Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 840 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

‘ ~ - * _ _———_ They hurried away in the direction of the hotel stables, followed by an eager crowd. ee ‘You think he’ll return it?” ‘* As sureiy as the sun will appear in its - The mayor was right; the sport’s mare } accustomed place to-morrow morning, sir. was missing! ‘What did I tell you?” Gibson demanded exultingly. ' Weare entitled to an explanation from that woman,” the sport answered. ‘‘I will have it, too.” If not, then you will receive four or five times its value in money. You do the man greatest injustice when you think otherwise of him. His reputation ought/to be sufficient guarantee.” , ‘* As it would have been, had I been sure He strode away to the hotel entrance at | the man was Deadwood Dick. Now that once, the mayor at his heels eager to see what would come of it, and entering, the | you state it so positively, I am content.” ‘Tam glad I have been able to convince sport sent to the room occupied by the wo- | you.” man, asking an interview. CHAPTER VI. ‘DEATH TO DEADWOOD DICK!” THE interview requested by Mr. John Hartz was granted. _ Miss St. James sent word that she would repair to the parlor of the hotel, where she would see him. So, the sport and the mayor went thither, and after a short delay the woman entered, followed as usual by her Irish lackey, who was seldom absent from her presence. This faithful body-guard had a narrow cot, in which he slept in the hall at night ‘across the door of the room his mistress oc- cupied. In order for any harm to come to her, it must first enconhter Patsy O’Glory. ‘What is your pleasure, gentlemen?” the lady asked, on entering the room. ‘I desire to ask a question or two regard- ing this man Deadwood Dick,” Hartz came to the point. ** Very well; I will answer if I can.” ‘* Are you sure this man was he?” ** Positively.” ‘*No chance for a mistake on eh?” ‘* No chance whatever. I know the man was Deadwood Dick, Junior, he and none other.” | **You said you had met him at Bristol City, I believe; that he once befriended you. Correct me if I am wrong in whut I assert.” ** You are correct, sir.” | **Can you tell me, then, how it was he ad- ees you as a stranger, from the first to st?” _“T did not take the trouble to inquire, sir.” : “You were plucky to defend him as you did, and deserve all praise for it; but, I have reason to believe that you have been imposed upon,’ We now think this man was the out- Jaw, without doubt.” ‘“No, it was Deadwood Dick—Richard Bristol.” . _ **May have looked like Deadwood Dick, n’t youadmit? You saw him only by night, you know. Won't you admit the possibility _ of a mistake?” ‘*T will not, sir; [am positive. Did he not state who he was before I came upon the scene at all?” | 3 ** And was not that statement calculated to lead you astray regarding your recognition ? Knowing his similarity in appearance to Deadwood Dick may have led him to declare your part, ©Ttis useless for us to talk further about it, Mr. Hartz; I know this man was Richard M. Bristol— Deadwood Dick, Junior.” — “That is what I wanted to come at. I am forced, now, to look upon Deadwood Dick as a thief.” “A thief!” . ‘¢ And of the meanest sort—a horse-thief.” The lady now smiled, as though she un- - derstood what the whole matter was. | ** Because, under press of circumstances, ‘he was forced to borvow a horse in order to niake good his escape.” ye “A strange way to borrow!” ; “‘He had no time and no choice. But, from what I know of Deadwood Dick, and what I have heard about him, you need not ___. _ be uneasy about the animal, if it was one of _- yours; it is safe, in his keeping,” ~ ' : ; , ; s* - . ‘ “4 " Pa} i : ’ i Me) : ; 4 mal one ha) ri” ee +e, 4 iS? tease a! Lhe St, ae Mi . re life is too short, SSS lll Sts _-- CC Or ro oo CU ‘You have also impressed me that this man must be something to you. You cer- tainly risked your life for him.” 4, would have been an ingrate not to have He once befriended me, a thing I That is all there is to done so. could never forget. it, sir, assure you.” ‘Which I am glad to know. may be—” | ‘* What did you think?” ‘* Well, that possibly there was a trifle of affection at the back of it all, and that—’” ‘‘Ha, ha! Why, are you not aware that Deadwood Dick is a married man? No, no; you are very far wrong in that conjecture, sir.” : Tam glad to know it, I assure you again, and—” ‘That is all you wanted to see me for?” ‘Well, yes, at present.” “Then you will please excuse \me, for I have some writing I desire to do before I re- tire.” She rose, bowed, and withdrew from the room, her Irish servant with her. ‘* Well, what do you think now?’ Hartz asked of the mayor. | ‘‘T begin to believe it must have been Deadwood Dick, after all,” the answer. I thought— ‘*‘She’s positive enough, that is dead sure.” . “Yes: and, by the way, I have never thought to ask if you sent for him after our talk the other day, and after the warning of the dagger.” ‘* Yes, I sent for him; sent a letter out the same day, asking him to come here and see me, but not letting him know much about the case. Though I would be all the surer of getting him if I held that back.” i" pag you got no answer?” > «c oO. » ‘‘Well, that’s strange. Deadwood Dick isa man of business, and I should think he would have answered,” ‘‘T have been looking for him to come in person, instead.” — “Then your action respecting this man is all the more impossible to understand. If you were looking for Deadwood Dick, why did you insist upon hanging the man who declared that he was the great detective?” ‘‘Because 1 was sure he was lying. I) never dreamed of a millionaire detective coming here in a guise like that.” “Then you have missed it, for you have done enough to the man to make him your foe instead of friend, If there is anything shady about your record, mayor, you had better look out; Deadwood Dick is now on your trail!” ce ‘*Confound your impudence! You sheep as though I might be an ex-road-agent, something worse. No;.when he comes to look at the matter in the right light, he will see Iacted for the best. Captain Crusher is a dread, and if I had hands on him it was my duty to hang him.” “ Well, we won’t question that further; What do you bet on my getting the mare back?” ! “Oh! I think she’ll come back all right, or her worth, after what we have now heard.” _ “Was in hopes I could strike a bet with you the other way.” ‘No, for I think you'll get her.” “Tm glad of one thing, mayor, that you didn’t hang him. That would have been the 7 worst that ever ‘happened here, or could happen. The next to it was the close call aid gave him, I say, now—Look out for Jeadwood Dick!” ‘“No cause to look out for him, my dear Hartz; not likely he’ll stoop to the rather questionable business of seeking a personal revenge out of it, and if he looks for any- thing further than that he will find that my record is clean. No; he ought to be satis- fied with the number he laid out in the fight.” at That was terrible, wasn’t it! Hello! what’s this about?” There was shouting in the street again, and leaving the parlor the two men hastened to learn what it was about. Men were running toward ,the hotel, and the sound of hoofs near at hand greeted their ears as they stepped out upon the piazza, and immediately the sport’s mare thundered up to the steps and stopped. She gave forth a snort, as of terror, as she. did so. ‘* The mare!” Hartz cried. , ‘* As I live it is!” echoed the mayor. ‘‘She’s dumped him!” some one in the crowd guessed, , ‘* Not much, for here is a note attached to. noe say ohh apprised the owner of the ani-. mal. He had stepped forward and laid hold on the bridle, quieting the mare, and as he spoke he plucked a folded paper from under . the snap of the horn, | ** What is it?” asked the mayor, somewhat eagerly. ‘Take it and see,” was the answer, toss- ing it to him. The mayor picked the paper up, and by the light of the piazza lamp read it, his face puling as he did so, \" What is et?” demanded the eager crowd, ‘*Whatis et, mayor? Read et out so’s we kin all have ther news. Was ther man Deadwood Dick? or was he really ther out- law, Captain Crusher?” ‘“Tt’s a threat, that’s what it is,” the — mayor snarled. ‘‘ Just hearken to this, will. you: | | “* DECLARATION, ‘ . “<«To poe Mayor AND CrrrzENns or Bia Nue, ONE AND ALL: “<You have, by your action of this night, incurred my bitter hatred, and my hand is against you, from this hour, Honest men have nothing to fear, but let all others tremble. You would have hanged me, but — for the bravery of a noble woman. You will find that this my declaration against you | ig not idle, With thanks for the use of the horse I was obliged to borrow, I am, yo implacable Nemesis, ' : ‘*Deapwoop Dick, JR.” “What did T tell you?’ demanded the — sport. ‘What did snapped in. er ‘“‘T foretold something like this, if I mis~ tuke not.” : *'This Deadwood Dick is a rascal! None but a rascal would make such threats against a camp. You notice he says one and you tell me?” the mayor ‘With the exception of honest men,”\cor- rected-the sport. *‘ After all, mayor, it may have a good effect.” uAg ‘‘T don’t see how.” AED ere “ Why, I think if you post thisup where | it can be seen by everybody, there will — sotto an exodus of the undesirable element = rom the place, and the moral atmosphere will be cleared.’ “T'll post it, anyhow, and let every man | be prepared for the worst. How will this _ fellow be able to tell the difference between honest men and dishonest? Can he read thoughts? 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