring it to mind. How are we going to find out?” ‘ Easier asked than answered, my dear’ mayor. I giveitup. If it is the same wo- man, there would be no use trying to trap that sort.” Well, it’s good that we have got the sus- picion iy alls _“ Yes, for we shall have to be wary that our own little game does not leak out where it can be picked up against us. We'll keep this suspicion to ourselves, and keep our eyes and ears well open for points.” ‘And, say, Wat—” “Say it.” ’ “*Tf this woman 2 the person you have guessed, what about the Irishman who at- tends her?” | ‘*You would ask if he can be Deadwood Dick?” | . ‘4 ‘Exactly. ”» | } ‘*Well, now, I don’t know, but from what we have seen, I should say not; that is, not if the other fellow was Dick. We saw them both together, you know, and no chance for Deadwood me ee Ce need any one to observe, EE ————— - —_ — _— . ‘““What luck had you? Get a sight at your worthy Captain Crusher?” ‘Not a glimpse,” answered the mayor, ‘*but Wat here got a bullet from him, or came close to getting it.” ‘* Ha! that so?” ‘‘Looks like it, don’t it?” and Cooper showed the hole in his hat. ‘* Great Scott! I should say it does! But, what ever possessed you to step over the death-line?” \ *T didn’t.” ‘* Didn't?” ce No.”’ “Then this is something, for Captain Crusher has never been known to fire until the death-line was crossed.” ‘* Well, he did it this time, anyhow, and if it had been a little nearer it would have been the death-line for me, sure enough. I was just telling the mayor here it’s my last trip there.” ° : ‘Should think it would be. What did the lady think of it?” ‘*The cheapest way for you to find out is to go and ask her,” and Cooper shut up tight as though he wanted nothing further to say to the man. ) “Thank you,” said Hartz. ‘‘I will do that, and I have po doubt I shall learn all about it and much more agreeably from her own lips than from any other source. By the way, mayor, I suppose that reward is still open?” ‘Why, yes, certainly.” ‘‘T’m thinking about trying for it. I want to get my money to bank, but I’ll be hanged if I feel safe to try it while this outlaw is at large. Think I'll get a company of twenty men or so and takea hack at Captain Crusher and his gang—if he has a gang at his back,” ‘'That’s uncertain. But, go into win, if you want to,”’ ‘‘ You can’t look for any help from Dead- wood Dick, now, and something has got to be done. You'll help, I suppose?’ ‘‘ Why, certainly, inany way I can. Get your company together, and then we'll lay out a plan of action. I'm willing to do any- thing that will bring this outlaw to time.” “All right, Il let you know when I’m ready.” | So the sport went out and on his way, and the mayor and Cooper resumed their talk, © ‘* What do you think about the fellow?” the mayor asked. ‘‘Do you think he is nervy enough to tackle the job?” “Weisin talk, anyhow, If he does go for the outlaw I hope he will get his con- founded head knocked off the first thing. If camp much longer without coming to blows ” ‘* And all on account of this handsome In- cognita.” “ No, not all, for we didn’t love each other even before she came here. Tl admit that her coming hasn’t made us love each other any the more.” | © Well, there is this about it: get on trail of Captain Crusher, he is likely to get crushed, and there will be an end of the matter so far as he is concerned. But, who can Captain Crusher be?” ‘* We'll find out, sooner or later.” There was deeper meaning in their words than appeared on the surface. It needed only their looks and manner of to assure of this, had there been They were still in conversation when the afternoon stage rolled into the camp, round- ing up in front of the Hotel Grande and there stopping, the driver flingin aside the rib- a double dodge.” ; “‘That’s so. Well, I give it up for the yxresent. Hello! here comes your friend | bons witha flourish, lartz.” eK ** Mighty little friendship I have for him, I can tell you,” Cooper growled. First among the passengers to alight was a solid-looking man past the middle of life. He was well dressed, and wore a massive ‘“Well, back from your trip. are you?” | cold chain across his vest, this being really rt greeted, as he entered the office. | you see,” the sp. the mayor made ot . ; | : . ' s Dn © ‘ > ; fi - fe : a -¥ ’ r : ‘ i> ; 4 a ree ty Fy ae et ae re RI ere, - OK 2 ap ! ." en Se ee et dl ts ‘de * Aa : ‘ ; aw ¢ | - A “ ‘ ¢ f % c of 3 | the first thing to catch the eye of the ob- server. ‘8 } ‘ He had iron-gray, close-trimmed side- ‘ »: oF 4 ee Ae, Dick, Jr.’s, Clutch. If he does : hy * Wie .- Pn, EA yA ce \ ve a) ed : ere Pe 7 Aa a) Cc } . ° . . whiskers, and wore a silk cap, while a big diamond flashed and glittered on his shirt front. He had the appearance of a Westerm capitalist. Not that all capitalists look alike, but there was a certain ‘‘ bankerish” air about. this man that stamped him as being a capi- talist and financier combined. He carried a heavy cane, and walked with the air of a man who could buy the whole camp if he wanted to. Panusing a moment to look around, he ad- vanced to the hotel. ‘“‘] want the best room you have got,” he said to the clerk, in a pompous way; giving’ the desk a thump with his cane. ‘* All right, sir,” answered the clerk, who had all the airs of a capitalist to be, ‘‘ Just give us your name here, and we'll do the best we can for you.” He shoved out the autograph album of the establishment, and the capitalist took up the pen and spread his name upon the page with a splurge and flourish, as though to a great check. ‘There you have it,” he said. The name he had subscribed was— ComsTocK JONES, DENVER. The clerk read it aloud a8 he turned the register toward him again. ‘“That’s right, young man, that’s right,” the stranger approved. ‘‘ Comstock Jones, rancher, miner, banker, and a little of every. thing besides. Who are the moneyed men of your camp?” ‘We haven’t got any millionaires, sir.” ‘“S’pose not; but, who comes nearest to it!” The clerk ran over some names, chief among which were the names of Timothy Gibson and John Hartz. ‘“‘Them’s the kind of men 1 want to fall in with, you know,” the capitalist declared. ‘‘T’ll have you introduce me after I get supper, That’s the most important thing at. present,”’ ‘‘Here comes Mr. Hartz now,” said the clerk, ‘« Where?” ‘The sport over there. sport.” We call him the here, or something of that sort?” — *Owns this hotel, and some other places in the camp, sir. He is one of the solid men of the place.” By this time Hartz had come up, and the clerk made known the new-comer’s name, see from that beginning Mr. Jones did the res ‘*Fact of the matter is, Mr. Hartz,” he said, ‘‘I have come here on the lookout for a, paying mine property, and if you can hel me toward getting hold of what I want I be obliged to you.” ‘All right, Mr. Jones; I'll do all I can. We'll bave supper, and then we’ll fall in with the mayor and talk with him. I don’t. suppose he'll sell the Jack Mine, but there are other finds around that are worth money. Haven't any doubt but we'll be able to fix you out,” They went in to supper, still talking about, the matter, and the new-comer impressed the sport with his importance. That he was a man of means was not to be doubted, and that he had come to the camp on _ busi- ness was pretty certain. Whether he was to be suited there or not remained to be seen. Tt was to the interest of Big Nugioholdhim = if it could. | CHAPTER X. COOPER'S SUSPICION ALLAYED. AFTER supper it was no trouble to find the mayor, and Mr, Jones was introduced, — he trio repaired to the mayor’s office, where, over the smoke of some fine cigars, they talked “ mining” to their full content. e ’ . ‘y "oo ; 4 , ; " : ‘ . a : 4; What does he own? One of the mines \ ‘¢ \ ' 2% 2